Newest Canadian - Algoma Discovery

1. Algoma Discovery enters Halifax on a blustery day.

2. In control of tugs, Algoma Discovery approaches pier 31.

3. As built, Malinska was fitted with four cranes. She is entering Iroquois Lock on the St.Lawrence Seaway, September 1, 1997.

It is expected that Algoma Discovery will be inducted into Canadian registry in the next few days. It arrived in Halifax this afternoon two years after it was acquired by Algoma Central Corporation with the intention of bringing it under the Canadian flag.

In 2008 Algoma acquired three ships from Viken, which were on Fednav charter. The three were Seaway maximum size ocean going vessels. In February of this year Algoma announced that the shps were to start five year time charters to Seaway Marine Transport (a joint operation of Algoma and Upper Lakes Shipping) as soon as they had completed the Fednav charters and could return to Canada. Due to their age it is assumed that they will spend much of their time on the Lakes in the domestic grain and bulk trades.

Algoma Discovery is the second of the ships to become Canadian. Algoma Guardian also did so in Halifax- see Shipfax post July 20 - Algoma Spirit will presumably follow in due course.

Algoma's plans to use these ships go back several years, but the elimination of the 25% duty on foreign ships will certainly make the move much more profitable for Algoma (see Shipfax post of October 4)

Algoma Discovery was built in 1987 by Brodogradiliste "3 Maj" in Rijelka (now Croatia), as the 23,306 gross ton geared bulker Malinska. It was equipped with three 25 ton and one 12 ton cranes, and began trading to the Great Lakes in season. It initially flew the Yugoslav flag, migrated through Malta and became Croatian.

In 1997 it and its sisters were acquired by Viken Lakers of Norway and continued to trade to the Lakes. It was renamed Daviken. It became Algoma Discovery in 2008 when acquired by Algoma and transferred to the Bahamas flag. You will also note that the cranes have been removed, since they will not be needed in Great Lakes bulk trades.

Algoma Discovery has made the news at least twice in her short career with Algoma. On September 25, 2009 she grounded in the River Weser, near Brake, Germany. She had to lighter off some of her cargo before eight tugs pulled her free. She was carrying 27,000 tonnes of steel coil from Bremen to Ravenna, Italy.

On February 5, 2010 she ran ashore off St-Laurent, Ile d'Orléans, Quebec, in heavy ice. She was pulled free on a rising tide by two tugs. On that trip she was bound from Quebec to Norway with a cargo of nickel and titanium. She caused considerable controversy at the time due to the sensitivity of residents to a planned LNG terminus on the opposite shore. (See Shipfax February 5, 2010.)

Both incidents were attributed to technical problems. When she comes under the TLC of Canadian crews and spends more of her time in fresh water, it is expected that these issues will be ironed out.

Update The ship was registered in St.Catharines on Friday, October 8.

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Algobay - again

Here is Algobay loaded with gypsum, leaving Bedford Basin late this afternoon. Her bulbous bow is well submerged. Originally scheduled to sail at 10:30 this morning, her departure was delayed several times, until she eventaully got underway about 5:00 pm.

Algoma Guardian - first call

No sooner had Vinland sailed from pier 25 [see below] than Algoma Guardian moved in.

The ship is calling in Halifax for the first time under that name.

Built in 1987 in Yugoslavia, the ship sailed as Goviken until last year when she and two sisters were purchased by Algoma Central Corp. She remains registered in the Bahamas, and is still fulfilling the balance of a long term charter to Fednav, but is mostly in the grain and ore trades.

Since her acquisition by Algoma her deck cranes have been removed, making it easier for her to handle bulk cargoes.

Built to transit the St.Lawrence Seaway, she will continue to trade internationally until the expiry of the charter. It is then expected that she will transfer to Canadian registry, replacing older tonnage.

The tugs Svitzer Bedford and Atlantic Oak were tasked with moving her from anchorage to pier 25.

Algoma Discovery

In anticipation of the elimination of duty on foreign built ships, and in view of their ageing fleets, some Canadian shipping companies have purchased ships from overseas. CSL (Canada Steamship Lines) and Algoma Central Corporation are at the forefront of this movement, picking up a half dozen ships in recent years.
Both companies acquired ships built to transit the St.Lawrence Seaway, but which can work deep sea. They have also laid up several of their domestic ships as a consequence, and we can expect to see a parade to the breakers when scrap prices warrant.
Regrettably (in my opinion) these acquired ships are far from new, and have been operating under flags of convenience, in some cases, for several years. At this time Algoma is running their ships under Bahamas flag.
On such ship is Algoma Discovery, which has not exactly distinguished itself in Algoma ownership, having been aground twice within the last few months. Most recently this morning she discovered the bottom of the St.Lawrence River off St-Laurent, Ile d'Orléans, just east of Quebec City.

What the screen grab above does not show is that the river is 100% ice covered, the ship had a list to port of 5% or more, and she was about 200 yards off shore.
Fortunately she did not plow in too hard, and found soft bottom. With the assistance of two tugs she was refloated at high tide and returned to Quebec for inspection.
The location is just down stream of the power cable crossing. One hates to think what might have been had she plowed into one of the supports.
In September she was hard aground on the River Weser in Germany and had to be lightered off to free her.

To add insult to injury she ran ashore opposite Beaumont, the site of a proposed LNG port, which has raised considerable opposition in Quebec. The foes of the LNG port were out in force following this incident spinning fantastical stories about LNG disasters- great fun! The St-Laurent wharf and marina, near the grounding, are accessed through a church and school yard, which added a dramatic backdrop to their protest.