FOLLOW UP & IN DEPTH: Environmental zealotry threatens ship that tried to help the Edmund Fitzgerald

Most of us know the story. The Arthur M. Anderson was trailing the Edmund Fitzgerald 34 years ago today.

7:25 PM – Edmund Fitzgerald disappears from the radar of the S.S. Arthur M. Anderson

And now the environmentalist whacko president and zealot infested EPA full of save the planet kooks want to put an end to the Anderson. New standards, for what, I don’t know, particularly since the Great Lakes and our air is much cleaner now than when the Fitz went down, the idiocy baffles me. Again, here’s an abbreviated recap:

The Arthur M. Anderson was trailing the Edmund Fitzgerald that stormy night, and risked its own safety by heading back into the storm when the huge freighter disappeared from the radar screen.

The Anderson has been performing dutifully for 57 years. There’s no need to change the rules in the middle of the game.

The Anderson and 12 other steamships are in danger of being forced to permanent shore duty by a proposed clean-air rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would limit high-sulfur emissions from ships.The rule is part of the Interior-Environment spending bill for 2010 before Congress.

Lost jobs. Oh well, I suppose the current government is used to it, I just wish they’d come clean to the American people and tell them that their policies are creating the unemployment, instead of blaming Bush, who’s been out of office for almost a year now. It’s squarely on Obama.

There is another side effect that the community organizer in chief doesn’t get. Aside from the lost jobs, it’s going to cost a lot more money to ship, and/or retrofit the 13 freighters which ultimately means higher costs to the consumer in the end. There is some hope though, and I will tip my hat to Dave Obey on this.

However, Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee that controls funding for federal agencies, has helped to push through an exemption clause for the 13 ships, saying a compromise would save jobs.

Yeah I know. I’m not a big David Obey fan, but that doesn’t mean I won’t acknowledge him and give him an “atta boy” when he does the right and common sense thing. With that, let’s take a look at the Arthur M. Anderson, shall we?

This steamer was constructed in Lorain, Ohio by the American Ship Building Company and launched on February 16, 1952. The Arthur M. Anderson was of the AAA class, and was one of eight built in the early 50’s. The Anderson was built for the Pittsburg Steamship Company, of the United States Steel Corporation, as hull number 868. She was the second AAA vessel of three to be delivered to the fleet. The first being the Philip R. Clarke and the last boat delivered was the Cason J. Callaway. The Anderson’s sea-trials commenced on August 7, 1952, and loaded her first cargo at the Two Harbors dock on August 12th.

Her original dimensions were 647 ‘x 70′ x 36′ and had a capacity of 20,150 tons. During the winter of 1974-75, she was lengthened 120′ by Fraser Shipyards to an overall length of 767′. The Anderson’s tonnage increased dramatically by 6,375 tons (total capacity of 26,525). She was eventually converted into a self-unloader by Fraser’s during her 1981-82 winter lay-up. A 250′ boom was installed aft, decreasing her capacity by only 875 tons. A bow thruster was installed in 1966, and a stern thruster added in 1989. A 7,700 horsepower steam turbine powered the vessel. Full Story

Arthur M. Anderson