Welcome back the Pelee Islander

SANDUSKY — For the first time since 2019, people from Sandusky can board a boat, cross over international waters and land in Canada. "We'll be there Friday," said Paul Mancini, referencing the Pelee Islander's in-service return to Jackson Street Pier. This past year, the boat made at least two brief visits into Sandusky for private inspections. Passengers, however, could neither board nor depart the ferry. Mancini, who manages the Pelee Island Transportation Services company, noted the ferry initially intends to offer public services on Fridays and Sundays. Come mid-June, coinciding with Pelee's summer schedule, passengers can expect more trips, possibly even daily. Some new caveats, as compared to 2019, do exist. Two in particular: • "We can't move vehicles right now," said Mancini, referencing the Jackson Street Pier's new layout. "We can only do walk-on passengers because the dock isn't quite ready yet." • "All passengers have to show proof of vaccinations," said Mancini, noting people still must go through a normal customs process as well. Throughout 2020 and 2021, and due to COVID-19-related guidelines, the ferry couldn't transport people from Sandusky to Canada and vice versa. But, right now, international restrictions eased up enough for the company to resume these trips, shuttling passengers from Sandusky to Pelee Island, Kingsville and Leamington in Canada. "We are excited," Mancini said. "We always enjoy coming to Sandusky. It's a nice run. They did a great job on the (pier) and the whole area there. We are looking forward to being at that new space." A pact with Pelee Earlier this year, Sandusky city commissioners reworked a lease with the Owen Sound Transportation Co. to extend passenger boating services, between Canada and the U.S., through April 2027. Owen oversees and manages ferries, including the Pelee Islander. The contract includes two renewals, which, if picked up by Sandusky's government, could lengthen this agreement an additional six years, through April 2033. "Continuing our relationship with the Canadian government from the Jackson Street Pier provides a port of entry for both of our countries' residents to enjoy the experience of international travel and to showcase the recreational and dining opportunities in and around Sandusky as well as Pelee Island," Sandusky ex officio mayor Dick Brady said. "This port provides an easy route for residents from both countries to access vacation homes while avoiding a four-hour drive," Brady added. "This relationship is a great way to highlight and utilize our greatest shared asset, Lake Erie." What's new and notable in this agreement: the timing of payments After officials transformed Jackson Street Pier in 2020, they needed to make many modifications at the Pelee Island docking area. Sandusky always intended on billing Owen Sound to receive a reimbursement for this work, totaling about $800,000. Owen Sound stands to still pay $800,000 between now and 2027. What's different is officials frontloaded the contract, meaning Owen Sound must a greater share upfront — half this amount, or $400,000 — in 2022, then annual payments totaling $80,000 in each the following five years. The old deal stipulated Owen must pay $114,300 each year over seven years. This helps replenish Sandusky's capital account, which funds larger-scale projects. Sandusky officials noted they worked with Customs & Border Protection representatives to reduce costs as much as possible. Piecing the pier together When Sandusky officials debuted the new $8 million-plus Jackson Street Pier in 2020, they unveiled a new Pelee Islander vessel staging area. And, two years later without the boat ever coming once, they already needed to readjust its layout. It's the reason, right now, cars can't access the boat in Sandusky. Aaron Klein, the city's public works director, gave a play-by-play account of why this occurred and what's to come: The switcheroo: "After design and construction had started, the vessel dedicated by the ferry service had switched from the Jiimaan to the Pelee Islander. • The Pelee Islander is designed as a side-loading vessel whereas the Jiimaan was designed as an end loader. • The existing ramp was designed to accommodate the Jiimaan, specifically, so the ramp was too far from the pier for the smaller boat." The fix: "The city designed, relocated and retrofitted Customs & Border Protection to accommodate either vessel, however, there needed to be alterations to the Pelee Islander itself or additional ways to safely secure the boat that couldn't be known without a physical test fit." The closure: "Then the international border closed for travel because of the pandemic. Hence, Owen Sound could not bring the vessel to do that much-needed test fit." The design: "The city was asked to proceed with designing and constructing the known modifications while awaiting a decision on specifics for the final touches." The cost: The "Ontario government agreed to reimburse for all improvements that would accommodate their ferry service." The work: "The city is working closely with Ontario officials to design a stop-pile and fender system that can secure the boat from wind and wave action that would otherwise make it unsafe to load or unload vehicles." Note: The work, which would allow cars to access the ferry, should start soon and finish sometime this summer.