The Lafferty is 158 feet LOA with a beam of 37.4 feet, a loaded draft of 3 feet and a capacity for 14 cars and 50 passengers and crew. The vessel is a shallow draft, double ended design, built by Scott Steel Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta, for the Marine Department of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Lafferty is based at Fort Simpson on the Liard River in northern Canada.

The vessel is fitted with two WAGNER T5-45-EB1 single rudder steering systems. Each end consists of one T5 steering actuator, and an M10 Accumotor. The wheelhouse is fitted with a B2 helm pump, jog switch, and rudder angle indicator for each end of the vessel. Two electric motor driven hydraulic pumps are fitted in the engine room. Each steering gear has its own power pump providing a rudder speed of 9 seconds. The pumps are interconnected to allow each pump to drive the steering gear at either end of the vessel.