Robinson, T.W.

1925                                  T. W. Robinson                                  1987

 

Steel self-unloading Great Lakes bulk freighter

 

Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 790
Launched April 25, 1925

586’ LOA, 566’ LBP, 60’ beam, 32’ depth

1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, turbo-electric engine, 3000 SHP
First turbo-electric engine on a large Great Lakes vessel

Enrolled at
572.6 x 60.2 x 29.5, 7726 GT, 6118 NT     US 224836     to:
Bradley Transportation Co., Rogers City MI (home port Duluth MN)

Entered service July 11, 1925

Fleet merged 1951 into parent United States Steel Corporation

Fleet transferred 1967 to United States Steel Great Lakes Fleet (home port to Wilmington DE)

Fleet made a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation 1981, renamed USS Great Lakes Fleet Inc., Duluth MN (home port to Duluth MN)

Laid up May 23, 1982 at Calcite MI and did not operate again

Sold for scrap 1987 to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne ON  Resold to Brazilian shipbreakers.
Cleared Quebec QC Aug 11, 1987 with str. 265808 (ex Benson Ford [3]) towed by Polish tug Jantar.  Tow arrived Recife Brazil Sept 22, 1987.

 

IMO 5348043

 

See history in Great Lakes Ships We Remember III p. 328

 

 

2503

10 thoughts on “Robinson, T.W.

  1. Crewed the Lakers summers while attending U of M from ’62 to ’65 and after a summer on the E.M. Ford found myself aboard the ROBINSON on my first trip in ’64’. I needed work soon and as soon as I arrived after hitch hiking up from Ann Arbor there she was when I needed her…kind like a first love of sort! Later boarded the IRVING CLYMER for the remainder of the summer. Sweet memories these are still.

    Dan Mahler, N.A.

    • Hello Dan Mahler I believe I own a sort of rare rock or heirloom related to the TW Robinson signed and stamped by Capt Crossley McQuinn, would you have any idea what that is worth? or how I could even date it? Thank you.

  2. Good money boat for deckhands. We lovingly ..lol..called her the “Spillage Queen” of the lakes in 1968. I spent a few watch’s shoveling the wings on her. Running the monkey chains in the hold was a blast! I was the 1st mate’s deckwatch then. Sorry to hear she ended up in Brazil.

    • Hello Jay Bicknell I believe I own a sort of rare rock or heirloom related to the TW Robinson signed and stamped by Capt Crossley McQuinn, would you have any idea what that is worth? or how I could even date it? Thank you.

    • There were two. First started out as E. J. Earling and the other started out as the first Harry Coulby. You can find both of them on our site under their original names.

      Robertson was some kind of Republic Steel Corporation executive.

  3. My husband’s uncle worked on the T.W. Robinson – Duluth back before 1944 when he died. I have some old photos. Is there someone out there that wants these photos? …the ship, crew, deck etc.

    • One of the lifeboat’s from the Robinson is on display at Forty Mile Point Lighthouse in Rogers City, Mi. You may want to contact the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society @ (989) 734-4907. They may want to display the photos.

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