20OC8624hdr-denoiseW2gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x Thunder Bay Harbour 2020
he keel was laid May 17, 1967 at Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon, QC for their hull # 661 which has proven to be the last classic straight deck bulk carrier (wheelhouse forward) built for the Canada Steamship Lines fleet of Montreal, QC. The vessel was launched December 12, 1967 and christened Frontenac (5) for Canada Steamship Lines, Inc. The Frontenac was named in honor of Mr. Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac at Palluau who was born in 1620 and was the governor of New France from 1672 to 1682 and 1689 until he died in 1698. He had been given authority by the French government to preside over all French possessions in North America. The new laker was commissioned on May 13, 1968 and loaded 25,492 tons (25,902 mt) of iron ore at Pointe Noire, QC on May 14 for her maiden voyage to Hamilton, ON; then on to Thunder Bay, ON for a load of grain to Montreal, QC.
With a capacity of 28,000 tons (28,450 mt) as built, the Frontenac only remained a "straight decker" for 5 years. During the winter of 1972/73, she was converted to a self-unloader by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON (their hull # 204). Her conversion became the first installation of a stern mounted unloading system. All previous conversions had featured the forward mounted "A-frame" and discharge boom.
20OC8624hdr-denoiseW2gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x Thunder Bay Harbour 2020
he keel was laid May 17, 1967 at Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon, QC for their hull # 661 which has proven to be the last classic straight deck bulk carrier (wheelhouse forward) built for the Canada Steamship Lines fleet of Montreal, QC. The vessel was launched December 12, 1967 and christened Frontenac (5) for Canada Steamship Lines, Inc. The Frontenac was named in honor of Mr. Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac at Palluau who was born in 1620 and was the governor of New France from 1672 to 1682 and 1689 until he died in 1698. He had been given authority by the French government to preside over all French possessions in North America. The new laker was commissioned on May 13, 1968 and loaded 25,492 tons (25,902 mt) of iron ore at Pointe Noire, QC on May 14 for her maiden voyage to Hamilton, ON; then on to Thunder Bay, ON for a load of grain to Montreal, QC.
With a capacity of 28,000 tons (28,450 mt) as built, the Frontenac only remained a "straight decker" for 5 years. During the winter of 1972/73, she was converted to a self-unloader by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON (their hull # 204). Her conversion became the first installation of a stern mounted unloading system. All previous conversions had featured the forward mounted "A-frame" and discharge boom.