BC Ferries has announced that the four new ferries scheduled to begin arriving in 2029 will be named Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple and Summit Spruce, reflecting what the company says was strong feedback about linking the vessels to British Columbia’s natural environment and coastal communities. BC Ferries president and CEO Nicolas Jimenez said the names were chosen to connect the ships to the province’s landscape and the people who depend on ferry service, while professor emeritus Robert Guy of UBC’s Faculty of Forestry said the tree names are fitting for vessels that help move families, workers, goods and communities along key coastal routes.
The four vessels are part of BC Ferries’ Summit Class renewal program, approved in 2025 by the BC Ferry Commission. Although the company had requested five new ferries, the approval covered four. BC Ferries says the ships are expected to enter service beginning in 2029, with all four operating by 2031. The new ferries will replace the four oldest ships in the fleet and are intended to help address aging vessels and improve long-term service reliability on the busiest routes.
According to BC Ferries, the Summit Class ferries are being designed as identical, interoperable vessels so they can be used more flexibly across major routes. Ed Hooper, head of fleet renewal at BC Ferries, said having multiple vessel types can reduce flexibility when disruptions happen, while a uniform class of ships will make it easier to move vessels where they are needed, align them with terminal infrastructure, and support more consistent crewing and scheduling. The company says each ferry will be able to carry up to 360 standard-sized vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew.
The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union also welcomed the announcement, with president Eric McNeely saying union members will operate, load, repair, maintain and staff the new vessels. He said ferry workers play a central role in keeping coastal communities connected and supporting the movement of people and goods across British Columbia every day.
BC Ferries added that the fleet renewal is necessary because not only are the four oldest ferries nearing the end of their expected service life, but several other vessels in the fleet are also aging. The company says older ships require more specialized maintenance, longer waits for parts and more frequent inspections, which can affect both reliability and operating costs.
The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over the shipbuilder selected for the project. After the ferry commissioner approved the four vessels, BC Ferries said it chose China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Co. Ltd. as the builder on June 10, 2025. The decision drew criticism because of trade tensions between Canada and China, and later raised national security concerns that prompted federal review discussions. Critics also questioned why the contract was not awarded to B.C. or Canadian shipyards, though BC Ferries has said no Canadian shipyards submitted bids for the project.
