BC Ferries Takes Possession Vessel to Replace Queen of the North

BC Ferries announced that the acquisition of the MV Sonia for the Inside Passage route has been successfully concluded and the company has now taken possession of the vessel. The purchase price of the two-year old vessel was 34.5 million Euros or approximately $49.3 million Cdn. The ship is currently in Greece for painting and other work. It will undergo extensive modifications over the winter to improve customer amenities and meet safety requirements to operate in Canadian waters. BC Ferries is conducting a request for bid process involving local and international shipyards for the refit work. The shipyard that will perform the modifications to the ship will be selected by the end of October 2006. The vessel will be renamed and reflagged and is expected to enter service next spring. The ship has 70 state rooms and will accommodate over 600 passengers and 101 vehicles. BC Ferries is extremely pleased to acquire this ship so that full service to the north coast can be restored for the summer of 2007.