New ferry for beleaguered P.E.I.-N.S. service making its way across Atlantic Ocean

The much-anticipated ferry slated for service between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., is crossing the Atlantic Ocean on its way to the Maritimes, Transport Canada says.

The ferry, which has been renamed MV Northumberland from MV Fanafjord, was acquired by Transport Canada on Dec. 12. It began its voyage from Norway to Canada on Dec. 23.

The federal government paid about $40 million for the vessel.

To avoid risks posed by winter conditions in the North Atlantic, the ferry moved south toward Cape Verde, off the coast of Africa, where it made a stop Jan. 3.

"It will then continue its journey to Antigua and Barbuda, before turning north towards Bermuda and the east coast of North America on its way to Canada," said Transport Canada spokesperson Flavio Nienow.

"The vessel's route may be adjusted based on weather conditions and the captain's discretion."

The ferry is scheduled to arrive in St. John's on Jan. 11. It is expected to be in service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia for the 2025 operating season, which resumes in May, Nienow said. 

That will surely be welcome news for passengers and businesses. The service has been inconsistent since the MV Holiday Island was scrapped after a fire onboard July 22, 2022.

Transport Canada had been using the remaining ship, the MV Confederation. It leased another ferry, the MV Saaremaa, from Quebec, while it found a replacement for the Holiday Island. But a series of issues with the Confederation, including a collision with the wharf that left it out of service for weeks, has continued to disrupt the service.

The ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia will resume for the season in May. Northumberland Ferries Ltd. generally uses one ferry in the shoulder seasons and two during the peak summer period.