The Merchant Marine Express

We just left Gary , Indiana at about midnight of the 6th.

It was a quick off-load, but one which I would never forget. We used our massive ‘boom’, which houses a conveyer belt used in the ‘self-loading’ of cargo. Actually, this huge 200 foot boom, off-loads the cargo of rock or minerals as the bottoms of the holds have ‘gates’ by which the cargo drops on these conveyers and then is transported all the way up the boom. These holds within the ship are like giant ‘hoppers’ and whose interiors are slanted so the minerals can easily slide out the bottom
The boom looks like a giant bridge as it can be pivoted on its own pedestal. Well, this boom can be positioned well over the side of the ship to deliver the cargo during unloading so as to clear the ship and the pier. In most cases the cargo is dropped into the port’s own hopper chutes or, as in Gary , Indiana , the cargo was piled in a pyramid-looking heap.
I had the opportunity of walking out on this long boom, utilizing the safety ‘walk’ on the sides of this large expanse, and was precariously stationed high above the ground- looking down at the cargo being discharged. I was peering down on this pile of cargo as I was about sixty feet above the ground! This was necessary, as the ‘Mate on Watch’ had to constantly monitor the pile and have the boom repositioned as the pile reached its max height.
After all was said and done, we completed this discharge of cargo at midnight and soon the ship was underway to its next port, Stoneport , Michigan .
Unlike being out on the high seas, these waterways are light with traffic, and hardly any small boats are found in the middle of these Great Lakes since they don’t like to venture too far from their marinas, apparently. An occasional seagull, and an actual Finch-like bird used our massive ship as a resting spot, acting as if our ship was a passenger liner for them; offering them fresh water, small bugs, and protection from the weather.
This ship, which is about fifty years old, actually has been outfitted with the latest in navigational equipment. Computers that automatically navigate and can change the direction of the ship, as well as other aids to automatically identify other ships by name and position, are incorporated on the bridge to help whomever is the Officer on Watch, at the time- safely transit the Lakes. This is similar to what I already have been trained to use, while on ocean going ships, but is a welcomed sight as I wasn’t expecting high tech on the Great lakes .
A very peaceful and non stressful environment, this Lake shipping is beginning to feel like a ‘cruise’, rather than hard labor.
Have a Great Day

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson