Monday, January 2, 2012

MV Richelieu/ Our World

MV Richilieu about to enter the harbour at Hamilton, Ontario

On our way to Upstate New York a couple of days before Christmas, my husband and I stopped to watch this laker on Lake Ontario as it entered the canal between the cities of Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario. Since 1826, the Burlington Canal has connected Hamilton with the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River.

Hamilton (arrow at far left) to the Atlantic Ocean (arrow at far right)

Hamilton is located on the western side of Lake Ontario, which empties into the Saint Lawrence River/ Seaway and then into the Atlantic Ocean.

 Man standing beside the laker shows how big it is

MV Richelieu is a laker - or lake freighter - based in Montreal, Quebec. The ship was launched in 1980 so is 31 years old and showing some wear and tear.

Bulk carriers like MV Richelieu ship salt, ore, grain or rock in large contiguous holds, not in containers. Since this ship looked like it was headed for a steel mill, it likely contained iron ore.

Lift bridge

To reach the steel mill it had to pass under the Burlington Lift Bridge. Built half a century ago in 1962  (it's the fifth such bridge in this location), the orange-red box carrying the road has gone up and down more than 166,380 times.  Think of the long lineups on either side of the bridge! 

MV Richelieu passing under the lift bridge

Once out from under the lift bridge but still in the canal, MV Richelieu had to also pass under a second bridge that...

MV Richelieu under the Burlington Skyway

did not have to rise because it was already tall enough for ships to pass under.

Click   HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

37 comments:

Dawn said...

What a super post and pictures. I so enjoy seeing the other side of my country through your lens! My boys will have to look at this one....the way we are studying Canada Our Country and all!
And Happy New Year to you!!!

Penelope Notes said...

A little breathtaking to see such a bulky vessel snake its way down narrow waterways and under bridges. Yet it all works beautifully as a mode of transporting products. Thanks as always for sharing your world. Hope the year ahead is a good one to you and yours. :)

Jill said...

These are great pictures. We have a lift bridge a few hours from us on Lake Superior and it is a favorite place to visit.

Darla said...

So interesting. I'm glad you included the map so I could get an idea of how far it is.

Darla

Gill - That British Woman said...

you don't realize just how big those ships are until you get up close and personal!!!

Gill

MadSnapper said...

the last photo could have been taking on the Savannah river, in Savannah GA, we used to go watch the big ships come in the river and go under a bridge like this one.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I could watch ships come and go for hours. Great pics.

Kate said...

One of the best memory of my childhood was taking the huge lakers on Lake Michigan. The lakes themselves are so terrific and awesome. Thanks for the photos you posted that jogged my memory.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

That was very interesting and provided a glimpse into another world and way of life I probably will never see. And the map was a bonus! Thank you.

Malyss said...

I'm fascinated by those big merchant ships. I navigated on them when I was younger, as my hubby was working on them as chief engineer;

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Great post; really interesting stuff.

TexWisGirl said...

that is so cool! definitely nothing i get to see here in landlocked NE Tx!

Anonymous said...

B I G ship!

VioletSky said...

Thanks for this information - I was watching this laker as it rested in the lake and as it made it way through the canal but forgot to check on which one it was. You got some good up close shots. I take it you were waiting at the lift bridge, so figured you might as well take the photo op it provided?!

RedPat said...

I have many memories waiting at the old lift bridge before the skyway was built! it was always great fun to watch the ships. Nice memories you brought back!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Wow I love this post the photos and the history make me very happy. I try to get to Hamilton as much as I can to see very special family and always admire this view of the trip. Thanks for reminding me. Happy New Year. B

Sylvia K said...

Terrific captures, EG! I have been able to watch similar sights here in Seattle -- and wait on bridges to lower so I could continue on my way!! I think that boat, however, is bigger than any that I have been able to see! Hope your new year is off to a great start! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

The winter winds on that bridge are incredible. Great post. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Martha Z said...

Very interesting. I recall studying in college how important shipping on the Great Lakes was to industrial development in the US.

Carolyn Ford said...

wow...awesome pics! i am close to the Port of Los Angeles and enjoy going there to watch the ships come in and out! they are so huge and entertaining (even if they do move slowly)!!! love this post!

Jack said...

A nice educational post, EG.

Lowell said...

This is a wonderful post, E.G. Very interesting and your photos are terrific. I remember freighters coming into Duluth, Minnesota and going under a lift bridge. But I was a wee lad and that's about all I remember.

That canal is a wonderful thing for people up your way, I'd say!

eileeninmd said...

It does look interesting and reminds me a lot of the Panama canal. Great photos and thanks for sharing your world.

Viola said...

Wow!! What a big ship!! My boyfriend like to watch ships like this one.. :) Happy New Year, by the way! :)

Carver said...

You took some great shots of the Laker and a very interesting post. When you said it was launched in 1980 and was showing signs of age I thought, that's not old, I got married in 1980. Then I thought, well I'm certainly showing signs of age myself.

Kathy said...

I'm always fascinated by this stuff!

Al said...

Nice shots. I've always been intrigued by lift bridges, as long as I'm not in the line of cars waiting for them to lower!

Anonymous said...

From that angle at least, the last bridge looks just barely tall enough not to have to go up! We learned a little about those big lakers a couple of summers ago on our roadtrip -- but would love to see more of your area.

A great series of photos, thanks for sharing!

KB said...

Beautiful pics. My OWT is up too.


Happy New Year from New Zealand.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I KNOW from personal experience how big those ships are, but you've reminded me again.. you've captured their size well!

Randy said...

Interesting post and that ship is impressive.

Kay L. Davies said...

Wow, I loved following the old laker through the canal via your photos. I love ships of all shapes and sizes, as well as bodies of water large and small. An enjoyable trip today!
K

Ms. Becky said...

I love scenes like these - they're not uncommon on the Great Lakes here. I've never heard them referred to as "lakers" though - love it. that one is a beauty. wishing you all the best in 2012 EG.

Susan said...

Reminds of the big trucks that go under freeway bridges. I always wonder how they know it's tall enough. I love this post, very interesting and the first photo, I love!!!!

George said...

Thanks for showing us what lakers have to go through to traverse this canal. Very interesting.

Unknown said...

that's a huge laker, looks like an aircraft carrier. we don't have lake freighters around here, especially as big as this one. marvelous shots!

Jeannette StG said...

Wow, this ship has an incredible length! An impressive structure of steel and iron!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.