Tanker ESTA DESGAGNÉS (Revisited)

Hey 👋I'm getting a little better at this self imposed jigsaw puzzle challenge I've been fiddling with during the latest provincial "Lockdown and STAY AT HOME, gall darn-it" restrictions, by completing my latest effort of the tanker ESTA DESGAGNÉS in about an hour, over three days, that is. The last piece this time was a portion of her always immaculate white superstructure which your can better in the shots below when I caught her for the first time in Montreal-East on September 26, 2014.

 

On that day it had been a bonus surprise as I had also just found another really nice place to set up the barbie and snap away at moored or passing by boats. Just off Rue Notre Dame in Montreal-Est is Parc Rene-Labrosse which is situated along the St. Lawrence River between two oil tanker terminals. Say What? Yup, it appears much of the east end of Montreal Island is home to Shell, Gulf and Petro-Canada oil refineries which produces over 380,000 barrels per day and also stores oil products produces further up the Great Lakes in Sarnia and Nanticoke, Ontario. While waiting to flip the burgers, I snapped the 405' tanker ESTA DESGAGNÉS off-loading at the Petro-Canada terminal just east of the park. 

 

When built in 1992 in Wismar, Germany her name was EMSSTERN and then in the next year her name was changed to EMERALD STAR. In 2010 her name was changed again to ESTA DESGAGNÉS and has been sailing with the Group Desgagnés markings of a dark blue hull and a yellow flashing near the bow and on her stack though she is managed by Rigal Shipping of Shediac, New Brunswick. 

 

At a time before tall fences were erected all along both sides of the Welland Canal, I caught the downbound ESTA DESGAGNÉS passing beneath Bridge 21 in Port Colborne on October 9, 2013. The seagulls still have a great view, fence or no fence 😀

 

The ESTA DESGAGNÉS was built double-hulled with a cargo capacity of 10,500 cubic metres of oil or chemicals  and according to my nephew, Corey who saw her pass through Port Colborne recently, 'she has a lot of pipes on her deck'. Very true Corey. Like most tankers, the ESTA has many pipes and a catwalk from the superstructure to its fo'c'sle which connect to her seven cargo holds. 

She also has a reinforced ice strengthen bow which allows her full access and manoeuvrability when the St. Lawrence River becomes clogged with ice during the winter months and while replenishing vehicle and jet fuel depots in the high Arctic every summer months.

Anchored in the river and waiting for a dock space is the 724.5' Fednav icebreaking bulk carrier/tanker ARCTIC. Click here to read about her: http://carlzboats.blogspot.com/2013/12/ice-breaking-motor-vessel-arctic.html

From the Port Huron side of the St.Clair River, I took this snap of the ESTA taking on cargo at Sarnia on September 19, 2013.

The proud ESTA DESGAGNÉS worked for the last time with the unique yellow slash near her bow and Groupe Desgagnés flag emblem on her stack,   when on May 9, 2020 she arrived in Montreal for long term layup and soon after put up for sale. Last August, ESTA was sold to an unknown Russian company and on September 17, the newly named CALLISTO got underway, bound for Pusan, South Korea via the north route above Russia. I'm certain her sleek ice-breaking bow was useful in that long journey to the other side of the world.

With the former Montreal Olympics stadium "Big O" in the background, the now Russsian owned and named CALLISTO prepares for her departure in this photo by René Beauchamp on September 6, 2020.

Thanks again as always René for letting me use your photos. You can see more of his new and archived photos around Montreal along the St. Lawrence in a group he helps administer, Seaway News - Voie maritime Info. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/985794125135584

Now which Jigsaw Planet Carlz Boats puzzle should I create next. Stay tuned c):-D