Inland Steel "Blocks" vessels

L.E.BlockThis classic Great Lakes bulk carrier was built in 1927 by American Ship Building Co. of Lorain, OH as their hull # 795.  Launched February 1, 1927 and completed in March of that year, the new vessel was christened L.E. Block for Chicago's Inland Steel Company's subsidiary Inland Steamship Company.  The laker takes its name from Mr. Leopold Emanuel Block born on January 13, 1869 as the oldest son of Mr. Joseph Block, founder of the Inland Steel Co.  He, too, became involved with his father's company rising to chairmanship before 1920; serving in that capacity until retiring in 1940. The L.E. Block remained in Escanaba under the ownership of Basic Marine until she was purchased for scrap June 29, 2006 by International Marine Salvage of Port Colborne, ON.

E.J. Block
The E.J. Block was built in 1926 in Lorain Ohio where it sailed for Inland steel for the entire years of hurt her service. not much info on this ship but yhe E J was scrapped at Rameys Bend near Port Colborne, Ont in 1988 

Phillip D. Block
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 789
Launched Jan 17, 1925
600’ LOA, 580’ LBP, 60’ beam, 32’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 2200 IHP sailed with Inland Steel and was scraped in 1985
Joseph L. Block

With the keel being laid down in July of 1975, this Great Lakes self unloading bulk carrier was built by Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI as hull #715. The new hull was launched February 26th, 1976 and was christened June 29th, 1976 as the Joseph L. Block for the Inland Steel Co., Chicago, IL. Built at an approximate cost of $17 million, the self unloader was built specifically for the Lake Michigan iron ore trade carrying this product from Escanaba, MI to Inland’s mills located on the southern Lake Michigan shores. The Joseph L. Block was expected to carry 2 million tons of iron ore annually. This self unloader was the first diesel powered vessel to belong to the Inland Steel fleet; her addition leading to the eventual retirement of the Clarence B. Randall. She is currently still sailing under Arcelormittal. She is the last Block ship saling.

Info from Boarnerd and Great Lakes Vessle History

Видео Inland Steel "Blocks" vessels канала Tucker Hager