The following is being distributed at the request of Marine Atlantic:

Gulf Ferry fleet completes safety certification process

All three ships in Marine Atlantic's Newfoundland gulf ferry fleet have now achieved the marine world's highest standards for safety and environmental protection. The company has just received documents which certify that the safety management systems used on MV Atlantic Freighter measure up to the strict requirements demanded by the International Safety Management Code (ISM).

Last year, Marine Atlantic became the first Canadian shipping company, and the first ferry operator in North America, to attain this status. The safety management certificates were issued to MV Caribou and MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood in August 1996.

The latest accomplishment completes the process, during which Lloyd's Register, the international classification and inspection society, conducted independent audits of all three vessels.

ISM, which was implemented voluntarily at Marine Atlantic, will eventually become mandatory throughout the international marine industry.

"This company has earned the reputation as one of the safest ferry operators in the world," says Marine Atlantic president Rod Morrison. "Even so, we must never allow ourselves to become complacent. The safety management systems we now have operating on all three gulf vessels will help ensure we stay on course."

MV Caribou and MV Smallwood are Canada's largest ice-breaking ferries, each capable of carrying up to 1,200 passengers and 350 cars. Together with the roll-on, roll-off truck ferry Atlantic Freighter, they operate in Marine Atlantic's gulf service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Contact: Ted Bartlett, Director of Public Relations, (506) 851- 3611.