Northumberland Ferry cancels nearly all Tuesday crossings between Caribou, N.S., and Wood Islands, P.E.I., amid high winds and mechanical issues.
Operational disruption hits busy route
On Tuesday, October 27, virtually all scheduled crossings between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island via Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL) were cancelled. The company cited high winds and ongoing mechanical issues with the vessel MV Northumberland as the key reasons.
Mechanical faults compound seasonal cut-back
NFL revealed that the MV Northumberland is struggling with two faulty thrusters. Repairs are underway, but they are relying on external experts to complete the work, according to General Manager Jeff Joyce. At the same time, the service is down to one ship for the shoulder season: the second vessel, MV Confederation, was taken out of service on October 17 and remains stuck in Nova Scotia due to the same windy conditions and logistical constraints.
When and where the cancellations are occurring
The cancellations applied to all departures scheduled for Tuesday between Caribou, NS and Wood Islands, PEI — a frequent link for travellers and freight. NFL had already cancelled crossings over the past weekend and early Monday morning. The company expressed that the combined wind and vessel faults made safe operation impossible.
Local voices express frustration and concern
PC MLA for Belfast-Murray River, Darlene Compton, told News she is hearing from constituents who now question whether they can trust the ferry service. She cited recent maintenance issues — such as oil change delays — that she feels raise reliability concerns. One Wood Islands resident, Trish Carter, had to detour via the mainland when her booked crossing was cancelled, returning home late with livestock still unattended. She said she’ll still ride next time, but “hopes they figure out what’s going on so it doesn’t happen to more travellers.”
Why the timing matters for the route
This disruption comes at a time when demand had increased: earlier in August the federal government cut ferry fares, which boosted traffic. NFL had pointed to the transfer to a one-ship service as standard for the shoulder season — but the combination of vessel fault and weather has stretched its capacity. The delays mean potential economic and personal inconvenience for Islanders and Nova Scotians relying on the service.
How the company and stakeholders plan to respond
NFL says the thruster issues are being addressed, but no firm timeline was offered for full resolution. Meanwhile, the arrival of a brand-new ferry initially slated for 2027, then delayed to 2028, has now been delayed again without a new date provided by Transport Canada. Local stakeholders say they’ll monitor service reliability closely and expect the company to communicate more transparently about maintenance and contingency plans.
