BC Ferries says the Northern Sea Wolf will begin servicing the Central Coast route Saturday.
Built in 2000, the vessel was bought in Greece in 2017 after the province announced it was reviving the route that had been cancelled in 2013.
The corporation says the Northern Sea Wolf has finished sea trials and dock fits successfully in April and May in Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Shearwater and Ocean Falls.
BC Ferries says the vessel takes over from Nimpkish May 18 and seasonal direct service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola starts June 3.
The vessel can hold up 35 vehicles and 150 passengers and crew and was expected to start serving the route last summer, but extensive and expensive upgrades took longer than anticipated.
BC Ferries says the ship is now modernized with a new galley, bridge, electrical generators, HVAC system, washrooms, elevator, chair lifts,
new cafeteria and passenger accommodation area.
The vessel is adorned with Indigenous art designs from Kwakiutl First Nation’s Richard Hunt and Nuxalk Nation’s Danika Naccarella.
BC Ferries will showcase the vessel in public open houses at the Bella Coola terminal June 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. and at Bear Cove terminal in Port Hardy June 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.