Algoma Harvester became the second of the new Equinox Class of Great Lakes freighters to join the Algoma Central Corporation fleet. It was built by Nantong Mingde Heavy Industries Stock Co. of Nantong City, China, and shares the similar 740 foot long by 78 foot wide dimensions and all of the efficient and environmentally friendly features of its sistership, Algoma Equinox.

This vessel, and its sister ships, operate with a 45 percent improved energy efficiency and can carry 20 percent more cargo. It also has a much lower fuel consumption with the benefit of a 97 percent removal of sulphur oxide emissions. Highly automated, the ship can operate with as few as 18 sailors.

Algoma Harvester was launched on December 25, 2013, and departed the overseas shipyard for Canada on May 18, 2014. It also loaded iron ore at Port Cartier while inbound for Hamilton and, after discharging at Arcelor Mittal (Dofasco), the ship was christened at Pier 26 South in Hamilton on July 14, 2014. The vessel then headed up bound through the Welland Canal and has joined the regular Seaway service in the Algoma fleet hauling iron ore from the Gulf of St. Lawrence ports and delivering grain to the elevators of that region for trans shipment overseas.

Written by Skip Gillham