New ferry arrives at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Web users can log into www.torontoport.com to help choose new names for the new and existing ferries

TORONTO , Dec. 23 /CNW/ - The new ferry that will soon serve the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport ("BBTCA") has been delivered to the Toronto Port Authority ("TPA").

Built in Wheatley, Ont., by Hike Metal Products, the new ferry is currently docked beside the eastern hangar of the airport, across the Western Channel from the Canada Malting silos and Ireland Park.

This ferry has the same dimensions as the current vessel in service (29.26 by 11.50 metres, or 96 by 37 feet), but is 270 tonnes, compared to the existing ferry's 219 tonnes.

The new ferry cost just under $5 million and can carry a total of 200 passengers, approximately 50 passengers more than the current vessel. The new ferry also has an abundance of padded bench seating, while the current vessel has very little passenger seating.

"We are pleased to report the new ferry arrived on time to serve the large and growing volume of passengers using the BBTCA," said BBTCA Director Ken Lundy . "Over the coming weeks, we will be undertaking crew orientation and certification, and it should be in regular service near the end of January, 2010."

A photo of the new ferry is attached with this release and available for use by all media.

Torontonians are helping to christen the new ferry, as well as rename the existing ferry, through the "Name the Boats" contest. Web users can currently go to www.torontoport.com to vote for their favourite two names out of a list of 10 finalists chosen from thousands of contest entries.

"This contest has really captured the imagination of those inspired by the airport's unique location and history as well as its role as an important service to the community," Mr. Lundy said.

The 10 finalist names are:

    
    -   The Governor Simcoe (After John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-
        Governor of Upper Canada, now Ontario; the founder of York, now
        Toronto)

    -   The Frederick Tilston (After Major Frederick Albert Tilston, a WWII
        Victoria Cross Recipient, graduate of De La Salle High School, and
        member of Essex Scottish Regiment, who died in September, 1992)

    -   The Marilyn Bell (After the first person to swim across Lake Ontario,
        in 1954)

    -   The Little Norway (After the park adjacent to the Bathurst Quay ferry
        terminal)

    -   The Connector

    -   The David Hornell (After Flt. Lt. David Ernest Hornell, a WWII
        Victoria Cross Recipient, member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who
        was born on the Toronto islands and died in battle in June, 1944)

    -   The Lady Simcoe (After Elizabeth Simcoe, the wife of Governor Simcoe.
        She was also a diarist and artist whose work reflected the life and
        workings of Upper Canada beginning in 1791)

    -   Island Princess

    -   Margaret R. Dunseith (After Canada's first female air-traffic
        controller, who used to work at the island airport)

    -   The Maple Queen
    

Online visitors have until January 5, 2010 , to vote for their favourite names. The winning names will be announced January 7, 2010 .

Entrants who submitted the winning names will have a chance through a draw to win prizes including a $500 travel voucher for airfare on Porter Airlines and a Toronto Harbour cruise for themselves and their family and friends from 416-CRUISES.

Log in to www.torontoport.com for contest details, rules and instructions on how to vote.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Janet MacDonald, [phone]