Dorothy Ann

1999-Present

Articulated Tugboat; Paired with Barge Pathfinder

Dorothy Ann in the notch of her barge, Pathfinder, at Port Huron, Michigan, June 26, 2019. Photo by Isaac Pennock

Build Information

Year Built: 1999

Builder: Bay Shipbuilding Corp., Sturgeon Bay, WI

Hull #743

Registry: U.S. 1081409

IMO #8955732

Laid Down: January 1, 1998

Launch Date: September 16, 1998

Commissioned: June 23, 1999

Paired Barges:

Pathfinder [1999-Present]

Construction

The Dorothy Ann was built as an articulated tugboat for Interlake Steamship Company, being specifically designed to push their recently-converted self-unloading barge Pathfinder. The Dorothy Ann was fabricated by Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with completion and fit out being taken care of by VanEnkevort Tug & Barge at Escanaba, Michigan. She was fitted with a Hydraconn Articulated Tug/Barge connection system while at Escanaba. The Dorothy Ann was constructed with twin Z-drives rather than traditional propellers and rudders, allowing for her to be much more maneuverable than other tugs of her size and operation. At the time of her construction, she was the largest Z-drive tugboat built for service under the Jones Act.

General Stats

Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: 700’02”

Length Overall [Tug]: 124’03”

Breadth: 44′

Depth: 24′

Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat

Propellers: 2 Z-Drives

Rudders: [Z-Drives]

Engineering Equipment

Original

Engine

Engine Type: Diesel Engine

Engine Manufacturer: General Motors Electro-Motive Division, Chicago, IL

Engine Model: 20-645-E7B

Number of Engines: 2

Rated HP: 7200 BHP

History

Lineage

Dorothy Ann – 1999-Present

Owner: Interlake Steamship Company, Middleburg Heights, OH

Operator: Interlake Steamship Company

Flag: United States

Home Port: Cleveland, OH

Her Story

The Dorothy Ann was constructed in 1999 by Bay Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, as an articulated tugboat for the Interlake Steamship Company. She was specifically designed to push their recently-converted self-unloading barge Pathfinder.

The keel for the Dorothy Ann was laid on January 1, 1998, being launched out Bay Shipbuilding’s graving dock on September 16, 1998. She was then towed to Escanaba, Michigan, where final fit out and the installation of her Hydraconn Articulated Tug-Barge connection system was taken care of by VanEnkevort Tug & Barge. After completion, the Dorothy Ann was paired with the barge Pathfinder for the first time on June 23, 1999. The Pathfinder was pushed by the Joyce L. VanEnkevort for the previous season until the Dorothy Ann could be completed. The pair were christened at the Cleveland Port Authority Docks on June 28, 1999.

The Pathfinder / Dorothy Ann operate primarily in the ore and stone trades, running ore shuttles up the Cuyahoga river and hauling stone out of northern Lake Huron ports. Since the 2019 season, the Pathfinder has been hauling more salt cargoes as well, fulfilling Interlake’s salt contracts with Cargill and Compass Minerals until the arrival of their new ship Mark W. Barker.

Compiled By Brendan Falkowski

Updated on August 3, 2020