American Mariner - Coming in Hot, Loaded Down Heavy

Here is the American Mariner arriving in Duluth, Minnesota on the afternoon of May 15, 2023. She was loaded down heavy with limestone which she would deliver to the Hallett #5 dock in West Duluth. Before departing town, she picked up a load of wheat for delivery to Buffalo, New York. The ability to quickly switch between limestone and wheat makes ships of this size and design highly valuable to any shipping fleet. The ability to carry paying cargo both in the upbound and downbound directions gives them an advantage over the 1000-footers, which usually (but not always) carry cargo only in the downbound direction.

One cannot help but not notice the good amount of speed the American Mariner was carrying as she entered the shipping canal. She was definitely coming in "hot" on this occasion! This is evidenced by the amount of water mounding in front of the bow... a common occurrence especially seen on lake boats with rounded bows. The faster the boat travels, the higher the mounding. When seen out on the lake... as shown in the opening scenes of the video... the mounding obscures the lower portion of the vessel, giving the illusion she is sitting lower in the water than she really is.

The 730-foot American Mariner was launched in 1979 and made her maiden voyage in 1980. Her single propeller is powered by twin 3,600 horsepower V-20 GM diesel engines giving her a rated service speed of 15 mph. She can hold up to 37,300 tons of cargo in seven holds accessed by 24 hatches. Her 250-foot self-unloading boom can unload up to 6,000 tons per hour. She has sailed for the American Steamship Company for her entire career up until 2021 when she was leased to Grand River Navigation. She usually alternates between iron ore (taconite) and grain deliveries, but occasionally can be seen hauling limestone.

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