Canadian Empress

The M/V Canadian Empress is a small cruise ship built at Algan Shipyards, Gananoque, Que., in 1981 for the St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Kingston, Ont. Her route is generally confined to the waters between Kingston and Quebec City, Que., including the 1,000 Islands and St. Lawrence Seaway.

Designed to reflect the classic style of North American turn-of-the-century riverboats, Canadian Empress is 108 feet long, 30 feet wide and shallow in draft. Her size allows her to navigate freely among the islands and through locks, some of which are inaccessible to larger vessels. She carries 66 passengers, 14 crewmembers and is powered by twin 365 H.P. Volvo engines.

Written by Roger LeLievre