Boblo residents still waiting for ferry service to resume

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The ferry that hauls people and vehicles to and from Bois Blanc Island, formerly Boblo Island, has been out of service for days due to mechanical issues, leaving residents stranded.

An emailed update from the Amherstburg Ferry Company, shared with the Star by the town’s mayor, informed island residents Saturday evening that a problem with the vessel’s rudder had been identified.

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The email carried on to say that crane operators would be on-site Sunday morning to hoist the ferry out of the water for a repair team to begin work.

“It’s inconvenient, to say the least,” said Town of Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, an island resident who was first alerted to the service’s suspension on the morning of Jan. 16.

For Prue, the ferry’s pause — now nearly four days — highlights the need for a back-up vessel. He told the Star that he plans to raise the issue at an upcoming town council meeting.

“What I want the town to do is absolutely insist that there’s a second ferry,” said Prue.

“Everybody understands that boats, cars, and mechanical equipment need repair from time-to-time and break down. Those of us who live on the island expect that but what we don’t expect is that there is no provision for a second ferry.”

Demands for a backup ferry were raised by island residents in November 2023 when the service was unexpectedly paused for 14 days after routine maintenance. At the time, the back-up ferry used during these routine checks was shut down by Transport Canada.

Transportation to and from the island is the responsibility of the island’s property developer, Amico Infrastructures, and is operated by the Amherstburg Ferry Company.

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Following the two-week suspension, Amherstburg councillors denied a request from the Bois Blanc Island Community Association asking that the municipality take over ferry operations. Instead, council sought confirmation from Transport Canada regarding a smaller ferry for emergencies.

An added concern for many residents, said Prue, is that propane trucks, essential for delivering natural gas to heat homes, are unable to cross to the island.

“We’ve had to turn our heat off,” said Prue.

“I’m sitting here in a sweater and a coat inside my own house trying to preserve what little propane is left.”

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