The path will be cleared this weekend for the much-anticipated arrival of a new permanent vessel for the ferry run between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. 

The Canadian Coast Guard sent a notice that it will be conducting ice-breaking operations Sunday in the Pictou, N.S., area in anticipation of the arrival of MV Northumberland, formerly MV Fanafjord. 

A marine-vessel tracking website showed Northumberland's position to be just off the north coast of Cape Breton island as of Saturday after…