Expected to enter service later this month, Fundy rose has been on various trials the past week.

The government somewhat quietly announced  this past Friday that the replacement vessel for the MV Princess of Acadia, which serves the Saint John to Digby ferry route, will be named the MV Fundy Rose.

The MV Fundy Rose is a combination of the top names submitted by Canadians as part of a public naming process launched earlier this year.

The first part of the name reflects the renowned tidal level and water volume, the ocean conditions and world-wide appreciation of the Bay of Fundy.

The second part of the name reflects Rose Fortune, a woman born into slavery and relocated to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, after her family escaped the British colony of Virginia during the American Revolution. She developed a successful business transporting luggage from the ferry docks to Annapolis hotels and homes via wheelbarrow. She also offered a wake-up service to customers to make certain they caught their boat to Digby or Saint John on time. Over time, Rose Fortune became known as the first female police officer in Canada – an unofficial title she earned by maintaining order and safeguarding property at the town’s wharves.

The MV Fundy Rose was purchased by the Government of Canada in October 2014 from a private ferry operator in Greece at a cost of approximately $31 million EURO ($44.6 million CAN).  She was built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. It is 124 metres in length and 19 metres in breadth, with a cruising speed of 20 knots. It has modern onboard amenities and segregated car and vehicle decks.

Since its arrival in Canada in December 2014, the MV Fundy Rose has been dockside in Halifax undergoing a main engine overhaul; replacement of carpeting and tiles; installation of a truckers’ lounge, a children’s play area and a business lounge; upgrades to computer equipment, kitchen equipment and life saving equipment; improving bow and stern door hydraulics; upgrading alarm, monitoring and engine control systems; and fuel oil tank cleaning.

The results have been tallied and, after more than 11,000 votes were cast over a two-week period in January, Craig Blake is the name residents have chosen for the newest passenger ferry in the Halifax Transit fleet.

Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake was the first Canadian sailor to be killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. He was part of an elite navy group that specializes in neutralizing bombs – underwater and on land – based at the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic in Halifax.

Over 500 names were submitted in the fall of 2014, during the first phase of the ferry naming contest. This was narrowed down to six finalists by a selection committee for voting consideration by residents.
Halifax Transit will submit the vessel name, Craig Blake, to Transport Canada for approval as the name of our newest harbour ferry, set to go into service this summer. The new passenger ferry will replace one of the existing ferry vessels and will bring more continuity and efficiency to the harbour ferry service. A celebration of the new ferry going into service will take place once the new boat arrives, with more details to be released at a later date.

The new Digby Saint John Ferry arrived in Halifax last night, and tied up at pier 9.

Photos to Follow.

R

Canada2014, formerly Blue Star Ithaki, slated to become the replacement for the Princess of Acadia has arrived in Canada. She is reportedly going to be undergoing renovations at Halifax Shipyard before going into service, however she arrived off Saint John this morning.

It would be appreciated if any saint john readers could send me pictures. as of 9:24ADT she is inbound from the Pilot station. it also looks like she will be passing the Princess of Acadia who is sailing for Digby.

Update: Photo Above provided by Kyle L via Our Facebook Page.

The new Digby-Saint John ferry sailed November 18 after departing Greece. The Blue Star Ithaki has been renamed Canada 2014 and is reportedly headed  To Halifax where modifications of the vessel will be taking place before entering service. At the time of writing, Canada 2014 is off Gibraltar and heading for the Atlantic. 

The greek ferry Blue Star Ithaki, will be the replacement for the Princess of Acadia. The federal Government previously announced that the Ferry would be replaced, and Greek media are reporting that the ferry has been sold and will be sailing for Canada, having completed her last Greek trip October 26th.

Built in Korea, she was delivered in 2002. She can carry 1500 passengers, and has few cabins due to the short runs in Greece. Shipfax reports she is due for 4 months of work (and presumably interior renovations) at Pier 9, before going into service.

She Evidently can Take heavy Weather:

The Princess of Acadia is currently at the shipyard in Mechins PQ for Bow Thruster repairs.

UpDate:
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada has entered into an agreement for the purchase of a ferry vessel to replace the MV Princess of Acadia, which serves the Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby, Nova Scotia ferry route.
A purchase agreement was signed on October 10, 2014 to acquire the MV Blue Star Ithaki from a private ferry operator located in Greece at a cost of approximately $31 million EURO ($44.6 million CAN).
On November 27, 2013, the Government of Canada issued a Public Notice for the planned purchase of an existing ferry on buyandsell.gc.ca. Following an extensive evaluation process, which involved identifying and assessing the suitability of candidate vessels from all over the world, including Canada, the MV Blue Star Ithaki was selected as representing the best value for Canadians and having the capacity to meet the operational requirements of the Saint John-Digby ferry service. The vessel’s introduction into service is expected in 2015.
Upon arrival of the vessel in Canada, modifications will need to be made for the vessel to meet Canadian safety regulations and compatibility with existing shore-based infrastructure and operation in the Bay of Fundy.

Quick Facts

• The MV Blue Star Ithaki is a Greek-flagged Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) passenger ferry vessel built in 2000 by Daewoo Industries. It is in excellent condition with at least 20 years of useful life remaining. A RO-RO vessel is designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers, and railroad cars that are driven on and off the vessel on their own wheels.
• The MV Blue Star Ithaki is 124 metres in length and 19 metres in breadth, with a cruising speed of 20 knots. It has modern onboard amenities and segregated car and vehicle decks.
• The Saint John-Digby ferry service is operated year-round by Bay Ferries Ltd. (BFL), using the Transport Canada-owned MV Princess of Acadia. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $38 million to support this service.