Sailings between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be canceled again on Monday as authorities grapple with the aftermath of a fire that broke out on board the ferry MV Holiday Island.
Posted at 9:25 p.m.
This fourth day of cancellations during a peak period is a blow to the region’s tourism industry as it continues to recover from the pandemic closures.
However, it also shines a light on the ability of the Maritimes to come together in difficult times, with the managing director of the ferry company even opening his door to stranded passengers.
The cause of the fire, which started in the engine room of the MV Holiday Island, remains unknown.
“We believe it was coming from the front main engine, but it will be some time before we can get into that space,” Northumberland Ferries vice-president Don Cormier told a press briefing on Sunday.
“We want to make sure there is no chance of reigniting the fire. »
the MV Holiday Island crosses the Northumberland Strait between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island. The ship was built in the 1970s and is nearly 98 meters long, according to ship traffic websites. It carries vehicles as well as passengers.
The vessel is operated by Northumberland Ferries on behalf of Transport Canada and is inspected annually by Lloyd’s Register, said Julie Gascon, Director General of Marine Safety and Security at Transport Canada.
It was last inspected on May 11, 2022, she said at the press conference.
Tugboats pulled the ship to dock at Wood Islands on Sunday. A water dam was then installed around the ship, said Ben MacDonald, assistant superintendent of environmental response with the Coast Guard.
“At the moment, no pollution has been observed,” he said during the briefing, adding that the vessel is being closely monitored for any potential environmental issues.
Residents of Prince Edward Island gathered over the weekend to help stranded passengers after the fire prompted an emergency evacuation of the ferry on Friday as it approached of Wood Islands.
About 230 passengers exited the ship using an inflatable slide and were carried ashore by sailors who responded to the distress call, including fishing boats, lifeboats and even a yacht.
The emergency has left holidaymakers without a vehicle and in many cases without a place to stay as the tourist season is in full swing.
“We’ve had a lot of offers from people wanting to host passengers in their own homes,” Cormier said, adding that even retired workers have stepped up to help customers.
“The islanders pledged their support and showed up to help. »
The CEO opens his door
The company has been successful in finding commercial accommodation for most clients. Mr Cormier pointed out that the head of Northumberland Ferries welcomed families on Friday evening.
“This is one of the busiest weeks of the year for tourism on Prince Edward Island,” said Mark MacDonald, President and CEO of Northumberland Ferries.
“We have assembled a team of people to look after our customers displaced by the accident […], but it was clear that there were a few people who weren’t being taken care of and I was worried about them. »
So the head of the ferry company did what he said any islander would do: he opened his door.
Mr. MacDonald had mentioned that he and his wife would be happy to take people in trouble themselves. They welcomed a group of eight people into their home, including five adults and three small babies.
Once the news spread through the community, Mr MacDonald said neighbors started dropping off food and offering to help.
“It’s just a small thing that we were very happy to do under the circumstances, in such a difficult situation. »
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the ship was towed to the dock in Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, where the vehicles could be unloaded.
There was no obvious damage to the vehicles, Mr. Cormier said.
Northumberland Ferries hopes to resume service between the Maritime provinces on Tuesday.
The schedule generally provides for the MV Holiday Island and the MV Confederation each making four round trips between Caribou and Wood Islands, he explained.
We do not know what the new calendar will be with the MV Holiday Island out of order.
However, Mr. Cormier indicated that during a major service interruption in 2016, the MV Confederation was able to accommodate 85% of traditional traffic.
While the MV Confederation operates year-round, the MV Holiday Island is mainly used during high season.