MV Grand Manan Adventure

Grand Manan Adventure arriving at Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
History
NameGrand Manan Adventure
OwnerGovernment of New Brunswick
OperatorCoastal Transport Limited
Port of registryCanada Grand Manan
RouteBlacks Harbour–North Head
OrderedMarch 2009
BuilderEastern Shipbuilding, Panama City, Florida
LaunchedJanuary 2011
Completed2011
In service11 August 2011–present
Identification
General characteristics
TypeRoll-on/roll-off ferry
Tonnage6,580 GT
Length85.5 m (280 ft 6 in) overall
Beam18.5 m (60 ft 8 in)
Draught4.52 m (14 ft 10 in) (design)
Installed power2 diesel engines; 4,474 kW (6,000 hp) total
PropulsionTwin screws
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity360 passengers; 82 cars

MV Grand Manan Adventure is a Canadian roll-on/roll-off ferry operating year-round between Blacks Harbour and North Head on Grand Manan, New Brunswick. It is owned by the Government of New Brunswick and operated by Coastal Transport Limited. The crossing of the Bay of Fundy takes approximately 90 minutes. Built in Florida in 2011, the vessel took over the year-round service from Grand Manan V, which became the seasonal ferry.

Construction

Grand Manan Adventure was constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Florida. The province awarded the US$65 million contract in March 2009 to replace the 1965-built Grand Manan and increase capacity on the route. The vessel was launched in January 2011 and delivered in July.

The ship measures 85.5 m (280 ft 6 in) in overall length, with a beam of 18.5 m (60 ft 8 in) and a design draught of 4.52 m (14 ft 10 in). It is a single-ended ferry with four vehicle lanes, powered by two EMD 12-cylinder diesel engines. Passenger facilities include a dining area, a quiet lounge and a kennel.

Service history

Grand Manan Adventure entered service on 11 August 2011. Its introduction allowed Grand Manan V to move to summer service and the older Grand Manan to be retired.

A bow thruster failure led to dry-docking in Halifax in 2011. Further engine failures between 2013 and 2015 were examined in an independent technical review carried out by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador at New Brunswick's request.

In June 2025, a mechanical failure interrupted the island's ferry service while Grand Manan V was in dry dock. Grand Manan Adventure resumed crossings on one engine, with daily round trips temporarily reduced from four to three.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Details for registered vessel GRAND MANAN ADVENTURE (O.N. 835549)". Transport Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ferries in New Brunswick". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Eastern Shipbuilding launches ferry for New Brunswick". Marine Log. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 Esposito, Susan (11 August 2011). "Grand Manan ferry makes its maiden run". The Quoddy Tides. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Grand Manan Adventure". Professional Mariner. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  6. ↑ Esposito, Susan; Griffin, Robert (12 March 2009). "Grand Manan to get 82-car ferry by 2011". The Quoddy Tides. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Grand Manan Adventure". Eastern Shipbuilding Group. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Canada's Newest Ferry, Grand Manan Adventure, is Back to Work". The Maritime Executive. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  9. ↑ MV Grand Manan Adventure: Independent Review (PDF) (Report). Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Raynor, Aidan (18 June 2025). "The Grand Manan Adventure returns to service with one engine". CHCO-TV. Retrieved 23 September 2026.