The new cable ferry service between Buckley Bay, 20 kilometres south of Courtenay, and Denman Island is another step closer to reality after B.C. Ferries awarded about $15 million in contracts to build ferry berths at each end of the route.
Ruskin Construction, which is based in Prince George but maintains a marine construction unit in Victoria, was awarded a $13-million contract to build the berths, while Vancouver Pile Driving was chosen for a $2-million contract to supply two floating concrete pontoons.
“We followed a fair and competitive tendering process for the terminal work to ensure we would receive high quality construction at a competitive price,” said B.C. Ferries vice-president of engineering Mark Wilson. “We are pleased that the successful bidders for these projects are located here in B.C.”
The contracts follow the awarding of a $15-million contract to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards to build a cable ferry that will run between Vancouver Island and Denman Island and replace the 260-foot-long Quinitsa, a conventional ferry built in 1977.
The cable ferry has caused controversy with some users claiming it will be less stable than a conventional vessel, but Ferries has said the new vessel will be just as safe and reliable.
The cable ferry is more energy efficient and is expected to cut fuel costs in half, with Ferries estimating it will save about $2 million annually.
Construction of the cable ferry is to begin in June in North Vancouver with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2015.
The Quinitsa will be used as a relief vessel.
Construction of the pontoons is to begin shortly and is expected to be complete this summer, while terminal construction is set to finish in fall of 2014 allowing the cable ferry to begin service on the route in the summer of 2015.
The construction is not expected to have an impact on the operation of the current ferry service.
A Ruskin spokesman said details of start dates and workers required for the job have yet to be worked out.
Ruskin’s facility in Victoria, which specializes in jetty construction, marine salvage, dredging and pile driving, has worked on projects at Ogden Point, Point Hope Shipyard and the Department of National Defence.
