Scary Ferry Tales

 

 The Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ), the Québec government ferry service, seems to be haunted with bad luck. 

Reference a recent post: the ancient Radisson built in 1954, completed its umpteenth rebuild at Industrie Océan and returned to service in Quebec City to allow the Alphonse Desjardins to go for refit. Once the Desjardins was taken out of service and its refit started the Radisson decided not to slow down as it approached the Quebec City dock and "alided" with the boarding ramp, puncturing its hull below the main deck level, but above the waterline. Four passengers sustained injuries characterised as minor, and the Radisson was removed from service. This leaves only the Lomer Gouin to operate the busy Québec- Lévis commuter service.

 The Radisson of today bears little resemblance to its orginal appearance (similar to its 1979 look in this photo. The entire superstructure has been replaced - some of it more than once.)

 This photo was taken prior to its most recent rebuild:

Of course the reason for the Radisson rebuild was to have a spare ferry for use when another vessel was out of service for refit or damage. (Doh). The Québec-Lévis ferry service and the two bridges across the river at Québec have become overtaxed but a new bridge or tunnel and its location have become a huge political hot potato in Québec. No decision is expected soon and there is a possibility that  Ottawa may step in with funds. (If so Halifax, which also needs a third bridge will have its hand out too. Halifax's brand new mayor (as of last night's election, October 19) is the recently retired [Liberal] Federal Member of Parliament from Halifax - he may know who to call - for now.

2. The Svanoy with is crew of Newfoundlanders has returned to Ile-aux-Coudres / St-Joseph-de-la-Rive to allow the Felix-Antoine-Savard to go for its refit. The Joseph Savard has now returned to full operation after its major refit.

 

2. The Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ), and Halifax Transit have more in common than you might think. Both have been plagued with staff shortages to the point of having to cancel crossings. In Halifax it has meant limiting rush hour service to every half hour rather than every 15 minutes from time to time. In Québec it has effected the Tadoussac / Baie Ste-Catherine service across the Saguenay River. The short trip, which is the only reasonable connection to the lower North Shore region for cars and trucks is a vital link and lengthy waits when only one of the two boats is running are more than an inconvenience. (The alternative is about a 320 -350 km / 200 - 230 mile route via the City of Saguenay a.k.a. Chicoutimi.) 

In the case of Halifax its five passenger-only boats are able to keep up (depending on crew availability and operating mechanicals) even if one is out of service. That happens to be the case now as the Christopher Stannix has been in refit in Sambro since September 3.

3. Also in Québec ferry service there is a report that the contract between the STQ and Clarke Inc to operate the Rivière-du-Loup / St-Siméon ferry has been extended to 2028. That service operates the venerable Trans-St-Laurent (built in 1963 believe it or not), although a replacement is supposedly in the design stage.

 

More interesting however there may be a decision this fall on whether to move the south shore terminus to Cacouna, an underutilized port facility a few minutes downstream from the current Rivière-du-Loup pier.  The move would eliminate the cost of annual dredging at Rivière-du-Loup required to remove the large quantities of sand that build in each year. Having the terminal at Cacouna would also allow for year round service. The current operation shuts down from January to April. (A new ferry would have to be ice strengthened or better.)

There are mixed feelings about such a change as many businesses close to the Rivière-du-Loup terminal, such as eateries, accommodations and gas stations would suffer a major loss of trade and many might close.

4.  I neglected to mention in my last post on the subject that the new ferry for the Caribou, NS / Wood Islands, PE route, the Fanafjord ex Green Ferry has been renamed Northumberland in another sudden burst of creativity. The seventeen year old ship, intended as a temporary replacement for the Holiday Island was supposed to be in operation for the summer 2024 season. It is now is expected to make its wearying way across the Atlantic next spring in time for the late May resumption of the suspended service. The Northumberland is expected to last long enough to see a new ship delivered by Davie Shipbuilding in 2028. 

Amazingly the Holiday Island's sister ship, the Vacationland which became the Fundy Paradise was sold off to a Québec operator who planned to use it as dredge pumping station. When that plan fell through the ship was laid up in Quebec City and it is still kicking around - but very far from ever being returned to service as a ship.

With beautiful Mont Ste-Anne as a backdrop the "Scary Ferry" of the month is the Fundy Paradise as seen here in August:

 

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