Algobay

Algobay – Radcliffe R. Latimer

1978-Present

Radcliffe R. Latimer on the Welland Canal, May 27, 2019. Photo by Isaac Pennock

Specs

Build Information

Stern Section [Original Hull]

Year Built: 1978

Builder: Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Collingwood Shipyards LTD., Collingwood, Ontario

Hull #215

Registry: CAN 372053

IMO #7711725

Laid Down: August 16, 1977

Launch Date: June 19, 1978

Commissioned: October 26, 1978

Forebody [Cargo Section & Forward]

Year Built: 2009

Builder: Chengxi Shipyard, Jiangyin, China

Laid Down: —

Launch Date: March 30, 2009

Commissioned: February 24, 2010

Construction

The Algobay was constructed as a self-unloading bulk carrier for Algoma Central Corporation. Construction of the ship was ordered after Algoma Central was awarded a 15 year contract for supplying coal for Ontario Hydro. She was built with a Nova Scotia class certification, and featured a v-Shaped bow for icebreaking.

The Algobay would be the lead ship of her class, with 10 similar variants being constructed over the next 7 years. The other ships were the Algoport, Nanticoke, Algowood, Lake Wabush, Algowest, Atlantic Superior, John B. Aird, Prairie Harvest, Hon. Paul Martin, and Paterson.

Her self-unloading equipment consists of a dual-hold belt leading to an aft loop-belt system to a 252′ deck-mounted boom.

Modifications

  • Upgraded to Caribbean Class, Port Weller Dry Docks, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1988.
  • Rebuilt with a new forebody, Chengxi Shipyard, Jiangyin, China, 2009.
  • Repowered, 2009.
  • Ballast Water Treatment System installed, Hamilton, ON, 2023.

General Stats

As Constructed

Length Overall: 730′

Length Between Perpendiculars: 710’03”

Breadth: 75′10”

Depth: 46’06”

Loaded Draft: —

Capacity: 22,466 Gross Tons, 15,086 Net Tons 

Vessel Type: Loop-Belt Self-Unloader

Self-Unloading Boom Length: Aft-Mounted; 252′06”

Number of Cargo Holds: 5

Number of Hatches: 22

Primary Operations: Ore, Coal, Grain, Salt Trades

Propellers: 1 Controllable Pitch Propeller

Rudders: 1

After Rebuild and replacement of forebody, 2009.

Length Overall: 740′

Length Between Perpendiculars: 720’03”

Breadth: 77′11”

Depth: 49’03”

Loaded Draft: 36’04”

Capacity: 36,668 Tons

Vessel Type: Loop-Belt Self-Unloader

Self-Unloading Boom Length: Aft-Mounted; 252′06”

Number of Cargo Holds: 6 [Hatch-Hold Arrangement: 2-4-4-4-4-4]

Number of Hatches: 22 [Dimensions: #1-9, 11-22 – 48’06”x18′; #10 – 48’06”x12′]

Primary Operations: Ore, Coal, Grain, Salt Trades

Propellers: 1 Controllable Pitch Propeller

Rudders: 1

Engineering Equipment

Original

Engine

Engine Type: Diesel Engine

Engine Manufacturer: Pielstick, Beloit, WI

Engine Model: 10PC2-3V-400

Number of Engines: 2

Rated HP: 10,700 BHP

Repower – 2009

Engine Type: Diesel Engine

Engine Manufacturer: MaK, Kiel, Germany

Engine Model: 8M32C; Inline 8-Cylinder;

Number of Engines: 2

Rated HP: 10,442 BHP

History

Lineage

Algobay – 1978-1990

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Operator: Algoma Central Corp.

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Algobay – 1990-1994

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Operator: Atlantic Beltships [charterer] [Algoma Central Corp.]

Flag: Liberia

Home Port: —

Atlantic Trader – 1994-1997

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., St. Catharines, ON

Operator: Canada Steamship Lines [Charterer]

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Algobay – 1997-2000

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., St. Catharines, ON

Operator: Seaway Self-Unloaders, St. Catharines, ON [Partnership between Upper Lakes Shipping and Algoma Central Corp.]

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Algobay – 2000-2009

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., St. Catharines, ON

Operator: Seaway Marine Transport, St. Catharines, ON [Partnership between Upper Lakes Shipping and Algoma Central Corp.]

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Algobay – 2009-2012

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., St. Catharines, ON

Operator: Seaway Marine Transport, St. Catharines, ON [Partnership between Upper Lakes Shipping and Algoma Central Corp.]

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Radcliffe R. Latimer – 2012-Present

Owner: Algoma Central Corp., St. Catharines, ON

Operator: Algoma Central Corp.

Flag: Canada

Home Port: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Her Story

The Algobay was built in 1978 as a self-unloading bulk carrier for the Marine Division of the Algoma Central Railway, later Algoma Central Corporation. Her keel was laid on August 16, 1977, after Algoma was awarded a 15 year coal hauling contract for Ontario Hydro. The new vessel was launched June 19, 1978, and entered service on October 26, 1978 bound for Stoneport, Michigan, to load.

The Algobay had many incidents of note in her earlier career. On November 14, 1978, she collided with the ocean ship Cielo Bianco while departing Sept-Iles, Quebec, crushing the tugboat Pointe Marguerite and killing the tug’s two crewmembers. On December 2, 1979, she grounded in the St. Lawrence Seaway after a steering gear failure. Then, on June 25, 1980, the Algobay collided head-on with the steamer Montrealais on the St. Clair River in heavy fog. After returning to service after repairs, she loaded the 400 billionth ton of iron ore at Sept-Iles on September 10, 1980.

The Algobay was upgraded to Caribbean Class certification by Port Weller Dry Docks of St. Catharines, Ontario in early 1988. After being upgraded, the Algobay spent more time trading on the Atlantic oceans as well as on the lakes. She was reflagged Liberian and chartered by Atlantic Beltships on February 5, 1990, operating in the Caribbean Sea. In 1994, she was chartered by Canada Steamship Lines, being renamed Atlantic Trader. She was reflagged Canadian on October 6, 1995. The Canada Steamship Lines charter ended in 1997, and she returned to the Algoma fleet under the management of Seaway Self-Unloaders,  later Seaway Marine Transport, a partnership between Upper Lakes Shipping and Algoma Central Corporation to maximize efficiency and profits. She was also renamed Algobay at this time.

The Algobay was laid up at Toronto, Ontario on December 22, 2002, not to operate the next few seasons due to the large amount of steel work required to put the ship back into service. On November 7, 2007, Algoma Central and Upper Lakes shipping announced plans to build two new forebodies to attach to existing sterns as part of a $125 Million contract with the Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China. The Algobay and her near sister Algoport were selected to receive the new forebodies, and the Algobay was towed out of Toronto, Ontario for Hamilton, Ontario on November 28, 2007, for preparation for an overseas tow. She was towed out of Hamilton on May 13, 2008, beginning her trip to China. After passing through the Panama Canal, the tow arrived at Jiangyin, China on September 10, 2008.

The new forebody was launched on March 30, 2009, and the Algobay‘s existing hull was cut just forward of the aft accommodations, and the new forebody was attached to her stern in drydock. The “new” vessel was launched on October 21, 2009, and departed for North America soon after. She laid up at Portland, Maine, in January 2010, and entered service on February 24, running a few runs on the ocean before entering the lakes on April 8, 2010.

The Algobay grounded twice in her first season on the Great Lakes, requiring drydocking for repairs.

On October 4, 2012, the Algobay was renamed Radcliffe R. Latimer in ceremonies at Port Colborne, Ontario. She continues to be an active member of the Algoma Central fleet, hauling ore, coal, stone, grain, and salt to ports across the Great Lakes and eastern seaboard.

Compiled By Brendan Falkowski

Updated on April 10, 2023

Gallery

Atlantic Trader in the St. Lawrence Seaway, July 11, 1994. Photo by Roger LeLievre
Atlantic Trader on the Welland Canal, May 1996. Photo by Jim Hoffman
Atlantic Trader on the Welland Canal, May 1996. Photo by Jim Hoffman
Algobay on the St. Marys River, 1999. Photo by Roger LeLievre
Algobay on the Welland Canal, November 2001. Photo by Roger LeLievre
Algobay arriving at Toledo, April 11, 2010. Photo by Jim Hoffman
Algobay arriving at Toledo, April 11, 2010. Photo by Jim Hoffman
Algobay on the St. Marys River, August 24, 2010. Photo by Roger LeLievre
Radcliffe R. Latimer on the Detroit River, April 3, 2013. Photo by Isaac Pennock
Radcliffe R. Latimer at Port Colborne, Ontario, June 30, 2013. Photo by Isaac Pennock
Radcliffe R. Latimer on the St. Marys River, July 6, 2016. Photo by Roger LeLievre
Radcliffe R. Latimer on the Welland Canal, May 27, 2019. Photo by Isaac Pennock

Sources

Ahoy & Farewell II. Marine Historical Society of Detroit, 1996. Pp. 3-4.

Berry, Sterling P. “Algobay”. Great Lakes Vessel History: Vessel Histories of Sterling P. Berry. N.d. Accessed 21 May 2020. <https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/a/algobay>

Devendorf, John F. Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, 1869-1985. John F. Devendorf, 1996. Pp. 192.

Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2016, Harbor House Publishers, 2016. Pp. 4.12.

“Radcliffe R. Latimer”. Algoma Central Corporation. N.d. Accessed 21 May 2020. <https://www.algonet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LATTIMER-201409.pdf>

Wharton, George. “Radcliffe R. Latimer”. Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 21 May 2020. <http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/RadcliffeRLatimer.htm>