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SHIPS THAT NEVER DIE #217 SYLVANIA By Paul LaMarre The steel steamer SYLVANIA was launched on March 18, 1905 at West Bay City, Michigan. She was built for the Duluth Steamship Company, owned and managed by the famous lake be vessel man, G. A. Tomlinson. SYLVANIA had many scrapes in her long career, the first of which occurred in June of 1905 when she collided with the steamer SIR HENRY BESSEMER (b) M. J. BARTELME, c) WOLVERINE (i)) off Whitefish Point in Lake Superior, putting an 80' hole in the BESSEMER. In 1914, SYLVANIA was renamed D. M. PHILBIN for the Forest City Steamship Company, which name she bore until 1929 when she was again renamed SYLVANIA. In 1958 her appearance was changed when she was lengthened to 552' and converted by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin to a self-unloader which was a prime factor in insuring her longevity. One of SYLVANIA's best known moments occurred on June 1, 1967 when she was rammed by the CSL steamer RENVOYLE while unloading at the Peerless Cement plant, Port Huron, Michigan. The RENVOYLE was turning downbound from the CSL freight shed at Point Edward, Ontario. SYLVANIA settled to the bottom without casualty and was subsequently refloated and towed to the Amship yard at Lorain, Ohio by McQueen Marine Ltd. of Amherstburg, Ontario. RENVOYLE proceeded downbound and was later sold for scrap. In 1971, along with the steamers G. A. TOMLINSON and JAMES DAVIDSON, SYLVANIA was sold to the Columbia Transportation Division, who had chartered these boats since 1969. SYLVANIA was relegated to the Lake Erie coal run in 1977 at which trade she finished out her days. On her final trip, May 10, 1980, (which this author and his wife were privileged to be aboard), the owners informed the Captain that during her career with Columbia, she had carried over 20 million tons and made over $35 million! At the time of this writing the SYLVANIA is in permanent layup in Toledo awaiting sale for scrap. “a or SYLVANIA - Launch day March 18, 1905 U of D Marine Collection (oSts ==