Here we have a ship in transition. The 1974 built U.S. flagged Wolverine sailed for many years as part of the Oglebay Norton fleet. It was sold in 2007 to the Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co., the U.S. subsidiary of Lower Lakes Transportation, itself a subsidiary of the Canadian company, Lower Lakes Towing. The Wolverine was recently "sold" to Lower Lakes Towing and reflagged as a Canadian vessel. It has been renamed the Robert S. Pierson and a careful observer will not that the name "Wolverine" has been painted out in preparation for the painting of the new name. The Wolverine was repainted into Lower Lakes livery in 2007.

SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA, MARCH 12, 2008

UPDATE: This Great Lakes bulker, the ex Wolverine, was formerly christened as the Robert S. Pierson in a ceremony at this location in Sarnia, Ontario on Saturday, March 22, 2008. The vessel will be departing Sarnia within a few days for its first trip of the 2008 navigation season.
Robert S. Pierson was active in the Canadian shipping industry, working for Misener Transportation and then in 1975 starting his own firm, The Soo River Company. He later worked for Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. until his passing last December at the age of 71. This is the first Lower Lakes ship named after an individual.
An excellent gallery of photos of the ship and the christening ceremony can be found on www.boatnerd.com.