New electric ferries slated for Kingston region are on their way to Picton Terminals this week

The Ministry of Transportation says the ferries should be passing by Kingston on their way to the Picton Terminals this week, where they will stay until next year.

Two brand new electric ferries meant to be used in the Kingston region will be passing by their final destinations over the next week, but still have a ways to go before they are fully operational.

The Wolfe Islander IV is scheduled to arrive in Picton Friday, while the Amherst Islander II is meant to arrive next week, but that all depends on seaway inspections, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) says.

Both fully electric ships were built in Romania by Dutch company Damen Shipyards, and departed for the Kingston region Sept. 27.

The current Wolfe Island ferry has been on the water since 1973, and can hold about 55 vehicles.

It will be replaced by a much larger, zero-emission, electric ferry able to accommodate just over 80 cars and nearly 400 passengers.

As for the new Amherst Island ferry, it is also an electric, zero-emission vessel that will hold 300 passengers and 42 cars.

According to a recent blog post from Damen Shipyards, both vessels “have twin diesel generators installed to allow hybrid and full diesel propulsion for maximum redundancy.”

The MTO says the two vessels will tentatively pass through Kingston Wednesday as they make their way to the Picton Terminals where they will be stored until they are ready to service the Kingston region next year.