1896                                  Frank Rockefeller                                  1972

 

Steel whaleback bulk freighter

 

Built at West Superior WI by American Steel Barge Co., Hull 136

First frames laid Nov 10, 1893, launched April 25, 1996

380’ LOA, 366’ LBP, 45’ beam, 26’ depth

1 deck, hold beams, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 2000 IHP

Enrolled at Marquette MI March 16, 1896 (Temp #29)

366.5 x 45.0 x 26.0, 2759.86 GT, 2013.55 NT     US 121015     to:

American Steel Barge Co., Buffalo NY (home port Buffalo NY)

Entered service June 3, 1896 with cargo of iron ore

Permanent enrollment at Buffalo NY March 19, 1897 (#58)

Fleet sold 1900 to Bessemer Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port to Duluth MN)

Fleet merged March 1901 into Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Duluth MN, a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, A. B. Wolvin, Mgr.

Cargo hold rebuilt winter 1925-26 to arch construction at Fairport OH

Remeasured to 366.5 x 45.4 x 21.8, 2646 GT, 1799 NT

Sold 1927 to Central Dredging Co., Chicago IL.  Converted to dredge.

Vessel was purchased to be converted to a self-unloading dredge but only minimal alteration was made and the full conversion was never done.

Renamed South Park 1928

Central Dredging Co. discontinued operations in the early 1930s.  It is not clear how much time this vessel was actually in operation during the years she was a part of this fleet.

Sold 1934 to Maurice H. Sobel, Detroit MI

Sold 1936 to Nicholson Transit Co., Detroit MI

Resold 1936 to Erie Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port to Wilmington DE)

Wrecked late 1942 near Manistique MI, Lake Michigan and laid up at Manitowoc WI

Sold 1943 to Cleveland Tankers Inc., Cleveland OH.  Converted to tanker at Manitowoc WI by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. and renamed Meteor.

Remeasured to 3383 GT, 2393 NT

Stranded Nov 21, 1969 near Marquette MI, Lake Superior.  Repaired at South Chicago IL.  Laid up at Manitowoc WI and did not operate again.

Sold 1972 to City of Superior WI for use as a museum.  Towed to Superior Sept 1972.

 

IMO 5233523

 

See history in Scanner Oct 1969 (#2)

Also in Great Lakes Ships We Remember II p. 219

 

At Superior WI (ashore) as a marine museum

 

 

X621