File talk:Toledo freighters (Buckley, Boyer).jpg

2011-11-23 Asked the museum the name of the ship behind the Willis B Boyer. Nothing to find for SS Buckley. If she is the Buckeye following info can be used and withdrawn here: --Stunteltje (talk) 09:08, 23 November 2011 (UTC)

The Lewis J. Kuber was christened as an articulated tug barge (ATB) in March 2006 and sailed as an ATB throughout the 2007 season. The Lewis J. Kuber (LJK) represents KK Integrated Shipping's entry into the Great Lakes shipping industry.

The LJK hauls primarily limestone on Lakes Michigan and Huron. The Barge Lewis J. is paired with the Tug Olive Moore.

History Lewis J. Kuber The Lewis J. Kuber was originally built in April 1952 by Bethlehem Steel Co. of Cleveland, OH, and was named the Sparrows Point. The vessel hauled iron ore supplying the company's Lake Michigan and Erie mills. The original dimensions of the steamship were 626' loa x 70' beam x 37' depth with a carrying capacity of 19,595 tons. She was lengthened 72' in 1958 by American Ship Building Co. of South Chicago, IL, which increased her capacity to 22,250 tons at a Seaway draft of 26'. The Sparrows was converted to a self-unloader and a bow thruster was added during 1979/80 winter lay-up at the Fraser Shipyards of Superior, WI. The self-unloading system could discharge at a rate of up to 5,327 tons per hour via a 250' stern mounted discharge boom.

In July 1990, the Sparrows Point was sold to the Columbia Transportation Division of Oglebay Norton Co. of Cleveland, OH (becoming Oglebay Norton Marine Services Co., LLC in 1994) and renamed the Buckeye in honor of the state of Ohio as the "Buckeye State". With her new fleet, her cargoes were more varied including stone, aggregates, limestone, coal, and iron ore. The Buckeye sailed for Oglebay Norton over a 15 year period. Due to inefficiencies as a steam powered vessel, the Buckeye experienced decreased sailing schedules and even seasons with no sailing in the early 2000s.

In November 2005, Oglebay Norton sold the Buckeye to a KK Integrated Shipping affiliate to be converted to a notched, articulated barge. The Buckeye arrived at Erie Shipbuilding, Erie, PA under tow of tug Olive L. Moore. Upon completion of the conversion, the Moore and the Buckeye — to be renamed the Lewis J. Kuber — would be paired together as an articulated tug barge unit.

In September 2006, the "new" articulated self-unloading barge emerged renamed the Lewis J. Kuber (LJK) in honor of Tom Kuber's, the owner of KK Integrated Logistics and KK Integrated Shipping, late father. VanEnkevort Tug and Barge, Bark River, MI operates both Articulated Tug Barge units — the Lewis J. Kuber/Tug Olive Moore and the James L. Kuber/Tug Victory. Olive Moore The Olive Moore was originally launched in 1928 as the John F. Cushing. She was built by Manitowoc Ship Building Inc. of Manitowoc, WI, and was originally designed and built with a low superstructure for passage beneath the low bridges in and around Chicago. The tug remained in the Chicago area for the next 40 years until 1965. After being sold in 1965, the tug had several owners and names (including being named the Olive Moore in 1966) until being purchased in 1968 by South Range Aggregates Co.

In December 2005, the Moore towed the Buckeye to Erie, PA to undergo the conversion from steamship to articulated tug barge (ATB). As the assigned tug for the new barge, the Olive L. Moore then returned to Escanaba, MI to receive the necessary modifications for the conversion to an articulated tug. A "Hydraconn" connector was installed, the pilothouse was raised to allow for proper sight-of-eye over the self-unloading equipment of the barge, and additional staterooms were built.

In August 2006, the Olive Moore's 'conversion' was completed and the tug voyaged to Erie, PA to pick up the newly converted ATB — the Lewis J. Kuber. VanEnkevort Tug and Barge of Bark River, MI operates the unit. Dimensions Lewis J. Kuber Overall Dimensions (metric) Length 621' (188.00m) Beam 70' 00" (21.34m) Depth 37' 00" (11.28m) Capacity (dwt) 22,300 tons (22,658 mt) est.