Fraser Shipyard Will Convert Three U.S. Steel Ore Boats To Self-Unloaders

Boat watchers around the Great Lakes may be momentarily confused next year when three wellknown U.S. Steel ore vessels appear on the horizon with new silhouettes (shown above, top). Robert D. Goldbach, vice presidentshipping for U.S. Steel's Resource Development group, announced recently that the Steamers Cason J. Callaway, Arthur M. Anderson, and Philip R. Clarke will be outfitted with topside self-unloading gear for use during the 1982 sailing season. Fraser Shipyard Inc., in Superior, Wis., will perform the conversion on the three ore vessels.

A c c o r d i n g to Mr. Goldbach, when the boats were launched in 1952 they were 647 feet long with a cargo capacity of about 19,700 long tons. Each was lengthened to 767 feet in the mid-1970s, which increased their trip capacity to 26,500 long tons.

"Our first improvement in productivity for these vessels was the 120-foot lengthening and increased liftability. The addition of the self-unloading equipment will further improve the boats' productivity by decreasing turnaround time at the unloading docks," Mr. Goldbach said. Currently, the ore freighters are unloaded by dockside equipment in approximately 17 hours. Fitted with new self-unloading equipment manufactured by Stephens- Adamson Division of Allis-Chalmers Canada Ltd., the cargo can be discharged in five hours.

" A d d i t i o n a l l y , these self-unloading modifications will afford U.S. Steel the added flexibility of scheduling the more efficient Callaway, Anderson and Clarke into any and all U.S. Steel discharge ports," Mr. Goldbach noted.

Included in the modification plans are the installation of a hopper-type arrangement in each cargo hold, a belt conveying system under the hoppers, and a deck-mounted, 250-foot boom to transport the cargo to shoreside facilities. In addition, increasing generating capacity will be added to the boats to accommodate the extra power needs of the selfunloaders.

The new unloading equipment is manufactured by Stephens- Adamson, Division of Allis-Chalmers Canada, Ltd.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 28, Apr 1981

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First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.