American Fortitude

[TWilush]

Jarrett M departed Oswego around 14:00 hrs AIS reads Hamilton and Evan McKeil behind her AIS says Port Colborne

Yes, but at the speed they are traveling they are not towing anything. Heading home after dropping the tow off.

[St Crapo]

Sounds to me like the Old Girl is putting up a fight and not ready to go to her final destination and has life left in her and wants to sail again under her own power. It will be interesting to see this coming offseason if maybe just maybe someone buys her and gives her new life and she may once again sail the great lakes. I know this is just probly wishful thinking from another boatnerd who's never sailed the lakes but I can't amagin that she's in that bad of shape. Granted she is a steamer and would need to be repowerd to a diesel but if her haul and cargo holds are still in great shape I don't understand why she needs to be scrapped. This is just my opinion.
Happy Holidays
Dan McNeil

[Rodger]

Jarrett M departed Oswego around 14:00 hrs AIS reads Hamilton and Evan McKeil behind her AIS says Port Colborne

[Guest]

All the shuffling of this tow and the numerous expenses that go along with that, sure makes a person wonder just how much money is being used up against the potential profit that the scrapper will make? I guess the money must be there or they wouldn't be doing it?

I was wondering the same thing but I think the extra towing in this case is still nothing compared to the distance for an overseas tow. Lake Ontario is expecting high winds starting later this afternoon and lasting for 24 hours. They'll start SE and SW then shift to W. Oswego may not be a great place to be when the shift happens.

[Rodger]

I have been in Oswego in high winds and I think they came in from the Lake for protection.
We were tied up on a 100 ' yacht just in front where the American Fortitude is and we blew a large fender ball from the swells.

[Rustyrivet]

All the shuffling of this tow and the numerous expenses that go along with that, sure makes a person wonder just how much money is being used up against the potential profit that the scrapper will make? I guess the money must be there or they wouldn't be doing it?

[Guest]

Where is the tow on Lake Ontario? Salvor is by herself and travelling at close to 10 knots and getting close to the Welland. I doubt she could pull the Fortitude at that speed. The Evans McKeil and Jarrett M are together just sitting out on the lake off Oswego. Do they have the Fortitude? The tow is not listed as arriving in the Welland.

Reportedly the Fortitude is going to winter in Oswego.

[Port Colborne]

Rumor has it she wintering in Oswego NY east end of lake ontario ais showed them close to rochester not long ago.

[Ron Beaupre]

Where is the tow on Lake Ontario? Salvor is by herself and travelling at close to 10 knots and getting close to the Welland. I doubt she could pull the Fortitude at that speed. The Evans McKeil and Jarrett M are together just sitting out on the lake off Oswego. Do they have the Fortitude? The tow is not listed as arriving in the Welland.

[Dave B]

The Evans McKeil passed Brockville up bound 9ish am this morning and not towing anything. I raced home to look at the map and saw Salvor was next, so again I raced back to Brockville, and saw Salvor leading the tow, followed by a sad but grand old girl with her head held high, the American Fortitude, and behind her was the Jarrett M. Following in close order were Algoma Progress and then Manitoba. I saw all this up close as they passed by Hillcrest just west of Brockville. Photos to follow.
D

[Amherstburg]

what will the scrappers do with the Bunker C on board , where wil they store it , and , is it still usable as a fuel, if so is there anyone out there still using this for fuel ?

[guest3]

I'm guessing the reason for bringing up the Salvor w/5760hp to pull the Fortitude back up the seaway, is the Evans McKeil w/2,150hp doesn't have the hps to go up-stream safely with the dead ship.

Not knowing the process, how do they get the 110'x25' Evans Mckeil, 690'x70' Fortitude, and 91'x27' Jarrett M. in a 740'x80' Lock. If they can put two tugs in the lock, why can't they put the Salvor (120' x 31') w/Fortitude (690' x 70') in the lock and not do all the tug switching?

Watching the tracking up close on marine AIS, it appears they are putting the tugs between the safety cables and the gates. Is that how the get 2lbs in a 1lb bucket.

[Ron Beaupre]

The tow will begin again this evening. But first the plan is to bring SALVOR up through Snell and Eisenhower locks light tug. She will wait above the locks until EVANS MCKEIL brings the AMERICAN FORTITUDE up through both locks. Above Ike they will switch lead tugs again and SALVOR will take her up the river. But first, we have ALGOMA DISCOVERY up, WHISTLER down, JOHN B AIRD up through both locks before the tow will move. Should begin moving about 9 pm tonight.

[Ron Beaupre]

Another change has taken place overnight and today with which tugs will tow AMERICAN FORTITUDE up the river. SALVOR came down the river last night and reached Beauharnois at 14:00. She is now hooking up to the dead ship. EVANS MCKEIL stopped below Snell lock and waited several hours for the fog to lift. Then she stayed put while the SALVOR ran down the river.

[Ron Beaupre]

The Ocean Ross Gaudreault departed Beauharnois down bound this afternoon, leaving the Jarrett M with the tow at the wall above lock 4. Evans McKeil is on her way down the river to pick up the tow. Good weather for the next two days, but lots of ships due to transit the Seaway too.

[JayJ]

What happened in the lock last night? She was in it for over 2 hours and now is at the wall up bound.

[Flying Dutchman]

Hopefully a reprieve from the gallows

[Guest]

The intended destination was Bay Bridge Texas in Brownsville. American company owned by Indian or Chinese interests. She sailed here, let her be dismantled here by people who know and respect her history.

[Ron Beaupre]

This morning Seaway Iroquois radio, in a discussion with a pilot on the Barnacle, revealed that the American Fortitude will be towed to Port Colborne. The tug Ocean Ross Gaudreault is leading the tow with Jarrett M back on the tail again. The tow departed the Cote Ste Catherine wharf this morning at 08:45 and proceeded down to the turning basin below the lock. As I write this at 10:50 am the Fortitude has completed the turn in that basin and is now heading back up to the lock at Cote.

[Ray]

It looks like at some point a few hours ago the Montrealais passed by the American Fortitude. Would probably have made a neat picture, wonder if anyone got the shot.