American Fortitude

[Holubecois]

When the American Fortitude arrives in Texas, what prevents the conversion to a articulated tug/barge. Everything is operational.

Well she's missing various parts from her engine room (according to ex Columbia guys) and the hydraulic thing on her boom is also gone. So she'd need a repower and replacement of the missing parts. I honestly hope they sell her back to the Great Lakes intact, like what happened with Algocen.

[Nighthunter]

When the American Fortitude arrives in Texas, what prevents the conversion to a articulated tug/barge. Everything is operational.

[guest 2]

Mckeil tugs may be of age but they are kept in excellent condition

[Guest]

Transport Canada has placed the whole adventure under arrest, there are issues with the McKeil tugs as well as apparently 50 tons of bunker still on-board the Fortitude, that will have to be removed before the journey to Brownsville can proceed.

In the meantime, Eileen MacAllister, has given-up and moved-on to other business. Ice is forming in the river, I would expect either a spring tow out or back up to port Colborne but it is my opinion that they will not go beyond Montreal this year.

Not surprised about the McKeil tugs. They're running a lot of tired iron.

[Guest1]

Who owns the Fortitude now? Is it the scrapers or ASC?

[Bruno]

Transport Canada has placed the whole adventure under arrest, there are issues with the McKeil tugs as well as apparently 50 tons of bunker still on-board the Fortitude, that will have to be removed before the journey to Brownsville can proceed.

In the meantime, Eileen MacAllister, has given-up and moved-on to other business. Ice is forming in the river, I would expect either a spring tow out or back up to port Colborne but it is my opinion that they will not go beyond Montreal this year.

[hayhugh2]

Tug Eileen McAllister is downbound below Quebec City, light boat (Speed 13Kn's).

[Mac Mackay]

I see on AIS that Eileen McAllister is tied up in Quebec City, giving a destination of Brownsville. From that I take it that the ship will continue on to Quebec City, after stopping in Montreal, before handing over to the McAllister.
There have been high winds all over eastern Canada for the last two days, so that may explain the delay.

[John Britton]

Does anyone know why the tow has been stopped?S

[hayhugh2]

Tug and tow (American Fortitude) at present (1600) in the South Shore Canal which goes just to the south of Montreal.

[Guest1s]

It was said that a couple if the boats recently scrapped at IMS were cut up under an agreement where the companies still owned the vessel until it was gone (the Norris and Transfer). I wonder if ASC has the same agreement with The company in Brownsville and if so what would happen if she sank enroute? Would ASC be out the money?

Also what company in Brownsville pis cutting her?

[Guest]

Does anyone know how far the tow is going ?. As I'm sure she will be handed over to another tug (s) to finish the tow to Texas. I hope the weather holds ?

She will be handed over to Eileen McAllister in Quebec City.

[Amherstburg]

Does anyone know how far the tow is going ??. As I'm sure she will be handed over to another tug (s) to finish the tow to Texas. I hope the weather holds ??

[Guest]

In today's news gallery, there's a nice shot from Barry Andersen of her pilothouse. It looks to me like her bell is still on her. Not sure where it was mounted, but I see what sure looks like a bell on her mast, below the lower railing.

http://boatnerd.com/news/newsthumbsb/im ... se-(3).jpg

They didn't even want to keep that part of her? I understand there not being much room for sentimentality, but seems like something like this should've at the very least been donated to a museum if they didn't want it to be displayed at their offices.

[Guest]

What's the white container on the aft deckhouse? Portable generator?

I can't see it in earlier pictures of her stern, although I don't have any good shots of her during her ASC days so it might've came after 2005 or so.

[Ron Beaupre]

For some unkown reason, the stern tug Jarrett M ran into the port of Cape Vincent about an hour ago, leaving the Evans McKeil without a tail on the tow. If anyone has information, please post.

[Ron Beaupre]

The tow cleared the Port Weller piers about 21:00 Saturday evening.

[garbear]

The Ryerson can unload at Indiana Harbor as well, which was her primary port prior to 2006.

Yes, the Ryerson has sat for 6 years now, but she also sat from 1998-2006, and returned to service without incident, despite all the scrapping and barging rumors going around then too. CML knows what a valuable asset she is, and she will slumber until called on once again. I would assume same for the Sherwin as well.

There have been so many posts out there over the past year about Indiana Harbor. Some say the dock is still open, some say it's de-commissioned. I'm well aware that Indiana Harbor was her port. I've been a boatwatcher for 50 years, sailed for 9 years in the 70's. You can believe it will run again, but with all the self-unloaders out there, what would prompt CML to run a 55 year old straightdecker again? I don't understand this "valuable asset" claim.

[Guest]

We spend the winter in Brownsville, TX and will be here when the Fortitude comes in. How can we keep track of it's progress so we won't miss it for picture taking.

[Blackhawks63]

Too bad about the American Fortitude, but the world needs only so many museum ships and the scrap value of her metal is very good. The Great Lakes shipping industry is changing very rapidly and it's all about efficiencies, profitability margins and keeping up with the competition. We will see more scrappings to keep boats out of the hands of the competition...as well as more moves to articulated tug-barge combinations and the new Trillium class type boats.