Paul R. Tregurtha, 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 large self-unloading bulk carrier is powered by 2 Colt-Pielstick model 16PC2-3V-400 V-16 cylinder, four stroke, single acting diesel engines each rated at 8,560 b.h.p. built by Fairbanks Morse Engine Div., Colt Industries, Beloit, WI. Burning intermediate grade 280 fuel, power is directed through a Falk single reduction gear box to twin 17’06” (5.33m) diameter controllable pitch propellers giving the vessel a rated service speed of 15.5 m.p.h. She is equipped with a 1,500 h.p. bow thruster. Equipped with 36 hatches servicing 5 holds; the vessel is capable of carrying 68,000 long tons (69,092 mt) of iron ore at a mid-summer draft of 30’ 01” (9.17m) or a cubic capacity for 71,250 net tons of coal (equivalent of 63,616 long tons by comparison). Her Stephens-Adamson design loop belt elevator system feeds a stern mounted 260’ (79.25m) discharge boom that can be swung 100 degrees to port or starboard and is capable of unloading at a rate of 10,000 tons (10,161 mt) of ore per hour or 6,000 net tons of coal per hour. The self-unloader displaces 14,497 tons (14,730 mt) lightweight. The William J. De Lancey was designed specifically for carrying ore for Republic Steel from Lake Superior ports to their mill at Indiana Harbor, IN or to their transshipment terminal at Lorain, OH. Built at an approximate cost of $60 million, she became the flagship of the Interlake fleet. Included in her construction were elaborate luxurious passenger accommodations to be used by Interlake’s most important business customers. For her crew, the William J. De Lancey’s construction included air conditioning throughout, elevators, and luxurious décor in the dining, mess rooms, and crew’s quarters. She was thusly and affectionately given the nickname “Fancy De Lancey”. The William J. De Lancey was the last of the 13 “thousand footers” to enter service on the Great Lakes and was also the last Great Lakes vessel built at American Ship Building, Lorain, OH

Algosteel, Initially constructed in 1966 as the traditional styled Great Lakes bulk carrier A.S. Glossbrenner; this vessel was built by Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon, PQ for Labrador Steamship Co., Montreal, PQ. She is powered by a Sulzer 6RD76 diesel engine rated at 9470 horsepower at 119 r.p.m. and is equipped with an 800 horsepower bow thruster. Fed by 16 hatches, her 6 holds can carry 24,800 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 27,000 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 27 feet 8 inches. As part of the Labrador fleet, her main cargo was iron ore from Gulf of St. Lawrence ports such as Pointe Noire, Sept Isles, and Port Cartier, PQ to the U.S. steel mills. Grain loads provided return voyages back to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In 1971, the A.S. Glossbrenner was sold to Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON and was renamed Algogulf(1) in 1987. The Algogulf was converted to a self-unloading bulk carrier in 1990. March 21, 1990 saw this new self-unloader renamed Algosteel(2). The Algosteel's self-unloading equipment consists of a two belt gravity system with 2 loop belt elevators feeding a 250 foot discharge boom that can rotate 90 degrees to port or starboard. It has a designed discharge rate of up to 5440 tons per hour. The Algosteel sails under the management of Seaway Self Unloaders (partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group). As part of this fleet, her cargo could include coal/coke, aggregate, slag, iron ore/oxides, salt, fertilizers, grain products, gypsum, quartzite, and sand. The Algosteel, like all S.S.U. vessels, is equipped with a DGPS (Digital Global Positioning System) precision navigation system.

John J. Boland, This self-unloading lake bulk carrier was built by the Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI and launched March 10, 1973 for the American Steamship Co, Buffalo, NY. as the Charles E. Wilson. In January 2000 the Wilson was renamed John J. Boland. That year while at Fraser Shipyards in Superior for lay-up crews welded the new name on the vessel. The name change followed the sale of the former John J. Boland to Lower Lakes Towing, Port Dover, ON; now sailing as the Saginaw. The Boland is powered by twin 3,600 horsepower GM diesel engines giving her a rated service speed of 13 knots. She is equipped with both bow and stern thrusters. Her 22 hatches feed into 6 holds where she is capable of carrying 33,800 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 30 feet 7 inches. The stern-mounted self-unloading conveyor system feeds a 250 foot boom that can be swung left or right a maximum of 105 degrees. The Boland was the first of ten vessels launched (though the second to enter service) for the American Steamship Co. under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 at a cost of $13.7 million. Under this Act, U.S. shipping companies could build or modernize their fleets by receiving guaranteed government financing and tax deferred benefits. The other vessels included in this program were the Roger M. Kyes (now Adam E. Cornelius 4), H. Lee White (2), Sam Laud, St. Clair (2), Belle River (now Walter J. McCarthy Jr.), Buffalo, Indiana Harbor, American Mariner, and American Republic.