Princess Marguerite May Sail Here Again

VANCOUVER, B.C.

The British owners of the historic steamship Princess Marguerite say it could return to the Victoria-Seattle route as early as next spring.

The ship, taken out of service in 1989, was purchased in 1991 by Sea Containers Ltd. of London. It currently is in Singapore awaiting a $15 million refit.

Now the ship's return is being suggested in a letter from Seacon president James Sherwood to Glenn Lee of the Washington-based Princess Marguerite Committee, with a copy to B.C. Tourism Minister Darlene Marzari.

Meanwhile, Sea Containers vice-president Erik Woit said yesterday the company is responding to a British Columbia government request for proposals to operate a car-passenger ferry between Victoria and Seattle.