Pictures of the departure: / duluthshipphotography
About the visit:
Arrived Duluth May 08, 2024 at 23:43 cruising into town at a leisurely 3.9 kts with dolomite from Port Dolomite, MI for Hallett 5. They pulled into the Hallett dock a day later, May 09 at 01:17 and began discharging the Dolomite. They Finished the discharge and departed the Hallett dock at 07:51.Departed Duluth at 09:13, this time a little quicker at 5.2 kts.
Heading out light, next stop Marquette MI.
Technically their 1st visit to Duluth this season, their last trip they came back from Two Harbors loaded with ore for fuel. They did not fuel on Layup departure since the American Spirit was taking the Cenovus Fuel dock.
Info From Boatnerd.com :
The self-unloading lake bulk carrier John J. Boland (the fourth vessel to bear the name of this pioneering Great Lakes ship owner and manager) was built by the Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI, and launched March 10, 1973 for the American Steamship Co, Buffalo, NY, as Charles E. Wilson.
In January 2000, the Wilson was renamed John J. Boland. That year while at Fraser Shipyards in Superior for lay-up, crews welded the new name on the vessel. The name change followed the sale of the former John J. Boland to Lower Lakes Towing, Port Dover, ON, (now sailing as the Saginaw).
The Boland is powered by twin 3,600 horsepower GM diesel engines, giving her a rated service speed of 13 knots. She is equipped with bow and stern thrusters. Her 22 hatches feed into six holds where she is capable of carrying 33,800 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 30 feet seven inches. The stern-mounted self-unloading conveyor system feeds a 250-foot-long boom that can be swung left or right a maximum of 105 degrees.
The Boland was the first of 10 vessels launched (though the second to enter service) for the American Steamship Co. under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 at a cost of $13.7 million. Under this Act, U.S. shipping companies could build or modernize their fleets by receiving guaranteed government financing and tax deferred benefits. The other vessels included in this program were the Roger M. Kyes (now Adam E. Cornelius 4), H. Lee White (2), Sam Laud, St. Clair (2), Belle River (now Walter J. McCarthy Jr.), Buffalo, Indiana Harbor, American Mariner and American Republic.
During the winter of 1997/98, a new Sperry adaptive digital gyroscope steering control system was installed on the Boland. A vessel with very few mishaps, the John J. Boland remains a very active carrier for the American Steamship Co.
Written by George Wharton.
Ship Particulars
Length 680' 00" (207.27m)
Beam 78' 00" (23.77m)
Depth 45' 00" (13.72m)
Midsummer Draft 30' 07" (9.32m)
Unloading Boom Length 250' (76.2m)
Capacity 34,000 tons
Engine Power 7,200 bhp diesel
Previous Names
Charles E. Wilson 1973 - 2000
John J. Boland (4) 2000 - Today