Roger Blough Launched as the self unloader Roger Blough in 1972. Product of American Shipbuilding Company, Lorain OH yards as Hull # 900. She is 858 feet long by 105 feet wide and is 41 feet deep. She has a maximum capactiy of 43,900 GT. She is powered by 2 Colt-Pielstick Diesel engines totalling 14,200 HP making her one, if not the fastest ships on the lakes today. She is engaged in the ore trades, but has recently begun to carry stone cargoes as well. Her career is not without notoriety. During the late stages of construction, a fire extensively damaged her stern quarters and engine room, killing four yard workers. This delayed her entry into service by almost one year. She also was laid up from 1981 to 1986 due to the downturn of the industry.

Calcite II - Launched as the Bulk Carrier William G. Clyde in 1929 for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company (Parent company being U.S. Steel). Product of the American Shipbuilding Company, Lorain OH yards as Hull # 804. In 1961, she was transferred to the Bradley Transportation Company (U.S. Steel's stone carrying division) and renamed Calcite II. She was then converted to a self unloader by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Incoporated of Manitowoc WI. She was repowered with a 3,240 HP Nordberg Diesel engine in 1964. She became a member of the present USS Great Lakes Fleet during the early 80's when both fleets were merged together. She is 604 feet 9 inches long by 60 feet wide and 32 feet deep. She has a maximum capacity of 12,650 GT. She is engaged in coal, stone, sand salt and other niche trades where her small size makes her ideal for the small ports of customers.

Cason J.Callaway: Launched as the Bulk Carrier Cason J. Callaway in 1952. Product of Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge MI yards as Hull # 297. In 1974, she was lengthened 120 feet by Fraser Shipyards of Superior WI. Fraser also converted her to a self unloader in 1982. At present she is 767 feet long by 70 feet wide and 36 feet deep. She has a maximum capacity of 25,300 GT. She is powered by a 7,700 HP Westinghouse Turbine and is equipped with bow and stern thrusters. She is engaged in ore, stone and coal trades. During the 70's the Callaway was one of the first U.S. Steel vessels to take part in year round navigation experiments, as well as one of the first in the entire U.S. Flagged fleet.

Phillip R. Clarke: Launched as the Bulk Carrier Philip R. Clarke in 1952. Product of American Shipbuilding Company, Lorain OH yards as Hull # 867. In 1974, she was lengthened 120 feet by Fraser Shipyards of Superior WI. Fraser also converted her to a self unloader in 1982. At present she is 767 feet long by 70 feet wide and 36 feet deep. She has a maximum capacity of 25,300 GT. She is powered by a 7,700 HP Westinghouse Turbine and is equipped with bow and stern thrusters. She is engaged in ore, stone and coal trades.

Edwin H. Gott: Launched as self unloader Edwin H. Gott 1979. Product of Bay Shipbuilding Company of Sturgeon Bay WI as Hull # 718. She is the largest member of the USS Great Lakes Fleet. At present she is 1,004 feet long by 105 feet wide and is 56 feet deep and has a maximum capacity of 74,100 GT. She is powered by 2 Enterprise Diesel engines generating 19,500 HP making her the most powerful bulk carrier ever to sail the lakes. She was a originally built with a short shuttle boom but in 1995 returned to Bay Shipbuilding and received a 280 foot long traditional boom. It is believed that this is also the longest boom on the lakes. She is engaged in ore trading only. She received some notoriety for her maiden voyage over a complete frozen Lake Superior in 1979. Upon arrival in Two Harbors MN she had sustained flooding in her forepeak and had lost one rudder. She spent nearly 2 months in Two Harbors undergoing repairs before loading 59,735 tons of taconite for Gary IN.

John G. Munson :Launched as self unloader John G. Munson in 1952 for Bradley Transportation Company (U.S. Steel being parent company). Product of Manitowoc Shipbuilding Incorporated of Manitowoc WI as Hull # 415. In 1976, she was lengthened 102 feet by Fraser Shipyards of Superior WI. At present she is 768 feet 3 inches long by 72 feet wide and 36 feet deep and has a maximum capacity of 25,550 GT. She is powered by a 7,700 HP General Electric turbine and is equipped with bow and stern thrusters. She is engaged in ore, stone and coal trades. She became an official member of the USS Great Lakes Fleet during the early 80's when the Bradley and Pittsburgh fleets were merged. In 1990, she also lost the Bradley grey hull that she had worn since construction for the new red hull with grey and black bow stripes that the fleet had adopted as it's new color scheme. She is also known for her first cargo consisting of 21,011 GT of stone loaded on Independence Day 1953. It was a record that stood until 1966.

George A. Sloan: Launched as the Bulk Carrier Hill Annex in 1943 for the U.S. Maritime Commision. Product of Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge MI yards as Hull # 292. She was renamed George A. Sloan shortly after launching when she was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steamship Division of U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel traded in the aging vessels Clarence A. Black, Herman C. Strom, Pentecost Mitchell, Queen City, Rensselaer, Robert Fulton and Zenith City. In return, they received the Sloan, Robert C. Stanley and Sewell Avery. The Sloan is one of the last of the 16 Maritime class built during WWII. She is one the 10 B1 designs that GLEW built. These 10 featured a counter stern, were six inches longer and featured a 3 cylinder triple expansion engine. At present she is 620 feet 6 inches long, 60 feet wide and 35 feet deep and has a maximum capacity of 15,800 GT. In 1967 she was transferred to the Bradley Transportation Company and converted to a self unloader at Fraser Shipyards of Superior WI. In 1985, she was repowered with a 4,500 HP Caterpillar Diesel engine also at Fraser. In the eyes of most boatwatchers those modifications have prolonged her career to now. She is engaged in coal, stone, gypsum and other niche trades where her small size is ideal for customers around the lakes.

Edgar B. Speer: Launched as the self unloader Edgar B. Speer in 1980. Product of American Shipbuilding Company, Lorain OH yards as Hull # 908. The Speer was the 2nd to last ship build at those yards before they closed in 1982. Her entry into service was delayed by over a year due to labor strikes at the yard. Nonetheless she has a had a near flawless career in service. At present she is 1,004 feet long by 105 feet wide and 56 feet deep and has a maximum capacity of 73,700 GT. She is powered by 2 Colt-Pielstick Diesel Engines generating 19,260 HP making her the 2nd most powerful bulk carrier on the lakes. She is engaged in ore trades only and usually loads in Duluth MN or Two Harbors MN to offload in Gary IN or Conneaut OH.

Myron C.Taylor: Launched as the bulk carrier Myron C. Taylor in 1929 for Pittsburgh Steamship Company (U.S. Steel being the parent company). Product of Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge MI yards as Hull # 269. She was transferred to the Bradley Transportation Company in 1956 and converted to a self unloader by the Christy Corporation of Sturgeon Bay WI. In 1968 she was repowered with a 4,320 HP Nordberg Diesel engine. At present she is 603 feet 9 inches long by 60 feet wide and 32 feet deep and has a maximum capacity of 12,450 GT. She became an official member of the USS Great Lakes Fleet during the early 80's when both fleets were merged together. She is engaged in coal, stone, sand, salt and other niche trades where her small size suits the small ports of customers.

Presque Isle: The Integrated Tug Barge Presque Isle was built in 1973 for Litton Great Lakes Corporation. The Tug Presque Isle is a product of Halter Marine Services Incorporated of New Orleans LA as Hull # 322. The bow portion of the Barge Presque Isle is a product of Defoe Shipbuilding Company of Bay City as Hull # 447. The remaining part of the Barge was built By Erie Marine Incorporated of Erie PA as Hull # 102. The bow was towed to Erie and attached to the hold and soon after the tug arrived and was mated together. Shortly after entering service, U.S. Steel entered a long term charter with Litton and assumed full ownership in 1998. Combined the Presque Isle is 1,000 feet long by 104 feet 7 inches wide and 46 feet 6 inches deep and has a maximum capacity of 57,500 GT. The Presque Isle is powered by 2 Mireless-Blackstone Diesel engines generating 14, 840 HP. The Presque Isle is engaged in ore trades but occasionally runs coal and stone cargoes as well, making her the most versatile thousand footer in the fleet.

Ojibway: Launched as the supply boat Ojibway in 1945. Product of the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ashtabula OH yards as Hull # 526. Upon delivery to the fleet she sailed to Sault Ste. Marie MI and has remained downriver from the locks ever since. The smallest member of the USS Great Lakes Fleet she is 56 feet long by 28 feet wide and 7 feet deep. In season she is seen re-suppling vessels of the USSGLF fleet and other fleets such as the Interlake Steamship Company under contract using her on deck crane to lift pallets of supplies on to the decks of ships. Power is provided by a 190 HP diesel engine. She should be seen in the river for many years to come and offers a unique photo opportunity when alongside a ship. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------