New ship sails into Thunder Bay

A new ship will sail the Great Lakes this week, and shipping officials call that good news for both the industry and the city.

This MV Blacky is being loaded with canola at the local Viterra elevator, and will make its way to Mexico where the shipment will be turned into canola oil.

Lake Superior Shipping Ship agent Sandy Henderson said it's the first of 14 ships to be built in China by a Montreal-based company. He said it is a good sign that new ships are being built.

Henderson also said that the ship was built three months ago, and can carry up to 28,000 tonnes of cargo. As for the kind of cargo the ship can carry, Henderson said anything from grain to steel.

But with the depth limitations in the Great Lakes, it cannot carry more than 20,000 tonnes out of Thunder Bay. The MV Blacky will sail out Tuesday and arrive in Mexico in about two weeks. more