Crapo, S.T.

1927                                  S. T. Crapo

Steel self-unloading Great Lakes bulk cement freighter

Built at River Rouge MI by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 256
Keel laid April 11, 1927; launched July 7, 1927

402’6” LOA, 384’ LBP, 60’ beam, 29’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1800 IHP

Enrolled at
392.5 x 60.3 x 24.4, 4769 GT, 2942 NT     US 226885     to:
Huron Transportation Co., Detroit MI (home port Alpena MI)

Entered service Aug 1927

Fleet merged 1955 into parent Huron Portland Cement Co.

Fleet sold 1966 to National Gypsum Co., Detroit MI (home port to Wilmington DE)

Fleet sold March 1987 to private investors and chartered to Inland Lakes Management, Alpena MI

Boilers converted to oil firing 1995 at Sturgeon Bay WI by Bay Shipbuilding Corporation

Laid up permanently at Green Bay WI Sept 4, 1996 for use as a cement storage and transfer vessel at that port.

Towed Oct 2005 to Alpena MI, loaded with one cargo of cement and towed back to Green Bay.  (Fleet str. Alpena was out of service temporarily for repairs and the trip was needed to meet company cargo commitments.)

IMO 5304011

At Green Bay WI 2011 as a cement storage vessel

 

2706

27 thoughts on “Crapo, S.T.

  1. My father worked at Huron Portland Cement, Alpena, MI as I grew up. (1950’s) As an adult I moved to Port Huron, MI in 1979. As I was paying my first water bill at City Hall I looked out over St. Clair River and there passing by southbound was the S. T. Crapo. I felt I was “home”.

  2. I remember the Crapo coming into St. Joseph Michigan on many occasions. Once in the spring of the year the St. Joseph river was high and running fast. The Crapo while trying to dock got caught in the fast current pushing the starboard bow into the sea wall and the starboard stern into the fenders upstream from the railroad swing bridge. They strung a cable off the port bow secured to a cleat on the far side of the river. The winch did not have enough power to pull the bow free. There was a small tug boat they got ahold of. Between the 2 they got her loose and safely moored by the LaFarge cement silos. Somewhere I have pictures. I ran up the street and bought a disposable camera.

  3. I sailed on the Crapo as a second cook and baker in 1987. When it was still a coal powered ship. It was between Christmas and New Year. My room was above the engine room. The floors were warm . Slept like a baby with those reciprocating engine. Went down and watched it run.They let me steer it in Lake Huron.

    • That is so cool! Just drove past Crapo here at Green Bay. She’s sitting low in water so I’m guessing loaded. I think it’s great being able to drive past the bow of that boat! Sure would like to get on and look around. 1927 – hope I appear to be in as good a condition if I’m fortunate enough to make 94 yrs.

    • Is this Robb Gwilt commenting on grandpa Mearl Gwilt? I used to visit him on the Crapo when docked in Alpena and the cook had sugar cookies for us! We have pictures of him on the wheel.

  4. I sailed on the ST Crapo as a deck hand in the summer of 1954 after graduating from high school in Bay City,l MI. I paid for one year of college from that summer job at $1.35 /hour plus overtime. I remember it well! My mother’s father was a Great Lakes sea captain in the late 1800’s.

  5. I worked on the Crapo in the late 50’s as a deckhand my favorite port was Buffalo NY on a Fri. or Sat. night as the bars were open until 4 AM

  6. I worked on the Crapo in the late 50’s as a deckhand my favorite port was Buffalo NY on a Fri. or Sat. night as the bars were open until 4 AM

  7. I was working on the fish tug Razel Bros around 1979, we crossed paths with the Crapo in northern Lake Michigan near Simmons reef one early spring morning in a dead calm, I went up on top of the cab with my 35 mm to get a shot of her up close, as I did so the cook came out on deck to watch us! You could smell his breakfast cooking!

    • Greetings Christina …
      I, too, am interested because the name is in my family also!
      I have seen her in port at the cement silos in St. Joseph, MI.
      Several things in my history make me think that there could be a connection. Mid 1800 logging industry and a statesman in Michigan are associated with the name.
      Gotta do more research !!

    • Greetings Christina …
      I, too, am interested because the name is in my family also!
      I have seen her in port at the cement silos in St. Joseph, MI.
      Several things in my history make me think that there could be a connection. Mid 1800 logging industry and a statesman in Michigan are associated with the name.
      Gotta do more research !!

  8. There is a Crapo road in Northern Michigan on the Frankfort harbor on the freight loading side. Anyone know if it’s related to this ship?

  9. The S.T. Crapo is enroute to Port Colborne (Ontario, Canada) where it will be scrapped for its metal. In tow by the tug Molly M I, the Crapo is left the Port of Green Bay on September 23, 2022.

  10. My dad was Captain Ralph Knechtel on the Crapo for maybe a decade and retired in December 1985. I started going on boat trips after my 8th grade year and that trip was to Green Bay on the E M Ford. The next boat was the J B Ford and then a few trips on the Crapo. It could be quite scary coming into a port and the bridges weren’t opening and we had to blow the ship’s horn. I’m so proud of my dad and what a great Captain he was keeping his crew safe and yet having yo sail in some very bad weather. He would be the first ship out in March and the last ship in in December. There was one Christmas Eve my dad couldn’t get in to Alpena due to the ice and was stuck in the bay. It was so sad knowing he was just out there in the bay and I couldn’t be with him. We drove down by the yacht club and I just looked at his ship and knew I would see him soon but not soon enough. Love you dad. ❤️

  11. I started at the Saint Joseph, Michigan terminal in 1977. The S.T. Crapo was one of the first vessels in unloaded. I knew all the crew and was invited to eat with the crew and the skippers many times. The self unloader was coal driven most of her life. She was re furbished for fuel oil later on. I have several pictures of her at our dock including Christmas day. Normal unload in St. Joseph was 13 hours. She had 2 screws that literally screwed the cement to the air compressor blowers and up in to our silos. Every crew member was a member of the big family.

    • Hi there! I found a jacket with the STR S.T. Crapo on the back. Just wondered how old it was. Has the name Herbie embroidered on the front. Thought it was a really neat find.

  12. I found a jacket with the STR S.T. Crapo on the back. Just wondered how old it was. If it was a gift shop thing or belonged to someone. Has the name Herbie embroidered on the front. Thought it was a really neat find. Thanks!

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