Maria Desgagnes News

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a News Release stating that the 47 th navigation season for the St. Lawrence Seaway closed on December 29 with passage of the tanker Maria Desgagnes though the St. Lambert Lock. The seaway was open for 280 days during 2005. Maintenance and upgrades will be undertaken during the winter. The seaway is expected to re-open in late March. Source: HK Law

Group Desgagnes marked the Canadian registration of a new oil tanker purchased in China - in addition to a Russian vessel purchased in August 1996. Constructed in China at the Qiu Xin shipyard in Shanghai, Maria Desgagnes is a technology-driven double-hulled, ice class 1A, type 2 oil and chemical tanker that can carry 12 types of cargo at once. Featuring a total capacity of 15,570 cu. m. and measuring 394 ft. (120 m) in length, the vessel will be chartered by Petro-Nav for the development of bulk liquid transport side of the business. Groupe Desgagnes also recognized the Canadian registration of M/V Anna Desgagnes (formerly Truskavets), a Russian ship acquired in late 1996. This ice class 1A ship is powered by a 10,330-bhp engine and has a total capacity of 24,935 cu. m.

Constructed in China at the Qiu Xin Shipyard in Shanghai, Maria Desgagnes is a state-of-the-art double-hulled, ice class 1A, type 2 oil and chemical tanker, which is able to transport 12 different types of cargo at once. Featuring a total capacity of 15,570 cu. m., the vessel measures 394 x 69 ft. (120 x 21 m) requiring an investment of more than $35 million. The vessel is chartered by Petro-Nav, a subsidiary introduced by Groupe Desgagnes in 1996 with two other shareholders - Nicolas Gravino and Richard P. Carson - to develop the bulk liquid transport side of the business. The tanker joins two others in the fleet - Thalassa Desgagnes and Petrolia Desgagnes, as well as Rigel Shipping Canada tankers for which Petro-Nav has signed a long term charter agreement.