Two big B.C. Ferries vessels called Port Hardy home for a short time this weekend.
The Northern Adventure, fresh from a re-fit, was set to take over the Inside Passage route on Saturday from the Northern Expedition, which will head to Vancouver for its own re-fit and return to the Inside Passage route June 19.
On Friday night and Saturday, the Northern Adventure was anchored close to downtown Port Hardy as it waited for the Northern Expedition to clear the terminal.
The 117-metre Northern Adventure was built in 2004. It has capacity for 87 cars and 640 passengers and crew. It will sail from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, stopping at Mid-Coast communities, only three times in April, all Saturdays: the 1st, 15th, and 29th.
While weather can change sailing times, the trip to Prince Rupert from Port Hardy on the winter/spring schedule takes about 20 hours, with stops at Bella Bella and Klemtu.