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Farewell Princess of Acadia, hello Fundy Rose

May 8, 2015, 2:57 pm
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The Former Blue Star Ithaki now has a brand new permanent name!  When she enters service between Digby and Saint John next month (if all goes according to plan), she will be named Fundy Rose.  Fundy Signifies the Bay of Fundy while Rose signifies Rose Fortune, someone from Annapolis Royal who started a business in 1825 carrying luggage from local hotels and the ferry docks and acting as the waterfront police officer in Annapolis Royal.  A fitting and appropriate name for a great ship that hopefully we will see for decades to come.

More on Rose Fortune on wikipedia
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Thoughts on Bluenose II restoration

May 24, 2015, 4:20 pm
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I'm positive that there is a lot of people who now are against the Bluenose II restoration project, which is now over budget and years behind schedule. Not the case for me.  Bluenose II is still an important part of Nova Scotia history and culture.  In my mind, a last minute decision to certify the ship under American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) rules caused many delays in the reconstruction of our beloved schooner.  Almost five years since the restoration/rebuild started, it was justified to me that the old hull was (although un noticeable to me) distorted and would become unsafe sooner than later.  A new hull to me means many more years of sailing for our floating ambassador, keeping the legacy of Bluenose alive for decades to come.   I still think the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance had done a fantastic job on our schooner and a huge shout out to all those involved in the building process.  It might have been 5 years since the project started, however, I have been patient throughout and now, there's only a few things to button up and our proud schooner will finally be setting sail again this summer.
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On charter no more

May 26, 2015, 2:54 pm
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Some great news from Marine Atlantic today, the MV Blue Puttees (right) and MV Highlanders (left) have been purchased from Stena RoRo for $100 million a piece ($200 million all together).  Since 2011, these two vessels have served the North Sydney, N.S. Port aux Basques, N.L. route and have added capacity on the route from its predecessors.  Both ships had a five year charter with an option to renew or purchase at anytime.  From a travelers point of view, my experiences on both have been fantastic and yes I would definitely return to either vessel in the years to come.
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MV Princess of Acadia: one last ride

May 31, 2015, 9:44 am
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 Yesterday (May 30) was a bittersweet day for me as I took my last round trip day crossing aboard the MV Princess of Acadia.  It was also an eerie feeling as it was foggy for the majority of the sailing across.  
 The majority of the outside decks were open during both sailings across yesterday, including the boat deck forward of the cafe (bar lounge) area, which provides a fantastic final photo of the bridge.
 As I said in the beginning, it was a foggy day across the Bay of Fundy, however, I still enjoyed my trip over to Saint John and back knowing that this is my last sailing across on a great ship that served us well for 44 years.  Here, a lookout/spotter is watching for obstructions the ship may encounter while en route.
 My last Starbucks coffee from the Rising Tide Cafe.  Hopefully will still be proudly brewed aboard the MV Fundy Rose.
 All merchandise in the gift shop with the ship on it was 40% off when it opened for 15 minutes each sailing.  This, in addition to no tourism information brochures aboard signals the end is pretty well near.
 Some people have been questioning in discussion groups if the ship is still properly maintained, I'm proud to say until the very end.  Here, maintenance is being done on her starboard side promenade deck.   Also, maintenance was happening on her port side boat deck.
 Docked in Saint John, New Brunswick in the fog.  An eerie scene knowing it was my last time seeing the vessel docked at the facility.  The crossing back to Digby had the fog lift about an hour before docking.
 My final arrival at the berth in Digby aboard, my next sailing will be when the MV Fundy Rose (former Blue Star Ithaki) had entered service.  The crossing from Digby to Saint John took 2 hours 33 minutes and the return sailing to Digby took 2 hours 53 minutes.  Both sailings the ship left on schedule and her reliability and safety record remains intact.
 MV Princess of Acadia general arrangement, life saving and deck plans.

A few interior shots
 The Sea breeze lounge on the lower passenger deck offers a big screen TV with a feature movie playing during the voyage.
The Rising Tide Cafe/Bar Lounge on the upper passenger level offers Starbucks hot or cold beverages and light fare like scone or biscotti.

Other facilities includes a truckers lounge and tourist bureau on the upper level and a gift shop, cafeteria and seasonal supervised kids room on the lower deck.

In closing, there is no doubt I will miss the MV Princess of Acadia when she does retire.  She will forever be the ship that started my nautical passion 21 years ago.  However, a replacement vessel to me means many more years of ferry service between Digby and Saint John and I look forward to my next trip, next time aboard the MV Fundy Rose.
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Yarmouth ferry, is it the right fit?

June 6, 2015, 3:01 pm
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Now, I'm finally breaking my silence on the Yarmouth ferry.  So, here it goes, I'm open to seeing a ferry operate between Yarmouth and Portland, however, it should be the right fit and I'm questioning if the Nova Star is the right boat for the traffic as it stands now.  Hopefully year 2 would be better than year one as a little over 59,000 passengers traveled on the Gulf of Maine last season.  Maybe since a cruise ferry last sailed in 2004 and a high speed ferry in 2009 made the route lose a lot of passengers over the years it has been dormant.  Still, I believe if the Nova Star would have work in the winter months it could be even more viable in future seasons (unless the provincial government finds another operator for 2016) and I'm sure that STM/Quest had tried their darndest to try to secure winter work but failed last year.  There is no doubt the ship brings a lot of tourists from the United States to Nova Scotia, however, I feel that we shouldn't be the only ones putting money forward to keep the ferry operating and the state of Maine should help out as well.  Hopefully, Nova Star Cruises will have a great season this year and has the passengers needed to keep going and improve.  This being said however, I'm very supportive of the provincial government's decision that it might consider a new operator for 2016.  It will be interesting to see what unfolds in the immediate future.
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Deer Island Princess II

June 7, 2015, 3:53 pm
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After nearly a month stay on the slip at AF Theriault and Son, the ferry Deer Island Princess II (NB DOT F96) was launched over the weekend and today crew were working on her Z-drive propulsion system.



Other ships at the yard (although some unnoticeable) were the All For Joy and Row Row in front of the ferry with the Final Venture on the opposite dock.  The Mega Hawk is on slip 2 and slip 5 still occupied by the Fundy Navigator.
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Calanus II arrives

June 7, 2015, 4:04 pm
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 The Coast Guard vessel Calanus II is on the slip at Comeau Marine Railway in Meteghan and operating under (I assume a temporary name) 2014-02.   More info on the ship here.


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Princess of Acadia to the rescue

June 8, 2015, 3:59 pm
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Approximately an hour after I took this photo, the Princess of Acadia responded to an injured crew member aboard the fishing vessel Compass Rose II. Also dispatched to the scene were a Comorant and Hercules helicopter out of Greenwood and the Coast Guard vessel Courtney Bay out of Saint John.  The ferry was the closest ship to the vessel and picked up the injured crew member.  Emergency responders were awaiting at the Saint John ferry terminal and brought the crew member to hospital.  A fantastic job by the captain, officers and crew aboard the MV Princess of Acadia for bringing the crew member safely back to shore.   More in the links below.

From CBC News
From the Digby County Courier
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Bear Cove Point sinks

June 10, 2015, 3:30 pm
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Sunday shipyard roundup

June 14, 2015, 4:39 pm
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Todays ship spotting at AF Theriault and son


The Ivy Rose on slip 1.

The Fundy Navigator was launched yesterday and ahead of the Final Venture.
 The All for Joy is still in town and behind her, the lobster boat Row Row.
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Hanging around for a bit of the summer schedule

June 20, 2015, 1:54 pm
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As final touches are still ongoing aboard the Fundy Rose, the Princess of Acadia will start the summer schedule runs until the newer ferry is ready.  The crossings would now take approximately 2 1/2 hours between Digby and Saint John.  The Princess has done 2 1/2 hour sailings before while she was new and can still do it, but will burn more fuel than the Fundy Rose.  The new schedule started June 19 with an 8 AM departure out of Saint John and another at 2:30 PM.  Digby departures are at 11:15 AM and 5:30 PM.  More info on the schedule at ferries.ca.

 Meanwhile in Halifax, the Fundy Rose has had a few sea trials last week and the refit of the vessel is nearing completion.  More on the sea trials from Shipfax and Halifax Shipping News.
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Fundy Leader: under new ownership

June 28, 2015, 3:42 pm
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 The trawler Fundy Leader has a new home working for Clearwater Seafoods and is undergoing work in Lunenburg for her new career.  She was built in 2006 at Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspe, Quebec for Yarmouth Sea Products and only a stern trawler.  Now, it appears she will be also a side trawler. Her port of registry is still in Yarmouth.

 Undergoing work in Lunenburg on the morning of June 27, 2015
 Not just a stern trawler, but a side trawler as well.


More info with her original configuration on Chantier Naval Forillon's website.
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Shipspotting: Lunenburg Harbour edition

June 30, 2015, 3:49 pm
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Over the weekend, I took a trip to Lunenburg and, other than the Fundy Leader under new owners and undergoing conversion, here's a few more ships I found while in town (Bluenose II will be featured in tomorrow's blog.   Update: link to blog here)
 The sailing ship Tiare Taporo is still in town and waiting to head to the Cook Islands.  She was formerly the Rupert Brand VII/Zebroid.
 Hidden behind the trees at the Lunenburg Foundry slips, the New Brunswick ferry Peninsula Princess.
 Behind the Fundy Leader, the Lady Cavell, with the True North Salmon decals removed from her wheelhouse.
The scallop dragger Chockle Cap at the Adams and Knickle docks.  She was proudly built at AF Theriault and Son.
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Bluenose II

July 1, 2015, 7:27 am
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 Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, schooner Bluenose II had a few things going on on Saturday June 27, 2015 which included crew training and deck tours.  It was the first time I seen the schooner since September 2013 and I'm still impressed by the work the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance has done to the rebuilt hull, which ensures our Queen of the North Atlantic continues to sail for decades to come.
 The Bluenose II heading out towards Lunenburg Bay for crew training.
 She's always a spectacular sight when she's under sail.
 Coming back to Lunenburg Harbour after crew training.
Shortly after her arrival, Bluenose II was open for deck tours.  Hopefully next time around will be a sailing aboard, something that has been on my bucket list for a long time.

After my trip to Lunenburg, the Bluenose II has released her cruise schedule.  It can be found here.
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Calanus II update: New name

July 5, 2015, 12:33 pm
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 The Calanus II now has a new name.  She will now be named Fundy Legend and her work is almost complete at Comeau Marine Railway in Meteghan.  More on when she arrived at the yard here.


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Tancook Island ferry undergoing refit

July 5, 2015, 1:46 pm
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 The lamented William G. Ernst has arrived at AF Theriault and son in Meteghan River last week and is now hauled up for what I presume a refit.  She was sidelined with engine troubles last year causing the people of Tancook Island to use a whale watching boat to the mainland.  Also, Transport Canada cut her capacity in half last year worrying everyone on the island.  This is a ferry that is vital to Tancook Island and its residents.  The William G. Ernst was built in 1982 in Georgetown, Prince Edward Island.  Link to my blog post on her visit from 2011 (her last refit period)




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Tancook Island ferry update

July 12, 2015, 1:43 pm
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 It's been a week since the Tancook Island ferry William G. Ernst has been hauled up at AF Theriault and son and her refit has started.  The crane has been removed for the moment and primer has been applied to spots on the hull.


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MV Fundy Rose ready for service

July 13, 2015, 3:27 pm
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Pictured here undergoing refit in Halifax on March 29, 2015, the MV Fundy Rose has left the port and is off to Saint John New Brunswick for a final ramp fit. She will then head to Digby for the same on Wednesday before beginning service on Saturday.  More info here.
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Tancook Island ferry: New look and upgrades

July 26, 2015, 11:25 am
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 The Tancook Island ferry William G. Ernst is now sporting a blue hull as opposed to her usual white hull.   There is also steel removed from her upper hull on her port side and stern as seen in the photos below.  
 A section of steel removed from her upper hull on the port side.
 A section of steel removed from the upper center of her stern.
 Her port side gangway amidships has been removed for now so workers can access the ship.

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Midnight Dreamer: in for repairs

July 26, 2015, 3:51 pm
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 The scallop dragger Midnight Dreamer has been in for repairs at AF Theriault and son and fiberglass repairs on her port side have been completed alongside the wharf.  It appears only paint left to do on her.  More on the collision she had with Sea Spirit III in this article from CBC.  Photos taken today.

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