Cargo Operations: Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières Grain Terminal Loads Record Cargo

G3 Canada Limited set a Trois-Rivières record on June 15 by loading 48,069 metric tons of corn aboard the bulk carrier M/V Vega Rose from the export elevator it operates under lease from the port authority. The previous record, 41,747 tons aboard M/V St. Matthew, was set in 2004.

The latest record was made possible by above average water levels 12 meters versus the normal 10.7 meters, a difference of 1.2 meters, or 3.9 feet, allowing the ship to load an additional 6,732 tons of cargo. The configuration of the ship itself also facilitated loading the record cargo, according to the port authority.

Port Authority Chief Executive Gaétan Boivin explained the circumstances that led to this milestone event: "Before filling a ship, you first need a buyer interested in a large quantity of grain and suppliers capable of providing it. Port facilities must have the logistical capacity to receive the trucks transporting the corn that will be exported overseas. Filing the holds of this vessel required approximately 1,300 trucks in a period of two to three weeks."

Delivered in 2007, Vega Rose is 189.9. meters/623 feet long, 32.3 meters/106 feet, and has a deadweight capacity of 55,711 metric tons. Registered in Panama, it is operated by Fednav, chartered by Bunge International and manned by a crew of 20 Indonesian seamen.

G3 Canada buys grains, oil seeds and specialty crops from Canadian farmers and sells them in markets worldwide. Headquartered in Winnipeg, it operates primary elevators and port terminals from Saskatchewan to Québec, a Great Lakes bulk carrier and a fleet of railway hopper cars.

M/V Vega Rose departing Trois-Rivières with its record cargo
Photo/Trois-Rivières Port Authority