(1919) 1923                                  Oakbay                                  1941

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 Grand Quevilly France by Chantier de Normandie, Hull 7
Launched as Marinier (mariner)

230’ LOA, 216’6” LBP, 33’3” 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 Oakbay
219.2 x 35.0 x 13.2, 1265 GT, 694 NT     Can 150837     to:
Oakbay 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 to Henry Daryaw, Kingston ON and renamed Henry C. Daryaw.

Requisitioned at the end of the 1941 season for off-Lakes service during World War II.  Loaded cargo of coal Nov 20 at Sodus NY for delivery at Dalhousie NB.  Stranded Nov 21 on Buoy Shoal in Brockville Narrows, 6 miles west of Brockville ON, St. Lawrence River.  One life lost.  Backed off and sank.  Attempt in Aug 1942 to raise her failed and she sank again in deep water.

See history in Scanner Jan 1985 (#134)

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