Northumberland Ferries has called off most sailings between Caribou, N.S., and Wood Islands, P.E.I., for Tuesday, Oct. 28 due to strong winds. This decision follows a series of cancellations over the weekend and early Monday due to technical issues with the MV Northumberland’s thrusters.
The company’s general manager, Jeff Joyce, mentioned that attempts were made to address the problem internally but now external experts are awaited to assess the situation. With the shoulder season underway, only one ferry, the MV Northumberland, is currently operational as the MV Confederation was taken out of service on Oct. 17 and remains stranded in Nova Scotia due to adverse weather conditions.
Darlene Compton, PC MLA for Belfast-Murray River, expressed disappointment and concern over the continuous cancellations, questioning the reliability of the ferry service. Recent incidents have left passengers like Trish Carter stranded, forcing them to take lengthy detours and disrupting their schedules.
Despite the challenges, Carter remains hopeful for improvements in the ferry service to avoid inconveniencing more travelers. Northumberland Ferries anticipated technical difficulties in the MV Northumberland’s first year of service but emphasized the overall success of the season, especially with increased demand following lower ferry fares implemented by the federal government.
The expected arrival of a new ferry in 2027 has been delayed multiple times, with Transport Canada recently stating uncertainty about when the vessel will be ready for operation.