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Société des traversiers du Québec


Dane
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Hi all,

I am looking for info on Société des traversiers du Québec. There seems to be few detailed accounts of the history of the service on the web. I am very interested in what the name of the private operator that ran the Sorel - Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferry before STQ took over in 1978.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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  • 5 years later...

The STQ bought in 2012 a UK-made Griffon 2000TD hovercraft to link the airport in Pakuashipi with the village of Saint-Augustin on the lower North Shore. It can carry 16 passengers along with their luggage. The service is free, and 9 round trips are offered per day. The crew is composed of eight Saint-Augustin and Pakuashipi residents, who received from the STQ a specific hovercraft operation training.

The "ferry", named L'esprit-de-Pakuashipi (or The Pakuashipi Spirit; "the spirit of the dry river" in innu-aimun/french hybrid) operates directly from the YIF airport tarmac to a wooden stairway from april to december (that is, while the snowmobile trail is out). It can transport passengers on asphalt, gravel, water and ice (which it all does!). According to

, handling is quite sloppy on ground, but it is a charm on ice and water.

I am not sure whether this is marine, air or ground transportation. Whatever it is, this public transportation system is clearly the weirdest ferry, shortest air link or easternmost bus system in Québec. It replaces non-scheduled privately-owned and subsidized ferries, operated with smaller hovercrafts, jollyboats, etc.

Here's the spec sheet : http://www.traversiers.gouv.qc.ca/flotte/vca_lesprit-de-pakuashipi.php

The craft in action (photo : STQ)
tre_spririt_of_pakuaship_WEB.jpg

The hangar, located on the airport grounds (photo : Saint-Gelais, Montminy et Associés, architectes)

178477_456579847733027_1677263461_o.jpg

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  • 5 months later...

Hi all,

I am looking for info on Société des traversiers du Québec. There seems to be few detailed accounts of the history of the service on the web. I am very interested in what the name of the private operator that ran the Sorel - Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola ferry before STQ took over in 1978.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

The name of the previous operator is Lucien Lachapelle, as stated on the page of the vessel, the N.M. Lucien-L. : https://www.traversiers.com/fr/a-propos-de-la-societe/nos-navires/nm-lucien-l/

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  • 3 months later...

STQ service is suite problematic thèse times because of large ice blocs on the Saint Lawrence.

Québec-Lévis service was interrupted all throughout peak hour because N.M. Lomer-Gouin couldn't dock.

http://m.radio-canada.ca/regions/quebec/2015/02/19/011-traversier-lomer-gouin-pris-fleuve-glace-accoster-levis-quebec.shtml (French)

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  • 4 months later...
  • 3 months later...

Workers went on strike today for an indefinite time. Service in cancelled on Québec-Lévis and Sorel-Tracy―Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola. L'Isle-aux-Coudres–Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout services are only to a strict minimum, as these crossings are deemed essential services.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Ville de Repentigny is going to tender for the renewal of its Fleuve à vélo summer ped/bike ferry to Varennes and Pointe-aux-Trembles until 2018. The new schedule contains 4 daily round trips and 1 one-way.

2014 and 2015 seasons were operated by Navark, like other ped-bike ferries on the Saint Lawrence (Valleyfield―Les Coteaux―Saint-Stanislas, Longueuil―Parc National des Îles-de-Boucherville, Montréal―Parc National des Îles-de-Boucherville, Boucherville―Parc National des Îles-de-Boucherville, Lachine-Châteauguay)

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  • 3 weeks later...

1127623-pas-moins-128-bris-ajustements.j

When life gives you F.A.-Gauthier, it's hard to make lemonade.

STQ is experiencing major disruptions on its all-new CNG-powered ship operating on Matane―Godbout/Baie-Comeau services. Broken down compressors, fans, diesel tank, burned or damaged communication and electrical cables, door, ramp, toilet, life vest malfunction, unresponsive navigation instruments and out-of-service Voice Data Recorder; Société des Traversiers counted no less than 128 breakages/malfunctions since the vessel's inaugural trip. Moreover, the whole CNG propelling system is out of order, and the ship must use its diesel auxiliary power, burning over 200k$ of fuel per week.

Italian shipbuilding Fincantieri Castellamare Di Stabia delivered the F.A.-Gauthier June 24th 2015.

Source : Le Soleil

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/transports/201601/25/01-4943774-un-nouveau-traversier-de-175-millions-inonde-de-problemes.php

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/transports/201601/26/01-4944124-le-ministre-damour-se-fie-sur-la-garantie-du-f-a-gauthier-.php

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1127623-pas-moins-128-bris-ajustements.j

When life gives you F.A.-Gauthier, it's hard to make lemonade.

STQ is experiencing major disruptions on its all-new CNG-powered ship operating on Matane―Godbout/Baie-Comeau services. Broken down compressors, fans, diesel tank, burned or damaged communication and electrical cables, door, ramp, toilet, life vest malfunction, unresponsive navigation instruments and out-of-service Voice Data Recorder; Société des Traversiers counted no less than 128 breakages/malfunctions since the vessel's inaugural trip. Moreover, the whole CNG propelling system is out of order, and the ship must use its diesel auxiliary power, burning over 200k$ of fuel per week.

Italian shipbuilding Fincantieri Castellamare Di Stabia delivered the F.A.-Gauthier June 24th 2015.

Source : Le Soleil

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/transports/201601/25/01-4943774-un-nouveau-traversier-de-175-millions-inonde-de-problemes.php

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/transports/201601/26/01-4944124-le-ministre-damour-se-fie-sur-la-garantie-du-f-a-gauthier-.php

Thanks for posting. FA Gauthier actually runs on LNG, not CNG.

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Société des Traversiers CEO admits that, even though there are 128 "warranty trackings", "only" half of them were minor problems (such as doors, printer, lighting problems) ― meaning that other half was major. Technology used in the ship built by Fincantieri is so new that it has never been installed on other ships, and a 12 to 30 months trial period would be required for the ship to be fully functionnal. The state-of-the art ferry boat would be so technologically complex, that such a number of repairs was duely planned and Fincantieri personel is often in Matane to monitor and fix the problems

The 175 Million $, eight-deck mastodont still runs, albeit on auxiliary power. Only 3 departures were cancelled since June 2015. Warranty will end in June 2017.

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/est-quebec/2016/02/09/015-societe-traversiers-quebec-stq-jocelyn-fortier-gauthier-navire-bateau.shtml

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  • 8 months later...

Prince tag or the new, late delivered replacement ships for NM Armand-Imbeau and NM Jos-Deschênes is now of 225M$ (instead of the agreed 100M$). Delivery is postponed to an undetermined date, while it was contracted for 2015. Davie shipbuilding is half-dead but contracting it has always been a good voters bait, seen its crucial economic role for Québec south shore.

http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/4c6c94ed-57cb-4f14-b6e2-ad3834ab2dcc|_0.html

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  • 3 months later...

Other STQ news :

  • New Lévis terminal won architectural prize.
    QL_Gare-fluviale-de-Levis.jpg
    Picture : STQ
  • STQ announced fare reductions on many lines :
    • Free ride for electric vehicles ride maintained on all ferries;
    • Québec-Lévis and Sorel―Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola :
      • Free ride for children under 12 during winter;
      • 10-ticket booklet for automobiles and small trucks now 60 $ (-15%);
      • Fare reduction for elderly (-6%), families (-13%), leisure trailers (-50%) and commercial vehicles (-50%)
    • Matane―Baie-Comeau/Godbout
      • Children category now up to 15 years old;
      • Leisure trailers now 80$ (flat rate) instead of linear rate
      • Fare reduction on return trips (-10%), groups (-10% to -15%)
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  • 1 month later...

There have been some jeopardy around here. For some reason, CTMA Voyageur (assigned to Matane / Magdalen Islands winter service) is docked at Verreault shipyard, CTMA Vacancier (ferry/cruise ship assigned to Montréal / Magdalen Is. / Gaspé summer service) has docked in Matane harbour last Tuesday, whilst F.-A.-Gauthier (assigned to Matane ― Baie-Comeau/Godbout) is not docked at Matane RoRo ramp.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...

Is the STQ an economic shipwreck?

The ministry of Economy has decided to remove from the hands of the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) the management of the contract for the construction of two ferry services granted to the shipyard Davie, which will cost finally two times more expensive than expected.

Radio-Canada : http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1048140/chantier-davie-societe-transport-quebec-litige-traversier-construction

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 8 months later...

F.-A.-Gauthier is at Verreault drydock in Les Méchins for "regular" maintenance... until May 26th! Until then, good ol' MS CTMA Vacancier will provide the Matane/Côte-Nord ferry.

Le_CTMA_Vacancier_%C3%A0_quai_%28Cap-aux-Meules%29.JPG

ChristianT CC-BY-SA 3.0

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 4/25/2018 at 8:03 AM, webfil said:

F.-A.-Gauthier is at Verreault drydock in Les Méchins for "regular" maintenance... until May 26th! Until then, good ol' MS CTMA Vacancier will provide the Matane/Côte-Nord ferry.

Finally, MS CTMA Vacancier still did not leave Méchins and MS CTMA Madeleine is needed for Souris/Les Îles services... so no drydock bay nor replacement ship was available for Matane/Côte-Nord last week.

Ridiculously misadapted MS Félix Antoine Savard provided last week for the high sea route, that has had its schedule doubled to supply for demand. Many of these added departures were cancelled due to "strong" winds and "high" waves; Transportation Canada had emitted strict conditions for this ship to sail from Matane.

EDIT : Savard is still on duty. She was unloading vehicles today, next to her very big sister FA Gauthier.

IMG_20180513_130848.thumb.jpg.a6a1f9dae0cedabdb1aa49c70bd447a4.jpg

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