Challenger Conversion

[Chief]

Is the St Mary's Conquest out and what tug is pushing her?

[Mark Taylor]

The tug Zues has been at the Mart Dock until a couple days ago. She then went up to Sturgeon Bay. Could she be mated up with the Challenger.

[Mr Link]

Port City has already has the twin screw 4320 hp tug Bradshaw McKee which, while currently paired with the barge Cleveland Rocks, has been laid up in Muskegon since December 2012. Its the former Susan W. Hannah and used to push the St. Marys Conquest. It doesn't have an upper pilot house but it never needed one with the Conquest.

If the conversion goes forward, Bayship's statement said it would be completed by May 2015. Assuming that date is not a typo, I wonder what that means for hauling cement out of Charlevoix in 2014.

[Chief]

Brian--Good point. I have a friend that sailed her for a while and the last season she was out and he said that they were having quite a few engine problems which may by why they didn't use her much along with her small capacity. I still don't understand why as long as she passes her 5 year leave the Skinner in her and sail her as she is. It isn't like they use her a lot and she doesn't really go that far. I was told that each winter they overhaul one cylinder, so it appears that they have taken good care of the Skinner. The other option is a something like a 3612 CAT which will give her about the same SHP she has now. I know the concern is probably vibration and if the hull and framing is strong enough. There would probably be some bracing and supporting structure required, but that's pretty normal for a diesel conversion. The other item may be the shell plating developing cracks due to the age of the steel. The article said that the diesel conversion would cost about the same as barging her, but I assume that doesn't include the cost of finding and buying/leasing a tug. The tug issue is what killed the Wiltranco deal. The tug did not fit well in the notch, wasn't in the notch far enough, and too little power. I realize with the new coupling systems that fit may not be that big a deal, but there is still the cost of the tug and the conversion. It will all shake out in the end I guess, but hate to see one of my favorite boats get barged.

[Brian Ferguson]

The Townsend for being a diesel has an old power plant. I'm sure it's really hard to find parts for the Nordberg in her.

[Guest]

The T-3 conversions are in there too,

[Guest]

If and when the Challenger gets "Barged" what will be the oldest powered freighter? By my research it will be the Alpena of 1942 followed by the remaining MARADS. There are a couple Erie Sand boats that were built in the teens and twenties like the F.M. Osborne and the Day Peckenpaugh but not sure they are still sailing.

Day Peckinpaugh is now an operating museum in New York State and hasn't turned a wheel in commercial trade since 1994.

[Chief]

If and when the Challenger gets "Barged" what will be the oldest powered freighter? By my research it will be the Alpena of 1942 followed by the remaining MARADS. There are a couple Erie Sand boats that were built in the teens and twenties like the F.M. Osborne and the Day Peckenpaugh but not sure they are still sailing.

[Chief]

The Townsend is quite a bit smaller then the Challanger, hence carries a lot less. The small capacity is why Huron Cement seldom used her unless they had to. Cost more to operate her then they could make.

[Denny]

They are both owned and operated by two different companies and firms. The Challenger is owned by Port City and she services customers for St. Marys Cement. Paul H. Townsend is owned by Inland Lakes and services customers for Lafarge Cement.

[wlbblw]

I'm a little lost on all the sentiment against barging her. I understand that she is a beautiful ship & I can appreciate that, but turning her into a barge is still better than scrapping her. I'd have no problem watching a tug-barge come in here as opposed to the company going to all truck delivery. I like ships or tug-barges either way just the same.

[kazoonerd]

Thoughts on why there wouldn't be an effort to put the Paul W Townsend back in service rather than putting a lot of money into the Challenger? The Townsend is in layup in Muskegon and is a cement boat.

[Guest]

Shipping Companies seem to like to keep plans close to their chest.

Judging by the other conversions/repowering's we've seen there was a good deal of time needed for engineering, scheduling of shipyard dry dock time and ordering engines if needed. Not something you do in a day or two while on the dry dock.

Reminds me of the Calumet scrapping. The crew was taking it to the Port Colborne scrap yard but the company said they weren't sure what the future plans were!

[Guest]

The article on the news page implies that the forward cabins will disappear.

"modifying the forward end accommodations to allow for a forward-end machinery area that will house new ship service Generators and switch gear"

Sad day, I thought the plan was to get her into dry dock and do an inspection before making a decision?

[Guest]

I would say the retention of the forward cabins is not going to happen. The new gen set(s) would probably be put in the forecastle.

[Rufus]

This day was inevitable. The good news is that the hull shall live as opposed to the whole ship going to scrap. It's all about efficiencies and productivity gains. Articulated tug / barge combos are clearly the future in the industry, as are new state-of-the-art ships like the Trillium class boats.

[Andrew]

In the news today, looks like the Challenger conversions is official. Really, Really sad. The article implies the message that the forward accommodations will stay. Any word on this?