CSL’s self-unloader Baie St. Paul yesterday unloaded the first of 269,000 tonnes of stone that will play a key role in the construction of Montreal’s new Champlain Bridge.

The operation involves a total of 10 loads of stone and requires Baie St. Paul to unload the cargo at the building site from a temporary berth in a narrow stretch of the St. Lawrence Seaway, leaving passing ships to navigate between her and the opposing dyke. The complex procedure calls on the skill of Baie St. Paul’s crew and maximizes the benefits of the dynamic positioning system and bow and stern thrusters that are standard on CSL’s Trillium Class vessels.

CSL’s contribution to the project will bring significant environmental benefits by reducing road congestion around the construction site. Performing the same work by truck would have required an estimated 9,000 truckloads or more.

This operation is a great example of how short-sea shipping contributes to economic development to the benefit of our communities and the environment. One ship can carry the cargo of 900 trucks and is over 500% more energy efficient, which means safer and healthier communities and lower infrastructure costs for taxpayers.

Allister Paterson, President of Canada Steamship Lines

The stone discharged by Baie St. Paul will be used for a laydown area for equipment and eventually form the foundation of the soaring twin “tuning fork” pillars that are central to Danish architect Poul Ove Jensen’s sleek, cable-stayed design. Jensen’s concept was selected last year to replace the current Champlain Bridge, a 3.4 kilometre-long cantilever structure completed in 1962.