Additional Delays for Ala’suinu’s Entry into Service

St. John’s, NL – International experts continue to work around the clock to clean debris from the fuel and lubrication system of Marine Atlantic’s new vessel, the Ala’suinu, but the problem has not yet been resolved. As a result, there will be additional delays to the start of the Argentia service. 

Marine Atlantic and vessel owner Stena are working in close collaboration and resolving the issue as quickly as possible. While it is hoped that a resolution will be found soon and that port trials will begin shortly thereafter, some uncertainty remains. To facilitate this ongoing work, Argentia crossings up to July 10 will be cancelled and re-routed through Port aux Basques. Additional updates will be required if more impacts are required. 

The primary issue impacting the vessel’s fuel and lubrication system is debris in the lines. As technicians clear a section of line, they discover more debris which impacts the anticipated schedule of completion. This has been an ongoing challenge over the past three weeks. 

To increase available capacity on the Port aux Basques service during this period, and to transport impacted Argentia customers, Marine Atlantic is adjusting its schedule to add additional crossings using the Blue Puttees, Highlanders, and Leif Ericson. Customers whose travel dates have been impacted by these delays will be contacted directly by Marine Atlantic. 

Quotes 

“We apologize to customers, stakeholders, businesses, and all those impacted by the delay of the Ala’suinu’s entry into service. However, the safety of our passengers and crew is paramount, and the vessel will not be leaving port until we can be assured of a smooth sailing. We appreciate the support and co-operation of vessel owner Stena, and all relevant manufacturers, who are committed to resolving this issue as soon as possible. As we deal with this unfortunate situation, we will continue our efforts to transport the maximum amount of traffic on and off the Island of Newfoundland. We recognize the frustration of our customers and appreciate their ongoing patience during this difficult and challenging period.” 

Murray Hupman 
President and CEO 

Any customer who would like to discuss alternate travel arrangements is encouraged to visit www.marineatlantic.ca or contact the Reservations Team at 1-800-341-7981.