NS-PEI ferry service canceled until at least mid-July

Ferry service between Caribou, NS, and Wood Islands, PEI, has been canceled at least until mid-July.

Northumberland Ferries said in a statement Monday that MV Confederation has encountered a mechanical problem that requires a new part to be installed.

The part must be manufactured from scratch because it is not in stock internationally, the company said. It is expected to take three to four weeks to arrive.

MV Confederation is out of service until the part is delivered, installed and tested. Northumberland Ferries has stopped taking bookings for the next three weeks up to and including 10 July as a precaution.

Problem noticed over the weekend

Mark Wilson, the company’s senior vice president, is urging people to be patient.

“This is a very unfortunate situation. We recognize the impact this is having on our customers and service and apologize for the disruption it is causing,” he said in the statement.

“We are working closely with the manufacturer and are doing everything we can to expedite the delivery of the part so that we can safely resume this important service as soon as possible.”

The problem was first noticed this weekend and involved the drive connection between the port main engine and the central propulsion gearbox.

The staff tried to solve the problem with spare parts, but failed.

All customers with reservations for sailings up to July 10th will be contacted to arrange a refund or to rebook for alternative dates. Updates can be found on the NFL website when more information is available.

The second ship for the 2023 peak season, MV Saaremaa 1, is currently drydocked in Quebec. It is scheduled to arrive in early July.