After transporting passengers between Quadra and Cortes islands for the past decade, BC Ferries’ 57-year-old MV Tachek has been replaced with the Island Nagalis to strengthen service reliability and capacity for people and vehicles onboard.
Built in 2021, the Island Nagalis has been operating since 2023, but on Friday, it officially docked at the Whaletown terminal on Cortes Island, marking the start of its service between Quadra-Cortes.
Island Nagalis, which means “dawn on the land” in Kwak̓wala and Lik̓wala, two of the Kwakwaka’wakw dialects, increases vehicle space from 26 to 37 and more than doubles passenger and crew capacity from 150 to 399 people, says BC Ferries.
“We also know that today’s arrival of Island Nagalis brings additional capacity to the route and is expected to support service for customers in the communities it now serves,” said Lindsay Matthews, vice president of public affairs and marketing for BC Ferries, in a statement Friday.
“Together, these events reflect the continued evolution of this route and the importance of the relationships that help shape it,”
The vessel also has a larger footprint for its lounges and outdoor seating, and includes a heated solarium, pet area and stair lift. Island Nagalis also uses battery-equipped hybrid-electric technology designed to reduce emissions and support quieter operations, says BC Ferries.
Gifted by the We Wai Kum and Wei Wei Kai Nations in Kwak̓wala and Lik̓wala, two of the Kwakwaka’wakw dialects, Nagalis (pronounced NAH-GAH-LEASE) means “dawn on the land.” (BC Ferries)
Friday’s arrival of the Island Nagalis coincided with the Klahoose First Nation’s welcome pole raising ceremony at the Whaletown terminal on Cortes Island, recognizing the nation’s connection to the island and the surrounding water and lands.
“It’s nice to see reconciliation in action,” said Klahoose First Nation Elected Chief Kevin Peacey. “This is a great step in the right direction.”
The ceremony included raising the welcome pole, a cedar brushing, a prayer and songs recognizing the Nation’s longstanding connection to the lands and waters surrounding Cortes Island. The event aimed to symbolize the relationship between Klahoose First Nation, the community and BC Ferries.
“The welcome pole creates a lasting recognition of Klahoose First Nation’s connection to the region, and we are grateful they’ve chosen the Whaletown terminal for its location,” said Matthews.
The welcome pole was gifted by the We Wai Kum and Wei Wei Kai Nations.
The new vessel also marks some service changes. While BC Ferries anticipates more traffic to match the vessel’s increased capacity, it recognizes the vehicle waiting area remains limited.
This means lanes previously marked for priority loading may be used for first-arrive, first-load basis. To check the latest updates, visit BC Ferries.
source: Chek News photo: BC Ferries
