Algosoo (2)/2002



Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Algosoo

By George Wharton

Built by Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON at a reported cost of $15 million; this Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier was launched July 24, 1974 as the Algosoo(2) for Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. She sailed on her maiden voyage December 4, 1974 leaving Collingwood, ON light for Badgley Island, ON where she loaded 25,935 gross tons of quartzite destine for Midland, ON. The Algosoo was the last traditional styled laker (straight-decker or self-unloader) built on the Great Lakes.

The Algosoo is powered by 2 Crossley Pielstick 10PC2V 10-cylinder 4500 b.h.p. diesel engines driving a 17-foot diameter controllable pitch propeller in a Kort nozzle giving her a rated service speed of 13 knots. She is fitted with a 1000 horsepower bow thruster. Her 23 hatches feed into 5 holds where she can carry 26,830 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 31,300 tons at maximum mid-summer draft of 29 feet. Her self-unloading equipment consists of a 3-belt gravity system with a stern-mounted loop belt elevator feeding a 252-foot discharge boom that can be swung 95 degrees to port or starboard. The designed discharge rate is 5,440 tonnes per hour. The Algosoo's capacities include 452 tonnes of fuel oil, 86 tonnes of diesel oil, 90 tonnes of potable water, and 17,914 tonnes 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 Algsoo(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 travelling 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 Sault Ste. Marie, ON (SOO).

In 1975, the Algosoo(2) carrried a record cargo of 23,500 tons of salt from Goderich, ON to Toronto, ON and a record 32,600 tons of stone from Stoneport, MI to Sarnia, ON. She carried a total of 2.25 million tons of cargo for the 1975 season. December 9, 1977 saw the Algosoo carry the 60 millionth ton of cargo through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

A serious fire occurred on 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 when the Algosoo returned to service.

The Algosoo currently is an active carrier managed by Seaway Marine Transport, St. Catherines, ON (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. The 2000 navigation season has seen the Algosoo visit such Ontario ports as Bath, Bruce Mines, Clarkson, Hamilton, Meldrum Bay, Morrisburg, and Windsor; Quebec ports such as Sept Isles 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.

Hopefully this last built of a long line of traditional styled lakers (wheelhouse forward/accommodations aft) will continue to have a long, productive, and profitable career ahead of her.

Length: 730'00"

Beam: 75'00"

Depth: 44'06"

Capacity (tons): 31,300

Diesel engine horsepower: 9,000

Self-unloading boom: 252'