BC Ferries' Clean Futures Plan calls for its fleet to do away with greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and progress is being made, according to the organization. It issued an update to the plan on October 27th.

Director of Climate Change Policy Frank Camaraire says nearly all current emissions are produced by BC Ferries fleet of 39 vessels. This past year, BC Ferries removed the equivalent of 3,000 vehicles from roads, by blending a mix of bio-fuels with conventional diesel to power two of its larger ships.

Camaraire also notes that four of six new "island class" hybrid electric vessels in operation are performing very well. BC Ferries plans to introduce two of the new hybrid vessels to operate on the busy Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, to Quadra Island route next year, increasing capacity by 85 per cent.

Camaraire says the ferry corporation is looking for federal funding to assist with retrofitting on shore terminals so that charging systems are in place for hybrid electric vessels. He adds that the plan is to have those vessels eventually run only on electricity. As well, BC Ferries also wants to build three more "island class" vessels that will be solely powered by electricity.

Frank Camaraire discusses BC Ferries Clean Futures Plan in the interview with CKTZ News below: