MV Confederation returning to service between P.E.I. and N.S.

Northumberland Ferries will resume regular service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia Wednesday, after service had been limited since Sunday.

With MV Confederation sidelined the number of crossings was cut in half, with the Holiday Island the only ferry left to cover the route.Officials at Northumberland Ferries said the MV Holiday Island was nearly full to its capacity of 370 people for each of its runs.

EarlyTuesday afternoon officials said they had not had to turn away any passengers.

Ferry officials said they consulted with technical experts from Europe to fix the problem with the MV Confederation's propulsion system.

The longer waitbetween ferries has been good for business at the Wood Islands Lighthouse.Manager Gloria Shaw said they've been getting 20 to 30 extra visitors a day since Sunday.

"People have to wait three hours for the ferry and there's not much to do except come up to the lighthouse," said Shaw.

"We hate seeing the boats break down for the people's sake but for us, it's helpful."

The federal government is in contract negations with a shipyard in Quebec for construction of two new ferries one for Wood Islands, the other for service to the Magdalen Islands from Souris.

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