SS Thomas F. Cole

The SS Thomas F. Cole was a 605.6 ft (184.6 m) long Great Lakes freighter built in 1907 for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company by the Great Lakes Engineering Works of Ecorse, Michigan. The boat was named after mining mogul Thomas F. Cole. She was launched as hull #27 on January 26, 1907. She was powered by a 2,000 horsepower triple expansion steam engine which was attached to a single fixed pitch propeller. She was powered by two coal-fired scotch marine boilers. She had a top speed of ten knots. She entered service on May 26, 1907 (homeport Duluth, Minnesota). She arrived for her first load of iron ore on May 29, 1907.

The Thomas F. Cole in Poe Lock
History
 United States
Name:
  • Thomas F. Cole
Namesake:
Operator:
Port of registry:  United States,
Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan
Yard number: 27
Launched: January 26, 1907
In service: May 26, 1907
Identification: U.S. Registry #203891
Fate: Scrapped in 1980, in Thunder Bay
Status: Scrapped
Notes: In 1913 the Cole collided with the barge Iron City
General characteristics
Tonnage: 7,268 gross 5,484 net
Length: 605.6 ft (184.6 m)
Beam: 58 ft (18 m)
Height: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Installed power: 2× Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion: 1,880 horsepower triple expansion steam engine
Speed: 10 knots
Capacity: 12,370 tons

On August 24, 1910 the Cole suffered severe damage when she ran aground in the St. Marys River. The Cole collided with the barge Iron City on May 30, 1913, on Lake St. Clair cutting her in two.

In April 1946 the Cole had new hopper side tanks installed. In 1947 the Cole had two new coal-fired Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers.[1]

Transfer to U.S. Steel

In 1952 the Cole was transferred to U.S. Steel of Cleveland, Ohio. In April 1957 the Cole had a new tank top installed. On November 24, 1964 the Cole had a collision with the British vessel MV Inverewe in foggy conditions off the south end of Pipe Island, on the lower St. Marys River. The Cole suffered severe damage to her bow. She later arrived at the American Shipbuilding Company of Lorain, Ohio for repairs.[2]

Scrapping

In 1974 the Cole was laid up in Duluth, Minnesota never to sail again. In 1980 the Cole was sold to the Western Metals Corp. of Thunder Bay for scrap. She arrived in Thunder Bay on July 31, 1980 towed by the tugs Daryl C. Hannah and Malcolm

References
  1. "Cole, Thomas F." Great Lakes Vessel History. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  2. "Historical Perspectives-Thomas F. Cole". BoatNerd. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
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