Public views replacement ship for sunken B.C. ferry

BC Ferries has unveiled the newest member of its coastal fleet to sail the northern waters on the West Coast, a vessel that replaces the Queen of the North, which sank last year after running aground.

Passengers at the Canada Place cruise ship terminal in Vancouvergot an early look at the Northern Adventure on Saturday ahead of its maiden voyage next month.

The crew welcomed members of the public aboard to show off the comfortable new interior, which includes four staterooms, 70 cabins, reclining lounge seats and three outdoor deck levels.

BC Ferries bought the 117-metre ship from Greece. It arrived last December and has undergone$18 million in renovations.

TheNorthern Adventure will head up the coast on a trial run this week before it begins regular service in April.

The vessel will replace the Queen of the North, which struck an island and sank on March 22, 2006.

Ninety-nine passengers and crew safely abandoned the vessel and were rescued by the Coast Guard and residents of nearby Hartley Bay. Two passengers disappeared and are presumed to have gone down with the ship.