Algoma Equinox

The Algoma Equinox, moored in Toronto.

The Algoma Equinox is a lake freighter built for Algoma Central, a Canadian shipping company.[1][2][3] She was built in a shipyard of the Nantong Mingde Heavy Industries in Nantong, China. She is intended to be the lead ship of a class of eight vessels.

Algoma Central asserts that new design and new technology will make the new vessels 45 percent more energy efficient than their earlier vessels.[2] The Equinox is a "gearless bulker" meaning she will have to use shore facilities to load and unload. The first four of the "Equinox" class of vessels will be like this while the second four will have self-unloading machinery, allowing them to use ports without cranes. The self-loading and unloading machinery consists of a conveyor belt below the holds, and a long boom with a converyer belt on deck. The boom can be swung outboard to Port or Starboard.

Two of the new gearless vessels will be owned by the Canadian Wheat Board, but operated by Algoma Central, on the Board's behalf.[3]

Each crew member has an individual cabin, with an en-suite washroom, and broadband internet, and satellite TV connections.[4]

Captain Ross Armstrong of the Algoma Equinox received the Top Hat as the first ship through the Canal for 2014 at the Welland Canals Centre at Lock 3 in St. Catharines, Ontario on March 28, 2014. Unfortunately due to ice conditions on Lake Erie, she was unable to complete the journey into Lake Erie that day.[5] The ship was also the feature of a travelogue on the Great Lakes by Porter Fox.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Porter Fox (2016-08-19). "From Montreal to Minnesota, by Inland Sea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20.
  2. 1 2 Betty Nguyen (2012-12-25). "Algoma: First Equinox Class Vessel Launched (Canada)". World Maritime News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2016-08-19. This Equinox Class series will include eight vessels consisting of four gearless bulk carriers (requiring shore-side equipment for cargo discharge) and four self-unloading bulk carriers. Algoma will own six of the series, consisting of two gearless bulkers and four self-unloading vessels.
  3. 1 2 "Algoma Invests in Great Lakes Shipping". Marine Link. 2011-03-23. Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2013-06-22. Equinox Class ships are the next generation of bulk carriers on the Great Lakes. They will be able to carry significantly more cargo and move faster than conventional vessels. Newer engine technology will result in reduced fuel consumption, which means lower fuel costs and lower emissions.
  4. ↑ "Tour the Equinox Class". Algoma Central. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Individual cabins include modular washroom facilities for ease of use and cleaning plus each cabin is fitted with broadband internet and satellite TV.
  5. ↑ Glynn, Matt (March 28, 2014). "Lingering lake ice hinders Welland Canal traffic". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved March 30, 2014.

External links

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