Algoma Olympic last trip Welland

[amateur operator]

Algoma Olympic was west bound at Cape Vincent at 1605. She gave etas of 1950 for Sodus Point and 0630, Jan.1, for Burlington Piers.

[Denny]

Well it looks like now that they may not be spending the winter in Johnstown afterall! According to their AIS, they are now expected to arrive in Hamilton on January 1, 2018 at about 0400 hours or at about 4 A.M. on New Year's Day. Sorta what I figured they would end up doing once they turned around and headed back up in the Seaway yesterday. Hope that everyone got some photos of her on what may be her last and final trip of the season as next year she will more than likely be headed for scrap someplace. So long friend!

[guest]

She passed johnstown new destination Hamilton.

[Denny]

Don't believe so as far as I know from the News Page and reports she will end up spending the winter in Johnstown at the Elevator and then in the Spring depart when the Seaway re-opens to head for Quebec to unload their ore cargo. They do not unload ore loads in Johnstown as that port as far as I know receives salt and ships out grain cargoes among some of the cargoes that port handles. Hope that this information has helped.

[Fritz Hager]

Hmm. She blew right on by Johnstown around 10:15 EST and is heading upstream at 9.3 knots with Hamilton as her AIS destination. Seaway site still shows Johnstown Elevator as of 10:40 EST.

[Fritz Hager]

Seaway web site now shows Algoma Olympic with next waypoint as "Johnstown Elevator." Perhaps she will dump her iron ore pellet cargo there and continue empty up to Hamilton for lay up?

[Denny]

Well it looks like the Algoma Olympic may have had a change of plans as they are definitely 100% NOT headed to Quebec City to unload along with laying up there! From the Seaway website, as of 3:25 p.m. today on December 30th they are now headed back upbound and they are due at the Ike Lock around 1715 hours or 5:15 p.m. today. Just wonder now where they are heading to unload at? I assume Hamilton since they will be closing the Welland down for the winter after tomorrow night as I don’t think they can unload at Hamilton and then get into the Canal by tomorrow evening before it closes? So for a few boatnerds, you may get one last chance at seeing the Algoma Olympic but better be ready then for her and don’t drop the ball as it may be your last chance to see her!

[Pazzo]

I can't begin to tell you how bummed out I am that I couldn't make it into Lorain this morning to see Algoway brought in. Living in Erie has made catching some of the Algoma fleet rather daunting if I can't get up to the Welland. The weather since lastnight has been dropping blankets on us and foiling my plans to see a few ships for the last time. I got lucky enough to snap one good pic of the Algosteel earlier this year when she was departing Erie. It was a stern shot, but it was a great exposure!

[Rob W]

Catching them both (Algoma Olympic/Algolake) in the canal in September passing with the Olympic down bound and Lake unbound outta lock 3 is even more special. At the time I was happy to get the shot, but now it means more. Farewell ladies

Rob W

[DC from QC]

I remember it well. My father was the mate and came home early that Spring, after having been gone only a couple of weeks. He brought a couple of 8 X 11 glossies of the incident, from the red roofed, white house's view. That bow was impressive, at least to a 12 year old boatnerd! I still have them.

[Dave2]

When the Canadian Olympic was on her maiden voyage upstream, she ran aground in the Brockville Narrows, just off the Brockville Country Club, Club House. She remained in gear going ahead against the island she struck, to prevent her sinking if she backed off. I was on duty for the incident at Cardinal Coast Guard Radio/VDQ.

[Denny]

Thanks to Barry for sending the Algoma Olympic photos in for all of us to see and enjoy and for Roger as well for posting them here as well for us to see and enjoy. For Rob, I agree with you my friend as I will indeed miss her as well. I did not get to see her unfortunately this season although I did get to see the other three that are on the list for retirement the Algolake, Algosteel and the Algoway so I am at least happy on that note. My only regret is that I never got to see the Algosteel downbound again as I wanted so badly to see and take zoom close up shots of the Algoma Central Corp logo on her starboard bow along with close up shots of her stack and logo as well from the starboard side. Oh well at least I got to see her in 2017 twice upbound so that's better than nothing! Farewell to four classic Algoma lakers with calm seas and fair winds as those ones will surely be missed by many. 3 Long and 2 Short to those four!

[Rob W]

Farewell Olympic, fare winds and following seas. In the last 10 years, either her or the Progress always seemed to be in the canal. Will miss them.

Rob W

[BigRiver]

Barry Andersen sent these along for posting. Likely the Olympic's last trip, she is headed to Quebec City for final layup.