St. Clair (2)

The St. Clair was launched July 24, 1975 at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, WI. When hull # 714 slid down the ways, she was the largest vessel ever to be side launched, built at a cost of $24.3 million. St. Clair was built primarily to deliver western low sulfur coal from Superior, WI, to Detroit Edison’s Belle River power plant near St. Clair, MI.

The vessel was built under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. This program allowed U.S. shipping companies to construct new vessels or to modernize their existing fleet by government guaranteed financing and tax deferred benefits. St. Clair was the fifth of 10 ships launched for American Steamship under this program. The total cost of the 10 ships was more than $250 million. The ships were Roger M. Kyes (1973), Charles E. Wilson (1973), H. Lee White (1974), Sam Laud (1975), St. Clair (1976), Belle River (1977), Buffalo (1978), Indiana Harbor (1979), American Mariner (1980) and American Republic (1981).

St. Clair’s power came from three V-20 cylinder, two-stroke cycle, single-acting diesel engines, 230mm (9.1″) bore x 254mm (10.0″) stroke, built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corp., La Grange, IL, driving through a Falk single reduction gear box to a controllable pitch propeller. Total engine output: 10,800 bhp. Rated service speed: 14.5 knots (16.7 mph). She was equipped with bow and stern thrusters.

St. Clair was christened April 22, 1976 at Bayship. On her maiden voyage May 4, 1976, St. Clair departed Sturgeon Bay for Escanaba, MI, to load 39,803 gross tons of iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor, IN, arriving there on May 5th.

In the years that followed, American Steamship Co. launched two 1,000-foot foot vessels, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. in 1977 and Indiana Harbor in 1979. Those vessels could carry more cargo per trip and the McCarthy took over as the primary vessel delivering coal to the power station. By the mid-2000s, St. Clair saw frequent lay ups due to her size.

In 2018, St. Clair received major steel work in her cargo holds, as well as fresh paint. She reentered service in October and passed downbound at the Soo Locks on December 29 on her last trip of the season.

On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2019, a devastating fire swept through St. Clair while she was docked in Toledo, OH, for winter lay up. The fire burned the length of the ship along the unloading belts and also destroyed the superstructure. No one was injured, but the vessel was declared a total loss.

In December 7, 2021, the McKeil Marine tug Molly M 1 took the St. Clair under tow to the Marine Recycling Corp. scrapyard at Port Colborne, ON, where the vessel will be cut up. At about 11 a.m. December 9, the tow arrived at the scrapyard, assisted by local tugs.

Written by George Wharton.