Second ferry close to being secured for P.E.I. to Nova Scotia service in 2023
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — It appears like a second ship will probably be making the run throughout Northumberland Strait between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia this summer season.
Mark Wilson, senior vice-president of Northumberland Ferries Ltd., the corporate that operates the ferry service, advised SaltWire on April 12 that he’s actually near concluding industrial negotiations for a second ferry for the upcoming season.
“I can’t say the title of (the vessel) till I’ve accomplished industrial negotiations, however you’ll be able to just about determine what it’s going to be.”
His feedback might be a reference to the MV Saaremaa 1, the ferry that changed the MV Vacation Island, after the latter was disabled by an onboard fireplace in July 2022.
Wilson mentioned he’s snug saying that an settlement for the second vessel must be accomplished this week and an announcement might be made by April 19.
“I’m very, very assured that we’ll have a second ship for summer season service this 12 months. We’ve been engaged on this since service concluded late final fall. It simply takes some time to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.”
The ferry service is on schedule to start out Could 1, with the flagship MV Confederation, which is at the moment in drydock in St. John’s.
A second vessel would start service on July 1 and function till Thanksgiving weekend, the normal peak season for the ferry service.
Not everlasting
No matter vessel it finally ends up being, Wilson mentioned it stays a short-term resolution.
The aim is to see a second vessel constructed particularly for the crossing that runs between Wooden Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.
Information of a second ferry is welcomed by a enterprise proprietor in Murray River.
Caroline Farrell, who owns the Residence Plate Restaurant and Bakery, mentioned she notices a major enhance in enterprise when the ferries are working.
“We’re proper on the junction for Murray Harbour and we do see site visitors from the ferry,” Farrell mentioned. “We all know when the ferries are round, and a second ferry is nice as a result of the extra accessibility on this finish of the Island the higher.”
Farrell added the provincial authorities ought to put extra effort into selling companies in jap P.E.I. on the Wooden Islands terminal.
“The federal government must help advertising and marketing and push individuals down east … as an alternative of sending them straight on the freeway into Charlottetown,” she mentioned. “There are lots of companies down right here, and no person is aware of about them.”
Do you know?
Following is details about Northumberland Ferries Ltd.:
- The MV Vacation Island is being dismantled by a Nova Scotia firm after an onboard fireplace in 2022 rendered the vessel incapable of returning to service.
- Mark Wilson, senior vice-president of NFL, mentioned constructing a second ship stays his prime precedence long-term “so we’re not going by means of this course of yearly.’’
- The MV Saaremaa 1 made its first P.E.I.-to-Nova Scotia crossing on Aug. 20, 2022, with 87 passengers and 30 automobiles.
Dave Stewart is a well being reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.
