Self Unloader CSL ASSINIBOINE (Revisited)

Hee-Haww!!! What a ride the 739' 10" CSL ASSINIBOINE was experiencing while motoring upbound near Morrisburg, Ontario last Sunday. Combine the Seaway's maximum speed of 12 knots/hr (13.8 MPH) with wind gusts of up to 64 klicks/hr  (40 MPH), and the answer to a Jeopardy question to what it feels like when a wave makes contact with the rounded bow of the CSL ASSINIBOINE, the reply might be, 'What is 'blunt force trauma', Alex? c):-()

Past spring winds have not been kind to CSL ASSINIBOINE. Sometime overnight on March 3, 2012, high winds caused her to break loose from her holdings and collide with the ALGOWOOD (https://carlzboats.blogspot.com/2012/07/self-unloader-csl-assiniboine.html) which was tied off to the opposite wall at the entrance to the Welland Canal in Port Colborne, Ontario. Fortunately, neither ship sustained major damages due to the collision.

No collisions occurred last Sunday and the wave action was reduced significantly as the big self unloader passed by Mariatown's Loyalist Park during her approach to Iroquois Lock. Hey, nice pic of me trying to catch up by my better half, Janice. Happy Mother's Day! c):-D
CSL ASSINIBOINE was originally built at Davie Shipbuilding at Lauzon, Quebec and when launched in 1977, she was 730 feet long, could carry 27,890 tons of cargo and her name was JEAN PARISIEN.

In 2004, she was given a new forebody (the section from the bow to the superstructure) at Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines, Ontario. Once removed, the old forebody was to towed to Marine Salvage in Port Colborne and later scrapped. Re-christened CSL ASSINIBOINE in July 2005, the length of new self unloader was extended to 739' 10" long, her cargo capacity was to expanded to 36,768 tons and the new vessel was good to continue to battle choppy lakes and Seaway channels for an additional 25 years.

Meanwhile, whether you're an 'out of the closet' boat-ludder or not, next time you're at Iroquois lock to snap a few pics at that long, huge structure that's made of steel, with colourful pipes and wires everywhere, and generally floats by you real slow, be sure to visit the Lockview Gift Shop. They've got a lot of neat Seaway memorabilia there, post cards, a chip stand, CLEAN washrooms and the ice cream tastes great and is inexpensive. Note of warning, if you're boat-lubbing (OR NOT) with puppy in the car, be sure to leave some of the cone for him or be prepared for those 'dogly' hate stares or payback looks. I hate it when that happens!!