Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Thanks for all the information Denny it did help tremendously and i greatly appreciate it. I do remember at one time that the Conquest and Challenger did also go to Detroit and Cleveland but they weren't part of Port City's fleet at that time. It will be interesting to see if they are expanding there fleet with the conversion of the Cleveland Rocks. They do stay very busy on Lake Michigan and S. Chicago seems to be a port they call on very frequently. Now it would be interesting to see if they have added another port to call on. The former Lafarge Cement dock in Carrollton on the Saginaw River sits empty and for sale atleast it did when i was there 5yrs ago last. Lafarge bought the former Essroc cement dock in Essexville on the Saginaw River and that's where the Alpena, Innovation and Integrity unload at now. I remember my uncle telling me shortly before his passing that he had heard another cement company was looking possibly buying that property and if they did they would receive there product by boat or barge. So maybe the Conquest, Challenger and whatever they rename the Cleveland Rocks will call on the Saginaw River in the near future.
Dan McNeil

I agree with Guest's comments here about the conversion of the barge Cleveland Rocks to haul cement products. More than likely the barge will end up going to Port City ownership and will carry cement to Port City's ports and its customers. If my memory does not fail me today I believe some of the ports they unload at are in Milwaukee, Grand Haven, Manitowoc, Green Bay and Chicago to name a few. Sometimes they will go to Owen Sound I think it is but not very often. The others that I mentioned though are more the common ports of call they unload at. Hope that this helps out.

Thanks guest for the reply. I was accually thinking the samething just wasn't sure. Hopefully it's not a replacement for the Conquest or the Challenger and they are just expanding there fleet because of demand. They seem to stay very busy all season long and the Conquest and Challenger seem to be one of the last to lay up and first out in the Spring on the Lake Michigan side. When the Challenger was still a Steamer she though was always one of the first in for winter layup and last out in the Spring.
Dan McNeil

Just a guess, since Port City operates the St. Mary's Conquest and Challenger and the Bradshaw Mckee is there as well. This will be for St. Mary's Cement, loading Charlevoix and unload at their usual ports.

Just curious if anyone knows since the Cleveland Rocks is being converted to a Cement Barge what ports would she travel to as well as load from? Thanks so much for any information.
Dan McNeil

Mr Link wrote:Is the barge being converted to carry cement?

Yes.

Is the barge being converted to carry cement?

With the new trunk deck and raised foc'sle I assume there might need more height for proper sight lines

McCoy wrote:The Kate McAllister is being investigated for a Bludworth conversion and raised pilot house.

Thought she already had a raised pilot house.

The barge Cleveland Rocks arrived at Bay Ship and was rafted next to the Calumet on berth 8 and tug Bradshaw Megee was tied up on the end of berth 8.

The Kate McAllister is being investigated for a Bludworth conversion and raised pilot house.

I see in the News the Cleveland Rocks was towed to Sturgeon Bay for a re-fit. Will she paired with one of the former McAllister tugs after her re-fit? Thanks.