Boatnerd Discussion Forum

[quote]Was there a problem with Adam E. Cornelius leaving Manitowoc like the Ryerson had?[/quote]

[I]Adam E. Cornelius[/I] was slightly over 66 feet shorter in overall length than [I]Edward L. Ryerson[/I]. The length of the [I]Cornelius[/I] was dictated by the maximum length that could be handled to make the sharp bend in the river, and the vessel had no problems. Manitowoc Shipbuilding was well aware of the "problem" posed by the [I]Ryerson[/I] and as is well known precise surveys were done in fall 1959 and as a result a strip of shore 300 feet by 30 feet was cut below the Soo Line bridge in late 1959 to allow for the [I]Ryerson[/I] to make the turn. Getting the vessel to the Rahr dock took four tugs and over four hours. The process was somewhat aided after the Soo Line draw was struck by the tanker Polaris 2 July 1960 and removed for repairs at the shipyard.

No, AEC was 64 ft shorter.

Was there a problem with Adam E. Cornelius leaving Manitowoc like the Ryerson had?

For a number of reasons, primarily the quest to maximize bulk cargo carriage within the restrictions imposed by locks, I doubt there were any significant differences in laker hull form after World War II until the appearance of [I]Cape Breton Miner[/I]. One can see good construction views of the hulls of [I]Ryerson[/I] and [i]Cornelius[/I] in Tom Wenstad's book [I]Freighters of Manitowoc[/I], especially pages 265-270 and 301-308. The hulls seem remarkably similar, which is to be expected.

The Alpena County Library has a Great Lakes ship collection and I have found some plans for the Edward L. Ryerson as built, but unfortunately no plans for the Adam E. Cornelius (1959).

https://greatlakeships.org/results?q=edward+l.+ryerson&st=kw&fz=1&lfloc=&lfhow=&lfcar=&lfdnot=&dr=b&da=&db=&lc=&grd=&lvt=&llen=&llenfz=0&lbm=&lbmfz=0&ldp=&ldpfz=0&sort=&rows=20

While dramatically different in length, the hull forms look remarkably similar. In addition they were both built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding and commissioned only a little over a year apart.

I believe the original poster meant the hull profiles themselves and not the structural arrangement of the cabins, stacks, etc.

Well, there night be something to it. The ELR is of 1960 vintage, the AEC3 1959, although at a glance they are two different animals fore and aft.

Over the years, I have heard it mentioned that the Adam E. Cornelius (3) (later Captain Edward V. Smith, Sea Barge One, and Sarah Spencer) as having the same hull form as the later Edward L. Ryerson. I have no access to the hull form plans for these two vessels and while the forward hull profiles do appear similar to the two vessels, the stern profiles appear somewhat different. I was wondering if anyone can confirm this as being true or is this just something of an urban legend in the boat watching hobby?