• Maritime Services
  • Sorel-Tracy–Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola
  • Québec–Lévis
  • L'Isle-aux-Grues–Montmagny
  • L'Isle-aux-Coudres–Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive
  • Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon
  • Isle-Verte–Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs Ferry
  • Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine
  • Serves the Middle and Lower North Shore
  • Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout
  • Serves Îles de la Madeleine
  • Entry Island–Cap-aux-Meules
  • Harrington Harbour–Chevery Ferries
  • Rivière Saint-Augustin Ferry (Lower North Shore)
• The Société
  • About Us
  • Statement of Services to Citizens
  • Documentation
  • FAQ
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  • Board of Directors
• Fleet
  • M.V. Catherine-Legardeur
  • M.V. Lucien-L.
  • M.V. Alphonse-Desjardins
  • M.V. Lomer-Gouin
  • M.V. Grues-des-Îles
  • M.V. Joseph-Savard
  • M.V. Armand-Imbeau
  • M.V. Jos-Deschênes
  • M.V. Camille-Marcoux
  • M.V. Félix-Antoine-Savard
  • M.V. Radisson
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Did you know about it ?

• This spring, the STQ won a grand prix du tourisme 2007, category “transports et voyages” in the Manicouagan region for an interpretation experimental project of the Parc marin Saguenay–Saint-Laurent at the
  Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine Ferry. At the national official reception, the Ferry won the bronze grand prix in the same category. The project, carried out together with the Tadoussac Municipality and the Parc marin, will be presented again in the summer of 2008.
• In summer at Tadoussac, every
  13 minutes, three ships are in operation during the day.Travelers continue their journey on a real sea road!
• The Société des traversiers’ ferries were all built in Québec.
• Every year, the Société makes a survey of the passengers’ satisfaction regarding different aspects of the service. It also takes note of suggestions to improve the service.
• The Société takes an interest in the maritime relief. For many years, it has supported la Fondation de l’Institut maritime de Rimouski by giving grants to deserving students in navigation, naval architecture and mainly in naval mechanics.

Schedules Fares Services

Additional information History

Fares

Free service

Services

• Vending machines
• On board during the summer period, naturalist guides, from the Saguenay–St.Lawrence Marine Park, will give information on the sea environment of the park.

Additional information

Schedules are subject to change without notice.

Additional crossings may be added to the schedule. Consult section important notice and news.

Transport of dangerous goods

Any vehicle with a fuel leak will be refused boarding. All fuel tanks must be approved and compliant with standards. Valves on propane or other fuel cylinders must be tightly closed for the crossing.

Maximum permitted per motor vehicle:

• One 25 liter container of fuel
• Two 30 pound cylinders of propane gas

Maximum permitted per trailer:

• Two 25 liter containers of fuel per trailer towing at least one recreational motor vehicle (boat, motorcycle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle)

Maximum permitted per commercial vehicle:

• One 55 pound cylinder of propane gas.

Recommendations for a pleasant and safe trip

Passengers

• Our ferries are designed to accommodate people with disabilities. Please advise our attendants as soon as you arrive at the crossing so that they may assign you a place that will enable you to enjoy our onboard services.
• Passengers traveling with pets must keep them on a leash or in a cage.
• Please keep the stairways clear during docking.
  

Motorists & truck drivers

• On boarding, wait for the green light or attendant’s instructions.
• Drive slowly when boarding the ferry.
• Always park in the space you are assigned.
• Do not move your vehicle once it is parked, and remember to engage the emergency brake.
• To improve onboard air quality and respect the environment, please turn off your engine. On landing, please start your engine at the very last minute.
• Leave no articles in plain sight, and lock your doors.
• Use caution when opening your doors and walking between vehicles.
• On landing, wait for directions before driving onto the ramp.
  

Motorcyclists

• Please keep your vehicle parked during docking.

Cyclists

• Please walk your bike on the boarding ramps.

Snowmobile drivers

• Install front wheels on your snowmobile to make it easier to move on the ferry and prevent damage.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING EVERYONE STAY SAFE. HAVE A NICE TRIP!

History

Crossing the Saguenay River

The Côte-Nord population increase began only in the middle of the XIXth century. At the time, the means of communications between the two shores at the mouth of the Saguenay River were individually handed with whatever means available.

At the beginning of the XXth century, an embryo of service comes into being. A rowboat carrying the mail makes a crossing. Towards 1925, a motorized rowboat, the Bixie B, owned by Paul-André Tremblay and commanded by captain Jos Deschênes, established a daily crossing between the two shores. That small boat carried different goods and a few passengers. Sometimes, it towed a barge loaded with goods heavier and bigger than itself.

In the 30s, the Côte-Nord urbanization and economic development brought out the need of a better link between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine.

In 1938, a new firm, the Compagnie de navigation Charlevoix-Saguenay, operates the service.

Two years later, in 1940, the Compagnie de navigation Charlevoix-Saguenay and the operation of ferries were handed down to the Clarke Steamship Company Limited.

Until 1958, the crossing was provided every 30 minutes by a ship with side loading, the M.V. Jacques-Cartier, able to carry 12 vehicles.

Another ship, the M.V. Saguenay, began its operation in 1958. Built for $ 474 950 by the Chantiers Davie of Lauzon, the ship could carry 21 vehicles and 200 passengers. Loading was done at both ends of the ship, thus accelerating the service.

Pursuant to a contract signed with the Québec Government in 1961, the Company promised to improve the service with a second ferry, in return for a governmental annual grant of $ 48 000, paid for 12 years.

The following year, the M.V. Charlevoix ferry, able to carry 27 vehicles, left the shipbuilding yard of Saint-Laurent, île d’Orléans, where it was built for $ 495 000.

In April 1970, after the Government had decreed zero fare for vehicles and pedestrians at the Saguenay ferry, a new agreement was signed with the Company, and the Government paid a $ 675 000 grant.

The agreement was renewed for three years in 1971 and the Government promised to pay the Company the following amounts:
$ 743 000 in 1971-1972
$ 790 000 in 1972-1973
$ 839 000 in 1973-1974

The last two amounts were adjusted afterwards, proportionally to the increase of daily crossings.

A third ferry, the Pierre de Saurel, bought by Québec from the Ontario Government, began its operation in 1974, between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine. On April 7, 1976, the Government transferred the ferry to the Société des traversiers. It was kept in service under a lease.

At the beginning of May 1978, the Ministère des Transports had the construction of new landing quays at Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine begun. When completed in 1981, the works represented an investment of about $ 9M.

Simultaneously, the Ministère asked the Société des traversiers to have two new ferries built, adapted to the double ramp system landing and able to carry
60 vehicles. In January 1979, a contract of $ 9 543 740 was granted to Marine Industrie Limited of Sorel for the ships’ construction.

The new ships were launched on February 29 and April 3, 1980 respectively. They were baptized on April 12 and given the names Armand-Imbeau and Jos-Deschênes. In 1980, the Société des traversiers managed the ferry service between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine.

News (in french only)

• General News
  Nouveauté : clip du 40e de la STQ sur YouTube
• General News
  Concours: Ma traversée inoubliable
• General News
  Traversées supplémentaires les 23 février et 22 mars 2012

Pictures of the ferry

Visit Photo Album

Contact Information

General Information
1 877 787-7483


How to get there
Write your postal code:

Administration - Tadoussac Terminal
98, rue du Bateau-Passeur
Tadoussac (Québec) G0T 2A0
Phone :418 235-4395
Fax :418 235-4357

How to get there
Write your postal code:

Baie-Sainte-Catherine Terminal
119, route 138
Baie-Sainte-Catherine (Québec) G0T1A0

How to get there
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Tourist Appeals and Useful Links

• Tourisme Charlevoix
• Tourisme Manicouagan
• Saguenay-St.Lawrence Marine Park
• Book your lodging
• Inforoutière
• Bonjour Québec