Paula White
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 11/98) - Travellers can expect to wait at least four days before the Merv Hardie ferry starts up again.

"We need some cold weather to stiffen that ice up so we can get out there and chop a channel through it," said Les Shaw, director of Marine Services for the Department of Transportation.

The department shut down ferry operations on Tuesday around 6:30 pm. Shaw said it has to wait for the ice build-up in the river to freeze before it can begin clearing a channel for the ferry.

"You can't operate anything in it," he said. "It's very dangerous."

The weather, Shaw added, hasn't been co-operating. He said the ice build-up can't stabilize because of the unusually warm temperatures.

"If we chop it too soon, all it does is cave in and traps the vessel."

Last year, Shaw said, the ferry shut down on Boxing Day for the same reason.

"We prefer this to occur in late November, early December," he said. "This year is earlier than last year, but it's not early."

Shaw said the ferry should be back in operation before late next week when the heavy Christmas traffic begins.

"We'll get her going as soon as we can."