Seaway Traffic (ALGOTERRA, ALGONOVA, ALGOMA COMPASS, ALGOMA EQUINOX, MARGUERITA, GAIA DESGAGNES)

Arrived at the river just in time to see ALGOTERRA.

ALGOTERRA
Fire, Sea Smoke and Earth...

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ALGONOVA

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ALGOMA COMPASS
ALGOMA COMPASS returning upriver to Goderich, Ontario after delivering in St. Catherine, Quebec.

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Waiting for the EQUINOX...
Canada Geese white Snow Goose among them

Shortly after spotting the EQUINOX, and knowing it was still 45 minutes away...
Took a look upriver, and spotted MARGUERITA.

Checking on the status of the EQUINOX, and was surprised to see another vessel on the horizon.
Before the EQUINOX arrived, GAIA DESGAGNES could be seen following her closely.

Checking the timestamp of my photos, the small DESGAGNES tanker is just 20 minutes behind the mighty EQUINOX...

One of my favorite snapshots of the day...
The huge bow of the EQUINOX rounds the corner with the DESGAGNES ship emerging from the infinite beyond...

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Could hear the sounds of heavy equipment as the EQUINOX approached.
Zooming in with my binoculars (and camera), observed the crew working around the crane hatch.
Heavy equipment, hatch crane hatch.

Something boring and mundane to them is fascinating to me.

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Before reaching Mariatown, the upbound EQUINOX met the downbound MARGUERITA.

ALGOMA EQUINOX meets saltie MARGUERITA

EQUINOX saluted at Mariatown as she's known to do.
Apparently, the Captain (or another ranking officer) is a fan of another Seaway enthusiast there.
Truly remarkable when people admire each other's work.




Another random saltwater ship to add some flavor to the afternoon...

MARGUERITA

Big, small, lean or tall...
When it comes to cargo vessels, I like 'em all.

Closeup of the bow

The stern

Her profile

MARGUERITA would also meet GAIA DESGAGNES on this stretch of river

Downbound MARGERITA meets upbound tanker GAIA DESGAGNES

GAIA DESGAGNES on a beautiful day

The 2018-built GAIA DESGAGNES

My first encounter with GAIA DESGAGNES.
I always like seeing the smaller DESGAGNES ships... Possibly because they each tend to be relatively unique with their own "personality".

So how do you pronounce "GAIA"?
Just assuming the vessel is named after a female member of the DESGAGNES family, and not the Greek

Goddess...
I'm going to say "GUY-YA" until someone tells me differently.

A close-up look at the unusually shaped bow.

Closeup of the unusual bow

Her profile

Three tankers, two self unloaders and a saltie
Altogether, six ships on the day.

Also got to see vessels meeting/passing each other for the third day this week.

Could have waited for the upbound ALGOMA HARVESTER, but three hours after the DESGAGNES ship, I was ready to head out and get packed for another day. Snuck a peek up the channel, but no sign of her.

Otherwise, another "perfect" day by the river.

ALGOTERRA

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ALGOTERRA upbound in the morning sea smoke

Fall on the River...

Sea smoke and sea gulls...

Beautiful morning...

Sunrise...

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Lone Snow Goose...

Geese gathering...

Geese and marker buoys

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).

Seaway Traffic (FEDERAL BARENTS, SCOT LEIPZIG, FEDERAL KATSURA)

Feeling the effects from the day before...
Chilled to the bone with an itchy nose - But I was also itching to get back on the water.

Got to see three ships, all of which were new to me.

Was a bit late leaving by 15 minutes... Which actually worked out to my favor.
Ready to hit the water, when in the dark, the lights of the FEDERAL BARENTS could be seen traveling down river.

Perfect timing to prepare for her arrival. Even though the sun wasn't up yet, I still got to appreciate the magic and mystery of a "nighttime" vessel.

Lots of sea smoke - increasing to the point of islands disappearing.
Low wind to start, switching to the east, back to the northeast.

Apparently, ALGONORTH was anchored at Wilson Hill...
Destined for upriver, missed the ship, was hoping to catch it.
Must have just missed it. Would have been in the dark anyway.

When FEDERAL BARENTS appeared, it was still dark.
Just the green lights on her forward mast and superstructure were visible.

Fortunately, as she approached, there was just enough light to capture her silhouette, as well as a few other details.

2015-built FEDERAL BARENTS downbound for Quebec.

Some great shots for my collection today, but somehow these are my favorites...

Seagull makes a "V" above the first crane

FEDERAL BARENTS disappears into the sea smoke as the gulls take to the sky.

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Next vessel was the downbound SCOT LEIPZIG en route to New Orleans (anticipated arrival Nov 7). The unusual apparatus on either side of the cabin area appears to be the exhaust system...

2004-built chemical tanker SCOT LEIPZIG

Flagged out of Valetta, Malta. Managed by Scot Tanker Isletmeciligi located in Instanbul, Turkey.




No colors, but I absolutely love it.

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Had to wait for the ship to turn the right way before attempting to capture the vessel in her true colors.

Was unsure what to think of the red equipment on either side of the cabin area - Looking at photos of her fleetmates, I believe it's the exhaust system.

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Could tell right away that the 2005-built FEDERAL KATSURA had a slightly different profile than other FedNav vessels (sistership to FEDERAL SAKURA).

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FEDERAL KATSURA upbound for Duluth, Superior

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What's with the huge windows underneath the bridge?
Those be the Captains' quarters, methinks...

I still like the look of the ship, but hope to do more research...


Only three ships on the day.
All were interesting and unique, so I'll take it as a win.


End of the day, wind picked up from the east.

Before The Sunrise...

Sun rising over the mighty St. Lawrence

Sea smoke everywhere...

Bald Eagle heading for the islands

Shoreline in fall

A brick from the Lost Villages, just off Old Highway 2

With the recent raising (and subsequent lowering) of the St. Lawrence River, objects that have washed ashore provide a mark of exactly how high the water level was just a couple weeks ago.

Ladder washed up on the rocks...

Seaway Traffic (ISOLDA, SPRUCEGLEN, CSL LAURENTIEN, ALGOMA STRONGFIELD, GRIFFON)

Seem to remember this day being chilly, damp and miserable...

Cloudy when I got to the water. Yet, could have sworn that I woke up to a starry sky - As well as a possible Taurid meteor in the early AM.

Then again, three days in a row at the river can easily blur together. I just know it slowly cleared by late afternoon.


I like the name "ISOLDA".
Apparently, it means "beautiful" or "fair".

Found this day to be anything but.
The warm temperature was negated by the steady wind off the water.


At least there was a ship to watch at first light.
Photos didn't turn out so well, but watching the silhouette of the vessel emerge from the horizon at first light was the best part of this otherwise dreary morning.

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The upbound ISOLDA passes by another vessel that was anchored off Ault Island (possibly a tug & barge). The mystery ship departed and headed downriver mid-morning.

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The 1999-built ISOLDA

At first, the blue paint on the POLSTEAM vessels threw me off...
But it's starting to grow on me.

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Next vessel would be SPRUCEGLEN
The skies were just starting to clear, so I manage to catch a bit of color.
The shape of the stern is particularly interesting.

Look at the profile and lines of this 1983-built vessel.

Before the SPRUCEGLEN disappeared off the horizon, she met the upbound NACC QUEBEC.

Vessels meeting near Bradford Islands

NACC QUEBEC upbound

First time I've seen NACC QUEBEC this year. She's only transited the Seaway a few times in 2022.
Last season, I saw this little ship more times than I can count.

Huge stack...

NACC QUEBEC has a very uniquely shape to her smokestack - Which used to be blue in color.
Another ship sporting new paint since last year.





CSL LAURENTIEN
Hear that engine!

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Re-built with a new bow, she's still a "classic" as far as I'm concerned.

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 Vessel turns the other way, with enough sunlight on the hull to catch some color.

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The CSL LAURENTIEN is the third "sister" to have transited the Seaway System in the past 24 hours...
(The CSL ASSINIBOINE was upbound today in the early AM, with RT HON PAUL J MARTIN downbound yesterday afternoon).
Haven't seen CSL NIAGARA yet this year - She's only transited the system once, with a round trip in early April 2022.





ALGOMA STRONGFIELD
Did NOT hear that engine!
The quiet modern-age vessel nearly got past me before I was ready.

The 2017-built ALGOMA STRONGFIELD

ALGOMA STRONGFIELD

Just love the name if this ship!

While the hull was under construction, the "CWB STRONGFIELD" was purchased by Algoma and they named her "ALGOMA STRONGFIELD". Curious to get a better look at the superstructure to see if I could notice any details that set her apart from her Equinox-Class fleetmates...



Surprise ship of the day - CCGS GRIFFON
Can definitely hear this engine!

CCGS GRIFFON downbound

Great variety of ships today, capping it off with the "Surprise Ship of the Day"... The CCGS GRIFFON.
Undoubtely the oldest vessel in the channel today.



Went to the Iroquois Lock in hopes of catching the downbound BAIE ST PAUL.
No sign of the ship, so decided to call it a day.
She'd arrive approximately 20 minutes after sunset.


The skies had completely cleared by late afternoon.
Just had to stop at the old pre-Seaway canal at Iroquois

The old canal on the left, the modern Seaway channel on right.

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