OWEN SOUND—On April 25, the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) board of directors met to ensure that all possible action had been taken to avert delaying the scheduled May 3 start of the 2013 MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry season (which has now been delayed to at least May 10).
An OSTC release Tuesday states, “the board is aware of the serious economic consequences that will result from the delay or lack of a ferry service, should it be necessary to suspend it.”
“Extreme and persistent low water levels have made use of the Transport Canada owned ferry berths at Tobermory and South Baymouth unsafe,” the OSTC release notes. “OSTC formally reported the impending condition of the fenders to Transport Canada in June 2012, and requested that the required modifications/repairs be planned for and completed prior to the scheduled start of the 2013 ferry operating season. The OSTC repeated that request a number of times between July 2012 and February 2013.”
The OSTC board is “urging those businesses and communities who will be negatively impacted by the delay or suspension of ferry service to contact their elected federal and provincial government representatives to urge prompt action to require Transport Canada to fulfill their responsibilities and affect the repairs immediately,”
Travellers can visit www.ontarioferrries.com for online updates, call the toll free customer service line at (800) 265-3163, email info@ontarioferries.com or follow @ontarioferries on Twitter for more information.
