Jana Desgagnés was built as the double-hulled chemical and petroleum tanker Jadestern. It was constructed by MTW Schiffahrts G.m.b.H. at Wismar, Germany, in 1993 for Rigel Schiffswerft G.m.b.H. of Bremen, Germany.
Jadestern was 405 feet, 10 inches in overall length, 58 feet, 1 inches at the beam and 34 feet, 9 inches in molded depth. Tonnage was calculated at 6,262 gross and 3,154 net. The vessel was designed to life 10,511 metric tons of cargo at a 27 foot, 5 inch mid-summer draft and was classed GL + 100AS E3 chemical tanker and certified for worldwide trade.
There are 12 epoxy coated, cargo tanks with a total capacity of 10,814 cubic metres or 68,018 barrels of petroleum. Power is supplied by a 5,032 brake horsepower, model 6L35MC Burmeister & Wain engine that gives a service speed of 12.5 knots. Electrical power comes from three, KHD TBD 604BV8, 595 kilowatt Deutz diesel generators. When operating under normal full load conditions, the ship consumes approximately 14 metric tones of fuel per day.
Jadestern operated under the flag of Germany for a very short time before being transferred to Rigel Shipping Canada Ltd. It was enrolled at Halifax, Nova Scotia, as Jade Star (C814370) on March 7, 1994.
Jade Star was used to distribute products from the Ultramar refinery to ports along the East Coast of North America, to the Caribbean, along the Gulf and St. Lawrence River ports as well as into the Great Lakes.
The ship ran aground about 15.5 miles upstream from Quebec City in 1995 resulting in minor damage to hull plating and without any loss of the cargo of gasoline. Then, on December 24, 1998, the ship grounded off the Gaspe Peninsula and required lightering and help from the tug Atlantic Spruce to float free without significant damage or loss of any cargo.
Jade Star was managed by Groupe Desgagnés, under Petro-Nav Inc., before being purchased in 2008. Jade Star became the first of the three sister-ships to receive the now familiar company yellow bow stripe. On April 7, 2010, the ship was enrolled in Quebec City and renamed Jana Desgagnés.
Canadian registry closed on December 1, 2020, placed under Sierra Leone registry and renamed Jana on December 6, 2020. Purchased by Niko Co. Ltd., Vladivostok, Russia and placed under Russian registry, she departed Montreal on January 26, 2021. Registered at Vladivostok and renamed Antares on April 3, 2021 and was in service in the Russian Far East as of 2022.
| Ship Particulars | |
| Length | 405′ 10″ (123.71m) |
| Beam | 58′ 01″ (17.7m) |
| Depth | 34′ 09″ (10.6m) |
| Midsummer Draft | 27′ 05″ (8.36m) |
| Capacity | 6,262 tons |
| Engine Power | 5,032 bhp diesel |
| Previous Names | |
| Jadestern | 1992 – 1993 |
| Jade Star | 1993 – 2010 |
| Jana Desgagnés | 2010 – Today |