The SS Fife

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, we highlight the SS Fife, a Newfoundland coastal vessel that served in 1900.

Named after a location in Scotland, similar to other vessels comprising the ‘alphabet fleet’, the SS Fife was responsible for serving communities in western Newfoundland, the Strait of Belle Isle and southern Labrador. At 155 feet in length and weighing 439 tonnes, the vessel had the ability to ship significant volumes of freight during each sailing. After only a few short months in service, the vessel was shipwrecked and lost on Twin Island off the coast of the Newfoundland’s northern peninsula.