Whitefish Bay (2012 ship)

Whitefish Bay moored at the Redpath Sugar Refinery in Toronto, Ontario, in 2017
History
NameWhitefish Bay
OperatorCanada Steamship Lines
Port of registry Canada
BuilderChengxi shipyard, Jiangyin
Yard number9303
Laid down11 May 2012
Launched23 July 2012
Completed8 May 2013
In service2013
IdentificationIMO number9639880
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeTrillium-class freighter
Tonnage
Length225.5 m (739 ft 10 in)
Beam23.76 m (77 ft 11 in)
Draught9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Installed power1 × IMO Tier III MAN B&W 6S50ME diesel engine, 8,750 kW (11,730 hp)
Propulsion1 shaft

Whitefish Bay is a self-unloading lake freighter that entered service with Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) in 2013. Built in China, the vessel is the third of CSL's Trillium-class ships. Her sister ships are Baie Comeau, Baie St. Paul and Thunder Bay. Whitefish Bay is used primarily to transport goods on the North American Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Design and description

Sister ship Baie Comeau leaving Two Harbors, Minnesota

Whitefish Bay is a self-unloading lake freighter, the third of the Canada Steamship Lines' (CSL) Trillium class.[1][2] CSL asserts that the new vessels will be more efficient than existing vessels, and will leave less pollution.[3] According to the Miramar Ship Index Whitefish Bay has a 24,430 gross tonnage (GT) and a 37,690 tonnes deadweight (DWT).[4] However, on the CSL website, the ship is stated as having a DWT of 34,500 tons.[5]

Whitefish Bay is 225.5 metres (739 ft 10 in) long overall with a beam of 23.76 metres (77 ft 11 in).[4] Whitefish Bay has a maximum draught of 9 metres (29 ft 6 in). The ship is powered by one IMO Tier III MAN B&W 6S50ME diesel engine driving one shaft creating 8,750 kilowatts (11,730 hp).[6]

The ship is equipped with five holds and has a net hold capacity of 41,917.96 m3 (1,480,319 cu ft). The vessel has an average unloading rate of 5,450 tonnes (5,360 long tons; 6,010 short tons) per hour. The vessel is used to transport large bulk cargoes such as coal and ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.[5]

Construction and career

Whitefish Bay was constructed at the Chengxi shipyard in Jiangyin, China with the yard number 9303. The lake freighter's keel was laid down on 11 May 2012 and was launched on 23 July 2012. The ship was completed on 8 May 2013.[4] Comedian Rick Mercer broadcast a recording of his visit to Whitefish Bay as it transited the lowest lock on the Welland Canal.[7] The vessel is registered in Canada.[4]

The ship went aground on 12 July 2016 at Hamilton Island in the Saint Lawrence Seaway east of Cornwall, Ontario while carrying a load of coal.[8] According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the ship suffered a massive power failure, which caused it to run aground.[9] The ship was refloated on 14 July with the aid of tugboats and was to be taken to Saint-Zotique, Quebec for inspection.[8]

References

  1. ^ Ted Wilush. "Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature – Whitefish Bay (2)". boatnerd. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014. The Trillium Class vessels were designed by the Canadian firm Cooke Naval Architect Consultants Inc. to be CSL's newest generation of state-of-the-art bulk carriers focusing on maximum fuel efficiency, minimal environmental impact and providing overall operational efficiency while meeting evolving needs of customers on the Great Lakes. The naming scheme for these four vessels follows in the footsteps of CSL's famous 'Bay Class' straight deckers launched in the 1960s.
  2. ^ Kraker, Dan (29 July 2013). "'Whitefish Bay,' first ship of new fleet, arrives in Duluth". MPRNews. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  3. ^ "CSL's Trillium Class Sails for Great Lakes". Marine Link. 5 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2013. The Baie St. Paul and her sister vessels represent the beginning of a new era for CSL and for bulk shipping in the Great Lakes," said Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines. "Employing leading edge technological innovation, the Trillium Class ships will set new standards in operational and energy efficiency, reliability, and environmental protection. For customers, this cements CSL's standing as an industry leader and further positions the company to continue to meet their evolving needs.
  4. ^ a b c d "Whitefish Bay (9639880)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Whitefish Bay". CSL Group. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. ^ "CSL'S Trillium Class Laker". CSL Group. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  7. ^ Mercer, Rick (10 December 2013). "The CBC's Rick Mercer Takes CSL's Whitefish Bay Through the Welland Canal". Great Lakes Seaway News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014.
  8. ^ a b Kelly, Brian (14 July 2016). "Ship refloated on St. Lawrence River after grounding". Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Power failure caused ship grounding: DFO". Cornwall Newswatch. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.