Image: The Baynes Sound Connector is the first Cable Ferry introduced into BC Ferries' fleet. (BC Ferries / Instagram)

BC Ferries is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its cable ferry, the Baynes Sound Connector since it entered service on the Buckley Bay – Denman Island route.

The vessel is a demonstration of how technology improvements can have an impact on safety and the environment. According to Captain Jamie Marshall, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Fleet Operations, “The ship consumes 50 percent less fuel than the previous vessel, it can make more trips at peak times when demand is high, and its on-time performance is at 97.6%.”

Moreover, in August of 2016, the crew rescued a young swimmer in distress off of Buckley Bay in fewer than 12 minutes.

There have been 54 occasions involving the B.C. Ambulance Service where the Baynes Sound Connector was called out after hours, made an extra sailing during the operational day, or adjusted a sailing time to assist with the transportation of patients during medical emergencies.

As of January 31, 2017, the vessel has provided over 10,200 sailings and carried more than 249,000 vehicles since it officially started its operation last February.

If you have no idea what a cable ferry is, you can read about it here.