Built under yard no 212 by the yard of Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada for the Canada Steamship Lines.
08 July 1977 side launched under the name LOUIS R DESMARAIS, named after a former president of the Canada Steamship Line.
Tonnage 22.716 gross, 16.338 net, 33.084 dwt., dim. 222.51 x 22.99 x 14.18m, draught 8.99m.
Powered by two V-10 cyl. Pielstick diesels, 9.000 bhp., speed 14 knots, one pitch propeller.
Fitted out with a bowthruster.
Ice strengthened, designed with a reverse sloping section on her bow which can ride under an ice formation and break it upward.
22 hatches and 5 holds.
Crew 32.
She is a self-unloading bulk freighter and was used by CSL’s ship-to-ship coal loading program in the Gulf of St Lawrence off Sept Isles, OQ.
Mostly she winters at anchor at Nanticoke, Ontario.
CSL self-unloaders (up to 5 at a time) would meet a giant ocean bulker and load her for overseas destinations. Thus the ocean bulker would not have to enter a port to load and face draft restrictions for load capacities. She has also “topped-off” these giant bulkers in the Canso Strait.
During the 1980s her hull was fitted out for the cement clinker trade.
The vessel distinguished herself on 5 June 1979 when she spotted the burning CARTIERCLIFFE HALL on Lake Superior and came to her assistance picking up survivors. She herself fell victim to an engine room fire on 27 Nov. 1999 on western Lake Ontario when a hydraulic oil line broke spraying oil over the engines. Though a mayday was sent, the crew was able to extinguish the fire with no reported injuries. After repair and inspections were completed she was allowed to continue her voyage. At the time she was carrying a load of cement clinker from Quebec City, PQ to Detroit, Mich.
Over the winter of 2000-2001 the LOIUS R DESMARAIS entered Port Weller Dry Docks for conversion to a SeawayMaxsized vessels. Her forward hull was cut away and a new forebody fitted to the engine room portion of the former LOUIS R DESMARAIS.
The new vessel features state-of-the-art automated self-unloading equipment. This conversion was part of CSL’s extensive fleet renewal program.
The cut away forepart of the hull was towed by the tugs PROGRESS, SEAHOUND and VAC to the International Marine Salvage scrapyard at Port Colborne for scrapping.
3 March 2001 during a christening ceremony at port Weller Dry Docks she was christened by Mrs. Kimberley Pauley wife of Captain Steve Pauley of CSL hull no 79 was named CSL LAURENTIEN.
She sailed for her trials on 7 April 2001 on Lake Ontario, but she returned for repair on her bowthruster.
Monday 9 April 2001 she left the Welland Canal on her maiden voyage in ballast to Thunder Bay On. To load grain for Port Cartier Pq.
The stamp was released on the eve of Mr. Desmarais 73rd birthday. However, Canada Post did not consult Mr. Desmarais about the stamp issues. First he heard of it from Mr. Denis Masse of La Presse when he contacted him in January 1996.
http://www.equasis.org gives for 2006: Still owned by Canada Steamship Lines, managed by V.Ships Canada. IMO No. 7423108.
Canada 1996 45c sg1677, scott1595.