MV Confederation expected to be back on P.E.I.-N.S. ferry run as early as Dec. 2

After weeks of being out of service, MV Confederation could begin operating between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia again as early as Dec. 2 as long as final steps go according to plan.

At the monthly Belfast council meeting Wednesday night, Northumberland Ferries Ltd. general manager Jeff Joyce provided updates on repairs to the vessel. While MV Confederation is still under repair, Joyce said the restorations are running ahead of the completion schedule.

He said he can't provide a specific date for the ship's return to service because of the final repairs, tests and inspections that still need to be completed. However, Joyce said he is "quite confident" that the vessel will return to service by Dec. 2.

Joyce also shared that MV Confederation's collision with the wharf in Wood Islands, P.E.I., on Sept. 15, resulting in a hole in one of its raisable doors, was caused by human error and not a mechanical error, which was discovered during the company's internal investigation into the crash.

He said multiple errors were made at various levels, including his.

"There's a bunch of things all of us could have done better, and certainly that's something that we're learning as much as we can."

Jeff Joyce, the vice president of marine operations and general manager of Northumberland Ferries Ltd., says adding a fourth round trip to the December ferry schedule is a small way for the company to make it up to the community for the "disappointing" season. (Tony Davis/CBC)

Ferry will make 4 round trips a day

Joyce said once the MV Confederation is back in service, it will operate on a daily four-round-trip schedule, an increase from the usual three round trips it takes during the December month.

He said he received permission from Transport Canada to add a trip and that it's a small way to make it up to the community for the "disappointing" ferry season.

"To all our customers and stakeholders we do not take this lightly and we're doing our very best to rebuild the trust that NFL has enjoyed for decades and has withered away a little bit over the last couple of seasons here."

Trish Carter, a Belfast councillor and local business owner, said she was happy to get Joyce's communication, transparency and accountability during Wednesday's meeting and that the four round trips are "fantastic news."

"It's going to really help with the businesses that rely on trucking and leaving the Island and getting supplies. Having that other ferry run is definitely going to help increase the amount of loads that they can do before winter comes."

While Joyce said there would be no extension to this year's ferry season due to insurance challenges, the company is considering starting next year's season earlier. Carter said she is happy at the idea of an earlier season.

"Our voices are being heard, and that's such a fantastic feeling," she said. "They're actually hearing us, and they're trying to improve the service, including doing later runs."

Fanafjord set to arrive in January

In addition, Joyce provided updates to the MV Fanafjord, which is currently undergoing modernization and sea trials in Norway.

"I will tell you the vessel is looking fantastic. I think our customers will be very impressed with what [they're] getting."

Joyce said the vessel should leave Norway sometime during the first half of December and will embark on a 35-day trip to arrive in P.E.I. by roughly the end of January.

MV Fanafjord, launched in 2007, in a photo from the Public Services and Procurement Canada Facebook page. (Submitted by Transport Canada)

Because the Fanafjord has a deeper draft, Wood Islands Harbour needs dredging, which Joyce said won't begin until fall 2025. As a result, he said there might be restrictions on the number of commercial trucks allowed, which will depend on the tides.

Carter said she is "frustrated" with that information, as she said it's Transport Canada's responsibility to dredge the area. She said the Belfast council will contact Transport Canada to ask them to move the dredging start date up.