1895 Malta 1960
Steel Great Lakes bulk freight barge
Built at Chicago IL by Chicago Ship Building Co., Hull 13
Launched Jan 10, 1895
310’7” LOA, 302’ LBP, 40’ beam, 25 depth
2 decks, hold beams, hatches @ 24’
Enrolled at Cleveland OH Apr 13, 1895 (#50)
302.0 x 40.2 x 19.6, 2237.48 GT, 2132.40 NT US 92637 to:
Minnesota Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Pickands Mather & Co., Mgr. (home port Ashtabula OH)
Fleet owned by Minnesota Iron Mining Co. (parent company controlled by J. P. Morgan’s Federal Steel Co. 1900-1901)
Entered service 1895
Fleet merged spring 1901 into Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Duluth MN, a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, A. B. Wolvin, Mgr. (home port to Duluth MN)
Sold 1912 to Lakewood Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Hutchinson & Co., Mgr. (home port to Fairport OH)
Sold 1913 to James Whalen, Port Arthur ON (home port to Port Arthur ON) and renamed Thunder Bay (1) U. S. enrollment surrendered May 1, 1913
Enrolled Canadian at 302.0 x 40.2 x 25.0, 2144 GT, 1951 NT Can 131060
Sold 1915 to Canadian Northwest Steamship Co., Toronto ON
Sold 1917 to Montreal Transportation Co., Montreal QC
Sold Oct 3, 1918 to Cuban interests. Cut in two at Collingwood ON by Collingwood Shipbuilding Co. and towed to Lauzon QC, where she was rejoined. The new owners forfeited on their payments, the sale was cancelled and the vessel was resold to H. B. Smith, Owen Sound ON
Sold 1920 to Montreal Transportation Co. (home port to Montreal QC)
Fleet merged 1921 into Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal QC
Shortened to St. Lawrence River canal size, converted to steamer at Lauzon QC by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. with installation of coal-fired triple expansion engine from str. Nicaragua of 1894, which had recently been discarded by C.S.L., and returned to Great Lakes service.
Remeasured to 247.0 x 40.1 x 19.9, 1870 GT, 1109 NT
Laid up at Kingston ON after 1929 season
Sold 1937 to Manseau Shipyards, Sorel QC
Transferred 1939 to Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel QC (home port to Sorel QC)
Converted to tanker 1940 at Sorel QC by Marine Industries Ltd. and renamed Pinebranch
Remeasured to 247.6 x 40.1 x 23.4, 1984 GT, 1447 NT
Transferred 1940 to Branch Lines Ltd. and reentered active service
Chartered 1944 to British Ministry of War Transport for off-Lakes service during World War II
Transferred to British registry Br 131060 and renamed Empire Stickleback
Returned 1946 to Great Lakes service with previous owners and under former Canadian registry
Laid up at the end of the 1955 season at Sorel QC and did not operate again.
Sold 1960 for use as a breakwater at Mulgrave NS
See history Scanner Apr 1978 (#74)
Also in Great Lakes Ships We Remember II p. 268
X507