There are fewer passengers and vehicles traveling on the northern ferries this season, despite the addition of the new Northern Expedition to the fleet.Mark Stefanson, BC Ferries vice-president of communication, said the number of passengers on the Prince Rupert-Skidegate route is down 6.6 percent compared to last year for the months of April, May and June, while the number of vehicles has fallen by almost 10 percent.On the Port Hardy-Prince Rupert route, passengers are down 11.6 percent for the April-June period this year compared to last year, Mr. Stefanson said. The number of vehicles plunged 5.8 percent."It's the overall economic condition," he said. "We're seeing traffic off on all our routes. Obviously, it's more serious in the north."