Omisalj was constructed in 1987 by 3 Maj Brodogradiliste d.d. Shipyard of Rijeka, Croatia, as an ocean-going bulk carrier. She was constructed to maximum Seaway dimensions at 729’ long, 75’09’’ wide, and 48’05’’ deep, and was fitted with 3 large deck cranes. She could carry up to 34,380 tons at a mid-summer draft of 33’10’’. She is powered by a single 15,419 BHP Sulzer 6RTA62 diesel engine. Omisalj was constructed for Jugolinija, the state-operated shipping line of Yugoslavia. She entered service in 1987.

After the fall of Yugoslavia, Jugolinija reorganized as a private firm, also changing their name to Croatia Lines in February of 1992. The fleet was repainted with royal blue hulls.

The Omisalj was the first saltie to transit the St. Lawrence Seaway system for the 1997 season on April 2. On October 7, 1997, Omisalj was sold to Viken Shipping, being renamed Goviken. She continued on ocean and Great Lakes trade routes.

The Goviken became the first saltie to load taconite at the BN No. 5 ore dock in Superior, Wisconsin, on July 11, 2006, loading ore for the Mittal Steel Mill in Algeria.

On June 20, 2008, Algoma Central Corporation purchased from Viken Shipping. Goviken was renamed Algoma Guardian. She remained dedicated on ocean trade routes until December 2009, when her large deck cranes were removed in Europe, and she was reflagged Canadian in July of 2010.

Algoma Guardian continues to be an active member of the Algoma Central fleet, serving the ore and grain trades.

Written by Brendan Falkowski