Talk:SS St. Marys Challenger

Rework

The article here is jumping the gun. It appears the ship is to be simply converted to an ATB (integrated tug-barge configuration) like the the modern built-that-way ATBs, Presque Isle, Great Lakes Trader, Joseph H. Thompson, Integrity, Innovation or the converted ones Joseph H. Thompson and McKee Sons, both originally WWII troop ships then classic lakers before becoming ATBs, and Sarah Spencer (formerly classic pattern Adam E. Cornelius), Pathfinder (formerly straight-decker J. L. Mauthe). We don't really think of them separately from self-powered lakers. In fact, they very rarely separate from their tugs except in emergencies or for repairs. The St. Mary's Challenger will not stop working (not after the money is spent to convert it) but simply shift from self-powered to ATB like several other ships have. Lakers are often repowered (coal to diesel, etc.), lengthened, sometimes re-bodied, switched from classic to modern layout, switched from straight deck to self-unloading. But we still call them lake freighters. True barge conversions like William H Donner or wierd ones like PM41 (now a kind of ITB but was a ferry) and St. Marys Cement III (started as barge, then self-propelled vessel, now an ITB of sorts) are not considered freighters. Rmhermen (talk) 20:24, 21 November 2013 (UTC)

The St. Marys Challenger is currently scheduled to return to service as an integrated articulated tug-barge combination in the spring/summer of 2015, and this fact (which was already in the body of the article) has been added to the lede. 'Rmherman' correctly points out that, for example, the Pere Marquette #41 is not a Lake freighter anymore; I hope all would agree that the most important element separating A from B is the lack of self-propulsion. Bigturtle (talk) 22:19, 21 November 2013 (UTC)

The article listed the ship as the last "Steam power" lake freighter which is not true as it wasn't the last steam powered vessel built or last steam powered vessel in operation. Several steam powered vessels were built after the Challenger's completion clear into the 1960's. There are a handful still in operation- Wilfred Sykes, Alpena, Cason J. Callaway, Arthur M. Anderson, Phillp Clarke, as well as the Edward L. Ryerson, and J.A.W. Iglehart in lay up but operable.

Small change made to article. Bigturtle (talk) 19:17, 3 August 2016 (UTC)

No longer SS

Because she's now a barge instead of a steamship, should "SS" be removed from the article title?Hieronymus Illinensis (talk) 00:01, 17 August 2020 (UTC)

As the vessel has now entered the last stage of its working life as an articulated barge, the prefix ‘SS’ could be removed, the removal to be effective throughout this period. If and when the barge completes its working life and goes to the scrapyard, the prefix could be restored as a sign of the vessel’s historical identity. This would require the Great Lakes community to monitor the barge so the prefix can be restored when the scrapping takes place. Alternatively, as the vessel is certain to be scrapped sooner or later, we could do nothing and anticipate this change. Bigturtle (talk) 12:24, 17 August 2020 (UTC)