An infrequent update on ferries in eastern Canada:
1. Société des traversiers du Québec
As the STQ updates it ferry fleets the chartered Svanoy continues to operate between St-Joseph-de-la-Rive and Ile-aux-Coudres. The charter may be through Logistec, but the boat itself is operated by Canship Ugland with a crew made up mostly of Newfoundlanders. I understand that the charter is for five years.
In order for the Svanoy to align with the wharf ramps, it has been fitted with "stand-offs". The boat only operates on a daytime schedule and must find another berth at night to keep the dock free for the other boat. That means travelling to Pointe-au-Pic, St-Siméon or Cacouna depending on availability.
The Joseph-Savard, one of the two regular ferries, has a narrow hull but the deck projects well outboard. It has gone into refit again at the end of this summer and the Felix-Antoine-Savard has returned to the route.
The Felix-Antoine-Savard also has the cantilevered car deck. It also has bow visor. (2024 photo)
2. Traversier Rivière-du-Loup / St-Siméon
There is still some uncertainty about a shift of the south shore terminal to Gros Cacouna and delivery of a new ice strengthened ferry.
Therefore the aged Trans-St-Laurent soldiers on, seasonally. Built in 1963, it is certainly showing its age, but operates quite reliably. ( Its engines were rebuilt a nimber of years ago, and it is in refit from January to April each year.)
The ship has received some minor modifications over the years, including the addition of hoistable car decks that can be used for smaller cars in peak season.
The most noticeable change however occurred during the 2024-2025 off season. That was the removal of the huge original lifeboats and davits from the boat deck.
They have apparently been replaced by inflatible rafts and evacuation slides, housed in grey boxes.
The last ship of the large Clarke Steamship company (now Clarke Inc), the Trans-St-Laurent still has a few years left in its contract with the STQ. In 2021 the STQ extended the contract until the end of the 2025 season (which would be January 2026) but that has been extended again and again and now goes to January 2028. That still isn't long enough in my opinion to build a temporary terminal in Gros Cacouna, nor to allay the fears of those concerned about the dangers to the beluga calving ground in the area.
The "new" ferry is to be the Saaremaa I a spare ferry operated by the STQ when other ships are out of service. It was "loaned" to Northumberland Ferries Ltd to cover the Caribou, NS - Wood Islands, PE service when the Holiday Island became a total loss due to fire in 2022, and when the Confederation damaged its bow door. The Saaremaa I is currently (as of today, September 16) in drydock at Pictou, NS.
It will be a stop gap until a newly built ship enters service - now due in 2031. Also a new terminal will be built in the port of Gros Cacouna to suit the new ferry.
3, Northumberland Ferries Ltd
The Northumberland entered service in the spring, joining the Confederation and seems to be working well. It is also a stop gap vessel until a new custom-built ship is delivered in 2028. (That sounds optimistic to me.)
The ship operates as a double ender. It flies the Nova Scotia flag and Canada flag at what is the bow in the photo above, and the Prince Edward Island and NFL flags at what is the stern. The wheelhouse is amidships, and it has dual riding lights. The main difference is the diameter of the masts,with the larger mast "forward" in the photo above.
On departure, with no need to turn off the dock, the ship makes a quick getaway with the visor still closing.
As of August 1, 2025 the Canadian government reduced the fares by 50% while at the same time reducing the toll on the Confederation Bridge from $50.25 to $20. The federal government owns the ferries, and contracts with NFL to operate them. This explains the port of registry of the ships.
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