Sorel QC, Canada: Seaway-Max to Ocean Going Grain Transloading and Tim S. Dool Freighter

(Satellite)

This may be the largest, active grain elevator that does not have rail service. I'll let Dave explain:

Dave Hickcox posted two photos with the comment: "Sorel, Q.uebec.  This elevator is at the confluence of the Richelieu River and St. Lawrence River several miles downstream from Montreal.  The elevator is very active as Great Lakes ships bring grain down from the Canadian prairies and unload. The elevator then will load salt water ships for export. The second photo shows a Great Lakes ship unloading and you can also see the setern section of a salt water ship loading.  Aug 6, 2014"

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[A superstructure on the bow of the unloading ship means that this is an old ship.]

Street View

I saved this satellite image because it shows the elevator simultaneously unloading a small ship and loading a big ship. The shadows highlight the two mobile towers that hold the unloader legs.

Satellite

Here is a closeup of one of those marine towers.

Julien Lemay posted

Sunset on the Tim S. Dool

St-Lawrence River

Sorel's Grain Elevator

7-12-21

Dennis DeBruler

Julien Lemay That is the best shot I have seen of a marine unloader leg. I've learned that in 1967 the Tim S. Dool was the second Great Lakes bulk carrier built with all of the superstructure on the stern and that in 1996 3' was added to the width of the ship.

https://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/TimSDool.htm

Most Great Lakes freighters have converted to self-unloading so I was surprised to see modern marine towers. Richardson not only owns this elevator, its owns a big facility in Thunder Bay. I think it owns its own fleet of three ships that includes the Tim S. Dool. They must have decided that it was cheaper to upgrade their marine towers than to convert their ships to self-unloaders.

Note the crane hook coming down in this photo. This confirms that they will lift the loader into the ship's hull so that it can push the grain into piles that the unloader can remove.

Sam Brouillard, Dec 2018

Michael Hull posted, Jan 3, 2022 at Thunder Bay Heddle Shipyard
[I wonder if this is the layup for the Winter. The Welland Canal closed about a week before the Soo Locks closed on Jan 15, 2022. Richardson's Thunder Bay grain elevators are in the background.]

Another ship with a superstructure on the bow being unloaded.

Gary Waters posted
Ojibway, Sorel...