(1953) 1961 Wheat King 1986 (1989)
Steel Great Lakes/ocean bulk freighter
Built at Glasgow Scotland by Lithgows Ltd., Hull 1068
Launched June 26, 1952
Built as tanker Llandaff (Br 185358) for ocean service. Sold 1960 to owners below.
Converted for Great Lakes service 1961 at St. Catharines ON
556’5” LOA, 527’5” LBP, 72’10” beam, 38’3” depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 24’, oil-fired diesel engine, 7300 BHP
Enrolled at
534.3 x 72.8 x 35.3, 12339 GT, 7322 NT Can 185358 to:
Island Shipping Ltd. (Bermuda), Toronto ON, Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., Mgr. (home port Toronto ON)
Entered Great Lakes service April 18, 1961
Transferred 1972 to Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.
Laid up Dec 11, 1981 at Toronto ON and did not operate again.
Sold for scrap 1986 and towed to Lauzon QC. Cleared Lauzon Nov 24, 1986 towed by tug Jantar and towed to Rotterdam, Netherlands, arriving there January 23, 1987, where she was used as a storage barge
Renamed Bulk Cat 1989
Sold for scrap 1989 to Bangladesh shipbreakers. Cleared Rotterdam Aug 22, 1989 for Chittagong Bangladesh towed by Soviet tug Yasnyy. Renamed Brugse I (St. Vincent) for scrap tow.
IMO 5388782
6107
Notice of Death of Wheat King crewman [dates of service unknown by this writer]. John Deigan passed away in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 68. Following his lakes service, John became a high school teacher, emphasizing on troubled youths.
The picture above is not of the MV Wheat king . I was a deck hand in training on board in 1980 for upper lake shipping.
I believe that wheat king was lengthened in 1976 to 729 1/2 feet. I sailed on the Wheat King as 4th mate and 3 mate in 1978 and then 1979. With Capt. Neil Macallum and then Capt. Vern Anchutz. I remember the Chief Officer Gerry Graige. ( please forgive the Spelling)
Plus a 1000 hp bow thruster was installed during the lengthing
trained on the wheat king then sailed on the canadian hunter also seaway queen home town of midland ontario thankes
I sailed on the Wheat King as a deckhand trainee right out of high school in 1981. We spent a few weeks in the Toronto turning basin before taking a short run (I think). Vern Anschuetz was captain, and his son was one of our fellow trainees. The bosun, who was a decent guy, was Wayne something. Wish I could recall his last name, but that was a while ago. Apparently, the ship laid up for good later that season, so I might have had the honor of giving it the last coat of paint.