Icebreaker to clear path as MV Northumberland expected to arrive in next few days

This weekend marks an exciting milestone for the ferry run between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia as a new permanent vessel, the MV Northumberland, is set to arrive. The Canadian Coast Guard has announced that ice-breaking operations will take place on Sunday in the Pictou, N.S., area in preparation for the arrival of the MV Northumberland, formerly known as the MV Fanafjord.

According to a marine-vessel tracking website, the MV Northumberland is currently located just off the north coast of Cape Breton island as of Saturday afternoon. Despite requests for confirmation on the ship’s arrival date from both Transport Canada and Northumberland Ferries Limited, there has been no response so far.

The coast guard has issued a public safety notice advising caution to those in and around Pictou Harbour as the ice-breaking vessel CCGS Jean Goodwill clears the path for the incoming ship. The notice emphasizes the importance of vigilance due to the potential risks associated with ice-breaking operations.

The MV Northumberland was acquired by Transport Canada on December 12 and began its voyage from Norway to Canada on December 23. The federal government invested approximately $40 million in acquiring the vessel. The need for a new ferry arose after the MV Holiday Island was destroyed in a fire in 2022, causing disruptions in the ferry service across the Northumberland Strait.

In the absence of the MV Holiday Island, Transport Canada had been using the MV Confederation and leased the MV Saaremaa from Quebec to fill the gap. However, issues with the MV Confederation, including a collision with the wharf that led to weeks of downtime, continued to impact the service throughout the 2024 sailing season.

Despite efforts to secure a replacement vessel, documents reveal that the new ship, the Holiday Island II, is still in the design phase at the Davie shipyard in Quebec. The original plan was for the vessel to arrive in P.E.I. five years after the contract was awarded, but delays have pushed back the timeline.

The ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is scheduled to resume in May, with Northumberland Ferries typically operating one ferry in the shoulder seasons and two during peak months. The arrival of the MV Northumberland brings hope for a more consistent and reliable ferry service for residents and visitors traveling between the two provinces.