Northumberland Ferries Limited update on MV Confederation and Revised Sailing Schedule.
CHARLOTTETOWN – Jeff Joyce, Vice President of Marine Operations and General Manager of Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL), is issuing the following statement concerning the status of MV Confederation and updated sailing schedule, operating the Prince Edward Island-Nova Scotia ferry service:
The NFL team has engaged with local ship repair facilities to ensure the damage to the vessel’s bow visor is fixed as quickly and safely as possible. We anticipate moving the ship to a local shipyard potentially as early as tomorrow and believe the damage to the ship has been limited to the bow visor. Damage to the bow visor is considerable and it will not be a simple nor quick repair. The estimated time for the ship repairs is not yet available, but an update will be provided once known.
Service at NFL is reduced to MV Saaremaa I’s sailing schedule until the repairs to MV Confederation are completed. Sailings for Tuesday, September 17: departures from Caribou: 0700, 1000, 1330, and 1700. Departures from Wood Islands at: 0830, 1145, and 1515. This schedule will allow the vessel to re-position to Wood Islands Tuesday evening in preparation for Wednesday. As of Wednesday, September 18, Saaremaa will follow the extended four-trip daily schedule. This schedule includes departures from Wood Islands at: 0700, 1000, 1500, 1800 and departures from Caribou at: 0830, 1145, 1630, and 1930. This Schedule will likely remain n place until repairs are completed on MV Confederation.
"We recognize the impact this situation has had and will continue to have on our customers through the repair process. We apologize for the disruption it is causing. We will continue to do all we can to fast track the repair to MV Confederation so that we can safely resume full two-vessel service as soon as possible.”
All customers with reservations will be contacted to arrange a refund or re-book for alternate dates. NFL will issue a further update, which will likely be at the end of this week, once we have a more detailed timeline for necessary repairs to the ship’s bow visor. Updates will also be provided at our website www.ferries.ca when further information becomes available.