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Welland Canal.	George Wharton

Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Halifax

By George Wharton

Launched Dec. 17, 1962 as the straight deck bulk carrier Frankcliffe Hall; this laker was built by Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, PQ for Halco Inc., Montreal, PQ. She was a sistership to Canada Steamship Lines straight-decker Baie St. Paul (scrapped in India, 1996). Her power comes from a single John Inglis 9,000 horsepower steam turbine engine. Her 16 hatches lead to 6 holds where she can carry 23,500 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 30,100 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 30 feet 11 inches. Halco had the Frankcliffe Hall converted to a self-unloader and deepened 6 feet by Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Thunder Bay, ON during the winter and early spring of 1979/80. She is equipped with a 250 foot stern-mounted discharge boom that can be swung 100 degrees to port or starboard.

As a straight-decker, Halco kept the Frankcliffe Hall busy in the iron ore and grain trades. After her conversion to a self-unloader, her first cargo consisted of a load of potash from Thunder Bay to Montreal.

Although considered a 730-footer, the Frankcliffe Hall held the Queen of the Lakes title for the longest vessel on the Great Lakes at 730 feet 2 inches from her launch through to April 14, 1965. She was the last steam-powered vessel to hold this honor. The title was passed on to the m/v Lawrencecliffe Hall on April 14,1965.

On April 18, 1987; the Frankcliffe Hall, now under charter to Canada Steamship Lines, departed Thunder Bay with her first CSL cargo consisting of corn destine for Halifax, NS returning to the lakes with a load of gypsum. With the demise of the Halco fleet, CSL purchased the Frankcliffe Hall in 1988 renaming her Halifax at that time. The Halifax remains active in the grain, iron ore, coal, and stone/aggregates trades for Canada Steamship Lines.

The Halifax was rocked by an explosion and fire in the tunnel under #1 hold on April 6, 1992 while upbound in the St. Marys River. The event resulted in the death of one crewman and internal damage to the vessel.

With the 1999 towing of the Tarantau to the scrap yard, the Halifax has become the last active steamer in the CSL fleet. She is also 1 of 3 remaining traditional styled lakeboats still active in this fleet (the others being the diesel powered Frontenac, and Tadoussac). As such, it is with sincere hope that the Halifax continue to be a productive and profitable carrier for her owners in the years to come.

Overall dimensions
Length	730'02"
Beam	75'00"
Depth	39'03"
Capacity (tons)	30,100

In Duluth. Kent Rengo	Detroit River. Mike Nicholls	Stern view Rouge River. Mike Nicholls
	Halifax in Sarnia's North Slip, 2003. N. Schultheiss	View from the west side of the North Slip.