The second of Canada Steamship Lines’ (CSL) two newbuild Trillium Class Great Lakes bulk carriers, CSL St-Laurent, was delivered on November 26, setting sail on her maiden voyage on December 13.
She departed from Yangfan shipyard on Zhoushan Island, China, en route to Canada where she is set to operate throughout the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The vessel is expected to take approximately 50-60 days to complete her voyage.
CSL St-Laurent marks the completion of CSL’s newbuild program, which began with the delivery in December 2012 of the Trillium Class self-unloading Laker, Baie St. Paul. Three other Trillium Class self-unloading Lakers have since been introduced to the Great Lakes fleet (Baie Comeau,Thunder Bay and Whitefish Bay) , and two bulk carriers, CSL St-Laurent and her sister ship,CSL Welland, will both begin operating at the start of the 2015 season.
The Trillium Class newbuild program also oversaw the delivery of three Panamax self-unloaders for CSL Americas (Rt. Hon. Paul E. Martin, CSL Tecumseh and CSL Tacoma) and two other vessels of the same class and design for Norway-based Torvald Klaveness.
“CSL St-Laurent is a huge milestone in CSL history. Her maiden voyage completes one of the greatest newbuild programs in CSL’s 100 year history – one that will bring significant competitive advantage to our customers for years to come,” said Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines.
The maiden voyages of both CSL St-Laurent and CSL Welland have them on a course that will take the ships across the East China Sea and Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal and up the east coast of North America to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.