Passport

[shipstamps]

The Passport was built in England in 1846 and reassembled at Kingston, Ontario. She plied the Hamilton-Montreal passenger route and was described in 1850 as being "fitted up in the most modern style". Shooting the rapids of the St. Lawrence was the greatest thrill of the voyage. The ship attained speeds of 20 miles an hour with her engines shut down. Although not large enough to handle the growing summer tourist traffic, the Passport was still in service in 1884 when she had a crew of 40, including the captain.In 1897 the Passport was withdrawn from service because there had been smallpox aboard. The owners felt that the plague ship reputation might hurt the business of their other vessels, in 1898, the ship was rebuilt and renamed Caspian. She served until 1921, when she was scrapped at Sorel. SG852

[aukepalmhof]

Built as an iron paddle steamer, with a wooden superstructure. Her hull plates and machinery were ordered on a yard in Scotland, then transported in parts to Canada where she was built by William McCausland at Kingston Marine Railway, Ontario for the Canadian Navigation Co. (J. Hamilton), Montreal.
11 November 1846 launched under the name PASSPORT.
Tonnage 1,034 ton, dim. 172 x 25 x 10ft.
Powered by 2 walking beam steam engines, manufactured by Ward & Brush, Montreal.

When in 1848 the St Lawrence canals could take ships of 200feet in length and nine feet draft, steamboating became big business.
The Scottish yards built ships in do-it-yourself kits, and the parts of the PASSPORT all numbered were transported to Canada for assembling.
She had upper and lower saloons, a dining room and private cabins for the more wealthy passengers.
01 June 1847 she made her maiden voyage from Hamilton to Montreal a 33 hour voyage.
27 June 1849 a boiler exploded in Lancaster, Ontario, killing 14 people, a substitute engineer opened the valves in the wrong order.
03 November 1849 at Kingston a steam pipe exploded.
1861 To Canadian Inland Steam Navigation Co.
17 September 1863 she grounded while running the Coteau Rapids, her bow was 40 feet out of the water.
01 November 1863 while under repair in Kingston she sank, the next day during a gale she was further damaged.
1866 Saloon extended and wheelhouse moved up to hurricane deck.

1875 To Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. Ltd., with Sir Hugh Allan of Montreal as chairman, the company was pre-eminent along the 800-mile route from Toronto to the Saguenay.
21 October 1881 she rammed and sank the TRAVELLER near Cornwall.
31 July 1886 she hit the pier at the lower entrance to Cornwall Canal and capsized but was refloated.

1898 Renamed in CASPIAN.
1901 To Lake Ontario & Bay of Quinte Steamboat Co.
1902 Was she re-engined by a steam engine, manufactured by G.A. Pontbriand, Sorel, her appearance considered unusual, no walking beam engine, and only one funnel.
When four companies under which the Lake Ontario & Bay of Quinte and some subsidiaries merged a new company was formed in 1913, which was known as the Canada Steamship Lines (GSL), the CASPIAN was transferred to the new-formed company.
Tonnage then given as 957 gross, 543 net, dim. 177.5 x 43.3 x 6.58ft.

1920 Sold to Alphonse A. Laroque of Montreal.
1921 Re-built as a barge.
1929 She disappears from the Canadian register.

Laos 1987 6k sg987, scott?

Source: Ships of Canada. Mill List. CSL fleet record.