Winter Passage

The John J. Boland was launched in May of 1953 as one of 3 sister ships. She is the third ship to bear the name and is named after John James Boland... more

by Gales Of November

Title

Winter Passage

Artist

Gales Of November

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The John J. Boland was launched in May of 1953 as one of 3 sister ships. She is the third ship to bear the name and is named after John James Boland who was instrumental in the founding of the American Steamship Company.

Her first cargo was limestone from Port Inland, Michigan and she continued to carry primarily stone and coal while she sailed for American Steamship Company. In the mid 80’s she went into long term layup and her future became uncertain.

In the early 1990’s American Steamship Company undertook a refit of the ship which included remodeling the cabins and upgraded instruments. She continued sailing 1998 where she once again entered layup.

In 1999 Lower Lakes Towing Ltd purchased the John J. Boland. She was towed to Sarnia, Ontario where she received another refit and upgrade. She also received a new name, Saginaw, in honor of the Saginaw River where many of Lower Lakes Towing key customers are located. She was the third vessel to carry the name Saginaw.

In 2007 she was entered layup again for conversion from steam to diesel. She reentered service in 2008. This upgrade should ensure that she continues sailing well into the future.

In 1974 her unloading boom was destroyed when it fell onto the dock at Pullman Power Plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was replaced in 1974. In 2002 she damaged her rudder while traversing the Welland Canal. In 2003 she became stuck in the ice near Marquette where she remained for 3 days until she was freed by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship, Samuel Risley. That same year she was also the last commercial ship to pass through the locks at Sault Saint Marie. In 2011 her unloading boom once again collapsed in Thunder Bay with repairs completed in January 2012.

The Saginaw has a length of 639 feet, a 72 foot beam, and a depth of 36 feet. This gives her a cargo capacity of 20,200 tons.

Here the Saginaw heads down the Saint Clair River at Port Huron for one of the last trips of the 2014 shipping season.

Uploaded

January 11th, 2015