The MS Windoc was a notable lake freighter, originally constructed in 1959 in West Germany as an ocean-going bulk carrier named Rhine Ore. Built by the Schlieker shipyard in Hamburg, the vessel was launched on April 11, 1959, and completed later that summer. As Rhine Ore, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 8,202 and a deadweight tonnage of 19,918 tons. The vessel measured 166.4 meters overall, with a length between perpendiculars of 157.5 meters, and a beam of 22.6 meters. Power was provided by a single diesel engine, allowing a maximum speed of 14.5 knots. In 1977, the ship was sold to Hall Corp Ltd. of Toronto and renamed Steelcliffe Hall. During this period, it was reconstructed as a laker, which involved extending its length to 222.5 meters overall, increasing its gross register tonnage to 18,531 and deadweight to 29,050 tons. Structural modifications included adding cargo space forward of the engine room and relocating the wheelhouse above the crew accommodations. The beam was slightly increased to 23.1 meters. In 1988, the vessel was renamed Windoc after being acquired by N. M. Paterson & Sons Ltd. Over its decades of service, the Windoc was a significant part of Great Lakes shipping, reflecting the evolution of bulk cargo transport in the region. The ship’s service history includes a major incident on August 11, 2001, when it collided with Bridge 11 in the Welland Canal near Allanburg, Ontario. The collision caused the destruction of its wheelhouse and funnel, ignited a fire, but resulted in no injuries and minimal damage to cargo. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss and was towed to Hamilton Harbour for repairs. Later, in March 2002, it broke free in a gale and ran aground, but was subsequently pulled free by tugboats. Following the accident, the Windoc was converted into a storage barge and remained in operation until it was scrapped in 2011 at Port Colborne. Its history highlights the vessel’s durability, transformation, and the challenges faced in inland and canal shipping.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.