Wolfe Island ferry back from months of repairs, but won't resume service yet

The Wolfe Islander IV is back in the Kingston, Ont., area after spending months away for repairs, but the ferry won't be carrying passengers just yet.

The vessel was damaged on Dec. 4 when it's believed to have struck bottom, damaging propellers, tearing a 30-centimetre gash in its hull and causing the boat to take on water.

Later that month, it was towed to a shipyard in Hamilton where it remained until returning to Wolfe Island on Thursday.

In a statement sent to CBC Wednesday, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) confirmed the boat was on its way back, but said it would not immediately be transporting people and vehicles.

"Prior to returning to service, the vessel will undergo mandatory annual fire and safety inspections and drills — as well as testing, to confirm that systems are functioning properly and meet regulatory requirements," read the email from spokesperson Tanya Blazina.

Until those tests are complete the older Wolfe Islander III will continue to ferry passengers between Dawson Point on the island and Kingston.

The ministry did not say how long the inspections are expected to take.

"The safe operation of the ferry is our highest priority," Blazina wrote.

MTO sent a similar message to all ferry users shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday.

No info on cause of damage or cost to fix

Documents obtained by CBC through a freedom of information request show the ferry was off its regular course at the time of the collision.

That's led some islanders to have concerns about how the ferry handles in rough, windy weather.

Jean Cruickshank, who has lived on the island for nearly 25 years and was aboard the ferry when it crashed, previously told CBC she's worried about riding the new boat.

"If it rips open just on the bottom, what's going to happen when it hits some ice?" Cruickshank said during an interview in March. "I think it's a fair-weather boat."

MTO has not provided any information about what caused the boat to be off course or what's being done to prevent similar incidents in the future. It did not respond to those questions when CBC asked them this week.

The ministry also did not answer a question about how much it cost to repair the ferry.

The MTO documents obtained by CBC estimated the price tag would be $1 million to $2 million, but noted that figure could change.

At the time the long-awaited vessel was damaged, it had only been carrying passengers for about three months, meaning at this point it's spent more time away for repairs than serving the community.

Officials with the Township of Frontenac Islands — which includes Wolfe Island — said they only received information from the ministry about the vessel's return on Thursday and that no one was available to comment.