Name
The Str. American Fortitude was originally named Ernest T. Weir and renamed the Courtney Burton in 1978, after the grandson of the late Earl W. Oglebay. The vessel came under the ownership of American Steamship Company in 2006.
Construction
Built in 1953 by the American Ship Building Company at Lorain, OH. It was converted to a self-unloader at Bay Shipbuilding Corporation, Sturgeon Bay, WI. in 1981. The Str. American Fortitude sailed its maiden voyage, April 12, 1953 in ballast from Lorain, Ohio to Superior, WI to load iron ore.
Equipment
The Str. American Fortitude is powered by General Electric Steam Turbines and Foster Weber Boilers. The ship is equipped with a bow thruster. The vessel uses a conveyor system below its cargo holds to transport cargo to a "loop" conveyor system that elevates the cargo to the deck-mounted boom conveyor.
Service
The Str. American Fortitude is used in general trades, transporting iron ore pellets, coal, limestone and grain.
| Length, Overall | 690'-0" |
| Beam | 70'-0" |
| Depth | 37'-0" |
| Midsummer Draft (MS) | 27'- 8" |
| Deadweight Capacity at MS Draft | 23,400 Gross Tons |
| Deadweight Capacity at 27'-6" | 23,100 Gross Tons |
| Unloading Boom Conveyor Length | 260' |
| Maximum Unloading Rate | 6,000 Tons/Hour |
| Number of Cargo Holds | 4 |
| Number of Hatches | 20 |
| Shaft Horsepower | 7,000 |
| Year Built | 1953 |
| Number of Propellers | 1 |