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The American Republic making its first shuttle up the river on this trip, as seen from shore.

A detail view of the aft end of the ship showing its unique design

Another view, the ship was built so the pilot house windows had nothing to block the view, and also has a rear part of the pilot house so they can back down the river with ease, which is why the back part of the ship is so flat.

Heading under the Veterans Memorial Bridge. (you can see the 2nd part of the pilot house looking backwards)

The Next Morning,  as the ship takes a half load of pellets at the Cleveland Bulk Terminal for another shuttle

The Republic had to lift the stern out of the water and tilt using ballast for a Stern Tube Repair(took about 20 hours), an unusual site being able to see all the rudders and propellers on this ship.

On deck with a 5 degree list while the repairs are being done

Mittal Steel Mill in Cleveland, with Limestone in the foreground and Taconite Pellets from Silver Bay Minnesota in teh background.

The Classic ship Mississagi unloading stone in the old cuyahoga river bed.

Industrial Twilight, the sun sets as the American Republic is almost ready to head down the river.

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Downbound, at night

The steel mill as seen at night.

Backing from the dock, with all the ships spot lights on.

Heading under one of many bridges at night.

Downtown Cleveland Lit up at night.

Heading under the Veterans Memorial Bridge at night.

The Earl W. Oglebay arriving Cleveland, one of the last remaining Oglebay Norton ships at the time.

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Upbound-

Making a turn in the Cuyahoga River.

Making the Turn at Collision Bend

Passing under an old train bridge, just before the steel mills.

Almost to the Final Destination, the steel mill strait ahead is the furthest any ship can go up the this river.

Downbound-

Backing down the river

Passing the Osbourne Stone Facility (jacobs field in background)

Most of the turns the ship has to make in the river get pretty close to land.

Bow thruster pushing the bow to the right to make the turn here.

Heading under a train bridge.

Passing a vacant marina, and a commonly used stone dock on the right

Heading for collision bend.

Heading under a old bridge no longer in use.

Passing the Fireboat/Fire station to the left, Making turn in Collision bend, as you can see this point brings you close to downtown Cleveland and the poular Tower City center.

making a turn as a small boat almost gets in our way.

As you can see most every turn is this river is a tight turn.

Getting close to a "Pivet Point" along the river, where the ship gets really close and makes the turn.

Just after making the turn in the photo above

Making a turn so the Goodtime 3 can pass us

Gootime 3 passing us.

Passing a old grain elevator

In the Cleveland Flats.

Heading out of the river, to load for another shuttle, in the flats.

The Cleveland breakwall and light (water intake station is the orange thing out in the lake)

Fleetmate H. Lee White unloading pellets at the bulk terminal, this ship is too large to head up the river so it just dumps off its pellets for ships like the republic to take up.

Another view of the H. Lee White, the shiploader is on the left side of the image.

The American Republic waiting to load after the H. Lee White leaves.

H. Lee White.

The H. Lee White backing away from the dock.

Backing past the American Republic

The American Republic backing up to load, as setting sun cast a shadow of the republic on the taconite piles.

The last picture i took onboard, the end of our trip.

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Copyright all images 2006 by Sam Lapinski