MV Confederation could be back on P.E.I.-N.S. run a few days earlier than expected

After a prolonged period of no ferry service crossing the Northumberland Strait between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Northumberland Ferries Ltd. announced on Wednesday that one of its troubled ships could potentially return to service early next month. The MV Confederation, which had been out of commission since colliding with the wharf in Wood Islands, P.E.I. on September 15, is slated to resume crossings on December 6 if repairs to the vessel are completed on schedule.

Initially, there were discussions about bringing back the 31-year-old Confederation without its bow visor, but a risk assessment revealed that this would pose a safety risk due to the visor’s importance in keeping the vehicle decks watertight. The shipyard in Pictou is now ahead of schedule in repairing the damaged bow visor, with completion expected by December 3.

Assuming the repairs are completed on time, the MV Confederation will be back in service on December 6, operating four round trips daily until the end of the sailing season on December 20. Northumberland Ferries also provided an update on the investigation into the collision, stating that mechanical failure was not a contributing factor to the incident.

The prolonged shutdown of the ferry service this season has been challenging, with both the MV Confederation and MV Saaremaa facing issues. Following the collision, the MV Saaremaa had to return to its owners in Quebec after two of its four engines were out of commission. The Saaremaa’s design made it less capable of sailing in windy conditions on the Northumberland Strait, leading to frequent cancellations during the season.

Looking ahead, the MV Fanafjord, a Norwegian ferry purchased by Transport Canada, is expected to replace the Saaremaa next season. The ongoing challenges faced by Northumberland Ferries, including the fire and subsequent scrapping of the MV Holiday Island in 2022, have highlighted the need for a new ferry. While a new vessel has been promised by the federal government since 2019, it is still in the design phase, and no new ferry is anticipated to arrive before 2028 at the earliest.