New 18-Vehicle Ferry for Big Tancook Island Set to Sail in November After Six-Year Delay
A new 18-vehicle ferry for Big Tancook Island is scheduled to sail from Metaghan to Blandford at the end of November, with service expected to begin in late December or early 2027. The current ferry will cease operations after December 18, requiring temporary services. Little Tancook residents face continued uncertainty due to a dilapidated wharf that cannot accommodate the new vessel.
A new 18-vehicle ferry destined for Big Tancook Island is scheduled to sail from Metaghan to Blandford at the end of November, marking progress on a project first announced six years ago. Once the vessel arrives in Blandford, commissioning and sea trials are expected to take around four weeks. The new ferry is set to begin carrying cars and passengers between Blandford and Big Tancook in late December or early 2027.
The timeline carries urgency because the current ferry, William G. Ernst, is ineligible for service after December 18. If the new car ferry is not operational by that date, the Scotian, a ferry based in Chester, will serve as a temporary car ferry between Big Tancook and Blandford.
While Big Tancook moves toward a long-term solution, Little Tancook faces ongoing challenges. The island's wharf is in such disrepair that it cannot accommodate the new vehicle ferry, raising safety concerns among residents. If the new ferry is not ready by December 19, a charter service will be put into place to connect Little Tancook and the mainland. A tender for this charter and barge service is expected to go out in the next few weeks.
Provincial officials confirmed they are working on final details for a new wharf on Little Tancook, though no tender has been issued yet. Mark Peachey stated that the plan for Little Tancook is likely a two-year ferry service while longer-term options are evaluated. This leaves residents facing continued uncertainty regarding permanent infrastructure.
Community frustration has mounted over government communication and the project's delays. Around 20 people recently gathered at the Little Tancook schoolhouse to discuss the situation, reflecting broader concerns about the lack of a long-term ferry solution for the island.