2010 Shipping Pics

[water_bug_62208]

WB: yes, the average lifespan of a saltie is about 25 years more or less, then discard unless they been treated well. Most ships are designed for one 100 year storm and 2 50-year storms in their lives, and steel DOES wear out sooner or later

Well, that certainly gives one quite some respect for how some seagoing warships have lasted all these years and why they eventually have to be taken out of service.

The battleship, USS Missouri, is still around after 66 years, although I'm sure the "moth ball" process, the refurbishments she went through, and the preservation and upkeep now she's moored at Pearl harbor helped a lot. In fact, I do believe she could still be called back into service if needed.

The nuclear aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, will be in service for 52 years before they finally decommission her, projected for 2013.

And, Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carriers have an expected 50-year lifespan.

Pretty impressive.

[PM2K]

PM: havent seen that one yet, but sounds like a good read. There are literally dozens of shipwreck books without even counting the Fitz, all good study of casualties on the lakes; check out the stuff on the Great Storm of 1913, thats some pretty chilling stuff. The corrosion stuff is one reason (of several) I planning on moving somewhere further south in Ont, I gettin too damn old to shovel snow 5 months a year

I heard of those "Great Storms", again in that particular book. (Love to get a copy of that one...) It seems every one of the Great Lakes had a "Great Storm" in its history which wrecked havoc upon all who were sailing on them at the time. One Great Storm in 1905 for Lake Superior (I think... my memory is somewhat fuzzy on the details) had a ship the Maafa (I think that's it... please correct me on this) break up in sight of Duluth, but the folks on shore couldn't do a thing because the waters were too rough. The next day or so, they were able to rescue the crew in one half of the ship, but in the other half found nine others frozen together in a lump, completely encased in ice. A barge which had to be cut loose in the storm was fine. Well anchored to the bottom and built to resist the waters crashing over it, the crew was found safe and well within it.

As for show shoveling, I can relate all too well... I'm also getting too old for that crap...

[kham]

WB: Yes, but dont forget that warships of all stripes are built to far greater spec than any freighter. The Iowa-class lasted so long because they were very well built, and were extremely well preserved when put into mothballs. The hulls never really wore out (although not sure what shape they in now) but the turbines were very maintainence-intensive, as was the main armament. What did wear out was the people - there were no sailors left in the fleet with the ratings or expertise to operate those systems properly, and the Iowa explosion was a direct result of that.

Big-E is undergoing a pretty big refit, which will keep here going for at least another cruise or two, but she really is nearing the end of her service life. The question there is which of the new builds will be the next Enterprise

PM: Duluth Port Authority

*Mataafa, yes a pretty grim story that one. Tons of stories like that , there is another one of a car-carrier which ran up on the Keweenaw Penninsula in the 20s, and was hard aground. No one lost but the ship was almost ashore. The crew were rescued by dog sled and boats from the Copper Harbour, and Eagle Harbour area. Then came figuring out how to get the cars off; apparently a road was chopped thru the bush, and the cars (Chryslers apparently) were driven out and eventually down the upper penninsula. Also, the story goes a fair number never made it and were still about in the 80s when the book was written.....

[kham]

Should have posted this before when saw it down in LR, but slipped my mind;

Youtube - Algoport breaking her back and taking on water

There are about a half-dozen or more videos linked from there, some in sequence, but takes some browsing. It's pretty clear there were more than just one camera going, as I suspected....

It is interesting looking at the footage that she didnt go down like a stone, but the 2 primary watertight bulkheads appear to have held for some time. Would have been better with audio -only instead of that cheap-ass music the poster added ,but still.

[kham]

We're Back

some new shots from out on the lakes

[kham]

Some scenic shots from Lake MIchigan, leaving anchorage in South Manitou Island. Normally dont get that close to the island, but siezed the opportunity

[water_bug_62208]

And, welcome back! Really enjoy your pictures.

Ah, yes, an engine room Scotty would be proud of. "Capt'n, I'm givin' ya all I got. I can't give ya no more!"

It's always amazing when you know the ships are big and you see the locks are even bigger.

The Great Lakes certainly look like the sea when you're out in the middle of them.

And, great scenery shots! Is the lighthouse manned or automated? All of the structures around it seemed to indicate there's a lighthouse keeper on site.

Thanks for sharing!

[kham]

Most of the Canadian Lighthouses are automated now, but not sure about all the US ones. The structures and buildings are , or were, the support buildings and keeper's house. This particular one isnt too far from the mainland, and is easily accesable by small boat. With all the sand in the area (the entire NE shore of Lake Michigan has sand dunes that could -and have - doubled as desert scenery ) it would be a fun spot in the summer

[kham]

One full sized sunset for now; you always think you shoot too many sunset shots, but they do look nice

More stuff later when resize some, just out of Windsor heading for Muskegon , MI with salt after a Windsor-Detroit salt shuffle -- 2 loads in less than 24 hrs sucks the life out of you...

[Robert]

One full sized sunset for now; you always think you shoot too many sunset shots, but they do look nice

More stuff later when resize some, just out of Windsor heading for Muskegon , MI with salt after a Windsor-Detroit salt shuffle -- 2 loads in less than 24 hrs sucks the life out of you...

Each sunset has it's own unique message. I never tire of them. Very cool capture of the seagull as well!

thanks Kham

Robert