[4] The ship was originally built in 1979 for U.S. Steel[2] and was named for their former chairman and chief executive officer, Edwin H. Gott.

The ship was originally built with two 16-cylinder Enterprise DMRV-16-4 diesel engines which powered twin propellers and was rated at 19,500 brake horsepower (14,500 kW).

[4] These were replaced with two 8-cylinder MaK/Caterpillar 8M43C diesel engines which each produce 9,650 horsepower (7,200 kW) and are compliant with EPA emission requirements.

[6] When the ship was originally built, it was fitted with a shuttle boom that could extend 52 feet (16 m) to either side of the stern of the vessel.

[7] This type of boom limited which ports the vessel could unload, as it required a dockside hopper.