Labrador Straits ferry service temporarily changing in 2016

The Newfoundland and Labrador governmentwill be replacing its normal Strait of Belle Isle ferry run for a much smaller ferry and air service in Januaryas the MV Apollo heads in for annual maintenance.

For the two and a half weeks between Jan. 5 and Jan. 22, the MV Astron will run between Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe, carrying vehicles and a limited number of passengers.

Other passengers will take an air service between the Blanc Sablon airport and the one in Sandy Cove, with a shuttle service transporting them between airports and ferry terminals.

Ferry rates remain the samewith a detailed schedule to be released in early December.

In a news release, the Department of Transportation and Works said it expects some disruption for travellersbecause of the limited carrying capacity of the MV Astron, which can carry 12 passengers, in comparison to 240 on the MV Apollo.

The MV Astron is operatedby Nunatsiavut Marine, and is used primarily to ship freight.

The province said freight service to the northern coast ofLabrador will not be affected by this disruption.