Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Yes, the berths from George V avenue, and going east are (mostly) the petroleum docks. Salties coming out the lakes often take on bunkers at the berth, just down from George V.

Salties carrying grain may top-off to their seasonal SW load-line (one must take into account if going to a disport (discharge port) in the southern hemisphere, as it would be SW winter seasonal mark). Sometimes they mivht top-off at Viterra ('Elevator 4') at Montreal. Often they will also top-off at Bunge, Quebec, Cargill, Baie-Comeau or at Louis Dreyfus, Port-Cartier. Of course, grain shipper/receiver/cargo availability, all are factors.

Some disports of the world have limitjng drafts too - not much deeper than Seaway drafts.

I had the same thought, but the vessels that have stopped at those docks have grain. If they were topping off, wouldn't they do that at one of the elevators in Montreal, Three Rivers, Quebec City, etc? I could see one of the vessels carrying potash or petroleum coke topping off at those docks, but those berths mostly handle General Cargo and some bulk cargo like salt.

Don't know if this is specific to this situation, but saltys in the past will top off a grain cargo when the draft requirement increases.

their probably topping off to ocean draft from seaway draft

I've been keeping close track of the salties traveling in and out of the lakes this season, and I've noticed that some will stop at a few random docks in Montreal before departing the seaway. Does anyone know what those vessels do at those docks? I'm talking specifically about Berths 34, 72, and 100 in Montreal; they typically stay docked there for a few hours to a whole day. Do they stop at those docks to fuel? I also notice that they change their draft slightly (example: from 7.9 meters to 8.4 meters) which makes me think they're taking on cargo. Salties will also typically anchor near Montreal to be fueled by the Juno Marie, so fueling at those docks might not take place?