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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Seaway Traffic (CSL ST-LAURENT, FEDERAL FRANKLIN, ALGOSEA, FEDERAL HUDSON, RT HON PAUL J MARTIN)

Ship on the horizon

Four big red ships today...

Plus, the trifecta of (at least) one vessel from CSL, Fednav and Algoma.

Sunrise 7.29
Sunset 5.59

Wide awake at 3.36 (alarm was set for 3.45)

Cloud cover to start the day.
Sun rose from behind the clouds.

Still managed to get some memorable snapshots for my collection.

Water level still relatively high - although it appears to be dropping.








Was expecting to see ALGOSEA early on - but the vessel must have been delayed. At least I got to see her towards the end of the day.

Spotted my first ship of the day, the CSL ST-LAURENT right on time.
(Positively identified by the giant colored Canadian Goose on her cabins)

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Basically a carbon-copy of other shots in my collection...

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This time, I observed some additional painting (or decals) on the side of her superstructure.
Not sure if those graphics are a new addition this year...

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Had some fun capturing the waves smashing the shoreline.

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Surprise ship of the day was FEDERAL FRANKLIN.
As a kid, I'd look down the channel hoping that a big red ship would magically appear on the horizon...

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The vessel comes into range and is identified as the 2021-built FEDERAL FRANKLIN.
Extra special because I never saw the original FEDERAL FRANKLIN (built in 1995).

FEDERAL FRANKLIN
Not to be confused with her sisterships FEDERAL FRASER and FEDERAL FREEDOM

The dark atmosphere adds some drama to this ocean-going vessel.

Just taking in the sight of her shiny new hull - Before she gets too many scuffs from rubbing on lock walls.

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Managed to capture the flag.

(Majuro) "...the capital and largest city of the Marshall Islands. It is also a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean." -Wikipedia





Rain in the distance as ALGOSEA appears.
It's time for me to leave.

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FEDERAL FRANKLIN began to slow to a crawl... Expecting two more downbound ships, this could only mean that she was slowing her pace to wait for the other vessel to clear the lock.

As the FRANKLIN disappeared upriver, her fleetmate FEDERAL HUDSON appeared downbound.

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Met the downbound FEDERAL HUDSON as I was heading upriver.


Soon afterwards, the upbound ALGOSEA came into range.

I love the sea.

ALGOSEA upbound with FEDERAL FRANKLIN visible in the distance.

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ALGOSEA was upbound. Was able to catch ALGOSEA, and then onto Iroquois.

Went to Iroquois to catch RT HON PAUL J MARTIN.
The red light is on as the RT HON PAUL J MARTIN exits the lock...

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The FEDERAL FRANKLIN approaching the Iroquois Lock, while the RT HON PAUL J MARTIN exits.
Possibly my favorite snapshot of the day just because I love the angle...

FEDERAL FRANKLIN has just been given the green light as the other vessel has cleared the lock

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Considered heading back downriver to see the MARTIN meet ALGOSEA, but decided to do some exploring until shortly before dark. (want to check out the other vantage points to watch ships).

Might as well take a look at FEDERAL FRANKLIN in the lock.

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For some reason, I was still expecting to see the FEDERAL HUDSON.
Realized later that the HUDSON had been downbound when I was on my way upriver.
At least I managed to snag a couple images for my collection.
So many ships! Another day with half a dozen vessels of all shapes and sizes.


On the return trip, ALGOSEA was still crawling up the river... Further down, caught up with RT HON PAUL J MARTIN, lights on, approx 25 minutes before sunset.

Darkness looming, but I'll take the scenic route if there's even the slightest chance that I'll get to see a ship.