St. Lawrence Seaway

Took it about a mile west of Quebec city

Makes one wonder what regs pilots need to adhere to when following an icebreaker in such circumstances. How do the COLREGS under the Canada Shipping Act apply in this case, I wonder?

"It's the Utopia IV all over again."

I am still waiting for the first post, somebody saying, the icebreaker should take some of, if not most of the blame for not checking his six .

Following an icebreaker on active duty in tight quarter is always a delicate business, especially when the icebreaker needs several attempts breaking the ice.

We have had several unwanted contacts between our inland waterway cargo vessels and the icebreakers on the canals and rivers in Germany during wintertime in our company history. The new policy of the authorities here is, just closing the waterways for all traffic, if the ice thickness requires more than just going through of the icebreaker.

Because all of our inland waterway cargo vessels carry the private car of the skipper couple on top of the superstructure, they just tie the ship to the canal bank, lift the car onto the usual tridal way and drive home.
Much better than ruining the ship or the icebreaker! Being stuck in ice during winter is part of their business.





But winter on the St. Lawrence Seaway is a different story. I still remember my time as the Captain on my fathers bulker, picking up coal at Sept Iles during winter. The crew had to cut the ice off the hatches with axes and steam nozzles in order to get them open. And after the loading time, icebreakers and tugs had to free us from the ice in order to go back to sea.

Those icebreaker crews are real professionals and are doing a great job. They have my full respect.



And it feels like it's always winter there .

By looking at the video, I would say "breaking action poor" . Navigating in arctic waters is really something special. It needs skill, experience and besides a strong ship, a good crew.

Thanks Rodger, that is the pier, I mangeged to damage with my ship, many, many years ago. That was the time, I hated my job as a Captain on one of my fathers ships. Bloody cold weather and being seperated for weeks from my family with my beloved wife and my 4 young children.

Blue water commercial seafarers have to be a special species.

Feadship 200' "Majestic"


Not your typical center console in tow...

Ocean Alexander 115' "Ziggy"

Those sliding glass doors right on the transom look like a perfect way to sink a yacht in a heavy sea.