1920 James Davidson 1974
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Hull 288
Launched Oct 9, 1920
Built on speculation for the account of American Ship Building Co., parent company of Detroit Shipbuilding Co., from surplus materials left over after the World War I shipbuilding program ended and to provide continuing employment for the employees of the shipyard.
Sold July 28, 1920 (while still under construction) to operator below.
600’ LOA, 580’ LBP, 60’ beam, 32’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 2300 IHP
Enrolled at Detroit MI Nov 5, 1920 (Temp #9)
587.1 x 60.0 x 27.8, 8349 GT, 6387 NT US 220802 to:
Globe Steamship Co., Duluth MN, G. A. Tomlinson, Mgr. (home port Duluth MN)
Entered service 1920
Home port to Michigan City IN 1932
Tomlinson fleets merged 1954 into Tomlinson Fleet Corporation, Cleveland OH (home port to Wilmington DE)
Chartered 1964-1967 seasons to Buckeye Steamship Co., Cleveland OH
Chartered 1968 season to Columbia Transportation Division, Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland OH.
Charter renewed for fleet (3 vessels) for 1969-1972 seasons
Laid up at end of 1968 season and did not operate again.
Fleet sold 1971 to Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland OH
Sold for scrap 1974 to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne ON. Resold to Spanish shipbreakers. Cleared Quebec QC June 30, 1974 with str. Kinsman Independent towed by Polish tug Jantar. Tow arrived Santander Spain July 21, 1974.
IMO 5168766
2001
Thanks for providing this information. I sailed aboard her the summer of 1968 as a deck watch. She was a tired old girl then.
Did you know my father Don Hodgson, chief engineer
Depending on site, ship history is confused, no big deal. I signed on the Davidson as Deck division summer help in Duluth in 1964 or 65 at age 23, college student. . I found when signing on that my uncle Charlie Brasher was Chief Engineer and another uncle Ed Mitchell was 1st. assistant engineer. Both were career Great Lakes sailors. The ship’s captain could not believe we all got together accidentally. It was a great summer.
Sailed on the James Davidson the summer of 1950 till Aug.