SS Norisle
The SS Norisle was a Canadian steam-powered automobile ferry that sailed the route between Tobermory and South-Baymouth Manitoulin Island alongside her sister ships, the MS Norgoma and the MS Normac, owned by the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited.
The name "Norisle" is derived from "Nor", a contraction of the Northern Region of Lake Huron, and "Isle", referring to Manitoulin Island.
Ferry operations
The ship is 215ft in length. The Norisle was built at the Collingwood shipyards in 1946—the first steamship built in Canada after the end of World War II. Her engines were actually designed and built for a Royal Canadian Navy destroyer, however because of the end of the war, they were put into the Norisle instead. They are now the only remaining engines of their type in existence today. She sailed until the year 1974, when she and her sistership, the MS Norgoma, were replaced by the much larger and more modern MS Chi-Cheemaun which could accommodate a much larger number of automobiles, and passengers (but no livestock).
Retirement
The Norisle is now permanently berthed at the Assiginack Museum Complex on Manitoulin Island as a museum ship for tourists to explore. For the last few years it has also served as a training ground for Canadian Naval Cadets.
In recent years, the Norisle has fallen into a state of disrepair. The ship was slowly sinking due to rainwater entering through her engine room vents and the main smokestack. This has since been stopped by placing tarps over them. City leaders planned on having it towed to deep water and sunk as a dive site, however these plans have been halted because a support group for the Norisle has been recently formed (March 2007), "Friends of the Norisle." The group plans to investigate refurbishing or utilizing the ship for beneficial reasons. So far the membership for "Friends of the Norisle" has jumped to over 90 members and still climbing.
