(1957) 1977                             Robert Koch                                        1985

Steel ocean bulk freighter

Built at Grangemouth England by Grangemouth Dock Co., Hull 513
Launched June 27, 1957 as Ethel Everard (Br 187688) for ocean service.  Converted 1962 to self-unloading cement carrier and renamed Guardian Carrier.  Sold 1977 to owners below, renamed Robert Koch and came to the Great Lakes.

240’11” LOA, 225’ LBP, 38’2” beam, 16’” depth
1 deck, oil-fired diesel engine, 1235 BHP

Enrolled at
231.0 x 38.0 x 16.0, 1539 GT, 694 NT     Can 187688     to:
St. Lawrence Cement Co., Toronto ON (home port Toronto ON)

Entered Great Lakes service Sept 1977, carrying cement from Clarkson ON to Buffalo NY and ports on Lake Ontario.

Converted 1984 to barge with notched stern

Wrecked Dec 16, 1985 one mile east of Oswego harbor, Lake Ontario.  The towing cable from the tug broke as the vessels neared the harbor entrance (the tug normally pushed the barge but heavy seas required tow).  Anchoring attempted but the anchors would not hold and vessel driven on the rocks.  Last trip of the season, carrying cement to St. Lawrence subsidiary Independent Cement Co., Oswego NY.  Abandoned to the underwriters as a constructive total loss and sold for scrapping.  Scrapping not completed until 1990 (the amount of hardened cement in her cargo holds made scrapping very difficult).

IMO 5109174

See history in Scanner April 2003 (#276)

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