St. Barbe - Blanc Sablon Ferry Service

Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, said today that the M/V Sound of Islay has been dispatched to St. Barbe to supplement service now being provided by the M/V Northern Cruiser on the St. Barbe - Blanc Sablon Ferry Service. The M/V Sound of Islay is expected in St. Barbe by Friday.

On May 21, Northern Cruiser Limited, the contracted operator of the ferry service, advised that due to a mechanical problem, the M/V Northern Princess was not expected to start operation in the St. Barbe - Blanc Sablon Ferry Service until early June. That same day, the company announced that it was dispatching the M/V Northern Cruiser from St. John's to serve as a temporary replacement.

Mr. Matthews said: "The department dispatched the Sound of Islay to join the Cruiser to ensure a reasonable and reliable service until the Princess is back in operation. The Sound of Islay enables the ferry service to carry 49 additional passengers and 15 additional vehicles."

The department assumed responsibility for the St. Barbe - Blanc Sablon Ferry Service from the federal government effective April 1, 1997.

Contact: Rick Callahan, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4860.