Kinsman Independent's departure marks the end of an era

Great Lakes Associates, Inc.’s, Kinsman Independent, the last American-flag straight-deck bulk carrier still operating on the Great Lakes, paid her final call to the Port of Duluth-Superior in December.
Jon LaFontaine Photo

The vessel was a frequent visitor to the Port. Here she is on a late season call at Superior's Peavey-Connor's Point Elevator

The 50-year-old laker, with its World War II steam engine, was scheduled to retire this winter after taking a final load of about 15,000 tons of wheat from General Mills Superior Annex B to General Mills Frontier elevator in Buffalo, N.Y. The grain will be unloaded over the winter, after which the ship’s owner has announced it will be either scrapped or sold for use as a floating museum.

While several Canadian straight-deckers will continue to serve the Port, the Kinsman Independent was the last such U.S.-flag vessel in active service. Unlike today’s common self-unloaders, a straight-decker requires shoreside equipment for unloading. Although some U.S.-flag straight-deckers are still afloat, none is scheduled to return to active service.
Tim Slattery Photo

The Kinsman Independent makes her way under Duluth's famed Aerial Lift Bridge on her final departure


Built in 1952 by the Defoe Shipbuilding co. in Bay City, Mich., the Kinsman Independent began her career with Hutchinson Lines and was named the Charles L. Hutchinson. Her engine was built by Bethlehem Steel Corp. in 1941 for the Alcoa Protector, an ocean ship that was sunk during World War II and later salvaged. The vessel was sold to the Ford Motor Co. in 1962 and became the Ernest R. Breech prior to acquisition and renaming by Kinsman Lines (later Great Lakes Associates) in 1988.

The vessel was a regular visitor to the Port of Duluth-Superior throughout her history and in recent years carried about 15 loads of grain annually to Buffalo. Port officials said the Frontier Elevator in Buffalo is being equipped this winter with an unloading hopper and therefore future grain deliveries will be made with self-unloaders.

The end of straight-decker service also means the end of “grain scooping” by longshoremen in Buffalo. “Scoopers” have been employed in Buffalo since 1882.