BC Ferries has revealed the name of the island-class ferry that will replace North Island Princess on the Powell River-Texada route later this year.
At a special naming ceremony in Victoria on Wednesday, February 19, former Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee member and Texada Island resident Sandy McCormick was joined by BC Ferries senior business analyst Sandy Leduc as sponsors to christen Island Discovery. The new ship and Island Aurora are the two newest members of the BC Ferries fleet.
According to a BC Ferries media release, selecting sponsors for new ships is in keeping with maritime tradition. Each ship has a community sponsor and a sponsor from the BC Ferries family.
“Today’s ceremony marks a major milestone as we prepare to bring the new island-class vessels into service,” stated BC Ferries president and CEO Mark Collins. “These ships will connect communities literally and figuratively, when they enter service later this year. We are grateful to have such upstanding members of the BC Ferries family and the vessels’ homeport communities bestow the ships with good luck and protection.”
The 59-year old North Island Princess will be retired from the BC Ferries fleet, according to the media release.
