Niagara Queen II
Encyclopedia
The Niagara Queen II is a small icebreaker
that Ontario Power Generation
uses to keep the inlet ports open at their plant on the Niagara River
at Niagara Falls
.
The shallow draft river vessel was designed by OPG and STX Marine
The ship replaced the Niagara Queen (icebreaker), a modified tugboat
icebreaker
operated by Ontario Hydro
and now with OPG.
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
that Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation is a public company wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. OPG is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sources of electricity include nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and fossil fuel...
uses to keep the inlet ports open at their plant on the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
at Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
.
The shallow draft river vessel was designed by OPG and STX Marine
Specifications
| Builder | Hike Metals & Shipbuilding Limited Hike Metal Products Hike Metail Products is a Wheatley, Ontario based manufacturer of small to mid sized boats used for firefighting, lifeboats, research vessels, law enforcement and other rescue and patrol operations. The company also performs ship refitting and metal fabricating.... |
| Commissioned | 1992 |
| Yard # | 815413 |
| Length | 26.8 metres (87.9 ft) |
| Breadth | 5.5 metres (18 ft) |
| Depth | 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) |
| Draft | 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Displacement | 85 tonnes (93.7 ST) |
| Endurance | 7 Days |
| Power | 1280 kW |
| Complement | 6 |
The ship replaced the Niagara Queen (icebreaker), a modified tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
operated by Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro was the official name from 1974 of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara...
and now with OPG.
See also
- William H. Latham (icebreaker)William H. Latham (icebreaker)The William H. Latham is a 77 ton icebreaker owned and operated by the New York Power Authority on the Niagara River.Her mission is to keep the Power Authority's inlet ports clear of ice. Occasionally, she is used to break open the Buffalo river, or the Lake Erie ice boom for emergency repairs...
- a similar (but larger) vessel used by the New York Power AuthorityNew York Power AuthorityThe New York Power Authority , officially the Power Authority of the State of New York , is a New York State public benefit corporation and the largest state-owned power organization in the United States. NYPA provides some of the lowest-cost electricity in New York State, operating 17 generating...
.