Algoma Corporation Christens First Completely New Canadian Flag Dry-Bulk Carrier in Over 25 Years

MV Algoma Mariner — the first completely new Canadian flag dry-bulk carrier to be brought into service on the Great Lakes in over 25 years — was today christened in a special ceremony in Port Colborne, Ontario. The Canadian-flag ship built by Chengxi Shipyard in China, which is owned by Algoma Central Corporation, has been registered in the city of Port Colborne and resident Lisa Badawey was selected as the official sponsor of the vessel.

A crowd of local dignitaries and members of the marine industry watched as Mrs. Lisa Badawey, who is the wife of the city’s Mayor, Vance Badawey, imparted a traditional blessing and pressed the button to lower a champagne bottle to break against the bow of the vessel. A banner was then lowered to officially reveal the name of the vessel on the side of the ship.

As part of the customary proceedings, Father David Mulholland from The Mission to Seafarers in Toronto offered prayers and other words of inspiration and wisdom to the 19-person Canadian crew.

The MV Algoma Mariner, which has a number of environmental and technical improvements including being 25 per cent more fuel efficient (see full list of benefits below), will carry traditional dry-bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal, salt, aggregates and grain in the Great Lakes-Seaway system and in Atlantic coastal waters for the next 30-40 years.

Greg Wight, President and CEO of St. Catharines-based Algoma Central Corporation, said at the ceremony: “I am pleased to be able to say that, although the MV Algoma Mariner is the first completely new dry-bulk vessel to enter Canadian service in a long time, it will not be the last. In addition to the MV Algoma Mariner we have contracted for six new Equinox Class vessels and the Canadian Wheat Board, a major user of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Waterway and customer of Algoma, has contracted to purchase an additional two Equinox Class vessels. These vessels will be managed and crewed by Algoma. With the introduction of the new MV Algobay last year, the MV Algoma Mariner and the soon to be constructed “Equinox Class” vessels, Algoma will own and operate the most modern and environmentally efficient fleet in the entire Great Lakes system.”

Vance Badawey, mayor of the City of Port Colborne, said: “Today’s christening of the MV Algoma Mariner exhibits a confidence that the marine industry is alive and well – an industry that is prepared to be a major contributor to the revitalization of our region’s new economy. We applaud this investment by Algoma and congratulate them on their announcement of the new Equinox Class ship order. The City of Port Colborne within the Niagara Region has been designated as a Gateway Economic Centre by the province of Ontario. The catalyst to this designation is the Canal – the Marine industry. In partnership with our transportation partners, we are working extremely hard to earn worldwide recognition that we are a “Transportation Hub” that highlights an availability of all methods of transportation to move goods globally. This builds on our strength – the Welland Canal,” stated the mayor.

The official Port of Registry for the MV Algoma Mariner will be Port Colborne in recognition of Algoma’s long association with the community. Algoma owns the Port Colborne-based ship repair company Fraser Marine and Industrial, the largest top-side ship repair company operating in the Great Lakes region and Port Colborne has long been a major hub for the winter lay-up of vessels and the associated vessel maintenance.

Algoma’s MV Algoport was also named after the city. This vessel was retired after a long and successful career with Algoma and the MV Algoma Mariner was developed to be that vessel’s replacement. The forebody and cargo handling systems of the MV Algoma Mariner are identical to the MV Algobay, which joined Algoma’s fleet last year, however, the stern section is a completely new design by Deltamarin, designers of Algoma’s new Equinox Class vessels. The MV Algoma Mariner was delivered by Chengxi Shipyard in China on May 31, 2011 and reached Canadian shores on August 2, 2011. Following today’s ceremony, it will deliver coal (picked up earlier from Superior, Wisconsin) through the St. Lawrence Seaway to Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Mr Wight remarked at the ceremony today that the occasion was also a visible symbol of the recent integration of the Algoma Central Corporation and the Upper Lakes Shipping fleet. He said: “This vessel was originally to be jointly owned by the two companies but with our recent acquisition of the Upper Lakes Shipping fleet, the MV Algoma Mariner became 100% owned by Algoma. The crew of the MV Algoma Mariner are all former Upper Lakes employees and we are pleased to formally welcome them to the Algoma family.”

Facts and Stats of the MV Algoma Mariner

Vessel: Self-unloading dry-bulk carrier

Length overall: 225.56m (two football fields)

Carries: abt.26,000 tonnes (in St. Lawrence Seaway)

Carries: abt.38,000 tonnes (maximum capacity in Coastal waters)

Cargo holds (6) abt.39,000m³

Captains: Ken Mackenzie and Robert Loveless

Chief Engineers: David Cooke and Todd Walters

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Source: algonet, August 26, 2011.