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.

OAKGLEN

 

OAKGLEN (3) downbound November 13, 2022 for Sorel, Quebec.
(formerly FEDERAL DANUBE, LAKE ONTARIO)
Built 1980 by N.V. Cockerhill, Belgium

 

FEDERAL DANUBE (1980-1995)
LAKE ONTARIO (1995-2009)
OAKGLEN (3) (2009-Present)

The 1980-built Canada Steamship Lines vessel is the third Seaway vessel to carry the name OAKGLEN.


OAKGLEN (1) was built in 1923 and sailed as THE INTERNATIONAL, J.F. VAUGHAN and MAXINE.
She sailed as OAKGLEN (1) from 1982-1988.

OAKGLEN (2) was built in 1953 for Canada Steamship Lines as T.R. MCLAGAN.
Acquired by P&H Shipping in 1988, T.R. MCLAGAN became OAKGLEN (2).
She was retired in 2002 and sent overseas in a tandem scrap tow with SEAWAY QUEEN.

OAKGLEN (3) was built in 1980 by N.V. Cockerhill Yards in Belgium as FEDERAL DANUBE.
She was one of the four FedNav sister ships acquired by Canada Steamship Lines in 2009.


Sister Ships to OAKGLEN (3):
RICHELIEU (4) (built 1980, formerly FEDERAL OTTAWA, LAKE ERIE)
SAGUENAY (3) (built 1980, formerly FEDERAL THAMES, LAKE SUPERIOR)
MAPLEGLEN (3) (built 1981, formerly FEDERAL MAAS, LAKE MICHIGAN)


The RICHELIEU and SAGUENAY were both scrapped in 2013.
The MAPLEGLEN was scrapped in 2015 (along with 1983-built salty laker BIRCHGLEN).


Of the four sisters, OAKGLEN (3) is the only vessel that remains active...

ALGOMA GUARDIAN

 

ALGOMA GUARDIAN downbound on the St. Lawrence River

The 1987-built ALGOMA GUARDIAN (formerly OMISALJ, GOVIKEN)

Built in Croatia for Jugolinija (the state-operated shipping line of Yugoslavia).
Sailed with a blue hull for the Croatia Line from 1992-1997.
From 1997-2008 she was the green-hulled GOVIKEN of Viken Shipping, flagged out of Nassau, Bahamas.

Sister ships to ALGOMA GUARDIAN:
ALGOMA DISCOVERY (formerly PETKA)
ALGOMA SPIRIT (formerly MALINSKA) was scrapped in 2021 after a grounding the previous season)



Purchased by Algoma in 2008, this ocean-going bulk carrier is no stranger to the Seaway. At 729 feet in length she (along with her sisterships) were the largest saltwater ships to transit the St. Lawrence System.

Her deck cranes were removed in 2009 - but for a very brief period, she sported yellow "saltie" style deck cranes while completely painted in the Algoma colors.

ALGONORTH

ALGONORTH upbound on November 4, 2022

This is why I get up at 4AM...

To watch the world wake up is always a bit surreal.
By the river, it's downright magical.

The pink of the sky, the blue of the water...
And the red hull of ALGONORTH just minutes after sunrise.

 

 

MANITOULIN

MANITOULIN upbound on the St. Lawrence River November 3, 2022

The MANITOULIN features a forward-mounted self-unloading boom, similar to ALGOMA INNOVATOR and ALGOMA INTREPID.

MANITOULIN is also unique ship with a "blended hull".
Originally built in Croatia as a tanker in 1991, (Serving as TRELSI, EURO SWAN and LALANDIA SWAN) the vessel was re-constructed in 2015 with a new bow section featuring a self-unloading boom.

There's also a brand-new (2022) vessel on the Great Lakes with the self-unloading crane towards the bow: The Interlake Steamship Company's 639 foot MARK W BARKER.

Prior to these vessels, the only vessel I can recall with a stand-alone crane at the bow - WITHOUT the presence of forward cabins - Was the grain self-unloader CANADIAN RANGER (also a blended hull). Last active 2008, scrapped 2011.

SPRUCEGLEN

SPRUCEGLEN downbound on the St. Lawrence River October 30, 2022.
(formerly former SELKIRK SETTLER / FEDERAL ST. LOUIS / FRASER)

SPRUCEGLEN was built in 1983 at Govan Shipyards in Glasgow, Scotland as SELKIRK SETTLER for Misener Transportation.

After sailing for FedNav, the "FRASER" was renamed SPRUCEGLEN when acquired by CSL in 2002 (sister MACKENZIE was became BIRCHGLEN).

SPRUCEGLEN (2) is the second Seaway vessel to carry this name...

SPRUCEGLEN (1) was built in 1924. Also sailed as WILLIAM K FIELD, REISS BROTHERS, GEORGE D.GOBLE, ROBERT S PIERSON (1). This vessel was also the last coal-fired Canadian vessel on the Great Lakes. She became "SPRUCEGLEN" when acquired by P&H Shipping in 1982


SPRUCEGLEN (2) was the first of three sister ships, KAMINISTIQUA (the former SASKATCHEWAN PIONEER) being the "newest".

The "middle sister" BIRCHGLEN (the former CANADA MARQUIS / FEDERAL RICHELIEU / MACKENZIE) was retired in 2015 along with MAPLEGLEN (the former FEDERAL MAAS, LAKE MICHIGAN).


Two of the Scotland sisters remain active on the Seaway;
SPRUCEGLEN of Canada Steamship Lines
KAMINISTIQUA of Lower Lakes Transportation
(formerly SASKATCHEWAN PIONEER, LADY HAMILTON, VOYAGEUR PIONEER)

ALGOTERRA

 xxx

ALGOTERRA upbound in the morning sea smoke

ALGOSEA

ALGOSEA (3) upbound on the St. Lawrence Seaway

Tanker built in 1998 as "AGGERSBORG" in Mobile, Alabama. She became "ALGOSEA" when acquired by Algoma in 2005. Her sister ship ALGOMA HANSA (formerly AMELIENBORG) has since been sold (following the end of the 2022 season) and is currently sailing as "ALGO" under the flag of Liberia.

ALGOSEA remains active for Algoma Tankers during the winter months, currently making runs between Sarnia & Nanticoke.


Historically, the name "ALGOSEA" also appeared on the hull of 1983-built self-unloader AMBASADOR / CANADIAN AMBASSADOR when Algoma required the short-term use of another vessel during the 2000 shipping season. After briefly sailing as "ALGOSEA (2)", her name "AMBASADOR" was restored. This vessel also sailed as "PRAMUDITA" in 2012 (before ultimately being scrapped in 2014).

Looking back even further, the 1970-built vessel "BROOKNES" was converted to a self-unloader and re-named "ALGOSEA (1)" from 1976-1982. Resumed sailing as SAUNIERE and for a time was a frequent sight on the Seaway. (SAUNIERE was ultimately scrapped in 2011).

TIM S. DOOL

TIM S. DOOL upbound with iron ore for Hamilton on October 24, 2022
(sailed previously as SENEVILLE from 1967-1993 and ALGOVILLE from 1994 - 2008).

A classic laker - And just the second vessel be built with a single superstructure, with all cabins and pilothouse aft. (Former fleetmate ALGOISLE (aka. SILVER ISLE) was the first modern Laker with this design.

Built by Saint John Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in New Brunswick.

Originally part of the Mohawk Navigation Company, vessel management was taken over by Misener Transportation in 1969.

The vessel would join Pioneer Shipping in 1980, receiving the distinct red and yellow color scheme.

Acquired by Algoma Central in 1994, she became SENNEVILLE.
In 1996, the vessel was widened by approximately 3 feet to increase carrying capacity..

With the angle of the sunlight, can see on the hull where the ship was widened.

Polsteam vessel SOLINA meets TIM S. DOOL.

ALGOMA COMPASS

ALGOMA COMPASS upbound September 8, 2022.
(formerly ROGER M. SKYES,  ADAM E. CORNELIEUS)
Built in 1973 by the American Shipbuilding Company (Toledo, Ohio).

The second of four nearly identical vessels. Constructed with all accommodations aft, which was relatively uncommon at the time.

She also has a rather unusual design with the boom support running aft between her twin smokestacks.


As ADAM E. CORNELIUS she sailed primarily for the American Steamship Company.
For a time, the vessel was chartered by Inland Steel - And was even painted in their colors.

After a period of inactivity from 2012-2014, the vessel was laid up again in 2015 - Remaining idle until purchased by Algoma in 2017. She returned to active duty in 2018 as ALGOMA COMPASS.


At 680 feet in length, the ALGOMA COMPASS is the longest of her sisters, and was the second ship to be constructed. The other vessels are 630 feet long, and her three sisters have been sailing in the colors of Lower Lakes Transportation since 2008.

Sister ships to ALGOMA COMPASS:
CALUMET (formerly WILLIAM R. ROESCH, DAVID Z. NORTON)
MANITIWOC (formerly PAUL THAYER, EARL W. OGLEBAY)
ROBERT S. PIERSON (formerly WOLVERINE)

CSL LAURENTIEN

CSL LAURENTIEN upbound on August 14, 2022

Built in 1977 as LOUIS R. DESMARAIS at Collingwood. During the winter of 2000-01 the vessel was lengthened at Port Weller Drydocks. She received a forebody replacement, and was the third vessel (of four) to be lengthened to the new "Seaway Max" size as part of CSL's "Fleet Renewal Program". Returned to service the following season as "CSL LAURENTIEN".

FEDERAL ASAHI