Bulk Carrier MAPLEGLEN

After the winter we just experienced, it's so nice to have a Victoria Day that's mostly clear blue skies, pleasant temps with a light spring breeze, and being able to snap 4 new boats for future Carlz Boats posts; what more can you ask for on this year's holiday that was celebrated here in most of the Great White North last Monday on May 19. Originally the day was to commemorate Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24th but because that date didn't always make the holiday a long weekend, in 1958 the Feds changed the event date to the Monday immediately prior to May 25th (don't quote me on that c):-o). However perhaps, since the throne's influence continues to diminish on this side of the big pond, the holiday is better known as the 'May Long Weekend' or the more often used '2-4 Weekend' (either because of Vickie's actual birthdate or more likely referring to picking up a 2-4, i.e.: bottles of beer in a box or case of beer). Yeah, those were the days! c);-))    

Regardless, the first 'newbie' boat that we came across on Vickie's 2-4 Day was the worse for wear looking 730 foot-ish (729' 11'')  CSL bulk carrier MAPLEGLEN. Well at least her bow looked like she could use a fresh coat of paint, her aft  looked pretty good, eh? Hey, I talking about the boat eh, not my wife Janice leaning up against the fence with family dog, Tanner as the GLEN exited downbound out of Iroquois Lock. c)8-()

When the MAPLEGLEN (snapped passing us at Loyalist Park near Mariatown) was built in 1981 in Hoboken, Belgium, her name was FEDERAL MAAS and sailed with that name until 1995 when she became the LAKE MICHIGAN. She was purchased in 2009 by CSL Group Inc. (a subsidiary of Canada Steamship Lines and based in the States) and has sailed as the MAPLEGLEN ever since. I suppose it's better to have the odd new owner and name change, instead of like fleetmates RICHELIEU and SAGUENAY which both recently ended their many years hard work by being towed overseas and broken-up as scrap metal. Too much of that happening these day. Meanwhile, for more info about the RICHELIEU and SAGUENAY, check out these Carlz Boats posts: http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2013/05/bulk-carrier-richelieu.html  and http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2013/02/bulk-carrier-saguenay.html

But a REAL!! must see though is the wake that was kicked up from the tanker SARAH DESGAGNES as she passed my friend and fellow Boatnerd, Ron Beaupre's Seaway-front yard in Mariatown. As Ron mentioned, even though the max speed on the Seaway is only 12 knots/hour, certain ship designs results in significant wave action. See for yourself and disregard Tanner's antics while I was trying to shoot the real action, eh!
http://youtu.be/BZbD003YCiM.

Meanwhile, it was a short but very entertaining visit with Ron and his wife. Until next time, my friend and for everyone else, check out the SARAH DESGAGNES Carlz Boat post snapped near Ron's place last spring. ENJOY!! c);-b http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2014/01/oil-chemical-tanker-sarah-desgagnes.html