Seafood sector ‘alarmed’ over possible ferry redeployment

Article content

Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars worth of seafood could be impacted by the possible redeployment of the Digby-Saint John ferry, warn business leaders.

Transport Canada is considering the temporary relocation of the MV Fundy Rose next spring to serve the ferry route between Souris, P.E.I., and Îles-de-la-Madeline, Que. It would replace the MV Madeline II, which is scheduled for six to eight weeks of mandatory drydocking during that time.

But the move could leave seafood trucking firms who rely on the Digby-Saint John ferry high and dry.

“They’re very alarmed,” said Kevin Ellis, president of the Digby & Area Board of Trade, which represents in part local seafood and transportation companies.

About 5,000 commercial vehicles used the Saint John-Digby ferry last year, largely trucking seafood into New England. Shoreland Transport – the trucking division of Cooke Aquaculture – clocked 600 ferry crossings alone in 2022 with seafood operations both in New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia.

“The ferry is critical highway infrastructure to support the aquaculture and fisheries sector including the transport of live animals, fresh seafood and equipment,” said Joel Richardson, vice-president of communications for Cooke Inc.

“A loss of the ferry would directly impact thousands of local jobs on both sides of the Bay of Fundy along with creating chaos in many companies’ operations and shipping.”

Every time the ferry isn’t in service, Port La Tour truck driver Brian Reynolds is in a race against the clock to get his clients’ seafood into New England. The owner of Reynolds Trucking runs eight to 10 trucks a week across the Digby-Saint John ferry, which significantly cuts down on drive time for commercial drivers who are only allowed to clock so many hours a day.

“It’s a seven-hour drive to get from my driveway into Saint John (without the ferry),” Reynolds said. “By the time you’re in Bangor, Maine, you’ve reached 10 hours and you have to sit another 10 hours before you can go any further and your fresh product loses a day – it’s a day late getting there.”

Truck drivers like Reynolds have made due in the past with the temporary suspension of the Saint John-Digby ferry. For almost two months in 2021, the MV Fundy Rose was out of commission while maintenance of the loading structure was underway at the Saint John terminal.

“It’s not like we haven’t been without a ferry for a couple of weeks or a month at a time, but the challenge (this time around) is the speculation that if they’re doing a refit for the ferry going from Souris to the Islands, how long is that going to take – and there’s no replacement ferry,” Ellis said.

It’s a seven-hour drive to get from my driveway into Saint John (without the ferry).

Brian Reynolds

In September 2020, the Canadian government acquired MV Madeline II as an interim solution to serve the P.E.I.-Quebec corridor while a new ferry is being built. At the time of the acquisition, the government noted that the MV Madeline II would eventually need to “undergo refit as required in Canada in order to deliver reliable ferry service” through to 2026.

Drydocking the MV Madeline II next spring will allow “for the maintenance and inspection of key parts that are constantly in contact with water, as well as for other work to prevent any unforeseen mechanical issues,” Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun wrote in an email.

About 41,500 non-commercial vehicles used the Digby-Saint John ferry last year on top of the commercial traffic, so Ellis noted the redeployment could have an impact on tourism in the region too.

Brunswick News requested comment from Bay Ferries, which operates the MV Fundy Rose on behalf of Transport Canada. It directed all questions to Transport Canada.

Before making a decision to redeploy the Digby-Saint John ferry, Ayoun said Transport Canada will consider factors like the availability of drydocking facilities, the scope of work, and the possibility of reduced timelines and the suitability of other vessels.

“Transport Canada understands that any interruption of ferry services in Eastern Canada is a significant challenge for local communities, and all impacts will be carefully considered before a decision is made.”