Soo Locks opens for the season; first freighter passes through

3/25 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – After a 10-week shut down for winter maintenance, the Soo Locks opened for the season early Wednesday morning.

The first freighter made its way into the Sault Ste Marie area around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. H. Lee White had the honor of starting the shipping season. Joyce L. VanEnkevort followed her up the river and was scheduled lock to through after the White. Clyde S. VanEnkevort and her barge Erie Trader were anchored at Nine Mile Tuesday night. Burns Harbor will be the first downbound passage. Edwin H. Gott and Presque Isle were also upbound in the river on Tuesday.

Soo Locks Park is closed to visitors due to the Covid-19 pandemic until further notice. View a video at this link: https://www.9and10news.com/2020/03/24/soo-locks-opens-for-the-season-first-freighter-passes-through

NACC Argonaut opens Welland Canal

3/25 - St. Catharines, ON – The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of the Seaway’s 62nd navigation season Tuesday with the transit of the NACC Argonaut through Lock 8 on the Welland Canal.

“With the COVID-19 outbreak, we are living in exceptional times. We witnessed a tremendous response by our employees and members of the broader marine community in overcoming a range of obstacles to ensure that the Seaway can open” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC.

“The St. Lawrence Seaway provides an essential transportation service that literally feeds nations around the world, including Canada and the U.S., and supplies the inputs which keep many of our industries operating. We will strive to do our part during this difficult period. We are implementing recommended preventive measures to protect the health of our employees, including working from home where possible. ”

Craig H. Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation said, “Every navigation season brings opportunities and challenges and the 2020 season will be no different. While the opportunities and challenges change each year, what remains constant are the safety, reliability, efficiency and environmental performance advantages of waterborne transportation. The Seaway Corporations continue working every day to ensure that these advantages are realized as fully as possible in our binational waterway.”

The Seaway’s Montreal / Lake Ontario section will open on April 1, this year, eight days after the opening of the Welland Canal. This hybrid approach will enable the International Joint Commission to move record volumes of water out of Lake Ontario in order to provide relief to lakeshore communities battered by high water levels.

St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

Homeland Security says maritime workers considered ‘essential’

3/25 - Maritime workers – including those working on barges, in energy transportation and at ports – are considered “essential employees” and should report to work even under state or local shelter-in-place or stay-at-home restrictions designed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a list Thursday of “essential critical infrastructure workers” to help state and local officials identify those who should stay on the job during the coronavirus crisis.

Calling them either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home restrictions, a growing number of states and local governments are curbing or shuttering businesses and limiting the movement of people to stem the disease’s spread. DHS stated that these responses are locally executed, state managed and federally supported.

Concerning the maritime industry, the DHS list zeros in on “port workers, mariners, equipment operators, employees who maintain marine vessels and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers.”

Also included are those involved in marine transport and storage of crude oil and petroleum. LNG facilities and transport, and workers who support the operation, inspection and maintenance of the nation’s locks, dams and levees are also considered essential. Workers involved in the necessary credentialing, vetting and licensing operations of transportation workers are also included.

The American Waterways Operators, the association representing the tug and barge industry, has been working closely with federal officials to make sure barge industry workers are classified as essential and are able to get to their jobs despite stay-at-home restrictions imposed where they live.

AWO has posted on its website templates of two letters that can be used by waterways companies stating that their employees are considered “essential critical infrastructure workers” under the DHS guidelines. One letter can be sent to state, city or other government bodies to assure the “free passage” of maritime transportation workers to their jobs. The other identifies employees as essential.

Both letters emphasize the importance of allowing maritime workers to get to their jobs and quote the DHS memorandum that states: “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.” Letter templates and other updates can be found on AWO’s website.

Workboat

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known). We welcome new reporters. If your port is not included, we would welcome your contributions.

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
After shifting from her winter layup berth at SMET to the Canadian National dock late Monday night to load her first cargo of the season, Paul R. Tregurtha was outbound at 14:23 Tuesday afternoon with iron ore pellets. Her fleetmate Lee A. Tregurtha had been expected to depart from Fraser Shipyards at some point Tuesday evening for Silver Bay to load, leaving only the John J. Boland and American Spirit left in layup. Duluth's first arrival of the 2020 season will be the Maumee/tug Victory, which was expected at 21:30 to pick up a load of ore at CN. There is a growing list of vessels that are due upon the opening of the Soo Locks, including H. Lee White, Presque Isle, Saginaw, Mesabi Miner, CSL Laurentien, Stewart J. Cort, and American Mariner.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay – Gary A. Putney
Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived Two Harbors on March 24th at 00:15 Central for South of #2. She departed on the 24th at 10:20 for Indiana Harbor. Anchored near Detour was the Edwin H. Gott for Two Harbors as of 19:00 on March 24th. Lee A. Tregurtha is due Silver Bay to load. As of 19:00 on the 24th she was still at Fraser Shipyards. As of 19:00 on the 24th Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader and the Joyce L. VanEnkevort / Great Lakes Trader were both below the locks awaiting their upbound passage. Both are showing a Silver Bay destination.

Thunder Bay, ON
Tuesday, March 24; 10:25, CCGS Samuel Risley arrived and began ice operations to break out the harbor. CSL Welland left her layup berth at Keefer Terminal and shifted to Viterra A to load wheat.

St. Marys River – Denny Dushane
As of 6 p.m. March 24, American Steamship Company’s H. Lee White was moored on the lower Poe Lock wall awaiting the opening of the Soo Locks scheduled for 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. She is headed for Superior, WI, where she is expected sometime on March 26. From there, the ship will load a cargo of wheat for Buffalo, NY. The White was also the first ship to depart Sturgeon Bay. Meanwhile, the 1,000-foot Burns Harbor was anchored above the Soo Locks near Gros Cap Light around Isle Parisienne waiting for the H. Lee White to clear the locks upbound before they proceed downbound. H. Lee White will be the first ship upbound at the Soo Locks while the Burns Harbor will be the first downbound. Both are owned by the American Steamship Company. This will also be a first for the H. Lee White as far as opening the Soo Locks. Burns Harbor was the last vessel of the 2019 season at the Soo Locks on January 15th heading to Superior, WI.

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Daniel Lindner
Roger Blough and American Mariner departed their winter layup berths at Bay Shipbuilding on Tuesday, leaving eight vessels still tied up around the shipyard. Sandblasting and painting work is well underway on the hull of Thunder Bay in the graving dock, while the remaining vessels are slowly ballasting and making preparations for the coming season.

Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
Samuel de Champlain/Innovation cleared for Chicago at 22:38 Monday (3/23). An hour later, Stewart J. Cort backed out of the harbor and headed for Lake Superior.

Northern Lake Huron
McGregor Bay: Sunday March 22; 10:56 CCGS Samuel Risley arrived to break out the Lafarge Whitefish Bay Terminal and Fisher Harbour. She departed at 14:26 for Thunder Bay On. Tuesday; The cement carrier Alpena arrived at the Lafarge Whitefish Bay Terminal to unload. Alpena: Monday March 23; The cement carrier Alpena arrived to load at the Lafarge plant and departed at 19:44 for McGregor Bay.

Toledo, OH – Denny Dushane
A correction to Monday's news reports. It was mentioned and indicated the Edwin H. Gott became Toledo's fourth vessel to depart from for the 2020 shipping season. The Gott was the fifth vessel departure from Toledo for the 2020 season. The first to depart was the tug Samuel De Champlain and barge Innovation on March 16 from the Lafarge Cement Dock where they had wintered. Two more vessels departed on March 20 from Lay-Up, the tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort and barge Erie Trader along with the tug Laura L. VanEnkevort and barge Joseph H. Thompson with each sailing to Marblehead to load limestone. The fourth vessel to depart was the tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort and barge Great Lakes Trader within the past few days. They were headed to Silver Bay to load iron ore pellets.

Port Colborne, ON – Denny Dushane
Algoma Sault departed on Tuesday morning heading upbound. AIS shows Thunder Bay as their next destination. Algoma Sault joined CSL Laurentien and CSL Tadoussac, which departed from their Winter Lay-Up berths in Port Colborne. CSL Laurentien departed in the late evening hours on March 23, while te CSL Tadoussac left in the morning on March 24 heading downbound in the Welland Canal to Bowmanville to load cement for Detroit. CSL Tadoussac was also the first downbound vessel for the 2020 season at Lock 3. Meanwhile, the CSL Laurentien was showing on their AIS a Windsor destination.

Dojon Shipbuilding among business that receive a least a partial wavier

3/25 - Erie, PA - Business owners and their employees in Erie and across the state continued to seek answers Monday about how Gov. Tom Wolf would define non-life-sustaining business.

That definition has continued to evolve since the governor announced last week that he would shutter thousands of Pennsylvania businesses in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. And the list of businesses required to close has been updated to reflect a growing number of exemptions since the original list was announced Thursday.

Local company Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair learned they had been granted at least partial waivers. Donjon, which sent more than 140 employees home last week, was expected to resume operations Tuesday with a workforce of about 80.

Like a long list of other businesses, New Jersey-based Donjon Marine Co. Inc., parent company of the Erie shipyard, made the case that it was vital to the economy. “We’re in very difficult times,” said John Witte, executive director of Dojon Marine. “We made the waiver request and we waited in line behind everybody else to learn whether we would be granted the waiver.”

GoErie.com

Goderich Port’s response during social distancing

3/25 - Goderich, ON – Amid the evolving situation pertaining to the pandemic of COVID-19, shipping is currently in its seasonal hiatus, yet will resume in early April. Ports play a key role in the economy and the marine transportation sectors are prepared for the heightened risk of COVID-19.

Goderich Port Management Corporation (GPMC) expects lake traffic supporting maritime commerce to continue. “The Town and GPMC has emergency plans and processes in place to respond to situations like the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Goderich Mayor John Grace. “Our top priority is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our residents and any vessels entering our Port.”

According to the GPMC, measures have been taken to ensure vessels destined for Goderich have the latest information from local health teams on how to handle crew who might have symptoms of COVID-19. Both Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH) and the Maitland Valley Family Health Team have been preparing for COVID-19 for weeks.

Local health teams reiterate that if at risk of COVID-19 because of travel or contact with someone who has the virus, phone appointments are on offer. If symptoms are mild, health teams ask individuals to stay at home or in self-isolation and if symptoms are serious, direction will be provided.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC), the shipping industry association is keeping all shipping and ports updated on the changing situation and Transport Canada has issued guidance to offshore vessels approaching Canadian waters.

Goderich Signal Star

COVID-19 concerns slated to temporarily close Burlington lift bridge to vehicle traffic

3/25 - Hamilton, ON – The federal government plans to close the Burlington Canal lift bridge to car traffic temporarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to emails to the city. City officials were alerted Monday that the bridge over the shipping canal into Hamilton Harbor would soon be lifted — and left in the raised position — due to staffing issues related to COVID-19.

But there was still no word Tuesday about when the closure would begin or how long the bridge might be off-limits to cars. Emails to the city indicated a federal announcement – including alternate route information – is yet to come. It is also unclear if any of the handful of employees who run the federally owned bridge are in self-isolation, or whether the planned shutdown is meant as a temporary precaution.

The nearly 60-year-old bridge serves as both the Eastport Drive road link between Burlington and Hamilton — particularly for the residential beach strip — but also an emergency route over the canal for QEW highway traffic during skyway closures. Leaving the bridge in the "raised" position would allow lakers and other marine traffic to access the busy port in Hamilton Harbour with the shipping season about to begin.

Hamilton Spectator

U.S. flat steel demand healthy in Q1, virus outlook uncertain: US Steel

3/25 - Demand for flat-rolled steel products in the US has been healthy throughout the first quarter of 2020, however the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on the rest of the year is unknown given the rapidly evolving situation, US Steel said Friday.

US Steel expects to report an adjusted loss of 8 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2020, it said in its first quarter guidance issued Friday. This compares with earnings of 31 cents per diluted share, or $54 million, on sales of $3.5 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Results for the company’s flat-rolled segment are expected to be better than anticipated in Q1 as seasonally strong shipment volumes more than offset the typical seasonality of mining, US Steel said.

“Additionally, the domestic flat-rolled steel market has remained healthy throughout the first quarter to date,” the company said. “Extended lead times are supported by robust construction end-market demand and an end to destocking that negatively impacted order rates throughout 2019.”

In April the company will commence the previously announced indefinite idling of its iron and steel making operations at its Great Lakes Works outside Detroit and still expects to begin a sched-uled 48-day outage at its Gary Works blast furnace No.4 in April.

Steel selling prices in Europe steadily increased throughout Q1, however US Steel said its business was still impacted by the flow through of lower pricing based on monthly and quarterly contracts and elevated raw material costs.

Additionally, the company’s tubular steel segment remained challenged in Q1 as oil prices remain under significant pressure and rig counts continue to be low, US Steel said.

“The global coronavirus outbreak is an unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation,” US Steel said. “It remains uncertain how long the situation will last and what the impacts will be for the full year. Given the significant uncertainty in the marketplace, we continue to monitor demand levels and plan to provide more information during our first quarter earnings call.”

Hellenic Shipping News

HENRY G. DALTON (Hull#713) was launched March 25, 1916, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., for the Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio – the company's first 600 footer.

FRANK R. DENTON was launched March 25, 1911, as a.) THOMAS WALTERS (Hull#390) at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. for the Interstate Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio.

On March 25, 1927, heavy ice caused the MAITLAND NO 1, to run off course and she grounded on Tecumseh Shoal on her way to Port Maitland, Ontario. Eighteen hull plates were damaged which required repairs at Ashtabula, Ohio.

The steamer ENDERS M. VOORHEES participated in U.S. Steel's winter-long navigation feasibility study during the 1974-75 season, allowing only one month to lay up from March 25th to April 24th.

March 25, 1933 - Captain Wallace Henry "Andy" Van Dyke, master of the Steamer PERE MARQUETTE 22, suffered a heart attack and died peacefully in his cabin while en route to Ludington, Michigan.

1966: The French freighter ROCROI made one trip through the Seaway in 1959. The ship arrived at Halifax on this date in 1966 with interior damage after the 'tween decks, loaded with steel, collapsed crushing tractors and cars beneath. The vessel was repaired and survived until 1984 when, as e) THEOUPOLIS, it hit a mine en route to Berbera, Somalia, on August 14, 1984. The vessel was badly damaged and subsequently broken up in India.

1973: The former MONTREAL CITY caught fire as b) RATCHABURI at Bangkok, Thailand, on March 24, 1973. It was loading a cargo of jute and rubber for Japan on its first voyage for new Thai owners. The vessel was scuttled and sank on March 25 in Pattani Bay, South Thailand. The ship began coming through the Seaway for the Bristol City Line when new in 1963.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Soo Locks poised for season opener

3/24 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – With the shipping season getting underway at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, two vessels are already in the river awaiting passage. The downbound Burns Harbor was at anchor below Whitefish Point at 10 p.m. Monday night. H. Lee White was anchored above DeTour. The vessels will make their way to the locks on Tuesday to be ready for the opening bell. It was unknown on Monday which vessel would have the honor of being the first boat. The USCG icebreaker Mackinaw is stationed above the locks to provide assistance if needed.

On Monday, tug Victory / barge Maumee left winter layup at Algoma Steel bound for Marquette to load, according to her AIS. The CCGS icebreaker Samuel Risley locked upbound to conduct ice ops in Thunder Bay. USCG Alder was downbound, and by 10 p.m. was in the Straits area. Other vessels headed for the locks include upbound Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader, Presque Isle and Edwin H. Gott.

Events marking the opening of the locks have been cancelled for this year and the Soo Locks park is closed to visitors.

Twin Ports shipping season gets underway

3/24 - Duluth, MN – Amid a pandemic and fears over how a recession could impact Iron Range mining operations, the Twin Ports shipping season quietly got underway over the weekend.

The Burns Harbor departed from the Superior entry at 1:53 a.m. Sunday with a load of iron ore bound for the ship's namesake port in Indiana. The 1,000-foot laker, operated by the American Steamship Company, was also the last into port, arriving on Jan. 16.

Meanwhile, the new season's first traffic should begin arriving later this week. The Stewart J. Cort, H. Lee White and American Mariner all were Twin Ports-bound, with estimated Thursday morning arrivals, according to tracking website Harbor Lookout.

The Soo Locks will open for the season Wednesday, making Lake Superior accessible to the lower Great Lakes and oceangoing vessels.

Duluth News Tribune

Ship remains grounded in Green Bay; freight being off-loaded to help it float free

3/24 - Green Bay, WI - Efforts were under way Monday to free a 740-foot cargo vessel that ran aground and became stuck in the bay of Green Bay Thursday. Some of her cargo was off-loaded into a barge Monday, but not enough for tugs to pull her free. Off-loading will continue.

The ship was undamaged, no one was hurt, and there was no resulting pollution spill from the accident, but the ship remained lodged in place, partially blocking the shipping channel five miles north of the mouth of the Fox River.

The ship, the Algoma Conveyor, was transporting a load of road salt from Canada into Green Bay when it lost propulsion because of a mechanical failure, attempted to anchor and then drifted aground, according to Lt. Phillip Gurtler of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Because of the lack of damage, the Coast Guard, state Department of Natural Resources and a contracted salvage company had the leisure to work with the owner, Algoma Central Corp., over the weekend to formulate a plan, Gurtler said.

The plan so far is a simple one: Off-load the road salt to another vessel and see whether the resulting loss of weight improves buoyancy enough to free the vessel. Several tug boats were dispatched to the scene to help pull the vessel free if that is necessary and it can be done without damaging the hull, Gurtler said.

The 18 crew members will remain aboard to help with the off-loading and other tasks but will be removed if any major safety concern develops, Gurtler said. He was unable to guess how long the operation could take.

Green Bay Press Gazette

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known). We welcome new reporters. If your port is not included, we would welcome your contributions.

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
There were no departures from the Twin Ports on Monday as originally expected. Hon. James L. Oberstar, in layup at Fraser Shipyards, was tentatively expected to depart at 19:30 for Two Harbors to pick up her first load of the season but was still at the shipyard at that time (AIS showed her underway at 10 p.m.). Paul R. Tregurtha, which had been expected to load at SMET where she is currently laid up, is now slated to shift to CN to load iron ore pellets before departing on Tuesday or Wednesday. The port's first arrival of the season will likely be H. Lee White, which is currently anchored in the lower St. Marys River and is due on Thursday to load wheat at General Mills.

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Jim Conlon
The first ship to leave winter layup at Bayship, the H. Lee White, left on Sunday morning.

Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
Samuel de Champlain/Innovation arrived from Alpena at 01:49 Monday (3/23) with cement for Lafarge. She was reunited with fleetmate, G.L. Ostrander/Integrity, which has spent the winter in Milwaukee. At 03:10, Calumet River Fleeting’s tug Nathan S returned to the city with three more barges for loading at the COFCO elevator. This makes seven three-barge tows loaded at COFCO in 2020. Tug and barges cleared for Calumet Harbor at 16:56. No additional marine traffic is currently expected.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Saginaw was loading coke at Zug Island on Monday.

Toledo, OH – Denny Dushane
Edwin H. Gott departed Winter Lay-Up early in the morning on March 23. Their AIS was indicating a Two Harbors destination. This makes the fourth vessel so far that departed from Winter Lay-Up in Toledo and now leaves 12 vessels still remaining in lay-up. The list includes Algoma Strongfield at the Ironhead Shipyard drydock getting their 5-year survey done; Philip R. Clarke and Great Republic tied-up at the Old Interlake Iron Co. Dock near the Ironhead Shipyard Drydock; Sam Laud at the Ironville Dock along with the American Century at CSX #3 Dock, Indiana Harbor along with the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. at CSX #2 Dock; Arthur M. Anderson at the CSX #1 Dock Wall and American Courage at the Torco Lakefront Docks. Three ships that are laid-up and not expected to sail in 2020 include American Valor and Manistee in long-term lay-up at the Hocking Valley Dock and the St. Clair still at the Lakefront Docks from its fire in February 2019.

Ashtabula, OH – Denny Dushane
Saginaw became Ashtabula's first departure from Winter Lay-Up of the 2020 Shipping Season late during the evening on March 22. Vessels that remain in lay-up are the following: Calumet, Cuyahoga, tug Defiance and barge Ashtabula, tug Invincible, Mississagi, Ojibway, tug Olive L. Moore and barge Menominee and the Robert S. Pierson.

ArcelorMittal idling #4 blast furnace at Indiana Harbor after auto shutdown in coronavirus response

3/24 - East Chicago - ArcelorMittal is idling the #4 Blast Furnace at its ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor steel mill after auto plants nationwide shut down for a deep cleaning to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Much of the steel made at the mill in East Chicago and along Northwest Indiana's lakeshore ends in cars, trucks and SUVs. Industry analysts estimate as much as 50% of the business at integrated mills like ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor comes from the automotive industry.

The Detroit 3 automakers are shuttering their plants through March 29 to clean them to protect workers from COVID-19. Honda, Subaru and other foreign automakers also temporarily closed their U.S. plants in response to the global pandemic for which there is not yet a cure.

"The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted ArcelorMittal USA’s key use markets. In response to this, we are adapting our capacity to meet changing demand while maintaining the flexibility of our operations," ArcelorMittal spokesman William Steers said. "As a result, ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor has begun preparations for a safe and orderly blow down of IH #4 blast furnace with necessary precaution to preserve the asset for future production."

The company would not say exactly how many jobs would be affected.

"ArcelorMittal USA plans to work with the USW to minimize impact on our workforce for the duration of the outage by finding available opportunities for displaced workers in other areas of our operations," Steers said. "Our employees are our greatest asset and their health and safety is our top priority. During this time we continue to be committed to protecting the well-being of our employees, contractors, vendors and customers to ensure the continuity and sustainability of our business and communities."

The idling could potentially just be the start as the coronavirus crisis unfolds, he said.

"ArcelorMittal will continue to engage with our customers in understanding the new market realities resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, which may require additional capacity optimization to align our production with end use demand," Steers said.

Northwest Indiana Times

S.S. Keewatin will not reopen to visitors in 2020

3/24 - Port McNicoll, ON – Despite its investment in headsets to facilitate the operation of tours of the S.S. Keewatin, the Friends of Keewatin has determined, in conjunction with Skyline Investments, the owners of the ship, that it will not be feasible for its tours to operate in 2020 within COVID-19 social distancing requirements in light of parts of the tours necessarily occurring in close quarters.

In anticipation of these requirements continuing for some time, given the S.S. Keewatin’s relatively short mid-May to mid-October operating season, the impact on tourism, including by cruise ship, a significant source of visitors in recent years, and the substantial fixed cost and volunteer effort to open for the season, we have concluded that preparing to open for the 2020 season will not be in the long-term interests of the S.S. Keewatin.

The Friends of Keewatin will continue to work with Skyline Investments in determining the future plans for operation of the S.S. Keewatin.

Friends of Keewatin

ALPENA (Hull#177) was launched on March 24, 1909, at Wyandotte, Michigan, by Detroit Ship Building Co. for the Wyandotte Transportation Co.

IRVIN L. CLYMER was launched March 24, 1917, as a.) CARL D. BRADLEY (Hull#718) at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. the third self-unloader in the Bradley Transportation Co. fleet.

The SAMUEL MATHER was transferred on March 24, 1965, to the newly-formed Pickands Mather subsidiary Labrador Steamship Co. Ltd. (Sutcliffe Shipping Co. Ltd., operating agents), Montreal, Quebec, to carry iron ore from their recently opened Wabush Mines ore dock at Pointe Noire, Quebec to U.S. blast furnaces on Lakes Erie and Michigan. She was renamed b.) POINTE NOIRE.

PETER ROBERTSON was launched March 24, 1906, as a) HARRY COULBY (Hull#163) at Wyandotte, Michigan, by Detroit Ship Building Co. for the L. C. Smith Transit Co., Syracuse, New York.

On 24 March 1874, the 181-foot, 3-mast wooden schooner MORNING STAR was launched at E. Saginaw, Michigan, by Crosthwaite.

On 24 March 1876, CITY OF SANDUSKY (wooden side-wheel passenger/package freight vessel, 171 foot, 608 gross tons, built in 1866, at Sandusky, Ohio) burned and sank in the harbor at Port Stanley, Ontario.

On 24 March 1876, MINNIE CORLETT (wooden scow-schooner, 107 gross tons, built before 1866) was sailing light from Chicago, Illinois, to Two Rivers, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan when she stranded and then sank. No lives were lost.

1905: The wooden passenger and freight carrier LAKESIDE was built in Windsor in 1888. It spent most of its life operating between Niagara and Toronto. During fit out on this date in 1905, the ship sank at the dock in Port Dalhousie when water was sucked in through the seacock after the engine filling the boiler shut down. The hull was refloated and returned to service until the DALHOUSIE CITY was built in 1911.

1981: The West German freighter ANNA REHDER first came through the Seaway in 1967 when it was two years old. It was sold and renamed LESLIE in 1973. The captain last reported his position on this date in 1981 and that they were encountering heavy weather while en route from Boulogne, France, to Umm Said, Qatar. There was no further word and it is believed that the ship went down with all hands in the Atlantic off the coast of Spain. A ring buoy was later found north of Cape Finnestere.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Mackinaw locks up to break ice in upper St. Marys River

3/22 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – At lunchtime Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw entered the Poe Lock to begin opening the upper St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay as part of spring breakout in Lake Superior. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, continues vital operations at the Soo Locks while dealing with the impacts of COVID-19.

USCG

Tugs head for grounded Algoma Conveyor

3/22 - Green Bay, WI – On Saturday evening, two tugs and a barge were on their way to the Algoma Conveyor, which ran aground late Thursday afternoon in the entrance channel to Green Bay, WI. The tugs are Erika Kobasic and Nickelena. USCG Mobile Bay was also on the scene Saturday afternoon.

Algoma Conveyor lost propulsion and moved outside the shipping channel, and it ran aground, according to port director Dean Haen. The ship was hauling salt into Green Bay.

U.S. Coast Guard to open West Neebish Channel in the St. Marys River

3/22 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The Coast Guard plans to open the West Neebish Channel in the St. Marys River Tuesday morning, March 24.

Ice above the Neebish Island ferry crossing is deteriorating rapidly. Recent rain and above normal temperatures weakened shore ice which threatens to collapse and potentially obstruct ferry operations. Three 140-foot ice breaking tugs are working the lower St. Marys River to flush rotten ice downstream to prevent ice from hindering commercial navigation, including ferry operations. Prior to announcing these plans, Coast Guard officials conferred with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) and the local ferry operators to collect their input. Each supports the timing for the waterway opening.

For up-to-date information on ferry operations call the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) delays, cancellation, and updates hotline at (906) 632-1516, check the local ferry Facebook pages, or the EUPTA website at EUPTA.net.

USCG

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known). We welcome new reporters. If your port is not included, we would welcome your contributions.

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
After spending the last few months laid up at Elevator M in Superior, Burns Harbor left the dock around 01:00 Saturday morning and shifted to Burlington Northern to load her first cargo of iron ore pellets for the season. She was tentatively expected to depart at 22:00. Still in layup around the Twin Ports are Paul R. Tregurtha, moored at Midwest Energy; American Spirit, tied at Lakehead Pipeline; and Hon. James L. Oberstar, Lee A. Tregurtha, and John J. Boland, all laid up at Fraser Shipyards. All three Interlake vessels are currently slated to depart on Monday, while the port's first arrivals of the 2020 season should come by the end of the week.

St. Marys River
Tanker Algocanada was unloading petroleum products in Soo, ON, on Saturday.

Marine City, MI – Rich Larson
At 5:30 pm Saturday, the tug Leo A. MacArthur and barge John J. Carrick passed downbound. Skies clear 29 degrees F. Winds stiff and steady from the north-northwest.

Marblehead, OH
The Clyde S. VanEnkevort and barge Erie Trader arrived late Friday night in Marblehead thus becoming the first arrival in Marblehead for the 2020 Shipping Season. The tug Laura L. VanEnkevort and Joe Thompson are anchored awaiting the Clyde to load at Marblehead first.

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
McKeil Spirit departed Saturday afternoon, in ballast, for Picton, ON, after delivering the first load of the season to Lehigh Cement.

USS Little Rock offered for service as hospital in battle against Covid-19

3/22 - Buffalo, NY - The decommissioned USS Little Rock at Canalside is volunteering to be a floating hospital for people testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Taking an all-hands-on-deck approach, Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park officials said Friday the ship and the entire park could play a role in the local health care delivery system to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Paul Marzello, the park's president and CEO, offered use of the ship and park to Erie County officials, who confirmed they have received the offer. “Right now the USS Little Rock could accommodate between 175 and 200 people, depending on distancing requirements,” said Shane Stephenson, the park's director of museum collections.

The public opening of the military park for the 2020 season has been delayed because of the highly contagious virus. But elected officials and health industry leaders are scrambling to increase hospital bed capacity in anticipation of a surge of patients infected by the virus.

The park's offer comes a day after Catholic Health announced it is converting the St. Joseph Campus for Sisters of Charity Hospital to exclusive care of coronavirus patients. But that is not expected to be enough.

Mark Sullivan, president and CEO of Catholic Health, has said the St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga will handle 20% of patients expected to need hospitalization and the 5% who will need intensive care. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has also been in discussions on the possibility of using the former Women & Children's Hospital and the Buffalo Grand Hotel, formerly the Adam's Mark Buffalo, for additional hospital beds to treat Covid-19 patients.

The Little Rock, a light cruiser commissioned at the end of World War II, was originally designed to accommodate 700 shipmates. In its current role as a museum, it is outfitted with plumbing and other utilities. “My understanding is that the Army Corps of Engineers would have to bring in equipment to make it suitable for this type of service,” Stephenson said.

Using a decommissioned naval ship might not be as unusual as it sounds. The Navy has already sent two hospital ships to New York City and the West Coast. "The role of the military in the past has been significant in assuaging the public's fears in times of crisis," Marzello said. "Generally speaking, people view the military as having the resources and the commitment to overcome these kinds of challenges."

The Little Rock is no stranger to overnight guests. In the spring and fall, the ship routinely accommodates area Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations for weekend encampments.

The USS The Sullivans, a decommissioned destroyer at the park, is not suitable for housing because it lacks utilities, Branning said.

The Buffalo News

Seaway announces COVID-19 measures

3/22 - Seaway notice no. 10 - 2020
Limitations to Interfaces at Canadian Locks due to COVID-19 The following limitations are applicable at all Canadian locks:

1. Interfaces for persons/service providers are to occur for R1 personnel only (Canadian crews are considered R1)
2. SLSMC will not entertain any escorting of non-R1 persons or monitoring product exchanges.
3. SLSMC will not provide assistance handling gangways.
4. Visitors are reminded to follow SLSMC instructions for gaining access to all locks.

Domestic Carriers (with their own portable gangway)
• Interfaces permitted at SLB Lock (Lock 1) and Upper Beauharnois Lock (Lock 4)
• R1 Crews can embark / disembark vessels at Locks 1 & 4.
• Interfaces at CSC Lock (Lock 2) and Lower Beauharnois Lock (Lock 3) may be considered.

Ocean Carriers
• Interfaces permitted at SLB (Lock 1) and Upper Beauharnois (Lock 4)
• Emergency situations will be considered (ex: technicians for safety of navigation) Pilot Exchange
• Interfaces permitted at SLB (Lock 1), Upper Beauharnois Lock (Lock 4) and at IRO Lock

On 22 March 1922, the Goodrich Transit Company purchased the assets and properties of the Chicago, Racine and Milwaukee Steamship Company. This sale included two steamers: ILLINOIS (steel propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 240 foot, 2,427 gross tons, built in 1899, at S. Chicago, Illinois) and PILGRIM (iron propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 209 foot, 1,921 gross tons, built in 1881, at Wyandotte, Michigan).

The GULF MACKENZIE sailed light March 22, 1977, on her maiden voyage from Sorel to Montreal, Quebec.

The tanker COMET (Hull#705) was launched March 22, 1913, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. for the Standard Transportation Co. of New York.

THOMAS W. LAMONT (Hull#184) was launched March 22, 1930, at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co. for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

March 22, 1885 - The Goodrich steamer MICHIGAN was crushed in heavy ice off Grand Haven, Michigan and sank. Captain Redmond Prindiville was in command, Joseph Russell was the first mate.

On 22 March 1873, TYPO, a wooden schooner/canaller, was launched at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She cost $25,000 and was commanded by Captain William Callaway.

On 22 March 1871, Engineer George Smith and two firemen were badly scalded on the propeller LAKE BREEZE when a steam pipe they were working on blew away from the side of the boiler. They were getting the engines ready for the new shipping season.

On 22 March 1938, CITY OF BUFFALO (steel side-wheeler passenger/package freight vessel, 340 foot, 2,940 gross tons, built in 1896, at Wyandotte, Michigan) caught fire during preparations for the spring season while at her winter moorings at the East Ninth Street dock in Cleveland, Ohio. She was totally gutted. The hulk was towed to Detroit for conversion to a freighter, but this failed to materialize. She was cut up for scrap there in 1940.

On 22 March 1987, the pilothouse of the 1901, steamer ALTADOC, which was used as a gift shop and 2-room hotel near Copper Harbor, Michigan, was destroyed by fire.

1973: The Swedish built NORSE VARIANT first came to the Great Lakes in 1965 just after completion. On March 22, 1973, the vessel was en route from Norfolk, VA, to Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of coal when it ran into an early spring storm with 40 foot waves southeast of Cape May, N.J. The vessel was overwhelmed and sank with the loss of 29 lives. Only one man survived.

2006: The Collingwood-built Canadian Coast Guard ship SIR WILFRID LAURIER came to the rescue of those aboard the passenger ship QUEEN OF THE NORTH when the latter sank with the loss of two lives off the coast of British Columbia.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Efforts to free Algoma Conveyor to begin Saturday

3/21 - Green Bay, WI – Algoma Conveyor, which ran aground late Thursday afternoon in the entrance channel to Green Bay, WI, was still stuck Friday night. She was inbound with salt at the time of the grounding.

The ship lost propulsion and moved outside the shipping channel, and it ran aground, according to port director Dean Haen. The ship was hauling salt into Green Bay. Another of the company's ships will need to come to remove some of the salt to make the Algoma Conveyor lighter so it can be removed. Haen says that could take a week or more.

The ship is essentially blocking access to the port, but Haen says no other ship is expected until next week. The ship is north of a line between Long Tail Point and Point Sable. There is no leaking or environmental discharge, Haen says.

Tugs are expected Saturday morning.

Thunder Bay icebreaking by USCG delayed due to border restrictions

3/21 - Thunder Bay, ON – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder that was expected to clear ice in the Thunder Bay harbor this week, has been held back due to border crossing restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Samuel Risley will arrive early next week to free up wintering ships at Keefer Terminal and open passages for the navigation season.

Chronicle-Journal

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known). We welcome new reporters. If your port is not included, we would welcome your contributions.

Lake Huron
Tanker Algocanada was back in Soo, ON, Friday to unload petroleum products.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Alpena was unloading at Lafarge on Friday.

Toledo, OH – Jim Hoffman
As of 4 pm Friday, the tug/barge combo Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader were leaving winter layup berth at the Torco Dock. Shortly afterwards the Laura VanEnkevort/ Joseph H. Thompson left the Torco dock as well. Both vessels are bound for Marblehead to load stone.

Message from CSL regarding COVID-19

3/21 - Montreal, QC - CSL and the marine industry at large are now sailing in uncharted waters as the entire world faces a truly unprecedented time in our history. Above all else, the health and safety of our crews, employees and communities are our main priorities and we are taking all necessary precautions to protect and support them.

In line with the guidance and regulations of local, national and global health authorities and governments, CSL has developed and activated a comprehensive contingency plan to protect people and ensure the continuity of our services to our customers.

The plan includes restricted access to ships to essential people only, pre-boarding screening procedures for crew members and anyone boarding a vessel, and strict hygiene and social distancing protocols on board all ships. A work-from-home policy has also been implemented in CSL offices.

As the situation continues to change, we will adjust our plan to ensure it is aligned to the level of threat to our crews and level of impact to our operations.

We are extremely grateful to the seafarers and employees who are working around the clock to respond and adapt to the evolving situation and ensure the normal continuity of our services to our customers. In the difficult economic climate created by the pandemic, more than ever, our customers as well as national and global economies depend on our critical services.

The shipping sector is considered an economic priority service and, so far, governments are doing everything they can to ensure the services we provide are not disrupted. However, delays at the border and with supply services are to be expected. We are working closely with sector associations and governments to put in place best practices and keep disruptions to a minimum.

Through careful planning and our cautious business strategy, and thanks to our dedicated and resourceful crews and employees, I am confident CSL will meet the COVID-19 challenge with vigilance and resilience. We urge everyone to be cautious and stay safe.

Louis Martel President and CEO

The c.) CHEMICAL MAR of 1966 sustained severe damage when sulfuric acid leaked into the pump room while she was discharging her cargo at the island of Curacao on March 21, 1982. Flooding occurred later and the vessel was declared a constructive total loss. She was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1983. From 1979 until 1981, CHEMICAL MAR was named b.) COASTAL TRANSPORT for the Hall Corp. of Canada. She never entered the lakes under that name.

NOTRE DAME VICTORY was floated from the drydock on March 21, 1951, three months and two days after she entered the dock, and was rechristened b.) CLIFFS VICTORY.

MARLHILL was launched on March 21, 1908, as a.) HARRY A. BERWIND (Hull#40) at Ecorse, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works for G. A. Tomlinson of Duluth, Minnesota.

Pittsburgh Steamship Co.'s GEORGE F. BAKER was sold to the Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland, Ohio on March 21, 1965, and renamed b) HENRY STEINBRENNER.

On 21 March 1874, the two schooners NORTH STAR and EVENING STAR were launched at Crosthwaite's shipyard in East Saginaw, Michigan. They were both owned by John Kelderhouse of Buffalo, New York.

On 21 March 1853, GENERAL SCOTT (wooden side-wheeler, 105 foot, 64 tons, built in 1852, at Saginaw, Michigan) was tied up to her dock on the Saginaw River when she was crushed beyond repair by ice that flowed down the river during the spring breakup. One newspaper report said that while the vessel was being cleaned up for the new navigation season, a seacock was left open and she sank before the spring breakup.

1959: The retired sidewheel steamer WESTERN STATES, known as S.S. OVERNIGHTER, caught fire while waiting to be scrapped in 1959. The vessel had last sailed in 1950 and had briefly served as a flotel at Tawas, MI, before being sold for scrap. Final demolition of the hull was completed at Bay City later in the year.

1970: The West German freighter WILHELM NUBEL made one trip through the Seaway in 1959. It sustained machinery failure as c) SAN GERASSIMOS following an engine room fire on this date in 1970. The vessel was traveling from Galatz, Romania, to Lisbon, Portugal, with a cargo of maize and had to be abandoned by the crew. While taken in tow by the tanker STAVROS E., the ship sank in heavy weather in the Ionian Sea.

1998: Three crewmembers were killed by phosphine gas when they went to assess flooding damage in #1 hold after the MARIA A. encountered heavy weather on the South Atlantic. The ship, en route from Argentina to Jordan with wheat, put into Paranagua, Brazil for repairs. The ship had been a Seaway caller as RIGHTEOUS beginning in 1979 and as AFSAR in 1986. While renamed ARIA later in 1998, the British built bulk carrier was never repaired and was either scuttled or scrapped.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Great Lakes iron ore trade down in January

3/19 - Cleveland, OH – Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 1.8 million tons in January, a decrease of 24.7 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings also topped the month’s 5-year average by 13.8 percent.

 

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Straits of Mackinac – Jon Paul
Alpena passed eastbound under the Mackinac Bridge at 19:03 and proceeded through Round Island Passage heading for their namesake port to load. Algoma Conveyor was westbound with salt for an unknown port. USCGC Mackinaw returned to the Straits passing westbound Round Island Light at 15:40. They have spent the past 2 days working the lower St. Marys River in both upbound and downbound portions. They secured for the day at USCG Station St.Ignace at 16:50. Both CG 140s Neah Bay and Katmai Bay continued laying and maintaining track in the lower St. Mary's River and docked for the night at Lime Island.

Grand Haven, MI – Bill Van Lopik
The first arrival of the new shipping season took place Wednesday afternoon with the arrival of Prentiss Brown / St. Marys Conquest. The barge is presently unloading at the St. Marys terminal in Ferrysburg.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Sunday Arrivals: Samuel De Champlain/Innovation arrived at Lafarge to unload cement. Calusa Coast and Delaware arrived at the Marathon Asphalt Terminal to load.

Sturgeon Bay shipyard tours postponed

3/19 - Sturgeon Bay, WI - Due to the Novel Corona-19 Virus, the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay Shipyard Tour for May 2, 2020 is postponed until further notice. We are working with our event partners to determine the feasibility of hosting an event later this year. We will keep you updated as additional information becomes available. Those who purchased tickets will be contacted during the next few weeks; please be patient with us as we work through this process.

Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay

Help Wanted: Licensed Ass’t Engineer (Ranger III), Isle Royale National Park, Houghton, MI

3/19 - This position functions as Assistant Engineer of the Isle Royale National Park operated vessel, Ranger III, a 165’, 650 gross ton passenger (H), tank (D) and miscellaneous cargo (I) vessel. The Ranger III provides logistical support and commercial passenger/freight service during the months of April-October to a wilderness island national park located approximately 70 miles north of park headquarters in Lake Superior. During the off-season months (November-March), this position will be duty stationed at park headquarters in Houghton, Michigan. The Assistant Engineer serves as assistant to the Chief Engineer in the operation, maintenance, and repair of all engine room and associated machinery, refrigeration, plumbing, heating, and mechanical / hydraulic and electric/electronic systems.

Requirements include an Assistant Engineer (Limited) of Motor Propelled Vessels of less than 1,600 Gross Register Tons (GRT) of less than 5,000 HP/ 3,750 kw Upon Oceans, Near Coastal and Great Lakes. This is a permanent-full time, federal government position, with a competitive wage and benefits package. Contact Randy Rastello, Chief of Maintenance, at (906) 487-7145, for further job-related information or with questions. Please email resumes/qualifications to (randy_rastello@nps.gov) or mail to: Isle Royale National Park, 800 E Lakeshore DR, Houghton, MI.

W. R. STAFFORD (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 184 foot, 744 gross tons, built in 1886, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was freed from the ice at 2:00 a.m. on 19 March 1903, by the Goodrich Line’s ATLANTA. When the STAFFORD was freed, the ice then closed around the ATLANTA and imprisoned her for several hours. Both vessels struggled all night and finally reached Grand Haven, Michigan, at 5 a.m. They left for Chicago later that day in spite of the fact that an ice floe 2 miles wide, 14 miles long and 20 feet deep was off shore.

CARTIERCLIFFE HALL was launched March 19, 1960, as a.) RUHR ORE (Hull # 536) at Hamburg, Germany, by Schlieker-Werft Shipyard.

INDIANA HARBOR (Hull#719) was launched March 19, 1979, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, by Bay Shipbuilding Corp.

CITY OF GREEN BAY was launched March 19, 1927, as a.) WABASH (Hull#177) at Toledo, Ohio, by Toledo Ship Building Co., for the Wabash Railway Co.

ALFRED CYTACKI was launched March 19, 1932, as a.) LAKESHELL (Hull#1426) at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd.

On 19 March 1886, the PICKUP (wooden passenger/package freight steamer, 80 foot, 136 gross tons, built in 1883, at Marine City, Michigan, was renamed LUCILE. She lasted until she sank off the Maumee River Light (Toledo Harbor Light), Toledo, Ohio, Lake Erie, on August 8, 1906.

1916 The canal-sized PORT DALHOUSIE saw only brief service on the Great Lakes. It was built in England as TYNEMOUNT in 1913 and came to Canada as PORT DALHOUSIE in 1914. It left for saltwater in 1915 and was torpedoed and sunk by UB-10 while carrying steel billets to Nantes, France. It went down March 19, 1916, south and west of the Kentish Knock Light vessel and 12 lives were lost.

1978 BELKARIN was a Norwegian cargo carrier that made one trip inland in 1963. It struck a sunken warship in Suez Bay on March 19, 1978, as c) NAHOST JUMBO and the engine room was holed. The vessel, en route from Aqaba, Jordan, to Holland, settled in shallow water. The hull was refloated in January 1979 and sold for scrap.

1990 On March 19, an explosion in a container on board the Norwegian freighter POLLUX at La Baie, QC, killed two sailors, seriously injured a third as well as 7 Alcan dock employees. The ship made its first trip up the Seaway coming to to Port Weller Dry Docks May 18 for repairs. It was renamed there and left the lakes in August as d) NOMADIC POLLUX. This ship returned inland in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was back as e) BALTICLAND in May 2004.

1993 An explosion and fire rocked the tanker SHIOKAZE in the North Sea en route to Rotterdam killing one member of the crew. The vessel had first been a Seaway trader in 1986 and returned in 1998 as DILMUN TERN bound for Hamilton with palm oil. It was scrapped, after 30 years of service, arriving at Alang, India, on June 14, 2010, as c) THERESA III.

2002 A hull crack of close to 13 feet was found on LAKE CARLING off Cape Breton Island while traveling from Sept-Iles to Trinidad with iron ore. Originally ZIEMIA CIESZYNSKA, the vessel first came to the Great Lakes in 1993 and was renamed LAKE CARLING at Chicago in October. The crack widened to 25 feet before the vessel could reach safety but the damage was repaired and it returned to service. The original name was restored in 2004 and the vessel was last on the lakes in 2009.

2003 A fire in the after end of the CALEDONIA on the Heddle Dry Dock in Hamilton was contained to one deck. The vessel was there for conversion to a sailing ship and the work was eventually completed. The ship had visited the Great Lakes as the coastal freighter PETREL in the late 1970s but was much more at home around Maritime Canada and Hudson Bay. As a sailing ship, it carries 77 passengers and visits Caribbean ports.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Port of Buffalo ice boom removed

3/18 - Buffalo, NY – The ice boom placed at the mouth of the Niagara River has been completely removed by the New York State Power Authority tugs Breaker and Breaker II. The harbor, the Buffalo River shipping channel, and the Lackawanna/Bethlehem Steel bulk terminal docks are currently ice free.

Craig E. Speers

View new Seaway notices

3/18 - Seaway Notices 2 - 8 have been issued. View them here: https://greatlakes-seaway.com/en/news-and-information/notices/seaway-notices

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
Algocanada departed the Purvis Dock downbound of Sarnia on Tuesday morning. USCG Morro Bay and Mackinaw were working ice in the lower river.

2020 edition of “Know Your Ships” ready for new shipping season

3/18 - The new shipping season is at hand, and so is the release of "Know Your Ships 2020,” the edition of the popular annual field guide to boats and boatwatching on the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway.

This year’s 200-book includes information on U.S., Canadian and international-flag cargo vessels, tugs, excursion boats and barges in regular Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway service, including owner and port of registry, year and shipyard where built, length, beam, depth, cargo capacity and former names, plus type of engine, horsepower and more.

Standard and spiral bindings are available. Order at this link: www.knowyourships.com

In 1967, under the command of Captain Ray I. McGrath, the Columbia Transportation Company's HURON (steel propeller self-unloader bulk freighter, 415 foot, 4,810 gross tons, built in 1914, at Ecorse, Michigan) cleared Fairport, Ohio, and headed to Toledo, Ohio for a load of coal. She was the first freighter to sail in the new season. She sailed on the same day that the U. S. Steel's Bradley Fleet of seven vessels started fitting out.

On 18 March 1906, the Goodrich Line's ATLANTA (wooden propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 200 foot, 1,129 gross tons, built in 1891, at Cleveland, Ohio) was sailing from Sheboygan, Wisconsin for Milwaukee. When she was 14 miles south of Sheboygan, fire was discovered in the aft hold and quickly spread to the engine room. She ran out of steam, making the fire pumps inoperable. There were 65 persons aboard and Capt. Mc Cauley gave the order to abandon. The fish tug TESSLER came to help and only one life was lost. As the TESSLER was steaming to port, the Goodrich Line's GEORGIA came into view and took on all of the survivors. The hull of the ATLANTA was beached by the TESSLER. Later, the burned hull was purchased by D. O. Smith of Port Washington.

ARSENE SIMARD (Hull#404) was launched March 18, 1972, at Sorel, Quebec, by Marine Industries Ltd., for Branch Lines Ltd.

PERE MARQUETTE 21 (Hull#209) was launched March 18, 1924, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. She was christened by Mrs. Charles C. West, wife of the president of Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co.

The straight-deck bulk carrier SYLVANIA (Hull#613) was launched March 18, 1905, at West Bay City, Michigan by West Bay City Ship Building Co., for the Tomlinson Fleet Corp.

On 18 March 1890, CITY OF CHICAGO (steel sidewheeler, 211 foot, 1,073 gross tons) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan by F. W. Wheeler & Co. (Hull#68) for the Graham & Morton Line. CITY OF CHICAGO was lengthened to 226 feet at Wheeler's yard one year later (1891). She was again lengthened in 1905-06, this time to 254 feet. On the same day and at the same yard the 3-mast wooden schooner A.C. TUXBURY was stern launched.

On 18 March 1928, M. T. GREENE (wooden propeller freighter, 155 foot, 524 gross tons, built in 1887, at Gibraltar, Michigan) burned to a total loss near Brigdeburg, Ontario, on the Niagara River.

1923 The wooden steamer JAMES P. DONALDSON was built in 1880 and often worked in the lumber trade. At the end, it was used by N.M. Paterson & Sons Ltd. to bring wet grain to the company elevator for drying. The ship caught fire at the Canadian Lakehead on this date and the remains were sunk off Isle Royale, Lake Superior, on May 6, 1923.

1991 The Canadian Coast Guard ship GRIFFON collided with the fishing trawler CAPTAIN K. sinking it in Lake Erie. Three lives were lost.

Data from: Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Soo Locks park closed; first boat events cancelled

3/17 - The park at the Soo Locks is closed until further notice in compliance with CDC recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19. Special events for the first day of shipping are also cancelled for this year.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Welland Canal opening on track, but top hat ceremonies cancelled

3/17 - Welland Canal – Top hat ceremonies in Port Colborne and St. Catharines scheduled for the Welland Canal's opening next week have been cancelled in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Also cancelled is the mariner's service that was to be held this Sunday at Port Colborne's St. James and St. Brendan Anglican Church.

St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., working with Transport Canada, has put measures in place to ensure domestic and ocean-going vessels can operate on the 3,700-kilometre St. Lawrence Seaway.

Port Colborne was to welcome the first downbound vessel on the Welland Canal at Lock 8 Gateway Park, while the ceremony for the first upbound vessel was to be held at St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre at Lock 3.

The canal section of the seaway system is set to open Tuesday, March 24, while the Lake Ontario-Montreal section will open Wednesday, April 1. That section is opening later to allow more water to be released from Lake Ontario, which, like the rest of the Great Lakes is at high levels.

In a message, the seaway corporation said the "measures are designed to maintain an efficient transportation corridor into and out of the heartland of North America while safeguarding the welfare of all personnel."

It said for ocean-going vessels coming into the seaway, strict adherence to the 96-hour advance notice of arrival to the government of Canada is essential. "In addition, all crew members of domestic and ocean-going vessels must be monitored for symptoms of the virus and notice must be promptly given of any confirmed or suspected cases of the virus on board, prior to seaway inspectors boarding the ship."

Last week, the federal government announced that cruise ships carrying more than 500 people will be allowed to dock in Canada until at least July 1. Cruise ships can be found in the Great Lakes, but none of the vessels carries more than 450 passengers. Some of those vessels, including the Pearl Mist and Victory I and II, do dock in Port Colborne during the trips.

The seaway corporation said the current health crisis has its full attention and it is constantly monitoring the situation to ensure the waterway "continues to function as a vital contributor to the United States and Canadian economies."

The Welland Tribune

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center closed

3/17 - Duluth, MN – In the interest of public safety due to COVID-19 concerns, the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth will be closed to the public until further notice effective March 13 at 3 p.m. As always, public safety remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and keep the public informed of any additional updates. Staff will be reporting to work and can be reached at 218-788-6430.

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
Corps of Engineers tugs Billmaier and Owen M. Frederick were breaking ice in the lower Poe Lock approach on Monday afternoon. USCG icebreaker Mackinaw was conducting ice ops in lower end of the West Neebish channel Monday evening.

Green Bay, WI
At 3:52 p.m. Monday, the Alpena arrived with cement for the Lafarge terminal.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Calumet River Fleeting’s tug Nathan S was back in Milwaukee early Monday (3/16) with three more barges for loading at the COFCO elevator. This is the sixth three-barge tow loaded at COFCO in 2020. Each barge can carry about 1,360 metric tons. When filled, the barges will head back to Calumet Harbor, IL. No further marine traffic is currently expected.

Marine City, MI – Rich Larson
At 1 p.m. Monday, Algosea was downbound under partly sunny skies, 42 degrees F, calm river.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H.
On Monday, Kaye E. Barker departed layup at Nicholson's Ecorse Terminal and proceeded to AK Steel to unload her storage load of ore.

Toledo, OH – Jim Hoffman
The Samuel De Champlain with her barge left her layup berth at the Lafarge Cement Dock at Toledo earlier Monday bound for Alpena.

Ojibway headed for Ashtabula

3/17 - Lower Lakes Towing’s Ojibway left winter layup in Windsor and headed to Ashtabula on Monday morning. LLT has a ship repair facility there.

On 17 March 1995, a fire started on the AMERICAN MARINER's self-unloading conveyor belt from welding being done on the vessel at the Toledo Ship & Repair Company in Toledo, Ohio. About $100,000 in damage was done. The Toledo fire department had the blaze out in half an hour.

The tanker LAKESHELL reportedly leaked over 21,000 gallons of Bunker C oil into the St. Lawrence River on March 17, 1982, after suffering a crack in her cargo compartment caused by striking an ice floe.

GEORGE R. FINK was launched March 17, 1923, as a.) WORRELL CLARKSON (Hull#174) at Toledo, Ohio, by Toledo Ship Building Co., for the Kinsman Transit Co.

On 17 March 1916, CITY OF MIDLAND (wooden propeller passenger-package freighter, 176 foot, 974 tons, built in 1890, at Owen Sound, Ontario) burned at the Grand Trunk Railway dock at Collingwood, Ontario, while fitting out for the coming season. No lives were lost.

In 1945 Stadium Boat Works of Cleveland Ohio launched the SOUTH SHORE (US. 247657) for Miller Boat Line of Put-In-Bay, Ohio. She carried 6 autos and 120 passengers. In 1973, she was sold to Beaver Island Boat Company until retired at the end of the 1997 season. In April of 1999, sailed to Chicago where she was docked at the foot of Navy Pier as a storage vessel for Shoreline Cruises.

1906: SOVEREIGN, a steel hulled passenger ship that operated on the St. Lawrence in the Montreal area, was destroyed by a fire at Lachine, Quebec. The vessel was rebuilt that year as IMPERIAL and remained in service until 1928 when the boilers and hull were condemned.

1916: CITY OF MIDLAND, a passenger and freight steamer for Canada Steamship Lines, caught fire at the Grant Trunk Railway Dock in Collingwood and was a total loss.

1973: A wild late winter storm swept into Goderich off Lake Huron on March 17-18. Eleven ships got loose, while only the PATERSON (i) remained fast at the dock. It sustained bow damage when struck by fleetmate MONDOC (iii). Varying amounts of damage were inflicted to other ships.

1980: SUNPOLYNA was built in 1956 and provided service for Saguenay Shipping between Eastern Canada and the West Indies. The ship first came through the Seaway in 1963 and, on May 16, 1967, it ran aground near Thorold. It was sailing as d) TEMERAIRE when abandoned by the crew on March 17, 1980, in position 28.16 S / 21.04 W after the hull had cracked. The ship was en route from Santos, Brazil, to Mina Qaboos, Oman, and, after drifting to northwest for several days, sank on March 21.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Coast Guard to expand icebreaking to part of West Neebish Channel Wednesday

3/16 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – On Wednesday March 18, the U.S. Coast Guard will expand icebreaking in the St. Marys River’s West Neebish Channel. To date, icebreaking in the West Neebish Channel was limited to Munuscong (Mud) Lake, south of Moon Island. Wednesday, the Coast Guard will extend icebreaking into the southern half of the West Neebish Channel, working from Mud Lake Junction Light north to the south end of the Rock Cut at West Neebish Channel Light 29.

The Coast Guard will not disturb the ice north of the Neebish Island ferry crossing or break ice south of West Neebish Channel Light 45 this week. Every precaution is being taken to maintain uninterrupted ferry service to Neebish Island. Compared to previous winters, this season’s ice cover is weaker, not as expansive and deteriorating ahead of seasonal norms. Recreational users of the ice should plan their activities carefully, use caution near the ice, and stay away from charted navigation areas.

USCG

Northwestern Michigan College, including Maritime Academy, suspends classes

3/16 - Traverse City, MI – A statement from the college follows: As you know, we have been monitoring the rapidly changing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and are committed to keeping you safe, while working to limit the disruption to learning as much as possible. After careful consideration, with input from our partners in the Grand Traverse County Health Department, Munson Healthcare and state and federal health and emergency response agencies, NMC will suspend face-to-face classes starting Monday, March 16, 2020.

All NMC classes will be delivered via online learning if possible. Some courses may not be able to be delivered via online learning, including some occupational and lab classes (e.g. culinary and welding).

Our plan is to resume face-to-face classes on campus the week of April 27. Given the highly volatile nature of the pandemic, we recognize this situation may change and we will continue to communicate with you.

Northwestern Michigan College

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
USCG Katmai Bay led the tanker Algocanada upbound on Sunday morning. She tied up at the Purvis Dock on the Canadian side in the early afternoon.

Green Bay, WI
At 12:28 p.m. Sunday, the Tug Michigan/Barge Great Lakes arrived with oil at the U.S Oil Venture Terminal.

Today in Great Lakes History March 16 On 16 March 1901, ARGO (steel passenger/package freight propeller, 173 foot, 1,089 gross tons) was launched at the Craig Ship Building Company (Hull #81) at Toledo, Ohio, for the A. Booth Company. She left the Lakes in 1917, and was last recorded in 1938, out of Brest, France.

BUFFALO (Hull#721) was launched March 16, 1978, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Bay Shipbuilding Corp., for the American Steamship Co.

On 16 March 1883, The Port Huron Times announced that the passenger and package freight steamer PICKUP would be built in Marine City, Michigan and would run on the St. Clair River between Port Huron and Algonac. The machinery from the burned steamer CARRIE H. BLOOD was to be installed in her. In fact, her construction was completed that year and she went into service in September 1883. Her dimensions were 80 foot x 19 foot x 7 foot, 137 gross tons, 107 net tons.

The Niagara Harbor & Dock Company, a shipbuilding firm, was incorporated on 16 March 1831, at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

On 16 March 1886, the tug MOCKING BIRD was sold by Mr. D. N. Runnels to Mr. James Reid of St. Ignace, Michigan. Mr. Runnels received the tug JAMES L. REID as partial payment.

1924: MOHAWK of the Western Transit Co. was known as a fast ship. It was built at Detroit in 1893 and was renamed AMERICA in 1916. It was cut in two to exit the Great Lakes and re-assembled at Montreal for East Coast service. The ship was renamed BERMUDEZ in 1921 and sank in the Erie Basin at Brooklyn on March 16, 1924, with the stern resting on the bottom and the bow afloat. The hull was pumped out but scrapped at New York in January 1925.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

St. Lawrence Seaway releases COVID-19 measures

3/15 - Guided by information made available by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) is working closely with Transport Canada and all other relevant authorities on a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 crisis.

SLSMC has put in place a series of measures to ensure the continuity of operations on the St. Lawrence Seaway for both domestic and ocean vessels. These measures are designed to maintain an efficient transportation corridor into and out of the heartland of North America, while safeguarding the welfare of all personnel. We are continuing to follow the evolving situation and are working to ensure that lock operations will be reliable when commercial navigation resumes on March 24, 2020 (Welland Canal) and April 1, 2020 (Montreal to Lake Ontario Section). Detailed Seaway notices related to the opening of the commercial navigation season will be communicated through usual channels within the next few days.

For ocean vessels coming into the St. Lawrence Seaway, adherence to the 96-hour advance notice of arrival to the government of Canada is essential. In addition, all crew members of domestic and ocean vessels must be monitored for symptoms of the virus and notice must be promptly given of any confirmed or suspected cases of the virus on board prior to Seaway inspectors boarding the ship.

From our understanding of new restrictions on transportation, all cruise ships carrying 500 or more people will be prohibited from entering Canadian waters. Consequently, cruise ships should monitor Transport Canada communication channels for further updates, as these stipulations may change in the future.

Please be assured, the current health crisis has the full attention of the SLSMC’s leadership, and the situation is being constantly monitored to ensure that our waterway continues to function as a vital contributor to the United States and Canadian economies. We are committed to keeping our customers informed and remain focused on meeting your marine transportation needs with reliability and predictability. Please reach out to us at slsmc-cgvmsl@seaway.ca for any Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System questions related to COVID-19.

St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
USCG Katmai Bay and Bristol Bay were conducting ice ops in the lower river on Saturday.

Lake Huron
Tanker Algocananda was northbound off the tip of Michigan’s thumb Saturday night headed for Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

National Museum of the Great Lakes closes due to virus

3/15 - Toledo, OH - After careful consideration and the recent urging of Governor DeWine along with the recommendations of the Lucas County Health Department, the National Museum of the Great Lakes has made the decision to close to the public until further notice effective 5 p.m., Saturday, March 14.

In the weeks to come, we look forward to exploring new engagement opportunities to help visitors connect with Great Lakes history virtually—including increased access to our museum through virtual tours and the launch of our first online exhibit The Port of Toledo: Then and Now. We will continue to connect with our National Museum of the Great Lakes / Great Lakes Historical Society members and supporters through the distribution of our quarterly Inland Seas journal and Chadburn Newsletter.

As we move through the challenges ahead, we encourage you to consider supporting us by making a donation online or shopping on our online Museum Store.

The staff and board of the National Museum of the Great Lakes will continue to monitor announcements by officials surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak and will reassess our public access as new information becomes available. We expect to issue a follow-up statement on public access no later than April 3rd.

WESTCLIFFE HALL (Hull#519) was launched March 15, 1956, at Grangemouth, Scotland, by Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd., for the Hall Corp. of Canada.

March 15, 1949 - The Ann Arbor carferry fleet was laid up due to a strike called by the boat crews. The fleet was idled until March 22nd.

On 15 March 1882, GRACE PATTERSON (wooden propeller tug/freighter, 111 tons, built in 1880, at Grand Haven, Michigan) was carrying lumber and lath when she stranded near Two Rivers Point, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. She caught fire and was totally destroyed. Lifesavers rescued the crew.

Mr. Russell Armington died on 15 March 1837. He operated the first shipyard at St. Catharines, Ontario from 1828, until his death.

On 15 March 1926, SARNOR (wooden propeller freighter, 228 foot, 1,319 gross tons, built in 1888, at W. Bay City, Michigan, formerly BRITANNIC) caught fire at Kingston, Ontario near the La Salle Causeway. She burned to a total loss.

1942: The first SARNIADOC of the Paterson fleet was lost with all hands on the Caribbean en route from Trinidad to the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was apparently torpedoed by U-161 in the night hours of March 14-15, 1942, while in the south for the wartime bauxite trade.

1969: The bulk carrier ALEXANDER T. WOOD, remembered by many for its regular early Seaway service in the ore and grain trades as well as for a collision with the Finnish flag freighter MARIA in the Detroit River on August 12, 1960, was lost on this day in 1969 as VAINQUER. The latter had been to the Great Lakes in 1968 but sank following a boiler room explosion in the Gulf of Mexico with the loss of one life. It was en route from Vera Cruz, Mexico, to New Orleans with a cargo of sugar.

1976: The rail car barge HURON rolled over and sank at the Windsor dock due to an uneven deck load. The 1875 vintage vessel had operated across the Detroit River as a steamer until March 1971 and then as a barge. It was refloated and returned to service.

1980: The Liberian vessel FRATERNITY was built in 1963. It visited the Great Lakes in 1967 and operated briefly as ARYA NIKU in 1975-1976 before becoming FRATERNITY again under Greek registry. Fire broke out in #1 and #2 cargo holds en route from Hamburg to Karachi on this date in 1980. An explosion followed the next day and the crew abandoned the ship in the Red Sea. The hull was beached March 17 around the border of Eritrea and Sudan but was refloated April 1 and deemed a total loss. After unloading at Sharjah, the hull was towed to Gadani Beach, Pakistan, arriving at the scrapyard on May 19, 1981.

1984: The Greek freighter ELINA likely made only one trip to the Great Lakes, coming inland in 1982 to load frozen meat at Kenosha, WI. It laid up at Emden, West Germany, on June 13, 1983, only to catch fire on March 15, 1984. The damage was extensive and the hull was towed into Gijon, Spain, for scrapping on April 23, 1984.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

As icebreaker preps for Great Lakes shipping, shippers hope for more

3/14 - Duluth, MN – The reinforced hull of the 225-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder scraped loudly through the ice in the harbor. With each advancing inch, it sent cracks into a marbleized sheet, breaking it into crumbled pieces.

The sure sign of spring — ice breaking in Lake Superior Harbor in preparation for shipping season — is relatively easy this year, with ice only about a foot thick in some spots.

"This is a weird year," said Lt. Cmdr. Justin Erdman, the ship's captain, as he surveyed the frozen industrial back bays from the upper deck of the Alder, the vessel trembling only a bit as it plowed ahead under little resistance. "Most winters we're backing and ramming to break the ice."

Mild temperatures left the Great Lakes at only 19.5% ice cover this year — the fourth-lowest percentage on record, and far less than the mean maximum ice cover of 54%. Lake Superior has mostly open water this year, with only 7% ice coverage as of Tuesday, compared with more than 86% coverage last year at this time.

So it may be a hard sell for shipping companies and associations that are urging the federal government to invest in more and better ice-breaking equipment, saying that slowed ice breaking in cold winters can mean hundreds of millions of dollars of economic loss, including damage to cargo-carrying vessels.

In 1979, 20 icebreakers roamed the Great Lakes, but now there are just 11 — nine from the United States and two from Canada. Many of the vessels are aging and are sometimes out of commission for repair.

Shippers say the inability to break up the ice quickly can often delay moving goods and materials for a week or two because vessels would be damaged too much. That period of time is critical to keeping steel mills and power plants operating, they argue.

"In really bad years, it'll go beyond a month, a month and a half," said Ken Gerasimos, general manager of Key Lakes Inc., which operates nine cargo-carrying vessels out of the Duluth-Superior Port. "Last year was a pretty good indicator, it was totally inadequate. … You're incurring damage to the ships."

The Lake Carriers' Association is pushing for another heavy icebreaker like the Coast Guard's Mackinaw, a 240-foot brute that can cut through ice 32 inches thick and is stationed in Michigan on Lake Huron.

The Great Lakes have only one such ship now and could use a second, said Eric Peace, association communications director. Last year — an especially difficult ice year — the economy took a hit of more than a billion dollars because of inadequate ice breaking, Peace said. "We'd take two or three of them. One of them is what we need right now," he said.

The cost for a new ship is estimated at more than $160 million. While Congress has authorized its construction, it has not yet appropriated all the money needed to acquire it.

"The problem is that winters like this year will make it a short-term memory loss," Peace said. "Then next year we'll have another horrific ice year."

While the Coast Guard typically keeps top-tier waterways open, he said, their operations are akin to using a limited number of snowplows to clear freeways, but keeping on-ramps and smaller roads blocked, so not many vehicles can even reach the main roads.

The Alder is cutting those paths easily this year as it maneuvers around the Duluth-Superior Harbor. The vessel, designed for setting buoys during open water months, is capable of cutting through 18 inches of ice or ramming through 3 feet of it.

After leaving its home port on the bay side of Park Point, the Alder made a few ice-breaking circles in the St. Louis Bay north channel, near the Canadian National ore docks, and the south channel near the Midwest Energy Terminal, then it went to Howards Bay to break a path to Fraser Shipyards. Later, it made a path through the Superior Front Channel toward the Burlington Northern Santa Fe ore dock.

While the Alder is only 49 feet wide — not nearly enough for a 1,000-foot laker to squeeze through — the initial ice breaking will make it easier to break more paths later so ships can get out in plenty of time for the March 25 opening of the Soo Locks, Erdman and others said.

"We'll widen it out over the next couple of days," he said.

While the Alder cut through harbor ice this week, some of the crew on board wondered aloud whether, with milder winters, shipping could someday run all year. That would require a second Soo Lock capable of handling big ships, so that there is time for lock maintenance, Peace said. Plans are underway for construction of that lock.

When that is completed, industry might be ready to think about year-round Great Lakes shipping. "It's possible. … We're not necessarily advocating for that right now, but maybe in the future depending on what the conditions are," Peace said. "We'd still need the icebreakers to do their work, and we'd probably need more of them."

Star-Tribune

Icebreaking to begin at port of Thunder Bay

3/14 - Thunder Bay, ON – The Canadian Coast Guard advises residents of Thunder Bay, ON, that the United States Coast Guard Cutter Alder is conducting icebreaking operations in the area on or around March 17, 2020.

Coast Guard icebreaking service on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways is delivered in close co-operation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards. By working together, the two Coast Guards ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move through the shipping channels and into and out of community harbours.

The date and ice breakers are subject to change with no notice, as activities could begin before or after that period, depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.

Canadian Coast Guard

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Sarnia, ON – Bruce Douglas
Her salt runs over for now, Algoma Innovator arrived at Sarnia at 3:05 am Friday.

Coast Guard rescues group from Green Bay ice floe

3/14 - Sturgeon Bay, WI – The U.S. Coast Guard helped to rescue a large group of people trapped on an ice floe that broke loose Thursday afternoon and drifted into the Bay of Green Bay. The Coast Guard says a number of people and ice shanties were on the ice floe that drifted away from Sherwood Point, where Sturgeon Bay enters the larger bay.

The rescue operation included the Coast Guard's 140-foot icebreaker Mobile Bay, two Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Traverse City, Mich., an ice boat and 22-foot airboat from Sturgeon Bay and help from the Wisconsin DNR.

The Coast Guard evacuated 10 people from the ice floe, while others were evacuated aboard personal boats. The officer in charge of the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard station said there were two other ice rescues nearby at about the same time. Those people were helped by local first responders.

"Really, at this point, people just need to stay off the ice on the big bodies of water," Master Chief Petty Officer Justin Olson said in a statement.

Olson said weeks of warmer-than-average temperatures and recent high winds have increased the risk of ice breaking away.

WBAY

Georgian's latest marine simulator a peek into industry's future

3/14 - Owen Sound, ON - Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus now can boast it has Canada’s only Kongsberg marine simulator, a leading-edge technology for the marine industry, the college announced Thursday.

Visitors at the announcement stood behind the ship’s wheel in the simulation room and looked out onto screens which presented a panoramic, digitized view of the bow of the ship sailing into the port of Quebec City.

Capt. Bradley Moore, a Georgian College staff member responsible for marine simulation research and development, discussed the advantages of the new technology. “This is the newest Kongsberg simulation system they have,” Moore said in an interview. “Because it has such advanced technology, it will allow us to train our cadets for systems that aren’t even out there yet.”

Those capabilities include simulations of self-docking and holding vessels in place in up to five-foot seas “with greater precision than a human can manage.”

“There will be a great deal of automation and functionalities that assist the captain and crew and take some of the burden of captain and crew,” Moore said.

Canada Steamship Lines’ $540,000 donation toward the simulator was recognized with the unveiling of a sign outside the simulation room, announcing the Canada Steamship Lines Advanced Integrated Simulator.

CSL is the longest-surviving and active shipping company in the Great Lakes system, and has been in the forefront of technological change in the marine industry, said Kevin Weaver, Georgian’s vice-president, academic, in remarks in Owen Sound.

“Thank you for sharing that technology and continuing to create great opportunities for our cadets and for our students and for those that are coming back for training,” Weaver said.

CSL has taken a large number of the college’s cadets since its co-op program started. The marine industry has had a shortage of workers for years and graduates can expect to earn $100,000 for six to eight months work right after graduating.

Weaver noted the college’s longstanding partnership with the marine industry, CSL’s 2008 donation that helped establish one of the college’s Centre for Marine Training and Research simulators, and subsequent corporate training and research partnerships.

Weaver said having the new high-tech system will further enhance Georgian’s reputation and that of its graduates, which in turn will draw more students and working mariners to study and upgrade, all a boon to the region.

More than 2,600 marine navigation and marine engineering sailors study at Georgian to upgrade their skills every year. The college also has 107 cadets in post-secondary studies.

Louis Martel, the president and CEO of the CSL Group, ,which includes Canada Steamship Lines, made his first visit to the college Thursday. He said given the shortage of qualified workers, CSL is spending a lot of money to solve the problem, including with this latest simulator investment.

“CSL is also getting modernized, it’s getting transformed, we’re spending a lot of money in digitalization,” he said.

The technology should also help bridge a cultural divide between marine engineering and navigation cultures, by allowing students in both professions to work together on the simulator.

Better communication and teamwork should be the result by letting students on a simulated bridge communicate with their colleagues in a simulated engine room, said Moore, the marine research and development official at Georgian.

“Really they are two different departments on a ship, there’s navigation and there’s engineering. And there’s always been a difficulty of communicating between those two cultures.

“And this is the whole point of advanced training, is to break down some of those silos and those cultures and this is the mechanism to do it.” Promoting communication and collaborative problem-solving also enhances safety, Moore said.

The new simulator will also provide the college with a research platform one which to build, Moore said.

For example, another simulator at the college helped develop a ferry for the Owen Sound Transportation Company’s Pelee Island run by “building” the ship in the simulator “before metal is laid for the keel.”

Simulators can mimic various water depths, currents and weather conditions in which the virtual ship was tested. Then, the officers and crew were trained on the simulated version of their new ferry.

“So they were very comfortable when the ship was delivered. They walked onboard like they’d been driving it for a year. Of course, doing that exceeds any other way of learning a new ship,” Moore said.

The Owen Sound campus of Georgian College also has four other navigational bridge simulators, 12 “part-task training navigation bridge simulators functioning on desktop computers, eight desktop engine room simulators one full-mission engine simulator, 18 radio communication simulators and one lifeboat simulator.

The campus has offered programs for the marine industry since 1967 and it bills itself as the marine training centre of excellence for Central Canada.

Owen Sound Sun Times

Virus fears prompt changes to Know Your Ships book events

3/14 - Two events involving the book Know Your Ships have been rescheduled or postponed. A March 29 presentation and book signing at the Algonac Historical Maritime Museum in Algonac, MI, has been postponed, with the new date to be determined.

The Saturday, April 11 book signing at the Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron, MI, has been rescheduled for Saturday May 16 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Books that have been pre-ordered online will be sent out as planned, according to Roger LeLievre, editor and publisher. He said the decision to postpone or reschedule was made after consulting with the two venues involved.

“We all agreed that, given the current circumstances and uncertainty surrounding the immediate future, it was the best decision to make,” LeLieve said.

Know Your Ships

March 14, 1959 - The ANN ARBOR NO 6 returned to service as the b.) ARTHUR K ATKINSON after an extensive refit.

In 1880, the harbor tug GEORGE LAMONT sank with her crew of three off Pentwater, Michigan after being overcome by weather during a race with her rival, the harbor tug GEM. The LAMONT was the only steamer to disappear with all hands during the many races that took place among steamers during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

On 14 March 1873, the new railroad carferry SAGINAW went into the Port Huron Dry Dock Company's dry dock where her engine was installed along with her shaft and propeller. Workmen had to break up the ice in the dry dock to release the schooner MARY E. PEREW so that work could begin on the SAGINAW. The work was done quickly since SAGINAW was needed to fill in for a disabled ferry in Detroit. Mr. Francois Baby was granted a "ferry lease" between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan on 14 March 1843. He built the steamer ALLIANCE for this ferry service and Capt. Tom Chilvers was the skipper. In 1851, Capt. Chilvers leased the steamer from Mr. Baby and ran it on the same route until the late 1850s.

On 14 March 1878, the first vessel of the navigation season passed through the Straits of Mackinac. This was the earliest opening of the navigation season at the Straits since 1854.

1918 ISLAND QUEEN, a wooden-hulled Toronto Island ferry, was destroyed by a fire at Hanlan's Point in Toronto. The ship was valued at $25,000 and the hull was left to rot.

1962: MILLY made one trip through the Seaway in 1959. It had been launched at Stockton, CA on May 13, 1915, as PORTHCAWL and became d) MILLY in 1950. The 295 foot freighter, sailing as f) HEDIA, last reported March 14 near Galita Island on the Mediterranean close to Malta and en route from Casablanca, Morocco, to Venice, Italy, with a cargo of phosphate. It was posted as missing and then lost with all hands.

1993: The Freedom Class freighter SHAMALY was a year old when it came through the Seaway in 1969. It returned December 1, 1990, as c) WALVIS BAY for Ogdensburg, NY to load corn gluten The 9650 gross ton freighter ran aground south of Greece off Cape Morakis in 1993 en route from Piraeus to Scotland as d) LIPARIT BAY. The hull was not worth repairing and sold for scrap. Renamed e) NORA for the delivery tow, it arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, April 4, 1994, for dismantling and work began May 16.

1999: The Panamanian freighter EVANGELIA PETRAKIS was built in Muroran, Japan, in 1978 as N.J. PATERAS. It came through the Seaway in 1988 and was renamed c) AMER VED in 1990. It survived a grounding off Horsetail Bank, UK on November 19, 1996, only to suffer serious damage in a collision with the newly built, 57,947 gross ton, Maltese flag tanker SEAPRIDE I off Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. The damage to the 21-year old freighter was not worth repairs so it arrived at Alang, India, for scrapping on June 19, 1999.

1964: MARIA G.L. went aground at Suno Saki, Japan, about 30 miles south of Yokohama, in fog. This Liberty ship had been a Great Lakes trader in 1961. It was enroute from Long Beach, California, to Chiba, Japan, with a cargo of phosphates and broke in two as a total loss.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Shawn B-K, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Poe Lock refilled as new shipping season nears

3/13 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Thursday afternoon crews removed the last of the equipment from the Poe Lock and, near the end of the day, opened the sluices in the upper stop logs to begin filling the lock. View a video of the lock being filled here: https://www.facebook.com/USACEDetroitDistrict/videos/2520067938244770/UzpfSTEzMzMxMjE4MjQ6ODMyNTgyODAwNTg4Mzk5

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known). St. Joseph, MI
Alpena unloaded cement at Lafarge on Wednesday.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor cleared Goderich at 3.36 am Thursday with salt for Chicago.

Bayship departures listed

The keel for the tanker IMPERIAL REDWATER (Hull#106) was laid March 13, 1950, at Port Arthur, Ontario, by Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. She was converted to a bulk freighter at Collingwood, Ontario and renamed b.) R. BRUCE ANGUS in 1954. The ANGUS operated for Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., until she was scrapped at Setubal, Portugal in 1985.

On March 13, 1989, the Rouge Steel Co. announced the sale of its marine operations to Lakes Shipping, Cleveland (Interlake Steamship, mgr.).

1994: SHIPBROKER was built at Varna, Bulgaria, in 1980 as OCEAN SEAGULL and came through the Seaway that year on July 3. It was renamed SHIPBROKER in 1986 and made its maiden voyage to the Great Lakes on November 19, 1991. The ship was in a collision with the Cypriot tanker NASSIA in the Bosporus Strait on March 14, 1994, and caught fire. It burned for days and 29 members of the crew of 33 plus four on the tanker, were lost. Following a sale for scrap, the gutted bulk carrier arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, under tow on December 3, 1994, and dismantling began April 5, 1995.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

USCG Alder breaks through ice in Lake Superior harbor

3/12 - Duluth, MN – Despite a mild winter, the U.S. Coast Guard is still needed to break-up the ice in the Twin Ports harbor. Lake Superior's harbor may look clear of ice, but that doesn't mean the U.S. Coast Guard can rest easy this season.

Operation Taconite was underway Tuesday with the USS Alder venturing out in the harbor to cut through any remaining ice. Coast Guard officials say this annual ice-breaking expedition is essential for ships to eventually enter and leave the harbor.

According to the Operation Officer LTJG. Caleb Metroka, "Over the winter, you get the lake freezing over, and the ice gets thick. Most ships can't operate in the thick ice. So what we do is go through, break the ice, create paths for the ships so they can get in and out of the harbor."

The Alder will continue cutting ice Wednesday before shipping season begins in the next couple weeks.

View an icebreaking video at this link: https://cbs3duluth.com/2020/03/10/uss-alder-breaks-through-ice-in-lake-superior-harbor

Port of Thunder Bay not likely to be affected by delay in St. Lawrence Seaway opening

3/12 - Thunder Bay, ON – High water conditions on the Great Lakes are delaying by 12 days the opening of a stretch of the the St. Lawrence Seaways, but it should not impact the Port of Thunder Bay, according to Tim Heney, the port authority's CEO .

The St. Lawrence Seaway corporation said the section between Montreal and Lake Ontario will now open April 1. However, Heney said it should be business as usual at the Thunder Bay port this spring.

"The Soo Locks opens as scheduled on the 25th of March, and the Welland is still on the 21st of March. So we have 3 lakers in port...and most of the Canadian lake fleet is wintering above the Montreal/Lake Ontario section."

In a written release the St. Lawrence Seaway said "after carefully considering the many complex issues at stake, delaying the opening of the Seaway by 12 days to April 1st is a difficult decision to communicate to our customers but we maintain that it is a reasonable thing to do under the circumstances."

Heney said high water on Lake Superior should not cause an issue and will actually allow ships to take on full loads at Thunder Bay. He said the current situation is nearly the exact opposite of what happened in 2007, when the Port of Thunder Bay had to be dredged because of low water levels.

Heney also noted that outside the Thunder Bay breakwall, Lake Superior was pretty much open. He said the main focus for the icebreaker will be smashing the ice within Thunder Bay harbour.

"I'm not sure the exact date [of the ice breakers arrival] but I would think it's in the next two weeks for sure," Heney said. "It shouldn't take too long to bust that ice up." Moses-Saunders Dam located near Cornwall, Ontario and Massena, New York, is the main control structure on the St. Lawrence River used to regulate outflows from Lake Ontario. (International Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Board (supplied))

Heney said the opening of the lower St. Lawrence Seaway is being delayed because of the negative impacts of the extremely high water levels in the lower Great Lakes this year.

"They sound like they're still pretty high [in Lake Ontario] and are the reason they're delaying the opening in the Montreal," he said. "So they're trying to relieve some of the pressure [on Lake Ontario] by opening the gates at the Moses Saunders power dam in an attempt to lower those water levels. Now whether that's really effective or not is another matter but that's causing the issues around the delay of the opening."

Officials with the St. Lawrence Seaway said they have retained the services of a risk management expert to assist in strategies to maintain safe navigation under high Lake Ontario outflows.

"We are confident that both short an d long term solutions to commercial navigation challenges exist that will enable us to maintain our resiliency and predictability for many years to come," the seaway stated in a written release.

CBC

Cruise ships not welcome: Discovery Center votes against use of Traverse City port

3/12 - Traverse City, MI – Plans for Traverse City to be a regular stop for massive international cruise ships beginning in summer 2022 appear to be scuppered.

Discovery Center announced its intention to no longer serve as a port of call for cruise ships, effectively leaving cruise lines with nowhere to drop off passengers in the city. Discovery’s board of directors voted on the decision Monday.

The vote comes a month after Discovery Center announced that they had informally agreed to serve as a port of call for Viking Cruises and would host as many as seven Viking ships holding 378 passengers each at the nonprofit’s Greilickville pier.

Discovery CEO Matt McDonough says the nonprofit decided to stick to projects that more closely align with their mission.

“More cruise ships are coming to the Great Lakes sooner than we expected and many want to come to Traverse City,” McDonough tells The Ticker. “The more conversations we had in the community about this issue, the more questions, concerns, and opinions we learned the community had.”

The decision will also impact slightly smaller international cruise ships that had visited the region the past few falls and had also used Discovery Center as a port. McDonough says those visits were slated to increase in number in the coming years.

“Quite frankly, it’s been kind of a push-and-pull decision,” says Becky Ewing, executive director of Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps and Services, of which Discovery is a subsidiary. “Like many other nonprofits, the Discovery Center is looking for ways to both be financially self-sustaining and on point with our mission and goals, and sometimes that’s kind of a tricky balance.”

Concern over the impact of cruise ship visits in Grand Traverse Bay spawned vocal opposition – including from Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers, business owners, and some environmentalists – leading to calls that the cruise lines be kept away.

Carruthers says he thought there should have been a wider community discussion before Viking became a summer-long visitor to Traverse City.

“My frustration was that I read about it in the paper,” Carruthers says. “I think people really want us to manage our recreational resources as well as our natural resources with care.”

Boomerang Catapult Principal Casey Cowell, an outspoken critic, says, "Discovery Zone deserves our appreciation and respect for making the right call. Cruise ships would be no more beneficial here than they have been to Key West. Negative economic, cultural, social impact. Seasonal congestion…and when the cruise ship door gets pried open it will only get worse."

Greg Reisig, chairman of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, says he is pleased with the decision because not enough is known about the potential impacts of Great Lakes cruise ships.

“There’s not a lot of research on these Great Lakes ships,” he says. “We need to do more studies and evaluate what are the environmental impacts.”

The Viking North America press contact could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Traverse City is currently listed on their website as a 2022 port of call in their “Niagara and the Great Lakes” expeditions, which sail from Toronto to Milwaukee.

Trevor Tkach, CEO of Traverse City Tourism, says he is disappointed with Discovery’s decision, noting he believes Great Lakes cruise ships would be good for the region by enabling more people to visit with minimal overall impact on the city’s infrastructure.

Tkach says that he is unaware of any alternative spots in Traverse City that a cruise company could use as a port, but that over time, that could change. Cruise ship ports are regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard.

In the meantime, Tkach says, he thinks Discovery’s decision might be an opportunity for another northern Michigan city that is also close to wineries and near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

“Frankfort would be fabulous,” Tkach says. “That’s one that immediately comes to mind.”

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Straits-Cheboygan, MI – Jon Paul
USCGC Hollyhock entered the Cheboygan River passing the Crib Light at 17:00 Wednesday, turned in the turning basin and docked at the Mackinaw moorings, USCG Station Cheboygan, at 17:20. They had spent the day opening Gray's Reef Passage from Ile aux Galets north to White Shoal and then east under the Mackinac Bridge. They took the South Passage, which has been closed for the winter, to Cheboygan, thus laying the first track for the season.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Calumet River Fleeting’s tug Nathan S returned to Milwaukee early Wednesday (3/11) with three more barges for loading at the COFCO elevator. With no ice in the harbor and fair weather, barges continue coming up from Chicago to load grain. This is the fifth set of three barges loaded at the COFCO elevator in 2020. Each barge carries about 1,360 metric tons. When filled, the barges will head back to Calumet Harbor, which connects with New Orleans via the Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway System. Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Conquest arrived at noon with cement from Charlevoix for the Kinnickinnic River terminal. No further marine traffic is currently expected.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor was still at the Sifto dock Wednesday night.

Marine City, MI –
2:45 pm Wednesday, CCGS Samuel Risley passed downbound, mostly sunny 50 degrees F, river calm.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI – Raymond H
Karen Andrie/Endeavour arrived at the Michigan Paving and Materials dock to unload on Wednesday.

Cleveland-Cliffs and AK Steel vote to merge

3/12 - Shareholders of Cleveland-Cliffs and AK Steel on Tuesday voted to approve the merger between the two companies, the last major step before the deal closes Friday.

Under the merger, AK Steel, a producer of flat-rolled carbon and stainless and electrical steel products, would become a subsidiary of Cliffs, which owns several Minnesota and Michigan iron ore mines and taconite plants.

The move allows Cliffs to own AK Steel’s existing blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces and supply the furnaces with its own iron ore pellets. Cliffs had long sold its pellets to other steelmakers.

"The new Cleveland-Cliffs is a lot stronger than either Cliffs or AK Steel individually. We are ready to transform your confidence into shareholder value, and that’s what we are going to do,” Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a statement after the votes Tuesday.

But last week, Goncalves warned that if a loophole in President Donald Trump's sweeping steel tariffs wasn't closed, he'd be forced to shutter the United States' last producers of grain-oriented electrical steels in Butler, Pennsylvania and Zanesville, Ohio. Those two AK Steel plants employ 1,500 and 100 people, respectively. "I promise (the jobs) will be gone if I don't get help," Goncalves told the Congressional Steel Caucus last week.

Goncalves said countries the U.S. imposed steel tariffs on — like China, South Korea and Japan — are shipping mostly-finished electrical steels into Mexico for one final step in production, then trucking it into the U.S. to avoid tariffs, a move that he said is making the plants unprofitable. "I'm not in this business to lose money," Goncalves said.

Drone video shows Wilfred Sykes in 2019 season

3/12 - Captain Eric Treece kindly gave us permission to post this outstanding drone video. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTKOHgSuGkk

The b.) RUTH HINDMAN was launched March 12, 1910, as a.) NORWAY (Hull#115) at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the United States Transportation Co. She was scrapped at Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1978.

G.A. TOMLINSON was launched March 12, 1907, as a) D.O. MILLS (Hull#29) at Ecorse, Michigan, by Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Mesaba Steamship Co.

March 12, 1941 - The ferry CITY OF MIDLAND 41 arrived in Ludington, Michigan, on her maiden voyage. She loaded cars of paper at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and then picked up some cars of canned milk at Kewaunee, with Captain Charles Robertson in command.

On 12 March 1883, the steam barge R. MC DONALD was renamed IDA M. TORRENT.

1917: ALGONQUIN was built at Glasgow, Scotland, in 1888 and saw service for several companies on the Great Lakes. The ship was torpedoed by U-62 when it was 65 miles off Cornwall, England, while west of Bishop's Rock and en route from New York to London with general cargo. It was the first American merchant ship lost due to enemy action in World War One.

1942: ¬CRAIGROWNIE was a World War One Laker and had been launched at Ashtabula on April 12, 1919. It was sailing as d) OLGA when torpedoed by U-126, 20 miles off Nuevital Light, Cuba, while en route from Port Everglades, FL, to Beracoa, Cuba. One crewmember was lost but 32 were rescued and taken to Cuba.

1947: EXANTHIA struck a mine in the Mediterranean while 12 miles from the island of Elba while traveling from Istanbul to New York. The ship was flooded and abandoned but reboarded and eventually towed to New York for repairs. The ship sailed for the American Export Lines and came to the Great Lakes on nine occasions from 1959-1961. After a few years in the James River Reserve Fleet, the vessel was taken to Brownsville, Texas, in 1975 and broken up.

1971: SUNCLIPPER, a Seaway trader in 1966, was built in 1953 as BOW BRASIL. It ran aground at Haifa Bay as f) CLIPPER when the anchors dragged in a storm. The ship was refloated April 10, and taken to Perama, Greece. It was sold “as lies” to Turkish ship breakers, and arrived at Istanbul, Turkey, for scrapping on August 29, 1972.

1985: LETITIA was the 96th and final addition to the British flag Donaldson Line. It made four trips through the Seaway in 1966 and three more in 1967. It was sailing as d) TEPORA when it caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico en route to Veracruz, Mexico, on March 12, 1985. The Honduran-flagged freighter was abandoned by the crew. The fire was apparently extinguished and the vessel reboarded. It was taken in tow but the blaze broke out again and the ship sank on March 14.

Data from: Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Skip Gillham, the Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
Algocanada was upbound for the Purvis dock in Sault, ON, with petroleum products on Sunday early afternoon. She was escorted by USCG Neah Bay, which headed back down the river after Algocanada reached Six Mile Point. There is ice starting just below Mission Point, but it is not as think as in recent years.

Northern Lake Huron
Cheboygan: Saturday; 15:54 The tug Michigan and tanker barge Great Lakes departed for Nanticoke.

Lake Michigan
Algoma Conveyor departed Milwaukee Sunday afternoon and headed up the lake for Goderich.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator arrived at 12:40pm Sunday and began loading salt at Compass Minerals.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Iver Bright was unloading at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal on Sunday.

Video explores the origins of Know Your Ships book

3/9 - With the upcoming release of the 2020 Know Your Ships book, check out this video about how it all began for editor and publisher Roger LeLievre.

https://www.facebook.com/DreDesignsGLMP/videos/141306900507624/?fref=gs&dti=74265040605&hc_location=group

In 1905, the JAMES C. WALLACE (Hull#334) of the Acme Steamship Co., (A.B. Wolvin, mgr.), was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. Purchased by the Interlake Steamship Co. in 1913, she was scrapped at Genoa, Italy in 1963.

On 09 March 1933, all nine steamers of the Goodrich Transit Company were seized by federal marshals under a bankruptcy petition. These steamers were CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, CAROLINA, ALABAMA, ILLINOIS, CITY OF BENTON HARBOR, CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, CITY OF ST. JOSEPH, CITY OF HOLLAND, and the CITY OF SAUGATUCK.

AMOCO ILLINOIS was launched March 9, 1918, as a) WILLIAM P. COWAN (Hull#724) at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co.

NOTRE DAME VICTORY (Hull#1229), was launched on March 9, 1945, at Portland, Oregon, by Oregon Shipbuilding Co., just 42 days after her keel was laid. She became the b.) CLIFFS VICTORY and sailed on the Great Lakes from 1951 until 1985.

WIARTON was launched March 9, 1907, as a) THOMAS LYNCH (Hull#73) at Chicago, Illinois, by Chicago Ship Building Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. She was used as part of a breakwall at the Steel Co. of Canada Dock in Hamilton. The GROVEDALE of 1905, and HENRY R. PLATT JR of 1909, were also used.

March 9, 1920 - The PERE MARQUETTE 3 sank off Ludington after being crushed by ice.

On 9 March 1858, the propeller ferry GLOBE was being loaded with cattle at the Third Street dock at Detroit, Michigan. In the rush to get aboard, the cattle caused the vessel to capsize. All of the cattle swam ashore, although some swam across the river to the Canadian side.

1985: The Norwegian freighter TRONSTAD first came to the Great Lakes as a pre-Seaway visitor in 1957. It returned on another 12 occasions after the new waterway opened in 1959. The vessel was sailing a d) CRUZ DEL SUR when it was confiscated by U.S. authorities for drug smuggling and brought to Miami on this date in 1985. The 30-year old ship was towed out into the Atlantic and scuttled off Miami on December 19, 1986.

2007: The Greek freighter WISMAR was built in 1979 and came through the Seaway in 1980. It lost power below Lock 2 of the Welland Canal while upbound on August 30, 1980, and had to drop anchor. It was sailing as h) GRACIA from Thailand to Dakar, Senegal, with a cargo of rice, when the engine failed in heavy weather in the Indian Ocean on February 27, 2007. The crew took to the lifeboats and was rescued. The former Great Lakes visitor was last seen on March 7, adrift, with a 20-degree list to port, and likely soon sank.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

High Lake Huron water wrecking wrecks

3/8 - Rogers City, MI – High water and erosion have pushed a portion of the Joseph S. Fay shipwreck inland from its former location off the shoreline at the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse.

Although it’s currently covered by snow and ice, lighthouse caretaker Eric Klein said the starboard — or right-hand — side of the shipwreck moved about 10 feet inland during a storm in October. Klein said it’s the first time he’s known the shipwreck to move.

The piece of shipwreck moved farther inland during subsequent storms, and Klein estimates it has now moved about 25 feet from its original location. The piece is now wedged up to the treeline, where sand is eroding and the trees are starting to topple.

Klein said there’s nothing that can be done to protect the wreck, because it’s against the law to move shipwreck artifacts or remove them from the water. He said the wave action over the past few years has taken its toll on the wreckage. When water receded, the wreckage was exposed to the elements and the wood dried out, weakening it. Waves are now impacting the weakened wood.

“It’s basically eroding the wreck, and big pieces will come off and be washed away,” he said. He said what’s happening now is “just part of its natural progression.”

While water levels in the Great Lakes fluctuate over time, state Maritime Archaeologist Wayne Lusardi said what’s atypical are the waves that have eroded shores, actually digging out artifacts and pieces of shipwrecks that haven’t been exposed for some time.

He said that has occurred throughout the state, particularly over the course of the past six months. A couple pieces of slab wood, or possibly pieces of shipwrecks, washed ashore along Bay View Park this summer. At Hoeft State Park, a 45-foot stretch of ribs and keel from an unidentified shipwreck, once covered by sand dunes, now lie in shallow water.

Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, just south of White Lake Channel, the remnants of a schooner also emerged from sand dunes, only to be buried again two weeks later.

As for the Joseph S. Fay, Klein worries about what might happen when the waters recede. “The last time the lake washed out that ridge in the (19)80s, it reestablished a dune there, and I fear it’s going to cover the wreck,” he said.

The Alpena News

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

St. Marys River
Tanker Algocanada was at anchor off the east end of St. Joseph Island Saturday night. It is not known why it did not make it to the Purvis dock in Sault, ON, for unloading at 1700 hours on March 7 as planned. USCG Katmai Bay icebreaker passed the Purvis dock headed upstream around 1700 hours without the Algocanada following.

Straits of Mackinac
Algoma Innovator was eastbound for Goderich Saturday evening.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Alpena arrived at 06:40 Saturday (3/7) with cement and proceeded to the Lafarge terminal on the inner harbor. Still powered by steam, she is the oldest working freighter on the lakes. Also in port was Algoma Conveyor, which arrived early Wednesday morning (3/4) with salt from Goderich. Early Saturday, with an assist from the tug Louisiana, the Conveyor spun around and backed into slip one of the outer harbor. After a three-day delay, reportedly due to belt issues, she appeared ready to discharge her cargo. No additional marine traffic is expected.

Access to Huron's piers blocked by Army Corps

3/8 - Huron, OH - The Army Corps of Engineers placed new signs warning people to stay off dangerous areas near Huron's piers. The signs posted at the Lighthouse Pier, north of the "blockhouse," and the East Pier, attached to Nickel Plate Beach, warn people of danger and to keep off the restricted area.

"We put the signs up because all of those areas are strictly navigation structures, and that's what they were designed for," said Susan Blair, a spokeswoman for the Army Corps' Buffalo office. "The public was never meant to use them for recreation. Last year, somebody, unfortunately, died when he fell off the rocks."

Henry Stout, 19, drowned in June after a wave knocked him off the rocks as he attempted to get from the pier to the Huron Lighthouse. There were also two drownings last year at Nickel Plate Beach, but they were unrelated to the restricted area at the East Pier. Some people, however, do use the rocks there for recreation, which the Army Corp. contends needs to stop.

Blair said people who disobey the signs could be charged with trespassing.

Huron city manager Andy White said the federal government owns the land and the city leases certain areas of it like the observation deck at the blockhouse, which remains accessible to the public.

"It's their land and they can obviously do what they please," White said. "But it has been widely enjoyed as a recreational asset in the past, and we weren't given any notice of it."

Muskegon cruise ship stops to double, with some days two in port at once

3/8 - Muskegon, MI – Three cruise ship operators have finalized 2020 itineraries for cruises on the Great Lakes, resulting in 35 stops in the port city of Muskegon. That's twice as many stops as in 2019. In 2021 the number of stops is expected to grow to nearly 50 stops.

All three cruise ships will enter the Muskegon Lake channel and eventually tie up at a dock at Muskegon County's Heritage Landing Park. "We have the perfect setup," said Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Larsen.

Larsen says Heritage Landing is perfect in part because it's close to the shops, breweries, and museums in Muskegon's growing downtown.

The growing piece of the region’s tourism economy can be traced back to one single cruise ship stop in 2015.

"On average we'll have two cruise ships a week," said Larsen. "But there are going to be a couple of times when we'll have two cruise ships in the same day."

Community leaders were initially concerned about the double booking for the Muskegon port. The dock at Heritage Landing can only accommodate one ship at a time. The neighboring Mart Dock is providing additional docking space during double bookings which should happen twice in 2020.

"We have got plenty of space here," said Mart Dock President Max McKee. "When there will be two in town or maybe an event at Heritage Landing and they can't accommodate the cruise ships, those ships have been here before, they're welcome again."

The growing cruise ship business is a sign of the city's diverse economy. A one reason that lead Ashley Cooper to open her "Harris & Willow" store in downtown on Second Street. "Just seeing the growth," Cooper said. "It's just fun to be a part of Muskegon and see the new things they're offering and just to be a small part of that."

Cooper started "Harris & Willow" inside one of the city's mini retail chalets on Western Avenue. It's a popular stop for cruise ship passengers. "We'd see them drive by on the trolley, and then later on they would come and shop the shops," Cooper said. She hopes this summer they find her new location for clothing, gifts, and keepsakes.

Not only do passengers spend money in the city, but the ships operators do too. In 2019 one ship made a $14,000 alcohol purchase from a Muskegon area beer distributor before leaving town.

The first cruise ship of 2020 will arrive in Muskegon's port on May 13, the last stop of the season is scheduled for October 16.

In 2001, Muskegon County made significant improvements to Heritage Landing including the construction of the dock where cruise ships could dock. Stopping in Muskegon this year are the ships The Victory I, Victory II, Pearl Mist, and Le Champlain.

WZZM

EUGENE P. THOMAS (Hull#184) was launched March 8, 1930, at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

March 8, 1910 - A fire from unknown causes destroyed the ANN ARBOR NO. 1 of 1892. The hull was sold to Love Construction Co., of Muskegon, Michigan.

On 8 March 1882, the tug WINSLOW left Manistee to tow the NORTHERN QUEEN to Marine City for repairs. NORTHERN QUEEN had collided with LAKE ERIE the previous autumn and then sank while trying to enter Manistique harbor. Robert Holland purchased the wreck of NORTHERN QUEEN after that incident.

1981 MEZADA of the Zim Israel Line first came to the Great Lakes in 1966 after it had been lengthened to 676 feet. The vessel had been built in 1960 and foundered after breaking in two about 100 miles east of Bermuda on March 8, 1981. The 19,247 gross ton bulk carrier was traveling from Haifa to Baltimore with a cargo of potash and 24 lives were lost while only 11 sailors were rescued.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series

McKeil Marine expands again with purchase of another tanker

3/7 - Montreal, QC – McKeil Marine renamed its latest acquisition, the 2011-built product tanker Adfines Sea (originally Osttank Norway), to Northern Spirit in Montreal on Tuesday. Late in Feburary, McKeil purchased fleetmate Adfines Star, which was renamed Atlantic Spirit.

Rene Beauchamp

Coast Guard to begin icebreaking next week for new shipping season

3/7 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Coast Guard cutter Katmai Bay starts breaking ice Monday March 9 in the lower St. Marys River in preparation for the 2020 shipping season. Later in the week, Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw, Neah Bay, Morro Bay and Bristol Bay will augment the icebreaking fleet assigned to the St Marys River.

To date, icebreaking activity was limited to the lower St Marys River, south of Munuscong (Mud) Lake and the Middle Neebish Channel north and east of Neebish Island. Monday, the Coast Guard extends their icebreaking activity into the southern half of the West Neebish Channel, working from Mud Lake Junction Light north to Moon Island. The Coast Guard will not disturb the ice north of Moon Island until the week of 16 March. They do not plan to break ice north the Neebish Island ferry crossing south of West Neebish Channel Light 45 before 20 March 2020.

Unlike some previous winters, this year was unseasonably warm. Regional ice cover is not as expansive, nor did it reach traditional thicknesses. The forecast for the next seven to ten days calls for temperatures conducive to rapid deterioration of ice. All snowmobile, All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) operators, ice fishing, and other recreational users of the ice should recognize the instability of the ice, plan their activities carefully, and use caution near the ice, especially in proximity to charted navigation areas.

Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder will commence spring break out operations in the Duluth-Superior area Tuesday, March 10. Initially, icebreaking operations will occur inside the Duluth and Superior Harbors. The ice breaking work expands next week to other regional waterways, including Thunder Bay, Ontario to prepare for commercial ship movements.

In addition, Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw, Mobile Bay and Neah Bay commence the breakout of the bay of Green Bay, Monday March 9. The Port of Green Bay will resume commercial shipping activity at week’s end. These icebreaking operations will likely occur in areas used by recreational users such as, but not limited to, the Fox River, Green Bay Entrance Channel, the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Menominee River Entrance, and the waters of Green Bay from Escanaba to the Port of Green Bay. In the days and weeks to come, these icebreaking efforts will increase in frequency as ice conditions deteriorate and commercial navigation increases.

USCG

Port reports are compiled from volunteer reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Northern Lake Huron
St Ignace: Thursday: 22:10 USCG Mackinaw arrived. Friday: 8:21 USCG Neah Bay departed for the Straits to conduct ice operations. 14:45 USCG Mackinaw departed for Mackinaw City, arriving there at 15:10.

Straits of Mackinac: 9:31 Friday the cement carrier Alpena weighed anchor and proceeded through the Straits for Milwaukee. Alpena was escorted by USCG Neah Bay.

Great Lakes water levels remain high going into the spring

3/7 - Detroit, MI - – Water levels on each of the Great Lakes remain very high going into the spring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced. Although 2020 started with wetter conditions, February was a fairly dry month for the Great Lakes basin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that a few cold air outbreaks during the month led to increased evaporation.

Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie set new monthly records for February 2020.

“After months of generally wet conditions, February was finally drier across most of the Great Lakes.” said John Allis, chief of the Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office, Detroit District. “However levels remain above or near record highs for this time of year, and we expect impacts to those along the coastline to increase as water levels now begin rising towards their seasonal peaks.”.

Those impacted by high water levels in 2019 should prepare for similar or higher levels in 2020.

WXYZ

Friends of the tug Edna G need maintenance volunteers

3/7 - Two Harbors, MN – The Friends of the Edna G needs a volunteer or volunteers to do weekly maintenance on the historic tug Edna G. It would require checking on the tug weekly to check how much water it has taken on and if necessary, pump the water out. Also, check the mooring lines and tighten them if necessary and report on the condition of the tug to the board and if anything is needed to keep tug in good condition contact a board member. There will be someone to train you. You will not be required to attend our monthly meeting. If you can only volunteer once or twice a month that will okay. There is one person currently doing the maintenance on the tug and he is getting older. If something should happen to him, or if he goes on vacation, we do not have someone to replace him.

Friends of the Edna G

Green Bay offering contest to guess first ship

3/7 - Green Bay, WI – Can you guess when the first ship will enter the Port of Green Bay's shipping channel in 2020? It could be science that guides you, or maybe a little bit of luck. Again this year the Port of Green Bay and Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau are partnering in a contest that embraces the age-old tradition of guessing the day the first ship will arrive at port.

Tradition also holds, that due to weather and other shipping factors, no one knows when arrival will take place. The person who guesses the closest date and time of the first ship's arrival, will win a prize package offered by the Port of Green Bay which includes intro to sailing lessons for two from Green Bay Sail & Paddle, $25 gift certificate from Louie's Lagoon, two Port of Green Bay drawstring goodie bags and a 200th Anniversary Brown County Monopoly Game.

The shipping industry is significant for the Port of Green Bay and the Greater Green Bay region. A total of 2,277,652 metric tons were moved in and out of the Port during the 2019 shipping season, representing a 9 percent increase over 2018. The Port has 14 terminal operators along the Fox River and businesses handle dry bulk commodities such as coal, limestone and salt, bulk liquids like petroleum products, liquid asphalt and tallow, and breakbulk commodities including wood pulp and forest products in addition to oversized cargo like machinery and wind components. As the westernmost Lake Michigan dock, railroad companies and major trucking firms utilize the Port of Green Bay. Visit www.portofgreenbay.com for more port information.

Statement from Victory Cruise Lines regarding virus preparations

3/7 - Editor’s note: Victory I and Victory II have a full season of passenger cruising scheduled for 2020 on the Great Lakes.

Dear Valued Guest,

At American Queen Steamboat Company, our thoughts are with those affected by COVID-19. Please be assured that American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines are closely monitoring the situation. We’ve enhanced screening protocols, and have taken the recommended necessary precautions on each of our vessels. Our top priority is – and will always be – the safety of our guests and employees.

We remain optimistic about the future, and encourage you to do the same. We’ve made adjustments to our deposit requirements, final payment schedules and cancellation policies to make it easier to evaluate your vacation plans.

We have exciting things planned for next month. First is the introduction of our new and beautiful American Countess on the Mississippi River. Next is the start of our second successful season of the Victory I and Victory II, providing spectacular voyages on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Thank you for your being a valued guest of our two brands. We want you to be able to travel with confidence based on the flexibility that our adjusted policies offer.

John W. Waggoner Founder and CEO, American Queen Steamboat Company CEO, Victory Cruise Lines

Casualties/demolitions

3/7 - Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connection reported as a casualty or sold for demolition taken from March 2020 issue of Marine News - Journal of the World Ship Society:

Casualties: TECUMSEH (7225855; Canada) - 1st trip into Seaway 2012 - (Tina Litrico-11, Judy Litrico-06, Islander-96, Sugar Islander-96) 18,049 / 1973 bulk carrier Great Lakes. Owned by Lower Lakes Towing Ltd., Canada. Caught fire in the engine room on 17.12.2019 and lost power in the Detroit River off Zug Island, Detroit USA. The fire was brought under control by the crew and she was towed to Windsor, Ontario where they were evacuated and a specialist fire team finally put it out. Ship had been on a voyage from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Windsor, Ontario with grain.

Demolitions: BOLD WORLD (9141417, Panama) (Stolt Bold World-08, Stolt Kent-07 - 1st trip into the Seaway 1998) 12,141 / 1998 Chemical Products tanker. By Linkdale Co SA (Womar Logistics Pte Ltd), Panama, to Leela Ship Recycling Pvt. India and arrived Alang 27.04.2019 - commenced demolition 6.05.2019

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

ALGOSOO suffered a serious fire at her winter mooring on the west wall above Lock 8, at Port Colborne, Ontario on March 7, 1986, when a conveyor belt ignited, possibly caused by welding operations in the vicinity. The blaze spread to the stern gutting the aft accommodations. The ship was repaired at Welland and returned to service on October 6.

TEXACO BRAVE was launched March 7, 1929, as a) JOHN IRWIN (Hull#145) at Haverton-Hill-on-Tees, United Kingdom by Furness Shipbuilding Co.

On 7 March 1874, the wooden tug JOHN OWEN (Hull#28) was launched at Wyandotte, Michigan, by the Detroit Dry Dock Company for J. E. Owen of Detroit, Michigan.

On 7 March 1896, L. C.WALDO (steel propeller freighter, 387 foot, 4,244 gross tons) was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan by F. W. Wheeler (Hull #112). She had a long career. She was rebuilt twice, once in the winter of 1904-05 and again in 1914, after she was stranded in the Storm of 1913. She was sold Canadian in 1915, and renamed b.) RIVERTON. In 1944, she was renamed c.) MOHAWK DEER. She lasted until November 1967, when she foundered in the Gulf of Genoa while being towed to the scrap yard at La Spezia, Italy.

ANN ARBOR NO 1 (wooden propeller carferry, 260 foot, 1,128 gross tons, built in 1892, at Toledo, Ohio) got caught in the ice four miles off Manitowoc, Wisconsin in February 1910. She remained trapped and then on 7 March 1910, she caught fire and burned. Although she was declared a total loss, her hull was reportedly sold to Love Construction Co., Muskegon, Michigan, and reduced to an unregistered sand scow.

1969: The British freighter MONTCALM, a Seaway trader when new in 1960, made 29 trips to the Great Lakes to the end of 1967. A truck in #1 hold got loose on this date in an Atlantic storm 420 miles southeast of Halifax in 1969 causing a heavy list and a 12 foot gash in the hull. A U.S.C.G. helicopter dropped extra pumps and the ship reached Halifax and safety. The vessel later became a livestock carrier and arrived at Chittagong, Bangladesh, for scrapping as c) SIBA EDOLO on August 8, 1988.

1973: BISCAYA was a Danish flag freighter that first came inland in 1965. It was sailing as c) MARGARITA, and under Greek registry, when it sank following a collision with the ANZOATEGUI, a Venezuelan reefer ship, while in bound about 39 miles off Maracaibo, Venezuela on March 7, 1983. It was carrying barytes, a mineral used in oil-drilling fluids, from El Salvador.

1982: OCEAN LEADER came to the Great Lakes in 1980 and ran aground upbound near Sault Ste. Marie on November 11 when the radar malfunctioned. Later, in 1982 as c) FINIKI, the then 7-year old ship hit an underwater obstruction 10 miles west of the Moruka Light, while en route to Paramaribo, Suriname. The vessel reached Georgetown, Guyana, and was declared a total loss. It was reported as scuttled in the Atlantic off Jacksonville, Fla., on or after December 9, 1982.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, “Historical Collections of the Great Lakes,” “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

Coast Guard recognizes Sugar Island ferry crew, Good Samaritans for lifesaving effort

3/5 - Sault Ste. Mariue, MI – On Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie recognized the crew of the Sugar Island ferry Sugar Islander II and three Good Samaritans who saved the life of a teenage girl from the icy waters of the St. Marys River.

Capt. Patrick Nelson, Commander Sector Sault Ste. Marie, presented the Coast Guard Certificate of Merit to Captain Dale Rosenbum and Phillip Roy, of the Sugar Island ferry, for their commendable actions on January 21, 2020, in which they rescued a teenage girl who fell into the St. Marys River. Upon sighting of the person in the water, Captain Rosenbum expertly maneuvered the ferry for emergency pickup procedures by a makeshift Good Samaritan crew assembled by Mr. Roy, a deckhand onboard. Mr. Roy and the Good Samaritans stabilized the survivor’s condition and swiftly transported her to awaiting emergency responders on the mainland.

“We are incredibly proud of the heroic and quick response by Captain Rosenbum and Mr. Roy. It is a clear testament to their proficiency and dedication as professional mariners and their strong sense of civic responsibility to their community,” stated Captain Nelson.

Capt. Nelson also recognized three of the Good Samaritans, Sonny Menard, Fred Newton, and Bob LaPointe, who volunteered to assist the crew. “These Good Samaritans embody the UP spirit of community selflessness. We thank them for stepping up to assist with saving a life.”

View a video at this link: https://www.9and10news.com/2020/03/04/sugar-island-ferry-workers-honored-for-saving-girl

USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie

Port reports are compiled from reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Algoma Conveyor slipped into port at 05:59 Wednesday (3/4). She carried salt from the Compass Minerals mine at Goderich. She tied up in slip one of the outer harbor, and as of noon, had not started discharging cargo. This is her sixth visit to the city in 2020. She was loaded to an observed draft of 8.4 meters, which would equate to nearly 30,000 metric tons. No further vessel traffic is expected.

Marine City, MI – Rich Larson
At 1 p.m. Wednesday, the steamer Alpena passed upbound under partly sunny skies, 46 degrees F, winds from the west and steady, and the river completely ice free.

Detroit, MI – Raymond H
On Wednesday, Alpena arrived at Lafarge to unload a storage load of cement. This was her first trip since fitting out. After unloading, she departed upbound for her namesake port, and by 9 p.m. was off the tip of Michiagn’s thumb. Algosea arrived at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal to unload.

Monroe, MI – Raymond H
Calusa Coast and Delaware arrived at the Michigan Paving and Materials dock to unload asphalt on Wednesday.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
CCGC Griffon departed at 08:43 Wednesday for Amherstburg, ON. Prentiss Brown/St.Marys Conquest arrived at 08:07. They are at the former Medusa Cement silos.

A dog, an ice floe and a dramatic after-dark rescue by crew of tug Barbara Andrie

3/5 - Muskegon, MI - If dogs could talk, Max the mutt, rescued in the dark of night off an ice floe in the middle of Muskegon Lake, would have quite a tale to tell. It’s a mystery how the dog, missing from Muskegon for as many as 36 hours, ended up in the predicament he was in. But his rescue is a heart-warming story of man’s devotion to his best friend.

Returning from a 20-hour trip to Milwaukee on Monday, March 2, the guys on board the tugboat Barbara Andrie couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the lone pup adrift in the middle of the lake.

They had just entered through the channel from Lake Michigan when the dog stranded on a small ice floe suddenly appeared in their path, said the boat’s captain that night, Dave Wellington. It was around 8:30 p.m. and pitch dark when the dog suddenly appeared in the boat’s spotlight. “I’ve got to say, my heart almost sank,” Wellington said. “I almost thought I ran him over at first.” But when he looked back, there was the dog, still on its precarious floating perch.

The crew on board had been working since 6 that morning and looking forward to getting to dock at Andrie in Muskegon and calling it a night. But first, they had a rescue operation to conduct. “Everybody was like, ‘No question, we’re going to get him,’” Wellington said. “We weren’t going to leave him out there. There’s no way. We were going to get him.”

He slowly backed the 125-foot tug up, careful not to disturb the delicate ice surrounding the stranded dog.

“He was way out there, way out in the middle of the lake,” said deck hand Craig Benedetti. “I’m not sure he would have made it through the night.”

When they were close enough, crew members used a pole with a hook on the end to carefully snag the ice floe and pull it toward the tug. At one point, the dog slipped off the ice into the water, but was able to get back on his perch, Wellington said.

“You could tell he was cold and afraid and didn’t know where to go and what to do,” Wellington said. “He was on his little piece of ice that he wasn’t giving up, which, truthfully, was the best thing to do.”

It took about 20 minutes, but finally the crew was able to slip a rope over the pup’s neck and pull it to safety with a little lunch meat as enticement. “It was a very nice dog,” said Matt Babbitt, another captain on board the tug that night. “It was very happy. It was glad to be on board with us.”

The crew, which also included Chief Engineer Danny Kuiper, Assistant Engineer Tyler Gagnon and deckhand Jeff Wever, brought the pup blankets and a little more lunch meat, Babbitt said. “It would sit and shake and everything,” he said. “It was a good little dog.”

His name was Max, the crew discovered by looking at the dog’s tag, which also had his owner’s phone number. “I believe they were kind of surprised,” Wellington said when Max’s owners learned of the rescue.

A Facebook post from the owner indicated Max had gone missing the previous day, Sunday, March 1, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. He last was seen near Muskegon Catholic Central schools, reported the owner, whom MLive was unable to reach.

Benedetti said another boat captain had reported seeing the dog around 4 a.m. Monday out on the ice, which at that time was more solid than by the time the Barbara Andrie crew got to him.

The crew posed for a few photos with Max before Wellington and Benedetti delivered him to his grateful owners. “When we told them where we found Max, the daughter said, ‘When we take him to the beach, Max doesn’t even like the water,’” Wellington said.

View photos at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2020/03/a-dog-an-ice-floe-and-a-dramatic-after-dark-rescue.html

On 05 March 1997, the Canadian Coast Guard cutter GRIFFON pulled the smashed remains of a 1996 Ford Bronco from the icy depths of the Straits of Mackinac. The vehicle flipped off the Mackinac Bridge on 02 March 1997, and the driver was killed. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter BISCAYNE BAY served as a platform for the M-Rover submersible craft used to locate the Bronco in 190 feet of water.

HARRY L. ALLEN was launched March 5, 1910, as a.) JOHN B. COWLE (Hull#379) at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. She was declared a constructive total loss after a fire on January 21, 1978. The vessel was in winter lay-up at the Capitol elevator in Duluth when part of the elevator complex burned. Debris from the elevator fell on the boat, badly damaging it. The owners decided to scrap it rather than repair it. The ALLEN was scrapped at Duluth in 1978.

LEADALE was launched March 5, 1910, as a.) HARRY YATES (Hull#77) at St. Clair, Michigan, by Great Lakes Engineering Works. Scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia in 1979.

March 5, 1932 - In distress with a broken steering gear off the Ludington harbor, S.S. VIRGINIA entered port under her own power.

On 05 March 1898, the WILLIAM R. LINN (Hull#32) (steel propeller freighter, 400 foot, 4,328 gross tons) was launched at the Chicago Ship Building Company in South Chicago, Illinois. In 1940, she was sold, renamed b.) L.S. WESCOAT and converted to a tanker. She was scrapped in Germany in 1965.

1997 - The former Greek bulk carrier ANTONIS P. LEMOS had been built at Osaka, Japan, in 1976, and visited the Great Lakes that year. As c) ALBION TWO, the ship departed Gdynia, Poland, for Kingston, Jamaica, with a cargo of steel products and was reported as missing on March 5. Wreckage was later found off the coast of France and identified as from the missing vessel. All 25 crewmembers were lost. The ship had also been through the Seaway as b) MACFRIENDSHIP in November 1993 with a cargo of steel for Hamilton.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Eric Holst, Mike Nicholls, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series

National Museum of the Great Lakes welcomes new board chairman

3/3 - Toledo, OH – It didn’t take long for Mark W. Barker to note the incongruity of a man from Cleveland being ultimately in charge of a museum in Toledo when he was introduced last week as the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ new board chairman.

But Mr. Barker, who as president of Interlake Steamship is in charge of one of the Great Lakes’ pre-eminent freighter fleets, said he’s no stranger to the Toledo waterfront and is familiar with the local port’s history.

“We have a lot of ties to Toledo and the maritime side of it,” both in terms of cargo movement and vessel maintenance and repair, Mr. Barker said during a reception Tuesday at the riverfront museum in East Toledo.

Mr. Barker, a certified marine engineer who holds a master of business administration degree from Case Western Reserve University, has been a board member with the Great Lakes Historical Society — now also the museum board — since the early 2000s and noted that Interlake has been involved with the society since its founding 75 years ago.

“They have a great passion for the Great Lakes as well as a great passion for their business,” Andy Dale, the chief operating officer at Hylant in Toledo and a member of the museum board, said of Interlake and its president.

Mr. Barker succeeds Bill Buckley, who as the board’s chairman from 2013 to 2018 oversaw the historical society’s move in early 2014 from a smaller museum in Vermilion, Ohio to the Toledo site on Front Street. Mr. Buckley “has put us in a great spot,” said Mr. Barker, whose election as the new chairman was recommended by the museum board’s governance committee.

Mr. Barker touched on cooperative programs in the works involving the Toledo Zoo and Toledo Lucas County Public Library system as well as the museum’s ongoing effort to add a lake-vessel pilothouse, liberated from its former ship during a barge conversion, to the museum’s local exhibits.

The museum also is involved in cooperative promotion of other Toledo-area tourist attractions, Mr. Barker said. It has vital roles in preserving and documenting the history of Great Lakes shipping, public education and outreach to promote the lakes’ importance to the national economy and heritage, and underwater archaeology, he said.

“I don’t like to talk about shipwrecks, but they happen,” the shipping executive said with a shrug. Interlake operates nine freighters on the Great Lakes and has a 10th under construction. When launched, it will be the lakes’ first new U.S.-flag ship since the 1980s.

The Blade

Port reports are compiled from reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Mackinac Straits – Jon-Paul
Mackinaw escorted Prentiss Brown and its barge eastbound thru the Straits Monday afternoon. They made a steady 9 knots with PB passing Round Island Lt at 16:30 and Mackinaw returning to the State Dock in Mackinaw City at 17:00.

Toledo, OH – Jim Hoffman
Philip R. Clarke is out of the dry dock and is tied up at the old Interlake Dock behind the Great Republic. Algoma Strongfield is supposedly the next vessel due into the dry dock.

Legislators press Trump to push frigate deal to Marinette

3/3 - Madison, WI – A bipartisan coalition of Wisconsin legislators sent a letter Monday to President Trump pressing him to direct a lucrative U.S. Navy frigate construction contract to a Marinette shipyard.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine is locked in a fierce competition with Bath Iron Works in Maine; Austal USA of Alabama; Huntington Ingalls of Mississippi: and Lockheed Martin of Baltimore for the contract. Whoever wins the deal would be expected to build two frigates annually from 2021 to 2021. Each ship is expected to cost about $900 million each.

Wisconsin Rep. John Nygren, who represents Marinette in the state Assembly, persuaded 54 Republican and Democrats from both the Assembly and Senate to sign on to the letter to Trump.

The letter paints Fincantieri Marinette Marine as a vital economic engine in northeastern Wisconsin. The frigate contract would generate another 1,000 jobs for the region, the letter said. If the Navy hands the contract to someone else, however, Fincantieri could end up closing its shipyard, the lawmakers warned.

“We have witnessed what the loss of opportunity does to the Midwest,” the letter said. “When industry departs, so does hope.”

The lawmakers conclude by telling Trump that his “leadership and attention to this opportunity is vital.”

WBAY

Interlake video explains vessel names

3/3 - Ever wonder about the names prominently displayed on the bows of Interlake Steamship Co. vessels? Who is Paul R. Tregurtha? How are James R. Barker and Kaye E. Barker related? (Spoiler alert: By marriage). Why name a ship the Mesabi Miner? Watch this video and wonder no more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmhtIEM5-dM

Royal Canadian Navy, coast guard short hundreds of sailors

3/3 - Ottawa, ON – It’s been billed as the largest-ever investment in the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard during a time of peace. Over the next decade, the federal government will invest tens of billions of dollars into new science ships, icebreakers, supply vessels and warships.

Yet as they prepare to welcome those new ships with open arms, given the age of their current fleets, top officials at both the navy and coast guard are wrestling with a difficult but critical question: Who will sail the vessels?

That is because the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard need hundreds more sailors between them. And while the situation isn’t critical yet, it has become one of the top priorities for both services.

“It’s good to get all those resources, all this new technology and new ships,” Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner Mario Pelletier said in a recent interview. “But without people, I’m not going to be able to operate or to support or to manage the operations. So I need people.”

The coast guard says up to 15 per cent of its positions are currently vacant, representing a shortfall of roughly 1,000 people. While that alone is cause for concern, the organization released a business plan last year that noted the workforce is also getting older.

The same business plan identified recruitment as “one of the most difficult challenges” for the organization — an assessment echoed by Pelletier. It is for those reasons that he identified recruitment as well as retention as a key focus when he became commissioner in December.

Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, who took over as commander of the Royal Canadian Navy last June, has the same priority: getting more young men and women to sign up to sail with the navy, which is short roughly 850 members.

The shortfall is manageable now, but McDonald said the concern is what would happen should the navy find itself needing to dramatically ramp up its operations — something that can’t be ruled out given the current state of the world.

“So on one hand, my broad message to you is it’s very manageable, the shortfalls we’re currently experiencing,” he said. “But in a volatile world where we may be required to do more, we need to be able to push to fill those numbers in — and we are.”

The navy and coast guard are not alone when it comes to having trouble recruiting new sailors. Canada’s entire marine industry is facing a similar shortage of bodies, as older sailors leave faster than they can be replaced and new technology sparks shortages of certain skills.

“We’ve identified a shortage over the next five to 10 years of about 5,000 people,” said Bruce Burrows, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “And we are having to temporarily bring, for example, foreign captains.”

Why aren’t people considering a career in the navy, coast guard or marine industry? Officials have previously cited the fight for employees at a time when unemployment is low and many people don’t want to be away from home for long periods of time.

Yet McDonald, Pelletier and Burrows all cite a lack of awareness. McDonald calls it “maritime blindness.” Not only have most Canadians never been on — or perhaps even close to — a large vessel, but those interviewed believe there is a misconception about the job.

Burrows is quick to list the many ways in which the industry has tried to become more appealing, including shorter stints at sea, more emphasis on high-tech skills as vessels have become more modern, and better food and connectivity to home.

The navy, meanwhile, has been implementing wireless networks onto its ships so sailors can stay connected to home while highlighting the ability to learn new skills in a fast-paced environment.

“We just have to get our story out,” McDonald said. “And what millennials and others are looking for is a chance to do a relevant job where they get to shape what the output is and have a voice to be heard and to contribute.”

The federal government and industry teamed up in January to create the Canadian Marine Industry Foundation, whose purpose will be to promote careers in the marine sector and bring in much-needed new blood.

For McDonald, the stakes are high over the next few years.

“My concern is being 850 down this year, we need to get those people in. We have a message that we’re hiring because robustness, resilience and our ability to fully meet the surge if we get asked to do more than we’re doing now means that I need those extra people to come in.”

National Post

See jaw-dropping photos of ice-covered houses on Lake Erie shore

3/3 - Cleveland, OH – The same winds that caused 10-foot waves off the shore of Cleveland Thursday transformed homes in Hamburg, New York, into ice sculptures. The Hoover Beach neighborhood, south of Buffalo, was covered in feet of ice, frozen when water whipped up from Lake Erie, according to CNN. By Friday, homes near the water were encased in ice and dripping with icicles.

Residents worried how the weight of the ice would damage their homes, reported WIVB. Last month, the he town of Hamburg wants to apply for federal money to install a breakwall in the town.

View the images at this link: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/03/see-jaw-dropping-photos-of-ice-covered-houses-on-lake-erie-shore.html

The keel was laid on March 3, 1980, for the COLUMBIA STAR (Hull#726) at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by Bay Shipbuilding Corp. She now sails as AMERICAN CENTURY.

At midnight on 3 March 1880, DAVID SCOVILLE (wooden propeller steam tug/ferry, 42 foot, 37 gross tons, built in 1875, at Marine City, Mich.) burned at the Grand Trunk Railway wharf at Sarnia, Ontario. Arson was suspected. No lives were lost.

1947: NOVADOC of the Paterson fleet was lost with all hands (24 sailors) off Portland, Maine, while en route from Nova Scotia to New York City with a cargo of gypsum. The ship had also sailed as NORTHTON for the Mathews and Misener fleets.

1958: The tanker DON JOSE, formerly the ITORORO that operated on the Great Lakes for Transit Tankers & Terminals in the early 1940s, was destroyed by a fire, likely in a loading mishap, at Talara, Peru.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Steve Haverty, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Shippers eager to deal with rail backlog. but high water levels delay Seaway opening

3/2 - Ottawa, ON – With protests stalling Canada’s railways, shipping companies on the St. Lawrence seaway say they’re ready to help move vital goods, but high water levels, controlled by a major dam, are keeping them at the dock.

The St. Lawrence Seaway corporation has decided to delay the opening of the system until April 1, even though the river is largely ice free and could open as early as March 20. Bruce Burrows, president of the Marine Chamber of Commerce, said demand is 40 per cent higher than normal and they would like to be out on the water.

“We have over 100 ship transits ready to go, record volumes ready to move,” he said.

The seaway works with a joint Canada-U.S. agency, called the International Joint Commission, (IJC) on the river’s opening dates. The commission’s board controls the Moses-Saunders Dam near Cornwall, Ont., that effectively acts as a drain on Lake Ontario. When the dam is closed levels in the lake rise and when it opens lake levels drop.

The commission wants to keep the dam open to drain Lake Ontario, which has been at record high levels over the last few years. On Friday, the lake was at 75.08 metres, 45 centimetres above average and 20 centimetres below the all-time high. The commission has kept the dam open for all of February draining nine centimetres off Lake Ontario.

All that water flooding out of Lake Ontario creates a problem for ships however. Burrows said they simply can’t navigate the rapids all that water creates. “We can’t operate our ships in very fast moving currents. It is just too dangerous,” he said. “We have to stop navigating and that’s when we start hitting the economy.”

The commission also has to keep an eye on downstream communities, because letting too much water out of the lake can actually lead to floods. Taking just one centimetre off Lake Ontario raises the level in Montreal’s harbour 12 centimetres.

Sarah Lobrichon, a spokesperson for the IJC, said they do their best to balance all the interests, but right now, they have to focus on flood prevention. “There is a risk of flooding this year and we are doing everything we can to minimize this risk,” she said. “Our attention is focused on how high the lake is.”

The consistently high levels since 2017 have led to flooding of communities in New York State. Last fall New York State’s Attorney General launched a lawsuit against the International Joint Commission, charging it had failed to protect communities.

“The International Joint Commission failed their primary mission of properly managing Lake Ontario’s water levels,” said Attorney General Letitia James, in a statement when the suit was announced. “We will not stand by while the IJC continues to expose New Yorkers to dangerous flooding.”

Burrows said opening up the dam doesn’t have a big impact on the lake and it’s becoming a crutch when governments should be looking for broader solutions. He said by contrast as much as a $100 million a week in economic activity is being lost because the ships can’t move.

Burrows said it’s time for governments on both sides of the border to look at climate resilience plans, strengthening seawalls and taking other measures to ensure communities are safe. He said simply opening the dam ignores the heavy rainfalls and other issues driven by a changing climate.

“You can occasionally open the plug into the bathtub, but if you have two big taps that are running into the bathtub it’s not going to be a net gain.”

Burrows said even without rail disruptions a lot of vitally important supplies move on the seaway and many companies depend on being able to get supplies by ship. “It’s amazing to think that when a plane takes off at Pearson Airport in Toronto, a lot of that fuel has been delivered by ship,” he said.

Lobrichon said the IJC agrees that the dam has a limited impact on Lake Ontario and they are looking for broader solutions. A committee they have struck to look at the problem is set to make recommendations next week. “It’s extremely complex. We need to take into consideration upstream and downstream interests.”

MSN

Port reports are compiled from reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor arrived 6.30 pm on Saturday and began loading salt at Compass Minerals. Algoma Innovator arrived 1.52 am Sunday, tied up North Pier; she'll load salt next.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Iver Bright was unloading at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal on Sunday.

TC leaders discuss pros, cons of cruise ships porting in Grand Traverse Bay

3/2 - Traverse City, MI - Major cruise lines have their eye on Traverse City. Viking Cruises is the latest line to announce a Great Lakes route that will stop in the Cherry Capital. Their eight-day voyage includes an itinerary with stops in Ontario, Alpena, Mackinac Island, Detroit and Milwaukee as well.

At the TC port of call, the visit includes excursions to the Sleeping Bear Dunes, wine tasting on the Leelanau Peninsula and shopping in downtown Traverse City. The ship would dock at the Discovery Center Pier on West Grand Traverse Bay.

Friday, the Discovery Center invited community leaders to a meeting to see if they’re on board with the idea. A few weeks ago, Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers told 9&10 he had some reservations with the plan.

“We felt it was really important to not make a decision in a vacuum,” said Discovery Center Great Lakes CEO Matt McDonough. The Viking cruise would bring up to 380 passengers eight times a summer.

“The overall impact is fairly negligible when you consider there’s millions of visitors that come to Traverse City every year,” said McDonough. For Traverse City tourism CEO Trevor Tkach, the cruise ships would be a predictable stream of new business in the area.

“You know how many people are going in, and how many people are going out, you know exactly when they’re coming and you know their itinerary, where they want to go and what they want to do,” said Tkach.

The Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce says the meeting helped clear up one of their biggest concerns: how nature would be affected. “First and foremost, we’re a community that’s very concerned about the environmental impact,” said chamber vice president Deborah Allen. “One of the things I’m most encouraged by is the open communication.”

The DNR, NOAA and EGLE all participated in Friday’s meeting. The Discovery Center said they’ll make a final decision about cruise ships using their docks within the next few months. “We haven’t made commitments to anybody,” said McDonough.

Viking’s Great Lakes cruise is scheduled to set sail in 2022.

9 & 10 News

On 02 March 1889, the U.S. Congress passed two acts for establishment of a light station at Old Mackinac Point and appropriated $5,500 for construction of a fog signal building. The following year, funds were appropriated for the construction of the light tower and dwelling.

March 2, 1938 - Harold Lillie, crewmember of the ANN ARBOR NO 6, stepped onto the apron as the carferry was approaching and fell into the water and suffered a broken neck.

March 2, 1998, a fire broke out on the ALGOSOO causing serious damage to the self-unloading belts and other nearby equipment. Almost 12 years earlier in 1986, a similar fire gutted the aft cabins.

On 02 March 1893, the MARY E. MC LACHLAN (3-mast wooden schooner, 251 foot, 1,394 gross tons) was launched at F. W. Wheeler's yard in West Bay City, Michigan as (Hull #96). The launch turned into a disaster when the huge wave generated by the vessel entering the water hit the freighter KITTIE FORBES (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 209 foot, 968 gross tons, built in 1883, at W. Bay City, Michigan). The FORBES had numerous spectators onboard and when the wave struck, many were injured and there was one confirmed death.

1972 - HARMATTAN, a Seaway trader beginning in 1971, arrived at Karachi, Pakistan, for scrapping after suffering missile damage at sea from Indian Naval units during a conflict between the two countries.

1976 - BROOK, a former Seaway trader as EXBROOk beginning in 1968, arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for scrapping.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, and Steve Haverty

Opening of the Seaway and Maximum Allowable Drafts

2/26 - The opening of the 2020 navigation season is scheduled to take place on the following dates and times:

• Welland Canal: March 24 at 8 a.m.
• Montreal / Lake Ontario Section: April 1 at 8 a.m.

Vessel transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Restrictions may apply in some areas until lighted navigation aids have been installed.

The Soo Locks are currently scheduled to open on March 25.

Allowable Draft In the Montreal / Lake Ontario Section, the maximum allowable draft will be 80.0 dm (26' 3"). The maximum draft will be increased to 80.8 dm (26' 6") for all vessels when the South Shore Canal is ice-free and when water levels throughout the Montreal/Lake Ontario section are favorable. In the Welland Canal, a maximum allowable draft of 80.8 dm (26' 6") will be in effect from the start of the navigation season for all vessels.

The Seaway Corporations have been working with the International Joint Commission (IJC) and the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board (ILOSLRB) to monitor Lake Ontario water levels and forecasts for flooding around Lake Ontario this year. Based on the current conditions and forecasts provided by the ILOSLRB, the majority of benefits of lowering Lake Ontario levels by maintaining outflows above those safe for navigation in the Montreal / Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway occur before April 1, 2020. After that date, the benefits for lowering Lake Ontario by maintaining outflows above those safe for navigation are significantly reduced. Due to the dry conditions experienced in February thus far and the record outflows that the ILOSLRB has been able to maintain this winter, the probability of Lake Ontario being above flood levels has decreased and is now only approximately 35 percent. Beginning April 1, the Seaway Corporations will continue to work with Mariners to ensure the safety of navigation under outflows prescribed by the IJC and ILOSLRB.

Chicago fire dept. rescues crew man who fell into cargo hold

2/26 - Chicago, IL – A crew member was rescued Tuesday after falling inside a cargo ship that was docked on in South Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department’s special operations emergency response crew arrived at the scene near 106th Street and Buffalo Road around 2 p.m. It took 27 different pieces of equipment before crews could lower in a recovery basket and rescue the worker.

The man was aboard the Algoma Conveyor unloading salt when he fell into the hold of the ship on the Calumet River. He suffered fractures to his leg or ankel, according to tweets from the Fire Department, but was in good condition after his rescue.

Initial reports said that he fell from the deck about 100 feet to the bottom of the deep cargo hold area of the ship, but authorities said he slipped “He slid down a wet metal grate,” Battalion Chief Tom Bogenthaler said. “He slid down fractured his leg.”

The worker was taken to a hospital for treatment and was alert and in good condition. View the video at this link: https://wgntv.com/2020/02/25/crew-member-injured-after-falling-100-feet-into-cargo-hold-chicago-fire-dept-on-scene

Port reports are compiled from reader observations and AIS transmissions. Please send information about vessel arrivals and departures from your port to news@boatnerd.net by 9 p.m. (Eastern) nightly for them to be included in the next day's news. Please include name of vessel, arrival time, day and dock it went to (if known).

Straits of Mackinac – Jon Paul
USCG Mackinaw (WLBB 30) departed the State Dock in Mackinaw City at 13:00 (02/25) and proceeded through Round Island Passage, arriving at DeTour at 16:30 to work ice in the St Marys River. She stopped at Lime Island for the night. USCGC Mobile Bay was working the track in the Straits of Mackinac and then docked at USCG Station St. Ignace at 16:15 for logistics.

$29 million grant awarded to Port of Marinette

2/26 - Marinette, WI – A harbor Assistance Program grant worth $29 million has been awarded to the Port of Marinette. Gov. Evers' office announced the grant on Tuesday, saying it will be used for "improvements needed at the Port of Marinette to allow for the production of the next generation of navy ships."

In addition, Evers' office says Fincantieri Marinette Marine plans to continue a site improvement project, which includes the following:

• Construction of a vertical ship lift structure
• Dock walls and bulkheads
• Harbor dredging to transition the shipyard to accommodate building larger vessels

Craig Thompson, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation secretary-designee, says the ripple effect of the grant will be felt statewide. Evers said the shipyard improvements will ensure the company can continue competing for contracts with the U.S. Navy, and also provide the area with jobs.

According to Evers' office, the shipyard employs 1,500 full-time employees and contractors, with another 1,000 suppliers and customers, some of which have offices at the shipyard, are at the site every day.

WBAY

Obituary: Thomas S. Craig, Jr.

2/26 - Thomas S. Craig, Jr. of Reno, NV, passed away on February 16, 2020 at age 81. He worked for the Great Lakes Feet in the engine department his entire career and retired as chief engineer of the M/V Presque Isle in 1997. He was born in Uniontown, PA in 1938 and resided in various cities around the Great Lakes including; Conneaut, Ohio, Sault Ste. Marie and Rogers City, Michigan and Erie Pennsylvania; reflecting his close ties to the Great Lakes shipping industry. He first shipped out on the Pittsburgh Steamship Company’s Cason J. Callaway as a maintenance man in 1957 and worked for the Great Lakes Fleet in various positions during his 40 years of service. He enjoyed many years of retirement in the Reno, Nevada area with his wife Patti. He is survived by his wife Patti, brothers, William H. Craig, of La Porte, Indiana, A. Wiley Craig of Reno, Nevada and sister Patricia G. Smelser of Buffalo, New York. A private service will be held in the near future.

The completed hull of the BELLE RIVER (Hull#716) was floated off the ways February 26, 1977, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Bay Shipbuilding Corp. Renamed b.) WALTER J. MC CARTHY JR in 1990.

JOSEPH L. BLOCK (Hull#715) was launched February 26, 1976, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Bay Shipbuilding Corp.

On 26 February 1874, the tug WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE JR. was launched at Port Huron Dry Dock. Her dimensions were 151 feet overall, 25 foot 6 inches beam, and 13 foot depth. Her machinery was built by Phillerick & Christy of Detroit and was shipped by rail to Port Huron. She cost $45,000. Her master builder was Alex Stewart.

On 26 February 1876, the MARY BELL (iron propeller, 58 foot, 34 gross tons, built in 1870, at Buffalo, New York) burned near Vicksburg, Michigan.

The Liberty ship BASIL II, a Seaway visitor in 1960, ran aground on a reef off the west coast of New Caledonia as EVER PROSPERITY in 1965 and was abandoned as a total loss.

ANGLEA SMITS, a Seaway trader in 1983, was abandoned and believed sunk in the Atlantic en route from Norway to Australia in 1986.

1947: The T-2 tanker ROYAL OAK came to the Great Lakes in 1966 as b) TRANSBAY and was rebuilt at Lorain. The vessel departed later in the year as c) TRANSHURON. But as a) ROYAL OAK, it caught fire on this day in the Pacific off Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and had to be abandoned by the crew. The vessel was later reboarded and the fires extinguished. The listing vessel almost sank but it was salvaged and rebuilt for Cities Service Oil.

1965: The Liberty ship BASIL II came through the Seaway in 1960. It ran aground on a reef off New Caledonia as d) EVER PROSPERITY. The vessel was traveling in ballast and had to be abandoned as a total loss.

1981: A spark from a welder's torch ignited a blaze aboard the MONTCLIFFE HALL, undergoing winter work at Sarnia. The fire did major damage to the pilothouse and accommodations area, but the repairs were completed in time for the ship to resume trading on May 27, 1981. It was still sailing in 2013 as d) CEDARGLEN (ii).

1986: ANGELA SMITS, a Seaway trader for the first time in 1983, developed a severe list and was abandoned by the crew on a voyage from Norway to Australia. The hull was sighted, semi-submerged, later in the day in position 47.38 N / 07.36 W and was believed to have sunk in the Atlantic.

1998: The Abitibi tug NIPIGON was active on Lake Superior and often towed log booms from the time it was built at Sorel in 1938 until perhaps the 1960s. The vessel also saw work on construction projects for different owners, and left the Seaway for the sea on December 12, 1988. It was operating as b) FLORIDA SEAHORSE when it sank in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. All 5 on board were rescued.

2011: Fire broke out on the bridge of DINTELBORG while enroute from the Netherlands to Virginia. The ship was taken in tow the next day by the ROWAN M. McALLISTER out of Providence, R.I. The repaired Dutch freighter was back through the Seaway later in 2011. The tug was also a Seaway caller in 2012, coming inland to tow the fire ravaged PATRICE McALLISTER back to Providence.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.