MV Caribou's Journey to Newfoundland

The MV Caribou's journey to Newfoundland was a historic one. It was a passenger and cargo ship that traveled from Montreal to Newfoundland, a journey that was crucial for the province's economy.

The ship's route took it through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a treacherous body of water known for its strong currents and icebergs. The Caribou was designed to navigate these waters, but it still faced significant challenges.

The Caribou's crew and passengers were a hardy bunch, accustomed to the rigors of life at sea. They faced many dangers on their journey, including storms and equipment failures.

The MV Caribou was a remarkable vessel that served the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia since 1986.

She was built by MIL-Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec, and was specifically designed to traverse the 178 km route across the Cabot Strait between North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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The MV Caribou was a Gulfspan class icebreaking ropax ferry, measuring 172.76 meters in length and 24.99 meters in beam. She had a draught of 12.19 meters and was equipped with shore-based bi-level ramps.

Here are some key specifications of the MV Caribou:

The MV Caribou had a capacity of 1,200 passengers and 370 automobiles or 77 tractor trailers, and was crewed by up to 106 members during the summer months.

The MV Caribou made her final run from Port aux Basques to North Sydney on November 26, 2010, marking the end of an era for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

The Caribou had been the flagship of Marine Atlantic's fleet for many years, serving the route between North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador since 1986.

She was specifically designed to traverse the 178 km (96 nmi) route across the Cabot Strait, with a unique "Gulfspan" hull that slices through sea ice rather than riding up onto and crushing it.

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The Caribou's capacity included 1,200 passengers and 370 automobiles or 77 tractor trailers, and she had up to 106 crew members.

She was known to break the 5 hour mark in optimum conditions, but frequently came closer to 6 hours as dictated by established schedules.

Here's a brief summary of the Caribou's key stats:

The Caribou's retirement marked another milestone in Marine Atlantic's transition to a modern and efficient fleet with the arrival of the MV Blue Puttees and the MV Highlanders.

The MV Caribou was a ferry that made the passage to Newfoundland, a journey that many people took to visit the island. The ferry route started from North Sidney.

The ferry had a lot of lifeboats, which is a good thing in case of an emergency. The ship also had a large wheel used to steer it, about the size of a dinner plate.

If you ever take the ferry from North Sidney to Port aux Basque, you'll see the MV Caribou in all its glory. The ship was quite the sight to behold, with its multiple stacks from the engine room.

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One of the most interesting things about the ferry was the long lines of people waiting to board. It was a bustling scene, to say the least.

The MV Caribou had a lot of character, and it's a shame it's no longer in operation. The ship had a lot of life to it, as you can see from the photos.

Here's a list of some of the notable features of the MV Caribou:

The ferry route from North Sidney to Port aux Basque was a popular one, and the MV Caribou was a trusted vessel.

The MV Caribou had a forced early retirement story that's quite remarkable. Both the MV Caribou and MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood entered service in 1986 and 1989 respectively. They sailed the route between North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Both ferries were reliable and safe, even in harsh ocean conditions. In the summer, the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood would work between North Sydney and Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador.

They were retired less than a year apart between 2010 and 2011. In August of 2011, they were sold and sent off to the scrapyard in Alang, India.

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The sale of the MV Caribou has left Marine Atlantic's fleet with a significant change. The Caribou and Smallwood ferries were sold through a London-based company specializing in ship sales, ICAP Shipping Ltd.

Marine Atlantic has revamped its fleet in recent years, introducing new ships like the MV Atlantic Vision. This 203-metre ship can carry up to 531 vehicles and mostly operates on the Argentia-to-North Sydney run.

The sale of the MV Caribou leaves the MV Leif Ericson as the oldest vessel in Marine Atlantic's fleet. The Leif Ericson was built in 1991 and underwent a significant refit this past winter.

The Caribou and Smallwood ferries are both docked in North Sydney, awaiting crew placement prior to departing.

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