Duluth Welcomes an Old, Rarely Seen Classic
Although she’s been seen recently over in Superior and Two Harbors, Saginaw makes her first Canal appearance since 2022! Built in 1953 as the John J Boland (yes, that name should sound familiar), sailing for American Steamship Company. She has been a rare sight in the city for quite some time now, with her fleetmate Michipicoten taking nearly all the Sault Ste Marie runs in 2023. This year there appears to be a bit more variety in which ships take that run however! She measures 639ft and can carry 20,500 tons.
While most classic lakers have long lists of extreme transformations in their histories, such as lengthening, shortening, conversions and other fairly extreme measures to keep the vessels up to date over their years of service, the Saginaw is a unique look into the past, the only remaining 1950s era laker that’s virtually unchanged from when she was first constructed. The only major alterations to the vessel came in 1999 when she received her current name and paint scheme, and in 2007 when her steam engines were replaced with modern diesel engines.
One of only three lakers built in the 1950s equipped with self unloading equipment from the beginning, while most other currently active ships from that era had them added on in the 70s. The other two self unloaders were John G Munson and the long scrapped ship Detroit Edison. In 1973 the cables supporting her unloading boom snapped in Green Bay, Wisconsin, destroying the boom. For a short time she sailed as a straight decker until her boom could be replaced. In the late 1970s and through the 1980s, American Steamship replaced nearly their entire fleet with new, modern style lakers, and the classic ships were phased out. The Boland was laid up in Superior in 1984, and would remain in storage for the next 8 years, awaiting the scrap yard along with the rest of her older fleetmates. In 1992 she made a surprise return to service as the oldest ship in their fleet, modernized slightly with new equipment and renovated accommodations for her crew. She sailed running stone and coal for the next 6 years until 1998 when the ship was returned to layup, her name was scrubbed off and given to one of her newer fleetmates, and the calls went out to scrapyards that the ship was available for sale.
However, instead of going to scrap, the ship was bought up by Lower Lakes Towing Company, at that time a small startup company with a handful of small ships. Renamed the Saginaw, the vessel was the largest and newest in their fleet at the time and proved to be a very successful vessel with a wider role, hauling more varied cargo types. The company has since gone onto become one of the largest on the lakes. In 2007 her engines were replaced, and in 2011 she had her boom collapse a second time in Thunder Bay, this time into the water so it was salvageable and replaced onto the ship. Ironically, the modern John J Boland is currently operating under charter for Lower Lakes, once again putting the two ships in the same fleet for the time being.
As for today… Not going to lie, watching her come in I got an odd feeling from the ship that I haven’t before, with any vessel. Seeing her come down the canal seemed weirdly odd somehow, as if she shouldn’t be. Unlike many classic lakers, which have been restored and rebuilt so many times they appear almost new, the Saginaw shows her age, both in her design and her condition. I’m not sure if it was the weather, her slow speed or what exactly, but atmosphere around her in person was tired and fragile. A ship that felt on the verge of giving up, being pushed along only by the willpower of her crew. I’ve never felt that from any vessel before, and it was a disturbing feeling. Not sure I can explain it, there are certainly vessels that physically look worse for wear. Hopefully she gets some work done in the near future, with the potential loss of the Cuyahoga after her fires she’s a needed part of their fleet, now more than ever. But should her time ever come, she’s served with distinction, and far, far longer than anyone ever expected her to. Until that time comes, hopefully far in the future, we’ll continue to enjoy her and her history, a tough ship that just refuses to quit.
Пікірлер: 154
She’s gorgeous, ESPECIALLY because of her scrapes, rust, and patches! She’s got character to go with her grace.
@jonathanellsworth21
17 күн бұрын
She definitely looks good while also showing her history!
It is great to see that not all of the older classic ships have been sold for scrapping but have been allowed to continue to live and serve. This beautiful vessel looks great.
@jeremycox571
4 күн бұрын
The older they get the better they become
She deserves a new paintjob!! Beautiful ship!! Glad to see her still working! 😊
@1940limited
13 күн бұрын
I was thinking the same thing.Needs a paint job.
All those older ships are so elegant. They just don't build them like they used to (like anything, cars, ships, you name it.) Every one of those scuffs and scratches and patches has a story behind it, they give her character, and while it might not be appealing to the eye, thats 70 years worth of Lakes history moving down the channel.
What a Grand Old Lady. I love the old style lake boats. Thanks for the video!
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
No problem, glad you enjoyed!
Never seen this ship before. It was fascinating to see the men who work it on the deck. When you think of the Fitz, the Bradley, and others, and think of things you have, you have a deep appreciation for these men and the risk they take everytime they go out. Thanks again to all you mariners.
A legendary design. The Madaline Kahn song from Blazing Saddles comes to mind. Thanks for the video.
The legend lives on.
What a Beauty
A true workhorse!
There's a boat that deserves respect.
She's a beauty.
BEAUTIFUL! I may never think of Simon and Garfunkel song, “America” the same again.
Thank you for this wonderful video and narrative. As I was watching, I felt the same feeling you described (having read your narrative after viewing the video). Being in the same age group as the Saginaw, she and I both show the scars of life. May she continue to sail on. Once again, many thanks!
@jonathanellsworth21
17 күн бұрын
No problem! Yeah I’ve seen plenty of ships, some far older and/or more beat up than this one come down the Canal, never felt that before. I hope she continues to sail for a long time to come though! I did not get that feeling nearly as bad when they left, granted it was at night. But she was going a lot faster, more confident and that helped a lot. Glad you enjoyed!
These are the type of lakers I remember as a kid! Beautiful! Whether I was standing atop of Sleeping Bear Dunes, in Gary, Toledo, Cleveland, Holland. This is my childhood, great catch my friend!
@jonathanellsworth21
18 күн бұрын
Glad you enjoyed! There’s still a few of them around!
A nice ship
She's still got a decade or longer left in her! I hope she keeps going and going! I love the battle scars, Sag is one of my favorites!!
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Hope so! I didn’t get the same feeling when she departed after this video went up, so maybe it was just the conditions or something. Not sure, she just seemed so off… and I’d absolutely HATE to be right. Regardless she does need some attention and I hope she gets it!
@prarieborn6458
18 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 i read your introduction and description when i clicked. on “more” under the title. I just discovered the channel and Vive with Nike channel all about Great Lakes shipping. It is a new learning experience for me and kind of exciting to watch the big ships.!. I am in NW WA, and my late husband along with our sons were all Alaska Fishermen for years. Also we enjoyed sport fishing/boating as a family. family. We. had a small business fabricating crab and ship pots. after my husband retired from fiishing. I will be honest, felt a ‘frsson” when i read your remarks about the feeling you got seeing the Saginaw coming in to port. The fact that you said you had never had that same feeling about any other ship in your experience, kind of confirmed that little chill i felt, also. men that “Go down to the Sea in ships” have a whole lot of beliefs, some call it superstition, but i call it intuition and received wisdom from the Ancients , about the perils of going to sea. For example there is a hard and fast rrule for fishermen, to never leave port on a friday, The Skipper who disregards that and leaves before midnight to get to the fishing grounds ahead of the fleet, is asking for trouble.or more likely disaster. Or never whistle on deck, because you will whistle up a gale. and my favortie is never take a suitcase or an umbrella on board, for the same reason that it is bad luck, or never paint a boat green, because that is the color of the earth and the boat will “seek the bottom”. the same holds true for potted house plants on board. And never buy a boat that has been on the bottom and then raised and rebuilt and there are a myriad of other beliefs and cautions Well, “something” about the Saginaw warned you, but there is nothing you can do about it except hope you were wrong. I looked as close as i coul at the Grand Old Lady as she has been described by admireers, and she indeed is grand and graceful, but she looked to.me like she has been neglected, all the rust streaks.visible. Intuition is a survival mechanism built in to us by our Creator and in this day and age, people do not heed or even recognize the physical signal. I read a book caledl “The Gift of Fear” . all about how to recognize the body feelings ,before the conscious mnd becomes aware In my experience, it has been a sudden feeling of loss and sadness where there is no apparent reason,
As a fan of your videos, I must say I am equally drawn to your text providing insight into the historical context of basically how the ships came to exist in our present shipping business. Thanks again for preserving our beloved "Laker" history.
@jonathanellsworth21
5 күн бұрын
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!!
Stately, perfectly described this stunning lake. The new modern ships cant hold a candle to the beauty and majesty of the old school design. These ships also have had long, productive lives on the great lakes. Craftmanship shows in these oldies but goodies! Magnificant from axe bow to stern.
@audreyjohnson4599
19 күн бұрын
To me, they just look more balanced and regal. I also prefer the classic lakers to the new boats. There is just something so dignified about them when they're coming into port.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
They stand tall and proud!
@techguy9023
18 күн бұрын
I was there year before last. Now if I could get a horn like that for my truck or Prius!
@audreyjohnson4599
17 күн бұрын
@@techguy9023 Traffic sure would get out of the way LOL.
Another well built and classic beauty built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding. My grandpa, God rest his soul, drove a lot of rivets on her, too, after the JOHN G. MUNSON. She needs paint, though!
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
That’s very, very cool! You know you build good ships when two of them are still sailing after you’re gone. And yeah she needs some work and a touchup!
@jamesnelson6980
19 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 Jonathan, my grandfather worked as a riveter for 44 years at Manitowoc Shipbuilding, from 1915-1959. He drove rivets on WW 1 ocean going freighters, WW 2 submarines, carferries, tankers, straight deckers and self unloaders. His favorite, and still sailing today, are the JOHN G. MUNSON and the SAGINAW, the JOHN J. BOLAND when new. He had a lot of stories about the boats, and I learned so much from him, even with his heavy German accent. God rest his soul.
That’s just amazing. You done the old girl proud.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Thank you!
Even with all thee scrapes and the patches put in over the years, she looks pretty dam gfoo for 75 years old. Still working hard. That a girl.
70 years old last year and still working the lakes, great information you compiled too, very interesting. Powered by a "Mack" diesel engine today, should have the Bulldog on the bow! Very proud old ship!
@kristoffermangila
6 күн бұрын
Really, a Mack diesel? Wowza!
I was a deckhand on the John J in 1973
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Really? Goodness you must have some stories! Isn’t that the same year the boom collapsed? Must be a little odd seeing her here!
A classic Great Lakes moment.
She is beautiful! thank you for the video!
What a Grand Lady!
We stood right near that tugboat on display after visiting the Maritine Museum last year. Nice to see the Lakers and Salties.😊
The lake freighter MV Saginaw was launched as John J. Boland in 1953, the third vessel to bear that name. John J. Boland was owned and operated by the American Steamship Company and constructed by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company at Manitowoc, Wisconsin
You can see every station in her hull with the paint rubbed off and rust taking over. Shes a beautiful old boat though, patches and all
I saw her launching in 1953. She was just back in Manitowoc to deliver barley for beer malt.
@jonathanellsworth21
17 күн бұрын
You saw her launching? Wow!
Majestic !
Amazing to see this shipping icon in action! There is nothing like a traditional laker! 👌👍
@jonathanellsworth21
10 күн бұрын
Glad you enjoyed!
Amazing how the propellers have enough thrust to push such a massive object through the water.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Single, massive propeller actually! You can actually see at times as she makes the turn
She might be old and tired and rather bashed about the edges, but you can see how beautiful she was - still is! Who cares if she needs more cosmetic surgery to match that patch?
don't give up the ship!
Just beautiful!!
@jonathanellsworth21
4 күн бұрын
She’s a special sight for sure! Was excited to see her
Thank you . Another ship for me, I have never seen. Old but stately.
@jonathanellsworth21
18 күн бұрын
Yeah not one that’s often talked about! Definitely deserves more attention
What a treat to see. That ship was built a year before I was built. 🙂
I hope the owners love her enough to invest in some overdue paint & rust repair.
Battered and scarred but still hauling.
Beautiful old ship, just needs a little paint and she'll be looking fine.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Hopefully! Maybe some steel work too!
Awesome
@jonathanellsworth21
17 күн бұрын
Thank you!
Saw this bad boy down on Zug Island in Detroit maybe two years ago? Awesome ship.
Classic cars go to car shows. Classic ships go to Duluth ! Tell Them Your From Duluth ! 👊😎👍
Looking at her I can kinda understand your "tired and fragile" feeling. I see what you mean. The patch on the front almost looks to be sewn on like an old child's toy and her white and grey colors look tired and faded. But man, she's a beautiful boat, floating high and just about gliding over the water. Rigging and crane look to be in very good condition and well cared for. Again I'm getting an old child's favorite toy vibe. Well used but more importantly, well loved.
@jonathanellsworth21
14 күн бұрын
True that!
Like all the ships that went thru the Locks when I was a kid in the 70s in the Soo!
The tales.n..sails she tells...just with her graceful glide.
@jonathanellsworth21
14 күн бұрын
Definitely a ship you can almost see the stories just by looking at her
The old girl's still got it. I saw the Saginaw back in 1998 during a family vacation up north, one of her last trips before being laid up. I was 13 years old. She was old THEN. I'm 38 now, and she's still hauling. Awesome! Funny that the kid talking was probably born 50 years after Saginaw, then known as John J Boland, first plied the waters of her trade. Ship is probably older than his dad. She's a real Great Lakes legend 🥰
@jonathanellsworth21
6 күн бұрын
She’s an old workhorse for sure! The announcer is a she lol, but yeah you’re probably fairly close! (just a really, really old PA system, she sounds completely different in person) Saginaw’s also 45 years older than I am lol
Fantastic Video
@jonathanellsworth21
5 күн бұрын
Thank you!
I love the bridge forward ships, they are so much sleeker. As an aside, do ships on the Great Lakes need sacrificial zincs? Or is that only a saltwater thing?
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Yes they do look very good! Although I try not to play favorites 😁 never seen a ship I didn’t enjoy on some level! As for the zinc or an equivalent to it, no idea. Not of lot of technical details like that leak out into public knowledge. Once the Irvin museum ship opens up for the year I can ask there, they might know
@SteamCrane
19 күн бұрын
If you follow either USS New Jersey ("Battleship New Jersey") or USS Cod, you know that there are several types of cathodic protection materials. Zinc is used for salt water, while aluminum is used for fresh, and a 3rd metal (I forget what) for brackish water like New Jersey is docked. Cod was drydocked in Erie recently, and received aluminum "zincs". New Jersey is in drydock right now, and the curator is presenting wonderful detailed videos about the work, including replacing the old zincs with a different metal. He showed the pattern of the old zincs.
@Duh6666666
19 күн бұрын
@@SteamCrane As I read what you wrote it came back to me, I'll go check out that video, many thanks!
@janicesullivan8942
19 күн бұрын
I love the fantail stern, classic form.
@Andygarrett357
19 күн бұрын
I've spent almost 60 years summering on Georgian Bay and haven't noticed any galvanic corrosion on any boats / motors that i have seen. I believe It's more an issue of dissimilar metals and salt water being a conductor of electricity.
We were at the Soo last week, and I saw her in the lock headed up. Saw the Alpena while we were there too...
Now this is the way a laker should look! Sleek and graceful. And who dares complain about a little ole patch on a graceful old girl? You have absolutely no cooth. My only complaint is that she has such a beautiful horn, and the bridge answered with it's usual "blatt." Horrible! Absolutely horrible! They've got to do something about that!
there is another channel 'Vibe with Mike' that films from that same port. You are literally on the same walkway that his channel films on. I recognized that unusual mechanical bridge as well as the nearly water-level walkway with the concrete water barrier. it would be interesting to see you both doing a shared broadcast sometime.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
I know Mike very well! There’s a few of us down there, Paul Sinnoca and 1 Long 2 Short as well, plus the DHC webcams. Several others who post on different sites as well. They’re all great guys!
@adelechicken6356
19 күн бұрын
The bridge has an amazing history with several structural changes thru the years. Also has beautiful lighting displays to support different causes. ❤
Unlike newer vessels, she got through the bridge without knocking it down. We saw quite a bit of her many years ago when she was a salt boat. She subsequently received major hold work, and went back to hauling ore. Here we see her gracefully going about her business, no drama. Good to see!
This ship along with anderson, alphena, Tregurtha and ryerson need to be saved in the future.
@jonathanellsworth21
15 күн бұрын
Add Lee A Tregurtha to that list and agreed. Canada hasn’t saved any of their lakers, they should look into that lol
@RailPreserver2K
15 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 done, i forgot she was a converted ww2 freighter.
@jonathanellsworth21
15 күн бұрын
@@RailPreserver2K 👍🏻 I have a feeling the community might have to start acting on those wishes sooner rather than later if we want to make any of it happen
That is one hell of a band aid.
The Saginaw was just in Manitowoc (its birthplace) last weekend
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Oh very cool! I didn’t realize Lakers still went there. I know the Badger sails from there tbough (which sounds like they haven’t sailed this year yet). Guessing salt?
@kevinduveneck1504
19 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 boats still deliver Portland cement, coal for Manitowoc Public Utilities and for the Badger, and barley for Brees Malting (formally an Anheuser Busch owned malting plant). Salt I believe is brought by boat to Green Bay and communities around the area truck it from there
Your bad feeling- chalk it up to that funny patch plate maybe? She's had it for such a long time now that "patched up" is starting to feel like her baseline. Or maybe chalk it up to the fact that the entire LLT fleet is starting to seem like a fleet of ghost ships, with how rough they're looking. To me though, she seems above it all more than anything, gliding in tall and quiet and elegant (stately, as Carole perfectly put it!)- looking rough but sailing smooth.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Yeah that patch has been there awhile and I wish I knew what that was about. I’m not really sure they’re in any worse shape than other fleets, but their light gray paint scheme certainly shows the wear and tear better. If they went with a darker color we probably wouldn’t notice it as much, would probably look closer to what we see on other fleets.
@Andygarrett357
19 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 Is there a reason, other than cost, that she hasn't (and others) been painted? It just makes the ships look almost embarrassing and the owners / crews need to take better care of them.
@foxstrangler
3 күн бұрын
@@Andygarrett357 As she spent time laid up, the ships are just tied up side-by-side without fenders. Just rubbing with water motion. Cost of a repaint, and time involved could be the reason. If another vessel is out of service, a coat of paint is secondary. So long as the hull is solid.
Your right Iv never seen this ship before less it was under a different name nice cover thanks..:)
@jonathanellsworth21
18 күн бұрын
She’s had the name since 99! Just not a common visitor!
She is cool 👍
Nice Vid!
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Thanks!
Riding high!
WOW ... At first glance I thought it was the return of the Edmund Fitzgerald 😳
@jonathanellsworth21
5 күн бұрын
Yep! There’s a few of these older ships still around and kicking! Including the ship that tried to rescue the Fitzgerald, Arthur M Anderson. Saginaw’s 90ft shorter than Fitzgerald was, they served together on the lakes for nearly two decades, probably crossed paths a lot.
She’s a dieing breed of ship like the Anderson and the rest of the tin stackers , the older she gets the better she becomes , nothing is better than the classic ships ,
Best dining room on the Lakes facing aft on the upper fan tail. Between the McKee Sons and the JJB was where American SS /B&C directed most of their guests to ride on. The deck under the pilot house had accomodations for 8 guests. I was on the Richard Reiss and we got passed like we were half ahead going westbound on Lake Erie as we were racing to Marblehead Quarry. Captain Jim VanDongen and Chief Engineer Paul Baker wanted to show off their 8000 SHP steam turbine to our 2800 BHP EMD. Would a coat of paint kill the owners bottom line?
@jonathanellsworth21
9 күн бұрын
Oh very cool! What year was that if I may ask? As for the paint, I hear painting costs upwards of million dollars per application these days so yeah it would probably dig in a little but she needs it lol
@sandysmithvideos228
9 күн бұрын
It was June 1992. The JJB had been a bit late coming out of hibernation and still in shake down mode. Normally the extra fuel consumption was excessive. Probably a shipyard paint job by the time they sand blast the hull would be stupid expensive. There are alternatives such as a winter paint job via rollers rather than spray you just have to be careful to set drops to catch the drips and such. This is beat done while standing on some surrounding ice opposed from work floats.
8200hp 😮would love that in my Celica haha 😜
@jonathanellsworth21
4 күн бұрын
Lol that would be a heck of a car 😂
That boat has been beaten up by the Soo Locks over the years
New paint job
How can a radar antenna rotate? The antennas on an aircraft have wave guides for the transmissions but they only oscillate. How can a wave guide transmit the frequencies to a rotating antenna?
@jonathanellsworth21
5 күн бұрын
Not sure really, not a radar tech, but I know every ship I’ve ever seen has had at least one, most have two or three. Saginaw has two but she only had one going during this arrival. Even the Irvin Museum ship has one and she was retired in the 60s, sometimes they’ll turn it on for the tourists as a demonstration. That was probably installed long before she was retired, not likely they installed it right before putting the ship out of commission. So they’ve been around a very long time, not sure why aircraft couldn’t use them. Could be it just screws with aerodynamics
👍👍👍👍👍 👌
40 years ago a steamship was a regular visitor, it hauled grain up the seaway to NY I believe. Watched it leave Duluth one sunny day with boiler room vent open and small pile of anthracite coal on the deck. Does this ship still call on Duluth.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
The only coal-fired steamship still sailing is the Badger ferry in Lake Michigan, but there are 4 active oil-fired steamships that visit Duluth still. Arthur M Anderson, Philip R Clarke, Wilfred Sykes and Alpena. That ship might be gone, or its engine might have been replaced by a modern one at some point, like this vessel.
@MarkBerg-tk8js
19 күн бұрын
Tks
Reminds me of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Yep! Both are fairly standard ship designs for the 1950s, the “classic laker” era. Fitzgerald would have been 90ft longer at 729ft, while Saginaw would have been the “standard” size of ships during the time they were built at 639ft. Now days Saginaw is definitely on the smaller side, while the Fitzgerald herself would be slightly below the current average size of 740ft for Lakers.
I've seen this one in Toledo
She visits Owen Sound regularly.
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Probably why she hardly ever comes here lol. Say is John D Leitch still over there? Lots of rumors flying around here that she’s done for good, but ultimately when you try and dig into it, nobody actually knows anything. The fact that she hasn’t sailed yet this year doesn’t help, and I believe she laid up for winter in that area?
Were her steam engines scrapped or saved?
@jonathanellsworth21
9 күн бұрын
No clue honestly
What happened to the side? Did it get torpedoed?
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Lol, no torpedos 😂 I’m not exactly certain because that patch just sort of appeared there in 2020 without much explanation but I’d guess she scraped the side of a lock too hard and caused a dent or something.
It looks like the Saginaw River.
That is back when America was America 🇺🇸
We are repairing ships here in Belfast that are less than 20 years old and inserts in the Hull ,, just old lady proper steel not modern cheap,,repo steel ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
It's a shame she's no longer steam powered.
I wonder why no salutes were given.
@jonathanellsworth21
11 күн бұрын
They did salute :) 3:18
@MayhemRv
11 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21 I re-watched and see you are right. My bluetooth has been giving me fits dropping out.
Quite the old rust bucket.
pretty cheap looking patch on the bow
@jonathanellsworth21
19 күн бұрын
Yeah I wish I knew what that was about, not much info I can give about that unfortunately. Looking through pictures online the earliest pictures I see that have it are dated in late 2020. I’ve been curious about that for awhile as well.
@TK-ri7pl
14 күн бұрын
@@jonathanellsworth21Bow thruster repairs, summer 2020 is the best, likely explanation I have heard.
@foxstrangler
3 күн бұрын
Cut a hole in the side to insert the thruster. Fairly standard to cut holes in ships to replace or upgrade large equipment.
She's had a pre frontal labotomy
A classic Great Lakes moment.