BC

The largest and oldest shipyard in Canada says it didn't stand a chance in bidding against a Chinese company to build four new vessels for B.C. Ferries.  

It's the latest criticism levelled at the ferry operator following its decision to purchase the vessels from Chinese-state owned CMI Weihai Shipyards. That criticism and China's punishing new tariffs on Canadian agriculture products have renewed calls for the contract to be cancelled. 

"Unfortunately, the procurement criteria were heavily weighted toward the lowest price, effectively favouring Chinese shipyards," James Davies, CEO of Davie shipyard, wrote in a letter this month.

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Today, Seaspan is pleased to share that we have awarded a Master-Service Agreement worth up to $9 million to BC-based Tri-Metal Fabricators to supply more than 80,000 parts for the Canadian Coast Guard’s new heavy Polar Icebreaker. TMF has committed to delivering the work under the MSA with 100 per cent Canadian Content Value through its local workforce and materials, further advancing the goals of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to strengthen Canada’s marine and defense industrial base.

Seaspan began full-rate construction of the heavy polar icebreaker in April 2025. Once delivered, it will be the most capable vessel in the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, capable of operating year-round in the Arctic, supporting search and rescue, scientific research, and asserting Canadian sovereignty. It is the seventh ship Seaspan is delivering under the NSS.

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Ocean Group is proud to announce that it will use HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel for its port towing operations in British Columbia. This new generation of hydrotreated renewable diesel is made from vegetable oils, plant or animal residues, waste oils and fats such as used cooking oil and offers a significant environmental solution. HVO reduces lifecycle CO2 emissions by approximately 80% compared to traditional fossil fuels.

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A BC Ferries vessel hasn’t been built in British Columbia since the start of the century, but later this month, the ferry company is slated to put out a competitive call for builders of its next seven major vessels.

B.C. shipbuilding giant Seaspan along with unions and suppliers have launched a new campaign dubbed Build Ferries BC that aims to have those vessels built here.

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B.C. Ferries has issued a notice that it intends to split ­drydocking and repair services for its fleet between three B.C. shipyards.

The plan is for the majority of work to go to Victoria’s Point Hope Maritime Ltd., at 46 per cent, and Seaspan ULC, also at 46 per cent. Seaspan owns Vancouver Shipyards and has its own drydock in North Vancouver and owns Victoria Shipyards. Various companies rent the huge federal Esquimalt Graving Dock.

Vancouver’s Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. which has two floating drydocks, would receive eight per cent of the work.

B.C. Ferries estimates the total value of drydocking work will be at $14.5 million per year for the next five years.

Contracts, called master service agreements, would be for five years, with the option to extend for up to 10 years, said B.C. Ferries spokesman Jeff Groot.

The aim is for contracts to begin in the second quarter of this year.

Work would be “bundled” into contracts. B.C. Ferries normally awards individual contracts when vessels need to go into ­drydock but, about five years ago, it bundled seven vessels to Point Hope Maritime.

Both Point Hope and Seaspan will work on minor, intermediate and large vessels. Allied will work on minor and intermediate-sized vessels.

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The B.C. Ferries vessel Salish Heron dropped anchor Tuesday morning.

It wasn’t supposed to.

En route from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring, the five-year-old Salish-class boat suffered an “unexpected release” of one of its two anchors into the waters near the Triconmali Channel. An investigation into the cause, whether it was mechanical or human error, is ongoing.

Passengers reported “a massive shuddering of the vessel and a huge metallic screeching sound,” with one witness saying passengers on the outer deck quickly reported to staff they could see flames and smoke.

Claire Thomas, who was on the ferry, said there was a strong smell of smoke throughout the vessel and she moved to the rear to try to avoid it, adding “passengers were very scared.”

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During the Second World War, North Vancouver's SHipyards district was, as the name suggests, a centre of Canada's shipbuilding industry. For This is BC, Jay Durant joins a historic tour of the area to learn how the shipyards brought the community together and helped build what North Vancouver is today.

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BC Ferries should not be allowed to go through with its plans to build new ships in China, after China hit Canada with a fresh round of tariffs, says Canada’s Opposition leader.

Pierre Poilievre made the comments to CHEK News while visiting a construction company in Langford on Tuesday, saying public funds must not be spent with a state-owned shipyard at a time when China is actively trying to harm the country’s economy. Poilievre also called on the federal Liberal government to cancel a $1 billion loan to BC Ferries from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

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BC Ferries is making waves with the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union (BCFMWU) planning to homeport two ferries in Crofton along BC Ferries’ Route 6.

For years the MV Quinsam has transported passengers between Crofton and Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island. The vessel is based on Salt Spring, but BC Ferries plans to replace it with two Island-class vessels, which would both be housed in Crofton. 

Most agree two vessels are necessary and would be a welcomed addition to the transit route, but some have concerns about the Vesuvius terminal being empty overnight.

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The facility is the first large-scale Canadian LNG project to begin production and also the first major facility in North America with direct access to the Pacific coast, significantly reducing sail time to Asian markets. 

When fully operational it will have a capacity to export 14 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa), according to company statements.

LNG Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The super-chilled gas is being produced from the facility’s Train 1, which has capacity of 5.6 mtpa, and the first LNG cargo is expected to be shipped by the beginning of July, the two sources said.

Only a portion of the processing plant is operating, according to the two people. Train 1 has had difficulties with one of its lines and will only produce at half its capacity until the problem is solved, one of the sources said.

LNG tanker Gaslog Glasgow is approaching LNG Canada’s Kitimat port, according to LSEG ship tracking data. The vessel is expected to arrive on June 29 and will be loaded with LNG, the sources said.

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British Columbia's transport minister says he has raised concerns with B.C. Ferries about its decision to have a Chinese shipyard build four new ferries for its passenger fleet, amid an ongoing trade conflict between Canada and China.

Mike Farnworth said he's worried about procuring services from "any country that is actively harming Canada’s economy" with tariffs and protectionism.

Farnworth's remarks come hours after the announcement by B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez that China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards had won the contract.

Jimenez said he wasn't worried about geopolitical tensions between Canada and China, adding his primary focus was getting the province a good deal. He said CMI Weihai was selected because the company is a global leader in passenger-ferry construction and shipbuilding.

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The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced it will issue a request for qualifications in July 2025 for a construction partner to deliver the landmass and wharf component of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project—a significant step towards delivering the project.

The new marine container terminal at the Port of Vancouver is a transformational, nation building project that will support Canada’s economic security and trade resilience, enabling the trade of more than $100 billion in goods annually once fully operational.

More than 18,000 jobs will be created during construction, and once operational the new terminal is anticipated to generate more than 17,000 well-paying, long-term jobs and add more than $3 billion in GDP annually.

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The British Columbia Ferries commissioner has approved the purchase of four replacement vessels for the system's major routes, one fewer than B.C. Ferries had requested.

"We're disappointed and obviously at odds with this decision," said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of B.C. Ferries. "While four vessels will still provide some much-needed benefits, we believe we're missing a critical opportunity to build a more resilient transportation network for the future at a lower price now."

The four approved vessels are diesel-battery hybrids to replace the aging Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan.

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From the goods that stock our shelves and the visitors who sustain our tourism industry to the workers who keep our communities running, British Columbia depends on BC Ferries as a critical transportation link. Without reliable ferry service, our economy and quality of life suffer.

Today, we are at a crossroads. With a growing population, an aging fleet and increasing demand, the decisions made now will determine whether BC Ferries can provide the level of service that businesses, communities, and residents need. That’s why we, representing 17 industry-leading organizations in BC’s trade, tourism, and transportation sectors, are calling for an investment today in building five new major vessels that will protect our future.

BC Ferries transports tens of millions of passengers and vehicles each year. They are already struggling to meet rising demand because they’re running a system with the same capacity it had 30 years ago, and mechanical issues are becoming all too frequent as the largest vessels are being used beyond their intended lifespan. The British Columbia Trucking Association estimates that ferry cancellations, breakdowns, and delays already cost the commercial transport sector upwards of $100 million per year—costs that ultimately get passed on to consumers. If these issues worsen, it’s the people and businesses of our province that will bear the brunt.

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B.C. Ferries is embarking on what it describes as its “largest capital investment in the organization’s history.”

After facing problems with aging vessels in its fleet — breakdowns, delays and cancelations — the company has filed an application with the B.C. Ferries Commissioner to go ahead with building five new large vessels.

If approved, the vessels would be operational between 2029 and 2031, according to the company, serving routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. B.C. Ferries would then retire four of its old vessels. Two more of these vessels are planned for later, bringing the total to seven by 2037.

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