PORT AUX BASQUES — High winds and rough seas in the Cabot Strait forced Marine Atlantic to cancel all ferry crossings Thursday.
According to an Environment Canada report issued 4 p.m. Thursday, winds between 40 and 50 knots, and seas as high as seven metres were expected to develop Thursday evening before diminishing early this morning.
As of press time Thursday, customers were advised all afternoon and evening sailings were cancelled and those impacted were contacted and re-booked for today’s scheduled crossings.
The MV Highlanders has been in North Sydney since 4:20 a.m. Thursday and weather permitting, was scheduled to sail at 11:30 a.m. today. Meanwhile, the MV Atlantic Vision was expected to depart Port aux Basques 11:30 a.m. Friday after being docked since 3:10 a.m. Thursday.
Speaking from Port aux Basques Thursday afternoon, Marine Atlantic spokesman Darrell Mercer said he’s hopeful all ferries could leave as scheduled late this morning.
The commercial ferry MV Leif Ericson was also impacted by the system and was expected to leave North Sydney at 5 p.m. today.
With fewer passengers booked than during peak season, he was hopeful once the weather improved, any backlog could be quickly cleared. While hopeful the system would die down overnight, Mercer said disruptions due to weather are common in the fall.
“This is a weather event that’s pretty normal this time of the year,” Mercer said. “We experienced hurricane Leslie back in September and as we move into October and November, we start to get those low-pressure systems driving the winds in our direction.”
For the latest updates, visit www.marineatlantic.com or phone 1-800-341-7981.
