Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Most of the "bells & whistles" that CSL is advertising about their new ships and I am sure Algoma will be too, is just a marketing scheme. In their own opinion they are the best, with the best technology and the best trained crew as all the companies claim.

. . . And I highly doubt she is a "DP" class vessel; there isn't much redundancy with a single screw for main propulsion!

It has been well established the article was in error. Thruster information can be found in the fleet gallery.

Doesn't the Herbert C. Jackson have a stern thruster also along with most of the river class ships? I am thinking the ones like the American Courage, Buffalo, Sam Laud & Great Republic?

John Sherwin also has a stern-thruster.

Yes, Kaye E. Barker has a stern-thruster, as does Lee A. Tregurtha, Charles M. Beeghly, Arthur M. Anderson, Cason J. Calloway, Philip R. Clarke, John G. Munson amongst many others.

The Kaye E. Barker has a stern thruster, does she not?

cpfan wrote:I wondered if it was the first CSL boat with both thrusters, and the journalist mis-interpreted that.

But wouldn't Baie st Paul and Whitefish Bay also have both thrusters? Or are they not identical?

Steve

All the Canadian flag Trillium class vessels have stern thrusters.

I wondered if it was the first CSL boat with both thrusters, and the journalist mis-interpreted that.

But wouldn't Baie st Paul and Whitefish Bay also have both thrusters? Or are they not identical?

Steve

I believe the Algorail also has a stern thruster installed
not from new but since I sailed her back in the early 80's

The Thunder Bay, or for that matter, the Trilium class are in no way the first vessels to operate on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system to be equipped with bow and stern thrusters. Furthermore, they are not the first to be built with such units as a component of their original construction. I believe that honor may go to the Ralph Misener (Gordon C. Leitch) which entered service in 1968. On the US side of the lakes, I'm assuming that the Stewart J. Cort was the first to enter service that was constructed with such installations. The passage in the news article stating that the Thunder Bay is the first ship on the lakes equipped with bow and stern thrusters is possibly a mistake made by the writer misquoting the person being interviewed. This is a common mistake in new articles, which, unfortunately has become more prominent during recent years. It must be observed, however, that in today's world many correspondents are required to cover a wide range of subject material, the days of dedicated marine reporters having long since passed.

I was wondering the same thing Chief after I had read the story and article as well. Perhaps what they may be referring to and I am only guessing on this one. The Thunder Bay could be the first ship built with both bow and stern thrusters already installed in her. While many boats due have both bow and stern thrusters, many of them probably did not have them when they were first built and constructed. The new Thunder Bay already has both of them installed in her already. Again I am only guessing here but, perhaps that is what the article was basically referring to.

Looking at the News Page on Thunder Bay and it says that she is the first ship on the lakes to have a Bow and Stern Thruster. Did I read this wrong? A stern thruster is not new and quite a few ships have bow and stern thrusters on the lakes.