The long-awaited upgrade to the Tancook Island ferry service is still in limbo, despite the new vessel being fully built and ready to go.
Originally announced in 2020, the project will replace the aging William G. Ernst passenger ferry with a larger, vehicle-capable vessel that would connect the mainland to Big and Little Tancook Islands via a new terminal in Blandford instead of Chester. The new route is expected to cut crossing time down to around 30 minutes!
The new ferry is done but now the terminals are being worked on!
- Blandford and Big Tancook terminals are under development.
- Little Tancook’s terminal will follow once the current bids are reviewed.
Everything should be done sometime in 2026, depending on how quickly the terminal construction progresses.
In the meantime, the William G. Ernst continues to run daily between Chester and the islands, keeping the community connected.
I’ve never been to Tancook but can’t wait to check it out!
