American Century - A Steel Giant Entertains the Tourists

Here is the American Century seen arriving in Duluth, Minnesota late on the afternoon of April 16, 2022. She was due to load low-sulfur coal at the Midwest Energy Terminal on the Superior side of the harbor, which would be bound for delivery to the power plant at St. Clair, Michigan. As she made her way through the shipping canal, she sounded two captain's salutes consisting of one long and two short blasts. (Note: The Aerial Lift Bridge did respond to the first salute, but I was moving my camera at the time and didn't get a great recording of it.)

So far this year, the American Century appears to the 1000-footer from the American Steamship Company that is on the coal run between Superior and St. Clair, if the SMET schedule is any indication. Last year it appeared that the American Integrity was doing that run more often. Either way, it's always a cause for excitement among the tourists in Canal Park whenever a 1000-footer is passing through the canal. While some of the more seasoned "boatnerds" tend to get more exited to see the classic lakers, the general public is usually more impressed by size! Personally, I love to see the mixture of boats, both classic designs and modern designs.

The 1000-foot American Century was launched under the name Columbia Star in November 1980, making her the twelfth of thirteen 1000-footers built for Great Lakes trade. She originally sailed for Oglebay Norton. In June 2006, she was sold to American Steamship Company and obtained her current name at that time. She is powered with four V-20 cylinder 3,560 horsepower G.M. diesel engines and has a cargo capacity of 78,850 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 34 feet. Cargo is stored in seven holds that are accessed by 34 hatches on deck. Her 260-foot self-unloading boom can discharge up to 10,000 tons per hour.

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