The Island Gwawis was officially christened on Tuesday, Jan. 11 and will go into service connecting Gabriola Island and Nanaimo in the spring of 2022. (BC Ferries)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEW BOATS

New Nanaimo-Gabriola Island ferries officially christened ahead of spring debut

Jan 12, 2022 | 11:27 AM

NANAIMO — The two vessels which will replace the aging MV Quinsam linking Gabriola and Vancouver Island officially have names.

The Island Gwawis was officially christened into the BC Ferries fleet during a ceremony in Victoria on Tuesday, Jan. 11, joining its sister ship the Island Kwigwis which was named in mid-December.

Gwawis is a word meaning “raven of the sea” and was chosen with help from the ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation based in Alert Bay.

“This ship is as much about the relationships we are building as the service it provides,” Mark Collins, president & CEO of BC Ferries said in a release. “Island Gwawis will help move us towards being one of the most sustainable companies in the world while connecting communities along the way.”

Kwigwis also comes from First Nations language and means “eagle of the sea”.

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Both the Gwawis and Kwigwis are electric-hybrid vessels and will run on a combination of battery and fossil fuel until charging capabilities are developed at the terminal.

Capacity on both ships is set at 47 vehicles and 450 passengers.

The vessel they’re replacing, the 40-year-old MV Quinsam, can carry up to 63 vehicles and 400 passengers.

BC Ferries plans to run the two ships simultaneously with the goal of eliminating delayed and cancelled sailings which have plagued the route for years, especially during busier summer months.

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