Premier David Eby Allocates $150 Million to Electrify BC Coastal Ferry Terminals and Island Vessels

VICTORIA, B.C. — British Columbia Premier David Eby and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming announced on Monday the distribution of $150 million in provincial clean transportation capital grants to install high-voltage marine shore-power charging infrastructure across five major BC Ferries coastal terminals.

The investments, coordinated with BC Hydro and BC Ferries' Clean Futures Plan, will construct dedicated 10-megawatt subsea electrical transmission feeds, automated robotic charging arms, and on-dock battery energy storage buffers at Swartz Bay (Victoria), Tsawwassen (Vancouver), Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver), Departure Bay (Nanaimo), and Langdale (Sunshine Coast).

Decarbonizing Coastal Marine Transit with Clean Hydroelectric Power BC Ferries operates 39 vessels carrying over 22 million passengers and 9 million vehicles annually, burning millions of litres of marine diesel. Modern Island Class and Major Class hybrid vessels currently possess battery propulsion packs but lacked automated dockside charging hardware to operate in 100 percent all-electric mode.

"British Columbia's coastal ferry network is a marine highway that connects families, workers, and businesses across our island and coastal communities," Premier David Eby said at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. "By investing $150 million in high-power terminal electrification, we are enabling our hybrid ferries to plug in and charge cleanly with B.C. hydroelectricity in under 15 minutes while vehicles load, cutting thousands of tonnes of diesel emissions and delivering quieter, cleaner sailings for coastal residents."

Terminal Infrastructure Upgrades The $150 million capital package funds:

• Automated Robotic Shore-Power Plugs: Installing hydraulic articulated charging arms capable of locking onto ferry charging ports within 30 seconds of docking.
• BC Hydro High-Voltage Substation Interconnections: Upgrading local electrical substations to deliver continuous 25-kV feeder lines to coastal berths.
• 5-MWh On-Dock Battery Energy Buffers: Installing stationary battery storage systems to shave peak power draws during rapid ferry recharging cycles.

Coastal mayors, tourism associations, and maritime engineering unions commended the green marine transition, highlighting that shore electrification reduces operational fuel costs and creates technical electrical trades jobs in coastal communities.