Corvus powers four Summit ferries

The vessels — Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple and Summit Spruce — will form the operator’s new Summit Class and are designed to support a future transition to near-zero-emission, all-electric operation when suitable shore-charging infrastructure becomes available.

“We are delighted to be selected again by BC Ferries for this flagship project,” said Fredrik Witte, chief executive of Corvus Energy. “BC Ferries continues to drive one of the most ambitious and technically advanced ferry electrification programs in the world.”

Corvus will provide 10 MWh of installed battery capacity for each vessel, totalling 40 MWh across the four ships. Battery interface bases and pack control systems will also be sized to accommodate an additional 60 MWh per vessel, allowing the ferries to operate for nearly two hours with minimal emissions as charging infrastructure expands.

The vessels will use Corvus’s Dolphin NxtGen Power system, featuring liquid-cooled power cells, increased energy density and an enhanced safety architecture. The ESS will be integrated into each ship’s power and propulsion system.

BC Ferries selected Corvus based on its experience with large marine battery installations, its presence in British Columbia and its existing role in powering the operator’s Island Class fleet. The partnership is intended to provide lifecycle support from commissioning through the vessels’ decades of service.

Each Summit Class ferry will carry up to 360 vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew. Developed with LMG Marin, the vessels will feature diesel-battery hybrid propulsion and compatibility with biofuel or renewable diesel.

The first vessel is scheduled for delivery from China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Weihai Shipyard in 2029, with all four expected to enter service by 2031. The project forms part of BC Ferries’ wider fleet renewal programme, aimed at increasing capacity, improving reliability and reducing environmental impacts.