Beyond recycling: creating sustainable value from retired marine assets

In 2025, three long-serving BC Ferries vessels reached the end of their operational lives and transitioned into a new phase of responsible end-of-life management. The Bowen Queen, Powell River Queen, and Mayne Queen had served coastal communities since the 1960s, playing a critical role in transportation throughout the Southern Gulf Islands and along Vancouver Island.

The vessels were transferred to Marine Recycling Corporation (MRC), a Green Marine certified participant. MRC collaborated with fellow Green Marine partners Valence Water and Bluewater Environmental Solutions to execute the safe deconstruction, materials and waste recovery, and environmental management of the project at the Esquimalt Graving Dock (EGD).

Throughout the recycling process, Valence Water deployed advanced electrochemical treatment technology to manage and treat all water-related waste streams generated during dismantling and modification, ensuring strict adherence to environmental protection standards.

As part of the recycling and repurposing effort, the Powell River Queen and Mayne Queen were converted into working marine barges and renamed Ava Sarah and Lucille Julia, respectively. Both vessels underwent extensive modification at EGD, including removal of upper structures to create deck barges, decommissioning of propulsion systems, sealing of hull penetrations, replacement of sacrificial anodes, and application of new hull coatings. Ava Sarah is undergoing further conversion into a crane barge, supporting marine logistics and material handling as part of MRC’s growing West Coast operations.

Meanwhile, the Bowen Queen was fully recycled, with materials responsibly recovered and reintegrated into productive use—demonstrating a strong commitment to circular maritime practices and sustainable resource management.

Building on this momentum, MRC, supported by Bluewater Environmental, continues to expand vessel recycling capacity in British Columbia while advancing sustainable marine services across the province. As part of this growth, MRC has acquired the Highball floating dry dock, strengthening marine infrastructure capacity throughout the region.

These assets will support a broad range of services, including ship repair, vessel transportation, emergency dry docking, vessel recycling, and wreck removal along British Columbia’s coast.

Together, these initiatives reflect a forward-thinking, circular approach to marine asset management and highlight how Green Marine partners and participants are advancing environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation on Canada’s West Coast.

_{Photos: Marine Recycling Corporation}