JANUARY ☆ FEBRUARY, 1986 Volume XXXV; Number 1
GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 48207 TELESCOPE Page 2
MEMBERSHIP NOTES • Attached to this issue is your membership card for 1986. By attaching it to the cover, we saved nearly five hundred dollars in first-class postage. Since most of our members have subscriptions to at least three Great Lakes marine publications, we’re trying to keep our costs down so you won’t have to make a choice to cancel one of your subscriptions. The Dossin Museum will have an exhibit at the Michigan Boat Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit from February 1st to February 9th. Members volunteering to work in the museum’s booth will be refunded their parking fee. Those interested in working in the booth should call the museum at 267-6440. The museum gift shop is selling a packet of launching photos of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Mr. Fred Plofchan was a newspaper photographer at the launching and his photo series show the Fitz waiting on the blocks and then follows her down into the water after the ropes were cut. All the 8x10, black & white photos were taken of the stern from shore and are printed on glossy paper. The set of twelve photos are $50.00 plus $2.00 for first-class postage. Write to: Dossin Museum, 100 Strand/Belle Isle, Detroit, MI. 48207.
MEETING NOTICES • The January 17th entertainment meeting will be member’s slide night. Members are invited to bring fifteen of their favorite slides. (See notice on page 27.) Our guest speaker for the March 21st meeting will be a representative from the Algoma Central Railway Marine Division. Future enter tainment meetings are scheduled for May 16 and November 21st. Entertainment meetings begin at 8 p.m. at the museum. Future business meetings (all members are invited to attend) will be held on February 21, April 18, June 20, August 15 and October 17. At the February business meeting, the election ballot will be finalized for the May issue of Telescope. All members interested in having their name on the ballot should contact President David McDonald at the museum’s address for further information.
CONTENTS • Membership Notes, Meeting Notices, etc. Lake Winnipeg Goes For Scrap by Skip Gillham An Historical Remembrance: Eighty Years Ago The Argo Grounded Off Ottawa Beach by Steve Elve 8 Shipbuilding Activities on Lake Ontario by Richard Palmer 12 Great Lakes & Seaway News Edited by Don Richards 14 January Entertainment Meeting Notice 27
Published at Detroit, Michigan by the GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE ©All rights reserved. Printed in the United States by Macomb Printing Specialties.
OUR COVER PICTURE . . . As economic conditions continue to dictate which ships will sail, shipping companies are scrapping vessels that are too expensive to operate. Nipigon Transport Ltd. sent the Lake Winnipeg to the scrapyard last year. This photo of her in the Welland Canal was taken from a postcard in the museum ’ s collection. □
Telescope is produced with assistance from the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, an agency of the Historical Department of the City of Detroit. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 3
LAKE WINNIPEG GOES FOR SCRAP
by SKIP GILLHAM
six less crew than the thirty who manned On May 2, 1985, the tug Irving Cedar Lake Winnipeg. This saves approximately put a line aboard the Lake Winnipeg at Mon $250,000 per year in labor costs. treal and began the long trip to Portugal. In addition a modern diesel freighter would This was not just another overseas tow of have a seasonal fuel bill that would be lower an aged and obsolete laker, but the final by another $300,000 than that of Lake Winni voyage of the first Seaway-sized bulker to peg- go for scrap. Rates for the transportation of ore and grain With only twenty-two years of lake service are down. There is less demand for steel. behind her, Lake Winnipeg was finished. Although the auto industry has rebounded, Compare this with the close to sixty years of the vehicles being produced are smaller and duty for the standard bulk carrier constructed have more plastic components. in the first quarter of this century, and we Lake Winnipeg was due for her five year observe very readily that the life of a modem survey in 1985, but looking ahead there did laker is in decline. not appear to be sufficient increase in available Almost seventy maximum-sized lakers of cargoes to warrant a return to service. And 730 feet overall length have been constructed it even costs money to keep a ship of this since the Seaway opened in 1959. Economics nature idle. contributed to the Lake Winnipeg's premature When transportation rates are good, the demise. This ship’s biggest liability was her higher labor and fuel costs for a steamer steam powered turbine engine. Diesel engines can be absorbed. But in the current situation, are cheaper to operate today and require only the most efficient carriers will operate. TELESCOPE Page 4
After World War II she operated under the French flag as a tanker and was re named NIVOSE. Photo Photo Courtesy of Nipigon Transports Ltd. William Schell Coll.
LAKE WINNIPEG under construction at Blytheswood Shipyard in Scotland. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 5
/ 1 Photo Photo by George Ayoub
LAKE WINNIPEG on her maiden voyage on September 23, 1962.
Nipigon Transports, owners of the Lake and was part of the United States Maritime Winnipeg, was originally a joint venture of Commission’s construction program. Hanna Mining and the Cargill Grain Company. Table Rock was 523 feet, 6 inches in length It was, in many respects, an ideal situation and 69 feet, 2 inches at the beam. Tonnage was as their vessels could carry Cargill grain to registered at 10,448 gross and 6,308 net. the St. Lawrence and return with Hanna’s She was powered by a 6,000 horsepower ore. oil-fired steam turbine engine manufactured Today the ore trade has declined, the by General Electric. The vessel served the war Schaefferville mine has closed, more grain effort as a fleet oiler and saw duty in the moves to saltwater via the Mississippi and in Pacific. the past two years, the prairie grain harvest After the war she was among the many was down. During the winter of 1984-1985, vessels sold by the Maritime Commission Cargill sold their half interest in Nipigon to private concerns. Table Rock was purchased Transports to Hanna. by Cie Nationale de Navigation in 1948 and Most of today’s cargoes are carried in self operated under the flag of France as Nivose. unloaders. This is especially so of ore. These Her main duty then became the transportation ships are more flexible as to cargo and take of petroleum to France. Tonnage now became far less time to unload. A quicker turn around 10,692 gross and 6,143 net while capacity time means more trips per season and potenti was 16,484 dwt. ally greater profits. Some U.S. ore docks In time, bigger tankers gradually made are doing away with their costly shore-based T-2’s obsolete for long deep sea runs. Some equipment. Lake Winnipeg, a straight-deck of Nivose's sisterships were lengthened, bulk carriers, was not worth reconstruction as some scrapped and others converted to new a seIf-unloader. duties. Although Lake Winnipeg was listed as being Nivose was sold to Nipigon Transports in built by the Blytheswood Shipbuilding Com 1961 and taken to Glasgow, Scotland. There pany of Glasgow, Scotland in 1962, she was her old cargo section was removed and scrap actually the reconstruction of a T-2 tanker. ped while the stem, complete with accom The latter vessel had been built in 1943 at modations and engine room were retained. Portland, Oregon as Table Rock (US 244865) Similar reconstruction pojects were carried TELESCOPE Page 6 out on other war built tankers and these Thus ready for service, Lake Winnipeg served the Great Lakes as Northern Venture, loaded 22,584 long tons of iron ore at Sept Hilda Marjanne, Red Wing, Pioneer Chal Isles, Quebec, September 18 and passed up lenger, (now Middletown), Paul H. Carnahan the Seaway for the first time, September 23 and Leon Falk, Jr. bound for Lake Erie. The bow of the Lake Winnipeg (C 304310) Lake Winnipeg soon settled in on a fairly was launched May 7, 1962, fitted to the stem routine career. Grain from the upper lakes at Barclay, Curie & Co. and sailed for the was hauled to the St. Lawrence while she re Great Lakes on August 21. At 730 feet in over turned with ore for Lake Erie or Lake Michigan all length and 75 feet at the beam, she was ports. designed to the then maximum dimensions A log from the latter part of her career of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland indicates that in 1979 she handled 21 cargoes. Canal locks. With a 42 foot, 6 inch depth, Ten of these were ore with loading of eight this became the first laker to exceed forty at Sept Isles and two at Quebec City. These feet. She was registered at 18,660 gross tons were discharged at Cleveland (5), Bums and 13,012 net tons. Carrying capacity was in Harbor (2), Buffalo (2) and Ashtabula (1). the 23,700 ton range. A toted of 232,061 tons were carried. The ship safely crossed the Atlantic and Grain came aboard at Thunder Bay with arrived at the Davie Shipyard in Lauzon, seven loads of wheat, one of flax and rapeseed, Quebec, on September 1. There her hatches one of barley and one of wheat and rapeseed. were cut open. This had not been done earlier One cargo of wheat loaded at Duluth. to allow for extra strengthening on the ocean The barley was unloaded at Sorel, one cargo voyage. of wheat went to Quebec City and the rest Author’s Author’s Photo
LAKE WINNIPEG in the Welland Canal on October 17, 1981. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 7 Photo Photo by Rene Beauchamp
LAKE WINNIPEG under tow near Sorel on May 2, 1985. were consigned to Baie Comeau, Quebec. at Montreal late in 1976 and received bow She was the last vessel of the season down the damage that was repaired at Hamilton during Seaway, closing the navigation season on the winter. On May 24, 1980, she bumped the December 22. breakwall clearing Duluth and a day later ran Three years later, in 1982, the effect of the aground near DeTour Passage due to a steering recession had hit Lake Winnipeg and this gear failure. was evident in her travels. Only seventeen Lake Winnipeg was sold through Gibson cargoes were handled that year. Shipbreakers to Batista E. Iramos Lda. for Twelve loads of grain came aboard at Thun scrapping at Sacavem, near Lisbon, Portugal. der Bay with a cargo of com out of Chicago Her name was painted out and stack markings and one of soy beans from Toledo. Baie removed for the tow. Comeau received thirteen cargoes with the In years ahead future marine historians last being winter storage at Port Colborne for will look back on Lake Winnipeg and likely 1983 discharge on the St. Lawrence. remember her as one of the early Seaway On only three occasions in 1982 did Lake giants, the first member of the Nipigon Trans Winnipeg return from the Gulf of St. Lawrence ports fleet, the first laker of over forty feet with ore. All loaded at Sept Isles with two depth, but mostly for the fact she became the going to Cleveland and one to Huron, Ohio. first of the 730-foot class to go for scrapping. □ A year later she only saw sporadic service and after being activated for the fall grain Note: My thanks to Jim Bartke for help in rush, she tied up at Montreal to end her locating a photo NIVOSE and to John Kinnear active duty. of Nipigon Transports and Barry Andersen Lake Winnipeg had what must be called a for research assistance. routine career. She made news on a few occasions including opening the Seaway Skip Gillham has been the Seaway News Editor since 1972. He has downbound on March 25, 1975. authored several books on Great Lakes history with his latest book On other occasions there were problems, titled "The Changing Seaway", which was a joint effort with A1 Saigon King. but never anything serious. She hit a dock TELESCOPE Page 8
AN HISTORICAL REMEMBRANCE:
EIGHTY YEARS AGO
THE ARGO GROUNDED OFF OTTAWA BEACH
by STEVE ELVE
The wind howled down the channel, carrying man William Woldering of the Holland U.S. with it intermittent showers. It pelleted the Life-Saving Service was keeping a vigil over side of the lifesaving tower in which surf- the growing tempest. As he peered out across
ARGO operated between Chicago and Holland for the Graham and Morton Trans. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 9 the building white capped waves, he spotted Back on shore, Surfman Woldering was the wavering lights of an inbound steamer. still keeping a wary eye on the steamer that It was about 4:00 a.m. on the morning of was now laying outside the pierheads. It was Thursday, November 24, 1905, a day that about 5:30 a.m. and getting lighter. As Wol would hold anxious moments for those in dering stared at the steamer, he noticed it volved. was turning and heading for the channel The steamer was the Argo, owned by the entrance. Standing transfixed, he watched Graham and Morton Transportation Company, the waves as they hit solidly against the and under the command of Captain John vessel’s side as she straightened out and Stewart. The Argo was crossing from Chicago drove for the opening between the break- to Holland with a crew of twenty-two and walls. Just as the Argo appeared to be making a passenger list of fifty. the pierheads, she hit the sandbar that had As in the case so often in the treacherous formed across the entrance. The steamer month of November, the passage began lost her steerageway and before her momen with fair weather and clear skies. As the tum could be regained, the storm-tossed waves steamer crossed Lake Michigan, a storm took charge and drove her hard against the came up and swept the lake into a full gale. north pier. She broke free of the pier and the About the time Surfman Woldering spotted waves carried her northward until the Argo the ship approaching Holland, Captain Stewart grounded firmly upon a sandbar some 500 was already pacing the pilot house, sizing up Feet from the north pier. the situation that was unfolding before him. Surfman Woldering quickly alerted Captain After some discussion, it was decided that Peel and the lifesaving crew. A surfboat was the harbor entrance was far too narrow to promptly launched and the crew savagely chance the darkness and wind crazed waves. rowed against the crashing breakers. Finally They would wait until dawn. reaching the distressed Argo, the surfmen McDonald McDonald Coll/Dossin M useum
ARGO ashore at Holland on November 24, 1905. TELESCOPE Page 10
H o l l a n d , m i c h . Steam«r "Argo" fast in the Ice. McDonald McDonald Coll/Dossin M useum
ARGO trapped in the ice found they couldn’t hold the surfboat to the steamer’s side. Once safely aboard the Argo, hull in the heavy swells and safely evacuate he proceeded to rig the breeches-buoy to the the passengers. Captain Peel ordered the boat spar pole behind the pilot house. As the slack back to the station to retrieve the beach ap ropes were tightened by the lifesavers on paratus. (This included the Lyle Gun, the shore, the strain became too much and the breeches-buoy and plenty of line.) spar pole broke and came crashing down, The Lyle Gun was promptly set up on the barely missing several people. beach and a messanger line was shot out to Smith re-rigged the buoy lines on the the stricken steamer. The first shot missed fo’casle and the signal was given to begin and was carried to the north of the ship. the rescue with the three women and ten-year The next attempt landed on the Argo's star old girl who were onboard. board side and lodged in one of the fenders. An elderly Mrs. C.E. Johnson of Big Rapids A crewman crawled down the side and re was the first to go across the rolling surf. trieved the line. He and the line were hauled This was safely done without a hitch. But aboard and the line was made. fast. As the Mrs. W.P. Canaan who followed, was half hawser ropes for the breeches-buoy were drowned when the ropes went slack and she taken aboard, it became apparent that the dropped into the breakers and was dragged crew didn’t understand how to rig the line for through the surf to shore. Her husband, the buoy. The situation was made known Mr. W.P. Canaan of Grand Rapids, received and Surfman William Smith volunteered to the wildest of the aerial rides. Upon leaving the be put aboard and secure the lines. steamer’s deck, he was immediately dipped The lifesaver was rowed out to the lee side into the cresting waves. On his way, he drop of the steamer, no easy task with the wind ped ten feet into the surf and didn’t come up and pounding waves. A line was fastened until the lifesavers pulled the line tight. around his waist and tossed to the crew that Then as he neared shore, the Argo rocked and was standing by on the Argo. Smith jumped the line went taunt and parted, dropping a into the icy waves and was dragged to the partially drowned Canaan into the boiling JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 11 surf beneath. The life-savers ran out into The 1,089 ton Argo was launched as hull the rolling breakers and dragged him back to number 81 on April 14, 1901 by the Craig the beach. Through it all Mr. Canaan appeared Shipbuilding Company of Toledo for the waterlogged,but unhurt. A. Booth Packing Company of Duluth. The A second line was shot to the Argo and the steamer was 173.5 feet long, with a breadth rescue resumed. The last twenty-three pas of 31.6 feet, and the depth of 20.8 feet. She sengers and eleven crewmen (the other eleven was powered by two triple expansion 24" crewmen stayed with the ship) were safely stroke engines. The Argo ran between brought ashore. Duluth and Port Arthur until she was traded Before leaving the steamer, Captain Stewart to the Graham and Morton Transportation ordered that the Argo's ballast tanks be Company for their steamers Soo City and pumped full of water. This settled her firmly C. W. Moore. The Argo sailed for Graham and down on the sandy bottom and would save Morton until her grounding off Holland. her hull from the battering effort of the waves. After a lengthy insurance settlement, the As the last of the crew members stepped on Argo was sold in 1910 to the Chicago, Racine the beach, Captain Peel and his lifesavers and Milwaukee Line. The new owner renamed had the gratitude of all for a job well done, her Racine and added a third passenger deck. upholding the finest tradition of the U.S. The Racine ran well for her owner until 1927 Lifesaving Service. the steamer was sold to James W. Elwell The struggle to salvage the Argo took Company of New York and in turn was sold longer than expected. After two companies to the French Government and converted to failed, the Reid Wrecking Company of Sarnia the tug R en e'. The steamer disappeared from won the salvage contract. The last week of the record books in 1938, but she will always January, 1906, the steamer was refloated and be a part of Holland’s history when eighty steamed under her own power across the lake years ago, she missed the harbor entrance to Manitowoc for repairs. and grounded off Ottawa Beach. □
at McDonald McDonald Coll/Dossin M useum
When the ARGO was sold in 1910, the new owners renamed her RACINE and added a third passenger deck. TELESCOPE Page 12
SHIPBUILDING ACTIVITIES ON LAKE ONTARIO
by RICHARD F. PALMER
Virtually every small cove and protected industry here and at nearby Three Mile Bay. area on Lake Ontario saw some degree of The aggregate tonnage of vessels built be shipbuilding in the 19th century. These vessels tween 1835 and 1852 by Mr. Wilcox was more ranged from sloops to large three-masted than 6,400 tons. The largest vessel had a schooners. Wood, particularly oak, was measurement of 390 tons. The area was plentiful in those days, and there were many covered with very fine timber. experienced shipwrights who migrated from The village of Three Mile Bay on the main the seacoast to the Great Lakes. land, owed its early prosperity to shipbuilding This is the first in a series of articles dealing and the business which it created. By 1850 with some of the shipbuilding activities at the it contained about seventy dwellings, five more obscure “ports” of this, the smallest stores, two taverns, three warehouses and of the Great Lakes. wharves, two churches and numerous busi Point Peninsula, Pillar Point, Three Mile nesses. It extended for about a half mile Bay and Chaumont today are favorite haunts along the turnpike and was protected from the for fishermen on the eastern end of Lake lake by Chaumont Bay. In the early days there Ontario. However, long before the bait was was an extensive limestone quarry here. dropped in these waters, ship’s carpenters The stone was shipped by boat to various busily hammered together some of the finest ports and used in buildings and other struc schooners on the Great Lakes. tures such as breakwalls. The stone was sold Although he built at least fifty ships at for about 25 cents a cubic yard. In later years, these places, very little is known about Asa this area was known for its extensive fisheries, Wilcox, other than he died March 16, 1875, especially for Ciscoes. at the age of 70. It was recalled, however, that The following is a nearly complete record of he was an enterprising businessman and for ships built in this area by Asa Wilcox. In some half a century, controlled the destinies of instances the ships are listed as having been these small communities tucked away on the built at Lyme, which is the town of Lyme, or western borders of Jefferson County. Three Mile Bay. (Next article will deal with The lee side of Point was protected from the shipbuilder Frank Phelps). onslaught of westerly winds and here a small Today there is nothing to allude to the fact community known as Wilcoxville sprang up. that this area was an important shipbuilding Vessel building became a very important center.
Ships Known to have been built by Asa Wilcox
Acadia Brig 1847 283 tons Point Peninsula Coral Schooner 1848 206 tons Pillar Point Hungarian Bark 1853 364 tons Three Mile Bay Hampton Brig 1845 238 tons Pillar Point Iroquois Brig 1846 257 tons Point Peninsula JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 13
Melrose Schooner 1852 267 tons Three Mile Bay Norwegian Schooner 1856 390 tons Three Mile Bay Rio Grande Brig 1846 276 tons Point Peninsula Saxon Brig 1848 288 tons Three Mile Bay J.D. Schuyler Schooner 1850 100 tons Three Mile Bay (Construction credited to A.L. Haselton) Portland Schooner 1847 250 tons Pillar Point Rainbow Schooner 1841 14 tons Point Peninsula Missouri Schooner 1837 100 tons Three Mile Bay Peninsula Packet Horseboat 1838 9 tons Lyme Asa Wilcox Schooner 1841 134 tons Lyme Lucinda Schooner 1841 84 tons Lyme Ontario Brig 1842 140 tons Point Peninsula Rocky Mountain Schooner 1843 Point Peninsula Growler Sloop Scow 1843 15 tons Lyme New York Schooner 1829 45 tons Point Peninsula Stephen Girard Schooner 1832 81 tons Chaumont Decatur Schooner 1828 9 tons Lyme William Buckley Schooner 1834 91 tons Point Peninsula Florida Schooner 1835 107 tons Three Mile Bay Pennsylvania Schooner 1836 109 tons Three Mile Bay Allegan Schooner 1836 100 tons Chaumont Kentucky Schooner 1836 113 tons Three Mile Bay Cuba Schooner 1844 135 tons Point Peninsula Palmetto Schooner 1847 240 tons Point Peninsula Fashion Schooner 1847 56 tons Pillar Point Ocean Schooner 1848 260 tons Three Mile Bay Oxford Schooner 1848 244 tons Chaumont Havana Schooner 1841 135 tons Point Peninsula Eagle Sloop 1853 41 tons Chaumont P.P. Gage Schooner 1854 109 tons Chaumont A.L. Hasleton Schooner 1851 226 tons Chaumont Seminole Brig 1847 242 tons Point Peninsula Oregon Schooner 1844 142 tons Three Mile Bay Moses and Elias Schooner 1834 115 tons Chaumont Empire Brig 1844 147 tons Point Peninsula Henry W. Hoag Barge 1862 280 tons Three Mile Bay Watertown Schooner 1874 308 tons Chaumont (Construction credited to “Bertrand” ) Mary Copley Schooner 1873 274 tons Chaumont A.E. Vickery Schooner 1861 291 tons Three Mile Bay American Schooner 1870 288 tons Three Mile Bay James E. Gilmore Schooner 1867 290 tons Three Mile Bay T. Y. Avery Schooner 1855 256 tons Three Mile Bay (Construction credited to “ G. Rogers” ) R.G. Smead Schooner 1839 75 tons Chaumont Milan Schooner 1845 147 tons Point Peninsula G.S. Weeks Schooner 1845 116 tons Point Peninsula Ellen Bronson Schooner 1835 103 tons Point Peninsula Champlain Brig 1846 270 tons Point Peninsula Palo Alto Schooner 1847 Pillar Point Rip Van Winkle Schooner 1846 223 tons Chaumont D.D. Bogart Schooner 1847 109 tons Chaumont Breeze Schooner 1848 124 tons Chaumont Col. Powers Schooner 1844 50 tons Three Mile Bay George Steel Schooner 1855 Three Mile Bay GREAT, LAKES & k / SEAWAY NEWS
Those who have contributed to the News Editor: Donald Richards Section in this issue are: 21101 Violet B. ANDERSEN R BARDEN R BEAUCHAMP St. Clair Shores, MI. 48082 B BRUCE CORP OF ENG. J. GOODRICH C. HUDSON B. JOHNSON J. KLINGER A. MANN D. MCCORMICK G. MOORE Seaway News Editor: Skip Gillham D. POHTO ST. MARYS RIVER SOC. H. WAGNER F. WEBER
May 19 . . .Lake Winnipeg arrived in Lisbon, Spain for scrapping. She was towed by the tug Irving Cedar.
Jun. 24. . .Pontiac and Johnstown arrived in San Esteban de Pravia, Spain for scrapping. They left Quebec City on May 30 being towed by the tug Koral.
Jul. 26. . . Bethlehem Steel’s Burns Harbor established a new all-time record for the largest single cargo carried on the lakes. She loaded 68,608 gross tons of iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan for delivery to Indiana Harbor.
Jul. 29 . . . The Kapodistrias, a regular visitor in the Seaway, left Port Elizabeth bound for Mont real and a lake port when she went aground at Cape Racile and part of her crew abandoned ship.
Aug. 2 . . . Rouge Steel’s Benson Ford arrived at the Packaging Corporation of America’s Filer City plant in Manistee, Michigan with a load of coal. She was the largest ship ever to visit that port.
Aug. 3 . . . Kingdoc was back in service after being laid up in Montreal since December 30, 1984.
Aug. 7. . .Three sailing ships from three different countries arrived in Montreal. They are the Topaz from New Zealand, Elinok from Denmark and the Fleur de Passion from France.
Aug. 8. . . The first submarine to visit Montreal in sixteen years arrived and was open to visitors. She is the H.M. C.S. Onondaga.
Aug. 12. . . The tug Gregory J. Busch reported to the Coast Guard at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin that one of her three barges was taken on water. The Mobile Bay and a helicopter were sent to the scene. The barge capsized and threw four men into the water. Two of the men received minor injuries. The tug John M. Selvick towed the capsized barge to Muskegon which is the home of the owners, Lakeshore Contractors.
Aug. 15. . . Franquelin left Ashtabula for Quebec and then Lauzon for possible routine main tenance. As of September 3rd, she was still at Lauzon.
TELESCOPE Page 14 JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 15
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • Photo Photo by Daniel Carlson Photo by George Ayoub
Top: Paterson’s COMEAUDOC will receive a new power plant during winter lay-up at Collingwood. Bottom: Rouge Steel's BENSON FORD outbound on the Manistee River on August 3rd after delivering a load of coal from Toledo. TELESCOPE Page 16
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
Aug. 19. . .Vandoc arrived in Montreal to be laid up with a storage cargo. Also laid up are the Steelcliffe Hall, and the Montcliffe Hall at the Old Port in Montreal.
Aug. 20. . .The British flag, 3-masted sailing ship Galida ran aground on a reef in the St. Law rence River near Tadoussac. The Coast Guard removed eleven people as the ship was listing badly. When the tide came in twelve hours later, she refloated herself.
Aug. 21. . .The new Canadian Coast Guard ship, Samuel Risley passed upbound in the Seaway to Cornwall. During the last week of August she traveled to Prescott, Toronto and Parry Sound. The Risley will replace the Alexander Henry at Thunder Bay.
Aug. 22. . .The tanker L. Rochette (ex-Gulf Mackenzie) went back into service. She had been laid up in Montreal since July 11. Before going into lay-up, she had made one trip in the Seaway. This was when she left Montreal on July 5 for Clarkson.
Aug. 28. . .The Canadian coaster Margarita arrived in Montreal for the first time. She was on charter to Navigation Harvey & Freres.
Aug. 29. . .Lucien-Paquin arrived in Montreal from the Arctic with a two-foot hole in her bow.
Aug. 30. . .The tug Capt. Ioannis S. left Quebec City towing the Leon Falk and Menihek Lake for overseas scrapping.
Aug. 31. . .The Canadian research vessel Mai left Montreal for Halifax. Institute member Hugh Wagner observed the Mai in Lake Huron off the Les Cheneaux Islands on August 11. She was towing a large cable astern and was carrying signals that she couldn’t diviate from her course and that her tow exceeded 200 meters in length. She was observed in the Straits of Mackinaw for about a week. The Mai had been in Lake Superior in June, conducting seimagraphic surveys for a Texas firm.
Sep. 2. . .American Steamship’s St. Clair lost power while outbound at Duluth with a load of coal. She was about to pass under the Aerial Bridge when a small wire broke in the engine room which resulted in a false signal that caused the engine to shut down. Capt. Pete Gronwall used his bow and stem thrusters to keep the St. Clair from striking the bridge piers. Her momentum carried her through the bridge and she struck bottom, putting a 35-foot dent in the hull. There was a strong wind blowing at the time and the St. Clair couldn’t get her anchors down. The wind blew her back through the bridge to shallow water. Tugs towed her to the Port Terminals. Inspection by divers discovered two hairline fractures in the hull in addition to the large dent. The Coast Guard officials praised Capt. Gronwall for his skillfull handling of his vessel.
Sep. 3. . .The Liberian vessel Silver M ed bound for Detroit suffered mechanical problems at the St. Lambert Lock. The tug Salvage Monarch was asked to assist in maneuvering the vessel.
. . .U.S. Steel’s Philip R. Clarke swung wide while downbound, light in the Black River in Lorain and hit several small craft in the marina. The Coast Guard permitted the Clarke to proceed shortly after the accident. Damage to the marina was estimated at $40,000 to $60,000.
Sep. 4. . .Outarde was cut down at the stem at Port Colborne. At Port Maitland the Fernglen has been cut down from the stem forward to the first cargo hold. The pilot house is still attached.
Sep. 5. . .Wedtech-Ontonagan has been awarded an add-on to its Navy contract that will provide full winter employment at the company’s Ontonagon shipyard. The company will construct 32 additional non-powered pontoon causeways for delivery to the Navy in April or May. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 17
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • Photo Photo by Scott McLellan/Dossin Museum
The ST. CLAIR downbound, in the St. Marys River in July, 1976.
Sep. 6. . .The bulk carrier Citadel Hill arrived at Sorel from Three Rivers. She is owned by a subsidiary of Upper Lakes Shipping, Ltd. and is the former Canadian Highlander. Her funnel marking is the same one that Wheat King carried when she was owned by Island Shipping.
. . .The barge General Karrier was at Sorel tied up alongside the laid-up icebreaker D'Iberville. The barge is the former Cement Karrier and was towed to Sorel from Three Rivers in late August.
. . .The Yugoslavian flag Solta arrived in Montreal with a container hanging over her side and other damage. The Solta encountered a storm in the Atlantic. After inspection and repairs, she left Montreal for Cleveland on September 10th.
Sep. 7. . .Metro Star passed upbound in the Welland Canal and is now sporting a red hull and registered in Sarnia.
. . .Sauniere went back into service. She had been laid up at Sorel since July 20.
Sep. 8. . .The Panamanian tanker Norchem collided with the Canadian Prospector near Kanawake in the Seaway. The Prospector suffered little damage, but the Norchem apparently suffered TELESCOPE Page 18
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS extensive damage and will be repaired at Montreal. The Norchem was in service between Valley field and Baltimore.
. . .Vandoc returned to service.
Sep. 9. . .Mela was inspected in Detroit after grounding in the Seaway on August 25. Owners were arranging temporary repairs to allow her to take on a cargo of wheat at Duluth for the Med- terranean.
Sep. 10. . .The Panamanian flag Pampas made her first trip into the Seaway.
. . .The Imperial Bedford arrived in Montreal with the first cargo of crude oil from the Arctic. The Bedford was carrying “ ESSO” on her stack.
. . .The L. Rochette passed upbound in the Seaway for the first time since her reentry into service. She was bound for Bronte, Ontario and then on to Chicago.
Sep. 12. . .The Greek bulk carrier John which has been prevented from entering Buffalo for nearly three weeks because of a longshoremen’s picket boat, has finally entered to load scrap metal. She was reported to be heading for Duluth to also load grain.
. . .Montrealias resumed loading after being idle in Toronto since August 8.
. . .The Hudson Transport lies untouched, awaiting scrapping at Ramey’s Bend. The stem section of the E. G. Grace lies next to the Transport, where work goes slowly. Photo Photo by Dale Pohto JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 19
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • Photo Photo by Dale Pohto
The Niagara Regional Fire Department conducted fire-fighting training on the forward cabins of the OUTARDE.
Sep. 13. . . Quebecois returned to service after being laid-up in Toronto.
Sep. 14. . .Silver Isle and Selkirk Settler cleared Port Weller Dry Docks upbound.
Sep. 15. . .C.S.L.’s Hon. Paul Martin was carrying gypsum from Halifax to Tampa and New Orleans.
Sep. 16. . .Franquelin returned to service and left Lauzon.
. . .The Niagara Regional Fire Department conducted fire-fighting training aboard the forward cabins of what is left of the former Q&O bulk carrier Outarde at Port Colborne. She was cut from the 18th hatch to the waterline.
Sep. 17. . .The Shirley Lykes and the Ashley Lykes arrived in Montreal within an hour of each other. One was leaving the lakes and the other was inbound to a lake port.
. . .The Paterson suffered an engine failure while leaving Montreal for Quebec City due to a main engine crankcase explosion. She was towed back to Montreal by four McAllister tugs. She resumed her trip to Quebec City after repairs were completed. A broken oil lubrication line was found to be the cause of the accident.
. . .The Willowglen bent her steering pole backwards when she rubbed the Huron Cement dock in Buffalo. Repairs will be done in Cleveland. TELESCOPE Page 20
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
Sep. 19. . .The Federal Lakes struck the St. Lambert Lock while on a voyage to Toledo. She was inspected in Toledo September 22 and sailed for Detroit.
Sep. 20. . .The Cliffs Victory was sold to Hai International, transferred to Panamanian registry and will be renamed Savic. She will be scrapped in Taiwan.
Sep. 21. . .The Wolf Islander was sunk in the St. Lawrence River off Wolf Island. She will serve as a training and recreation site for scuba divers. She served the Wolf Island community from 1946 to 1976 when she was replaced by the Wolf Islander II.
. . .The Elton Hoyt 2nd struck the 95th Street Bridge in the Calumet River in Chicago, disabling bridge for 5 hours. She will be repaired at Sturgeon Bay and resume service in 8 to 10 days.
. . .Atlantic Superior in Canso Strait topping off the m/v Amazon.
. . .Canadian Mariner cleared Toronto to resume service.
. . .Reec/igien on Port Weller Dry Docks for survey.
t Dossin Dossin Museum Coll.
Inland Steel's PHILLIP BLOCK was sold to Marine Salvage Corp. for scrap. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 21
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS •
r - n
The FURIA trapped in Lock 7 when the lock wall collapsed on October 14, 1985.
Sep. 23. . . Canadian Ambassador returned to service after being idle since August 25.
Sep. 24. . .Inland Steel’s Phillip Block will be sold to Marine Salvage Company, Ltd. for scrap.
. . .Mr. Hal Banks, former head of the S.I.U. passed away today.
Sep. 25. . .Menihek Lake arrived in Vigo, Spain under tow for scrapping.
Sep. 26. . .Beechglen cleared Port Weller Dry Docks.
. . .The Selkirk Settler passed upbound from Montreal with the word “Misener” painted on her side rather than “Misener Transportation” .
Sep. 27. . .The Chemical Transport was surveyed in Montreal for ice damage incurred on a loaded voyage to the Northwest Territories between August 30 to September 3. Damage included shell plating and both propellers. She also lost her port anchor on September 10 while at Iglooik, NWT.
Sep. 30. . .August Ziesing and B.F. Affleck will go to Thunder Bay, Ontario for scrapping.
Sep. 31. . .Leon Falk, Jr. arrived in Gijon, Spain for scrap being towed by Capt. Ioannis S. TELESCOPE Page 22
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
Oct. 3. . .The tug Atomic has brought the dredge Primrose to Toronto amid reports of planned conversion to a floating restaurant.
.The Lake Carriers Association reported that shipments of iron ore, coal and grain on the lakes totaled 13,265,558 net tons in August. This is down from 23 % from a year ago. Shipments of grain were down 56 %; iron ore off 9 % and coal down 25 %.
Oct. 6. . .Paterson touched bottom hear Cornwall Island apparently suffering some bottom damage. Repairs will be carried out during winter lay-up.
Oct. 12. . .Imperial Quebec arrived in Montreal on her first trip on the St. Lawrence River to Mon treal in fifteen years.
Oct. 13. . .Golden Hind was fitting out at Toronto.
Oct. 14. . .The Liberian vessel Furia was being locked through Lock 7 in the WellandCanal when a large section of the wall collapsed, trapping the ship. Later that day she was raised in the lock and backed out of the lock. The Welland Canal was closed to all ships.
. . . Canadian Explorer on the Port Weller Dry Docks.
National Steel's LEON FALK, JR. in the Welland Canal on her last trip. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 23
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS •
Oct. 15. . .Officials examining the collapsed wall in Lock 7 said that the accident was caused by a ruptured water pipe in the lock wall. There was no indication of how long repairs will take. Ships have begun anchoring in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie while the Canal is closed.
Oct. 16. . .A contract was awarded for installation of braces between the Lock 7 walls. The work began the next day and was expected to take six days. When the bracing is completed, the lock will be drained and the damage assessed.
Oct. 17. . .Workmen begin excavating the land behind the lock wall and the braces are being put in. Efforts to drain the lock were halted as the engineers felt the weakened wall will suffer more damage. Mr. William O’Neill, president of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority stated that “It’s going to be a matter of weeks, not a matter of days before the shipping route is open again’ ’.
Oct. 18. . .The tugs Glenda and Mount McKay towed the Amoco Wisconsin to Windsor for scrap ping. She was taken to the same slip where the Silverdale was scrapped.
Oct. 20. . .Imperial Quebec on Port Weller Dry Docks. The Canadian Explorer was at the wall.
Oct. 21. . .Shipping companies said billions of trade dollars will be lost if the Lock 7 wall wasn’t repaired by mid-November. Many shippers are investigating alternative routes. At least 63 ships are either in the Canal or anchored outside in Lakes Erie and Ontario. The closing could affect U.S. imports of foreign steel and the large grain contract signed by Russia and Canada. Prior to the closing of the Canal, shipping through the Seaway was down 25 % from a year ago.
. . .The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority hired Pitts Engineering Construction to make temporary repairs to the lock wall.
Oct. 22. . .Chemical Transport left Montreal on a rare trip to Portland, Maine.
Oct. 23. . .The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority has extended the shipping season for the second year in a row. Even though repairs have proceeded faster than expected, ships will still need to use the Seaway after the scheduled closing date of December 30. Four upper level braces were installed on October 20th with the remaining two upper braces installed the next day. The six lower braces were scheduled to be in place by today. There are now 54 vessels anchored in Lakes Erie and Ontario awaiting passage. Several ships have tied up at various ports.
. . .Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario announced that the city will develope a deep water harbor at Leigh Bay on the city’s west end. Algoma Steel Corp. Ltd. will sell some land to the city for the develop ment. The project is expected to cost about $5 million.
Oct. 24. . .Grain storage at the port of Toledo is becoming scarce because of the canal closing. Some elevators are no longer accepting grain while others were taking only dry com and soybeans.
. . .Lock 7 was drained and inspectors found a 150-foot long crack on the upper section of the lock. Vessel losses are estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 per day (Canadian funds).
. . .Seaway officials announced that repairs will be completed and the canal open to traffic by November 6.
Oct. 25. . .The tug Husker was seized by crew members through an arrest order issued by Lamb ton County Sheriff’s Office due to non-payment of wages. The tug was in Samia. TELESCOPE Page 24
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS
The roll-on/roll-off container ship Atlantic Star arrived in Montreal. Her name had just been changed from Atlantic Premier. She was one of four ships originally built for service between Montreal and the continent in the early seventies and all had names beginning with the prefix ‘ ‘M ont''. This was the first visit in many years.
Oct 27. . .The Greek Philippi entered the Seaway for the first time. Her funnel markings are well known on the lakes as it’s one of Papachristidis. She was bound for Detroit. She tried to enter the lakes last year and was turned around at Lanoraie when the Valleyfield Bridge closed traffic.
.New York News arrived in Wallaceburg to load 200,000 bushels of com for Collingwood. She was the eighth vessel into Wallaceburg this season. Over 2 million bushels of com and grain have been shipped from there this season.
.The Birchglen tied up at Sarnia to join the Lake Manitoba, Cartiercliffe Hall, Algocen, Cana dian Ranger, Algowest and Ottercliffe Hall. AU vessels are idle due to the mishap at Lock 7.
Oct. 31. . .The Amoco Illinois passed downbound at the Blue Water Bridge being towed by tugs Glenada and Mount McKay. She arrived at Windsor the following day and was tied up next to the Amoco Wisconsin.
. . .Workmen begin pouring cement in Lock 7. Photo Photo by Cyril Hudson
AMOCO WISCONSIN being towed downbound at Sarnia by tugs MT. MCKAY and GLENADA on October 18, 1985. JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 25
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • Dossin Dossin Museum Coll. Dossin Museum Coll.
Top: The EDWARD G. SEUBERT was built in 1930 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company and renamed AMOCO WISCONSIN in 1962 (bottom). TELESCOPE Page 26
• GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS Massman Coll/Dossin Museum Dossin Museum Coll.
Top: The WILLIAM P. COWAN was built in 1918 at Lorain, Ohio by the American Shipbuilding Company and renamed AMOCO ILLINOIS in 1962 (bottom). JAN ☆ FEB, 1986 Page 27
GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS •
MISCELLEANOUS . . .
. . .Collinwood Shipyard has been awarded a $5 million contract by Paterson & Sons Ltd. to refit the Comeaudoc (ex- C.S.L. Murray Bay. She will enter the yard at the end of the shipping season. A new power pland, possibly a diesel will be installed.
. . .In addition to the refit work on the Comeaudoc, Collship is building a $50 million Canadian Coast Guard frigate which is due for completion in November.
. . .The Coast Guard will begin extensive repairs to the ice-breaker Westwind which suffered extensive hull damage in January, 1984 while in Antarctica.
. . .Work goes slowly on the C.L. Austin at Ashtabula. A substantial portion of her bow remains. The Frank R. Denton lies untouched behind her.
. . .The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has renamed the port of Toledo’s former American Shipbuilding yard, ‘ ‘The Toledo Shipyard” .
January Meeting Notice . . .
The January 17th entertainment meeting will be members slide night. All members are invited to bring fifteen of their favorite slides. (No subject limitations.) The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. at the Dossin Museum and we will provide the slide carousals. □ O >H i n c - 1 jj) aJ o GREAT LARES MARITIME INSTITUTE CO CO 33 3 3 a X DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM 0 3 3 Hs © 3 3 C £ g * BELLE ISLE >> o a X < < O a) Detroit. Michigan 48207 o o X
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