The bulk carrier was the first new Canadian-flagged vessel on the Great Lakes in 25 years.

Algoma Mariner is a Seawaymax vessel, designed to carry dry bulk through the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes.

[3][4] The vessel's keel was laid down on 21 October 2010 by Chengxi Shipyard, of Jiangyin, China for Algoma Central with the yard number 324.

[3] The bulk carrier departed China, sailed across the Pacific Ocean to the Panama Canal, passed through it and sailed up the eastern seaboard of North American to arrive at the vessel's first Canadian port of call, Port-Cartier, Quebec on 2 August.

The vessel serves ports along the Great Lakes delivering dry bulk goods such as iron ore, coal, grain salt and aggregates.