Arthur M. Anderson To Fraser

[navarch]

To make myself clear, I am also very happy to see the Anderson being potentially activated again (although keep in mind she'll likely need a good amount of steel work and fitting out of a steam plant that's been dormant for several years - not cheap!). However, I have to agree that besides her one day of fame with the Fitzgerald, she's not that unique compared to the other forward-enders (she even has two sister ships).

Furthermore, turning a ship into a museum (even just cutting off the deckhouses) is an incredibly expensive proposition. With a museum ship, you essentially have to maintain a ship as if it was in lay-up, but with funding only coming from ticket sales, grants, and donations instead of actual company revenue. I hate to see ships going to scrap just as much as every other BoatNerd, but I also don't want to see ships "suffer" while trying to make it as a museum ship. Just look at the S.S. United States - gorgeous vessel with an incredibly storied history, but unless a MAJOR grant or donor steps up, she'll never be a museum ship. In my mind, only a couple Great Lakes ships are truly worthy of museum ship status (Ryerson for unique design, steam plant, non-self-unloader; S.T. Crapo or CTC 1 for age/design), and that's only if it's sustainable. Again, I love these old ships as much as the rest of you, but want to keep expectations realistic too.

[Guest]

For the life of me I can't understand why people have such a fascination about that boat. She's got a history? Every boat had a history.

Guest, I fully agree.

[Guest]

I certainly do not wish to step on anyone’s fascination and hobby of boat watching But I have to agree with the posters opinion of the Anderson and for that matter all of the current menu of ships available to us to follow. Aside from the couple of newer tug barge builds, there is nothing new in the US fleet for years. Same old boats, same old scenery. Aside from the Alpena, they are all mostly boring now.. the renovation to self unloaders of course has prolonged the lives of the old straight deckers such as the Anderson, but what an ugly sight with that boom and tower back aft. i sailed on one of the “newer” diesel builds of the 70s and hated it. Just a big noisy box full of closed off to the world inside stairs, decks, Stark walls and constant noise and vibration. I also sailed on one of the 80s conversions Nd was never comfortable with that big elevator and boom back aft when in heavy seas. It is a testament to the nautical engineers and shipyards who initially built the older vessels still sailing that they could be refit to self unloaders and still be sailing today with strong intact hulls and cabins. But are they pretty? I say no. Don’t even mention the new forward boom Canadian vessels. I can’t imagine trying to navigate those from mostly closed circuit TV, lol ! And as for the tug barge units with that pilot perch way up in the clouds, I say to you, no thank you. But alas, the industry has changed as all things do and I salute the clever men and women who have adapted to keep the surviving companies afloat. I am just glad I left the industry when I did so I have fond memories of steamships, full and safe crewing levels and decks uncluttered with machinery that belongs in a “ transformers” movie. Just my humble opinion.

[Guest]

Denny, you do know that "Don't give up the ship" comes from the Brig Niagara right? It was Perry's battle flag because it was the dying words of another captain he was friends with. Long story short, his friend died, the ship got captured my the British, and yea in the end they "did give up the ship". For the life of me I can't understand why people have such a fascination about that boat. She's got a history? Every boat had a history. She's a nice looking forward ender? Yea all the forward enders look nice compared to some of the other ships on the lakes. She's owned by Great Lakes Fleet? Sure, but really it's Canadian National. For the life of me I just can't figure it out.

[Guest]

I drive by the Anderson every day. Over the last two weeks, there have been more lights lit up on it.

[Shipwatcher1]

You are right Denny I never believed that the Anderson would never sail again or that the ship might be scrapped. Glad to hear the good news. I figured they would have to finish the Tim s dool first and get it out of the drydock before they could move the Anderson over there. I know they are going to put the William a Irvin in drydock soon to paint her but she will fit in the smaller drydock.

An article was posted to one of the social media pages suggesting the Irvin dry docking is delayed as Fraser has additional boats now scheduled for the dock. In light of this news, it would seem to suggest it may indeed be the Anderson.

[Bob]

You are right Denny I never believed that the Anderson would never sail again or that the ship might be scrapped. Glad to hear the good news. I figured they would have to finish the Tim s dool first and get it out of the drydock before they could move the Anderson over there. I know they are going to put the William a Irvin in drydock soon to paint her but she will fit in the smaller drydock.

[Denny]

I for one "Never" gave up the Anderson for dead Guest as I knew that one day she would be back sailing with us. Perhaps maybe when she comes back out someday, they should have a pennant flag made up for her from Lower Lakes "Don't Give Up the Ship!"

[Guest]

Thank you sir for the information.

And all those who gave her up for dead!

[Denny]

Thanks garbear as that is the news that many of us that follow her have been waiting a long time to hear! I am very much looking to see her reactivated again and her return to service as well. I am quite positive that she will probably in addition to the work she will get done at Fraser, probably get a whole new paint job and really look sharp someday when she returns to service. That ship really does need to be made into a museum someday when she is retired from active service. People do not save just the pilothouse only on this historic and classic vessel someday as this ship is just much too valuable and historic to send to the scrapyard and the breakers and if she could only talk, as I always say what stories she could tell us about the night the Fitz went down and sunk in that storm!

[garbear]

The Anderson will be moved to Fraser in the near future for repairs in anticipation of her return to service. More to be released next week on the particulars.