Another "list" of frequent Seaway ships...
Camping out overnight, was sure that I'd see ALGOMA HANSA and G3 MARQUIS...
Other names that come to mind are EVANS SPIRIT, KAMINISTIQUA, ALGONORTH and CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN,
Got to see all the ships on the list - eventually.
First ship of my day was NORTHERN SPIRIT, which I may have only ever seen once or twice.
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Downbound shortly thereafter was her fleetmate EVANS SPIRIT, with her unusual apparatus amidships.
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Figured that I had missed CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN. She was due at
Iroquois around 6am. May have anchored for crew rest, because her last
location before I headed out was Saint Zotique, so I was cautiously
optimistic.
As the next ship appeared upbound on the horizon, I noted the extra wide bridge (in relation to the slightly narrower superstructure beneath). Next color I saw was red... So I immediately thought CSL. Of course, it could have been an optical illusion considering she was 20 miles away, or it could have been her deck. As the ship came closer into view, could make out the Algoma logo, and eventually the bright blue paint.
It was in fact the CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN
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Shortly after passing my location, the sprayers on deck started hosing her down.
Already have a terrific snapshot of the JACKMAN (one of my best shots from last year), but the nostalgic name does it for me - Even if it's in name only. As does ALGONORTH, whom I'd see the next morning.
A CSL ship appeared on the horizon. Wasn't sure if it was the painted mural of the WELLAND or ST LAURENT, but a self-unloading boom crane quickly came into focus as the 2013-built THUNDER BAY traveled upriver.
She didn't seem to be making much progress and must be anchored - Possibly for the night. As the lights came on, it was clear she was there to stay - For at least eight hours, anyway. That meant pulling away at around 2-3 am... It still would have been black out!
THUNDER BAY tucked in for the night just off Ault Island, likely for crew rest.
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Before dark, CSL fleetmate OAKGLEN (the former FEDERAL DANUBE) emerged, making her way up the channel as another pair of fleetmates pass each other.
It's normally more enjoyable to see a ship in the daytime... But there's just something about the magic (and mystery) of the night! As I was hoping, it was fairly dark by the time OAKGLEN arrived... She was all lit up, and (built in 1980) is a "classic" as far as I'm concerned.
A "red planet" appeared immediately over the horizon, quickly changed to orange by the time it was mid-sky.
During the night, a mystery ship was upbound. Seemed too loud to be the "brand new" THUNDER BAY...
Have since learned that the ATLANTIC HURON traveled upriver during the night... Which would explain the sound of her 40 year old engine.