Frustration mounts over plans to take MV Veteran out of service
CBC
Ferry disruptions are poised to affect crossings in rural Newfoundland and critics are taking aim at how the Newfoundland and Labrador government is handling the problem.
On Tuesday, Transportation Minister John Abbott announced that problems were identified during regular maintenance on both the MV Legionnaire and the MV Veteran, and that both vessels would need new engines, costing $6 million plus installation.
The work will also temporarily remove both ferries from their routes.
The Veteran, which serves Fogo Island and Change Islands, only recently returned to service after spending months in dry dock for repairs. Now, it will be removed from service temporarily for another round of work in the fall.
Fogo Island Mayor Andrew Shea said people are already worried about how the disruption will affect them and are upset.
"You got to go away the day before in order to make sure you can get into an appointment or get a flight to Alberta or somewhere like that, you know," Shea told CBC News.
"But our concern now is to deal with the government before this happens this time, to make sure that they do have a boat to go on in place in September. You know, if not, maybe they can delay the repairs."
The news is worrying because the community has already been negatively impacted by the Veteran being out for months already, he added, which was being serviced by another vessel on an interim basis.
"It's been dramatic, especially the month of June because first we started off with one boat for Fogo and Change Island," he said.
But he said the interim boat could only take 25 cars.
"So it really did a lot of damage to our bed and breakfasts, our restaurants, anything in the tourist industry. And we have a big tourist industry here," he said.
"People on the island just gave up travelling."
Dennis Flood, who chairs the Change Islands transportation committee, said he has similar concerns.
"I can accept delays. I can't accept the fact that they give us inadequate vessels," said Flood.