Ship docked in Huron sets sail

Note: Video courtesy of the Huron Drive Thru John J Boland leaving Huron this morningPosted by Huron Drive Thru on Saturday, April 2, 2016ouriel@sanduskyregister.comHURONFarewell, freighter.Safe travels on a voyage across Lake Erie.And thanks for making Huron your home for the past 15 months.The John J. Boland ship, one of two 680-foot vessels docked in Huron near the former ConAgra site since January 2015, set sail for a new job. The second boat, Adam E. Cornelius, remains anchored in Huron.It's not known exactly where the Boland boat is heading. People working for the ship's owner, Buffalo-based American Steamship Co., don't publicly speak about the boating business.Huron city manager Andy White, who's previously spoken with company representatives, believes additional boats from the fleet could dock in Huron sometime soon. Buffing up on the boatsFrom past Register reporting, here is some information about the boats:• Ship name: Christened the Adam E. Cornelius and the John J. Boland, each ship was named after a co-founder of the American Steamship Co. The company, based near Buffalo, N.Y., operates each ship.• New home: For many years, the company docked the freighters at a port in Toledo. A falling out of some sorts, however, led executives to choose a new docking site for 2015, which ended up being in Huron. The shipkeepers said Huron presents many advantages, including quick, easy access into Lake Erie. It did take a full day just to dock the ships in Huron because of their colossal size.• Winter docking: Lake Erie freezes in wintertime. So to ensure the icy waters don't trap or somehow damage the ships, workers installed a sophisticated bobber system, which agitates the water, to prevent freezing.• Voyages: Once the freighters leave Huron, they'll crisscross through the Great Lakes, primarily traveling to ports, marinas, harbors, power plants and rail yards between Cleveland and the fingers of Michigan. The company schedules the ships to both pick up and drop off materials for businesses in areas spanning this region. Each ship in operation typically logs a few thousand miles each season.• Transport: The ships primarily carry iron ore pellets, coal, limestone, wheat, grain and corn.• Crew: When the ship is in service, 26 crew members — give or take a couple people — are on board each ship for each trip, largely broken down into two units:1. Front end — reserved for the captain and his or her officers. The captain and officers are responsible for the ship's movement.2. The back end — designated for the dockhands, who clean, maintain and take care of the ship's cargo.Each freighter is equipped with a kitchen, common areas and living quarters, featuring deluxe-size rooms for the captain and onboard chef. Crews stay on the ships for several days in a row when a ship is in service.• Value: Both the Cornelius and Boland ships are individually valued at anywhere between $10 million to $15 million.• Fleet: It might be hard to believe, but the Cornelius and Boland ships aren't even close to being the largest vessels in the company's fleet. Of the company's 17 total ships, six vessels equal or exceed 1,000 feet in length.• Mystique: "It's a nice reminder of the region's connection to the rest of the world through the Great Lakes," White said. "It's also nice to see the dock infrastructure put to good use and simultaneously draw attention to Huron's developing waterfront."After a 15-month stay in Huron, the John J. Boland ship set sail for a new voyage on Saturday. The Adam E. Cornelius ship, pictured, remains anchored at a dock near the former ConAgra site.After a 15-month stay in Huron, the John J. Boland ship set sail for a new voyage on Saturday. The Adam E. Cornelius ship, pictured, remains anchored at a dock near the former ConAgra site.After a 15-month stay in Huron, the John J. Boland ship set sail for a new voyage on Saturday. The Adam E. Cornelius ship, pictured, remains anchored at a dock near the former ConAgra site.