Algoma Guardian - Rusty Lady Hauling Ore

Note: While we wait for the 2022 shipping season to start, I am uploading a series of videos I captured in 2021 but haven't published until now. Most of these were held back so we'd have something to enjoy during the off-season, though a few were held back for other reasons. Since I have a good number of these videos, I'll try doing daily uploads for most of this month.

Here we have the Algoma Guardian departing Superior, Wisconsin on June 1, 2021 with a load of taconite from the Burlington Northern #5 dock. The ore was scheduled for delivery at Quebec City. The Algoma Guardian and her fleet mate Algoma Discovery made multiple visits to Superior (and Duluth) in the first half of the 2021 shipping season. It wasn't unusual to see one or both in the Twin Ports each week. As such, I found myself with some extra footage of these ships that I was able to save for the winter layup period. Towards the second half of the shipping season, these two Algoma lakers were placed on different runs, meaning their visits to the Twin Ports dropped off.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Algoma Guardian (and the Algoma Discovery). They were well-used workhorses in 2021, but with Algoma's modernization in recent years to more efficient freighters the days may be numbered for the Guardian and the Discovery. As is typical of freighters nearing the end of their life, money is not typically invested in keeping the paint in good shape. Clearly, it's been a while since the Guardian has seen a paint brush or sprayer.

The 729-foot Algoma Guardian was built in Croatia in 1987 and sailed as the saltwater vessel under the names Omisalj (1986-1992), Omisalj (1992-1997), and Goviken (1997-2008) for three different shipping companies. She began her career for Algoma Central in 2008, which is when she obtained her current name. While she sailed with her deck-mounted cranes for a while with Algoma, they were eventually removed and she sails today as a "gearless" bulk carrier, meaning she has no self-unloading system and relies on shoreside equipment to unload her.

If you would like to re-visit the highlights of the 2021 shipping season, be sure to check out this video showing 45 different lake carriers I captured last year: https://youtu.be/TLTrdVa_qC4

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