It finally arrived.

After being delayed for an entire year, the Northern Sea Wolf was made available for viewing at an open house held on Monday, June 3 at the Bear Cove Terminal in Port Hardy.

Mark Wilson, BC Ferries Vice President, Strategy & Community Engagement, greeted the crowd of roughly 100 people who showed up to the open house, stating, B次元官网网址淥n behalf of BC Ferries IB次元官网网址檇 like to welcome you to the open house today for our new vesselB次元官网网址� The Northern Sea Wolf will provide a vital link to British Columbia on the central coast of Vancouver Island.B次元官网网址�

Wilson then invited Port Hardy Councillor Fred Robertson to come and speak a few words. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a long wait to see the Northern Sea Wolf arrive in town,B次元官网网址� Robertson noted, adding everyone has been B次元官网网址渨aiting with baited breath for a very long timeB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity. I know both the Central Coast and the North Island will benefit from the arrival of the Sea WolfB次元官网网址� and we look forward to a very busy season this year.B次元官网网址�

The Northern Sea WolfB次元官网网址檚 artwork was designed by two artists, Nuxalk NationB次元官网网址檚 Danica Naccarella and Kwakiutl NationB次元官网网址檚 Richard Hunt.

The ferry ended up costing $76 million by the time it finally went into the water, instead of the $55.7 million as initially budgeted. It will take over the central coast route from the Nimpkish, a 46-year-old ferry that can hold 12 cars and 95 people. It began its planned seasonal direct route from Port Hardy to Bella Coola on June 3.

The vessel carries up to 35 vehicles and 150 passengers and BC Ferries spent May conducting dock trials in the communities it will serve. The federal government has contributed $15.1 million in funding, leaving the company with a $60.9 million price tag.

- with files from Kat Slepian