Self Unloader ALGOSTEEL

No bulbous bow on this ship of steel. Just a flat out maximum Seaway speed of 12 knots crashing into a steady head wind and the downstream current of the St. Lawrence River. All this resulting into making a lot of wave action and a constant stress on the aging bow plates of the 730' ALGOSTEEL which I snapped in  June in Brockville, Ontario. When the laker was launched at the Davie Shipyards in Lauzon, Quebec in 1966, she was a straight-deck bulk carrier for Labrador Steamships and her name was A.S. GLOSSBRENNER. Her main cargo back then was iron ore from the Gulf of St. Lawrence ports of Point Noire, Sept Isle and Port Cartier to U.S. steel mills and then would return to the Gulf with loads of grain destined for ports overseas.

In 1971, the GLOSSBRENNER was sold to Algoma Central of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and in 1987, she was renamed ALGOGULF. In 1990, the GULF was converted into a self unloader at Port Weller Dry Docks and was renamed ALGOSTEEL. As the STEEL motored by us at the river park, out came the converted schooner EMPIRE SANDY (Carlz Boats: 18.08.12) about to commence a 'three hour cruise' along the St. Lawrence during the 'War of 1812 Tallship Festival' in Brockville and just like at Canal Days in Port Colborne every August, a loud 'BOOM' could be heard from a ceremonial cannon on the SANDY to 'SALUTE' the impressive sail past of the ALGOSTEEL as she forged ahead to destinations unknown.