CSL Argosy Comes to Baltimore November 8, 2020

This 244x32m (801×105ft) Bahamas flagged self discharging bulker was built in 1981 by Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Tokyo, Japan as the Ogden Nile according to BalticShipping.com. It is not clear when she began wearing her current name.

Her owner according to BalticShipping.com is London, UK based African Minerals and managed by Monaco based Beltshipmanagement.

She is listed in CSL Group‘s Fleet list which includes an interesting PDF data sheet. Her listing indicates she was rebuilt in 2006 with a new forebody.

She had a bad day in January of 2009 when she ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay while bringing a load of iron ore to Baltimore according to this Coast Guard News article. Page 4 of this McAllister Towing newsletter has more details and photos of this incident as they were heavily involved in assisting this ship.

It is unusual to see a video like this one from 2012 of work being done in the engine room. The same YouTuber posted this interesting video in 2011 of the ship being loaded and includes her departing and then arriving at the destination and unloading using the self discharging system. A third video by the same YouTuber posted in 2013 shows her doing ship to ship transfer using her self discharging boom. This interesting video by CSL shows how self discharging ships like this one work.

In my 8 minute video below she can be seen appearing out of the fog on the Patapsco River towards Baltimore, Maryland amidst some local pleasure boat traffic. Pilot boat comes alongside and a pilot can be seen boarding the ship. Riding high out of the water she has clearly come to town to make a pickup.

You can view my photography (more than just ships!) here and more videos here.