MV Confederation could be back on N.S.-P.E.I. ferry run earlier than planned

There's a 50-50 chance that Northumberland Ferries Ltd. can bring MV Confederation back into service earlier than Dec. 9, says company CEO Mark Wilson.

The ferry service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia ground to a halt 10 days ago, after the second of its two ferries broke down. MV Confederation had mechanical problems which led to damage while docking on Sept. 15. A week later, MV Saaremaa was sidelined with two of its four engines out of commission.

Both ships are now docked for repairs, and the ferry company says it will be at least Oct. 19 before service can resume using the Saaremaa. 

That ship's hull design makes it less able to sail in windy weather, however — and in any event, its owners in Quebec need it back by Oct. 26. 

On Thursday, Wilson held out the hope that the more robust Confederation might be able to sail again before full repairs are complete, which is expected to be Dec. 9.

"I give that a 50-50 chance," Wilson told CBC Radio: Island Morning host Laura Chapin. "It is a bit of a longer shot."

• LISTEN: Mark Wilson of Northumberland Ferries talks to Island Morning on Oct. 3.

The company is exploring bringing back the 31-year-old Confederation without its bow visor, the part that was damaged when a mechanical failure led to the ship hitting the dock in Wood Islands, he said.

Northumberland Ferries is doing a risk assessment and running the idea by regulators, and Wilson said he hopes the company will be able to make a decision by the end of the day on Friday.

"I know there's a lot of pressure to get back into service, but we've got to make sure that we do it right. We've lost a lot of trust of the people of P.E.I. and it's going to take some time to get that back," Wilson said. 

The vehicle ferry service to and from Nova Scotia shuts down for the season in mid-December. Travellers and cargo companies can use the Confederation Bridge to reach mainland New Brunswick year-round, however. 

Ferry service next season should be more reliable, Wilson said, with the Saaremaa — currently on loan from Quebec's ferry operator — expected to be replaced by MV Fanafjord. That Norwegian ferry was bought by Transport Canada this year with the intention of putting it in service by the end of this season, but the ship is still undergoing alterations in Europe.

Northumberland Ferries has seen a cascading set of issues since the government-owned MV Holiday Island caught fire in July 2022 and had to be scrapped.

A new ferry was promised by the federal government back in 2019, but the project is still in the design phase and no vessel is expected to arrive before 2028 at the earliest.