Quebec City, Sept. 28, 2007

Before we get into the day at Quebec City here is a list of the various shipspotting trips I have written up. Plenty more to come! Please note that our day in Quebec City is divided into two separate narratives, one of all the ship action and a second one on just the Queen Elizabeth 2.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT, 2007, All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS
arranged from top to bottom; most recent on top
you may have to click on "older posts"
for the older chapters

9. Quebec City, September 28, 2008
8. QE2, Quebec City and lots of rain!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. Sunday, August 5, 2007, Boatnerd excursion south of Detroit, Michigan
6. Sunday, August 11, Salties in Toledo
5. July 15, 2007, last day at the Welland Canal
4. July 14, 2007, another day of shipspotting at the Welland Canal
3. July 13, 2007, Welland Canal shipspotting
2. July 12, 2007, Lower Barharnois Lock, St. Lawrence Seaway, Quebec
1. Introduction: about me, etc.

This post documents, ship by ship, the day I spent in Levis/Quebec City either before or after the Queen Elizabeth 2 arrived. The QE2 was the raison d'etre for my being here and was undoubtedly the main attraction. However, despite the terrible day with constant rain and clouds hanging over the tops of the buildings in downtown Quebec City, there was nonstop action in the St. Lawrence River: Lakers, salties, tugs, ferries, pilot boats, container ships, cruise ships (4 --count 'em--4), bulkers, tankers, and excursion vessels. In spite of the terrible weather, which is quite typical anytime I show up by the water with a camera, I have pretty much documented all of the shipping action in Quebec City from early in the morning until the weather got to the point that photography was pretty much useless. Hope you enjoy these. Quebec City is a big time port by any definition.

If you like cruise ships, fall is the time to visit Quebec City as many of the cruise ships vacate the Caribbean at this time of the year due to the potential for hurricanes and navigate up the safer waters of the St. Lawrence with, among other things, the fall foliage being a main attraction. In addition to the QE2,which unfortunately will not be visiting Quebec City any more due to its sale to Dubai to become a stationary attraction, the Queen Mary 2 is a regular visitor along with many other well known cruise ships.

The Port of Quebec City has a very informative web site with separate arrivals and departures for passenger and merchant vessels. Well worth looking at to plan your trip.

Buy Ultramar gas when in Quebec! They provide a lot of tanker traffic for you to photograph.

PLEASE NOTE that a separate chapter featuring photography of the Queen Elizabeth 2's arrival and docking follows this presentation of shipping in Quebec City on September 28, 2007.


When I arrived at river's edge at Levis, parking next to the ferry terminal with all the commuters who had to go to work, the Grand Princess was docked directly across the St. Lawrence from where I had parked. Obviously a Princess Cruise vessel, the Grand Princess was built in 1998, has a capacity of 3,300 passengers and is 290 meters long and flies the flag of Bermuda. I am just not a fan of these modern cruise ships but will burn a little film if they pass my way. I just cannot imagine going on a cruise with 3,299 people that I do not care to associate with!


Within just a few minutes of parking the car and stretching my legs to see what could be seen the Norwegian Dawn comes into view. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines which is, I gather, a subsidiary of Star Cruise AS Sendirian Berhad of Singapore, the Norwegian Dawn was built in 2002 with a capacity of 2,500 passengers. 292 meters long, the vessel is flagged in the Bahamas.
as the Norwegian Dawn slowly proceeds upstream, the large bulker/oil carrier Sakonnet begins to inch away from its dock with the assistance of two tugs.


Telephoto of the Norwegian Dawn as it slowly works its way up the river on this rainy and dark morning.


Although at first view it looks like the Norwegian Dawn is going to dock immediately behind the Grand Princess, the upbound cruise ship will inch by the docked Princess and dock about a mile upstream.


The Norwegian Dawn slowly inches by the Grand Princess, offering a few interesting photo angles.


Almost nose to nose or bow to bow.

Another view of the Grand Princess.


With the Norwegian Dawn no longer in its way, the Sakonnet backs out into the river and will let the tugs and the current get it turned around heading down river.departing Quebec City that I was able to get.


Just about turned around and ready to head down the St. Lawrence for another load of taconite, the Sakonnet, imo 9036507, built in 1993, shows off its immense bulk and stack colors of cream, blue, red, cream. This was as close a shot as I could get at full telephoto.



Looking back upriver, the Norwegian Dawn docking at its assigned wharf, some distance above downtown Quebec City. Meanwhile the Lower Gowin begins another crossing, carrying both cars and passengers. With a bridge just a few miles upstream that has no toll, I am not sure of the advantage of taking a car on the ferry, unless it is to see if any ships are in the river!


A real surprise, and I mean surprise, was looking up the St. Lawrence and seeing the Saga Ruby down bound to Quebec City from Montreal. What a neat looking ship, even from this distance and in this terrible weather.


Wishing I was on the Lower Gowin instead of being halfway up the bluffs overlooking the river, the Saga Ruby smartly arrives at Quebec City where it will dock immediately behind the Grand Princess.


Exhibiting the classic design of a passenger ship built in 1965, the Saga Ruby is 189 meters long, and has a capacity of 587 passengers, a far cry from the two modern cruise ships we have seen this morning. The Saga Ruby previously carried the names Gripsholm and Sagafjord. I read somewhere that it caters to old farts like myself so maybe this is the ship I should take a cruise on.


As the Saga Ruby approaches its docking space a nice compare and contrast is provided.


The Ocean tugs now start earning their pay as they push and shove the Saga Ruby to the dock. I have been in Levis for only a little more than an hour and already I am amazed at the amount of ship activity even without the QE2.


A closeup of the Saga Ruby docking. Kind of reminds me of when I used to see the classic passenger liners in New York City in the 1950's.


The pilot boat Ocean Guide heads downstream with the pilot who will dock the Queen Elizabeth 2. Anticipation begins to build but it will be quite a while before we see the Queen.


Algoma Central's Algosteel unloads what looks like taconite. The 729 foot, 11 inch self- unloading bulker was built in 1966 as the A.S. Glossbrenner. In 1987 it was renamed Algogulf and in 1990 became the Algosteel.


The Radisson scurries across the St. Lawrence to Levis, dodging traffic along the way.


The Radisson approaches the ferry slip at Levis while in the distance its fleet mate, Lower Gouin, approaches the ferry slip at Quebec City. Beyond the Lower Gouin are the Canadian Coast Guard's Pierre Radisson and Martha L. Black. And beyond the Coast Guard vessels is the fortress of Quebec City.


The Voyageur Pioneer, imo 8119285, after unloading grain from the Great Lakes, moves to load taconite. The 730 foot blue-hulled vessel was built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1983 by Govan Shipyards as the Saskatchewan Pioneer. In 1995 it was renamed Lady Hamilton and in 2006 acquired the blue paint along with the name Voyageur Pioneer. We will see this vessel again in a few days, on October 1, upbound on the St. Lawrence at Alexandria Bay, New York. In the sunshine even!

Another Algoma Central laker, the Peter R. Cresswell, imo 8016641, swings out into the river by the Voyageur Pioneer, headed upriver back to the Great Lakes. The Cresswell was built in 1982 by Collingwood Shipyards in Collingwood, Ontario as the Algowest, a name it kept until 2001. It acquired its self-unloading equipment in 1998.


A closer view of the Peter R. Cresswell, one of four of the dark-blue hulled Algoma Central ships whose name does not start with the Algo prefix. The self-unloading bulker has gained some momentum and is moving up the river.


The Voyageur Pioneer has completed docking and is loading taconite


The down bound Canadian Ranger, imo 6723771, a self unloading bulker from Upper Lakes Shipping comes into view as it passes the Norwegian Dawn. "Created" in 1984 by mating the stern section of the coastal package freighter Chimo with the mid-body and bow of the laker Hilda Marjanne, the very distinctive Canadian Ranger was laid up for a good part of the 2007 navigation season and was put in service to handle the annual grain rush, hauling midwestern grain mostly between Toledo and Quebec City.


At the same time that the Canadian Ranger is sighted the tanker Cap Leon is spotted coming upriver headed to the Ultramar unloading facility just a mile or so upstream from our vantage point. This river is busy today! Flagged in Greece and owned by Euronav Luxembourg SA of Luxembourg , the Cap Leon was built in 2003 and is 274 meters long.


Another 4 ship photo: from left to right, Grand Princess, Canadian Ranger, Saga Rose and Cap Leon. Plus others in the far right background.


Another view of the loaded Cap Leon as it slowly makes its way upriver.


The Canadian Ranger is dwarfed by the Grand Princess as it slowly approaches its docking area. The tremendous clash of differing styles of architecture are painfully obvious. I will take an old laker over a new design cruise ship any day of the week and twice on Sunday!



As the Cap Leon passes the docked Saga Ruby a telephoto gives us a nice view of the two ships' stacks.


Form vs. function, tanker vs. cruise ship.


Here are the stacks of the Cap Leon and Canadian Ranger. I tried but could not get the stack of the Saga Rose in with these two.


Even the relatively diminutive Saga Ruby towers over the Canadian Leader. When in doubt two stacks in a photo are better than one.


Now in sight of its destination the Cap Leon has slowed to a mere creep and soon will be attended by two tugs to assist in the docking at the Ultramar facility.


As the Cap Leon slows for its docking, the Canadian Ranger turns in the St. Lawrence so it will be facing upstream when it docks.


The Ocean Henry Bain and its barge cross in front of the turning Canadian Ranger.


The Ocean Henry Bain crosses the harbor with a barge destined for the Saga Rose. In the distance loading taconite is the great lakes bulker Algosteel of the Algoma Central fleet.


Downbound is the tug Salvor and its barge Lambert Spirit, both common sights on the Great Lakes. Behind the tug-barge duo is the recently docked Canadian Ranger.

Closeup view of the Salvor, owned and operated by McKeil Work Boats. Ltd of Hamilton, Ontario. Formerly the Esther Moran from 1963-2000, the Salvor was built in 1963 and is 120 feet long.


There are four ships in this view starting with the downbound Salvor/Lambert Spirit, the upbound Voyageur Independent, and docked are the Saga Ruby and Canadian Ranger.

A wide angle view showing the same four ships as above plus the Grand Princess.

The classic laker Voyageur Independent passes its fleet mate the Voyageur Pioneeer as it heads up the Saint Lawrence River.



Another view of the Voyageur Independent as it passes the Grand Princess. A nice view of the old section of Quebec City as well. The Voyageur Independent, imo 5105831, was built in 1952 and at the time of this photo was owned by Voyageur Marine Transport of Ridgeville, Ontario. Prior to its purchase in 2005 by the Voyageur group it operated as the Kinsman Independent, Ernest R. Breech, and Charles L. Hutchinson.

One final view of the upbound Voyageur Independent as it passes Quebec City. A classic Great Lakes bulker.
The pilot boat Ocean Guide rushes back to its Quebec City base -- it was a pretty busy boat today.Next the downbound Canadian Steamship Lines Pineglen comes into view as it passes the Norwegian Dawn docked in the distance

Continuing down the river, the Pineglen passes the Grand Princess and Saga Ruby.

The Pineglen, imo8409331, was built in 1985 and is 736 feet long. The CSL bulker was designed so that it could navigate both the Great Lakes and salt water. As it passes Quebec City it meets the upbound Great Lakes tanker Algoeast. In the far background is the Great Lakes bulker Algosteel.

Closeup view of the Pineglen's stern area with superstructure and color CSL stack. There are several photos of the Pineglen entering the Welland Canal at Port Colborne, Ontario in a previous blog posted on this page

The Algoeast has just departed the wharf at Quebec City and is proceeding upbound on the the St. Lawrence River, passing the Canadian Ranger.
The Algoeast is owned by Algoma Tankers Ltd., a division of Algoma Central Corp. which operates a large fleet of Great Lake bulkers and tankers. It was built in 1977 and is 431 feet long. We frequently see the Algoeast at Sarnia, Ontario on the St. Claire River where there is a large concentration of petroleum refineries.

The car and passenger ferry Lower Gowin pulls away from the dock in Levis for one of its frequent crossings to Quebec City. Beyond the Lower Gowin is the upbound tanker Algoeast and the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn.

In this view we see the ferry Radisson with its sister ferry Lower Gowin and the excursion vessel Louis Jolliet in the background. The two ferries are constantly crossing between Levis and Quebec City and offer an excellent platform for photography of the action on the river as you can see in both this blog and the one following it.

The rain and doom and gloom do not prevent the tour boat Louis Jolliet from making one of its several daily trips touring the Quebec City area. Built in 1938, the Louis Jolliet has seen a lot of ships come and go over the years. The venerable excursion boat is 170 feet long and is powered by a steam triple expansion compound engine. It is one of 6 excursion vessels owned by Croisieres AML Inc of Quebec City.


The vintage laker Canadian Ranger has docked at the grain elevator to unload its cargo of Ohio grain which it loaded in Toledo, Ohio. After unloading the Upper Lakes bulker will return up the St. Lawrence and across Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to Toledo for another load.

The Ocean K. Rusby, imo 9345556, handles the stern lines as the QE2 is secured to the dock. Owned and operated by Le Groupe Ocean, Inc. of Quebec City, the Ocean K. Rusby was built in 2005, is 94 feet long and is one of about 20 tugs that Le Group Ocean operates in Quebec City. Another 9 tugs, give or take a few, can be found upriver operating out of Trois Rivieres by a subsidiary company. View is looking upriver.


A nice stern view of the Ocean K. Rusby as it finishes its work assisting the QE2.


Two Canadian Coast Guard vessels, the Pierre Raddisson and the Martha L. Black, are docked immediately upstream from the QE2. Both vessels are icebreakers and were built in 1978 and 1986 respectively. In another two months from when this photo was taken the vessels would have their hands full keeping a channel open in the St. Lawrence. There are numerous photos posted on shipspotters.com by the local Quebec City shipspotters of these icebreakers are work -- they are really amazing photos and well worth the trouble of looking them up.
A closer view of the Martha L. Black, built in 1986 and 252 feet long. Someday I would love to make a wintertime trip to Quebec City to see this and other icebreakers at work. Again, I highly recommend the icebreaker photography on shipspotter.com as well as the everyday merchant ship activity between Montreal and Quebec City during the winter. There are some really spectacular photograhy posted each winter.


Three cruise ships! Count them if you are a doubting Thomas. The QE2, Grand Princess and the Saga Ruby lined up at Quebec City. Further up the river was a fourth cruise ship, the Norwegian Dawn. In another few days the Queen Mary 2 would arrive but we had to leave that for another time.

Stern view of Fednav's Umiat 1 downbound. This was my first sighting of this vessel and I pretty much blew it as I was not aware it was passing Quebec City due to having to wait a few minutes in the ferry terminal then having to walk down a long covered and closed gangway to get on to the ferry. But, at least I saw it!

View of the classic Saga Ruby as seen from the ferry during the crossing to Quebec City.

The Grand Princess' stacks and surrounding area is moderately decorative.

I am not a fan of the modern cruise ship but I liked the lines of the bow and thought this to be a neat view.
Closeup view of the Dawn Princess from the ferry.
The Grand Princess docked at Quebec City as seen from the ferry whose dock was conveniently situated between the Dawn Princess & QE2.

Peaking around the QE2 we see the downbound Maersk Patras heading for sea after a stop at Monreal. This was my first sighting of this vessel.

The ferry circles around the stern of the Maersk Patras. Closeup views of ships from the water are great but I really love closeup views of container ships with all the multi-colored containers.



I enjoy looking at the containers with their various colors and lettering schemes almost as much as I enjoy the container ship so it was a special treat having the ferry go so close to the Maersk
Patras. You can see two deckhands working on the tie down mechanisms.


Only two tiers of 40 foot containers adorn the stern. Again, a deckhand is working on the tie down mechanisms.

Two different paint schemes for the NYK Line are seen here. Two deckhands are working on the containers.


What better perspective to photograph a ship from another ship? The ferry ride across the St. Lawrence was nicely timed to allow us good views of both sides of the Maersk Patras which would soon be painted into the standard Maersk paint scheme. There are several very nice photos of her in the new paint posted by others on shipspotting.com.

I took a couple of hundred photos of the QE2 and never tire of looking at them! Please note that there is a separate blog on the QE2 immediately following this epistle.

The Afrodite arrives at Quebec City and is escorted by tugs into the harbor. This was our only view of her and also was a first sighting.

The bulker Halandriani is downbound at Quebec City in the rain. The weather is definitely getting worse--- if that is possible. We saw the Halandriani two days previous at the Eisenhower Lock near Massena, New York, also in the rain.


Close up of the superstructure, bridge and stack of the bulker Halandriani.

The downbound Halandriani glides past Quebec City and the Queen Elizabeth 2.

The tanker Cap Leon at the Ultramar dock in Levis across the river fromQuebec City. Looks like low tide. This was my first sighting of the Cap Leon. The Ultramar's facility is pretty neat in that there is a little parking area near it, a bike & hiking trail goes by it (the former Canadian Pacific right of way) and the best part is a nice little park which offers excellent views of the pier and also outhouses! A nice place to hang out in the summer what with the shade from trees, the facilities and some absolutely georgeous women on roller blades or jogging or whatever. Good views in both directions!

The tanker Petrolia Desgagnes, imo 7382976, docking at Ultramar assisted by Ocean Raymond Lemay. The nifty Desgagnes tanker is a common sight in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence and we usually see it multiple times each navigation season operating between Quebec City and Sarnia, Ontario.

Petrolia Desgagnes docking at Ultramar assisted by Ocean Raymond Lemay.

Detail view of the bridge and stack of the tanker Cap Leon.

Detail view of both the Petrolia Desgagnes & Cap Leon.

Detail view showing the stacks of both the Petrolia Desgagnes and Cap Leon.

Petrolia Desgagnes docking at Ultramar assisted by Ocean Raymond Lemay. Also docked is the Cap Leon.

Ocean Raymond Lemay, imo 9420904, assisting Petrolia Desgagnes in docking at Ultramar.

The End--time to hit the road for the 230 mile trip back to our cottage in Vermont.

For best viewing, click on photos to see full screen.
See other Sept. 28 post for Queen Elizabeth 2 photos.