After years of waiting, the new Wolfe Island ferry is set to begin operating full time on Aug. 17.
The Wolfe Islander IV will operate on a round-trip schedule between the island and Kingston, Ont., leaving Wolfe Island every 80 minutes.
The first trip of the day will depart Wolfe Island at 5 a.m., with the last trip of the day departing Kingston at 2:20 a.m.
The electric ferry will be able to transport 50 per cent more vehicles than its predecessor, the Wolfe Islander III, according to a press release from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation on Friday.
A long time coming
A provincial media release from 2018 announcing plans to build the new vessel said the ferry was expected to enter service in 2021.
In September 2021, Ontario’s former transport minister Caroline Mulroney provided a different timeline. In a post on social media she announced the plan was to have the ferry up and running the following spring.
The ministry has blamed a shortage of trained crew coupled with construction delays for keeping the new ferry docked.
Last August, the ferry unexpectedly made limited runs, giving visitors a sneak peek at the new design. However, runs did not continue as hoped.
Work is underway on charging and docking infrastructure improvements that will enable the Wolfe Islander IV to run on a more frequent schedule in the future, according to the ministry.