Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Amelia Desgagnes

By George Wharton

This lake and ocean bulk carrier was launched as the Soodoc(2) for N.M. Paterson & Sons Ltd., Thunder Bay, ON on April 29, 1976. She was built to Ice Class 3 standards by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON. Her power is derived from 2 V-12 cylinder 2000 horsepower diesel engines driving a controllable pitch propeller giving her a rated service speed of 14 knots. Her 4 hatches feed into 3 holds where she is capable of carrying 7000 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 25 feet 3 1/2 inches. While in England in 1977, the Soodoc was converted to a crane ship with the installation of 4 10-ton cranes that can be twinned to 20-ton.

As part of the Paterson fleet, the Soodoc has carried cargoes such as granite, fertilizer, zinc, fluorspar, urea, phosphate, salt, and various grain products. Outside of the United States and Canada; she has visited countries such as Columbia, Mexico, Bermuda, Ukraine, Netherlands Antilles, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Algeria. She has also made regular visits to the Canadian Arctic.

Desgagnes Transport Inc., Quebec City, PQ acquired the vessel on June 22, 1990 renaming her Amelia Desgagnes. As part of the Desgagnes fleet, the Amelia Desgagnes is active trading on the Great Lakes, the Arctic, and ocean routes. Her cargoes now could include pig iron, coal, grain products, salt, and aluminum.

Boatwatchers can expect to see this extremely versatile vessel plying the Great Lakes and coastal waters for many years to come.

Overall dimensions
Length	355'00"
Beam	49'00"
Depth	30'06"
Capacity (tons)	7,000

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