Marine Atlantic says it can fill any gap in critical supply lines to the island of Newfoundland if pandemic-related financial losses force Oceanex Inc. to tie up its ships and stop carrying freight to St. John’s.
Marine Atlantic says it can fill any gap in critical supply lines to the island of Newfoundland if pandemic-related financial losses force Oceanex Inc. to tie up its ships and stop carrying freight to St. John’s.
The federal agency has a four-vessel fleet; only two are in operation currently and those are working at half capacity.
“Should demand increase and additional capacity be required, Marine Atlantic has the ability to add additional crossings to the schedule with the two vessels currently in standby mode,” said Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer.
While the federal agency is offering reassurances, so is the province’s federal cabinet minister.
“We’re looking at all options just to make sure the supply chain stays in place,” Natural Resources Minister and St. John’s MP Seamus O’Regan told the St. John’s Morning Show Tuesday. “It’s way too important so we’ll make sure it gets done.”
Oceanex Inc., which runs weekly trips from Montreal and Halifax to St. John’s, says it is losing millions a week due to a drop in freight volume caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s asking the federal government to offset its losses so it can keep running supplies to St. John’s.
“We just can’t continue,” said S