Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Bottom line, there many factors involved I guess!

Thanks for the replies.

Actually the Speer can haul a little more ore at the same draft as the Gott because the Speer Weighs less.

CG Bob wrote:The capacity is based on the gross tonnage, which is calculated from the molded volume of all enclosed spaces. In this case, a ton is not a unit of weight (or mass); but a unit of volume. A similar weight/volume unit of measure is the ounce. A gallon of water contains 128 (fluid) ounces by volume, but weighs 133 (avoirdupois) ounces if placed on a scale (8.34 lbs x 16 oz)>

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the topic being discussed in this thread is entirely about the vessels' cargo carrying ability measured in weight tons (long ton, short ton, metric ton, etc.), and has little or nothing to do with volumetric tonnage measurement (gross registered tonnage, net registered tonnage).

I am just going by boatnerd specifications according to their fleet list.

Guest wrote:American Bureau of Shipping's file on the Gott lists her hull depth as 17.07m (56')

https://www.eagle.org/safenet/record/re ... um=7606061

The capacity is based on the gross tonnage, which is calculated from the molded volume of all enclosed spaces. In this case, a ton is not a unit of weight (or mass); but a unit of volume. A similar weight/volume unit of measure is the ounce. A gallon of water contains 128 (fluid) ounces by volume, but weighs 133 (avoirdupois) ounces if placed on a scale (8.34 lbs x 16 oz)>

It's been my understanding that some of these discrepancies between sister ships have a lot to do with how the interior holds were configured for specific cargoes the vessel was intended to carry.

American Bureau of Shipping's file on the Gott lists her hull depth as 17.07m (56')

https://www.eagle.org/safenet/record/re ... um=7606061

I have always seen the Gott's hull depth listed as 56', just like the Speer and the rest of the newer footers.

That said there seems to be quite a bit of ambiguity or wiggle room involved when listing the maximum carrying capacity of the footers. Has a lot to do with the fact that channels depths on the lakes mean most of them have never really carried anything close to a maximum cargo, so sometimes for whatever reason owners don't bother to actually max out the measurements/stats.

Back when the George A. Stinson/American Spirit was owned by Hanna/National Steel and operated by Interlake her maximum capacity was usually listed around 59,700 long tons at a max. draft of around 27.5'. There were several instances during the high water of the mid 1990s when she carried more than that out of the ore dock at Superior. Now (under American Steamship Co. ownership) her max. capacity is listed at 62,400 long tons at a max. draft of 28'10", which is much more in line with the stats listed for her close cousins (the James R. Barker and Mesabi Miner).

Why does the Gott carry more cargo than her fleet mate the Speer? The Speer is listed at 1,004 ft. long/105 ft. beam/56 ft. depth While the Gott is 1,004 ft. long/105 ft. beam/52 ft depth.

Am I missing something here? The Speer has 4ft. more depth but can carry 73,700 while the Gott can carry 74,100. I know its close as far as tonnage, but with 4ft. more depth, shouldn't the Gott have a larger capacity than the Speer? What is the difference between the two to make such a large discrepancy?

Thanks!

Rob