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Thinking about my previous post: Those of you who have never lived in the Great Lakes area might be surprised to know that we have a maritime heritage at all. Let alone that there are real ships out there on the Lakes. Serious freighters.
Of course the seafaring way of life on the Lakes has been pretty much killed by efficiency. They're hauling more iron ore, coal, and wheat out there than ever. But when you're doing it in 60,000 ton vessels with crews of 17 while 40 years ago it was mainly 10,000 ton vessels with crews of 35, it does tend to cut down the number of people who can experience such a way of life.
In the midst of all that, the cutter Mackinaw, WAGB-83, remains a great sentimental favorite of people around here. http://www.mightymac.org/cgcmackinaw.htm
Launched in 1944 to keep the iron ore moving during World War II, the Mac was the most powerful icebreaker in the world when she came out. And very advanced for her time, too. Her six diesel engines generate electricity; actual propulsion comes from three electric motors, two in the stern, one in the bow. The propeller in the bow sucks water from under the ice in front of her, greatly enhancing her ability to smash through ice.
Since she's 62 years old this year, you might think she's worn out. Not so. One of the peculiarities of the Great Lakes is that the cold, fresh water is relatively gentle on ships. Some of the shipwrecks littering the lake bottoms (and there are over 3000 of them, by the way) are in good enough shape after a century that the ships could be raised and restored to working condition-- and a couple have been. In particular, steel ships last a long time because fresh water doesn't make them rust the way salt water does.
So Mackinaw is in as good shape as the day she was launched. But she's being retired anyway. This is her last year in service.
One problem is sewage. Back when she was built, ships didn't have holding tanks; sewage just went overboard. They shoehorned a holding tank of a sort into the old girl, but it limits her endurance to five days.
But the biggest problem is that she needs a big crew, something over 70 people.
So she's being replaced by the Mackinaw II, which entered service this year. This wasn't a vastly popular decision with the people in this area. To add insult to injury, Mackinaw II is a particularly hideous little tub- looks something between a bathtub toy and some kind of seagoing appliance, a deepfreeze maybe.
But she can operate with fewer crewmembers, and during the summer months she can tend bouys and crap. She's cheaper, so she must be better, right?
Of course the seafaring way of life on the Lakes has been pretty much killed by efficiency. They're hauling more iron ore, coal, and wheat out there than ever. But when you're doing it in 60,000 ton vessels with crews of 17 while 40 years ago it was mainly 10,000 ton vessels with crews of 35, it does tend to cut down the number of people who can experience such a way of life.
In the midst of all that, the cutter Mackinaw, WAGB-83, remains a great sentimental favorite of people around here. http://www.mightymac.org/cgcmackinaw.htm
Launched in 1944 to keep the iron ore moving during World War II, the Mac was the most powerful icebreaker in the world when she came out. And very advanced for her time, too. Her six diesel engines generate electricity; actual propulsion comes from three electric motors, two in the stern, one in the bow. The propeller in the bow sucks water from under the ice in front of her, greatly enhancing her ability to smash through ice.
Since she's 62 years old this year, you might think she's worn out. Not so. One of the peculiarities of the Great Lakes is that the cold, fresh water is relatively gentle on ships. Some of the shipwrecks littering the lake bottoms (and there are over 3000 of them, by the way) are in good enough shape after a century that the ships could be raised and restored to working condition-- and a couple have been. In particular, steel ships last a long time because fresh water doesn't make them rust the way salt water does.
So Mackinaw is in as good shape as the day she was launched. But she's being retired anyway. This is her last year in service.
One problem is sewage. Back when she was built, ships didn't have holding tanks; sewage just went overboard. They shoehorned a holding tank of a sort into the old girl, but it limits her endurance to five days.
But the biggest problem is that she needs a big crew, something over 70 people.
So she's being replaced by the Mackinaw II, which entered service this year. This wasn't a vastly popular decision with the people in this area. To add insult to injury, Mackinaw II is a particularly hideous little tub- looks something between a bathtub toy and some kind of seagoing appliance, a deepfreeze maybe.
But she can operate with fewer crewmembers, and during the summer months she can tend bouys and crap. She's cheaper, so she must be better, right?
