After a turbulent year in 2024, the company that operates ferry routes between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia has a new owner.
The ownership group behind Northumberland Ferries Ltd., as well as the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia service from Bay Ferries Ltd., has sold the enterprise to CEO and president Mark Wilson. The deal does not include ownership of the vessels on the runs, which belong to Transport Canada.
Wilson, who grew up on P.E.I. but now lives in Halifax, finalized the sale last week. He has been with the companies since 2021 and took over as CEO in May.
The sale to Wilson from the previous ownership group — comprised of Danny Bartlett, Don Cormier, Gerry Stevenson and the family of the late Mark MacDonald — was completed earlier this month.
Wilson acknowledged that 2024 was a tough year for Northumberland Ferries, but he said customers can expect him and his team to stay committed to improving safety at a time when many longtime employees are looking to retire.
“We had close to 40 new hires the year before, so that’s significant,” he told CBC News. “You just need to make sure that the training system that you have in place, the safety management system in place, is robust in that we’re training those people properly.”
Wilson’s first season as CEO was a challenging one, with multiple breakdowns of both MV Saareema and MV Confederation, including the latter’s collision with a wharf that left it out of service for 10 straight weeks.
Canada’s transport minister, Anita Anand, has said she intended to order an audit of Northumberland Ferries Ltd. after the “unacceptable” numerous disruptions and delays in 2024, to ensure reliable ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.
