BC Ferries has a new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Nicolas Jimenez takes the  helm March 6th.

Jimenez, who is currently the President and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of B.C., takes over for Interim CEO Jill Sharland, who stepped into the role in July. She will now return to her previous executive position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at BC Ferries.

In a release, BC Ferries says Jimenez is a strong, strategic leader who led structural reforms at ICBC in recent years, returning the auto insurer to financial health and delivering more affordable insurance to customers.

He took over as president with the Insurance Corp. five years ago.

Meanwhile, 11 new roundtrips on BC Ferries between Campbell River and Quadra Island this week, as two new vessels enter service.

Each vessel carries 47 vehicles, increasing capacity at peak times by nearly 40 per cent compared to the current 59-vehicle ferry, Powell River Queen, which is being retired from service after decades.

One of the new hybrid-electric vessels will provide 18 hours of service while the second will operate during the busiest 12-hour period of the day.

The ships are designed to eventually go full-electric.