Launched 1953 | ||
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The lake freighter Saginaw was commissioned the John J. Boland, in 1953, the third vessel to bear that name. Her namesake John James Boland, was a co-founder of Boland & Cornelius, the precursor to American Steamship Company, the owners and operators of the vessel.
Boland, hull #417 delivered September 1953, was one of three self-loading bulk carriers built at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. By the 1980s the ship had become among the oldest operated by American Steamship Company and was idle for eight years until returned to operation after on April 22, 1992 when Boland departed Superior, Wisconsin for Marquette, Michigan. In 1999 she was sold to Lower Lakes Towing, and renamed Saginaw.
The vessel was originally powered by a steam turbine, generating 7,000 shaft horsepower (5,200 kW). In 2007 her turbine was replaced by a diesel engine, generating 8,160 brake horsepower (6,080 kW).
Two earlier vessels have been named the Saginaw.