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In 1985 Escanaba Michigan’s Upper Lakes Towing Co. purchased the steamer Joseph H. Thompson and announced their plans to convert her to a self-unloading barge. ULT had successfully converted the smaller Self-Unloader/Crain Ship Buckeye and planed a similar conversion for the Thompson. Shortly after ULT bought the Thompson, its conversion was started at Menominee, Bay Shipyards, and Escanaba. The aft and fore cabins were removed and the hull was shortened to create a notch for her push vessel. A stern mounted bucket style self-unloading system was also added. Her push tug, the 146′ 06″/38’/35′ Joseph H. Thompson, Jr., was constructed in 1990 from the left over steel from the larger ship’s hull. The tug is powered by three G.M. diesel engines delivering 7,500 bhp.
In 1991 the conversion was completed. A year later her C-4 sister McKee Sons also entered service as a self-unloading barge for the same managers, making the Thompson and the McKee Sons the last two C-4’s operating on the lakes. The Thompson was now 706′ 06″ long with the same beam and depth as before and with a capacity of 21,200 tons. Operating as a self-unloader she can engage in more trades to more ports than in her steamer days.
Written by Brian Ferguson. |
