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Aerial view	Don Coles

Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Canadian Prospector

By George Wharton

Launched as the Carlton(2) on Oct.17, 1963 for Chapman & Willan Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England; this ocean bulk freighter was built by Short Brothers Ltd., Sunderland, England. Her original dimensions were 562' (loa) x 73'09" x 43'02" 20,448 tons (dwt) capacity. She is powered by a 7500 horsepower supercharged 6 cylinder Gotaverken diesel engine giving her a rated service speed of 14.5 knots. Lengthened with the addition of one new cargo hold in 1968 at Amsterdam, Holland; her new dimensions became 642' (loa) 24710 tons (dwt) capacity. The Carlton was renamed Federal Wear in 1975 after being sold to Burnet Steamship Co. Ltd. (subsidiary of Fednav, Montreal, PQ). She was sold again in 1975 to Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., Toronto, ON and was named St. Lawrence Prospector. Saint John Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Ltd., Saint John, NB lengthened the St. Lawrence Prospector to her current dimensions in 1979 along with the installation of a bow thruster. She was christened March 31, 1979 as the Canadian Prospector.

The Canadian Prospector has 16 hatches feeding into 6 holds. She can carry 26,300 tons at her maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 30,500 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 27 feet 10 1/2 inches.

Currently sailing under the management of Seaway Bulk Carriers (partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group), the Canadian Prospector's activities are focused on the grain/iron ore shuttle between various Great Lakes ports and ports along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Her sailings, therefore, are subject to the fluctuations of the grain industry.

On October 12, 2002 the Prospector was damaged in a head on collision  near the Cote Ste. Catherine Lock with the salt water ship Stella Nova. Both vessels suffered damage, the Prospector received damage to her bow and was holed below the waterline. The large hole was caused by the bulbous bow of the Stella Nova.

The accident occurred as the Stella Nova was upbound and the Prospector was downbound for Port Cartier. It appeared that the Stella Nova lost steering, hitting the Prospector. The Prospector was repaired later that month and into November at Port Weller Dry Docks.

Hopefully this well traveled vessel will see many more years of productive sailings for her owners.

Overall dimensions
Length	730'00"
Beam	75'10"
Depth	40'06"
Capacity (tons)	30,500

	Damaged bow of the heavy lift vessel Stellanova at sec M3 Montreal harbor. Kent Malo	Anchored. Marc Piché