The OMEGA, formerly known as the FAYETTE BROWN, was a composite bulk carrier with the official number C 138235 (formerly U 120682). It was launched on May 14, 1887, at Wyandotte, Michigan, by the Detroit Dry Dock Co., Yard #78. The bottom part of the hull was made of wood over steel frames, while the upper part was constructed of steel. By its original measurements, it had a gross tonnage of 1,740.55 tons and a net tonnage of 1,515.76 tons, with a length between perpendiculars of 252.6 feet and an overall length of 266 feet. In 1896, the builders lengthened the vessel, increasing its gross tonnage to 2,080.92 tons and its net tonnage to 1,217.42 tons, with an overall length of 306.3 feet. By 1920, it had a gross tonnage of 2,111 tons and a net tonnage of 1,207 tons according to Canadian measurements, with a length between perpendiculars of 291.2 feet.
The FAYETTE BROWN initially belonged to the Northwestern Transportation Co. of Detroit. In 1894, it collided with and sank the American tug O.W. CHENEY near Sault Ste. Marie. The vessel suffered damage to its lower hull in ice at Duluth, Minnesota, in November 1896, resulting in a subsequent rebuild and lengthening. It encountered ice damage again on Lake Superior on December 3, 1897. In December 1898, it ran ashore near Point Pelee on Lake Erie, and on September 30, 1906, it beached at Lorain, Ohio. Ownership of the vessel was transferred to the Omega Transportation Company on May 5, 1911, and it was renamed OMEGA. In 1916, another transfer occurred, this time to the Dakota Transit Co. All of its American owners were part of the H.H. Brown interests.
In 1917, the Montreal Transportation Co. acquired the OMEGA by purchasing the stock of the Dakota Transit Co. for $75,000. In 1921, as part of the final winding up of the Montreal Transportation Co. fleet, it was transferred to Canada Steamship Lines. The vessel was subsequently laid up at Midland, Ontario, in 1923. In 1928, an unsuccessful attempt was made to rebuild its hull as a dry dock, and it was eventually broken up on Wye Beach near Tiffin, Ontario.
Mr. Fayette Brown (1823-1910), after whom the FAYETTE BROWN was named, was involved in the American iron ore business and operated vessels.
Sources used for this information include Montreal Transportation Co.’s Annual Directors’ Reports from 1917-1920, Montreal Transportation Co.’s Charter (1917) Schedule A, Montreal Transportation Co.’s Directors’ Minutes from November 14, 1916, April 15, 1917, and November 11, 1921, American Shipmaster’s Association Record of American and Foreign Shipping from 1898, Bascom and Gillham’s “Early Ships of Canada Steamship Lines,” Beeson’s “Steam Vessels of The Northwestern Lakes,” Bowling Green Great Lakes Vessels Online Index, Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register from 1913-1915, Canada List of Shipping from 1920, 1925, and 1927, Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database, Devendorf’s “Great Lakes Bulk Carriers 1869-1985,” Greenwood’s “Namesakes 1920-29,” Lloyd’s
Register from 1900, 1920, 1921, 1927-1928, and 1928-1929, Mercantile Navy List from 1923 and 1928, Merchant Vessels of the United States from 1894, 1896, and 1911, Milwaukee Public Library Great Lakes Marine Collection, Miramar Ship Index, New Mills List, Canadian Railway & Marine World from April 1917, Scanner February 1999, Schell’s “Canada Steamship Lines,” and Belgian Shiplover 2/73.
