(1919) 1923                                  Ashbay                                  1935 (1942)

Steel twin-screw St. Lawrence River canal size bulk freighter

One of a fleet of vessels, ten or more, built shortly after the end of World War I for the French government for coastal service in the coal trade.  Cabins aft with twin screws, they were near sisters named for occupations involved in the construction or operation of ships.  Built by six or more different shipyards, they all had slightly different dimensions and tonnages.  Of the vessels brought to the Great Lakes, half were propelled by fore and aft compound engines and half by triple expansion engines.  Ten of these vessels were purchased in late 1922 primarily for the grain trade by Ogilvie Flour Mills, Montreal QC,  renamed for trees native to Canada with –bay suffix honoring their operating company, each vessel owned by a separate company indicating the name of the vessel, and brought to the Great Lakes in 1923.

Built at St. Nazaire France by Chantier de Penhoet, Hull B4
Launched as Tourneur (lathe operator)

230’ LOA, 216’6” LBP, 34’2” beam, 15’7” depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, coal-fired boilers, 2 fore and aft compound engines, 715 IHP

Enrolled at Montreal QC 1923 as Ashbay
218.6 x 34.2 x 13.2, 1223 GT, 643 NT     Can 150849     to:
Ashbay Steamship Co., Montreal QC, Bay Line Steamships Ltd., Mgr. (home port Montreal QC)

Entered Great Lakes service 1923

Managing firm renamed Tree Line Navigation Co. 1924

Sold 1935 for off-Lakes service and left the Great Lakes

Renamed Antonico Braz (Brazil) 1935

Shelled and sunk Sept 28, 1942 off the mouth of the Marowyne River, Brazil, Atlantic Ocean.  Sixteen lives lost.

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