Company operating N.S.-P.E.I. ferry service has a new owner

After a turbulent year in 2024, the company that operates ferry routes between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia has a new owner.

The ownership group behind Northumberland Ferries Ltd., as well as the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia service from Bay Ferries Ltd., has sold the enterprise to CEO and president Mark Wilson. The deal does not include ownership of the vessels on the runs, which belong to Transport Canada.

Wilson, who grew up on P.E.I. but now lives in Halifax, finalized the sale last week. He has been with the companies since 2021 and took over as CEO in May.

The sale to Wilson from the previous ownership group — comprised of Danny Bartlett, Don Cormier, Gerry Stevenson and the family of the late Mark MacDonald — was completed earlier this month.

Wilson acknowledged that 2024 was a tough year for Northumberland Ferries, but he said customers can expect him and his team to stay committed to improving safety at a time when many longtime employees are looking to retire.

"We had close to 40 new hires the year before, so that's significant," he told CBC News. "You just need to make sure that the training system that you have in place, the safety management system in place, is robust in that we're training those people properly."

Wilson's first season as CEO was a challenging one, with multiple breakdowns of both MV Saareema and MV Confederation, including the latter's collision with a wharf that left it out of service for 10 straight weeks.

Canada's transport minister, Anita Anand, has said she intended to order an audit of Northumberland Ferries Ltd. after the "unacceptable" numerous disruptions and delays in 2024, to ensure reliable ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.

While there have been problems at Northumberland Ferries, the company's routes on Bay Ferries between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have been much smoother, Wilson said. Bay Ferries also operates the CAT ferry on "a scenic 3.5-hour voyage between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia" during the tourism season.

Wilson said he's committed to working with the governments and community partners to better meet and exceed the expectations customers have for the service.

'Move things forward'

Wilson said buying the ferry company wasn't something he initially planned. Then he learned that the previous ownership group was ready to step away after more than 20 years.

"Because of the importance of the service, they also wanted to move to someone who was going to own the company that was going to be actively involved in it, to continue on those traditional routes… and, you know, [have] new energy and continue to move things forward," he said.

Wilson was able to complete the sale and become the sole new owner, taking on some bank financing to complete the purchase.

Looking ahead, Wilson said he and his team will "get things right" with Northumberland Ferries' operations, pointing to the upcoming introduction of MV Northumberland as a positive sign.

This new vessel, acquired by Transport Canada and formerly named MV Fanafjord, is intended to provide more reliable service on the Wood Islands, P.E.I., to Caribou, N.S., route. 

The ferry service has experienced disruptions following the decommissioning of MV Holiday Island after a fire in 2022, compounded by issues with MV Confederation.

MV Northumberland travelled from Norway in December and is currently in Pictou, N.S., where it will remain until the ferry service resumes in May.

"I'm confident with the senior leadership team here that we can continue down a very good trajectory looking forward to 2025," Wilson said.