Plus some wave action for your enjoyment!

The veteran 1952 ship Maumee setting out in style from Duluth, beating back 6ft foot waves like she didn’t even notice them! Originally built as a 647ft long classic AAA class laker identical to other famous lakers such as Arthur M Anderson and Philip R Clarke, she sailed the lakes for 55 years as the Reserve. In the mid seventies she was lengthened by 120ft and self unloading equipment was added. Then in the 2000s the company that owned her fell into hard times, eventually going out of business in 2005. The ship was saved from the scrapyard by a small startup company, along with her slightly smaller fleetmate Buckeye. They attempted to sail the two ships for the next year, but their old, long neglected steam engines broke down continuously and they spent more time in shipyards than actually sailing. Without enough money to buy new 20 million plus dollar engines, they were forced to convert both vessels to barges, replacing the stern sections with older tugs. The Reserve was paired with the tug Victory and her name was changed to James L Kuber. Then in 2019 her name was changed again to Maumee, and painted gray (she had been a tan and red color her entire career before then). Currently measuring in at a total of 802ft long including the tug, the ship continues to be a very productive vessel at 72 years old. The move to convert to an ATB was not popular among the ship watching community, and the ship, once regarded as one of the queens of the Great Lakes, has faded into unfortunate obscurity despite her long history and continued hard work.

The ship is starting to look a little rough again, looks like she might need some steel work and the old red paint job underneath her current gray color is starting to show again! She is due for inspection next winter, hopefully she gets some much needed attention!