The lack of the seasonal ferry service between Deer Island and Campobello so far this year is having a significant impact on the number of visitors to Campobello and also on its residents, as the ferry had eliminated the need to cross the border to reach the Canadian island, which is only accessible by land from the U.S. While East Coast Ferries of Deer Island, which operates the ferry service, has been delayed in constructing a new barge for the ferry, the private company hopes to start up the run within a couple of weeks.
    Frances Langerfeld of the Campobello Whale Watch Motel reports that, as of July 24, she has had over 40 cancellations from people once they realized the ferry is not running. In addition, regular customers who know the ferry isn't operating, including those who like to play at the Herring Cove Golf Course, haven't called to book rooms this year. She notes that she notified all of her customers with reservations that the ferry has not been running.
     A wedding that was to be held on the island was moved to St. Andrews, a bike race was cancelled, and a group of 11 bicyclists who were on Grand Manan and planned to also tour Campobello and Deer Island dropped the Campobello portion of their tour when they found out that the ferry wasn't in service, according to Langerfeld. A French film crew with 15 people that was planning to come to Campobello for 11 days decided not to, as Langerfeld notes that all of the serial numbers on their cameras and other details would have to be listed at the border.
     Langerfeld says that people coming to Campobello from Canada "hate to have to drive" around through St. Stephen, passing through the border four times. Along with the current road construction in Whiting, she says, "It's just a lot of trouble." Also, some Canadians who plan to come to the island don't have passports. The seasonal ferry allows for travel back and forth from Campobello to Deer Island and then, via a second ferry, to the Canadian mainland at Letete, avoiding the border crossings.
     "People are frightened of the border," she says, noting that with the new tariffs this year "people are scared off." Customs officers are now searching through bags of groceries and asking more questions, and anyone going through the border has to closely check the origins of any products they're bringing through and then fill out forms in the customs office. The bringing of commercial products through the border "is worse," she says, as those shipping the goods must post a customs bond. "It all is much more complicated than it was."
     She adds that the vessel was "quaint and cute, and people just loved the ferry." The whole experience of the excitement of getting on for the boat ride is one that people enjoyed and do not find anywhere else.

Construction delays
     Leanne Silvaggio of East Coast Ferries, which has operated the seasonal run from mid-June to the end of September for many years, says the ferry should be on the run by mid-August or sooner. The new barge is mostly finished and will need to be inspected once it's launched. "We're really sorry it's not up and running. We know it's hurting businesses around and it's hurting us, too. We hope to be running as soon as we can." She adds, "It's not by choice we're not running." The company had to build a new barge after one of its barges sunk last December at the Lord's Cove wharf where it was tied up for the winter. East Coast Ferries had hoped to have the new barge ready by July 1, but the weather has delayed construction, with Silvaggio noting that they were unable to weld during the rain and snow during March and April.
     The company's other ferry had been used for the Deer Island to Eastport run, but that run has not operated since 2014, when East Coast Ferries accepted a contract with the provincial government to provide service on the Kennebecasis Island run on the Saint John River. That contract was to have ended this past year, as the government is having a new ferry built that will eliminate the annual rental cost of $750,000 to East Coast Ferries. Construction of that ferry, though, also is behind schedule, with Silvaggio understanding that it may be launched in September. The government ended up leasing East Coast Ferries' vessel for this year, too, but Silvaggio notes, "This will be our final year" on that run.
     As for the Deer Island-to-Eastport run, Silvaggio says they are still hoping to start again. "We have to see how CBSA [Canada Border Services Agency] feels about us coming back," she says, as the federal government had indicated, when it closed the port of entry at Deer Island Point in 2017, that the ferry operator might have to cover the cost of manning the seasonal CBSA office on Deer Island.

Other businesses affected
     The Langerfelds' motel is not alone in feeling the effects of the loss of ferry service. Campobello Mayor Stephen Smart says that every business that he knows of -- restaurants, motels, Herring Cove Provincial Park and Roosevelt Campobello International Park -- are all experiencing a drop in the number of visitors. The provincial park usually has about 40% of its visitors coming from Canada; this year it may be around 10%. Smart says the cancelling of reservations by Canadians is causing "a serious downturn" in the number of campers. He says the Roosevelt park's numbers were down 5% in May and 8% in June, compared to last year.
     The loss of the ferry service also is affecting American businesses in Lubec, as some visitors would also go through that town but have now cancelled their plans. Smart notes that some Canadians also have cancelled their plans because of concerns about crossing the border, with Border Patrol agents arresting people in Calais and the atmosphere created by the current U.S. president.
     As for the impact on Campobello residents, Smart says at least three islanders are waiting to have wells drilled, as Canadian companies, including ones that repair equipment, are not coming to the island. Also some construction projects have been slowed down because of the lack of ferry service. "It's definitely having an impact," says Smart.
     While garden plants can be brought through the U.S. if one has a phytosanitary certificate, Smart says there is some impact on residents who garden. Two or three private boats have been making runs to the Canadian mainland on as-needed basis, with at least one doing so because the bringing of plants to the island has been an issue.
     The lack of a ferry also may impact the island's Fogfest celebration, which Smart says has been "incredibly successful" and which is scheduled for August 1 through 5 this year. Fishing boats are being lined up to bring over some performers from Canada who are "willing to risk their guitar or drum set aboard a lobster boat."
     "People are frustrated," Smart says, but they do understand that the seasonal ferry was provided by a private company that is doing all it can to get a ferry on the run. "The lack of knowing is stressing some people out," says Smart.
     "Hopefully there will be unity in the community to apply pressure on the government" not only to get the ferry on the run but afterwards so that it will continue.

Limited impact on Deer Island
     The impact of the loss of ferry services appears to be much more limited on Deer Island, as that island is mostly used by Canadians who want to travel to Campobello without having to drive through the U.S. and thus avoid the hassle of the two border crossings. Joyce Stuart, chair of the West Isles Local Service District, says that travellers just "rush from one ferry to the other," going from where the Letete ferry lands on Deer Island to the other end of the island to get aboard the Campobello ferry. "There's no impact here, but I'm sure it has an impact on Campobello," she says, adding, "I feel sorry for the people on Campobello. It's a heck of a way for a Canadian to have to live."
     Even though there is a sign at the Letete ferry landing that the Deer Island-to-Campobello ferry is not currently running, Stuart says some drivers still come over the island and drive down to Deer Island Point, finding out then there isn't a ferry to Campobello.

Year-round service eyed
     As for a year-round ferry for Campobello, which is being looked into by an ad-hoc committee on the island, Smart says some islanders want one and others don't. Supporters point to the need to bring maintenance and repair people to the island and also to transport some materials, such as asbestos, that can't be brought through the U.S.
     Smart says the lack of ferry service "has focused people to realize we do have challenges, a transportation issue," and that while having a bridge to the U.S. is good, any travel requires going through another country. Smart has spoken about the ferry issue with MLA John Ames, who says he is awaiting the feasibility study being conducted by Vaughn McIntyre Consulting of St. Andrews on establishing a year-round ferry.
     Langerfeld supposes that the temporary loss of the seasonal ferry service may provide more impetus for the push for a year-round ferry, although she doubts that one would run all winter. She does believe that a run once a week during the winter would be good, and she would like to see the province either subsidize the private ferry service or provide its own ferry for the island.
     The mayor notes that some islanders are feeling some resentment that one of East Coast Ferries' vessels is being used on the run to Kennebecasis Island, where people can also use a bridge. Smart says the run between Campobello and Deer Island may be more a "matter of necessity" than "a matter of convenience." He adds, "I believe the province is paying attention to the issue now."