SS J. Pierpont Morgan

The J. Pierpont Morgan entering Conneaut Harbor
History
 United States
Name:
  • J. Pierpont Morgan (1906-1965)
  • Heron Bay (1966-1978)
  • Heron B (1978-1979)
Namesake: J.P. Morgan
Operator:
Port of registry:  United States Duluth, Minnesota
Builder: Chicago Shipbuilding Company
Yard number: 68
Launched: April 28, 1906
Completed: 1906
In service: June 1906
Out of service: 1979
Identification: U.S. Registry #203155
Fate: Scrapped in 1979, in Lauzon, Quebec
Status: Scrapped
Notes: The Morgan was the first 600-foot vessel on the lakes
General characteristics
Class and type: Bulk Freighter
Tonnage: 7,161 gross 5,530 net
Length:
  • 601 ft (183 m) LOA
  • 580 ft (180 m) LBP
Beam: 58 ft (18 m)
Height: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Installed power: 2 x Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion: 1,800 horsepower triple expansion steam engine attached to a single fixed pitch propeller
Speed: 10 knots

The J. Pierpont Morgan, named after legendary banking titan J. P. Morgan, was a 601-foot (183 m) long American steel hulled propeller driven Great Lakes freighter that was a product of the Chicago Shipbuilding Company of Chicago, Illinois.[1][2] The Morgan hauled bulk cargoes such as iron ore, coal, grain and occasionally limestone across the Great Lakes of Canada and North America. She served her whole career without any major incidents. She was the first of three identical sister ships, these were the Henry H. Rogers and the Norman B. Ream.

Early postcard of the J. Pierpont Morgan

Name change and modifications

The Morgan was launched on april 28, 1906 as hull #68. She was built for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Morgan played an important role in Great Lakes shipping industry, because she was the first 600-foot vessel on the lakes. Because of her enormous size the Morgan was awarded the unofficial title "Queen of the Lakes".

The Morgan had two new Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers installed in April 1937. The Morgan had two hopper sides and a new tank top installed in April 1940. In 1952 the Morgan was purchased by U.S. Steel. In November 1960 the Morgan was laid up in Duluth, Minnesota. She remained in layup until 1965 when the Morgan was purchased by the Canadian company, Comet Enterprises Ltd. of Hamilton, Bermuda. The Morgan was rebuilt in 1965, in Port Arthur.[3] She returned to the lakes in 1966, named Heron Bay. On November 4, 1978 the Heron Bay was laid up in Lauzon, Quebec. That same year the Heron Bay was sold to the Union Pipe & Machinery Ltd. of Montreal, Quebec where she was renamed Heron B. On March 30, 1979 the scrapping of the Heron B began in Lauzon, Quebec. The scrapping was completed in late 1979.[4]

See also

References

  1. "Chicago Shipbuilding Company". Shipbuilding History. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. "Historical Perspectives-Heron Bay". BoatNerd. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  3. "Morgan, J. Pierpont". Bowling State Green University. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  4. "Morgan, J. Pierpont". Great Lakes Vessel History. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
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