Two CSLers - times two

 Canada Steamship Lines is a large Canadain shipping company part of the even larger CSL Group which has shipping interests in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas/Caribbean. The Canadian flagged Canada Steamship Lines fleet of 18 ships is focused on the Great Lakes / St.Lawrence trade, but some ships can be seen in Halifax loading gypsum for Canadian ports. On Saturday September 23, the Baie St Paul, a Trillium class self-unloader, of Seawaymax size, arrived and went directly to Gold Bond Gypsum's dock on Bedford Basin. It sailed early Sunday morning (September 24). 

(File photo 2022-12-21)

 The Baie St Paul was built in 2012 by Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin and is a 24,430 gt, 37,690 dwt ship. It came to Canada under its own power, but with considerable temporary reinforcement for the expected conditions during its Pacific Ocean crossing. That reinforcing was removed upon entering into service in Canada, but later, new reinforcing was added allowing the ship to make short sea voyages to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. 

Due to current low water levels in the St.Lawrence Seaway system the Baie St Paul likely loaded far less than total capacity.

Meanwhile a CSL America's ship, Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin also arrived on the 23rd. It went to anchor in Bedford Basin to await its turn. The Americans and Caribbean operation claims twenty ships (including those of Algoma Central Corp that operate in the CSL serl-unloader pool.)

It is also a Trillium class ship, but of the ocean going variety, also built at the same Chengxi Shipyard and also in 2012, coming in at 43,691 gt, 71,406 dwt. It operates in eastern North America under the Bahamas flag, in the sand / aggregates, phosphates and coal trades. Recent port calls are typical: Port Manatee, FL (September 5-6, likely to load phosphates), New Orleans (September 8-9), Romeville, Louisiana [population 99] (September 9-10), Rio Haina, Dominican Republic (September 15-17).

Due to its size the ship cannot take a full load at the Gold Bond Gysum dock in Bedford Basin, but would still have a significant cargo when it sailed for Baltimore today (September 25). At 9.9 meters draft the ship has a deadweight of about 45,000 tonnes (displacement of 60,000 tonnes).

 On its way outbound the Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin passed one of the most recent additions to the CSL Europe fleet. The newly reanmed CSL Flexvik is under repair at Pier 9C having just acquired a new tail shaft, controllable pitch propellor hub and new propellor blades just last week.The former Ale ex Raba (then under previous owners) ran aground and damaged rudder and prop a year ago. [see previous posts] CSL Europe acquired the ship early this year and began the repair process.

CSL Europe operates 19 ships, most in the cement trade, but also has six self-unloaders. This ship, as a once frequent Seaway / Lakes caller in the "steel and general-in /grain-out" trade may be the start of a new area of operation for CSL. If so it would be in direct competition with former partner Fednav, and several well known European operators.