Cable Ferry Berths Contracts Awarded

BC FERRIES AWARDS $15.2 MILLION IN CONTRACTS 

FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CABLE FERRY BERTHS

VICTORIA – BC Ferries announced today two contracts totalling $15.2 million have been awarded for the construction of the Buckley Bay and Denman West cable ferry berths. These contracts include an award to Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd. for the supply of two concrete floating pontoons, and another award to Ruskin Construction Ltd. of Victoria, for the construction of the two berths, expansion of the Denman West holding compound and all associated upland development.

“We followed a fair and competitive tendering process for the terminal work to ensure we would receive high quality construction at a competitive price,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. “We are pleased that the successful bidders for these projects are located here in B.C.”

After twelve months of detailed design development, tenders were issued for construction of two floating pontoons and for the construction of the two terminal facilities. The tender for the supply of the two concrete pontoons was issued in late November 2013 and closed late January 2014. The marine structures and upland construction tender was issued at the beginning of December 2013 and closed mid-February 2014.

Pontoon construction will begin shortly and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2014. Terminal construction is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2014. The cable ferry is expected to commence service on the route in the summer of 2015. These construction projects will not impact the operation of the current ferry service between Buckley Bay and Denman Island.

“The cable ferry system will provide substantial cost savings of over $80 million over the 40-year life of the project compared to the current service, and these significant cost savings of $2 million per year will help reduce pressure on future fare increases across the coastal ferry system,” said Wilson.