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Detroit River, 2002	Mike Nicholls

Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Algoway

By George Wharton

Launched June 23, 1972; the Algoway(2) is an example of a medium sized Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier built by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON for Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. She is powered by 4 Fairbanks Morse 1666 horsepower 10-cylinder diesel engines as well as 3 V-12 cylinder 700 horsepower auxiliary diesel engines made by Caterpillar. Two of the three auxiliary engines can be connected to the main power train giving the Algoway a rated speed of 17 m.p.h. The combined total output of the 6 driving engines is 8064 horsepower. She is also equipped with a 600 horsepower bow thruster. The Algoway's 17 hatches feed into 4 holds where she can carry 20750 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 24000 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 28 feet 10 inches. Her bow-mounted self-unloading equipment consists of a three belt gravity system with two cleated steel chord belt elevators feeding a 250 foot discharge boom that can be swung 105 degrees to port or starboard. The system can discharge at a rate of up to 3810 tons per hour.

On April 9, 1999; the Captain of the Algoway was awarded the traditional "Top Hat" for his vessel being the first of the 1999 navigation season into the port of Goderich, ON. The Algoway had arrived in Goderich light from Marysville, MI to load salt for Chicago, IL.

The Algoway currently sails under the management of Seaway Self Unloaders (partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group). Her cargo could consist of coal/coke, aggregate, slag, iron ore/oxides, salt, fertilizers, grain products, gypsum, quartzite, or sand. The Algoway is equipped with a precision navigation system known as DGPS (Differential Global Navigation System). Similar in size to her fleet mates Agawa Canyon and Algorail, the Algoway can visit smaller ports that are not as accessible to larger carriers.

A versatile vessel, boatwatchers should see the Algoway on the Great Lakes for many navigation seasons to come.
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Overall dimensions
Length	650'00"
Beam	72'00"
Depth	40'00"
Capacity (tons)	24,000

Departing Goderich. Phil Nash	Cuyahoga River. TZ	Another view. TZ
Stern view. Mike Nicholls	In the ice. Jeff Thoreson	Detroit River. N. Schultheiss
Aerial view. Don Coles	In Thunder Bay. Rob Farrow	Inbound Marinette. Dick Lund
Unloading. Dick Lund	Conneaut. Jeff Thoreson	Another view. Jeff Thoreson
Stern view. Jeff Thoreson	Panoramic. N. Schultheiss	Mail delivery
Upbound at Mission Point 12/04.  L. Rowe	Stern view.  L. Rowe