MV American Courage

American Courage
History
NameAmerican Courage
BuilderBay Shipbuilding Company[1]
Yard number722[1][2]
Launched16 November 1978 [3]
Identification
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeLake freighter
Tonnage
Length
  • 634 ft 10 in (193 m) (overall)[4]
  • 615 ft (187 m)[1]
Beam68.1 ft (20.8 m)[1]
Draft
  • 27 ft 11.875 in (8.53123 m) (midsummer draft)[4]
  • 38 ft (12 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)[4]

MV American Courage is a diesel-powered lake freighter owned and operated by Grand River Navigation. This vessel was built in 1979 at Bay Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and included self-unloading technology.

The ship is 635 feet (194 m) long and 68 feet (21 m) wide, with a carrying capacity of 24,300 gross tonnage (GT) at midsummer draft. The vessel carries a variety of cargoes including limestone, coal or iron ore.[4]

History

The ship was built for Oglebay Norton Corporation in 1979 and named Fred R. White, Jr. for the company's former vice president and director. As Fred R. White, Jr., the vessel made its first voyage in May 1979 to on-load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan. American Steamship Company acquired American Courage in 2006.[4] On December 17, 2015 the end of the shipping season, American Courage was put into long term layup. The vessel re-entered service on April 12, 2019. On November 7, 2023, the ship ran aground on the St. Clair River.[5] She was refloated later that same day. [6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "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. ^ "American Courage (7634226)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e "M/V American Courage". American Steamship. Archived from the original on 2015-08-21.
  5. ^ Nissen, Jack (7 November 2023). "American Courage freighter runs aground in St. Clair River". FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Tug crew frees American Courage, freighter that ran aground in St. Clair River". United States Coast Guard News. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.