Government buys temporary ferry

WOOD ISLANDS, P.E.I. — The federal government is spending $38.56 million on a ferry to temporarily service trips between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia while it awaits a replacement for the MV Holiday Island. Ottawa inked a deal with Norway’s Nye Fanafjord AS for use of the MV Fanafjord between Wood Islands, P.E.I. and Caribou, N.S. for the next four years, starting when ferry service resumes in May 2024. “Following industry analysis, the Government of Canada determined that the purchase of the MV Fanafjord is the only solution that meets operational requirements and assures service continuity as an interim measure while 2 new ferries are being built,” government stated in a release. The 16-year-old vessel, joining the MV Confederation on the two-ferry route, can carry 600 passengers and 212 vehicles. The Holiday Island suffered “catastrophic damage” in a July 2022 engine room fire, putting it out of service for good. Transport Canada replaced it with the MV Saaremaa, which had the capacity for 600 passengers and 110 vehicles.