Digby Island Ferry begins transit southbound for refit program

Out of Port ... the Digby Island Ferry is on a southbound
transit for its refit program in Victoria 

The navigation chart reads southbound for the Digby Island Ferry today, with the long serving vessel that connects the city with its airport destined for a Victoria area shipyard for what may be its last refit.

The Vessel Tracker website Marrine Traffic had the vessel last reported just south of Oona River at 3PM this afternoon, that as it began its journey to the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

City Council approved the contract for the refit in October of 2023, with Point Hope Marttime awarded the work, the last refit for the vessel was in 2019.

Those who travel through the Prince Rupert Airport on Digby Island are  now using a barge and tug service, which takes the airport buses and cargo truck across the harbour between Fairview and the Dock on the Island.

At the April 4th Town Hall Forum Mayor Pond noted that the current vessel is a the end of its life cycle, an information graphic as part of that presentation listed a replacement cost of 40 million dollars today,.

A number likely to rise once the next five year cycle comes to an end.

More notes on Airport Services in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.