MV Spirit of British Columbia Ferry Operations and News

The MV Spirit of British Columbia ferry is a popular mode of transportation for those traveling between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. It's a great way to see the coastline while getting to your destination.

This ferry route is operated by BC Ferries, which offers multiple sailings daily. The Spirit of British Columbia is one of the largest ferries in the fleet, accommodating up to 2,100 passengers and 470 vehicles.

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The MV Spirit of British Columbia is currently out of service for repairs, which are being carried out over five days in Esquimalt.

The vessel is undergoing repairs to its stern-tube seal and bow-thruster blade seals, which were caught early to prevent potential disruptions during the peak season.

The Spirit of British Columbia was most recently refit in February and its previous dry-docking was in February 2023.

Broaden your view: HSC T&T Spirit

The Spirit of British Columbia ferry is currently cruising at a speed of 20.3 kn (38 km/h | 23 mph).

Its current location is in North America West Coast, with coordinates 48.96363 N / -123.19571 W.

The AIS position was last reported 5 minutes ago.

This information is crucial for tracking the ferry's progress and ensuring a smooth journey for passengers and crew.

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The Spirit of British Columbia is currently out of service for repairs. It's been docked in Esquimalt for five days to fix issues with its stern-tube seal and bow-thruster blade seals.

The problem was caught early, which allowed B.C. Ferries to schedule repairs quickly to prevent potential disruptions during the peak season. This proactive approach has helped minimize the impact on passengers and crew.

The Spirit of British Columbia was most recently refit in February and had its previous dry-docking in February 2023. It's a 548-foot-long ferry built in 1993, which was converted to run on liquefied natural gas in 2018.

The ferry can carry 2,100 passengers and crew, and 358 cars. The repairs are being done in dry dock and will also involve sea trials to ensure the vessel is seaworthy.

The Coastal Renaissance is filling in for the Spirit of British Columbia on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route.

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The Spirit of British Columbia has returned to service after being converted to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The ferry will run on both LNG and diesel, with the intention of operating on gas most of the time.

BC Ferries' two largest vessels are the first in the fleet to undergo a conversion from marine diesel fuel to LNG.

The Spirit of Vancouver Island, the ferry's sister ship, will go through its own conversion to natural gas later this fall and will return to service in 2019.

The conversion to LNG is expected to save BC Ferries millions in fuel costs, with LNG being 40 to 50 per cent cheaper than marine diesel fuel.

The Spirit of British Columbia has been back in B.C. waters for about a month, with crews trained on the new systems, safety procedures, and operations.

The ferry will be fuelled via FortisBC, with fuelling taking place at night, just like their conventional vessels.

BC Ferries anticipates reducing CO2 emissions by 12,500 tonnes once the Spirit of Vancouver Island is converted, equivalent to 2,500 vehicles on the road.

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