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TELESCOPE Page 155 NEW LIFE FOR THE AMERICAN LAKES FLEET GREGORY S The tirst two vessels ina mew class of Great Lakes ore carriers were christened this summer. Kins- man's William R. Roesch, the first to enter service, was christened at American Shipbuilding Company's Lorain yard on June 22. On July 28, the American Steamship Company's new vessel, Roger M. Kyes, was christen- ed at AmShip's Toledo Yard. Although both ships are of differ- ent dimensions, they are both built to the standardized River Service Type. This design can be adjusted to construct vessels ranging from the basic 630 feet in length to the maximum dimensions permitted by the new lock at the Soo. The Roesch and the Kyes, and all other vessels of the River Service Type, follow a trend set by several Canadian ships, notably Upper Lakes Shipping's Cape Sretton Miner, On- tario Power, and Canadian Progress; and the Canada Steamship Lines' J. W. WcGiffin and the new 4. Mm. Griffity, in having all cabins aft with a self-unloading boom project- ing forward. The basic design, as embodied in the Roesch, provides for a smaller yet highly efficient vessel. Such a vessel can economically supply docks in confined waters, notably those of the Jones and Laughlin steelworks on the circuituous Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. The William R. Roesch is, as dic- tated by the nature of the service, A . RUDNICK loading system and a 260 foot boom. She is powered by twin diesels of 2800 B.H.P. each which drive a sin- gle 16 foot propeller. Her service speed is 15.4 m.p.h. The Roger M.. Kyes is somewhat larger than the Roesch, although similar in appearance. She is 680 feet overall, 78 feet in width and 42 feet in depth, with a deadweight of 26,000. The Kyes also has the additional maneuverability provided by a 1,000 h.p. bow-thruster. The ship can unload at a rate of 6000 tons per hour with her all-belt un- loading system and 260-foot boom. Her service speed of 15.00 m.p.h. results from her twin 3600 b.h.p. diesels driving a 17-foot, six inch propeller through a single gearbox. Her engines are pilot house control- led and navigation is assisted by a collision-avoidance radar. The accomodations of both vessels are air conditioned and spacious. The officers have private cabins with the rest of the crew bunked two to a cabin. The accomodations of both vessels are very crudely fitted out with exposed pipes and electric- al conduits and plain, painted steel not of maximum size. Her overall length is 630 feet, with width of 68 feet, 11 inches. With a dead- weight tonnage of 19,000 tons, the carrying capacity of the Roesch in 15,500 tons of pellets. The Roesch is also equipped with a 1,000 h.p. bow-thruster and can unload 5,000 tons an hour with an all-belt un-