The Baie St. Paul, Canada Steamship Lines’ first of four new Trillium Class self-unloading Lakers – and the most technologically advanced ship to enter the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway bulk shipping market – set sail today on her maiden voyage from Chengxi shipyard in Jiangyin, China to Montreal, Quebec.
“Every first voyage of a new ship is an exciting event, but with the Baie St. Paul, the occasion is truly historic as CSL prepares to welcome the most modern vessel in the Great Lakes,” remarked Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines. “We are very proud of this achievement and are grateful to the design and newbuild teams for the hard work and dedication they have devoted to this challenging project and continue to apply to every new Trillium Class vessel.”
Commanded by Captain Mike Despotovich and Chief Engineer Dominique Tanguay, the Baie St. Paul will use a weather technology service to plan her route across the Pacific Ocean. She is expected to take 50 to 60 days to complete her voyage.
To make possible her ocean passage, the gravity-fed self-unloading Laker will be fitted with temporary reinforcing structures that will be removed upon arrival in the Port of Montreal. As part of CSL’s ambitious fleet renewal program, the Baie St. Paul will set the course for three additional new Trillium Class self-unloading vessels and two new bulk carriers to be introduced into the company’s Great Lakes fleet in 2012-2013.
“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.”
Also departing from Chenxgi shipyard today is the Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin, a new CSL Trillium Class self-unloading Panamax vessel. The Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin will join the CSL International fleet along with two sister Trillium Class Panamax ships to be delivered in 2013. A real-time map tracking the voyages of both the Baie St. Paul and the Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin is posted on CSL’s Web site at www.csl.ca. Canada Steamship Lines and CSL International are divisions of The CSL Group, the world’s largest owner and operator of self-unloading vessels. Headquartered in Montreal with divisions based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Singapore and Australia, The CSL Group delivers more than 80 million tonnes of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors. Trillium Class is a trademark of The CSL Group.