Inuvik (June 13/03) - Despite a few curves thrown by Mother Nature the crew at Marine Services have the Louis Cardinal servicing all ferry crossings now.

Marine manager Bill Prodromidis said the two new engines on the ferry were operating fine on opening day, June 5.

"Everything went okay, we had no problems," Prodromidis said.

The high water and some heavy chunks of ice eroded the first landing that was built up on the north side of the river.

"We lost the Inuvik landing and we were working around the clock since then to build it," he said. "We rebuilt the McPherson side too."

"We had about 15 tourists waiting, who were eager to see Inuvik, so we did our best to accommodate them," he said.

The landing on the Tsiigehtchic side was still under construction on opening day.

Prodromidis said the tourist traffic seems good so far and they look forward to a busy summer.

"Hopefully we're going to have another nice, safe season," he said.

Captain Ed Grouette is back at the wheel of the Louis Cardinal for his ninth season crossing the Mackenzie and Arctic Red Rivers.

"Everything is ship shape," Grouette said. "Just as it should be."

The captain lives in Grand Forks, B.C. for half the year and sails the ferry during the summer months.

Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation, said on Tuesday that the landings for Tsiigehtchic were completed and the ferry is running as scheduled.

"They removed the snow and ice and all that, and the landing is finished now," Jagpal said. The ferries are running on time."