Off The Rails...

Normally it's exciting to head down to the river to see a ship.
It was hard to describe exactly how I felt on my way to see the TIM S. DOOL, lodged on Crysler Shoal.

The TIM S. DOOL had the misfortune of running aground on Crysler Shoal on November 23, 2024.
The incident reportedly occurred due to the ship suffering a mechanical failure.

Had gotten a chill when I first heard about the incident. Not only is this a particularly difficult section of the river to navigate, but knowledge that the 1970 wreck of the EASTCLIFFE HALL hall is down there added an eerie overtone to the expedition.

The DOOL is in no immediate danger, however the challenge of pulling the stuck freighter off its' strand will be no easy task. Deliberate raising of the Seaway water levels, lightering the cargo - And that's just to start. Expecting to see (at least) two high-power tractor tugs involved in towing her out.

To actually see it there, stranded on the shoal and not moving, gave a sick feeling in the stomach.

It's just a huge hulk of iron lodged on an old island...
But there's definitely something sentimental about these old ships.

Can still remember the first time I saw this vessel, as the red-hulled SENNEVILLE (with bright yellow forecastle). She was sailing with her Pioneer fleetmate SILVER ISLE (aka ALGOISLE, retired 2010).

The SENNEVILLE became ALGOVILLE, eventually being christened TIM S. DOOL.

Stranded freighter TIM S. DOOL (built 1967)
on the southern side of the St. Lawrence Seaway shipping channel.

In the foreground, a stretch of gravel protrudes from the river, evidence of a long-abandoned section railway track bed. This is of course from before the Seaway Project raised the water levels.

Originally constructed in the 1800s, the defunct Grand Trunk / Canadian National Railway bed, where the old steam trains once lumbered by. Trains haven't rumbled through here in over half a century...

On this relatively calm and quiet day, the faint sound of the DOOL's engine could be heard across the open water.

Seaway Traffic (BLAIR MCKEIL, SEDNA DESGAGNES, ALGOMA STRONGFIELD)

 

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More ruins of the "Atlantis of Ontario".
Cement structures alongside the remnants of the old railway, partially submerged.

Lake St. Lawrence

Seaway Traffic (ALGOTERRA)

 

ALGOLUNA

 

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ALGOMA NAVIGATOR (1967 - 2016)

 

 


ALGOMA NAVIGATOR
(formerly DEMETERTON, ST. LAWRENCE NAVIGATOR, CANADIAN NAVIGATOR)
Built 1967 by J. Redhead & Sons of South Shields, England.



Originally constructed as an ocean-going bulk carrier (at 567 feet in length), the deep-sea freighter DEMETERTON was acquired by Federal Commerce and Navigation (FedNav).

She was to become FEDERAL TYNE - But that name never appeared on her hull before she was sold again to Leitch Transports (Upper Lakes Shipping) and became ST. LAWRENCE NAVIGATOR.

Her near-sister, the 1963-built CARLTON (was built at Short Bros, Sunderland, England) sailed as FEDERAL TYNE before joining the fleet and becoming ST. LAWRENCE PROSPECTOR.

Both vessels were lengthened in Amsterdam by 80 feet during 1969.
Both ships also being acquired by Upper Lakes Shipping in 1975.

ST. LAWRENCE NAVIGATOR and ST. LAWRENCE PROSPECTOR sailed until 1978-79, before these two former saltwater vessels were lengthened to 730 feet - Taking on the dimensions of a traditional laker.

The cargo holds and bow sections were cut away, with a new forebody.
They emerged as CANADIAN NAVIGATOR and CANADIAN PROSPECTOR, respectively.

It was a relatively new company tradition to have the "CANADIAN" prefix for vessel names.
(existing names included HUNTER, LEADER, MARINER, CENTURY, PROGRESS, OLYMPIC, TRANSPORT, ENTERPRISE)




The NAVIGATOR was converted to a self unloader in 1997 and remained a relatively familiar sight on the Seaway.

She became ALGOMA NAVIGATOR when acquired by Algoma Central in 2011.
Five years of service in Algoma colors before the vessel was finally retired in 2016.

Quite an unusual career for a one-of-a-kind vessel.
She will be missed along the Seaway, as ships of her era slowly disappear to the scrapyard.

Seaway Traffic (CCGS GABARUS BAY, CCGS ILE SAINT OURS, ATLANTIC HURON, CSL WELLAND, ALGOMA SAULT, CSL WELLAND, ALGOMA EQUINOX, FULDABORG)

(FEDERAL MONTREAL was unloading cargo at Johnstown)

Soon after hitting the water, caught a glimpse of a Coast Guard ship that I'd never seen before...


CCGS GABARUS BAY

Brand new vessel CCGS GABARUS BAY
downbound on her delivery trip to Saint John's, Newfoundland.

Read somewhere that GABARUS BAY was a "rescue lifeboat".




CCGS ILE SAINT OURS

Following closely astern was the more familiar vessel CCGS ILE SAINT OURS.

The ILE SAINT OURS was working the navigational aids, and seemed to head towards Ault Island. Couldn't tell if she was doing work there or just waiting at the anchorage before proceeding downriver.



ATLANTIC HURON
Destined for the salt dock at Morrisburg, managed to catch a glimpse of ATLANTIC HURON.
Saw the bow.... Then she disappeared from view.

High water levels combined with low wind enabled the downbound ship to dock without

A few hours later, I heard a salute...
Possibly CSL WELLAND blowing her horn while passing the salt dock where fleetmate ATLANTIC HURON was unloading.




ALGOMA SAULT
The first ship I'd get to see up close that day was the ALGOMA SAULT.

The 2018-built ALGOMA SAULT returning from Cote St. Catherines, Quebec....
En route to Indiana Harbour, USA. (Anticipated arrival there December 3)

Waves crashing ashore.

Got to see the upbound ALGOMA SAULT meet the downbound CSL WELLAND.

Another SeawayMax Meeting...

CSL WELLAND
Actually saw the CSL WELLAND downbound on my previous trip (Nov 15).
The vessel had returned upriver on November 19th, making another downbound trip today (Nov 29)

The 2014-built CSL WELLAND

The WELLAND sporting her new mural

CSL WELLAND downbound for Montreal.

ALGOMA EQUINOX

The 2013-built ALGOMA EQUINOX

Yet another encounter with the EQUINOX - And a few more neat pictures for my collection. Had just enough lighting to make it work.

The broad side...

Closeup of the bow.

Such a pretty boat - I mean ship!

For the second time that day, got to see a pair of ships meeting...

The upbound ALGOMA EQUINOX meeting the downbound FULDABORG.

The mighty EQUINOX is heading back upriver to the Great Lakes, while the smaller FULDABORG is returning downbound to cross the ocean.



FULDABORG

FULDABORG is downbound

Another encounter with a Wagenborg saltwater cargo ship... Seen many of them so far this year - But hadn't seen this one before.

FULDABORG, destined for Liverpool, United Kingdom.
They also made a stop at Montreal.

With darkness looming, was able to make it to the salt dock in time to catch a glimpse of ATLANTIC HURON before nightfall...

ATLANTIC HURON unloading salt.

Self-unloading boom in action.

Less than 12 hours later, ATLANTIC HURON had finished discharging her cargo and was on her way back upriver returning to the Great Lakes.

Seaway Traffic (CSL WELLAND, FEDERAL CARIBOU, ILE SAINT OURS, ALGOMA DISCOVERY, BBC SONG, GAIA DESGAGNES)

Halfway through the month - and I hadn't seen the same ship twice.
While it's neat to see a vessel making a return trip, it's more exciting to see something you've never seen before.

Saw a couple of familiar vessels today - plus a handful of "new" ones.


CSL WELLAND
First ship of the day...

Closer than I've ever been to the WELLAND to see the big colorful mural painted on her...
During daylight hours, anyway...

Can even see the NIAGARA 2022 logo.
One of the runners is a skeleton?

There's something about the square, boxy stern...
Practical, no doubt. But lacking the intriguing curves and contours of last century's lakers...

Upbound FEDERAL CARIBOU meets the downbound CSL WELLAND.

Watching the ships about to meet, I heard a noise coming from behind...

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship ILE SAINT OURS

ILE SAINT OURS downbound closely behind the WELLAND.

This little boat generated surprisingly big waves!

Three vessels in the frame - although you can barely see the tiny Coast Guard vessel.

The 2016-built FEDERAL CARIBOU upbound for Picton

The vessel appears to be traveling light.
Several crew could be seen along the railing, enjoying the relatively nice mid-November morning.

FEDERAL CARIBOU upbound

ALGOMA DISCOVERY
(formerly MALINSKA, DAVIKEN)

My first encounter with THE 1987-BUILT ALGOMA DISCOVERY, sistership to ALGOMA GUARDIAN.

The DISCOVERY has a yellow foremast (while the GUARDIAN sports a white foremast).

Also, the stack markings on the DISCOVERY didn't seem as faded...
The exhaust system looked rustier, however...

Passing my location, the ALGOMA DISCOVERY blew her horn...
No other boats on the water - And no people around for miles...

BBC SONG
Next up, was a little crane ship carrying a big load.

The 2017-built BBC SONG of Madeira, Portugal.
Transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway from China via the Panama Canal

BBC SONG upbound for Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Anticipated Arrival Nov 17, 2022 - Just two days after seeing her here.

First BBC vessel that I've seen to have deck cranes that aren't yellow...
Carrying big black tanks of some sort.

This little ship caused displaced a surprising amount of water as she passed by...

GAIA DESGAGNES

The tanker weaves her way through the islands.

Instead of water being pulled away as the ship passes, GAIA DESGAGNES seemed to push water up on the bank as she motored by... Unsure if it has anything to do with her "inverted" or "negative stem angle" to her bow.

A beautiful vessel

A perfect way to end the day...?

Just happened to spot CCGS ILE SAINT OURS on her return trip upriver, presumably to the Prescott Coast Guard Base.

The "trifecta" of daily ships - One each from CSL, FedNav and Algoma.
Plus, a crane ship, a tanker - and a Cost Guard vessel.

Another "perfect" day at the river.