DAWSON CITY – The George Black ferry was slated to be back in regular service today after this week’s disruptions, according to the Department of Highways and Public Works.

Department official Calvin Hoogland is based in Mayo.

Hoogland told the Star Thursday some maintenance paperwork was not where it should have been aboard the vessel when a federal inspector arrived.

The missing paperwork resulted in a disruption to the usual 24-hour service, with the ferry shutting down before midnight Wednesday.

There was a Twitter notice to that effect at the time.

At 3:43 p.m. Thursday, the following Tweet was posted:

“George Black Ferry update: The ferry is only operating between 7 am to 7 pm until further notice. Our hope is to have it back to regular 24 hour service as soon as possible. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The service disruption more than slightly inconvenient for anyone who lives among the 200 or so people in West Dawson and Sunnydale, whose work requirements do not fit a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. time frame.

As well, the vessel is a crucial transportation link for tourists coming from or bound for the Top of the World/Taylor Highways.

The change for Thursday was a result of having to change all the shifts for all the employees because of the abrupt shutdown.

“They can’t work past certain hours,” Hoogland said.

So everything had to be rearranged.

The paperwork has been restored to its proper place.

Earlier in the week, the reason for the sudden ferry service reduction remained unclear because the Yukon government was remaining tight-lipped about the problem.

Highways and Public Works put out the following notice on social media on Wednesday night.

“Hi Dawson – unfortunately due to staffing issues, the George Black Ferry will only run until 11:40 pm this evening. It will resume again at 7:00 am tomorrow morning. Sorry for any inconvenience!”

The communications manager for the department, Krysten Johnson, had no information when contacted by the Star Thursday.

“I do not have any more details besides what we have shared on social media at this time,” Johnson wrote.

“When I have an update, I will be sure to share with you.”

That afternoon, the government posted a notice that service would be suspended at 7:00 last night.

Anyone wishing to ride the ferry was being asked to check 511 Yukon for the latest on sailings.

Johnson sent an updated email to the Star this morning.

“Unfortunately I still don’t have much of an update for you besides that we are operating on reduced hours of 7 am-7 pm until further notice,” the communications manager wrote.

“Our hope is to have it back to 24-hour operation as soon as possible.”

Yukon Party MLA Stacey Hassard had a lot more to say about the ferry service disruptions.

Today, he called it “shocking that such a disruption to critical economic infrastructure would happen anywhere in the Yukon, let alone in the premier’s own riding.”

Premier Sandy Silver has been in Dawson this week, and drank the 100,000th sourtoe cocktail on Tuesday evening (see coverage, p. 7.) “The George Black ferry in the City of Dawson is a critical piece of transportation infrastructure in the Yukon,” Hassard pointed out.

“Numerous residents, businesses, placer miners, tourists, and Yukoners make use of the ferry at all hours of the day.

“The reduced hours will significantly impact the operations, capacity and profitability of Dawson businesses,” the MLA added.

“West Dawson residents who work late will be forced to either cut shifts short or not be able to return home.

“Popular destinations like the Dawson City Golf Course that rely on customers throughout the evening will not be able to operate,” Hassard said.

“Mining operations will not be able to maximize their operations during the already-short mining season.

“And tourists who cross the Poker Creek-Little Gold border crossing later in the day will find themselves trapped on the far side of the river.”

Hassard added, “The sudden service reduction that was announced by the Yukon government is neither a short- nor a long-term solution.

“Staffing remains an issue for businesses across the territory; however the public sector has hired over 2,100 new employees since the end of 2016.

“Skyrocketing employment numbers in government and reduced services is a result of poor Liberal planning,” Hassard said.

The Yukon Party, Hassard added, “urges the Yukon government to immediately find a solution to the operational issues in order to restore the George Black ferry to full service.”

– With a file from Tim Giilck