The Theodore O’Hara took its maiden voyage between Port Bickerton and Issacs Harbour on Saturday.
The ferry service is an important transportation link for the entire eastern shore, said Greg Morrow, MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, who attended the launch.
“It’s 84 kilometres between Sherbrooke and the surrounding areas… Guysborough, Antigonish and Canso,” said Morrow. “It’s not long over the water but it certainly saves a lot of time for people who work and travel in that area.”
It’s also an important part of ensuring timely emergency response services, he said.
The ferry was named by now grade-three student, Alivia Mansfield, after Port Bickerton’s first lighthouse keeper. O’Hara kept the lighthouse from 1901 to 1931.
Provincial officials and O’Hara’s descendants were on site to celebrate the launch of the Ferry, which replaces the Stormont II, a 41-year-old, 12-car cable ferry.
The ferry project also gives the local economy a nice boost, Morrow said.
“We’re talking about $6 million project that’s shared between the province and the feds,” Morrow said. “Anytime you’re talking about that kind of investment into a rural economy, it’s a big deal.”
The cable ferry boasts a 15-car capacity and has an estimated lifespan of 35-40 years. It will also have lower operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
