MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood’s final scheduled sailing planned for this week

Marine Atlantic (MAI) announced today that the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood , a vessel that has connected the people and provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia since 1990, will make its final scheduled trip this week. The vessel is currently scheduled to leave North Sydney for the final time on Wednesday, March 9 at 2230 hours, with the last scheduled sailing from Port aux Basques to depart at Thursday, March 10 at 1130 hours.

The MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood was christened in honour of Joseph R. Smallwood (a former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and a Father of Confederation) and his wife Clara. Fabrication work on the ferry began in 1987, with the vessel beginning service with MAI in 1990. While servicing the Port aux Basques-North Sydney route year-round, the vessel also serviced the Argentia-North Sydney route during the summer months.

"The MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood has provided tremendous service to Marine Atlantic, our passengers and crew over the past 21 years," said Wayne Follett, President and CEO of MAI. "While it is always difficult to retire such hard-working and historical vessels from our fleet, the time has come to introduce newer vessels with greater capacity, newer technologies and modern amenities to more effectively service our passengers. The vessel will be retired from our fleet, but will always hold a special place with those who experienced her over the past two decades."

After the final scheduled sailing on Thursday of this week, the vessel will begin a decommissioning process. Both the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood will be sold over the coming months. The retirement of the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood is the latest step in MAI's renewal process as the Corporation moves towards its goal of becoming a modern and efficient corporation that offers a reliable service to its customers. Two newer vessels with updated technologies and improved amenities, the MV Blue Puttees and the MV Highlanders , are being introduced to replace the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood .

Any media planning to cover the final sailing of the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood are asked to contact MAI to discuss potential media opportunities related to the vessel.

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Media Contact:

Tara Laing, Communications Manager

Tel: 709-772-8974