Super C class ferry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Super C-class Ferry
Image:Super C Class Ferry.jpg
Shipbuilder:	Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany
Launched:	n/a
Delivered:	To be delivered in late 2007 and early 2008
Status:	Under Construction
General Characteristics
Displacement:	21,980 Tonnage
Length:	160 metres
Beam:	28.2 metres
Draft:	5.75 metres
Propulsion:	Unknown
Speed:	21 knots
Passengers:	1,650
Car capacity:	370

The Super C Class Ferries are ferries that are being built for BC Ferries of British Columbia, Canada, at the Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft shipyard in Flensburg, Germany.

These ferries will be replacing the aging V class ferries. These will operate on the Highway 17 (Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen) route as secondary vessels to the S class ferries and probably as the primary vessels on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay (Trans-Canada Highway) route.

The first new Super C–class vessel is scheduled to arrive in British Columbia in December 2007, the second scheduled to arrive in March 2008 and the third in June 2008.

The first of the three ships will be named the Coastal Celebration, and is named to reflect BC Ferries' new beginning as an independent, commercial company. The second vessel will be named the Coastal Inspiration to highlight the inspirational beauty of British Columbia as well as the ships' new interior, which will be showcased as such. The final vessel will be named the Coastal Renaissance to celebrate BC Ferries' and its customers' anticipated excitement once the three ships have entered service.

The total purchase price of the three new ships was €206.4 million or approximately CAD $325 million at the time of the contract's announcement (September 2004). According to BC Ferries at this time, this was 40% lower than the lowest Canadian shipyard's bid.[1] Since that time, the Canadian dollar has substantially increased vis-à-vis the Euro since the time the contract signing. As of March 2006, due to exchange rate fluctuations, the total translated purchase price dropped to CAD $290 million, an unanticipated savings of approximately $35 million in BC Ferries' favour.

There were 14 bids for construction in total, three from within Canada, and the remainder from elsewhere. The decision to build the ships outside of Canada created a large uproar, particularly in BC. There were parties who argued that the Federal government should have stepped in to ensure these new ferries would be built in Canada. Part of the argument was that for reasons of national sovereignty, Canada needed to retain a ship-building industry, so there are Canadian shipyards to service Canadian Naval vessels. BC Ferries intended to request the Federal Government waive the 25% import duties (there is no free trade agreement between Germany and Canada), but BC Ferries must show that West Coast shipyards are no longer capable of constructing a vessel the size of the ‘Super C-class’ ferry. [2]

Another reason BC Ferries chose Flensburger's bid was that aside from taking the risk of construction cost overruns, Flensburger also provided guarantees on the ships' delivery dates and performance. For example, if the ships are not timely delivered to Victoria, BC, than BC Ferries is permitted to levy penalties of CAD $40,000 (€25,000) per day up to a maximum of $6 million. After delays of 180 days, BC Ferries can rescind the contract for a full refund. As well, for every 1/10th of a knot that each ferry is not able to meet its contract performance specification, BC Ferries can levy a fine of CAD $160,000 (€100,000). If the ferries fall 1 knot below specifications, BC Ferries can similarly cancel the contract for a full refund. However, as BC Ferries is in dire needs of new ships to replace its aging, single hulled V-class ferries, a problem increasingly in the media crosshairs since the March 22, 2006 foundering of the M/V Queen of the North, it is unlikely the corporation would cancel any new ferry for being too late or too slow .

According to BC Ferries, none of the Canadian shipyards' bids provided similar guarantees. The cost certainty guarantee was a significant consideration for BC Ferries (especially since the recent steel price increases) after being liable for cost overruns on the Pacificat fast ferries, which were partially responsible for toppling the New Democratic Party of British Columbia government in the 2001 provincial election.

BC Ferries will also acquire the new vessels' design plans as part of the contract; BC Ferries does not hold title to the design, plans or drawings of the Spirit Class ferries.

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

	BC Ferries Ferry Classes	Image:Flag of British Columbia.svg
S Class \| Super C Class \| C Class \| V Class \| Burnaby Class \| I Class \| Powell River Class \| Century Class \| K Class \| Q Class \| T Class \| Other (not classified)