MV Veteran in dry dock for ongoing repairs, expected back in March

The new ferry in the Fogo Island-Change Islands run is in drydock for repairs that are expected to take at least a couple more weeks to complete.

The Department of Transportation and Works says the $50-million MV Veteran was put into drydock in St. John's Tuesday for repairs to a propulsion unit.

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Representatives from the ship's builder Damen Shipyards, as well as engine manufacturer Rolls Royce, are conducting repairs.

The department said it's unclear exactly when the ferry will be back in service, but it estimated the Veteranwill be ready to return some time in March.

The MV Captain Earl W. Winsor, the former ferry on the Fogo Island-Change Islands run, has undergone repairs following an incident last week that saw a dump truck slide into the water.

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The driver of the truck was able to escape unharmed from that incident.

According to the department, both ramps on the Winsor are now functioning and the ferry is running on the regular winter schedule for the time being.

The Veteran started on the ferry service in December.

It first ran into trouble on its maiden voyage from Romania, after its engine failed. In late December, the ferry was out of service due to an issue with its bow thrusters.

Then, in January, a small fire aboard the Veteran knocked it ferry out of service. The province put an air transportation service in its place.

The Veteran was brought into St. John's Feb. 1 for further repairs.