A major milestone in Toronto’s waterfront transit is just around the corner, as the city’s very first custom-built electric ferry is preparing to make its grand voyage to Canada.
Named Lady of the Quays, the vessel marks the first of two zero-emission electric ferries commissioned by the City of Toronto, kicking off an exciting, sustainable upgrade to the iconic Toronto Island fleet.
Built in Romania and recently moved to Istanbul, the completed ship will soon be loaded aboard a carrier vessel to journey across the Mediterranean, traverse the Atlantic Ocean, and travel up the St. Lawrence River before finally making its anticipated arrival in Toronto this December.
Once it enters service, the new passenger-and-vehicle ferry will carry up to 650 passengers and 14 vehicles, or up to 1,300 passengers in a walk-on configuration, offering nearly triple the capacity of the aging Ongiara it is set to replace. Along with zero-emission sailing, riders can look forward to much smoother boarding, wider accessible ramps, modern accessible washrooms, and year-round ice-breaking capabilities for winter trips to the Islands.
Following its arrival at the harbor, the ferry will undergo comprehensive lake trials, local inspections, and crew training through early next year before welcoming its first passengers aboard. The second electric ferry, dubbed Toronto Islander, is slated to make its own debut in spring 2027.
Locals will be able to follow Lady of the Quays on its cross-Atlantic trek via an online tracking portal once it begins its journey, and you can find out more details on the City of Toronto’s project page.
