A Liberal MP is raising questions about Marine Atlantic's two newly chartered ferries, which are slated to begin operating next summer between southern Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Marine Atlantic released this concept design for two ferries that it expects to have operating by summer 2011. (Courtesy Marine Atlantic)

The federal Crown corporation announced Friday that it is chartering and refitting two Swedish vessels, the Stena Trader and the Stena Traveller, to replace the Joseph and Clara Smallwood and the Caribou as they're retired from service.

The new ships will carry 1,000 passengers each across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, roughly the same passenger capacity as the old vessels, which Marine Atlantic will sell. But the Stena ferries are about 20 metres longer and can hold 50 per cent more cars and trucks, company president Wayne Follett said.

That extra size — the new boats will be almost as long as Marine Atlantic's MV Atlantic Vision — has prompted Liberal Gerry Byrne to wonder whether the new boats are a good fit for Port aux Basques, the company's main terminal in Newfoundland.

"The Atlantic Vision is just not suited for the Gulf run. It cannot dock in Port aux Basques at certain wind speeds and certain wind directions," said Byrne, the MP for Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte.

"When you have two new vessels that are larger than the Caribou or the Smallwood, basically the same size as the Atlantic Vision, those problems don't go away — they actually become magnified."

Byrne said he's sure the new ferries will mean a comfortable ride, and the additional capacity is good news.

But he said there are also safety issues with docking other boats when the Vision is port, because of its size.

Marine Atlantic spokesperson Tara Laing said two vessels are never scheduled to be in port at the same time.

"We have in the past operated whereby we've been delayed or something and we've brought two vessels in. As we move forward and we get more used to our new vessels, then we'll make those decisions."

Laing couldn't say whether there are plans to make modifications in Port aux Basques to ensure both new vessels can dock at the same time if necessary, but she did say the extra capacity, and more reliable ships, should make for smoother sailing on the Gulf.