CSL Package Freighter Fort Henry

FORT HENRY was named for her namesake fortification in Kingston. Hull#150 was launched March 10, 1955, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd.  

Dimensions: 461’ 6" LOA x 56’ beam x 32’ depth; 5,729 GRT 4,159 NRT. Powered by a 4,500 shp double reduction geared steam turbine built by John Inglis Co. Ltd. of Toronto, Ont. and 2 Foster-Wheeler oil-fired water tube boilers. The vessel was originally planned to be named FORT GARRY and had that name painted on her hull but prior to launch, the name was changed to FORT HENRY. The Whig-Standard published this story on March 11: 

The ship entered service in May of 1955. She was the first of Canada Steamship Lines "Fort Class" package freighters and the only one to have her pilothouse forward. Built for speed, the FORT HENRY could reach speeds of 18 mph. In her early years, the vessel often carried freight upbound loaded through the side doors and grain downbound loaded through her deck hatches.

On December 4, 1956, FORT HENRY struck bottom near the Canoe Rocks, Lake Superior, and was badly damaged. It reached Fort William safely, was unloaded, and spent the winter on the Port Arthur Dry Docks for repairs. It returned to service April 12, 1957. In 1960 her tonnage was changed to 5,729 GRT and 3,707 NRT. Ownership changed in 1970 to Steamship Forwarding Ltd. of Montreal, Que. while still under the management of Canada Steamship Lines.

At the end of the 1979 shipping season the FORT HENRY was laid up in Kingston, Ont. until she was sold for scrap to United Metals Ltd. of Hamilton, Ont. in 1984. (All Canada Steamship Lines package freight service ended before the start of the 1982 shipping season.) The FORT HENRY was towed by tugs GLENEVIS and GLENSIDE to Hamilton, Ont. arriving on June 5, 1984. Scrapping began in 1988.