Built: 1986
Shipbuilder: Versatile Davie Shipyard in Lauzon, Quebec
Service route: North Sydney, Nova Scotia-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland
Classfication: Lloyd's II, Ice class Northern Baltic 1A super
Port of Registry: St. John's, Newfoundland
Call sign: VOCZ
Length: 179 meters
Breadth: 25 meters
Draft: 6.6 meters
Gross Tonnes: 22293 tonnes
Fuel oil capacity: 620.5 tons
Fresh Water capacity: 754.8 tons
Sister Ship(s): M.V. Joseph and Clara Smallwood (pics of ships together found here)
Facilities: Cafeteria, Seating Lounges, Video Arcade, Childrens Playroom, Bar Lounge, video Lounge, Gift Shop
Passengers: 1200
Autos: 350
Tractor trailers: 91
Crew: 114 (summer), 84 (winter)
Cabins: 49
Interesting Facts:
Many teething problems when the ferry first arrived. Major problem July 12, 1986, when the top loading ramp collapsed onto the bottom ramp. Nobody was injured, but ferry was out of service for 31 hours, and the Marine Atlantica was placed back into service. Many headlines read big bucks ferry crippled and miraculous lower ramp was vacant.
