Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), the Thunder Bay Port Authority and city officials held a celebration today to welcome the newly-built Trillium Class vessel, the Thunder Bay, to its namesake city for the first time.
The vessel was named Thunder Bay as part of the revival of the trusty ‘Bay’ series in the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes fleet, and in honour of the Port of Thunder Bay. The Thunder Bay, which is equipped with state-of-the-art systems that reduce fuel consumption and air emissions, arrived at the port light ship after discharging iron ore pellets in Nanticoke, Ontario. In Thunder Bay, she will load wheat, which she will discharge in Montreal, Quebec.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs joined Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines, and Greg Arason, Board Chair of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, at the port to celebrate the ship’s arrival.
During a formal ceremony, Louis Martel, President of CSL, announced that the company would donate a
2.4 meter-long (8-feet) model of the Thunder Bay as a gift to the community.
The Port of Thunder Bay is the gateway for Prairie farmers to export their grain via the Great Lakes-Seaway system to overseas markets in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines
The Thunder Bay is the third of four new Trillium Class vessels to join CSL’s Great Lakes fleet. Conceived and built as part of CSL’s ambitious fleet renewal program, Trillium ships are equipped with the most advanced, sustainable and safe technologies available on the market today.
We built these ships to meet the high environmental standards expected by the communities in which we operate. The Thunder Bay and all Trillium Class vessels use 15 per cent less fuel, release fewer emissions and dust, and provide outstanding operational efficiency.
Louis Martel, President of Canada Steamship Lines
The Port of Thunder Bay and the marine shipping industry have long been an essential part of our local economy, creating jobs and helping to attract investment to our region. Fleet renewal by Canada Steamship Lines and other Canadian shipowners will help ensure that our port remains competitive and sustainable. We are honoured to have this beautiful ship named after our city and to receive a model of the M/V Thunder Bay as a gift for the community
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs
Greg Arason, Chair of the Board of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, said: “The investment in new state-of-the art vessels for the Seaway provides confidence for the future. To have one of the first new ships named after Thunder Bay is a great honour.”
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