Trucking, tourism could be hit by ferry troubles

Some P.E.I. trucking companies are concerned aboutthe news from Northumberland Ferries that the MV Holiday Island will be out of commission for at least the next four to six weeks.

The ferry, one of two that operatesbetween Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., requires additional steel work and will not begin operations for the season on June 17 as scheduled.

• Northumberland Ferries says MV Holiday Island won't enter service as planned

Trucking companies on the eastern end of the Island are concerned because they won't get as many runs in if they continue to take the ferry and their transportation costs will go up if they have to use the Confederation Bridge instead.

ScottAnnear,general manager of Morley Annear Limited,saidwhen there are two ferries running, his trucks can normally make two trips a day. He saidthat will likely go down to just one.

Confederation Bridge more costly

Annearworries when peak tourismseason hits, the company will likely have to switch mostly to using the Confederation Bridge.

"It makes it extremely difficult to plan on trips and it is going to cost me more for my drivers to send them on these trips," said Annear.

Annear said a triptoTrurocosts his company $200 to $250 more on the bridge.

"I am only guessing at how this is going to affect us," he said.

"As a business operation, I'm going to have to probably charge my customers more for the same product."

The ferry company is trying to work with local trucking companies to come up with some sort of solution, said Annear, but he worries it won't be enough.

As the co-owner of a dinner-cruise operation out of Montague, he is also concernedabout the impact on tourism in the eastern end of the Island.

Officials with another trucking company, Thomas Carver Limited, saidthey likely won't do as many runs because of the added transportation costs of using the bridge.

A major impact on the economy

P.E.I.'s federal cabinet minister and local MP LawrenceMacAulaysaidhe is very worriedabout the situation.

"This is very unfortunate and, of course, it has a major impact on the economy of eastern Prince Edward Island, and that of course is a great concern for myself," said MacAulay.

"MarcGarneauis the minister of transport, and needless to say we have been in constant contact and I have emphasized how important this is. Number one, if they can get the ferry repaired in short order, that's exactly what I want to see happen. And then if not, we need something else there."

MacAulaynotedthere aren't a lot of boats out there that could fit the bill.

He saidthe goal is to get the ferry back in service as soon as possible.

'Hopefully we'll get through this'

Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald says he has been in touch with Nova Scotia's tourism minister and with federal government officials about the situation.

"I think everybody is on the same page. We have to analyze the situation first and see when and what is going to become of the service and how it is going to affect Prince Edward Island," he said.

"But obviously tourism is very important. We are gearing up for one of our biggest years yet. But additionally to that, exports are also as important and they drive our economy as well. So we have a couple of things there on the table that we are very concerned about but hopefully we'll get through this."

MacDonald says if necessary there willbe a meeting with everyone involved to come up with a plan.

But he's hoping the repairs will be done quickly and everything can move forward as expected for the tourism season.

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