1943 Steelton 3 1994
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Ashtabula OH by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 525
Launched Sept 11, 1943
Built for U. S. Maritime Commission, Class L6-S-B1 under its World War II vessel construction program. Launched as Pilot Knob (second of two vessels of this class with this temporary name). Renamed Steelton and delivered at commissioning to Bethlehem Transportation Corporation, taking in trade (for this vessel and str. Lehigh) three older vessels of the fleet for part of the purchase price
620’6” LOA, 604’ LBP, 60’ beam, 35’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, 18 hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 2500 IHP
Enrolled at
603.8 x 60.2 x 30.2, 9057 GT, 6793 NT US 244507 to:
Bethlehem Transportation Corporation, Cleveland OH
Entered service Nov 1943
Traded late 1965 to Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland OH for sister vessel str. Frank Purnell (1) and renamed Frank Purnell (2)
(Interlake’s vessel had a new cargo hold but they wished to convert a Maritime vessel to self-unloader, which would have wasted her new cargo hold)
Converted to self-unloader 1966 at Toledo OH by American Ship Building Co.
Remeasured to 8421 GT, 6120 NT
Boilers converted to oil firing 1972
Sold 1974 to Columbia Transportation Division, Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland OH and renamed Robert C. Norton (2)
Laid up May 9, 1980 at Toledo OH and did not operate again
Sold for scrap 1994 to International Marine Salvage Ltd. Resold to Indian shipbreakers. Cleared Sorel QC under tow. Tow arrived Alang India Dec 16, 1994
IMO 5339731
4316
Just looking for information on the boat and the history. My father, uncle and grandfather all sailed on the great lakes and my father sailed on the Steelton III.
Thanks for the info. I inherited a large, framed photogragh of the ship in some port, but do not know the location.
That’s interesting Mister McDougal. I’m currently trying to find materials about the ship’s past for a research video. If you have gathered any useful information since this it would be very helpful for me and my publisher. You would be fairly credited, naturally.
On August 25, 1974, the Steelton struck and destroyed the Port Robinson bridge on the Welland Canal, dividing forever the hamlet of Port Robinson. (In its place is a seasonal, tiny passenger-and-bikes-only ferry.)
That very same time I was on an Indian inbound salty at Thorold lock 7, St. Catharines. Were alongside almost 20 days, till the Port Robinson Bridge wreckage was cleared and Welland Canal reopened.
My vessel was the m.v. Jalajaya.
I am retired and in Mumbai India; and you Kevin?