Seen here at Detroit, Mi 1985
Built in 1945 as a VC2-S-AP3 "Victory" cargo ship for the U.S. Maritime Commission by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR as Hull #1229 (U.S.M.C. #175) launched 42 days later on March 9, 1945 as a) NOTRE DAME VICTORY. 455’loa 436’6"lbp x 62’x 38’; 7606 GRT, 4549 NRT, 10,750 dwt at 25'8" draft.
In 1950 she was purchased by the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. of Cleveland, OH. She was taken to the Key Highway yard of Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Ship Building Division at Baltimore, Md. There she was cut in two just forward of her mid-ship engine room in order to add a 165'6" new mid-section. In addition the engine was overhauled, side tanks were added, the spar deck, holds and deck houses were built or rebuilt to conform to Great Lakes standards.
March 21, 1951, three months and two days after she entered the dock, and was rechristened Cliffs Victory with new dimensions of 619’ x 62’x 38’; 9305 GRT, 14,500 dwt. On April 2, 1951 she was towed, bound for New Orleans, LA, with her deck houses, stack, propeller, rudder and above deck fittings stored on or below her spar deck for bridge clearance. Upon arrival at New Orleans she was outfitted with pontoons and was pushed up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Lockport, IL
On May 9, 1951 the she arrived at the South Chicago yard of the American Ship Building Co. There her deck houses, stack, masts, deck machinery, rudder and propeller were installed.
In the winter of 56-57 she returned to the yard a fifth cargo hold was added forward of her engine room. Her new dimensions were: 716’3" x 62’x 38’; 11,151 GRT.
She continued to sail until 1981 when she was layed up in South Chicago. In October 1985 she was sold to Hai International Corp. of New York for scrapping in the orient and transferred to Panamanian registry. Her name was changed to Savic she finally at Masan, South Korea December 22, 1986 for dismantling there which was completed in 1987