Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Great Republic is chartered for the coal & stone trades and the loading facilities for these floats are either closed, or, soon to be closed for the season. From a 2011 post..."It's the most maneuverable vessel on the Great Lakes," said Dave Schultze, manager of fleet human resources for Key Lakes. "It was originally designed to go up and down the Cuyahoga River forward or backward at the same speed. It has twin screws and twin engines, eight rudders, and bow and stern thrusters. It can spin around virtually without moving forward.”

Probably due to all her underwater gear. It doesn't do well in ice to have all those rudders "hanging around".

Curious as to why the GREAT REPUBLIC seems to fit-out later and lay-up earlier than other River Class vessels. It looks like she has comparable Net Registered Tonnage, so her carrying capacity for stone, coal etc would make her competitive and her maneuverability would seem to make her desirable in smaller docks. Her fit-out/lay-up pattern goes back quite a number of years (even with ASC), so it is not entirely due to her charter to Great Lakes Fleet.