Marine Atlantic's new "super-ferry" was delayed for more than five hours early Wednesday on its inaugural voyage across the Cabot Strait.

The Atlantic Vision, which the federal Crown corporation bought for its size and speed to handle the service between Nova Scotia and southern Newfoundland, ran into trouble on Tuesday night while loading tractor-trailers in North Sydney.

Communications director Tara Laing said most vehicles were aboard the ship when the support legs on the bottom of one tractor-trailer jammed on the loading ramp. Lang said there was no damage, but equipment had to be brought in to release the truck before the ferry could leave Cape Breton.

"It's definitely a learning experience last night," Laing said Wednesday morning.

"We've already identified some adjustments that we're going to make to prevent this from happening again, as well as we're going to look at some other options with respect to a permanent fix."

Laing said about a half-dozen tractor-trailers were left in North Sydney. The Atlantic Vision loaded about 80 cars and 60 trucks or trailers for its first trip.

The Atlantic Vision has a maximum capacity of 531 vehicles, and can cross the Gulf of St. Lawrence at faster speeds than existing ferries.

Laing said Marine Atlantic does not expect to have the same problem unloading in Port aux Basques.