As the summer weather is slowing turning around for the better, so too is the sailing season for the ferry Chi Cheemaun.
The Owen Sound Transportation Company reports business is picking up after a slow start to the season.
Director Susan Schrempf says the ship is now running full on weekends and at this point in the season — they are only about 6 per cent below last years levels for the same time.
Schrempf says as of August 9th — the big canoe has carried 45 thousand 417 vehicles — which is about 32 hundred vehicles less that last year.
She feels the slow down in the economy is one of the reasons for the downturn in traffic levels but there is another reason for the drop off.
Schrempf says they used to get a lot more American customers and she feels the new U-S border regulations that require citizens to have a passport has hurt their numbers.
She feels now that real summer like weather has arrived, more people will consider traveling and many will choose to take the Chi Cheemaun to get to Northern Ontario.
Schrempf says using the ferry will reduce a persons impact on the environment, plus its a more relaxing way to get to your destination.