Boatnerd Discussion Forum

In my opinion a dry dock to accommodate a 1000 footer would be utilized and welcome at the Twin Ports. It would create more jobs and some competition in which the shipping companies could use to their advantage." If you build it, They will come."

Although all of the incidents involving the 1000 foot class has thus far allowed them to sail to dry docks below the Soo Locks, that doesn't necessarily mean that a such a dry dock at the Twin Ports would not be utilized. For instance, in 1982 the Lewis Wilson Foy suffered heavy damage at Taconite Harbor that would have likely resulted in it being repaired at the Twin Ports if that would have been possible. In addition, it is likely that Fraser would receive some contracts for 5 year surveys for vessels too large to fit into their existing dry docks.

[quote="Guest"]Fraser planned to build a drydock for thousand footers, twice. Once in the 1960s and the other time in the mid-1970s.

What brought the plans to a halt is that they needed a partner to help fund the expansion program. With Bay Shipbuilding, American Shipbuilding and Erie Marine all having drydocks available for berthing and constructing thousand footers, ship owners didn't feel there was a need for another drydock so Fraser's expansion plans didn't go anywhere. .[/quote]

Interesting in that all that all the available dry docks are below the Soo Locks, nothing available to dry dock a 1000 footer above the locks. Then again in 40 + years I guess there has never been a situation where a 1000 footer was needing dry docking was stranded above the locks, so the gamble paid off.

Fraser planned to build a drydock for thousand footers, twice. Once in the 1960s and the other time in the mid-1970s.

What brought the plans to a halt is that they needed a partner to help fund the expansion program. With Bay Shipbuilding, American Shipbuilding and Erie Marine all having drydocks available for berthing and constructing thousand footers, ship owners didn't feel there was a need for another drydock so Fraser's expansion plans didn't go anywhere.

They did run into several blocks, but the biggest was getting approval from the USACE because a small creek runs into Howards Pocket by drydock #1 and right where they wanted to put the drydock for the thousand footers.

Back in 1964 Fraser-Nelson purchased the former Butler Shipyard in Superior that was adjacent to its operation reportedly to permit the building of 1000 foot class vessels in the following decade. What brought these plans to a halt?