Crashed Marine Atlantic ferry out for August

A drydock inspection in Halifax of a ferry that crashed into a dock last week has confirmed the Marine Atlantic ferry between Newfoundland and Cape Breton will be out for most of this month.

Blue Puttees ferry operator, Marine Atlantic, has warned travellers that more changes may be coming to its schedule as a result of the damage.

The company is struggling to reorganize crossings after the ferry Blue Puttees struck a wharf and ran aground in thick fog last Wednesday while leaving Port aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland for Cape Breton.

Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer said the company may see more changes with one of their ferries out of commission during the busy tourist season.

"We'll have a clearer picture of what capacity exists. We also have to balance out what our commercial needs are as well to move our commercial customers. There may be some schedule adjustments in the coming days," he said.

Crews in Halifax have assessed the extent of the damage to the vessel's bow and officials say the temporary plan, which involves the elimination of the Argentia run, will remain in place until around the Labour Day weekend.

Mercer said passengers who paid for a ticket on the Argentia run will be fully refunded and offered a $200 travel voucher because of additional costs in getting to Port aux Basques.

The two ports — Argentia and Port aux Basques — are a significant distance apart, adding about nine hours drive for those wishing to reach the eastern portions of the island.

Following last week's crash, travellers were stranded for several hours waiting for high tide to help move the ferry off the wharf so it could sail back to the main dock.

No injuries were reported among the 398 passengers and 91 crew members aboard.