Sharyl wrote:I finally just went and had a look at C.T.C. #1 in the Photo Gallery here at Boatnerd. I understand that she's now a storage barge, but before she became C.T.C. #1, what vessel was she and/or what is her history?
Storage barge or not, I think she's beautiful!
Since I often see this boat I spent a little time sorting out it's history a few months back. Here is a synopsis:
She was commissioned by the U.S. Maritime Commission during the depths of WWII. One of 16 "Maritimers" ordered and produced.
She was built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, and launched in 1943 as the McINTYRE at River Rouge, Detriot, Michigan.
She was acquired by Interlake Steamship Company before entering service and renamed FRANK PURNELL (1). Hence she never sailed as McINTYRE. She sailed for Interlake as the PURNELL from 1943 until 1966 when she was acquired by Bethlehem Steel.
She was acquired by Bethlehem as a trade with Interlake in 1966. The two companies traded boats and traded names. Hence the FRANK PURNELL (1) became the STEELTON (3), and the STEELTON (2) became the FRANK PURNELL (2). This causes confusion during internet searches. The boat that took the FRANK PURNELL (2) name in 1966 was renamed ROBERT C. NORTON in 1974, and scrapped as the NORTON in 1994.
The STEELTON (3) sailed for Bethlehem until 1978 when she was acquired by the Cement Transport Company, a division of Medusa Cement.
She was renamed "Hull No. 3" briefly in 1978 in order to free up the STEELTON name for another ship.
She was renamed PIONEER (3) in 1979, and chartered to Cleveland Cliffs for the 1979 season. She only sailed one season for Cliffs.
She lay idle for a couple of years (1980-1981) as the PIONEER (3) until being towed to Bay ship for conversion to a cement transport vessel 1n 1982. She was then renamed C.T.C. No. 1 and berthed in Lake Calumet, Chicago, IL at the Medusa/Southdown/St. Marys Cement terminal from 1982 until March of 2009.
Early in 2009 she was towed away from the St. Marys berth in Lake Calumet. She spent the summer of 2009 tied up along the river and has been tied up next to an elevator (not sure of the name) since the autumn of 2009. This is where the John Sherwin sat from Sept 2006 until June 2008.
If anybody has any corrections to this account feel free...
Dan
P.S. I see this is mostly summarized in the latest (December 20) News edition.