Mesabi Miner
Mesabi Miner is a bulk carrier that operates on the upper four North American Great Lakes. She is one of the small number of vessels that are too large to travel through the Welland Canal that connects Lake Erie to the lowest lake, Lake Ontario. History. The American Ship Building Company built the ship in 1975 at Lorain, Ohio. Like her sister ship, the "James R. Barker", she is owned and operated by the Interlake Shipping Company. In spite of its size the "Mesabi Miner" is able to maneuver, in harbor, without requiring assistance from tugboats. On the  morning of January 5, 2014 "U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock" was breaking ice for the lake freighter "Mesabi Miner" approximately 22 nautical miles west of the Straits of Mackinac. She slowed after encountering harder ice and was struck in the stern by the much larger ore carrier. Both vessels sustained damage but there were no injuries, release of pollutants, or reports of flooding.