Seaway Traffic (ABB VANESSA, FAIR JEANNE, CCGS GRIFFON, CANADIAN EMPRESS, BAIE COMEAU, PAUL A. DESGAGNES, KAMINISTIQUA)

Incredibly calm, glassy morning... The smoothest river morning that I've woken up to, possibly ever.

Another morning of oldschool ship watching...

First up was a saltwater crane ship with a fairly new design (actually 2009). Guessing by the cranes all being on one side of the ship (instead of in the middle). Assuming it's for a less-obstructing view from the helm.

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A partial load of brightly colored shipping containers... The water still looks slightly glassy.

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Curious that there are no windows on the side of the superstructure, other than on the bridge.
I've seen an anchor setup like this one before, possibly on one of the BBC ships...

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The upbound ABB VANESSA would meet the downbound ALGONORTH.

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A half decent ALGONORTH photo for my collection...

ALGONORTH is downbound for Tracy, Quebec.

No schedule or lock times- Although I did observe that BAIE COMEAU was somewhere in the province of Quebec, possibly Valleyfield (incidently, so was ALGOMA TRANSPORT which I have never seen, even back when she was CANADIAN TRANSPORT)

BAIE COMEAU approaches

BAIE COMEAU followed shortly afterwards. Possibly the clearest color of any ship that I snapped on this trip... Must compare to previous photo(s) of this vessel, last fall (2021).

A photo-bombing pleasurecraft made sure to stay with the vessel when the lighting was at its best... If nothing else, it just helps illustrate just how huge one of these things is.

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FAIR JEANNE (sailboat)
Been watching Pirates of the Carribbean, so this might as well be a pirate ship.
Shiver me timbers, matey!

FAIR JEANNE upbound for Brockville

CGS GRIFFON (appeared to be tending a buoy)

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A puff of smoke gave a clue that she was powering up to pull away. Another big puff of smoke was a signal that she was going to be motoring down the channel.

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CANADIAN EMPRESS, upbound. They seem to like to jump just ahead of a ship, because it often seems that way...

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There's a fine window when the light is shining on the ship so that the colors actually turn out when photographed. In a few instances, I'm glad I kept snapping because I managed to get at least one shot that reveals the color... Figured I'd get nothing of the Desgagnes stripe on PAUL A, but there it is!


Had seen PAUL A DESGAGNES before from a distance... (Possibly alongside ATLANTIC HURON) This was the first time to get a really good look at the "tiny" tanker. The ship looks new - or at least the paint job is.

PAUL A. DESGAGNES downbound

Before departing, another ship emerged downbound.

KAMINISTIQUA downbound

One glance, and I knew it was the KAMINISTIQUA.

Moon in the sky and KAMINISTIQUA on the River

KAMINISTIQUA downbound for Port Cartier

Great way to end the trip.

Another "perfect" couple of days by the river.

Upon landing, dark clouds to the north, and even some lightning.

 ABB VANESSA (was almost halfway across Lake Ontario by 10pm)

 

Seaway Traffic (NORTHERN SPIRIT, EVANS McKIEL, CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN, THUNDER BAY)

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.

List of Ships Seen August 2022

CANADIAN EMPRESS
ALGOMA COMPASS
FEDERAL FREEDOM
CSL WELLAND
CSL ST-LAURENT
ATLANTIC HURON
CSL ASSINBOINE
WILF SEYMOUR & ALOUETTE SPIRIT
TUNDRA
FEDERAL ALSTER
HINCH SPIRIT
MISS LIS & JMC258
MICK
FLORETGRACHT
WHISTLER
ATLANTIC SPIRIT
BRUCE
ALGOMA NIAGARA
WHITEFISH BAY
DAMIA DESGAGNES
ALGOMA BUFFALO
RUDDY
ALGOMA HANSA
NACC ARGONAUT
SPARTAN & SPARTAN II
PEYTON LYNN C
IRYDA
FAGELGRACHT
JANIS
HINCH SPIRIT
THUNDER BAY
ALGOMA HARVESTER
CCGS GRIFFON
FEDERAL LEDA
LEGERTHA
ALGOMA STRONGFIELD
CSL LAURENTIEN
FEDERAL BEAUFORT
ISABELLE G
SUSANA S
SPRUCEGLEN
MANDARIN
JULIE C
STRANDJA
G3 MARQUIS
ALGOMA EQUINOX
HELENA G
ALGOTERRA
RADCLIFFE R LATIMER
CCGS GRIFFON
VECTIS PROGRESS
TORRENT
ONEGO MAAS
FEDERAL WELLAND

August Ships (Aug 1 thru Aug 20, 2022)

KAMINISTIQUA upbound on August 1 destined for Thunder Bay
Built in 1983 as the SASKATCHEWAN PIONEER.

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ALGOMA COMPASS downbound on August 1 with cargo of salt for Cote Ste Catharines.
Built in 1973 for the American Steamship Company. Acquired by Algoma in 2018

ALGOMA INTREPID downbound on August 5 Montreal.
Another "brand new" Seaway vessel, the 2020 built is 650 feet in length -
Almost a hundred feet shorter than some of her fleetmates.

TUNDRA upbound on August 5 for Sault Ste Marie.
Launched in 2009, her sister ships include BARNACLE, BLACKY, BRANT, CHESTNUT, RUDDY, TORRENT, and TUFTY.

PEYTON LYNN C upbound August 10 for Cleveland.
Built in 2007, have seen photos of her with deck cranes.
Previous names: GESINA SCHEPERS, EEMSDIJK.

Downbound POLSTEAM vessel IRDYA passes the upbound JANIS on August 12, 2022.

2014-built ALGOMA HARVESTER upbound on August 13 for Hamilton with iron ore.

The 2003-built FEDERAL LEDA of Majuro upbound August 13 destined for Hamilton.
Sister ship to FEDERAL DANUBE, FEDERAL ELBE, FEDERAL EMS and FEDERAL WESER.

CSL ASSINIBOINE upbound on August 14.

Built in 1977 as JEAN PARISIEN at Davie Shipyards in Lauzon, Quebec. During the winter of 2004-05 the vessel was lengthened at Port Weller Drydocks. She received a forebody replacement, lengthened to the new "Seaway Max" size as part of CSL's "Fleet Renewal Program". She was the fourth vessel (of four) to have her life (and dimensions) extended, her three sister ships (CSL ASSINIBOINE, CSL NIAGARA and RT HON PAUL J MARTIN) having already undergone the precedure.

ALGOMA EQUINOX upbound on August 20.
First appearing on the Seaway in December 2013, the ALGOMA EQUINOX was the first member in a growing fleet of vessels (ten so far) in the "Equinox Class".

Another day with very few ships during daylight hours...
Missed the Fednav ship (Possibly FEDERAL DELTA) in the early AM.

Another morning with WHITEFISH BAY upbound...

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Exploring the stones of an old laneway...

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Found a cemented block of stones - and then a second one. Possible "gates" or sign for an entrance?

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Clay tiles joined together to make a culvert

Broken piece of clay tile washed near the shore.

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Left the water a bit early as the sky got dark, and not a moment too soon.
Saw lightning strike to the west on the drive home.
Got home, unloaded, and just getting inside when it started to rain.

Missed the ALGOMA ship, which would have been the "trifecta" had I seen all three - One ship from each of the major Canadian Shipping Companies. Believe it may have been the ALGOMA SAULT, which I've seen a bunch of times anyway.

Seaway Traffic (FEDERAL WELLAND, ALGOMA HANSA)

In the morning light, it's possible to observe the exact minute that the colors change.

The same scene taken one minute later, the sky is red to suddenly blue. This happened around 6:18AM.

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Saw the blue "Diving Boat" heading upriver in the morning, returning back in the afternoon with wetsuits, presumabily drying on the railing on the return trip.

Another day of oldschool ship watching... No digital technology for tracking of vessels, just keeping my eyes open. Unfortunately, very few ships actually appeared.


Caught the FEDERAL WELLAND heading downbound.

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ALGOMA HANSA was upbound.

ALGOMA HANSA approaches, saluting

The ALGOMA HANSA actually saluted a couple of times. Lots of pleasurecraft on the water. Not sure exactly who she was saluting, but it's always neat.

ALGOMA HANSA

At first, Thought the HANSA might even be the ALGOSEA on a return trip... (looking it up, the ships are exactly the same size. Not sure if they're sisters, but share a number of similarities).

I also previously thought that if one were to spend a weekend at the river, the likely ships to see would be the

ALGOMA HANSA, the G3 MARQUIS and/or the tug barge combination of EVERLAST and NORMAN MACLEOD. These regular Seaway vessels also frequently use the Wilson Hill anchorage just off Ault Island. So does ALGONORTH, which I haven't seen in a while...

Seaway Traffic (VECTIS PROGRESS, TORRENT, ONEGO MAAS, JULIE C)

First ship on the horizon was the upbound VECTIS PROGRESS. Was expecting a cool-looking hull design, and I wasn't disappointed. Somewhere upriver, she undoubtedly passed by fleetmate JULIE C. (Likely somewhere around Kingston)

VECTS PROGRESS

VECTIS PROGRESS is upbound

Next up, would be a boat with a cool-sounding, one-word name. Expected it to be a green-hulled saltwater crane ship, and my suspicions were correct.

TORRENT is upbound

The 2010-built TORRENT

Another saltwater crane ship, upbound. That's three in a row. The rather cool looking and sleek ONEGO MAAS. Decent photos, but the lighting made the hull look black instead of brilliant blue.

The 2011-built ONEGO MAAS

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Yet another crane ship, this time the downbound JULIE C. Approximately 9-10 days after seeing her upbound. Lighting was much more ideal this time round.

The 2009-built JULIE C

Always enjoy the magic and wonder of nighttime ships... It's something special to see them in the middle of the night, with no clue what they are.

The only ship I saw in darkness was predictable, as I was expecting ALGOSEA after nightfall. There she was, out of the darkness, just a couple of lights on this tiny tanker.

She's barely 400 feet long, but looked to be a mere 100 feet as she first appeared. As she got closer to the angle changed, the range lights expanded. The ship appeared to grow, revealing her full length.

Evening vessel passages:

SUSANA S & ERIEBORG were downbound
ECOSSE & JOHANNA G both upbound

Seaway Traffic (ALGOTERRA, RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER, CCGS GRIFFON)

Wide awake at 1:48 am. Thought it was closer to 3 or 4. Had already gotten up for the day, so got ready to head out anyway.

A nice, slow leisurely breakfast and coffee that somehow took 2 hours. Got packed up and heading out onto the road by 5:43. A new record for this year, beating the previous time by over an hour.

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Got to the river and it was still dark, buoys flashing, seemed to stop flashing before the sun came up. Glassy calm with fog. Felt tired and queasy, but was excited to get on the calm water.

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The ALGOTERRA downbound for Halifax.

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At first, it was kinda strange seeing a couple ALGOMA vessels with red hulls. bright red in the colors of her previous owners actually looks good with the red/black ALGOMA smokestack...

ALGONOVA downbound

Now that I've gotten accustomed to recognizing these vessels by their paint schemes, I'd actually like them to keep this shade of red.


RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER

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The LATIMER is a the former ALGOBAY / ATLANTIC TRADER.
Was upgraded to "Caribbean Class" in 1988. Could she be considered a "salty laker"?





CCGS GRIFFON downbound for Prescott

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Knew the Coast Guard Griffon was out there somewhere, and later in the afternoon, heard the chugging of that old engine! CCGS GRIFFON is from the 1970s.


Monarch Butterfly...

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ANOTHER "perfect" day by the river.