Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited

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This is an historical account of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, Limited (OSTC), the forerunner of the enterprise that currently operates the vehicle and passenger ferry - M.S. Chi-Cheemaun - between Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. For updated information, see M.S. Chi-Cheemaun.

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The Owen Sound Transportation Company, Limited was established in 1921 by Captain Norman MacKay, and other businessmen in the Owen Sound area, to provide a scheduled passenger and freight steamboat service from Owen Sound, to isolated communities along the Lake Huron north shore and Manitoulin Island, terminating at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Cruises were also offered to the popular tourist destination Mackinac Island. The first steamers purchased by the company were the S.S. Manitoulin and S.S. Manasoo. With the ever increasing automobile traffic and demand of motorists for improved roads, the ferry service between Tobermory and South Bay was initiated with the S.S. Kagawong.

The company made changes to its schedules and routes over its years of operation. The Motor Ship Normac was added to the fleet in 1931. Like the S.S. Manitoulin, the Normac was placed on the Owen Sound-Sault Ste. Marie run, calling at Killarney, Little Current and other Manitoulin Ports. Only the S.S. Manitoulin made the extended run to Mackinac Island. All of the ships could handle automobiles, although there was no road into Killarney at that time, auto's were regularly carried between Gore Bay and Thessalon.

By 1945 the ownership of (OSTC) was acquired by competitor Dominion Transportation Company, however, the title of the operating company remained as Owen Sound Transportation Company, Limited. Improved highways impacted the handling of package freight, placing the need for better ferry service on the Tobermory/South Baymouth route. The S.S Norile was built for this service in 1946. The M.S. Normac also served this route.

In 1950 the S.S. Norgoma was built as a package freight and passenger ferry, to replace the aging S.S. Manitoulin on the Owen Sound - Manitoulin - Sault Ste. Marie route. Completion of the Trans Canada Highway route 17 through Northern Ontario brought improvements to the network of roads serving the communities of the North Channel and stiff competition for the company.

In 1963 the S.S. Norgoma was outfitted as a Motor Ship to increase her automobile handling capacity. The Norgoma was placed on the ferry boat run, while the smaller M.S. Normac returned to a modification of her original schedule. By that time the era of the over-nite passenger and package steamer, was almost done.

[edit] Ships

SS Manitoulin	OSTC service	1926-1949
SS Manasoo	OSTC service	1928	sank 1928
SS Kagawong	OSTC service	? - ?	in service 1931
MS Normac	OSTC service	1931-1968	in service 1931
SS Caribou	OSTC service	1945-1946	acquired from Dominion Transportation Co.
SS Norisle	OSTC service	1946-1974
SS Norgoma	OSTC service	1950-1974	Dieselized 1964