Forward unloading booms (was Fitz Conversion)

[Denny]

To my knowledge, I don’t ever recall the Frankcliffe Hall receiving a forward mounted unloading boom? I always was under the impression even after her rename to the Halifax by Canada Steamship Lines, that she had an aft mounted unloading boom!

[Guest]

Those examples like the Quetico predate the time period being discussed and date to when bow mounted unloading systems were the standard. And the Frankcliffe Hall/Halifax had a stern mounted system.

After the Frontenac's pioneering conversion over the winter of 1972/73, stern mounted unloading systems became the norm. Other than the plans for the Sherwin that were fully drawn up before the "Great Recession" with work briefly started before cancellation, I can only think of the J. Burton Ayers (a year after the Frontenac) and the James Norris that were converted with a bow mounted unloading system during conversion, post-Frontenac.

New builds also disappeared until their recent reemergence to fill this niche for certain ports, filling the void left as the remaining Maritimers and Algoma's late 60's/early 70's river class vessels marched off to the scrapyard.

[ashland69]

What about the SS E.B. BARBER

The E. B> Barber was converted back in the sixties, like CSLs Hochelaga. It was Algoma's entrance into the self-unloading business.

[ejawac6n]

Another straight decker converted to a forward selfunloader was the SS THUNDER BAY of 1952. It was renamed STADACONA. Also the SS hochelaga of 1949 was converted into a forward selfunloader. The SS QUETICO was also converted into a forward mounted self unloader then back to a straight decker as the SS WHITEFISH BAY., HALL CORP also converted the SS FRANKVLIFFE HALL into a forwarded mounted selfunloader renamed SS HALIFAX by CANADA STEAMSHIP LINES. We're the more?

[Denny]

Canada Steamship Lines did one but I can’t recall the year or when? The ship I know its name I think was Quetico and later renamed to something? Anyway, I don’t recall the exact story but it was I think once a self-unloader then they converted it into a bulk freighter without the boom? Surely someone has more knowledge of this conversion than I do at the present.

[jim gallant]

What about the SS E.B. BARBER

[Guest]

From the discussion on the "Fitz Conversion" thread and older discussions of converting the John Sherwin to a forward boom self unloader because of the fuel tank issue.

Out of curiousity, how many modern conversions to self unloaders were done using forward mounted unloader booms - say from the mid-1970s to present. Only one that I can think of is the James Norris, wondering if there were others. (I don't think the Canadian Ranger really counts.)