MV Northern Expedition

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.

Northern Expedition on March 6, 2009
History
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Name	Northern Expedition
Port of registry	Kingstown
Ordered	August 18, 2006[1]
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard
Cost	CA$133 million[2]
Laid down	June 16, 2008[3]
Launched	September 25, 2008[4]
Completed	January 29, 2009[5]
Maiden voyage	January 30, 2009[5]
Out of service	March 12, 2009
Identification	IMO number: 9408413
Status	change of flag to Canada
Canada
Name	Northern Expedition
Operator	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Port of registry	Victoria, British Columbia
Acquired	March 12, 2009
In service	May 18, 2009[6]
Identification	IMO number: 9408413 MMSI number: 316014054 Callsign: CFN5364 ON: 833401 ABS: 09181931
Status	in service
General characteristics [2][7]
Type	Ferry/cargo ship
Tonnage	17,729 GT 5,318 NT
Displacement	8,187 t (8,058 long tons)
Length	142.3 m (466 ft 10 in) pp 150.75 m (494 ft 7 in) oa
Beam	23 m (75 ft 6 in)
Depth	7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
Installed power	3 × 1,543.25 kW auxiliary diesel generators 2 × 3,087.5 kW shaft generators;
Propulsion	Two MaK 9M32C 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) main diesel engines
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity	Passengers: 600 55 staterooms Vehicles 130 cars

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