Grand Manan to get 82-car ferry by 2011

Before a crowd of over 500 islanders on Tuesday, March 10, New Brunswick Premier Sean Graham signed a $65 million (U.S.) agreement to purchase a new 82-car ferry for Grand Manan from Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. of Florida.

"This new vessel, to arrive in 2011, will replace the MV Grand Manan, which has a 25 auto-equivalent unit capacity and is 44 years old," said Graham. "As promised in the Charter for Change, we are following through on our commitment to strengthen the Fundy islands ferry service."

Grand Manan Mayor Dennis Greene says, although the islanders originally wanted a new ferry that carried over 100 vehicles, "that was five years ago. Now, with the economic downturn and less traffic, we couldn't be comfortable with anything like that. Most people understand the situation, and we're very happy with this announcement."

Accompanying Premier Graham for the announcement and signing ceremony, held at the Grand Manan Community School, were Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet, MLA for Grand Manan, Transportation Minister Denis Landry, officials from Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., including company President Brian D'Isernia, and Greene.

After opening the session with "O Canada," led by Grade 12 student Bailey Small, Greene welcomed Premier Graham and MLA Doucet to the island. He thanked them for the unprecedented cooperation that has been enjoyed between the province and the municipality of Grand Manan. He told them that the council had arranged for the spring-like day and a smooth crossing for the announcement. Premier Graham joked back that the bay was smoother than many of the roads in the province this spring.

The new 82-car ferry, with a capacity for 10 transport trucks, will become the year-round ferry for the island, starting in 2011. The Grand Manan V will replace the MV Grand Manan as the summer ferry. "The Grand Manan V and the black boat [MV Grand Manan] could handle 630 vehicles in the summertime," points out Greene. "Now the daily traffic will increase to 1,016. We're talking the total number of trips. Eight crossings."

"In winter, the capacity will jump from 480 to 640. That's quite an increase," says Greene, adding that, with the fourth daily ferry trip added by the premier when he was elected two years ago, "people aren't rushing to catch the 5:30 p.m. crossing when they've been to the mainland. They can wait until 9 p.m., and that's been spreading traffic out."

During the announcement at the school, Premier Graham stated, "All levels of government have been talking about the importance infrastructure to grow the economy, and that is more importantly felt here [on Grand Manan] as just about anywhere."

Master of ceremonies for the day was Doucet. "This investment by the government will deliver huge dividends for the Fundy islands," said the MLA. "This will open up the largest growth potential for tourism traffic in the island's history."

The premier thanked the hard work and effort put into the project by Doucet, former MLA Eric Allaby, Transportation Minister Landry, and the local transportation committee. Landry said the contribution of Eric Allaby and the transportation committee was invaluable. Laundry said islanders should be proud of their representations to the Department of Transportation. "Their involvement has made this process much better."

Speaking directly to the representative from Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., Premier Graham said, "You are not only building a vessel, you are holding the hopes and dreams and heart souls of this island in your company's hands."

The premier also told the audience he was holding Eastern Shipbuilding Group to the 2011 deadline. The company president, Brian D'Isernia, then came to the podium and pledged his word on the delivery, saying, "I am not going to let you down."

Premier Graham and D'Isernia then revealed the sketch of the new ferry. As several students commented upon leaving the gymnasium, "It looks very much like the Grand Manan V," a white vessel, trimmed with three red stripes on the bow, with the New Brunswick coat of arms emblazoned on the smoke stacks.

Every speaker of the day emphasized that this vessel would be a quality vessel and be very safe. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to supply this vessel to the people of New Brunswick," said D'Isernia. "We have a reputation for quality workmanship and exceeding industry standards. I am confident Grand Manan ferry users will have a safe and efficient vessel to enjoy for decades."

Over the last 25 years, Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. has built over 16 ferries, but D'Isernia assured the group that this ferry "is the most advanced and state-of-the-art vessel that we will have yet constructed."

The 86-meter-long ferry will have a minimum speed of 14 1/2 knots and a maximum speed in excess of 16 knots. The ferry will be powered by a pair of 12 cylinder diesel locomotive engines totaling 6000 horsepower, three times the power of the present Grand Manan V. The ferry was designed by Canadian firm BMT Fleet Technology Ltd., with offices in Vancouver, Ottawa and St. John's Newfoundland. In addition to state-of-the-art quarters and dining facilities, the ferry will also have state-of-the-art kennels.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., located in Panama City, Fla., began operations in 1976 and presently has an estimated 300-400 employees. A recent ferry built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in 2003 was the 1,000-passenger ferry Grand Republic, owned by the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Steamboat Co.

Five proposals reviewed

Back in 2006, the Department of Transportation had announced that it was going forward with plans for the construction of a new ferry that could hold four times as many vehicles as the then-41-year-old MV Grand Manan, which would be replaced. In addition, the department said it will have a new ferry for White Head Island constructed. The new Grand Manan ferry, which would be 95 metres long and hold up to 101 cars, wouldn't be in service for over three years, and the new White Head ferry, which would see a four-car increase to a 12-vehicle capacity, wouldn't be ready for five years. Proponents were required to submit proposals to sell or lease the new Grand Manan vessel to the province. The replacement White Head vessel would be owned by the province and operated by the successful proponent on the province's behalf.

The DOT issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design and build those two ferries, to operate the service and maintain the vessels and associated wharves for 15 to 20 years. Three proponents responded and qualified to move on to the request for proposals (RFP) phase of the project. Only one of those firms submitted a proposal, which did not include all of the information required by the RFP. As a result, the department could not evaluate the bid or the cost to government.

In 2007, Transportation Minister Denis Landry said the RFQ for the Fundy Island Ferry Services Project resulted in responses from Coastal Transport Ltd., NFL Holdings Ltd. and Kent Lines Ltd. The department was seeking a developer/operator to design and build new ferries for Grand Manan, White Head and Deer Island, and the successful proponent would be responsible for ferry operations to and from all three islands and maintain the ferries and associated wharves for 16 years. However, in April of 2008, after two firms withdrew from the bidding process and Coastal Transport's bid was non-compliant, the design and construction of the three new Fundy Isles ferries had to be separated from the operation and maintenance of the Fundy island ferry services.

The transportation minister then issued a request to shipyards around the world, asking them to express their interest in designing, building and delivering a new ferry for service between Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan. Four shipyards submitted a total of five proposals. All proposals were subject to a subsequent screening process before Eastern Shipbuilding Group was selected.

Contest for naming vessel

A contest to determine the name of the vessel will be held. Entries should be submitted to the Grand Manan village office by Thursday, April 30. A panel will review the submissions and make recommendations to Minister of Transportation Denis Landry and the federal registrar of shipping.