Originally posted by dsmithhfx I clicked on the boatnerd link and found it after a search. Fascinating, especially about the unique un/loading conveyor system (clearly visible on the bow). These things have a lot more lifespan and reincarnations than I would have supposed. I didn't see the part about the front half being WWII vintage.
From what I know of the ships the Canadian Ranger and her Sister ship ( a term I use very loosely) Canadian Explorer (or Danger & Exploder as they were referred by some crew) was conglomeration of incompatible recycled parts put together and called ships. While I don't know the history of the hulls I know the "Stern" sections (Wheelhouse & Engineroom) came from ships called the Cabot & Chimo that ran from Montreal & maybe Halifax to St. John's Newfoundland with general cargo in the 1960's & 1970's
Even though the Ranger was fitted with "Self Unloading Gear" it didn't carry any other cargos other than grain and maybe raw sugar. The gear was too light and ran too slow to unload heavy cargos like iron ore or salt and was rarely used.
The Explorer was strictly a bulker (no Self Unloading Gear) and the forward end was scrapped in the late 90's and back end minus the wheelhouse was recycled once again, welded on to an old American Self Unloading Ship and renamed the Canadian Transfer. That ship was scrapped in Port Colborne in 2014