Click here to view 1800x1200 image

Click here to order by check

S.S. William A. Irvin - flagship of the US Steel Fleet - was built in the late 1930’s just as the shipping industry was coming out of a long recession and prior to the WWII shipbuilding frenzy. She was named after the company president at the time.

With her rakish lines and high bow, the Irvin was the epitome of what Great Lakes bulk freighters would look like for the next 40 years.

Click here to read more about the William A. Irvin

Click here to view 1800x1200 image

Click here to order by check

On February 1, 1957, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin contracted Great Lakes Engineering Works (GLEW), of River Rouge, Michigan, to design and build an ore bulk carrier laker for Northwestern. The contract contained the stipulation that the boat be the largest on the Great Lakes. GLEW laid the keel of this boat on August 7th of that year, and some time between then and her christening and launch on June 8, 1958, Northwestern announced their decision to name the boat for their President and Chairman of the Board, Edmund Fitzgerald, whose father had been a lake captain.

The completed boat had a capacity of 26,600 tons (24,131 tonnes). Her large cargo hold loaded through twenty-one watertight hatches, each measuring 11'-7" by 54' of 5/16" steel (3.53 m by 16.5 m of 8 mm steel). The boat's engines were originally coal-fired, but would be converted to burn oil during the 1971-72 winter layup. With a length of 729' (222 m), she met the demanding stipulation of the contract and was the largest boat on the Great Lakes, a record she held until the 1970s, when 1000' lakers first appeared.

Click here to view 1800x1200 image

Click here to order by check

The Edward L. Ryerson, is one of only two remaining straight-deck bulk carriers still part of the American fleet on the Great Lakes; the other being the John Sherwin (2). Built as hull # 425 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Inc. of Manitowoc, WI; the keel for this bulk carrier was laid April 20, 1959. At a snow covered shipyard on January 21, 1960; the new vessel was launched and christened Edward L. Ryerson for her owners, the Inland Steel Co. of Chicago, IL. The new steamer was the first of five American-flagged ships to be added to the “730-class” of lake boats in the early 1960’s; the other four all being former Maritime Commission T2-type tankers converted for Great Lakes service (these being the Leon Falk Jr., Paul H. Carnahan, Pioneer Challenger, and the Walter A. Sterling). The Edward L. Ryerson became the third of thirteen 730' (222.5m) carriers to eventually share in the “Queen of the Lakes” title for being the longest ships on the Great Lakes. She was also the second American-flagged vessel to share this honor; the first being the Arthur B. Homer launched November 7, 1959. The “Queen of the Lakes” title was thusly shared until December 7, 1962 when the title was passed to the slightly larger Frankcliffe Hall.

Click here to view 1800x1200 image

Click here to order by check

The reigning “Queen of the Lakes” title holder as the longest vessel on the Great Lakes at 1,013’ 06” (308.91m) was constructed in two sections. With her keel being laid July 12, 1979; the bow and part of the cargo section was built at American Ship Building Co., Toledo, OH and towed upon completion to American Ship Building Co., Lorain, OH where it was mated with the stern portion as hull # 909 and formally launched February 4, 1981. The vessel was christened April 25, 1981 as the William J. De Lancey for Interlake Steamship Co., Richfield, OH. The large self-unloader was built for Interlake's customer Republic Steel and was named in honor of its Chairman. Mr. De Lancey was in attendance and participated in the launching of his namesake.

The William J. De Lancey was rechristened Paul R. Tregurtha at Sturgeon Bay on May 23, 1990. The vessel was named in honor of Mr. Paul Richard Tregurtha; Vice Chairman of Interlake Steamship Co., and Chairman, C.E.O., and 50% owner of Mormac Marine Group, Inc. (owner of Interlake Steamship Co.).