(1944) 1952 Joseph H. Thompson
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Chester PA by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Hull 342
Launched 1944
Built as Marine Robin for U. S. Maritime Commission as Class C4-S-B2 cargo vessel during World War II, registered at 496.2 x 71.7 x 25.6, 11757 GT, 8182 NT. 520’ LOA, 496’ LBP, 71’6” beam, 43’6” depth. Participated in the Allied landings in Normandy June 6, 1944. Laid up after the war in the James River reserve fleet. Sold Dec 1950 to Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co., Milwaukee WI.
Towed to Baltimore MD, where she was converted to a bulk freighter by Maryland Dry Dock Co. New midbody built at Pascagoula AL by Ingalls Shipbuilding Co. and towed to Baltimore. Towed to the Great Lakes via the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to South Chicago IL, where the two sections were joined and conversion was completed.
714’ LOA, 696’ LBP, 71’6” beam, 38’6” depth
Longest vessel on the Great Lakes (until T. R. McLagan of 1954 – superseded Wilfred Sykes of 1950)
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 24’, oil-fired boilers, steam turbine engine, 9000 SHP
Enrolled at
696.0 x 71.6 x 34.7, 12217 GT, 8469 US 245496 to:
Hansand Steamship Corporation, Cleveland OH, owned equally by Sand Products Corporation and Hanna Coal & Ore Corporation, M. A. Hanna Co., Mgr. (home port Wilmington DE)
In addition to being the longest vessel on the Great Lakes after conversion, longest freight vessel in the world (exceeded in length among U. S. flag vessels only by passenger liners United States and America)
Entered service Nov 4 1952 clearing South Chicago IL light for Escanaba MI
Laid up Oct 9, 1982 at Ecorse MI and did not operate again for this fleet
Sold late 1984 to Upper Lakes Towing Co., Escanaba MI and towed to Menominee MI
Converted 1988-1990 to integrated self-unloading barge with installation of self-unloading equipment and cutting notch in stern. The material taken from the previous stern was rebuilt into a push tug which was named Joseph H. Thompson Jr. All controls moved to tug and all former cabins removed.
IMO 5175745
In service 2011 for Upper Lakes Towing
5211
My father was a crew member of the Joseph H Thompson and was involved in some sort of tragic water rescue/recovery in the late 1950’s…guessing 1958 or 1959 based on recollection of children at the time. Do you have any information about this event? Thanks for any assistance provided.
The Henry Steinbrenner in 1953 possibly?
Check a book written by Wayne Louis Kadar called ” Freighter, Tanker and Tugboat disasters”
My father was an engineer on the Joseph H Thompson. In 1981, I was 5 the first trip I took on it with my 16 yr old sister & my dad. We left Huron, Ohio to Duluth, Minn. and then back! What an enormous vessel. I still remember going through the Soo Locks! What an amazing Adventure! I was blessed to be able to take another trip in 1982 before it was laid up during the big crash of the steel industry.
Years later my uncle worked on the Joseph H Thompson Jr tug which pushed the Joseph H Thompson. Pretty awesome if I do say so myself
My first boat trip was also on the Thompson.
Sad New! It appears today, Wednesday September 27th,2023. The Joseph H. Thompson is headed to Port Colburn for break up.
My father also was a crew member but at a later date.
I believe he was 2nd mate before he retired back in the 80s
Hi, I’m not sure if the rumor is true but is the ship being retired? My father and uncle worked on it for many years, and I heard it was going to be deconstructed. Is this true? If so is there anyway to receive a part of the ship as it was a very important part to my father and uncles life’s. They started when they were just teenagers I believe, and worked on it for many decades.
It’s in Sturgeon bay now as of 7-16-23. I can find out what they are doing with it
They’re scrapping it yes… It’ll be heading to Cleveland for a few days this month to be gutted. That would be Kenny’s best chance to get some keepsake. Not sure the date.
It makes me sad to hear that she’s being scrapped. I was a deck hand on the Thompson for a summer around 1969. She was no longer the longest or fastest lake boat, but everyone still took a lot of pride in her. A Swedish couple ran the galley, and the food was top notch, including fresh lake trout every week. We hauled taconite from Superior to several different ports in Ohio. I have a few interesting tales from that summer.