by Guest » December 16, 2025, 9:46 am
During the 1950s and into the early 1960s several saltwater vessels were converted into Great Lakes freighters due to the increased demand for new tonnage and Great Lakes shipyards being at full capacity. How did these ships handle in comparison to other lake ships built to standard Great Lakes service? Were they popular among their crews? I believe many had higher horsepower engines compared to other lake ships of similar sizes. Did this create any maneuvering issues?
Many of these ships had short service careers, apparently mostly due to heavy fuel burn costs, limited capacity, and the depressed economic conditions of the 1980s. Of all of these ships, I would say the most successful conversion was that of the Walter A. Sterling later the Lee A. Tregurtha. Just wondering if anyone has any insights into how it was to sail on these ships.
During the 1950s and into the early 1960s several saltwater vessels were converted into Great Lakes freighters due to the increased demand for new tonnage and Great Lakes shipyards being at full capacity. How did these ships handle in comparison to other lake ships built to standard Great Lakes service? Were they popular among their crews? I believe many had higher horsepower engines compared to other lake ships of similar sizes. Did this create any maneuvering issues?
Many of these ships had short service careers, apparently mostly due to heavy fuel burn costs, limited capacity, and the depressed economic conditions of the 1980s. Of all of these ships, I would say the most successful conversion was that of the Walter A. Sterling later the Lee A. Tregurtha. Just wondering if anyone has any insights into how it was to sail on these ships.