SERVICE

MV Bluenose was a Canadian passenger and motor vehicle ferry operated by Canadian National Railways and later CN Marine from 1955 to 1982. She sailed between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The vessel was named after the famed Grand Banks fishing and racing schooner Bluenose.

Construction

In 1949, the Canadian Maritime Commission began to explore the possibility of investing in the construction of a ferry to connect the port of Yarmouth with a port in Maine. This followed a multi-year lobbying campaign of the federal government conducted by citizens and local political leaders in southwestern Nova Scotia advocating a ferry service to replace steamship connections that were not resumed following the conclusion of the Second World War.^[1] The vessel was built by Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec, Canada.^[2] Building commenced with the laying of the keel in July 1954. MV Bluenose was launched on 25 May 1955.^[3] The ship was christened by its patron Jeanne St. Laurent, wife of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, whose government commissioned her construction. Mrs. St. Laurent reportedly christened the ship by saying "I name this ship Bluenose and may God protect all who sail in her."^[

Statistics and Livery

Bluenose measured 346 ft (105 m) in length, had a beam of 65 ft (20 m) and draught of 17 ft (5.2 m). She displaced 6,419 GT. She had the capacity to carry up to 615 passengers. The crew numbered about 96. She could also carry up to 150 automobiles and 18 trucks. Bluenose was propelled by 6 Fairbanks-Morse 38 8-1/8 diesel engines which delivered 12,000 bhp (8,900 kW) to two propellers. Her service speed was about 18.5 kn (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph).^[5] Automobiles and trucks were onloaded and offloaded through four large hatches, two on either side of the ship. On the promenade deck, Bluenose had an observation lounge forward and a cafeteria aft. Single berth cabins could accommodate up to 30 passengers.^[6]

Bluenose had a blue hull and white superstructure. Her funnel was emblazoned with several different designs, initially with red, white and blue stripes, at one point red with a white CN (Canadian National Railway) logo, at other points blue with a white CN logo