Tourism Minister Steve Crocker is disappointed with word that the newest Marine Atlantic ferry won’t be in service until the end of the month.
The new ferry, the Ala’suinu, was supposed to go into service next week, but it’s now in drydock already undergoing repairs, just as the busy tourism season is taking shape.
Marine Atlantic officials have said they are optimistic that the work will be completed by their new start date for the Argentia run on June 26.
The Ala’suinu arriving at North Sydney in late April. (Submitted)
Crocker says the province and Hospitality NL have been concerned with not having enough capacity on the Gulf ferry system for some time.
He says the situation facing this province, which has long seen capacity challenges in July and August on the Port aux Basque run, wouldn’t be acceptable in any other province.
The minister and Craig Foley of HNL were most recently in Ottawa in December to raise concerns over the issue with the oversee-ers of the Gulf ferry service, the federal government.
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