By Chris Winters

A deckhand aboard the CAMERON O. calls distances as the tug tows ST. MARYS CHALLENGER into the graving dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, July 2009.

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The tug CAMERON O. was built in 1969 by Peterson Builders of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., as their own ESCORT II.  In 1996 she was sold to Selvick Marine Towing.  Selvick renamed her CAMERON O. in 2006.  Selvick became Sarter Marine Towing in 2019.  CAMERON O. was chartered to the Great Lakes Towing Company of Cleveland in 2022 as is used as a harbor tug in Sturgeon Bay.

The ST. MARYS CHALLENGER was built in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich., by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Shenango Steamship Co. as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER.  She has sailed under numerous names – ELTON HOYT II, ALEX D. CHISHOLM, MEDUSA CHALLENGER, SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER – and still sails today as a barge.

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Chris Winters is a Trustee of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, a well-known author and has been a photojournalist for over 25 years.  He and his cameras have enjoyed a privileged glimpse into the lives of merchant mariners aboard some of the Great Lakes best-known and best-loved vessels.