Great Lakes and Great Ships

Bow and Superstructure, SS William G Mather

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Bow and Superstructure, SS William G MatherThe bow and superstructure of the SS William G Mather on the waterfront of Cleveland, Ohio

Bow View, SS William G Mather

Bow View, SS William G MatherBow view of the SS Silliam G Mather docked as a museum ship on the waterfront of Cleveland, Ohio

The Great Lakes while holding the appellation of 'lakes', are vast. They are so vast in fact that some reference them as 'inland oceans'. In fact, from a mariner's perspective, ocean licensing is normal on the Great Lakes.

And great waters such as the Great Lakes sustain great ships. An example preserved as a museum ship on Lake Erie in Cleaveland, Ohio is the SS William G Mather.

The SS William G Mather is a freighter, a bulk carrier. A bulk carrier. A bulk carrier is a merchant marine vessel which transports unpackaged bulk cargo (grains, coal, ore, steel oils, cement). The Mather holds the characteristic of a forward pilothouse and superstructure. This design characteristic helps in negotiating canal locks.

The ship photographed is 618 feet LOA (Length Overall) with a 62-foot beam (width) with an 8,662 GRT (Gross Weight Tonnage - a measure of vessel internal volume) and registered a draft (depth) of 32 feet 10 inches. The freighter was capable of hauling 14,000 tons of bulk cargo.

The SS William G Mather operated from the year 1925 until 1980 with a single change of the power plant. Originally, the vessel was coal fired triple expansion steam until 1954, and then was repowered with an oil-fired steam turbine capable of 5,000 shp (shaft horsepower to the propellor). This signifies another characteristic of Great Lakes ships: longevity. The fact that they operate in fresh water means that they are less susceptible to the corrosive quality of salt water.

Learn more about the SS William G Mather at their website: William G. Mather Steamship | Great Lakes Science Center (greatscience.com)

Port Bow View, SS William G Mather

Port Bow View, SS William G MatherA view offf the port bow of the museum ship SS William G Mather on the waterfront at Cleveland, Ohio

SS William G Mather Under the Cleveland Skyline

SS William G Mather Under the Cleveland SkylinePort side view of the massive bulk carrier SS William G Mather under the skyline of Cleveland, Ohio

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