Algoma Central Marine

Algoma Central Marine was incorporated in 1900 as Algoma Central Steamships under the leadership of Francis H. Clergue. As such, it was a subsidiary of the Algoma Central Railway but this line was renamed the Algoma Central and Hudson's Bay Railway in 1901. However, the firm's marine connections can be traced to 1896 and the operations of the schooner J.S. Austin and tug Philadelphia.

Four ocean ships, Theano, Paliki, Leafield and Monkshaven, were purchased in 1900 to begin operations. Their main task was to move men and materials from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to Michipicoten for the construction of the rail line north to the Helen Mine. Later the ships were used to haul ore from Michipicoten to market and to carry steel rails from Sault Ste. Marie to the Canadian Lakehead. There the rails were used to expand the links to Western Canada.

Gradually the carrying capacity of the fleet expanded. Generally used tonnage was purchased but the firm did order a steel barge, named the Agawa, from the shipyard at Collingwood. It was delivered in 1902. It was not until 1953 that another new ship, the E.B. Barber, was ordered.

Navigating the lakes was not an easy task in the early part of this century. There were many casualties each year. Algoma lost Monkshaven in 1905, Theano in 1906 and Leafield in 1913. These were three of the first four hulls.
Later in 1923, Agawa became a casualty via grounding, and W.C. Franz was lost via collision in 1934. Their most recent casualty was Roy A. Jodrey, a modern self-unloader which struck Pullman Shoal in the St. Lawrence on November 20, 1974. The vessel slid off into deep water early the next day and no lives were lost.

Beginning in the mid-sixties Algoma expanded rapidly. They wisely assessed the impact of self-unloaders on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway transportation network and added a series of ships designed for these developing
trades.

Not only were new ships built but older ones added. These included Michipicoten and Goudreau through their Providence Shipping subsidiary in the mid-sixties. Then, in 1971, they acquired the two ships remaining in the Labrador Steamship Company fleet. Finally, in 1986, they purchased the remaining four units of Carryore Steamships and Nipigon Transports.

The company has been known as Algoma Central Marine since 1979. The modern fleet includes straight deckers as well as self-unloaders. Algobay is capable of deep sea trading and is classed for service to the Caribbean.

Various colour schemes have been used to identify members of this fleet over the years. Generally their vessels have had black hulls but one ship had a grey hull and the modern straight deck bulk carriers are dark blue. Perhaps the best known symbol of the Algoma ships is the black bear on the bow and stack.

At the beginning of the 1989 season their fleet consisted of Agawa Canyon, John B. Aird, Algobay, Algocape, Algocen, Algogulf, Algolake, Algomarine, Algonorth, Algoport, Algorail, Algosoo, Algosound, Algoway, Algowest, Algowood, Capt. Henry Jackman and Sauniere. The last mentioned is operated by others on a long term charter.

Their vessels carry the standard ore, grain and coal but also handle other commodities, especially those suited for self-unloader trading. Such cargoes include thousands of tons of salt, stone, gypsum, sand, potash, bentonite, coke and bauxite each year.

As of 2006, Algoma Central Corporation is the largest Canadian-flag ship owner on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Waterway.

The Algoma Central Corporation group includes Algoma Shipping Inc., Algoma Tankers, Fraser Marine & Industrial, Algoma Central Properties Inc., and a share of Marbulk Canada Inc. and Seaway Marine Transport.

Algoma Central Corporation operates vessels throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Waterway from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, through all five Great Lakes. The Corporation owns 19 Canadian-flagged dry-bulk vessels. The operational and commercial activities of the Canadian-flag dry-bulk fleet are managed by Seaway Marine Transport, a partnership with Upper Lakes Shipping Inc., an unrelated company. The Corporation also has an interest in a tug and a barge.

The Corporation owns and manages the operational and commercial activities of five Canadian-flag tanker vessels. The Corporation also owns, through a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, one ocean-going tanker.

The Corporation also owns one ocean-going self-unloader through a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary and has an interest through a joint venture in an ocean-going fleet of five self-unloaders. These vessels are part of a 22-vessel ocean-going self-unloader commercial pool, which is the largest of its type in the world.

The Corporation also provides diversified ship repair, diesel engine repair services and fabrication services to ship-owners and industrial customers throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Waterway.

Algoma Central also owns and manages commercial real estate properties in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines and Waterloo, Ontario.

The Ships

ALGOPORT

ALGOCAPE

AGAWA CANYON Steve Archer Photo

The keel was laid for this mid-size Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier on January 28, 1970 at Collingwood Shipyards of Collingwood, ON as their hull # 195. The vessel was launched August 27, 1970. She is the third of four similarly designed vessels built by Collingwood Shipyards for Algoma Central. The first was the Roy A. Jodrey, launched in 1965, sinking in the St. Lawrence River in 1974. The second was the Algorail launched in 1967 and the fourth, the Algoway launched in 1972. Beginning in 1994, the Agawa Canyon began sailing under the management of Seaway Self Unloaders, St. Catharines, ON, a marketing and management partnership between Algoma Central Corporation and Upper Lakes Group of Toronto, ON (now Seaway Marine Transport).The Agawa Canyon received a $7.2 million CN mid-life refit while at her 1998/99 winter lay-up at Port Weller Dry Docks at St. Catharines, ON. Cargoes usually include salt, limestone, fertilizer, trap rock, sand, coal, stone, potash or slag.

ALGOISLE

Launched November 23, 1962; this Great Lakes "straight deck" bulk carrier was built by Verolme Cork Shipyard, Cork, Ireland as their hull # 662 for Mohawk Navigation Co., Montreal, QC. The new laker was the first major Great Lakes vessel to be constructed with all accommodations aft and was also the first laker to be built from the keel up at an overseas shipyard. Originally named to honor the area in Ireland from which the vessel was built, the laker was christened Silver Isle on May 8, 1963 at Sept Isles, QC after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland under her own power.The Silver Isle continued to sail under Mohawk Navigation ownership until 1980 with the period from 1970 through 1980 operating under the management of Scott Misener Steamships Ltd., St. Catharines, ON. Early in 1980, in time for the start of the navigation season, the Silver Isle and her fleetmate Senneville were acquired by Pioneer Shipping Ltd with Misener Transportation Ltd., St. Catharines continuing to manage the vessels. From 1991 to 1994, the Silver Isle and her fleetmates were operated by Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, Inc., St. Catharines, ON, a consortium consisting of the bulker fleets of Canada Steamship Lines, Misener Holdings and Pioneer Shipping, though still being managed by Misener. April 8, 1994 marked the closure of a deal whereby Algoma Central Marine, St. Catharines, ON purchased the Silver Isle and her fleetmate Senneville from Pioneer Shipping following the collapse of Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, Inc. On June 1, 1994, the Silver Isle officially became part of the Algoma Central Marine fleet. After repainting and being renamed Algoisle, the bulker entered service for her new owners under the management of Seaway Bulk Carriers, Winnipeg, MB (a partnership between Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group).