Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Algosoo

by George Wharton

Built by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON as their hull # 206 at a reported cost of $14.5 million (CN); the keel was laid on July 16, 1973 for this Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier.  She was launched July 24, 1974 and was christened at the shipyard on November 26, 1974 by Mrs. John Rhodes as the Algosoo (2) for the Algoma Central Railway, Marine Division, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Mrs. Rhodes was the wife of The Honourable John Rhodes, Minister of Transportation and Communication for the Province of Ontario.  With the Canadian Government subsidizing the new ships built at Canadian yards, the cost of the Algosoo net of subsidies was approximately $11.8 million (CN).  The Algosoo and her slightly newer fleetmate Algolake are considered almost sister ships with their hull designs and machinery being very similar; the main difference being the Algolake having been built with all accommodations and wheelhouse aft.  The Algosoo was the last traditional styled laker (straight-decker or self-unloader) built on the Great Lakes.

The Algosoo is powered by two Crossley Pielstick 10PC2V single acting, four stroke cycle V-10 cylinder 4,500 b.h.p. (3,310 KW) diesel engines built by Crossley Premier Engines, Manchester, England; these engines  burning intermediate grade 40 fuel.  The engines are mounted side-by-side facing forward with the drive shafts feeding into a gear reduction box.  From the gear reduction box, the single propeller shaft passes back between the two engines to the stern to a four blade KaMeWa 17-foot (5.18m) diameter controllable pitch propeller in a Kort nozzle.  The Algosoo's rated service speed is 15 m.p.h.. She is fitted with a 1,000 h.p. (736 KW) KaMeWa electric drive bow thruster.

The self-unloader's 5 holds are serviced by 23 hatches. The vessel is capable of carrying 32,100 tons (32,614 mt) at a mid summer draft of 29' 00 5/8" (8.855m) and approximately 28,381 tons (28,837 mt) at the new Seaway draft of 26' 06" (8.08m) implemented in 2004.  The Algosoo's cubic capacity allows her to carry 28,400 net tons of coal.  (Coal is measured in net tons, the equivalents being 25,357 tons or 25,764 mt.)  Her self-unloading equipment consists of a 3-belt gravity system with a stern-mounted loop belt elevator feeding a 252-foot (76.81m) discharge boom that can be swung 95 degrees to port or starboard. The designed discharge rate is 5,354 tons (5,440 mt) per hour. The Algosoo's other capacities include 445 tons (452 mt) of fuel oil, 84.6 tons (86 mt) of diesel oil, 88.6 tons (90 mt) of potable water, and 17,631 tons (17,914 mt) of water ballast. Her wheelhouse equipment includes 2 Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS), 1 Decca radar, 1 Sperry radar, 1 ECDIS (electronic charts), 1 Sperry Gyro compass, 1 magnetic compass, 2 VHF marine radios, and last but not least, a coffee maker. Safety equipment includes 1 Shepherd boat, 2 - 25 person life rafts, 50 life jackets, 35 survival suits, 36 fire extinguishers, 36 fire fighting stations with hoses and hydrants, 6 fireman's suits, 10 life rings, 12 parachute flares, and 4 rocket line-throwing apparatus.

The name "Algosoo" has been associated with the Algoma Central Corp. since 1936. The Algosoo (2)'s predecessor was built by the American Shipbuilding Co, Lorain, OH launched in 1901 as the steel bulk carrier Saturn for the Gilchrist Transportation Co., Cleveland, OH. Algoma Central Railway, Sault Ste. Marie, ON acquired the vessel in 1913 renaming her J. Frater Taylor. She was renamed Algosoo (1) in 1936 and remained an active member of the Algoma fleet until November of 1965 after traveling almost 2 million miles and carrying in excess of 14 million net tons of cargo. The Algosoo (1) was 346' x 48' x 28', 3,373 GRT, and was powered by a triple expansion coal-fired steam engine. The "Algosoo" name is derived from the parent Company's name "Algoma" (ALGO) and the "slang" term for the Company's headquarters city in Sault Ste. Marie, ON (SOO).

The Algosoo sailed on her maiden voyage December 4, 1974 leaving Collingwood, ON in ballast for Badgley Island, ON where she loaded 25,935 tons (26,351.6 mt) of quartzite bound for Midland, ON.  In 1975, the Algosoo carried a record cargo of 23,300 tons (23,674 mt) of salt from Goderich, ON to Toronto, ON and a record 32,600 tons (33,123.7 mt) of stone from Stoneport, MI to Sarnia, ON. Also that year, she carried a record 926,204 bushels of wheat to Port McNicholl but was restricted to a harbor draft of 24' 06" (7.47m).  The Algosoo carried a total of 2.25 million tons of cargo for the 1975 season.   On July 12, 1977; the self-unloader set a salt cargo record from Ojibway Salt in Windsor, ON loading 31,936 tons (32,449 mt) of the product for Buffalo.  December 9, 1977 saw the Algosoo carry the 60 millionth ton of cargo through the St. Lawrence Seaway.   

On April 5, 1982, the Algosoo was the first downbound vessel of the new shipping season for the Welland Canal.  Another record was set in 1985 when, on May 24, 31,782 tons (32,292 mt) of rock salt were loaded on board at Goderich, ON.  A serious fire occurred on board the Algosoo on March 7, 1986 while she was at her winter lay-up berth at Port Colborne, ON. The conveyor belt fire was possibly started by a welder's torch and spread to the stern gutting the aft accommodations. Repairs were completed by October 6, 1986 at Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines, ON after which the Algosoo returned to service.  Later that year, on December 12, the self unloader grounded in the Port Weller harbor after which the vessel was drydocked for inspection.  In October of 1987, the Algosoo reportedly unloaded the last cargo to be delivered to the port of Kingston, ON by a commercial vessel.

On March 25, 1994; the Algosoo was forced aground in Lake St. Francis in the St. Lawrence Seaway while being overtaken by the vessel Prestigious.  The grounding caused approximately $1.2 million in hull damage.  Later in 1994, on December 11, the vessel was punctured at the # 3 side tank by a steel obstruction while docking at Valleyfield, QC.  A doubler was put in place as a temporary repair.  A milestone in the Algosoo's history was the carrying of the 2 billionth tonne of cargo through the St. Lawrence Seaway.  This notable event took place on May 10 1996 and the cargo was a load of iron ore from Quebec to Ohio.  On February 28, 1998 while at winter lay up at Port Colborne's Wharf 10, a fire causing serious damage to the self-unloader belts and other nearby equipment occurred taking fire crews from Welland and Port Colborne several hours to contain.  In honor of Algoma Central's 100th anniversary, an open house event was held on board the Algosoo on July 31, 1999 at the Canal Days Festival at Port Colborne, ON.  Festival visitors were treated to a film of the history of Algoma Central Corp. prior to boarding the vessel for guided tours.  At the time, the Algosoo was transiting the Welland Canal bound for Ashtabula, OH with 26,786 tons (27,216 mt) of iron ore from Pointe Noire, QC.

On December 23, 2000 the Algosoo was in collision with the Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker Griffon while being freed from ice near the Toledo Channel in Lake Erie.  The Algosoo proceeded to Hamilton, ON arriving December 26, 2000 for repairs to the minor damage and for winter lay up.  On April 18, 2002, the vessel received a cargo of coal from the crippled fleetmate Algowood following that vessel's grounding in the St. Marys River near Mission Point in heavy fog on April 15, 2002.  The Algowood was freed from her strand on April 17 and moved to the Carbide Dock at Sault Ste. Marie where the cargo transfer took place.  The coal was bound for Nanticoke, ON from Superior, WI.  Further, on August 11, 2002; a bow thruster failure at Clarkson, ON resulted in the Algosoo sliding over her dropped anchor.  Bow damage included dents, gashes, and a couple of small holes.  The vessel proceeded to the Verrault Shipyard in Les Mechins, QC for repair (the closest shipyard available at that time).  The anchor was replaced later in Hamilton.  Then on August 25, 2007, the Algosoo was in contact with the general cargo carrier Beluga Recognition while the latter was exiting Lock 1 of the Welland Canal.  The salty is preparing to go to berth while the Algosoo was waiting for the lock.  The Algosoo was in transit to Sandusky, OH at the time.  Both vessels received only superficial minor damage.

From 1993 until January of 2000, the Algosoo sailed under the management of Seaway Self Unloaders of St. Catharines, ON; a partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group. Remaining a very active member of the Algoma Central Corp. fleet, the Algosoo is now operated and managed by the derivative company Seaway Marine Transport of St. Catharines, ON; a continued partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group. As a member of this fleet, her cargoes could include coal/coke, aggregates, slag, iron ore/oxides, salt, fertilizers, grain products, gypsum, quartzite, and sand. A typical navigation season could see the Algosoo visit such Ontario ports as Bath, Bruce Mines, Clarkson, Courtright, Hamilton, Meldrum Bay, Morrisburg, Nanticoke, Thunder Bay and Windsor; Quebec ports such as Baie Comeau, Contrecouer, Montreal, Port Cartier, Sept-Isles, Sorel and Quebec City; Ohio ports such as Ashtabula, Conneaut, Sandusky, and Toledo; the Michigan ports of Detroit and Port Inland; the Indiana ports of Burns Harbor and Gary; as well as Chicago, Illinois and Duluth, MN.  As part of an on-going program of renewal upgrades by Algoma Central and Seaway Marine Transport, the Algosoo's generators are being replaced with modern, environmentally friendly and energy efficient ones during the vessel's 2008/09 winter lay up at Hamilton, ON.


 

Overall Dimensions (metric)
Length	730' 00" (222.50m)
Beam	75' 00" (22.86m)
Depth	44' 06" (13.56m)
Capacity (mid-summer)	32,100 tons (32,614 mt)  at a draft of 29' 00 5/8" (8.855m)
Capacity (Seaway)	28,381 tons (28,837 mt) approx.  at a draft of 26' 06" (8.08m)
Displacement (lightweight)	8,925 tons (9,070 mt)
Power (diesel)	9,000 b.h.p. (6,620 KW)

 

Sandusky, OH at sunrise, Sept. 18, 2008. Donald Lee	At Toledo loaded with coal and heading for Hamilton, ON, Nov. 12, 2008. Bob Vincent	Loading coal at Toledo, Dec. 12. 2008. Bob Vincent
At Sarnia's North Slip, July 27, 2008. Marc Dease	Leaving the North Slip with assistance of tug Menasha, July 28, 2008. Marc Dease	Into the St. Clair River. Marc Dease
At Stoneport, MI, July 15, 2008. Ben & Chanda McClain	Hail storm at Stoneport. Ben & Chanda McClain	After the storm. Ben & Chanda McClain
Winter lay up at Port Colborne, ON, Jan. 12, 2008. Bob Dowson	Another view, Feb. 3, 2008. Dan Syrcher	Upbound into Lake Huron, Apr. 5, 2008. John McCreery
Entering the St. Clair River at Point Edward, ON, Nov. 18, 2007. Marc Dease	Downbound in Welland Canal's Lock 3, Dec. 16, 2007. Michel Gosselin	Stern view. Michel Gosselin
Backing into the Goderich, ON harbor, Nov. 11, 2007. Wayne Brown	Being pushed to the dock by MacDonald Marine tugs. Wayne Brown	Under the salt loader. Wayne Brown
Into the turn at the Lake Huron cut buoys ! & 2 followed by the Yankcanuck and CSL Niagara, May 4, 2007. Marc Dease	Entering the St. Clair River at Point Edward, ON. Marc Dease	St. Clair River, May 13, 2007. Wayne Brown
Leaving Duluth, MN after loading coal, Apr. 15, 2007. Glen Blaszkiewicz	Stern view. Glen Blaszkiewicz	Clear of Lock 2, Welland Canal, June 2007. Bill Bird
Waiting to enter Welland Canal's Lock 7, Oct. 2, 2006. Dan Sweeley	Welland Canal at Port Robinson, ON, Oct. 30, 2006. Dan Sweeley	Downbound at buoys 1 & 2, Point Edward, ON, Dec, 8, 2006. Marc Dease
Waiting at the Robin Hood dock at Port Colborne for traffic to clear before laying up, Dec. 30, 2005. Alex Howard	Stern view. Alex Howard	Winter lay up at Port Colborne, Jan. 21, 2006. Alex Howard
Welland Canal, Sept. 26, 2004. Roger LeLievre	Loading salt at Ojibway Salt, Windsor, ON, May 12, 2005. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. Mike Nicholls
Unloading in Detroit, May 4, 2004.  Justin Kreimes	Stern view in Detroit.  Justin Kreimes	Detroit River, Sept. 1, 2004. Mike Nicholls
Downbound Lake Huron, buoys 1 & 2, Oct. 8, 2003. George Wharton	Bow profile, Point Edward, ON Oct. 8, 2003. George Wharton	Entering the Duluth Ship Canal, Apr. 13, 2004. Brian Peterson
Unloading coal, St. Clair River, July 12, 2003. George Wharton	St. Marys River rock cut, July 13, 2003. John Chomniak	Close up. John Chomniak
Winter lay-up, Hamilton, Feb. 20, 2003. Mike Nicholls	Stern winter lay-up at Hamilton, . Jan. 17, 2003. Chris Simpson	close up of Cort Nozzle. Chris Simpson
Entering Lock 2, Welland Canal. Alex Howard	Algosoo arriving South Chicago, IL Stephen Sostaric	Unloading. Jeff Thoreson