Third vessel brought in to add ‘resiliency’ to P.E.I. ferry service

An image of the MV Saaremaa 1. (Northumberland Ferries)

Northumberland Ferries (NFL) has announced a third vessel has been brought in to aid the ferry service that runs between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The MV Saaremaa previously operated within the fleet but was pulled from the water during the 2024 season.

It returned on Saturday and will be on standby through the peak season.

NFL says the current schedule will continue as planned with its two other vessels, the MV Northumberland and MV Confederation, which operate between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.

“This additional operational support is intended to strengthen the resiliency of the service and help ensure consistent, reliable operations for residents, visitors and commercial operators throughout the busy travel season,” reads a notice on its website.

The ferry service across the Northumberland Strait has been inconsistent since a fire broke out in 2022 on board the MV Holiday Island and damaged it beyond repair.

There were also issues with the MV Confederation in 2023, resulting in service shutdowns. It also ran into a wharf in 2024 — a season that was plagued by delays and interruptions.

Last year, several MV Northumberland sailings were cancelled due to a technical issue and weather.

Meanwhile, a resurfacing project is underway on the Confederation Bridge, which links New Brunswick and P.E.I.

The project is part of the bridge’s long-term maintenance program and is expected to continue until the end of the month.

Traffic is down to one lane in the construction zone and motorists are being told delays of 30 minutes to an hour may be possible.

With files from The Canadian Press

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.