Freighter’s air horn creates ruckus in Superior

[Guest]

Did all the fifties and sixties steamers with the one large and one small horn were they Typhons? Did all the ships get the same model or did some get different models for a distinct sound?

[Denny]

I never thought about that one Bookworm and I would agree with you there 100% that our dear beloved friend Lady Pirate was indeed on her favorite and protesting that they had renamed the George A. Stinson to the American Spirit. Then again, maybe someone was blowing the horn to send her a grand salute even though it was a long very long blast!

[Bookworm]

American Spirit? That explains everything! Lady Pirate/Violet Bostwick, who never accepted her beloved freighter (George A. Stinson) being renamed, found a way to loudly express her displeasure all these years later!

[Darryl]

I had presumed they are working on the horn, or some other electrical component in an adjacent area. If so, they might have been testing it. Also, a short caused by ice or the melting of ice.

[Ray]

Rather than the distance heard or police response - I'm more curious about how this happens on a ship layed up for the winter. Shipkeeper push/pull something they should not have? For that matter - how is the airhorn system even pressurized or able to maintain pressure for any length of time on a shut down boat?

[Pete in Holland MI]

Regarding distance heard, the information I have for the steam Tyfon horns common on steamers after costly-to-run whistles were replaced, indicates that a 300 series horn was advertised to be heard 6-8 miles at sea, and the 425 at 7-9 miles at sea. The 575 horn, at least 10 miles at sea. There were a lot of 300 series horns on freighters, a few had 425's. There were no 575's on the Great Lakes that I was aware of.

On the Great Lakes, most horns these days are either air, or electrically driven. There are still a few steam horns in operation. There are no steam whistles in service anymore.

Pete

[Old Man]

A good sound but I like the old-timer whistles better.

[RCRVRP]

Not sure about now but at one time a vessels whistle was suppose to be heard at least two miles..

For how long a time without letup?

The reason for the article is not about the distance the sound carries but rather the amount of time the horn sounded.

[Guest]

I'm curious. This isn't a knock on the police, but what is it they think they can do to resolve the situation as quickly as possible? Obviously the work crew on board is aware of the situation and would be working quickly to stop the whistle right?

Just a good public relations answer from those tasked ‘to protect and serve’. Their answer sounds a lot better than “it’s not our problem.”

[Shipwatcher1]

I'm curious. This isn't a knock on the police, but what is it they think they can do to resolve the situation as quickly as possible? Obviously the work crew on board is aware of the situation and would be working quickly to stop the whistle right?

[Denny]

This is also not the first time either if anyone recalls that a horn became stuck on a freighter either in the past year. If anyone remembers when the Paul R. Tregurtha’s horn became stuck back in late May 2018 as it was departing through the Duluth Ship Canal on its first trip of the 2018 season with coal. The horn became stuck and it created quite a stir and buzz at the time. Fortunately they were able to get it fixed and to shut it off.

[hugh3]

Not sure about now but at one time a vessels whistle was suppose to be heard at least two miles...

[RCRVRP]

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/ ... s-superior

"If you heard a loud noise coming from Superior's East End on Tuesday night, you weren’t alone.

“The air horn on the American Spirit docked behind McDonalds on E. 2nd St. at 21st Ave. E. is malfunctioning,” the Superior Police Department reported on Facebook. “We are working on finding a speedy resolution to the issue.” Police announced around 9 p.m. that the horn had been shut off.Witnesses said the sound could be heard for miles."

Does anyone here know more about this story?