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Highlanders repairs to take more time: Marine Atlantic

The Marine Atlantic ferry MV Highlanders has been out of service for repairs for the last week. Marine Atlantic has been working to reroute passengers. The Crown corporation says it’s going to take more time than first thought to get the ferry back into service. — TC Media file photo

The Marine Atlantic ferry MV Highlanders has been out of service for repairs for the last week. Marine Atlantic has been working to reroute passengers. The Crown corporation says it’s going to take more time than first thought to get the ferry back...

Published on August 29, 2012
Published on August 29, 2012
Colin MacLean  RSS Feed

Ferry crossings from Argentia affected

Topics :
Marine Atlantic , Argentia , North Sydney , Port aux Basques

The MV Highlanders will be out of service for at least a little while longer.

The Marine Atlantic ferry has been undergoing repairs for the past week after a generator failure.

Marine Atlantic had originally estimated the vessel would be back in service early this week but it now says it needs more time to complete the repairs.

In a news release Tuesday,

it wasn’t clear how much time would be required to complete the repairs.

“There has been a tremendous amount of effort by internal and external technical resources over the past several days; however, the generator is still experiencing a mechanical issue,” the statement said.

Marine Atlantic also apologized for the disruption of service.

“We appreciate the understanding of our customers and we sincerely apologize for this service interruption,” wrote Don Barnes, vice-president of customer experience.

“Our employees are working with our customers to minimize impact to their travel plans.”

Until The Highlanders returns to service Marine Atlantic will modify its scheduled service.

Passengers should call well ahead of the booked departure or check the crossing schedule online before arriving at their terminal.

Some crossings cancelled

The Crown corporation also stated the scheduled crossings of the Argentia to North Sydney service (Wednesday from North Sydney and Thursday from Argentia) have been cancelled.

Passengers have the option of rebooking for the next crossing of that service or being rerouted through Port aux Basques.

As compensation, any customer displaced from their original sailing time by more than seven hours will get travel vouchers of $200 per adult and $100 per child between the ages of five and 12.

Argentia customers with reservations also have the option of rebooking to the next scheduled sailing of that run (which is this weekend) and getting a travel voucher, or getting a full refund of their fare and free passage through Port aux Basques.

cmaclean@thetelegram.com

Twitter: @TelegramMacLean

Comments

  • Username
    sc
    - August 29, 2012 at 23:46:34

    The ships performed perfectly well in Europe (Stena is a highly regarded company with employees that know what they're doing) but are often breaking down here. It's unlikely the problem is with with the ships as has been suggested but rather with the incompetent, poorly trained mechanics/engineers responsible for keeping them in service. I suspect that there is never (or very seldom) any preventative maintenance done and what repairs are made are done on the cheap with duct tape, bubble gum and a few prayers. When a major problem arises, no one has a clue how to fix it. Marine Atlantic should be forced to compensate all passengers for all the additional expenses that they have encountered (not just the paltry $100-$200 that is being offered now). Perhaps that would help focus the attention of management a wee bit.

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    • Username
      David
      - August 30, 2012 at 19:24:17

      Point of correction.....passengerts are not being offered $100 or $200 compensation. They are being offered MA travel vouchers....vouchers with ZERO value for tourists who will never be coming back (which is most of them), nor for those residents who are so disgusted and inconvenienced vy this that they will in future avoid Marine atlantic like the plague. This is a worthless, virtually costless, pointless gesture to make MA appear to be something they are not and never will be: an accountable, customer-oriented operation. FAIL...YET AGAIN!

  • Username
    bob
    - August 29, 2012 at 19:14:16

    I don't know what all the fuss is about. Marine Atlantic Inc is only kept on the books of the federal government to create high paying jobs and opportunities for Nova Scotians not to serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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  • Username
    BUTLER
    - August 29, 2012 at 12:45:08

    its said to say but after the vison catching fire 3 times , the blue putties almost going under twice and a retired crew member dieing cause of the listing , now the generator going out i think marina alantic should get rid of all the boats they leased and build some safe ones like the old ones they retired , its really sad that the only boat that is not causing to much trouble is the old mv lief ericcson from the early 90s which is still in service .

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  • Username
    David
    - August 29, 2012 at 11:30:11

    Did you hear the one about the island people who were so meek and stupid that they were bullied, tortured and starved for 50 years until they all left or died? Ha Ha Ha Ha! Newfie Jokes, 256th Edition.

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  • Username
    Jack
    - August 29, 2012 at 11:25:21

    Here we go again with Marine Atlantic's ferry reliability problems. In addition, since our ferries are relatively new, especially MV Highlanders and MV Putees, are already breaking down after just one year, it seems to me that Marine Atlantic are constantly purchasing "lemons" and not brand new ferries. To add insult to injury, since MV Highlanders repairs were supposed to be completed by Friday, but the ferry is still under repairs, Marine Atlantic are not only lying to Canadian Taxpayers, but also Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. A message for Stephen Harper, Peter "Harper Yes Man" Penashue, and Marine Atlantic, enough is enough, no more faulty ferries, no more lies.

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