Saint John-Digby ferry service arrives in Saint John

SAINT JOHN, N.B.–  The replacement vessel for the MV Princess of Acadia, which serves the Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby, Nova Scotia ferry route, has safely arrived in Saint John.

The announcement was made by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, along with Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, and Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova.

“I am pleased to welcome the MV Canada2014 and her crew home, safe and sound. The Government of Canadaunderstands the importance of this ferry service to the economic sustainability of Eastern Canada. Our investment in this new ferry will enhance the safety and efficiency of the service, while greatly benefitting the transport, trade and tourism industries in the region,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport.

The MV Canada2014, as it has been temporarily named for the transit voyage, departed from the Port of Piraeus inGreece on November 18, 2014, with a port of call in the Port of Funchal on the Island of Madeira on November 23, 2014. The approximately 9,375-kilometre journey saw the vessel sail from Greece across the Mediterranean Sea, through the Strait of Gibraltar, and arrive in Saint John.

From Saint John, the vessel will make its way to Digby for a sea trial and to undergo a check in its future berth. The vessel will then head to Halifax, where engine work will take place alongside the dock to perform a 72,000-hour engine overhaul and the conversion of the engines from heavy fuel to marine diesel.

The vessel’s introduction into service is expected in 2015.

OnJune 24, 2013, the Government of Canada announced it would replace the MV Princess of Acadia.

OnOctober 27, 2014, it signed a purchase agreement  to acquire the MV Blue Star Ithaki from a private ferry operator located in Greece at a cost of approximately $31 million EURO ($44.6 million CAN).

The vessel is a Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) passenger ferry vessel built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. It 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.

TheSaint John-Digby ferry service is operated year-round by Bay Ferries Ltd. (BFL), using the Transport Canada-owned MV Princess of Acadia. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $41 million to support this service.