CBC - December 03, 2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Work on the ship slated to replace the Princess of Acadia ferry between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia\u00a0has started and Bay Ferries officials are already anticipating improved ticket sales.<\/p>\n The 124-metre vessel,\u00a0formerly known as the\u00a0MV\u00a0Blue Star Ithaki, arrived in Saint John Tuesday from Greece, where it connected the Aegean islands with the mainland for 14 years.<\/p>\n Bay Ferries and\u00a0Transport Canada officials were busy inspecting the ship, temporarily renamed Canada 2014, to see what needs to be tweaked to get it ready for service between Saint John and Digby next year.<\/p>\n \"Looks like she'll be good and seaworthy for our weather, the Bay of Fundy,\" said quartermaster Rick\u00a0Farren, who works in the Princess of Acadia wheelhouse.<\/p>\n Farren\u00a0showed up at the Bay Ferries\u00a0terminal to welcome the Korean-built vessel,\u00a0purchased in October by the federal government for $44.6 million.<\/p>\n \"We want to make sure the ship is ready and consequently there will be a significant amount of work done to the ship,\" said\u00a0Don\u00a0Cormier, vice-president of operation and safety management.\u200b<\/p>\n Among the work, the engines will be overhauled and converted to burn marine diesel, said Cormier.<\/p>\n He expects the ship will be faster and more efficient than the old Princess of Acadia.<\/p>\n It will\u00a0also offer\u00a0improved onboard amenities, including various passenger lounges and a cafeteria, he said.<\/p>\n \"People may have no longer considered using the link, but we believe this will be an attraction,\" said\u00a0Cormier.<\/p>\n Serge Buy, CEO of the Canadian Ferry Association, says ferries are a critical part of Canada's transportation network.<\/p>\n \"The ferries provide a really safe, environmentally friendly alternative to almost any other type of transportation,\" he said, noting the federal government announced in July it will spend $58 million over two years for operation of the Eastern Canada ferry services.<\/p>\n \"We're pleased that the federal government is supporting this way of moving people around,\" said Buy.<\/p>\n Transport Canada will invite the public to help name the new vessel, said Cormier.\u00a0The federal minister will make the final decision, he said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the old Princess of Acadia will go up for sale and if no buyer can be found, it\u00a0will likely be scrapped, Cormier said.<\/p>\n