Boatnerd Discussion Forum

You know, TWilush, you're probably right and I'm wrong on that one!

you may be thinking of the Ferbec

St. Lawrence was able to transit the Seaway. She loaded scrap in Detroit before sailing to China for demolition late 1984. (see BGSU)

seadog wrote:the st lawrence owned by csl i believe loaded scrap in milwaukee before she headed overseas to be scrapped under her own power the canadian crew were replaced by offshore seamen in montreal

The St. lawrence was too big to fit up the Seaway. It was laid up down the St. Lawrence and, I believe, sailed away under her power.

Sinbad wrote:When was the last time that a Laker was towed overseas to the breakers with a scrap load?

Maitland No. 1 (not truly a laker, but a barge) was loaded with scrap on her way to the breakers in January 1981 when she turned turtle and sank. Oops! Seems like there must have been some since then though?

the st lawrence owned by csl i believe loaded scrap in milwaukee before she headed overseas to be scrapped under her own power the canadian crew were replaced by offshore seamen in montreal

Wheelsman wrote:I think the Clemson was scrapped in Thunder Bay, perhaps the Miller or Kerr are the boats in mind. The Savic/Cliffs Victory, I believe, was slated to carry loose scrap overseas, but with the fiasco surrounding her departure, not sure it happened.

The Savic (aka Cliff's Victory) went to the breakers under her own power - not towed. But I beleive that she had loaded scrap prior to leaving North America.

According to the Bowling Green Site, the Clemson was scrapped in Thunder Bay. The Governor Miller and Alva C. Dinkey went overseas together in a tandem tow in 1980. The Kerr was in a separate tow but sank near the Azores in 1980.

I think the Clemson was scrapped in Thunder Bay, perhaps the Miller or Kerr are the boats in mind. The Savic/Cliffs Victory, I believe, was slated to carry loose scrap overseas, but with the fiasco surrounding her departure, not sure it happened.

Sinbad wrote:When was the last time that a Laker was towed overseas to the breakers with a scrap load?

i heard that the algoport had some scrap and a couple of diesel engines in the holds any trith to this

In 1980 Malcolm Marine loaded scrap on several lakers then towed them to Quebec for overseas scrapping. It could have been the Gov Miller, DM Clemson, DG Kerr. My memory seems to have slipped, I am not sure exactly which ones they were. We towed 5 of the 600 ft class ships that summer from Duluth to Quebec City.

Sinbad wrote:When was the last time that a Laker was towed overseas to the breakers with a scrap load?

When was the last time that a Laker was towed overseas to the breakers with a scrap load?

When they arrive at the scrap yard they are driven up on a beach or low shore. If they have ballast on board this must be pumped out before beaching. With no machinery operating pumping would be difficult.
If they need ballasting for stability they can use scrap metal, however as long as the ship doesn't capsize during the tow no one is concerned about structural damage or discomfort of crew during the trip.

A lot of the dead ships will load scrap if available. For ballast to be used pumps and propulsion of same must be available. Usually dead ships are just that - no machinery, nor anyone to operate any equipment.

On the scrap tows I notice where the vessels are all pumped out and riding high in the water. Wouldn't this make them less stable and more prone to rolling or breaking in half than if they had at least some ballast in them? I imagine it is eaiser for the tugs, and therefore less fuel consumed, to pull them when they are not ballasted, and I would guess that is the main reason that it is done. Doesn't it pose more of a risk though?