American Century

This Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier was built by Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI and was launched as Columbia Star on November 8, 1980 for Columbia Transportation Division, Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland, OH. She is powered by 4 V-20 cylinder 3,560 horsepower G.M. diesel engines driving through a gear reduction box to 2 controllable pitch propellers giving her a rated service speed of 15 knots. She is equipped with both bow and stern thrusters. The Columbia Star has 37 hatches feeding into 7 holds where she is capable of carrying 78850 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 34 feet. Her stern-mounted 260 foot self-unloading boom can be swung 92 degrees to port or starboard and can discharge at a rate of up to 10,000 tons per hour.