MV Indiana Harbor

MV Indiana Harbor is a very large diesel-powered lake freighter owned and operated by the American Steamship Company. This vessel was built in 1979 at Bay Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and included self-unloading technology.

The lake freighters Indiana Harbor (fore) and Presque Isle
History
United States
Name	MV Indiana Harbor
Namesake	Indiana Harbor, Indiana
Builder	Bay Shipbuilding Company[1]
Yard number	719[1][2]
Launched	1979[1]
Identification	Call sign:WXN3191 IMO number: 7514701
Status	In service as of 2022
General characteristics
Class and type	Lake freighter
Tonnage	35,923 GT[1] 33,534 NT[1]
Length	1,000 feet (305 m) (oa)[3] 988.8 feet (301 m)[1]
Beam	105 ft (32 m)[1]
Draft	34.75 ft (10.59 m) (midsummer draft)[3] 56 ft (17 m) (hull depth)[1]
Propulsion	four 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) diesel engines, 14,000 shp (10,000 kW)[3]

The ship is 1,000 feet (300 m) long and 105 feet (32 m) wide, with a carrying capacity of 77,500 Net tons of Iron Ore which is the record tonnage through the Soo Locks.^[3]

Service history

In May 1984, Indiana Harbor became the largest ship to ever enter the harbor at Ludington, Michigan, delivering 45,000 tons of limestone to the Dow plant in Ludington.^[4] The following year, it also set another record delivering 50,090 tons of limestone.^[5] In August 1986, Indiana Harbor broke the Lake Erie record for loading coal by taking on 52,000 tons of coal at Toledo, Ohio.^[6] Ten days later, Indiana Harbor ran aground in the St. Clair River.^[7]

On September 8, 1993, the ship collided with the Lansing Shoals Light Station. There were no injuries, but the collision caused approximately $1.9 million damage to the ship and $100,000 in damage to the light.^[8] On January 3, 1996, Indiana Harbor grounded in the St. Marys River and suffered an 8-foot (2.4 m) gash in the port bow.^[9]