Back in service, but not quite on schedule.

The debut of the Northern Adventure took place this past weekend, with the newest addition to the BC Ferry fleet making folks feel right at home by heading out of Port Hardy three hours late on Saturday night.

King Lee delivered a special to The Globe and Mail, published on their website today, detailing his early shipboard experience aboard BC Ferries brand new acquisition.

Lee reported that the cause for the delay was never actually made public, with a rather mysterious “the crew is checking things out” offered up for a reason, which may be something for BC Ferries to look at as far as passenger awareness goes, Not all of the 74 staterooms were available for occupancy on the debut journey, leaving a few folks to check out the comfort of the reclining chairs or spending the delay watching the Canucks Flames game on the LCD screens which have been added to the fleet.

The article ends with the vessel sailing out of Port Hardy at 9pm, whether they made up the three hours as promised only the crew and passengers know for sure.

Replacement for sunken ferry gets off to slow start
KING LEE
Special to The Globe and Mail
Monday, April 2, 2007

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. -- The maiden voyage of the Queen of the North's replacement got off to a bumpy start this weekend. But after departing three hours late, MV Northern Adventure glided through smooth waters from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.

Northern Adventure, built in Greece in 2002, has spent three years as a charter cruise ship.
It replaces the Queen of the North, which sank in Wright Sound on March 22, 2006, after hitting Gil Island shortly after midnight.

The vessel had travelled about 130 kilometres south from Prince Rupert when the accident occurred. Ninety-nine passengers and crew were rescued, but two passengers are missing and presumed drowned.

One passenger on the replacement vessel didn't realize he was a part of B.C. Ferries history when he drove on board Saturday. "It was neat," Michael Scott said. "It was unexpected."
Mr. Scott said he was impressed with Northern Adventure's amenities. "It looks like it's a converted cruise ship," he said.

After a short ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday with B.C. Tourism Minister Stan Hagen, 144 passengers and 39 vehicles -- the vessel's listed capacity is 600 passengers and 101 vehicles -- got onboard shortly before the scheduled 6 p.m. departure only to learn there would be a three-hour delay.

Mark Stefanson, the ferry corporation's executive director of public affairs, said the holdup was due to the crew checking things out. He did not elaborate.

Captain Trafford Taylor, a B.C. Ferries executive vice-president, said the purchase and renovation of the vessel amounted to about $100-million. It is expected to be reassigned to the Queen Charlotte Islands-Prince Rupert route in 2009 and replaced on the Port Hardy-Prince Rupert run by a new B.C. Ferries vessel, the Northern Expedition.

The delay announcement was accompanied by an offer of free meals for everyone onboard Northern Adventure while still docked at the Bear Cove terminal in Port Hardy and assurance that the three hours would be made up during the scheduled 16-hour journey.

Those in the two lounges with LCD high-definition television sets were able to watch the final period of the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs followed by the game between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

Not all of the 74 staterooms were ready for occupancy on the inaugural run, a situation that did not sit well with Darryn Ludwikowski of Campbell River, who was travelling with two children and was unable to secure one despite booking the trip 10 days earlier. They had to spend the night on some of the 480 reclining chairs or the carpeted floor.

Inside cabins cost $75 while outside cabins were going for $80 a trip. Four luxury cabins at the bow of the Northern Adventure with double beds and televisions were available for $200 a night.

When an announcement was made shortly before 8:30 p.m. that the vessel would get under way "in a few minutes," only one woman in the main TV lounge stood up and raised her arms in a mock cheer.

Shortly after 8:45, the ship's captain, Rory McKonkey, thanked those on board for their patience and suggested everyone cheer for the Canucks, who were down by three goals to the Flames at the time.

At 9 p.m., Northern Adventure inched away from the pier without much reaction from those in the main lounge. The passengers were a little more excited when Vancouver's Brendan Morrison scored later.

Mr. Ludwikowski was taking the inaugural run to visit his father in Prince Rupert.
"I'm impressed," he said when asked for his thoughts on the new ferry.