Transportation and Works
December 21, 2015

Enhancing Marine Transportation to Meet the Needs of Residents

MV Veteran Begins Service to Fogo Island and Change Islands

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works, was joined by Derrick Bragg, MHA for the District of Fogo Island-Cape Freels, as well as local officials from Fogo Island and Change Islands to officially welcome the MV Veteran to its new home on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The vessel is the province’s newest ferry and will serve approximately 150,000 passengers annually on the Fogo Island and Change Islands ferry route.

"It is a real honour to join the residents of Fogo Island and Change Islands to welcome the MV Veteran into service. As part of my mandate as Minister, I will work to ensure a system of transportation throughout the province that meets the needs of residents and supports economic growth.”
- The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works

The MV Veteran has the capacity to transport approximately 60 vehicles and 200 passengers each trip. It has two passenger lounges, accessible washroom facilities, an elevator, and a play area for children. In addition, it has a state-of-the-art navigation and propulsion system, and is designed for ice operations while equipped with two thrusters for optimal year-round maneuvering capabilities.

“The MV Veteran is going to make a big difference to those who live and work on Fogo Island and Change Islands. I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and Works, mayors and town councils and ferry user committees to maintain open communication and ensure residents receive the best possible level of service through this new vessel.”
- Derrick Bragg, MHA for Fogo Island-Cape Freels

More information about the MV Veteran can be found in the digital brochure located at the following link - www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2015/tw/mv_veteran.pdf PDF.

The operating schedules for all provincial ferries, including the MV Veteran, are located on the Department of Transportation and Works website and a new web-based information dashboard located at www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/index.stm.

QUICK FACTS:

  • The Provincial Government officially welcomed the MV Veteran to Fogo Island and Change Islands today.
  • The MV Veteran is the first of two new 80-metre, roll-on, roll-off passenger ferries constructed in Galati, Romania by Damen Shipyards.
  • The Fogo Island and Change Islands ferry route is the second busiest in the province and moved over 150,000 passengers, and over 78,000 vehicles last year.

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3815, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

2015 12 21                             11:10 a.m.