COVID-19 Response Measures

We’ve reduced the number of persons permitted onboard to provide adequate measures to enforce safe social distancing (2m or 6 feet apart). This will ensure those passengers occupying the vessel can do so in a manner which ensures public and employee safety. We have reduced our overall capacity of both vessels (MV Confederation – Maximum 100 persons and MV Holiday Island- Maximum 100 persons) to ensure safe physical distancing.

We ask that in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained (i.e. public washrooms) passengers wear a face covering.

Additional hand hygiene has been in effect onboard the vessel during the pandemic. We ask that passengers participate in this measure by proper hand washing and the use of hand sanitizing stations. These stations can be found at entry points to the passenger decks. We encourage all customers to perform hand hygiene before entering common spaces of the vessel and as required during the crossing.

During check-in, additional passenger screening will take place to assess the health and travel history of those joining our vessel. This will be facilitated by our check-in staff and will include mandatory screening questions before permission to board the vessel. Please allow additional time for check-in procedures to be facilitated.

If the response indicated (or non-response) to any of the four questions below is conflicting with Transport Canada’s requested screening, then denial of boarding will be communicated.

1. Do you have a fever and a cough? (Yes)
2. Do you have a fever and breathing difficulty? (Yes)
3. Have you been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to medical reasons related to COVID-19? (Yes)
4. Are you the subject of a provincial/territorial or local public health order? (Yes)

The following two announcements will be broadcasted during your crossing. For your reference the below are provided in advance:

Pre-boarding Announcement:

In order to manage the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Canada, along with the provinces and territories have put in place recommended practices.

Prior to boarding this vessel you may be requested to undergo a health check. This will involve answering a few simple questions to which you must answer truthfully.

When arriving at your destination, you may be subject to further measures taken by the municipal, provincial, or territorial government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As a reminder, no person should board a vessel when they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Should symptoms such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing develop while on-board, please notify the vessel crew immediately.

Onboard Announcement:

In light of the global pandemic related to COVID-19, the Government of Canada, in cooperation with provincial/territorial public health authorities, has put in place important measures to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

Please be advised that many provinces and territories are asking travelers, with some exceptions for essential services, to self-isolate and monitor themselves for symptoms to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.

Travelers are reminded to stay informed about COVID-19 measures that apply in the region where they are heading and obtain updates from their national, provincial, and territorial health authorities.

Our intent is to safely provide adequate room to ensure physical distancing. This includes changes to designated passenger zones onboard the vessel, as well as within the ferry terminal grounds. These zones will be clearly identified and include adequate spacing for passenger seating while affecting safe physical distancing. We ask that you remain in these designated areas.

In order to mitigate the risks of transmission to our passengers and in turn, our employees, we’ve proceeded with temporarily removing all food services offered onboard. We suggest you eat before you arrive at the terminal. Complimentary water, coffee and tea will be available onboard.

Our staff have been diligent in adhering to public health guidelines. We have increased the frequency of these cleaning and disinfecting practices in the efforts to control the spread of the novel COVID-19.

Various additional measures have been implemented to create the safest possible work environment for our crews, whose work through this challenging and difficult period is very much appreciated.

Walk-on passengers are asked to transfer their own personal belongings. Further, walk-on passengers will no longer be permitted to travel with pets.

Although regulatory safety measures traditionally call for passengers onboard to vacate their vehicles, Transport Canada has allowed some flexibility, as a short term measure, to allow passengers to remain in their vehicles onboard the ship. If you chose to remain in your vehicle, you will not be able to turn on the vehicle’s engine or have access to washroom facilities for the approximate 75 minutes (embarkation, sailing and disembarkation time). If you request to leave your vehicle during the crossing, you will not be permitted to return to your vehicle.

We request that those passengers wishing to remain inside their vehicle advise the booking agents during the reservation process. This will allow for arrival planning and segregation on the vehicle deck.