Port of Thunder Bay Welcomes New Ship
THUNDER BAY – The Port of Thunder Bay will welcome today the first new Canadian Laker to be built for Seaway use in over a quarter of a century . MV Baie St. Paul will arrive this afternoon and is expected to load grain Thursday at the Viterra ‘A’ elevator.
The Baie St. Paul, delivered to Montreal in December 2012, is the first of four new Trillium Class self-unloaders that Canada Steamship Lines is introducing as part of its newbuild program. The three additional self-unloaders have been delivered in 2013, and two gearless bulkers are expected in 2014. Previously the most recent newbuild in the Canadian Laker Fleet was MV Paterson (renamed Pineglen in 2002), which was delivered in 1985 from Collingwood Shipyards.
“The Baie St. Paul is the first of CSL’s Trillium Class of vessels, which sets new standards in operational and energy efficiency, reliability and environmental protection,” said CSL’s President Louis Martel. “The Baie St. Paul is 15% more fuel efficient than CSL’s previous class of ships – vessels that were already among the most efficient in the Lakes – and will save approximately 750 tonnes of fuel per year, amounting to a yearly carbon emission reduction of 2,400 tonnes.”
Since the 2010 elimination of a 25% import duty on newly-built Canadian-flagged vessels, Canadian companies have announced investments of over $500 million in 14 new vessels for the Canadian Lake Fleet. Additionally, more than $500 million has been announced for ocean vessels fitted for Seaway use.
The Baie St. Paul and its new fleet mates are the most technologically advanced ships to enter the Seaway system. The vessel received the International Bulk Journal’s 2012 Bulk Ship of the Year Award and was selected by the Royal Institution ofNaval Architects as a Significant Ship of 2012.
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