To see pictures of the arrival: / duluthshipphotography
About this visit:
They arrived Duluth June 01, 2024 at 19:39, coming in light, heading up river to the CN dock to Load Iron Ore They finished loading June 02 at 21:18 and pulled out of the CN dock, heading down river to depart Duluth. They did just that at 22:55, heading out of the canal at 4.8 kts, heading to Cleveland CBT Berth to discharge the ore they loaded.
Info from Boatnerd:
The seventh of 13 self-unloading 1,000-footers built on the Great Lakes was launched as George A. Stinson for the National Steel Corp., Cleveland, OH. The bow and stern sections were completed at American Ship Building Co., Lorain, OH, as hull #907, while the mid-body was built at American Ship Building's Toledo, OH, yard and towed to Lorain on Nov. 15, 1977. The new self-unloader was launched July 15, 1978 with formal christening ceremonies held August 21, 1978 at Detroit, MI.
Named in honor of National Steel Company's chairman of the board at the time, Mr. Stinson dedicated the vessel to the city of Detroit and to the people and industry supporting National Steel's Great Lakes Steel Division on Zug Island. Sailing under the management of Hanna Mining Co., the George A. Stinson departed on her maiden voyage Oct. 14, 1978 in ballast to Superior, WI, to load iron ore pellets for Zug Island, Detroit, MI. Not only was the George A. Stinson the only 1,000-footer in the National Steel fleet, it was the fleet's first self-unloader. The other members of the fleet in 1978 were all straight-deck bulk carriers, namely George M. Humphrey (2), Leon Falk Jr., and Paul H. Carnahan, all of which were scrapped in the few years following the Stinson’s entry into service.
George A. Stinson was powered by two Pielstick model 16PC2-2V-400 four-stroke cycle, single-acting 8,000 b.h.p. (5,968 kW) V-16 cylinder diesel engines burning intermediate grade 280 fuel; the engines being built by Fairbanks Morse Engine Division of Colt Industries International, Beloit, WI. The engines drive two controllable pitch propellers giving the vessel a rated service speed of 17.3 m.p.h. She is equipped with a 1,000 h.p. (746 kW) bow thruster. The vessel is capable of carrying 62,400 tons (63,402 mt) at a mid-summer draft of 28' 11" (8.81m), the cargo being fed into seven compartments through 36 hatches. The vessel's self unloading system feeds a stern-mounted loop belt elevator to a 260' (79.25m) discharge boom that can unload the vessel at a rate of up to 10,000 tons (10,161 mt) per hour. Other capacities include 580 tons (589.4 mt) of fuel oil and 45,069 tons (45,793.4 mt) of ballast water. The self-unloader displaces 15,936 tons (16,192 mt) light ship.
Only three months into her career, American Spirit struck a wall of the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, MI, causing an estimated $200,000 in damages. While operating late into her first season, on January 23, 1979, the vessel became stuck in ice north of Port Huron, MI, on Lake Huron. Later, on April 17, 1983, the self-unloading boom collapsed due to a mechanical failure while unloading at Detroit. She continued operating as a straight decker until the boom was replaced on Sept. 20, 1983 at Sturgeon Bay, WI. April 20, 1984 saw the Stinson aground in the St. Clair River near Marine City, MI, due to an ice jam. Part of her cargo of iron ore pellets was lightered into the Paul H. Carnahan before she could be freed four days later. The vessel was also noted to have run aground while anchoring in heavy fog on September 5, 1996 off Gros Cap.
American Spirit is owned, operated and managed by the American Steamship Co. of Williamsville, NY, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GATX Corporation of Chicago, IL.
Written by George Wharton.
Ship Particulars
Length 1,004' 00" (306.02m)
Beam 105' 00" (32.0m)
Depth 50' 00" (15.24m)
Midsummer Draft 28' 00" (8.53m)
Unloading Boom Length 260' (79.25m)
Capacity 62,400 tons
Engine Power 16,000 bhp diesel
Previous Names
George A. Stinson 1978 - 2004
American Spirit 2004 - Today