MV Island Gwawis
Island Gwawis in Nanaimo Harbour | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Name | Island Gwawis |
| Owner | BC Ferries |
| Operator | BC Ferries |
| Route | Nanaimo Harbour ↔ Gabriola Island |
| Builder | Damen Shipyards Galați |
| Launched | 22 April 2021 |
| Christened | 11 January 2022 |
| In service | 12 April 2022 |
| Home port | Victoria |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Island-class ferry |
| Tonnage | 1458.59 |
| Displacement | 1431 tonnes |
| Length | 80.80 m (265 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in) |
| Draft | 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in) |
| Depth | 5.70 m (18 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power | 2,601 hp (1,940 kW) |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 7 |
MV Island Gwawis is the sixth ferry in the Island class, owned and operated by BC Ferries. Built by Damen Shipyards in 2021, this vessel is part of the second phase of Island-class vessels. Island Gwawis was launched as Island 6 on April 22, 2021, left Galați, Romania, on October 13, 2021, and arrived at Point Hope Shipyard, Victoria, British Columbia on December 23, 2021. On January 11, 2022, Island 6 was christened and renamed Island Gwawis by BC Ferries Director of Fleet Operations and Strategy, and First People's Cultural Council Special Advisor Cathi Charles Wherry. "Gwawis" means "raven of the sea" in the Kwakwaka'wakw indigenous language.