Carlz Boats: Oil/Chemical Tanker CHEMTRANS WESER

Carlz Boats: Oil/Chemical Tanker CHEMTRANS WESER: 'Autentica Cuba' is a wonderful ad slogan because it's especially true in Old Havana with it's beautiful old buildings, some painted i...

Oil/Chemical Tanker CHEMTRANS WESER

'Autentica Cuba' is a wonderful ad slogan because it's especially true in Old Havana with it's beautiful old buildings, some painted in exciting and vibrant colours while others show their age and architecture which some dates back to the late 16th century. Most streets are narrow and cobble-stoned with barely enough room for one of the many great-looking American made classic cars to pass. Just like a former Coke ad says, 'It's the Real Thing'. Unfortunately for the people who live and work there though is having to view and breath in the fumes first from the oil refinery situated across the harbour that emits an ominous black cloud over the old town and city 24/7, and then having to take in the exhausts from hundreds of gas guzzling old taxis that were built long before emission controls were put in place. I suppose the State never promised anyone a 'Rose Garden' but I'm certainly glad I packed my inhaler before leaving Canada.
Cuba does not produce its own oil and when Russia stopped shipping there's in the late 1980's, Venezuela agreed to ship approximately 80,000 barrels daily to Cuban refineries in ships like the 420' tanker CHEMTRANS WESER (below) which I snapped from across the harbour on day one of our 'Excelente Adventura' in Old Havana. Built in 2008 in Korea, the WESER is owned by Chemikalien Seetransport GmbH of Hamburg, Germany but is registered in Monrovia and flies the flag of Liberia. If you happen to be in Barbados today, you may see the CHEMTRANS WESER entering Bridgetown harbour, or not.

Carlz Boats: Bulk Carrier NOGAT

Carlz Boats: Bulk Carrier NOGAT: Just got back from Cuba where we had a wonderful week of hot sun, fun and relaxation at Playa del Este which is about 30 klicks east o...

Bulk Carrier NOGAT

Just got back from Cuba where we had a wonderful week of hot sun, fun and relaxation at Playa del Este which is about 30 klicks east of Havana. Really enjoyed its vast and beautiful beaches, almost daily went walkabout throughout Old Havana, and listened to some fantastic Cuban Jazz while belting back a mojito or cervesa, or two.
A surprising added bonus was catching a glimpse of a variety of freighters popping up over the horizon and tracking them as they sailed past us daily to ports unknown like these two tankers. During a walkabout along the harbourfront, I snapped the clean and sleak-looking bulk carrier NOGAT docked on the other side of Havana harbour. The 489' NOGAT was built in 1999 in Szczecen, Poland and though she is managed by the Polish based Polsteam, the NOGAT actually flies the flag of Cyprus. After leaving Havana, she appeared to make her way across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans which is where she is currently positioned. Despite the import embargo which has been in place since 1962, the United States is the 5th largest importer to Cuba. In fact, 6.6% of Cuba's imports are from the United States. Though this ongoing trading activity offers a whole new meaning to the word "embargo', I'm glad to hear it. Though the Cuban government might suggest that they're taking care of there own, from what I observed, far too many people are poor and are getting not much of anything. Sure would be nice to see that change one day.

Carlz Boats: Self Unloader LEE A. TREGURTHA (Part 2)

Carlz Boats: Self Unloader LEE A. TREGURTHA (Part 2): When my friend, Jim Moyer of Salisbury, Maryland took these photos of the 826' LEE A. TREGURTHA in the summer of 2010, she was making he...

Self Unloader LEE A. TREGURTHA (Part 2)

When my friend, Jim Moyer of Salisbury, Maryland took these photos of the 826' LEE A. TREGURTHA in the summer of 2010, she was making her way downbound via the Poe Lock which is currently the longest lock in the Great Lakes measuring 1,200 feet. The Poe was expanded to its current length in 1968 and is one of four 'Soo' locks located at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The lock allows lakers greater than 800 to be raised or lowered 21 feet for passage into Lake Superior or Huron as Jim's photos show. 

The TREGURTHA was originally built as a 510' tanker in 1942 and distinguishly served in WWII as USS CHIWAWA (AO 68). After the war, the CHIWAWA continued to shuttle oil products along the eastern seaboard for Cities Service Oil Co. until Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Co., purchased her in 1960, with plans to lengthen and convert her into a Great Lake ore carrier.

At American Shipbuilding in Lorain, OH, the bow and stern were removed from the tanker and attached to a new 510' mid-body that was built in Germany. When christened in 1961, her length was 730' and she was named WALTER A. STIRLING. When another 96' was added in 1976, she came the largest steam powered vessel on the Great Lakes. In 1978 the STIRLING was converted to a self unloader and in her name was changed to WILLIAM CLAY FORD when the ship was purchased by a Ford Motor Co. subsidiary in 1984. When sold to Interlakes 
Shipping in 1989 her name was changed to LEE A. TREGURTHA and she was converted from steam to diesel fuel powered on 2006. Tonight the TREGURTHA is making her way across Lake Superior to Poe Lock (which closes for the winter in January 15), and then motor further downbound to Cleveland. When and where the TREGURTHA finally lays up for winter, she will have sailed the high and inland seas for over 70 years. Unlike many of her sisters that have since been left for scrap, the TREGURTHA keeps on motoring because first, her owners have taken good care of her, and secondly she was built right and made to last by those dedicated American yard workers at Bethlehem Shipbuilders in 1942 and during her conversions and upgrades on the Great Lakes. 

Self Unloader LEE A. TREGURTHA (Part 1)

Like life in general, 2012 certainly had its challenging moments for our family but to maintain a positive outlook, one may focus almost solely on the good times. Like my daughters both finishing their education as doctors in different professions and are coming closer to home very soon. I got a new grandson and thanks to the excellent negotiation skilled displayed by my son, we all will have greater access to his lad and my #1 grandson. 

I remain very much in love with my wife of 38 years, 3 months, 1 week, 4 days, 4 hours and 25 minutes, and counting.We continue to have fun together whether it's clear across the world in Australia or chasing boats along the St. Lawrence with our brave and faithful dog, Tanner at our side patiently waiting to get my attention so that he can play fetch.  

My eldest daughter, Kelly said 'Dad, you got all these pictures of boats, why don't you write a blog'. I did, and since my first post in April, I've published 136 more including this one, and just under 5,000 of you have taking the time to look at my photos of boats and how they have affected me. Thanks for that and to those you have sent me a note, like Joe who as boy used to spend his summers with his dad on the old Lake Erie sandsucker, CHARLES DICK, or Janet in Virginia who now has a better understanding via my blog of what the fishing tug LINCOLN R does, a ship she photographed during a boat cruise through the Welland Canal & Port Colborne. And then there's the enjoyable notes and boat photos that have been sent to me by my new friend, Jim Moyer in Maryland who have given me a few extra subject to post this winter. 
Here are some photos that Jim took of the American self unloader LEE A. TREGURTHA heading downbound entering and passing through the Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, MI in the summer of 2010. The 826' TREGURTHA has been sailing on the Great Lakes since 1961 though she was original built at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding & Drydock at Sparrow Point in Baltimore, MD in 1942 as the Mobiloil tanker SAMOSET before being acquired by the United States Navy and renamed USS CHIWAWA (AO 68). There's so much to tell about this great ship and it will have to wait until my next posting in a few days. Meanwhile, take care and Best Wishes to All in 2013.