Police called to end passenger protest on Strait of Belle Isle ferry
Delays 'not within our control,' says Apollo operator
Frustration with the ferry service between Newfoundland and Labrador bubbled over on Sunday, with about 20 passengers staging a peaceful sit-in aboard the MV Apollo, which is docked at St. Barbe on the Northern Peninsula.
They were demanding the coast guard supply a larger, more powerful icebreaker to deal with the jammed-up Strait of Belle Isle, and hoping to draw attention to what they believe is a substandard service.
"We're tired of having this service denied to us," Blanc Sablon resident Vincent Wellman told CBC News Monday morning.
According to the coast guard's acting superintendent of ice operations, the light icebreaker Anne Harvey is still standing by to assist the MV Apollo in St. Barbe.
Rebecca Acton-Bond said a larger vessel may not be able to make the crossing either.
"When there's that much [ice] pressure, the track closes in so quickly behind them that they're not able to move the Apollo through the track," Acton-Bond said.
There hasn’t been any crossings since March 5, when the Apollo struggled for 18 hours to travel the 28 kilometres from Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe.
Many travellers — commercial and private — have been stranded for up to seven days on both sides of the Strait of Belle Isle, leading to a growing sense of irritation among those impacted.
We're tired of having this service denied to us- Vincent Wellman
People have been venting their anger on social media at the service provider — Woodward Group of Companies — and the coast guard.
When Sunday's attempted crossing failed, some passengers refused to leave the galley for about two hours.
Wellman described the conditions faced by some travellers as "inhumane," with people sleeping in their vehicles in the dead of winter, or absorbing the costs of paying for accommodations.
He said it's inexcusable that this "essential service" is so routinely disrupted by ice conditions.
"They should have something that can cross in these conditions," said Wellman.
Two women trying to get to Labrador to see their dying father are among those waiting for a crossing.
Leona Buckle says she and her sister have been waiting four days for the ferry to leave St. Barbe. They also tried to get seats on a flight, then tried to book a charter, and even asked the mail plane to take them.
Buckle said time is running out.
"We won't get to see him in his own mind. It's very sad and very frustrating," said Buckle.
Dave Leyden, operations manager with the Woodward Group of Companies, said he understands that the service interruptions are frustrating for travellers and having a financial impact on many people.
But he said it's beyond the company's control.
He described ice conditions as "terrible," with wind conditions funnelling ice into the Strait and making it all but impossible to navigate.
Leyden said the crew had no choice but to call the RCMP Sunday because the passengers refusing to leave were blocking those who wanted to disembark.
He also said safety rules prevent the company from allowing passengers to stay on board the vessel during such circumstances.
The coast guard has been providing icebreaker assistance, but even this hasn't been enough, said Leyden.
According to the coast guard, all icebreakers on the east coast are currently in service.
Coast guard is sending the heavy icebreaker Terry Fox to St. Barbe later in the week. It's expected to arrive in time for Wednesday morning's crossing.
"Certainly there is heavy ice in the Strait of Belle Isle but that's not where the heaviest ice is … ice in the Cabot Strait is significantly heavier than ice in Strait of Bell Isle right now," said Acton-Bond.
An attempted crossing on Sunday afternoon was quickly aborted after the Apollo and the Ann Harvey became ensnared in the ice.
"The frustration of passengers is understandable but we are doing all we can to try to get crossings in with the assistance of coast guard," Leyden explained.
Leyden said another attempted crossing will be made Monday morning.