April 8, 1999
(Works, Services and Transportation)

Bell Island - Portugal Cove ferry out of service

The Department of Works, Services and Transportation wishes to advise Bell Island commuters that there will not be any ferry services operating this evening between Portugal Cove and Bell Island.

The Flanders went out of commission as of 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Portugal Cove and it is expected to be out of service until sometime early Friday morning.

In the meantime, the department is in the process of instituting an air service to transport residents to and from Portugal Cove and Bell Island commencing at 6 p.m. today.

The department has engaged a eight-passenger Navajo Aircraft. Passengers wishing to travel by air to Bell Island today will have to go to Hanger No. One located at the Torbay side of the St. John's Airport.

The Navajo will land at the Bell Island airstrip. It will be load and go until traffic offered is satisfied or until darkness sets in.

Passengers availing of this service will be required to pay a fee of $10 for one way transportation in either direction. The air service will remain in place, weather permitting, until a resumption of regular ferry services.

The department wishes to apologize to all users for this inconvenience.

The Flanders developed engine trouble shortly before 2 o'clock today. Repairs crews were immediately engaged and are currently working on the problem.

Additional updated information will be made available to users on the Ferry Information Line at 895-6931 as it becomes available.

Media contact: Gary Callahan, (709) 729-3015.

1999 04 08 4:50 p.m.