The first of BC Ferries’ three new hybrid vessels has made its inaugural voyage between Comox and Powell River.
The Salish Orca is a dual-fuel vessel capable of operating on either natural gas or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel.
It made its first voyage from Comox to Powell River at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The Salish Orca replaces the aging Queen of Burnaby that served for more than five decades.
The vessel features orca artwork created by Coast Salish artists Darlene Gait, a member of Esquimalt Nation.
As for the other new ferries, the Salish Eagle is expected to start servicing the Tsawassen-Southern Gulf Islands route in late June while the Salish Raven departed a shipyard in Poland in late April to come to B.C.
First official loading of the @BCFerries Salish Orca is underway. pic.twitter.com/tiHf9cl96q
— Gord Kurbis (@CTVNewsGord) May 16, 2017
Inside the #SalishOrca, Info about Orca design by Coast Salish First Nations artist Darlene Gait. #BCFLiveTweet ^wsj pic.twitter.com/TA6YHsa28D
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) May 16, 2017
