Channel•16 Vol. 1 No. 1 by CSLships

Safety Share

Page 4

“Shipyards are very busy, with heavy equipment moving all over the place. Make sure you give heavy equipment a wide berth. It’s important that the operator can see you and that you can see them before crossing paths!”

CSL First on the Lakes to Test and Operate Ships Using B100 Biofuel

Terry Forsey, 2nd Officer, CSL Niagara

N°1 Volume 1 2021

News for Today’s CSL Seafarer We are pleased to introduce Channel·16 – the new Canada Steamship Lines newsletter for CSL seafarers who work and sail on our Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River fleet.

times a year and will be distributed on vessels and at seafarer homes. Along with keeping our crews up to date on what is going on at CSL, we want to make sure your families are informed too.

Named after the designated marine frequency for vessel safety and primary communication, Channel·16 aims to be an important source of news and information for crew members, and a forum for ship and shore communications.

CSL’s crew members on the Lakes come from a long seafaring tradition that started over one hundred years ago. Although CSL is today a thriving, global marine transportation company, the Great Lakes fleet will always be where it all began and the crown jewel of the company.

Beginning with this inaugural issue, Channel·16 will be published three

Construction under way of cutting-edge ship for Windsor Salt

Thanks to the visionary and hardworking seafarers who sailed with CSL over the years, we’ve been able to navigate through two world wars, booms and recessions, and now a global pandemic. Through good times and bad, we have always stayed on course and looked ahead. As we launch Channel·16, we look forward to reporting your news, stories and achievements. This is your publication, so we encourage all crews to share content and photos. Instructions on how you can contribute are outlined on page 2.

The custom, purpose-designed vessel will service Windsor Salt’s need to deliver de-icing salts from its Mines Seleine salt mine in the Magdalen Islands to Montreal, Quebec City and other destinations in the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland. The salt helps keep roadways safe during the winter season across Eastern Canada.

by Julie Lambert Windsor Salt and CSL have formed a strategic partnership to build a new state-of-the-art 26,000 MT DWT self-unloading ship that will break new ground in sustainable and safe shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region. Construction on the tailor-made vessel began in August 2020.

The salt trade is located in the sensitive marine environment of the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The new vessel will bring a long-term, safe, sustainable and reliable shipping solution to the region, whose economy relies on the Mines Seleine salt mine.

MORE SUSTAINABLE MARINE TRANSPORTATION The new ship features several innovations to enhance sustainability and reduce its environmental footprint including:

• Diesel-electric tier 3 engines and a unique hull design that will contribute to cutting CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency; • A ballast water treatment system that will reduce the transfer of invasive species; • Quieter machinery that will reduce vessel noise to protect the area’s North Atlantic right whales and other marine mammals.

Follow the Vessel’s Progress Online – CX9203.com

The site is updated regularly and features photos and videos on the latest developments in the construction of the vessel.

Stay informed on every major step of the newbuild process on a new web page for CSL and Windsor Salt employees at www.CX9203.com.

The site’s name is CX9203, which refers to the hull number assigned to the ship by the shipyard.

SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT SHIPPING The new ship also features several innovations to enhance efficiency and safety including:

• A fixed, single point of loading system with a single hopper into which the salt is loaded combined with a cargo handling system that eliminates the need for the vessel to shift during loading will improve the efficiency of cargo operations and the safety of ship and shore personnel. • A modern hull design and state-of-the-art propulsion system will enhance the manoeuvrability of the vessel and increase the safety of navigation in the shallow Magdalen Islands channel. The steel-cutting ceremony for the newbuild was held at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China, on August 18, 2020. The vessel is expected to commence operations in the Magdalen Islands at the start of the 2022 navigation season.

A MESSAGE FROM NATHALIE SYKORA Senior Vice President, Global Operations

program, which relies on your first-hand knowledge of what is working and what isn’t. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a damper on my plans to go onboard ships, but I remain firmly committed to visiting the fleet as soon as the situation allows it.

Every Voice Matters It hardly needs saying that 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, which is why I want to thank and recognize the exceptional work accomplished by all seafarers in the past year. Despite the numerous obstacles you have had to overcome, the results speak for themselves. Our LTIFR this past year was 1.1 with four LTIs in Canada – down from 8 LTIs last year and 14 the year before. You can be very proud of this achievement, which required additional focus in the face of the many distractions of COVID-19. I admire the efforts and tenacity of all our seafarers who contributed to achieving this outcome. Truth be told, one of the safety commitments I set in early 2020 was to spend more time visiting ships and getting to know both you and your perspectives on our operations better. I’ve long understood that as CSL’s frontline workers, you live and breathe our operations every day, and are uniquely positioned to recognize issues and identify opportunities for improvement. This is at the heart of our SafePartners

CONTRIBUTE TO

CHANNEL·16 IS YOUR NEWSLETTER

CSL seafarers and their family members are welcome to contribute articles, photos, personal achievements and announcements, such as weddings, births and obituaries, for publication in Channel·16. If you would like to submit content, feedback or have an idea or suggestion to share, email the editorial team at Channel16@cslships.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Channel·16 is a newsletter published three times a year by Canada Steamship Lines.

With travel restrictions likely to continue for several months we came up with the idea of producing our new Channel·16 newsletter. The intention of this new publication is to provide a regular channel of communication for all our Canadian seafarers. Channel·16 will provide you with a line-of-sight across the business, keep you informed on projects, events and initiatives, and tell you the stories of the people on our Canadian fleet. There has never been a greater need – during the pandemic and beyond – to share information, build trust and revitalize our sense of community. Improving our communications is a first step in that direction. As a united team, we can better understand the obstacles in our path, learn how to overcome them and succeed together. In our CSL community, we share and learn together. Every voice matters. As we continue to navigate through the uncertainties of the pandemic and embark on the 2021 season, we will continue to focus on Zero Harm to People, Planet and Property. Getting to Zero is a journey and we’ve travelled a long distance already. Among the achievements we have accomplished together:

• Crews received training on CSL’s Life Saving Rules, which were created to enhance onboard safety and save lives; • Seafarers provided the critical gold dust that was instrumental to the implementation of numerous initiatives;

• Upgraded harnesses and landing boom equipment were rolled out; • Modernized fire detection and suppression equipment is being installed throughout the fleet; • In a ship and shore collaboration, risk assessments are being revised to better reflect how things are actually done onboard; • Over 120 seafarers are receiving training at Georgian College this winter alone. Our goal of Zero Harm drives everything we do. It’s why we’ve been working hard at ensuring zero COVID-19 cases throughout our fleet in 2020 and we must continue with the same determination in 2021. Unfortunately, this past year, we have also become aware that our CSL community is not immune from discrimination and intolerance. Such a mindset undermines our ability to collaborate effectively and look out for one another. If we don’t respect our differences and don’t trust our colleagues, we will never achieve Zero Harm. There is no room for bigotry onboard CSL ships or in CSL offices. A diverse and inclusive workplace is in fact a source of fresh ideas and perspectives, and can be a considerable competitive advantage if we collaborate effectively. To support a diversity and inclusion mindset at CSL, cultural sensitivity training will be conducted both onboard ships and at shore in 2021. All CSLers deserve to feel respected, involved, empowered and trusted. I hope you will enjoy reading Channel·16. We look forward to receiving your feedback, ideas, suggestions and content for upcoming issues. This newsletter is for you. Your voice matters.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAINS AND CHIEFS COMMITTEE As we close the 2020 season and are set to begin a new one, the Captains and Chiefs Committee wishes to extend a sincere thank you to each and every member of the CSL team on standing together to support difficult decisions in what has been an unprecedented year. From following COVID-19 protocols to keep our crews and our families safe, to facing economic uncertainty, the entire CSL team is to be commended on its efforts to keep everything business as usual. While many industries have been adversely affected by this pandemic, CSL continues to show its strength with an entire fleet of ships sailing.

We urge everyone to stay the course and continue to follow the safety protocols put in place on our ships to ensure we all stay safe as we begin 2021. The Committee wishes to extend its congratulations to all newly appointed Captains and Chief Engineers. It requires dedication and commitment to achieve these goals. We would like to commend all involved in the training process who helped further these careers. CSL offers a strong training program, which will help ensure our vessels are professionally crewed for the future. Wishing each and every one of you a safe 2021 navigation season.

The pandemic is not behind us, as many regions are experiencing a resurgence in new infections.

Captains and Chiefs Committee

HEAD OFFICE CONTACT INFO

759 Square Victoria, 6th floor Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2K3 T. 1 514-982-3800 Captain James Ryan President

Chief Engineer Junior Deschenes, Vice-President

Captain Anita Lambe Secretary/Treasurer

Chief Engineer Philippe De Grandpré, Second Vice-President

YEAR IN REVIEW – NOTABLE 2020 TECHNICAL OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS by Ludovic Mauller and Nimroj Maknojiya

Atlantic Huron Drydock In July 2020, Atlantic Huron (in ballast) lost control of the controllable pitch propeller (CPP) on approach at Soo Locks and made contact with the wall at a speed of 6.2 knots. The wall sustained only minor damage, however the damage on the #1 port ballast of the vessel was significant.

In addition to this critical repair, major steel repairs were conducted on the bottom shell of the vessel during which the aft section of ballast #5, #4, #3 and #2 were completely renewed. The repairs also included all condition of class and some internal structures to better fit the new added bottom shell. Approximately 56 metric tonnes of steel was renewed across all ballast tanks.

Upon final investigation, it was discovered that the oil distribution had failed. The vessel was towed to Thunder Bay Dry Dock for immediate repairs. The servo shaft was removed from the vessel and sent by air freight to the Wärtsilä workshop in Holland for a complete overhaul.

Following the installation of the servo shaft, the first pitch test failed. An investigation revealed that two oil holes were missing within the servo shaft oil delivery system. Upon completion of these repairs, the vessel successfully commenced sea trials on November 11 and was fully operational on the next day.

Oakglen Summer Drydock

provision crane. A new echo sounder and 22 new manholes in the cargo hold were installed, and old FO tanks were emptied and cleaned.

The Oakglen drydock took place at Heddle Marine’s Port Weller dry dock from July 28 when the vessel entered Heddle’s shallow dock. The drydock consisted of all regular repairs, maintenance, and surveys including the successful closing of all conditions of class and the completion of all items related to the surveys. CSL replaced two metric tonnes of steel internally and repaired the port windlass capstan drum and shaft, worn hatch gaskets, accommodation windows, and the

The main challenge of the dry dock involved the aft end where the becker flap, kort nozzle, propeller, rudder stock, and a full steering gear were removed and replaced with overhauled equipment. The vessel exited the dry dock on October 12 and spent a few days at the layby berth to complete the outfitting of the vessel fit-out and testing of the steering gear and ballast control system. The vessel started sailing on October 16.

Salarium Retires and is Sent to Green Recycling Yard After a long and productive 41-year career, the 35,656 DWT self-unloader MV Salarium was decommissioned in August 2020. The long-serving vessel reached the end of her usable life and was dismantled at a green ship recycling yard in accordance with local legislation, international conventions and CSL’s Ship Recycling Policy. Originally named Nanticoke, the ship was built by CSL at Collingwood Shipyards and launched on

December 18, 1979. The vessel was designed and built to be able to service coastal trades. In April 2009, Nanticoke was chartered by Société québécoise d’exploration minière and renamed Salarium as a nod to the salt trades to which she would primarily be dedicated. Until her retirement, Salarium mainly transported salt between the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and ports along the lower St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes and the East Coast of North America.

IT Equipment and Wi-Fi Update The scope of CSL’s ongoing IT Refresh Project is to upgrade aging IT equipment on board the fleet. As part of the project in 2020, all IT servers, desktop computers and printers were renewed on ships, beginning with the delivery of new printers and new laptops for chief cooks. This upgrade will reduce hardware failure, provide the latest Windows environment, and simplify support to the crew by CSL’s IT Help Desk team. Improving vessel Wi-Fi continues to be an important focus area of the project. Onboard Wi-Fi surveys to provide CSL with a map of strategic locations to install Wi-Fi access points (antennas) were conducted by Telus technicians on vessels in the past year. A new Wi-Fi array has been installed and is operational in the accommodation areas of

some ships. Over the winter, new servers will be introduced and Wi-Fi arrays will be completed on remaining ships. Due to the pandemic, the project team had to overcome many challenges during the updating process, including configuring IT equipment remotely from home, ensuring that safety and COVID-19

protocols were respected by contractors and team members who worked on board vessels, as well as coordinating the complex logistics of shipping equipment from the office, homes and the MDC. The original deployment plan had to be redesigned and was successful thanks to the collective efforts and collaboration of ship and shore teams.

N° 1 — Volume 1, 2021

CSL First on the Lakes to Test and Operate Ships Using B100 Biofuel by Frank Dahan

CSL Niagara Crew Rescues Kayaker by Scott Keeping

On October 11, quick action by the crew of CSL Niagara helped save the life of a kayaker in Conneaut, Ohio. Chief Mate Scott Keeping was on the scene and explains what happened: “Upon completion of loading in Conneaut, the crew prepared for a delayed departure from Conneaut due to high winds. During supper relief we were maintaining a deck watch and shortly after 18:00 several crew members (2nd Cook Agnes Murray, 2nd Engineer Daniel Farrell, and Deck Personnel) noticed that there appeared to be a kayaker in trouble. Upon yelling out to him, he replied that he needed help. I was notified of the situation by the OSW Tyrone Keeping and the extra First Mate Stan Karateev, and immediately proceeded to put together a rescue team and plans to assist the person in the water. Photo: David McLeod

Biodiesel trials were initiated on CSL ships in 2019 as part of our ongoing effort to find sustainable alternative fuel types that reduce GHG emissions and will help us meet upcoming 2030 emission regulations. Atlantic Huron was chosen as the first trial vessel because it is fitted with multiple types of auxiliary engines made by different manufacturers, which could all be tested simultaneously. Tests were conducted using various concentrations of biodiesel up to a blend containing 80% biodiesel. Results provided CSL with valuable insight and data on the biofuel’s performance for different engine types and manufacturers. After testing trials confirmed positive results on Atlantic Huron’s auxiliary engine,

biodiesel testing on main propulsion engines was approved by CSL. Throughout the 2020 sailing season, CSL Welland and Rt. Hon. J. Paul Martin tested various concentrations of biodiesel ranging from B50 to B100 blends on slow and medium speed main engines. The tests were successfully completed in November 2020 thanks to the close collaboration between cross-functional ship and shore teams who navigated together in the unchartered waters of biodiesel.

The rescue boat was launched with two OS on board and proceeded to the individual in trouble. Once alongside the person in the water, he confirmed he did indeed need assistance. When safely on board, he told the OS multiple times that the crew had saved his life. He was extremely tired from hanging onto the dock and not being able to climb up the wall to shore. It appeared he had some scratches on his legs, but he was otherwise okay. Once placed ashore he was attended to by the Conneaut Police Boat and shore emergency services. I believe the crew of CSL Niagara acted in a prompt, professional and safe manner without hesitation. It was a rescue well done.”

In 2021, CSL will continue to explore and test biodiesel fuels on Great Lakes ships and we will keep you informed in Channel·16 as we continue to green our fleet. Photo: Willem van Mannen

Meet Matthew Taylor, CSL’s HSEQ Manager Since I joined CSL in January 2020 as Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ), my ability to connect with seafarers onboard ships has been limited due to the pandemic. While the past year has certainly had its share of challenges, I remain excited and very proud to be a CSLer again. I’ve been working in the Great Lakes marine transportation industry for almost 15 years. I started out as a Cadet and Third Mate with CSL, working on Atlantic Huron, CSL Laurentien, Cedarglen, Spruceglen and Frontenac. After a brief sailing career, I landed ashore in a HSEQ role with another Great Lakes carrier. I like to think I was trained by CSL, went away to learn a different aspect of the industry and have now found my way back home! One of my main objectives is to understand the dayto-day challenges facing seafarers and find practical means to address them. Once the COVID restrictions are lifted, visiting each vessel will be my top priority. I look forward to getting to know as many crew members as I can when the time is appropriate. I believe personnel safety needs to be ‘personal’ and we all have a reason to work safe. In order to fully enjoy the things that motivate us, we need to return

GREAT CREW SAFETY IDEAS

home in the same or better shape than when we left. When I think of the importance of safety and sailing safe, I think of my family. My wife and two kids (Ethan and baby Holly) are all the motivation I need to work hard and come home safe. I’m very fortunate to have joined an amazing HSEQ/ Operations team, working directly with Captain Allwyn Phillips and Milena Ganeva, leading the safety and environmental systems respectively, and having Scott Porter, Ron Brushett, Carol Brighten and the entire Operations team around for guidance gives me all the support I could wish for in my role. I want to thank all CSL seafarers for their hard work and dedication in a historic year. We should all be proud of the work undertaken in 2020. CSL has been crucial in keeping the Canadian economy going. 2020 is a year that will stand out in history and 2021 will likely have its share of challenges as well. We’ve proven that we have the mettle to meet the challenge!

Shout out to Tiffany Carey, Chief Cook! Great ideas are worth celebrating, espcially those that improve seafarer safety. Recently, vessels were supplied with pupil dilation pen lights and blood oxygen meters. These easy-to-use devices can provide valuable information in an emergency situation. Supplying these devices to the fleet was suggested by Tiffany Carey, Chief Cook on Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. DO YOU HAVE A GREAT SAFETY IDEA OR SUGGESTION?

Send it to SafetyQuality-Canada@cslships.com

CSL Crew Efforts Contribute to Protecting Right Whales by Caroline Denis

Between October and April, North Atlantic right whales migrate south along the east coast of the United States to warmer waters. With an estimated population of less than 400 in early 2020, and then revised downwards with estimates of 356 individuals, right whales are in a critical condition. After being hunted extensively for centuries, this whale now faces other difficulties, mainly collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing ropes. The good news is that unlike other endangered species, knowledge of the causes of mortality allows us to act concretely and quickly to save the species. In order to better protect

this population, CSL was able to act quickly and, for the second year in a row, reintroduce its 10-knot speed limit policy at all times in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence. Covering more than 72,000 square kilometres as represented in our O2 system, our Canadian fleet achieved excellent compliance rates – both in the western Gulf and in the new protection areas near Shediac Valley and in the Cabot Strait. We would like to thank all crews for their continued cooperation in protecting right whales. In 2020, no right whales died in Canadian waters. This dedication is all the more remarkable given that the

measure was renewed during an unprecedented period of pandemic that was already causing its share of challenges. 2020 ended with the unveiling of a world-class marine acoustics research station to be deployed next spring off Rimouski with the aim of reducing the sonic impact of navigation on whales. The research station will consist of underwater hydrophones anchored

to the seabed and connected to telecommunications buoys in the Laurentian Channel maritime corridor. If we have learned anything this year, it is that by working together, we can make a difference – and that also applies to the reduction of collisions with right whales. We will need to continue our efforts to protect these whales when they return to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the spring of 2021.

SafePartners Performance by Matthew Taylor

During a year when the health and safety of everyone on board have never been more critical, the safety achievements of the following vessels reflect the steadfast focus of crews on maintaining a zero harm workplace and culture. Well done and congratulations! DATE OF LAST LTI

# DAYS SINCE LAST LTI AS AT 31 DEC 2020

AWARD LEVEL

WHITEFISH BAY*

16 May 2013

2,435

Triple Platinum

THUNDER BAY*

29 May 2013

2,378

Triple Platinum

CSL NIAGARA

12 November 2014

1,907

Double Platinum

CSL ST-LAURENT*

13 December 2014

1,865

Double Platinum

BAIE COMEAU

8 December 2014

1,858

Double Platinum

BAIE ST. PAUL

12 June 2018

933

Silver

OAKGLEN

13 November 207

836

Silver

CSL WELLAND

18 July 2018

767

Silver

RT. HON. PAUL J. MARTIN

8 July 2018

707

Bronze

SPRUCEGLEN

3 June 2019

432

Bronze

FERBEC

10 October 2019

426

Bronze

CSL LAURENTIEN

13 December 2019

384

Bronze

ATLANTIC HURON

26 September 2019

327

CSL TADOUSSAC

16 June 2020

198

FRONTENAC

27 July 2020

157

CSL ASSINIBOINE

15 October 2020

*day they started sailing

Photo: Denys Yelmanov

Focus on Fire Mitigation by Laura Espinosa

CSL’s Fire Integrated Risk Mitigation (FiRM) project, a global initiative, was launched to enhance CSL’s ability to prevent, detect and suppress fires through engineered solutions. The FiRM technical solution integrates several new and advanced detection and suppression systems to target the top three fire risk areas identified on board: the engine room, cargo handling spaces and open decks. The FiRM team is working in close collaboration with CSL’s crew to ensure the successful deployment of these systems by 2023 to fulfil the project’s main purpose, which is to mitigate the risk of onboard fire and ensure a safe working environment for everyone.

FIRM 2021 WINTER PROJECTS Start-up and Installations planned for commissioning of FiRM this winter 2021: detection systems on board • Hi-Fog fire suppression the following six ships: system will be installed on board Thunder Bay. • CSL Niagara • Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin • Fire detection systems will be installed on board the • Ferbec following four vessels: • Oakglen • CSL St-Laurent • Thunder Bay • CSL Welland • Whitefish Bay • CSL Tadoussac • Atlantic Huron

Spruceglen crew poses with Bronze SafePartners pennant.

N° 1 — Volume 1, 2021

Commercial Contracts and Renewals Move Forward Despite Pandemic by Julie Lambert

Although COVID-19 certainly proved challenging on many fronts throughout the year, CSL’s Commercial team maintained its momentum and worked hard to secure long term business for CSL ships. Throughout 2020, demand for grain and salt remained robust. By late fall, we saw an increase in demand for all commodities on the Lakes as our customers built up their inventories before the end of the year. As we look ahead to 2021, we remain cautiously optimistic. We expect our fleet to be fully booked and are seeing strong demand for grain shipments at the start of the 2021 season. We also expect to see greater market stability and improved economic conditions next year, as effective measures to deal with COVID-19 are implemented and the vaccine roll-out continues.

KEY CONTRACTS SIGNED OR RENEWED Three-Year Contract Signed with Stelco In November 2020, CSL signed a three-year contract with our longstanding and largest customer Stelco. The new contract is for 100% of Stelco’s annual iron ore, coal and limestone requirements.

ABOUT STELCO Stelco is a leading Canadian steel maker centered on the Great Lakes that produces 2.6-2.8 million tonnes of steel annually. The company has two production facilities on the Great Lakes: a finishing works facility in Hamilton and a steel mill (Stelco Lake Erie Works) in Nanticoke.

CSL has been a reliable marine transportation provider to Stelco for more than 100 years. In fact, our records indicate that the first contract between CSL and Stelco was signed on May 10, 1916, three years after CSL was incorporated and six years after Stelco’s incorporation.

With a steady supply of pellets thanks to an eight-year agreement in place with USS, Stelco sources iron ore pellets from the Mesabi Iron Range and loads in Head of Lakes (Superior, Duluth, Two Harbors), discharging pellets at Nanticoke. Meanwhile, coal loaded from the Illinois Coal Basin and Appalachian Coal Basin (with load ports being Buffalo, Toledo and Sandusky) is transported to both Nanticoke and Hamilton.

COA Renewed with Viterra

ABOUT VITERRA

In 2020, CSL and Viterra renewed a contract of affreightment (COA) for a three-year period. CSL’s business relationship with Viterra dates back to 2011 when the company signed a small contract with CSL. Today, Viterra deals exclusively with CSL for its Great Lakes shipping requirements. We are looking forward to continuing to partner with Viterra for movement of grain on the Great Lakes.

Eight-Year Contract Signed with K+S (Windsor Salt) In December 2020, CSL signed an eight-year contract with K+S that represents 100% of the company’s Canadian-flagged salt transportation requirements coming out of Ojibway and Fairport. CSL has been a reliable marine transportation provider to K+S for many years, both on the Great Lakes and on the East Coast. The signing of this contract coupled with the ten-year time charter contract signed in 2019 for the newbuild vessel to service the Magdalen Islands trade (see article on p. 1) further solidifies and strengthens the partnership between our two organizations. CSL currently has one vessel dedicated to the K+S coastal trade transporting salt from the Magdalen Islands into the St. Lawrence

In 2010, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool bought out Agricore United and Viterra was born. Viterra is a leading marketer and handler of grains, oilseeds, and pulses, and is owned by a joint venture between Glencore PLC (49.9%), Canada Pension Plan (40%) and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (9.9%). In Canada, Viterra operates 68 grain elevators and has 1.8M tonnes of storage capacity. Viterra buys grain in the Prairies and sells domestically and for export to Europe and Asia. As such, 100% of their business is downbound mostly carried from Lake Superior into the St. Lawrence River. Viterra’s cargo mix is 100% grain and is carried mainly on bulkers.

River and Newfoundland. The CSL fleet also services the Windsor salt mine transporting salt into various ports along Lakes Michigan, Superior and Ontario, in addition to ports along the St. Lawrence River. Furthermore, CSL carries salt from Fairport Harbor to ports primarily in Lake Ontario.

ABOUT K+S (WINDSOR SALT) K+S is a salt mining, processing, and distribution company. It operates various salt mines around the Great Lakes and East Coast of Canada in Ojibway, Fairport Harbor, the Magdalen Islands and Pugwash. In 2020, K+S announced it was selling its salt business in the Americas to Stone Canyon Industries. The sale is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021.

CSLers Unite to Protect Each Other During COVID-19 Pandemic by Mark Harney

The 2020 Great Lakes navigation season was about to begin when CSL, the marine industry and the entire world were suddenly faced with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ship and shore teams were quickly mobilized to respond to this extraordinary situation. A cross-functional COVID-19 Task Force was established to manage the crisis and to ensure the safety and well-being of CSL seafarers, who had been designated as essential workers by the federal government. Based on guidance from national and international health authorities, and from industry associations like the Chamber of Marine Commerce, a comprehensive CSL COVID-19 contingency plan was developed, and a series of protocols and procedures were put in place to maintain infection-free safe zones on ships to protect the health of seafarers. Among them, a strict pre-screening process was implemented prior to anyone boarding a vessel, non-essential workers were prohibited from going on board, and disinfection and hygiene measures were implemented on ships.

As part of the Task Force, the Procurement team had the challenge of sourcing critical PPE very quickly to minimize the risks posed by COVID-19 – and this in a highly competitive market where demand was high and the shelves were empty. The team’s persistence and resourcefulness paid off as over 63 different PPE items were sourced including enough N95 and cloth masks, thermometers and disinfectants to withstand any supply chain interruptions. Due to restricted shore leave, a personal item ordering process was created and a toiletries and sundries program was implemented to provide crew with complimentary personal hygiene products. Travel to and from vessels proved to be a logistics challenge as CSL worked to mitigate all health risks to seafarers. This meant avoiding large airports, chartering cars, vans and planes, and ensuring transportation partners adhered to CSL’s strict vehicle disinfection and social distancing measures.

Our industry leading procedures and the collaboration between our ship and shore employees have been instrumental in our ability to complete this demanding 2020 season without a single COVID-19 case on board a CSL ship. We are very grateful to officers, crews and families for their collaboration, patience and understanding as we managed this extraordinary crisis and learned along the way. Thanks to your help, overall, we came out of the 2020 navigation season in good form considering the circumstances. As COVID-19 continues to challenge us in 2021, we must remain committed and focused on everyone’s health and safety, and on maintaining the lifesaving momentum we began in 2020.

Creating a Safe, Equal and HarassmentFree Workplace on Our Ships Everyone has an important role and responsibility to play in creating safer, equitable workplaces. We all benefit when our workplace is free from inequality, violence, threats, and harassment of all types, including sexual harassment. Our language, attitudes, behaviours, and actions can play an important role in creating work environments that are safe, welcoming, and respectful for everyone.

CSL strongly encourages crews and employees to report any breach to CSL’s policies and commitments. You can reach out to your vessel captain or the crewing department, or you can use EthicsPoint, a confidential and anonymous, third-party reporting service.

Here are six actions suggested by the White Ribbon Campaign that you can do in the workplace to help end gender-based violence and discrimination:

IT STARTS WITH YOU

REPORT IT

Question your own attitudes and behaviours and how they may disrespect or harm women. Sexist, homophobic, discriminatory language, suggestive jokes, unwelcome advances, and sexual harassment all contribute to a culture of violence.

Familiarize yourself with CSL’s Code of Conduct and the EthicsPoint Hotline for reporting incidents of sexual harassment or violence. If safe to do so, address the incident on the spot, without resorting to violence or confrontation. Check with the victim to see if they need help or support and report the incident to your immediate supervisor.

SPEAK OUT If you witness sexist, inappropriate behaviour or language, don’t participate in it; don’t laugh along; and don’t remain silent. Discourage it by letting others know that you don’t support it. Remind your colleagues of the need to treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.

BELIEVE IT

All reports filed through EthicsPoint are treated confidentially, investigated and addressed. To submit an anonymous and confidential report through EthicsPoint, a report can be submitted online or via telephone.

SUBMIT A REPORT ONLINE AT www.cslships.com/ethicspoint or Call toll-free in Canada and the United States at 866-384-4277.

This issue is real. Believe your co-workers’ experiences. Our support will make a difference. Tell them “it’s not your fault.” No one asks for or deserves to be disrespected, harassed, or assaulted.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

MAKE A PLEDGE

Encourage everyone around you to respect each other. Be a good role model. View and treat every individual as equal and valuable partners in the workplace. Set the standard and let everyone know that you support a workplace that is free from sexism, homophobia, violence, and harassment.

Pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and harassment in all its forms. Support your co-workers and CSL in creating an inclusive, welcoming and safe work environment for all.

Confidential Reporting Through the EthicsPoint Hotline

N° 1 — Volume 1, 2021

Update on CSL’s Great Lakes Marine Pilotage Certification Training Program by John Gruszewski

We commend all CSL trainers, evaluators and trainees for their professionalism and dedication in implementing our training plan and producing high quality GLPA certified piloting officers during the 2020 season.

four piloting masters in all districts and using no GLPA pilots. Six piloting mates have received their certification and another four are in the pipeline to be certified in early 2021. Although we fell a little short, we are well placed to start the next navigation season strong with many final evaluations already scheduled. We also registered an additional three trainers and 15 evaluators with the GLPA during the past year.

During the 2020 Winter Conference, we set a goal of certifying ten piloting mates and four piloting masters, and using zero GLPA pilots during the 2020 season. We achieved our goal of fully certifying

Bracelets That Can Save Lives The crew of Atlantic Huron tested a distress tracker with the objective to increase proactive safety measures. Simply by pressing a button on a small bracelet, an alarm is triggered and the seafarer can be located anywhere on the vessel within a one-meter precision. This technology could save precious minutes should an unfortunate incident occur.

Fifty-four certificate holders that collectively hold 249 certificates in the five GLPA districts are currently registered within the CSL fleet. TOTAL CERTIFICATE HOLDERS: 54

TOTAL

TRAINERS: 39

22 PM1

EVALUATORS: 32

32 PM2

150

249 Year to date, the following individuals have either successfully attained GLPA certification or are now in the final review/evaluation stages leading to certification. PM1

Andrew Crawley – PM1 in districts LO, D1 and Cornwall

January 7

Jerome Pennell – PM1 in districts 2 and 3

May 12

Sean Cox – PM2 in districts LO, D1 and Cornwall

May 12

Pierre Raymond – PM2 in LO

May 21

Brandon Durant – PM2 in D3

May 25

Klébert Chermanne – PM1 D2 and D3

July 8

Mackenzie Cughan – PM1 all districts

September 15

Karen Pelletier – PM2 all districts

Stephen Achurch – PM1 D3

October 19

David Ogle – PM1 in C, D1, LO, D2

November 1

Jerome Pennell – PM2 all districts

November 17

This new portal is an important planning tool when mapping out the training and career aspirations of CSL Officers. For more information about CSL Academy and/or to receive log in info, contact the CSL Academy team at CSLacademy@cslships.com.

Jamie Thorne – PM2 all districts

December 2

TRAINING CALENDAR

TOTAL

PM2

DATE

CSL Academy Available for Officers

CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN 2020 TO DATE

September 18

CURRENTLY APPROVED TO PROCEED TO EVALUATION BY THE GLPA: • David Ogle – PM1 in D3 – Evaluation Spring 2021 • Felix Desrosiers – PM1 in LO, D1 and Cornwall – Evaluation Spring 2021

DOCUMENTATION SUBMITTED AND UNDER REVIEW BY THE GLPA: • Krista Ingram – PM1 in D2 and D3 – Requires sea time (June 2021) • Travis Cascagnette – PM1 in LO, D1 and Cornwall (Nov 13) – Requires BRM (Winter 2021) – Evaluation Spring 2021 • John Campbell – PM2 in D1 and Cornwall – Evaluation Spring 2021 • Marc-André Jean – PM1 in LO, D1 and Cornwall (Dec 9) – Evaluation Spring 2021

TRAINING COMPLETE AND UNDER OFFICE REVIEW PENDING SUBMISSION TO THE GLPA: • Andriy Bondarenko – PM2 in LO, D2 & D3. PM1 D1 and Cornwall – Requires BRM (Winter 2021) • Valeriy Plaskin – PM2 in LO, D2 and D3 Please direct any questions or comments to Operations-Pilotage@cslships.com.

CSL Academy was created in 2020 as an educational portal for Officers, providing certification and personal development courses and tools, as well as a quick overview of the mandatory training and sea time required to reach the next rank level.

A new Training Calendar that outlines all the incoming training from recognized Transport Canada colleges or institutes in Canada is now available to crew members. If you have not received the calendar, you can request it by sending a quick e-mail to the CSL Academy team at CSLacademy@cslships.com and writing Training Calendar Request in your e-mail subject line.

TRAINING ADVISORS PROVIDE CAREER SUPPORT If you have any questions regarding current training, either for your career progression or approved training program, do not hesitate to contact the CSL Academy team via e-mail. You can also make an appointment to discuss your specific training questions and needs at CSL Academy CSLacademy@cslships.com.

LifeSaving Rules Training Adjusted to COVID-19 by François Laplante

Due to the challenges caused by the pandemic, training priorities, delivery and distribution were modified in 2020, including those for the Lifesaving Rules (LSR), established by CSL to reduce accidents, incidents or near misses related to high-risk operations. To avoid the risks associated with COVID-19, training was provided on vessels directly by crew members, enabling more flexibility in ensuring all seafarers received training on the most hazardous tasks in the industry. It is required that all CSL crew members undergo LSR training. If you have not already received it, contact your training officer to verify your current status and when the next session is scheduled. Once completed, your LSR training is valid for three years before renewal.

2021 CSL Winter Training by François Laplante

Winter training is underway for those required to complete specific CSL training as well as those who responded to the CSL 2020 Transport Canada Examinations – Deck and Engine Room survey. Training offered this winter includes ECDIS, Leadership Management Skills, Simulator Basics and Advanced Ship Handling, Bridge Resources Management and Pilotage Training.

DID YOU KNOW? The best time to ensure you are up to date on your qualifications is during the winter months. As a minimum, the training you should maintain as a seafarer is the Marine First Aid and the MED STCW BASIC refresher training.

New this year, some training facilities offer the option of a blended approach beginning with e-learning followed by campus training, thus reducing the number of days required at a training facility. To find out the specific days of training at your preferred training institution or college, go directly to their website or follow the links from the CSL Academy Training Calendar. Furthermore, if you are receiving unemployment insurance during the winter period, you could be eligible to complete your required refresher training without loss of income and/ or to receive a grant to cover some of the training fee costs. If you reside in the province of Quebec, you can also consult the Comité sectoriel de la main d’oeuvre du Québec website at www.csmoim.qc.ca.

Anchoring our Talent Pipeline in 2021 and beyond by Alyssa Walters

CSL’s Cadet Program certainly looked a bit different in 2020 as academic institutions and the marine industry adapted to changes in cadet placement programs due to the pandemic. At CSL, we were able to open up spaces for our cadets by the summer and this continued through to the fall, with a focus on ensuring that upper year, sponsored cadets would have first priority to go on board. This way, if they completed their sea time during the 2020 season, CSL would be able to support them in obtaining their Transport Canada certifications and offer post-graduate employment opportunities as licensed officers within the fleet. During the 2020 sailing season, CSL hired six navigation cadets, three engine cadets and three former unlicensed officers. Looking ahead,

there are many other graduating cadets who will be completing their tickets over the winter to prepare for the next season. For the 2021 season, we hope our Cadet Program will return to normal operations to ensure the continued success of the program and our crew talent pipeline. An upcoming exciting feature will be the introduction of the CSL Cadet Training Guides, which will standardize the program and enhance preparations for aspiring licensed officers. Details on the guides will be communicated in the upcoming months. Thank you to all CSL seafarers for your continued support of the program. Your role is instrumental in helping to shape the future of our industry!

Thomas Monsma, 3rd Year Navigation Cadet during his sea phase on CSL Tadoussac in 2019. Thomas completed his sea time on board CSL Welland in 2020 and has recently joined the fleet as a 3rd Officer. Congratulations and welcome aboard Thomas!

N° 1 — Volume 1, 2021

Winter 2021 Dry Docks by Ludovic Mauller and Nimroj Maknojiya

Preparations for the winter dry-dock projects began in early summer 2020. After weeks of negotiations with shipyards in Canada and the United States, CSL succeeded in booking spots at the Heddle shipyard for CSL Laurentien, CSL Assiniboine and CSL Niagara, and at the Verreault Shipyard for CSL Welland and CSL St-Laurent.

CSL Laurentien, CSL Assiniboine and CSL Niagara For the first time in well over a decade, three ships are in dry dock at Heddle Shipyards in Port Weller – all of which are CSL forebodies built at the yard 20 years ago. The three ships – CSL Laurentien, CSL Niagara and CSL Assiniboine – as well as Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, are all part of CSL’s Laker forebody program, which saw the construction of new forebodies that were joined to aft ends of existing ships. The three ships will be at Heddle Shipyard until the opening of the Seaway in March 2021. Over the course of the dry docks, the propeller blades and stern tube bearings will be renewed, the tailshaft will be removed and refit and two spares hubs will be modified. All docking surveys and special survey items will be closed out during the docking window. In a post on Linkedin, Heddle President Shaun Padulo said, “On behalf of everyone at Heddle Shipyards, the City of St. Catharines and the entire Niagara Region, I would like to thank CSL for bringing the work to our region.” CSL is proud to partner with Heddle Shipyards and support the local economy.

CSL St-Laurent and CSL Welland Winter 2021 will mark the first dry docks for CSL St-Laurent and CSL Welland since their arrival in Canada. Both vessels are at dry dock at Verreault Navigation in Les Méchins, Québec until mid-February 2021. During these dry docks, the tailshaft and hub, propeller blades and stern thruster will be renewed. All docking surveys and special survey items will be closed out during the docking window.

O2 Season Review and 2021 Outlook by Maria Danilenko

Photo : Ted Kirkpatrick, Heddle Shipyards

Winter Layup Ports VESSEL

PORT

DATE

Ferbec

Port of Montreal

December 1, 2020

Whitefish Bay

Port of Montreal

December 23, 2020

CSL St-Laurent

Port of Les Méchins Port of Montreal

December 28, 2020

CSL Laurentien

Port Weller Heddle Dry Dock

December 30, 2020

CSL Assiniboine

Port Weller Heddle Dry Dock

December 31, 2020

Spruceglen

Port of Toronto

December 31, 2020

Oakglen

Port of Montreal

December 31, 2020

Baie Comeau

Port of Midland

January 5, 2021

CSL Niagara

Port Weller Heddle Dry Dock

January 6, 2021

CSL Tadoussac

Port Colborne

January 10, 2021

Frontenac

Port of Thunder Bay

January 10, 2021

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin

Port Colborne

January 10, 2021

CSL Welland

Port of Les Méchins Port of Montreal

January 11, 2021

Thunder Bay

Port of Montreal

January 16, 2021

Atlantic Huron

Port of Sarnia

February 5, 2021

Baie St. Paul

Port of Halifax

March 1, 2021

Month-by-Month Progress in 2020 The following O2 features were introduced in 2020 and are now fully operational.

MARCH OWS Allowance • Indicates if discharging treated bilge water from

Looking Back

the OWS is permitted based on vessel position, speed and time of the day.

• System Status indicates the state of OWS equipment discharge.

The year 2020 marks many milestones for the O2 program. A critical mass of new features was developed and rolled out, making O2 an integral part of day-to-day vessel operations at CSL.

• OWS Allowance algorithm based on applicable Canada

Seafarers were key to reaching these milestones. Their collaboration, dedication and willingness to support innovation drove the program to new heights. Thanks to the contribution of crews, CSL is developing a cutting-edge system that is already bringing value every day. The O2 team thanks everyone involved in the program, both on board and ashore.

to determine ROB and fuel consumption using one of three methods: Manual sounding, O2 data or estimation.

and U.S. Regulations.

Fuel Sounding • Helps to enter fuel sounding figures for each type of fuel

• ROB and consumption figures are available to the Procurement, Commercial and Tech Ops teams.

• Archived reported values are available in Dropbox.

Pilotage Trip Tracker • Records and compiles pilotage trips and records of voyages for navigation officers.

• Trips are saved and secured, records of voyages are available on request and sent periodically to GLPA.

• Trip summary is sent to personal email after completion of each trip.

Smart Clock • Provides time at fixed time zones, vessel position and destination port.

OCTOBER Estimates Time (in test)

Cargo uplift (in test)

• Relays ETA information in a more efficient and dynamic

• Process to calculate, communicate, store and analyze

manner on the O2 Dashboard. ETA updates and crew comments in O2 will eliminate the Veslink noon reports.

cargo uplift in O2.

Focus on Port Safety

BEFORE AND AFTER

by Allwyn Phillips and Scott Porter

CSL’s Port Safety Program was developed to improve the safety of ports on the Great Lakes and the Canadian East Coast, and support safe crew operations. The program aims to improve ship-to-shore interface using a safe, effective and proactive approach that involves the participation of ship and shore stakeholders at various levels of CSL and partner organizations, as well as our customers. To spotlight the deficiencies at customer facilities and develop solutions in a supportive manner, a program was developed to assess facilities on a sliding scale from green to red, with green being the best, in two categories: Port Facility and Port Approach.

High-risk ports were identified and rated based on: • The top 20 most frequented ports, representing 78% of ports called; • The ports where CSL crews reported unsafe conditions; • New, not previously called-on ports.

This exercise identified 32 ports with a total of 65 berths, of which 56 were visited, assessed and rated. As a result: • 13 high-risk ports were identified; • 10 had improvements in rating after mitigation; • Three ports require ongoing efforts that are in progress to improve infrastructure.

A web-based Customer Information System (CIS) containing the latest port information and ratings can be accessed by CSL vessels and staff through the Bridge intranet platform. Detailed information for 86% of all berths is documented in CIS. Due to pandemic related travel restrictions, input from vessels helped update information for 20 ports during the 2020 season. The intention during the 2021 navigation season is to continue with the same momentum to complete the remaining ports.

During the 2019-2020 navigation season, the Port Safety Group achieved the following:

STELCO COAL DOCK, HAMILTON, ONTARIO

Numerous tripping hazards on barge deck.

Barge deck levelled with overlay of checkered steel plating.

MORTON SALT DOCK, FAIRPORT HARBOUR

• Improved communications and transparency with terminal managers on safety concerns. • Investments of nearly $20 million made by customers to improve infrastructure and safety at their berths. • No Go Restrictions imposed at two berths as a result of serious safety infractions, which were lifted upon rectification by the terminal and verification by PSG.

Catwalk dislodged and tilted.

Renewed catwalk.

ST. MARY’S CEMENT, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO

• Developed Standard Operating Procedures including port approach and departure transits; shifting vessel for cargo operations at critical ports; cargo operations procedures and hold cleaning procedures for sensitive cargos. No lighting on dolphins.

NOVEMBER New Procedure for ROB and Consumption Reporting Using Flow Meters (O2 Plus vessels)

Lighting installed on all dolphins.

In the O2 Pipeline for 2021

• Saves time and increases precision of

Energy Analytics and Hints

Voyage Information

Energy Management (O2 Plus vessels)

Analytics efforts will continue on fuel consumption and energy usage, and recommendations will be made to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

A new feature will provide information (customer, cargo, C/P quantity, load and discharge ports, etc.) on last finished, current and upcoming three voyages, supporting the phase out of the noon report and location sheet.

fuel reporting.

• Provides visibility on fuel used for propulsion

and electrical consumption as well as intelligent benchmarks against past performance and sister ships.

DECEMBER Effluents and Cargo Residues Discharge Allowance • Discharge allowances for effluents such as grey and black water and cargo residues are available to improve compliance.

• Applicable regulations and company best prac-

tices are integrated in O2 and information for area, speed and distance to shore is displayed.

Audible Cues • Under certain conditions, the O2 laptop will provide an audible cue. Currently, OWS warning and alerts

Estimated Time A method to relay ETA information in a more efficient and dynamic manner will be implemented. ETA updates and comments by the crew in O2 will help to phase out the Veslink noon reports.

Cargo uplift A process to calculate, communicate, store and analyze cargo uplift in O2 will be introduced.

Connectivity Real-time info and analytics on LTEVSAT connectivity will be added.

IMOS Integration A noon report as well as arrival and departure forms will be generated by O2.

Levels Fluid levels (lube oil, bilge water, etc.) will be captured on board.

Predictive failures Anomalies will be automatically detected based on historical data and automatic alerts will follow.

and speed limit exceedance have their own sound. Connectivity restoration and tips have a generic sound. More will be added in the future.

N° 1 — Volume 1, 2021

NEW RECRUITS FOR THE 2020-2021 SEASON CAPTAINS

John Campbell Sergiy Malakhovsky PILOT TRAINER

David McPhee

SECOND ENGINEERS

Maen Abdul Karim Eugene Pittman Nishit Nitin Datar Jason Fudge Viktor Belousov Denys Borysenko Sterdie Sheppard Michael Keough

SECOND AND THIRD MATES

Bryan Lupennette Scott Munro Taylor Wood Alexis Duval Noah Havelaar Vincent Carrier Adrien Pouliot Robert Macnaull

CAPTAIN AND CHIEF ENGINEER PROMOTIONS Thomas Monsma Mihai Popescu

• Sean Cox promoted Captain

THIRD AND FOURTH ENGINEERS

• Jamie Thorne promoted Captain

Nicolas Sirois Philomen Cens Matthew Mayer Maguire Matthew Klinck

• Karen Pelletier promoted Captain • Olivier Lapointe promoted Chief Engineer • Milen Lazarov promoted Chief Engineer

(promoted internally from A/B)

Charles Andre Landrin Jennifer Osmond Charles Bibeault Abigail Ploeg

Captain Sean Cox

Captain Karen Pelletier

Chief Engineer Milen Lazarov

IN MEMORIAM: SEAFARERS AND RETIREES WE LOST IN 2020 • Arthur Docherty, passed away on September 19, 2020

• Louis Pierre Bastien, passed away on May 10, 2020

• William van Maanen, passed away on September 14, 2020

• George Côté, passed away on March 26, 2020

• Martial Girard, passed away on September 1, 2020

• Kenneth Foster, passed away on March 2, 2020

• William Kachor, passed away on July 29, 2020

• Karl Von Kreutzberg, passed away on February 27, 2020

Remembering Willem “Willy” van Maanen On September 14, 2020, Willem “Willy” van Maanen, Second Engineer and prolific marine photographer sadly passed away of natural causes on board MV Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. Willy was known as a hard-working man with a big heart who went out of his way to help anyone in need. Willy began his sailing career with CSL as a cadet 34 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father, also a CSL Second Engineer. The first vessel on which Willy sailed was MV J.W. McGiffin in 1986. Over the next 17 years, Willy worked his way up the engine room ladder and was promoted to Second Engineer on board MV Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin in January 2003, on which he sailed every navigation season thereafter. Along with his passion for ships, Willy was also a talented marine photographer who took hundreds of thousands of vessel photographs throughout his seafaring career – including the beautiful photograph shown below of his second home, MV Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. In a tribute to Willy, ships flew the CSL flag at half-mast on September 15, 2020.

A Tribute to Matthew Snook Before MV Salarium set sail on her final journey, Captain Anita Lambe arranged to remove a special bench dedicated to Matthew Snook, a CSL Officer and friend we lost much too soon. The bench was sent to his family with the following message: To the Family of Matthew Snook, I hope these words find you well… We all wanted to reach out to you to share with you something I’m sure you already were quite well aware of – just how special Matt was to everyone he met and touched. It’s very rare in this life that you have the opportunity to meet someone like Matt. Whenever you hear his name on board our vessels, which we will have you know, is quite often still, you will quickly hear the laughter and joy fill the galley or wheelhouse. Gosh, did he make us laugh…. Behind that big beautiful smile that is surely missed, was a great man - a son, a brother, an uncle, and, of course, an amazing friend. As an officer, Matt carried himself with a great presence and always knew how to turn a bad situation into good. A mentor to many, he taught us all so much, including how to succeed even if you made mistakes. Supportive and kind, and always pulling pranks of course, he helped to make the long periods of time away from home such a joy. He had such an impact on so many, and, in particular, the crews on board of the Atlantic Huron and MV Salarium. On board the Salarium sat a special tribute to our dear “Snooky” – a bench with a plaque dedicated to him. Before the Salarium set sail on her final journey, I and a few others felt that this bench needed to go back home to Newfoundland to be with you all. We hope you will accept it as a gesture of how much he means to us all out here and how he continues to impact us still. As his colleagues have expressed, his spirit is still going strong. Sincerely yours, Captain Anita C. Lambe, on behalf of everyone at Canada Steamship Lines