Northumberland Ferry preserved

CHARLOTTETOWN, — Truckers on the eastern end of Prince Edward Island breathed a sigh of relief earlier this summer after the federal government signed an agreement with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. to maintain service between Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, N.S.

The trucking community and the island’s tourism industry feared an earlier deal would have led to a severe reduction in the ferry’s operating schedule.

The seasonal crossing of the Northumberland Straight from the eastern end of PEI to Nova Scotia near New Glasgow is an essential link for truckers bound for Halifax and beyond. More importantly, the Island’s potato industry relies on the link to get its product to the Newfoundland market, as the crossing is a major time and distance savings for trucks heading to North Sydney, N.S.

“If the service had been reduced, we would have found it extremely difficult to meet the needs of our PEI customer base, and to carry out our contractual obligations,” says Darlene McCarron of Tom Macdonald Trucking Ltd. in Sydney River, N.S. “During its months of operation, our company uses this service to ship Yoplait to PEI, and then pick up potatoes from various locations on PEI. On average 8 to 10 of our trucks use this service to Prince Edward Island weekly.

“Eliminating this service would have increased highway traffic, affected our efficiency in servicing our customers, increased the wear and tear of our fleet, and significantly increase our payroll and fuel costs.”

Transport Canada’s agreement with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. will extend the company’s contribution agreement until 2010, allowing Northumberland Ferries to maintain a two-ship operation and its traditional level of service, from May to mid-December. Northumberland Ferries Ltd. has been operating the ferry service between Wood Islands and Caribou since 1941.