Mechanical issues shut down Fort Simpson, N.W.T. ferry crossing

The M.V. Lafferty in Fort Simpson, N.W.T. closed because of mechanical issues on July 13, 2024. (Jonathan Antoine via RCI)

By CBC News and RCI

Repairs expected to take up to a week, N.W.T Infrastructure Department says

There is still no reopening date for the ferry in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., which was closed on Saturday morning due to mechanical issues.

The M.V. Lafferty ferry crosses the Liard River near Fort Simpson. While it is closed, both Fort Simpson and Wrigley, N.W.T. are cut off from the rest of the territory’s highway system.

The vessel needs “extensive work” before it can be reopened, the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure said in a social media update on Saturday afternoon.

Second closure within a week

The department will need to bring in specialized technicians from Edmonton to complete the work as well as ship in several parts weighing up to 180 kilograms, according to the update.

“We anticipate the work to be completed within a week,” the update said.

This was the second closure for the N.V. Lafferty within a week. It was shut down for several hours on Wednesday because of a problem with its propeller.

It’s not the only ferry closure in the N.W.T. in recent weeks. The M.V. Louis Cardinal ferry in Tsiigetchic closed for five days last week, stranding travellers on either side of the Dempster Highway connecting N.W.T. to Yukon.