Industrial History: 1943 SS CUYAHOGA Laker had two fires in less than one year

Saturday, March 23, 2024

1943 SS CUYAHOGA Laker had two fires in less than one year

See Old Lakers for some other "bridge on the bow" boats that I have seen.

"Last May, the Cuyahoga reported an engine room fire, also in Lake Erie while the ship was near Pelee Island. Some of the crew's non-essential personnel were evacuated at the time and no injuries were reported." The Cuyahoga was built in 1943. [yayoo]

Mar 15, 2024, is the second fire. No one was hurt. The crew was on board getting her ready to come out of winter layup. A welder started the fire.

Kevin Barkerr posted
That ain't good. Ashtabula Habor, Ohio
Sean Matasowski: They just put around a million into it this past summer. Had a engine fire which did a ton of damage. They have put a ton of money into her this winter.

Chris Flanders commented on Kevin's post

safe_image for United States Coast Guard battles vessel fire in Ohio

Jim Skoczylas posted three photos with the comment: "Cuyahoga is on fire in Ashtabula OH."

2, cropped

3, cropped

It looks like it was the belt on the boom rather than the one in the tunnel. I'm guessing that would cause less structural damage.

0:09 video @ 0:03 (source)
Liam Jollimore: Yikes, losing the unloading booms to fire is part of what killed both the Blough and St. Clair. Can't see how they recover from this.

Lance Aerial Media posted nine photos with the comment: "Pictures from the aftermath of the Massive Belt Fire on the Cuyahoga Ship today [Mar 15, 2024] in Ashtabula. I've been told no one was hurt and everyone made it off okay. Smoke was visible for miles away. This is the second fire on the Cuyahoga in a year."

Garry Summers: i thought it was mandatory when cutting or welding on ships a watchman with a fire extinguisher is suppose to be present.

Brandon Durnell: Garry Summers this is 100% correct. And while it's protocol to have a fire watch at all hot work locations, sometimes if not caught quick enough there is not much one can do especially, if the flames reach the belt.

Nicholas Ebli: Belt fires on conveyor system most of the time are a result of a hot roller caused by the lack of lubricant.

When hauling coal and a fire starts it produces gas that when water is added to becomes more hazards. Cut the O2 off by foam to smother the fire.

Tim Pryor: Nicholas Ebli ship was in layup. No cargo onboard.

Gordon Reay: Nicholas Ebli fire brigade video said was caused by welding that caught paint on fire below Deck and it spread to conveyor.

Grampapa Parent: Sad... Sister ship in the soo also went up on March 7 th!! [He never answered the question about the name of the ship.]

Facebook reel

2:29 news video about the fire

A consolidation of posts from the past about this freighter

Brian R. Wroblewski posted the questions:

Here's a couple nagging questions I've had for years:
1 What was the last hand fired coal powered freighter on the lakes?
2 What was the last reciprocating steam engine powered freighter on the lakes?
(I know the Wawatam was the last hand bomber but she was a ferry.)

Richard Jenkins: The last freighter with a reciprocating steam engine of any type was the St. Marys Challenger with her Skinner Unaflow (2013).

For the traditional “up-and-downers” with all the motion out in the open, the very last freighter would have been the preserved Liberty Ship John W. Brown (triple-expansion) when she visited the Lakes for shipyard work in Toledo in the summer of 2000. For a laker in revenue service, the last was the Cuyahoga with her four-cylinder Lentz double-compound, which last ran under steam in early January of 2000. The last triple-expansion laker was the S.T. Crapo and the last quad was the E.M. Ford, both retired from active service in 1996.

A couple of years later, Brian posted:

Brian R. Wroblewski posted

Here's another one of my lists of the last of the coal fired boats on the lakes...

Last hand bombed freighter: J.B. Ford, W.C. Richardson, & Hennepin all laid up in 1974 for the last time.

Last coal fired freighter: ST Crapo on the US side, (stokers 1962), converted to oil 1994. Spruceglen on the Canadian side, retired in 1982.

Last hand bombed ferry: Chief Wawatam 1984.

Last coal fired ferry: SS Badger- still in service.

Last reciprocating engine lake freighter operating:

The last freighter with a reciprocating steam engine of any type was the St. Marys Challenger with her Skinner Unaflow (2013).

For the traditional open frame engine, the very last freighter would have been the preserved Liberty Ship John W. Brown (triple-expansion) when she visited the Lakes for shipyard work in Toledo in the summer of 2000.

For a laker in revenue service, the last was the Cuyahoga with her four-cylinder Lentz double-compound (2 LP & 2 HP cylinders) which last ran under steam in early January of 2000.

The last triple-expansion laker was the S.T. Crapo and the last quad was the E.M. Ford, both retired from active service in 1996. On the Canadian side the last triple was the Willowglen until 1992 and the last Canadian Uniflow was the James Norris until 2011.

Debbie Parker posted five photos with the comment: "The "Cuyahoga" leaving the Port of Lorain 7/13."
[1943, BoatNerd]

JKay Worthington posted
Cuyahoga DB St Clair River,St Clair,MI
Oct. 20,2018
4:30pm

Todd Shorkey posted three photos with the comment: "Cuyahoga was outbound on the Saginaw River Friday morning, after unloading overnight in Saginaw. She again ran into difficulty when Liberty Bridge in Bay City did not open, causing Cuyahoga to take action for the second day in a row at this bridge, this time fighting the wind and current. On Thursday during their inbound trip, Cuyahoga had to come to a stop at Liberty for almost 30 minutes before the bridge opened for her."

Andrew Severson: Didn’t they just overhaul that bridge?

Todd Shorkey: Yes they did. Full rehab.