Ice forces ferry to abandon Strait crossing

The ferry serving the Strait of Belle Isle tried to resume service Sunday, although heavy ice conditions forced it to turn around.

The MV Apollo left St. Barbe, on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula, on Sunday but was forced to turn around because of ice near the Quebec side of the crossing.

Labrador Marine said in a statement posted to its website that the ship was "unable to get through [an] ice pressure ridge en route to Blanc Sablon."

The company had been hoping the Apollo could work on a load-and-go basis to help clear a backlog of passengers who have been stranded over the long weekend.

The ferry had earlier been tied up at St. Barbe, on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula, while traffic had also been backing up at the terminal in Blanc Sablon. That connection is used by many residents of communities in nearby southern Labrador.

Some passengers said they had been unable to cross since Thursday.