It also sees tftie sitait of a new concept in engineering of cargo loading and disposal anchored to a private-enterprise baste: cost-saving. Primarily the Canadian Century's job will be to supply coal to Ontario Hydro's Lakeview generating station near Toronto. It's not a new job, being a coaler. In fact it's one of the oldest, moslt crucial trainstportation roles in comniieirce -- pre-daiting by far thie Industrial Revoiluftioni of tlhe late ©igiMeentih-century. But, that role has now been shipped over the threshhold of the elecontronic age in the "Canadian Century." Basically, this ultra-modern freighter carries more and* unloads faster and cheaper than any other Great Lakes carrier yet designed. How? Simple: "Canadian Century" is one big floating ship's hold -- contrasted to the standard carrier with several divided holds. There are no bulkheads to compartmentalize the ship's cargo capacity nor to §low its unloading. Cargo unloading equipment, designed by Stephens-Adamson, replaces conveyor belts with a reclaiming machine, operated by one man standing on the ship's upper deck. The electronic wand of modern engineering here enters the picture. To unload, the deck operator throws a switch operating a gamma-ray mechanism controlling the opening of tunnel gates in the hold. The flow of cargo (in this case coal) then feds into a specially - designed elevator raising the coal to the upper deck. There, transfer-belt conveyors move the coal ashore. The "Canadian Century" is ited, will be supplying fuel to power Hydro's big Lakeview operation. Photos By By 1975, Ontario Hydro will require -- by current foreStuart Meeks casts -- an increase in generating capacity of close to nine million kilowatts. Thermal electric plants alalso unique in more traditionready are being cast in a vital al ways. role for Ontario's expansion It has a depth of 46 feet -- in the future -- as they were substantially greater than any in the past. other vessel plying the Great Lakeview is programed for Lakes trade. Other skeletal production of 300,000 kilowatts statistics report it 730 feet long from each of eight generators -- a gigantic power source and 75 feet wide. for a forecast matching deBuilt almost entirely of high- mand. tensile steel, it will be the When completed Lakeview largest self-unloader on the then will be pumping 2,400,000 lakes. It's calculated to carry kilowatts into the province's up to 28,000 tons on each trip, hungry grid system. Some idea Overall, the secret of the of the'meaning of that statisnew design's success is the tic can be seen when comparihigh-tensile steel which dras- son shows it is greater than tically reduces the "Canadian the peak 1947 demand made Century's displacement by on all Ontario hydro stations. ruling out bulkhead weight and Last year, Cape Breton trimming the gauge of the Miner and Ontario Power dehull's steel shell. livered a total of 789,000 tons But, unloading of such a dis- of coal from Nova Scotia mines placement of bulk also calls to Ontario's Lakeview and keen-eyed engineering to R. L. Hearn. solve new ballast problems. As with the upcoming CanaStephens-Adamson achiever! dian Century, unloading equipthis by designing a complicat- ment in the Cape Breton Miner ed balance system, pumping and Ontario Power also was water ballast to the bow while designed by Stephens-Adamthe cargo is being unloaded son. toward the stern. These are just some among the ships of Canadian-owned There are other features: companies which have incorCanadian Century is pow- porated Stephens-Adamson deered by a single diesel engine. signs. It has twin-steering rudders. Other corporations using It has a single propeller -- such machinery include Canand its pitch is controlled en- ada Steamship Lines, Algoma Central Railway and Hall Cortirely from the bridge. poration. That pitch is variable -- Meantime, business sources also something new in craft of this size. say it is fully expected UpA thrust propeller also is lo- per Lakes Shipping will soon cated up front, to control dock- order a sister-ship for Canaing and canal manouevering. dian Century. Canadian Century, along Contracts for the cargowith two other new lakers -- handling equipment once more SS Cape Breton Miner and SS Ontario Power -- owned are expected to be placed with by Upper Lake Shipping Lim- the Belleville designers. '4