Boatnerd Discussion Forum

I believe it had to do with the extra horsepower and even more so, the azuimuth drives on the Tim. Both the Victory and the Rail wanted to crab and sheer at certain times. However, since both tugs had experienced crews and adequate power, it was more of an inconvenience than anything. The Way didn't seem to experience this as much with the Evans towing.

I heard the conversation between the Tim McKeil and Baie Comeau setting up the passing arrangement at St. Clair on the radio. The McKeil's captain admitted that "this tow is a handful". He didn't specify why, but let's be sentimental and say the old lady wasn't ready to go!

jimlcmn wrote:We have cottages on Amherst Point in Amherstburg and we just launched our Boston Whaler and on our first boat ride of the year going around Boblo we came upon this sad sight of the Algorail being towed out to scrap. It was an emotional time for some of our family to see her go. She seemed to not want to go as she went through the Livingston Channel and the tugs had to work extra hard to keep her straight. Some of us followed her all the way to the Detroit River Light and watched the pilot come off of her and give her a final farewell formal salute. There were press people taking pictures and video so I hope to see them!

In reference to the apparent difficulty in keeping the Algorail straight, it seemed like it wanted to wander a bit (to me anyways) as it went down certain stretches of the St. Clair River. I didn't notice the same thing with the Algoway and Victo tows.

Guest wrote:Capt were they good handling ships? They sure sounded great with those fairbanks cranking on full!

Yes they were good boats to work with and we got to many punt job berths. Going upbound in the Detroit and St. Clare rivers one of the stone crusher engines was shut down so we did not exceed the then strictly eforced speed limits. It had side drives at one time which was you could couple the generators on on the shaft for more speed but I ever seen it used. The "Rail" had a stern thruster retro fitted later on but that was not in my time there.

tugboathunter wrote:More recently than you would think Denny, in 2011 the Tony MacKay grabbed the Canadians Ranger and Algontario on separate tows from Toronto to Montreal, and in 2010 the Jarrett M did separate tows of the Canadian Leader and Windoc forebody from Toronto to Port Colborne.

Going back a ways, Salvage Monarch did it in the 1970s and 80s. Not uncommon.

We have cottages on Amherst Point in Amherstburg and we just launched our Boston Whaler and on our first boat ride of the year going around Boblo we came upon this sad sight of the Algorail being towed out to scrap. It was an emotional time for some of our family to see her go. She seemed to not want to go as she went through the Livingston Channel and the tugs had to work extra hard to keep her straight. Some of us followed her all the way to the Detroit River Light and watched the pilot come off of her and give her a final farewell formal salute. There were press people taking pictures and video so I hope to see them!

Capt were they good handling ships? They sure sounded great with those fairbanks cranking on full!

More recently than you would think Denny, in 2011 the Tony MacKay grabbed the Canadians Ranger and Algontario on separate tows from Toronto to Montreal, and in 2010 the Jarrett M did separate tows of the Canadian Leader and Windoc forebody from Toronto to Port Colborne.

I wish I had my camera as I watched the Algorail go by the "hole in the wall" in the channel by Boblo Island. The tow got a little wonky just at that moment but we watched the tow tugs get her going back in a straight line tow again. Very impressive considering the width of the channel and the length of the ship didn't give the tugs much in the way to maneuver.

Sad to to see the Algorail and the Way being scrapped but they did have a long life considering they hauled many cargos of salt and cement clinker. I will remember them fondly as boats I learned a great deal on. Many trips through the Welland canal twice in the same day one with cargo and one in ballast. Trips up the Sauganey and the currents too strong to turn and having to back down the river through the bridge draws with the mates spotting me. Got grey hair that way!!

Although not overseas tows or an overseas tug, the Tim McKeil has towed away both the American Victory and the Algorail from their respective lay up ports and docks. Not sure if that’s ever happened before in history where the same tug is used more than once to tow Lakers out of their lay up ports and docks? It certainly has been a very busy and active year for ship scrapings with more yet to come in time. The tugs this year will surely be busy towing old, retired and obsolete Lakers to scrap. Very sad to see all these Lakers and classics going.

As far as I can tell, this will be the first time the same tug has done two overseas tows of lakers in one year since 2002. Just shows you how many are going this year.

We will have to wait and see who the VB Hispania is coming to get but I would say the American Victory since that tug ended up towing another Algoma ship over to Turkey this year. Just my thoughts only here on this subject.

Im sorta surprised that lower lakes is getting rid of the Manitoba don't think she's that rotten she's diesel, thought they might keep her around for future use rumors yrs ago that she might be converted to a self unloader being one of the only 600 ft self unloader on the lakes

Yes sir Howard and others as we did indeed see her this morning being towed for scrap. We got her in both St. Clair and in Marine City and got great photos in both locations. So I’ve told a few people while I was out there that I’m 2 for 3 as far as scrap tows this year as the only one that I missed unfortunately was the Algoway. Fortunately I was able to get both the American Victory and now today with the Algorail and lucky as well the weather cooperated both times as well. Thank Goodness as well the Algorail was there today and not tomorrow as I would’ve missed her for sure with my morning appointments. So long Algorail and thanks for the many memories and salutes you gave and provided. You’ve had a long and hard life and you served your owners and purpose well and now you’re tired and ready for a much needed and deserved rest and it is with great sadness that we wave to you one last and final time and say our goodbyes. However, you will never be forgotten but will surely be missed by many and all. So, farewell ‘ole friend and may you have calm seas and fair winds on your last and final trip to Port Colborne and soon you will reunited with your fleet mate the Algoway together until the very end scrapped at home in Canada where you both should be! Farewell Algorail and 3 Long and 2 Short thanks for the memories!

Denny, I hope you were able to catch the tow today!

Denny, I spoke with a chief engineer a couple of years ago, and he expressed the belief that Algoma Central Corporation was quite 'on board' with the concept that lakers will be looked upon as having a 20 to 25 year life span.

According to Marine Traffic, Tim McKeil has indeed departed Goderich with the Algorail in tow! They left at 2045 or 8:45 p.m. on July 3rd. Anyone with a rough guess or an estimate for Port Huron along with the St. Clair River on July 4th as that would indicate probably a daylight passage maybe? Hopefully it’s not too late and in the evening as I live about an hour drive from Port Huron. There’s a small about 20-30% chance of rain and Thunderstorms forecasted for the early afternoon and if those pop up, then all bets are off for me going out to see her as I don’t drive in rain and storms or take photos in rain or storms either! Anyone that has any information and updates with any ETAs is greatly appreciated. Thanks so very much in advance and Happy 4th of July!

ashland69 wrote:From the info being given by MarineTraffic, I think the McKeil is getting ready to leave Goderich with the Algorail. Any confirmation?

It did leave, with the algorail. Should be in the St. Claire river at daylight. (Much the same schedule as the American Victory)

I agree with both Toronto Guest and Dan McNeil’s comments. This will surely go down in history as a year never to forget as far as the many ships mostly the Algoma ones that have gone to scrap! As comments from Toronto Guest suggest, 2018 will indeed be the year Algoma sent most of their fleet to the scrap heap and in return we get some cheap replacements that probably won’t be near even close to how long as far as life span their predecessors lasted. In other words, the new builds from China and Croatia IMO I can’t see where they are expected to last 25-30 years unless I’m wrong and missing something? The year 2018 will also be remembered as well for the American Victory and soon the American Valor both leave for scrap and with that the end at least of what was once the Oglebay Norton steamers since both were powered with steam! As Dan suggested, better get all the photos you can of the lakes fleet while you can before they are gone and only memories and photos in books and magazines remain. As Dan mentioned and I’m sure he’s right as far as more scrapping to come with both the Canadian and US fleets. This will be the last year for the Jackman and I thought I read and heard it will be the final season for the Algowood? A rough and hard time and year for us boatnerds indeed with many more ships to end up going for scrap. At least classics like the Ryerson, Sherwin, Anderson and Alpena are still here but for how much longer? Time will tell us!