Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Here are a couple of side-launch photos of the Edward L. Ryerson on January 21, 1960. https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/ ... eamer.html

there is a book called "side launch" the ships built in collingwood. i once had the book, robert woodcock i believe was the authur. loaned it to someone and never got it back. if you check a used book store perhaps you might find one

When the St. Clair was side launched in 1976 at Sturgeon Bay, at 770 feet in length and 92 feet in width, she became the largest vessel to be side launched given her dimensions of 770 X 92. Prior to that, I think the Edmund Fitzgerald at 729 X 75 was the largest vessel to be side launched? After the Fitzgerald’s launch in 1958 the Canadians built some vessels at 730 X 75 so, I can’t say and don’t know for sure but I suppose the Fitzgerald could’ve been surpassed by a Canadian Laker as far as being 730 X 75 and being the largest vessel side launched until the St. Clair was then in 1976. One that comes to mind is the Edward L. Ryerson of course. She is 730 X 75 so when she entered service I think in 1960, she may have surpassed the Fitz as far as largest vessel to be sidelaunched? That is, if the Ryerson was ever side launched at Manitowoc where she was built at? Anyone have more on this?

The Joseph L. Block and St. Clair were both side-launched as well as all the smaller self-unloaders (Buffalo, Fred R. White, Jr, American Mariner and American Republic). The forward halves of the Belle River and Lewis Wilson Foy were side-launched and mated with their stern-section's in the dry-dock as it was being finished. The dry-dock in the mid-1970s to early 1980s was dedicated to the construction of thousand footers. The Edwin H. Gott, Indiana Harbor, Burns Harbor and Columbia Star were built within the dry dock.

Was the Joseph L. Block the last vessel to be side launched at Bay Shipbuilding in early 1976? I believe later vessels were built in the dry dock. In addition, wasn't the St. Clair the largest vessel ever side launched on the lakes (at least in terms of tonnage)?