Name Charles E. Wilson Sponsored by Mrs. T. M. Thompson Launched 1973 | Yard number 710 Length 203 m | |
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M/V John J. Boland is a diesel-powered Lake freighter owned and operated by the American Steamship Company (ASC). This vessel was built in 1973 at Bay Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and included self-unloading technology. Initially named Charles E. Wilson, the vessel was renamed to its current name in 2000.
The ship is 680 feet (210 m) long and 78 feet (24 m) wide, with a carrying capacity of 34,000 gross tons (at midsummer draft), limestone, grain, coal or iron ore.
History
The ship was built for American Steamship in 1973 and was originally named Charles E. Wilson, named for Charles Erwin Wilson (1890–1961), former United States Secretary of Defense (1953–1957) and former CEO of General Electric. The ship was renamed John J. Boland in 2000 for one of American Steamship's founders.
The freighter was built in around 20 months at a cost of $13 million ($70.1 million today). Mrs. T. M. Thompson, wife of GATX chairman, was the ship sponsor.