Algoma Compass

[Guest]

I had 3 friends that worked for ASC over a span of 30 or 40 years. All 3 of them disliked the Acorn. They felt she was a bargin basement design & was already showing her age 20 years ago. They’re all retired now but I’d bet if they were still sailing, they’d be happy to see her go. Every one of them to a man preferred the Bayship boats a lot better.

That's what I have heard. I worked on the Earl W. Oglebay (Manitwoc) and the Compass/Acorn is it's "big near sister" and the Earl wasn't a bad boat to "work" but it wasn't much for refinement of finishing touches. I imagine the Acorn is very similar, the only difference besides dimensions is the EMD engines and controllable pitch prop (which is an up grade from the Alco's and fixed pitch on the Triplets). I sailed with a few guys who worked the Adam E. Cornelius when she was on charter to Inland and they also said she wasn't the greatest. The reoccurring story I kept hearing was that she was built fairly flexible/light (more so then average) and that when you put the boom over the side all the cabin doors on the other side stuck. One equated it to the Trenton and Buffalo groundings and the resulting repairs. I also heard she had very pronounced propeller walk and you have to keep an eye on her more than normal. This however is all second hand and they could just be sea stories. Oddly enough I always liked the way those 4 ships (Acorn, Norton, Wolverine, Oglebay) looked, I wish they had placed the stacks on the Acorn like the other 3.

[Denny]

Don't forget also that the Buffalo now Algoma Buffalo is not too far behind either at 40 years old this season. Ironically it was 40 years ago on March 16th that she was launched at Bay Shipbuilding also!

[Guest]

I don't think she has the cubic capacity to be a viable long distance grain boat down the Seaway. Maybe her old runs to Buffalo were suited to shallow draft with a full grain cargo. She can handle 26,789 tons at Seaway draft of 26' 6" which might be viable for carrying ore to Quebec City for transhipping and a return load of ore for Dofasco. Her new name suggests she'll be a salt boat. The Algoway, Rail and Agawa Canyon all handled a lot of salt for 40+ years so the Compass could be in it for a long time. I guess it depends what kind of shape she's in.

Algoma Compass is also already 45 years old.

But she didn't haul salt all that time so maybe her holds and unloading machinery are still good for some years of salt hauling.

[Guest]

I don't think she has the cubic capacity to be a viable long distance grain boat down the Seaway. Maybe her old runs to Buffalo were suited to shallow draft with a full grain cargo. She can handle 26,789 tons at Seaway draft of 26' 6" which might be viable for carrying ore to Quebec City for transhipping and a return load of ore for Dofasco. Her new name suggests she'll be a salt boat. The Algoway, Rail and Agawa Canyon all handled a lot of salt for 40+ years so the Compass could be in it for a long time. I guess it depends what kind of shape she's in.

Algoma Compass is also already 45 years old.

[wlbblw]

I had 3 friends that worked for ASC over a span of 30 or 40 years. All 3 of them disliked the Acorn. They felt she was a bargin basement design & was already showing her age 20 years ago. They’re all retired now but I’d bet if they were still sailing, they’d be happy to see her go. Every one of them to a man preferred the Bayship boats a lot better.

[Guest]

I don't think she has the cubic capacity to be a viable long distance grain boat down the Seaway. Maybe her old runs to Buffalo were suited to shallow draft with a full grain cargo. She can handle 26,789 tons at Seaway draft of 26' 6" which might be viable for carrying ore to Quebec City for transhipping and a return load of ore for Dofasco. Her new name suggests she'll be a salt boat. The Algoway, Rail and Agawa Canyon all handled a lot of salt for 40+ years so the Compass could be in it for a long time. I guess it depends what kind of shape she's in.

[Denny]

Can't really say or answer your questions but, one major difference with her now is depending upon on many voyages and trips she may make up and down the Welland Canal and the Seaway Locks? That in itself takes a beating on the hull when you figure that when you travel through the Welland, that's 8 locks right there and about another 8 or so through the Seaway for a total of 16 locks I think is the correct figure for a seaway trip? Then throw in the fact if they are carrying salt then you have saltwater to deal with after you end up clearing Montreal and heading out past Montreal and points east if you know what I mean? Point is that the Algoma Compass when it was the Cornelius only traveled through one lock at the Soo and that doesn't take near a beating as going through the Welland or the Seaway does. I guess time will tell and we will have to wait and see how long she last hauling salt. All I know is once they get her painted up after drydocking, get all the photos you can then as that may be the best she will look before she starts carrying loads of salt.

[Guest]

About how long does a ship have a career in the salt trade before it gets too expensive to maintain? I would estimate at the Algoma Compass nearing 50 years old, it may only have around 10 years of service in this type of trade despite setting idle during large stretches of the past 25 years. Unfortunately it is now in the last part of its career. Seeing these 1970s US builds that I remember coming out as a youngster that are now approaching the 50 year mark is sure making me feel old.

[Guest]

Adam L. was never an official name with Transport Canada. Algoma Compass sounds like a good name. Transport Canada doesn't show her registered in Canada yet.

[Shipwatcher1]

Sad that salt will seem to be her life now, but at least she will be active again.

[clarkjol]

The Algoma Compass IS going to Don Jon Shipyard in Erie, PA after the Algoma Hansa leaves, which should be in two weeks. As reported before, most of the electronics is obsolete. Look for the Algoma Compass to haul a lot of salt.

[Guest]

Algoma Compass? If that is so then I wonder if the Cornelius then got another rename? Correct me if I’m wrong but at one point wasn’t she renamed the Adam L. by Algoma from the Adam E. Cornelius? I have not seen or heard of anything confirming any renames so far other than the Adam L. name. If she is now the Algoma Compass can anyone then confirm this rename? I don’t believe there’s been any mentioning on the Algoma website unless of course it recently took place. Thank You.

Her AIS is now transmitting Algoma Compass. Adam L. was just a temporary name.

[Denny]

Thanks Guest. Wow that is interesting news to hear indeed. Now if she goes in for a survey and drydocking then gets repainted to the Algoma hull colors, Holy Toledo would she look sharp then! I would love to see that happen but, time will tell on that one. We will have to see on that.

[guest]

That is the new name for sure.

[Denny]

Algoma Compass? If that is so then I wonder if the Cornelius then got another rename? Correct me if I’m wrong but at one point wasn’t she renamed the Adam L. by Algoma from the Adam E. Cornelius? I have not seen or heard of anything confirming any renames so far other than the Adam L. name. If she is now the Algoma Compass can anyone then confirm this rename? I don’t believe there’s been any mentioning on the Algoma website unless of course it recently took place. Thank You.

[RTNerd]

Algoma Compass in now transmitting AIS in Huron, O.