Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

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Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by guest » May 7, 2021, 5:47 pm

artic trader was the tyee shell built in collingwood for service out west on the bc coast

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by Guest » May 7, 2021, 11:00 am

johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

I remember seeing Shell boats, but don't remember them ever loading at Sun dock. Probably did all loading at Shell dock about a mile downriver from Sun dock.

The only boat that ever offered food was tug Margaret M Hannah, crewed by southerners, boss of the boat was Capt Bill Bibey (not sure of spelling, but sounds like ByBee). On night shifts (7 pm - 7 am), crew would catch pickerel/walleye from side of tug, fillet it, cut it into small chunks & deep fry it. All in the middle of the night. A number of times (at about 2 in the morning) crew brought me a plate of fresh-fried pickerel, a 'Bama pie (small pre-packaged pecan pie), and a can of Coke. Maybe not the healthiest, but it tasted really good.



John in the list of ships you mentioned the Arctic Transport was probably the Arctic Trader which was a Shell Tanker !
Guest wrote:
johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

Is that ever neat! Our paths may have crossed. I spent summer 1978 working on Sun Oil Dock at Sarnia. Loaded BTEX, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel . into Hall, Stolt, Amoco, Texaco tankers with names like Hudson Transport, Island Transport, Bay Transport (really small boat), Chemical Transport, Arctic Transport (I think), Stolt Sydness, Stolt Viking, Stolt Nordness, Amoco Indiana, Amoco Illinois (Amoco boats always took jet fuel to Chicago), Texaco Warrior, Brave & Chief (at least 2 of these 3, I forget which). The Margaret M Hannah & Barge 2902 were constantly running loads of "six oil" (what Sun Oil called "heavy bottoms") to Detroit Edison plants down the river.

Best summer job I ever had.

Where is Britt?


I was on Shell tankers from 65 to 72 in the 60's every once in a while we went to the Texaco dock in Sarina which now l think is the Sun Oil dock l had 3 friends that sailed on the old Texaco Brave had some good times with those guys ! while at any dock loading or unloading we always made sure the dock guys were invited for meals on board . Britt is in Georgian Bay not to far from Parry Sound !

I remember seeing Shell boats, but don't remember them ever loading at Sun dock. Probably did all loading at Shell dock about a mile downriver from Sun dock.

The only boat that ever offered food was tug Margaret M Hannah, crewed by southerners, boss of the boat was Capt Bill Bibey (not sure of spelling, but sounds like ByBee). On night shifts (7 pm - 7 am), crew would catch pickerel/walleye from side of tug, fillet it, cut it into small chunks & deep fry it. All in the middle of the night. A number of times (at about 2 in the morning) crew brought me a plate of fresh-fried pickerel, a 'Bama pie (small pre-packaged pecan pie), and a can of Coke. Maybe not the healthiest, but it tasted really good.
Guest wrote:
johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

Is that ever neat! Our paths may have crossed. I spent summer 1978 working on Sun Oil Dock at Sarnia. Loaded BTEX, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel . into Hall, Stolt, Amoco, Texaco tankers with names like Hudson Transport, Island Transport, Bay Transport (really small boat), Chemical Transport, Arctic Transport (I think), Stolt Sydness, Stolt Viking, Stolt Nordness, Amoco Indiana, Amoco Illinois (Amoco boats always took jet fuel to Chicago), Texaco Warrior, Brave & Chief (at least 2 of these 3, I forget which). The Margaret M Hannah & Barge 2902 were constantly running loads of "six oil" (what Sun Oil called "heavy bottoms") to Detroit Edison plants down the river.

Best summer job I ever had.

Where is Britt?


I was on Shell tankers from 65 to 72 in the 60's every once in a while we went to the Texaco dock in Sarina which now l think is the Sun Oil dock l had 3 friends that sailed on the old Texaco Brave had some good times with those guys ! while at any dock loading or unloading we always made sure the dock guys were invited for meals on board . Britt is in Georgian Bay not to far from Parry Sound !
[/quote]

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » May 5, 2021, 8:50 pm

William Lafferty, Guest

That is amazing history. Had no idea what happened. Now I do.

Really neat to know.

Thank you - very much - for this.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by William Lafferty » May 5, 2021, 12:15 pm

James A. Hannah, Jr., who never participated in the operation of the firm but was a co-owner with his brother, Donald C. Hannah (father of actress Daryl Hannah, the wife of Neil Young), was sued in 2005 by his brother claiming mismanagement of the firm. The three children of James A. Hannah, Sr., inherited the firm with Hannah's passing in 1985. Since Hannah Marine Corporation was family-owned, this, obviously, caused some internal problems. Donald C. Hannah bought out James Hannah's interest and that of their sister, Margaret Maloney. The CEO and COO of Hannah Marine Corporation, Jeffrey Covinsky, resigned at that point and in 2006 demanded a hefty severance package that had been negotiated in his contract should Hannah change ownership. Donald Hannah claimed there was no "ownership change" but the courts disagreed and ordered the payment. At that point, it is my understanding, Hannah Marine as a firm and Donald Hannah as an individual suffered from liquidity problems, exacerbated by Zeke Zuccolo's "whistle blower" suit against Hannah over its operation of the tanker William L. Warner, and Donald Hannah decided to just end the whole business, leading up to the court order issued 18 August 2009 ordering sale of the vessels to satisfy claimants. The whole thing is similar to what happened with another Chicago area tug outfit, Calumet Marine Towing Corporation.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by Guest » May 5, 2021, 7:53 am

Hannah did go bankrupt in 2009 but the demise of the company is a little more complicated than below leads on. The company was a well run, profitable business with good crews and shore personnel. Sadly though the Hannah family dynamics came into play with one family member in particular with a grudge against his brother and sister thought he knew better than everyone how best to run a marine transportation company. Him and his "cronies" mortgaged the companies equipment to the hilt; most of which was paid for, moved out of profitable markets because they weren't attractive, fired the President, brought in "experts" and increased the executive salary budget almost 400 percent. Not to mention those new experts expenses and living arrangements which were also paid for by the company. At the same time they raised freight rates, pissed off long term customers and alienated quite a few long term employees because they didn't fit the Hannah image. When it all came to an end a lot of good people lost their jobs, some going up to 6 months without a paycheck. Its a damn shame honestly, one of the oldest and most respected Tug companies on the Great Lakes going out like a fart in the wind all because of one mans childish ego.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by New Guy Rick » May 4, 2021, 2:54 pm

https://gltugs.wordpress.com/hannah-marine-corp/

Hannah Marine Corp.
Hannah Marine was a large tug operator based in Lemont, Illinois, that specialized in tank barge services on the Great Lakes and inland rivers. The company also operated subsidiaries that specialized in ocean towing. Hannah went bankrupt and ceased operations in 2009, at which time its remaining vessels were seized and put up for auction. The company’s ocean tugs that never visited the Great Lakes will not be listed here.

The end of the article list the tugs and their fate.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by tugboat Tom » May 4, 2021, 1:09 pm

Sorry really don"t know the answer to the ques.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by guest » May 3, 2021, 7:02 pm

i also would like to know why or what happened to hannah marine? even mckeil marine ended with one of their tugs/barges. i believe their larger tugs, at one time were powered by a small skinner-uniflow steam engine

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » May 3, 2021, 2:53 pm

Tugboat Tom

Didn't see your 12:43 post before sending my last response.

Other than Bill Bibey I don't recall any names (Mack, Alex, Albert) at all. But I can still picture, very clearly in my mind, the older guy, who cooked fish at night. Slow walking, slow talking. Really a nice guy & cooked great fish.

I remember watching the bigger Hannah tugs (Daryl C, Paige (??), Mary E) pushing barges up & down the St Clair R. When they were loaded it looked like they had a foot or 2 of freeboard. Always wondered what it was like in waves on the lakes. Until couple of years ago, didn't know Daryl C was named after the actress Daryl Hannah.

Was always neat to see Hannah tug/barges go by. And then, one day, Hannah Inland Waterways was gone. Really never knew what happened.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » May 3, 2021, 2:20 pm

Tugboat Tom

Do you remember Capt Bibey or any of the crew?

Every now & then the MMH would make a trip to a refinery (???) called Sightacky (not sure spelling) in Toledo. Do you remember trips to Toledo & Sun dock Sarnia?

Do you have any photos from the MMH? Would be really neat to see.

Thanking you - very much - in advance.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by tugboat Tom » May 3, 2021, 12:51 pm

I remember changing the carbon rods on those search lights

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by tugboat Tom » May 3, 2021, 12:43 pm

I heard the name bill maybe seen him a couple times how about Mack or ALBERT ,Alex Sweeny those guys all worked on her- I was only on her a short time and then be came chief on the Mary E. Hannah

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » May 3, 2021, 10:44 am

Tugboat Tom

And with the wheelhouse in the "down" position, it had a vvery low profile; approx as high as a person is tall.

Do you recall Capt Bill Bibey? Where he is now?

This could be anybody, but the guy that did the cooking was early-mid sixties, approx 5 1/2 ft tall & also a deck hand. I can recall he was one of the guys that threw down mooring lines when the MMH came in to dock.

My recollection is that the MMH's most frequent trip was to the DTE plant at Marysville (now demolished), just downriver form the Sun dock. The MMH had a wheelhouse that went up & down on a piston (I was told that was so MMH could pass under very low Chicago-area bridges) and large search lights on both side of the wheelhouse. When Bibey was finished unloading at Marysville he would turn on the searchlights and light up the Sun dock to remind us he was coming in.

My recollection is that MMH was a very laid-back operation.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by tugboat Tom » May 3, 2021, 7:19 am

I sailed on the Margaret Hannah in the late 70"S---small little tug

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » April 30, 2021, 4:28 am

Guest

I remember seeing Shell boats, but don't remember them ever loading at Sun dock. Probably did all loading at Shell dock about a mile downriver from Sun dock.

The only boat that ever offered food was tug Margaret M Hannah, crewed by southerners, boss of the boat was Capt Bill Bibey (not sure of spelling, but sounds like ByBee). On night shifts (7 pm - 7 am), crew would catch pickerel/walleye from side of tug, fillet it, cut it into small chunks & deep fry it. All in the middle of the night. A number of times (at about 2 in the morning) crew brought me a plate of fresh-fried pickerel, a 'Bama pie (small pre-packaged pecan pie), and a can of Coke. Maybe not the healthiest, but it tasted really good.
Guest wrote:
johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

Is that ever neat! Our paths may have crossed. I spent summer 1978 working on Sun Oil Dock at Sarnia. Loaded BTEX, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel . into Hall, Stolt, Amoco, Texaco tankers with names like Hudson Transport, Island Transport, Bay Transport (really small boat), Chemical Transport, Arctic Transport (I think), Stolt Sydness, Stolt Viking, Stolt Nordness, Amoco Indiana, Amoco Illinois (Amoco boats always took jet fuel to Chicago), Texaco Warrior, Brave & Chief (at least 2 of these 3, I forget which). The Margaret M Hannah & Barge 2902 were constantly running loads of "six oil" (what Sun Oil called "heavy bottoms") to Detroit Edison plants down the river.

Best summer job I ever had.

Where is Britt?


I was on Shell tankers from 65 to 72 in the 60's every once in a while we went to the Texaco dock in Sarina which now l think is the Sun Oil dock l had 3 friends that sailed on the old Texaco Brave had some good times with those guys ! while at any dock loading or unloading we always made sure the dock guys were invited for meals on board . Britt is in Georgian Bay not to far from Parry Sound !

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by Guest » April 29, 2021, 2:35 pm

johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

Is that ever neat! Our paths may have crossed. I spent summer 1978 working on Sun Oil Dock at Sarnia. Loaded BTEX, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel . into Hall, Stolt, Amoco, Texaco tankers with names like Hudson Transport, Island Transport, Bay Transport (really small boat), Chemical Transport, Arctic Transport (I think), Stolt Sydness, Stolt Viking, Stolt Nordness, Amoco Indiana, Amoco Illinois (Amoco boats always took jet fuel to Chicago), Texaco Warrior, Brave & Chief (at least 2 of these 3, I forget which). The Margaret M Hannah & Barge 2902 were constantly running loads of "six oil" (what Sun Oil called "heavy bottoms") to Detroit Edison plants down the river.

Best summer job I ever had.

Where is Britt?


I was on Shell tankers from 65 to 72 in the 60's every once in a while we went to the Texaco dock in Sarina which now l think is the Sun Oil dock l had 3 friends that sailed on the old Texaco Brave had some good times with those guys ! while at any dock loading or unloading we always made sure the dock guys were invited for meals on board . Britt is in Georgian Bay not to far from Parry Sound !

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » April 25, 2021, 5:18 pm

Plan Guy

Really appreciate this. So good to know these details.

Don't know if ships were airconditioned in the 20's, but it must have been hot back in the aft deck house during the summers.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by johnfrombrighton » April 25, 2021, 4:52 pm

Guest

Is that ever neat! Our paths may have crossed. I spent summer 1978 working on Sun Oil Dock at Sarnia. Loaded BTEX, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel .... into Hall, Stolt, Amoco, Texaco tankers with names like Hudson Transport, Island Transport, Bay Transport (really small boat), Chemical Transport, Arctic Transport (I think), Stolt Sydness, Stolt Viking, Stolt Nordness, Amoco Indiana, Amoco Illinois (Amoco boats always took jet fuel to Chicago), Texaco Warrior, Brave & Chief (at least 2 of these 3, I forget which). The Margaret M Hannah & Barge 2902 were constantly running loads of "six oil" (what Sun Oil called "heavy bottoms") to Detroit Edison plants down the river.

Best summer job I ever had.

Where is Britt?

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by plan guy » April 25, 2021, 1:14 pm

John
Getting back to your original post. The Magog was built to a standard early canal ship design in 1927. The crews mess was on the port side ,then moving aft the galley, Pantry and fridges were located. The Officers Dining room was aft on the center line. Cooks and engine crew on Stbd. side aft to forward. All in the aft deck house. At the period of this ship(1927) there were only 2 engineers a Chief and 2nd doing 6 hour shifts .as with the deck crew. All doing a 12 hour day. The 8 hour day and 3 shifts started much later. So yes there was separate messes and yes the chief was in the engine room.

Re: Magog Crew Mess & Chief Engineer

by Guest » April 25, 2021, 7:30 am

johnfrombrighton wrote:Guest

Thank you - very much - for this. Really appreciate.

Just curious, which canallers did you sail on & did you ever sail into Wallaceburg, Ontario?

You must have some really interesting stories.
John l sailed on tankers 3.5 years on the great lakes and 3.5 years out of Montreal to points east and in summer we went north to resupply northern communities when l was on the smaller tanker we never went to wallaceburg however l went there in the mid 90's on my own pleasure craft and spent the night there it looked real tight for a small ship to travel that river although l heard of ships going there some of the places we sailed to the rivers were very very narrow example Britt l couldn't believe when we went up the inlet there !

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