New Denman Island cable ferry officially in service

BC Ferries says acontroversial newcable ferry from Vancouver Islandto Denman Islandhas officially goneinto service.

TheBaynesSound Connector isthe first cable ferry inthefleet and replaces the Quinitsa, the current boat on the route. Existing schedules remain the same.

According to a release from BC Ferries, the new ferry uses less than half the fuel of the Quinitsa, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 480 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.

"This is an exciting day for BC Ferries as we welcome the cable ferry into regular operationand see the successful outcome of implementing a technology new to coastal B.C. that has proved to have significant cost and environmental benefits," said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries' President andCEO.

"We are very pleased with the new ship and its strong performance, exceeding contractspecifications and reducing the environmental footprint of our operations."

BC Ferries says the new ferry is much quieter than theQuinitsa, operating at23 decibels below the usualnoise level.

Impact on marine traffic

However, some residents of Denman and Hornby Islands hadexpressed concern over whether a cable ferry will be able to handle ocean conditions and West Coast weather and the impact on marine traffic.

No other boats are allowed to cross over the underwater cables during the entire 10 minutes it takes for the ferry to cross betweenBuckley Bay to Denman Island.

Red signal lights have been installed at the cable ferry docks to indicate when other boats must stop.

BC Ferries expects to save $1.75 million per year through reducedcrew, maintenance and fuel costs on the 50-car ferry, noting thatadds up to $70 million over the 40-year lifespan of the vessel.