Boatnerd Discussion Forum

what about the pineglen she's up for inspection this year too isnt she?

The Gordon C Leitch departed sec 56 at 0747 this morning, presently at Kahnawake in the St Lawrence Seaway.

Gordon C. Leitch has departed Montreal.

What about the Provider? I heard quite a bit over the last 10 years that she is close to the end, yet she still comes out every year.

in todays news photos, the canadian prospector has her name and stack colors painted over. so i dont think she will be running at all this year or ever. the leitch however is listed as loading supplies, so it looks like we will see her for the grain rush

Brendan wrote:What is the status of the Montrealais/Quebecois? Are they on the chopping block too?

I can's say for the Montrealis, I am not sure when her 5 year is due. The Quebecois was in Thunder Bay for her 5 year over the winter, so her future should be safe at this time. I know they replaced the stern tube liner, bow thruster and did a fair bit of steel work. As well they replaced a lot of steel over the winter the year before that.

Like Matt says don't go by what you see on that site, Alliance sometimes use a mmsi number already assighned, makes it difficult to us landlubbers I have called Alliance and they have said they would not do this any longer, Canadian Prospector has her name and stack painted over.

MattM wrote:That page on MarineTraffic.com is not correct. It shows a stern shot of the Navigator but the page is labeled Alliance. I'm not sure what the Alliance is but it has been showing up on AIS in the southwest part of Montreal. It has been transmitting there for about 3 years now and never moves. Kent Malo might have a better idea of what that is.

All the information on the page is corrrect. I they just changed the name a few days ago to Alliance, along with Vesseltracker.com. Based on what was said about the Prospectors name being painted over, I think the Canadian Prospector has been renamed Alliance.

Misspoke myself, I should have put Prospector not Navigator.

That page on MarineTraffic.com is not correct. It shows a stern shot of the Navigator but the page is labeled Alliance. I'm not sure what the Alliance is but it has been showing up on AIS in the southwest part of Montreal. It has been transmitting there for about 3 years now and never moves. Kent Malo might have a better idea of what that is.

Seaway Marine Transport list the Agawa Canyon, Canadian Ranger, Sauniere, Algoisle, Algonorth, Canadian Leader and Canadian Miner as retired/inactive. Gordon C. Letich, Algontario and Canadian Prospector are denoted still active.

If she's leaving, it will be at the end of a towline, unfortunately.

Southdown wrote:

Northup wrote:Canadian Prospector is scheduled to leave Montreal December 28th, destination unknown.

Could you please post your source for this information? I can't find it anywhere.

Follow this link... http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipde ... =316001708

Andrew wrote:I believe those two are still in service this year. Part of why they aren't likely for scrapping is they are mainly grain and cement carriers, unlike the majority of the chopping block boats, that carry mostly coal, salt, and pellets. Part of it may be that those two are the designated strictly "cement" and/or "grain" ships for ULS.

It's been noted on this site before that the primary reason the Montrealais and Quebecois are still going strong is that they were built to high standard of quality. This is in contrast to many of the Canadian seaway-sized ships built in the mid-to-late '60s, which were built cheaply and with lifespans of 25-35 years in mind.

Both the Montrealais and the Quebecois have carried plenty of iron ore pellets in the recent years that the grain business has been slow on the lakes. I wouldn't be surprised if in some of the seasons between 2005 and 2008 they carried more iron ore pellets than grain.

The Seaway grain trade can actually be extremely hard on a vessel. In addition to the wear and tear from lock transits on the Welland and St. Lawrence, she'll spend a good deal of time sailing in salt water if she carries the grain past Quebec City to Baie Comeau or Port Cartier, or if regardless of where she unloads grain she heads to Point Noire/Sept-Isles afterward to load iron ore for haulage back into the lakes. The corrosive effects of saltwater are amplified if the vessel needs to take on ballast water during this part of her voyage, which often is the case. Rotten ballast tank steel is far and away the primary reason that most grain-carrying Canadian lakers have the relatively short lifespans that they do.

Northup wrote:Canadian Prospector is scheduled to leave Montreal December 28th, destination unknown.

Could you please post your source for this information? I can't find it anywhere.

Canadian Prospector is scheduled to leave Montreal December 28th, destination unknown.

I believe those two are still in service this year. Part of why they aren't likely for scrapping is they are mainly grain and cement carriers, unlike the majority of the chopping block boats, that carry mostly coal, salt, and pellets. Part of it may be that those two are the designated strictly "cement" and/or "grain" ships for ULS.

What is the status of the Montrealais/Quebecois? Are they on the chopping block too?

Many Canadian Lakers are in long-term layup, and there is speculation that many are destined for the scrapyard. Yet (some of which have been in layup for 2 years), they continue to stick around. I believe this is for 2 reasons: 1) Scrap prices are very low at $140 US per ton. 2) The main reason, however, is because Ottawa has not decided yet whether or not to rescind the Tariff on ships built outside of Canada. If Ottawa eliminates the Tariff -those layups can be scrapped to be replaced by new, cheaper ships (probably built in China - Algoma Central, ULS, and Canada Steamship already seem fond of their yards). If the Tariff is retained, many of those ships (except the truly worn-out ones like the Saunier, Algonorth, Agawa Canyon, and Canadian Leader will recieve repairs or re-engining and go back into service. Note that the Gordon C. Leitch, and the Canadian Prospector, both long-term layups said to be destined for scrap, are being put back into service.

Is that to transit the canal, or for drydocking?