Launched on 16 December 1971 by the Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. of the Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. with hull number 197 for account of the Canada Steamship Lined Ltd. Of Montreal, Canada. Building costs 13.000.000 Canadian dollars. Dimensions 730’0” (over all) x 75’00”x 30’03 1/16” (summer) x 46’06” (hold) or 222,50 x 22,86 x 9,22 (summer) x 14,17 metres. Cubic coal carry capacity 34.500 net tons (30.804 tons or 31.298mt). Fitted out with five cargo holds accessible by 22 hatches. Used for transport coal, grain, coke, stone and iron ore. On 24 December 1998 laid up at the Port Weller Dry Docks at St. Catherines where the forward part of her hull ad the self-unloading system were renewed. Rebaptized Niagara on 15 June 1999 by Mrs. Catherine Warry. She was lengthened with another 10’ (3,05 metres), widened with 3’(0,91 metres) and an increasing of her depth with 1,5’(0,46 metres) resulting in a carrying capacity of 37.694 tons with a maximum mid-summer draught of 31’04” or 9,56 metres or 30.223 tons with a maximum Seaway draught of 26’06” or 8,08 metres. As the Niagara still Canada-flagged, homeport St. Catharines, IMO 7228423, MMSI 316029000 and callsign VCGJ. Gross tonnage 23.983 tons, summer deadweight 34.938 tons and as dimensions 225 x 23 x 6,8 metres. Owned by the CSL Group, Montreal, Canada and managed by CSL International, Beverley, Massachusetts, USA (elsewhere mentioned V. Ships Canada Inc.).
