Digby Courier - November 24, 2014
Saint John and then Digby will be the first ports of call for the new ferry expected to start operating on the Bay of Fundy run sometime in 2015.
Transport Canada spokesman Ben Stanford confirmed by email today that the ferry formally known as the Blue Star Ithaki will head for Saint John, New Brunswick, when it leaves the Azores where it is currently fuelling up.
Crew from the transit voyage will get off in Saint John and workers will remove protective sheathing installed to protect the ferry during its transatlantic voyage.
The ferry will then stop in Digby to take on equipment for the engine refit, which will take place in Halifax.
Stanford said earlier this week that the ship's engines will undergo a 72,000-hour overhaul and conversion from heavy fuel to marine diesel oil.
He said crews will also carry out minor modifications to ensure the vessel complies with Canadian safety regulations, and is compatible with existing shore-based infrastructure and for operation in the Bay of Fundy.
The engine overhaul needs to be completed by the original equipment manufacturer and the modification work will be subject to a future tendering process.
Stanford didn’t provide a timeline for the boat’s arrival but its voyage can be tracked online at vesselfinder.com ormarinetraffic.com. On these sites it is listed under the transit name of Canada2014.
Read more, click ici pour.