Had the opportunity this past Monday to work on the American Mariner freighter. What an amazing hulk of a ship. She is stored at dock in Toledo, OH for the winter. All pumped dry and emptied out the ship sits so high out of the water that precisely 1/2 of the prop sticks out of the water. The rudder is so long and wide it boggles the mind when compared to our tiny rudders. Everything on the ship is commercial/industrial size. Its all welded plate with lots of nondescript linoleum.
There is 1 shore cord that looks about 3" diameter. There is no water as everything is winterized.
Only 1 man is employed as "ship keeper" to keep ship during layup. He has to put plastic bags in toilet to do #2 and throw them in dumpster next to boat. I found that amusing. I didn't ask how he showers. The bridge, or pilot house as they call it, has arcade style/size instruments. You step up onto platforms and hang onto handles on either side of the screen to view the information. Electronics are made by Sperry Marine (Northrop Grumman). Bow and stern thrusters are controlled on each side of pilot house and at the center front window. The actual wheel is a little yoke in the center of the pilot house on an elevated platform. The most entertaining object was the recliner on a raised wooden platform with a wooden coffee tray bolted to the side. I can only assume the captain takes his place in the recliner once underway and enjoys the ride. Along with the specs on the website the ship has twin 48,500 gallon fuel tanks. They have all the ship specs on the back wall in the pilot house. I had to read the thing a few times to be sure about the capacity. Imagine footing the bill for that fill up? That's allot of Speedy Rewards.
Also have the crank style intercoms. Turn the dial to the corresponding room# and wind the crank several times to place a call.

Our task was to replace the satellite unit so the crew can watch their TV. Apparently the ship will NOT leave the dock if the satellite does not work. If the radar is down or anything else they will still leave but if no satellite, no leave dock. The right to sat TV is stipulated in the union contract. You can see the little sat dome on a couple of the pics up top of the pilot house.
I counted 12 omni antennas and 8 sat mushrooms on the roof. They don't do a very good job of removing old, non-functional antennas. I was quite amazed at how "rigged" some of the stuff was. For example, they ran extension cords and power strips outside on the roof to wrap heat tape on the horns. Needless to say the extension cords and strips are exposed and damaged by weather and just hanging by zip ties.
It was still an interesting experience and would love to take a ride on one of these behemoths.

http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/americanmariner.htm

-Karl

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1986, 32' Sedan, twin 360ci, 275hp Chrysler's w/ K&N flame arrestors
Original Site Member Since: 5/18/1999.

Interesting post! What does she have for engines?

Jeff

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"There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs -- partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs." Booker T. Washington

Ah-hah! I am very familiar with those engines: EMD 701 railroad diesels from a SD-45.

Thanks!

Jeff

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"There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs -- partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs." Booker T. Washington

..."Engines were EMD's...16 cylinders each. They were changing power paks at about every other port.
Noisey as hell"

Music to my ears!

Jeff

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"There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs -- partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs." Booker T. Washington

The only RR that sound better were the Faribanks Morse OP engines. Sweet!

Jeff

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"There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs -- partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs." Booker T. Washington