

This time lapse composition shows the Great Lakes freighter Buffalo (Algoma) doing a 180° turn out in the bay before it begins its night approach into Owen Sound harbour.

The 680’ Algoma Compass (left) and the 634’ Algoma Buffalo are seen here laid up for winter maintenance in the port of Owen Sound.




A small flock of Canada Geese do a low level fly by as the Algoma Algoway heads back out on the Great Lakes from the Port of Owen Sound


The 664' Manitoulin (Lower Lakes Towing) unloads at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos in the Port of Owen Sound

The Chi-Cheemaun (aka The Big Canoe) is a seasonal ferry connecting Manitoulin Island with the Bruce Peninsula. She is seen here docked for the winter in her port of registry, Owen Sound.


The newly converted articulated barge Commander powered by the tug Bradshaw McKee is seen here docked at the Miller silos in the port of Owen Sound.

The Whitefish Bay was built in 2013. A 740’ self-unloading lake freighter, she is the third of Canada Steamship Lines Trillium-class ships. The ship is seen her docked at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos in the port of Owen Sound.

The John D Leitch (Algoma) arrives just before dawn on a cold winter morning in the Port of Owen Sound. The CCGS Samuel Risley, Algoma Olympic and MS Chi-Cheemaun are visible in the far background

The Great Lakes freighter Buffalo was built in 1978 by Bay Shipbuilding Co. (Sturgeon Bay, WI). In late 2017 this 634’ ship was sold to the Algoma Central Corp. (St. Catharines, ON) and renamed the Algoma Buffalo.


Grey skies frame the Trillium Class Great Lakes freighter Whitefish Bay as she unloads at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silo in Owen Sound.

The 640’ Algoway (Algoma) in winter dock along side the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos along with the 730’ John D Leitch (Algoma) laid up beside the Miller Silos in the Port of Owen Sound


The Algoway (Algoma Central Corp) and the Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin (Canada Steamship Lines) wintering in Owen Sound harbour

Currently assigned to the Great Lakes, this 228' Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker and buoy tender is responsible for keeping an ice-free passage between Port Colborne, Ontario and Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is seen here docked in the port of Owen Sound after clearing ice and making a path for ships entering the harbour for winter layup.


The 730’ self-unloading bulk carrier Olympic was launched in 1976. She is seen here in Owen Sound harbour for the last time in 2017. The Olympic sailed the Great Lakes until 2018 when she was taken out of service and scrapped overseas. Also seen towards the mouth of the harbour is the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley along with two other Algoma ships, the John D Leitch and the Algoway.

The Great Lakes carrier “Manitoulin” docked on a snowy January day in Owen Sound Harbour. (Pictorialized composition with map of Georgian Bay watermarked.)

The 750' Great Lakes bulk carrier "Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin" (Canada Steamship Lines) docked for winter repairs in the Port of Owen Sound


The Canada Steamship Lines freighter Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin and the Algoma Algoway framed behind the old harbour pilings in the Port of Owen Sound

This mid-sized Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier was launched in at the Collingwood Shipyards in 1972 as the Algoma Algoway. In 2018 she was retired and sadly scrapped for raw materials. The Algoway is seen here on one of her many runs into the Port of Owen Sound.


The Algoma Algoway leaving Owen Sound for the last time. Seen here in 2017, the 640’ Great Lakes Freighter is backing out of port and turning towards the open waters of Georgian Bay. After serving the Great Lakes for more than 45 years, she was decommissioned and scrapped in 2018.

One of the last photographs of the Algoma Algoway docked in Owen Sound harbour. The magnificent 640' freighter was decommissioned and sadly scrapped for raw materials shortly after this image was captured.


Seen here on one of her last visit to Owen Sound, the 730’ Olumpic is docked along the east harbour wall. After servicing the Great Lakes for more than 42 years, she was decommissioned and scrapped in 2018.

Originally launched in 1943 as the Mesabi for the United States Maritime Commission, this ship was used in World War II to transport raw materials to the steel mills that were producing tanks, artillery, aircraft, and other supplies for the war effort. In 1995 she was sold to Lower Lakes Towing Ltd and renamed the Cuyahoga.




Looking north from Owen Sound’s inner harbour, this image captures the barge St Marys Cement II (powered by the tug Sea Eagle II) docked at the Miller silo.

The Cuyahoga is the second oldest Canadian registered ship still in active service on the Great Lakes. In this image she is unloading at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos in the port of Owen Sound.

The lake 640' freighter MV Saginaw was launched as John J. Boland in 1953. It is seen here docked at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos in the port of Owen Sound

Sailing under the Lower Lakes Towing Ltd (Port Dover) flag, the 662’ Self Discharging Bulk Carrier Manitoulin
is seen here making a late day docking at the Great Lakes Elevator Company silos in the port of Owen Sound




An icon on Georgian Bay, the Chi-Cheemaun (aka ‘The Big Canoe’) is seen here preparing for the upcoming summer season while still in winter dock in Owen Sound

Built in 2010, the 65’ Huron Explorer 1 is an Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources research vessel providing assessment and research to support the Great Lakes fisheries. She is seen here docked in Meaford harbour.


