Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- Arthur M. Anderson
By Todd Davidson
This steamer was constructed in Lorain, Ohio by the American Ship Building
Company and launched on February 16, 1952. The Arthur M. Anderson was of the
AAA class, and was one of eight built in the early 50's. The Anderson was
built for the Pittsburg Steamship Company, of the United States Steel
Corporation, as hull number 868. She was the second AAA vessel of three to be
delivered to the fleet. The first being the Philip R. Clarke and the last
boat delivered was the Cason J. Callaway. The Anderson's sea-trials commenced
on August 7, 1952, and loaded her first cargo at the Two Harbors dock on
August 12th.
Her original dimensions were 647 'x 70' x 36' and had a capacity of 20,150 tons.
During the winter of 1974-75, she was lengthened 120' by Fraser Shipyards to
an overall length of 767'. The Anderson's tonnage increased dramatically by
6,375 tons (total capacity of 26,525). She was eventually converted into a
self-unloader by Fraser's during her 1981-82 winter lay-up. A 250' boom was
installed aft, decreasing her capacity by only 875 tons. A bow thruster was
installed in 1966, and a stern thruster added in 1989. A 7,700 horsepower
steam turbine powered the vessel.
The namesake of this steamer is Arthur Marvin Anderson, the
director of U.S. Steel Corporation, and vice-chairman of the J.P. Morgan
Company. Mr. Anderson passed away on August 10th, 1966, consequently, his
namesake began her career only 14 years earlier that very same day, clearing
Lorain for Two Harbors.
The Arthur M. Anderson is most famous for her unfortunate
relationship to the sinking of the
Edmund Fitzgerald. We
all know of this horrific disaster, and wonder of the helplessness the
Anderson's crew felt that stormy night on Lake Superior. The true heroism and
seamanship displayed by Captain Bernie Cooper and his crew to venture back into
that killer storm will never be forgotten in the history of shipping on the
Great Lakes.
| Overall dimensions |
| Length |
767'00" |
Beam |
70'00" |
Depth |
36'00" |
Capacity (tons) |
25,300 tons |
Steam turbine horsepower |
7,700 |
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