Saguenay ships sailed between British Guiana (now Guyana) to Europe and North America with their cargo. A few of the names of the ships were, Sunvictor, Sungate, Sunray, Sunbrayton, Sundora, Sunhill and Sunhenderson
Saguenay ships sailed between British Guiana (now Guyana) to Europe and North America with their cargo. A few of the names of the ships were, Sunvictor, Sungate, Sunray, Sunbrayton, Sundora, Sunhill and Sunhenderson
Brief History of the Bauxite Company
The Alumina Plant opened Tuesday, March 28, 1961. Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Cheddie Jagan, declared Demba’s $65 million Alumina Plant open with the turn of the control lever. He set the loader in action, giving a token finish to the loading of the S.S Sunhenderson with the first shipment of alumina ever to leave British Guiana.
Courtesy of Archie A. McAllister son of George McAllister who was one of Saguenay’s Pilots for 27 years on the Demerara River.
George McAllister would from time to time would take one of his nine children with him for the trip up the river to Mackenzie where Alcan had two Bauxite plants producing many different grades of products.
Archie McAllister began his cadetship on Sunbrayton under Ch. Officer Jerry Kronnenburg (Current Master with Algoma) shuttling between Mackenzie, Guyana and Chaguaramas Terminals (Chagterms), Trinidad with some trips to Smalkalden in Surinam. Now all of Saguenay’s shuttle vessels were OBO’s i.e. Ore Bulk Oil, the above trips were returns to Chagterms loaded with different grades of Bauxite. However, these vessels loaded Bulk oil (Bunker ” C” and Diesel) at refineries either at South Trinidad, San Fernando or Caripito up the Rio San Juan in Venezuela.
After Certifying as Watchkeeping Officer, Archie boarded the Sunwalker as third officer…the rest is a chronicle about me, but it was that humble beginnings with Saguenay, the background, knowledge and experience gleaned there that has determined and shaped my career.
Capt. George McAllister died peacefully on December 04, 2004 at the age of 94. He piloted for Saguenay for 32 years.
FYI: Archie happened upon a true to scale model of the Sunbrayton at the Maritime Museum in Kingston, Ontario.
Archie McAllister
National Superintendent Auxiliary Vessels
QHM, CFB Atlantic
(902) 427 0550 Ext. 6020
