On display in the Engineering Building’s atrium at the University of Manitoba is quite possibly the future of Northern shipping.

Taking up a large proportion of the atrium’s footprint is an airship built by Buoyant Aircraft Systems International (BASI) and ISO Polar, a non-profit research institute.

According to a press release the “large aerial craft is expected to encourage the development of airship technology for sustainable transportation and logistics applications in the North.”

The craft is part of a research collaboration between the U of M, Red River College, Buoyant Aircraft Systems International and Manitoba Hydro.

Dr. Barry Prentice, Transport Institute, I.H. Asper School of Business, is the head of the research initiative.

A press conference will be held at 2 p.m. in the engineering atrium to outline the initiative. The single pilot airship will be hovering, “ready for flight” during the conference.