[3] She was powered by a 1,450-horsepower (1,081 kW) triple expansion steam engine which was fueled by two coal-burning Scotch marine boilers.

She was also built using two unique early Great Lakes bulk carrier building techniques which were steel arches and a moveable water ballast system.

George W. Roby had been a state senator in Ohio before moving to Ludington, Michigan in 1871 and already had a wooden steamer of 1889 named for him.

[7] At the time of Senator's launching, the newspaper Marine Review wrote two articles speaking of the steamer's characteristics.

The first article published on June 11, 1896, reads: Matters in the ship yard of the Detroit Dry Dock Co. at Wyandotte are being arranged for the launching of the big steel steamer Senator on Saturday, the 13th.

It is expected that on 16 feet draft she will carry about 4,800 gross tons of ore and that with this load her engines, which are of 1,400 horse power, will drive her at the rate of 13 miles an hour.

This is to be used in case of emergency in the "Soo" river and other narrow channels when through current or the influence of a passing vessel control of the big steamer is lost and she begins to swing so as to bring her into dangerous proximity to another boat or to a rock or dock.

The Senator is owned by the Wolverine Steamship Co. of Detroit, composed of John B. Roby, president and general manager; James McMillan, C.L.

[9] On August 21, 1909 Senator suffered what was possibly the most significant incident in her career prior to her sinking, and that was when the steamer Norman B. Ream struck and sank her off Pipe Island in the St Marys River.

[9] Norman B. Ream tore a large hole in her starboard side, her crew had hardly any time to run her on the middle ground before her hull filled with water.

1929 Senator, under the command of Captain George Kinch[11] was transporting a cargo of 268 Nash automobiles (worth $251,000)[12] from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Detroit, Michigan.

Amesbury was bound from Escanaba, Michigan for the steel mills of Indiana with a load of iron ore.[6][11] The two ships collided, with Senator sinking in 8 minutes.