THALASSA DESGAGNES ARRIVES FOR DRYDOCK

Groupe Desgagnes' tanker THALASSA DESGAGNES arrived in Erie at 0630 this morning and was put into drydock at Donjon Shipbuilding. The vessel is in for unspecified repairs after spending several days moored in the Welland Canal for repairs. It is unknown at this time how long the DESGAGNES is expected to be in drydock.

The 1976-built THALASSA DESGAGNES is the first Desgagnes tanker to ever visit the port of Erie. Desgagnes' general cargo ships, such as CATHERINE DESGAGNES, frequently loaded pig iron here in the 1990s, and more recently SEDNA DESGAGNES visited to load refinery components for Korea in 2009. Ironically, SEDNA DESGAGNES went aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway last night, while upbound with steel products for Chicago, and may require drydocking for repairs.

I will update when I learn more about the THALASSA's visit. THALASSA also is the first tanker to ever be drydocked in Erie.

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THALASSA DESGAGNES in drydock this afternoon.


THALASSA DESGAGNES downbound in the Welland Canal below Lock 2 on September 17.


Another view.


Stern view of the tanker.

SEDNA DESGAGNÉS ARRIVES

Group Desgagnés' 2009-built SEDNA DESGAGNÉS arrived in Erie at 0900 this morning and docked at the Mountfort Terminal. The vessel is in port to load machinery.

As I mentioned Friday, this is the SEDNA's first trip into the Great Lakes. The vessel, which, along with fleetmates CAMILLA DESGAGNÉS, ANNA DESGAGNÉS, and sisterships ZÉLADA DESGAGNÉS and ROSAIRE DESGAGNÉS, spent the summer under the Canadian flag running from Montreal to the Canadian Arctic with supplies, was reflagged out of Bridgetown, Barbados, in preparation for this ocean voyage. This is the first visit to Erie by a Desgagnés vessel since the AMÉLIA DESGAGNÉS, MELISSA DESGAGNÉS and CATHERINE DESGAGNÉS were regular visitors in the mid-1990s to unload pig iron. The last visit by one of those vessels was 1998.

Loading of the SEDNA (SEDNA means "mermaid" in the Inkuit language and is the namesake of this vessel, which supplies the Inkuit people) is scheduled to begin on Monday morning.


SEDNA DESGAGNÉS inbound.


Another view.


Passing the lighthouse.


In the channel.


Slowly passing Coast Guard Station Erie.


Stern view.


Approaching the Mountfort Terminal.


Another view.


Docking.


Alongside.