Denman Island cable ferry to start service in 2016

It's two years behind schedule, but BC Ferries says the controversial new Denman Island cable ferry could finally be in service by February, 2016.

When the plan to build the new vessel was first announced in 2012, BC Ferries said it would be in service by 2014.

That deadline came and went, along with others.

The new ferry was built in Vancouver, terminals were constructed and cables were laid, and after the vessel was finally launched his summer, the sea trials began in August.

On Friday the corporation announced the sea trials were successful and it has formally taken possession of theBaynes Sound Connector from the builders, Seaspan.

"We are very pleased with the new cable ferry's performance," CEO Mike Corrigan said in statement.

"In operational trials, the vessel exceeded its maximum design speed of 8.5 knots fully loaded, achieving a speed of 8.7 knots, with crossing times consistent with the Quinitsa."

The 50-vehicle ferry, which is the first of its kind for BC Ferries, uses one cable to move itself and two more to guide itself on the short crossing to Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries expects to save $80 million in fuel costs over its 40-year life as a result.

But it still has to overcome many islanders' concerns about how well it will function in rough weather.

Awash in concerns

Retired sea captain Peter Kimmerly who was the senior master of the nearby Hornby Island ferry for 12 years says the shallow draft of the new ferry makes it unsuitable for rough weather.

He's concerned that will mean more sailing cancellations and delays, particularly in the winter months.

"They have not really exposed it to any significant weather so far," said Kimmerly.

"It is going to be a very very violent ship. The conditions that the ship has been designed for they call a 100-year-wind 32 knots."

"In the last three weeks we have had wind over 35 knots three times. Every one of those times the ferry was parked at Buckley Bay," he said.

As a result, he's skeptical the ferry will be able to meet BC Ferries promise of an average of only five cancelled sailing a year.

"I don't believe there is a single islander who believes that. I believe every time the wind blows it will be parked at the dock," said Kimmerly,

In comparison, he says the current ferry has only been cancelled twice in ten years.

Vessel will perform

BC Ferries vice president of engineering Mark Wilson admits the vessel has not faced the worst weather yet, but he says some of the concerns are based on misinformation about the vessel.

"I think it has been out in winds of around 25 knots, but you can get an indication of the ride-ability of the vessel in that," he said.

Wilson says the vessel is designed for a 100-year-wave, a 100-year-current, and greater than a 100-year-wind and over the next few months, it will be tested in some of the worst weather available.

"The vessel is designed to operate in sustained wind conditions for four hours or more of 55 knots sustained, gusting to over 85 knots, and that's a higher standard than much of the rest of the fleet."

"That standard should deliver the same level of service that they currently have," said Wilson.

Frustrated by delays

Frank Frketich, the chair of the island's ferry advisory board, says locals have also been frustrated by the delays, and he just hopes it will finally get to work.

"The sooner the thing gets running and hopefully I repeat hopefully does a good job, then people will start to feel that maybe this thing can work," said Frketich.

Wilson addressed concerns about the delayed launch, saying BC Ferries was committed to making sure the vessel met all the requirements, without any interruption to service, before launching.

"We've just taken our time to make sure we are 100 per cent able to meet all of our commitments to the community."

He says BC Ferries will spend the next eight weeks training crews and adjusting the pontoons at the new terminals before the vessel enters service in February.