BC Ferries has confirmed that four new Summit Class vessels will be built as part of its New Major Vessels programme, with the contract awarded to China Merchant Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd., the company said on 10 June 2025.
The operator says the programme is intended to replace ageing ships on some of its busiest routes and to improve reliability and system resilience across its network. The procurement of four vessels was approved by the BC Ferry Commission in March 2025, marking the formal start of the acquisition phase.
BC Ferries announced the shipbuilder selection following a competitive international process. The chosen yard is tasked with constructing the quartet of Summit Class ships under the terms disclosed by the operator.
Each Summit Class vessel is designed to carry up to 360 standard vehicles and to accommodate up to 2,100 passengers and crew. Those capacity figures reflect the operator's intention to serve high-demand routes and to provide a substantial increase in carrying capability compared with some existing vessels.
Design for lower noise and quicker turnarounds
The design includes propellers intended to reduce underwater noise, a feature the operator has highlighted as part of the vessels' technical specification. BC Ferries also points to faster loading and unloading arrangements incorporated into the design as measures to improve schedule efficiency and reduce berth time.
In addition to those operational features, BC Ferries says the vessels are designed to support fully electric operation when the necessary shore and ship infrastructure becomes available. That capability has been included at the design stage so the ships can be adapted to future electrification without requiring fundamental redesign.
Timetable for entry into service
BC Ferries expects the first of the four Summit Class vessels to enter service in 2029, with the full quartet operational by 2031. Those milestones form the delivery timetable the operator has published for the New Major Vessels programme.
The programme, and the announced build contract, are presented by BC Ferries as measures to strengthen the resilience of its fleet as older vessels are phased out. By replacing ageing tonnage on high-traffic routes the operator aims to maintain capacity and punctuality as demand changes.
The announcement completes the public stages of a procurement process that began with the regulator's approval in March 2025 and culminated in the builder award in June 2025. BC Ferries' statement sets out the capacity and technical aims of the Summit Class without further operational detail on specific route assignments or financing in the material provided.