The tanker Laurentia Desgagnés is too large for the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway but was purchased by Desgagnés for service on the St. Lawrence between Levis, Quebec, and Montreal. The vessel was built by Brodosplit at Split, Croatia, and launched as Nesté Polaris. It followed future fleetmate Espada Desgagnés from the shipyard as they were Hull 454 and Hull 455 respectively. This tanker was completed as Palva on Feb. 22, 2007, and entered deep-sea service.

The vessel was 750 feet long by 106 feet wide and had been registered at 42,180 gross tons. It was listed as capable of carrying 74,940 tons deadweight.

Palva cleared Liverpool, England, for Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 8, 2014, and was modified for a new role as a crude oil shuttle tanker. It was placed under Canadian registry as Laurentia Desgagnés about April 11, 2014, and then reflagged to the Barbados.

Written by Skip Gillham