Canada’s Oldest Laker, the 81-Year-Old Cuyahoga On Fire in Lake Erie

Canada’s oldest Great Lakes Cargo Ship, the 81-year-old Cuyahoga, is on fire, according to the U.S Coast Guard. With an overall length of 664 ft, she has an 18,000-tonne capacity and carries bulk cargo such as coal, stone, and iron ore.

The vessel had overcome several accidents in her career; however, this does not seem to be the case this time.

In 2023, she suffered an engine room fire that threatened to end her service life, but she returned to the waters by the end of the year and was gearing up for the 2024 season when this incident happened.

The fire started when Cuyahoga was berthed in Ashtabula on Lake Erie. The captain and crew members are safe, and the city and Ashtabula County have sent teams to put out the onboard fire.

The U.S. Coast Guard has sent boats and helicopters and plans to send marine inspectors and investigators to determine how the fire started.

#BREAKING – #USCG personnel are responding to a commercial vessel fire aboard the CUYAHOGA #Ashtabula by providing on-scene information and status updates via deployed boats and a helicopter. Master and crew of the CUYAHOGA are safe and accounted for.

The fire is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/aQNJUQe4II

— USCG Great Lakes (@USCGGreatLakes) March 15, 2024

This is the second accident onboard the vessel in less than a year. Cuyahoga, operated by Lower Lakes Towing of Rand Logistics, also suffered damage from an engine room fire while underway near Point Pelee, Ontario, Canada.

She was on a journey from Saginaw and had to be towed to port, and many were certain her active life had finally ended.

Her repairs took months, and she also underwent a survey, with reports circulating that her owners planned to extend her life until 2030.

Lakers usually have a long life; however, Cuyahoga is a piece of history on the Lakes. Constructed in 1943, she was part of the A1 type Maritime Class Bulkers, the most stylish vessel on the Lakes, marking the first use of cruiser stern design and a double compound steam engine.

She sailed under the name J. Burton Ayers for 52 years and was part of the supply effort in the Second World War. She carried iron ore to the mills, facilitating the production of artillery, aircraft and tanks.

Acquired by Lower Lakes in 1995, Cuyahoga and her sister ship Mississagi became the oldest Canadian Lakers. Mississagi was a few months older and was scrapped in 2021.

References: CBC, Welland Tribune

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