MV Confederation out of service for unknown period after collision with wharf
No injuries reported in accident on N.S.-P.E.I. ferry run
It's not clear how long it might take to repair the MV Confederation after a mechanical failure led to a collision with the wharf in Wood Islands on Sunday, according to Northumberland Ferries.
The crash was enough to damage the Confederation's front door, or bow visor, so that it could not be opened.
There is no concrete timeline for when the vessel might be back in service, but NFL said it has already contacted local repair facilities and hopes to get the Confederation to a shipyard for repairs as early as Tuesday.
"Damage to the bow visor is considerable and it will not be a simple nor quick repair. The estimated time for the ship repairs is not yet available, but an update will be provided once known," Northumberland Ferries general manager Jeff Joyce said in a news release Monday afternoon.
"We will continue to do all we can to fast-track the repair to MV Confederation so that we can safely resume full two-vessel service as soon as possible."
Charlottetown resident Raeanne MacNeill was travelling home from Cape Breton on the ferry when the collision happened.
"It was a pretty big bump," she said.
"We were in the area where all the other cars were at this point. We didn't really know what was going on."
MacNeill stumbled at the impact, she said, catching herself on a nearby vehicle. Uncertain what had happened, she just made her way to her car. Then came another announcement that the ferry would have to turn around and people would have to drive out the way they came in.
'I'm finding it not reliable'
The accident leaves only the MV Saaremaa to serve the route between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.
NFL said there will be only four round-trip crossings daily until at least Sept. 30.
The collision was caused by an issue with the de-clutching of the forward end braking propeller, the company said.
MacNeill said this further problem for Northumberland Ferries is disappointing. She has family in Cape Breton and rides the ferry a lot.
"I personally love the ferry. I try to use it as much as I can," she said.
"I'm finding it not reliable any more. We typically would be able to just go on, no worries."
MacNeill used to reserve in advance, but now just takes her chances. There have been a lot of sailings cancelled, and she finds the complications of getting refunds on reservations not worth the convenience of having made one.
Problems piling up
Businesses in the area are also frustrated with the ferry issues.
"We make our living on the crossing between Wood Islands and Caribou in the summertime," said Scott Carver, who runs a trucking company based near Murray River.
Having to to take the Confederation Bridge adds time and expense without compensation because truckers get paid by the tonne, he said.
"Most of our trucks make two trips a day.... It really affects us, big time."
The Saaremaa is a temporary replacement for the MV Holiday Island. It was brought into service after that ferry caught fire during a run in 2022. The ferry was beyond repair, and had to be scrapped.
The Holiday Island had already been scheduled for replacement. The announcement was in the 2019 federal budget, but the new boat is not expected to be ready before 2028.
Saaremaa is not well suited to service on the Northumberland Strait. It is not designed for the rough weather conditions, and its crossings are regularly cancelled due to high winds.
The company has said it is unsafe to operate the Saaremaa when gusts reach about 25 knots, or 46 kilometres an hour, largely due to the shape of its hull.
Our ferry traffic is suffering. And it's mostly because the system, the service, isn't reliable— Cory Deagle, P.E.I. tourism minister
A longer term replacement, the MV Fanafjord, was purchased by the federal government last year, but it is still in Norway being retrofitted.
There are currently no plans to replace Confederation, which was launched in 1993, and is considered by some to be due for retirement.
P.E.I. Tourism Minister Cory Deagle, who represents the Montague-Kilmur district in Kings County, said it's time for the federal government to deal with the issues with a sense of urgency.
"It's just not really acceptable. Tourism operators are never happy when this happens," Deagle said.
"We have our bridge traffic up, our air traffic's up, our cruise traffic is up, but our ferry traffic is suffering. And it's mostly because the system, the service, isn't reliable."
With files from Kerry Campbell and Wayne Thibodeau