German firm acquires Seattle-based Clipper, plans new routes

SEATTLE (AP) — A German shipping and ferry company has acquired Seattle-based Clipper, which runs high-speed ferry services between Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia.

Fast Reliable Seaways, based in northern Germany, said in a statement Tuesday it plans to expand services in Canada with a route between downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. It also wants to launch a new ferry service from Florida to Cuba, pending government approval.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The companies said that Clipper's CEO and founder Merideth Tall will retain her minority ownership of the company and continue as CEO.

Clipper operates the Victoria Clipper ferries between Seattle and Victoria, B.C., and between Seattle and the San Juan Islands. It was founded in 1986.

FRS currently operates 60 vessels in 12 countries. It carried more than 7 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles last year.