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Leaving
the Canadian lock at the Soo, 1978.
Roger LeLievre |
Great Lakes Fleet Page
Vessel Feature -- Condarrell (D.C. Everest)
By
George Wharton
The small crane ship D.C. Everest was built in 1953 by Kingston Shipyards
Div., Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd., Kingston, ON as their hull # 45.
The vessel was launched October 15, 1952 and entered
service for
Marathon Corporation of Canada Ltd., Toronto, ON in March of 1953. The
D.C. Everest was named in honor of Mr. David Clark Everest
who was the Chairman of the Board of Marathon from 1950
until his retirement in 1952.
The D.C.
Everest was powered by a single Fairbanks Morse 1,200
b.h.p. 6 cylinder diesel engine capable of moving the small
ship to speeds up to 15 m.p.h. Four hatches serviced
two holds where the vessel was capable of carrying 2,860
tons (2,906 tonnes) at a mid-summer draft of 16' 09"
(5.105m) at the time of
building. The crane ship was fitted with two
revolving fixed position cranes with 45' (13.716m) booms designed
specifically for the transportation and handling of
pulpwood.
This
specialty carrier's regular route was from Marathon, ON to
Green Bay, WI carrying a variety of wood products.
The only noted incident for the D.C. Everest during her
tenure with Marathon was a grounding in the St. Marys River
in May of 1965 causing some bottom damage. Fog was
the probable cause as there had been heavy fog in the area
for 4 days. Ownership of vessel was transferred to
the American Can Co. of Canada Ltd., Marathon, ON in 1969
following the acquisition of Marathon Corp. by American
Can. New destinations followed including a rare trip
to Manitowoc, WI in August of 1975 with grain from Thunder
Bay, ON, an experimental load of pulpwood to
Cornwall, ON in 1978, and loads of grain
to Goderich, ON in 1978, 1979, and 1980. Other loads
included grain from Thunder Bay to Midland, ON and
Milwaukee, WI; salt from Windsor, ON to Marathon and stone
from Calcite, MI to Marathon.
The vessel
was laid up in Toronto later in 1980 with a storage load of
grain and was acquired by Johnstone Shipping Ltd. of
Toronto, ON in 1981 being renamed Condarrell at that
time. The Condarrell was fitted with a single traveling revolving
crane with an 80 foot (24.384m) boom for use in the handling of steel
cargoes. On May
13, 1981; the Condarrell cleared Toronto on her maiden
voyage for her new owners. Shortly after, on July
7, 1981 while upbound in the Welland Canal, the vessel
lost power while entering Lock 2 and hit the lock wall
bending the bow. The crane ship returned to Toronto for
repairs. The Condarrell continued operating until
being laid up in Toronto on November 17, 1981.
During its short tenure with Johnstone Shipping, the
Condarrell made one trip from Windsor, ON to Newfoundland
with a load of salt. Other cargoes of grain, salt and
stone were carried. The
vessel was sold to Marine Salvage in 1982 and did not
operate.
Marine Salvage sold the Condarrell to McKeil Marine
Ltd., Hamilton, ON in November of 1987. The crane ship was towed to Hamilton
where it was refitted for use as a salvage and lightering vessel in 1988. The
Condarrell was renamed D.C. Everest in 1989. The vessel has since been moved to
Montreal, QC and is currently owned by Remorqueurs & Barges Montreal Ltee,
Montreal, QC (subsidiary of McKeil Work Boats Ltd., Hamilton, ON). In 2002, the
small vessel's name was changed back to Condarrell now being classified by her
owners as a covered hopper barge. Her engine is still intact although in
disrepair and has not been used in many years. Even as a barge, the
Condarrell has seen only limited use in the recent past.
On June 25, 2006, after being acquired by
International Marine Salvage of Port Colborne, ON; the Condarrell left Montreal.
QC destined for Port Colborne and scrapping. All names had been removed
from her hull. McKeil's tug Evans McKeil was the lead tug and Eastern
Canada Towing's tug Point Vigour was on the stern. Before entering the
Welland Canal, the Point Vigour departed for Hamilton, her place being taken by
the McKeil tug Progress to assist the tow through the Canal to Port Colborne.
The Condarrell better known as the D.C. Everest arrived at her final destination
port late on June 28, 2006.
| Overall Dimensions
(metric) |
| Length |
259' 00" (78.943m) |
| Beam |
43' 06" (13.26m) |
| Depth |
21' 00" (6.40m) |
| Capacity |
3,017 tons (3,065.47
tonnes) |
| Power (diesel) |
1,200 b.h.p. |
