CCGS AMUNDSEN : Engine problems?

[Trucker001]

 the Larson is tied up in Corner Brook NL

[Paul Bradshaw]

Year round seaway to Lake Ontario.

Container ships on Lake Ontario to take the strain off the border crossings.

Now we are talking common sense!!! These are inovative ideas to get trucks off the roads to make them safer, and reduce the amount of rail freight between Montreal and Toronto to allow for improved rail passenger service which will improve tourism and reduce airliner emmissions.

[Francis B-Morel]

Le brise-glace Amundsen immobilis

[Trucker001]

  Can yuou translate into english?

[Francis B-Morel]

Sorry about that, Radio-Canada article is just in French.

It says that the Amundsen is out of order. She has four of its six engines to be replaced. She won

[Les bateaux du Qu]

Cool! So we will for sure see other icebreaker in the area to replace it. With the St-Laurent also out, there is good chance we will have the Terry Fox around soon.

Thanks for the news

[Les bateaux du Qu]

Here an english version:
Scientific research in the Arctic will be largely curtailed for at least a year after the Canadian icebreaker Amundsen was taken out of service for major repairs.

The 33-year-old Amundsen, Canada

[Mac Mackay]

Not to stretch too far off the topic, but I think it will be enough for the Canadian government to get around to replacing its heavy icebreaker fleet, without getting into opening the Seaway year round.
As for container ships going into the lakes I do not see it happening. The ports of Halifax and Montreal do a very good job of transferring containers to trains and moving the boxes on to Toronto, Detroit and Chicago. Yes many also go by truck, but that is inevitable.
The Seaway is a much slower way of moving cargo, and I don't see the economics of transferring containers from ocean going ships to Seaway ships instead of trains. Also the cost of making the Seaway a winter operation would be enormous.
But back to icebreaking. What is really needed is a top class icebreaking fleet.
I read today that the new CCGS John G. Diefenbaker will not work south of 60.
Meaning it will not do winter work in the Gulf or river. All the more need to get some new ships going soon!

[Jean Hemond]

The comprehensive article by Leo Ryan on the subject St-Lawrence winter navigation in the very recent Maritimemag is a must read.
http://www.maritimemag.com/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&view=book&id=14:mag63&catid=1:default-category.

I strongly believe the basic economics for a "gradual" opening to Container feed system and extension of seaway operation  are there but political  economic distortions and subsidies make it quite difficult.   

I remember that as student at the Marine Institute around 1967 we were often on the  Quebec Harbour docks in the peak of winter . May be the Elga Dan.
Some of us were then trading for Russian vodka. One even used Canadian Tire money. but all he got was water.

[Francis B-Morel]

Terry Fox departed St John's yesterday, heading west.
Helping the Pierre Radisson running Saguenay - Matane

[Steve Geronazzo]

I'll keep my eyes open for the TERRY FOX! 

[Francis B-Morel]

Between Anticosti and Gasp

[Steve Geronazzo]

Thanks Francis,

I was wondering where it was.

Steve

[Steve Geronazzo]

I just noticed that the CCGS ANN HARVEY is heading West and is presently in front of Havre-St-Pierre.

I wonder where it is heading...

[esima001]

According to Siitech, Terry Fox is near Baie-Comeau and is supposed to go to Saguenay River. Michel and Robert will propably see her in next couples hour.