John B. Aird/2002



Great Lakes Fleet Page Vessel Feature -- John B. Aird

By George Wharton

This Great Lakes self-unloading bulk carrier was constructed as a joint effort with the stern built at Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, ON and the forward section at Port Arthur Shipyards, Thunder Bay, ON. The John B. Aird was christened June 3, 1983 at Thunder Bay, ON for Algoma Central Corp., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. She is powered by twin Krupp 6 cylinder 4730 horsepower diesel engines driving a controllable pitch propeller giving her a rated service speed of 12 knots. She is also equipped with a 1000 horsepower bow thruster and a semi-bulbous bow for negotiating ice. The John B. Aird has 23 hatches leading into 5 holds where she can carry 27250 tons at maximum Seaway draft of 26 feet and is capable of carrying 31300 tons at her maximum mid-summer draft of 29 feet. Her self-unloading equipment consists of a three belt gravity system, bulk flow gates, plastic linings and vibrators throughout, with a loop belt elevator feeding a 261 foot discharge boom that can be swung 90 degrees to port or starboard. The system's designed discharge rate is up to 5440 tons per hour.

Of note; on October 16, 1990, the John B. Aird experienced a loop belt fire while loading mill scale at Chicago, IL. Fueled by coal dust still in the holds after unloading at the same location, 1400 feet of conveyor was burned resulting in $500,000 in damages.

The John B. Aird currently sails under the management of Seaway Self Unloaders (partnership of Algoma Central and Upper Lakes Group). Her cargo could consist of coal/coke, aggregates, slag, iron ore/oxides, salt, fertilizers, grain products, gypsum, quartzite, or sand. Similar to her S.S.U. fleet mates, she is equipped with a DGPS (Differential Global Postioning System) precision navigation system.

A great example of a modern self-unloader, the John B. Aird will be seen on the Seaway and Great Lakes for many more navigation seasons.

Overall dimensions

Length: 730'00"

Beam: 75'10"

Depth: 46'06"

Capacity (tons): 31,300