Sixty years ago on this day May 10, 1966, the 730 foot bulk carrier A. S. GLOSSBRENNER was launched by Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec for the Labrador Steamship Company joining their fleet alongside the AUGUSTUS B. WOLVIN and the POINTE NOIRE. In 1971 she was sold to Algoma Central. She would sail under the GLOSSBRENNER name until 1987 when renamed ALGOGULF and then in 1990 as the ALGOSTEEL.
Photo at top of page: The A. S. GLOSSBRENNER, at the Port Weller entry to the Welland Canal, Fall 1983. Photo by Bob Campbell
ALGOSTEEL at Milwaukee, Wis., May 13, 2000. Photo by Chuck Sterba.
Can you hear me now??? Can you hear me now???? On January 3, 1999, sailing as the ALGOSTEEL, she was reported missing by the Lake Superior & Ishpeming ore dock in Marquette when she failed to arrive and could not be reached. The CG Cutter SUNDEW was scrambled and in the process of getting underway when the ALGOSTEEL made contact. It seems she was in a radio dead zone near Marquette and her cell phone and radio did not have a signal. Luckily it was only a test run for the SUNDEW’s crew and procedures.
ALGOSTEEL at the turning basin, Severstal Steel above the Dix Bridge, River Rouge, Dearborn, Mich., December 10, 2005, with tug WYOMING. Photo by Craig Olson.
In February 2014, after a season of significant snowfall for Wisconsin, the ALGOSTEEL and the ALGOWOOD transported 50,000 tons of rock salt from Goderich, Ontario, to our fair but snowy state. As a Milwaukeean, I was grateful for the delivery.
ALGOSTEEL upbound on the St. Clair River, St. Clair, Mich., June 12, 2015. Photo by Chuck Sterba.
After 52 years of loyal service, the ALGOSTEEL discharged her final cargo at Quebec City and sailed to Montreal. She arrived on April 28, 2018 and was retired. On June 1st, the ALGOSTEEL left Montreal in the tow of the tug FAIRMOUNT ALPINE bound for Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping. Sailing on this journey under the name OSTE, she arrived on June 28th, 2018.
Suzette Lopez
Photo Credit: Great lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
