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MV Confederation back in action after new mechanical issue cancels crossings

A new mechanical issue with MV Confederation led Northumberland Ferries to cancel several crossings between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia on Friday. A second boat recently added to the route continued to run.

'It's unacceptable in this day and age ... Something has to be done' 

Carolyn Ryan · CBC News ·
Confederation ferry at the dock in Wood Islands, with both vehicle bay doors up.
MV Confederation at the dock in Wood Islands earlier this month. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC)

MV Confederation, one of two ferries making the crossing between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, was back in action Friday for the 5 p.m. trip across the Northumberland Strait. 

Several earlier crossings were cancelled because of a mechanical issue. 

Mark Wilson, senior vice-president of Northumberland Ferries Ltd., said there was a control system issue with one of the main engines.

"It is not at all related in any way to the coupling issues we have had earlier this month ... MV Saaremaa 1 is running fine and will maintain her schedule today. We are diligently working to correct the issue with the main engine and hope to have it corrected shortly today," he said. 

Confederation crossings between 7 a.m. AT and 3:30 p.m. AT were cancelled. 

The Saaremaa can hold 110 vehicles and 600 passengers, compared to 214 vehicles and 600 passengers for the Confederation.

head shot
Jim Reid is one of the people who were held up by the cancelled ferry crossings today. He said the situation is sad for the Island and tourists. (Tony Davis/CBC)

Ferry passenger Jim Reid was supposed to be on the 1:45 p.m. AT ferry from Wood Islands. 

"To end the trip in this way I think is so sad. Sad for the Island, sad for tourists. It's unacceptable in this day and age," he said. "Something has to be done." 

Reid said they were considering taking the Confederation Bridge home or staying another night.

He said they will think twice about making the crossing in the future. 

The 30-year-old Confederation was out of service — with the exception of a few crossings on the Canada Day weekend — from June 17 to July 10, leaving no boat running as the busy tourism season got underway.  

The problem in mid-June was caused by a broken part in the port engine main coupling. The issue after Canada Day was with the starboard engine coupling. 

A large blue and white ferry is seen off the shore at Wood Islands, N.S.
The blue-and-white MV Saaremaa 1, on lease from Quebec's ferry service, is the only vessel operating on the N.S.-P.E.I. run Friday morning. (Submitted by Mary Clark-Touesnard)

The route across strait is normally served by two ferries during the peak summer season. The Confederation's sister ferry, MV Holiday Island, was reduced to scrap by a fire last summer.

MV Saaremaa 1 returned to the Northumberland Strait service on July 15 to supplement the Confederation's runs.

A replacement for the Holiday Island was announced in the 2019 federal budget, but the new ferry isn't expected to be ready to sail until 2028.

While the service is operated by Northumberland Ferries, the ships themselves are owned by the federal government.

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