Premier and minister to participate in Islendingur departure ceremony

Premier Brian Tobin and Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, are to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland at the invitation of Prime Minister David Oddsson of Iceland to participate in the Islendingur departure ceremony planned for 4 p.m. Iceland time (-5.30 GMT) on June 17. The departure ceremony corresponds with the celebration of Iceland�s national holiday.

"The Voyage of the Islendingur recreates Leif Ericsson�s travels to the new world 1000 years ago. This voyage, by nine well-trained Icelanders is one of the highlights of the Vikings! 1000 Years program. These individuals who have been training for this journey for months will be retracing their ancestors steps across the Atlantic ocean. The departure of this ship from Iceland on its journey to L�Anse aux Meadows is the beginning of the exciting and entertaining program of events planned to commemorate this important part of our history which we share with Iceland," said Premier Tobin.

Designed and built by its captain, the Islendingur is an exact replica of an old Viking ship found in a burial mound in Norway in 1882. Captain Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, a direct descendent of Leif Ericsson and the crew of the Islendingur will be making the journey to Vinland as his forefather did 1000 years ago.

From Reykjavik, the Islendingur will sail to Hvammsfjordur in western Iceland where the crew will participate in the official opening of the Eric the Red�s recreated homestead. The ship will then sail to Brattahlid, Greenland where the crew will take part in the opening ceremony of Eric the Red�s recreated homestead and church.

The Islendingur will then sail across the Atlantic to L�Anse aux Meadows where it will be greeted by up to 10,000 people on the shores of L�Anse aux Meadows just two kilometres from the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America. The ship will visit nine other ports of call in Newfoundland before its grand departure from Port de Grave on August 21.

"The Islendingur which was built based on 1000 year old technology will be one of the key attractions during this summer�s celebrations. The arrival of the ship at L�Anse aux Meadows on July 28 will be a spectacular sight. Equally exciting is the program of events which has been planned for the Islendingur arrival in the remaining nine ports of call," said Minister Furey.

Furey added: "People can follow the Islendingur on the web as she sails across the Atlantic by logging onto our web site at www.gov.nl.ca/vikings or www.viking-2000.com ."

Vikings! 1000 Years: Make the Journey is a project of the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, Parks Canada and the Viking Trail Tourism Association. The Government of Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canada Millennium Partnership Program are the funding partners for Vikings! 1000 Years. The three major corporate sponsors for the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations are Petro-Canada, NewTel and Newfoundland Power. Supporting sponsors include Dominion, Eimskip, FMC Kongsberg Subsea, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, Interprovincial Airlines, and Newfoundland Hydro.

Media contacts:

Heidi Bonnell, Premier�s Office, (709) 729-3564

Elizabeth Matthews, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928

2000 06 14                         3:20 p.m.