Société des traversiers du Québec announced the temporary withdrawal of the NM Joseph-Savard from the L’Isle-aux-Coudres–Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive route, PR Newswire Canada reported. The announcement was made on November 7, 2026, by the state-owned operator.
The state-owned operator pulled the vessel Saturday following an electrical issue discovered on another ferry, according to Le Soleil. Earlier that day, the NM Félix-Antoine-Savard encountered a problem linked to an electrical relay on the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine route. Officials stated the issue matched the technical trouble that sidelined the NM Joseph-Savard earlier in the week. The decision was announced on Saturday evening.
The NM Joseph-Savard had just returned to service at 15 h Saturday following a separate incident. Transport Canada had previously cleared the vessel after technicians completed tests following a collision with the Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive dock. The ship had been immobilized for several days due to a technical breakdown.
The earlier incident occurred Sunday when a propulsion failure prevented the ship from slowing down in time as it approached the dock. That impact damaged the vessel’s hull and forced a 24-hour service interruption that left island residents cut off from the mainland.
The repair of its hull was expected to require a few days of work. The municipality briefly declared a local state of emergency to manage transport and supplies.
Anne-Josée Cameron, community relations adviser for Société des traversiers du Québec, emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains the top priority. The operator decided to conduct mandatory checks on both vessels to rule out deeper electrical flaws.
The NM Radisson stepped in to cover the L’Isle-aux-Coudres crossing immediately after the latest withdrawal. Service continued without causing delays for regular passengers, as reported by Le Charlevoisien.
Heavy vehicle transport remains operational for previously confirmed reservations, though the relief vessel has limited capacity for transporting heavy vehicles, which had already complicated the island’s supply during the previous interruption.
Commercial carriers without prior bookings must contact the administrative office of the L’Isle-aux-Coudres ferry terminal at 1-877-787-7483, extension 5, to secure an assigned crossing time and prevent dock congestion. The STQ thanked its customers and partners for their patience, understanding, and collaboration.
