Ferry Design

With every ferry operating within Nova Scotia designed by E.Y.E. Marine Consultants, the firm has unparalleled experience with a variety of ferries. The environmental conditions of Nova Scotia are extremely demanding, the famous tides of the Bay of Fundy also bring some of the strongest ocean currents. The ferries operating at Digby Neck routinely operate in heavy seas and 7 knot adverse currents 24 hours a day every day of the year.

The Halifax Harbour ferries while operating in the benign conditions of Halifax harbour must be highly manoeuvrable to avoid the congestion of a busy harbour and the regimens of a 15 minute turnaround schedule.

The river cable ferries operate across currents and in the winter months must operate in ice infested waters.

All of E.Y.E.'s ferries must operate reliably and efficiently as well as be able to maintain the schedules that islanders depend on.

Cable Ferries

The ferries operating at Whycocomagh: "Calos Silas", the Englishtown Ferry "Angus MacAskill" and the Lahave River Ferry are all cable ferries. The ferries were designed and put into operation from 1970 to 1990 and all operate on a daily basis. The newest cable ferry design for Gondola Point, new Brunswick is under construction and will be delivered in the Spring of 2004. The Gondola Point ferry system carries one million cars/year. The new ferry is the largest cable ferry that E.Y.E. has designed carrying 27 cars and has a capacity for two transport trucks. The overhead bridge gives excellent visibility regardless of the deck load and is important during the summer months when the Saint John river is a popular recreational boating area.

Barge Hulled Self-Propelled Ferries

The self-propelled ferries were designed to transit the extremely high currents and rough conditions which are to be found in the Bay of Fundy. These double ended ferries are fitted with twin azimuthing propeller drives at each end mounted on one side.

Under extreme conditions the drive units are directed so that the vessel can "crab" across the current. The manoeuvrability of these ferries is excellent. They effectively go where the drive units are pointed and the independent control of each unit allows the ferry to dock in extreme conditions. The drive units are completely isolated from each other allowing a high level of redundancy in the event of a failure.

The first of these ferries was the "Spray" after a successful trial of the system on a barge affectionately known as the "yellow submarine". The "Spray" was followed up by the "Joshua Slocum" and then put into a standby service with the introduction of the "Joe Casey". A new ferry presently under construction at Halifax Shipyard will replace the 30 year old "Joshua Slocum" in late 2003. The "Scotian", another Nova Scotia ferry, has a unique role. She is fitted with both drive units and a cable drive system allowing her to fill in for any of the ferries in the province that are removed for servicing.

The "Deer Island Princess II" is a 24-car ferry that operates from the mainland to Deer Island in New Brunswick. The passage that this ferry needs to make, demands the most manoeuvrable ferry available. Strong currents, fog and the narrow channels represent one of the most difficult crossings by any ferry. Another E.Y.E. Design, the "John Rigby" designed in 1973 also services that crossing.

The vessel "Aazhaawe" built in year 2000 for the Chippewas of Georgina Island had to be built in a modular method in order for it to transit the Trent- Severn waterway prior to being fully assembled for service out to Georgina Island.

Ship Type Ferries

Tancook Ferry is an 82' conventional hull ferry which operates in Mahone Bay to Tancook Island. While this ferry can carry cars its primary purpose is passenger and cargo to Tancook Island.

Dartmouth Ferry link

PEI Ferry Link

All ferries designed at E.Y.E. feature damage sustainability, low maintenance cost effective hull structures, excellent manoeuvrability and are designed to suit the practices of the operator and their specific requirements. All of the ferries designed by E.Y.E. since forming the company in 1967 are still in operation and continue to provide reliable service.