MV Bonavista

Marine Atlantic, its predecessor CN Marine, and pre-confederation Newfoundland coastal boats have a strong and proud history serving the people of

Atlantic Canada through ferry terminals, passenger vessels and rail service. In this week’s blog posting we highlight the MV Bonavista, a Newfoundland and Labrador coastal boat that served from 1956-1986.

Named after the northeastern coastal community on the tip of the Bonavista peninsula, the MV Bonavista was the sister ship to the MV Nonia serving coastal communities throughout the province. Measuring 215 feet in length, 33 feet in width and gross tonnage of 1174, the vessel could travel at speeds of up to 12 knots. With approximately 30,000 cubic feet of cargo capacity, it remained an important part of the coastal service for three decades.