The fourth and final Salish class vessel transited the Panama Canal over the weekend after beginning its journey on December 22, 2021 from Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. Salish Heron is expected to arrive in Victoria in late February and will be in service this year.

By the time Salish Heron completes its transoceanic voyage it will have travelled more than 10,000 nautical miles spending nearly two months navigating the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal and the Pacific Coast of North America. The vessel will undergo an inspection at Ogden Point in Victoria, B.C before moving to the Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond where BC Ferries will officially take ownership. That’s where final preparations will be made to introduce Salish Heron into service, including the application of the exterior artwork designed by Coast Salish artist Maynard Johnny Jr.

Salish Heron is identical to the three Salish Class ferries which entered service in 2017, with capacity to carry up to 138 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew. With three identical vessels already in service, BC Ferries is realizing the benefits of standardization as crew training is being completed on ferries currently in operation.

The Salish Class vessels operate on liquefied natural gas, a cleaner fuel than diesel. The hull design creates a very small wake and the electric propulsion and structural design ensure a quiet ride. The Indigenous artwork on each Salish Class vessel is an acknowledgement of the Coast Salish sailors as original navigators of these coastal waters.

To follow Salish Heron’s journey and track its progress including course, position and speed, visit vesselfinder.com. BC Ferries looks forward to officially welcoming the ship into service later this year.