Marine Atlantic's Blue Puttees out of service
It's been a rough January for Marine Atlantic, with a total of 26 departures postponed or cancelled, and a vessel put out of service Wednesday night due to a mechanical problem.
Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer says the MV Blue Puttees was unable to depart Port aux Basques for North Sydney late Wednesday night.
About 60 passengers waited on the Blue Puttees, before leaving to board the Leif Ericson instead.
"The Blue Puttees was preparing last night for its 11:45 p.m. departure when during their checks they noticed that there was an issue with one of the bearings in the engine," said Mercer.
However, the Crown corporation had already brought the Leif Ericson on the run between Port aux Basques and North Sydney to help get passengers who were delayed due to inclement weather this week.
Mercer said it wasn't the best case scenario, but it was a necessary measure.
"There was an organized shift, we know it was unfortunate and certainly not ideal, but from this perspective we're glad we were able to transport the passengers."
Mercer said there was a total of 110 passengers — 42 of those commercial — who were put on the Lief Ericson Thursday morning leaving for Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile, the Blue Puttees is sailing to Cape Breton where repairs will take place over the next couple of days before returning to its schedule.
There are still two ferries on the North Sydney-Port aux Basques run.
