HM Bark Endeavour on the Way to Halifax

HM Bark Endeavour, the museum-quality replica of Capt. Cook's famous 18th-century scientific exploration vessel, will arrive in Halifax at noon Friday, Oct. 9.

Built in Australia, the Endeavour replica was completed in 1994. The vessel weighs 550 tonnes and is 48 metres long. The ship and its crew are completing a multi-year tour of the countries Cook visited in the 1700s. Halifax is the only Canadian East Coast port on the tour route and will be the Endeavour's last port of call before sailing for Bermuda.

A sail past is planned to begin at 11:20 a.m. with a gun salute from HMCS Sackville. The Endeavour will then proceed to the Dartmouth Waterfront Park, escorted by the Firebird and other local yachts, cross to the Sheraton Halifax Hotel and continue south to dock at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at about noon. The Waterfront Development Corp. Ltd. is partnering with the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to host the visit. The town crier and a piper will participate at the arrival.

Capt. Chris Blake and crew will be met by the official welcoming party, including Lt.-Gov. James Kinley and Mrs. Grace Kinley, Jim Smith, Minister of Health and Justice and Attorney General, representing the Province of Nova Scotia, and Lew Rogers, representing Halifax Regional Municipality. Fred Were, president of the Waterfront Development Corp. Ltd. and members of the board will act as hosts.

After the welcome ceremony, Capt. Blake will be available to the media while his crew begins preparations to convert the Endeavour from a sailing vessel to a floating museum.

Endeavour will be open for public tours Oct. 10-18 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Individual tickets may be purchased on site at the Sackville Interpretation Centre and combined Endeavour/Maritime Museum tour tickets may be purchased directly from the museum. For ticket information, please call 902-424-7490.