On Friday January 30, 2009 at approximately 9:00 a.m. a new cruiseferry for FSG`s Canadian customer British Columbia Ferry Services, Inc. (BC Ferries), will leave the Flensburger shipyard and start her voyage from Germany to British Columbia, Canada.
The new 498 ft ship will accommodate 600 passengers and 130 vehicles. Among its many features, the Northern Expedition will offer 55 modern cabins for customers and an expanded range of food services and other amenities to delight local residents and tourists alike.
The transfer voyage will take about 45 days. The vessel most likely will stop for refuelling in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Cabo Verde, Curaçao and then transit the Panama Canal and sail up the west coast of North America to Victoria, British Columbia.
The new cruiseferry will begin service between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert on the Inside Passage route in time for the 2009 summer season.
Specifications and Main Particulars:
Length o.a. 498 ft
Breadth o.a. 78.4 ft
Draught (design) 16 ft
Main Engine Power 2 x 4.500 KW
Crew about 30
Passengers maximum 600
Service Speed 20.5 knots