B.C. Ferries has hired a Netherlands-owned shipyard to build two new small ferries and Point Hope Maritime in Victoria will be responsible for maintaining them under their warranty.
None of the Canadian shipyards which were shortlisted for the job submitted bids, B.C. Ferries said Tuesday.
Damen Shipyards Group will build the ships at its yard in Romania. The company has more than 30 international yards.
The ferries will go into service in 2020.
The first will take over the Powell River-Texada Island route. It will replace the 59-year-old North Island Princess, which will be retired.
Next to arrive will be the replacement for the Quadra Queen II on the Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula route.
The Quadra Queen II will stay on as a relief vessel and permit the retirement of the 53-year-old Howe Sound Queen.
Each of the new ferries will be able to carry 44 vehicles and 300 passengers and crew.
Ferries will be equipped with a hybrid diesel electric-battery power generation and propulsion system.
Total project cost for the ferries is $86.5 million. The federal government is contributing a portion of the cost.
Riccardo Regosa, general manager of Point Hope, said workers will be trained to work on the new technology, which is expected to open up new opportunities for the yard.
He expects that environmentally friendly propulsion systems will be an increasing trend in the shipping sector.
Regosa previously worked in Romania and also spent about 18 years with Damen as a director of projects at that shipyard and others owned by Damen.
The new ferries will be well-built and he expects there will be few problems with them.
