Key takeaways: 

• Evaluation for ferry substituting MV Holiday Island will take 7-10 days.
• Northumberland Ferries vice-president Don Cormier stated MV Saaremaa 1 would stay in Caribou for seven to 10 days while it is assessed. However, no date has been specified for the ship to start operations.

The ferry that will take over the MV Holiday Island way between Caribou, N.S., and Wood Islands, P.E.I., came in Nova Scotia late Friday.

Northumberland Ferries vice-president Don Cormier stated MV Saaremaa 1 would stay in Caribou for the following seven to 10 days while it is evaluated. However, no date has been specified for the ship to start operations.

Cormier said that during the tests, they would primarily examine whether the Saaremaa 1 fits its docking structures.

“There’s a slight change that ought to be done to the ship,” he said. 

“After that, a great effort will be needed to train our team, to prepare all the staff involved to assure that these operations are performed safely.

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And there are also a few changes in the passenger spaces.”

Cormier said the firm has taken measurements to secure the ship can dock in Wood Islands and that the Saaremaa 1 “aligns rather well.”

“There’s a couple of feet that ought to be changed somewhere,” he stated. “We’ll undertake all of the required drawings and assurances with naval architects that the fendering that we’re setting hanging off the ship doesn’t set any structural problems with the ship. That’ll take a little piece of time.”

The fendering — which protects the flanks of a vessel — is anticipated to start on Sunday. In the meantime, Cormier said staff started training for service during the vessel’s journey from Trois-Rivières, Que. 

Northumberland Ferries is also working on revising its food services for the equipment on board the Saaremaa 1.

Source – CBC News