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50-581: SS Kamloops was a Canadian lake freighter that was part of the fleet of Canada Steamship Lines from its launching in 1924 until it sank with all hands in Lake Superior off Isle Royale , Michigan , United States, on or about 7 December 1927. The steamship Kamloops was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Haverton Hill , Stockton-on-Tees , Durham , England, United Kingdom, for Steamships Ltd. of Montreal , Quebec , Canada. With

100-618: A tank landing craft during World War II. In the mid-20th century, 300 lakers worked the lakes, but by the early 21st century, there were fewer than 140 active lakers. By the 1990s, older and smaller self-unloaders and straight-deck freighters converted into tug -barges. The many lake freighters operating on the Great Lakes can be differentiated by how they are used. This may be where the ships may be where they work, their design, their size, or other factors. The ships are not always exclusive to one category. These types include: Some of

150-521: A 10:1 length to beam ratio, whereas ocean vessels are typically 7:1. The size of a lake freighter determines where it may work. The shallow draft imposed by the St. Marys River and Lake St. Clair restrict the cargo capacity of lakers. Poe Lock at the Soo Locks is the largest deep lock at 1,200 feet (370 m) long and 110 feet (34 m) wide. Many of the larger American ships are unable to navigate

200-442: A 45-50 year old service life, outlasting ocean-going bulk carriers. As of 2023, ocean-going bulk freighters average an 11-year lifespan, due in part to the corrosive effects of saltwater. Some of the lakers have been known to have long careers. The SS  St. Marys Challenger launched in 1906 and worked independently until 2013. The St. Marys Challenger is still in service as a barge at 118 years old. E. M. Ford had one of

250-517: A canal. In 1855, the Michigan State Locks (now Soo Locks ) opened, allowing vessels to keep up with demands for iron ore from further east. This would fuel the development of bulk carriers on the Great Lakes. The early lakers often had a wooden hull, or a composite hull of an oak frame wrapped in iron plating. With the depletion of high quality timber near the lake shore, shipbuilders increasingly utilized metal hulls. In 1881 and 1882,

300-516: A few large harbor locations. Salt and Canadian grain can be hauled to numerous smaller ports of either country on smaller, mostly Canadian, ships, which can also enter the St. Lawrence Seaway with the Canadian ports of Montreal and Quebec City. Because of their deeper draft and freshwater's lower buoyancy , salties often take on partial loads. Conversely, the Seaway allows smaller lakers to access

350-475: A fictional contemporary diver is found together with the historical human remains in the ship's engine room . Cave dive sites: Lake freighter Lake freighters , or lakers , are bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes of North America . These vessels are traditionally called boats , although classified as ships . Freighters typically have a long, narrow hull, a raised pilothouse , and

400-444: A fraction of the time. Around 1916, 600-foot (180 m) vessels more or less became the standard size. After World War II , several ocean freighters and tankers were transported to the Great Lakes and converted to bulk carriers as a way to acquire ships cheaply. The oil tanker Chiwawa became the bulk freighter MV Lee A. Tregurtha In addition, the freighter Outer Island was originally commissioned as LCT-203 for use as

450-601: A length of only 250 feet (75 m) and rated at 2,402 gross tons , Kamloops was a relatively small vessel for the Great Lakes in the 1920s. She was built to fit inside the locks of the Canadian-operated canals of the lower Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River during the years prior to the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway . The ship had two rigged masts and a 1000HP triple expansion steam engine with Scotch boilers . Kamloops completed its sea testing on 5 July 1924,

500-426: A significant quantity of their manufactured goods from England. Canada's freshwater fleet, including Kamloops , was an essential link in this vein of imperial commerce. It is the custom of Great Lakes shipping to try to move as much freight as possible before winter and associated ice conditions bring boat movements to a halt. Kamloops ' s owners operated the ship as late into the season as possible: in 1924 it

550-495: A single large superstructure island at the stern. Lake vessels are designed with the greatest block coefficient to maximize the vessel's size in the locks within the Great Lakes/St Lawrence Seaway system. Therefore, ship designers have favored bluff bows over streamlined bows. Another distinguishing feature of lake vessels versus ocean vessels is the cargo hatch configuration. On the lake vessels,

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600-405: A systematic search for the ship. The ship, discovered sitting on the lake bottom under more than 260 feet (79 m) of water, is lying on its starboard side at the base of an underwater cliff. Its detached smokestack lies a short distance away, near the starboard aft cargo mast. Some cargo remains in the holds, while other cargo is strewn around the wreck site. There are still human remains aboard

650-572: Is known for having last contact with Edmund Fitzgerald and was the first vessel on-scene to search for the Edmund Fitzgerald . MV Paul R. Tregurtha currently holds the title " Queen of the Lakes " as the largest ship on the lakes since launching in 1981. The modern stern-ender was first launched MV William J. Delancy and measures 1013.5 feet (308.9 m). Onoko was the second iron-hulled laker, launched in 1882. At 302 ft, Onoko

700-539: The Midwest . Iron ore makes up a majority of the cargo shipped annually. The 1940s saw the rise in the use of taconite pellets, as sources of higher quality ore diminished. Other destinations include coal-fired power plants , highway department salt domes, and stone docks, where limestone is unloaded for the construction industry. U.S.-flagged freighters carried the largest portion of the trade, accounting for two-thirds of all cargo by weight. U.S. hulls carried most of

750-482: The stern was a long, unbroken deck lined with hatches spaced 24 feet (7.3 m) apart (to match the chutes of the gravity ore dock in Marquette, Michigan ). The falls of the St. Marys River forced ships to portage their cargo 1.25 miles (2.01 km) around the falls. In an effort to make shipping more efficient and profitable, Michigan representatives appealed to the federal government for funding to build

800-444: The unusual case in 2001 where a drawbridge ran into the Canadian grain carrier Windoc causing a fire). To prevent collisions and groundings, the Great Lakes are well-served with lighthouses and lights, and floating navigation aids. The U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard maintain stations around the Great Lakes including icebreakers and rescue helicopters . The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies maintain

850-664: The 1800s. " Aagawaa " means "sheltered place" in the Ojibwe language . The scenery of this region inspired a number of paintings by the Group of Seven . The Algoma Central Railway runs an excursion train which leaves Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and travels through the Agawa Canyon . Agawa Bay and the lower parts of the river are located in Lake Superior Provincial Park . This article related to

900-519: The 1975 loss of Edmund Fitzgerald , thousands of ships and thousands of lives have been lost, many involving vessels in the cargo trade. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum uses the approximates 6,000 ships and 30,000 lives lost. David D. Swayze has compiled a list which details over 4,750 well-documented shipwrecks, mostly of commercial vessels and a list of known names of over 5,000 victims of those sinkings. Maritime historian Mark Thompson reports that based on nautical records, nearly 6,000 shipwrecks on

950-540: The Atlantic Ocean. The larger, newer ships are restricted to the upper lakes. Lakers feature a design distinct from their ocean-going counterparts. Because of the R. J. Hackett (1869), lake freighters typically had the bridge and associated superstructure at the bow. Additionally, a second island would be located over the engine room in the stern. In 1974, Algosoo was the final vessel designed this way. The more recently built lakers, like CSL Niagara , have

1000-611: The Great Lakes occurred between 1878 and 1994, with about a quarter of those being listed as total losses with a total of 1,166 lives lost. The most recent losses of modern lakers were: The salties Prins Willem V and Monrovia sank in the Great Lakes during the 1950s; both in collisions with other ships. The saltie Francisco Morazan was a total loss after running aground off South Manitou Island on November 29, 1960. Another saltie Nordmeer grounded on Thunder Bay Island Shoal in November 1966, but before it could be refloated, it

1050-679: The engine located at the rear of the ship. Lakers have been used since the late 19th century to haul raw material from docks in the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway regions to the industrial centers of Ontario , Quebec , and the American Midwest . The navigation season typically begins in late March and ends mid-January due to the formation of ice on the lakes. The largest lake freighters can travel up to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and can carry as much as 78,850 long tons (80,120 t) of bulk cargo. SS  Edmund Fitzgerald , which sank in 1975, became widely known as

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1100-488: The first entirely iron-hulled freighters, Brunswick and Onoko , were launched. Around this time, steel was quickly becoming a standard hull material as a result of the Bessemer process making it more affordable, and the first steel-hulled freighter, Spokane , was launched in 1886. Soon both iron and composite hulls were discontinued, while wood was used for smaller vessels into the early 1900s. An early variation on

1150-399: The first modern laker built with all cabins aft (a "stern-ender"), following the lead of ocean-going bulk carriers and reprising a century old form used by little river steam barges and the whalebacks. Algosoo (1974–2015 730 ft, 220 m) was the last laker built in the classic style. Also of note is the steamer Edward L. Ryerson , widely known for her artistic design and being

1200-497: The harbors and seaways to limit groundings by dredging and seawalling . November was the traditional last month of shipping before the winter layup (and lake freeze-up). During November, much of the worst weather of the navigation season occurs which has resulted in a disproportionate number of accidents. One study shows that over half of all strandings and one-third of all vessels lost to foundering between 1900 and 1950 were lost during November. The most well-known lake freighter

1250-480: The hatches are traditionally spaced 24 feet (7.3 m) apart. This configuration was needed to match the chutes at loading facilities. Since Great Lakes waves do not achieve the great length or period of ocean waves, particularly compared to the waves' height, ships are in less danger of being suspended between two waves and breaking, so the ratio between the ship's length, beam and its depth can be larger than that of an ocean-going ship. The lake vessels generally have

1300-520: The iron, limestone and cement, while Canadian boats carried most of the potash, and almost all of the salt and grain moved on the lakes. Destination harbors, ship sizes, and legal restrictions greatly affect the pattern of haulage. Large U.S. ships hauled most of the iron ore on the lakes (79%) from U.S. mines to U.S. mills. This reflects the requirement of the Jones Act , as well as the industry using large volumes of material while being concentrated in

1350-476: The lake freighter was the whaleback boat, designed by Alexander McDougall. These had cigar-shaped bodies that barely rose out of the water when fully loaded, and carried bulk cargo on the lakes from 1888 through 1970. The early lake freighters required cargo to be manually unloaded, or with assistance from unloading machinery at the docks. In 1902, Hennepin was the first ship to be retrofitted with self-unloading equipment , allowing its cargo to be landed in

1400-658: The lakes are generally used to transport American-mined ore bound for American mills. Because of the Jones Act of 1920, only American ships can carry ore from American mines to American mills in American ports; ergo, larger Canadian ships are not needed. These are the largest vessels on the lakes. A dozen were built between 1976 and 1981, and all remain in service today. These are all U.S.-flagged vessels between 1,000 and 1,013.5 feet (304.8 and 308.9 m) long, 105 feet (32 m) wide and of 56 ft (17 m) hull depth. Modern lakers are usually designed and constructed for

1450-525: The largest and most recent major vessel to be wrecked on the Great Lakes. The lake freighter's recognizable design emerged from many years of innovation in Great Lakes shipping. By the late 1860s, most bulk cargo was still carried by unpowered barges and sailing ships . Often, these ships had accessible deck hatches, useful for loading and unloading cargo. Around this time, passenger steamboats were gaining popularity for their steam-powered shipping abilities, which were faster and more reliable. In 1869,

1500-462: The last one left alive, freezing and starving to death on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. I just want mom and dad to know my fate." For fifty years, Kamloops was one of the "Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes", having sunk without a trace. However, on 21 August 1977, her wreck was discovered northwest of Isle Royale, near what is now known as Kamloops Point, by a group of sport divers carrying out

1550-469: The limitations of the Welland Canal . These vessels vary greatly in configuration and cargo capacity, being capable of hauling between 10,000 and 40,000 tons per trip depending on the individual boat. These smaller boats serve smaller harbors around the lakes which have irregular need for their services. Another reason for the lack of larger Canadian vessels is legislative in nature. Larger ships on

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1600-470: The locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which restricts vessel size to 740 feet (230 m) in length and 78 feet (24 m) in breadth. Seawaymax vessels are able to access the Great Lakes and the ocean. The Canadian fleet needs to travel to and from its major cities along the St. Lawrence Seaway, so the largest length for the Canadian vessels is 740 feet (230 m). Lake boats in the 600-and-700-foot (180 and 210 m) classes are more common, because of

1650-510: The longest careers, having been built in 1898 until being sold for scrap in November 2008. Some shipping companies are building new freighters to ply the waters of the Great Lakes. The following are new freighters in use or will be launched for use in the Great Lakes: The Great Lakes have a long history of shipwrecks, groundings, storms, and collisions. From the 1679 sinking of Le Griffon with its cargo of furs to

1700-400: The newer classes of lake freighters include: In 2023, 81.4 million tons of cargo were shipped on the Great Lakes. The most common cargoes include taconite , limestone , grain , salt , coal , cement , gypsum , and sand . The cargo is carried in large contiguous holds, not packed into containers. The iron ore transported from the upper Great Lakes primarily supplies the steel mills of

1750-538: The only remaining straight-decker still in active service on the US side of the Great Lakes. In mid 2006, Edward L. Ryerson was fitted out and put into service following a long-term lay-up that began in 1998. Edward L. Ryerson has been in long-term layup since 2009. The William G. Mather was first built in 1925 and served as the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company 's flagship until 1980. In 1987,

1800-404: The remains of several crewmembers at Twelve O'Clock Point on Isle Royale (erroneously reported to be on the nearby Amygdaloid Island ). In addition, wreckage from the ship was discovered ashore. In June, more bodies were discovered. A more comprehensive search for the wreck and crewmembers was undertaken, but nothing was found. Of the nine bodies recovered from Kamloops , five were identified and

1850-464: The remains shipped to next of kin. Four remained unidentified and were buried at Thunder Bay. A collective memorial stone was placed over their gravesite in 2011. In December 1928, a trapper working at the mouth of the Agawa River found a bottled note from Alice Bettridge, a young assistant stewardess who initially survived the sinking of Kamloops and, before she herself perished, wrote, "I am

1900-583: The ship arrived in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan on July 6, during the town's tri-centennial celebrations for use as a museum ship. The museum ship displays many relics of the sinking of Edmund Fitzgerald including two of Edmund Fitzgerald ' s mauled lifeboats. Agawa River The Agawa Rock pictographs are located on a rock face extending into Lake Superior in Agawa Bay. Some paintings are at least 1500 years old, while others may only date back to

1950-615: The ship was donated to the Great Lakes Historical Society for restoration and preservation. In 2005, the ship was moved to its present location at Cleveland's North Coast Harbor . Then, in 2006, the ship was acquired by the Great Lakes Science Center for use as a museum ship. The ship is available to tour seasonally. The William A. Irvin served as the flagship of U.S. Steel 's Great Lakes fleet from 1938 to 1975. The William A. Irvin

2000-484: The ship, including the remains of a crew member lodged under a stairway in the engine room, nicknamed "Old Whitey". Approximately fifty dives were made to Kamloops out of 1,062 dives made to wrecks in the Isle Royale National Park in 2009. The exact cause of her sinking remains a mystery. Kamloops features prominently in the novel A Superior Death by Nevada Barr . In the novel, the body of

2050-562: The southeastern shore of Isle Royale at dusk on the following day, 6 December. The ship, and the twenty-two men and women aboard, were never seen alive again. A search for Kamloops began on 12 December, concentrating on the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale; the search continued until 22 December. When the 1928 navigation season opened in April, a further search was made for wreckage from Kamloops . In May, fishermen discovered

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2100-426: The steamer called at Courtright, Ontario , to top off its cargo with some bagged salt. She then steamed up Lake Huron , passed through the Sault Ste. Marie Canal on 4 December, and faced the challenge of Lake Superior . Unfortunately for Kamloops and other vessels assigned to Lake Superior runs, a massive storm began hammering the lake on 5 December. Kamloops , heavily coated with ice, was last seen steaming towards

2150-414: The wood-hulled R. J. Hackett was launched . It was designed specifically for the iron ore trade and had an experimental design that would soon set the standard for subsequent bulk carriers on the Great Lakes. R. J. Hackett featured a raised pilothouse at the bow , situated on top of a set of cabins, and a boxy hull to maximize cargo capacity. Between the raised forecastle and engine funnel at

2200-545: Was Edmund Fitzgerald , which sank during a storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. Gordon Lightfoot 's ballad, " The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald ", publicized the incident. The Edmund Fitzgerald became the largest ship on the lakes at 729 feet (222 m) when launched in 1958. In addition to this, the ship was regarded for its "DJ Captain", Peter Pulcer, who frequently played music to entertain onlookers. SS  Arthur M. Anderson . launched in 1952,

2250-652: Was further damaged in the same storm that sank the Morrell and was declared a total loss. Ships on the lakes have been involved in many lesser incidents. Lakers have been subject to frequent groundings in ports and channels because of varying lake levels and silting , collisions with objects (such as the 1993 collision of the Indiana Harbor with the Lansing Shoals Light Station ), icing in during winter trips and shipboard fires (including

2300-608: Was one of the last vessels to pass through the Sault Ste. Marie Canal , and in 1926 it ended the season stuck in the ice in the St. Mary's River . She remained under British registry until 1926 when it was nominally purchased by new owners, Canada Steamship Lines, and re-registered in Canada. Kamloops was dispatched up the lakes in late November 1927, carrying a mixed cargo of tar paper , papermaking machinery, coiled wire for farm fencing, piping, shoes and foodstuffs. On 1 December,

2350-612: Was retired in 1978 and purchased eight years later by the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and is available for touring. The SS Meteor , the last surviving whaleback ship, floats as a museum less than a mile from where it was launched in Superior, Wisconsin . The ship is permanently land-berthed on Barker's Island. Valley Camp launched as Louis W. Hill in 1917 and transported cargo until retiring in 1966. Two years later, in 1968,

2400-506: Was shipped to Copenhagen , Denmark, to pick up freight, then was taken to Montreal and Houghton , Michigan , United States. As a canaller , she carried diversified "package" freight between Canadian ports. Her chief duty was carrying manufactured goods from Montreal up the lakes to Thunder Bay , Ontario , Canada. As Canada was still a part of the British Empire in the 1920s, the economically fast-growing Prairie Provinces bought

2450-402: Was the last laker built with a steam turbine on the lakes. Wilfred Sykes (1949 – 678 ft, 207 m) is considered to be the first of the modern lakers, and when converted to a self-unloader in 1975 was the first to have the equipment mounted aft. Since then all self-unloading equipment has been mounted aft. Algoisle (formerly Silver Isle ) (1962 – 715.9 ft, 218.2 m) was

2500-470: Was the longest ship on the lakes and became the first bulk carrier to hold the unofficial title of "Queen of the Lakes". The title that has been passed down to record-breaking lake freighters since. SS  Carl D. Bradley held the title for 22 years, longer than any other laker of the classic design. Ford Motor Company 's Henry Ford II and Benson Ford of 1924 were the first lakeboats with diesel engines . The Canadian grainboat Feux-Follets of 1967

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