EVOLUTION OF THE ALGOMA SELF-UNLOADER

After successfully converting the E.B. BARBER to a self-unloader, Algoma Central proceeded to build their first "from the ground up" self-unloading vessel.

Launched in 1965, the ill-fated ROY A. JODREY was the first in a line of new ships, commonly called the "650 Class Self-Unloader" or "Medium Sized Self Unloader". The basic design would be used for future ships like ALGORAIL (2), AGAWA CANYON and ALGOWAY (2).

Remarkably, the entire crew managed to escape before the JODREY slipped into the depths of the St. Lawrence River, near Wellesley Island, in The Thousand Islands area.

The wreck of the ROY A JODREY is still a remarkable exploration ground for SCUBA divers who brave the dangerous conditions to take in the sight of a decades-old freighter, preserved at the bottom of a river (as opposed to being cut up into scrap like the rest of her fleetmates)



ROY A. JODREY
Built 1965 Collingwood, Ontario (Hull #168)
646.5 feet in length
Sunk 1974 in the St. Lawrence River

ROY A. JODREY

ALGORAIL (2)
Built 1968 Collingwood, Ontario (Hull #189).
650 feet in length
Scrapped 2018, Port Colborne

ALGORAIL (2)

AGAWA CANYON
Built 1970 Collingwood, Ontario (Hull #195)
646.5 feet in length
Scrapped 2010

AGAWA CANYON

"The AGAWA CANYON was the identical sister ship to the ALGOWAY, and near sister to the identical ROY A. JODREY and ALGORAL."
-https://greatlakesships.wordpress.com/agawa-canyon/




ALGOWAY (2)
Built 1972 Collingwood, Ontario (Hull #200)
650 feet in length
Retired 2018
Scrapped 2019-2020

ALGOWAY (2)

With ALGORAIL (2) and ALGOWAY (2) docked side-by-side at the scrapyard at Port Colborne, The most noticeable difference between these near-sister ships seems to be the construction design of the boom support.

Drone Flight Over Marine Recycling Corp, Port Colborne (by Conor Megaffin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LViPQMahygw

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Algoma Central launched their ALGOSOO (2), a full-sized self-unloader. The ALGOSOO was the second company vessel to bear that name

ALGOSOO is notable for being the last Great Lakes vessel to be constructed with a forward pilothouse.

The ALGOSOO was unique ship, marking a turning point in Great Lakes ship design. Future fleetmates would use the "all cabins aft" design.


ALGOSOO (2)
Built 1974 Collingwood, Ontario (Hull #206)
730 feet in length
Scrapped 2016, Port Colborne

ALGOSOO (2)

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Revolutionizing the modern Algoma self-unloader was ALGOLAKE, with the round bow and square stern, similar in design to CSL's J.W. MCGIFFIN (Hull #197).

The same basic design would be used for ALGOBAY, ALGOPORT and ALGOWOOD.

After forty years of service, ALGOLAKE made her final trip down the Seaway on December 27, 2017.


ALGOLAKE
Built 1976 Collingwood Ontario (Hull #211)
Scrapped 2018, Turkey

ALGOLAKE

In 1989-90, Algoma would also convert two of their bulk carriers into self unloaders.
ALGOMARINE and ALGOGULF (subsequently renamed ALGOSTEEL[2] when the vessel returned to service as a self unloader).


ALGOWEST would also be transformed with self-unloading capabilities in 1998, and became PETER R. CRESSWELL in 2001.

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Nearly forty decades without a "new" ship on the Great Lakes, it's an exciting time to be a boatwatcher as "state-of-the art" vessels begin to populate the fleet. A double-edged sword for ship fans however, as the addition of every new vessels means that one of the "classics" gets demolished.



ALGOMA NIAGARA
Built 2017

ALGOMA NIAGARA

ALGOMA NIAGARA

And as many things seem to go full circle, Algoma once again found a niche market for the "shorter" and more maneuverable self-unloaders.

Algoma Central has added the ALGOMA INNOVATOR (built 2017) and her sister ALGOMA INTREPID (built 2020).

ALGOMA INTREPID