American Century - Coal Ship Pours on the "Coal" While Leaving Duluth

Here is the American Century departing Duluth, Minnesota on the afternoon of March 31, 2025. She had just loaded 68,000 tons of coal at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal and was now outbound for Lake Superior. She would deliver 38,000 tons to the power plant in St. Clair, Michigan, with the remaining 30,000 tons bound for the power plant at Monroe, Michigan. On her way out, she blew a captain's salute for the Aerial Lift Bridge, which responded with the same.

The lighting conditions for this departure were less than ideal, with the afternoon sun offering no great angles along the pier to enjoy the Century's departure... at least until she moved past us and we could see her stern. What was most interesting about this departure was the plume of smoke coming from her port side stack as they accelerated for the lake crossing. The deep blackness of that smoke reminded me of photos of the old coal-fired ships that used to roam the lakes in the early 20th century. I guess it's somewhat fitting that a ship carrying coal would emulate the ships that used to burn coal!

The 1000-foot American Century was launched under the name Columbia Star in November 1980, making her the twelfth of thirteen 1000-footers built for Great Lakes trade. She originally sailed for Oglebay Norton. In June 2006, she was sold to American Steamship Company and obtained her current name at that time. She is powered with four V-20 cylinder 3,600 horsepower G.M. diesel engines and has a cargo capacity of 78,850 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 34 feet. Cargo is stored in seven holds that are accessed by 34 hatches on deck. Her 260-foot self-unloading boom can discharge up to 10,000 tons per hour.
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