Iroquois Lock (HARBOUR FASHION SPRUCEGLEN, ALGOMA INTREPID)

Hoped to arrive in time to see tanker HARBOUR FASHION pull into the Iroquois Locks.

When I arrived, she was already inside the lock, and was still moving...

HARBOUR FASHION downbound at Iroquois

The superstructure and accommodations area

Captured the flag

Tied to the lock wall

Secured and waiting...

As the mighty SPRUCEGLEN approached, I kept waiting for a sign that the much smaller HARBOUR FASHION would clear the lock... But it had not moved at all.

Apparently, the vessel had experienced a mechanical issue.

Red lights

Last time I saw a ship stuck in the locks, it was there for days...

SPRUCEGLEN slowed down to a crawl, and even started moving very slowly back upriver, seeming to indicate that she had put on the "brakes" by going into reverse.

Such a tease...
This was as close as I could get to SPRUCEGLEN, one of my favorite older ships.

Looking at SPRUCEGLEN - Through the Spruce trees.

The top of the superstructure is all that's visible from the hill

At least I got to see the ALGOMA INTREPID, one of my favorite new ships.

ALGOMA INTREPID in the distance as seen from Iroquois Lock

ALGOMA INTREPID, slowing down as she approaches the lock.

 

Had no idea how long this traffic jam would last. Fortunately, the hold up only caused a delay of a few hours instead of days.

HARBOUR FASHION remains inside the Iroquois Lock

Fortunately, the problem was resolved, and HARBOUR FASHION was able to leave the lock and continue downriver.

 

CSL ST-LAURENT

Goose Graffiti

I bet the CSL ST-LAURENT gets photographed more than other ships just because she has a colorful Canada Goose painted on her superstructure...

CSL ST-LAURENT downbound

Stopped by the river to try and get a decent shot for my collection. Perfect timing, as I arrived at the river just as she was approaching.

Previous attempts were too grey and cloudy. Today was only slightly brighter - But I was closer to the ship than before.

Closeup of the bow

Heading for Iroquois

Seaway Traffic (FEDERAL MOSEL, ALGOMA SAULT, LE BELLOT)

Decent crop of relatively new vessels...
A red ship, blue ship, and a new ship.

The 2017-built FEDERAL MOSEL upbound for Oshawa

Always intrigued by the shape of the bow on some of these FedNav ships...

Optics of the curve...

Dwarfed by the mighty superstructure

x

FEDERAL MOSEL disappearing in the distance

Always amazed at how the ships zig-zag through the channel

Shorebirds hunting for Crayfish

Waiting for the next ship, the downbound ALGOMA SAULT

Nothing in sight just yet...

The 2018-built ALGOMA SAULT

ALGOMA SAULT approaching

Downbound for Quebec City

Definitely has newer paint than some of her fleetmates (Especially the EQUINOX and HARVESTER)

Closeup of the bow

Upbound passenger vessel LE BELLOT meets the downbound ALGOMA SAULT

The two vessels meet in front of MacDonald Island

The 2020-built LE BELLOT

Passenger vessels like this are becoming more common on the Seaway.

Can just barely see the colors of the French flag

The two vessels had practically upbound lock times at Eisenhower and Iroquois. They met close to MacDonald Island. Specularing that it's approximately the "halfway point" between locks... Guessing an hour from their in either direction to the lock? Arrival time plus one hour and forty-five minutes?

From Eisenhower to Iroquois

Started my day seven miles west of the Eisenhower Lock, and found myself making a trip to Iroquois to catch a couple of ships at the end of the day.

White Heron

Pair of White Herons in flight

Seems that a replacement marker has been installed at Farran's Point...

New Marker

It has to be brand new, because I'm pretty sure there was no marker last month.
(was no marker on my last trip Aug 9)



Outside from the Eisenhower Lock, got to see a number of ships (ALGOMA HARVESTER, TORRENT, BLAIR MCKIEL, CSL ASSINIBOINE). Unfortunately, the sun was on the opposite side with nothing but a black shadow for a hull.




TORRENT passes Croil Island, downbound on the St. Lawrence River.


Got to see TORRENT making her return trip downbound. (had been upbound Aug 27)
Any upbound saltwater vessel will eventually come back downriver - But there's also a chance that she'll pass by at night in the dark. I always find it special to catch the ship on its' return trip downbound.








The tiny McKIEL ship barely shows up at all.

ALGOMA MARINER, ALGOMA INTREPID

Thought I had missed the ALGOMA MARINER...
Fortunately for me, she spent the day at the Wilson Hill anchorage for crew rest, and I was able to catch her transiting the Iroquois Locks during the late afternoon.

Upbound ALGOMA MARINER transiting Iroquois Lock

The 2011-built ALGOMA MARINER

Closeup look at the superstructure

Closeup of the bow

The ALGOMA MARINER exists because of the unplanned loss of ALGOPORT - A "forebody replacement" had been planned for ALGOPORT in 2009, but the vessel sank en route to the overseas shipyard. This led to the building of an entirely new vessel known as ALGOMA MARINER, completed in 2011.

Possible seam where the two pieces were welded together?

This trip to the locks was two for one... Got to see the MARINER for the very first time - But it was the ALGOMA INTREPID that I was most looking forward to.

Fourth time seeing this vessel, but getting a chance to appreciate all the details...

ALGOMA INTREPID slowly crawls into the lock.

The INTREPID has only transited the Seaway several times this year, and I've caught her twice.
Seen her four times altogether, including once at the Iroquois Locks.

ALGOMA INTREPID easing through the lock

Length of the crane

Headed downriver to catch the ship...