The MS Chi-Cheemaun is heading through Lake Superior today, making its way to Thunder Bay.
Owen Sound Transportation Company Customer and Media Relations Manager Kaleena Sanford says with the 2021 sailing season now wrapped up, the ship will be sailed into dry dock for a safety inspection to be conducted at Heddle shipyards. The Transport Canada mandatory inspection is done every five years and a location is selected through a procurement process.
Five years ago it was done in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard.
Sanford says the length of the stay in dry dock depends on the inspection, and if it finds things that need attention. She notes the ship’s engineer crew will be in Thunder Bay for that time working on cleanup, safety checks and maintenance.
The Chi-Cheemaun is expected to return to the Owen Sound harbour for the winter sometime in early December.
As for how this year’s sailing season went, Sanford notes the events and services they would normally offer were not held due to the pandemic and for the same reason, the ferry’s start date was delayed by five weeks, sailing in June instead of May.
The Chi-Cheemaun operated at 60 per cent of its pre-pandemic 2019 traffic, but Sanford says that was still a 17 per cent increase over 2020 passenger traffic and 11 per cent more vehicle traffic than in 2020. She adds traffic was consistent on a daily basis.
“What it conveys is tourism was still up, traffic was up over last year,” adding, “Even though we didn’t have our amenities and events happening, there was still the interest in traveling onboard the Chi-Cheemaun,” says Sanford.
As for next year’s sailing season and any lingering pandemic restrictions, Sanford says the Chi-Cheemaun operates under both Transport Canada regulations and Ontario Ministry of Transport regulations. She does note, the ferry does not fall under the current federal vaccine mandate announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this month. She says they fall under the MTO in that regard and are considered the same as buses and subways. In terms of mask wearing mandates and capacity limits, they fall under the Transport Canada regulations.
“We’re hopeful, we’re optimistic that we can bring back elements of the amenities and the events. We really won’t know that until guidelines and regulations are administered down from different levels of government,” says Sanford.
This is the Owen Sound Transportation Company’s 100th year. An augmented reality tour is available along the west harbour wall in Owen Sound until the end of November. By scanning plaques with your smart phone, you can learn about the company’s 100 year history on the Great Lakes through archival videos or you can visit a condensed exhibit at Grey Roots Museum and Archives.
Sanford says there is also a very limited amount of 100th anniversary merchandise available through the online gift shop, including about 15 Roots jackets that commemorate the 100th.
After 24 hours of excellent cruising, and a sunset sighting in Sault Ste. Marie last evening, Chi-Cheemaun is closing in on her destination. See you soon @ThunderBayPort @CityThunderBay pic.twitter.com/3jyAv59iXD
— Chi-Cheemaun (@ontarioferries) October 19, 2021
2021 Ferry season is a wrap, so where is Chi-Cheemaun headed next? It’s time for the ship’s 5-year out-of-water inspection and maintenance. The ship will return to Owen Sound for the winter upon completion of work. pic.twitter.com/FlJbXdevwh
— Chi-Cheemaun (@ontarioferries) October 19, 2021