The first new Canadian-flagged freighter on the Great Lakes in 27 years made its appearance at the Port of Thunder Bay this week.
The motor vessel Baie St. Paul arrived Sept. 11 to load grain at the Viterra A elevator.
Built at Jiangyin, China at the Chengxi Shipyard, the self-unloading vessel is one of the new Trillium Class ships delivered to Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) of Montreal as part of its fleet renewal program.
Three self-unloaders were delivered to CSL this year and two gearless bulk carriers will arrive next year. Since a 25 per cent import duty was eliminated in 2010, Canadian marine carriers have spent hundreds of millions for newer, more technologically-advanced vessels.
The last Canadian-flagged 'laker' was the Paterson, built at Collingwood in 1985. It still sails today as the Pineglen.
