ROSSPORT — Several planned projects at the marina in Rossport will force its temporary closure for an anticipated 10 weeks this summer.
The decades-old dock is in need of repair, along with a number of other site improvements, the Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina, the organization that manages the site, said in a media release issued Thursday.
“What's happened over the last five years or so is that — the dock is shaped like an L — and the east-west leg of the dock is in very poor shape and starting to list to the north,” Cathy Collinson, the not-for-profit’s president and board chair told Newswatch.
A variety of work is planned for this summer, the organization said, including removing that east-west section, stabilizing the north-south part, underpinning the marina building, repairing the boat launch area and installing a new foundation for the boat launch dock.
The closure of the marina is slated to begin on July 2, with reopening scheduled for Sept. 15.
Permit requirements for the in-water work mandate the work be done in summer, the group’s media release said.
This summer’s work is designed to extend the life of the former Fisheries and Oceans Canada-owned dock by another five to seven years, Collinson said, adding that it was turned over to local authorities in 1995. It’s part of a multi-stage plan that began in 2021 to completely revitalize the marina with modern amenities — the fixes to the existing structure this year are so it can still be safely used while plans and financing are finalized for a rebuild.
An engineering report concluded that the dock had reached the end of its usable life and required either replacement or “significant rehabilitation,” Collinson said.
“What we'd like is a state of the art marina that includes fuel and laundry and washrooms,” she said about the group’s longer-term plans.
“Rossport is an absolute gem,” Collinson continued, adding that it’s one of a very few easily-accessible deep water marinas along the North Shore. “It is a focal point for boaters and has been over the years.”
The Rossport Islands effectively act as a natural break wall, sheltering the harbour area, she said, adding that it is a designated safe harbour. It’s also within the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area.
The marina hasn’t had fuelling capabilities since 2013, Collinson said. Work was done in late 2024 to remove the old infrastructure.
Despite that, she said, it remains a very popular spot for kayaking, sailing and other forms of non-motorized boating. It also welcomed its first international cruise ship passengers in September 2024.
“It's absolutely a gem that we want to at least help it along for the next five to seven years, and then look at rebuilding the entire structure.”