H. Lee White {2}
1974-Present
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1974
Builder: Bay Shipbuilding Corp., Sturgeon Bay, WI
Hull #711
Registry: US 556460
IMO #7366362
Laid Down: March 28, 1973
Launch Date: December 6, 1973
Commissioned: June 1, 1974
Construction
The H. Lee White was constructed as the third of ten vessels constructed for the American Steamship Company under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 at a cost of $15 Million.
The White was the second of four similar sister ships built by Bay Shipbuilding, the others being the Charles E. Wilson, Joseph L. Block, and American Mariner. The following ships were each slightly longer versions of the Charles E. Wilson, with the H. Lee White being 24′ longer than her older sister.
Her self-unloading equipment consists of a single hold belt leading to an aft incline-belt system to a 250′ deck-mounted boom.
General Stats
Length Overall: 704′
Length Between Perpendiculars: 689’10”
Breadth: 78′
Depth: 45′
Loaded Draft: 34′
Capacity: 35,200 Tons
Vessel Type: Incline-Belt Self-Unloader
Self-Unloading Boom Length: Aft-Mounted; 250′
Number of Cargo Holds: 6 [Hatch-Hold Arrangement: 3-4-4-5-4-3]
Number of Hatches: 23 [Dimensions: 44’x11′]
Primary Operations: Ore, Coal, Aggregate, Grain Trades
Propellers: 1 Controllable Pitch Propeller
Rudders: 1
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: General Motors Electro-Motive Division, Chicago, IL
Engine Model: 20-645-E7B
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 7,000 BHP
History
Lineage
H. Lee White {2} – 1974-2020
Owner: American Steamship Co., Buffalo, NY [GATX Corp.]
Operator: American Steamship Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Wilmington, DE
H. Lee White {2} – 2020-2021
Owner: American Steamship Co., Buffalo, NY [Rand Logistics]
Operator: American Steamship Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Wilmington, DE
H. Lee White {2} – 2021-Present
Owner: American Steamship Co., Buffalo, NY [Rand Logistics]
Operator: Grand River Navigation, Traverse City, MI [Rand Logistics]
Flag: United States
Home Port: Wilmington, DE
Her Story
The H. Lee White {2} was built in 1974 as a self-unloading bulk carrier for American Steamship Company. She was the third of ten vessels built for American Steamship under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. She was launched on December 6, 1973, and sailed on her maiden voyage on June 1, 1974 for Escanaba, Michigan to load ore.
The H. Lee White suffered many notable accidents in her earlier years. She grounded at Port Dolomite, Michigan, on June 26, 1974, sustaining heavy damage. She later collided with the Greek vessel Georgios while on the St. Clair River on December 11, 1974. Then, on July 4, 1976, the White struck the dock at the Algoma Steel mill at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Possibly her most notable one, the H. Lee White struck a section of the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge while being towed through the Trenton Channel. She knocked down a 150′ span of bridge, but came out undamaged. the bridge was repaired and was back in service in early 1993. The White also lost power while sailing in Lake Huron in May 1994, being taken to Toledo, Ohio for repairs.
The H. Lee White made her first Welland Canal transit on July 1, 1997, with ore for Hamilton. This was the first of many transits that she would make in the future.
In February 2020, Rand Logistics announced that they purchased American Steamship Company from their parent company GATX Corp.
In March 2021, Grand River Navigation bareboat chartered the H. Lee White and her ASC fleetmates American Courage, American Mariner, John J. Boland {4}, and Sam Laud for the River class trade. The H. Lee White continues to be an active member of the American Steamship fleet.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on March 31, 2021
Gallery
Sources
Ahoy & Farewell II. Marine Historical Society of Detroit, 1996. Pp. 39.
Berry, Sterling P. “White, H. Lee 2”. Great Lakes Vessel History: Vessel Histories of Sterling P. Berry. N.d. Accessed 11 May 2020. https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/w/white-h-lee-2
Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2016, Harbor House Publishers, 2016. Pp. 4.17.
“M/V H. Lee White”. American Steamship Company, N.d. Accessed 11 May 2020. http://americansteamship.com/fleet/mv-h-lee-white.php
Wharton, George. “H. Lee White (2)”. Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 11 May 2020. http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/HLeeWhite2.htm
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