Empress of the North

Columbia River, Alaska Inside Passage

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Launched in 2003, the EMPRESS OF THE NORTH was the first sternwheeler to sail Alaska’s Inside Passage in over 100 years. The Empress of the North's main destination in the summer season was Alaska. In the spring and autumn, she joined the Queen of the West and the Columbia Queen cruising the Columbia, Snake and Willamette Rivers. The Empress of the North is run mainly by the stern paddlewheel, but has additional Z-drives for higher speed and difficult navigation situations.

On May 14, 2007, on a clear day with calm sea she hit a rock off Juneau, AK, and had to be evacuated. The Empress of the North did not sink but was heavily damaged. She went back into service after expensive repair, costing their owners, Majestic America Line, not only financial damage but also effected their reputation.

Today the Empress of the North is in idle as part of the MARAD fleet after Majestic America Line returned her to MARAD when closing down their operational business end of 2008.