Florida company wins $65M contract to build Grand Manan ferry

The New Brunswick government isspending $65 million to purchase a new 82-car ferry that will connect Grand Manan to the province's mainland.

The new ferry will makethe daily run between Grand Manan and Blacks Harbour starting in 2011, Transportation Minister Denis Landry announced at the Grand Manan Community School on Tuesday.

Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. won the contract to build the vessel, whichwill be able to hold 82 cars or 10 fully loaded transport trucks. The second-lowest bidder in the tendering process was a Spanish company.

The new ferry has been a long time coming for the people on the island community. There have been problems especiallyduring the summer tourist season with motorists being turned away at the ferry because of a lack of space.

There are also serious challenges for the 3,000 Grand Manan residents to make necessary trips to and from the island when the current ferry, the Grand Manan V, is down for repairs or service.

When the new ferry arrives, Landry said, no one will be turned away.

New ferry designed for island's future needs

The transportation minister said the new vessel is designed to meet the future needs of the region.

Currently, the MV Grand Manan, which can hold 25 cars and 100 passengers, operates from late June to early September. The MS Grand Manan V runs throughout the year, and can carry up to 65 cars and 300 passengers.

When the new ferry docks in New Brunswick, it will replace the MV Grand Manan and the current ferry will become the summer ferry.

With the new tandem of ferries, the daily summer vehicle capacity will increase to 1,000 from 630, and the daily winter vehicle capacity will jump to 640 from 480.

According to the transportation minister, four shipyards submitted five proposals.

The provincial government will hold a contest to name the ferry.