B.C. Ferries is preparing to have five new major vessels built to run between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
A call for expressions of interest has been issued.
The Queen of New Westminster is slated for replacement in about five years (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
The competition is open to local and international yards.
These ships would start to come into service in 2023.
They will replace the Queen of Alberni, Queen of New Westminster, Queen of Cowichan and Queen of Coquitlam.
“These vessels will be quieter and have a lighter ecological footprint than any we have ever built,” said Mark Wilson, vice president of strategy and community engagement for B.C. Ferries.
The request for expressions of interest kicks off the procurement process, to hear from yards or consortiums interested in building the ships. Responses give B.C. Ferries information on the capacity and capability of shipyards.
Following this, a request for pre-qualification is issued and finally, a request for proposals.
B.C. Ferries has to seek approval from the B.C. Ferries Commissioner for the cost of the vessels. That applicaiton goes to the Commissioner next year and if approved, the contract for the ferries should be awarded by the end of 2019.
B.C. shipyards have said that when construction contracts are open internationally they can’t compete. Huge international shipyards have a economic advantage because their labour costs are lower than in Canada.
