Ojibway perhaps the last of the Great Lakes straight deck bulk carriers is now gone forever 

I served as a deckhand on the Cleveland Cliffs boat Frontenac in 1967 before college. I loved the perfect lines of those old boats and will miss them. Thanks for the video.

I was lucky to have my dad, an Ford Executive, book our family a cruise on the William Clay Ford. We left the Rouge Plant and sailed up to Rogers City Michigan for limestone. This was in the mid 1960’s. A storm came up on Lake Huron and to be at the bow where our cabins were. Riding up a wave and looking back at the rear of the ship at the bottom of the wave. For a 13 year old boy watching this was magical. She was a beautiful ore ship.

Great story! The last shot of a laker brought back memories of seeing them on Lake Erie when we would (infrequently) visit the beach. Dad called them ore boats, not knowing they carried other cargos. Thanks for the memories!

The straight decker Edward Ryerson is still around but it’s been laid up at Fraser Shipyard since 2009. I work up there for the winter layups and I haven’t heard anything about them scrapping it, I’m pretty sure they’re making some repairs to it.

Wes, you did yet another wonderfully researched video. The story of this fine straight decker literally came alive for me. Not many videos keep my absolute full attention while watching, but yours always do. Thanks so much for documenting yet another fascinating ship.

Great to see another installment from Wes. Sad to see the end of an era.l

All things must pass, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing, or that we have to like it! Well done video!

My husband and I have just found your channel recently. It is quickly becoming one of our favorites. Thank you for the interesting history of the boats we love watching but know so little about.

Another great video thanks for all the hard work

Very nice video. It's funny about the lines of a vessel. Some seem so beautiful and some so ugly. Anyone ever see a good looking sea going car carrier? They hurt my eyes. The Ojibway was a fine looking boat. Thanks Wes. More fun for us.

Damn. W. That was a good one.

Interesting pictures with half and half livery. Sad to see her go. That last photo made me feel really nostalgic for watching boats up at the new Presque Isle light. Thanks for the vid, Wes.

I’m glad I got my video of the Ojibway in algonac 2 years ago on my jet ski!!!I got really close..I loved that ship!!!rest in peace

Saw the Ojibway many times over the years cruising along M29 and up into Marine City. Always liked the look of her. But, I never knew this! My dad would love this one!

The depth of your knowledge is greater than the depth of all the Great Lakes combined. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Great video, excellent & interesting tribute Wes. Loved the night photos of her!

Thank you Wes! Your research is always so thorough. You say it correctly to my ears.

The early Ojibway years with the splotches of different color paint... It's like if my old 1983 Delta 88 I drove 20 years ago was a ship. 😁

Lake Huron girl here (Thunder Bay, Alpena). I remember seeing her. I didn't know she was owned by Ford, wow. RIP 🙏 old girl.

This makes me sad to see this happen. I tracked her, as she went back and forth on the great lakes, on “Vessel Finder”. I never saw the ship or knew how she served with distinction. It was a name I liked. Thank you for her story. A salute, and a toast the old lady of the lakes.

That's another one gone like the looks if them better than the modern ones

Ojibway was one amazing beauty! Another sad story ! Thank you very much for the information!

Great story. I plan on building the R/C 19" freighter model from your instructions here on RU-vid. This old design is fascinating to me. Thanks for sharing

Dam, I can't believe that the Straight decker is gone forever, it's so sad to see an era of great lakes shipping go away. :(

Thanks for her history. It always sad when these beautiful lakers are retired and scrapped.

This was a fascinating story! It is sad to know she may be the last of the straight deck bulk carriers. Thanks for sharing this.

What makes it even sadder is that she powerfully drove her self to the scrap yard

My dad was captain of the Kinsman Independent up until his retirement around 2001. I always admired the beauty of her lines.

You sir have really sparked a new interest in me in Great lake boats. Your tributes are excellent. Thanks!

Great episode Wes, thanks

Wow, thanks for the memories! Spent a lot of time watching the ships pass by on the St. Lawrence river in the late 1950's through the 1960's into the 1970s.

My first ship! Started as a temporary painter on the Independent at River Rouge when Kinsman took it over. Joined the union right after and worked onboard for quite a few years..So many stories and memories. Thanks loved the video!!!

I hope 'Cuyahoga' isn't next, she's 9 years older than Ojibway. Great video! Love the history.

i did a bunch of work on her last winter in the engine room and its the nicest engine room in the whole fleet. hard to believe its time for scrap

Keep up the great videos! Love the vid!

...glad i watched, thanks.

Thanks for the great video. Very interesting.

Thanks for that fascinating story! I grew up in Erie, PA. Back in the 1960s, we would go out in Presque Isle bay in our little 16' Lyman motor boat. In the early spring there would be several ore boats moored in the middle of the bay, either waiting for the new season to begin, or in storage. We would often anchor our boat near the ore boats and fish there. I also watched the 1000'er the Stewart J. Cort steam through the channel from the bay to Lake Erie on her maiden voyage. That was quite a sight. Your videos bring back a lot of memories of my days watching the ubiquitous ore carriers, and all manner of other ships from all over the world that would visit the port in Erie, and unload and load cargo there. Thanks for that too!

What a sad story I nearly had a tear in my eye 👁 thanks for sharing 👍🏼

I have been to the soo a number of times and enjoyed seeing the large ships. This was a very interesting video. Thank you

Wonderfully researched and complete story !! The amount of research needed must be extremely time consuming !! From all of us viewers I thankyou for your time doing this. 👍👍👍👍

Still so happy I found this channel. Love the research you do and the stories you tell.

Thanks for this video! Glad our guys got to do her last fire equipment inspection near Montreal.

Super cool

Nice Saginaw shout out. Used to hang at Ojibway Island in the 70s and80s

I remember back in the 60’s dad and I took a trip to Cleveland just to see stuff and explore. We were on some kind of dock and there were three ships like this. The one in the middle was snapped in two and the both ends were down in the water and I assume sitting on the lake bottom. It’s one of those memories I’ll never forget.

Good job Wes.

This is a great video, thank you for sharing the history of this amazing vessel. I applied to work for Lower Lakes Towing in 2020 as a deck officer cadet for my sea phase. I did not get the position but it would have been something to have had a chance to work on such a beautiful vessel.

Great job as always Wes. Love to hear the history behind the ships. Too bad I was too young to see most of them in their hay-day... (I was born in 1981). Hope you and yours stay safe and well.

Nice camouflage pattern for that that ship and it can always still come in handy for sailing in war waters

Never knew the story of her steam turbine. They built 'em good at Defoe.

I remember when the Ojibway was named the Ernest R. Breech while sailing for the Ford Motor Company out of Dearborn, Michigan.

Thank you

I will try to start tomorrow by using your rc ship building tutorial.

Also growing up in Saginaw Michigan, we also pronounced it Oh-jib-way island. Always a little sad to see the boats like this and the Manistee sail off into the sunset for the last time.

i was on the Ojibwa 7th of july 2022 when it was at the colborne scrapyard getting some tools and materials that they left behind, it is really cheap to get stuff off scrap ships. when i got there it was pretty well stripped, it was very sad to see such a ship in that situation. it was a really cool experience to be on that ship and explore the entire thing along with the manistee but very sad to see them get cut up. i did get a lot of pictures of the two while i was there so that was a bit of a bonus.

Damn, I saw her just last season.

Lived near Lake Erie for 5 years in the 60s, would never think the ships lime this would be gone.

I did wonder about the ww2 story and we’re it was going Excellent 👍👍

Sad to hear... Seen Her a many of times as traveled up and down bound on the Detroit river as well as the St. Clair River... When you watch em under the Blue Water Bridge they get so close to the American Side in that narrow channel You can see them almost as if you standing next to them. Will definitely miss seeing as she steams past... Sad to see them go... I guess they are aged some and with the cost of fuel oil they can't carry the tonnage of the more modern haulers but they look the same without the wheelhouse up front. I think her old Ford running mate Benson Ford II is still steaming under the name Kate E Barker.

Another great video, Wes! The straight deckers will sail on in memories of those that remember them. I'm holding out hope for the RYERSON, I saw her launched in 1960 in Manitowoc, but it doesn't look good for her or JOHN SHERWIN. Thanks again for keeping Great Lakes history alive. 3 long,2 short from Green Bay.

I remember her coming into owen sound harbour. Glad i found your channel excellent content 👍

Sad!!! Farewell, lady! I think I have some pics of her from my last trip to the Soo about 6 years ago...

I'm starting to get the impression that whatever ship hangs out In my hometown harbour for any length of time is destined for the wrecker

what's going on Mr. O? nothing from you for a while - hope all is well? always always appreciate your uploads, pure class .

I just did her last inspection of firefighting equipment maybe a week ago so she can sail from Quebec to Ontario, incredible to see all the history, I guess I’m lucky to had a last glance at this beautiful ship 😯

Great video Wes. You just got a new subscriber who also grew up in Saginaw.

Wes, I’d like to thank you for covering the Canadian side of Great Lakes shipping. Not many people do this in such detail.

Another fine video Wes. You mentioned the Edward L. Ryerson at the end. Fun fact, she is named after the younger brother of Arthur L. Ryerson, who went down with the Titanic in 1912.

Sad to see her go. I suppose even if it were possible for her to sail under the Blue Water Bridge while passing the most recent addition to the Great Lakes fleets, the image wouldn't be as striking as the photograph of one of the last sailing vessels passing a steam laker under the Blue Water Bridge when the bridge was being constructed in the 1930s. But every time another classic laker is scrapped, I think of that photograph. Time sails on...

Shame. but it is inevitable and at least she got a reprieve when Upper Lakes bought her. Got up close and personal in Toronto when she went under the lift bridge in Toronto. I was fortunate enough to be the first car and happy to wait, others were probably cursing their luck but I was thanking mine, Ojibway was a nice looking boat, sad to see her go. One more for the memory books.

Thanks. I'm teary now, but still thank you for the story. (BTW, I'm from the other side of the state, and we pronounce 'way', too.)

Speaking of straight deck museum ships. It would be cool if you did a episode in the William A Ervin which is parked in Canal Park in Duluth harbor! Yeah I could go and do all the research on her but you do such a great job of it that I think people would enjoy it!

I still have an old hat with the Cleveland Cliffs logo on it worn back in 1967. Don't know if you're a collector but I'd be glad to send it to you if you are interested. Originally from Detroit but now live in Columbus, Ohio.

Ojibway is gone forever, but 480p remains.

Ever onward rides the chariot of time. The straight deck freighter had now gone to the same place where the whalebacks and the tall ships had gone many a year ago. "Praeterit enim figura huius mundi"

Love your videos. Atari graphics in this episode were neat. You do an excellent job at narrating these videos and I really appreciate your thoughtful and calm presentations. Keep up the great work.

I was a team member at heddle marine services during the refit overhaul when she was the voyager independent after tge maritime trader...cool old tub

Also the last built with the traditional (non-cruiser) stern.

I recall seeing the KINSMAN INDEPENDANT often from the Skyway Bridge at General Mills in Buffalo, and the OJIBWAY in Lake Erie and the Welland Canal proudly displaying Perry's Flag. Saw her being scrapped throughout last summer at Port Colborne . Unaware she was the same vessel.

Saw the Ojibway at the ADM bean dock many times where the marine leg would be offloading beans (and I assume canola). Sad to know she is gone. The self unloaders have no advantage there as ADM doesnt have the facilities for them so they simply swing the stacker boom out of the way of the leg.

Sad day. May she rust in peace.

GEVO powered lake boat? That’s a first!

If I’m not mistaken the pilothouse was removed, I think its on Beaver Island now

Thanks, Wes. Wasn’t/isn’t Ojibway the name of one of the big Arnold Line/Star Line ferries at Mackinac?

Great story! So, does "straight deck" mean not a self-unloader then?

It was a sad day seeing her and Manistee make their way to be retired, I don’t like the term “scrapped” Retired shows respect for the great veteran ladies. The Mississagi was a great loss too.

Wish something could be done for all the remaining ones...

Great video! I have just one question: Shouldn't the Stewart J. Cort and Roger Blough, technically, be considered "straight deckers" as well if the Ojibway is to be considered as such? All three vessels, as well as the CTC No. 1, have unique self unloading systems specialized for their intended cargo and docks.

loved video but some are still around like ss arthur marvin anderson also from 1952

The Edward L Ryerson stoll exists as a straight decker...just laid up in port in Wuperior Wisconsin I believe

It would be interesting to know the destiny of the steel going out from the ship breakers. Do they become Chevys, Fords or Chryslers, or bridges or tuna cans?

That's depressing and I don't even live around there nor have I ever seen it in person...

A little William garden in that wheel house visor

RIP extra long cargo ship

We're you get the propell or do you build it

I have plans for my rc great lake freighter

🗽🗽🗽👍👍👍⚓⚓⚓

It just seems wrong to me that a ship with that much history is just unceremoniously sent to the scrapyards. We save things like old war planes and tanks, and yes, these are not quite as expensive to keep, but the freighters of the Great Lakes support the backbone of American industry. And these freighters that haul millions of tons of taconite, coal, and many other cargoes to support our nation are just sent away once they become a burden. I just hope the same doesn’t happen to the Reyerson cause she’s still fit for service with some repairs.

What about the author m Anderson