(1920) 1923                          Sprucebay                             1945 (1974)

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 Bordeaux France by At. & Ch. Maritime du Sud-Ouest, Hull 5.  Launched as Soutier (stoker)

229’6” LOA, 219’5” LBP, 34’2” beam, 14’9” depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, coal-fired boilers, 2 triple expansion engines, 700 IHP

Enrolled at Montreal QC 1923 as Sprucebay
218.8 x 34.3 x 12.3, 1238 GT, 646 NT     Can 150845     to:
Sprucebay 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

Management of fleet transferred to Canada Steamship Lines 1939

Sold 1945 for off-Lakes service and left the Great Lakes

Renamed Siderurgica Un (Brazil) 1945 and Aliceana 1954

Scrapped about 1974

IMO 5011250

2353