Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC) hosted an official ceremony in Nanaimo, BC to mark the grand opening of its new Duke Point Terminal.
The 18 acre, multi-berth facility, which took approximately 19 months to build, consolidates operations from the previous downtown-located operation and the old facility at Duke Point.
The terminal can accommodate 360 trailers as well as an overflow lot, and includes state-of-the-art hydraulic, dynamic-suspended ramps, each 35m x 10m wide.
“The opening of Seaspan Ferries’ new Duke Point Terminal marks the latest step in our bold and ambitious $250 million commitment to re-construct our marine terminals and modernize the fleet of vessels that service them,” said Steve Roth – President, Seaspan Ferries Corporation. “We take great pride in the role we play as a key driver for the regional economy, and trusted partner to the communities we serve, and I’m thrilled to open a new facility that will improve flexibility and efficiency for our customers shipping between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.”
"On behalf of the City of Nanaimo, I wish to thank the Washington family and group of companies for their continued confidence in Nanaimo and the entire Vancouver Island business community,” said Bill McKay – Mayor, City of Nanaimo. “Your ongoing investments will support and bolster efficient transportation of goods to and from the island for generations of new consumers and industry alike."
The completion of SFC’s $44M Duke Point Terminal comes on the heels of the commissioning and introduction of its two new technologically-advanced, LNG-fuelled vessels, the Seaspan Swift and Seaspan Reliant. The 148.9 metre long ferries, both now in service, accommodate up to 59, 53’ trailers and mark the first new vessels added to SFC’s fleet since 2002. These eco-ferries will reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, while delivering the highest level of efficiency, performance and reliability.
SFC currently operates a fleet of seven ferries out of four terminals in British Columbia, and supplies more than 50 percent of all cargo to Vancouver Island.