The second of three sister ships to be constructed for Misener Transportation Ltd., St. Catharines ON; this Great Lakes and ocean gearless bulk carrier was built as hull # 257 by Govan Shipbuilders Ltd., Govan, Scotland. The new vessel was christened as the Canada Marquis on April 15, 1983; clearing Scotland on July 11, 1983 on her maiden voyage to Canada. This bulker and her two sister ships were built to give Misener Transportation (as well as the Misener managed and crewed Pioneer Shipping Ltd.) the capability of operating year round. The goal was to operate these vessels on Great Lakes trades during the navigation season, the ocean trades during the winter months. The other two sister ships were the Selkirk Settler (also christened on April 15, 1983) sailing under the Misener banner and the Saskatchewan Pioneer sailing under the Pioneer Shipping banner. Of note; the Selkirk Settler now sails as the Spruceglen (2) for Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal, QC and the Saskatchewan Pioneer as the Voyageur Pioneer for Voyageur Marine Transport Ltd., Ridgeville, ON.
