Taj920 Member Username: Taj920
Post Number: 90 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.42.252.205
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 10:30 am: | |
The City of San Francisco has turned down a preservation group that wanted to base the USS Iowa as a museum in the city. This would be a great tourist attraction that would enahance the region's tourist products. Maybe Detroit officials can pursue getting the Iowa or another de-commissioned naval ship for our riverfront. Here is a link to the effort: http://www.ussiowa.com/ |
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5
Post Number: 153 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 71.227.95.4
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 10:41 am: | |
I think it would be nice to see, but at 900 feet long, 108 feet wide and requiring 30+ feet of water just to barely float where the hell could we put it? Seems a little too large to just tie it off to the sea wall. |
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001
Post Number: 2026 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.135.95
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 10:57 am: | |
An even better question: given the draft and size of the vessel, how would you get it here? An even better question (Part 2): As much as I would like to preserve history, what connection does it have to Detroit? |
Mikeydbn Member Username: Mikeydbn
Post Number: 298 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 35.11.141.32
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 11:03 am: | |
What connection does the USS Silversides have to Muskegon? http://www.silversides.org/ That tour seems to be doing just fine... |
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001
Post Number: 2027 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.135.95
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 11:12 am: | |
Never said that I wouldn't. Still, I'll be nice to have some some connection to the area. |
Bertz Member Username: Bertz
Post Number: 500 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 11:34 am: | |
I think the USS Iowa is to large for the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. |
Patrick Member Username: Patrick
Post Number: 3251 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.236.195.229
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 12:27 pm: | |
I started a thread on this a while ago....assholes in SF. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3114 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 12:57 pm: | |
Try for the Des Moines River. Now there's a connection. San Francisco prefers sushi. jjaba. |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 12:59 pm: | |
Well, it is a nice idea, but the Iowa won't fit through the Welland Canal (not to mention the St. Lawrence Seaway). The Welland limits vessels to 740 feet in length and the Iowa is 140 feet longer than that. This is not to mention the fact that the Iowa is 20+ feet wider than the canal. My vote for a vessel that could represent Detroit (through Great Lakes steamers of the past} is the SS Keewatin, a classic lakes passenger vessel. Unfortunately we would have to steal it from Saugatuk. Or maybe an ore carrier. the river rat |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3118 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:26 pm: | |
Bob-lo Boats, foot of Woodward. jjaba remembers Captain Bob. |
Gary Member Username: Gary
Post Number: 114 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.248.10.23
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:28 pm: | |
The obvious choice for a ship to be docked along the river would be the USS Detroit. A US Navy Fast Combat Support ship commisioned in 1969, decommissioned on 2/17/05. Unfortunately, it is 796 feet long with a 39 foot draft, so it is also too big to make it through the Welland Canal or the St. Lawrence Seaway. Oh well. It would still be nice to see the ship commemorated in some way by the city, even if it can't be transported to the river front. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 2414 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:31 pm: | |
What't the longest ship that can be brought up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes? I know the top would have to be cut off, but how long could it be. How long was the Cliff's Victory when she passes through? |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 2504 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:37 pm: | |
WHy Not get the USS Detroit before she scrap her? too bad we coudnt get the ol USS Detroit that was in Pearl Harbor 7 December 41 though, but the one that replaced her asfter the original one was decomissioned, itself was just just decomissioned last year... |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 15 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 207.67.146.177
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:40 pm: | |
Jjaba wins! I can't believe I overlooked the real heart of old Detroit on the river, the Bob-Lo boats. The Columbia would be my choice, but the Ste. Claire is in better shape. The Ste. Claire is trying to be rehabed under ownership in Toledo, I think. I last saw the Columbia in River Rouge last fall near the Helene, an old Dodge yacht. an embarassed river rat; kudos to jjaba |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3119 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 1:54 pm: | |
Ron Artest was adopted from the Prince family. He's the Artest formerly known as Prince. River rat, who were you before River Rat? jjaba, AKA Westside Bar Mitzvah bukkor. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 827 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.38
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 2:03 pm: | |
USS Detroit (AOE-4), the fifth of this name, is currently mothballed and in reserve, and in no immediate danger of being torched. USS Detroit (CL-8) after action report of Pearl Harbor attack. More history of USS Dertoit (CL-8). |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 2505 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 2:06 pm: | |
All of them were dreadnuaghts though right Hornwrecker? I thought i reead on a website somewhere that they were gonna scrap her... |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3120 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 2:34 pm: | |
Very good read, Hornwrecker. Thanks. jjaba. |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 207.67.146.177
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 3:18 pm: | |
Not a dreadnaught. In the US Navy of the past, all battleships (dreadnaughts) were named after states. Cruisers (heavy and light) were named after cities. Recently (last thirty years to me), the large attack and missile subs have also been named after cities. Bring back the Columbia! the river rat |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 828 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.71
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 4:39 pm: | |
The A in AOE stands for auxiallary (Supply Navy) the rest for an Ammunition/Oiler. The Detroit is a member of the USS Sacremento class of ships. In the olden days, before email, seeing one of these ships alongside for an UnRep would mean that there'd be a mail call that day, and maybe even fresh fruit or milk. I think all previous USS Detroits were real warships. C-10 was before CL-8, a Spanish-American War era cruiser. Google around for more info. Hornwrecker previously haze gray and underway |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 290 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:10 pm: | |
I think there's a treaty between Canada and the US that clearly states warships will not sail in the Great Lakes. I think a variance of some sort was obtained a few times by an act of both nations in years past, but it means a lot of legal hoo-ha. Ajw....any thoughts on that??? |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1036 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:48 pm: | |
... there are 3 ore carriers that are over 1000ft long... they get through? I know they are also more narrow though. |
River_rat Member Username: River_rat
Post Number: 23 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 207.67.146.177
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:54 pm: | |
Alexei289- The ore boats at 1000 feet never go into Lake Ontario. They run from Duluth (or so)only as far as Lake Erie. Some of them actually go to Burns Harbor in Lake Michigan. The "Soo" locks can accommodate them in their transit from Lake Superior to the lower lakes. the river rat |
Dag Member Username: Dag
Post Number: 187 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.188.238.215
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 7:05 pm: | |
Alexei, if a warship has been decommissioned, as one docking in Detroit surely would be, that would not be an issues. It would not have live rounds and it would not be in violation of any international treaties, agreements or pacts. Good thinking though. |
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch
Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 71.65.11.152
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 7:23 pm: | |
Here is the Boblo Boat ( one of ) if anyone wants it. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060116/NEW S02/601160399 |
Bertz Member Username: Bertz
Post Number: 504 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89
| Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 8:58 pm: | |
too bad she would have made a nice addition to the Detroit sky line. http://www.northeasternmaritim e.org/Harriman.shtml And a little more of "just don't give a crap"-atcha http://www.boatnerd.com/news/n ewsthumbs/newsthumbs_harriman. htm |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1804 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.43
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 12:15 am: | |
Right you are River_rat, some ships build in Great Lakes shipyards can never leave the 4 upper lakes due to their size. |
Islandman Member Username: Islandman
Post Number: 80 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 12:20 am: | |
Not to threadjack, but I was able to go on the USS Michigan while I was in the Navy. Huge Ohio class nuclear sub. Got a zippo and gave it to my father-in-law. (Message edited by Islandman on February 18, 2006) |
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis
Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.227.102.82
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 3:20 pm: | |
There are 11 thousand footers and one slightly under 1000 that have been built in the lakes and are trapped in the lakes. If Detroit were to get some type of ship, it should be a Great Lakes freighter. I don't see it happening since Detroit can't even manage the attractions they currently have. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 4:17 pm: | |
11 K footers, sure! That's two miles long. It would make a damn good dam if one got turned sideways enough. But, I'm perhaps taking it a bit too literally. (Message edited by livernoisyard on February 19, 2006) |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 297 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 5:02 pm: | |
Great minds think alike, Livernoisyard. |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 762 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 7:03 pm: | |
No warships on the lakes, this is why they took the propeller off the Silversides, not a vessel that can move anymore, so not in violation of the treaty. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1808 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.180
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 7:04 pm: | |
So that means at least one of the Soo locks is big enough to handle the thousand footers, but the Welland Canal is not. I assume that the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway also cannot handle 1000 footers, is that right? I guess that would mean that Toronto (Lake Ontario) hasn't ever seen any 1000 footers then.... |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 764 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 8:59 pm: | |
Nope, Soo Locks are bigger than the St Lawrence Seaway. It was out of date when it opened. Not enough funding to do it like they wanted with and 1000 ft lock, and now there is definitely not enough money to expand the locks, which is why there are lots of international ships that cannot come into the Great Lakes because they don't fit. |
Crash_nyc Member Username: Crash_nyc
Post Number: 526 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 24.193.39.60
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 10:20 am: | |
If the ship would be coming to Detroit to stay and never leave, engineers can put their heads together and come up with a way to do it...given that enough money is available. If the state of Michigan wants it bad enough, they'll make it happen, as the city definitely doesn't have the dough to fund it solo. If Detroit could get the USS Iowa, it would be an instant tourist attraction. This is no-brainer. Dock it next to Hart Plaza, down where the Lansdowne used to be. The USS Intrepid (aircraft carrier) is a major tourist attraction in NYC. Nearly the entire ship is open for viewing. It has a whole slew of airplanes on its deck, including an A12-Blackbird, and one of the decomissioned Concordes. I've toured this ship twice, and it's pretty cool to climb around the innards of such a huge beast. |
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis
Post Number: 9 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.227.102.82
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 12:11 pm: | |
Livernois lol I didn't read that the same way you read it. There are 11 freighters on the Great Lakes that are at least 1000 feet. JJ |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 120 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 12:21 pm: | |
An editor, such as I, could find all kinds of such errors. Without them, I would have much less to do - other than layout. I love those engineers who use English as their second or fourth language. Does "much less" make much sense or not? (Message edited by livernoisyard on February 20, 2006) |
Solarflare Member Username: Solarflare
Post Number: 374 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.69.106.29
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 12:37 pm: | |
I say tie up the ice breaker Mackinaw. Oldest icebreaker still in service until it's retirement (if that's come yet), and decades of history on the Great Lakes. It has visited Detroit in the past, I think the shoe-phone got a shot of it. I've saw it in a number of ports around the Great Lakes. Cool ship with a lot of history. |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 779 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.255.240.186
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 1:00 pm: | |
the new icebreaker mackinaw started training on jan.24th. it will complete this season with the existing icebreaker mackinaw to take over the full duty next season. i think she is to be decomissioned then, but have not heard for sure... |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 768 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 1:15 pm: | |
Those 1000ft freights were built on the Great Lakes so they never had to come through a lock to get here. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1811 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.129
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:17 pm: | |
That's true Bob. But they do have to go thru the Soo locks. Their reason for being is based on getting Iron Ore from Duluth on Lake Superior and bringing it down to ports on the other 3 lakes. |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 770 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | |
Sorry, I should have clarified. The 1000 footers do go through the Soo Locks, but they can't fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks, so they are stuck in the Great Lakes, but that is where they are designed to operate. They actually are worried because there is only one of the 4 Soo Locks that can fit 1000 footers (Poe Lock). If it was taken out by terrorism, or had a wall collapse, or accident that took it out of commission, the 1000 footers would be stuck on Lake Superior or below the locks. This is why they keep trying to get federal funding to replace the two locks that are seldom used with another 1000 foot lock. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1813 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.49
| Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 5:37 pm: | |
Also aren't these Great Lakes 1000 footers only designed for the lakes? I mean, they aren't sea worthy on the open ocean IIRC. Aren't ocean freighters designed differently from lakes freighters..... able to handle larger waves? Didn't the Edmund Fitzgerald go down because of a wave larger that what they were made to handle (30-50ft?). |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1013 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:13 pm: | |
Several years ago, when I had the pleasure of serving on the Dossin Board, we were entertaining the idea of accepting a "gift" from Upper Lakes SteamShip Company, the whaleback freighter John Ericcson. She was to be scrapped, and we heard that the company was willing to transfer title to the City on the provision that the vessel would be tied up in an "enclosure" just east of the museum and that the city ( Dossin and the Great Lakes Maritime Institute )would maintain the vessel. The City did not have the money to dig the "enclosure", the Coast Guard had their doubts, we had a treasury that would have been depleted in just two years of operation/maintenance and the whole idea was put to rest. The remaining whaleback, Meteor, is up in Superior at the marine museum and I see in the paper a few days ago that they are looking for funding to give her a much needed restoration. It costs thousands, even millions, of dollars to keep and maintain historic vessels. Even if the IOWA could be somehow plopped in Detroit,(there's no way she could sail here on her own) the cost of annual maintenance would be astronomical. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3145 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 2:34 pm: | |
The Rock is correct. Not only normal maintenance, Imagine severe weather. Imagine a historical boat in Detroit washing up in Windsor or ending up in a Wyandotte front yard. Gulfport casinos is a recent even that comes to mind. Thanks Rock. jjaba. |
Bertz Member Username: Bertz
Post Number: 507 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 3:40 pm: | |
Rock, to bad the deal with the J.E. didn't work out for it was her last chance to be preserved. she wold be 110 yers old by now, however, under CAY her chances wold have not been that good. check it http://www.mhsd.org/publicatio ns/glswr/ericsson.htm |
Bertz Member Username: Bertz
Post Number: 508 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
Another vessel that would have a nice addition to the Detroit skyline was the Chief Wawatam, but the "don't give a fucks" got a hold of her first and their "thin" minds only understand and appreciate one thing...money. History cut-up so a couple of slobs can make a quick buck. http://www.carferries.com/chie f/ |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 3147 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:00 pm: | |
Ship scrapping is a big business. Take your pick. There's a whole old fleet of ships in San Francisco Bay just waiting to be torn apart and pieced out to Japanese steel mills. jjaba, tells it like it tis. |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 110 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 12.2.192.223
| Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 7:38 pm: | |
Aye, our ace waterfront reporter ‘tis true on the mark. ”Shipbreaking’s a murky multi-billion dollar business. Yesterday’s battleships are tomorrow’s Toyota’s. Back in ‘83 I was on the S.S. Tamara Guilden, a rusty 800 ft salt-water “bulker”. We still used celestial navigation! She was American flagged, operated by ZIM (Israel) built in Bremerhaven, and gifted to Israel by West Germany as reparations for the holocaust. (I always imagined my German/Russian Jew ancestors would find it all amusing in a seafaring-cynical way) Anyhew, I was on her last few runs (New Orleans/Haifa, Israel) then to the ship scrap-heap outside of Karachi, Pakistan. An eerie sight as dozens of ships were being dismantled by hundreds of workers, most just using hand tools and torches. We’d run her aground top be “eaten” by the human ants stripping iron carcasses on that broiling beach. One ship mate got “lost” the night before we were to fly home, our sea bags full of her silent clocks and brass binnacles. He “awoke” in an opium den three months later. I imagine a few of our beloved “lakers” are towed over to meet a similar and sad fate. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1018 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:22 am: | |
Sailor rick---The Great Lakes Maritime Institute and/or the Marine Historical Society should have you as their guest speaker at one of their annual dinners. Only trouble is that the stories you would tell about your "sea-adventures" would scare most of 'em away! |
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis
Post Number: 18 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.227.102.82
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:27 am: | |
The Old Mackanaw Coast Guard ship will be used in Cheboygan as a museum since that was her home base. |
Solarflare Member Username: Solarflare
Post Number: 377 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.69.106.29
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 1:20 pm: | |
I'd love to see a picture of the New Mackinaw and the Old Mackinaw underway side by side. |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 111 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:11 pm: | |
Ha-Ha thanks Rock, I'm quite flattered. Geez,and after years of putting my "lubber" friends "asleep" with my tales. I'm sure you know a sea "story" always starts out with "No shit, this happened to me..." To suite the audience I can always swap a port bar fight/bordello visit with art gallery/orphanage as I would tell my girlfriends. I visited the Meteor in Superior a number of times. Quite unique and sleek hull design. Duluth, the Soo and Cleveland have large Laker museum ships. Wouldn't the Southdown (Medussa) Challenger be sweet in the Globe Trading Blg? Ah, (steam) pipe dreams. |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 211 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:12 pm: | |
More stories! |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 846 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.97
| Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:38 pm: | |
I might as well post a map of the Detroit Drydock Co. in this thread, Globe bldg is at the top, from 1884 (I think). This would be the ideal place for a Great Lakes maritime museum. (Immediately to the left is the engine facility, with turntable inside of the Detroit, Grand Haven, & Milwaukee RR, future Grand Trunk. Will post in train station thread soon.) This is a no shitter, one time when I pulled Shore Patrol duty in Subic Bay... ... and I never could get the blood out of that uniform. |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 125 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 1:19 am: | |
I personally think the St. Mary's (nee. Southdown/Medusa/Alex/Elton/Wi lliam) Challenger looks best sailing, as she will be this year in her 100th season as a steamer.....So much for the "caustic affects" of cement. The oldest ships on the lakes are cement carriers and I've yet to hear of one that needed internal structural work due to corrosion. |
Ptero Member Username: Ptero
Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 4.229.57.206
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 4:51 am: | |
the old and the new... #83 is the older Big Mac #30 is the new $90 Million Mackinaw The respective commissioning and decommissioning is tentatively set to occur in June '06, once the new Mac passes sea trials. (Message edited by ptero on February 23, 2006) |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 112 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:19 pm: | |
Glad to hear the Challenger's still chugging away. She was on of my favorites to work on, deck or engine. During the summer and when it would stop in Detroit/Cleveland, it was more like a working vacation. Since she loaded up in Charlevoix there was plenty O' fun with the frisky "fudgie" gals. Plus she may have been built by my great grandfather who worked in the shipyard. It is amazing the longevity of the "cement boats". On a deep-sea ship I was having a tough time taking fuel soundings, the C/E chidded "Don't you take soundings up on the Lakes?" "Not on the last boat I was on. She burned coal." "Yeah and you hauled down the sails too!" I eventually convinced him that I WAS on a coal-burner, the S.S. Crapo. He was amazed that "museum pieces" still sailed up here. Does the Badger burn coal? I know she runs a Skinner. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 2418 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:42 pm: | |
Yes, the Badger still burns coal. |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 784 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.227.84.69
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 6:22 pm: | |
and how would you know tha mikem? hmmmm? could be you know somebody that worked on her? ;) |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 2419 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 7:52 pm: | |
...somebody with a mouth like a sailor, and drinks like one too? |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 786 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.255.239.171
| Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:46 am: | |
hee hee. you sed it, not me! |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1022 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 3:18 pm: | |
Let's not pick on sailor-rick. I happen to know that he has been bounced from some of the finest and most selective bars in this and other continents. Any mariner who has ever sailed on the S.T. CRAPO (named after Stanford Tappan Crapo-founder of Huron Cement Co.) deserves our respect and admiration. Now on the other hand, having met a few of those Great Lakes mariners, myself........ |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 113 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 12.2.192.223
| Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 7:07 pm: | |
Rock, You are too kind defending the honor of a fellow “Maple” (although, I believe the offending missive was meant for some one else). My brief time on the Crapo was all the more interesting since the officer's were on strike after La Farge (them Frenchies!) took over and fired them, then re-hired “selectively”. I was a volunteer “liaison” for the officer's union, feeding info to the scabs..er, replacements. I almost convinced a few to “walk”. The C/E, the “office” & my union (S.I.U.imagine!) were very “displeased” with me, essentially requesting I leave the service of the vessel for violating a newly formulated “safety” policy of “being outside the boundary of company mandated walkways on company property”. There were marked paths that separated the gate, dock and ship that I had crossed over in Muskegon. This was in place to keep the replacements, which never left the ship, from any contact with the strikers or officer’s union. I did have a hoot with a couple of hired plain clothes “guards” who were attempting to intimidate me. They actually were a pair of pretty pitiful local big-bubbas. In a room I had to pass through to reach the ship,they "crowded", me demanding my ID. I replied with my head bobbing in my best low-rent De Niro imitation (I had sailed wit’ da’ real deal from Brooklyn before) “What? You want my Fu***** license? Slamming my hand on the desk, they both jumped about a yard. “No, you actually want a piece of me, huh? That’s what you want. That’s what you want, right!” I left them stammering and staring at each other. |
Basscase Member Username: Basscase
Post Number: 7 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.42.83.119
| Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:25 am: | |
War ships are not banned by tready in the great lakes. I have twice now taken a trip on a Navy Frig. out of Port Huron. The first trip was from Prt Huron to Windsor (then to the Casino) and the second was out into Lake Huron for a day trip and trust me, that ship was loaded to the gills with some serious ammo. Granted the ship was on a goodwill PR trip, but still a war ship in the lakes. I believe the ship was the USS Samuel Elliot Morrison . |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 861 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.125
| Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:54 am: | |
The only warship named after a historian. RAdm. Morrison was the official Navy historian, who wrote the 15 volume "History of Naval Operations in WWII" (which I recommend if you have the time, lots of time) and other history books. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on February 27, 2006) |
Awfavre Member Username: Awfavre
Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.3.206.177
| Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 12:45 pm: | |
There are actually 13 thousand footers (in no particular order): 1) Stewart J. Cort (the first 1,000 footer), 2) Burns Harbor, 3) Paul R. Tregurtha (the largest vessel on the Great Lakes), 4) Mesabi Miner, 5) James R. Barker, 6) Indiana Harbor, 7) American Spirit, 8) Walter J. McCarthy Jr., 9) Edwin H. Gott, 10) Edgar B. Speer, 11) Oglebay Norton, 12) Columbia Star, and 13) the tug/barge Presque Isle. The Oglebay Norton and Columbia Star will likely be changing names soon due to new ownership. |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 114 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 12.2.192.223
| Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 7:35 pm: | |
Who will the new owner's be? |
Awfavre Member Username: Awfavre
Post Number: 27 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.3.206.177
| Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 12:13 pm: | |
It's technically up in the air, since there have been no formal announcements, but it looks like American Steamship Company will acquire the entire Oglebay Norton fleet, with the exception of the Reserve & Buckeye, which are being barged out by K&K. [Correct me if I'm wrong, Billybbrew.] Check the news page on www.Boatnerd.com to find out for certain when it happens. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1030 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 4:20 pm: | |
End of an era. The 1963 Great Lakes Red Book shows that the Oglebay Norton Company owned, managed or operated over 27 steamers and barges on the Great Lakes. One of my earliest photographs shows the old DAVID Z. NORTON tied up down in Ohio awaiting the wreckers torch. I had to borrow a row boat to get outand get a decent picture. That's back when the freighters all had distinctive lines, not the floating rectangles you see today. And that's back when you could borrow a rowboat. Try going into a scrap yard today, and see what happens!! |
Billybbrew
Member Username: Billybbrew
Post Number: 127 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 7:10 pm: | |
Awfavre is on top of the rumor mill. I tend to think things will happen as said above....We'll see, sometimes there are surprise endings. |
Solarflare Member Username: Solarflare
Post Number: 398 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.69.106.29
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 1:48 pm: | |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress /20060309/ca_pr_on_od/dog_not_ gone GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (AP) - A dog that was presumed drowned after falling into a river channel that feeds Lake Michigan and disappearing beneath the icy water was found alive hours later and returned to its grateful owner. A December accident involving a new coast guard icebreaker may have ended up saving the dog's life. The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety said Robert Chavez, of Ottawa County's Grand Haven Township, was walking two of his dogs alongside the Grand River around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when one of the animals, a German shepherd, fell into the channel and broke through the ice. The icy conditions prevented Chavez from getting the dog out of the water, so he ran to a nearby home and called 911. When he returned to the river, he could not find the dog, the Grand Haven Tribune reported. Officers from the Public Safety Department and the coast guard station in Grand Haven arrived and searched the water and the surrounding area. They also could not find the animal, which they presumed had drowned. Around 9:45 p.m., a woman called the department to report that she and her friends had heard a dog barking as they walked along the channel's south pier, which is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. Responding officers also heard barking. It appeared to be coming from a tunnel beneath the pier, but they were unable to remove a service cover to gain access to the tunnel. Corps personnel were contacted but said they would not be able to assist until Wednesday morning. Two hours later, a man called the Public Safety Department to report that he had heard barking sounds coming from below the surface of the pier, so he managed to remove the 30-centimetre service cover and found a dog trapped in the tunnel. Ottawa County sheriff's Deputy Mike Petroelje, who has experience handling dogs, was contacted and soon responded to the scene. The Muskegon Chronicle reported that he used a leash to free the dog, which was not injured. Officials said they believe the German shepherd gained access to the tunnel by swimming through a hole created in the channel's seawall when it was rammed by the Mackinaw while the new icebreaker was on a tour of Great Lakes ports. The Mackinaw's captain was removed from his post after the accident, which also left a dent in the bow of the $90 million US ship. |