The four new ferries that will begin to be delivered starting in 2029 will be named after B.C. trees, according to BC Ferries.
The ferries will be named Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple, and Summit Spruce.
“We heard clearly through the naming process the importance of connecting these vessels to the natural environment of British Columbia and to the communities they serve – and that’s reflected in the vessel names,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries.
“Many of our largest ships are approaching the end of their expected service life, and these new vessels are a critical part of renewing service on our busiest routes. We believe that the first four Summit Class vessels will play an important role in improving reliability, adding capacity and strengthening the system over the long term.”
BC Ferries said the names were chosen with input from employees and a “representative group of external participants.”
“Arbutus, cedar, maple and spruce are some of the most recognizable trees in British Columbia – they’re central to our forests, reflect a long tradition of environmental stewardship, and help define the province’s landscape,” said Robert Guy, professor emeritus in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC.
“It’s fitting to see those names on vessels that so many British Columbians rely on to connect with family, support communities and keep people and goods moving along key coastal routes.”
The four new ferries were approved in 2025 by the BC Ferry Commission, short of the five new ferries the company had requested. The new ferries will begin to arrive and be in service in 2029, with all four in service by 2031.
The company says the ferries are being designed with the idea of being able to operate interchangeably across the major routes.
“Today, operating multiple vessel types can limit flexibility when issues arise,” said Ed Hooper, head of fleet renewal at BC Ferries.
“The Summit Class will be a fleet of identical, interoperable vessels, which makes it easier to move vessels when and where they’re needed, aligning seamlessly with terminal infrastructure, and enabling consistent crewing and scheduling – ultimately helping BC Ferries to deliver more reliable service for our customers.”
The ferries will carry up to 360 standard-sized vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew. They will replace the four oldest ships in BC Ferries’ fleet.
“BCFMWU members will operate, load, repair, maintain and staff the new Summit Class vessels, continuing the work they do every day to keep coastal communities connected,” said Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union.
“Behind every sailing, on every vessel, are skilled workers who move people and goods safely and reliably, supporting communities across British Columbia. Their knowledge, experience and commitment keep ferry service moving for the people that rely on it every day.”
The company notes that while the four oldest ferries will be replaced, “a number of other vessels are also aging, and maintaining them requires more specialized work, longer lead times for parts, and more frequent inspections – all of which can significantly impact reliability and cost.”
Controversy around ship-builder of new ferries
After the ferry commissioner approved four ferries, BC Ferries later announced it had selected a shipyard to build the new vessels.
China Merchant Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd. was announced on June 10, 2025, and controversy grew after the announcement.
The decision to use the state-owned shipyard first drew outrage due to the ongoing trade conflict between Canada and China.
Later, national security concerns were raised, with the federal government asking the public safety mininster and Canadian Security Intelligence Service for input.
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The main concern, however, was over why either B.C. or Canadian shipyards should have been used to support the local economy.
BC Ferries has maintained that no Canadian shipyards submitted bids to build the new ferries.
READ MORE: Rob Shaw: Local shipyards could have built some BC Ferries ships rather than China, says leaked report
