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Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection
Original name: Zenith City

Ship owner: Pittsburgh Steamship Co.; War Shipping Administration; Zenith Transit Co.

Ship builder: Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Illinois

Engine builder: Cleveland Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio

Year ship built: 1895

Year engine built: 1895

Final disposition: Used as a trade in vessel for new tonnage [Maritime class ships], during World War II. Scrapped, Hamilton, Ontario, 1947.

Notes:

Launched, August 14, 1895. Largest vessel on the Great Lakes at the time.

Remarks:

The name Zenith City refers to Duluth, Minnesota, also served as the inspiration for Minnesota author Sinclair Lewis in his novel Babbit - fictional city in the book has this name.

Owners:

1) Zenith Transit Co. (Wolvin)

2) Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

3) War Shipping Administration., 1942-1947, Washington, D.C., owned by U.S. government, but operated for duration of the war by Pittsburgh SS Co.

Registry number: US. 210912

Hull number: 15

Vessel type: Bulk Freighter

Height: 23.9 ft.

Width: 48.3 ft.

Length: 387.5 ft.

Stroke length: 40 in.

Gross tonnage: 3581

Net tonnage: 2435

Materials: Steel

Engine type: Triple expansion

Piston 1: 19 in.

Piston 2: 38 in.

Piston 3: 63 in.

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