Self Unloader JOHN J. BOLAND

I'm certain it was an unusual event for many local boatnerds in Port Colborne last month when they caught glimpse of the big American self loader JOHN J. BOLAND discharging cargo at the old Government elevator. Fortunately "Have iPhone, Will Snap Boats", Nathan Attard was there to shoot these pics of her. YES!! c):-))
The Government Elevator or now known as Southpier Terminal is owned by Winnipeg-based Parrish-Heimbecker. The big grey landmark located near the south entrance of the Welland Canal was built in the early 1900's as a storage facility that apparently can hold over 81,000 metric tonnes of wheat, corn, soybeans, rye and mustard seed in it's 267 bins. The old elevator has loaded and discharged many boats over the years and as I experience during the summer of 1971, it's one HOT place to work at too. When you have a moment, you can read more about that eye-opening and fun time in my life in this link, or not: (http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2012/12/straight-deck-laker-manitoba.html) Back then big arms were lowered into a standard straightdeck bulk carrier (like the MANITOBA in my linked post) to bucket lift the grain or whatever into the storage bins or silos inside. What's different and shown in Nathan's snaps here, is the BOLAND is using it's 250' boom and belted conveyor to discharge into a hopper halfway up the side of the old elevator. How COOL is that, EH?? c):-o

What's also unique is that there's not a lot of room in the channel between harbour pier and the breakwall for the 680' BOLAND to manoeuvre and then turn into the docking slip. Good job skipper!! c):-x
Her name was the CHARLES E. WILSON when launched in 1973 at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon, Wisconsin for the American Steamship Co. of Williamville, New York and then changed in January 2000 to JOHN J. BOLAND, after the co-founder of the company.
The previous BOLAND had been sold to Lower Lakes Towing of Port Dover and renamed the SAGINAW (to check out her snaps in one of my early Carlz Boat post, click: http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2012/09/self-unloader-saginaw.html.

Using the timer feature on his recently upgraded iPhone, Nathan snapped himself with the newer JOHN J. BOLAND in the background on September 18th. Currently Nathan is recovering from surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. I'm glad the operation was a success, so take care my friend and get well. Also thank you for these snaps and the many others that you've allowed me to post and BTW Nathan, "Nice HAT!! c);-b

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"Have boat will take photos of much bigger boats".....would probably be a neat slogan for Jeff Cameron's business card. Here's a couple of Jeff's upfront and in-your-face pics of JOHN J. BOLAND finishing up her discharge also at the old Government Elevator on September 18, 2014. 

Nice relections and thanks again Jeff!!