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DEH CHO
The MV Lafferty ferry on the Liard River near Fort Simpson was shut down this past weekend after declining water levels resulted in the vessel becoming stuck on a sandbar overnight.

The MV Lafferty ferry and the Johnny Berens ferry have both been taken out of the water. There is a chance they could be put back in for a brief period of time if the river rises. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo

The crew was trapped on the ferry Saturday evening while they waited for heavy equipment from Hay River, which was needed to get the boat back into the channel area, according to Department of Transportation spokesperson, Earl Blacklock.

On Friday, the captain reported that ferry was starting to hit the riverbed when crossing with a full load of vehicles.

For that reason, the following morning Blacklock said the crew went out without a load to assess whether or not it would be possible to safely cross the river but they got stuck.

"They did make it to the other side but in trying to turn around to receive traffic, the ferry was pushed by ice flows onto a sand bar and that's where it was unable, because of the water levels, to get itself off the sandbar," Blacklock said.

As a result, the ferry has been taken out of the water. However, there is a chance that it may be put back in for a short time.

"We are hoping there will be a brief surge of water from another damming effect. We're hoping that there will be enough to maybe clear some of the vehicles that are still waiting," Blacklock said, adding if that does occur, the ferry will probably only operate for at most a few hours and residents won’t be alerted. "It would be just the people who are waiting (at the crossing) that would be given notice."

In the past, the MV Lafferty ferry has usually stayed in the water longer. Since 1997, the ferry has closed in November every year, with the exception of 2004 and 2006 when it closed in late October, Blacklock said.

For now, residents who need to get across the river are using the services of Great Slave Helicopters. By Monday, the company had done about 50 trips, according to Thomas MacLeod, an engineer with Great Slave Helicopters.

The company will be offering rides at $265 for one-way, until the winter road is in.

"People are able to split that cost up if they like," MacLeod said, adding travellers should book their flights in advance. "Give us a ring and find out what the story is as far as when we are busiest. It seems most people get to the other side of the landing at four o'clock, five o'clock in the evening so things get pretty backed up right then. So if they're not looking for wait times it is wise to call ahead."

Meanwhile, the Johnny Berens ferry at Wrigley has also been taken out of the water, Blacklock said.

The Merv Hardie ferry, on the other hand, is expected to operate until the Deh Cho Bridge opens to traffic, which is planned for Nov. 30. Still, there is a chance the ferry may have to be removed from the river before then.

"We've had mid-November drops in water level because of damming. If that occurs, it occurs very quickly. We have no advanced notice of it,” he said. "At this point, the odds are definitely in our favour that it won't happen because it has only happened three times in the last two decades."

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