The ice on Georgian Bay is not melting quickly enough and that means ferry service and the shipping season will be delayed.
The Great Lakes were more than 85 per cent ice covered at the beginning of March, but the most recent satellite image of Georgian Bay shows that the ice has started to break up in the north end of the lake.
In Owen Sound harbour, three large ships, including the ferry that carries travellers to Manitoulin Island remains frozen firmly in place and for the first time in 18 years, the official opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway is being delayed until April 2 because of heavy ice conditions.
The Canadian Coast Guard is expected to send an ice breaker to free these ships sometime in early April, but the ferry known as the MS Chi-Cheemaun could be delayed even longer because the vessel is designed for summer operation and floating chunks of ice could damage it.
The president of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, Susan Schrempf, says the Chi-Cheemaun's spring sailing schedule has been pushed back to May 5 after it makes its annual cruise north to Tobermory.
“The sailing schedule has been delayed, but only by a few days based on our experience in 2014,” says Schrempf. “We did not want to wait until the last minute to make this announcement. “
The company says now that the decision has been made to delay the start of the ferry season, it will not reschedule again even if the ice does clear from the bay.
