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MV Benson Ford
Benson Ford in the Duluth Ship Canal in July 1978
History
United States
Name
  • Benson Ford (1924–1983)
  • John Dykstra (1983–1984)
BuilderGreat Lakes Engineering Works
Yard number245
Laid downNovember 26, 1923
LaunchedApril 26, 1924
In serviceAugust 2, 1924
Out of serviceDecember 1981
IdentificationUSCG ID: 223909 *IMO number: 5041554
FateScrapped 1986
NotesThe forecastle of Benson Ford was converted into a private museum residence in 1986 which is now located on a cliff on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.
General characteristics
Tonnage15,000 GT

Benson Ford was a lake freighter built for hauling raw material to Ford Motor Company's River Rouge manufacturing plant in Dearborn, Michigan. She was named for Benson Ford Sr., grandson of Henry Ford.

History

Design and construction

Benson Ford was constructed in 1924 at Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse, Michigan, for the Ford Motor Company,[1] as one of two “state-of-the-art” bulk carriers[2] that were ordered by Henry Ford to transport raw materials such as coal and iron ore, the other ship was Henry Ford II, which was built by the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio.[1] Rather than being powered by coal fired steam propulsion engines like most ships of the day were, the two Ford ships were had 3000 horsepower Sun Doxford diesel propulsion engines and electrically powered systems.[3] They also had luxurious passenger accommodations for Henry Ford and his guests.

In order to an efficient carrier in the ore, and coal trades, Benson Ford constructed with large box holds.[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 5041554.
  1. ^ a b c "Benson Ford {1}". Shipwatcher News Great Lakes Ships. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  2. ^ Historical Society Staff, Detroit Marine (1994). Great Lakes Ships We Remember III. Freshwater Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780912514505.
  3. ^ Taylor, Cory (February 3, 2020). "The Ford Fleet". The Henry Ford. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
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