Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries held a christening ceremony for its second and third Salish-Class vessels, the Salish Eagle and Salish Raven, at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland on June 2.

"This ceremony marks a major milestone in the construction of our three new Salish-Class vessels as they each take another step closer to entering our fleet," Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries' President and CEO said.

The 107-meter ferries are capable of carrying 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew. There are two car decks and each ferry has a speed of 15.5 knots.

The Salish-Class vessels are fuelled by natural gas, what will result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year as well as in the reduction of costs, according to the company.

The first vessel, the Salish Orca was christened in November 2015. It is planned to arrive in B.C. by the end of this year, sailing on the Comox – Powell River route.

The Salish Eagle is expected to arrive early in 2017 and the Salish Raven in the spring of 2017. The two vessels are to provide service to the Southern Gulf of Islands.

All three vessels are planned to be in operation in the summer of 2017, according to the company.