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Page 159 Reprinted from Lake Carriers' Association publication The Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 2, June 1949 /lew- tJteaayw&UfUt Champ, af JtaheA, Vg fee Jlaunched in Qnne at jfeo/iain j\TEARLY three centuries ago, the J- ' placid waters of the Great Lakes witnessed the launching of the first large cargo-carrying lake vessel. It was a tiny ship by today's standards with less than 60 tons capacity. But the GRIFFIN was a giant for the Lakes--the largest ever to set sail on those then uncharted waters. Now the largest of all Great Lakes bulk freighters, the WILFRED SYKES is heralded to the vast inland waterway 1919 style, to dwarf its predecessors. This super ore-carrier, half again as large as the average bulk freighter on the Lakes, could swallow the entire cargo of 300 vessels like the GRIFFIN with room to spare. Named after the Inland Steel Company's recently retired president, the WILF RED SYKES is scheduled for launching on June 28th in Lorain, Ohio, at the yards of the American Ship Building Company. The SYKES is expected to be delivered to the Inland Steel Company of Chicago in time for the 1950 shipping season. Inland, the largest independent steel manufacturer in Chicago, already has a fleet of four ore-carriers. In the past few years this company has increased its iron and steel producing facilities, and, consequently, needs greater quantities of iron ore-- steel's vital raw material--to maintain capacity operation. So the decision was made to add another ship to the Inland fleet -- one that could carry the biggest load with the greatest efficiency. Hence, the WILFRED SYKES was "born". The SYKES will be 678 feet long with a beam of 70 feet and a depth of 37 feet. She will have an approximate gross tonnage of 11,800 tons and will have a cargo capacity of over 20,000 gross tons. Not only will this ship be the largest of its kind on the Great Lakes, but it will also be the fastest in the ore trade, since its geared turbines will develop 7,000 shaft horsepower to drive her at an estimated 16 m.p.h. while fully loaded. While the average lake carrier makes the round trip from Chicago to Superior in six and a half days (including dock time), the SYKES is expected to complete the circuit in about five days. This means that Inland Steel Company can expect 44 round trips each season