The H.P. Bope was an American steel-hulled, propeller-driven Great Lakes freighter built in 1907 by the Superior Shipbuilding Company of Superior, Wisconsin for service on the Great Lakes of North America. She was used to transport bulk cargoes such as coal, iron ore and grain.

The H.P. Bope sailing through the Soo Locks in 1909
History
United States
Name
  • H.P. Bope (1907–1916)
  • E.A.S. Clarke (1916–1970)
  • Kinsman Voyager (1970–1978)
Operator
  • Standard Steamship Company (1907–1913)
  • Lackawanna Steamship Company (later Interlake Steamship Company) (1913–1970)
  • Kinsman Marine Transit Company (1970–1978)
Port of registry United States, Duluth, Minnesota
BuilderSuperior Shipbuilding Company, Superior, Wisconsin
Yard number519
LaunchedOctober 19, 1907
In serviceOctober 1907
Out of serviceJune 26, 1978
Identification
FateScrapped in 1978, in Santander, Spain
General characteristics
Class and typeLake freighter
Tonnage
Length560 ft (170 m)
Beam56 ft (17 m)
Height30 ft (9.1 m)
Installed power2x Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion2,200 hp (1,600 kW) Quadruple expansion steam engine

History edit

The H.P. Bope was launched on October 19, 1907, as hull yard number 519. She had a length of 560 feet (170 m), a beam of 56 feet (17 m) and a depth of 30 feet (9.1 m). She was powered by a 2,200-horsepower (1,600 kW) quadruple expansion steam engine and fueled by two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers.[1]

In 1913 the H.P. Bope was transferred to the Lackawanna Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Later that year the fleet was renamed Interlake Steamship Company. In 1916 the H.P. Bope was renamed E.A.S. Clarke. The E.A.S. Clarke anchored off the Great Lakes Engineering Works in the Detroit River on October 26, 1924, because of heavy fog. As she was swinging at anchor the steamer B.F. Jones struck the E.A.S. Clarke near her aft deckhouse causing her to sink almost immediately. There were no deaths in this incident.[2]

In 1952 the E.A.S. Clarke had a new top tank and two new side tanks installed. She also had her cargo hatches rebuilt from 32 cargo hatches on 12-foot (3.7 m) centers to 16 hatches on 24-foot (7.3 m) centers. In 1953 she had new Foster-Wheeler water tube boilers installed. She went into layup in the winter of 1960. She remained in layup when she was transferred to the Pickands Mather Company.

Kinsman Voyager edit

In April 1970 the E.A.S. Clarke was sold to the Kinsman Marine Transit Company of Cleveland, Ohio and renamed Kinsman Voyager. On September 30, 1972, the Kinsman Voyager was departing the Globe elevator in Superior, Wisconsin when she backed into a mud bank and severely damaged her rudder. She was laid up on May 26, 1973, in Toledo, Ohio.[3]

In the Spring of 1974 the Kinsman Voyager was sold to the Marine Salvage Ltd. of Port Colborne, Ontario. She arrived in Port Colborne on April 22, 1974, towed by the tug Salvage Monarch. She was eventually sold to Lutgens & Reimers of Hamburg, Germany. On May 2, 1975, the Kinsman Voyager passed Cape Vincent towed by the tugs Salvage Monarch and the Helen M. McAllister bound for Quebec City. The Kinsman Voyager and the steamer James E. Ferris departed Quebec on June 7, 1975, towed by the Polish tug Jantar. They arrived at Hamburg on July 4, 1975. The hulls of the Kinsman Voyager and the James E. Ferris were used as storage hulks. The Kinsman Voyager arrived in Bilbao, Spain on June 26, 1978. She was later towed to Pasaia, Spain on July 16, 1978. On August 29, 1978, she was towed to Santander, Spain where she was scrapped by Recuperaciones Submarinas S.A.

References edit

  1. ^ "Historical Perspectives-Kinsman Voyager". BoatNerd. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Bope, H.P." Great Lakes Vessel History. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Bope, H.P." Bowling State Green University. Retrieved 25 January 2018.