For Immediate Release
15-056
November 20, 2015
BC FERRIES OFFICIALLY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF
BAYNES SOUND CONNECTOR
Rigorous trials confirm vessel’s performance meets design standards
Victoria – BC Ferries is pleased to announce it has officially taken ownership of the new cable
ferry, the Baynes Sound Connector, with the title transferred from Seaspan’s Vancouver
Shipyards.
During rigorous acceptance trials and testing conducted by Seaspan in conjunction with
BC Ferries, the new cable ferry met or exceeded all contract specifications, including speed and
lower fuel consumption compared to the Quinitsa, the vessel currently in service on this route.
“We are very pleased with the new cable ferry’s performance,” said Mike Corrigan,
BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “In operational trials, the vessel exceeded its maximum design
speed of 8.5 knots fully loaded, achieving a speed of 8.7 knots, with crossing times consistent
with the Quinitsa.”
“All speeds have been achieved on the designed one engine operation, and the second
engine is there for complete redundancy,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of
Engineering. “The horsepower of one engine is approximately 490, compared to the Quinitsa,
which has four engines at 475 horsepower each. The trials indicated significantly lower fuel
consumption than the current vessel,” he added.
Tension-measuring devices on the cables show the cables are functioning as planned, and
the loads are within the results predicted. The cables operate under 15-20 tonnes of tension and
the weight of the cables has not impacted the speed of the vessel.
BC Ferries will now be conducting their own rigorous crew training and familiarization
over the next eight weeks as the company prepares for full operational service. There will be
further activities on the vessel and at the terminals which will include a Transport Canada
certification, as well as daytime and nighttime cable change-outs and emergency recovery
procedures to ensure proficiency. Final adjustments to the floating pontoons will also be made at
both terminals. The Baynes Sound Connector is expected to be in full operational service in early
February 2016. Passengers will continue to be served by the Quinitsa until the Baynes Sound
Connector goes into service.
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., 500-1321 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC V8W 0B7
Tel (250) 978-1267 Fax (250) 978-1119 www.bcferries.com/bcfnews/
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our emergency pager at (250) 516-7211.
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“BC Ferries maintains its commitment to the residents of Denman and Hornby Islands that
the cable ferry will provide the same level of reliable service as the Quinitsa,” said Corrigan. “We
are pleased to deliver our customers a quality product that operates to our very high safety and
reliability standards.”
Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider
responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British
Columbia.
- 30 Media Contact:
BC Ferries, Media Relations
Victoria: (250) 978-1267
Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 386-3431
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., 500-1321 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC V8W 0B7
Tel (250) 978-1267 Fax (250) 978-1119 www.bcferries.com/bcfnews