Mechanical issues cause string of cancellations for N.S.-P.E.I. ferry crossing

PEINorthumberland Ferries has cancelled almost all crossings for tomorrow between Caribou Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands, P.E.I. due to high winds. This comes after a series of crossings were cancelled this weekend and again early this morning.Almost all of Tuesday’s crossings have been cancelledMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Oct 27, 2025 7:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 27Listen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesFerry woes continue for N.S.-P.E.I. crossingNorthumberland Ferries cancelled a series of crossings between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia this weekend and again early Monday morning. Now, ferry operators say nearly all of Tuesday’s crossings are cancelled too. Wayne Thibodeau explains why. Northumberland Ferries has cancelled almost all crossings for Tuesday, Oct. 27 between Caribou Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, P.E.I. due to high winds.This comes after a series of crossings were cancelled this weekend and again early Monday morning.The company said it is having “ongoing challenges” with two thrusters on the MV Northumberland. The company’s general manager, Jeff Joyce, told CBC News they tried to fix the problem but are now waiting on experts to come in and take a look.At this time of year, considered the shoulder season, the ferry crossings are a one-ship service. The second ferry, the MV Confederation, was taken out of service on Oct. 17. It is currently stuck across the strait in Nova Scotia. Northumberland Ferries said strong winds have prevented the company from bringing it back in service since the MV Northumberland started having issues. Darlene Compton, the PC MLA for Belfast-Murray River, said the string of cancellations is both “disappointing” and “concerning.” After a string of ferry crossings were cancelled by Northumberland Ferries in the last few days, Darlene Compton, MLA for Belfast-Murray River, said ‘the service needs to step up for sure.’ (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)“Last week it was, they need an oil change and they had no oil to change, so they had to send a fishing boat over to Pictou to pick up oil,” she said. “That all seems like, you know, regular maintenance. Why is it not being done in a timely fashion… to make sure that we have a reliable ferry service?”She said she hears from constituents who are second-guessing whether they should use the ferry — and that she does, too.“Is it going to be reliable if we get over there? Are we going to have to take the bridge home?�”That’s what happened to Wood Islands resident Trish Carter over the weekend. Trish Carter, who lives near the ferry terminal in Wood Islands, P.E.I., had to ‘take the long way back’ from Nova Scotia on Saturday, after the ferry was cancelled. (Zoom)She and her husband had to travel to Dartmouth, N.S. for an appointment, and planned to be home in time to take care of the animals on their hobby and rescue farm before dark.But then the ferry crossing was cancelled. “Unfortunately, it ended up being that we had to take the long way back,” she said. By the time they got home, it was dark. “[That] is never great, especially when you have, you know, livestock that have predators such as coyotes. And we were quite relieved that we didn’t lose anybody.”But, Carter said the experience will not keep her from taking the ferry next time. “There are these hiccups, it’s unfortunate it happened, [and] hopefully they can figure out what’s going on so it doesn’t happen to more travelers.”Officials with NFL said they expected to experience some technical problems with MV Northumberland in the boat’s first year of operations. The company said it feels overall NFL service has done well this season — especially as demand increased after the federal government lowered ferry fares in August.A brand new ferry that will run between the Island and Nova Scotia was originally supposed to arrive in 2027, but that date was pushed back to 2028 and then last week, Transport Canada said it has been delayed again. The federal department is no longer saying when the ship can be expected. ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from Wayne Thibodeau