Operated between June 1999 and March 2000 three Catamaran Ferries International (CFI) fast ferries were intended to improve ferry service between the lower mainland and Vancouver Island as well as revive the shipbuilding industry in BC as Versatile Pacific Shipyards (VPS) had closed in the early 1990s. Designed by Incat Designs Pty Ltd in Australia and Robert Allan Ltd. They were built in Vancouver on Pier 94 just east of the former VPS. The project started in 1994 with an estimated total of 210 million which upon completion had ended up being 463 million, with each originally budgeted to be 70 million and ended up being 118 million while the other two were 104 million dollars. There were many delays in the construction including the welding of aluminium and there were also numerous operational problems which ensured that they only saw limited service. It became a major political issue for Glen Clark’s NDP government. Ship plan is drawn by D. Musick.