Record tonnage through the Soo??

[Guest]

Are any of these ships carrying reduced levels of fuel to further increase their carrying capacity?

[Guest]

Walter J. McCarthy loaded to 30' and was downbound at the locks 8/2/19. I did not hear what her tonnage was.

[Denny]

Well anymore news on her and if any further new record tonnages have been set? The latest one was 76,424 tons from Two Harbors Ore Dock to Indiana Harbor. Since then though, she’s taken a load from Silver Bay to Ashtabula I think and was due next in Two Harbors to load. I’m thinking that she probably set yet another record load especially loading out of Two Harbors as it seems that’s where most of these record loads have been coming from with one load a previous record from Duluth back in early July. Any information if anything new on her is greatly appreciated. Thanks so very much in advance.

[Guest]

Well the Integrity did it again, only by less than a 100 tons this time at 76,424 dropped off in Indiana Harbor.

[hugh3]

When a vessel weights more the water it displaces it sinks!

[Denny]

No I don’t believe they have more capacity than the other footers as if you take a look for instance with the Amship footers. Only the Speer and Tregurtha have a depth of 56 feet whereas the Barker, Miner along with the American Spirit all have a depth of 50 feet. The Bayship footers all have a depth of 56 feet and can carry and haul much more than the Amship footers but the Speer though with its 56 foot depth can carry well over 70,000 tons I suppose depending on the water levels maybe? Surely someone here will have and know more on this. Hope that my information though here is of some use and help to you.

[Jared]

So does the Barker and PRT have more capacity than the other footers? I though I read a long time ago in a previous post that the absolute maximum of the PRT was 90K tons.

[Denny]

Well the American Integrity locked through this morning at the Soo Locks heading down bound for Indiana Harbor with a load of ore from Two Harbors. Any word yet from anyone as far as how many tons this time they were carrying and is this another record breaking load then for them? Other than the one trip to Zug Island near Detroit where they had the record of 76,063 tons a few weeks ago, most all of these big and record breaking cargoes are going to Lake Michigan ports mostly to Gary or to Indiana Harbor. I’m guessing they probably broke the record yet again but, we’ll have to wait and see and get a confirmation on that from the USACE at the Locks and anyone else up there for that matter.

[Denny]

They were supposed to have arrived and loaded at the CN Ore Dock in Two Harbors today. Well, any word or information yet as far as if the Soo Locks tonnage record will be broken again? The current record so far is at 76,358 tons I believe it is on the American Integrity and I’m betting big bucks that they’ll break the record yet again! They added an extra 295 tons to get the load up from 76,063 to 76,358 and if that pace goes up again with the next load, then we’re talking in excess of around give or take 76,600 or so tons. What are any of you boatnerds up there in the Duluth-Superior and Two Harbors areas hearing such as garbear and Chris and Jerry? If any of you hear something please let us all know. Thanks and can’t wait to hear and find out if another record will then be broken.

[Guest]

I'm curious as to how deep the Gott and Speer are loading. They were designed to carry Taconite only. Would they not be similar Taconite tonnage at the same draft?

I may be wrong, but I believe that the Gott and Speer have lower cubic carrying capacity compared to 1000 footers like the American Integrity, American Century, and Walter J. McCarthy Jr. Could this become a restriction to loading to deeper drafts? I also believe that Gott and Speer were more heavily built for winter operations, the extra tonnage would also play a part in the amount of cargo both could carry.

[Lakercapt]

Is the depth of water over the cill at the Poe lock the governing factor or the water in the Rock-cut or other shallow places where the high lake levels is needed???

[Guest]

I'm curious as to how deep the Gott and Speer are loading. They were designed to carry Taconite only. Would they not be similar Taconite tonnage at the same draft?

[Denny]

Well garbear if she can do it again and I expect she will, then if you add another 300 or so tons to 76,358 then they will be up into the 76,600 ton range give or take at that point. The numbers just keep on climbing! Just wonder when the breaking point will be this year for these record tonnages and loads? In 2017 they finally stopped in September of that year so it will be interesting to see just how long and far into the Summer and Fall seasons they will continue to try and break these records with these deeper loads. Time will tell.

[garbear]

I calculated the difference in tonnages as far as 76,358 tons to the previous record of 76,063 tons and I come up with an extra 295 tons! So then I wonder just how long this record load will stand then before it’s broken either yet again by the American Integrity or else by another ASC 1,000 footer such as the McCarthy, Indiana Harbor or possibly the American Century? A little off topic but, this question has been asked before and just wondering and curious besides the iron ore record loads through the Soo this year has there been any other cargo records set or broken this year on the Great Lakes or Seaway? Thanks for any info.

See the American Integrity is due back in Two Harbors on Friday. See if she can do it again.

[Denny]

I calculated the difference in tonnages as far as 76,358 tons to the previous record of 76,063 tons and I come up with an extra 295 tons! So then I wonder just how long this record load will stand then before it’s broken either yet again by the American Integrity or else by another ASC 1,000 footer such as the McCarthy, Indiana Harbor or possibly the American Century? A little off topic but, this question has been asked before and just wondering and curious besides the iron ore record loads through the Soo this year has there been any other cargo records set or broken this year on the Great Lakes or Seaway? Thanks for any info.

[garbear]

Looks like the record only lasted a week this time. The Integrity just dropped off 76,358 tons in Gary yesterday at a draft of 30 foot breaking it yet again.

That would have been loaded in Two Harbors on July 12 into the morning of July 13.

[Superiorsailor]

Looks like the record only lasted a week this time. The Integrity just dropped off 76,358 tons in Gary yesterday at a draft of 30 foot breaking it yet again.

[SuperiorSailor]

Looking at Marine Traffic I notice the Gotts draft is listed as 9 meters which converts to 29' 6", if my math is right. This is 8 inches more than the American Integrity's record load draft. Is that listed reading correct and if so, might the Gott be having a larger load?

Not necessarily. The draft is the deepest draft mark they loaded to, usually that is the after draft. They may have a rake of several inches, which would mean less cargo than if they are a straight boat (For example 29'0" FWD and 29'6" Aft would be less cargo than 29'6" FWD and 29'6"Aft. Both would be reported as 29'6" deep draft, but the latter would have more cargo.) Also it has to do with the ship design itself. The Blough could load to 30'0" and it would still be carrying considerably less than a footer loaded a foot lighter. Even though the Gott and the Integrity are both Sturgeon Bay boats they are not the same. The Integrity has a greater maximum capacity by over 5000 tons. She simply holds more

[Ronsun]

Looking at Marine Traffic I notice the Gotts draft is listed as 9 meters which converts to 29' 6", if my math is right. This is 8 inches more than the American Integrity's record load draft. Is that listed reading correct and if so, might the Gott be having a larger load?

[hugh3]

Back when I was sailing You would fill up the cargo hold with stone, coal or grain and you would not get her down to her marks.