No decision on Friday ferry service, after now-fixed issue and bad weather cancel N.S.-P.E.I. sailings
Ferry's triumphant return to service was quickly quashed by technical trouble
An engine problem on MV Confederation is now fixed, but the ferry that runs between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia stayed docked all day Thursday because of the stormy, snowy weather.
And in a post on its site Thursday night, Northumberland Ferries was making no guarantees about Friday.
"Please be advised there may be potential disruptions in service tomorrow, Dec. 6, due to forecasted weather conditions," the company said just before 8 p.m. "We are monitoring the weather and will post a further update on ferries.ca by 6 a.m. on Dec. 6."
Environment Canada issued a gale warning for the eastern half of the Northumberland Strait at 8 p.m. Thursday, saying the wind was expected to be southwest 35 knots early Friday morning, diminishing to west 25 knots Friday afternoon.
The ship returned to the water briefly Wednesday after being down for repairs since mid-September.
But it completed only a single round trip Wednesday between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, Nova Scotia, before an issue emerged with its engine. Northumberland Ferries was forced to cancel the rest of the day's sailings.
The ferry company says the engine was fixed last night, but then high winds cancelled all crossings Thursday.
The Northumberland Ferries Ltd. season runs until Dec. 20, and will resume again in the spring when ice clears from the Northumberland Strait.
With files from Stacey Janzer