City Council to hear of complete cost for Airport Ferry refit at Civic Budget time later this fall

The first step toward refit of the Digby Island Ferry in 2024 was made
on Tuesday night with the awarding of the contract for work on the vessel

City council members approved the awarding of the contract for the refit of the Digby Island ferry in 2024.  

That as Council gave approval to the only compliant  bid from Point Hope Maritime in Victoria, which will refit the city's workhorse of airport transportation for $311,812.000 plus GST.

We outlined some of the scope of that work and the RFP request on Tuesday,  that from the Report from Paul Venditelli,  the City's Director of Economic Development and Transportation.

You can review his notes for the Council members below.

Speaking to the report, Councillor Barry Cunningham asked for some clarification on the Budget for the refit, asking if it included the cost of transit to and from the facility in Victoria.

Mr. Venditelli provided some additional information towards the refit process and Councillor Cunningham's question

"It actually does not, it includes the Dry Docking and the Un-Dry Docking of the vessel, but the three days  to get down and three days to get back is not included in this bid"

Towards a follow up question on the total cost of the work, Chief Financial Officer Corinne Bomben  outlined that the Vessel refit bid, is just one portion of the project.

"I'll just add for clarification, that this is only the work that is going to be done to the ferry for the refit.  

The entire ferry refit project which includes substitute service, the staff taking the ferry down and back will be brought forward on the budget, which will be this fall.  And that will include all of this.

This was an RFP that was done just for this particular portion of the work to be done to the actual vessel.

Councillor Nick Adey made an inquiry as to what kind of alternative service will be provided during the refit period. 

To that question, Mr. Venditelli outlined he process ahead.

"We are in the process of securing the replacement service at this time, just getting some quotes. The refit is approximately fifty days in total from the ferry leaving and returning her or thereabouts. 

In the past what we've done we've run a tug and barge service to get passengers to and from the airport"

In 2019 the City of Prince Rupert used a tug and barge service operated by
Wainwright Marine for transportation to and from Digby Island 

The Digby Island Airport Ferry last had a refit in 2019. 

At that time, the total cost for both the actual work on the vessel and the replacement service while it was away, was close to one million dollars.

You can review the discussion to the topic from the City's Video archive starting at the 8 minute mark.

More notes of interest from Tuesday's Council session can be explored through our Council Timeline.

A wider overview of Airport themes in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.