Inuvik (June 06/03) - Some warm and sunny days finally got the ice moving on the river and the ferry is expected to sail on Friday.

Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation, said Tuesday that the Peel River ferry was launched that morning.

"Hopefully the water will go down a little and we'll launch the Mackenzie (Wednesday)," Jagpal said.

The Mackenzie River ferry had two new engines installed and a damaged rudder was also replaced.

After a flight over the river last Friday, it wasn't looking good for the ferry opening.

Bill Prodromidis, marine manager for the Department of Transportation, said the ice was pretty solid up south.

"About three or four miles above Arctic Red, it's just solid ice; it's bank to bank and it's solid, thick ice," he said.

Prodromidis said the Peel River ferry was ready to go Monday, but there was still some build up on the Mackenzie landings.

"On the Mackenzie side at McPherson there is still lots of ice," he said.

With a warm and early spring it was hoped that the ferry would be sailing early, but some cold weather slowed the season considerably.

"It's a strange break up this year," Prodromidis said. "It stops and starts and stops and starts."

"Now it's sitting out there and rotting."

The good news, he said, with the late breakup there will be no danger of flooding in Aklavik this year.