Labrador Straits ferry service temporarily changing in 2016
MV Apollo headed for repairs, replaced with smaller ferry and air service
The Newfoundland and Labrador government will be replacing its normal Strait of Belle Isle ferry run for a much smaller ferry and air service in January as the MV Apollo heads in for annual maintenance.
For the two and a half weeks between Jan. 5 and Jan. 22, the MV Astron will run between Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe, carrying vehicles and a limited number of passengers.
Other passengers will take an air service between the Blanc Sablon airport and the one in Sandy Cove, with a shuttle service transporting them between airports and ferry terminals.
Ferry rates remain the same with a detailed schedule to be released in early December.
In a news release, the Department of Transportation and Works said it expects some disruption for travellers because of the limited carrying capacity of the MV Astron, which can carry 12 passengers, in comparison to 240 on the MV Apollo.
The MV Astron is operated by Nunatsiavut Marine, and is used primarily to ship freight.
The province said freight service to the northern coast of Labrador will not be affected by this disruption.
Clarifications
- A previous version of this story stated the MV Astron was owned by Nunatsiavut Marine. In fact, it is owned by Labrador Marine. A previous version also stated the MV Ranger would supply freight service to the northern coast of Labrador in January. In fact, the Ranger operates seasonally, dependent on ice conditions.Nov 04, 2015 6:08 AM NT