Paul Thayer – Earl W. Oglebay – Earl W. – Manitowoc
1973-Present
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1973
Builder: American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH
Hull #902
Registry: US 552395
IMO #7366398
Laid Down: —
Launch Date: October 7, 1973
Commissioned: November 15, 1973
Construction
The Paul Thayer was constructed as a self-unloading bulk carrier for Union Commerce Bank, trustee, of Cleveland, Ohio, to be managed by Kinsman Marine Transit. She was the second of three similar sister ships, the other two being the William R. Roesch [David Z. Norton, 1995; David Z. 2006; Calumet {4}, 2008;] and the Wolverine {2} [Robert S. Pierson {2}, 2008;]. They were also similar in appearance to the larger Roger M. Kyes [Adam E. Cornelius {4}, 1989; Algoma Compass, 2018;].
The Paul Thayer was built to “River Class” standards, being able to navigate the Cuyahoga and other tight rivers, delivering cargo to hard-to-reach docks.
Her self-unloading equipment consists of a single hold belt leading to an aft incline-belt system to a 260′ deck-mounted boom.
Modifications
- Cargo hold rebuilt by American Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, OH, 1978.
General Stats
Length Overall: 630′
Length Between Perpendiculars: 612’01”
Breadth: 68′
Depth: 36’11”
Loaded Draft: 26′
Capacity: 19,650 Tons
Vessel Type: Incline-Belt Self-Unloader
Self-Unloading Boom Length: Aft-Mounted; 260′
Number of Cargo Holds: 5 [Hatch-Hold Arrangement: 2-2-5-5-3]
Number of Hatches: 17 [Dimensions: 40’x11′]
Primary Operations: Ore, Coal, Stone, Trade
Propellers: 1 Controllable Pitch Propeller
Rudders: 1
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel
Engine Manufacturer: Alco, Schenectady, NY
Engine Model: 16V251E
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 5600 BHP
History
Lineage
Paul Thayer – 1973-1976
Owner: Union Commerce Bank, Cleveland, OH [Trustee]
Operator: Kinsman Marine Transit, Cleveland, OH
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Paul Thayer – 1976-1994
Owner: Pringle Transit Co., Division of Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland, OH
Operator: Pringle Transit Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Earl W. Oglebay – 1995-2006
Owner: Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland, OH
Operator: Oglebay Norton Co., Marine Division
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Earl W. – 2006-2008
Owner: Wisconsin Michigan Steamship Co., Cleveland, OH [Sand Products Corp.]
Operator: Grand River Navigation Co., Traverse City, MI [Rand Logistics] [charterer]
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Manitowoc – 2008-Present
Owner: Grand River Navigation Co., Traverse City, MI [Rand Logistics]
Operator: Grand River Navigation Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Her Story
The Paul Thayer was constructed in 1973 as a self-unloading bulk carrier for Union Commerce Bank, Trustee, of Cleveland, Ohio, to be operated by Kinsman Marine Transit. Kinsman had recently been awarded a contract to haul ore to the Jones & Laughlin Steel mill up the Cuyahoga River.
The Paul Thayer was sold in 1976 to the Pringle Transit Company, a division of the Oglebay Norton Company of Cleveland. Pringle was created to manage the Thayer and her sister William R. Roesch. The former Kinsman ships were managed by a different union than those of Oglebay Norton. Rather than switch or integrate the unions, Oglebay Norton organized a separate entity.
The Paul Thayer underwent a major cargo hold rebuilt in early 1978 at the American Shipbuilding yard in Toledo. She spent the 1992 season at the wall due to poor economic conditions.
In early 1994, Pringle Transit was dissolved and management of the Paul Thayer and William R. Roesch was transferred to Oglebay Norton. The Columbia Transportation fleet was also dissolved at this time, with their ships being transferred to Oglebay Norton as well. On March 31, 1995, the Thayer and the Roesch were renamed Earl W. Oglebay and David Z. Norton, respectively, in a joint christening ceremony at Cleveland.
Oglebay Norton filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in February 2004. The Earl W. Oglebay and her fleetmates David Z. Norton and Wolverine were sold on August 2, 2006, to Wisconsin Michigan Steamship Company, a subsidiary of the Sand Products Corporation, owned by the McKee family. The ships were operated by Grand River Navigation. Her name was shortened to Earl W. in early 2007.
On February 13, 2008, Rand Logistics, parent company of Lower Lakes Towing and Grand River Navigation, announced that they had acquired the three ships from the Wisconsin Michigan Steamship Company. Ownership of the Earl W. was taken over by Grand River Navigation. She was renamed Manitowoc in honor of the Manitowoc River in Wisconsin.
The Manitowoc continues to serve the ore, coal, and stone trades as she has her entire life.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on April 23, 2020
Gallery
Paul Thayer on the St. Marys River, 1974. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Paul Thayer on the St. Marys River, June 1980. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Paul Thayer at Toledo, 1983. Photo by Jim Hoffman 
Earl W. Oglebay at Toledo, Ohio, 2000. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Earl W. Oglebay entering the MacArthur Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, May 27, 2006. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Earl W. laid up at the North Slip in Sarnia with her sister David Z., September 2007. Photo by Jim Hoffman 
Earl W. laid up at the North Slip with her sister David Z, September 2007. Photo by Jim Hoffman 
Manitowoc on the St. Marys River, May 18, 2010. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Manitowoc on the St. Marys River, April 4, 2012. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Manitowoc at Toledo, June 2014. Photo by Jim Hoffman 
Manitowoc upbound on the St. Clair River, May 26, 2014. Photo by Isaac Pennock 
Manitowoc in winter layup at the North Slip in Sarnia, March 25, 2018. Photo by Isaac Pennock 
Manitowoc on the St. Marys River, May 24, 2018. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Manitowoc on the St. Marys River, May 24, 2018. Photo by Roger LeLievre 
Manitowoc on the St. Clair River, July 5, 2019. Photo by Isaac Pennock 
Manitowoc in winter layup at the North Slip in Sarnia, February 16, 2020. Photo by Isaac Pennock
Sources
Ahoy & Farewell II. Marine Historical Society of Detroit, 1996. Pp. 38.
Berry, Sterling P. “Thayer, Paul”. Great Lakes Vessel History: Vessel Histories of Sterling P. Berry. N.d. Accessed 23 April 2020. <https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/t/thayer-paul>
Devendorf, John F. Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, 1869-1985. John F. Devendorf, 1996. Pp. 189.
Ferguson, Brian. “Manitowoc”. Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 23 April 2020. <http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/manitowoc.htm>
Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2016, Harbor House Publishers, 2016. Pp. 4.13.
“M/V Manitowoc”. Rand Logistics, N.d. Accessed 23 April 2020. <https://www.randlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Rand-Vessel-Profile-MTW-8-2019.pdf>
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