(1911) 1926                                  Lairg                                  1940 (1956)

Steel St. Lawrence River canal size bulk freighter

Built at Ecorse MI by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 84
Launched June 10, 1911
Built as Penobscot for Harper Transporation Co., Boston MA for the Atlantic coast coal trade and left the Great Lakes upon completion.

261’ LOA, 253’ LBP, 43’6” beam, 27’6” depth
1 deck, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1442 IHP

Enrolled at
247.0 x 43.7 x 28.4, 2294 GT, 1666 NT     US 209001

Renamed P. L. M. 2 (France) 1916.  While in the English Channel coal trade during World War I torpedoed and sunk.  Raised after the war, rebuilt and sold British.  Renamed Lairg (Br 143986) 1920

Sold 1926 to A. B. Mackay, Hamilton ON (home port Swansea Wales) and returned to the Great Lakes

Entered Great Lakes service 1926

Returned to the Atlantic coast as a rum runner during U. S. prohibition, seized by the United States, sold by U. S. Marshall at Philadelphia PA to Moorecraft Transportation Co., New York NY

Sold April 1928 to Hammermill Paper Co., Erie PA (home port to Erie PA), renamed Penobscot  (2) and returned to the Great Lakes

Renamed Tristan 1929

Sold 1933 to Buckeye Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Hutchinson & Co., Mgr.

Converted to crane vessel 1934 at Cleveland OH by Rud Machine Co.

Sold 1940 to Philippine buyers for off-Lakes service and left the Great Lakes.

Renamed Lepus

Foundered Oct 24, 1956  200 miles off Luzon, Pacific Ocean in typhoon “Jean”.  Enroute from Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines to Hirohata Japan.  25 lost of 36 aboard.

See history in Great Lakes Ships We Remember II p. 363

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