Ships · Great Lakes / Seaway

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin: the red self-unloader

A closer look at CSL’s Great Lakes bulk carrier: five cargo holds, a 79-metre unloading boom, and a long red hull on the Seaway.

How it works ↓Photos & clips ↓

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin

The full name is Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin — “Right Honourable” Paul J. Martin. This red-hulled ship is wholly owned and operated by CSL and works in its Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway self-unloading fleet.

She is a self-unloading bulk carrier: dry cargo travels in holds below deck, and a built-in conveyor system can deliver it ashore without a shore crane digging it out. This is the Paul J. Martin, not the different Paul E. Martin in CSL’s ocean fleet.

Official site · CSL · AIS tracking · IMO 7324405

A few useful numbers

225.50 mLength overall

23.76 mBeam

5 holds40,207 m³ including hatches

79 mUnloading boom

30,700 tDeadweight at 8.08 m Seaway draft

1973Original build year

CSL’s own page disagrees on conversion dates: the technical table says 2000, while the narrative says 2003. We leave that unresolved rather than invent a single date. The stated hold volume is an operator specification, not the cargo quantity in these photos.

How the red self-unloader works

CSL describes hoppered holds with 35-degree slopes and remotely operated gates. Cargo drops onto two tunnel conveyors, then passes across the ship on cross conveyors. A loop-belt elevator lifts it onto the unloading boom.

The 79 m boom has a dust covering and fixed spill tray. CSL lists designed discharge rates of 5,200 tonnes/hour for ore and 4,000 tonnes/hour for coal. These are cargo-dependent equipment ratings, not evidence of what she was carrying in these views.

The same basic idea appears on Algoma Bear: the ship brings its own route from hold to shore. Compare that with the tankers’ pumps and enclosed cargo tanks.

The red hull on the Seaway

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin broadside on the Seaway.

The long red hull and aft accommodation.

A wide view of the bulk carrier and deck equipment.

The stern name and white accommodation above the red hull.

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin passing in profile.

Full-length passage video

The full passage, with original sound — not an autoplay loop. Click to play, pause, change the volume or go full screen.

**Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin — full passage**The red self-unloader passing on the Seaway, from the longer original recording. Actual cargo is not identified.
Open video file ↗

Sources

CSL — Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin — ownership, dimensions, holds, conveyors, boom and discharge rates.
BoatNerd — Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin — IMO 7324405 and vessel identity.

Public specifications checked November 6, 2026. Capacities depend on draft and loading conditions. Not affiliated with the operators.