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i ~ The Detroit * a) Marine Historian Journal of Marine Historical Society of Detroit Volume 21, No. 12 August, 1968 Photo by and courtesy of Robert W. Walton RALPH MISENER [Can. 328542] Commissioned on June 11, this vessel represents many firsts for Lakers. Probably her most striking feature is her Conflow self-unloader which weighs 850 tons and is completely above deck. Built by L. M. G. of Lubeck, Germany, it can discharge ore pellets at 4000 tons per hour. Another innovation is the Kort steering nozzle that replaces the rudder. Also, RALPH MISENER is the first Laker to have a stern thrust- er, in addition to the usual bow thruster. n the color scheme is new for the Misener fleet --- a blue hull with a single white band and a modernistic "SM" on the stack. Built in two sections by Canadian Vickers Ltd. (HULL 293) the vessel is 730' 0.a.1.x 75' x 42'. Net tonnage is 14,156 and gross tonnage 19,160. She is fitted with a 9600 h.p. Sulzer diesel engine, controlable from either engine room or pilot house, which gives her a speed of 18.5 m.p.h. when light and 17 m.p.h. when loaded. With the top of her unloading rig 110 feet above her keel, she will be an easy boat for boatwatchers to recognize. Dave Glick Our deepest gratitude to DAVE GLICK for faithfully and expertly putting out the Historian during Detroit's newspaper strike--cn