Buffington, Eugene J.

1909                                  Eugene J. Buffington                                  1980

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 366
Launched March 6, 1909

601’ LOA, 580’ LBP, 58’ beam, 32’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1880 IHP

Enrolled at Cleveland OH April 12, 1909 (#90)
580.0 x 58.0 x 32.0, 7528 GT, 5839 NT     US 206147     to:
American Ship Building Co., Cleveland OH (home port Lorain OH)

Reenrolled at Duluth MN April 19, 1909 (#42) to
Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port Duluth MN)

Entered service May 6, 1909 clearing Lorain OH for Two Harbors MN

Stranded June 21, 1942 on Boulder Reef, Lake Michigan in fog and broke in two.  Towed to South Chicago IL, repaired and returned to service

Fleet reincorporated 1949 in Delaware (home port to Wilmington DE)

Fleet merged July 1951 into parent United States Steel Corporation (home port to New York NY)

Remeasured 1959 to 7546 GT, 5857 NT

Fleet renamed United States Steel Great Lakes Fleet 1967 (home port to Wilmington DE)

Laid up at Duluth MN at end of 1974 season and did not operate again.

Sold for scrap 1980 to Ronald S. Enterprises.  Resold to Spanish shipbreakers.  Cleared Quebec QC Oct 4, 1980 with str. J. P. Morgan Jr. towed by tug Hirtenhurm.  Tow arrived Bilbao Spain Oct 22, 1980

IMO 5109368

See history in Great Lakes Ships We Remember II p. 40

 

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8 thoughts on “Buffington, Eugene J.

  1. I acquired a life preserver from this boat. Do you know anyone who might be interested in buying it?

    • My suggestion would be to go to boatnerd.com. Under Information Search there is subcategory called boatnerd classified. This should do you fine.

  2. I have my grandfathers Lake Carriers Assoc, Discharge book & his Membership in welfare Plan book from 1915 & 1919 as well as his original License to First Class Pilot Steam Vessels 1926 and his Longs Transparent chart Worker & compass. I would like to know if there is a museum or someone that would be interested in them as i am happy to donate them.

  3. I have the original ships wheel off the Buffington I believe it’s 109 years old in excellent condition anybody interested in the history of it let me know I’ve had it since 1952 that’s when it was replaced

    • Hi, are trying to sell it? I bought the wheel of the James Lykes from a gent in Wilmington, Ca, about a month ago.

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