Boblo ferry out of service — stranding some residents on island, says Amherstburg mayor

Michael Prue, Amherstburg's mayor, also lives on Bois Blanc Island, more commonly known as Boblo Island.

He says some people have been stranded there since the ferry unexpectedly stopped running Friday afternoon.

Transport Canada told CBC News the vessel was detained for running without an operating certificate.

"Under the detention, the vessel is not authorized to carry passengers until it is inspected and receives a certification to so operate, if warranted from the inspection, or following satisfactory rectification of deficiencies that may be identified during the inspection," a spokesperson said.

Prue says he was told Transport Canada shut down the backup ferry after deeming it unsafe following a recent inspection — while the island's other ferry also remains out of service for repairs.

The Amherstburg Ferry Company, which runs the ferry, told CBC News the boat could be back up and running on Wednesday.

"That's what we've been told [too]," said Prue. "I'll believe it when it happens. They often … try to sugarcoat it, saying we're working on it. It's going to be ready. And sometimes they don't meet that deadline. We'll wait and see."

Prue said the ferry is often taken out of service for short periods of time but on Friday there wasn't any warning.

"There's a dearth of information always from the ferry company other than usually after the fact saying the ferry has been down for an hour or two and we hope to have it back up tomorrow or something like that," said Prue. 

The ferry company is owned by Amico Properties — the same company that owns the island.

Only two residents have docks on the island, said Prue, because they had them before an agreement came into effect boxing out others from doing the same. 

One resident has been taking people back and forth from a small passenger boat, according to Prue.

"As long as your fridge is full, the electricity doesn't go off … you're at home just like anybody else being at home."

What if there's an emergency on the island?

Amherstburg's fire chief, whose department services the island, says he's not too concerned about the issue.

Bruce Montone told CBC News if there's an emergency on the island the ferry company has been authorized to still use the boat and get emergency personnel and vehicles to and from Boblo.

Prue echoed Montone's take and said Transport Canada will allow the ferry to operate if needed.

"They did say they will allow emergency vehicles, not the general public, because they don't think it's safe enough," he said. "But they will allow emergency vehicles such as the fire trucks, the police or the ambulance on that ferry. But only them and their staff."

Roughly 120 homes are normally occupied on Boblo with a population of around 250 people.