Quebec Ferries

[Curtis]

Back in late April, I made my first trip to La Belle Province in over a decade. While most of my trip was spent in Montreal, I dedicated 2 days of it to drive north along the St. Lawrence and ride a couple ferries. Up first on this trip was the Howe Sound Queen's old stomping grounds of Sorel-Tracy and St-Ignace-De-Loyola.

Warning: VERY Photo Heavy!
All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.

We start on the St-Ignace side. The Catherine-Legardeur was in refit at the time so the Felix-Antoine-Savard was running in relief.

Felix-Antoine-Savard Unloading at St-Ignace-De-Loyola. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 2, Car Deck Bow, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The interior as one would expect is quite basic, though the greyhound style seating was kind of a surprise. Seeing as most of the STQ operated routes are 30 minutes or less, this is about all they need. I can only imagine what this vessel was like on the 2 hour Matane - Baie-Comeau - Godbout route as she was the most recent emergency vessel on that run before the Saaremaa I took over.

Deck 3, Passenger Lounge, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Another interesting thing was that the crew had a radio station playing over the PA system. Didn't really have a problem with it, though whenever I get around to uploading the walkthrough it could be with YouTube the way it is.

Deck 3, Passenger Lounge, Felix-Antoine-Savard by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now to the outer decks.

Deck 3, Promenade Deck Aft, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 4, Sun Deck, Felix-Antoine-Savard by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Away from St-Ignace-De-Loyola.

Car Deck Aft, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Lucien-L passing by.

Lucien-L. Enroute to St-Ignace-De-Loyola. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Lucien-L. Enroute to St-Ignace-De-Loyola. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

On the vehicle deck.

Deck 2, Car Deck, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 2, Car Deck, Felix-Antoine-Savard. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

On the Sorel-Tracy side.

Felix-Antoine-Savard Docked at Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

STQ appears to be investing in their terminal infrastructure, the terminal building is brand spanking new! So new in fact it wasn't even open yet.

New Terminal Building, Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Since the new one wasn't in use yet, I had to settle for the old terminal building which you can see behind the new building in the photo above.

Waiting Room, Sorel-Tracy by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

I wouldn't be waiting long though. Next up was the Lucien-L.

Lucien-L. Docking at Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Lucien-L. Docked at Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now we board the younger sister of the Howe Sound Queen.

Deck 2, Car Deck, Lucien-L. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The lounge is about what you'd expect from a ferry her age and size. Not that she needs much on a 10 minute crossing.

Deck 3, Passenger Lounge, Lucien-L. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 4, Sun Deck, Lucien-L. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Off we go again.

Lucien-L. Departing Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Felix-Antoine waits patiently for us to clear the berth.

Felix-Antoine-Savard Waiting off Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Felix-Antoine-Savard Approaching Sorel-Tracy. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 2, Car Deck, Lucien-L. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

And we return to St-Ignace-De-Loyola.

Lucien-L. Docked at St-Ignace-De-Loyola. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

That's all for now. There will be more soon though.

[Curtis]

Now for part 2 of my Quebec Ferry travels!

After arriving back in St-Ignace-De-Loyola, I hopped back in the car and drove north, crossing the St. Lawrence at Québec City, and finally reaching my next destination in Rivière-du-Loup. After making a quick stop to refuel and grabbing some St-Hubert chicken for lunch, I drove over to the Ferry terminal and got ready to board my third and final ferry of that day, the Trans-St-Laurent.

Warning: VERY Photo Heavy!
All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.


To start, here is the Trans-St-Laurent. Looks a bit like a certain former BC Ferry don't you think?

Trans-St-Laurent Docked at Rivière-Du-Loup. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

While this route is part of the STQ system, it's one of the few routes that is operated by a separate company. Another interesting thing is that you pay onboard the vessel instead of in the terminal. An employee will walk up to your vehicle and hand you a ticket indicating your vehicle type and number of people which you have to take to the purser's office onboard and pay. You then hand your proof of payment to a crew member as you drive off the vessel.

Rivière-Du-Loup Holding Lot. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now onboard we go. It was nice and sunny as we left Rivière-Du-Loup, but that wouldn't last long.

Deck 5, Sun Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Car Deck Aft, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Looking toward the terminal as we backed out.

Rivière-Du-Loup Terminal. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Unlike many BC Ferries vessels of a similar size, this ship has an elevator. It kind of has to though, you're not allowed on the car deck during the crossing unlike many of our open deck vessels. Not sure you'd want to in rough seas with water spraying over the bow though.

Deck 4, Aft Promenade Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 4, Aft Promenade Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Once out in the St. Lawrence, the weather started to turn grey.

Car Deck Aft, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 5, Sun Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Not many vessels left on our coast with actual life boats like these.

Life Boat, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 4, Port Promenade Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now lets look at some of the interior amenities on this vessel.

The restaurant with it's diner style seating gives the vessel even more of a retro feel.

Deck 4, Restaurant, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Her forward lounge looks a little more modern.

Deck 4, Forward Lounge, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

While I can't say with 100% certainty that the Trans-St-Laurent was the vessel BC Ferries based the Queen of the Islands off, they were built in the same year and share many design elements so there is likely a connection between the two.

Builder's Plaque, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

A closer look at that name and logo.

Name, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The ship's starboard corridor, the room on the right is the children's play room. You can also partially see a penny-press machine and an video arcade machine. ahead of it. I did get a pressed penny with a picture of the ferry on it. Since the person at the desk only spoke French though, it took me quite a few minutes to ask for a penny to put in the machine. We had to ask another passenger who knew both English and French to get the message across.

Deck 4, Starboard Corridor, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Since this route is more of a seasonal tourist run, the ship has a bar onboard. Liquor service doesn't start until Mid-May though so the bar was more of a TV Lounge. Just so happened The Simpsons was on when I snapped the picture.

Deck 4, Bar, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Finally, here's the vessel's souvenir shop. They had a few souvenirs I considered buying such as playing cards and mugs with the Trans-St-Laurent on them, but I was busy wandering around the ferry so much that I ran out of time to buy one. So all I have was the previously mentioned pressed penny.

Deck 4, Souvenir Shop, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now we head down to the car deck.

Deck 2, Car Deck Bow, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Was surprised to see this ship has platform decks. Don't know how often they get used though considering there's no way passengers can get to their vehicles once they've been raised. Must be pretty tedious loading and unloading them cause of this.

Deck 2, Car Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Builder's Plaque, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

This concludes my trip on the Trans-St-Laurent.

Deck 2, Car Deck, Trans-St-Laurent. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

In Saint-Siméon.

Trans-St-Laurent Docked at Saint-Siméon. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Saint-Siméon has an interesting setup for vehicle staging. Cars get staged on the hill while trucks, trailers and commercial traffic get staged in the lot to the right.

Saint-Siméon Holding Lot. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Finally we end on a shot of the waiting room and the berth. If you look through the deck of that house on the right, you can see the Trans-St-Laurent in the distance on her way back to Rivière-du-Loup.

Saint-Siméon Terminal. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

After this I got back in the car and drove south back to Québec City where I'd turn in for the night.
So that's all for now, but I have one last report to make of my second time aboard the Québec-Lévis ferry.

[Low Light Mike]

Jul 24, 2019 15:38:40 GMT -8 Curtis said:

Now for part 2 of my Quebec Ferry travels!

After arriving back in St-Ignace-De-Loyola, I hopped back in the car and drove north, crossing the St. Lawrence at Québec City, and finally reaching my next destination in Rivière-du-Loup. After making a quick stop to refuel and grabbing some St-Hubert chicken for lunch, I drove over to the Ferry terminal and got ready to board my third and final ferry of that day, the Trans-St-Laurent.

Big thanks for this report. I love the colourful ferry, and the retro feel.

[Blue Bus Fan]

I wonder how private routes operate for Société des traversiers du Québec. Does Société des traversiers du Québec put those routes out for bid to operators?

[Curtis]

Now for the final part of my Québec Ferry travels!

Warning: VERY Photo Heavy!
All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.

After a morning of walking around Old Quebec, I walked down to the ferry terminal and went for a round trip. Seems I spent a little too much time sightseeing though as I only had time for a ride on the Alphonse-Desjardins.

Alphonse-Desjardins Docked at Québec City. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The waiting room on the Québec side.

Waiting Room, Québec City. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Aboard we go! My second time aboard this vessel.

Boarding the Alphonse-Desjardins at Québec City. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 3, Aft Promenade Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Away from Québec.

Québec City Terminal. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Down on the vehicle deck.

Deck 2, Car Deck Bow, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 2, Car Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 3, Forward Promenade Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Coming into Lévis.

Deck 2, Forward Promenade Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The terminal building in Lévis, much like the one back in Sorel is new and very modern.

Lévis Terminal. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

The interior is quite impressive for a terminal building. The way it's designed, you could almost mistake it for a Skytrain station.

Lévis Waiting Room. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Back onboard.

Deck 3, Port Promenade Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 4, Sun Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Now some interior shots.

Deck 3, Passenger Lounge, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Deck 3, Passenger Lounge, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

How a ship's model should be displayed. The Island Sky ought to take note...

Model, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Back on the Quebec Side.

Deck 3, Forward Promenade Deck, Alphonse-Desjardins. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

Back up at the foot of the Château Frontenac, I took a few shots of the ferries below.

Alphonse-Desjardins Docked at Québec City, Lomer-Gouin Docked at Lévis. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

I probably would have rode the Lomer-Gouin had it not started raining. But I'll save that for another time, I'm sure I'll be back at some point.

Lomer-Gouin Docked at Lévis. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

With this shot of the Alphonse-Desjardins, I officially ended my ferry travels and drove back to Montréal.

Alphonse-Desjardins Docked at Québec City. by Curtis Simonetta, on Flickr

That's all for now.

[Low Light Mike]

Aug 4, 2019 13:32:30 GMT -8 Curtis said:

Now for the final part of my Québec Ferry travels!

After a morning of walking around Old Quebec, I walked down to the ferry terminal and went for a round trip. Seems I spent a little too much time sightseeing though as I only had time for a ride on the Alphonse-Desjardins.

Thanks very much for this. I've enjoyed looking and comparing to west-coast.

[Blue Bus Fan]

August 28, 2019 3:44 p.m.
Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout

The management of the Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout ferry advises its customers that the schedule currently in effect with the MV Saaremaa Iwill be extended beyond Labour Day and will be maintained until the return to service of the MV F.-A.-Gauthier at the Matane crossing.

Following the first few weeks of operation, it was determined that the current schedule was required to respect departure times and to perform all operations safely, the latter taking more time compared to the F.-A.-Gauthier.

The ferry schedule will therefore remain as follows:

Every day, except Wednesdays

Matane to Godbout: departure at 7:30 am
Godbout to Matane: departure at 11 am

Matane to Baie-Comeau: departure at 2:30 pm

Baie-Comeau to Matane: departure at 6 pm

Wednesdays

Matane to Baie-Comeau: departure at 7:30 am

Baie-Comeau to Matane: departure at 11 am

Matane to Godbout: departure at 2:30 pm

Godbout to Matane: departure at 6 pm

The management of the ferry thanks its customers for their understanding and collaboration.

moncompte.traversiers.com/detail-alerte/3146/?lang=en

I wonder when MV F.-A.-Gauthier will enter.

[Blue Bus Fan]

MV F.-A.-Gauthier seems to have been built with construction defects and lax quality control.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-ferry-whistleblowers-1.5283510

[Blue Bus Fan]

MV F.-A.-Gauthier broke away for her mooring during a refit period:

www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/10/09/breakaway-ferry-contacted-bottom-at-trois-rivieres-canada/

[Blue Bus Fan]

NM Armand-Imbeau II and NM Jos-Deschênes II use similar style of seats to BC Ferries major vessels.

www.keroul.qc.ca/etablissement/cote-nord/service-connexe/10031-traverse-tadoussacbaie-sainte-catherine.html

[Blue Bus Fan]

MV Svanoy that was purchased in June has made accidents taking her out service, she service L'Isle-aux-Coudres route:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/isle-aux-coudres-ferry-out-of-service-following-thursday-night-accident-1.6633141