BC Ferries' LNG move approved for 2 Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen ships
Ferry operator expects to have five vessels running on liquefied natural gas by 2018
BC Ferries is moving ahead with plans to convert its two largest vessels to be able to run on liquefied natural gas, in an effort to save fuel costs after sinking $126 million into marine diesel fuel last year.
The company announced Tuesday that it has the BC Ferries commissioner's approval to go ahead with the mid-life upgrades to the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route ships, and to convert them to "dual fuel."
BC Ferries says it expects to save about $9.2 million annually by converting the two Spirit Class vessels to operate on LNG because they account for 15 per cent of the fleet's total fuel consumption.
It also has plans to build three dual-fuel vessels for the southern Gulf Islands and the Powell River-to-Comox route, with completion set for 2017.
The company says all five vessels are set to be operational by 2018, with the Spirit of Vancouver Island upgrades expected to be finished before those of the Spirit of British Columbia.
BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall says the cost of the projects is not yet known and that contracts are expected to be awarded next year.
With files from CBC News