Ferry

The current ferry service descends from a long line of ships that plied the waters between the Tobermory Islands. Sail came first but by the turn of the century steamships ruled and a web of routes stretched across the bay. By 1930 the Owen Sound Transportation Company had begun a regular ferry service between Tobermory and South Baymouth. The company was already operating boats between Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie. In the days before roads, Georgian Bay was the region's 'highway', and steamers were the fastest mode of travel.

The first ferry, The Kagawong, could only carry eight cars, but tourists came to take the ferry. In 1945, the Caribou and the Normac were used on the Tobermory South Baymouth route. In 1947, the Norisle replaced the Caribou. By 1963, the Norgoma was moved to the Tobermory-South Baymouth run, with the Normac only used occasionally to aid the Norisle. The Ontario Government took over operation of the ferry service in 1972, and in 1974 the Chi-Cheemaun a faster, larger ferry was put into service. The name Chi-Cheemaun means `Big Canoe' in the Ojibwa language. The Chi-Cheemaun is 105m long, 10m wide, has a crew of 36 and carries 638 passengers. Navigation is aided by radar and a satellite positioning system. This is a far cry from the days when fog bound captains would locate land by the smell of balsam fir and cedar trees.

Spring - May 6 to June 23

DEPART TOBERMORY	ARRIVE SOUTH BAYMOUTH	DEPART SOUTH BAYMOUTH	ARRIVE TOBERMORY
8:50 am daily	10:50 am	11:10 am daily	1:10 pm
1:30 pm daily	3:30 pm	3:50 pm daily	5:50 pm
6:10 pm Fri. only	7:55 pm	8:15 pm Fri. only	10:00 pm

Additional Sailing: Victoria Day Monday, May 23, 201

DEPART TOBERMORY	ARRIVE SOUTH BAYMOUTH	DEPART SOUTH BAYMOUTH	ARRIVE TOBERMORY
6:10 pm	7:55 pm	8:15 pm	10:00 pm

Summer - June 24 to September 5

DEPART TOBERMORY	ARRIVE SOUTH BAYMOUTH	DEPART SOUTH BAYMOUTH	ARRIVE TOBERMORY
7:00 am*	8:45 am	9:10 am*	10:55 am
11:20 am*	1:05 pm	1:30 pm*	3:15 pm
3:40 pm*	5:25 pm	5:50 pm*	7:35 pm
8:00 pm	9:45 pm	10:00 pm	11:45 pm

Fall - September 6 to October 16

DEPART TOBERMORY	ARRIVE SOUTH BAYMOUTH	DEPART SOUTH BAYMOUTH	ARRIVE TOBERMORY
8:50 am daily	10:50 am	11:10 am daily	1:10 pm
1:30 pm daily	3:30 pm	3:50 pm daily	5:50 pm
6:10 pm Fri. only	7:55 pm	8:15 pm Fri. only	10:00 pm

Additional Sailing: Thanksgiving Monday, October 10, 2011

DEPART TOBERMORY	ARRIVE SOUTH BAYMOUTH	DEPART SOUTH BAYMOUTH	ARRIVE TOBERMORY
6:10 pm	7:55 pm	8:15 pm	10:00 pm

* RESERVATION FEE (fee is non-refundable). Reservations are available on all sailings for all vehicle types.

Fee applies on the 7:00 am, 9:10 am, 11:20 am, 1:30 pm, 3:40 pm and 5:50 pm sailing time from June 24 to September 5)

NOTE: Reservations on these sailings are recommended but not required. Remaining spaces will be sold on a first come first served basis)

Crossing time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.Note: this information is provided as an additional service only - more information including prices can be found at http://ontarioferries.com/chi/english/schedule_fares.html

All schedules subject to change without notice. CALL FOR INFORMATION

Owen Sound Transportation Company                       (519) 376-6601
Tobermory Terminal       (519) 596-2510
South Baymouth Terminal           (705) 859-3161

RESERVATIONS: english 1-800-265-3163 French 1-800-461-2621

Hours of Operation: Spring/Fall 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Summer 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

http://ontarioferries.com/chi/english/index.html