Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- CSL Tadoussac

by George Wharton

Her keel being laid June 25, 1968, this traditional styled self-unloading bulk carrier was built as hull # 192 by Collingwood Shipyards division, Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd., Collingwood, ON and launched May 29, 1969 as the Tadoussac for Canada Steamship Lines Inc., Montreal, PQ. On the day of her launch, she slid down the ways 15 minutes prematurely killing 2 workers and injuring 35 others. The accident was blamed on rotting support timbers. The Tadoussac was the last Canada Steamship Lines vessel built with the forward pilothouse and the first to be built with stern mounted self-unloading gear.

The laker is powered by a single 6-cylinder 9,600 b.h.p. (7,061 kW) Sulzer model 6RND76 diesel engine built in 1969 by Sulzer Bros. Ltd., Winterthur, Switzerland.  Burning intermediate grade 180 fuel, power is fed to a single fixed pitch propeller giving the vessel a rated service speed of 17 mph.  She is equipped with a controllable pitch bow thruster. As originally built with the 75' 00" (22.86m) beam, the vessel could carry 29,700 tons (30,177 mt) at a mid-summer draft of 29' 06" (8.99m) in 5 holds serviced by 23 hatches. The holds had the cubic capacity to carry 28,800 net tons (equivalent to 25,714 tons or 26,127 mt) of coal.  Her original self unloading system included hopper styled holds gravity feeding through hydraulically operated gates to 3 tunnel belts to a single stern transfer belt onto a loop belt elevator system to a stern mounted 249' 06" (76.05m) discharge boom that could unload the vessel at a rate of 5,413 tons (5,500 mt) of iron ore or 3,937 tons (4,000 mt) of coal per hour.

The Tadoussac departed Collingwood, ON on her maiden voyage October 2, 1969 light for Fort William (now Thunder Bay), ON to load iron ore. In 1972, she was the first downbound vessel through the Welland Canal opening the Port of Hamilton, ON for the season on April 4, 1972. She then turned around and the next day became the first vessel to be upbound through the Welland Canal thus opening both ends of the Canal that season. On April 25, 1973; the Tadoussac's self-unloading boom collapsed in Sandusky, OH with no resulting injuries. The Tadoussac found herself in an ironic situation on November 10, 1990. On the evening of the fifteenth anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Tadoussac lost power in a major storm on Lake Superior above Whitefish Bay, the general area of the Fitzgerald wreck. On July 8, 1998; the Tadoussac ran aground 2 miles east of Peche Island near Windsor, ON while loaded with coal. The vessel's rudder went hard to starboard causing her to ground outside the shipping channel. The cause was reported to be low voltage being produced by an electrical steering breaker.

The Tadoussac was an active carrier in Canada Steamship Line's fleet transporting cargoes such as coal, iron ore, grain, stone/aggregates, and cement clinker. She has been an active participant in an ongoing project whereby fleet vessels travelled to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to load or top up large ocean-going coal carriers. Due to the oat craze of the late 1980's; she also carried several cargoes of oats for General Mills from Thunder Bay to Duluth-Superior. 

On December 15, 2000, the Tadoussac laid up for the winter at Port Weller Dry Docks, St. Catharines, ON where her center section was rebuilt and widened to 77' 11" (23.76m) and her self-unloading equipment was updated. The $20 million widening and conversion project was based on contractual agreements with customers in the cement clinker and iron ore trades. Only with these contracts in place could the green light be given to "customize" the self-unloader to serve the specific needs of these customers. Included in the rebuilding and hull widening was an extensively rebuilt and modernized self unloading system with covered single tunnel belt, remotely operated gates, and a comprehensive dust suppression system.  The vessel also received new, wider side tanks with cladded tank tops and closed loading and discharging arrangements similar to her fleet mates Frontenac and Halifax.  The self-unloaders discharge rates remained the same.  As a result of the rebuilding,  the laker's cargo capacity increased to 30,051 tons (30,543 mt) at a mid-summer draft of 28' 03" (8.61m) and 27,530 tons (27,970 mt) at the Seaway draft of 26' 06" (8.08m).  Her holds' cubic capacity for the carrying of coal was reduced however to 21,300 net tons (equivalent to 19,018 tons or 19,323 mt).

On March 3, 2001; the vessel was rechristened CSL Tadoussac in a historic dual christening ceremony at the ship yard with the CSL Laurentien. The christening ceremony was dedicated to the employees of Canada Steamship Lines with the sponsor of the CSL Tadoussac being Barbara Gowthorpe, wife of one of the fleet's Chief Engineers, Tony Gowthorpe.  The typical red colored hull used by the Canada Steamship Lines self-unloader fleet was replaced with gray, symbolizing the CSL Tadoussac's long-term commitment to the cement clinker trade.

The CSL Tadoussac is named in honor of the oldest settlement in Canada; Tadoussac, Quebec. Located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River about 100 miles (160 k) north east of Quebec City; Tadoussac dates back to the explorer Jacques Cartier, September 1, 1535. The "CSL" prefix honors the vessel's owner Canada Steamship Lines Inc. This vessel is the second vessel in Canada Steamship Lines fleet history to carry the Tadoussac name. The first Tadoussac was a 370' (112.78m) passenger steamer built at Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, PQ in October, 1927. The 7,013 gross ton vessel was powered by 2 triple expansion steam engines rated at 7,016 h.p. (5,016 kw) with 6 Scotch boilers. She was retired in 1965, sold, renamed Passenger No.2, and towed to Belgium. Last report indicated that the hull was being used as a hotel, restaurant, and shopping arcade in Sharjah.

The CSL Tadoussac was eased from her dry dock berth on June 13, 2001 with the assistance of Port Weller Dry Docks tug James E. McGrath and McKeil Marine tugs Lac Vancouver and Miseford. After completing sea trials on Lake Ontario, the CSL Tadoussac departed on her maiden voyage June 20, 2001 light to Bowmanville, ON for a load of cement clinker bound for Detroit, MI.  On September 5, 2005, the vessel's discharge boom collapsed at the Essroc dock at Essexville, MI on the Saginaw River.  The incident was reportedly caused by a brake failure in the deployment of the boom to unload.

On March 20, 2007, the CSL Tadoussac was the featured vessel at the official opening of the Welland Canal for the 2007 season marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of the 4th canal in 1932 by the Canada Steamship Lines steamer Lemoyne and the earliest opening date in the history of the canal.  Unusual for an official opening, the CSL Tadoussac was downbound in the canal and was followed shortly after by her fleet mate Frontenac.  (Usually, the opening features an upbound vessel but there were no vessels available.  The first upbound of the 2007 season was the Canadian Enterprise on March 22.)  As with her fleet mates, the CSL Tadoussac sails under the management of V.Ships Canada Inc. of Montreal, QC.

 

Overall Dimensions (metric)
Length	730' 00" (222.504m)
Beam	77' 11" (23.76m)
Depth	42' 00" (12.78m)
Capacity (mid-summer)	30,051 tons (30,543 mt)  at a draft of 28' 03" (8.61m)
Power (diesel)	9,600 b.h.p. (7,061 kW)

 

CSL Tadoussac - written by and read at the Rechristening Ceremony by Rev. David Mulholland of the Mission to Seamen in Toronto on March 3, 2001 (from the Canada Steamships Lines newsletter "CSL World", spring 2001 issue)

M/V Tadoussac, a fine Indian name Reflecting courage, cunning, and history On our great fresh water main, After 32 years she becomes a bit thicker in beam A natural progression in Life--it would seem. Yet, for good Tadoussac 'Tis no matter of an aging subversion But a matter of a rejuvenating and useful conversion: To a refinement of skill and ability since her keel was first laid To be the most sophisticated and accomplished in the cement/clinker trade. And so Blessings be on You on Captain and Crew And to God be the Glory in all that You do!

 

Flags flying, Welland Canal, Mar. 20, 2007. Phil Nash	Emerging from Lock 1, Welland Canal, Mar. 20, 2007. Phil Nash	Saginaw River, Mar. 25, 2007. Todd Shorkey
In Welland Canal's Lock 3 during the Canal's opening ceremonies on Mar. 20, 2007. Dan Sweeley	Downbound after leaving Lock 3, Mar. 20, 2007. Dan Sweeley	Stern view. Dan Sweeley
Downbound the Welland Canal approaching Lock 7 with assistance of tug Seahound, Mar. 19, 2007. Dave Scali	Close up, spot light on. Dave Scali	Another view. Dave Scali
Welland Canal, June 24, 2006. Eric Holmes	Winter lay-up at Port Colborne, ON, Jan. 28, 2007. Alex Howard	Stern view. Alex Howard
Welland Canal, below Lock 8, Port Colborne, ON, Mar. 23, 2006. Phil Nash	Saginaw River, Mar. 28, 2006. Todd Shorkey	Lowering crew to the Essroc dock on the Saginaw River, Mar. 28, 2006. Todd Shorkey
Unloading at Essroc on the Saginaw River, Nov. 25, 2005. Todd Shorkey	Winter lay-up at Port Colborne, ON, Jan. 21, 2006. Alex Howard	Stern view. Alex Howard
Boom collapse at Essexville, MI, Sept. 5, 2005. Todd Shorkey	Another view. Todd Shorkey	Boom close up. Todd Shorkey
Inbound Duluth / Superior, Jan. 13, 2007. Franz VonRiedel	Unloading at Essroc, Saginaw River, early May 22, 2005. Todd Shorkey	Another view. Todd Shorkey
Marquette, MI on a very cold Jan. 15, 2005. Lee Rowe	Detroit River, May 4, 2005. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. Mike Nicholls
Welland Canal, Oct. 2004. Ian Baker	Stern view. Ian Baker	Unloading along the Saginaw River, July 23, 2005. Gordy Garris
Being raised in Welland Canal's Lock 7 at Thorold, ON, Aug. 9, 2004. Alex Howard	Emerging from the lock meeting fleetmate Cedarglen "on the level". Alex Howard	Close up. Alex Howard
Winter lay-up February, 2003. Capt. Alain Gindroz	Detroit River, Sept. 20, 2004. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. Mike Nicholls
Tadoussac at Port Weller for conversion. Jeff Thoreson	View from across the canal. Jason Junge	Christening in March 2001. Jamie Kerwin