Breeze from across the pond

Vancouver’s Translink MV Burrard Pacific Breeze, built 2009, image from BMT

Shipyards in BC are again being passed over in another planned government funded new build. Translink, the regional Vancouver public transit authority, has sourced Damen Shipyard in the Netherlands, to build a new Seabus replacement vessel.

The venerable Burrard Beaver as been in service since its launch in 1976, working alongside its sister ship Burrard Otter, ferrying passengers from North Vancouver, across the harbor to downtown Vancouver. The Burrard Otter was replaced with a similar sized, but much updated Burrard Pacific Breeze, in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Burrard beaver, from Wikipedia

The aluminum hulled catamarans passenger ferries are simple in function and known as the Seabus to Vancouverites. They are well adapted to swiftly moving 6 millions passengers every year, using specialized landing barge and gangways. 

The new vessel will replace the Burrard Beaver, which will then become the stand by vessel, and the Burrard Otter will be retired. Damen will build the new vessel for $25 million, and will feature some minor improvements over the Burrard Pacific Breeze. It is expected to be in service in the fall of 2014.

The Burrard Pacific Breeze was designed by BMT Fleet and built by a ABD Aluminum yards of Vancouver, and Victoria Shipyard, part of the Seaspan group of companies. According to Canadian Sailings, the builder of the “previous three Seabuses” did not submit a proposal; one bid was from a US yard, the third bid from a Canadian yard, planning to use a considerable amount of US yard building.

You can read Translink’s press release on their new vessel, here’s a brief article on the bidding. Here is a “backgrounder” on the Pacific Breeze, and press release from BMT. 

Burrard Pacific Breeze, from ABD

MV Burrard Pacific Breeze

Usage: Passenger ferry
Owner: Translink
Built: 2009
Yard: ABD in Vancouver / Victoria Shipyard
Operator: Coast Mountain Bus Company
Flag: Canada
Port of Registry: Victoria
Gross Tonnage: 438 t
Net Tonnage: 161 t  
Length: 33.54 m
Breadth: 11.89 m
Draught: 3.53m  
Speed: 12.0 knots
Power: Detroit Diesel Series 60, 6cyl, 300kW x4
Propulsion : Right angle drives x4
Fuel Type: Diesel