MV Coastal Celebration is the third and final Coastal-class ferry ship to be delivered to BC Ferries. The class comprises some of the largest double-ended ferries in the world. The vessel completed construction in 2008 and entered service the same year. Unlike her sister ships, MV Coastal Renaissance and MV Coastal Inspiration, Coastal Celebration was equipped with a Pacific Buffet for service on the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen route, until it was discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then closed permanently in June 2023.

Description

Coastal Celebration is a Coastal-class ferry in the BC Ferries fleet. They are among the largest double-ended ferries in the world. It has a gross tonnage (GT) of 21,777 tons, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 2,350 tons and a maximum displacement of 10,034 t (max). The vessel is 160 m long overall and 154 m between perpendiculars with a beam of 28.2 m. Coastal Celebration has a diesel-electric propulsion system driving two shafts rated at 21444 hp and a maximum speed of 23 kn. The vessel has a capacity of 1,604 crew and passengers and 310 vehicles. Coastal Celebration's amenities include a Pacific Buffet, a Coastal Cafe, a Coast Cafe Express, a Seawest Lounge, a Passages Gift Shop, a Kids Zone, a Video Zone, a pet area, work/study stations, elevators, and accessible washrooms.

Service history

The third and final vessel in its class, Coastal Celebration's keel was laid down on September 3, 2007 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft of Flensburg, Germany with the yard number 735. The vessel was launched on December 14, 2007 and completed construction on May 9, 2008. Coastal Celebration was named as such by BC Ferries "to reflect the anticipated celebration that BC Ferries and its customers will have". The vessel left Flensburg on May 9, 2008, made a promotional stop in London, England on May 12, 2008, transited the Panama Canal on June 1 and arrived in British Columbia on June 18. Coastal Celebration was assigned the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen ferry route servicing Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. On May 5, 2011, Coastal Celebration damaged the dock at Swartz Bay after the vessel reversed into it for roughly 20 to 35 ft. An investigation found that this was due to an error on the bridge. No one was hurt in the incident. However, damage to Coastal Celebration and the berth at Swartz Bay cost CAN$470,000. On November 4, 2015, while the ship was sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, a man launched one of Coastal Celebration's 100-person life rafts and jumped overboard. The man then swam to Galiano Island while the ferry recovered the life raft and launched rescue craft to recover the man. The man was later arrested on the island. On December 17, 2018, Coastal Celebration rescued a man from a sinking vessel near Moresby Passage in stormy conditions. All remaining sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay were cancelled that night.