One of BC Ferries' oldest vessels is about to sail its last voyage | Daily Hive

BC Ferries

One of BC Ferries’ oldest vessels in its fleet is gearing up for its final sailing today after nearly 60 years on the water.

The ferry operator announced earlier this week that the Tachek will journey for the last time between Whaletown on Cortes Island and Heriot Bay on Quadra Island on Friday, June 26.

Built in 1969, the Tachek is BC Ferries’ first hybrid ferry with both conventional diesel engines and a 200 kW-hr battery bank.

The Island Nagalis is taking over the Quadra Island-Cortes Island route, a move that the company says will boost vehicle capacity from 26 vehicles to 47 vehicles and increase passenger and crew capacity from 150 people to 399.

BC Ferries

You might also like:

“There are no anticipated service disruptions with this vessel change; however, timing remains subject to operational requirements,” said the company in a service notice.

“The Island Nagalis uses battery-equipped hybrid-electric technology designed to reduce emissions and support quieter operations. Passenger amenities include larger indoor passenger lounges, more outdoor seating, a heated solarium, a pet area, and a stair lift.”

Earlier this month, we reported that BC Ferries has taken delivery of the first of four new additional Island Class vessels that will join its fleet over the next year, marking another step in a major effort to modernize ferry service on minor routes.

Island xwsaĺux̌ul arriving in Victoria Inner Harbour, May 2026. (BC Ferries)

The new vessel, Island xwsaĺux̌ul (pronounced xwus-saw-la-kwahl), recently arrived in Victoria Inner Harbour after being built at Damen Shipyards in Romania. Before it begins carrying passengers, the vessel will undergo final testing, sea trials, and crew training.

If all sea trials and regulatory approvals proceed as planned, the ferry is expected to enter service later in Summer 2026 on the route linking Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island’s Descanso Bay terminal.

BC Ferries also recently added a new temporary fuel surcharge of five per cent that went into effect on Tuesday, June 16.

This is in response to what BC Ferries describes as “sustained increases in global fuel prices” and the energy market volatility stemming from geopolitical conflict overseas.

The five per cent surcharge was chosen as the most balanced way to help deal with rising fuel costs while minimizing impacts to passengers as much as possible.

It also added that the temporary surcharge will apply to all of its routes and is authorized by the BC Ferry Commission.

With files from Kenneth Chan