Three new electric ferries, one to serve L’Isle-aux-Coudres and two for the Sorel–Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola crossing, will be put into service as of 2030 if all goes as planned. The Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, made the announcement Monday in Quebec.
An optimistic estimate
For now, Quebec has budgeted $191.5 million for three ships, an estimate that at first glance seems rather optimistic, but Mme Guilbault acknowledged that this envelope may need to be increased along the way. “We will have a better idea of the final cost once we have received the bids, in particular because before having received the bids, we cannot know the final price. »
“If adjustments need to be made, we will,” she said, noting that Monday’s announcement was “a very preliminary step. As in several major infrastructure projects […] we do not necessarily budget all the amounts at the very beginning of the process. »
Although the Legault government would like to see the Davie shipyard, of Lévis, win the contract, the builder still remains to be determined based on the bids that will be received by the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) and the constraints related to a market. open.
“The STQ is subject to certain national and international agreements which mean that we cannot, for example, target a call for tenders solely for a Quebec or Canadian manufacturer. We will see, with the rules that will be set in the call for tenders, which bidders will qualify. »
Mme Guilbault says he hopes to sign a contract for the construction of the ships as early as 2026.
A heavy past
The acting President and CEO of the STQ, Greta Bédard, is hopeful of obtaining reliable ships adapted to the Quebec climate, pointing out that Norway already has about sixty electric ferries in service in a similar climate and that there are also half a dozen in British Columbia and two more in Ontario.
However, the shadow of recent cost overruns and delays in the purchase of ferries at the Baie-Sainte-Catherine–Tadoussac crossing, as well as the disastrous adventure of the purchase of the very expensive ferry F.-A.-Gauthier , struggling with repeated breakdowns and service interruptions, hovered over the ad.
Mme Bédard did not try to dodge the question during his opening speech. “We are all very aware of the importance and scale of the project. Considering past experiences, the STQ has already undertaken a multitude of actions with the aim of improving its governance and project management practices. The last few years have not been easy and we are aware of that. »
The electric advantage
According to Minister Guilbault, the commissioning of these ferries will allow a reduction of 4,450 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, for a total of 13,350 tonnes for the three ships, which is equivalent to the removal of 3,000 cars from the circulation.
Greta Bédard clarified, for her part, that the STQ expects to save between 2 and 3 million dollars annually in diesel costs with the switch to electric propulsion.
The CEO of the STQ also explained that “you will not see the difference, as a customer. It is the charging and fuel system that will be different”. Also, it does not exclude that the size of the new ships differs from that of their predecessors.
“The capacity will be adapted. We will look at the demographic curves. We will adapt the capacity according to the needs for the next 50-60 years. It is not excluded that they are bigger. »
It is already established that work will be needed to adapt the boarding platforms and equipment for recharging which will take place during stops at the platform.
A decision remains to be made as to the location of the wharf on the north shore of the river: currently, the connection with L’Isle-aux-Coudres is made from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, but a study opportunity is underway regarding a possible relocation of the wharf in Baie-Saint-Paul, a study whose results are expected in the fall.
Québec solidaire denounces the delay
Reacting to this announcement, the spokesperson for Québec solidaire in terms of transport, Etienne Grandmont, maintains that Minister Guilbault “navigates short-sighted, without a map or a compass” and invites her to favor Québec sectors in her call for offers.
He recalls that, since 2021, the Quebec-Lévis ferry has regularly lost one of its two ships which must be loaned to Isle-aux-Coudres to provide service there and regrets that we have to wait so long to ensure reliability. service, both in Lévis and L’Isle-aux-Coudres.