‘We need that traffic’: Pictou mayor concerned about Nova Scotia-PEI ferry breakdown

The mayor of Pictou, NS, says the city is frustrated by repeated ferry outages that are causing service between Nova Scotia and PEI to be suspended.

Northumberland Ferries has announced that the MV Confederation will remain out of operation on Saturday and Sunday pending repairs.

“We rely heavily on traffic traveling on the ferries in the spring, summer and fall,” says Jim Ryan.

It’s mostly bad timing, he noted, because the annual Pictou Lobster Carnival takes place this weekend.

“A lot of people come to our city during Carnival and I know some of that traffic comes from Prince Edward Island or through Prince Edward Island.”

The ship has broken down several times this year, which Ryan says has prompted members of the local service industry to express their concerns to him.

“We’re talking about tens of thousands of vehicles passing through each year, and especially during the busiest times, and I think that’s one of the busiest times,” Ryan said. “We need that traffic.”

Tony Dolan, owner of a motel and two restaurants nearby, said that while it’s not ideal for the ferry service to be out, the good news is that there are a number of big events happening this weekend and they’re drawing a lot of people.

“Not just the lobster festival, but it’s the city’s birthday, it’s the ship’s birthday Hector. They have events every night and more people come for the events,” Dolan said, and the Confederation Bridge remains a good option .

Ferry expects to be back in service next week

Rose Sangster owns Millside General Store on the Sunrise Trail and has provided directions to several tourists surprised by the disruption to ferry service.

“Some of them are confused about where they’re going, so we end up explaining on a map how to get there, the shortest route,” she said.

Mayor Ryan is calling on the federal government to help the situation in the short and long term, first by relocating to replace the current ferry, which he says is at the end of its life.

“The federal government should definitely look at accelerating delivery of the ferry that is expected to be built before 2027 or 2028,” he said.

In a press release, Northumberland Ferries said the parts needed to fix the MV Confederation’s mechanical problem will arrive on Saturday “and an expedited repair, followed by extensive testing, will get the vessel back into service early next week.”

The company says it deeply regrets the “continued inconvenience”.

Second ferry on the way

The federal government in March announced $29.9 million in funding over two years for ferry routes in the Maritimes.

That commitment was made as part of this year’s federal budget, and the government specifically mentioned the chartering of a second ship between Nova Scotia and PEI.

Tourism Secretary Randy Boissonnault referenced the investment this week during an announcement in Peggys Cove.

In the press release, Northumberland Ferries said a second vessel, MV Saaremaa 1, will enter service in mid-July.