Northumberland Ferries har indgået en aftale med Société des traversiers du Québec, om at chartre færgen SAAREMAA 1, for en periode på ca. to måneder. Her vil den være midlertidig erstatning for HOLIDAY ISLAND, som blev ramt af en maskinrumsbrand d. 22. juli, og har været ude af drift siden.
SAAREMAA 1 forventes at være klar til at blive indsat på ruten Prince Edward Island – Caribou (Nova Scotia) midt i august, således at der igen sejler to færger på ruten.
“I would like to thank the STQ for this initiative and for having quickly got involved in order to help us. Our team and that of the STQ are working hard so that the NM Saaremaa I can be put into service with us to lend a hand in the middle of the tourist season. We are confident for the trials.”
Don Cormier, Vice President of Northumberland Ferries Limited
Société des traversiers du Québec har dog fået indskrevet en klausul i kontrakten, som betyder at aftalen kan afbrydes øjeblikkelig, hvis deres normale færge på ruten Matane – Baie-Comeau – Godbout får problemer, og SAAREMAA 1 skal afløse den.
“When we heard the news of the fire on the MV Holiday Island, we knew it was of critical importance to the communities served during peak tourist season, as we are experiencing similar issues back home. Knowing that we could help having a ship available on our side in the SAAREMAA 1, I asked my teams to analyze the option of chartering the ship there without however affecting its primary assignment as relief ship to the through Matane. The conclusion of the on-site trials is the next step before being able to formalize the assignment of the vessel for the next few weeks.
Stéphane Lafaut, CEO of the Société des traversiers du Québec
Kilder: Saltwire og Société des traversiers du Québec
