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The Leon Fraser was launched from River Rouge, MI on February 28, 1942 as the first of her class of ships. The four other ships have since been scrapped. In her first year on the Lakes, she set a record for loading ore in Duluth, Minnesota. She was 639.5 feet long with a beam of 67 feet.

In 1982 she went into layup and stayed there until 1989 when she reentered service. Ownership changed hands to Spitzer Marine in 1985 while she was in layup. In 1989 Fraser Shipyards, Inc purchased the Fraser and converted her to a cement carrier for Inland Lakes Transportation. During this process she was shortened by 120 feet and renamed the Alpena. Ownership transferred to Inland Lakes in 1990. She reentered active service in 1991.

The Alpena now has a length of 519.5 feet with a beam of 67 feet and has a cargo capacity at 13,900 tons.


Here the Alpena prepares to leave port to start the 2015 shipping season.

I developed an interest in photography at a young age, often following my father around while he took pictures. From that I learned the basics and purchased my first camera while still in high school. I learned more through reading and trial and error. My first formal training came in 2013 when I took a basic photography class at a community college. During high school I became fascinated with the freighters that sailed on the lakes. The boats intrigued me and for a time I wanted to work on them. My career took me down a different path, but I never lost my interest in the boats. In 2011 I combined my two interests, loading my camera in my car and chasing the boats around the lakes. I hope to highlight the hardworking ships and...