MV Northern Expedition

Northern Expedition on March 6, 2009
History
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
NameNorthern Expedition
Port of registryKingstown
OrderedAugust 18, 2006[1]
BuilderFlensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard
CostCA$133 million[2]
Laid downJune 16, 2008[3]
LaunchedSeptember 25, 2008[4]
CompletedJanuary 29, 2009[5]
Maiden voyageJanuary 30, 2009[5]
Out of serviceMarch 12, 2009
IdentificationIMO number: 9408413
Statuschange of flag to Canada
Canada
NameNorthern Expedition
OperatorBritish Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Port of registryVictoria, British Columbia
AcquiredMarch 12, 2009
In serviceMay 18, 2009[6]
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics [2][7]
TypeFerry/cargo ship
Tonnage
  • 17,729 GT
  • 5,318 NT
Displacement8,187 t (8,058 long tons)
Length
  • 142.3 m (466 ft 10 in) pp
  • 150.75 m (494 ft 7 in) oa
Beam23 m (75 ft 6 in)
Depth7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 3 × 1,543.25 kW auxiliary diesel generators
  • 2 × 3,087.5 kW shaft generators;
PropulsionTwo MaK 9M32C 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) main diesel engines
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity
  • Passengers:
    • 600
    • 55 staterooms
  • Vehicles
    • 130 cars

MV Northern Expedition is a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry operated by BC Ferries in British Columbia, Canada. She sails daily on the Inside Passage route connecting Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.

History

On August 18, 2006 BC Ferries awarded the contract to build a replacement vessel for Queen of Prince Rupert to Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard in Flensburg, Germany (the same shipyard awarded the contract for the three new Coastal-class ferries).[1] Shortly thereafter it was determined that the new ship would be named Northern Expedition and that BC Ferries' other northern vessel (the recently purchased Sonia, the replacement for the sunken Queen of the North) would be named Northern Adventure.[8]

The keel of the vessel was laid on June 16, 2008[3] and she was launched on September 25, 2008.[4] Sea trials took place in the Baltic Sea east from Danish island Bornholm between January 7–9, 2009. The vessel left Germany on January 30, 2009 bound for British Columbia via the Panama Canal.[5] Northern Expedition completed her 9,900-nautical-mile (18,300 km; 11,400 mi) journey on March 6, 2009, passing Victoria and Vancouver before arriving in Departure Bay at Nanaimo for post-voyage inspection.[2]

Northern Expedition entered service on May 18, 2009 along the Inside Passage route between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.[6] She joined Northern Adventure in BC Ferries' northern fleet and allowed for the retirement of Queen of Prince Rupert.

Amenities

Northern Expedition's four passenger decks feature:[2][7]

  • 55 staterooms
  • the Canoe Cafe
  • the Vista Restaurant
  • the reserved seating Aurora Lounge
  • the Raven Lounge, which features 3 large-screen TV's
  • the Passages Gift Shop
  • a children's play area
  • multiple non-reserved seating lounges

References

  1. ^ a b "BC Ferries: BC Ferries Signs Contract to Build New Northern Vessel" (PDF). 2006-08-18.
  2. ^ a b c d "BC Ferries: New Northern Expedition Set to Arrive Friday". 2009-03-05.
  3. ^ a b "BC Ferries: Northern Expedition Keel Laying in Germany". 2008-06-16.
  4. ^ a b "BC Ferries: BC Ferries New Northern Vessel Launched in Germany Today". 2008-09-25.
  5. ^ a b c "BC Ferries: New Northern Vessel Now en Route to BC". 2009-01-30.
  6. ^ a b "BC Ferries: BC Ferries Northern Expedition Makes Inaugural Sailing Today". 2009-05-18.
  7. ^ a b "Northern Expedition profile from BC ferries". 2009-05-16.
  8. ^ "BC Ferries: BC Ferries Announces Names of New Northern Vessels" (PDF). 2006-12-15.

Media related to IMO 9408413 at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by BC Ferries northern flagship
2007–present
(with MV Northern Adventure) 		Succeeded by
(incumbent)