H. Lee White - Follow the Leader Into Superior

I was able to make a brief trip to the Duluth-Superior area on the afternoon of April 12, 2022 to capture a few more ships for this channel. Among these was the H. Lee White, seen here arriving in Superior, Wisconsin for a load of iron ore pellets (taconite) at the Burlington Northern #5 dock. Right behind her was the Michipicoten, who was also scheduled to load at the BN5 dock. Normally, the Michipicoten would anchor outside of Superior and wait her turn, but she instead followed the H. Lee White through the ice field. An oncoming storm, with gale force winds in the forecast, was a good reason to seek shelter inside the harbor. (The Michipicoten's arrival will be featured in an upcoming video.) The H. Lee White was happy to lead the way!

We didn't get a salute from the H. Lee White, but we did receive friendly waves from her deck crew and bridge crew, which is always appreciated. As the H. Lee White made her way through the Superior entry, the loud hum of her engines is her signature sound. I'm not entirely sure why the White's engines produce such a unique hum among lakers, but it's a sound one could easily tell... even if blindfolded.

The 704-foot H. Lee White was launched in December 1973 and made her maiden voyage in June 1974. She is powered by twin V-20 3,600 horsepower GM diesel engines and has both bow and stern thrusters that help her maneuver while in port. Her six cargo holds are accessed by 23 hatches on deck, giving her a maximum capacity of 35,200 tons. Her self-unloading system that can discharge 6,000 tons per hour. Due to her length of less than 740 feet, she is one of relatively American-flagged vessels that transits the Welland Canal between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. She has sailed her entire career for the American Steamship Company up until early 2021, when she was leased to and operated by Grand River Navigation.

Видео H. Lee White - Follow the Leader Into Superior канала 1 Long 2 Short