PowerShips

PowerShips Spring 2012 | No. 281

Uncover the ugly truth behind the Titanic. In “The Final Board of Inquiry: The Cold Case Investigation into the Loss of the Steamship Titanic,” Commander Richard R. Paton, a former Coast Guard Investigation Officer, “officially” investigates one of history’s worst ship disasters and presents the results of his investigation to you, the jury. 

PowerShips Winter 2012 | No. 280

The Shanghai Incident

More than four years before the United States entered World War II, one of the premier Pacific liners, the President Hoover, found herself caught up in another war in Asia. Dan Scott tells a tantalizing story of the final weeks of the President Hoover’s life, a tale of tragedy resulting in the loss of the beautiful ship and seriously undermining the already weakened foundations of an American shipping empire.

The Other Scharnhorst

Roughly fifteen years after the end of World War I, Germany introduced a trio of first-rate liners, conveying the message that Germany was back and ready to do business. Steven Duff highlights one of them, the Scharnhorst, notable for its innovations—turbo-electric machinery, the unusual Maierform bow design, Oertz streamlined rudders, and hulls assembled with the latest technology, arc-welding.

Keeping the Shieldhall Steaming

The steamship Shieldhall was built in the 1950s to take treated sewage sludge out to sea for disposal. Now owned by a charitable society, the ship is maintained and run by a team of dedicated volunteers. Graham MacKenzie reports on the status of the Shieldhall and the repairs being undertaken so it can regain its passenger certificate in time to participate in the Titanic centenary commemorations in April.

The SS United States, Part Three: Troublesome Times

On the morning of November 7, 1969, America’s flagship and the pride of the U.S. Merchant Marine docked for the last time. In the final article of this series, Larry Driscoll talks about the final days of the SS United States as well as continued efforts to preserve the ship, a maritime bag lady covered in rust and bird droppings, her paint chipped and peeling, but from a distance still dignified and majestic.

Sylvan Dell of 1872—Remembering a Pioneering New York Commuter Steamboat

The Sylvan Dell was a typical sidewheeler, built to meet the growing need for commuter services linking workplaces in New York City with increasingly less rural Harlem. Richard Elliot remembers the “Queen of New York Harbor,” a steamer that went on to become a virtual vagabond, repeatedly chartered to others, and ending up entertaining excursionists on day trips out of Philadelphia. 

Regular Features

• Regionals: Shipping news from points around the compass
• Heard on the Fantail
• Tugboats
• Questions & Answers with Steamboat Bill
• Book Reviews
• Full Steam Ahead: News from SSHSA Headquarters

PowerShips Fall 2011 | No. 279

In the days before there was a bridge-tunnel across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, the crossings were handled by big passenger-vehicle ferries. William Baxter has their story in Vessels of the Virginia Ferry Corporation 1930-1956. 

On one of the last cruises of the steam-powered liner Ivory, Thomas Rinaldi sat down with her officers and engineers to discuss the operations of that rapidly-disappearing type of vessel. Steam's Swan Song is his interview with them. 

During the Civil War, the Union Army, as well as the Navy, operated an interesting fleet of steamers. Charles Dana Gibson has their story in The Union Army's Procurement of Vessels for Coastal and Gulf of Mexico Service 1861-1865. 

Larry Driscoll brings us part two of his in-depth history of the liner United States in SS United States: The Last Queen of the Merchant Marine.

PowerShips Summer 2011 | No. 278

Larry Driscoll, the author of the acclaimed history of the liner America, brings us the first installment of his in-depth look at the career of the liner United States, that coincides with current efforts to save the ship and restore her. Subsequent installments will appear in the fall and winter issues.

Another ship preservation effort involves the Spanish-American War-era cruiser Olympia. She has been preserved on the Philadelphia waterfront for decades but her situation has become critical. Robert Foley has the story.

In days gone by, booking passage on a passenger-carrying freighter, was sometimes an alternative to traveling on the great glamorous liners. John Fostik returns to those days in his fascinating article Cargo Liners to Remember.

To many people today, the loss of the Cunard Liner Oregon in 1886 is not well known. But it is well known to Jane Mitchell LaSure, who has a family connection to it. In this issue, she recounts the disaster and her family link to it.

In Q-Ships: Undercover Naval Warfare by the Merchant Marine, Louis Kleber examines the one-time wartime phenomenon of armed vessels masquerading as merchant ships in search of prey on the high seas.

PowerShips Spring 2011 | No. 277

In their 45 years of service, the liners that began life as Moore-McCormack Lines’ Brasil and Argentina underwent numerous ownership changes and 17 name changes between them. Come along as veteran seaman Edmund Squire re-visits the colorful careers of two of the last deep-sea passenger liners built in the U.S. 

In "A Night Out with the Three Cunard Queens," SSHSA President Robert Cleasby recounts the night when the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria,and the new Queen Elizabeth met for the first time in New York, all documented with spectacular color photography. 

Restoring a more than century-old steamboat that has been laid up for 20 years is no easy task but it’s one that is ongoing in Detroit. Richard Anderson has the story of the famous Boblo steamer Columbia and the restoration project that seeks to return her to operation. 

The Great Lakes region is fortunate to be blessed with a number of preserved steamships and museums telling the story of the region’s great maritime heritage. PowerShips columnist Rich Turnwald visits four classic Great Lakes passenger steamers that have been preserved in all their glory, including one that is still steaming. 

The paddle steamboat Mary Woods 2 was a popular attraction for many years at Jacksonport State Park in Arkansas, but the end has come. PowerShips’ Western Rivers columnist Charles Bogart looks back on her career. 

Maersk Line recently placed an order for ten container ships it describes as “the world’s largest and most efficient vessels,” and ones that will change the industry’s understanding of size and efficiency. PowerShips editor Jack Shaum has a preview. 

The liner United States has changed hands and her new owners are confident they can succeed where others have failed to preserve the one-time flagship of the American merchant marine. Look for an update in "Another Step Forward for the United States" by editor Jack Shaum.

PowerShips Winter 2010-11 | No. 276
SSHSA's Ship of the Year Award for 2010 goes to two vessels - the iconic liner SS United States and the classic steam yacht Cangarda. Richard Rabbett has the story of their selection.

During the 1960s and early 1970s a famous American shipping firm undertook a comprehensive fleet replacement. Join author David Hendrickson for an in-depth look at "Prides, Clippers, and Seabees: New Freighters for the Lykes Bros. Steamship Company."

The Nantucket Lightship was unquestionably one of the most famous of American lightships. Robert Mannino brings us the history of Nantucket Lightship LV-112 and the ongoing effort to restore and preserve her.

Take a trip along Norway's colorful and rugged coast with author Steven Duff as he writes of "A Voyage to the Roof of the World."

The famous Ellis Island ferry Ellis Island is no more, but she is well-remembered in New York harbor. National Park Service historian Barry Moreno tells of her long career and the successful effort to document her and preserve a number of her artifacts at the famous immigration facility.

PowerShips Fall 2010 | No. 275
Just when it appeared she might be headed for the scrapyard the record-breaking liner SS United States received a reprieve.  This issue of PowerShips has the latest developments on the projected restoration of the great liner.

In his day Theodore E. Ferris was acclaimed as one of the nation's pre-eminent naval architects, but today his work is largely forgotten.  John Emery takes a look at some of his more famous ships in "The Passenger Ships of Theodore E. Ferris."

Plans are in the works for a revolutionary new passenger vessel that would carry the famous name France. Our photo-feature offers a glimpse into what she would look like.

Even though they are all but gone small coastal steamboats are still viewed with great affection by many maritime historians. Joseph Giglietti revisits one of them—the Quonset of Block Island fame.

Click here to view a preview of the Fall 2010 issue of PowerShips.

PowerShips Summer 2010 | No. 274
The world's oldest deep-sea passenger vessel is retired after an incredible 95-year seagoing career! Peter T. Eisele has her story in "The Many Lives of Newport News Hull 176."

At age 100, the Toronto ferryboat Trillium continues in service. Gordon Champion, Mike Filey, and Jenny Suttaby combine forces to tell the story of her long career, including a rebirth following a lengthy lay-up.

Reaching back into his wealth of sea stories, Captain Edward C. March brings us the story of a marathon World War II trip in "A Wartime Voyage on a Liberty Ship."

Not only are the Western Rivers now devoid of overnight passenger vessels, one of them has reached the end of the line. Charles H. Bogart has the story in "Mississippi Queen—1976-2010: A Life Cut Short."

In "Queen Victoria & The Pirates," Philip Simms tells how the giant Cunarder prepared earlier this year for a cruise through dangerous waters.