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Hello Fellow BN's or correctly 'Ship-Nerds'....Does anyone know why/when the said vessel:  MIENA DESGAGNES (IMO: 9700380, MMSI 316014740) registered in Canada?

It appears that after her last voyage from Port Erie to Becancour she became 'Canadian' from 'Barbadian'? In fact, marinetraffic.com shows her as Canadian but vesselfinder.com as Barbados. Presently en-route to Rankin Inlet, Hudson Bay.

Do they have to re-flag to carry cargo between Canadian ports?

Basically, to trade between Canadian ports a ship is required to be registered in Canada. Similar to Jones Act requirements for ships trading between US ports.

There are several ships that re-flag as Canadian each summer to participate in the annual ‘Arctic Sealift’. Most cargo for various Canadian Arctic communities is shipped out of Montreal.

There is a brief window of opportunity to resupply the Arctic communities by ship; ship being the least expensive mode of transportation; it must be done in summer and early fall when ice and weather conditions permit.

Each community relies heavily on the ‘SeaLift’ for everything from vehicles to furniture to building supplies, fuel and non-perishable food.

If you can access the documentary series “High Arctic Haulers” it will give you a much better idea of how the ‘SeaLift’ works from a Desgagnes point-of-view.

TY.  Any thoughts on the motivation to re-flag from Canada to Barbados during the rest of the year?

It all comes down to costs.  Flags of Convenience offer savings that cannot be matched by "First World" countries.