Port Weller Christens Two Ships in One Day

For the first time in the shipyard’s five-decade history, two ships were christened on the same day at Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines. The vessels, Hull 79 and Hull 516, were renamed and welcomed at a ceremony at the yard on March 3.

The third of three CSL vessels to have forebody replacements at Port Weller, Hull 79, which was sponsored by Kimberley Pauley, wife of Capt. Steve Pauley, is the last part of a $100 million contract with Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering.

In addition to a completely new hull, which has been attached to the engine room portion of the former MV Louis R. Demarais, Hull 79 also boasts automated self-unloading equipment. Hull 79 also holds the distinction as one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway, at SeawayMax size. Known as the former MV Tadoussac, Hull 516 has been converted to a single-belt unloading system from a three-belt system. The vessel has also undergone a mid-life refit, and has been widened from 75 to 78 ft.