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The Société des ferry du Québec (STQ) indicates that service reductions in recent years are caused by the lack of qualified maritime personnel. (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Benoît Jobin
Posted at 3:04 p.m. EST
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The lack of maritime labor has caused repeated service reductions at the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossing for two years. The Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) believes that the lack of training institutes for maritime personnel across the province is part of the problem.
The STQ announced another reduction in services for the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry earlier this week.
Only one ship will operate morning and evening from November 5 to December 3, which means that departures will be every 40 minutes rather than every 20 minutes.
The STQ has reduced schedules at this crossing several times over the past two years.
Service reductions at the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossing due to staff shortages over the last two years:
- April 28 to May 17, 2023
- May 27 to June 14, 2023
- September 6 to October 5, 2023
- October 26 to November 23, 2023
- January 19, 2024
- November 5 to December 3, 2024
The Company indicates that the issue is still the same, namely the lack of qualified maritime personnel.
The only French-speaking training establishment that offers programs for navigation officers and engineering officers in North America is the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ), located in Rimouski.
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The marine mechanical engineering and navigation techniques program are college courses lasting 4 years. (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Jean-Luc Blanchet
L’IMQ affirms that the placement rate for DEC graduates in Navigation and Marine Mechanical Engineering Techniques is almost 100%, a sign of the strong demand for these trades.
Number of students who graduated from two programs at the Institut maritime du Québec over the last five years
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation | 20 | 37 | 33 | 31 | 28 |
| Engineering Techniques | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 17 |
The STQ ensures that it is currently continuing its recruitment for certified sailors. The Company has not confirmed the number of sailors needed to fill its workforce.
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