By Grant Warkentin
The four vessels under construction in China for BC Ferries will be named after iconic trees, BC Ferries announced yesterday.
The new Summit-class vessels were commissioned last year to replace the four oldest boats in the ferry fleet. The first four will be named Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple, and Summit Spruce.
“We heard clearly through the naming process the importance of connecting these vessels to the natural environment of British Columbia and to the communities they serve – and that’s reflected in the vessel names,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries, in a statement. “Many of our largest ships are approaching the end of their expected service life, and these new vessels are a critical part of renewing service on our busiest routes. We believe that the first four Summit Class vessels will play an important role in improving reliability, adding capacity and strengthening the system over the long term.”
BC Ferries says the new names were chosen based on suggestions by employees and a focus group to reflect BC’s diverse landscapes.
“Arbutus, cedar, maple and spruce are some of the most recognizable trees in British Columbia – they’re central to our forests, reflect a long tradition of environmental stewardship, and help define the province’s landscape,” said Robert Guy, professor emeritus in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC, in the BC Ferries statement. “It’s fitting to see those names on vessels that so many British Columbians rely on to connect with family, support communities and keep people and goods moving along key coastal routes.”
The new vessels attracted controversy last year and prompted questions about sovereignty, espionage, and security when BC Ferries announced the contract to build them was going to China Merchant Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd. They will be built in Weihai, China.
No cost has been publicly released for the four vessels; however, BC Ferries received $1 billion in federal loans for the project last year. The first vessel is expected to enter service in spring 2029, with the remaining three entering service every six months until the last arrives in late 2030.
Featured image: Rendering of what the Summit-class ferries will look like. From BC Ferries
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