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Post by Dane on Jul 19, 2010 15:21:09 GMT -8
I have made a new thread for Northumberland Ferries as the previous thread is quite dated. NFI is a Transport Canada subsidized ferry service between Caribou, NS and Wood Islands, PEI. Crossing time is about 75 minutes in predominantly open waters at just under 14 knots. The two vessels on the service are quite different, and there are many photos below. First the terminals. Caribou, Nova Scotia Like many of BC Ferries' routes you only pay one way, however unlike BC Ferries you pay to leave the Island, rather than get there so this is the free direction. Similar to Langdale there is a terminal attendant to great yiu and direct you to your lane. Reservations can be made in this direction, however you must also purchase the return trip (to avoid people taking the ferry to the Island, and the bridge off. This saves you about $25 is you do not calculate gas and additional mileage). Service on this route receives a Federal subsidy because it crosses a Provinicial boundary. This subsidy is under constant threat, and I think is actually gone or severely diminished for next year - the Provinces have stepped in to keep the service going, however. The terminal building is simple and a bit antiquated, but nonetheless more than adequate. There is a gift shop on the lower level, and a cafeteria on the main level. PEI also has a helpful visitor information centre.   The holding lanes and traffic patterns are identical to BC Ferries terminals, fairly reminiscant again of Langdale. There are two beths for this service. One for the MV Confederation, and one for the MV Holiday Island. Vessel design is quite different, demanding the different berth types; it must have actually been quite expensive to add the Holiday Island to the fleet given that entirely new dock structures were required.  Wood Islands, PEI Wood Islands terminal is essentially the same as Caribou except there is a private take out seafood joint that looked quite alright (we were in too much of a hurry to stop by, we had actually planned to take the bridge and the ferry thing was fairly spontaneous). Again there is an awful cafeteria and a more expansive gift shop than on the Nova Scotia side.  Announcements at both terminals are recorded, and in English et en francais. Terminal staff wear an NFI T Shirt and their own pants; terminal directing staff were wearing their own clothing. Not as professional an appearance as on the West Coast, in my opinion. Here there are three terminal booths as there is a requirement to pay. Quite different from BCF is the fare system, they charge for the car, it does not matter how many people are in it. It's about $65 and a $5 reservation charge if you're so inclined. Debit is accepted. Reservations are recommended for peak travel times, our 1pm departure from here left behind half a sailings worth of cars. WiFi is available on the PEI side, as well at no charge. MV Confederation This ferry, built in 1993 by Transport Canada is a single bridged type design with three vehicle decks and two passenger decks. While I had exopected the gallery decks there is also a car deck below the main level which you drive into, and is where we were directed. It really adds to the ship's capacity. Capacity is 600 passengers with 18 staff (A License, the only one she holds) and 215 AEQ. Interestingly she is registered to Ottawa rather than anywhere local.  This is us heading into the ferry, with only one ramp you can see we are about to head down into the fairly large area below the main vehicle deck. Without a second ramp loading and unloading takes a very long time.  During loading the PEI side door is kept open a crack for ventilation.  Inside is a bit smaller than I expected. On the main passenger deck about 70% of the deck space is occupied by the cafeteria.  The other 30% is a passenger lounge where a live band played. They were pretty good! The seats leave something to be desired, and the vessel on the whole does not have adequate seating for large loads. I am curious what it is like in the winter when sitting outside is probably not a wise choice. On this sailing over half the passengers made their way outside.  A children's play area is included in this lounge as well; it leaves something to the imagination.  Moving upstairs there are two more nearly identical seating areas.  Between these two seating areas is a Cows Ice Cream store, and a closed gaming area which is currently an empty room.  The food on the ferry is awful, it is Washington State style. Here is my $9 cheese burger combo which was made with a loving microwave and featured several condiments - nothing.  Other menu items include hot dogs, pop, water, apples, poutine and soup. That's about it actually.    Approaching into Wood Islands terminal there is a waterway of sorts cut just for the ferry - must provide good protection when the vessels are tied up during storms.  MV Holiday Island This is a more recent addition to the NFI fleet, coming from Marine Atlantic who disposed of her when the Confederation bridge opened linking NB to PEI, her former route. Built in 1971 for Canadian national Railway she is a double ended vessel sort of like a minuature C Class with two car decks and a single passenger deck. Capacity is 155 AEQ and for passengers a B License is 486 with 22 crew & A License is 386 with 18 crew (notice the licenses are reverse order from BC where A would be the larger capacity).  Like the Confederation this vessel has a simple no frills interior layout that gets the job done, for the most part. Seating is even more limited, and again like the Confederation I am curious what busy winter sailings are like, even more so because car deck access is not permitted on either vessel when under way. Loading on this ship is essentially the same as BC Ferries. I didn't make it to the main car deck, but I do not believe there are platform decks. We were on the upper car deck which is three lanes wide on each side.   Holiday Island's cafeteria and seating area take up about 60% of the vessel. There is also a small tourist information stand here for both NS & PEI, as well as a closed video gambling area.  This vessel has no air conditioning, which is insane. Windows, however, do open for ventilation. It was quite an unpleasant sailing inside the ship.  Outside there was a live band behing the bridge, which also had a nice seating area taking in some lovely breeze. (The band is not set up yet in this photo)  You can also go up one deck and have a lovely forward view.  These two areas (behind the bridge and up one level behing the bridge) are closed off on the PEI end of the ship. Not sure why? -- Both vessels, like the terminals, have automated bilingual announcements that follow the general style of the late 1990s BC Ferries announcements. Safety information is posted around the ship, but is not nearly as prominent as we are used to. Whistles for both sound like the Queen of Capilano. Overall it was a great trip and I woulkd recommend anyone in the area take advantage of it. PEI is probably not the most entertaining destination for the under-80 crowd, though ;D |
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Post by Dane on Jul 19, 2010 15:56:52 GMT -8
A few more random pictures.... The Holiday Island meeting the Confederation  Wood Islands blown glass festival and random lighthouse  Looking towards PEI on the Confederation immediately after departing Nova Scotia   Looking up Caribour terminal  Me  |
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 19, 2010 17:08:46 GMT -8
Great documenting! I don't understand how the lighthouse is 'random' though, it's there for a reason.
Makes you appreciate our ferry food! Nothing to complain about here, except for maybe the prices, but their prices are higher for worse food anyways.
Thanks for those pics!
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 19, 2010 17:39:51 GMT -8
Excellent pics, Dane! It's nice to see some ferries from the other coast for a change.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Jul 20, 2010 6:52:28 GMT -8
Great pics and reporting Dane. You should eventually work for the Forces in PR  . To answer your question about winter - the route is very very quiet then. When winds are too high for the bridge, then most of the time the conditions aren't good for sailing, so they can't pick up the slack then. I may be wrong but I believe one of the ferries gets parked in the winter. This route is particularly popular for Nova Scotians and tourists who like ferry travel or don't want to drive the extra distance into NB for the Bridge. Americans who have cottages/vacation homes on the Island, likely drive to the bridge as it is a more direct route for them. Offseason PEI traffic would be heading to Halifax or Truro or another NS location for shopping and events. NS traffic would be mostly going to visit family or government or small business. The Confederation reminds me of the ferry that was in the recent movie The Ghost Writer from the North Sea. This ferry is the most reasonable looking as it seems one of the requirements over the years for a PEI Ferry is to look butt ugly and be strange each in its own way. I believe the ferry is quite robust because the seas can be quite choppy in the strait. Whether robust enough to replace the Chili I am not sure and I am not sure what TC would rate it as. I don't think it would have the passenger space to take over the route so modifications would be needed. A friend of mine has a vacation home not far from the bridge and the ferry. She has to fight to get time for her and her husband to use it, it is so popular, especially in the summer. She particularly likes going in the offseason because it is quieter and less overrun with tourists. However you have to be prepared with lots of things to occupy yourself as the Island gets very quiet during the week offseason. 80% of her renters come by bridge. The rest are Nova Scotians who want to get away, mostly from Halifax/Dartmouth. Her inquiries soared once Regis and Kelly started advertising they were going to PEI. Once they were there and broadcasting her inquiries went beserk mostly from Americans. Maybe the ferry route will see a similar spike of popularity as the promo gets people to visit. |
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ghYHZ
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Post by ghYHZ on Aug 1, 2010 3:52:45 GMT -8
Thanks for posting.
The NFL service is seasonal only between May 1 and December 20 and the “Holiday Island” operates from late June to Thanksgiving. Only one vessel, the “Confederation” is service the rest of the time. These are not Ice Breakers and the Strait between Nova Scotia and PEI is packed with ice from January to late March.
Even when the Holiday Island was operating on the CN (later Marine Atlantic) route between Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick and Borden, PEI, prior to the opening of the bridge. It along with the identical “Vacationland” were tied up for the winter months. The Abegweit and John Hamilton Gray which were ice breakers, maintained the service…..they were also rail-car ferries.
The Holiday Island/Vacationland did not need a large seating capacity on deck as the NB <> PEI route they were constructed for was only 40 minutes and a lot of people just remained in their cars (not like the regulations we have today!)...... And besides, there is nowhere near the number of “walk-on” passengers that BC Ferries experiences.
A bit more on the Fares. As you said......Only charged when you leave the Island. Same for the Bridge......so you can take the ferry over for free and come back on the Bridge. Bridge Toll is $42.50 vs. the Ferry: $64. + $5 fuel surcharge. But if you are heading to Halifax or Cape Breton, the ferry is faster and you would save that on gas.
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Post by Dane on Nov 29, 2010 9:48:57 GMT -8
PUBLICATION: The Guardian (Charlottetown)
DATE: 2010.11.29
SECTION: Front
PAGE: A1
SOURCE: The Guardian
BYLINE: Mitch MacDonald
WORD COUNT: 504
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Ferry subsidy cutback imminent; Chamber of Commerce official told services would be 'cut right to the bone'
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The federal Department of Transportation has indicated a reduction is imminent to the subsidy for Northumberland Ferries Ltd., which will mean cuts in service for the crucial link between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.
A cut to the subsidy will realize the worst fears for many Islanders, led by Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay, who have been demanding a new five-year deal which would maintain present levels of service and subsidy levels.
Ottawa has conducted a review of the subsidy and ferry service, begun in March when the last five-year agreement expired.
A decision had been promised by December.
Suggestions about a pending ferry cut began in earnest last Wednesday when the P.E.I. chamber of commerce umbrella group contacted the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. about disturbing information it had received from Ottawa.
The issue came up again Friday at TIAPEI's annual meeting in Charlottetown with reports swirling that the ferry service about to "be cut to the bone."
Both the chamber and TIAPEI had come out strongly in favour of maintaining present ferry services.
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce vice-chair Don Reid, who is also P.E.I. president, wrote federal Transport Minister Chuck Strahl this fall asking for a 15-year subsidy agreement with Northumberland Ferries. After being informed of possible cuts to the ferry from TIAPEI in October, Reid said he wrote a letter supporting the service.
"I was told the ferry would probably still remain but services would be cut right to the bone. There may be one ferry but with one ferry what are you going to do? The schedule would be cut to nothing," said Reid.
Confirmation of cuts comes despite assurances offered by Sen. Mike Duffy,
Defence Minister Peter MacKay and federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea that the ferry service was safe. All three had dismissed concerns raised by MacAulay as annual fear-mongering.
"He (Duffy) guaranteed that the agreement for Northumberland Ferries was forthcoming and services would not be lost, meaning that the services would be maintained at the current level," Reid said.
Duffy made that pledge at a recent Eastern Chamber meeting in Brudenell, also attended by MacAulay.
The only disappointing element in Duffy's comment, said Reid, was the agreement would probably be in the form of a five-year contract, not 15 like the coalition asked.
Those reassurances disappeared Nov. 24, when TIAPEI informed the chamber the agreement was in jeopardy after being contacted by the federal Department of Transportation, said Reid.
The ferry must receive, at minimum, the same amount of support it receives now to continue, said MacAulay.
"If it's cut at all it's over. The service has to provide for tourists and truckers. If you can't keep any kind of a schedule, it's absolutely useless."
MacAulay said he asked about the ferry service in question period last Tuesday but wasn't given a concrete answer.
"The fact was that they understood the importance of it but they also indicated a decline in usage."
Figures supplied in recent weeks by Northumberland Ferries contradicts those comments. This summer Northumberland Ferries has experienced increased usage, said vice-president Don Cormier, who said traffic was up seven per cent in July and 10 per cent in August over last year. Cormier said he's waiting to learn more about the federal government's intent.
An economic study conducted by ACOA in 2008 showed the service generated in excess of $33 million a year, said Cormier.
"Which is great because it shows how important the service is to Island tourism and transportation in general. There's also a lot of commercial goods transported on our vessels."
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Post by Dane on Nov 30, 2010 10:12:54 GMT -8
PUBLICATION: The Chronicle-Herald
DATE: 2010.11.30
SECTION: NovaScotia
PAGE: A5
BYLINE: David Jackson Provincial Reporter
ILLUSTRATION: P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz; Premier Darrell Dexter; P.E.I.Premier Robert Ghiz; Premier Darrell Dexter
WORD COUNT: 286
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Premiers want feds to fund N.S.-P.E.I. ferry; Caribou-Wood Islands service helps generate $33m for two economies
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Premier Darrell Dexter and his Prince Edward Island counterpart are calling on Ottawa to commit a steady flow of cash for the next 15 years to the ferry linking their provinces.
They also want the federal government to help ferry operator Northumberland Ferries replace the 39-year-old ferry Holiday Island. Dexter and Robert Ghiz said the ferry run between Caribou, Pictou County, and Wood Islands, P.E.I., is important to the economies of both provinces, generating $12 million in Nova Scotia and $21 million on the island.
There are also close to 200 people in total working for the service. The last five-year funding agreement expired in March, while a federal review of the service started last year.
Dexter said short-term funding support for the ferry hinders investment in local businesses.
"If they don't have an assurance that the service is going to be here over the long term, then it is highly unlikely that they're going to put at risk capital that they might otherwise invest in their businesses," Dexter said Monday after the Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting at Pictou Lodge in Braeshore, Pictou County.
Dexter said funding the ferry is Ottawa's responsibility because it's an interprovincial run. The premiers said the provinces wouldn't be putting up any money.
"We don't fund the Department of Defence, that's a federal responsibility," Ghiz said. "This is a federal responsibility as well."
The ferry service, which started in 1941, has had past federal support for 10 and 20 years at a time, the provinces said.
Contribution agreements since 1994 have covered one to five years.
Ghiz said connections between provinces are fundamental.
"Would we even be having this debate if there was a ferry needed between Ontario and Quebec?" he said.
The premiers haven't written to anyone in Ottawa about their demands, but a spokeswoman for Dexter said officials in the premiers' offices have spoken to their counterparts in Peter MacKay's office.
MacKay is the political minister for Nova Scotia, and the MP for Central Nova, which includes Pictou County.
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Post by gulfspan on Jan 17, 2011 17:22:09 GMT -8
Just some FYI MV Vacationland scrapped Alang, India,  Towed out of Sydney harbour John Hamilton Gray 2004 06 29. Arrived Alang, India. How she looked in Alang  |
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mrdot
Voyager 
Mr. DOT
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Post by mrdot on Jan 17, 2011 17:59:20 GMT -8
:)this is how time has passed me by, I have the new plans and general arrangements of the brand new PEI ferry and it seems like only yesterday she was the new wonder ferry of the eastern shores! My ships locker has boxes of these old / or what seemed new to me, ship gen. arrangement plans, I just have to remember where I have buried some of these items! :)mrdot.
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 18, 2011 11:22:20 GMT -8
Just some FYI MV Vacationland scrapped Alang, India, Towed out of Sydney harbour John Hamilton Gray 2004 06 29. Arrived Alang, India. How she looked in Alang That first photo is actually the M/V Abegwit, the 1982 version. www.gov.pe.ca/tir/index.php3?number=1036702&lang=E |
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Nick
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Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,075 
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Post by Nick on May 28, 2012 7:48:28 GMT -8
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Post by Cat320DL on Aug 9, 2012 7:24:55 GMT -8
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Post by EGfleet on Oct 28, 2014 3:58:21 GMT -8
Ottawa confirms purchase of new Digby-Saint John ferry
John DeMings Published on October 27, 2014
DIGBY - The federal government of Canada announced today it will buy the ferry Blue Star Ithaki from a private operator in Greece to replace the Princess of Acadia on the Bay of Fundy service between Digby and Saint John.
The deal was finalized Oct. 10, and the Itaki purchase price is approximately $44.6 million.
The purchased follows an extensive evaluation process, which involved identifying and assessing the suitability of candidate vessels from around the world. The Blue Star Ithaki was selected as representing the best value for Canadians and having the capacity to meet the operational requirements of the Digby-Saint John ferry service. The vessel’s introduction into service is expected next year.
Upon arrival of the vessel in Canada, modifications will need to be made for the vessel to meet Canadian safety regulations and compatibility with existing shore-based infrastructure and operation in the Bay of Fundy.
The Ithaki is a Greek-flagged roll on-roll off passenger ferry vessel built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. The Transport Canada news release said the ferry is in excellent condition with at least 20 years of useful life remaining. A RO-RO vessel is designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, and trailers, that are driven on and off the vessel on their own wheels.
The Ithaki is 124 metres in length and 19 metres in breadth, with a cruising speed of 20 knots. It has modern onboard amenities and segregated car and vehicle decks.
The Digby-Saint John ferry service is operated year-round by Bay Ferries Ltd., using the Transport Canada-owned Princess of Acadia. Since 2006, Ottawa has provided approximately $38 million to support this service.
In announcing the purchase, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said Ottawa understands the importance of this ferry service to the local community and economy in support of regional trade and tourism.
“This replacement vessel will ensure the continued safe, reliable and efficient operation of the service while creating jobs and supporting the local economy,” she said.
The choice of the Greek ferry has been an open secret in the area.
The Oct. 3 issue of The Digby Courier reported that people in Digby altready had been googling the words “Blue Star Ithaki” to look at pictures of a ferry in service among the islands of Greece.
Linda Gregory, warden of the Municipality of Digby, said in open council on Sept. 22 that she had seen pictures of the vessel chosen to replace the Princess of Acadia.
“We’ve known for months but we’ve been asked not to say anything,” she said. “It looks nice.”
Norm Lockyer, chair of the Bay of Fundy Marine Transportation Association, made similar comments at the association’s annual general meeting Sept. 24.
“We aren’t making any announcements here but if you take a trip on the ferry (Princess of Acadia), and ask the right people, they will give you a URL (web address) and even show you pictures,” he said.
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 28, 2014 4:47:18 GMT -8
I was hoping to get pictures of Princess of Acadia next summer when my wife and I do our Coastal New England/Canadian Maritimes trip, but maybe I will be able to get pics of the new ferry instead. Either way, it's exciting times for Bay Ferries. Thanks for posting the article.
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 28, 2014 11:46:48 GMT -8
Our Forum member Ferryfanyvr was lucky enough to have ridden on the Blue Star Ithaki, and posted his photos in the Greek Ferries thread. I am copying the Ithaki photos to this thread as it is very relevant to the current discussion: |
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Post by Starsteward on Oct 28, 2014 13:01:12 GMT -8
Ottawa confirms purchase of new Digby-Saint John ferry
John DeMings Published on October 27, 2014 DIGBY - The federal government of Canada announced today it will buy the ferry Blue Star Ithaki from a private operator in Greece to replace the Princess of Acadia on the Bay of Fundy service between Digby and Saint John. The deal was finalized Oct. 10, and the Itaki purchase price is approximately $44.6 million. The purchased follows an extensive evaluation process, which involved identifying and assessing the suitability of candidate vessels from around the world. The Blue Star Ithaki was selected as representing the best value for Canadians and having the capacity to meet the operational requirements of the Digby-Saint John ferry service. The vessel’s introduction into service is expected next year. Upon arrival of the vessel in Canada, modifications will need to be made for the vessel to meet Canadian safety regulations and compatibility with existing shore-based infrastructure and operation in the Bay of Fundy. The Ithaki is a Greek-flagged roll on-roll off passenger ferry vessel built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. The Transport Canada news release said the ferry is in excellent condition with at least 20 years of useful life remaining. A RO-RO vessel is designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, and trailers, that are driven on and off the vessel on their own wheels. The Ithaki is 124 metres in length and 19 metres in breadth, with a cruising speed of 20 knots. It has modern onboard amenities and segregated car and vehicle decks. The Digby-Saint John ferry service is operated year-round by Bay Ferries Ltd., using the Transport Canada-owned Princess of Acadia. Since 2006, Ottawa has provided approximately $38 million to support this service. In announcing the purchase, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said Ottawa understands the importance of this ferry service to the local community and economy in support of regional trade and tourism. “This replacement vessel will ensure the continued safe, reliable and efficient operation of the service while creating jobs and supporting the local economy,” she said. The choice of the Greek ferry has been an open secret in the area. The Oct. 3 issue of The Digby Courier reported that people in Digby altready had been googling the words “Blue Star Ithaki” to look at pictures of a ferry in service among the islands of Greece. Linda Gregory, warden of the Municipality of Digby, said in open council on Sept. 22 that she had seen pictures of the vessel chosen to replace the Princess of Acadia. “We’ve known for months but we’ve been asked not to say anything,” she said. “It looks nice.” Norm Lockyer, chair of the Bay of Fundy Marine Transportation Association, made similar comments at the association’s annual general meeting Sept. 24. “We aren’t making any announcements here but if you take a trip on the ferry (Princess of Acadia), and ask the right people, they will give you a URL (web address) and even show you pictures,” he said. Very interesting posting there EGfleet, which raises an interesting comparison of 'East vs. West Politics'. Brief Thumbnail: East: Federal Government buys vessels for Bay of Fundy Ferries. New boat: $ 44.6 million Feds. (even with recent cutbacks in subsidies) pony up a fairly decent amount of subsidy dollars to run this 'Inter-provincial route', because the Feds recognize the economic benefits the service brings to the area. (To say nothing of the maritime jobs it creates and sustains). Maritime Premiers tell the Feds the provinces will NOT fund this service. The Feds., represented in the area by some heavy-weight ministers, ie. Peter McKay et al, wish to maintain their current Conservative Party seats in the region. West: Feds. apply the hated 'import' tax on BC Ferries purchase of the 3 German built vessels and the Sonja.
Feds. subsidy to BC Ferries in 2011 was approximately $ 125 million dollars. No real mention of recognizing any economic benefits the service maintains. Feds. The Conservative Party has 4 seats, ( 2 on Vancouver Island, 2 on the mid-coast mainland) occupied by members who are not considered 'heavy- weights'. BC Liberals: Are straddled with the messy quasi-crown corporation, dba BC Ferries. Repay a good chunk of the Feds. subsidy via the 'import tax'. BC Ferries operates within BC provincial boundaries. ( Maybe we should go International eh?  ( I believe the Federal subsidy is for operations not the acquisition/building of new vessels) AND, wait for it: The Number One biggest difference on the top 10 East vs. West comparison list? The BC Liberal's Transportation minister has repeatedly, publicly stated that: " higher fares, decreased service levels on most routes, the termination of others, do not have a negative impact on the economy of the regions impacted by this government's polices"!
The Conservatives place "The Complete Manual of "Todenomics", on the parties' required reading list for all sitting Conservative members. Members occupying Maritime seats are encouraged to peddle "Todenomics" in future subsidy negotiations with those Maritime Premiers who are abundantly aware that the economy of their region is very much impacted by ANY decrease or termination of service(s)! Conservative members occupying coastal B.C. seats are instructed to hang onto their copies of "Todenomics" for use in the next Federal election as testimony to the BC Liberals' total failure to comprehend that "Todenomics" don't work here, and something that Maritime premiers have not let the Federal government get away with! |
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 22, 2015 9:39:54 GMT -8
I've been curious about Blue Star Ithaki, and where Bay Ferries is at with her refit and start-up date, especially since I will be out there next month. I found this article, dated from last month: they now have a name www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/princess-of-acadia-ferry-replacement-named-fundy-rose-1.3066383Fundy Rose is still in Halifax Harbour as of today. I get the impression, after looking at Bay Ferries website, that they expected the new ferry to be in service by now, because the summer schedule, which started on June 19th, reflects the new vessel's faster crossing time. Princess of Acadia is still sailing, and there is nothing on their website about adjusted departures, so I'm kind of curious about what's going on with them right now. Their website also doesn't have anything about the new ferry. I would have thought Bay Ferries would be wanting to advertise the heck out of it, but not a peep. In any case, I expect Fundy Rose to be in service by the time I'm in the area in the latter part of July, so I will definitely be getting photos of the new ferry. |
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 3, 2015 7:31:07 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 3, 2015 8:45:01 GMT -8
We should bend the rules just a little to put one of these in the current rotation. If need be you could pull my NorAd smoker. |
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 3, 2015 18:18:41 GMT -8
We should bend the rules just a little to put one of these in the current rotation. If need be you could pull my NorAd smoker. Thanks, but it wouldn't be fair to those who submitted nominations in time, and especially to those that didn't get voted in. Maybe if we just decided to include all of the submissions, then I wouldn't feel bad about posting a late entry, but I will leave that up to the other moderators to decide. |
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 5, 2015 20:06:27 GMT -8
Last bit of Eastern ferries from me. Here are my pics from the Wood Islands, PEI to Caribou, NS crossing on MV Confederation: MV confederation at Wood Islands, PEI. The berth on the left is for MV Holiday Island which has an upper car deck that needs to be accessed from the shore berth structure. Confederation has a main deck, lower garage, and hoistable platforms, none of which require a double-decked berth.  MV confederation outside passenger deck with bow visor in raised position  Bridge from the outside passenger deck  views from the upper passenger deck    stairwell on Confederation: Deck A is the lower garage level, where we were parked; Deck B is the main car deck, where the trucks were parked; Deck C is the hoistable platform deck, which were not used on the sailing I was on  Double-decked berth at Wood Islands; used exclusively by MV Holiday Island  Departing Wood Islands, PEI    MV Confederation's cafeteria   Seating lounge on the other end of the vessel  I think it's cute that they still have 80's arcade games  Upper seating lounge  underway  Forward end of the garage deck. Better get used to this in BC - the Salish class trio will be very similar to this  MV Holiday Island  |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Aug 5, 2015 21:31:06 GMT -8
Never seen a ferry that looked more like a self-propelled parking garage than the Holiday Island. No pretenses there. Cool in a way, though.
Very much appreciated you taking the time to share your ferry travels with us, Brandon. So nice to see reports from areas and vessels we don't have a lot of familiarity with. Thanks! |
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ghYHZ
Oiler (New Member)
Posts: 17
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Post by ghYHZ on Aug 8, 2015 15:29:12 GMT -8
Never seen a ferry that looked more like a self-propelled parking garage than the Holiday Island. No pretenses there. Cool in a way, though.
The Holiday Island is a former Canadian National Railways ferry originally built for the Borden PEI -Cape Tormentine NB run. It was in service with Marine Atlantic until the Confederation Bridge opened in 1997....then was transferred to NFL for the Wood Islands – Caribou run. It has an identical sister...The Vacationland (but I don’t know the Vacationlands current status (it didn’t go to NFL)
Here’s the former dock in Borden PEI.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2015 15:04:05 GMT -8
A story (with photos) on the retirement of Princess of Acadia: HERE |
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