The Wood Islands–Caribou route—a crucial link for the regional economy— has historically been served by the MV Confederation and the former MV Holiday Island, which was removed from service summer in 2022 due to an onboard fire. The MV Saaremaa I was chartered by Northumberland Ferries Ltd. as a temporary replacement for the former MV Holiday Island.
In August 2023, Transport Canada announced plans to purchase the MV Fanafjord as an interim replacement vessel until a new vessel for the route to be built by Chantier Davie Canada Inc. is ready for service. The MV Fanafjord’s refit is complete and is currently undergoing sea trials. Following successful sea trials, the vessel will be prepared for the overseas voyage to Canada and is expected to be ready for service for the 2025 operating season.
The MV Confederation was damaged in September 2024, when it collided with the wharf in Wood Islands resulting in structural damage to the bow visor. Transport Canada worked closely with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. to ensure service resumed as quickly as possible as the Wood Islands – Caribou ferry is an essential transport link for Canadians living in Atlantic Canada and for the regional economy. It returned to service on December 4, 2024 following the necessary repairs.
Here is the latest on the status of these two projects:
MV Fanafjord
Updates as of December 4, 2024:
Significant work to install new engines and related machinery on the vessel is complete.
Equipment commissioning and sea trials are expected to be finalized in in early December.
Transport Canada is expected to take ownership of the vessel in December, at which time the vessel will be prepared for the voyage to Canada.
Estimated date in service: The vessel is expected to be available for service for the 2025 operating season.
Background
- On August 23, 2023, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), published an Advanced Contract Award Notice (ACAN) on behalf of Transport Canada, to signal the Government of Canada’s intention to purchase the MV Fanafjord as an interim solution to replace the MV Holiday Island, which was taken out of service in 2022 due to an onboard fire.
Vessel specifications
- Age: 17 years
- Length: Approximately 130 metres
- Passenger capacity: 600
- Vehicle capacity: 180
- The MV Fanafjord is equipped with two engines and four propulsors to provide superior maneuverability.
MV Confederation
Update as December 4, 2024:
Final repairs were completed and service resumed on December 4, 2024.
Background
- On September 15, 2024, the MV Confederation was taken out of service when the bow suffered structural damage from a collision with the wharf while docking.
- The MV Confederation is 31 years old and typically operates 6-8 months of the year in sheltered waters.
- Northumberland Ferries Ltd. is responsible for ensuring the MV Confederation meets all regulatory requirements by working directly with Lloyd’s Classification Society, who is responsible for certifying that the vessel is safe to carry passengers.
Vessel specifications
- Age: 31 years
- Length: Approximately 115 metres
- Passenger capacity: 600
- Vehicle capacity: 205 (NOTE: maximum capacity may vary depending on how the vessel’s car decks are configured to allow for the transportation of trucks, motorhomes, and other high-sided vehicles)
About ferry services in Eastern Canada
Text description
This is a map showing the routes of the three ferry services in eastern Canada that Transport Canada supports through its Ferry Services Contribution Program: the route between Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec (QC) and Souris, Prince Edward Island (PEI) (operated by Coopérative de Transport Maritime et Aérien (CTMA) with the MV Madeleine); the route between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island (operated by Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL) with the MV Holiday Island and MV Confederation); and the route between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia (operated by Bay Ferries Limited (BFL) with the MV Fundy Rose)
Transport Canada’s Ferry Services Contribution Program provides funding that supports inter-provincial ferry transportation in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec, between:
- Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island and Caribou, Nova Scotia;
- Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island; and
- Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia.
In Budget 2019, the Government of Canada announced that it would procure two ferries for the Wood Islands—Caribou and Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Prince Edward Island routes. In summer 2019, the Government announced that Chantier Davie Canada Inc. would be responsible for the design and construction of the new ferries.
This is a map showing the routes of the three ferry services in eastern Canada that Transport Canada supports through its Ferry Services Contribution Program: the route between Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec (QC) and Souris, Prince Edward Island (PEI) (operated by Coopérative de Transport Maritime et Aérien (CTMA) with the MV Madeleine); the route between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island (operated by Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL) with the MV Holiday Island and MV Confederation); and the route between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia (operated by Bay Ferries Limited (BFL) with the MV Fundy Rose)