Boatnerds in the Lorain and Cleveland area in the 1980s and 1990s could count on a sighting of the American Republic on the ore shuttle between Republic Steels Lorain Pellet Terminal and its steel mill at the head of navigation on the Cuyahoga River.

The American Republic was designed and built by Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to be the main shuttle ship to move iron ore pellets brought down the Lakes. The pellets were brought in by larger vessels and unloaded at the Lorain Pellet Terminal. They were then reloaded for transshipment up the tight twisting confines of the Cuyahoga River.

She could make a round trip roughly every 24 hours.

Equipped for Tight

American Republic was built for the American Steamship Company of Buffalo, New York under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. She was the 10th and last ship built for American Steamship under this government program.

Beginning as hull #724, American Republic was launched on July 14, 1980, with the dimensions of 634-feet, 10-inches long, beam of 68 feet and a depth of 40 feet. Propulsion is provided by two EMD 20-645-E7 diesel engines producing 7,200 bhp. This one-of-a-kind vessel has 1500 horsepower bow and stern thrusters and two variable pitch propellers in strengthened kort nozzles. The kort nozzles have two rudders in the normal position behind the kort nozzle and two flanking rudders in front of the nozzle, allowing the boat to navigate the Cuyahoga River without tug assistance.

The American Republic underwent sea trials in April and May 1981 before leaving on her maiden trip on May 21, 1981. She sailed light from Sturgeon Bay to Escanaba, Michigan to load iron ore pellets for Cleveland.

Olympic History

On July 6, 1996, American Republic participated in a first for Great Lakes Shipping when she departed the Hart Plaza in Detroit with the Olympic flame in a cauldron on her deck at hatch 4. She arrived in Cleveland that evening festooned with large Olympic banners on both sides of the bow.

On March 28, 2008, American Republic was beset in ice west of the Mackinac Bridge while eastbound towards the bridge. The Cason J. Callaway was westbound loaded for Gary, Indiana when she tried to pass near the Republic to free her from the ice. When the ice shifted, the vessels collided. Both vessels were subsequently repaired at Bay Shipbuilding.

In the spring of 2011, American Steamship’s long-term lease expired, and the boat remained in lay-up in Toledo, Ohio. The vessel departed her lay-up dock on June 2, 2011, under the management of Key Lakes Inc. of Duluth, Minnesota for the Great Lakes Fleet. She was renamed Great Republic. Her first trip for the Great Lakes Fleet was light to Marquette, Michigan where she loaded iron ore pellets for Toledo.

The Great Republic continues hauling stone and iron ore for the Great Lakes Fleet and is a frequent sight around the Lakes. For her size, the ship has high-cargo capacity, making her a valuable asset that should guarantee her many more years of service.