Sea trials for the ferry which normally services the Fogo Island-Change Islands run were supposed to happen on the weekend but they didn’t—and people who depend on the boat want answers.
The Veteran has been on drydock in St. John’s for five-and-half months, causing all sorts of disrupt on the Notre Dame Bay and Bell Island runs.
Fogo and Change Islands are being served by two vessels including the Beaumont Hamel, which was pulled from Bell Island, leaving the Tickle with just the Legionnaire.
The PC MHA for Fogo Island-Cape Freels says the reduced capacity is having a significant impact on the islands with many tourists opting not to endure the longer wait times.
Jim McKenna says government is wasting money as it has no plan in place.
He says vessels from the offshore and the Coast Guard go in for refit and are back in service in a week to ten days because the parts they need for the refit have already been ordered and are waiting to be installed when the boats arrive at the dock.
Government says it will provide an update today.