Oceanex boosts ferry service to The Rock and central Canada

ST. JOHN’S — Oceanex Inc. has increased its cargo capacity by 50 percent on its Halifax to St. John’s runs. The company also announced a new weekly sailing to the port of Corner Brook by the Oceanex Avalon.

The ferry company says business in both lanes is strong and "expectations of sustained growth bode well for the long term future of the company in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Additionally, new state of the art cranes in Corner Brook and St. John’s will provide greater service reliability.

The new port call to Corner Brook means reduced transit time from central Canadian origins to Western Newfoundland.

As a result, transit time from Corner Brook to Montreal and Central Canada will be reduced by more than a week.

Last year, Oceanex was seriously considering a new cargo ferry link between Belledune, N.B. and the west coast of Newfoundland, but that plan drowned after a feasibility report by Corner Brook Port Corp. concluded that the service wouldn’t be feasible.