Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

7 8 INTERV IEW A challenging period Sandra Speares asks Susan Schrempf how Owen Sound Transportation Company’s ferry services in Ontario have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic O wen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) operates three different ferry services in the province of Ontario, which has been the most significantly affected by Covid-19 infection cases in Canada. This had a knock-on effect on all OSTC’s ferry services, which are not expected to relax Covid-19 mitigation measures this year. In central Ontario, for example, Chi- Cheemaun had to pivot from offering a highly experiential tourism service to providing a limited essential transportation service. “When ferry services began on 1 June 2020 and then again on 8 June 2021 all onboard services closed, and passenger numbers were significantly limited by Transport Canada and Ontario Public Health restrictions,” explains Susan Schrempf, chief executive of OSTC. This spring, Pelee Islander and Pelee Islander 2 experienced similar operating conditions to 2020 in south- west Ontario. Until the end of April, Pelee Islander operated the service with passengers remaining in their vehicles, while Pelee Islander 2 operated three days a week for large agriculture vehicles only from May. On 1 June 2021, Pelee Islander 2 was scheduled to go into daily service and replace Pelee Islander for passenger and vehicle services. However, a worldwide shortage of certified officers and fierce competition between commercial shipping companies outbidding each other for officers to keep their vessels running forced OTSC to reduce services and change its operating schedule. This situation was resolved in mid- July and Pelee Islander 2 will remain in daily service for the duration of the 2021 season with all Covid mitigation protocols in place. As the Canadian border did not reopen to non-essential US citizens until 9 August 2021, and the US border remained closed to non- essential Canadian visitors, the Pelee Island to Sandusky, Ohio ferry has not restarted this year. “ OSTC completed the 2020 season with no crew or passenger infections on any of its ferry services” Pelee Islander II operates daily services in south-west Ontario