The SS Algoma was a wooden screw steamer constructed in 1883 by Aitken & Mansell in Glasgow, Scotland, for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Measuring 262 feet (80 meters) in length with a beam of 38 feet (12 meters) and a depth of 23 feet (7 meters), the vessel had a gross register tonnage of approximately 1,750 tons initially, later increased to 1,773 tons after modifications. Powered by a compound steam engine driving a single screw propeller, Algoma also featured two masts, which could be used for stabilization or auxiliary purposes. Designed to carry 240 first-class passengers and 500 in steerage, the ship incorporated innovative features for its time, including electric lighting, making it one of the first Great Lakes ships to be electrified. Algoma was part of a trio of identical vessels, including Athabasca and Alberta, ordered from Aitken & Mansell and launched in July 1883. Originally intended for passenger service between Thunder Bay on Lake Superior and Owen Sound on Lake Huron, Algoma faced logistical challenges due to its length, which prevented passage through the Welland Canal. To overcome this, the ship was cut in half, transported separately on pontoons through the canal, and reassembled in Buffalo, New York. The vessel's interior was extensively upgraded during the winter of 1883–1884, and it was relaunched in May 1884, costing around $450,000. Algoma set several speed records on the Great Lakes, notably crossing from Owen Sound to Thunder Bay in under 40 hours. However, its operating history was marred by safety concerns, exemplified by a collision involving its sister ship Alberta in 1884. On November 5, 1885, while en route from Owen Sound to Thunder Bay with a small cargo, passengers, and railway supplies, Algoma encountered a severe snowstorm. It ran aground on Mott Island near Isle Royale during the storm, and shortly thereafter, broke in two, resulting in the loss of 46 lives and only 14 survivors. The wreck remains scattered across shallow waters, with remnants of the stern still visible in the waters near Isle Royale. The Algoma's sinking marked the worst maritime disaster in Lake Superior history and contributed to its recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

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