Ferry crash in Germany extends bad luck for Eastern Quebec route

Quebec's ferry service seems cursed with some especially bad maritime luck, with yet another accident affecting a ferry associated with aroute in the province's east.

A ferry the servicehadbeen eyeingfor the route betweenMatanein the Gasp regionandBaie-Comeau and Godbouton Quebec's North Shorewas in an accidentat its home port in Cuxhaven, Germany.

The Saaremaacollided with the cargo shipCuracao Pearl, which was docked.

The Socit des traversiers du Qubec(STQ) needs a ferryto replace the NMFelix-Adrien Gauthier, which has been dry dockedsince December for repairs to its propeller system.

On Jan.8, the STQ brought in the MSC.T.M.A. Vacancieras a temporary replacement for the F.-A.Gauthier. Butthatferry hadto be returned to serviceits usual route in the Magdalen islands on Feb. 1.

The NM Apollo was purchased in January at a cost of $2.1 million, and crashed into thedock in Godboutsoon after beginning service.

A few weeks later it crashed into a dock again, this time in Matane. It was taken out of service having operated on the route for only 17 days total.

"The Quebec government acquired the NM Apollo, which sailed for 17 days," saidPascal Brub, MNA forMatane-Matapdia."It cost us $3 million and it's going tobescrapped. Now they'rebuying another one. They'veearmarked $80 million in thebudget, and that ship is also damaged."

"Come on, is there a captain on the ship? I have a hard time believing it's thisbad!"

Radio-Canada learned thatmembers of the STQtraveled to Germany to inspect the Saaremaa, which was built in Norway in 2010. The service would notcomment on the Saaremaa accident since the boat does not belong to it.

In January, the STQpublished a notice of intent to purchase a ferry. In that notice, the STQ stated that it wanted the ship to be delivered to Quebec City on March 31.