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Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online |
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Remembering the past Historical Perspective Featured Lake Boat: |
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Sir James Dunn 1952 - 1989 |
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Built by: Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of Port Arthur, Ont., hull # 109, launched as SIR JAMES DUNN on December 5, 1951 for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. of Montreal, Que. Commissioned on May 3, 1952 and sailed on maiden voyage arriving at Midland, Ont. on May 4, 1952 to load first cargo of grain. Dimensions: 663' 00" loa x 66' 00" beam x 35' 00" depth; 12,434 GRT 9,287 NRT. Cargo capacity 19,250 tons. Power: 3,000 ihp four cylinder Skinner Uniflow engine built by Canadian Vickers Ltd. of Montreal. The SIR JAMES DUNN served her owners well for her entire 36 trouble free years of sailing. Laid up on December 22, 1982 at Midland, Ont. never to sail again. On November 18, 1988 the vessel was towed to Victory Mills Ltd. at Toronto, Ont. for use as grain storage over that winter. On August 3, 1989 the SIR JAMES DUNN was towed to Hamilton, Ont. to have all the bunker fuel removed. Left Hamilton under tow on August 10, 1989 bound for Sorel, Que. The SIR JAMES DUNN, along with fleet mate GEORGIAN BAY, left Sorel under tow on August 26, 1989 bound for Aliaga, Turkey. On October 3, near the Azores the tow encountered a severe storm that broke the SIR JAMES DUNN free. The ship was found 300 miles southwest of the Azores being tossed about by the storm. The tow was re-secured and continued finally arriving at Aliaga on November 16, 1989 when scrapping commenced. |
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 Launch of the Sir James Dunn at Port Arthur, Ont. (From the Ron Beaupre collection) |
 Downbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 1958 (Photo by Tom Manse) |
 Upbound in the Welland Canal Late 1950's (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Stern view showing Port Arthur as her port of registry. Welland Canal late 1950's (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Downbound above the Soo locks 1965 (Photo taken from the deck of the E.B. Barber by W.N. White from the R.W. White collection) |
 Upbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 1960's (Photo by Tom Manse) |
 Underway in-ballast, location unknown (Photo by Jim Kidd from the Ron Beaupre collection) |
 Underway in-ballast, location unknown (Photo by Jim Kidd from the Ron Beaupre collection) |
 In the Soo Locks 1971 (Photo by Roger LeLievre) |
 Downbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 1970's (Photo by Roger LeLievre) |
 Downbound in the St. Clair River (photo by Emory Massman from the Marc Vander Meulen collection) |
 At Port Colborne passing the Algoma Steel plant (Photo by Capt. Ken Lowes courtesy of Ron Beaupre) |
 Downbound at Sarnia, Ont. July 1973. (Photo by Terry McCullough) |
 Downbound at Sarnia, Ont. July 1973. (Photo by Terry McCullough) |
 Sir James Dunn fact sheet from 1975 (MHSD archives) |
 At Huron, OH August 11, 1977 (Photo by Bauman from the Marc Vander Meulen collection) |
 Watchman sweeping grain into hold. Unloading grain at Midland, ON. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Looking forward from boat deck. Unloading grain at Midland, ON. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Looking aft from port side of wheelhouse. Unloading grain at Midland, ON. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Another view looking forward from boat deck. Unloading grain at Midland, ON. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Inside wheelhouse looking aft. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Inside wheelhouse looking to port. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 Looking aft from "monkey island". Unloading grain at Midland, ON. July 1977 (Photo by David Bull) |
 At Sarnia, Ont. June 1978. (Photo by Terry McCullough) |
 Sailing in ballast July 18, 1979 (From the Marc Vander Meulen collection) |
 July 21, 1979 (From the Marc Vander Meulen collection) |
 Postcard view (From the Ron Beaupre collection) |
 Unloading at Midland Towers, Midland, Ont. (Photo by Robert E. Gabbey, from "Know Your Ships" courtesy of Roger LeLievre) |
 Meeting the Sir James Dunn below Snell Lock in 1981. Capt. Allen Dodge waving, (Picture taken by Capt. R. Metz from the Soo River Trader) |
 Downbound at Mission Point Sault Ste. Marie, MI (Photo by Ron Beaupre) |
 Downbound above lock 7 on November 7, 1982 (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Loading at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool #15 in Thunder Bay, Ont.on November 17, 1982 (Photo by Tom Stewart) |
 Tug John McLean towing Sir James Dunn from Townhouse Elevator (CSL) to Winter Berth Midland Ont. Spring 1983 (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 April 1983 waiting for her next trip that would never happen. Tied up at "the piers" north west of the CSL elevator after wintering in Midland (Photo by Viktor Kaczkowski) |
 Tug John McLean pushing Sir James Dunn to piers at winter berth Midland Ont. Spring 1983 (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 Tug Wilfred M Cohen picking up bowline to tow Sir James Dunn to new berth Nov 1984 Midland Ont. (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 Cohen towing Sir James Dunn to Lay up berth at former CSL (Century Coal) Dock, Midland Ont. November 1984 (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 Laid up at Midland, Ont. March 2, 1985 (Photo by Marc Dease) |
 Stern view laid up at Midland, Ont. March 2, 1985 (Photo by Marc Dease) |
 In layup at Midland Ontario on March 21, 1985 (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Climbers on the anchor chain in the Summer of 1985 (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Laid up at Midland, Ont. waiting for scrap tow mid 1980's (Photo by Ron Beaupre) |
 Stern view at Midland, Ont. on a somewhat foggy April 3, 1988 (Photo by John McCreery) |
 Tug W.N. Twolan arrives to tow the Sir James Dunn to Toronto for Storage barge Nov 1988 (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 Tug W.N. Twolan towing Sir James Dunn leaving Midland Harbour Nov 1988 (Photo by Vern Sweeting) |
 Tugs W. N. Twolan and Glenbrook tow the Sir James Dunn past Point Edward, Ont. on her last trip, November 9, 1988 (Photo by Marc Dease) |
 Model of the Sir James Dunn at the Halifax, NS Marine Museum 1997 (Photo by Hector Belliveau courtesy of John Belliveau) |
 Bow detail of model of the Sir James Dunn at the Halifax, NS Marine Museum 1997 (Photo by Hector Belliveau courtesy of John Belliveau) |
| January 25, 1989. Toronto, Ontario. (All photos by Capt. A. Gindroz) | |||
 First Mate Gerry Ferrao manning the aft port mooring station while preparing to cast off. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Switching the wires over to the starboard side. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Underway from Victory Soya Mills Elevator. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Turning around in Toronto Harbour. Note the CN Tower in the background. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Forward winches. Note the port holes plated over. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 The wheelhouse windows were also welded shut with steel plates in anticipation of the long overseas scrap tow. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Even the wheelhouse doors are welded shut. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Looking aft from the Monkey’s Island while turning in the inner harbor. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Tug Stormont guiding the stern while towing us deadship. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Aft mooring winches. The old girl is looking "tired". (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 The remnants of the Chief Engineer’s cabin. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 The officer’s Dining Saloon still looked to be in decent condition. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 This galley will never serve another warm meal. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Lac Erie towing us back to the berth. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Sir James Dunn was briefly used as a storage barge prior to scrapping. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Due to dock limitations we had to turn the ship around to complete the discharge of soybeans. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 The aft holds were unloaded first and now the forward end will be discharged. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 An hour after departing we are coming alongside once again. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 The ventilators and lifeboats were well laid up six years for an anticipated return to service that sadly never occurred. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Forecastle Deck. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 First Mate’s cabin located on the starboard side of the main deck. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 First Mate’s cabin. Nothing looks more stark or sad than a cabin stripped out prior to scrapping. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Two man crew cabin. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Third Officer’s cabin. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 Windlass Room. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
 August 15, 1989 – Sorel, Quebec. Sir James Dunn and fleet mate Georgian Bay awaiting their scrap tow to Turkey as seen from the Capt. Henry Jackman. Baie St. Paul is secured astern of the pair. (Photo by Capt. A. Gindroz) |
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Masters and Chief Engineers of the
Sir James Dunn (Courtesy of Russ Plumb) |
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| Masters | Chief Engineers | ||
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P. “Punchy” Beatty 1952 – 54 J. W. Scarrow 1955 – 58 Clifton E. Armstrong 1959 – 61 L. G. Bird 1962 O. W. Cromwell 1963 – 64 H. D. Miller 1965 E. S. Taylor 1966 D. G. Nicol 1967 W. Thompson 1968 |
R. Leaney 1969 S. Wilkinson 1970 S. Keith 1971 – 73 R. Joly 1974 – 75 K. Stabenow 1976 W. Reckin 1977 W. Hatcher 1978 – 79 B. Powell 1980 – 81 D. Knoester 1982 |
E. G. Smith 1952 – 53 R. E. Stephens 1954 – 58 E. McCutcheon 1959 R. A. Brooks 1960 – 62 T. J. Coyle 1963 – 64 R. Gagnon 1965 D. Buchanan 1966 – 67 W. B. Lepage 1968 – 69 |
H. L. McCoag 1970 – 71 R. Gagnon 1972 R. Cancade 1973 G. Clark 1974 R. Cancade 1975 – 76 H. Thun 1977 – 79 P. Rao 1980 – 81 Dan Leslie 1982 |