Amherst Island Ferry Update October 25
As part of Loyalist Township’s ongoing efforts to communicate about the status of the Amherst Islander II, the following update has been prepared to provide you with current information.
Training and On-boarding with Transport Canada
Loyalist staff are now trained and certified to operate the Amherst Islander II by Transport Canada. Additionally, several relief staff will be completing their onboarding this week which will add to our complement of staff for operations.
The Amherst Islander II has been certified by Bureau Veritas and Transport Canada. Additionally, the auto mooring system (Cavotec) is commissioned and being used in service. Loyalist has put in place policies and procedures that facilitate the safe operation of the vessel.
Backup Vessel
MTO and the township conducted fit testing of the Wolfe Islander III on October 17. This fit testing is similar to what was conducted earlier this year with the MV Quinte Loyalist. By fit testing these vessels we ensure the vessels can be used on the service if the AI II is unavailable for any reason, ensuring an uninterrupted ferry service for Amherst Island.
Frontenac II Dry Dock
The Frontenac II is currently at dry dock for inspection and remediation work as of October 19.With this timely departure, the vessel is expected to return around late December, prior to closure of the waterway for the winter.
Commissioning of Shore Power Systems
During the past several months, commissioning has begun on the electrification systems on the docks. Some of this work was rescheduled due to unavoidable project delays. More work will need to be coordinated with MTO, the contractor, outside vendors and Loyalist to complete this commissioning. There are no dates set yet for this work, but it is expected to be some time before the end of the year. Interruptions to the normal ferry service schedule will be planned to be as minimal as possible.
Ferry Communications
Loyalist will continue to use the Code Red notification system to provide timely updates related to unscheduled maintenance, significant weather events, emergency calls and high traffic volumes on the docks. To prevent any potential confusion, these service notifications will not refer to any specific vessel unless it is pertinent to the message.
Partnership with MTO
As the ferry service begins to normalize after the commissioning of the Amherst Islander II and Loyalist gathers data on the operation of the ferry service, Loyalist will be working on the partnership with MTO in the provision of the service. MTO has committed to work with Loyalist on a new MOU and operating agreement to better reflect the new operating environment and explore potential administrative improvements for better program efficiency.
Loyalist is committed to strive for the best service for residents of Amherst Island that it can provide.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to bring the Amherst Islander II into full service!
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