MV Holiday Island

MV Holiday Island was a Canadian roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry that served the Northumberland Strait route between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia.

MV Holiday Island was a Canadian roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry that served the Northumberland Strait route between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia. Built in 1971, the vessel operated for decades until an engine fire in July 2022 caused severe damage, leading to its scrapping in 2023.

Design and construction

MV Holiday Island was built in 1971 at Port Weller Dry Docks in Ontario. It was a double-ended roll-on/roll-off ferry designed for the Northumberland Strait service and optimized for short crossings and vehicle loading efficiency.

Service history

The ferry served the PEI–Nova Scotia route for decades under Government of Canada ownership and Northumberland Ferries Limited operation. It was part of the principal ferry link across the Northumberland Strait.

2022 fire and retirement

On 22 July 2022, an engine fire severely damaged the vessel while in service. Investigators later found that temporary repairs to a leaking fuel rail had failed, leading to ignition; the vessel was declared a constructive total loss.

Disposal and replacement

After being taken out of service, the ferry was eventually dismantled in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia, in 2023. Transport Canada later described it as having been disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner.