The city has decided on the interior design for its upcoming fleet of electric ferries to the É«É«À² Islands after an online public vote earlier this summer.Ìý
With 51 per cent of the 9,100 votes, the “Art + Social” design will be featured in the new ferries that are set to arrive over the next few years, the .Ìý
“We can’t wait to implement this design and share it with you when the first boat arrives in late 2026,” said Geoff Cole, the city’s senior project manager, in the video.
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Earlier this year, the city awarded Damen, a Dutch company, a $90-million contract to build the first two of the four new ships, with the first expected to be delivered late next year, followed by a second ferry in early 2027.
The ships will replace two of the city’s aging fleet, the members of which are between 61 and 114 years old.
The first ferry is expected to arrive in late 2026, replacing the Ongiara, a vessel acquired in 1963.
City of É«É«À²“The design of the new electric ferries will pay homage to the historical character of the City’s ferry fleet, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the ridership experience for É«É«À² Island residents and visitors,” said on its website about the new ferries.Ìý
The investment into a new fleet of ferries also comes after consultants warned in June that the ferry’s existing services “fall short” of industry safety standards.
Greenline Marine, an electric ferry company from British Columbia, was hired by É«É«À² to review the current fleet, whose newest vessel was acquired in 1963. Additionally, the Transportation Safety Board found that one city ferry was operating with safety deficiencies after a crash into a dock in 2022.Ìý
É«É«À² residents were encouraged to cast their vote for the design they felt was most “visually appealing” from June 18 to July 7.Ìý
A rendering of a fully accessible bathroom that will be on the ferries.Ìý
city of toronto“The Art + Social design celebrates art and fosters sociability during a brief seven-minute journey,” the city wrote. “With beautifully lit, sustainably crafted interiors and a variety of seating options, it becomes a dynamic meeting place for residents, visitors and students alike.”Â
Not only will the new electric fleet see design upgrades, É«É«À² residents can also expect an easier time getting to and from É«É«À² Island, as the new vessels can carry 615 passengers and 14 cars, compared to the current passenger-vehicle ferry, the Ongiara, which can only transport 216 passengers and 10 cars.Ìý
The city says the first two ferries are in construction, with contractors working on the third and fourth for a 2030 to 2034 time period, pending approval. Each of the four vessels is expected to hold 1,300 passengers when no cars are on board.Ìý
About 1.4 million passengers a year use the city’s ferries, predominantly from May to September when 80 per cent of the trips are taken.
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