90 INTERVIEW Defining the next chapter Mark Wilson of Northumberland Ferries and Bay Ferries speaks with Rebecca Gibson about fleet investment, service growth and putting safety first Owning a ferry operator is not an opportunity that comes around often, so when Mark Wilson completed the management buyout of Northumberland Ferries and Bay Ferries in 2025, he recognised both the responsibility and the potential. After 23 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, 11 years with BC Ferries and leadership roles at Northumberland Ferries from 2021, becoming president and CEO gave him the chance to shape the future of services that have connected communities for generations. “Northumberland Ferries has a very long-standing history of providing ferry services on the east coast of Canada and into the eastern seaboard of the United States,” says Wilson. “It is a unique opportunity in terms of truly defining your own destiny, controlling it and shaping it. That doesn’t come lightly. It’s a privilege to be able to do something like that.” Today, the organisation operates under two brands, supported by four vessels, six terminals and three distinct service contracts. While that creates operational complexity, Wilson believes the scale strengthens the business by allowing teams to share experience, standardise best practice and continually improve service delivery across the network. One of the company’s biggest recent milestones has been introducing MV Northumberland on the route between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Purchased from a Norwegian ferry operator, the vessel underwent an extensive upgrade before entering service in Canada. “The ferry is quite modern,” says Wilson. “Getting it to Canada through the regulations and compliance, training our staff and entering it into service was a major accomplishment.” The investment has coincided with government efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers by cutting fares for commercial passengers, workers and tourists on one Bay Ferries route and one Northumberland Ferries service. Wilson says the impact has been immediate, with passenger numbers increasing by between 30 and 50 per cent. “We’ve added more crew and training to focus on safety and efficiency while still meeting our schedules,” he explains. MV Northumberland was purchased from a Norwegian ferry operator and renovated extensively before beginning service on the Northumberland Strait between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia Photo: Northumberland Ferries
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=