Eastern P.E.I. business owners say ferry shutdown is devastating

Business owners in eastern P.E.I. say it's devastating to have ferry service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia cancelled until at least mid-July. 

Northumberland Ferries announced Monday MV Confederation ran into mechanical problems that would take it out of service for three to four weeks.

A second ferry, MV Saaremaa 1, is now in drydock in Quebec and isn't scheduled to arrive until early July. 

Trish Carter of Galla Design Studio in Belle River says the closure is debilitating for small businesses who rely on the traffic from the ferry.

She said she feels like she's being kicked again. 

"We went through the ferry last summer. We went through Fiona and now we're dealing with this," Carter said.

"We're talking two weeks ago and we're like, 'This is our summer. This is going to be a great summer. Nothing else can happen.' And we're so wrong. So it's a kick. It hurts."

Last July, MV Holiday Island caught fire. Nobody was seriously injured, but the ship was determined to be beyond repair and scrapped. 

That left just one ferry, the Confederation. 

Northumberland Ferries was able to secure the Saaremaa 1 as a backup ship last August. But Donny Easterbrook, chef at the Wood Islands Whistle Stop, said he's nervous.

He said businesses owners and all people in eastern P.E.I. want the Confederation fixed as soon as possible.

"We're missing our customers right now. We don't have too many coming in," Easterbrook said.

"We're looking at alternative ways to bring in more traffic, more local traffic, and get the people here to enjoy our food."   

Gloria Shaw, manager of the Wood Islands Lighthouse Museum, said her heart sank after she heard the ferry service was being shut down for so long.