Some ferry crossings between P.E.I. and N.S. cancelled for Saturday

Northumberland Ferries is advising passengers that several of its crossings between Caribou, N.S., and Wood Islands, P.E.I., will be cancelled Saturday.

An update on the company's website just before 10 a.m. Saturday said there is a technical problem with the MV Saaremaa.

This means that the 11:45 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. crossings leaving from Wood Islands have been cancelled, as well as the 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. crossings leaving from Caribou. The 10 a.m. crossing was also cancelled. 

All other sailings are expected to take place as usual aboard the MV Confederation.

In an email, Jeff Joyce, the vice-president of marine operations for Northumberland Ferries, said the issue was related to an engine cylinder liner. He said it was fixed by mid-afternoon.

"The repair is complete and will be tested later today with the expectation that Saaremaa will be operating tomorrow morning on the normal schedule," he said.

These cancellations come just a few weeks after other MV Saaremaa sailings were cancelled in mid-August, also for a technical issue. It's unknown if the same issue caused both sets of cancellations.

The Saaremaa also cancelled sailings earlier this week due to high winds.

The Saaremaa was brought into service on the strait to replace the MV Holiday Island, which caught fire during a run in 2022. The ferry was beyond repair and had to be scrapped.

The permanent replacement for the Holiday Island is not expected to be ready before 2028.