MV Northern Expedition

M/V 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.

M/V Northern Expedition
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.

Ship Senior Captain:
Port of registry: Victoria, BC
Acquired: March 12, 2009
In service: May 18, 2009[6]
Identification:
Status: in service
General characteristics [2][7]
Class and type: ABS: +A1, Vehicle Passenger Ferry, Circle E, +AMS, ES
Tonnage:
  • 17,729 GT
  • 5,318 NT
Displacement: 8,187 tonnes
Length:
  • Lpp:142.3 m
  • LoA:150.75 m
Beam: 23 m
Depth: 7.55 m
Ice class: nil
Installed power:
  • 2 × 4500 kW main diesel engines
  • 3 × 1543.25 kW auxiliary diesel generators
  • 2 × 3087.5 kW shaft generators;
Propulsion: Two MaK 9M32C
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h)
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 3 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 at Baltic Sea east from Danish island Bornholm between January 7–9, 2009. The vessel left Germany on 30 January 2009 bound for B.C. via the Panama Canal.[5] Northern Expedition completed her 9,900 nautical mile journey on 6 March 2009, passing Victoria and Vancouver before arriving in Departure Bay at Nanaimo for post-voyage inspection.[2]

Northern Expedition entered service on 18 May 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. "BC Ferries: BC Ferries Signs Contract to Build New Northern Vessel" (PDF). 2006-08-18.
  2. "BC Ferries: New Northern Expedition Set to Arrive Friday". 2009-03-05.
  3. "BC Ferries: Northern Expedition Keel Laying in Germany". 2008-06-16.
  4. "BC Ferries: BC Ferries New Northern Vessel Launched in Germany Today". 2008-09-25.
  5. "BC Ferries: New Northern Vessel Now en Route to BC". 2009-01-30.
  6. "BC Ferries: BC Ferries Northern Expedition Makes Inaugural Sailing Today". 2009-05-18.
  7. "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 Northern Expedition (ship, 2009) at Wikimedia Commons

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