Peel River ferry back at dock after drifting downriver, GNWT says

The NWT government says the Peel River ferry has been recovered and secured back to its dock after a cable broke over the weekend, allowing it to drift away.

The absconding MV Abraham Francis was the latest frustration for travellers who have been trapped on either side of the ferry for days because of high water.

Workers spent most of Sunday figuring out how to recover the ferry after it departed from its cable, then bring it back to its base.

Just after 7pm on Sunday, the NWT’s Department of Infrastructure said the ferry had been secured again at its dock.

“However, high water levels remain in the area and work to restore service cannot proceed until water conditions improve and it is safe for crews to do so,” the department stated.

“Work to string the cable and complete cleanup of both landings will take approximately one day once water levels have dropped.”

When that will be is not yet clear.

Heavy rain has caused damage to the landing areas and the broader highway in the region. Conditions are difficult, multiple drivers reported.

Video from the riverbank posted on Saturday evening showed the ferry already inaccessible because of high water. Subsequently, people in the vicinity reported, the cable snapped and the ferry began to drift downriver.

Whether the ship had suffered any damage during Sunday’s unscheduled outing was not clear.

The ferry operates on the Dempster Highway, the only road connecting Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk to southern Canada.

High water levels have interfered with its operations multiple times over the past month, causing temporary closures.

‘Not unheard-of’

On each side of the Peel River, most travellers have had no option but to wait for days.

Up in Inuvik, Deborah-Anne Bertin – co-manager of the Arctic Circle Inn, formerly the Nova Inn – said guests had been “a little bit grumpy” initially but were, for the most part, in good spirits. Some had taken a day trip to Tuktoyaktuk to pass the time. Others were researching local tours. Fort McPherson also has a festival this weekend that provided an alternative for people closer to the ferry landing.

“We just heard from Eagle Plains Hotel that the road is washed out past Eagle Plains anyways,” said Bertin, referring to an isolated stop on the Yukon side of the Dempster Highway, “so it sounds like there’s even more that they have to contend with. I guess we’re going to be a one big – or one small little – happy family for the next little bit until we hear.”

On Sunday, Bertin was being kept apprised of the situation by drivers along the route, including one bringing a container she is expecting.

“When it rains this much this fast, it doesn’t really have anywhere to go, so it raises the river,” she said. “It’s not an unheard-of thing to happen up here. It’s unfortunate that not all tourists are aware of that.”

While at least half a dozen guests have had to cancel because they can’t make it to Inuvik, Bertin said some people on motorcycles had made it across the river.

“There’s a couple of enterprising locals out that way that are shuttling people across on their own smaller barges,” she said.

“There’s a way for bikers to get across right now – and small, small cars.”