Great Lakes Freighter Reaches End of Journey

A powerful Great Lakes Freighter has ended it’s career in Ontario’s Welland Canal earlier this month in a scrapyard.

The “American Fortitude” was best known for her mishap while trying to enter the ice blocked ship canal in Duluth.

“It was amazing the ship handling that the captain had and the tugs that came out to help her to get her out to open water,” said the Director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, Denise Wolvin. 

The freighter was launched in 1953 in Lorain, Ohio. 

“People really enjoy seeing the older vessels. The classic lines of the ships and it’s always kind of sad when these ships go to scrapping because they aren’t as efficient as the newer vessels,” said Wolvin.

Her sister ship, the “American Victory,” is laid up in the Twin Ports