Purchasing Agent 2

BC Ferries selects Zelim for New ai-enabled man-overboard detection technology for BC Ferries. * 25 March 2026 ZOE MOB harnesses advanced computer vision and video analytics to deliver 360-degree surveillance for vessel crew. (Credit: Zelim) Zelim has announced a contract to supply its ZOE man-overboard (MOB) detection system to four hybrid-electric ferries which will be built for, and operated by, British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries). The partnership, which is the first between the two companies, was agreed in February 2026, with the installation of the technology expected to begin in 2027. The hybrid-electric New Major Vessels will replace four end-of-life vessels and are scheduled to start service in 2029. BC Ferries currently operates 37 vessels across 25 routes serving 47 terminals across nearly 1000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of coastal British Columbia. Developed by Zelim, ZOE MOB harnesses advanced computer vision and video analytics to deliver 360-degree surveillance for vessel crew. The AI-enabled system is trained on a proprietary maritime dataset of over 9.5 million annotated objects and designed to detect man-overboard incidents instantaneously, in compliance with the international standard for shipborne man-overboard detection systems, ISO 21195:2020. ZOE has been independently tested by Lloyd's Register to detect both adults and children - day and night - helping to ensure the safety of passengers and crew alike. MOB incidents in the maritime industry are often unwitnessed. Without a reliable, swift way of detecting a MOB incident, there could be significant delays before a crew or rescue authorities realize that someone is missing - which critically reduces the chances of a successful rescue. With its capabilities, ZOE substantially improves detection rates at sea, increasing the likelihood of lives being saved. The partnership follows a strong period of growth for Zelim, who recently announced the launch of its defense business unit and the expansion of its senior leadership team. Sam Mayall, Zelim's Founder and CEO said: "We look forward to building a strong partnership with BC Ferries as we deliver our technology to its New Major Vessels. Securing this multi-vessel rollout is a significant milestone for Zelim, demonstrating the growing value of our ZOE technology for passenger ships. It also reflects the positive momentum we're continuing to build with vessel operators in the ferry sector - and more broadly across the North American market." "Safety is our first priority throughout the entire organization," said Ed Hooper, BC Ferries' Head of Fleet Renewal. "We look forward to working with Zelim to incorporate this innovative technology into our New Major Vessels as we modernize our fleet and further strengthen the safety of our passengers and crews."

More BC Ferries sailings are coming to the Sunshine Coast and here's when. Photo: BC Ferries BC Ferries has just announced that it will be adding additional shoulder-season sailings to improve access during high-demand periods to the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route, among other additional service enhancements. From increasing reservable space to expanding lower-cost Saver fares, here's what you can expect from the new sailings and additions to BC Ferries. Booking space and Saver fares. While booking space will vary by sailing, BC Ferries will be increasing overall bookable on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route to an average of 70% through the end of April. BC Ferries says that "this helps more people secure peak sailings in advance while maintaining drive-up access on every sailing." Notably, the organization will also be expanding lower-cost Saver fares, which start at $39. There will be "three times more" of these fares, which will reportedly help "shift some travel away from peak periods." Increased sailings. BC Ferries will be adding over 120 more sailings during the shoulder seasons (mid-May to late June and September to mid-October) on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route, as well as two additional late afternoon round trips for when travel demand reaches its peak. "These additional sailings are a meaningful step for our community, especially during the shoulder seasons when travel can be the most challenging," said Silas White, Mayor of Gibsons. "We know there's more work to do, including how we can better utilize data shared by BC Ferries to encourage more people onto sailings with available space. We'll combine that with continued advocacy for the level of service Sunshine Coast residents need and keep working with BC Ferries to build toward longer-term solutions." The peak summer period already has two-ship service in place, but these added sailings will "extend that level of service into the shoulder seasons when demand remains high on key sailings."

Remembering the Queen of the North. 2026-03-19/in News This week marks the anniversary of one of the darkest nights in B.C.'s coastal transportation history. On March 22, 2006, the Queen of the North struck Gil Island in Wright Sound and sank in the early hours of the morning. Of the 101 passengers and crew on board, 99 survived. Two passengers, Gerald Foisy and Shirley Rosette, were never found. In the moments after impact, the crew acted quickly to evacuate passengers, helping to prevent further loss of life. Nearby fishing vessels were first on scene and assisted survivors in the water. The Gitga'at community of Hartley Bay mobilized to bring survivors ashore, opening their community hall and caring for them through the night while the coast guard led search and recovery efforts in challenging conditions. Investigations later confirmed that the vessel missed a routine course change and continued for miles before striking Gil Island. The Transportation Safety Board concluded that safe navigation practices and bridge resource management weren't followed and that company practices, fatigue, training and failures in safety management systems contributed to unsafe operations. A navigating officer was later convicted in criminal court and sentenced to prison. The case also raised broader concerns across the marine industry about the criminalization of workers following major incidents. But the sinking of the Queen of the North was never just about one person's mistake. Major marine incidents are almost always the result of multiple failures, including systems, oversight, training and corporate culture. Nearly two decades later, questions about accountability and the broader safety culture that allowed the disaster to occur still echo across the coast. For the families, those questions have never gone away. In the years that followed, important safety improvements were made. BC Ferries and the union worked together to implement the SailSafe program, strengthening safety systems and support a just safety culture across the fleet. Unfortunately, progress hasn't been maintained. In 2023, the union withdrew from SailSafe after raising concerns that the program was moving away from its core safety purpose, pointing to the erosion of meaningful worker input, the weakening of site-based safety processes and a shift toward reporting "successes" instead of properly identifying risks, near-misses and other concerns. For ferry workers, the anniversary is a reminder of the enormous responsibility crews carry every day. It's also a reminder that safety at sea depends on strong systems, proper training and a culture where concerns can be raised without fear. Bcfmwu remember those who were lost. Bcfmwu honour the crew, the first responders, the Gitga'at community of Hartley Bay and everyone who stepped forward when it mattered most.