GRACE SPARKS

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Ferry released by St. Brendan's residents

Residents of St. Brendan's, in the Bonavista Bay, have ended their protest and released the "Grace Sparkes" on Feb 21. The vessel went on its way to Conception Bay, where it will fill in on the Bell Island service run. Residents of the community were preventing the ship from leaving since Feb 19 at 7 a.m. in protest of the temporary replacement. The residents decided last night to let the Ferry leave though they're still unhappy about having an older ferry assigned to their route for the next 10 weeks. The town will continue to receive ferry services with the "Sound of Islay", an older vessel in the provincial fleet. Report with photo: http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/News/2013-02-21/article-3181697/Protest-ends/1

People in St. Brendan's blocking ferry

The Canadian Government has asked the RCMP to intervene in an act of civil disobedience which was affecting the province's ability to move around the vessels in the provincial fleet. People in St.Brendan's were preventing the "Grace Sparks" from leaving the area for Bell Island, and say they have no plans to release it except in an emergency. The Transportation Minister Paul Davis said RCMP were called on Feb 20, 2013, and he hoped they will be on site as soon as possible. The residents of St. Brendan's are continuing their protest. The provincial government wants to send the "Grace Sparks" to Bell Island to assist the "Flanders" while the "Beaumont Hamel" goes out on refit. The residents of St. Brendan's were upset because the vessel was purpose built for their run and they didn't expect it to be used as a swing vessel. The provincial government has had to juggle around the province's remaining ferries since the "Nonia" is in drydock and is being decommissioned and sold. The people of St. Brendan's were being offered the "Sound of Islay" in the interim, but they believe the older, smaller ferry should be sent to Bell Island instead, because that run already has another ferry.

GRACE SPARKS

On May 6, 2011, the "Grace Sparkes" replaced the ferry "Hamilton Sound" after it broke down and suffered delays several times in the past and had to be taken out of service. The "Grace Sparkes" was launched in March with a sister ship, the "Hazel McIsaac" as the first vessels to be completed under a plan to refurbish the provincial ferry system. Residents hope the reliability of the new vessel will boost tourism. The connection of St. Brendan with Burnside on the Eastport Peninsula draws thousands of visitors each summer for its beaches and proximity to Terra Nova National Park. After the "Grace Sparkes replaced" the "Hamilton Sound", the 45-year old ship was decommissioned.