Seaway Evening Traffic...

November 5
8:32PM

ALGOMA DISCOVERY is upbound between Iroquois and Prescott, destined for Thunder Bay

PAUL A DESGAGNES is destined for Oakville, upbound transiting the Iroquois Lock

OSOGOVO of the Navi-Bulgar fleet is making another trip upbound on the Seaway at daybreak.

ALGOMA CONVEYOR has almost finished crossing Lake Ontario, making another trip downbound trip to Quebec City, and should appear on the Seaway during the daytime.

BLAIR MCKEIL is upbound
Saltie GARDNO is upbound
FEDERAL SHIMANTO is downbound


CAPTAIN HENRY JACKMAN is anchored on Lake Erie. Will cross Lake Ontario, destined for Baie Comeau, Quebec.

ALGOMA TRANSPORT will also be returning upriver. Still moored in Quebec City, destined for Port Colborne.




JOHN D. LEITCH is downbound and destined for Ogdensberg.
MANITOULIN is eastbound on Lake Ontario destined for Port Cartier, Quebec.

Seaway Evening & Early AM Passages...

Elected to stay off the river today, with a combination of high wind and few vessels to see - Most of them will transit in the dark.

Evening Passages November 4, 2022:
RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER, ALGOSEA, ALGOMA NIAGARA all downbound



Early AM Passages November 5, 2022:
SPRUCEGLEN and HARBOUR EXPRESS are downbound, while green-hulled saltwater vessel MOTTLER is upbound.

TIM S. DOOL was the only vessel scheduled during daylight hours - And the downbound vessel has since been delayed until late afternoon.

Tanker SUSANA S is also expected downbound in the late morning.

ALGOMA DISCOVERY is now upbound, set to arrive before nightfall.

Seaway Traffic (ALGONORTH, FEDERAL KUSHIRO, MAMRY, BBC KWIATKOWSKI, CSL WELLAND)

Didn't expect to see ALGONORTH today...

Many times, she's been at the anchorage when I check the AIS map, only to disappear upriver by the time I arrive. Managed to catch the red tanker returning upriver after she departed the anchorage at Wilson Hill.

ALGONORTH at sunrise

Despite being a frequent Seaway vessel, I simply did not have any memorable photos of ALGONORTH in my collection. Managed to snag a couple of them today just because I was on the water before sunrise.

ALGONORTH along side Canadian Geese

Her profile...

Stern quarter...

Was just out there having fun - assumed she's already passed by, but was thrilled to catch her.
It\s the second consecutive morning where my favorite photos are of the very first ship.



From relaxed and calm, to frantic and choppy...
The winds have picked up just a few hours later when FEDERAL KUSHIRO was spotted on the horizon.

White caps on a windy day as FEDERAL KUSHIRO is downbound on the St. Lawrence River.

FEDERAL KUSHIRO approaches

Profile view of FEDERAL KUSHIRO.
Her sisterships include FEDERAL YOSHINO and FEDERAL SHIMANTO.

Heading down the St. Lawrence River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean

FEDERAL KUSHIRO downbound

Actually my first time seeing 2005-built FEDERAL KUSHIRO - But her profile and "K" name caused me to confuse her with the 2004-built FEDERAL KATSURA (which I had coincidentally saw upbound last week).



The downbound FEDERAL KUSHIRO meets the upbound Polsteam vessel MAMRY
just west of Cat Island Shoal.

Vessels meeting in the distance

MAMRY makes her first Seaway appearance of 2022 with a spiffy new paint job.

Capturing some of the bright blue paint...

Her old paint scheme

Coincidentally, MAMRY was also upbound on November 4 of last year (returning downbound on November 20).

MAMRY upbound November 4, 2022

Her silhouette from the beach

BBC KWIATKOWSKI
Not completely sure how to pronounce this one
Haven't seen as many of these blue BBC crane ships this season compared to last...
Of course, that's just in what I've seen.

My favorite channel... The Seaway.

Upbound with a cargo of wind turbine blades

Always fascinated by the ocean-going crane vessels

I still find the tall, thin superstructure to be remarkably narrow from this angle.
Must examine my photos of other BBC vessels...

Broadside view of the crane ship

Wasn't sure if I'd see CSL WELLAND
Just about to leave when I spotted the superstructure through the trees...
(bit of a deja-vu from yesterday morning when I spotted her sistership...)

Returned to the River's edge to appreciate the awesomeness of a vessel just before sunset.

The setting sun casts pretty colors on the WELLAND

The forward part of the CSL WELLAND superstructure features a "colossal mural" to capture the spirit of the Canada Games 2022, taking place in the Niagara region.

Decent side view of the vessel

The 2015-built CSL WELLAND

Three red ships... And two blue ships.
Another "perfect" day by the river.

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.

 

 

Was on the water well before sunrise

x

A purple sky to start the day, quickly turning to pink-orange.

x

At least two different kinds of Oak tree leaves washed ashore

x

Black smoke across the water shortly observed just before 2PM.

x

Seaway Early AM Passages

4:29AM

ALGONORTH is anchored at Wilson Hill, just off Ault Island.

G3 MARQUIS is approaching the anchored ALGONORTH, with G3 MARQUIS headed for Johnstown where she'll wait at the Prescott anchorage.

MIENA DESGAGNES would also spend the day at Johnstown. Transiting upriver in the early morning hours, and returning back downriver before midnight.

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.

Seaway Traffic (CSL-ST LAURENT, ALGOMA STRONGFIELD, SARAH DESGAGNES, MANITOULIN)

Heading to the St. Lawrence River in hopes of catching the upbound CSL ST-LAURENT.

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.

CSL ST-LAURENT before the sunrise

Just enough light to capture her silhouette.

Upbound CSL ST-LAURENT with lights on

The first official daytime vessel was the upbound ALGOMA STRONGFIELD.

ALGOMA STRONGFIELD approaches

ALGOMA STRONGFIELD upbound for Hamilton

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.

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...

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.

Birds in the channel...

The DESGAGNES vessel, at an angle where sunlight reveals her true color..

I love the water in this snapshot... Very calm, with just the slightest ripple to it.

Check out that wide smokestack

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.

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.

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.

The vessel was re-constructed in 2015 with a forward-mounted boom

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.

Seaway Early AM Passages...

 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.

Seaway Evening Passages...

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.