1981 American Republic
Steel twin-screw self-unloading Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Sturgeon Bay WI by Bay Shipbuilding Co., Hull 724
Built in graving dock. Keel laid Nov 12, 1979; floated May 21, 1980.
Designed to be able to shuttle iron ore pellets from the ore collection facility at Lorain OH to the Republic Steel Corporation Cleveland plant at the head of navigation of the Cuyahoga River.
634’10” LOA, 623’3” LBP, 68’ beam, 40’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 24’, 2 oil-fired diesel engines, 7200 BHP
Enrolled at
625.0 x 68.1 x 39.7, 12158 GT, 11106 NT US 633579 to:
American Steamship Co., Buffalo NY (home port Wilmington DE)
Entered service May 21, 1981 clearing Sturgeon Bay WI light for Escanaba MI
Chartered 2011 to Great Lakes Fleet Inc. and renamed Great Republic
IMO 7914236
In service 2011 for Great Lakes Fleet
8105
the American Republic had 8 rudders (2 in front and 2 behind each propeller with a cort tubes around each of the propeller. it also had a bow thruster and a stern thruster. it could load in Lorain, travel to the upper Cuyahoga river (steel plant) unload and return to Lorain in 24 hrs. When it was doing this it had two Captains on board. It was rumored that the ship could navigate the winding Cuyahoga River so fast that the Coast Guard told them to slow down. On occasion I worked on the Caterpillar powered generators on board.
Feeling nostalgic. Years ago I worked as 3rd AE one very hot summer and fall on the Republic. One of my favorite lake boats 🙂
My Father was buried at sea …
Jack W. Bastord’s cremated remains were laid to rest in Northem Lake Huron, approximately 3 miles Last of Stoneport. MIl
MV American Republic
5:00 PM. November 26. 2009
Latitude: 45. 18.919 North: Longitude: 83. 21.376 West