MV Coastal Inspiration is the second of three Coastal-class ferry ships delivered to BC Ferries. Launched in 2007 and entering service in 2008, Coastal Inspiration operates on the Duke Point – Tsawwassen route in British Columbia. The vessel collided with the terminal at Duke Point on December 20, 2011, suffering significant damage that kept the ship in the dockyard until January 2012.

Description

Coastal Inspiration is the second of three double-ended Coastal-class ferry ferries. The ship has a and is with a maximum displacement of 10,034 t. The vessel is 160 m long overall and 154 m between perpendiculars with a beam of 28.2 m. The ship is powered by four MaK 8M32C diesel engines driving two shafts rated at 21444 hp. This gives the ship a maximum speed of 23 kn. The ferry has capacity for 1,304 crew and passengers along with 310 vehicles that meet the AEU equivalent. Coastal Inspiration is equipped with a variety amenities including coffee shops and lounges.

Service history

On September 17, 2004, BC Ferries awarded a contract to Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft of Flensburg, Germany to build three double-ended ferries. The second keel was laid down on April 23, 2007, with the yard number 734. The ferry was launched on August 31, 2007, and named Coastal Inspiration in 2006. The ferry was completed on February 8, 2008. The vessel departed Flensburg on February 9, 2008, transited the Panama Canal on March 7 and arrived in Nanaimo, British Columbia at Departure Bay on March 25. Coastal Inspiration began regular service on June 16, 2008, on the Duke Point – Tsawwassen route. It had made unscheduled training runs during the week leading up to the date. On August 15, 2008, a fire broke out in one of the vehicles on the main car deck aboard the ferry after departing Tsawwassen. Roughly 10 km away from the terminal, the ferry returned to Tsawwassen and disembarked the 562 passengers aboard until the fire was extinguished and Transport Canada had cleared the ferry for departure. On December 20, 2011, Coastal Inspiration experienced a hard landing upon arrival at Duke Point terminal. The terminal berth sustained significant damage and the vessel's port side doors were also damaged. The terminal required extensive repairs and its closure rerouted all service through Departure Bay. Repairs to the ship were completed in January 2012, and the terminal reopened in May 2012. The cause of the crash was later determined to be crew error. On August 1, 2013, Coastal Inspiration and MV Spirit of Vancouver Island rescued three boaters whose craft had overturned near Tsawwassen terminal.

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