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Inbound Toledo	N. Schultheiss

Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Canadian Miner

By George Wharton

Christened as the Maplecliffe Hall for Halco Inc., Westmount, PQ on April 25, 1966; the vessel was actually built in two halves. The forward section was launched November 12, 1965 at Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, PQ and the stern section launched November 13, 1965 at Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, PQ. The joining of the halves took place at Champlain Drydock, Lauzon, PQ. This diesel powered vessel has 21 hatches feeding into 6 holds. She can carry 26100 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 28050 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 27 feet 6 inches.

Economic conditions forced the sale of the Maplecliffe Hall to Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal, PQ in 1988. The vessel was renamed Lemoyne(2) at that time. History was made by the Lemoyne in Cleveland on December 18, 1992. She was the last vessel to be unloaded by a giant Hulett unloader.

With Canada Steamship Lines decision to sell their straight deck bulk carriers, the Lemoyne was acquired by ULS Corp., Toronto, ON and resumed sailing October 2, 1994 as the Canadian Miner. The Canadian Miner remains an active carrier under charter to Seaway Bulk Carriers (partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group). Of recent note, on April 2, 1999; the Canadian Miner opened the St. Lawrence Seaway by passing downbound through the Iroquois Lock with a load of corn from Hamilton, ON to Quebec City, PQ.

It is hoped that the diesel-powered traditional style straight-decker will continue to be a profitable carrier for her owners and will be sailing for many more seasons to come. She is indeed a boat-watchers delight.

 

Overall dimensions
Length	730'00"
Beam	75'00"
Depth	39'01"
Capacity (tons)	28,050