MIENA DESGAGNES made another trip upriver to Johnstown in the dark early morning hours.
After stopping by the water a couple days in a row, I was eager to get back on the river itself.
Once again, felt I was leaving a bit late...
But was right where I needed to be to catch an upbound saltwater ship...
EIDER
Blue vessel, with smokestack of the CanForNav group.
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| 2010-built EIDER en route to Detroit, Michigan |
Needed to research this vessel...
She has CanForNav stack markings - Except the ship has a blue hull instead of the typical green.
The deck cranes are also white (as opposed to yellow).
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EIDER with white cranes
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Reminded me of REDHEAD or LUDOGORETS.
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View of the stern
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Diving into the sea of (seemingly infinite) saltwater vessels, discovered that she is a CanForNav ship.
One of two vessels flagged out of Antigua (the other being REDHEAD).
MOST of the green-hulled CanForNav vessels are flagged out of Cyprus.
(Note that CAPE, CHESTNUT, PUNA, SUNDA, WHISTLER, WIDGEON are flagged out of Liberia)
https://www.canfornav.com/fleet/
As for the blue-hulled LUDOGORETS, turns out she's a NAVI-BULGAR vessel.
She appears blue in color (as opposed to black paint like most of her fleetmates) and has white deck cranes (as opposed to the yellow).
https://www.navbul.com/en/fleet/
ALGOSEA
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| Vessel on the horizon... |
Once again, managed to catch a ship that I thought had already gone by...
Spotted a vessel at anchor in the distance that could only be the ALGOSEA.
Within minutes of spotting the ship, there was a big puff of smoke from the exhaust.
Just as I suspected, she was fired up and ready to leave the anchorage.
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| As ALGOSEA approaches, the hull looks almost black... |
It's dark navy blue color that seems to vary based on the sunlight.
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1998-built ALGOSEA upbound for Sarnia, Ontario.
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Took 35-40 minutes for ALGOSEA to arrive from the anchorage...
It would normally take around 20 minutes.
(ALGOSEA may have been waiting for the downbound WHITEFISH BAY to clear the locks...)
The ALGOMA EQUINOX, right on time...
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The EQUINOX on the horozin
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It's possible that I've seen the ALGOMA EQUINOX more times than any other vessel this season...
Must to do a final count at the end of the year.
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ALGOMA EQUINOX upbound for Hamilton.
Will cross Lake Ontario, arriving
in Hamilton.
Anticipated time of arrival is tomorrow afternoon (Nov 10). |
Equinox Class meets Trillium Class...
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The upbound ALGOMA EQUINOX meets the downbound WHITEFISH BAY.
Both vessels were built in 2013. |
Each company's build has it's own look, giving distinct character.
WHITEFISH BAY hasn't been a stranger this year either.
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| 2013-built WHITEFISH BAY downbound for Montreal. |
Have encountered this ship a good handful of times this season...
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WHITEFISH BAY downbound
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Seen her more times than her "Bay Class" sisters, anyway.
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WHITEFISH BAY downbound
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From a "new" CSL self-unloader to an "old" CSL self-unloader...
Less than two hours after her fleetmate quietly slipped away, could hear the engine of RT HON PAUL J MARTIN for miles away as she approached.
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| The 1973-built vessel (formerly known as H.M. GRIFFITH from Collingwood Shipyards) was lengthened in 1999-2000. |
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The stern
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| 1973 built RT HON PAUL J. MARTIN (former H.M. GRIFFITH) |
An entirely new hull was attached to the existing stern at Port Weller.
The ship returned to service in 2000 and was re-christed RT HON PAUL J MARTIN. She was the second CSL vessel to have the procedure (after near-sistership J.W. MCGIFFIN became CSL NIAGARA in 1999)
GAIA DESGAGNES
My second encounter with this vessel.
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| 2018-built GAIA DESGAGNES downbound for Sept-Iles, Quebec. |
Just happened to catch her on her previous trip upriver...
Here she is downbound laden with cargo.
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GAIA DESGAGNES downbound
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GAIA DESGAGNES downbound
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Always amazed at the brilliant white deck of a tanker...
Must be incredibly difficult to keep it that clean...
On the return trip, met ALGOSCOTIA downbound.
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| 2004-built ALGOSCOTIA downbound for Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
Had planned to head further upriver to try and intercept the vessel before dark,
but she made it downriver 20 minutes before dark. Timing worked out great.
First time encountering the ALGOSCOTIA.
She appeared very black in color at first, due to the angle of the sun.
Even the crane and apparatus on the deck looked to be painted black.
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ALGOSCOTIA downbound
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Noticed that ALGOSCOTIA doesn't have the Algoma logo on her bow (the red circle with the bear).
Have seen pictures with the emblem - Seeming to indicate the hull has been painted.
ALGOSCOTIA was out of action for several weeks during the months of June and July 2022.
The vessel had to dock suddenly after experiencing a problem with her rudder.
Finally, the vessel turns slightly to reveal a yellow crane and foremast.
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ALGOSCOTIA with pretty colors just before sunset
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Certainly looks darker than ALGOSEA and ALGOMA HANSA - Although the deep-blue ALGOSEA looked pretty dark this morning...
Three tankers, two self-unloaders and a saltie.
That's six ships in daylight hours.
Another "perfect" day at the river.
