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Lake Ontario inbound Hamilton, ON, Apr. 14, 2008.	John McCreery

-- Canadian Miner --
Maplecliffe Hall 1966 - 1988, LeMoyne (2) 1988 - 1994, Miner 2011 - 2011 (renamed for overseas tow)

by George Wharton

A typically Canadian designed Seaway-sized straight deck bulk carrier of the 1960's era, this vessel was built in two parts. The forward section was built at the George T. Davie & Sons Ltd. shipyard, Lauzon, QC as their hull #97and launched November 12, 1965 while the stern section was built at Canadian Vickers Shipyards Ltd., Montreal, QC as their hull #287and launched November 13, 1965. The joining of the halves took place at Champlain Drydock, Lauzon, QC.  The new bulker was christened at Montreal, QC as the Maplecliffe Hall on April 25, 1966 for the Industrial Acceptance Corp., Ltd., being bareboat chartered to and managed by Hall Corp. of Canada Ltd. , Westmount (Montreal), QC (later Halco Inc., Toronto, ON).  Canadian tax laws in the early and mid 1960’s allowed shipping companies to approach and work with financial backing partners to fund 'new builds' such as this being built in Canadian shipyards.  (There were exceptions to this when Canadian yards were booked to capacity and there was an immediate identified need for the 'new build'.)  The funding partner would retain ownership of the vessel benefiting from financial write-offs for the use of their funds with the shipping companies having complete control of the new vessels.  This method of financing was used by many Canadian shipping companies at this time.

The prefix 'Maple' of the new bulker's name is referenced to Canada's formal adoption of the maple leaf as a national symbol in 1965 and its use on the new Canadian flag.  The Hall Corporation suffix 'cliffe” seen on many of their vessels was to honor many of the towns in north eastern England also incorporating the suffix “cliffe'. Mr. Albert Hutchinson, born in Ayecliffe, England in 1889, became secretary of the Hall Corporation of Canada in 1927, vice president in 1936, president in 1945, and chairman of the board in 1951.  The 'cliffe' suffix was a nostalgic reminder of Mr. Hutchison’s childhood days in England.  The second word 'Hall' also seen on many of Hall’s vessels was in honor of Hall Corporation’s founder Mr. George Hall of Ogdensburg, New York.

The Maplecliffe Hall had 21 hatches servicing 6 holds and was capable of carrying 27,853 tons (28,300 mt) at a mid-summer draft of 27' 06" (8.39m).  Other capacities are listed in the table below.  Power came from 4 Fairbanks Morse 12-38D8-1/8 12-cylinder opposed piston, single acting, two stroke cycle 2,000 b.h.p. (1,471 kw) diesel engines built by Canadian Locomotive Works Co., Ltd., Kingston, ON.  Burning marine diesel oil, the engines fed the power through a single reduction gear box to a controllable pitch propeller giving the vessel a maximum speed of 15.0 m.p.h.  What would be considered an oddity today, the bulker never had a bow thruster installed. 

1960's & '70's
The Maplecliffe Hall entered service clearing Montreal on April 29, 1966 on her maiden voyage in ballast to Pointe Noire, QC leaving there on May 1, 1966 with a load of iron ore pellets for Cleveland, OH.  After unloading at Cleveland, the new bulker was noted to have passed upbound on the Detroit River on May 8, 1966.  Ownership of the vessel was passed to the Hall Corp. of Canada from the Industrial Acceptance Corp. in 1969. 

In April of 1970, the Maplecliffe Hall ran aground in Lake Huron just above Port Huron, MI in a strong gale.  She was released from her strand with the aid of 3 U.S. Coast Guard ships.  Later that year, on December 17, 1970, the vessel closed the St. Lawrence Seaway as the last downbound through the St. Lambert Lock at Montreal, QC. Although cargoes for the Maplecliffe Hall were focused in the iron ore and grain trades, the bulk carrier did set a Sandusky, OH port coal record on June 11, 1971 loading 27,927 net tons.  Later that year, in October 1971 the Maplecliffe Hall was in collision with a Dutch-flagged ship in the Detroit River causing only minor superficial damage.  On December 30, 1975, the bulker was noted to have closed the Welland Canal as the last downbound vessel of the season.  The vessel grounded in Montreal on August 15, 1978 requiring lightering by P.S. Barge No. 1 before being freed from her strand.

1980's
In 1984, the Maplecliffe Hall was used in an experiment to carry CAST containers from Montreal to Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI.  Only 3 trips were made, 2 to Windsor and 1 to Detroit, with the containers being carried in the holds and stored on deck.  The venture proved unsuccessful and was discontinued.   Economic times and financial trouble were plaguing Halco.  Beginning in 1986, the Royal Bank of Canada, Montreal, QC assumed ownership of the fleet being managed by Navican Management Canada Inc., Montreal with Halco still operating the fleet.  In the summer on 1987 with no loads available, the bulker laid up at Montreal and was opened for public tours before being used for cement storage at Montreal over the 1987 / 1988 winter.

Then in early 1988, Halco ceased operating.  The existing fleet was then divided between the Canada Steamship Lines, Misener and Paterson fleets.  In early April 1988, CSL purchased the Maplecliffe Hall as well as the Frankcliffe Hall and Cartiercliffe Hall from the receivers as their part of the transaction. The Maplecliffe Hall was renamed LeMoyne (2), the first LeMoyne having been sold in 1968 and subsequently scrapped in 1969.  The other 2 vessels were renamed Halifax and Winnipeg (2) respectively.  The LeMoyne was the name given to the summer residence of Mr. William H. Coverdale who was the President of Canada Steamship Lines when the LeMoyne (1) was built in 1926.  The home was located on Portsmouth Bay on Lake Ontario just west of Kingston, ON.  The name itself refers to the Governor of Montreal from 1724 to 1729 Mr. Charles LeMoyne, 1st Baron de Longueuil.

The LeMoyne commenced sailing for her new owner in the early spring of 1988 being noted as having transited the Welland Canal upbound on her maiden voyage on April 20.  Her cargoes were again concentrated in the grain and iron ore trades.  On August 11, 1988 while tied up at the Welland, ON dock, the LeMoyne had an on-board fire when a torch ignited some plywood in the engine room.  There were no reported injuries nor any damage caused by this incident.

1990's
In 1991, the LeMoyne and her bulker fleetmates Baie St. Paul, Black Bay, Murray Bay, Richelieu, Rimouski, Simcoe and Winnipeg began sailing under the newly formed Great Lakes Bulk Carriers Inc., St. Catharines, ON, a partnership formed from the bulker fleets of Canada Steamship Lines, Misener Holdings and Pioneer Shipping.  The LeMoyne made history on December 18, 1992 at Cleveland, OH as the last ship to be unloaded by a giant Hulett unloader.  Shortly after, on December 23, 1992, the LeMoyne laid up at Hamilton, ON with a storage load of canola seed and after unloading, remained idle at Hamilton through the 1993 navigation season never to sail for Canada Steamship Lines again.

With the demise of Great Lakes Bulk Carriers at the end of 1993, Canada Steamship Lines and their partners sold off their straight deck bulk carriers with the LeMoyne being acquired by Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., Toronto, ON in the spring of 1994.   Renamed the Canadian Miner, the bulker resumed sailing October 2, 1994 under the management of Seaway Bulk Carriers, Winnipeg, MB, a partnership pooling of the bulkers of the Upper Lakes Shipping and Algoma Central Corporation fleets.  Cargoes were again focused in the grain and iron ore trades.  The Upper Lakes naming of their new bulker utilized their common ULS naming prefix 'Canadian' with 'Miner' referring to the long history of the miner in Canada.  Also acquired at this time from Canada Steamship Lines with the LeMoyne were the Baie St. Paul, Black Bay, Murray Bay and Rimouski renamed Canadian Pathfinder, Canadian Voyager, Canadian Provider and Canadian Harvest.

On Aug. 5, 1996, the Canadian Minor struck barge Q-354 while manoeuvring in the St. Charles River at the Port of Quebec causing only minor damage to the barge.  Then on May 22, 1997, the vessel sustained a 12cm (4.7") fracture in her shell plating in way of the No. 2 hatch above the waterline while transiting the Welland Canal.  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, QC.  The bulker was pushed into the wall at the Soo Locks on July 11, 1999 by the salty Federal Saguenay causing a gash in way of the No. 1 forward tank and a fracture at the waterline.  Temporary repairs were made before proceeding.

2000's
At the beginning of the year 2000, the bulkers including the Canadian Miner of Seaway Bulk Transport and the self-unloaders of Seaway Self Unloaders combined under the management of Seaway Marine Transport, St. Catharines, ON, a continued partnership of Upper Lakes and Algoma Central.  The Canadian Miner sailed through the 2000's without any noted incidents.  On her final voyage, the Canadian Minor departed Thunder Bay, ON Dec. 10, 2008 to Quebec arriving Dec. 17, and departed about Dec. 19 with a sugar storage load for Redpath Sugar, Toronto, ON arriving early Dec. 23.  She laid up at Toronto Dec. 24, 2008 for a final time.

2009, 2010 & 2011
The Canadian Minor remained laid up at Toronto through 2009 and 2010.  Her Canadian registration was finally closed June 13, 2011, her new owners being Pella Shipping Co., Thessaloniki, Greece.  The veteran bulker's name was changed to the m/v Minor for the scrap tow.  The scrap tow left Toronto for Montreal late Aug. 20, 2011 with the McKeil tug Salvor as lead tug and Nadro tugs Vigilant ! and Seahound controlling the stern.

The overseas tow departed Montreal Sept. 14, 2011 for Aliaga, Turkey with ocean tug Hellas and the Nadro tug Vigilant I controlling the stern for the St. Lawrence River portion of the trip.  The Hellas is operated by Gigilinis Salvage & Towage, Kavala, Greece (and is managed by Pella Shipping Co., Thessaloniki, Greece, owners of the Miner).  The 5,200 b.h.p. (3,824 kw) powered tug is 147' 07" (44.99m) long, 606 gross tons and is registered out of Kingstown, St. Vincent & The Grenadines.  Early on Sept. 20, the towing line parted in heavy seas and the Minor drifted hard aground on the rocks of Scatarie Island off the east coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.  The heavy seas prevented the Hellas from retrieving her tow.  Over the next couple of days following the grounding, several unsuccessful attempts made by the Hellas to pull the Miner free. 

The owners of the Miner engaged the international salvage company Mammoet Salvage and flew in a team of salvage experts to assess the stranded vessel and spent most of the day Sept. 30 at Scatarie Island, where the bulk carrier was stranded.  In response to local fishermen concerned about pollution should the vessel break up, Transport Canada stated that both its bilge and main fuel tanks were cleaned before it left Montreal.  Inspectors gave it what they call a 'green passport,' which experts say meant any environmental damage, if the worst were to happen, would be minimal.  Approximately 6,000 litres (1,585 gallons) of diesel fuel was onboard contained in an internal tank to fuel power generators needed for the Atlantic crossing.  By Oct. 2, Mammoet had removed the diesel fuel and was also looking after the removal of any bilgewater (excess water that does not drain off the side of the deck).  After being subjected to storms and the pounding of heavy seas, by Oct. 6 after flying over the wreck, the Canadian Coast Guard saw a 15-metre ( 49') wide hole on the stern and a hole on the side near a cargo hatch and a cargo hatch gone.  A Canadian Coast Guard spokesman said on Oct. 6 that "It looks nasty out there. The seas are actually breaking over the top of the ship, the deck is completely awash probably about 40-foot (12.20m) waves."  The Miner was being pushed by the seas closer to the shoreline.  With no concrete plans in place to remove the wreck, the tug was detained by Nova Scotia authorities.  Sheriffs served a federal court ordered against the Hellas late in the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2011 after the province filed a $15-million claim.  The arrest required the tug to remain at the dock at Sydney, NS until some financial questions are answered.  The disposition of the Miner remains unknown.

 

By the Numbers (metric)
Length (loa)	730' 00" (222.51m)
Beam	75' 00" (22.97m)
Depth	39' 01" (11.92m)
Capacity - mid summer	27,853 tons (28,300 mt)  at draft of 27' 06" (8.39m)
- Seaway	26,242 tons (26,664 mt)  at draft of 26' 06" (8.08m)
Cubic capacities - wheat	25,745 tons (26,159 mt)
- corn / rye	24,560 tons (24,954 mt)
- barley	22,514 tons (22,876 mt)
- oats	21,042 tons (21,380 mt)
- coal	29,200 net tons  (equivalent 26,071 tons / 26,496 mt)
Other capacities - water ballast	11,667 tons (11,854 mt)
- fuel	460.5 tons (468 mt) marine diesel oil
Power - diesel	8,000 b.h.p. (5,884 kw)

 

Grounding at Scatarie Island off of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Sept. 20, 2011.
Bow view, Oct. 11, 2011. media photo		Starboard side holed. media photo		Close up. media photo
Aground at Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia with tug Hellas standing by, Sept. 21, 2011, tug Hellas in foreground. Canadian Coast Guard courtesy of Cape Breton Post		Another view, Oct. 5, 2011. Canadian Coast Guard courtesy of CBC News		From the island, Oct. 7, 2011. Nova Scotia Dept. of Natural Resources courtesy of CTV News
Scrap tow departed Montreal, QC Sept. 13, 2011 destination Aliaga, Turkey.
The tow downbound the St. Lawrence River passing Contrecoeur, QC, Sept. 14, 2011. Capt. Clarence Vautier, courtesy Kent Malo			Off of Cape North, Cape Breton Island, NS, Sept. 19, 2011. Capt. Clarence Vautier, courtesy Kent Malo
At Montreal preparing for overseas tow.
Waiting at the Port of Montreal's Sec. 56 Nord, Sept. 11, 2011. Rene Beauchamp	Sept.13, 2011. Kent Malo				With ocean tug Hellas at the bow, and Vigilant 1 on the stern. to depart 0430 Sept. 14 for Aliaga, Turkey. Kent Malo
The following photos showing preparation details courtesy of Paul Beesley, Sept. 13, 2011.
The tugs ... The tow-er, Hellas.  There were always 2 pilots on board the Hellas.	View of the Hellas' tow hook and after deck.				Stern tug, Vigilant I.
Former Canadian Miner has final work done on her before being towed to Turkey.	Port Colborne fairleads were removed to be used on another ship.				Notice the two horizontal white strips above the water line.  I suspect they have been put there to allow the tug crew to notice drastic changes in draft during the tow.
Lifeboats strapped down for the crossing.	All the hatches were dogged down and bolts were run through each corner.  As well, foam was placed on the bearing surface to ensure watertight integrity.				Looking aft on the Miner.
The hatch cover crane was welded to prevent movement.	Vent covers were dogged and welded.				All openings were welded shut.
Looking forward.	Sounding pipes were also welded closed.				View from the Vigilant I from Montreal to Ile aux Coudres below Quebec City.  The stern anchor, its chain and windlass were all removed for future use on another ship.  Rudder and propeller shaft  were locked.
Scrap tow departed Toronto, ON late Aug. 20, 2011 for Montreal, QC.
Downbound the St. Lawrence River with the Salvor as the lead tug, Aug. 22, 2011. Ron Beaupre	Vigilant I and Seahound on the stern. Ron Beaupre				At anchor at Wilson Hill with the tugs Seahound, Salvor, and Vigilant I, Aug. 22, 2011. Leo Ames
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Another view at Toronto in company with the Algoway, June 7, 2011. John van der Doe	Awaiting her final journey, her name and logo painted over, June 27, 2011. John McCreery				As she appeared 3 months earlier on Mar. 27. John McCreery
Loaded with sugar at Pier 35 North< Toronto, ON, Jan. 3, 2009. Bill Bird	Into long-term lay-up at Toronto, July 20, 2009. John van der Doe				Laid up at Toronto, ON, Jan. 1, 2010. Mark Leitch
Downbound the St. Lawrence Seaway between the Beauharnois Locks , Nov. 29, 2008. Ken Goslett	Downbound the Welland Canal into Lock 7 on final voyage through the system, Dec. 14, 2008. Alex Howard				Stern view. Alex Howard
Approaching the Burlington Ship Canal Piers from Lake Ontario, Oct. 28, 2008. John McCreery	Into Hamilton Harbour with ore from Port Cartier, QC. John McCreery				Upbound into Lake Huron following the Invincible/McKee Sons, Oct. 31, 2008. Marc Dease
Loading at the elevator in Sarnia, ON, Aug. 30, 2008. Marc Dease	Loading at Sarnia, Sept. 14, 2008. Wayne Brown				Upbound into Lake Huron following the American Republic, Oct. 11, 2008. Marc Dease
Leaving Hamilton, ON with a wheat cargo for Port Cartier, QC, Aug. 17, 2008. John McCreery	Bow profile. John McCreery				Passing under the bridges into Lake Ontario. John McCreery
Downbound the St. Lawrence Seaway below Montreal, QC, May 14, 2008. Kent Malo	Downbound lower Lake Huron turning into the St. Clair River, May 27, 2008. Marc Dease				On June 14, 2008. Marc Dease
Stern view entering the harbour, Apr. 14, 2008. John McCreery	Arrival at Dofasco. John McCreery				Downbound at Port Huron, MI, Apr. 23, 2008. Jeff Mast
Captain Greig on the bridge, Mar. 24, 2008. "Nothing finer than the Miner." Ron Beaupre	Downbound the St. Lawrence River passing Mariatown, ON, Apr. 13, 2008. Ron Beaupre				Stern view passing Mariatown, ON. Ron Beaupre
Upbound the St. Lawrence River near Mariatown, ON, Mar. 24, 2008. Murray Blancher	another view. Murray Blancher				In the Iroquois Lock. Murray Blancher
St. Lawrence River near Trois-Rivieres, QC, Oct. 25, 2007. Michel St-Denis	Welland Canal approaching Lock 3, Oct.28, 2007. John McCreery				Departing Lock 8 at Port Colborne, ON. John McCreery
Upbound passing under the Welland Canal's Glendale Ave. Bridge, Oct. 13, 2007. Bill Bird.	Into Lock 4 West. Bill Bird				Bow profile, St. Lawrence River, Oct. 25, 2007. Michel St-Denis
Downbound the Welland Canal at Port Colborne, ON with wheat from Thunder Bay for Port Cartier, QC, July 8, 2007. Bill Bird	Arriving off the Burlington Ship Canal piers from Port Cartier, QC, Aug. 9, 2007. John McCreery				Coming off Lake Ontario. John McCreery
Downbound the St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI, June 1, 2007. Rob Butler	Downbound the St. Marys River, July 6, 2007. Greg Barber				Stern view approaching Lock 8, July 8, 2007. Bill Bird
Downbound the Welland Canal above Lock 7 at Thorold, ON, July 10, 2006. Al Howard	Downbound at St. Lambert Lock, Montreal, QC, .July 18, 2006. Michel St-Denis				Upbound the Welland Canal above Lock 7, Aug. 21 2006. Bill Bird
Upbound the St. Marys River, May 27, 2005. Roger LeLievre	Loading iron ore at Marquette, MI, Aug. 19, 2005. Rod Burdick				Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence River, Sept. 9, 2005. Fritz Hager
At Milwaukee, WI, Nov. 14, 2004, photos by Andy LaBorde.
Arriving at Milwaukee with the 'G' tug Arkansas leading the way.	Making the turn for the inner harbor.				Passing the heavy lift dock.
The Virginia starts to swing the stern of the Miner to start the turn to the dock.	Making the turn.				The Virginia approached to Nidera dock
Almost to the dock.	Looking aft on the Miner.				The large pilot house of the Miner.
Capt. Gerry Greig.	The loading of approximately 12,000 tons of soybeans.				The deck crew attached the hatch clamps
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Upbound the St. Clair River from the Southdown Challenger, Sept. 4, 2004. Wade P. Streeter	Stern view. Wade P. Streeter				St. Clair River at Port Huron, MI, Sept. 2004. Frank Frisk
Downbound Detroit River, June 2004. George Mock	Loading at the James Richardson Int'l, Pier 25 at Hamilton, ON, Aug. 21, 2004. Bill Lloyd				Stern view. Bill Lloyd
Upbound St. Marys River, May 26, 2004. Roger LeLievre	Loading at Cargill, Thunder Bay, ON, May 27, 2004. Gord Williams				Downbound St. Clair River, May 31, 2004. Paul Hoffmeyer
Discharging at St. Lawrence Cement, Duluth, MN. Apr. 2, 2004. Brian Peterson	In ice at Duluth, Apr. 3, 2004. Brian Peterson				Downbound Welland Canal exiting Lock 7, Apr. 26, 2004. Bill Bird
Winter lay-up at Hamilton, ON, Jan. 2, 2004. Bill Bird	Discharging at St. Lawrence Cement, Duluth, MN. Apr. 1, 2004. Brian Peterson				Stern view at St. Lawrence Cement, Apr. 2, 2004. Brian Peterson
Thunder Bay, ON, Oct. , 2003. Rob Farrow	Downbound St. Clair River, Oct. 13. 2003. Andy Severson				St. Clair River aerial view, Oct. 13, 2003. Don Coles
Upbound the Welland Canal passing under the Glendale Ave. bridge, Aug. 23, 2003. George Wharton	Bridge lowering. George Wharton				Approaching Lock 4 west. George Wharton
Upbound at the Soo, July 3, 2003. Lock Tours Canada Boat Cruises	Bow view. Lock Tours Canada Boat Cruises				Stern view. Lock Tours Canada Boat Cruises
Downbound the Welland Canal approaching the Allanburg Bridge, June 13, 2003. George Wharton	Between Locks 2 & 3, June 13, 2003. George Wharton				Stern view. George Wharton
Stopped in Welland Canal's Lock 3, Apr. 11, 2003. Alex Howard	Loading at Thunder Bay, May, 2003. Rob Farrow				Clearing Côte Ste. Catherine Lock upbound St. Lawrence Seaway, June 2, 2003. Marc Piché.

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