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| 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.
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| MANITOULIN upbound on the St. Lawrence River November 3, 2022 |
Figured best case scenario, I'd get a glimpse of the vessel disappearing upriver...
But she was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, the huge superstructure with lights could be seen through the trees...
Verifying that it was in fact moving this way, headed back to catch her just before the sun rises over the river.
Hope to get many more snapshots this November - But this one already stands out as memorable in my collection.
Bright red & orange sky - Even captured a couple of marker buoys.
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| CSL ST-LAURENT before the sunrise |
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| Upbound CSL ST-LAURENT with lights on |
The first official daytime vessel was the upbound ALGOMA STRONGFIELD.
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| ALGOMA STRONGFIELD approaches |
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| ALGOMA STRONGFIELD upbound for Hamilton |
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| ALGOMA STRONGFIELD profile view |
Just like I'd seen the other day on another Equinox Class vessel, some of the crew were working with the hatch crane.
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| Working with the hatch crane |
Next vessel was the upbound SARAH DESGAGNES. As the DESGAGNES ship approached, a few seagulls, plus another fishing bird that I'm not familiar with...
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| SARAH DESGAGNES in the distance |
Definitely not a Cormorant or a Loon, but hunting for fish in a similar manner.
Grey and white in color. Fishing in the channel before the vessel arrives.
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| Birds in the channel... |
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| The DESGAGNES vessel, at an angle where sunlight reveals her true color.. |
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| I love the water in this snapshot... Very calm, with just the slightest ripple to it. |
Check out that wide smokestack
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| 2007-built SARAH DESGAGNES |
Keeping my eyes peeled for MANITOULIN. The vessel was due to arrive at Eisenhower at 1:29pm, should be departing the lock by 2:15. With that in mind, the vessel should be coming into range around 2:45.
Headed east, to the furthest possible observation point to catch the
ship as soon as she exits the Wiley-Dondero canal. Checking the
timestamp, I spotted her several minutes sooner than I normally would.
There she is!
Right on time.
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| MANITOULIN |
Missed her previous transit in the dark (downbound Oct 30) - Couldn't believe my luck when I found out that she'd be passing by today (Nov 3) in the late afternoon with good sunlight.
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| MANITOULIN returns back upriver destined for Hamilton |
MANITOULIN is a 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.
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| The vessel was re-constructed in 2015 with a forward-mounted boom |
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| Full length of the self-unloading crane |
MANITOULIN saluted as she was passing Morrisburg approacing Mariatown
The late ship of daylight was BAIE COMEAU.
Could have waited for the ship to arrive- But I
already have some memorable snapshots of this vessel in my collection -
Plus I wanted to get prepared for the next day.
4.37AM
Downbound NAIRE is preparing to enter the Beauharnois Canal, en route to Psachna, Greece.
Downbound EVERLAST & NORMAN MCLEOD (destined for Valleyfield, Quebec) have just passed the upbound ALGOMA STRONGFIELD (destined for Hamilton, Ontario) near Glen Walter.
SARAH DESGAGNES is upbound approaching Summerstown.
CSL ST-LAURENT is upbound for Thunder Bay, NACC ARGONAUT is downbound for Port Daine, both vessels meeting approximately halfway between Eisenhower Lock and Snell Lock.
4:46AM
Downbound BLAIR MCKEIL has cleared the Iroquois lock, while FEDERAL CHAMPLAIN is upbound slowing as she approaches Iroquois.
ALGOSCOTIA is upbound, halfway between Prescott and Brockville, en route to Nanticoke.
ALGOMA CONVEYOR is upbound for Hamilton, exiting the system, heading out onto Lake Ontario.
AMY LYN D is downbound, halfway across Lake Ontario.
FAGELGRACHT is upbound, approaching the halfway point across Lake Ontario.
8.19PM
EVERLAST & NORMAN MCLEOD upbound, slowing to enter Iroquois Lock
CHESTNUT has cleared the Iroquois Lock, travelling at 11.9 knots just passing the "Old Highway 2 Bridge" near Hilliards Creek.
Upbound ALGOMA CONVEYOR has just passed the downbound NAIRE at Goose Neck Island Shoal.
Upbound saltie IRYDA is slowing to a crawl outside the Eisenhower Lock.
8.25PM
The downbound ALGOMA EQUINOX is in the Wiley-Dondero Canal, slowing to 2.1 knots approaching Eisenhower. Fleetmate ALGOMA TRANSPORT (an unusual sight on this part of the Seaway) has already cleared the Eisenhower Lock, and is halfway between Eisenhower and Snell.
FAGELGRACHT is also upbound, approaching Prescott.
Still feeling wiped - After FIVE days on the water, I'm tired in the best possible way.
Today could have been a decent day at the river - actually found it to be a bit humid...
But I needed a break.
Not feeling completely drained and exhausted - but there's a sluggish, lightheadedness that needs to pass. Possibly a touch too much sun yesterday, running on minimal sleep, plus constant exposure to fresh air that makes me sleep soundly at night.
The Seaway operates 24/7. Seems like there's always something to see...
Had to resist the urge to check the vessel lock times...
Found myself glancing briefly at the AIS map at dawn.
CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN anchored off AULT ISLAND
BAIE COMEAU was heading downriver approaching Eisenhower, followed by ALGOMA MARINER.
One of the big OCEAN tugs was upbound.
Tanker HARBOUR EXPRESS was also on her way upriver.
That was enough to satisfy my curiosity.
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| SPRUCEGLEN downbound on the St. Lawrence River October 30, 2022. (formerly former SELKIRK SETTLER / FEDERAL ST. LOUIS / FRASER) |
