BC Ferries’ Vessel to Undergo $13M Upgrade

The Spirit of Vancouver Island will be removed from service on the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen route for its annual refit and a major passenger services upgrade on Tuesday, January 3, 2006. Similar to the 2005 upgrade of the Spirit of British Columbia, the Spirit of Vancouver Island will see all the interior passenger areas completely renovated. Among the improvements to the 1994 vessel will be an upgraded cafeteria, a redesigned buffet, renovated washrooms, new seating, flooring and carpeting, and the replacement of the Lantern Coffee Bar with the Seawest Lounge. The passenger-service improvements, which are part of an initiative to revitalize the fleet, represent an investment of approximately $10 million that, when combined with the refit budget (which includes overhauling two of the four engines and repainting the vessel), total $13 million. While the Spirit vessel is out of service the Queen of Saanich will be the replacement vessel. BC Ferries will reintroduce the renovated Spirit of Vancouver Island to service in spring 2006.