Capturing the 'Sea Keeper' Mural on the CSL St-Laurent Bulk Carrier | Welland Canal, ST. CATHARINES

Talk about perfect timing! About eight years ago, on a gorgeous sunny day, I was heading toward one of my favorite spots—the Welland Canal. In the distance, I noticed a cargo ship moving steadily through the trees. As I got closer, I realized it wasn't just any ship; it was the Trillium Class bulk carrier CSL St-Laurent.

 

I was thrilled! I had read about her "famous" mural earlier that year and knew how special it was, but the chances of catching her right there in St. Catharines felt slim—especially since it had been over a year since my last visit to the canal. Luckily, I had my camera on hand and even managed to capture the video you see further below.

The Powerhouse Behind the Vessel: The CSL Group

Before diving into the art, it’s worth noting who operates these giants. The CSL Group is the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal, they deliver more than 76 million tonnes of cargo annually across the globe for the construction, steel, and agri-food sectors.

This specific mural was commissioned by CSL to commemorate two major milestones:

• Canada’s 150th birthday
• The 375th anniversary of the City of Montreal

The mural celebrates the St. Lawrence Seaway, marine transport, and CSL’s role in building our nation. The Canada Goose was chosen because it is a familiar sight along the Seaway, representing a vessel sailing in harmony with nature.

The Canada goose with its powerful wings spread in flight, in a forward motion is a tribute to Montreal and to Canada.

 

A Masterpiece in Motion: "The Sea Keeper"

This project marked a series of "firsts"—for the artists, for CSL, and for a Canadian commercial vessel. The original work, titled The Sea Keeper, was conceived by Montreal urban artist Bryan Beyung. It was brought to life by Beyung himself, alongside FONKi, Ankh One, and Benny Wilding of the A'Shop art collective.

It was a massive undertaking that required:

• 2 weeks of intensive work.
• 250 cans of spray paint.
• The technical ingenuity of CSL’s engineering team to ensure the art could withstand the elements at sea.

SofistiKateIt | My Original Footage

"The 'Sea Keeper' Mural on the CSL St-Laurent" — Welland Canal Research

Oooh! That's as close as I'm going to get!

A Symbol of Diversity

To truly appreciate The Sea Keeper, you have to view it from afar. — Kate

The wings and tail are painted in the unique signature styles of the four different artists. By weaving these diverse techniques together, the mural evokes the beautiful cultural diversity of Montreal and Canada. Today, the mural continues to inspire the seafarers who live aboard her and the thousands of people along the shores of the Great Lakes who watch the CSL St-Laurent sail by.