Reducing Emissions

Seaspan Ferries is a leader in the utilization of advanced technology to reduce GHG emissions and improve service delivery by being one of the first to deploy dual-fuelled/hybrid (diesel, LNG and battery) eco-ferries in North America.  

The first new dual-fuelled/hybrid ferries were added to its fleet with the arrival of the Seaspan Swift in December 2016, and its sister ship the Seaspan Reliant in February 2017. The 148.9 metre ferries can accommodate up to 59, 53-foot trailers each. The two eco-ferries mark the first vessels added to Seaspan Ferries Corporation’s fleet since 2002, and along with Seaspan Ferries’ previous fleet will continue to supply more than 50% of all cargo to Vancouver Island, B.C.

Seaspan Ferries continues to expand its fleet and plans to have two sister vessels to the Seaspan Swift and Seaspan Reliant enter into service in 2021.

In February 2021, Seaspan Ferries announced a partnership with Corvus Energy to install the Blue Whale, a ground-breaking large-scale energy storage system (ESS) designed for large ships with high zero-emission energy demand, onboard the Seaspan Reliant. The inaugural field trials of the Blue Whale increases the battery capacity of the Seaspan Ferries fleet and enables Seaspan Ferries to play a key role in the transformation of shipping towards a greener and more sustainable industry. Along with the continued efforts to reduce emission from vessels, SFC has shore power systems on all vessels and all berths.

As part of Seaspan Ferries’ efforts to reduce fleet emissions and explore alternative, low-carbon technologies, the company will pilot battery-powered trucks procured with the support of the Province of British Columbia and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. In August 2021, Seaspan Ferries placed an order for the first Terberg battery powered terminal trucks in North America.

Then, in October 2021, Seaspan Ferries became the first Canadian marine company to pilot the use of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by its roll-on, roll-off liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered marine fleet. Seaspan Ferries expects that data from the pilot will confirm that, by using RNG, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by upwards of 85 per cent versus traditional diesel fuel.