Nova Scotia company awarded tender to dispose of the MV Holiday Island

An Antigonish, N.S., company has been awarded the tender for the removal and disposal of the MV Holiday Island. 

R.J. MacIsaac Construction received the contract for more than $1.6 million, officials with Public Services and Procurement Canada told CBC News. 

The federal government received three other bids for the ferry's demolition, the prices of which are confidential, said officials. 

The MV Holiday Island has been sitting at the Northumberland Ferries Ltd. terminal in Wood Islands, P.E.I., since July.

It was towed there following a fire that broke out in its engine room during a crossing between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on July 22, forcing 200 people on board to be evacuated from the ferry. No injuries were reported.

The fire, the cause of which is still under investigation, caused extensive damage to the boat. 

The government tender requires transferring the vessel to an approved site, and dismantling and disposing or recycling it in an efficient and environmentally-responsible manner.

The ferry will need to be removed from its berth in Wood Islands by December, officials said, and the company has until Feb. 28, 2024, to complete the work.

Officials from R.J. MacIsaac Construction told CBC News they are looking forward to managing the project in a responsible way, with respect for the history of the vessel and its connection to the Maritimes. 

Transport Canada and Northumberland Ferries are working to secure a replacement ferry for next summer, Mark Wilson, senior vice-president at Northumberland Ferries, told CBC News in October.