No replacement yet for Souris-Magdalen Islands ferry heading to dry dock next spring

There are more questions than answers about what will happen when the ferry running between Souris,P.E.I., and Quebec's Magdalen Islands isout of commission for several weeks this coming spring.

According to Transport Canada, the 10-year-old MV Madeleine II will be in dry dockfor an estimated six to eight weeks for routine maintenance and inspections.

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That has the federal department exploring options one of which is to redeploy another ferry the federal government owns, the MV Fundy Rose, that currently runs between Digby, N.S., and Saint John, N.B.

Transport Canada hasn't said howmoving that boatto Souris would affectthe service between Digby and Saint John, and that has some usersworried.

Brian Reynolds owns B. Reynolds Trucking in Port La Tour, N.S. He uses the Digby ferry to ship seafood through New Brunswickto New England, and said losing the service would increase his shipping costs.

"That would make a very difficult situation for us," he said. "It would hurt us quite bad."

Vacancierslated for disposal

There is also a ferry currently docked in Georgetown, P.E.I. The Vacancieris owned by Cooprative de Transport Maritime et Arien (CTMA), the company that operates the Souris-Magdalen Islands service,and it has been usedto fill in on that route in the past.

When CBC News asked whether the 50-year-old Vacancier is a potential option for the spring of 2024, the Quebec ferry company replied in an email: "The CTMA is currently in the process of disposing of it. It is therefore no longer available as a replacement vessel."

The email added: "Regarding theMadeleineII ferry, whether it is its maintenance, its replacement or any project related to the vessel, you must refer to Transport Canada as it is the responsibility of the federal government."

It's also not clear what will happen if issues are discovered with the MV Madeleine II while it's in dry dock, leading it to be out of commission for longer than expected.

A spokesperson for Transport Canada said in an email that the department understands any interruption to ferry services in the region leads to significant challenges for local communities.

"All impacts will be carefully considered before a decision is made," theemail said.

New ferry for route delayed

The federal government is paying to have a Quebec shipyard build a new boat for the Souris-Magdalen Islands run, as well as a new vessel to replace MV Holiday Islandon the route between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.

The government originally said the new ferry for the Magdalens route would be completed in 2026. Now, according to its website, that's been delayed to 2029.

"During the preliminary stages of negotiations and project preparation with Chantier Davie Canada Inc., the delivery date of the first permanent replacement vessel was estimated to be in 2027," Public Services and Procurement Canada said in an email to CBC News Thursday.

"After establishing a project management office, initiating various engineering studies to support design and construction of the new vessels, it is now estimated that the first new permanent replacement ferry being designed and constructed by Chantier Davie Canada Inc. is expected to be delivered in late 2028. Exact timelines will be reviewed as the design efforts progress."

The email did not specify which of the two routes would be getting the first new vessel.