by Andrew » August 29, 2011, 9:29 am
Although there has been talk of converting the Ryerson to a self-unloader, none of the talk has come to fruition. The boat will never be converted to a self-unloader for many reasons. In the first place, the boat was not built to be a self unloader. Her current capacity is I believe 27,500 tons or in that range. A self-unloading unit would reduce her capacity by about 5,000-10,000 tons, partially because the unit acts like a conveyor under the cargo hold, and partially due to the fact that the boat was constructed to remain a straight-decker. On an boat like the American Valor, it pays to have a self unloading unit, because she is longer. However, the boat lost about 1,500 tons in cargo capacity due to the conversion. The Ryerson would be worse off because her holds are squared. This, as well as the fact these holds do not carry coal, slag, or limestone well, accounts for not converting the boat. To have a self unloading unit work, the boat's holds would have to be re-configured with sloped sides; this would allow for cargo to move freely to the conveyor at the bottom of the hold. The reconfiguration, which would cost a fortune, would, as I pointed out above, cut cargo hold capacity more than a usual conversion because the holds would be reconfigured smaller than before.
Another reason the boat would never be converted is they don't need it to be converted. The boat can carry cargo to Indiana Harbor and CML has equipment that can unload the boat. When the demand is there, the boat is there. That has been the story of the Ryerson's career. Her lay-up of 6 years in 1992, and the her 8 year lay-up in 1998, and now this. She was brought out of all those lay-ups because of the steel demand. My guess is when the demand gets better, out she'll go. The boat has always been kept in good condition; the owners (there have been 3 different owners since her 1998 lay-up) have kept her in good condition. When they need her, she is there.
The third, and probably least relevant reason she has not been scrapped are her looks. Imagine the quack CLM would get if she were scrapped or made into a barge! CML is proud of the Ryerson; they will keep her the way she is.
So, it's just a waiting game as boatnerds wait for her return to the lakes. In the meantime, she is in Superior at Fraser shipyard. If you get off the Blatnick Bridge, there is a turnoff into a truck depot, where you can get real close. Check out Chris Wilson's photo. I'm betting he didn't zoom in on his camera for that photo- that's how close you can get to her. -Andrew
Although there has been talk of converting the Ryerson to a self-unloader, none of the talk has come to fruition. The boat will never be converted to a self-unloader for many reasons. In the first place, the boat was not built to be a self unloader. Her current capacity is I believe 27,500 tons or in that range. A self-unloading unit would reduce her capacity by about 5,000-10,000 tons, partially because the unit acts like a conveyor under the cargo hold, and partially due to the fact that the boat was constructed to remain a straight-decker. On an boat like the American Valor, it pays to have a self unloading unit, because she is longer. However, the boat lost about 1,500 tons in cargo capacity due to the conversion. The Ryerson would be worse off because her holds are squared. This, as well as the fact these holds do not carry coal, slag, or limestone well, accounts for not converting the boat. To have a self unloading unit work, the boat's holds would have to be re-configured with sloped sides; this would allow for cargo to move freely to the conveyor at the bottom of the hold. The reconfiguration, which would cost a fortune, would, as I pointed out above, cut cargo hold capacity more than a usual conversion because the holds would be reconfigured smaller than before.
Another reason the boat would never be converted is they don't need it to be converted. The boat can carry cargo to Indiana Harbor and CML has equipment that can unload the boat. When the demand is there, the boat is there. That has been the story of the Ryerson's career. Her lay-up of 6 years in 1992, and the her 8 year lay-up in 1998, and now this. She was brought out of all those lay-ups because of the steel demand. My guess is when the demand gets better, out she'll go. The boat has always been kept in good condition; the owners (there have been 3 different owners since her 1998 lay-up) have kept her in good condition. When they need her, she is there.
The third, and probably least relevant reason she has not been scrapped are her looks. Imagine the quack CLM would get if she were scrapped or made into a barge! CML is proud of the Ryerson; they will keep her the way she is.
So, it's just a waiting game as boatnerds wait for her return to the lakes. In the meantime, she is in Superior at Fraser shipyard. If you get off the Blatnick Bridge, there is a turnoff into a truck depot, where you can get real close. Check out Chris Wilson's photo. I'm betting he didn't zoom in on his camera for that photo- that's how close you can get to her. -Andrew