Latest news with #MVSaareema
CBC
17-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ferry service between P.E.I. and N.S. will be more reliable this season, CEO promises
Officials with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. say they're confident this year's ferry season will be better and more reliable than last year's. The seasonal ferry service that runs between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is scheduled to begin May 1 and will include MV Northumberland, a vessel Transport Canada bought from Norwegian owners that is being added to the service. It was formerly called MV Fanafjord. "I think the general public is going to be very impressed with that vessel," said Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of Northumberland Ferries. "There is more redundancy on that vessel in case something does happen with an engine or with a thruster. There is the ability to continue to sail safely and reliability." The Northumberland Strait ferry service has been struggling since the Holiday Island was scrapped after a fire in the summer of 2022, leaving only MV Confederation on the run. That ship and MV Saareema, leased from the Quebec ferry service for two seasons, then faced their own share of problems. Ferry firm hopes for a trouble-free season as new vessel added: 'It's darn near close to a new ship' 1 hour ago Duration 2:38 The seasonal ferry service that runs between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia will start operation on May 1. Northumberland Ferries says it's doing everything it can to move on from the mechanical problems from last season, and promises the service will be more reliable this year. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports. The Confederation ran into the wharf at Wood Islands last year, leaving it out of service for four weeks. Having two boats in service this year should ensure a more reliable service, Wilson said, noting that both vessels have gone through pre-season maintenance. 'It's absolutely vital': business leaders For business leaders in eastern P.E.I., improvements to the ferry service's reliability are critical. "We know the travelling public is struggling with the notion of planning on using the ferry, especially from the commercial side," said Blair Aitken, the president of the Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce. Businesses that have lost confidence in the ferry service have opted instead to use the Confederation Bridge that links western P.E.I. to New Brunswick, Aitken said. "We're hopeful that Northumberland Ferries has plans of some sort to bring back public confidence in their system," he said, noting that a reliable, dependable service would do that over time. Aitken said he's hoping to see a season that begins and runs without maintenance issues, and operates on schedule with a reservation system that serves the public's leisure and commercial needs. "It's absolutely vital. I mean, it's vital to the eastern region, it's extremely important to the Island in general," he said. "The ferry system is highly important to the people of the region, to the businesses of the region on both sides of the strait." Any issues with the service this year will be magnified in the eyes of the public, Aitken warned. Season starts May 1 As the ferry season inches closer, one outstanding issue remains: the new ship is a tight fit into the dock at Wood Islands, NFL's Wilson said. "It fits well into Caribou. It fits OK into Wood Islands," he said. "We need to do some more modifications on the rubber blocks, but it's not a big deal." Transport Canada told CBC News it's working with the ferry operator to ensure the vessels are ready for the start of the season. MV Confederation will begin service for the season on May 1, and MV Northumberland will begin service in mid-June. During peak season, the service will offer eight round trips a day. To welcome it to eastern P.E.I., the Northumberland will be open to the general public on April 26 and 27 as part of Doors Open Down East event. The ship will depart the Wood Islands dock at 3:30 p.m. on April 27 to make its way back across the Northumberland Strait to Nova Scotia, where it has been docked at Pictou.
CBC
18-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Company operating N.S.-P.E.I. ferry service has a new owner
Social Sharing After a turbulent year in 2024, the company that operates ferry routes between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia has a new owner. The ownership group behind Northumberland Ferries Ltd., as well as the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia service from Bay Ferries Ltd., has sold the enterprise to CEO and president Mark Wilson. The deal does not include ownership of the vessels on the runs, which belong to Transport Canada. Wilson, who grew up in South Rustico, P.E.I., but now lives in Halifax, finalized the sale last week. He has been with the companies since 2021 and took over as CEO in May. The sale to Wilson from the previous ownership group — comprised of Danny Bartlett, Don Cormier, Gerry Stevenson and the family of the late Mark MacDonald — was completed earlier this month. Wilson acknowledged that 2024 was a tough year for Northumberland Ferries, but he said customers can expect him and his team to stay committed to improving safety at a time when many longtime employees are looking to retire. "We had close to 40 new hires the year before, so that's significant," he told CBC News. "You just need to make sure that the training system that you have in place, the safety management system in place, is robust in that we're training those people properly." Wilson's first season as CEO was a challenging one, with multiple breakdowns of both MV Saareema and MV Confederation, including the latter's collision with a wharf that left it out of service for 10 straight weeks. Canada's transport minister, Anita Anand, has said she intended to order an audit of Northumberland Ferries Ltd. after the "unacceptable" numerous disruptions and delays in 2024, to ensure reliable ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. While there have been problems at Northumberland Ferries, the company's routes on Bay Ferries between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have been much smoother, Wilson said. Bay Ferries also operates the CAT ferry on "a scenic 3.5-hour voyage between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia" during the tourism season. Wilson said he's committed to working with the governments and community partners to better meet and exceed the expectations customers have for the service. 'Move things forward' Wilson said buying the ferry company wasn't something he initially planned. Then he learned that the previous ownership group was ready to step away after more than 20 years. "Because of the importance of the service, they also wanted to move to someone who was going to own the company that was going to be actively involved in it, to continue on those traditional routes… and, you know, [have] new energy and continue to move things forward," he said. Wilson was able to complete the sale and become the sole new owner, taking on some bank financing to complete the purchase. Looking ahead, Wilson said he and his team will "get things right" with Northumberland Ferries' operations, pointing to the upcoming introduction of MV Northumberland as a positive sign. This new vessel, acquired by Transport Canada and formerly named MV Fanafjord, is intended to provide more reliable service on the Wood Islands, P.E.I., to Caribou, N.S., route. The ferry service has experienced disruptions following the decommissioning of MV Holiday Island after a fire in 2022, compounded by issues with MV Confederation. MV Northumberland travelled from Norway in December and is currently in Pictou, N.S., where it will remain until the ferry service resumes in May. "I'm confident with the senior leadership team here that we can continue down a very good trajectory looking forward to 2025," Wilson said.
