Newfoundland Ferries - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Both my parents were from small fishing villages along the southwest coast of Newfoundland. So it went without saying, I grew up around the Newfoundland Ferries. Operated by CN, the earliest ferries to Newfoundkand were basically an extension of the CN Railway and freight was their main with purpose with passengers being an afterthought. In the early 70's CN Marine operated four ferries from North Sydney, NS to Port aux Basques, NF with one of those ferries making summer runs to Argentia, near St. John's. The first and most loved of those ferries was the MV William Carson.

MV William Carson

Sisters to the William Carson (not because they were identical but because they were brought into service around the same time) were the MV Lief Errikson, MV Ambrose Shea, and MV Patrick Morrison pictured below:

MV Leif Eriksson

MV Ambrose Shea

MV Patrick Morris

The MV William Carson was transferred to a route from Newfoundland to Labrador after serving a long career on the Port aux Basques run. In 1977 after having a steel plate welded to her reinforced bow, the new plate came loose and she sank overnight JUne 2nd and early June 3rd after hitting a small iceberg. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely.

The MV Leif Eriksson was eventually sold, being the smallest of the three, she was only used to pick up extra passengers during the summer vacation season and to make up for delays in the winter.

The Ambrose Shea, was mainly used only during the summer in her later years, while pressed into service to make up for weather delays in the winter. She was the longest serving ferry at that time. After serving from 1967 to 1989, she was scrapped.

The MV Patrick Morris was lost in a storm attempting to rescue sailors from a fishing trawler in distress. A30 foot wave smashed through the doors that allowed cars onto the ferry was she was opened to the sea, sinking her in 35 minutes. Not carrying any passengers at the time, 47 of the 51 officers and crew were saved, The captain went down with the ship. The wreck is located 15 nm east of Cape Smokey at a depth of 300 feet.

CN was transformed into Marine Atlantic in 1989 and three new ferries were leased from Sweden, the MV Atlantica, the MV Nautica, and the MV Nordica

MV Atlantica

MV Nautica

MV Nordica

These ferries were all replaced by two brand new, Canadian built purpose built super ferries, the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara Smallword.

MV Caribou

MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood.

Though virtually identical ships, the Joseph and Clara Smallwood had more cabin space and more entertainment as she was used mainly for longer Argentia route, picking up slaack during the winter from weather delays. In 2011, both ferries were sold for scrap.

Today, there are four ferries in operation. The MV Blue Puttees, the MV Leif Ericson, the MV Highlanders, and the MV Atlantic Vision which are still in service today. The MV Atlantic Vision mainly serves the Argentia run during the summer while pressed into service during winter delays.

MV Blue Puttees

MV Leaf Ericson

MV Highlanders

MV Atlantic Vision