The SS Alpena, the oldest working freighter on Michigan’s Great Lakes, is back on course for another shipping season.
As of 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 28, the ship was en route from Cleveland, Ohio, and was on Lake Huron heading north at nearly 12 knots, according to Marine Vessel Traffic map.
The SS Alpena, a cargo ship with white and red detailing, was built in 1942, and still carries (primarily) cement to and from Alpena in northern Michigan.
The SS Alpena had been docked in Cleveland this summer undergoing repairs. The SS Alpena claimed title of oldest working freighter in 2015. The ship was damaged that same year in a fire, but made a prompt return to work in 2016.
The 83-year-old ship is owned by Inland Lakes Management, headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, and transports cement from Alpena, Michigan, to other Great Lakes ports.
Here’s more on the SS Alpena:
Where is the SS Alpena ship currently?
The SS Alpena is sailing through the St. Clair River nearing Port Huron per the Marine Traffic map — which tracks ships on the Great Lakes and around the world.
How old is the SS Alpena?
The SS Alpena, originally named the Leon Fraser, was commissioned in 1942 and built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse, Michigan.
The Alpena, or Leon Fraser, was originally owned by The Pittsburgh Steamship Company and hauled grain and iron ore before being put into storage in 1982.
In 1989, the ship was purchased by Fraser Shipyards, which shortened the vessel by 120 feet.
The ship was sold again in 1990 and renamed the SS Alpena.
How big is the SS Alpena?
The SS Alpena is a self-discharging bulk carrier built in 1942.
The Alpena is 520 feet long with a beam, or width, of 67 feet and a draft of 35 feet. The ship can carry 17,097 tons of cargo, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.
How can I track the SS Alpena on the Great Lakes?
For those wishing to track the SS Alpena this season, Marine Vessel Traffic tracks the cargo ship, labeled as “ALPENA.”
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Oldest freighter on the Great Lakes sets sail. What to know about the SS Alpena
Reporting by Sarah Moore and Cassidey Kavathas, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
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