The article below, recently published in Canadian Sailings Magazine, caught my eye, because it involves a good news story, about a burgeoning Canadian ship operator, who has given me some "great" memories. Great Lakes Feeder Line has recently taken possession of the a 1991 built vessel, destined for their Canadian market. Turns out their new ship has a bit of a storied past, which I am sure almost all of you will recall. Great Lakes Feeder Lines has added a second ship. The Burlington, Ont.-based company took delivery of the MV Arctic Sea in Malta in mid-April. It joins the Dutch Runner in the GLFL fleet. The Arctic Sea, built in 1992, is an Ice Class 1A vessel that can operate in some of the most stringent ice conditions. The 97.8-metre-long ship has a carrying capacity of 4,705 tons and can transport bulk, breakbulk, project and containerized cargoes.
The ship has two box-type holds covered by hydraulically operated hatch covers. It can carry 270 containers, and has 21 reefer sockets. Its gear includes two cranes located on the port side, each with a lifting capacity of 25 tonnes and a combined capacity of 45 tonnes.
Given the uncertainty of the future of the 25-per-cent duty levied on vessels imported into Canada, GLFL said it has decided to sail the ship under the Barbados flag with a mix of Canadian and Filipino crew. The vessel will serve international markets throughout Canada and the U.S.
GLFL’s business model calls for European feeder-style multipurpose ships. The Arctic Sea is well suited to carry coils, aluminum ingots, steel products, lumber, heavy or over-sized project cargo, grain and other bulk commodities, and containers.
The Arctic Sea is no stranger to media attention. In summer 2009, it was the subject of a hijacking alert off the Swedish coast. The ship disappeared for two weeks and became a daily news item in Europe as conspiracy-like theories abounded. Although the vessel finally reappeared, the mystery has yet to be officially solved.
The story can still be traced on numerous websites including: wapedia.mobi/en/MV_Arctic_Sea and newwars.
wordpress.com/2009/08/18/mv-arctic-sea-conspiracy-deepens.
After GLFL took delivery of the Arctic Sea, the vessel proceeded to load a cargo of bulk material in Greece destined for discharge in the province of Quebec in mid-May.
MV Arctic Sea
IMO number: 8912792
Call Sign : 8PWS
MMSI : 314320000
Type of ship : General Cargo Ship
Year of build : 1991
Flag : Barbados
Class : Germanischer Lloyd
Owner / Operator : Great Lakes Feeder Lines
Builder : Sedef Shipyard, Istanbul, Turkey
Completed : 1992[2]
Tonnage : 1,618 tons (NT), 4988 (GT)
Displacement : 7167 tons
Length : 97.80 m
Beam : 17.33 m
Draught : 5.62 m
Depth : 7.01 m
Propulsion : 1 diesel engine
Speed : 12.50 knots
Crew : 15
Prior Names:
1991 : Okhotskoye
1996 : Zim Venezuela
1998 : Alrai
1998 : Torm Senegal
2000 : Jogaila
2005 : Arctic Sea
You can read more about the Arctic Sea here, and visit GLFL's website here.
Labels: around the world, Central Canada, Eastern Canada, in the media, Piracy, Russia