Henry G. Dalton

Who am I?

One of the Mystery Ships that has eluded identification the longest has finally been positively identified thanks to Ted Wilush! The Henry G. Dalton had stymied the experts because most photos of the ship show her rear mast in front of the smokestack instead of behind it like the ship in the picture does. It was Ted who first realized that Henry G. Dalton’s mast was moved from behind the smokestack to in front of the smokestack during a renovation that most likely took place in 1954. The Henry G. Dalton was built by the American Ship Building Company and launched in 1916. She was scrapped in 1973. If you would like to see a photo of the Henry G. Dalton with the rear mast behind the smokestack, please click here. If you would like to see a photo of the Henry G. Dalton with the rear mast in front of the smokestack, please click here.

Ornefjell

Who am I?

Research indicates that this is the Norwegian cargo ship Ornefjell. The ship was built in 1937 and scrapped in 1971. The Ornefjell served in several convoys during World War II before seeing duty in the Great Lakes.

Goderich

Who am I?

This vessel is proved to be quite the Mystery Ship. The Rock believed that the ship may be the Stadacona. Stearman felt the stern of the ship pictured differs from the Stadacona and has identified the vessel as the Donnacona. Tonylast disagrees with both possibilities and felt that the ship is the Goderich. Tonylast bases his opinion on the number of hatches and high forecastle. Recently, Ted Wilush based his opinion on the turret style pilothouse and like Tonylast the high forecastle, has also identified the ship as the Goderich. The ship was built in 1908 for the Hannah Transit Company and launched as the Howard M. Hannah, Jr. During the “Big Storm” of 1913 the ship became stranded in Lake Huron on the Port Austin Reef. The vessel actually broke in two but eventually was rebuilt. In 1914 the ship was sold to the Great Lakes Transportation Company, Ltd. and renamed the Glenshee. The ship was acquired by Canada Steamship Lines, Ltd. in 1926 and was first renamed the Marquette but then renamed the Goderich. The ship was acquired by the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay Railway Company in 1963 and renamed the Agawa. The Goderich Elevator & Transit Company, Ltd. purchased the ship in 1968. The ship was renamed the Lionel Parsons and used as a grain storage hulk in Goderich, Ontario before being scrapped in 1983. If you would like to see additional photos and information about the Goderich please click here.

Mystery Ship

Who am I?

M.S. Riverdore

Who am I?

Thanks to Yvon from Fort de France (Martinique) and Bruce from Aberdeen, Scotland who agree that the ship is most likely the M.S. Riverdore. The cargo ship was built in 1958 by William Gray and Company Ltd. of West Hartlepool, England. The ship was scrapped in 1982. If you would like to see an additional picture of the M.S. Riverdore, please click here.

Baby Brøvig

Who am I?

Thanks to Derek of Harwich, England for identifying the ship as the Baby Brøvig. This Norwegian cargo ship was launched in 1949 and sailed under several different names before being scrapped in 1984. If you would like to learn more about the Baby Brøvig, please click here.

Helen Hindman (2)

Who am I?

Thanks to MikeM and The Rock for solving this Mystery Ship. The ship has been identified as the Helen Hindman. The ship was built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1911 and is believed to have been scrapped in the 1980’s. Captain George Hindman founded what would become the Hindman Transportation Company in 1939. Almost all the ships in the fleet bore the name of a family member. This was the second ship with the Helen Hindman moniker.

W.E. Fitzgerald

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the W.E. Fitzgerald. The ship was launched in 1906 and scrapped in 1971. The ship’s namesake, William Fitzgerald, had a son Edmund who also had a ship named for him – the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald!

MS Ciandra / MS Colonia

Who am I?

Research indicates that the ship is one of two German freight and passenger ships. The MS Ciandra was built in 1952 and scrapped in 1977 while her sister ship, the MS Colonia, was built in 1953 and scrapped in 1986.

Mystery Ship

In honor of Veterans Day.

Who am I?

Does anyone know what kind of ship this is? Please click here to see a discussion of the possibilities!

Michigan

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the Texaco Michigan. The ship was launched in 1902 as the Horace S. Wilkinson and sailed under several different names. The above photo, taken in the 1940’s, depicts the ship as the Michigan. The ship was converted to a tank barge in 1967.

Venus

Who am I?

The ship was built in 1901 at Lorain, Ohio by the American Ship Building Company. She was acquired by the Interlake Steamship Company in 1913 and converted to a crane ship in 1927. The ship was sold several times during the next 20 years before being purchased in 1958 by the Steel Products Steamship Company. The ship was renamed Steel Products at that time. In 1961, she was sold to Marine Salvage, Ltd. in Port Colborne, Ontario for scrapping. On the way there, the ship broke the tow line and partially sank at Point Abino, Ontario. The Venus never went any further and was scrapped on that spot during the winter of 1961.

Shenango II

Who am I?

Thanks to MikeM for identifying the ship as the Shenango II. The ship was built for the Shenango Furnace Company and launched in 1958. The ship was sold in 1967 and renamed the Charles M. Beeghly. On March 7, 2011 the ship, which still sails the Great Lakes today, was renamed the Hon. James L. Oberstar. If you would like to know more about the Shenango II, please click here.