Both Shipfax and the Société de Traversiers du Québec (STQ) have something in common - technical issues.
For some reason I have been unable to attach photos to my Shipfax blog posts. While this did not prevent me from posting text, it did limit the type of post I have been accustomed to for many years.
As for the STQ, they have announced that the ferry Saarema 1, which has been out of service for some time with engine issues, will not be resuming service this year. The ship had been operating on loan to Northumberland Ferries Ltd for the service between Caribou, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, PE when it experienced engine cylinder problems last month. It has now been determined that all four engines require repair, and that it will not be possible to complete the work before the end of October, when the ship was due to return to Quebec. It can apparently return to Quebec on two or three engines, but cannot conduct passenger operations on less than four engines. This situation means there is no ferry service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
NFL's other ferry, Confederation, is also unserviceable due to damage to its bow visor. The visor has been removed for repair which will take some time. Meanwhile NFL has proposed operating without the visor and awaits a decision from Transport Canada. The ship is due to resume operations December 9, or earlier, when repairs to the visor are complete. (The "visor" is a moveable shield that protects the car deck from seas when underway. It lifts to allow cars and trucks on and off when alongside.)
As a seasonal operation the Northumberland service usually ends in December. A "new" temporary ferry, the Fanafjord, bought to replace the Holiday Island which was damaged by fire (and since demolished), is still refitting in Norway. As usual it needed more work than initially planned. It is still expected to arrive in time for next season. It is an interim vessel until a new ship arrives in 2028.
The "Rule of 3" seems to be at work in the region as the Digby-Saint John ferry Fundy Rose will be out of service starting October 16 when it goes off to Méchins, QC for regulatory drydocking and refit until December 3. Transport Canada owns the ferry and has no "spares" so there will be no way to cross the Bay of Fundy, and drivers (including trucks) will have a long drive round.
On a somewhat smaller scale the La Have ferry Brady E. Himmelman was taken off line October 1 for six to eight weeks and was towed to Meteghan for refit. The Province of Nova Scotia has no spare cable ferry to service the route, so drivers will have to go the Bridgewater to get across the La Have River - a 22 km drive.
Back to the STQ, they are continuing to use the Svanoy on the busy St-Joseph-de-La-Rive to Isle-aux-Coudres crossing while the Joseph-Savard is upgraded (although it does see sporadic operation). The second ferry Felix-Antoine-Savard is still operating on the route.
Also with the STQ their "spare" ferry the Radisson is still undergoing an interminable rebuild and is on the slip at the Industrie Océan shipyard in Ile-aux-Coudres. When completed it will be able to spell off the Québec City / Lévis ferries, or the St-Joseph-de-la-Rive / Isle-aux-Coudres ferries.
