Damen Shipyard in Galati launched its tenth Island-class ferry, built for Canadian operator BC Ferries, the company said in a statement on Friday, noting that ships of this class serve routes between the islands on Canada's west coast.
The vessel is the last of an order of four. When delivered, these will complement six Island Class ferries Damen has delivered previously, making the Island Class the largest vessel class in BC Ferries' fleet.
Island-class ferries are designed with approximately 200 additional spaces for vehicles and 2,000 for passengers.
According to the cited source, the shipyard has recently reached several important milestones, as the eighth vessel began sea trials on February 23, 2026, and on the same day the seventh ship set sail for Canada.
Island-class ships are part of BC Ferries' ongoing work towards standardizing its fleet. With this, the ferry operator aims to reduce complexity across its operations, making it easier to train crews, stock spare parts, and assign vessels where they are needed.
Standardization also provides a more consistent travel experience for passengers and significantly reduces logistical, operational, training and maintenance costs. The Island-class are equipped with batteries and diesel-hybrid technology, which makes them capable of full electric operations once shoreside charging infrastructure becomes available.
"Launching the final Island-class vessel is an important step in renewing our fleet and strengthening service for coastal communities. These vessels add space for more passengers and vehicles while helping us replace aging ships with modern, more efficient ones. That's essential to keeping ferry service reliable for the people and communities who depend on it every day," said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries, as cited in the release.
The tenth Island-class ship is called Island K'asa, a name provided by the Wei Wai Kum First Nation, which means "Otter" in the Kwak'wala language. The name symbolizes a guardian spirit and a reminder of life's interconnectedness. After delivery, the ferry will operate on Route 23, between Campbell River and Quadra Island.
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