MV American Mariner

American Mariner (right) with Drummond Island Ferry
History
United States
NameAmerican Mariner
BuilderBay Shipbuilding Company[1]
Yard number723[1][2]
LaunchedAugust 2, 1979
Completed1980[1]
In serviceApril 1980[3]
Identification
StatusIn service as of 2024
General characteristics
Class and typeLake freighter
Tonnage
Length
  • 730 ft (220 m) (overall)[3]
  • 714.8 ft (217.9 m)[1]
Beam78 ft (24 m)[1]
Draft
  • 30 ft 11.875 in (9.44563 m) (midsummer draft)[3]
  • 42.7 ft (13.0 m) (hull depth)[1]
Propulsiontwo 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) diesel engines, 7,000 shp (5,200 kW)[3]

MV American Mariner is a diesel-powered lake freighter owned and operated by the American Steamship Company (ASC). This vessel was built in 1980 at Bay Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and included self-unloading technology.

The ship is 730 feet (220 m) long and 78 feet (24 m) wide, with a carrying capacity of 37,300 tons (at midsummer draft), limestone, grain, coal or iron ore.[3]

History

The ship was built for American Steamship in 1980 and was originally planned to be named Chicago. The ship was launched August 2, 1979 and named American Mariner for all American seafarers.[3]

Lake Huron incident

On April 28, 2000, the vessel lost steering and struck Light number 7 in the Lake Huron Cut. The Mariner was loaded with taconite for Ashtabula, OH. A survey of damage from the accident revealed a 30-foot by 10-foot tear in the forepeak and another 6-inch-wide tear on the starboard bow stretching nearly 25 feet. Flooding from this damage was so severe that the forward cargo hold and tunnels flooded. Temporary repairs were made to control the flooding and the crew lightened the vessel by offloading 3,100 tons of cargo from the number one hold into fleet mate Adam E. Cornelius. She was refloated and underway on Saturday the 29th. Because American Mariner was blocking the channel, the U. S. Coast Guard temporarily closed the area to commercial navigation. The river closure delayed more than 23 vessels.

Munuscong Lake incident

On March 28, 2024, at approximately 01:00, the ship struck a navigational aid in the midst of Munuscong Lake, blocking the navigation channel of the St. Mary's River.[4] By the afternoon of the following day, she had been cleared to move and left the site under her own power, allowing the shipping channel to be reopened.[5][6] After a stop at anchor in Raber Bay to more fully assess damage, the ship proceeded to Ashtabula, Ohio for repairs.[7] No injuries or pollution were reported.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 7812567.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Vessel Documentation Query". NOAA/US Coast Guard. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  2. ^ Colton, Tim. "Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI". shipbuildinghistory.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "M/V American Mariner". American Steamship.
  4. ^ "Accident closes St. Marys River (update)". Village Media. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Lehocky, Jim (March 29, 2024). "Update: Freighter that struck buoy in St. Marys River cleared to move". Soo Leader. Village Media. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Ougler, Jeffrey (March 29, 2024). "UPDATED: American Mariner transited to 'safe anchorage', channel reopened". The Sault Star. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Ougler, Jeffrey (March 31, 2024). "UPDATED: American Mariner on its way to Ohio for repairs". The Sault Star. Retrieved April 1, 2024.


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