OSTC • Annual Reports • History
 The Owen Sound Transportation Company boasts an exceptional and lengthy sailing history across the northern Ontario waterways of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Tradition continues today, as the Canadian company successfully operates two ferry services on the Great Lakes. Since 1974, the MS Chi-Cheemaun has made the northern crossing between Tobermory and South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island. Within the past decade, the M.V. Jiimaan has been added to service passengers crossing Lake Erie between Pelee Island and the mainland.
The MS Chi-Cheemaun employs highly specialized and professional crew to transport you safely to your destination. With emphasis placed on your safety and travel comfort, we strive to make you feel at home aboard the Chi-Cheemaun. Allow our reputation for 30 years of excellent customer service to make your next journey across Georgian Bay a pleasant experience.
MS Chi-Cheemaun is the largest passenger/car vessel on the Great Lakes and follows a long line of ships successfully run by the Owen Sound Transportation Company for more than 80 years.
To find out more about Owen Sound Transportation Company, please see our Annual Report (pdf).
Return to top
Return to top
Connecting Manitoulin and the Bruce Peninsula since 1921.
For more than 80 years, the Owen Sound Transportation Company has operated a regular ferry service transporting passengers, vehicles and cargo along the northern Ontario waterways of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Led by Capt. Norman McKay a group of Owen Sound residents organized the shipping company in 1921. They purchased the first steamer vessels, S.S. Manasoo and S.S. Manitoulin, to travel the routes between Owen Sound, Manitoulin Island and North Channel ports to Sault Ste. Marie. Then in 1932, as timely travel became more vital, the company purchased another steamer and rebuilt it as a diesel. The M.S. Normac was named after Capt. McKay.
Ownership changed in 1945 but Owen Sound Transportation stayed on as the service operator. By this time, the advent of improved highways impacted the package freight shipping industry and the ferry service began moving in the direction of passenger and vehicle transports. The company wanted to build a new ship to handle increased passenger traffic for the Tobermory/South Baymouth route, and with support from the federal government, built the S.S. Norisle.
The Norisle offered twice the capacity of its predecessors, the S.S. Normac and the S.S. Caribou, with room for 200 passengers and about 50 automobiles. Still, a larger ship did not meet the demand so the company expanded route service to four crossings per day between Tobermory and South Baymouth.
Then in 1974, the largest and most modern ferry, the MS Chi-Cheemaun was added to the fleet. It could transport more than 600 passengers and close to 150 vehicles and cut the crossing time to less than two hours. Today, the Chi-Cheemaun continues the Tobermory-South Baymouth passenger/vehicle run.
(click on images to enlarge)
 |
Manasoo
(211 ft. x 42 ft.)
The Owen Sound Transportation Company added the Scottish-built Manasoo to its fleet in 1928 for the Owen Sound - Sault Ste. Marie passenger run. But within a few months, while on a cattle load run from Manitoulin Island, the Manasoo got caught in a heavy gale and sank off Griffith Island. Five of the men who reached lifeboats were rescued 60 hours later by the Manitoba. |
|
Manitoulin
(190 ft. x 31 ft. x 12 ft.)
In 1926, the Owen Sound Transportation Company took ownership of a damaged vessel and gave it new life. The Scotland-built Modjeska, as it was originally known, was out of use for two years following a collision with another vessel. The OSTC repaired the ship and renamed it the Manitoulin, putting it to use as a passenger/freigher until 1949. |
 |
Normac
(124 ft. x 25 ft. x 18 ft.)
An original fire tug, the Normac was converted to a passenger and package freighter for the Owen Sound-to-Manitoulin Island route. The ship was renamed the Normac after OSTC President and Founder Capt. Norman McKay. In 1968, the ship was sold to become a floating restaurant in Toronto’s harbour. But damage sustained from an accidental hit from a Metro Toronto Parks boat caused the Normac to sink a month later. |
 |
Caribou
(144.8 ft. x 26.6 ft. x 10.6 ft.)
Built for the Dominion Transportation Company in 1904, the Caribou ran the turkey trail until 1946, earning the designation as the longest serving vessel in OSTC history. The turkey trail was the nickname of the passenger and livestock run between Owen Sound and Manitoulin Island. |
 |
Manitou
(137 ft. x 24 ft.)
The Manitou sailed from 1903 to 1941, a close second to the shipping record of the Caribou. The Manitou, Caribou and Manitoulin formed an impressive fleet of passenger and freight trade, carrying most of the lake freight of the day and transporting hundreds of passengers per year. After being sold, the Manitou was dismantled and the hull was converted into a barge. The barge was broken up in 1945. |
 |
Hibou
(121 ft. x 28 ft.)
Originally named Alice, the Hibou went through a few ownerships before OSTC added it to the fleet. But on its last trip to the north shore the Hibou listed to one side and sank near Squaw Point on Owen Sound Bay. Six crewmembers and OSTC founder Capt. Norman McKay went down with the ship. The Hibou was salvaged, rebuilt and sold and in 1943, miraculously sailed down the St. Lawrence under its own power. |
 |
Norisle
(214 ft. x 36 ft.)
The Norisle was built specifically for the Tobermory/South Baymouth passenger ferry service and made its first run in 1947. The impressive ship could carry 200 passengers and up to 50 vehicles, doubling the capacity of prior vessels. In 1975 the ship was sold to Manitouaning, Ontario and converted into a floating museum/restaurant. |
 |
Norgoma
(200 ft. x 36 ft.)
The Norgoma was the last passenger vessel built to travel the Great Lakes. It ran a five-day trip to all ports of call until 1963 when the Trans-Canada Highway system replaced the need for a vessel of this purpose. The government purchased the vessel and modified it to become a car ferry. It ran the Tobermory to South Baymouth route until the Chi-Cheemaun replaced it in 1974. |
 |
Chi-Cheemaun
(365 ft.)
Stretching 365 feet in length at a weight of nearly 7,000 tons, the Chi-Cheemaun is the largest ship of its kind on the Great Lakes. In operation since 1974, the Chi-Cheemaun, meaning ‘Big Canoe’, can carry 143 cars and 638 passengers between Tobermory and South Baymouth. The ferry can make the 30-mile trip in less than two hours at an average speed of 18 miles per hour. |
 |
Nindawayma
(337 ft. x 55.5 ft.)
Originally built in Spain in 1976, the Nindawayma passed through several hands before being purchased by the company in 1989. Carrying more passengers and vehicles than the Chi-Cheemaun, the Nindawayma also did the passenger ferry run between Tobermory and South Baymouth before being retired. The ship sat in Owen Sound Harbour for seven years until 2000 when it was bought and transported to Quebec. |
Return to top
|
