Great Lakes Freighter
The Walter J McCarthy Jr was built in 1977. 1000ft long and 105 ft high, powered by 14,000 hp worth of diesel engines, it carries 80,900 tons of coal from Superior, WI to Detroit Edison’s power plants at St Clair and Monroe. It is named for a former chairman (d. 2013/age 88) of the Detroit Edison electric company (founded 1886).
Seen here southbound, approaching the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron/Sarnia, leaving Lake Huron and entering the St Clair River. The St Clair power plant is about 17 miles downriver from here.
This ship is significantly larger – half again as large – than the Edmund Fitzgerald … whose Chief Mate was Walter McCarthy (no known relation)
On the bridge:
There are 13 1000 footers on the Lakes; the Paul R Tregurtha being the last built (1981) and largest at 1013 ft, running with 17,000 hp.
Once upon a time when I was a young sprout – 7th or 8th grade I believe, I had to take an aptitude test. Navigator on a Great Lakes freighter was at the top of the list. I had a great-uncle Bill who was a captain of one of the freighters … but the life didn’t appeal to me, and as it turned out, my job in my later years would have been baby-sitting a GPS unit.
No regrets on that decision.
My brother’s son-in-law is a Captain on the Great Lakes freighters, the John J. Boland, and occasionally is also in command of the Olive L. Moore. I think he’s the youngest freighter Caption on the Great Lakes. 27 years old.
I surely would like to see one of those horizontal sky scrapers up close and personal one time. Once is all I need.
I’d wear a set of eyeballs out on it. My engineering brain would take over and I’d want to experience ALL of it. From grease cups on the axle bearings to the weather vane on the top mast and everything in between.
My little brother was a mechanic on the carrier Midway (WWII) during the Iran crises era and he said the driveshaft on that boat was a thing to behold. It required “live” lubrication 24/7.