Marine Atlantic Celebrates 120 Years of the Gulf Service

On June 30, 1898, the SS Bruce departed Port aux Basques just before midnight and arrived in North Sydney the next morning on July 1, the first passenger ferry crossing between Port aux Basques and North Sydney.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of that historical crossing.

While many thousands of crossings have taken place between the two ports over the past 120 years, serving the needs of customers has always been our priority. Transporting people and essential goods, we provide a vital service that has long played an important role in the Atlantic Canadian economy.

From past vessels such as the SS Bruce, SS Caribou, SS William Carson, and MV Caribou, to today’s modern vessels such as the MV Blue Puttees and MV Highlanders, thousands of dedicated employees have carried on the rich tradition of connecting the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with those in the rest of Canada. We’ve been here for 120 years providing this integral ferry service.

Our commitment to all those who depend on us is to continue to meet the changing needs of our service and expectations of our customers and keep our long-standing tradition alive.