Seen here on the Detroit River early 80's

She was originally laid down in the early years of World War II at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Sparrows Point, MD yard as the commercial ocean tanker Mobiloil (builder's hull # 4378).
Shortly after, construction of the new tanker was taken over under contract by the U.S. Maritime Commission who renamed the vessel Samoset at her launch June 25, 1942, The tanker was designated as a type "T3-S-A1" oiler to be operated by Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., New York, NY. On December 24, 1942, the Samoset was acquired by the U.S. Navy and commissioned the same day joining the Atlantic Fleet as the USS Chiwawa (Navy designation AO.68)
The USS Chiwawa had the following overall dimensions: 501' 09" x 68' 00" x 30' 09" lightweight displacement 5,782 tons cargo capacity of 10,278 tons or approximately 134,000 barrels.
In 1947, the tanker was sold to Cities Service Oil Co., New York who retained the tanker's U.S. Navy name of Chiwawa.
On February 12, 1960, Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Co., Cleveland, OH announced the purchase of the Chiwawa for lengthening and conversion to a Great Lakes ore carrier; the conversion to be completed by American Ship Building, Lorain, OH. After arriving at Lorain, during 1960/61, the bow and stern were removed and the old mid-body scrapped. A new 510' 00" mid-body was built by Schlieker-Werft, Hamburg, West Germany as their hull # 554 and launched September 21, 1960. That day, the Dutch tug Zeeland took the new mid-body in tow to cross the Atlantic Ocean, arriving at Quebec City on November 7.
After arriving at Lorain, the bow and stern were joined to the new mid-body making a "new" Seaway-sized Great Lakes ore carrier. The vessel's new dimensions were: 730' 00" x 75' 00" x 39' 00" , cargo capacity 25,600 tons at a mid-summer draft of 27' 10", on May 18, 1961, the new bulk carrier was christened Walter A. Sterling. In 1976 at a cost of $3.5 million, the bulker was lengthened 96' at American Ship Building, Lorain, OH This lengthening increased her cargo capacity to 30,592 tons in 1978, the Walter A. Sterling was converted to a self-unloader by the same ship yard, returning to service October 2, 1978. This conversion reduced her cargo capacity to 29,300 tons.
At the end of the 1984 navigation season, the Walter A. Sterling was sold to the Ford Motor Company's subsidiary Rouge Steel Co., Dearborn, MI. In early 1985, she was renamed William Clay Ford. In 1989, Ford announced that its Rouge Steel subsidiary was going to sell its marine operations the William Clay Ford was sold to Lakes Shipping Company, a newly formed affiliate of Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland, OH. and renamed Lee A. Tregurtha. On January 9, 2006, she arrived at Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI for the removal and replacement of her original steam power plant. Installed were 2 new, extensively automated Rolls Royce Bergen B32-40L6P medium speed 6 cylinder 4,020 b.h.p. (3,000 KW) diesel engines burning heavy fuel oil.