July 14, more Welland Canal Shipspotting

(these entries appear as the most recent first so for previous entries and the introduction you need to scroll down)

The morning of July 14, 2007 dawns bright and sunny at Port Colborne, Ontario at the Lake Erie entrance to the Welland Canal. We are by the water early in the morning. The LaFarge cement carrier English River, imo 5108342. built 1961, is docked receiving provisions/groceries. It then waits for the BBC Plata which is locking through Lock 8 upbound.

This is a great photo location with lift bridges and excellent angles and you can get so close to the ships you can literally touch them but I suspect the fences will be in before the year is out. We saw the BBC Plata, imo 9291975, two days ago at the Lower Barnharnois Locks, upbound with wind turbine blades.

After the two ships meet and go their respective ways we wait for the BBC Mississippi, imo 9347061, which is downbound. This is both a new ship for me and the third BBC ship seen in two days at the Welland Canal.

Lots of tugboats, work boats, law enforcement, etc docked at Port Colborne and their is a ship yard actively scrapping ships. At least the jobs are being kept in Canada.

My friend Michel shows up. We go looking for the Algontario, imo 5301980, upbound. Chase all over for it on back roads following Michel. We just miss it at one point. Michel heads to the lower canal and I go back to Port Colborne wait for it to arrrive at Lock 8. The Algontario is a self unloading bulk laker of the Algoma Central fleet and is a common ship in the Great Lakes.

The pilot boat, a brand new one, goes out for the downbound salty Carola, imo 9214173. It was built in 2000 and is one of the smaller general cargo ships so prevalent now. I prefer the old salt water vessels to these modern creations. Painted a light gray with maroon deck and hatch covers with 2 yellow booms, it is not a photographically attractive ship. It is, however, a new saltie for me. Photograph it coming under the lift bridge and into Lock 8.

I now move down to the lower end of the Welland Canal. Very dark clouds and rain roll in. Below Lock 2 I find the Voyageur Pioneer, imo 8119285, a large bulker comfortable in both salt water and the Great Lakes. Recently purchased by Lower Lakes Towing, the large bulker has a bright blue hull and white superstructure. Attractive even in the rain. This is my first sighting of this vessel.

Becomes even darker and rainier. St. Marys Cement II is waiting below Lock 3.

At Lock 2 we find the Montrealais, imo 5241142, one of our favorite ships and a "straightdecker" meaning it is a traditional laker with no self unloading equipment. Owed by the Upper Lakes Group. Get it again from the elevated visitors' gallery at Lock 3.

Photo the Carola again downbound at Lock 4 where it meets the Montrealais.

Back to Lock 2 where it looks like a large yacht is going to lock through upbound. It stays there for quite a while -- I guess it is doing the paperwork and paying the fees for the canal transit.
A brief glimpse of sun provides a nice photo op for the derelict and rather large ferry Nicdawayma which is enroute by tow upbound to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior supposedly to be cut down to a barge. It has had a varied life in both Canada and Europe.

Well after dark attempt to photo with some passable results the luxury yacht Katrion upbound. It is dark and wet and no sense in doing anything else - the canal is about empty of ships.

Head back to Port Colborne and the Seaway Motel.