Edmund Fitzgerald - Gitche Gumee

Date 9-19-05

• The vessel had a 860,950-cubic-foot cargo hold divided by two nonwatertight transverse "screen" bulkheads.
• The FITZGERALD was carrying about 26,116 long tons of National Taconite Pellets. Taconite pellets are manufactured by a process known as "oxide pelletizing.Taconite pellets weigh from 127 to 140 pounds per cubic foot, will absorb approximately 8 to 9 pounds (6 to 7 percent by weight) water per cubic foot, can contain up to 27.5 pounds of water in the interstitial void spaces in each cubic foot of pellets, and exhibit an angle of repose (the angle between the horizontal and the slope of a freestanding pile of the material) of approximately 260 either wet or dry.
• On November 9, 1975, the S.S. EDMUND FITZGERALD began loading 26,116 long tons of taconite pellets at Burlington Northern Railroad Dock No. 1 in Superior, WI.
• Drafts were taken after receipt of the taconite pellets and 50,013 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil, delivered by a barge which came alongside while the taconite pellets was being loaded.
• Cylinder Water Tanks was also part of the ship weight.

Taconite

• Weight of one Taconite pellet = .009 lbs.
• 1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds = 150 count.
• 1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets weight = 1,35 lbs.
• 1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds 1/3 cup of water in void spaces.
• Typ. Size of one Taconite pellets is = 1/2" Dia.
• 112 Count of Taconite pellets has a weight of 1 Lbs.

The Question:

1. There is 860.950-cubic-foot of cargo space in the Fitz.
2. The Fitz was carrying about 26,116 long tons of National Taconite Pellets.
3. Taconite pellets weight from 135 pounds per cubic foot, will absorb approximately 8 to 9 pounds (6 to 7 percent by weight) water per cubic foot, can contain up to 27.5 pounds of water in the interstitial void spaces in each cubic foot of pellets.
4. The Fitz was capable of carrying 27,500 tons.

Facts:
1 cu. ft. Taconite = 135 lbs. and has 15,120 pellets per cu. ft.
26,116 tons = 58,499,840 lbs X 112 pellets per lbs =
6,551,982,080 Taconite pellets on board the Fitz when fully loaded.

Note:
The shipping industry standard for shipments of coal is the net ton (2,000 lbs or 907.2 kgs). Other bulk commodities use the gross ton (2,240 lbs / 1,016 kgs) or metric tonne (1,000 kgs / 2,204.6 lbs). All tonnage figures used here are the gross ton unless otherwise noted.

Type in 6,551,982,080 - to see how to pronounce the total amount of Taconite pellets for 26,116 tons. (Ship's capable of carrying)

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