Canadian Coast Guard Fleet Modernization Underway
ABB said it will modernize 10 out of 14 Medium Icebreakers and High Endurance Multi Task Canadian Coast Guard ships to extend operational life of the vessels by another 20 years. “For more than 75 years ABB has been working at the cutting edge of icebreaker technology and we are delighted to bring this expertise to these Canadian Coast Guard ships,” said Jyri Jusslin, Senior Vice President of ABB Global Marine & Ports Service. Design and work supply on first of the 10 vessels, CCGS Pierre Radisson, is already underway and will be completed in July 2017. From then on the remaining nine vessels will be completed in following order: CCGS Ann Harvey (2018), CCGS Des Groseilliers (2018), CCGS Sir William Alexander (2018), CCGS Martha L.
First Vessel of 2014 Arrives at St. Lambert
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) advised that the St. Lawrence Seaway has now opened for its 2014 season at St. Lambert by accepting the first vessel of the year, the MT Charlotte Theresa, destination Lake Ontario, followed by several Canadian ships. ISS Canada’s General Manager (Eastern Canada) Jason Skorksi, said the season has and will be a challenging one due to heavy ice and pack ice still affecting sea lanes. The seaway is currently processing upbound traffic in the Montreal/MLO section – one way traffic only. Double Pilotage is required, and initially there will be daylight navigation only. Escorts are required for crossing the lakes, Lac St. Louis and Lake St. Francis. The icebreaker HMCCGC Martha L Black is currently working Montreal/MLO sector.
Seaway Concludes 50th Nav Season
The St. Lawrence Seaway concluded its 2008 navigation season on December 30th with the passage of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Martha L. Black. The vessel, which transited the St. Lambert Lock at 01:12 hours, established a Seaway navigation season for 2008 that spanned 280 days. The Welland Canal remained open to navigation until December 31st, as the Canadian Coast Guard’s Griffon cleared bridge 21 adjacent to Lock 8 at 02:31 hours. Total Seaway cargo volume for 2008 is estimated to amount to 40.7 million tonnes. The decrease in cargo volume is due principally to lower imports of steel products and exports of grain. The Seaway marked a number of significant achievements in 2008, including the establishment of uniform ballast water management standards for all vessels.
