New high-speed Clipper ferry to begin service on 9 March 2018

Clipper’s new 440-passenger, high-speed ferry Victoria Clipper V is to begin service on 9 March 2018, transporting guests between Seattle, US and Victoria, British Columbia in Canada.

Before arriving in the Pacific Northwest, the 52-metre-long, high-speed catamaran operated in the North Sea between Hamburg and Heligoland, Germany as part of the fleet owned by Clipper’s parent company Förde Reederei Seetouristik. The vessel was placed on a heavy lift carrier and transferred on a 10,500-mile journey from Germany to the Pacific Northwest.

“Clipper has provided reliable service to Victoria for more than three decades, and the company has deep ties to travel trade and tour operators in our region,” said Starr McMichael, board chair of Tourism Victoria. “This is a great upgrade to Clipper’s product line and represents a well-researched private investment that fits with what we are seeing in Greater Victoria’s tourism industry.”

Victoria Clipper V features both an economy and comfort class, which serves as Clipper’s first-ever version of business class. Guests in comfort class benefit from priority boarding, a private cabin area and complimentary refreshments. The vessel also has a gift and duty-free shop with locally sourced goods, as well as a full galley and onboard menu offering regional food and beverage options.

“We are extremely excited to have the Victoria Clipper V as the newest vessel in our fleet, our first upgrade since 1994,” said David Gudgel, CEO of Clipper. “With four engines and a much larger platform, our customers are going to experience an even smoother ride between Seattle and Victoria, as well as an enhanced level of service with our new comfort class.”