Gabriola passengers could have a chance to sail this month on the new Island Gwawis ferry, as B.C. Ferries crews train on the vessel as it travels between Nanaimo and the island.
Island Gwawis is the sixth Island-class ferry built by Damen Shipyards in Romania. It arrived in Victoria in December and received its new name at Point Hope Maritime in January.
B.C. Ferries says the vessel may be sailing at the same time as the Quinsam ferry, which is currently serving the Gabriola Island-Nanaimo route, and could be used to carry vehicles and passengers. No extra sailings are scheduled, but they could be offered on an ad hoc basis, a B.C. Ferries official said Monday.
All six Island-class ferries are powered by hybrid diesel-electric engines. Each can carry up to 47 vehicles and 450 passengers and crew. They will serve Campbell River-Quadra Island and the Nanaimo-Gabriola routes this year. There will be two ferries serving each route.
