Ferry

The MS Chi-Cheemaun will celebrate 50 years in service in 2024, and a new commemorative book is planned to chronicle its history sailing Lake Huron.

Travelling between South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island and Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, the vehicle and passenger ferry has run from May to October annually since its maiden voyage in September 1974.

It serves as an important transportation link for commercial traffic transporting goods between southern Ontario and the northern part of the province. But it's also a popular attraction for visitors exploring the area during the summer tourism season.

In celebration of its half-century milestone, Richard J. Thomas, an Owen Sound-based author and historian, is seeking stories and photos from members of the public, to be compiled in an anthology that will be released this spring.

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B.C. Ferries has issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) to build up to seven new hybrid vessels to replace the aging members of its fleet. 

Spokesperson Deborah Marshall told CBC News the new vessels are expected to replace the C-Class vessels like the Queen of New Westminster and the Queen of Coquitlam that service major routes between Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. 

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The federal government is paying $38.6 million to buy a Norwegian car and passenger ferry to replace MV Holiday Island, which was scrapped after an engine fire in the Northumberland Strait in 2022.

The government announced the price tag in a news release Thursday, three months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed negotiations for MV Fanafjord during a visit to P.E.I.

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B.C. Ferries has withdrawn an application to electrify its six existing Island-class ferries, saying it will submit a new plan in coming weeks.

It also said it wants to buy four new electric-powered Island-class vessels.

No further information about existing and potential new vessels was revealed.

B.C. Ferries had won approval in 2021 from the B.C. Ferry Commissioner to electrify its Island-class ferries by using on-board batteries and installing up to nine land-based rapid-charging systems.

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The federal government is mandating the Norwegian owner of the Fanafjord ferry, slated to replace the Holiday Island on Wood Islands-Caribou runs, refit the ship’s liquified natural gas (LNG) engine with a hybrid diesel-electric.

Whether a local company will have a chance to complete the major work, and if a diesel-hybrid will emit more greenhouse gas than the ship’s current LNG engine remains uncertain.

“Changing out an LNG engine for a diesel engine, that’s a big production in work. You have to buy the engine, physically change out the engine and then change the whole supply to it,” said Jason Aspin co-owner of PEI-based company AKA & Associates. “That’s what our company does, so yeah I’d be pretty disappointed if they decide to do that in Norway.”

In his company’s hands, the contract would support jobs in both PEI and Nova Scotia.

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The three ferries must be identical to reduce maintenance costs and facilitate the movement of labor to operate the vessels.

New boats must allow for STQ Reducing its annual fleet operating budget by $3 million.

Electric vessels are a proven technology in Europe, according to Greta Bédard, interim president and CEO of the Société des traversiers.

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B.C. Ferries is preparing to order up to four new hybrid diesel-electric Island-class ferries to help alleviate pressure on busy inter-island routes. On Wednesday, the company issued a request for pre-qualifications so that B.C. Ferries can create a short list of shipyards. Yards have until Dec. 22 to respond.

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BC Ferries is looking for qualified parties to respond to a business opportunity to provide design and technical support services related to the evaluation of technical options and eventual development of a tender-ready design package. This work will support BC Ferries’ procurement process leading to the construction of BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels.

Organizations interested in receiving a copy of this design and technical support RFP are advised to contact Clarksons Platou Shipbroking by e-mail at James.Rogers@clarksons.com to request a copy of the documentation.

Key dates are:

RFP Published: February 17, 2022

Closing Date: March 31, 2022

Closing Time: 2:00 PM GMT

HAMILTON ― The Ontario government is investing $3.3 million in a new ferry for the Simcoe Island community to ensure residents and visitors have reliable access to the island, and more opportunities to participate in the regional economy. The ferry will be built by Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton and will help support up to 24 local jobs during construction.

“By delivering a brand-new made-in-Ontario ferry for Simcoe Island, our government is fulfilling its promise to deliver transportation that the island community needs,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Building this new ferry in Hamilton will also drive regional economic growth and support good local jobs. Our province takes pride in its skilled workers, and we are excited to see the build and fulfillment of this vessel by Heddle Shipyards.”

The building of the Simcoe Island Ferry will also spur economic growth in the region by contributing approximately $2 million of real GDP in the shipbuilding and supply-chain industries in 2021-22 alone, with further benefits to be realized as the project progresses.

“Heddle Shipyards is extremely grateful to Minister Mulroney and the Ontario Government for their commitment to shipbuilding in this province,” said Shaun Padulo, President of Heddle Shipyards. “The Simcoe Island Ferry New Build project will create and sustain skilled trades jobs here at our Hamilton Shipyard and is a critical step in rebuilding the capacity of Ontario Shipyards. With the support of the provincial government, we will bring shipbuilding back to Ontario.”

“Hamilton is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario. To support this growth, it’s critical that we make smart investments that will support workers, families, and businesses,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough–Glanbrook. “With Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton being selected to build the new ferry for Simcoe Island, these jobs will help stimulate our local economy immediately.”

The new ferry, which is expected to be in service by late 2022, will allow for the transport of up to three times more vehicles than the current ferry. The new vessel will also be able to carry larger service vehicles, such as fire trucks and vehicles required for maintaining roads and infrastructure.

“Ferries are a vital link that help people on Simcoe Island get to where they need to go,” said Daryl Kramp, MPP for Hastings–Lennox and Addington. “The recent arrival of the hybrid-electric Wolfe and Amherst Island ferries in Ontario, and the addition of a new ferry for Simcoe Island, demonstrates our government’s commitment to providing sustainable and efficient transportation for local communities.”

The province will pay the total cost of the new Simcoe Island Ferry and the Township of Frontenac Islands will be responsible for operating its service.

Quick Facts

• The Simcoe Island ferry is a cable ferry that operates between Simcoe Island and Wolfe Island in the spring, summer and autumn. The current vessel was first launched in 1963.
• The Township of Frontenac Islands employs 3 full-time and 2 part-time staff to operate the ferry.
• In 2019-20, the province provided $270,000 in funding – through the Municipal Ferries Program – to the Township of Frontenac Islands to help support the operation of ferry service to Simcoe Island.
• The province has also invested in two new, larger hybrid-electric ferries – the Wolfe Islander IV and Amherst Islander II – that will provide improved service to Wolfe Island and Amherst Island once they go into service in Spring 2022.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is distancing the Liberal government from a $100-million contract under which a Chinese state-owned shipyard will build a passenger ferry for a federal Crown corporation, a deal the Conservative Party vows to cancel if elected. 

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Ocean Group obtains the largest contract in its history for the modernization of a ferry. The Quebec shipyard will be responsible for revamping the MV Joseph-Savard, a ship of the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ).

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A huge state-owned shipyard in China is building a 1,000-passenger ferry for use by a federal Crown corporation over the objections of Canada’s shipbuilding industry and at a time when two Canadians have spent 989 days in Chinese prisons as victims of what Ottawa has called “hostage diplomacy.” 

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