To view the photos from the departure: / duluthshipphotography
About the visit:
The Munson arrived the Duluth Entry with a nice following sea May 05, 2023 at 06:56. Arriving Light, coming to load iron ore at the CN 6 dock.
After trying to make it to the dock and tie up at the Gravity Chutes at the CN dock, they aborted due to high winds, backed down the river back to the lower harbor and dropped the hook until later that early evening.
With Tug assist from Heritage Marine tug Edward H, they arrived at the CN dock at 08:15 and began their loading.
They departed the CN dock May 06, 2023 at 05:45 heading to the lake.
The Munson departed Duluth at 07:01 with iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor, IN
Info from duluth-shipsplaces.fandom.com...
The self-unloading bulk freighter John G. Munson (2) was built in 1952 as hull # 415 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding, Inc., Manitowoc, WI. The construction was a result of a contract awarded to Manitowoc Shipbuilding by Irvin L. Clymer, president of Bradley Transportation Line in 1950. The new vessel was to be used in the stone trade, limestone in particular. The new self-unloader was launched November 28, 1951 for the Bradley Transportation Line, Rogers City, MI which was part of the Michigan Lime and Chemical Co. division of U.S. Steel Corp. The John G. Munson completed her sea trials on August 12, 1952 and departed on her maiden voyage August 21, 1952 bound for Calcite, MI and her first of many loads of limestone. Of note, the president of Bradley's sister fleet Pittsburgh Steamship Co. also owned by U.S. Steel Corp. announced in 1950 the awarding of contracts to build 3 bulk carriers coincidentally of similar size and power to the Munson but not self-unloaders. Unknown at the time would be the classification confusion later as the 2 fleets amalgamated.
Loud, strong, deep! My description of this salute! In the past it has sounded a bit on the weak side, makes me wonder if its all been fixed, maybe more air pressure ?
Either way, Always appreciate the Monson Salute!!
The John G. Munson's dimensions at the time of her launch were 666' 03" (203.07m) loa x 72' 00" (21.95m) beam x 36' 00" (10.97m) depth. Six holds were serviced by 18 hatches where the vessel had a 20,900 ton (21,236 mt) capacity at a mid-summer draft of 25' 10" (7.86m). The holds had the cubic capacity to carry 18,000 net tons of coal (equivalent to 16,175 tons or 16,330 mt). Coal-fired Foster-Wheeler water tube boilers fed a General Electric cross compound steam turbine engine rated at 7,700 s.h.p.(5,744 KW) built by General Electric Co., Lynn, MA. The power was fed to a single fixed pitch propeller giving her a speed of 16 m.p.h. The vessel was rebuilt during the 1975-76 winter lay-up including the addition of a 102' (31.09m) mid-section, automating and converting her coal-fired boilers to burn heavy fuel oil and the installation of a bow thruster. The work was completed by Fraser Shipyards, Superior, WI. The Munson's stern thruster was installed later as it was originally the bow thruster removed from the Enders. M. Voorhees in May of 1986. Her 22 hatches service 7 holds where she is capable of carrying 25,550 tons (25,960 mt) at a mid-summer draft of 27' 04" (8.33m). The holds now have the cubic capacity to handle 21,990 net tons of coal (equivalent to 19,634 tons or 19,949 mt). The 250' (76.20m) forward mounted self-unloading boom can be swung 110 degrees to port or starboard and can discharge at a rate of up to 5,600 net tons per hour.
On June 5, 1981; U.S. Steel turned its fleet into an owned subsidiary renaming it USS Great Lakes Fleet and designating it as a common carrier. This designation allowed the fleet's management to seek business opportunities elsewhere while fulfilling the transportation requirements of U.S. Steel. The Munson, though, retained her Bradley grey hull color until 1990 when she was painted her current fleet color scheme. When U.S. Steel completely divested itself from any involvement in transportation, the John G. Munson and her fleet mates then sailed for the new fleet owners USS Great Lakes Fleet, Inc., Duluth, MN; a subsidiary of Great Lakes Transportation, Monroeville, PA. By 2003, the fleet name was shortened to just Great Lakes Fleet, Inc. Then in 2004, Great Lakes Fleet, Inc. was acquired by CN Rail (Canadian National Railway Co., Montreal, QC). The fleet remains U.S.-flagged and based in Duluth but now sails under the management of Keystone Shipping Co., Bala-Cynwyd, PA in compliance with the Jones Act.