THUNDER BAY – The MV Thunder Bay has a new permanent home at Prince Arthur’s Landing. Not the new massive 225 metre long Trillium Class Laker, but a model of the ship will be at the waterfront.
Representatives of the City and Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) today unveiled a 2.4-metre long model of the CSL vessel M/V Thunder Bay. The model is on display at Mariner’s Hall.
“The shipping industry has long been an important part of Thunder Bay’s economy,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs. “Canada Steamship Lines has recognized that importance by naming a ship after our great City. Today we celebrate the relationship by putting the model out for public display in one of Thunder Bay’s most popular locations.”
The M/V Thunder Bay, a 225-metre long Trillium Class Laker that can haul 34,490 tonnes of cargo while remaining fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly, arrived in Thunder Bay on September 27, 2013. The model was stored by the Thunder Bay Port Authority while the City prepared the new display.
“Thunder Bay has a rich naval and shipbuilding tradition and so we created a display of photographs from the City Archives and the Museum to accompany the model,” said City Clerk John Hannam. “During the First World War, minesweepers were built for the French Navy at Canadian Car and Foundry. The Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company built many ships between 1911 and 1993, including the HMCS Fort William and the HMCS Port Arthur, which saw action during the Second World War. The HMCS Griffon naval base recruited and trained over 2,400 officers and crew for Canada’s Navy in the Second World War. The City is pleased to be recognized for its naval history by sharing the name of the M/V Thunder Bay, and we’re proud to showcase this beautiful model for the public to appreciate.”
The model and its accompanying display can be viewed at Mariner’s Hall daily between 11 am and 9 pm.
