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Cement-carrying fleet evolution continues 7/22 - Saturday evening the NACC Argonaut was downbound near mid-Lake Ontario while the McKeil Spirit was loading in Picton. English River was expected at the for Port Colborne piers about 8:15 p.m. According to reports this was her last trip, as she will tie up to be scrapped. This completes the change of an era of shipping cement in the Kingston area, as the Stephen B. Roman is already tied in Toronto. Ron Walsh |
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Port Reports - July 22
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer Northern Lake Huron
Goderich, Ont. Welland Canal and regional report – Saturday Jul 21 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte: Welland Canal and regional report – Friday Jul 20 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 22 On this day in 1961, the barge CLEVECO, originally lost with a crew of 22 during a December 02, 1942, storm on Lake Erie, was floated by salvagers, towed outside the shipping lanes, and intentionally sunk.PERE MARQUETTE 22 (Hull#210) was launched on July 22, 1924, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. for the Pere Marquette Railway Co. One hundred years ago on 22 July 1900, the tug MATT HESSER was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by H. D. Root for Captain Burke of Erie. The M.I. MILLS (wooden propeller tug, 122 foot, 152 tons, built in 1867, at Marine City, Michigan), which sank in a collision with the bark UNADILLA on 9 May 1873, was found on 22 July 1873, in 90 feet of water in Lake Huron off Sand Beach, Michigan. Plans were made to raise her at the cost of $5,000. This effort was unsuccessful as was another abortive attempt in 1895. 1965 MARIVIKI dated from 1940 as a) TEMPLE INN and visited the Seaway in 1960. The ship was beached in Colla Bay, near Mormugao, India, after developing leaks on a voyage from Madras, India, to Constanza, Romania. The hull later broke in two and was a total loss. 1967 A small fire erupted in the machine shop of the West German freighter TRANSAMERICA while a crewman was welding in Milwaukee. The blaze was soon brought under control. The ship last operated in 1978 as f) ARISTOTELES before being broken up at Gadani Beach, Pakistan. 1968 The Paterson bulk carrier CANADOC, loading at the Continental Elevator in Chicago, was struck on the starboard side by the Belgian vessel TIELRODE as it passed upsteam under tow. The latter returned through the Seaway as c) GEORGIOS C. in 1977 and was scrapped at Huangpo, China, as e) OPORTO in 1985. 1970 ULYSSES REEFER caught fire in Toronto resulting in an estimated $30,000 in damage. The ship first came inland in 1969 and returned as c) ITHAKI REEFER in 1972 prior to being scrapped at Blyth, Scotland, in 1973. 1989 MAR CATERINA, downbound at the Snell Lock, struck the fender boom and all Seaway navigation was temporarily delayed. The ship began Seaway trading as b) ASTORGA in 1985. As of 2012, the vessel is apparently still operating as e) ASPHALT TRADER. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Marine Safety Unit Chicago issues first towing vessel Certificate of Inspection 7/21 - Chicago, Ill. – Marine Safety Unit Chicago issued the first Certificate of Inspection (COI) in its area of responsibility to the towing vessel Prentiss Brown, operated by Port City Marine Services, Friday. This is the Ninth District's first Certificate of Inspection issued to a towing vessel under the new regulations and one of the first Coast Guard option COI's issued nationwide. A COI is issued to a vessel after the vessel has completed a thorough examination of safety equipment, machinery, pollution prevention equipment, navigation equipment, life-saving equipment and more. Crew members must also demonstrate their ability to fight fires and take appropriate action in emergency situations. Receipt of a Certificate of Inspection is the result of significant investment into the safety of the vessel on the part of owners and operators. “Shortly after Subchapter M was enacted, Port City Marine started working very closely with Marine Inspectors from USCG MSU Chicago," said Ed Hogan, Vice President of Operations. "Throughout the process, we had an open and transparent relationship with the inspectors, as our crew worked through various issues. The goal all along was safety and compliance, which we achieved through partnership with the Coast Guard.” Subchapter M, as the new towing vessel inspections regulations are called, is coming into force, Friday. Approximately 6,000 towing vessels across the country will become inspected by the Coast Guard under these new requirements. Vessels will have two options, to be inspected under the traditional Coast Guard Marine Inspections program, or to enroll in a safety program with an authorized Third Party Organization (TPO). The Coast Guard hopes to leverage industry partnerships with TPOs to maintain the safety of the vessels and waterways, while reducing the burden to industry. “Subchapter M is a new regulation, but we have a long history of partnerships with many local towing vessel companies,” said Lt. Kate Woods, Inspections Division Chief at MSU Chicago. “It is great to see the results of the hard work of the inspectors and mariners to obtain a COI.” Woods anticipates that MSU Chicago’s fleet of inspected vessels will double by the end of the phase-in period, July of 2022. Other inspected vessels include tank barges, small passenger vessels, and Great Lakes freight vessels. More information about Subchapter M can be found at this link: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/tvncoe |
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Port Reports - July 21
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis.
Northern Lake Huron
Cleveland, Ohio
Quebec City |
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Callers criticize board that regulates Lake Superior discharges into Lake Michigan 7/21 - Chicago, Ill. – While natural factors — precipitation, runoff and evaporation — have been the main drivers of rising levels, greater releases from Lake Superior have contributed to the swell in the lower lakes. Last year, the amount of water released from Lake Superior into lakes Michigan and Huron was the highest in 32 years. Since 1921, a dam at the head of the St. Marys River has determined how much water is unleashed downstream. Since a period of high lake levels in the 1970s, the International Lake Superior Board of Control, a binational entity that determines how much water is released into the rapids, has vowed to maintain a balance between Lake Superior and lakes Michigan and Huron, which are measured as one lake because they are connected at the Straits of Mackinac. Most recently, the Lake Superior board expects to increase the flow to 2,800 cubic meters per second this month — more than enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool each second — and above the amount called for in the most recent regulatory plan for balancing the lakes. At Thursday’s teleconference, Jean-Francois Cantin, the control board’s Canadian chairman, said the board could raise the levels further in the fall if Lake Superior’s levels rise. Callers to Thursday’s meeting questioned these plans. “That deviation plan doesn't account for the downstream lakes that received extra water,” one caller said about increased rainfall. “So, this is like extra, extra water that's been added. Should any storms occur, anyone who has any property on those shorelines are feeling the impact,” the caller continued. Jamie Dickhout, a Canadian representative for the board, acknowledged the concerns but said much of the rise that the lower lakes were seeing was out of the control board’s hands. “We have to remember it’s a very big system,” Dickhout said. “We can't just focus on local issues.” In the past several years, all three lakes have experienced high lake levels. This month, Lake Superior measured about 9 inches above its long-term average but almost 5 inches below its levels from last July. Lakes Michigan and Huron were recorded at nearly 2 feet above their historical average and 1/2 inch higher than a year ago. U.S. officials say the elevated discharges aren't simply an attempt to drive down Lake Superior's levels, highlighting the need to accommodate hydropower plants, downstream fish-spawning habitat and commercial shipping. In fact, the board has not discharged as much water as it originally planned this year because of an outage at a hydropower plant and an inability to adjust the gates during the winter months, according to board representatives. As a result, the board is increasing flows this summer to “pay back” the roughly inch of water retained on Lake Superior. For every inch Lake Superior loses from outflows, lakes Michigan and Huron gain a half inch, according to experts. Read more at this link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-lake-superior-board-public-input-20180719-story.html |
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Study outlines disaster in event of Line 5 rupture at Straits of Mackinac 7/21 - Port Huron, Mich. – The worst case scenario involving the twin-pipeline Line 5 crossing at the Straits of Mackinac could release 32,000 to 58,000 barrels of crude oil into the Great Lakes and affect more than 400 miles of shoreline in Michigan Wisconsin and Ontario, according to a draft independent risk analysis released Thursday by the state Department of Environmental Quality. Line 5, which begins in Superior, Wisconsin, carries up to 540,000 barrels a day of light crude oil and natural gas liquids 645 miles through much of the Upper and Lower peninsulas. Besides the straits crossing, which has caused an outpouring of concern from residents and environmental groups, the pipeline crosses the St. Clair River from Marysville to Sarnia. According to a DEQ news release, a team led by Guy Meadows of Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center submitted the report Tuesday. The report does not consider the probability of events, according to the news release. The scenarios outlined in the report have a very small probability of happening, but they would have high consequences. According to the news release, an analysis of more than 4,300 spill simulations found that a rupture to both pipelines with concurrent failures of primary and secondary safety valves could spill 32,000 to 58,000 barrels of crude oil in Lakes Huron and Michigan. Such a spill could put 47 wildlife species of concern and 60,000 acres of unique habitat at risk, according to the news release. Cleanup and restoration costs in the event of such a spill are estimated at close to $2 billion. The pipeline is owned by Enbrdge Inc., an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta. The company released a statement in response to the independent risk analysis. Read more at this link: https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2018/07/19/study-outlines-disaster-event-line-5-rupture-straits-mackinac/800615002/ |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 21 The JAMES DAVIDSON and KINSMAN INDEPENDENT arrived under tow at Santander, Spain, on July 21, 1974, for scrapping.On July 21, 1975, the GEORGE D. GOBLE arrived at Lorain, Ohio, with an unusual deck cargo loaded at American Ship Building Company's yard at South Chicago, Illinois. She was carrying the deckhouses for two Interlake Steamship Company thousand-foot self-unloaders being built at AmShip's Lorain yard. These vessels were completed as the JAMES R. BARKER and MESABI MINER. On 21 July 1875, the schooner ELVA, which was built in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1861, for Capt. Sinclair, was sailing from Holland, Michigan, for Milwaukee, Wisconsin loaded with stove bolts. She capsized 12 miles from Milwaukee. Her crew took to the boats and made a landing in Kenosha and then rowed to Milwaukee. A tug was sent for the schooner and she was recovered. In 1900, R. J. GORDON (wooden propeller passenger-package freighter, 104 foot, 187 gross tons, built in 1881, at Marine City, Michigan) was placed back in service carrying freight and passengers between Chicago and Grand Haven. She had burned in September 1899 at Chicago but was rebuilt during the winter. On 21 July 1875, the old barge HURON, which had been in use for a number of years as a car ferry for the Grand Trunk Railroad at Port Huron/Sarnia, was sold to Sandie and Archie Stewart. They planned to convert her to a dry-dock by adding three feet to her sides and removing her arches. The sale price was $1,500 in gold. 1910 TRUDE R. WIEHE was destroyed by a fire at Portage Bay, Green Bay. 1911 Thirty plates were damaged when the WACCAMAW went aground in the St. Lawrence. The ship was later repaired at Buffalo. 1959 A collision in western Lake Erie between the CHARLES HUBBARD and the Swedish freighter SIGNEBORG resulted in damage to both ships. Both were repaired and continue in service. The latter is scrapped at La Spezia, Italy, after arriving as d) ALFREDO, on November 10, 1971. The former was sunk as a breakwall at Burns Harbor in 1966 after being idle at Milwaukee for several years. The hull was reported to have been subsequently scrapped there. 1964 The French freighter MARQUETTE began Great Lakes trading in 1953 and was lengthened in 1959 with the opening of the Seaway. Fire erupted enroute from Chicago to Marseilles, France, and the vessel was abandoned in the Atlantic. The gutted ship was towed to Brest, France, and was sold to French shipbreakers. All on board were saved. 1965 A smoky fire, that could be seen for miles, broke out in the cargo of rubber aboard the ORIENT TRADER at Toronto and the hull was towed into Toronto Bay and beached while firefighters battled the blaze. The Greek flag vessel was sold for scrap but before it departed for overseas, is was used in several episodes of the CBC television series “Seaway.” The hull was towed into Valencia, Spain, on July 11, 1966, for dismantling. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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U.S.-flag cargo movement on lakes steady in June 7/20 - Cleveland, Ohio – U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters moved 9.7 million tons of cargo in June, a near mirror image of a year ago. The June float was, however, 3.5 percent below the month’s 5-year average. Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 4.6 million tons, a decrease of 6.9 percent. Coal loads totaled 1.4 million tons, a decrease of 13.7 percent. Offsetting those decreases was a 21 percent surge in limestone cargos. Shipments of aggregate, fluxstone, chemical stone and scrubber stone totaled 3.16 million tons. Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargo movement stands at 28.6 million tons, a decrease of 6.5 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Iron ore cargos total 16.3 million tons, a decrease of 9 percent. Coal loadings total 3.6 million tons, a decrease of 20 percent. Limestone loads are up to 7.2 million tons, an increase of 10.5 percent. Lake Carriers’ Association |
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Former Algoeast arrives at scrap yard 7/20 - The tanker Goeast, which began her days on the Great Lakes, has been beached at Aliaga, Turkey, for scrapping. Goeast was built in Japan in 1977 as Texaco Brave for Texaco Canada Ltd. She was renamed Le Brave on November 11, 1986, while under charter to Sofati-Soconav Ltd. In 1997, the vessel was renamed Imperial St. Lawrence under the new ownership and management of Imperial Oil. In February 1998, Algoma Central Corporation purchased Imperial St. Lawrence (and her fleet mates Imperial Bedford, Imperial St. Clair and Imperial Acadia), establishing a new corporate division Algoma Tankers Ltd. Shortly after being acquired by Algoma, the tanker entered service under the name Algoeast. She was sold for overseas use in 2015. In October 2017 the vessel survived a shelling by the Libyan Coast Guard. The coast guard suspected the vessel had loaded contraband oil or oil product some two miles off coast, from a pipeline. The tanker was asked to stop, but didn’t obey. She was shelled from 30-mm gun, the shells inflicting holes in cargo tanks and engine room areas, with ensuing water ingress. At the time of the incident, Goeast was one of four vessels owned by Uvas-Trans, a shipping firm based in Russian-controlled Crimea. |
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Port Reports - July 20
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Northern Lake Huron
Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jul 19 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal: Downbound - tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 1722, Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1853 and Algoma Spirit at 2024 - Jul 19 - Algoma Enterprise at 0212, Thunder Bay at 0356, Michipicoten at 0807, Harbour Feature (Por) at 0846, tug M R Kane & Radium 604 at 1729, Algoma Sault at 1930 and tug Petite Forte & barge St Marys Cement at 1958 and
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Clarkson:
Oshawa:
Picton:
Bath, Ont. – Ron Walsh
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 20 LEON FALK JR. was christened at Cleveland, July 20, 1961, after one trip to Duluth, Minnesota, for ore.HORACE JOHNSON (Hull#805) was launched July 20, 1929, at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. JAY C. MORSE (Hull#438) was launched on July 20, 1907, at Cleveland, Ohio by American Shipbuilding Co. for the Mesaba Steamship Co. (Pickands & Mather & Co., mgr.) Sold Canadian in 1965, renamed b.) SHELTER BAY, used as a storage barge at Goderich, renamed c.) D. B. WELDON in 1979. In 1982, her pilothouse was removed and is used as a museum in Goderich Harbor. The WELDON was scrapped at Thunder Bay in 1984. At the end of June, 1877, the ferry MYRTLE began running between Port Huron and Sarnia. However, on 20 July 1877, The Port Huron Times reported that "The ferry MYRTLE has been taken off the route on account of the extreme dullness of the times." The scow DIXIE burned during the night of 20 July 1875, while lying at Kenyon's dock in East China Township on the St. Clair River. 1940: The first LACHINEDOC ran aground at Ile-aux-Coudres but was refloated the same day after 600 tons of coal were jettisoned. The vessel became b) QUEENSTON in 1946 and was sunk as a dock facing at Bob-Lo Park in 1962. 1963: Thick fog prevailed overnight on the St. Lawrence contributing to three accidents. The TRITONICA sank after a collision with the ROONAGH HEAD off Ile d'Orleans with the loss of 33 lives. To the west, the Swiss freighter BARILOCHE ran into the CALGADOC (ii) and then veered into the CANADOC (ii) before all ships on the water went to anchor. BARILOCHE later visited the Seaway as b) ST. CERGUE in 1967 and as c) CALVIN in 1978. It was scrapped at Shanghai, China, in 1985. ROONAGH HEAD received significant bow damage in her collision but was repaired and operated until she arrived at Castellon, Spain, for scrapping on September 14, 1971. 1964: ZENICA went aground in the Straits of Mackinac enroute to Chicago and was lightered by the MARQUIS ROEN and released. She passed downbound at Port Huron under tow. This vessel was beached at Karachi, Pakistan, for scrapping as f) CONSTANZA on June 1, 1980. 1965: The Norwegian freighter LYNGENFJORD sustained stern damage when it backed into the SALMELA while leaving the dock at Montreal. The former made 35 trips to the Great Lakes from 1959 through 1967 and was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, after arriving prior to May 3, 1980, as c) EASTERN VALOUR. The latter, a British vessel, began Great Lakes service in 1965 and arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, for scrapping on April 21, 1985, as c) ELENI. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Study: Seaway shipping supports over 237,000 jobs, $35 billion in economic activity 7/19 - Washington, DC – The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership announces the release of Economic Impacts of Maritime Shipping in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region, a year-long study of the economic impacts of the entire Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system. The study is a definitive and detailed report documenting the many contributions made by the Great Lakes Seaway system* to federal, state/provincial and local economies.
The study reports that in 2017 maritime commerce supported:
The study also highlights the specific economic benefits of key navigation infrastructure, such as the St. Lawrence Seaway locks and the Soo Locks. The study reports that in 2017: • 123,172 U.S. and Canadian jobs were dependent on the Soo Locks • 92,661 jobs were generated by cargo transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway locks “This report validates what we’ve long known – that the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is crucial to the US economy,” says Craig H. Middlebook, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation “This bi-national waterway not only provides a multitude of well-paying jobs – on land and at sea – it offers a cost-effective, safe and fuel-efficient means of moving goods to and from domestic and global markets.” The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway (comprised of the five Great Lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario – their connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River) serves the industrial and agricultural heartland of the US and Canada. If the region was its own country, it would be the 3rd largest economy in the world with a combined GDP of more than $6 trillion dollars. In 2017, 143.5 million metric tons of cargo (valued at $15.2 billion) moved through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. The St. Lawrence Seaway is also the longest deep draft navigation system in the world, extending 2,300 miles from its westernmost point in Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean. North American farmers, steel producers, construction firms, food manufacturers and power generators depend on the system to move raw materials and finished products including iron ore, coal, stone, salt, sugar, grain, steel, wind turbine components and heavy machinery. These cargoes become the staples of everyday life – food and other household items; buildings, factories, roads and bridges; vehicles and planes; and provides the energy that powers cities and towns. “The study reflects the enormous contributions the maritime industry provides to the more than 100 ports in each of the Great Lakes states and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec,” says Steven A. Fisher, Executive Director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association. “The jobs supported by the maritime industry include not only those located directly on the waterfront – shipyard workers, stevedores, vessel operators, terminal employees, truck drivers and marine pilots – but also grain farmers, construction works, miners and steelworkers. Many of these jobs would vanish if not for a dynamic maritime industry.” Read the full report at this link: http://greatlakesseaway.org/economy |
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Port Reports - July 19
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Northern Lake Huron
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday July 18 ¬–¬ Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Clarkson:
Oshawa:
Picton: |
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2.75 trillion gallons of extra water has poured into Lake Superior in last 30 days 7/19 - Marquette, Mich. – Heavy rainfall over Lake Superior in the last month has sent 2.75 trillion gallons of additional water into the largest of our Great Lakes. In a typical year, Lake Superior will see its water level increase by 3 inches between June 13 and July 13. This year, it rose by 5 inches during that window, according to the National Weather Service in Marquette. "Several episodes of heavy rain impacted western portions of the Lake Superior basin since the middle of June, resulting in precipitation amounts of 6 to 10+ inches, or 150 to 300 percent of normal," the NWS said. "This heavy rainfall helped to raise the Lake Superior water level by 5 inches. This 5 inch rise equates to 2.75 trillion additional gallons of water added to Lake Superior in the last 30 days." But looking at the big picture, Lake Superior water levels are still running below where they were last year at this time. Right now, the big lake is 4 inches lower than in 2017. Read more at this link: https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/summer_rains_sent_275_trillion.html |
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Alexander Henry officially welcomed back to Thunder Bay 7/19 - Thunder Bay, Ont. – Sixty years after the Alexander Henry was first christened, the former icebreaker officially began its new life at its old home. The ship, which had been a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker for nearly 30 years after it was built in 1958 at the Port Arthur Shipyard, was officially rededicated on Wednesday to serve as a piece of living history at the Pool Six site on the city’s waterfront. Annie Kolisnyk spent nine years working on the ship, serving as a cook for its 30 crewmembers. The 94-year-old was tasked with breaking the ceremonial champagne bottle over the ship’s anchor. “I just looked at it and I said it was good to have you home,” she said. “It was my home for 12 months of the year. I never saw what the summers were here in Thunder Bay because we were on the East Coast. I loved every minute of it.” The decommissioned icebreaker had operated as a bed and breakfast in Kingston following its retirement in 1985. The ship ended up becoming displaced a few years ago with the sale of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes property. With sinking the ship a possible option, local efforts began to try to bring it back to Thunder Bay. The Lakehead Transportation Museum was successfully able to secure funding from both the Thunder Bay and Kingston city councils for the tow across the Great Lakes, and was able to convince the city to showcase the ship at the waterfront. Read more and view a photo gallery at this link: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/alexander-henry-officially-welcomed-back-to-thunder-bay-989109 |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 19 On this day in 1970, ARTHUR B. HOMER established a new Great Lakes loading record when she loaded 27,530 tons of ore at Escanaba. This eclipsed the previous record of 27,402 tons set by the EDMUND FITZGERALD.EDWIN H. GOTT (Hull#718) was float launched July 19, 1978, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Bay Shipbuilding Co. for U. S. Steel Corp. CLARENCE B. RANDALL sailed light on her maiden voyage July 19, 1943, from Ashtabula, Ohio, bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota. She was renamed b.) ASHLAND in 1962. The ASHLAND was scrapped at Mamonel, Columbia, in 1988. N. M. Paterson & Sons, CANADOC (Hull#627) was christened on July 19, 1961. The registry of GORDON C. LEITCH, of 1954, was closed on July 19, 1985, as 'sold foreign'. She was scrapped at Setubal, Portugal, in 1985. JOHN P. REISS in tandem tow with the carferry CITY OF SAGINAW 31 arrived at Castellon, Spain, prior to July 19, 1973, for scrapping. JOSEPH S. YOUNG, a.) ARCHERS HOPE, was christened at Buffalo, New York, on July 19, 1957. The YOUNG was the first of seven T2 tanker conversions for Great Lakes service. On 19 July 1831, the wooden schooner HENRY CLAY was carrying 800 barrels of salt and passengers from Oswego, New York to the Welland Canal on her maiden voyage when she capsized in a squall and sank about 10 miles off Port Dalhousie, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. About 11 persons were aboard and at least 6 of them lost their lives. Three were saved by the steamer CANADA. On 19 July 1900, the name of the Toledo tug A. ANDREWS JR was changed to PALLISTER. On 19 July 1871, J. BARBER (wooden propeller steamer, 125 foot, 306 tons, built in 1856, at Cleveland, Ohio) was carrying fruit from St. Joseph, Michigan, to Chicago when she caught fire and sank 14 miles off Michigan City, Indiana. Five lives were lost. 1893: LIZZIE A. LAW stranded in the Pelee Passage, Lake Erie, following a collision with the DAVID VANCE. It was refloated September 14. 1921: After losing her way in fog, the BINGHAMPTON stranded on Gannet Rock Ledge, near Yarmouth, NS enroute from Boston to Reval, France, and Riga, Latvia, with relief supplies. The vessel was abandoned and later caught fire. The ship had been built at Buffalo as H.J. JEWETT in 1882 and left the lakes, in 2 pieces, in 1915 for saltwater service. 1981: BERGFALCK was registered in Singapore when she first came through the Seaway in 1976. The ship was sailing as b) BERGLIND when in a collision with the CHARM off Cape Breton Island. It was taken in tow but sank July 20. The hull was later refloated and taken out to sea and scuttled in the fall. 1982: FARO, a Norwegian freighter dating from 1960, visited the Seaway in 1970. It was gutted aft from a fire that began in the galley at Ghazawet Roads, Algeria, as b) ARGOLICOS GULF. It was sold for scrap and arrived as Castellon, Spain to be dismantled on October 1, 1982. 1992: ROSARIO, a Greek flag SD 14, visited the Great Lakes in 1978. It began leaking in the Indian Ocean as c) AL RAZIQU on this date in 1992 and was escorted into Mombasa, Tanzania, on July 29. The ship was allowed to sail to Alang, India, for scrapping and, after a resale, to Karachi, Pakistan. However, the vessel was sold again, taken to Dubai for repairs, and resumed trading as d) DELTA III. It developed a heavy list as e) CHALLENGE on August 2, 1993, after leaving New Mangalore, India. Attempts to tow the ship to shallow water fell short when the hull rolled over and sank with the loss of 3 lives. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Lake Huron Lore Society, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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English River on last trip; replacement vessel takes over cement run 7/18 - English River loaded her last cement cargo in Bath, Ont., for Cleveland, on Tuesday. Following her discharge there, English River will return to the Welland Canal, tie up at Port Colborne and officially be retired. She will eventually be moved to the scrapyard to join the largest fleet of scrap ships ever assembled in Port Colborne. Meanwhile, her replacement, NACC Argonaut, operated by NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers, was on her maiden voyage in the Seaway Tuesday bound for Bath. She is registered at St. Catharines, Ont. She was converted from a general cargo ship last year. |
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Fednav takes delivery of its 60th owned vessel; Arctic to be replaced 7/18 - Montreal, Que. – Fednav Limited has taken ownership of a 60th bulk carrier, an important milestone in Fednav’s history. This vessel, the motor vessel Federal Dee, is the latest in a series of 22 box-hold handysize bulk carriers of 34,500 deadweight tons ordered from Oshima Shipyard of Japan since 2013. As the world’s largest operator of ice-class dry-bulk carriers and Canada’s leading ocean-going, dry-bulk shipowning and chartering group, Fednav operates a modern and high-performing bulker fleet of over 100 ships, the majority of which are owned. The company continues to invest extensively in its fleet rejuvenation and extension program to offer customers the highest quality ocean transportation solutions, while reducing the fleet’s environmental footprint. Earlier this year, Fednav also contracted for the replacement of its motor vessel Arctic by ordering a new 30,000 DWT Polar Class 4 mine support vessel from JMU Shipyard of Japan. The ship will be flagged under Canadian registry and begin service as of 2020. Investing recently more than US $600 million into its newbuilding program, the company clearly demonstrates continued confidence in the shipping markets and its commitment to the Arctic, St. Lawrence, and Great Lakes trades. Fednav |
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Port Reports - July 18
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Soo Locks
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Waukegan, Ill. – Paul Erspamer
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday Jul 17 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point Bay:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Welland Canal shipping traffic halted after bridge incident 7/18 - St. Catharines, Ont. – All Welland Canal shipping traffic was halted in St. Catharines Tuesday afternoon after a van became wedged in the gap between the roadway and the raised Homer Bridge. The red construction van had been parked on the Queenston Street bridge around 1:30 p.m. when it got stuck front end first in the gap for about two and a half hours. St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation's Alvina Ghirardi said maintenance work was being performed on the bridge for cameras by a contractor. No one was in the vehicle at the time and there were no injuries. Ghirardi, manager of regional services and marine facility security officer, said the matter is under investigation to determine how the vehicle became wedged between the reach and roadway. "It certainly got into that slot but how it came to be there, that's being investigated at the moment." The truck, with a smashed window and bent bumper, was yanked from the space by a large tow truck around 4 p.m. and the bridge reopened to traffic again a short time later. Ghirardi said shipping traffic was halted during the event. Three ships were on the canal in the St. Catharines area at the time at lock 1, lock 2 and heading downbound by the Homer Bridge. Shipping traffic upbound to Lake Erie continued to move. The Homer Bridge is operated by the Seaway from a central control operations centre on Glendale Avenue. Welland Tribune |
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Survey shows lack of knowledge, awareness for Great Lakes 7/18 - Windsor, Ont. – A new survey by the International Joint Commission asked more than 4,000 people living around the lakes what they think and how they feel about the Great Lakes. The survey also examined what people know about the current threats facing the lakes and whose responsibility it is to protect one of the world's most vital freshwater sources. "We conducted a similar survey in 2016 and this survey is a follow up," said Raj Bejankiwar, a scientist with the Joint Commission in Windsor, Ont., who works on areas of concerns in the Great Lakes. "The main aim was to understand how citizens feel about protecting the lakes ... and we wanted to know the link between the lake's health and our region's economy and our efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes." He said residents who have more knowledge about the lakes are the ones who will most likely be "driving the policy" and putting "pressure on politicians and policy makers" to make a change. "That's why it's really important to have highly educated citizens who are also highly aware to seek changes in a more positive way," Bejankiwar said. Several questions were asked in the survey including how important the Great Lakes are for recreational use and if people know who is responsible for protecting the lakes. He said approximately 24 per cent of people did not know what the key challenges are facing the Great Lakes, while 19 per cent believed pollution was the biggest issues and 17 per cent thought invasive species was the highest concern. "24 per cent is a large number ... and we are in the middle of the world's largest freshwater resources and it's not a good sign ... more people should know about what are the exact issues and threats that the Great Lakes are facing," Bejankiwar explained. He said two demographics — Indigenous groups and millennials — have shown the highest awareness, as they feel the Great Lakes are highly valuable. "The value of the Great Lakes is more than the economy for them. They think that the Great Lakes should be protected for their seventh generation, so we were not surprised when we saw their awareness and care for the lakes." He said people in Ontario who were surveyed showed that they had more value and awareness about the Great Lakes than residents in other areas. "We would like to reuse this data and go and do more analysis ... and look at how localized issues are affecting people's opinion ... and we would like to conduct a focus group study" to find out how to increase knowledge, awareness and care for the Great Lakes. CBC |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 18 On this day in 1974, Interlake Steamship decommissioned the COLONEL JAMES PICKANDS after 48 years of service due to continuing problems with her boilers and engines.AGAWA CANYON struck an abutment at Welland Canal's Bridge 11, at Allanburg, Ontario, on July 18, 1977, while downbound with salt for Kingston, Ontario, and sustained a 30-foot gash just above the waterline at the port bow. The canal tanker COMET (Hull#705) of the American Ship Building Co., at Lorain, Ohio, entered service on July 18, 1913, for ocean service. Sold Mexican and renamed b.) COMETA in 1928. She returned to the lakes in 1936, renamed c.) COMET for Cleveland Tankers. She was lengthened in 1940. She was scrapped at Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1973. The WILLIAM J. FILBERT was in collision with the KINSMAN INDEPENDENT, of 1907, at the Burlington Northern Dock on July 18, 1970, when the Steel Trust steamer lost control in the current entering the slip. The entire forward superstructure of the b.) JOHN DYKSTRA, a.) BENSON FORD of 1924, including the forecastle deck, was delivered to South Bass Island in Lake Erie on July 18, 1986, on the barge THOR 101 towed by the tug GREGORY J. BUSCH. The superstructure was moved for use as a summer home where it remains. The hull of the DYKSTRA was sold to Marine Salvage, Port Colborne, Ontario and was towed from Cleveland, Ohio, July 10th by the tugs ARGUE MARTIN and GLENBROOK to Ramey's Bend arriving there on July 12, 1986, where she was scrapped. WILLIAM A. REISS was launched July 18, 1925, as a.) JOHN A. TOPPING (Hull#251) at River Rouge, Michigan, by Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Columbia Steamship Co. WILLIAM G. MATHER completed her sea trials on July 18, 1925. On 18 July 1858, ANDROMEDA (2-mast wooden schooner, 112 foot, 568 tons, built in 1848, at Madison Dock, Ohio) was carrying 800 barrels of salt from Oswego to Chicago. She sprang a leak suddenly and foundered 20 miles from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The crew escaped in her boat, many just in their underwear. They arrived at Manitowoc the next day. On 18 July 1872, the schooner D. L. COUCH of Detroit (formerly AVCORN) sank about 10 miles from Long Point on Lake Erie. Two lives were lost. The wooden propeller freigjhter N. K. FAIRBANK (205 foot, 980 gross tons) was launched in Marine City, Michigan by W. B. Morley on 18 July 1874. She was then towed to Detroit, where her engines were installed by William Cowie. She had two direct-acting condensing engines 34 foot x 32 inches on one shaft and her boiler was installed on her main deck. She only lasted until 1895, when she stranded and burned near Port Colborne, Ontario. The remains of the hull were sold to Carter Brothers of Port Colborne and it was rebuilt and enrolled as a new vessel with the name ELIZA H. STRONG. The STRONG lasted until she burned in 1904. 1911: The wooden steamer TAMPA sank in the Detroit River after a collision with the JOHN W. GATES of U.S. Steel. The former was raised and moved to Marine City and then, after being partially dismantled, was sunk in 1915 as a breakwall to halt erosion off the Belle River. 1938: ISLET PRINCE (ii), enroute to Owen Sound for a new service, stopped for the night behind Chantry Island, Southampton, and was struck by lightning. The ship caught fire, but all on board were rescued before the vessel sank the next day. 1954: LAKE GADSDEN was built at Manitowoc, in 1919, and lost near Corrubedo Light, off the coast of Spain, as g) SAN NICOLAS after going aground. The vessel slid back into deep water and sank. 1960: IRISH MAPLE, a Great Lakes visitor beginning in 1966, sank the 479 gross ton DENBIGH COAST in the River Mersey after a collision. IRISH MAPLE remained in service until reaching the scrapyard at Karachi, Pakistan, as c) ANNOOR on October 24, 1981. 1967: NEW YORK NEWS (iii) buckled and sank while loading salt at Pugwash, NS. The ship was raised and towed to Halifax in two sections for repairs. It survives in 2012 as e) WOLF RIVER, but has not operated for years. 1984 PANAGIOTIS S., a Seaway trader beginning in 1975, suffered severe fire damage aft in the Gulf of Aden, while on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium, to Calcutta, India. The ship was a total loss and, while sold and renamed d) OTIS, it was taken to Gadani Beach, Pakistan, for scrapping. PANAGIOTIS S. had also visited the Great Lakes as a) VIZCAYA in 1972 and EMILIA LOVERDOS in 1975. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Wilfred Sykes heads downbound; at locks Tuesday morning 7/17 - Wilfred Sykes departed Marquette, Mich., at about 7 p.m. after loading iron ore fines for Burns Harbor, Ind. She was expected at the Soo Locks at 9 a.m. Tuesday. This is a rare trip above Lake Michigan for the Sykes and it has been followed with great interest by ship fans. The Sykes, built in 1949, is one the last few remaining steamers on the Great Lakes. |
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Port of Monroe signs accord for Great Lakes Towing services 7/17 - Monroe, Mich. - The tug Wisconsin, now stationed at the Port of Monroe, is the oldest commercially operating tugboat in the world. The Port of Monroe has come full circle. Last week, the port penned an agreement with Great Lakes Towing Co. and Great Lakes Shipyard to establish towing and shipyard services at the port. “It’s another milestone,” said Paul C. LaMarre III, port director. “This will establish a Great Lakes Shipyard in Monroe.” Great Lakes Shipyard has a full-service shipyard for new vessel and barge construction, fabrication and maintenance and repairs in Cleveland, Ohio. As part of the partnership, Great Lakes Towing has relocated the tug Wisconsin to the port to help with ship assist. The tug has been stationed previously in Wisconsin. “This agreement adds to the port’s ability to offer additional services,” LaMarre said. The towing company has 30 tugs stationed in 11 ports, including Toledo and Detroit. The Wisconsin will be the only tug at the Monroe location for now. Locating a tug here, LaMarre said, is strategic because it cuts down on the travel time for tugs out of Toledo and Detroit to assist a ship. “It can assist in making the port more attractive and can have an economic impact on the port,” LaMarre said. The shipyard will allow for the port to offer fabrication and repair services for a variety of vessels. Additional services include layup and winter work, topside repair, haul out fabrication and emergency services. “As part of this agreement, Great Lakes Towing will bring its floating dry dock ‘Favorite’ to Monroe and will allow us to take vessels of size out of the water for maintenance,” LaMarre said. “It will accommodate tugs and vessels.” The only other floating dock in the region is in Detroit. It will be located at the south end of the port’s turning basin. Joe Starck, president of Great Lakes Towing, said the port’s success in recent years is among the reasons for the partnership. “The port is growing,” Starck said. “The port’s location is key and it is in an expansion and growth mode.” Starck said the shipyard and LaMarre will seek out ships to haul up in the Port of Monroe for the winter. “We saw this as a fantastic opportunity to do the work there that we do here in Cleveland,” Starck said. “Paul has been very accommodating and thought the market there was underserved for this type of service.” In addition to the port’s location, the shipyard was able to come to fruition because of the new riverfront intermodal dock, which was completed last year. The project was $3.6 million and included funds the port received from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Prior to the new dock’s construction, the only dock available to load and unload cargo was in the turning basin. Additionally, the shipyard will create more jobs for the community. “We will make every effort to hire local people,” Starck said. “It might take a while to hire people until we generate business, so we will send people to Monroe from Cleveland until we can get the business established.” Having a shipyard repair service back at the port signals the strides made during LaMarre’s six-year tenure. “In the 1940s to 1960s, the Port of Monroe was a major layup port for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.” he said. “During that time, on any given winter, there would be eight to 12 freighters in Monroe undergoing winter maintenance.” This time around, it will start smaller with up to two unlimited tonnage vessels that can be laid up at the port for repairs. “We hope to come full circle,” LaMarre said. “The port was the epicenter for ship repair in western Lake Erie during the 1940s to ’60s.” Read more and view photos at this link: http://www.monroenews.com/news/20180715/port-of-monroe-signs-accord-for-towing-services |
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Port Reports - July 17
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Cedarville, Mich.
Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
Northern Lake Huron Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jul 16 ... Barry Andersen Traffic delayed with east side of flight locks shut down.
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Goderich salt mine workers ratify contract, end strike 7/17 - Goderich, Ont. – The salt miners cheered when their Unifor Local 16-0 local union president Gary Lynch told them their new three-year contract was ratified. But with immediate relief came a large dose of disappointment. “I don't say we agree on everything, but we will be back to work,” said Lynch defiantly, standing on the back of a pickup truck at the gates of the Compass Minerals mine at the Goderich Harbour. The vote to accept the three-year deal brings to an end the acrimonious strike – but there are clearly hard feeling left to heal. “This is a democratic organization and you guys have spoken and we respect your wishes,” said Scott Doherty, assistant to Unifor president Jerry Dias. In the crowd, some of the 348 members who had been on strike said quietly after the speeches that they weren't happy with how they've been treated and the ultimate agreement. “Don't forget the guys that cross the line when we were out, right? You know who they are,” one worker called out. Some of them said their fathers and grandfathers had worked in the mine, the biggest underground salt mine in the world. They weren't happy, but wanted to get back to work. The union would not say how many people voted in favor of the contract. Read more at this link: http://www.goderichsignalstar.com/2018/07/16/goderich-salt-workers-ratify-contract-end-strike |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 17 On this day in 1902, the JAMES H. HOYT, the first boat with hatches constructed at 12-foot centers, loaded 5,250 tons of iron ore in 30.5 minutes on her maiden voyage. Several days later, the cargo was unloaded at Conneaut in three hours and 52 minutes.On this day in 1961, the C&P dock in Cleveland set a new unloading record when they removed more than 15,000 tons of ore from the holds of the E. G. GRACE in 3 hours and 20 minutes. The ASHCROFT was towed out of Quebec City on July 17, 1969, in tandem with the steamer SIR THOMAS SHAUGHNESSY by the Polish tug JANTAR for scrapping at Castellon, Spain. The BROOKDALE, of 1909, lost her self-unloading boom overboard in the Detroit River during a wind and rainstorm on July 17, 1980, while loading salt at the Canadian Rock Salt Dock at Ojibway, Ontario. The Cleveland Tanker's COMET was towed from Toledo to Ashtabula, Ohio, on July 17, 1973, where she was broken up during the summer and fall of 1973. WILLIAM J. FILBERT was launched in 1907, as a.) WILLIAM M. MILLS (Hull#348) at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. for the Weston Transit Co. (William M. Mills, mgr.). On her last trip, the COLONEL JAMES PICKANDS arrived at Cleveland, Ohio on July 17, 1974, with a load of iron ore. Mohawk Navigation's GOLDEN HIND loaded her first dry bulk cargo on July 17, 1954. She had been rebuilt from the Imperial Oil Ltd.'s tanker a.) IMPERIAL WOODBEND. On 17 July 1856, TINTO (wooden propeller, 135 foot, built in 1855-56, at Sorel, Quebec) caught fire and burned to a total loss only 2 miles from shore. She was between Snake Island and Nine Mile Point on Lake Ontario. 18 lives were lost. The survivors jumped into the water and were picked up by a boat from shore. A newspaper article stated that she had no lifeboat aboard. Her machinery was later recovered and installed in the AVON. On 17 July 1883, B PARSONS (2-mast wooden schooner, 218 tons, built in 1856, at Vermilion, Ohio) struck the north pier while entering the harbor at Charlevoix, Michigan during a gale. She sank crosswise in the channel and blocked passage into the harbor for two weeks until she broke up enough to allow vessels to pass. In December, the steam tug S S COE towed the hulk a half mile down the beach and abandoned it. The Canada Steamship Line's HAMONIC burned at her pier at Point Edward bear Sarnia, Ont., on July 17, 1945. A warehouse next to the HAMONIC 's pier burst into flames from a fire that began from a gasoline motor for conveyor equipment being repaired by workmen. The flames and smoke were carried by a breeze to the HAMONIC. Almost in a matter of minutes the HAMONIC was doomed. She was aflame at dockside. The captain and the engineer were able to move the ship down the dock from the raging flames from the warehouse. Many of the passengers were able to get ashore. Some passengers went ashore by climbing into the bucket of a crane, which hoisted them on shore to safety. Every one of the passengers and crew were saved. 1933: SONORA and WILLIAM NELSON were in a collision in the Bar Point Channel, Lake Erie. The two ships were found at equal fault. The former was scrapped at Ashtabula in 1961 while the latter arrived at Bilbao, Spain, for dismantling as c) BEN E. TATE on July 12, 1969. 1989: SHEILA YEATES, a tall-ship visitor to the Great Lakes, hit an ice pack in fog on the North Atlantic and eventually sank 430 miles south of Greenland after an attempt to tow the leaking ship to safety failed. All on board were saved. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Wilfred Sykes loading Monday at Marquette 7/16 - Marquette, Mich. – Wilfred Sykes arrived at Marquette Sunday evening to load for Burns Harbor. They expect at least a 12-hour load time, if not longer. The Sykes was upbound at Mission Point at dawn Sunday, and through the locks by 8 a.m., greeted by a small but dedicated group of boatwatchers and crew family members, including the captain’s mom. This is a rare trip above Lake Michigan for the Sykes. The last time she ventured above the Soo Locks was on June 13, 2012 when she loaded at the Essar Algoma Export Dock View a video of her Soo passage, complete with two salutes, at this link: youtube.com/watch?v=RVqtSOpMOaQ |
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Port Reports - July 16
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
Port Inland, Mich.
Green Bay, Wis.
Northern Lake Huron
Zilwaukee, Mich. Welland Canal and regional report - Sunday Jul 15 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Buffalo and Tonawanda
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Montreal, Que. – Ron Walsh |
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Watch the Waters: A Great Lakes freighter-spotting primer for boat-nerds-to-be 7/16 - Traverse City, Mich. – Roger LeLievre was practically born a boat nerd. The editor and publisher of the Know Your Ships field guide to spotting freighters on the Great Lakes got a very early start in the hobby that would become his authorship. “My grandfather, early on, worked on the coal docks, putting coal on the freighters,” LeLievre said. “And I used to spend my summers up at my grandparents’ cabin on the water, up in the U.P., between Lake Huron and Lake Superior.” Watching the freighters pass by quickly became a favorite pursuit. And one of the tools LeLievre eventually found to help him with his hobby was the earlier edition of the Know Your Ships guide, which he actually took over from the original publisher. The book was started in 1959 by Tom Manse, who had set a goal for himself of capturing at least one photo of all the big ships sailing the Great Lakes. Manse would later publish the original Know Your Ships, and he updated the book every single year for his fellow freighter watchers. LeLievre took over the book updates when Manse passed away in 1995. Freighter-watchers are a tight knit bunch, and this book is an invaluable tool for identifying and enjoying freighters. It includes the essential statistics, including length, capacity, owner, and former names, for hundreds of ships plying the Great Lakes, as well as additional trivia like what the various boat whistles mean and how to follow the freighters as they travel from port to port. Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/watch-the-waters |
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Carl D. Bradley survivor to host book signing at Sault’s Valley Camp on Tuesday 7/16 - Frank Mays, last surviving crew member of the Carl D. Bradley, which sank in 1958 on Lake Michigan, will be at the museum ship Valley Camp in Sault St. Marie, Mich., for a book signing. The event will be at The Ship’s Store next to the Valley Camp from 2-5 p.m. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 16 DETROIT EDISON, of 1955, departed Quebec City July 16th 1986, along with former fleet mate SHARON, in tow of the U.S. tug PRUDENT, to Brownsville, Texas for scrapping.The SAGINAW BAY departed Quebec City on July 16, 1985, in tandem with the E.B. BARBER, towed by the Polish tug KORAL for scrapping at Vigo, Spain. NORTHERN VENTURE, a.) VERENDRYE of 1944, entered Great Lakes service July 16, 1961, upbound light for the Canadian lake head to load grain. On July 16, 1935, the BRUCE HUDSON capsized on Lake Ontario off Cobourg, Ontario, while in tow of the wooden-hulled tug MUSCALLONGE. Keel-laying of the CHI-CHEEMAUN (Hull#205) was on July 16, 1973, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Ontario Northland Transport Commission. CATARACT (wooden propeller, 15 foot', 352 tons, built in 1852, at Buffalo) caught fire on 16 July 1861, 5 miles off Erie, Pennsylvania. She became an inferno astern in just a few minutes and this prevented her boats from being launched. Four died. Some were saved by clinging to floating wreckage and some others were rescued by a small fishing boat. The schooner ST PAUL picked up some survivors. Among those picked up by Captain Mosher of the ST PAUL, were Captain McNally and the CATARACT's carpenter. Capt. Mosher had rescued these same two men in 1858, when the propeller INDIANA was lost in Lake Superior. On 16 July 1873, the new barge MINNEAPOLIS was towed to Detroit for outfitting. She had just been launched four days earlier at Marine City, Michigan. While on the way to Detroit, a Canadian man named Sinclair fell overboard and drowned. On 16 July 1874, The Port Huron Times reported that "the old steamer REINDEER has been rebuilt to a barge by L. C. Rogers at H. C. Schnoor's shipyard at Fair Haven, [Michigan]. Her beautiful horns have been taken down, [she carried a set of large antlers], her machinery and cumbersome side-wheels removed, and she has been fully refitted with center arch and deck frame complex." July 16, 1961, the PIONEER CHALLENGER entered service. Built in 1943, as a T-3 tanker a.) MARQUETTE, renamed b.) U.S.S. NESCHANIC (AO-71) in 1943, c.) GULFOIL in 1947, d.) PIONEER CHALLENGER in 1961, e.) MIDDLETOWN in 1962, and f.) AMERICAN VICTORY in 2006. 1911 ¬ MAINE, upbound with a load of coal, caught fire in the St. Clair River and was run aground on the Canadian shore. The crew escaped. 1958 ¬ The Swedish freighter ERHOLM and the FRANK ARMSTRONG of the Interlake fleet were in a collision in northern Lake St. Clair with minor damage to both ships. ERHOLM had earlier been a Great Lakes caller as a) ERLAND and later came through the Seaway in 1959-1960. It returned inland again in 1961 and 1962 as c) OTIS. The ship arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, for scrapping as h) DIMITRA K. on August 25, 1980. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Wilfred Sykes due at Marquette Sunday evening 7/15 - Wilfred Sykes was approaching DeTour at around midnight Saturday on her rare trip to Lake Superior. She is showing an ETA of 9 p.m. on Sunday. Port Reports |
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Port Reports - July 15
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
North Channel
Goderich, Ont. Welland Canal and regional report - Saturday Jul 14 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Buffalo and Tonawanda
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal: Downbound - Jul 13 - Federal Bering (Mhl) at 1636, tug Petite & barge St Marys Cement at 1821 and Algoma Sault eta 2154 - Jul 14 - Sten Moster (Gib) at 0005, Isa (Cyp) at 0330, Baie Comeau at 0513, USCG Mackinaw at 0817, tug Alice Moran & barge Montville at 0838, G3 Marquis at 1122, G3 Marquis at 1122, tug Leo A McArthur & barge John J Carrick at 1507 and tug Sea Eagle II & barge St Marys Cement II at 2033
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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What happens when Lake Superior has too much water? It dumps it into an already overflowing Lake Michigan 7/15 - Chicago, Ill. – For nearly a century, a dam at the head of the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., has been used like a faucet, controlling the amount of water flowing from Lake Superior into lakes Michigan and Huron. In the past five years, following a swift rise in lake levels, the relatively obscure Lake Superior board that regulates the amount of water released has stepped up these discharges, raising an outcry from a group representing property owners along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and potentially harming seasonal tourism. John Ehret, an Olympia Fields, Ill., resident and a director of the Great Lakes Coalition for Shoreline Preservation, occasionally shows people photos of the broad sandy beaches that once existed outside his cabin in western Michigan. Now, Ehert said, many of his neighbors have fortified their home with boulders, and his property is “damn near in the water.” Several factors have contributed to rising water levels and shoreline erosion, including increased precipitation and runoff, but Lake Superior outflow is exacerbating the problem, data from the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration and the International Lake Superior Board of Control show. Last year, the amount of water released from Lake Superior into lakes Michigan and Huron was the highest in 32 years. This month, Lake Superior measured about 9 inches above its long-term average but almost 5 inches below its levels from last July. Lakes Michigan and Huron were recorded at nearly 2 feet above their historic average and a half inch higher than a year ago. Still, the Lake Superior board expects to increase the flow to 2,800 cubic meters per second this month — more than enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool each second — and above the amount called for in the most recent regulatory plan for balancing the lakes. “They have no right ...,” Ehret, 88, said. “They are having the same problem we are. They've lost a lot of their sand. What they want is to lower their lake and dump it downstream — and we don't want it!” Read more and view videos and graphs at this link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-lake-michigan-superior-water-levels-20180709-story.html |
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Hornblower new owner of Straits Express passenger ferry 7/15 - In Saturday’s news we reported that the passenger ferry Straits Express, out of Mackinac City and the last vessel of the now defunct Arnold Line, was downbound at Port Huron headed to new owners in New York City. We can now report that she will join the large Hornblower Cruises enterprise. |
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EUPT, USCG partner to improve winter ferry service in upper Michigan 7/15 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Eastern Upper Peninsula Transit Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a unified goal of improving ferry service during the winter to the St. Marys River’s three island communities in upper Michigan on Friday. Capt. Marko Broz, commander, Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, and Pete Paramski, director of the EUP Transit Authority, signed the MOU aboard the passenger ferry Sugar Islander. Occasionally, ice obstructing the St Marys River halts or delays ferry service to Drummond, Neebish and Sugar Islands. The MOU formally lays out the responsibilities of the Coast Guard for ice breaking support of the three ferries operating on the St. Marys River. The agreement also explains the actions to be taken by EUP Transit Authority officials should any of the ferries become hindered by ice. The western Great Lakes experienced 145 days of ice cover during the last winter season. Ten assets assigned to Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie for ice breaking delivered 3,179 hours of icebreaking representing 888 vessel transits; 386 of those transits required direct ice breaking assistance. These same ice-breaking assets put forth an additional 3,588 hours of preventative icebreaking to establish and maintain tracks in the ice-choked waterways of Green Bay, the Straits of Mackinac, the St Marys River, Georgian Bay, and the western Lake Superior Ports of Thunder Bay, Marquette, Duluth, and Superior. On the St Marys River, ferry service to Drummond Island was never hindered by ice; ferry service to Neebish Island was hampered by ice for 28 days during Spring Break Out, and service to Sugar Island was delayed by ice a total of 76 hours over the 3,504 hours of winter operations. Overall, Sugar Island ferry service availability was 98%. USCG |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 15 July 15, 1991 - The Spanish, 1975-built, 7,311 gross ton, ocean motor bulk carrier MILANOS, anchored in the Detroit River since July 2, began the long slow trip home. Auxiliar de Transporte Maritimos, the ship’s owners, decided it would be cheaper to tow the crippled ship home for repairs rather than have the repairs performed locally. The ship's engine seized after the crankshaft broke. She departed Detroit, bound for Montreal under tow of Malcolm Marine's TUG MALCOLM and McKeil's tug ARGUE MARTIN. The tow passed down the Seaway on July 19.On July 15, 1961, the d.) WALTER A. STERLING, now f.) LEE A. TREGURTHA), entered service on the Great Lakes for Cleveland Cliffs Steamship Co., after conversion from a T-3 tanker. The next day, on July 16, 1961, the d.) PIONEER CHALLENGER, now f.) AMERICAN VICTORY, entered service for the Pioneer Steamship Co (Hutchinson & Co., mgr.). The CHICAGO TRADER was launched as a.) THE HARVESTER (Hull#391) at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. in 1911, for the Wisconsin Steel Co. In 1946, the NORISLE (Hull#136) was launched at Collingwood, Ontario, by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for the Dominion & Owen Sound Transportation Co. Ltd. In 1934, the ANN ARBOR NO 4 collided with the steamer N. F. LEOPOLD in a heavy fog. On Saturday, 15 July 1871, an argument between Captain James Bradley and Mate John Reed started while the schooner ROBERT EMMETT was docked at Erie, Pennsylvania unloading iron ore. They were still shouting at each other as the ship sailed out of the harbor. In short order, the ship turned around and anchored in the harbor. At 3 the following morning, Reed rowed ashore, went directly to the police station and charged that Capt. Bradley had assaulted him with a knife. At dawn, as the police were on their way to question Capt. Bradley, they found him stepping ashore from the deck of a tug, fuming that Reed had stolen the ship's only small boat. Bradley and Reed were at each other again and the police arrested both men. Bradley then filed charges against Reed for mutiny, assault and theft of the ship's boat. The case went to court the very next day. Justice of the Peace Foster saw his courtroom packed with curious sailors and skippers. Reed and Bradley were both still fuming and after listening to just a little testimony, Foster found both men guilty, fined them both and ordered both to pay court costs. The matter didn't end there since Reed later had to get a court order to get his personal belongings off the EMMETT. There is no record of what the disagreement was that started this whole mess. The iron side-wheel steamer DARIUS COLE (201 foot, 538 gross tons) was launched at the Globe Iron Works (Hull #10) in Cleveland, Ohio on 15 July 1885. During her career, she had two other names b.) HURON 1906 - 1921, and c.) COLONIAL 1921 - 1925. She burned off Barcelona, New York, on Lake Erie on 1 September 1925, while on an excursion. The hull was beached and later towed to Dunkirk, New York, for scrapping. 1885: The rail car ferry LANSDOWNE and the CLARION were in a collision on the Detroit River. 1895: CIBOLA caught fire and burned at the dock at Lewiston, NY, with the loss of one life. The hull was towed to Toronto and used in a fill project. 1943: GEORGE M. HUMPHREY sank off Old Point Mackinac Light following a collision with the D.M. CLEMSON. The ship was salvaged in 1944 and rebuilt at Sturgeon Bay as b) CAPTAIN JOHN ROEN in 1945 and became c) ADAM E. CORNELIUS in 1948 and d) CONSUMERS POWER in 1958. 1977: The ore- laden CADILLAC went aground in the St. Marys River after missing a turn in fog. It was released the next day with the help of 3 tugs. 1986: The C.S.L. self-unloader MANITOULIN went aground at Sandusky, off Cedar Point, after losing power. The ship was released with the help of tugs. 1998: LITA hit the knuckle at the Eisenhower Lock and sustained damage to the starboard side. The vessel later hit bottom of the channel near the Snell Lock but there was no additional damage. The ship was enroute from Toledo to Algeria. The 11,121 gross ton saltwater vessel was still in service as of 2012. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Lake Huron Lore Society, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit |
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Straits Express passenger ferry heads for east coast 7/14 - The passenger ferry Straits Express, out of Mackinac City and the last vessel of the now defunct Arnold Line, has been sold to an as-yet-unknown cruise company in New York. She was downbound at Port Huron Friday under her own power. |
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AIS shows Wilfred Sykes heading to Marquette 7/14 - Wilfred Sykes was broadcasting an AIS destination of Marquette, Mich., on Friday night. It is rare to see the Sykes on Lake Superior. |
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Port Reports - July 14
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Goderich, Ont.
Toledo, Ohio Welland Canal and regional report - Friday Jul 13 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Couples enjoy trip of a lifetime aboard the Paul R. Tregurtha 7/14 - Port Huron, Mich. – Randy Burgett said it is hard to explain what it is like to be a guest on the largest freighter in the Great Lakes. "Everybody I've talked to has said it's a trip of a lifetime and I have to agree with that," the Fort Gratiot man said from aboard the Paul R. Tregurtha Thursday. Burgett and his wife, Lynn, boarded the 1,000-footer Tuesday in St. Clair with friends Bob and Linda Kempf, Janet Knust and Rick Sheffield. The Kempfs won the trip in an auction benefiting the March of Dimes this past winter. "It's been awesome," said Linda Kempf of Marysville. "I have talked to people who have been on this trip and I guess it's like anything else, until you actually experience it, it's unbelievable." The guests have three staterooms on the same floor as the captain on the ship, along with a larger community room with picture windows giving them a view of the ship and waterways. Burgett said after boarding in St. Clair where the ship was offloading coal, they continued to Monroe where more coal was offloaded. They are currently upbound, headed to Duluth, Minnesota. “It's calming and awesome, you're almost lost for words," Linda Kempf said. Burgett agreed. "I've lived here all my 60-plus years and watched plenty of boat traffic come and go, but I had no idea what was truly involved in keeping a vessel like this running," he said. A handful of area fundraisers offer trips on the freighter, including the United Way of St. Clair County. The nonprofit will start selling raffle tickets for its trip in November. View photos and video as this link: https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/st-clair/2018/07/12/trip-lifetime-aboard-paul-r-tregurtha/778566002 |
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Updates - April 8 Saltie Gallery updated with pictures of the Adfines Sky, Andean, Anet, Arubaborg, BBC Kibo, BBC Mont Blanc, Belasitza, Cape Dawson, Eemsborg, Eemsgracht, Elbeborg, Erin Schulte, Fagelgracht, Federal Barents, Federal Bering, Federal Kushiro, Federal Leda, Federal Yukina, Fraserborg, Furuholmen, Harbour Feature, Irma, Johanna G, Lolland, Maria G, Olza, Patras, Pearl Mist, Rike and Victory |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 14 The AMERICAN REPUBLIC (Hull#724) was launched July 14, 1980, by the Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for the American Steamship Co. She was renamed b) GREAT REPUBLIC in 2011.While upbound in the St. Lawrence River on July 14, 1970, for Saginaw, Michigan, with a load of pig iron from Sorel, Quebec, the EASTCLIFFE HALL, of 1954, grounded in mud near Chrysler Shoal six miles above Massena, New York, at 03:00 hours but was able to free herself. A few hours later, approaching Cornwall, Ontario, she struck a submerged object and sank within a few minutes in 70 feet of water only 650 feet from the point of impact. The submerged object was believed to be an old aid to navigation light stand. Nine lives were lost. Divers determined that her back was broken in two places. After salvaging part of the cargo, her cabins were leveled and her hull was filled. In 1988, the JOHN T. HUTCHINSON and tow mate CONSUMERS POWER passed through the Panama Canal heading for the cutter’s torch in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. On 14 July 1908, MENTOR (wooden propeller tug, 53 foot, 23 gross tons, built in 1882, at Saugatuck, Michigan) burned south of Chicago, Illinois. No lives lost. Her original name was HATTIE A. FOX. On 14 July 1891, T H ORTON (wooden barge, 262 gross tons, built in 1873, at Buffalo, New York) anchored off Marblehead, Ohio, on Lake Erie to ride out a storm. She dragged her anchors and was driven ashore where she was declared a total wreck. She may have been recovered though. Just two years earlier, this vessel went through a similar incident at the same spot. 1891: ATHABASCA and PONTIAC collided head-on in the Sugar Island Channel of the St. Marys River and the latter settled on the bottom. The former arrived at Sault Ste. Marie, with wreckage draped across her bow. Both ships were repaired and returned to service. 1931: The bulk canaller TEAKBAY hit a rock in the Brockville Narrows of the St. Lawrence and went aground while enroute from Sandusky to Quebec City with coal. It was refloated but was listing and in need of repairs. 1964: DANIEL PIERCE, a former Great Lakes tanker, ran aground at Guanica, Puerto Rico. The ship was leaking sulphuric acid into the bilges mixing with salt water. The town was evacuated due to the potential for an explosion. The hull was condemned and eventually scrapped. 1966: The Israeli freighter ELAT, on her second trip to the Great Lakes, and LEMOYNE were in a collision near Lock 2 of the Welland Canal, with only minor damage. ELAT arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for scrapping by September 7, 1982, while LEMOYNE was broken up at Santander, Spain, in 1969. 1993: CALCITE II lost steering and ran aground in the Amherstburg Channel of the Detroit River. The ship was lightered, released with the help of the tugs PATRICIA HOEY, OREGON and STORMONT and, after unloading at Ecorse, headed for Toledo to be repaired. Data from: Skip Gillham, Dave Wobser, Mike Nicholls, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - July 13
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont. Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jul 12 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto: |
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Police seek man in Edward L. Ryerson break-in 7/13 - Superior, Wis. – Police are investigating a break-in onboard a bulk carrier docked in Superior. A surveillance camera on the Edward L. Ryerson caught the suspect in the act. According to Central Marine Logistics, the man allegedly stole a fire ax and walked off with a large bag of items. The break-in happened on July 6. The company says it's not the first time there has been a break-in on this particular ship. KBJR6 |
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Stand Up for the Great Lakes trio successfully paddles across Lake Superior 7/13 - Lake Superior – Three men from a Traverse City organization made the trip of a lifetime to raise money for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Joe Lorenz, Kwin Morris and Jeff Guy, from Stand Up for Great Lakes, are paddle boarding across Lake Superior from Sinclair Cove in Canada. “The new goal of this trip is to raise more than $20,000 for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society,” says Morris, age 31, and a teacher in the Elk Rapids School District. After 12 hours and 28 miles into their more than 61 mile trip, the trio laid a wreath at the same spot the Edmund Fitzgerald sank more than 42 years ago. The bio-degradable wreath had 29 white carnations representing the members of the crew that went down in a terrible storm on November 1, 1975 and one single carnation representing all who were lost on the Great Lakes. The idea of paddling across Lake Michigan first struck the guys when Kwin and Jeff were doing a standup paddle together. They later met Joe Lorenz at a Christmas party, who had a similar idea. He said, “Let’s do it!” So, they put together the team and a plan, formed a non-profit and from that point forward worked to make it a reality. In 2015, the trio first crossed Lake Michigan, a 60-mile and 23-hour journey, and raised $10,000 for the Great Lake Alliance. In June 2017, they crossed Lake Huron and raised $7,000 for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The 90-mile paddle journey took more than 28 hours to complete. Each man carried all of his supplies, which included food, extra clothes and straws that filter drinking water from the lake, on his own paddle board.v There were also two boats following the trio with an emergency medical technician on one and a crew ready to jump in for a rescue on the other. The trio paddled into Whitefish Point in Michigan's Upper Peninsula the site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, around 6 a.m. Wednesday. “I am proud to know these ‘stand-up’ guys and have been educated to their sincere commitment in keeping the ‘great’ in GREAT LAKES,” says Scott Lorenz, Joe’s father. “They’ve planned it out thoroughly and in great detail. Their paddle boarding journeys are an incredible accomplishment.” Up North Live |
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Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley departs for its first-ever Arctic mission 7/13 - The Canadian Coast Guard’s annual Arctic operational season is underway and includes a maiden voyage to the Arctic by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley. CCGS Samuel Risley departed Quebec City today with 25 officers and crew on board. Their first task will be to support the annual resupply mission for the United States Air Base at Thule Greenland. “My crew and I will be doing the Operation Pacer Goose mission. We are very much looking forward to seeing and working on the rugged coast of Greenland, a place few people ever get to experience,” said Captain John Cork, who is in command of CCGS Samuel Risley for the first month of its eight week Arctic mission. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the crew, and personally I am thrilled to have this as my last assignment before I retire after 34 years with the Canadian Coast Guard”. 1200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Thule is locked in by ice about nine months out of the year. Icebreaking service is needed to allow for a rapid resupply of food, fuel, construction materials and cargo. After the Operation Pacer Goose mission CCGS Samuel Risley will transit to the eastern Canadian Arctic and the waters of Baffin Bay, the Hudson Strait and northern Hudson Bay. Captain Signe Gotfredsen notes her crew members are truly looking forward to providing Coast Guard service in the north. Captain Gotfredsen will assume command of the ship during the second half of this mission. “For a number of the crew, this will be their first time plying Arctic waters, so there is a sense of exploration onboard,” said Captain Gotfredsen. “Some of our preparation time has been spent on training including Indigenous Engagement, helicopter slinging operations and environmental response.” CCGS Samuel Risley joined the Coast Guard fleet in the fall of 1985. During most of the navigational season, the ship operates out of the Canadian Coast Guard base in Parry Sound Ontario. It is multi-tasked and in addition to its icebreaking and aids to navigation duties on the Great Lakes it has also served on Canada’s east coast. The Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic operational season will run into late November, providing extended vessel presence in the Arctic under investments from the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan. CCGS Samuel Risley joins other coast guard ships serving the Arctic this year including CCGS Amundsen, CCGS Martha L. Black, CCGS Pierre Radisson, CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and CCGS Henry Larsen. CCG |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 13 Algoma's straight-deck bulk freighter ALGOWEST was christened at Collingwood on July 13, 1982. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1998, and renamed b.) PETER R. CRESSWELL in 2001.SASKATCHEWAN PIONEER (Hull#258) was launched July 13, 1983, at Govan, Scotland, by Govan Shipbuilders Ltd. for Pioneer Shipping Ltd. (Misener Transportation Ltd., mgr.). Renamed b.) LADY HAMILTON in 1995. Purchased by Voyageur Marine Transport in 2006, she now sails as KAMINISTIQUA. The LIGHTSHIP 103 was opened to visitors on July 13, 1974, at the city's Pine Grove Park along the St. Clair River. The rebuilt BOSCOBEL was launched at the Peshtigo Company yard at Algonac, Michigan, on 13 July 1876. Originally built in 1867, as a passenger/package freight propeller vessel, she burned and sank near Ft. Gratiot in 1869. The wreck was raised, but no work was done until January 1876, when she was completely rebuilt as a schooner-barge at Algonac. She sank again in the ice on Lake Erie in 1895, and was again raised and rebuilt. She lasted until 1909, when she sank in the middle of Lake Huron during a storm. On 13 July 1876, the Port Huron Weekly Times listed the following vessels as being idle at Marine City, Michigan: Steam Barges BAY CITY, D W POWERS and GERMANIA; steamer GLADYS; schooners TAILOR and C SPADEMAN; and barges MARINE CITY and ST JOSEPH. On 13 July 1876, The Detroit Tribune reported that "the captain of a well-known Oswego vessel, on his last trip to Oswego, found that the receipts of the trip exceeded the expenses in the neighborhood of $250, and stowed $210 of the amount away in a drawer of his desk on the schooner. The money remained there some days before the captain felt the necessity of using a portion of it, and when he opened the drawer to take out the required amount he found that a family of mice had file a pre-emption claim and domiciled themselves within the recess, using the greenbacks with the utmost freedom to render their newly chosen quarters absolutely comfortable. A package containing $60 was gnawed into scraps the size of the tip of the little finger, while only enough of the larger package containing $150 remained to enable the astonished seaman to determine the numbers of the bills, so that the money can be refunded to him by the United States Treasury Department. The captain made an affidavit of the facts, and forwarded it and the remnants of the greenbacks to Washington, with the view of recovering the full value of the money destroyed. He is now on the way to Oswego with his vessel, and no doubt frequently ruminates over the adage, "The best laid schemes of mice and men . . .” 1941: The first COLLINGDOC was inbound with coal for the Thames River when it struck a mine off Southend, England, and sank. There were at least two casualties. The hull was later refloated and sunk along with another ship, believed to be the PONTO, as part of the Churchill Barriers off Scapa Flow, in the northern United Kingdom. In time, sand has blown in and covered much of the hull with only the cement-encased pilothouse visible at last report. 1978: OLAU GORM, best remembered as one of 4 freighters that had to spend the winter of 1964-1965 on the Great Lakes due to ice closing the Seaway, ran aground as f) FAST BREEZE in the Red Sea. The ship was enroute to from Piraeus, Greece, to Gizan, Saudi Arabia, and was refloated, with severe damage, on July 16. It was soon sold to Pakistani shipbreakers and was broken up at Gadani Beach in 1979. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Large Dutch ship draws attention on Fox River in downtown Green Bay 7/12 - Green Bay, Wis. – The Port of Green Bay has welcomed a new, large visitor that's expected to become a more common sight on the Fox River. The 469-foot MV Arubaborg arrived Tuesday morning at KK Integrated Logistics's riverside warehouse with a load of wood pulp and newspaper rolls from Itaqui, Brazil. "It's always exciting any time we get a boat with a foreign flag," Port Director Dean Haen said of the Dutch ship. Haen said this is the first time in almost a decade that the port has seen the direct delivery of "forest product." The ship is significantly larger than most vessels that use KK Integrated Logistics' dock south of the Walnut Street bridge. The ship is delivering 9,000 tons of pulp and newspaper rolls, KK Integrated Logistics President Cynthia Kuber said. In past years, Kuber said, wood pulp and other related products were brought into northeastern Wisconsin by truck or railroad from the East Coast. She said KK Integrated Logistics began working in 2015 to begin direct delivery by oceangoing ship. The first trial runs of the direct delivery were done in 2016 and 2017 at the company's Menominee, Mich., location. She said direct shipping dramatically cuts the time it takes for product to get to its destination. While fluctuations in the pulp and paper industry markets can change the economics of shipping products to Green Bay, she anticipates the Arubaborg and other ships like it to more frequently bring loads to the port. The vessel is owned by the international shipping company Wagenborg Shipping. Haen said other Wagenborg ships have passed through the Port of Green Bay, but he believes this is the first time for the Arubaborg. Green Bay resident Chuck Zentmeyer, a self-described "boat nerd" — or avid ship-watcher — went out to the water early Tuesday morning to watch the Auraborg dock, and went back later in the day to snap some photos for his collection. "It's a cool boat," he said. "That fleet comes here every now and then, but not this specific boat. The number of onlookers I've seen is just crazy — 20 to 30 people just watching. The cranes make it look different . . . It's a sight to see." The Arubaborg is scheduled to leave Green Bay on Friday, although Kuber said the unloading process is going rather quickly and the ship could leave on Thursday. View a photo gallery at this link: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2018/07/11/large-dutch-ship-docks-fox-river-downtown-green-bay/774544002 |
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Port Reports - July 12
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
Muskegon, Mich. Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday July 11 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Seaway |
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Duluth-Superior Harbor will be dredged by Roen Salvage Co. 7/12 - Detroit, Mich. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, has awarded a contract for dredging at Duluth-Superior Harbor in western Lake Superior on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The $1,933,500 contract was awarded to Roen Salvage Co., from Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The firm will dredge approximately 150,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor and deposit the dredged material at the 40th Avenue West placement site, a shallow cove on the Duluth side of the harbor. The dredging will begin in August and will be complete by mid-November. |
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Negotiations set to resume between union and Goderich salt mine 7/12 - Goderich, Ont. – Unifor says the union and Compass Minerals in Goderich have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday in an effort to end a strike that began April 27. Unifor represents 348 members at what's billed as the world's largest underground salt mine on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. Bargaining will resume less than a week after striking workers blocked an access road to the mine to express frustration over the company's use of replacement workers. Unifor alleged the company was flying in workers from New Brunswick while demanding concessions that include mandatory overtime, reduced benefits, and a weakening of contracting-out provisions. In a letter to the community late last month, Compass Minerals said it has used contractors to produce salt to fill long-term orders, and had little choice but to do so in a competitive market. The company said it presented an offer when the strike began to address all outstanding issues, with wage increases and benefit improvements, but accused Unifor's bargaining committee of abruptly leaving the negotiations and taking their members out on strike. Unifor said Tuesday that while picketing at the site continues, non-bargaining unit personnel will have unimpeded access to the mine. Canadian Press |
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Buffalo District and partners sign Cleveland Huletts agreement 7/12 - Buffalo, N.Y. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District, Cleveland Port Authority, and several Cleveland preservation groups signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) June 1, 2018, resolving 20 years of debate over dredging the Cleveland Bulk Terminal and its impact on the Cleveland Huletts. Hulett Iron Ore Unloaders (Huletts) were enormous ore unloading machines, two of which stand where the Cuyahoga River flows into Lake Erie on the Pennsylvania Railway Ore Dock located on Whiskey Island. These Huletts operated continuously from 1912 to 1992, and were designated a Cleveland Historic Landmark in 1993, a National Register of Historic Places in 1997, and a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1998. “The MOA states we have three years to work together as a working group and reach an agreement on what to do with the two Huletts,” said Mark Scalabrino, Buffalo District Chief of the Ohio Application Evaluation Section. “If no agreement is reached, the Port Authority will have the right to move the Huletts.” “We reached a viable solution by considering the wants and needs of each party,” Scalabrino continued. “Everyone did an excellent job improving relationships with the consulting parties, applicant and agencies.” Reaching a solution took nearly two decades. In 1999, the Port Authority’s dredging needs brought the Huletts and numerous organizations into convoluted legal engagements and mitigation decisions. “Nobody agreed on how or where to display the Huletts,” said Scalabrino. “They simply continued to rust and deteriorate, which, I believe, gave people a sense of urgency to find a solution.” “These enormous machines were very influential to the Great Lakes shipping industry,” Scalabrino explained. “Before, people had to offload cargo over several days using wheelbarrows and shovels. Huletts sped up the process to a few hours.” The MOA requires a written report combining previously published scholarly work relevant to the Pennsylvania Railway Ore Dock and Huletts' history into a single resource. The report will then be filed with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office and the State Library of Ohio. “The MOA is a win-win-win scenario,” said Scalabrino. “Local historic organizations will be able to negotiate a solution for the Huletts, the Port Authority will be able to restore the Cleveland Bulk Terminal to suitable navigational depths, and the Army Corps of Engineers will fulfill its responsibility to make a permit decision.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 12 On this day in 1978, the keel for Hull #909 was laid at Toledo, Ohio, after Interlake Steamship and Republic Steel signed a 25-year haulage contract. Hull#909 was to be named WILLIAM J. DE LANCEY and renamed PAUL R. TREGURTHA in 1990.On July 12, 2005, the DAY PECKINPAUGH, under tow of the tug BENJAMIN ELLIOT, departed the lakes through the New York State Barge Canal to Lockport, New York for a new life as a traveling history museum. The BELLE RIVER, renamed b.) WALTER J. McCARTHY JR in 1990, was christened on July 12, 1977, as American Steamship's first thousand-footer and the first thousand-footer built at Bay Shipbuilding. The H. M. GRIFFITH (Hull#203) was launched July 12, 1973, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards for Canada Steamship Lines. Rebuilt with a new cargo section in 2000, renamed b.) RT. HON. PAUL J. MARTIN. In 1986, when ENDERS M. VOORHEES was chained together with her sisters, A.H. FERBERT and IRVING S. OLDS, a severe thunderstorm struck Duluth, Minnesota, pushing the trio across St. Louis Bay, eventually grounding them near Superior, Wisconsin. It was discovered that the force of the storm had pulled the bollards out of the Hallett Dock No. 5, thus releasing the ships. On July 12, 1958, Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.'s FRANK A. SHERMAN entered service, departing Port Weller Dry Docks, for Duluth and a load of iron ore on its maiden voyage. On 12 July 1871, ADVANCE (wooden scow-schooner, 49 tons, built in 1847, at Fairport, Ohio), was bound for Detroit from Cleveland with a load of coal. She and the steamer U S GRANT collided near South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay) in Lake Erie and ADVANCE sank. Her crew escaped in the yawl. On 12 July 1852, CITY OF OSWEGO (wooden propeller passenger-package freight vessel, 138 foot, 357 tons, built in 1852, at Buffalo, New York) collided with the steamer AMERICA and sank off Willoughby, Ohio, a few miles east of Cleveland. 15 lives were lost. This was CITY OF OSWEGO's first season of operation. On 12 July 1889, T.H. ORTON (wooden barge, 262 gross tons, built in 1873, at Buffalo, New York) anchored off Marblehead, Ohio on Lake Erie to ride out a storm. She dragged her anchors and was driven ashore where she was declared a total wreck. She was recovered and just two years later, at the same place, this incident was repeated. 190:9 The ore laden JOHN B. COWLE (i) was struck amidships by the ISAAC M. SCOTT off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior, and sank with the reported loss of 11 lives. 1917: GEORGE N. ORR was wrecked at Savage Point in the Strait of Northumberland, Prince Edward Island, on her way to New York City and wartime saltwater service. The vessel had been cut in two and towed from the lakes to be rejoined at Montreal. 1969: The deep-sea tug MISSISSIPPI arrived at Bilbao, Spain, with the lakers DONNACONA (ii) and BEN E. TATE, for scrapping. 1977: The stern section of the former canaller BIRCHTON was raised at Halifax after the two parts, which had been created for use as pontoons in the construction of offshore drilling platforms, sank at the dock. 1985: MONTY PYTHON first visited the Great Lakes as a) MONTE ZALAMA in 1970. It returned as b) MONTY PYTHON after being renamed in 1985. The ship drifted aground in the St. Lawrence off La Ronde while loading scrap at Montreal and had to be lightered to P.S. BARGE NO. 1 before floating free on July 18. This saltwater vessel was sold for scrap before the year was out and arrived at Dalian, China, on November 3, 1985, to be dismantled. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Boblo boat owners vow to restore after fire with GoFundMe 7/11 - Detroit, Mich. – The two owners of the historic Boblo boat SS Ste. Claire that caught fire last Friday have vowed to go forward with its restoration. Now they're asking for help. The boat’s owners, Ron Kattoo and Saqib Nakadar, both Metro Detroit physicians, lamented the destruction of the boat they have worked on for about 10 years. "Like anything that someone has put their own energy into it and blood and sweat, that’s the part you can’t get back," Nakadar said. "Besides that, we also feel the weight of everyone else who supported us and encouraged us, and this boat is something that’s way beyond just him and I." A GoFundMe page was made by a friend of Nakadar and Kattoo on July 6. After concerns from the public asking whether or not the campaign was legitimate, Kattoo decided to end the campaign, which raised $325 over three days, and create another campaign under his own name with the same goal of raising $500,000. The insurance the men purchased for the boat will not cover the fire damage. “Our coverages included coverage for the hull, so had there been damage to the hull, had the ship sank, if those things had happened, we had coverages for those things,” Nakadar said. “But she wasn’t really insurable otherwise.” He said much of the wooden structure had rotted and needed repair. The goal was to repair it and then there would be something to insure. “There won’t be any coverages on that end,” Nakadar said. The Ste. Claire was docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River last Friday when it caught fire. Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/07/10/owners-boblo-boat-restoration-fire/769091002 |
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Algolake scrap tow arrives at Turkish scrapyard 7/11 - Algolake (IMO 7423093), renamed Gola and registered in Sierra Leone for the scrap tow, arrived at Aliaga, Turkey on July 6 during the late morning for eventual scrapping. This is the last of three former Algoma vessels that were once laid-up in Montreal and were later towed to Aliaga for scrap. The Gola, ex-Algolake, departed Montreal on June 3 under tow of the deep sea tug Diavlos Force of Panamanian registry (IMO 8214023).Still laid-up in Montreal is the former American Victory (ex- Middletown) which has been renamed the Icto of Canadian registry for the scrap tow overseas to Aliaga. Denny Dushane |
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Port Reports - July 11
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
Port Inland, Mich.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday July 10 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto: |
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Samuel Risley joins Canadian Coast Guard’s 2018 Arctic season 7/11 -Montreal – The Canadian Coast Guard's annual Arctic operational season is underway and includes a maiden voyage to the Arctic by the CCGS Samuel Risley. The season will run into late November, providing extended vessel presence in the Arctic under investments from the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan. The CCGS Samuel Risley will depart July 11 from Quebec City for her maiden voyage to Arctic waters, where she will participate in Operation Pacer Goose, which is the annual resupply mission for the Thule US Air Force base in Greenland. Six other Coast Guard icebreakers deploy this season to support Coast Guard operational and program commitments, such as providing safe escorts of ships through ice-covered waters.
• May 25: CCGS Amundsen departed Quebec City for BaySys (Hudson Bay System) Study
Quick Facts
Fisheries and Oceans Central & Arctic Region |
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3 men set to paddleboard across Lake Superior; will pay tribute to Fitzgerald 7/11 - Torch Lake, Mich. – Three men from northern Michigan are about to attempt something that's never been done. They plan to paddleboard across Lake Superior - the largest, coldest and most dangerous of the five Great Lakes. They call themselves the "Three Standup Guys," because they stand on their paddleboards, and because they are co-founders of a non-profit charity called, "Stand Up for the Great Lakes," which was set up to protect the Great Lakes and educate others about freshwater resources. "The waves can pick up like crazy in a matter of seconds on Lake Superior," said Kwin Morris, who will be one of the paddleboarders involved in this adventure. "Superior's weather and waves have taken thousands of sailors and their ships to the grave." Morris, along with Joe Lorenz and Jeff Guy, make up the trio known as "Three Standup Guys." This isn't the first time they will cross one of the Great Lakes on paddleboards. "We decided to cross Lake Michigan in 2015," said Morris. "We started in Algoma, Wisconsin and finished in Frankfort, Michigan. "Then in 2017, we decided to cross Lake Huron. We started in Alpena, Michigan and our destination was Tobermory, Ontario [Canada.]" They plan to paddleboard across all five of the Great Lakes, but chose Superior as their conquest for 2018. "People don't realize, it's 70 degrees on the shore, but when you get out there, the water is 37 degrees," said Morris. "Mentally and physically, this will be the most challenging thing I've ever done." The men have targeted July 9 through July 20 as the best weather window to make their treacherous trek across Superior. "We're making it about the journey and not the destination," said Joe Lorenz, co-founder of Stand Up for the Great Lakes. "I have some fear, but I also respect that lake." The paddleboard journey will begin from Sinclair Cove, Ontario, Canada and will finish at Whitefish Point in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. If they don't run into any weather or extremely rough seas, Morris says the 57-mile trip should take the three men just over 30 hours to complete. "It's sobering when you're out there," said Morris. "You're paddling all day, then all night, and when the sun comes up you still can't see land." The men will each strap on all the necessary supplies they'll need for the trip. Some of the food items will include Espresso beans (to help them stay away during the night), amino acid drinks, dried mangos and ginger. They will also be taking filtered cups with them so they can drink the lake water to stay hydrated. The men have also taken precautions on the chance there could be a medical emergency during the trip. There will be two boats that will flank them, and one of the boats will have a doctor on board. Prior to their paddleboard treks across Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, the guys secured charities to generate money for. The goal of this trip is to raise more than $10,000 for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. "We plan to make a special stop out on the lake during the paddleboard journey," said Morris. "We will travel over the spot where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank. When we arrive at that spot, we will lay a wreath, pause for a moment, then continue on to Whitefish Point." The reason why the three guys all care so much about the Great Lakes is because they all grew up on water. "We want to make sure the Great Lakes and all inland lakes are protected," said Jeff Guy, co-founder of the organization. "The three of us go out paddleboarding all the time cleaning up trash on the lakes. We will continue to do that." Until the weather and lake conditions are conducive for the men to embark on their trip, they'll be practicing on nearby Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake, which is close to where all three of them grew up. "I'm super excited, but now that the window is becoming closer, I'm super nervous as well," said Morris. WZZM |
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Great Lakes teachers sail away on a cruise, but it's not a tropical vacation 7/11 - Buffalo, N.Y. – Fifteen teachers, several from New York State, sailed off Monday morning on a research vessel called the Lake Guardian. They'll be doing research on Lake Ontario as part of the Educate Great Lakes Teachers program. The program is hosted by the US EPA and the Sea Grant. The group will be gathering information plankton, bacteria and taking sediment samples. Helen Domske is the Senior Coastal Education Specialist for New York Sea Grant. Domske says the program gives teachers a chance contribute to great lakes research. "Their entire experience is to feel like a scientist a great lakes scientist," she said. Buffalo Science teacher Jim Damon is taking part in the trip. He's excited about the research and says he'll pass it on his students in the coming school year. He says fostering an interest in the science is important for students. "Stem programming is super important," he said. "I think, with our coming generations and the way that society is going, it’s critical for students to be able to understand their role in protecting their environment." The research ship is expected back in a week. WBFO |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 11 On this day in 1962, the EDWARD L. RYERSON carried a record cargo of 24,445 tons of iron ore through the newly opened Rock Cut Channel. The new channel increased allowable depths by 26 inches to 25 feet 7 inches.On this day in 1943, the new MacArthur Lock was formally opened to traffic. The first boat to lock through during the ceremonies was the upbound CARL D. BRADLEY, Captain F. F. Pearse. There were 250 dignitaries and passengers aboard the Bradley during the lockage. The first downbound vessel was the new Leon Fraser of the Pittsburgh Steamship fleet. The INDIANA HARBOR was christened July 11, 1979. On 11 July 1888, the 2-mast wooden schooner JOHN TIBBETS was carrying coal on Lake Erie when she foundered in the shallows near Clear Creek, 7 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario and then broke up in the storm waves. Her crew made it to shore in the yawl. She was built in 1863, at Clayton, New York on the hull of the Canadian schooner PERSEVERANCE, which was originally built in 1855. The PERSIA, a 150-foot passenger/package freight vessel, was launched at Melancthon Simpson's shipyard at St. Catharines, Ontario, on 11 July 1873. She was built at a cost of $37,000. She lasted until the 1920's when she was converted to a barge and then abandoned. MONTEZUMA (3-mast wooden schooner-barge, 341 feet, 2,722 gross tons) was launched at the John Davidson shipyard (Hull #102) in West Bay City, Michigan, on 11 July 1903. She was one of the largest wooden vessels ever built. It was later stated in the press that the reason Davidson's last large vessels took so long to build was the difficulty in obtaining the required large oak timbers and their expense. As steel went down in price, wood went up, and Davidson's last hulls cost as much as comparably-sized steel ones. At the time of launching this vessel the Davidson shipyard announced that it would not build any more wooden freight vessels. 1915: CHOCTAW, enroute from Cleveland to Duluth with a cargo of coal, sank following a collision with the WAHCONDAH in foggy Lake Huron. All on board were saved. 1940: WILLIAM F. STIFEL ran aground in the St. Clair River near Port Lambton and was struck by the ALBERT E. HEEKIN. 1964: CHEMBARGE NO. 4, formerly a) JUDGE KENEFICK and b) H.J. McMANUS was towed out into Lake Huron by ATOMIC and ABURG and scuttled in deep water about 16 miles off Goderich after sulphuric acid began leaking into the bilges of the recently-converted tanker barge. 2007: CANADIAN NAVIGATOR lost power and went aground in mud off Courtright and six tugs were needed to pull the ship free. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series, Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port of Monroe establishes partnership with Great Lakes Towing, shipyard 7/10 - Monroe, Mich. – The Port of Monroe has established an exclusive partnership with The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard in an effort to further expand their commercial maritime and transportation offerings with the addition of full service towing and shipyard services. The Great Lakes Towing Company has relocated the tug Wisconsin, and it is now permanently stationed in the Port of Monroe. This strategic positioning will allow for more responsive and efficient operations for harbor assist, ice breaking, and outside towing of project cargos. With the on-site presence of Great Lakes Shipyard, the Port of Monroe now offers fabrication and repair services for a variety of vessels. Available services include layup and winter work, topside repair, haul out, fabrication, emergency service, and more. As a deep-water port with 3,000 linear feet of improved dock space, extensive laydown area, and centralized location on the Great Lakes, this new collaboration capitalizes upon strategic positioning, an underserved regional market, and long-standing industry partnerships. The port and the towing company plan to expand on existing relationships by offering the best location, efficiency, and economics to new and existing customers. “The Port of Monroe is extremely proud to partner with The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard to broaden our maritime service capabilities. With increased waterborne commerce comes an ever-present need for safe and efficient towing services as well as the opportunity for year-round vessel repairs and maintenance. Their highly respected reputation and proactive approach to sustainability make them the perfect partner for our rapidly growing port,” comments Paul C. LaMarre III, Port Director, Port of Monroe. The Port of Monroe is Michigan’s only port on Lake Erie and serves as the gateway to Michigan’s multimodal transportation network. Located on the deep-draft frontage of the River Raisin with direct rail Class 1 rail access and immediately access to I-75, the Port of Monroe represents the closest convergence of major freight assets anywhere in the region. This accessibility coupled with efficient cargo handling, economic freight rates, and a highly accommodating port management team have made the Port of Monroe one of the fastest growing seaports on the Great Lakes. Port of Monroe |
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Port Reports - July 10
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont. Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jul 9 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Mystery of missing lifeboat solved for 90th anniversary of Isle Royale shipwreck 7/10 - Isle Royale, Mich. – The mystery behind a missing lifeboat belonging to one of Isle Royale's most famous shipwrecks was solved earlier this summer - just in time to mark the 90th anniversary of the America's demise. The questions surrounding the ship's lifeboat began in the spring of 2017, when staff prepping the national park in Lake Superior for its annual opening noticed the small boat that had survived the America's 1928 shipwreck was no longer on one of the park's docks. "It was suspected to have been washed off the dock during one of the many winter storms, but there were many possibilities to its fate," park staff said in a recent social media post. This spring, the mystery was solved: "The America Lifeboat was spotted a couple hundred feet north-northwest of the America dock in Snug Harbor in the Rock Harbor Channel. The boat is about 23 feet below the surface, but can be seen from the surface on a clear, calm day." After it was found, there was a bit of debate among the park's ardent fans and shipwreck devotees. Would it be better to leave the America's lifeboat where it was found, giving it the same watery fate as its mother ship? Or should it be raised and put back on display? There's been no word yet on any plans to raise the lifeboat. In the meantime, the National Park Service has shared some pictures of the America before and after its wreck. We'll also share a bit more of the story behind the America, which ferried passengers on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior before her abrupt end. Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/07/mystery_of_missing_lifeboat_so.html |
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Historic Boblo Island boat destroyed by fire had Toledo connection 7/10 - Toledo, Ohio – It’s a piece of maritime history with a Toledo connection. The S.S. Ste. Claire went up in flames Friday in Detroit. The Ste. Claire was built at the Toledo shipyard and launched in 1910. The boat, a National Historic Landmark, had been forced to move several times while preservationists tried to raise enough money to restore the vessel. Fire dashed all hope of doing that at a marina where she rested. “They were made with a steel hull but had a tremendous amount of wood on top. That was part of the deterioration of these boats. Massive amount of wood, super structure above the hull,” said Anna Kolin of Toledo’s National Museum of the Great Lakes. Ste. Claire spent her life whisking passengers from Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio to and from Boblo Island, eighteen miles southwest of Windsor. The now defunct amusement park took the boat out of operation in 1993. The island is now a community of homes and condos serviced by a private ferry. The cause of the fire is under investigation. WTOL |
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USCGC Escanaba to return to Grand Haven for Coast Guard Festival 7/10 - Grand Haven , Mich. – The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Escanaba will return to Grand Haven this summer to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its namesake’s sinking during World War II. The ship will be in town for the 2018 Coast Guard Festival, July 27 to Aug. 5. She is expected at Quebec City on July 16 from Boston, en route to the Great Lakes. Festival Director Mike Smith said details and dates of the ship’s visit are still being finalized. “I am beyond thrilled that the U.S. Coast Guard has made this special iconic ship available to serve as the focal point for our celebration as we remember the heroic men who served onboard the original Escanaba,” Smith said. “Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Turdo worked closely with the Atlantic Area Command to rearrange an otherwise committed sail plan to ensure that the ship stood stoically in the port of Grand Haven once again.” The third Coast Guard cutter to bear the name Escanaba (WME-907) was commissioned in Grand Haven on Aug. 29, 1987, and sponsored by the late Grand Haven Mayor Marge Boon. From its homeport in Boston, the Escanaba has patrolled the waters off New England to enforce federal and international fishing regulations, to deep in the Caribbean on migrant interdiction patrols, to more recently through the Panama Canal and to the Eastern Pacific for drug interdiction missions. Although it is the third Escanaba, it is just the second vessel of that name commissioned in Grand Haven. The original Escanaba (WPG-77) was commissioned Nov. 23, 1932, in Grand Haven, according to Coast Guard history. The 165-foot vessel was stationed in Grand Haven from 1932-40. Its primary missions were ice breaking and search and rescue on the Great Lakes. Built by Defoe Boat and Motor Works of Bay City, the original cutter was named for the city and the river. It served in Grand Haven until the beginning of World War II. In February 1943, the Escanaba rescued 132 men from a torpedoed transport in the North Atlantic. Four months later, the Escanaba set out on its final mission — an Allied convoy bound for St. John’s, Newfoundland. At 5:10 a.m. on June 13, 1943, convoy members saw a flash of light and dense smoke at the perimeter of their group. The Raritan, which also was stationed in Grand Haven at one time, was one of the two cutters that rushed to the scene. They discovered the Escanaba had been hit by a torpedo and sunk instantly. There was only debris and two survivors: Seaman 1st Class Raymond O’Malley and Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Melvin Baldwin. The ship’s mast and lifeboat were recovered and are part of a memorial display in Escanaba Park along Grand Haven’s waterfront. For many years, the two survivors attended the memorial service held in Grand Haven during the annual Coast Guard Festival. Descendants of both men, who are now deceased, plan to attend the memorial service this year, Smith said. Also expected to attend is Dr. Ralph Nix, son of the ship’s surgeon, also named Dr. Ralph Nix. Smith said the Nix family is coming to town from Mississippi. The family of Yeoman 2nd Class Clifford Burton Skarin, who was among those lost in the Escanaba tragedy, is coming from Colorado. A sibling of another lost shipmate is coming from California, Smith said. Smith said it was the hard work of local historian Wally Ewing and Loutit District Library genealogist Jeanette Weiden that enabled the Coast Guard Festival staff to contact descendants of the sailors lost in the World War II sinking. “The sailors were so young and single,” Smith said. “When they died, they didn’t have families. And their parents and most of their siblings, who would have been in their 90s, are deceased.” Many of those who are coming are cousins, Smith said. “It’s just incredible that there’s so much interest, even from cousins and second cousins who know the legacy of these men and want to come and celebrate with us,” he said. Smith said a tribute dinner for “Heroes and Legends” is planned for the families of the sailors and many of the former commanding officers of the Escanaba. “Part of our legacy as the one and only ‘Coast Guard City USA’ was framed by the sacrifices of the men of the Escanaba,” Smith said. “And to be able to remember them and celebrate with their successors is not only a great honor but in keeping with this year’s festival theme and the Escanaba’s motto, ‘The Spirit Lives On.’” The festival director said plans are being made to dedicate a new memorial for the Escanaba during a community memorial service on June 13. There are no plans, at this time, for families of the sailors to attend this event. The second Escanaba was built in San Pedro, California, and commissioned March 20, 1946. The 255-foot gunboat was ported in Alameda, California, until 1954, when it was decommissioned and put in storage until 1957. It was put back into service in 1957 and stationed at Bedford, Massachusetts. It was decommissioned again on June 23, 1973. Grand Haven Tribune |
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Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Cleveland completes change of command 7/10 - Cleveland, Ohio – The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Cleveland held a change-of-command ceremony in Cleveland Friday. Captain Joseph Dufresne, commander, Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, presided over the ceremony to transfer command from Lt. Cmdr. Mickey Dougherty to Lt. Cmdr. Steven Elliott. Dougherty assumed command of MSU Cleveland in July of 2015 and will be moving on to Coast Guard's 8th District in New Orleans, Louisiana. During his time as the commanding officer of MSU Cleveland, he led 38 Active Duty and Reserve personnel and played a major role in the Republican National Convention, and significant improvements to safety on the Cuyahoga River. Elliott was previously assigned to Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he worked in the office of commercial vessel compliance. While there he served as the outer continental shelf branch chief for four years. MSU Cleveland is Northeast Ohio’s premier maritime safety and regulatory authority. The unit’s area of responsibility stretches from the Pennsylvania/Ohio border to Vermillion, Ohio along Lake Erie and as far south as Akron, Ohio. USCG |
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Children's author reads "Storm Codes" at Marquette July 28 7/10 - Marquette, Mich. – Award-winning children’s author Tracy Nelson Maurer reads her picture-books "Storm Codes" and "John Deere, That’s Who!" on Saturday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at the Marquette Maritime Museum, 300 North Lakeshore Blvd., in Marquette. The event is free with regular admission ticket; books are available for purchase and signing. Children will hear stories of hope and determination, with plenty of fun interaction. "Storm Codes" was inspired by the author’s grandfather, Captain Harvey Almstedt. His last ship before he retired, the Edward B. Greene, is featured in the book and its artifacts are on display at the Marquette Maritime Museum. Captain Almstedt became a painter after retirement, and one of his largest works hangs in the Marquette Maritime Museum. Maurer has written more than 100 books for children and young adults, including the recently published picture book "Noah Webster’s Fighting Words." "Storm Codes," published by Windward Publishing in Minneapolis, won the Northeastern Minnesota Children’s Book Honor, the national Mom’s Choice honor, and other awards. "John Deere, That’s Who!," illustrated by Tim Zeltner and published by Henry Holt in New York, was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and the National Agriculture Foundation’s Book of the Year. For more information about the author and her books, visit TracyMaurerWriter.com. Visit the museum’s website, mqmaritimemuseum.com, for more event details. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 10 On this day in 1979, Captain Thomas Small had his license for Master of Steam and Motor Vessel of any gross tonnage renewed at the St. Ignace Coast Guard Station. Captain Small, a retired Pittsburgh Steamship employee and 106 years of age, was the oldest person to be licensed and the issue number of his license is the highest ever issued by the Coast Guard 14-17 (14th masters license and 17th license as a pilot, mate, or master).On July 10, 2005, noted marine photographer Paul Wiening passed away at his residence in Port Washington, Wisconsin. G. A. TOMLINSON (Hull#370) was launched at the American Ship Building Co., Lorain, Ohio, on July 10, 1909, for the Douglas Steamship Co (J.J.H. Brown, mgr.), renamed b.) HENRY R. PLATT JR in 1959. The hull was used as a breakwater in Burlington Bay, Ontario, in 1971. In 1998, the ALGOWEST was re-dedicated at Port Weller Dry Docks. The $20 million conversion of the ship to a self-unloader from a bulk-carrier was completed by 400 shipbuilders at Port Weller Dry Docks during the previous eight months. Renamed in 2001, she sails for Algoma today as b.) PETER R. CRESSWELL. On 10 July 1866, COQUETTE (1-mast wooden scow-sloop, 90 foot, 140 tons, built in 1858, at Perry, Ohio as a schooner) capsized in a storm on Lake Michigan and was lost with her crew of four. She had originally been built for the U.S. Government. On 10 July 1911, JOHN MITCHELL (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 420 foot, 4,468 gross tons, built in 1907, at St. Clair, Michigan) was carrying wheat off Whitefish Point on Lake Superior when she was rammed broadside by the coal-laden steel steamer WILLIAM HENRY MACK (steel propeller bulk freighter, 354 foot, 3781 gross tons, built in 1903, at Cleveland, Ohio). The MACK tried to keep her bow in the hole, but the MITCHELL still sank in 7 minutes. Quick work saved most of her crew and all 7 passengers. Three of the 34 onboard were lost. The MACK got most of the blame for the accident. The MITCHELL's wreck was discovered upside-down on the bottom in 1972. (Note: Bowling Green's database gives the date of this accident as 19 July 1911 and Dave Swayze's Shipwreck database gives the date as 10 July 1911.) 1930 YORKTON was beached with only the top of the pilothouse above water after a head-on collision in fog on Whitefish Bay with the MANTADOC. The ship was later salvaged and repaired at Collingwood. 1938 RAHANE ran aground on a shoal in the American Narrows of the St. Lawrence while downbound with steel, package freight and grain. Some cargo was removed by the lighter COBOURG and the ship was refloated with major bottom damage. The vessel last sailed on the lakes as A.A. HUDSON before departing for saltwater service in the fall of 1965. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series - Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - July 9
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain Welland Canal and regional report - Sunday Jul 8 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 9 WILLIAM R. ROESCH, renamed b.) DAVID Z. NORTON in 1995, loaded her first cargo in 1973, at Superior, Wisconsin where she took on 18,828 tons of iron ore bound for Jones & Laughlin's Cuyahoga River plant at Cleveland.The BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS and her fleet mate IRVING S. OLDS passed through the Panama Canal on July 9, 1988, under tow of the German tug OSA RAVENSTURM. The pair was on a 14,000-mile journey to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, arriving there on November 8, 1988, for scrapping by Sing Cheng Yung Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. On 9 July 1876, ST CLAIR (wooden propeller freighter with some passenger accommodations, 127 foot, 326 gross tons, built in 1867, at Algonac, Michigan) had 14 crew and 18 passengers aboard along with cargo of flour, feed and deck loads of cattle as she sailed on Lake Superior. At 2:00 a.m., she caught fire about five miles off shore from 14 Mile Point. She was a wood burner and had a history of shipboard fires. The fire spread so quickly that only one boat could be launched and being overloaded, it capsized. The cries of those left on the vessel, along with the bellowing of the cattle, were heart rending. Only six survived in the one lifeboat since the cold water took its toll on those who clung to it. Eventually they righted the boat and paddled to shore, leaving the ST CLAIR burned to the waterline. On 9 July 1891, W A MOORE (wood propeller tug, 119 foot, 212 gross tons, built in 1865, at Detroit, Michigan) burned to a total loss at Cleveland, Ohio. 1917: The bulk carrier WILLIAM S. MACK collided with the passenger freighter MANITOBA in fog off Whitefish Point and had to be beached. It was subsequently refloated and repaired. The ship was renamed HOME SMITH on October 10, 1917, and last sailed as ALGORAIL in 1963 before being scrapped at Toronto. 1967: The NEW YORK NEWS (iii) and the saltwater ship NORDGLIMT collided off Escoumins, QC, with only minor damage. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Former Ste Claire captain battles historic boat's flames as Detroit firefighter 7/8 - Detroit, Mich. – Ken Horner had the honor of being the captain of Boblo Island's S.S. Ste Claire for two years. Now Horner works as captain of Detroit Fire Department's fireboat, the Curtis Randolph, and was one of the firefighters that attempted to save the historic boat. While bystanders watched the vessel from shore, Horner witnessed his own memories burn. "It's my first vessel I've ever stepped foot on," Horner said. The S.S. Ste Claire holds an important place in Horner's heart. He even met his wife on the ship when she was working in the souvenir shop. "I started as a deck hand in 1971," Horner said. "I worked my way to the top." Decades later, Horner is still able to see the beauty in the charred and destroyed ship. "I don't know if you ever saw the dance floor," Horner said. "It was all finished wood." The ship first sailed the 18 miles from Detroit to Boblo Island in 1898. "It was a family thing," Horner said. "It was a Detroit thing." The park closed in 1993 Similar to Detroit, S.S. Ste Claire was on track for a comeback, but the restoration attempts ignited the fire, and memories are all Horner and others can rely on. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do," Horner said. Read more and view a video at this link: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local-4-news-at-11/former-ss-ste-claire-captain-battles-historic-boat-s-flames-as-detroit-firefighter |
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Port Reports - July 8
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey Welland Canal and regional report - Saturday Jul 7 ... Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Oshawa: |
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Historic tugboat Peninsula makes it way back home to Marathon, Ont. 7/8 - Thunder Bay, Ont. – A historic tugboat that was docked in the Thunder Bay harbor for about half a century is getting ready to leave the Lakehead for the final time on Saturday, thanks to the organizers at the Marathon and District Historical Society and Museum. The Peninsula has a long history that dates back to the Second World War, according to Gerald Graham. Graham's father was the shipping superintendent in Marathon when the tug was in operation after the war. "The Peninsula was built originally for the Canadian navy in 1943 ... and it was used out of Halifax," Graham said. During the war, he said, the Peninsula 's purpose was to go out to the north Atlantic and rescue ships that were broken down or had been attacked. After the war in 1945, a mill in Marathon needed a boat and ended up buying the Peninsula the following year. "They named it after the former name of Marathon, which was Peninsula.... and it was used for many years to rack up all the wood that had come down the Pic River." In 1968, after many years of hauling logs through the harbor, the Peninsula was sold to a company in Thunder Bay called Western Engineering. "It's an iconic image of the early days of the pulp and paper industry, which was instrumental in the starting of the town of Marathon," Graham explained, "and I think it's just a connection that's been lost for a long time." On Saturday, Graham said the tug will journey back to its home community of Marathon. Once it arrives, he said, the organizers plan to take the boat out of the water and place it in the heart of the town's downtown core as a way to attract tourists. CBC |
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Coast Guard rescues 26-year-old male swimmer in Duluth 7/8 - Duluth, Minn. – The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a 26-year-old swimmer in Duluth Harbor Saturday. The man stated that he was swimming alone in the harbor when he became overtaken by the currents. At approximately 7 a.m., local, the Coast Guard received notification of a person yelling for help in Duluth harbor. Coast Guard Station Duluth launched a 29-foot response boat - small crew and within 10 minutes of searching one of the crewmembers was able to see someone bobbing in the water. The crew pulled the individual into the boat and brought him to Pier B in Duluth Harbor where he was transferred to local EMS. In this case, the Coast Guard was notified right away and was able to get on scene quickly, but precautions should always be taken to ensure safety when swimming in the Great Lakes in case first responders are not able to be on scene right away. The Coast Guard reminds swimmers to be aware of water conditions and temperatures and to use the buddy system when swimming. Additionally, telling someone onshore where you are going and when you are coming back can increase the probability of rescue if a swimmer were to become distressed. Having a point to start a search from can make the difference between a successful or unsuccessful rescue. USCG |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 8 WILLIAM R. ROESCH, renamed b.) DAVID Z. NORTON in 1995, loaded her first cargo in 1973, at Superior, Wisconsin where she took on 18,828 tons of iron ore bound for Jones & Laughlin's Cuyahoga River plant at Cleveland.The BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS and her fleet mate IRVING S. OLDS passed through the Panama Canal on July 9, 1988, under tow of the German tug OSA RAVENSTURM. The pair was on a 14,000-mile journey to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, arriving there on November 8, 1988, for scrapping by Sing Cheng Yung Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. On 9 July 1876, ST CLAIR (wooden propeller freighter with some passenger accommodations, 127 foot, 326 gross tons, built in 1867, at Algonac, Michigan) had 14 crew and 18 passengers aboard along with cargo of flour, feed and deck loads of cattle as she sailed on Lake Superior. At 2:00 a.m., she caught fire about five miles off shore from 14 Mile Point. She was a wood burner and had a history of shipboard fires. The fire spread so quickly that only one boat could be launched and being overloaded, it capsized. The cries of those left on the vessel, along with the bellowing of the cattle, were heart rending. Only six survived in the one lifeboat since the cold water took its toll on those who clung to it. Eventually they righted the boat and paddled to shore, leaving the ST CLAIR burned to the waterline. On 9 July 1891, W A MOORE (wood propeller tug, 119 foot, 212 gross tons, built in 1865, at Detroit, Michigan) burned to a total loss at Cleveland, Ohio. 1917: The bulk carrier WILLIAM S. MACK collided with the passenger freighter MANITOBA in fog off Whitefish Point and had to be beached. It was subsequently refloated and repaired. The ship was renamed HOME SMITH on October 10, 1917, and last sailed as ALGORAIL in 1963 before being scrapped at Toronto. 1967: The NEW YORK NEWS (iii) and the saltwater ship NORDGLIMT collided off Escoumins, QC, with only minor damage. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Welding possible cause of devastating fire on former Boblo boat Ste. Claire 7/7 - Detroit, Mich. – Officials said former Boblo boat the Ste. Claire is a total loss after flames engulfed the iconic steamer Friday on the Detroit River. A welder working on renovations for the boat may have sparked the fire, officials said. The boat was docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. Crews had the blaze under control by 1 p.m. Friday, according to Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell. But it was doubtful the boat could be salvaged, said Detroit Police Chief James Craig and Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones. The owners of the ship - Ron Kattoo and Saqib Nakadar - looked on at their two-year investment with pain on Friday afternoon, vowing to rebuild if possible. “It’s heartbreaking,” said Kattoo watching giant water hoses from the Detroit fireboat douse the historic vessel. The men said they had plans to turn the ship into a dockside attraction for public tours as well as a Halloween Haunted House. “We know everyone loved it and we’re going to do everything we can to bring it back,” Nakadar said Craig, addressing media members nearby, mourned the loss of the former passenger ship. “It’s an iconic piece of history,” Craig said. “A lot of history.” No one was injured in the fire. Jones said a worker was on the boat at the time of the fire, working on a restaurant on the ship. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Mike Nevin, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association union, said calls came in around 11:45 a.m. and firefighters got to the boat as soon as they could. Fornell said those dispatched “went on the defensive,” because fire made the vessel unsafe to board. The Detroit Fire Department also dispatched its fireboat on the river to put out the blaze. Firefighters who man the fireboat are also tasked with operating a fire station, and that could have delayed the fire boat from arriving sooner. Detroit security guard Cliff Jones said he called 911 when he saw the flames and called emergency dispatch. He said it took about 20 minutes for ground forces to arrive. The fireboat took 45 minutes to get to the scene. Within 10 minutes, the fire had already spread, devastating the 25,000-square-foot vessel, Jones said. Locals who had been part of multiple failed efforts to save the ship were also heart- broken Friday, but it wasn’t entirely surprising to some. “It’s a sad day” said Lori Feret, a Madison Heights resident who’d worked through the years to save both the Ste. Claire and her sister ship, the SS Columbia. “I was like ‘Oh my God, it finally happened.’’” The SS Ste. Claire is one of the oldest steamships in the country. The Columbia had been towed to Buffalo, New York, for repairs nearly three years ago. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years, but ceased operation in 1991. While the Columbia was saved and moved for restoration in 2015, the future of the Ste. Claire has been uncertain for years. The Ste. Claire was left tattered, but floating, for years in various spots along the Detroit River. Most recently, the ship was stuck in shallow waters near Riverside Marina after being towed from a spot on the Rouge River in Dearborn roughly two years ago. Feret said the volunteer effort to save the boat that emerged in 2015, around the time the Columbia was moved to New York, had mostly disappeared. Bill Worden, a maritime historian and the man formerly in charge of historic designations within the city, said fire was the biggest risk for the antique vessel. “I’m not especially surprised,” he said. “A lot of people think of sinking as the biggest risk. Fire is really the big risk. It’s been 27 years. The loss of a national historic landmark is never a good thing. She and the Columbia together are the last classic excursion boats in the nation. They’re really the last of their type.” Both Worden and Feret said they hope the assumed loss of the Ste. Claire spurs action for the Columbia, which is currently docked in Buffalo, New York, awaiting transport to New York City for a restoration. “We’re all in love with the whole memory of Boblo Island,” Feret said. “This is a very sad end for the poor old Ste. Claire.”
Read more and view photos at these links:
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/07/06/boblo-
boat-burns-detroit-marina/763257002 |
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Victory II passenger ship about to begin Great Lakes cruises 7/7 - The cruise ship Victory II is expected to arrive at Montreal this weekend. She departed Helsingborg, Sweden, on June 26 where she had been undergoing a refit prior to entering service for the Miami-based Victory Cruise Lines. Her sistership, Victory 1, has been offering passenger service on the lakes for several years. Victory II is the former Cape Cod Light, built in 2004. |
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Port Reports - July 7
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
Grand Haven, Mich.
Indiana Harbor, Ind.
Burns Harbor, Ind. Welland Canal and regional report - Friday Jul 6 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay anchorage:
Port Maitland:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Man ordered to pay $116k for littering after yacht broke apart on beach 7/7 - Ludington, Mich. – More than a year after a Grayling man intentionally grounded an aging, 76-foot yacht in Lake Michigan near the shoreline of Ludington State Park - which later broke apart into a massive debris field - he has pleaded guilty in court to littering and agreed to pay more than $116,000 in restitution. Randall West, 51, initially was charged with reckless operation of a vessel after abandoning the Tica when she started taking on water near the Big Sable Point Lighthouse on April 15, 2017. Last week, a Mason County judge dismissed the initial charge in exchange for West’s guilty plea for littering, the Associated Press said. The judge ordered West to pay the hefty fine, and perform 100 hours of community service. Authorities say the debris damaged the Lake Michigan ecosystem. They faulted West for not arranging salvage of the damaged boat, left in 3 feet of water, before Lake Michigan turned it into a pile of jagged junk. West had to be helped off the Tica by the U.S. Coast Guard after the grounded boat began to list from the weight of the water inside it. The boat was headed from Pentwater to Traverse City when it began taking on water. Five to 8-foot waves quickly went to work on the old boat, pulling her apart and sending a flotilla of wooden debris onto the Lake Michigan shoreline for days. Large sections of the boat - as well as sharp screws still anchored in wood - were found half-buried in the sand all the way from Nordhouse Dunes, south to Mears State Park in Pentwater. Read more and view images at this link: https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/man_ordered_to_pay_116k_for_l i.html |
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Obituary: Harold J. Lawson 7/7 - S Harold J. Lawson, former Area Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Sault Ste. Marie, died June 22. A lifelong resident of Sault Ste. Marie, he graduated from Sault High and then attended Michigan Technological University’s Sault campus (now LSSU) and later transferred to Houghton where he received his B.S. in Civil Engineering. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army and then he returned to the Sault, joining the Corps at the Soo Locks. He was Assistant Project Engineer during deepening of the rock cut channel at Neebish Island and construction of the Poe Lock. He stayed with the Corps of Engineers and ultimately became the Area Engineer for the Soo Locks. He retired after 30 years of service. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, in the chapel at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Burial will follow the service. Sault Ste. Marie Evening News |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 7 July 7, 1939 - The Bureau of Lighthouses was merged into the U. S. Coast Guard.The BURNS HARBOR's sea trials were conducted on July 7, 1980. JEAN PARISIEN (Hull#684) was launched July 7, 1977, at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Shipbuilding Company Ltd. for Canada Steamship Lines. Port Weller Drydocks replaced her entire forward section and she was renamed b.) CSL ASSINIBOINE in 2005. The DAVID Z. NORTON sailed on her maiden voyage July 7, 1973, as the a.) WILLIAM R. ROESCH. She sailed light from Lorain to Superior, Wisconsin where she loaded 18,828 tons of iron ore on July 9th bound for Jones & Laughlin's Cuyahoga River plant at Cleveland, Ohio. She now sails as d.) CALUMET. In 1971, the CITY OF SAGINAW 31 went to Manitowoc for a thorough overhaul. While there, a fire broke out July 29, destroying her cabin deck and rendering her useless for further use. The blaze was caused by an acetylene torch, and caused over $1 million in damage. On 7 July 1895, IDA MAY BROWN (wooden schooner, 53 foot, 20 gross tons, built 1884, at Charlevoix, Mich.) was carrying gravel when her cargo shifted in heavy weather. She capsized and later drifted to the beach near Michigan City, Indiana. Her crew was rescued by U.S. Lifesavers. On 7 July 1851, GALLINIPPER (wooden schooner, 95 foot, 145 tons, built in 1846 at Milwaukee on the hull of NANCY DOUSMAN) capsized and foundered in a white squall in Lake Mich. The wreck drifted to a point about 10 miles SSE of Manitowoc, where it sank. 1963: The Canadian coastal tanker SEEKONK first came to the Great Lakes in 1951 on charter to the British-American Oil Co. It was later part of the Irving fleet and caught fire in the galley at Charlottetown, PEI. The ship was pulled from the pier by CCG TUPPER and beached at Governor's Island. The blaze burned itself out but the SEEKONK was a total loss and was towed to Buctouche, NB, and scrapped in 1964. 1970: PRINSES EMILIA made 3 trips through the Seaway for the Oranje Lijn in 1967. It sank as c) BOULGARIA on this date 25 miles off Cherbourg, France, after a collision with the HAGEN in dense fog. The vessel was enroute from Hamburg to Istanbul and 17 on board were lost. 1978: The British freighter BEECHMORE began Great Lakes service in 1959 and returned as c) MANDRAKI in 1971 and d) NAFTILOS in 1973. It was sailing as f) MARI when fire broke out on a voyage from Rijeka, Yugoslavia, to Alexandria, Egypt, on July 7. The ship was beached near Dugi Otok Islands the next day and eventually abandoned. The hull was refloated in 1979 and taken to Split with scrapping getting underway on July 19, 1979 1981: CONDARRELL, upbound below Lock 2 of the Welland Canal, lost power and hit the wall, resulting in bow damage. The ship returned to Toronto for repairs but only finished the season before tying up. The vessel, built in 1953 as D.C. EVEREST, has been unofficially renamed K.R. ELLIOTT by International Marine Salvage. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Former Boblo boat engulfed in flames at Detroit marina 7/6 - Detroit, Mich. - Noon Update- A lasting piece of Detroit nostalgia went up in flames Friday: The Boblo boat Ste. Claire caught fire on the Detroit River. The boat was docked outside a marina in Detroit. Crews were working to extinguish the blaze Friday afternoon, according to a Channel 4 live stream. At 12:30 p.m. the fireboat Curtis Randolph had arrived on scene. Shoreside firefighters could do little but watch the Ste. Claire go up in flames as most of their hoses could not reach the dock where the boat was berthed. The Ste. Claire is one of the oldest steamships in the country. Its sister ship, the SS Columbia, had been towed to Buffalo, New York, for restoration nearly three years ago. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years. The ferries ceased operation in 1991. While the Columbia was saved, the future of the Ste. Claire has been uncertain for years. When the Columbia was moved for a restoration in 2015, there were some pushing to raise money to save the Ste. Claire. The Ste. Claire was left tattered, but floating, for years in various spots along the Detroit River. The Detroit News |
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Enbridge sues VanEnkevort Tug and Barge for damage to pipeline 7/6 - St. Ignace, Mich. – Enbridge Energy is suing the shipping company whose tugboat anchor allegedly dented their controversial Line 5 oil and gas pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac earlier this year. The Canadian energy company seeks to recoup costs of repairs and assessments made after the suspected April 1 anchor strike that renewed calls to shut down the aging pipeline. The strike dented the 65-year-old twin pipelines in three places and scraped it in a fourth. In a company statement on the lawsuit, Enbridge reiterated Line 5 "remains fit for service" and stated work to reinforce the damaged sections is "progressing." Filed Tuesday, July 3 in U.S. District Court for Michigan's Western District, Enbridge's lawsuit is the third such one against Escanaba-based VanEnkevort Tug and Barge Inc. A VanEnkevort spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying the company cannot discuss ongoing litigation. American Transmission Company, the owner of two power cables which were severed by the alleged anchor strike and spewed an estimated 600 gallons of dielectric fluid into the Straits, filed suit against VanEnkevort on Tuesday as well. Read more at this link: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/07/enbridge_sues_shipping_firm_in.html |
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Algorail tow arrives at scrapyard 7/6 - The tug Tim McKeil arrived at Port Colborne, Ont., wharf 17 at 2154 Thursday, with the tug Vac assisting. She joins her former Algoma Central fleetmate Algoway, which arrived there last month. Both vessels are due to be cut up for scrap. |
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Port Reports - July 6
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey June was a big month on the Saginaw River for commercial vessel cargo deliveries. There were a total of 26 vessel passages for June. This is eleven more passages than June 2017 and seven more than the 5-year average. Looking back even further, June 2018 was 6 passages above the 10-year average of 20. For the total commercial vessel passages for the year to date, the Saginaw River has had 44. This number represents an increase of eleven more then the 33 passages logged in 2017. These 44 vessel passages at the end of June 2018 also represent an increase of seven passages over the 5-year average of 37 and two passages over the 10-year average of 42. Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jul 5 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay Anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Soo applying for $20 million federal grant to fix Alford waterfront park, dock 7/6 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The city of Sault Ste. Marie looking to re-open the waterfront section of the once-popular Alford Park. The city closed off the section in October 2016, and is hoping that if approved, a federal grant will allow them to get it back open. With concrete caving in, the dock and waterfront area were deemed unsafe and a fence was put up, blocking off a very popular fishing and freighter viewing spot. “When they had to close it, it was really, really tough on the community,” Sault CVB Director Linda Hoath, said. Hoath says it feels like a piece of the Sault has been missing. “It’s been very sad for the Sault cause this has been place that people come to just sit and watch the freighters, eat their lunches, eat their dinners, kids are down here fishing,” Hoath, explained. The city has not had the around $17 million it would cost to fix the dock, but now they are working to secure a BUILD grant, part of $1.5 billion in federal money available for infrastructure upgrades. “The goal is to keep part of it waterfront public access,” City Engineer Linda Basista, said. Basista says the city is applying for about $20 million to fix the dock and the nearby road. But the project is not just for recreation, Basista hopes the feds see how this project could help facilitate another potentially major project in the Sault, a new Soo Lock. “For freighters tying up, and especially in anticipation for the lock project, we expect that would be a useful area for construction staging,” she, explained. “We hope that this is right in line with that, so if we can convince Washington that this is a needed project, it would be great to have,” Basista, added. 9 & 10 News |
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Senator pledges support for funding new Eisenhower Lock Visitors’ Center 7/6 - Massena, N.Y. – If U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer has his way, Eisenhower Lock will sport a new visitors’ center in the coming years, replacing a facility that’s been in place for more than half a century. “When a facility has waited half a century for upgrades, you know it’s not going to be tip top,” he said during a Tuesday afternoon stop at Eisenhower Lock. Sen. Schumer said the current building, which was constructed during the Eisenhower administration, is too close to the locks. “That makes it impossible for a crane to safely fit in between the center of the lock, and that’s no good,” he said. He said the facility also “lacks the 21st-century amenities that tourists like, and that makes the experience a little less.” “It needs to be upgraded and upgraded significantly, and everyone can agree here,” said Sen. Schumer, who was flanked by Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, Massena Mayor Timmy J. Currier, Massena Town Supervisor Steven D. O’Shaughnessy and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brooke Rouse. He said Eisenhower Lock was an integral part of the tourism industry in the north country. “Shipping is not the only commerce the Seaway is responsible for. Specifically, Dwight D. Eisenhower Lock Visitors’ Center hosts thousands of visitors every year to the region. It’s great for tourism,” he said. Sen. Schumer said 60,000 visitors from 49 states and 21 countries came to Eisenhower Lock last year. The senator said St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation officials have made investments in the infrastructure “to make sure the locks are in tip-top shape. They ensure safe, reliable and efficient transportation. If one of these locks goes bad, our whole economy would go into a recession.” At the same time, however, they haven’t received funding to take care of other items like the visitors’ center, he said. The new visitors’ center will be constructed an appropriate distance from the lock to ensure operational safety, and will also be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. “The center will be equipped with a full slate of 21st-century amenities — public space for meetings, cultural exhibits, a concession area and, of course, up-to-date running water and restrooms,” Sen. Schumer said. Watertown Daily News |
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Vessels with Great Lakes/Seaway connection reported as a casualty or demolition 7/6 - The following information taken from July 2018 Marine News - Journal of the World Ship Society.
Casualties: None reported Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp |
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Help wanted: Deck Officer 7/6 - Full time, long term employment on tug/barge unit. 2 month on/1 month off. Require some experience in dry bulk cargo handling. Medical plan under Collective Agreement. High, competitive wages. Candidate must be able to travel to United States, mush have a valid passport and all applicable Transport Canada certification and valid medical certificate by Transport Canada. Please forward your resume to magdag@on.aibn.com or fax to 905 333-6588. Contact Fettes Shipping Inc. at 905 333-1600 HR Department |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 6 CACOUNA's bow was damaged in a collision with the Greek tanker CAPTAIN JOHN on the fog-shrouded St. Lawrence River July 6, 1971. The CACOUNA of 1964, was repaired by replacing her bow with that of her near sistership the SILLERY, which was being scrapped. Later renamed b.) LORNA P and c.) JENNIFER, she foundered 20 miles Northeast of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 1, 1974.Canada Steamship Lines’ ASHCROFT was used to haul ore, grain and coal only on the upper Great Lakes until July 6, 1932, when she was able to enter Lake Ontario through the newly expanded Welland Canal. On that trip ASHCROFT, loaded with grain from Fort William for Kingston, Ontario, was the largest vessel to traverse the canal to date. The keel was laid for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.'s, GOVERNOR MILLER (Hull #810) in 1937, at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Company. COLUMBIA STAR set a record for the Head-Of-The-Lakes coal trade. The vessel loaded 70,903 net tons of low-sulfur coal at Superior Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior, Wisconsin, on July 6, 1997. She was renamed b.) AMERICAN CENTURY in 2006. On 6 July 1836, YOUNG LION (2-mast, wooden schooner, 73 foot, 83 tons, built in 1830, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying railroad iron and lumber. About 12 miles from Erie, Pennsylvania, in rough weather, her seams opened and she quickly sank with just her topmasts left above the water. 3 died, but 5 managed to clamber up the masts and hold on until the schooner NEW YORK rescued them. On 6 July 1871, CASTALIA (2-mast wooden schooner, 119 foot, 242 gross tons, built in 1847, as a brig at Sandusky, Ohio) was on her way to pick up lumber at the camp at Bying Inlet, Georgian Bay, when she came too close to Cove Island Reef and stranded in 3 feet of water. Although not badly damaged, she was about a mile from deep water. Tugs could not get to her and she was sailing light, so there was no cargo to lighten. She was stripped and abandoned. She finally broke up in a storm on 12 July 1871. On 6 July 1871, the Detroit newspapers (Detroit Free Press and Detroit Daily Post) both published articles stating that there were rumors on the docks regarding the tug TAWAS having her boiler explode on Saginaw Bay. The rumors originated with sailors from Port Huron and proved to be unfounded. However, in a sense this rumor turned into a prediction since TAWAS did blow her boiler about three years later (14 May 1874) on Lake Huron off Rock Falls, Michigan. At that time 6 crewmembers perished. 1893: ROSEDALE, upbound and light, ran aground off Knife River, Lake Superior, in dense fog and was almost on dry land. The vessel was released July 10 and went to Superior for repairs. It combined Great Lakes and ocean service until sunk in the Bristol Channel, via collision, on April 8, 1919. 1941: RAPIDS PRINCE, enroute from Prescott to Montreal, went aground in an awkward position in the Lachine Rapids and was stuck for 2 months. The 218 passengers were removed in motorboats. 1965: LAKE TRAVERSE, built at Duluth in 1918, sank off Tortuga Island, in the Caribbean after hull plates were sprung. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - July 5
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday Jul 4 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Thunder Bay port improvements get multi-million dollar boost from Ottawa 7/5 - Thunder Bay, Ont. – Federal officials have announced over $7 million in funding for the Thunder Bay Port Authority that Ottawa says will help improve the country's transportation network during a period of trade uncertainty with the United States. The money comes from the federal National Trade Corridors Fund, a $2 billion initiative that the government said is designed to help improve the national transportation network and better Canada's ability to trade internationally. The improvements are designed to help reduce "bottlenecks" and congestion in the system, according to a written release issued on Tuesday in conjunction with the funding announcement. Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters in Thunder Bay that improving the ease with which goods are transported helps Canada stay competitive in the global market. "The movement of goods across the country ... how effectively we do that is literally counted almost down to the hour," he said. "There are ships waiting, and when ships don't get the goods that need to arrive and to be transported very efficiently, they lose money, their customers get annoyed, and we potentially lose business." In Thunder Bay, the money is earmarked for a pair of projects: the construction of a 50,000 square foot heated storage facility to house a variety of cargo while en route through the port, and an expanded rail yard that will increase the port's capacity to load and unload rail cars. The total cost of the project is about $15 million, port CEO Tim Heney said. Ottawa is covering $7.5 million. The province in 2016 committed $1 million, and the port will pay for the rest. The improved rail capacity will help the port make further inroads in handling steel, Heney said. "More car spots, it means you can load more cars in one day more efficiently," he said. "It takes a lot of room, a lot of rail lay-down area, so that's what we're shooting for in the future." With steel coming from the United States now subject to tariffs of 25 per cent, Heney said diversifying where Canada gets the material from will be beneficial. "Our [steel] imports are directly from Luxembourg and Europe," he said. "Interesting the way trade's going right now, Canada gets most of its structural steel from the U.S., so this could actually increase our shipments through Thunder Bay to Western Canada. Garneau added that type of thinking is part of the reason the government is committing to improving the country's transportation system, with more focus being put on European and Asian markets. "Our whole objective — because we're a trading nation — is to do it as efficiently as possible," he said. "We continue to diversify our markets and there is a great demand for Canadian products. That's good for our economy, good for Canadians, good for jobs." CBC |
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2 oldest freighters on Great Lakes pass each other at Soo Locks 7/5 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The Great Lakes' two oldest freighters shared a special moment this week, passing each other at the Soo Locks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the massive lock system, shared a picture of Tuesday's meet-up of the 826-foot Lee A. Tregurtha and the 519-foot Alpena. View the image at this link: https://articles.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/2_oldest_freighters_on_great_l.amp |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 5 PAUL H. CARNAHAN was launched in 1945, as a.) HONEY HILL, a T2-SE-Al World War II tanker, for U.S. Maritime Commission.July 5, 1991 - Charles Conrad announced he had formed a corporation to purchase the Ludington, Michigan, carferry operation from Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation Company. JUSTIN R. WHITING was launched on 5 July 1874, at Langell's yard at the mouth of the Pine River in St. Clair, Michigan. Her dimensions were 144 feet X 26 feet 2 inches X 11 feet 6 inches. Although built to be a self-powered steam barge, she was towed as a regular barge during her first season of operation. IDA CORNING (2-mast wooden barge, 168 foot, 444 gross tons) was launched in East Saginaw, Michigan, on 5 July 1881. She was built for L. P. Mason & Company of East Saginaw. In 1858, her rig was changed to that of a 2-masted schooner. She lasted until abandoned at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1928. 1940: MAGOG, part of convoy HX-52, was hit by gunfire from U-99, torpedoed and sank stern first. The crew was eventually rescued by the Finnish freighter FIDRA. There are conflicting dates for this event but many sources agree on this date for the loss of the former C.S.L. canaller. 1969: The crew of the W.F. WHITE rescued eight from a foundering pleasure boat off Southeast Shoal, Lake Erie. 1973: The British freighter TRELEVAN visited the Seaway in 1961. It caught fire while pumping oil bilge in the engineroom at Halifax as d) BAFFIN BAY and was a total loss. The ship was sold for scrap to Marine Salvage of Port Colborne but resold to Spanish shipbreakers and arrived at Valencia, Spain, under tow for dismantling, on October 4, 1973. 1975: The T-2 tanker NASSAU CAY, formerly the IMPERIAL TORONTO, visited the Seaway in 1960. It was converted to a dry bulk carrier in 1961 and was abandoned by the crew, in sinking condition, as f) NICHOLAS C. some 200 miles off Beira, Somalia, and was not seen again. The ship was enroute from Sorel to Basrah, Iraq, when it ran out of fresh boiler water and had been drifting. 1979: The Swedish freighter MONICA SMITH was built in 1952 and came to the Great Lakes that year. It returned on a regular basis through 1966 and again, as b) MONICA S. in 1967. It sank in the Mediterranean soon after leaving Cartagena, Spain, for Port Said, Egypt, as c) MESSINA II. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Algorail scrap tow due in St. Clair, Detroit rivers today 7/4 - The Algorail scrap tow departed Goderich at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday. The tug Cheyenne will be the stern tug for the tow when it enters the St. Clair and Detroit rivers. The scrap tow will be a sunrise arrival on Wednesday at Port Huron and in the late morning/early afternoon on the Detroit River. Algorail arrived in Goderich, Ontario for winter layup on Christmas Day 2016 and did not operate in 2017. She was a regular visitor to the Compass/Sifto Salt Dock in Goderich for many years. Algorail was launched in 1968 at Collingwood Shipyards in Collingwood, Ont. To track the Algorail tow, look for the tug Tim McKeil on AIS maps. Denny Dushane |
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Port Reports - July 4
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday Jul 3 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Pt. Bay anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 4 July 4, 1996 - The veteran Buffalo fireboat EDWARD M. COTTER, built in 1900, was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U. S. National Parks Service.The WILLIS B. BOYER museum ship was opened to the public at Toledo, Ohio in 1987. She was built by Great Lakes Engineering Works (Hull#82) in 1912 as a.) COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER. Renamed b.) WILLIS B. BOYER in 1969 and COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER in 2011. In 1976, the SAM LAUD grounded entering Buffalo, New York. She was dry docked at Lorain, Ohio, for repairs to bottom plates of No. 1, 2 and 3 port and starboard tanks. Also on this day in 1976, the H. LEE WHITE struck the Algoma Steel plant dock at the Canadian Soo resulting in damage to her stern amounting to $108,000 at the repair yard of Sturgeon Bay. The JOSEPH S. YOUNG, a.) ARCHERS HOPE of 1945, was commissioned July 4, 1957. She was the first of seven T-2 tanker conversions for Great Lakes service. The YOUNG was renamed c.) H. LEE WHITE in 1969 and d.) SHARON in 1974. She was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1986. On July 4, 1953, the JOHN G. MUNSON set a Great Lakes record for limestone by loading 21,011 tons of limestone at Calcite, Michigan. This record for limestone stood until being broken by the Canada Steamship Lines self-unloader MANITOULIN late in the 1966 season. July 4, 1952 - The PERE MARQUETTE 18 of 1911, was laid up due to railroad strike. She was never to operate again and was scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1957. The wooden propeller freighter MAINE, owned by Northern Transportation Co., had sailed from Chicago and was on Lake Ontario on 4 July 1871, when Fireman Orsebius Kelley stoked the fire at 8 p.m. and went to the porter's room to get a lamp. When he returned, the boiler exploded with such force that Kelley was mortally wounded. The blast also killed Engineer M. H. Downer, deckhand Joshua Kelley (the fireman's brother), Halbert Butterfield (a 13 year old passenger) and his mother. The MAINE still floated after the blast. She was repaired and put back in service. Including this boiler explosion, she had four major mishaps in her career. She sank in 1872, burned in 1898, and finally burned again in 1911. On 4 July 1900, during her maiden voyage from St. Clair, Michigan, to Cleveland, Ohio, the wooden steam barge ALFRED MITCHELL ran aground at Bar Point Light. It was claimed that the steering gear broke which rendered the boat unmanageable. Later that same day the MITCHELL was released by the wrecker SAGINAW. About 9 p.m. on 4 July 1874, the steam barge W H BARNUM, with the schooner THOMAS W FERRY in tow, collided with the bark S V R WATSON near Point Pelee on Lake Erie. The WATSON sank in 28 feet of water. She was raised about two weeks later by the Coast Wrecking Company. July 4, 1958 - The keel for the second of two new bulk freighters for Interlake Steamship Co. was laid at Great Lakes Engineering Works shipyard at River Rouge, Michigan on Wednesday morning June 25. Assigned Hull 302, the ship will be 689 feet long, 75 feet beam and 37-1/2 feet molded depth with a designed maximum cargo capacity of about 24,000 tons. H. C. Downer & Associates of Cleveland did the design work. The ship will be powered by a 6,000 shp steam turbine main engine with coal-fired boilers. Hull 302 was eventually named HERBERT C. JACKSON. Interlake's other new ship, the 710-ft. flagship JOHN SHERWIN (Hull#192) at Toledo, Ohio, joined the Great Lakes bulk cargo fleet in May of that year. 1959: The tug GRAND BANK, pushing a barge, sank in Lock 4 of the Welland Canal and the captain was lost. The vessel, built at New Orleans in 1940 as SST-123, was salvaged and, as of 1997, was operating out of Delta, BC. July 4, 1995 - While the United States celebrated its Independence Day, a small fleet gathered 20 miles off of Whitefish Point in Lake Superior as the bell from the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was raised and taken aboard the Purvis Marine Tug Anglian Lady. The bell would later be taken to Michigan State University in Lansing where it would be cleaned with the name EDMUND FITZGERALD applied on the bell once again. The bell was later to taken to the museum at Whitefish Point and put on display as a memorial to remember the 29 men crew. The next day divers placed a new bell inscribed with the names of the 29 men lost in the sinking. 1973: The Liberian flag bulk carrier Florence visited the Great Lakes in June 1973. The ship was outbound when it collided, in fog, with the tanker St. Spyridon, inbound from Venezuela with 32,500 tons of Bunker C oil, off Les Escoumins, QC. Both ships were damaged. All on board were rescued and the two vessels were ultimately repaired. Florence was scrapped at San Esteban de Pravia, Spain, in 1976 and St.Spyridon at Vigo, Spain, as f) Globe Maritima in 1982. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Denny Dushane, Lake Huron Lore Society, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Tug heading to Goderich to tow Algorail away for scrap 7/3 - The McKeil Marine tug Tim McKeil was approaching Goderich late Monday evening. She is expected to tow the scrapyard-bound Algorail to Port Colborne, Ont., for scrapping. No departure time has been listed, however waterfront reports indicate the tow may leave on July 4 timed for a daylight transit of the St. Clair River. |
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Ongoing union dispute at Toledo port shuts down overseas cargo shipments 7/3 - Toledo, Ohio – Labor strife has effectively shut down overseas cargo shipments to and from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s general-cargo docks. “Just in the last month we’ve lost seven or eight vessels,” Alex Johnson, president of Midwest Terminals of Toledo International, said last week. With others in the process of canceling local bookings and determining alternative ports to handle their shipments, Mr. Johnson said the total ship diversions related to his company’s dispute with International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1982 could exceed 20. A member of the port authority’s board of directors, meanwhile, has enlisted an outside lawyer to review the contentious labor dispute that has resulted in harbor pilots’ refusals to guide overseas-flag ships — known on the Great Lakes as “salties” — to and from the port-owned docks Midwest manages on the authority’s behalf. “I will present what he brings to me and what the lease says we can legally do,” David Fleetwood, the business manager for Laborers’ Local 500, told his fellow port directors. At issue is the years-old failure of Midwest and Local 1982 to negotiate a new labor contract for dock workers represented by the union. In recent weeks, Midwest and Local 1982 have sent dueling memoranda to the port authority describing divergent versions of their contentious relationship. Midwest’s timeline portrays a union in disarray whose officers twice have been thrown out by ILA leadership and has had racial discrimination issues within its own ranks. The local is now, for the second time, being run by a trustee from an ILA regional office in Cleveland. Local 1982, meanwhile, alleges racism on Midwest’s part as the root of the impasse. Its membership historically was overwhelmingly black while other unions with which the company has maintained labor peace are mostly white, although trustee William Yockey said in mid-May that it’s now about 40 percent black and 60 percent white. Mr. Yockey last week disputed Mr. Johnson’s estimate of the potential lost business, arguing that only 14 salties visited the Midwest dock during all of last year, but said he’s “not shedding any tears for Midwest or the people not getting work” because he represents Local 1982 members that were “denied training” on equipment now used to handle cargo at the docks. “The point of the exercise is to cause financial disruption to Midwest so they’ll see their way clear to sign a contract with us,” he said, repeating that Midwest’s tactics represent “complete and total discrimination.” Mr. Johnson, in response, accused the union of urging its members to refuse equipment training that was offered to everyone qualified to work at the terminal. The two sides can’t even agree now that Local 1982 still represents the dock workers. Midwest withdrew recognition of the 32-member union early this year after it said it received signatures from a majority of members disavowing representation. Local 1982 has challenged that decertification to the National Labor Relations Board and since then has set up minimal picket lines that have, on occasion, included a boat in the Maumee River. The waterborne picket has proved to be the biggest thorn, as the pilots — legally required to escort the salties and provide navigational guidance to their foreign crews — have refused to pass it. In May, that action resulted in three salties being delayed, one by more than a week, at the dock after unloading their cargoes. They finally left after their owners or agents negotiated a legal work-around with the Coast Guard under which tugboats were summoned and towed them away from the dock as “dead ships,” after which pilots then boarded the vessels without having to cross the ILA picket line. Marc Gagnon, director of government affairs and sustainability at Fednav Ltd., said that company now will only accept cargoes destined to the port authority dock if the shipper or receiver will indemnify the company for daily detention or other costs that might arise from labor-related disruption. Two Fednav ships were affected by the mid-May standoff: the Federal Champlain, which took the longest delay, and the Federal Kumano, which spent several unplanned days in port. “Since then, we have had no ships going to Midwest,” Mr. Gagnon said. “We may have a cargo in the next week or so, but we have to discuss with our client that that ship could be struck, and that would cost money.” The dispute has not affected Fednav vessels calling at other docks in Toledo’s port, such as the upriver grain elevators. Nor does it affect Canadian or United States ships or barges calling at Midwest, because they are not legally required to use pilots for navigational assistance. But John Szuch, the port authority directors’ chairman, said that for salties calling at the port-owned docks, “this year is shot” — an assessment with which Mr. Johnson concurred. Lost cargoes include shiploads of imported pig iron, salt, bauxite, industrial minerals, and a shipload of bagged and bulk fertilizer that may be sent to Canada instead, Mr. Johnson said. Midwest also has 50,000 to 60,000 tons of petroleum coke from a local refinery destined for northern Europe that may need to be loaded onto trains to go to another port, he said. Mr. Gagnon said Fednav is disputing pilot charges that were assessed to his company’s ships even though the pilots refused to cross the ILA picket line. The Lakes Pilots Association, which represents vessel pilots working in the Lake Erie sector, did not respond to a request for comment. Toledo Blade |
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Michigan governor vetoes ballast water bill, signs DEQ oversight legislation 7/3 - Lansing, Mich. – Governor Rick Snyder will not lower the state’s standards for dumping ballast water in the Great Lakes. He vetoed a bill with the changes last Friday because he’s concerned about invasive species. Ballast water is collected by large ships in one body of water to help stabilize the ship. Then it’s dumped into other bodies of water, along with whatever plant and animal species collected with it. The bill sat for months in the House – that’s because Snyder was hesitant to sign it. Lawmakers pushed it through on their last day of session before their summer break – and the governor still wasn’t on board. Ari Adler is a spokesperson for the governor. “We want to make sure that those protections are solid and in place when you’re dealing with something as important as ballast water discharge in the Great Lakes,” he said. The governor also signed legislation that creates new oversight advisory boards for the state Department of Environmental Quality. WNMU |
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Port Reports - July 3
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jul 2 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda) and (Lackawanna)
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Oshawa: |
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Lighthouse keepers shift attention to empty nesters, modern marketing 7/3 - Larry Stowitts said his mood was dreary during his first few days on an offshore lighthouse in 1959. He’d imagined a lawn to keep tidy and neighbors nearby. Instead White Shoal Lighthouse offered a 72-square-foot concrete base and miles of open water. Stowitts sometimes heard cars rumble across the distant Mackinac Bridge, but dry land was nowhere in sight. He remembers the moment his mood finally shifted: “There was a front porch on White Shoal, and the officer in charge came around, and he had a bucket and a brush in his hand and I thought, ‘Oh crap, I’m in trouble,’” Stowitts said. “We walked around the north side of the light, and he lit a cigarette and pointed out into Lake Michigan, and said, ‘There and there. See those two steamers out there? There’s about 30 people in each one of those, and you are keeping them alive.’ “That changed my whole attitude about being out there. Instead of being isolated it became something productive,” he said. Stowitts, who now lives in St. Ignace, served at the White Shoal Lighthouse until 1963. His duties included inspecting the foghorn, keeping the light operating properly and dangling from scaffolding to paint the lighthouse’s iconic red-and-white barber shop stripe. His legs and lungs grew strong from frequent 11-level climbs to reach the light. To pass time, Stowitts played cards, watched television, fished and told ghost stories with the other two guardsmen there. “Every lighthouse is haunted,” he said. White Shoal’s “ghost” was named Timothy. “My first week as a member of the crew and I’m just waking up, and I heard someone coming down the steps. Bang. Bang. Bang,” he said. “And I came out of my room, but there was nobody there.” Read more and view photos at this link: http://greatlakesecho.org/2018/07/02/lighthouse-keepers-shift-attention-to-empty-nesters-modern-marketing |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 3 On this day in 1943, the J. H. HILLMAN JR (Hull#524), the 14th of 16 Maritime-class ships being built for Great Lakes Service, was launched at the Great Lakes Engineering yard at Ashtabula, Ohio. After having the stern of the CANADIAN EXPLORER, ex CABOT of 1965, attached, her forward section still exists today as the ALGOMA TRANSFER.The JOHN B. AIRD was christened June 3, 1983, at Thunder Bay, Ontario for Algoma Central Marine, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. U.S. Steel's ROGER BLOUGH was moved out of the dry dock at Lorain, Ohio, on June 3, 1972. In 1954, CLIFFS VICTORY successfully completed her sea trials. FRANK ARMSTRONG departed light from Ashtabula, Ohio, on her maiden voyage in command of Captain H. Chesley Inches June 3, 1943, bound for Superior, Wisconsin, to load iron ore. PATERSON (i) entered service on June 3, 1954, with 440,000 bushels of wheat from Port Arthur, Ontario. She was scrapped at Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1985. On 3 July 1872, the wooden steam barge MARY MILLS was launched at P. Lester's yard at Marysville, Michigan. On 3 July 1872, GRACE DORMER (wooden propeller passenger & package freight ferry, 71 foot, 66 gross tons, built in 1868, at Buffalo, New York) had just finished loading a cargo of fish at St. James, Beaver Island, when she caught fire and burned. One life was lost. The vessel was rebuilt and lasted until she burned at the bone-yard at Grand Island, New York in 1925. 1964: The A. & J. FAITH, idle at Cleveland and under arrest, was struck by the MIKAGESAN MARU when the latter was caught by a wind gust. The former sustained $5,000 in damage. This ship was sold and renamed c) SANTA SOFIA at Cleveland in August 1964. It arrived for scrapping at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as d) COSMOS MARINER in August 1970. The latter, a Japanese freighter that made 6 trips to the Great Lakes from 1962 to 1966, was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as b) UNION SINGAPORE in 1979. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - July 2
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Green Bay, Wis.
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Toledo, Ohio Welland Canal and regional report - Sunday Jul 1 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda):
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Oshawa:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 2 In July 2, 1966, the SIMCOE entered service for Canada Steamship Lines. Renamed b.) ALGOSTREAM in 1994, she was scrapped at Alang, India in 1996, as c.) SIMCOE. The railroad carferry TRANSIT was launched at Walkerville, Ontario, on 2 July 1872, at the Jenkins Brothers shipyard.Before noon, Saturday, 2 July 1870, several attempts were made to launch the barge AGNES L POTTER at Simon Langell's yard at St. Clair, Michigan. Nothing happened until 3 p.m. when the vessel moved about 100 feet but still was not launched. The tug VULCAN arrived at 8 a.m. the following day and broke the line on the first attempt to pull the vessel off the ways. A 10-inch line was obtained in Port Huron and at 2 p.m. a second effort only moved the barge about four feet. Finally, on the third attempt, the VULCAN pulled her into the water. The POTTER's dimensions were 133 feet X 27 feet X 9 feet, 279 gross tons and she was built for the iron ore trade. She was named for the daughter of the general superintendent of Ward's Iron Works of Chicago. She lasted until 1906. 1990 CUNARD CAVALIER first visited the Great Lakes in 1978 and returned later that year as b) OLYMPIC HARMONY. The ship went aground off Port Muhammad Bin Asimov, Pakistan, on this date in 1990 as d) VILLA while en route to West Africa. It was abandoned July 13. The hull was refloated November 30, 1990, and arrived at Singapore, under tow, on May 16, 1991. The ship was declared a total loss and reached Alang, India, for scrapping on February 2, 1992. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series, Marine Historical Society of Detroit. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Effort to upgrade Soo Locks gets boost from new federal study 7/1 - A new study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could move efforts to upgrading the Soo Locks forward, members of Michigan's Congressional delegation say. Currently, the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie is made up of four locks, only one of which is big enough to accommodate the largest ships used for transporting iron and other materials throughout the Great Lakes. Michigan officials and members of the shipping industry have long pushed for a plan to combine two of the oldest, smaller locks into another large lock to complement the Poe Lock. A plan to do that has stalled for decades, but the latest U.S Army Corps of Engineers study released to members of Congress Friday gave the project a benefit cost ratio of 2.42, up from a .73 in a study of the project released in 2005. The benefit cost ratio needed to be over 1 for the Soo Locks project to get serious consideration for funding, which the report estimated would cost roughly $922 million. "The information released today...reflects a more realistic picture of the enormous value and benefit of the Soo Locks," U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, said in a statement. "Previous studies and analysis have failed to take into account national security implications and many economic realities." Armed with an updated study, Michigan lawmakers are now looking to secure the necessary funding in water infrastructure legislation. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials have also called for the project to get started, pledging a $50 million commitment towards upgrading the Soo Locks earlier this year. "After a long bipartisan effort, we have great news that the Army Corps is releasing the critical economic analysis today that is needed to upgrade the Soo Locks," said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. "Today's news, along with the language I have included in the Senate water infrastructure bill, brings us another step closer to moving this important project forward." Upgrading the Soo Locks is a top priority for Michigan's Congressional delegation. Here's why. The study confirms what officials and stakeholders have been saying for more than a decade, said U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Dryden: "Any failure would have a devastating ripple effect on our nation's economy and national security." U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, said Trump and everyone in Michigan already knows how important the Soo Locks are, and said he considers the Army Corps report to be a "greenlight" for the project as he works to secure funding. "It's time to get this done and improve our country's aging infrastructure," he said in a statement. Michigan's Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie are a connector for shipping iron, coal, grain and other materials from the shores of Lake Superior to the rest of the country. In 2016, U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighters moved 83.3 million tons of cargo, according to the Cleveland-based Lake Carriers Association. A Department of Homeland Security report concluded a hypothetical unexpected breakdown at the Poe Lock lasting six months would cripple the United States economy and cost 11 million jobs, and predicted the national unemployment rate would hit 11.3 percent. The report found a shutdown of Great Lakes steel production caused by a sudden halt in ore transportation would in turn shut down almost all North American appliance, automobile, construction, farm and mining equipment, and railcar production within weeks. M Live |
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Desgagnes’ new ship named Miena Desgagnes 7/1 - On June 28, Transport Desgagnes registered its latest acquisition, the cargo vessel Miena Desgagnes (IMO # 9700380). She was formerly the Jan of Antigua-Barbuda registry. The vessel was built in 2017 by China’s Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. She is 461 feet in length, 74.8 feet in width and 37.8 feet in depth. Her gross tonnage is 11492 and her net is 4474. AIS shows her docked in Quebec City, likely being refitted for the Canadian trade. |
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Former American Victory name changed again 7/1 - American Victory renamed the Victo for its tow from Superior, Wis., to Montreal has been renamed yet again. According to the Port of Montreal’s website within the past day or so her name has been shortened to Icto with the removal of the letter V. Her agent is listed as Gresco Ltd., which also owned and towed the Oma ex-Algoma Olympic, Oste ex-Algosteel and the Gola formerly the Algolake to Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping. Denny Dushane |
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Port Reports - July 1
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel Welland Canal and regional report - Saturday Jun 30 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo (Tonawanda):
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Sixteen salties pay first visits to Seaway so far this season 7/1 - As of June 30, the number of saltwater vessels making their first trips into the Great Lakes/Seaway system at the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, New York, totaled 16. The list includes Adfines Sky, Arsland, Atlantik Miracle, BBC Polonia, Cape Dawson, Emanuele S, Erin Schulte, Falstria Swan, Isabelle G, Johanna G, Kitikmeot W, Lolland, Momentum Scan, Rike, Sten Fjord and Tasing Swan. Two vessels have had changes since entering the system for the first time. The Kitikmeot W was reflagged Canadian on or about June 9 and was not renamed. Sten Fjord was renamed at St. Johns, Nl., on or about June 14 as the Kivalliq of Canadian registry for the Coastal Shipping Co. of Goose Bay, Nl. Although not entering the Seaway yet with its new name, the familiar HHL Congo was renamed Josef on June 11. Denny Dushane |
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2018 Seaway salties statistics; Transits continue to rise sharply 7/1 - As of June 30, the total amount of transits by vessel at the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, N.Y., totaled 192 transits. This number is up sharply from the 5-year average from March-June in which the average number of transits by vessel in this period was 142. Therefore in 2018, Seaway transits totals are up between 49 and 50 transits on average. During the same period in the month of June alone, transits by vessel in 2018 totaled 61 and for the month of June this number and total is also up 19 transits from the 5-year average for the month of June and between 41 and 42 transits as well on 5-year average. During the March-June timeframe in 2018, there were 141 vessels that made transits through the Eisenhower Lock, and this number is also up as well from the 5-year average and also during the same time period last year. Thusfar, 2018 is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in recent memory for saltwater vessels and their transits into the Great Lakes/Seaway system. So far there’s been a consecutive streak of four years straight of 400 or more transits by vessel through the Eisenhower Lock and the 2018 season thus far is on par to repeat itself with another 400+ transits by vessel which would make five consecutive years that this has taken place. The last time there was a consecutive streak of 4 years or more of 400 or more transits occurred from about 2003 or 2004 until 2007 before the economic collapse in 2008. A breakdown of the 2018 monthly transits by vessel at the Eisenhower Lock is as follows: March/April: 68, May: 63 and June 61. For 2018, the June transits are up 13 transits alone just from the 2017 total of 48 for that month. Denny Dushane |
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What’s next for historic tug Edna G? 7/1 - Two Harbors, Minn. – When it comes to the future of the historic retired tug the Edna G, Tom Koehler of Two Harbors is pragmatic. “We can save it, sink it or sell it,” he says. “We” being the city of Two Harbors, which owns the iconic vessel. Listed on the National Historic Register and docked in the harbor, the Edna G was open for tours until 2015, when needed maintenance led to closure. Built in Cleveland in 1896, the Edna G has been in the water nearly continuously since it arrived in Two Harbors in 1897, which means the all-steel boat is suffering from extensive corrosion. In places, corrosion has reduced the thickness of the steel hull by half. Koehler, a local volunteer who serves on the city council-appointed Edna G Commission, works to keep the boat afloat, pumping the bilge regularly and doing minor repairs and maintenance to prevent further deterioration. He says that the city devotes a portion of its lodging tax to the Edna G. Unfortunately, far more money is needed to perform the necessary repairs. Enter the Friends of the Edna G. Formed this year, the new nonprofit hopes to act as a fundraiser for restoring the boat, if that is what the city chooses to do, says founding member Carl Shaffer. The first step is to have an engineering firm assess the boat’s current condition, especially the strength of the hull. With that assessment, discussion can begin on how to best move forward. Currently, there are at least two schools of thought regarding the Edna G’s future. Koehler believes the tug should be hauled out of the water and placed on a cradle, where it can be enjoyed by people without concerns about further deterioration. “The water is a terrible place to keep a boat,” he says. Schaffer thinks the restored boat should remain docked in the harbor. “A boat belongs in the water,” he says. Both men agree the decisions of the Edna G’s future are up to the Two Harbors community. When it was built, the Edna G was a marvel of the time. It was the first all steel tug. With a length of 110 feet and a 23-foot beam, it was propelled with a coal-fired, two-cylinder reciprocating steam boat engine that was originally 700 horsepower. When a new boiler replaced the original in 1943, the engine became 1,000 horsepower. The tug was used to tow ore carriers into and out of the harbor, and to the ore docks. Later, when bow thrusters on carriers made it possible for them to reach the docks without assistance, the Edna G was made redundant. The tug retired from service at the end of 1980. Its last tow was the Cason J Calloway, on December 30, 1980. Built and owned by the railroad, it was also available throughout much of its working life to provide excursions for railroad executives and other dignitaries. To accommodate this use, the captain’s quarters and mess were more elaborate than other working tugs. Koehler says the Edna G played a little noted, yet significant role in Minnesota history. Two Harbors was a primary port for iron ore leaving Minnesota’s Iron Range. Steel produced from that ore was used in two world wars, as well as much of the nation’s industrial and infrastructure development during the 20th Century. Northern Wilds |
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Tour Grosse Ile Lighthouse Sept. 9 7/1 - Grosse Ile, Mich. – Nearly every year the Grosse Ile Historical Society sponsors a tour of the 1906-vintage Grosse Ile Lighthouse. This year’s tour will be Sunday, Sept. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. The lighthouse is only accessible this one time of the year. The bus ride (there is no parking at the site) to the lighthouse includes a narration on some of the history of Grosse Ile. Call (734) 675-1250 for tour details, reservations, and tickets. The phone is not staffed daily so someone will return your call. The tour sold out last year and did not have any tickets available on the day of the event. So as to not disappoint any prospective attendees, reservations are required. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members and is limited to 90 people. Grosse Ile Historical Society |
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Today in Great Lakes History - July 1 July 1, 1991 - The automobile/passenger ferry DALDEAN celebrated its 40th year in operation between Sombra, Ontario and Marine City, Michigan. She was built by Erieau Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Erieau, Ontario, for Bluewater Ferry Ltd. Service started between the two communities on July 1, 1951.On this day in 1943, the nine loading docks on Lake Superior loaded a combined 567,000 tons of iron ore into the holds of waiting freighters. At 16:00 hours on July 1, 2005, an explosion hit the Cargill elevator in Toledo, Ohio, which collapsed on one of the silos and fire was found in five of the silos. On July 1, 1940, the HARRY COULBY became the first Great Lakes vessel to load in excess of 16,000 tons of iron ore when it loaded 16,067 tons of iron ore in Ashland, Wisconsin. Renamed b.) KINSMAN ENTERPRISE in 1989, she was scrapped at Port Colborne, Ontario in 2002. On 1 July 1927, ROBERT C. WENTE (wooden, propeller, bulk freighter, 141 foot, 336 gross tons, built in 1888, at Gibraltar, Michigan) burned to a total loss in the St. Clair River. In 1911, she sank in Lake Michigan, but was raised and refurbished. July, 1983 - The C&O sold its remaining 3 car ferries to Glen Bowden and George Towns. They begin operating cross-lake service between Ludington and Kewaunee under the name Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation Co. (MWT) On 1 July 1852, CASPIAN (wooden side-wheeler, 252 foot, 921 tons, built in 1851, at Newport, Michigan) foundered a short distance off Cleveland's piers. Some of her gear and structural material were salvaged in the Spring of 1853, and the wreck was then flattened with dynamite. July 1, 1900, the new wooden steam barge ALFRED MITCHELL started her maiden voyage from St. Clair, Michigan for Cleveland, Ohio, to load coal. She was owned by Langell & Sons. On 1 July 1869, the wooden schooner GARROWEN was carrying coal from Cleveland to Toronto when she sprang a leak and sank in 60 feet of water about 10 miles from shore off Geneva, Ohio. The crew escaped in the yawl. She was only 19 years old and some of the crew claimed that she was scuttled as an insurance scam. However, a number of divers visited the wreck on the bottom of the Lake at the time and that claim was refuted. On 1 July 1875, the iron carferry HURON (238 foot, 1052 gross tons, built at Point Edward, Ontario, with iron plates prefabricated in Scotland) made her trial voyage between Fort Gratiot, Michigan, and Point Edward, Ontario, across the St. Clair River. This vessel served the Grand Trunk Railway and ran between Windsor and Detroit for over a century. In 1876, a 25-square-mile ice field was still floating at the head of Lake Superior in northwest Wisconsin. 1918: The wooden steam barge CREAM CITY stranded on Wheeler Reef in upper Lake Huron due to fog while towing the barge GRACE HOLLAND. All were rescued but the ship was abandoned. The hull caught fire and was destroyed in 1925. 1939: ALGOSOO (i) arrived at Collingwood for hull repairs after hitting bottom, in fog, near Cape Smith, Georgian Bay. 1964: WHITEFISH BAY went aground off in the St. Lawrence off Whisky Island while bound for Montreal with a cargo of grain. Six tugs pulled the ship free on July 3. 1975: VALETTA first came to the Great Lakes in 1962 and returned as c) ORIENT EXPORTER in 1966 and d) IONIC in 1972. The leaking ship was beached at Cheddar, Saudi Arabia, with hull cracks. It slipped off the reef July 11, 1975, and sank. 1972: H.M.C.S. COBOURG was built at Midland as a World War Two corvette and rebuilt as a merchant ship about 1947. It caught fire and burned as d) PUERTO DEL SOL at New Orleans while undergoing repairs and the upper works were gutted. The ship was sold for scrapping at Brownsville, TX, later in the year. 1980: The Swedish-flag freighter MALTESHOLM first came through the Seaway in 1963. It began leaking in the engine room as c) LITO on this date while bound from Kalamata, Greece, to Vietnam with bagged flour. It was abandoned by the crew and then sank in the eastern Mediterranean. The ship had been sold to Taiwan ship breakers and was likely bound for Kaohsiung after unloading in the Far East. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Lake Huron Lore Society, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - June 30
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River Welland Canal and regional report - Friday Jun 29 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point Bay anchorage:
Buffalo (Tonawanda):
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 30 On this day in 1962, the CLIFFS VICTORY passed down through the Welland Canal to become the first boat in the Cleveland Cliffs Fleet to enter Lake Ontario in 20 years.The CSL ASSINIBOINE was rechristened at Port Weller Drydocks Ltd., on June 30, 2005. She was the a.) JEAN PARISIENNE and the fourth CSL vessel to receive a forebody replacement. On 30 June 1917, while being towed out of the Milwaukee River by the tugs WELCOME and KNIGHT TEMPLAR, the Goodrich Lines’ CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (steel propeller whaleback passenger steamer, 362 foot, 1,511 gross tons, built in 1893, at West Superior, Wisconsin), with 413 passengers onboard, was caught by the current and swung close to shore. The overhang of her snout-bow sheered off two legs of the water tower of the Yahr-Lang Drug Company and the tower fell onto the vessel, destroying the pilothouse and forward decks. The water from the tower rushed down the length of the upper decks. 16 were killed and over 20 were seriously injured. The surviving passengers were taken to Chicago by train. The vessel was repaired and put back into service the following year. On 30 June 1900, MARIAN TELLER (wooden propeller tug, 52 foot, 33 gross tons, built in 1879, at West Bay City, Michigan) was towing the barge CANTON on Lake St. Clair. The TELLER sprang a leak about one mile from the Lake St. Clair Lightship. The rising water put out her fires. In the scramble to escape, the yawl was swamped and three lives were lost. Only Captain Cornwall and his son were saved when the passing steamer NORWALK picked them up. 1889 WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, a wooden rail car ferry, sinks in the St. Lawrence off Morristown after being swamped. One life is lost but the ship is refloated and repaired. It was renamed MONS MEG in 1910 and served as a drill barge but was abandoned due to its age and condition in 1938. 1940 The Imperial Oil tanker ACADIALITE cuts too close to shore and strands off Cape Hurd of the Bruce Peninsula. The ship received about $100,000 in damage and is repaired at Collingwood. It later sails as IMPERIAL CORNWALL and GOLDEN SABLE before being scrapped at Louiseville, QC about 1980. 1959 TAXIARHIS, a Lebanese flag visitor to the Great Lakes and the West German freighter CARL JULIUS are in a collision 6 miles west of the Eisenhower Lock. The former is most seriously damaged and goes aground with a V shaped dent in the port bow but both were repaired. The former arrived at Piraeus, Greece, for scrapping as d) TONY C. on March 29, 1972, while CARL JULIUS was scrapped as d) MACHIAVELLI at Savona, Italy in 1982. 1962 The GUIDO DONEGANI gets stuck in the St. Lawrence below the Iroquois Lock due to engine trouble. Part of the cargo of corn is lightered to P.S. BARGE NO. 1 and the Italian freighter is refloated on July 1. It is also a Seaway trader as b) PUNTA MESCA beginning in 1970 and as c) COCLERDUE in 1979. This ship arrived at Savona, Italy, for scrapping on June 1, 1981. 1974 KIMIKAWA MARU began Great Lakes trading in 1962 and the Japanese freighter made a single visit each year through 1965. It went aground as b) WELFARE NO. 2 off Navlakhi, India, on this date. The ship later broke in two and sank in shallow water as a total loss. 1980 VILLE DE MONTREAL was engaged in pre-Seaway service to the Great Lakes. It was sailing as c) CHERRY MAJU, enroute from Bahrain to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when it developed a list and drifted aground off Karwar, India. The ship became partly submerged and was abandoned as a total loss. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow reaches Montreal 6/29 - The Victo (American Victory) arrived Montreal, Quebec, at 10:36 p.m. Wednesday under tow of the tugs Tim McKeil and Evans McKeil from McKeil Marine. The Victory will wait for an unnamed saltwater tug to tow her to Turkey for scrap. She left Duluth, after long-term layup since 2008 in Superior, on June 17 in the early morning from Fraser Shipyards. The Tim McKeil has been with the Victory since she left Duluth. Isaac Pischer |
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Great Lakes steel production rises by 10,000 tons 6/29 - Great Lakes steel production rose to 640,000 tons last week, a 1.58 percent increase. Steel mills in the Great Lakes region made 630,000 tons of metal the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Most of the steel made in the Great Lakes region is produced around the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana. Overall, domestic steel mills made 1.77 million tons of metal last week, a 1.83 percent increase from the 1.74 million tons made the previous week. U.S. steel mills have run at a capacity utilization rate of 75.4 percent so far this year, up from 74.4 percent at the same point in 2017, according to the AISI. Domestic steelmakers used about 75.6 percent of their steelmaking capacity in the week that ended June 23, up from 74.9 percent at the same time a year ago and up from 74.2 percent a week prior, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Some analysts say steelmaking capacity utilization of about 90 percent is considered financially healthy for the industry, at least for the larger integrated mills like those around Lake Michigan, because of their high fixed costs. U.S. national steel output is up by 1.7 percent so far this year, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Production in the Southern district, a wide geographic swath that includes many mini mills, shot up to 660,000 tons last week, up from 644,000 tons the previous week. Steel output in the greater Midwest rose to 185,000 tons last week, up from 172,000 tons the previous week. NW Indiana Times |
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Engineer’s Day to bring public through Soo Locks 6/29 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – People from across the country will be making their way through the Soo Locks Friday as a part of the annual Engineer’s Day to get a firsthand look at the workings of the historic system. The gates will open at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Over half as many people that live in the city of Sault Ste. Marie will make their way through the gates for the once a year peak at the Soo Lock’s innards. Engineer’s Day always falls on the last Friday of June and is the only time of year citizens can walk across the locks. “We’ve had people line up outside out in front of the gates around 7 a.m.,” said Kevin Sprague, the area engineer for the United States Corps of Engineers, with an appreciative chuckle acknowledging the frenzy. “There’s really no need to do that. People can just show up when they want to.” With the addition of the city’s 350th anniversary, Sprague is expecting up to 10,000 people to make the trek into the facility. Last year over 9,000 explored the usually restricted area. “It gives people an opportunity to come in and walk around,” he explained. “They can come into the Administration Building and the Davis Building. These are two buildings you normally can’t get into.” Attendees will be able to get a close up look at the Poe and MacArthur locks. They’ll be demonstrations of the locking system using the Corps of Engineers own tugboats and crane barges in the Davis Lock. Even longtime attendees can find something new to take away from Engineer’s Day. “Every year we’ve been adding more and more displays,” explained Spague, noting attendees hail from across the country. “A lot of people have been coming here for a long time. There’s a real mix of people. “All of our employees from tugboat captains to crane boat operators to hydro plant workers will be helping,” said Sprague. “It’s all hands on deck.” Other events Friday in Sault Ste. Marie include: • U.S. Coast Guard open house at U.S. Coast Guard Base, 337 E. Water Street, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Explore the U.S. Coast Guard Station, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Constable Carriere, and the State of Michigan training ship. • Cloverland Electric open house at Cloverland Electric Cooperative, 725 East Portage Avenue, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sault Ste. Marie landscape is blessed with a fantastic structure that is architecturally important, provides power to part of the city and has operated for more than a century. Once a year, in conjunction with Engineer’s Day, the public is invited to tour the hydro-plant. Sault Arts, Crafts, and Family Fun Fair at Sault City Hall, 225 East Portage, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. 2018 will be even bigger and more fun, so plan on attending to experience over 40 high-quality arts and crafts vendors, delicious foods, and kids’ activities! Brady Park Re-Dedication Ceremony at Water Street, downtown Sault Ste. Marie, on June 29, 10 a.m. Come to Brady Park during Engineers Day for the re-dedication ceremony of a special Native American site. Honoring Vietnam Veterans at the Soo Rapids (Brady Park) at Water Street, downtown Sault Ste. Marie, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Honor Vietnam Era Veterans who served between Nov 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, with special recognition to: Native American and First Nations Vietnam era veterans,; former POWs or surviving spouses, families of unaccounted for, families of In Memory Of (casualties listed on Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC), spouses of any deceased Vietnam era veterans, and Canadians who served in the US Armed Forces. Soo Evening News |
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Port Reports - June 29
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Kewaunee, Wis.
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Monroe, Mich. Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jun 28 ¬ Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point Bay anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Duluth Seaway Port Authority plans permanent move for 2020 6/29 - Duluth, Minn. – Already on the move this summer, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority will change offices once again in 2020 — this time into a permanent home back on the waterfront. The Port Authority's board of commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to purchase the aptly named Seaway Building on Rice's Point. The Seaway Building is located on Garfield Avenue, fronting property already owned by the Port Authority. The board agreed to pay $935,000 for the building. There was little to debate on the topic, which was part of a closed session discussion in April. "This makes the best sense both financially and for the long term of the port — where we need to be," commissioner Tony Sertich said during the Port Authority's first meeting in its temporary Lincoln Park home. The Port Authority vacated its previous home on Rice's Point earlier this month in order to accommodate expansion of the fast-growing Altec Industries. Rice's Point is a waterfront peninsula located under the Blatnik Bridge and extending into St. Louis and Superior bays. It is already home to a host of Port Authority properties and Duluth Cargo Connect, the Port Authority's multimodal cooperative with Lake Superior Warehousing Co. "It's a natural fit for us to be on the waterfront and also in the industrial center of the city," said Kate Ferguson, the Port Authority's director of business development. The building sale is expected to close next April, giving current owner Duluth Builders Exchange and additional tenants time to relocate. A representative for Duluth Builders Exchange said the company is currently exploring options for its next home. The Port Authority will renovate the two-story building before an expected move-in date of May 2020, said interim executive director Kevin Beardsley. "It's the first thing you see when you get on Rice's Point," Beardsley said. "It's a welcoming building." The Seaway Building was built in 1890, said a property details report on file with St. Louis County. Its maritime connections are more recent, said a Port Authority news release, which detailed its history since 1979 as a one-time home to grain agencies, Great Lakes pilots organizations, shipping agents and stevedoring groups. Duluth Builders Exchange, a nonprofit organization representing more than 400 firms and individuals in the local construction industry, has owned the building since 1993. Talks between the Port Authority and Builders Exchange began two years ago, said sources with the Port Authority. What started as discussions about how the Port Authority could better access its 4-5 acres of property behind the Seaway Building evolved over time, they said. As the Altec expansion discussions materialized, the Seaway Building became one of four properties the Port Authority considered for its new home. The others were land-only properties already in the Port Authority's portfolio. The Port Authority hired architects to help imagine what new buildings on some of those properties would look like. In the end, the Port Authority chose to go with the existing building, which will require the addition of an elevator — mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act — and a sprinkler system. The Seaway Building is fronted by a series of tall windows and distinguished by its red brick. Other changes could be in the offing, including replacing the current wooden second floor with steel and concrete. But what the final build-out will entail has not yet been decided upon. The Port Authority is paying cash for the building from its operations budget, Beardsley said. "It was all part of doing our due diligence," he said. "We looked at every option we had. It's going to be a considerable investment for us, but it should also be one final move there." Duluth News Tribune |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 29 On this day in 1946, the tug DALHOUSIE ROVER, Captain J. R. Mac Lean, capsized in the Welland Canal. There were no survivors among the crew of six.On 29 June 1910, ALABAMA (steel propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 272 foot, 2,626 gross tons, built in 1909, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) made her first trip in regular service for the Goodrich Line from Chicago to Grand Haven and Muskegon. She ran opposite the VIRGINIA. Cut down to a barge in 1961, she was scrapped in La Salle, Ontario, in 2006. On 29 June 1902, GEORGE DUNBAR (wooden propeller freighter, 134 foot, 238 gross tons, built in 1867, at Allegan, Michigan) was loaded with coal when she was damaged by a sudden squall on Lake Erie near Kelley’s Island and sank. Seven of the crew elected to stay aboard while the skipper, his wife and daughter made for shore in the lifeboat. Those three were saved but the seven perished on a makeshift raft. The CHARLES M. SCHWAB (Hull#496) was launched in 1923, at Cleveland, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co., for the Interlake Steamship Co. Lengthened with a new mid-body and repowered with the stern section of the tanker GULFPORT in 1961. Sold Canadian in 1975, renamed b.) PIERSON DAUGHTERS and c.) BEECHGLEN in 1982. Scrapped at Port Maitland, Ontario, in 1995. On June 29, 1962, the HAMILTONIAN began her maiden voyage for Eastern Lake Carriers (Papachristidis Co. Ltd.). Renamed b.) PETITE HERMINE in 1967. Purchased by Upper Lakes Shipping in 1972, renamed c.) CANADIAN HUNTER. Scrapped at Alang, India in 1996. The JOSEPH L. BLOCK was christened on June 29, 1976, for Inland Steel Co. The Canadian schooner DUNSTOWN arrived at Malden, Ontario, on 29 June 1875, to be put in place as a lightship. Her sides were painted in large white letters: BAR POINT LIGHTSHIP. On 29 June 1864, ALVIN CLARK (2-mast wooden schooner, 113 foot, 220 tons, built in 1846, at Truago (Trenton), Michigan) foundered in a terrific squall off Chambers Island on Green Bay. Two of the crew were rescued by the brig DEWITT, but three lost their lives. In 1969, a schooner identified as the CLARK was raised at great expense and put on display for some time at Marinette, Wisconsin, then at Menominee, Michigan. The hull gradually deteriorated and was dismantled in May 1994. 1934: The retired wooden schooner LYMAN M. DAVIS was torched as a spectacle off the Sunnyside Amusement Park at Toronto and it burned to the waterline. 1962: The Swedish freighter AMACITA was beached in sinking condition after hitting a shoal in the St. Lawrence near Brockville. It was refloated and towed to Kingston for hull and rudder repairs. The 10,137 gross tons vessel also visited the Seaway as b) HERVANG in 1965 and arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, as f) MALDIVE PIONEER on January 5, 1984, for scrapping. 1966: Two Canada Steamship Lines ships, LEMOYNE and MARTIAN, were in a collision while passing at Welland and the former struck the Main Street Bridge during rush hour. The ships only received minor damage, but land and Welland Canal traffic were held up. 1994: The tug A.F. FIFIELD was built at Port Dalhousie by Port Weller Dry Docks in 1955 and sank in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as c) J. MANIC while towing a barge from Sept Iles to Port Cartier. All on board were rescued. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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BayShip to built 740-foot barge for VanEnkevort 6/28 - Sturgeon Bay, Wis. – A Sturgeon Bay shipyard specializing in commercial vessels will build a new 740-foot barge to move products on the Great Lakes. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay said Wednesday that it has inked a deal with VanEnkevort Tug & Barge of Escanaba, Michigan, to build the self-unloading vessel by mid-2020, according to a press release. VanEnkevort Tug & Barge operates a trio of articulated tug and barges. The cost of the vessel was not released. There was no information about what tug would push the barge. The work is important to the roughly 700 people who work at the shipyard and suppliers. “It brings steady work to the hundreds of women and men we employ from across the region,” said Todd Thayse, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s vice president and general manager, in the release. Green Bay Press Gazette |
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Algoma Innovator remains at anchor due to mechanical issues 6/28 - Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. – Algoma Central Corp.’s newest vessel, Algoma Innovator, remained at anchor in Goulais Bay above the locks on Wednesday. She was towed there on Tuesday by the Purvis Marine tug Avenger IV after experiencing a presumed mechanical issues while downbound on Lake Superior Tuesday morning. |
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Port Reports - June 28
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Manitowoc, Wis. – Luke Johnson
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday Jun 27 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point Bay anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Historic Seaway carrier makes last trip down St. Lawrence 6/28 - White paint covers up most of her name. The American Victory, once a star of the Seaway, is slowly making her last trip down the St. Lawrence as the ‘‘Victo.” On Tuesday, she made her way through the Eisenhower locks in Massena, a vessel stripped to the bone and being towed by three tugs to a scrap yard in Turkey. Once she was an oiler known as the Neshanic. She served during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific and was hit by a Japanese bomb while refueling a destroyer. In 1958, she was owned by the Gulf Oil Company and known as the Gulfoil. Then, she was involved in a deadly collision with another tanker, which led to her final configuration. The ship was widened and lengthened while being converted to a bulk carrier designed specifically for the newly opened St. Lawrence Seaway. She was built as a maximum sized Seaway carrier, 730 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 39 feet 3 inches deep. From 1962 to 2006, she was known as Middletown and was famous for her speed on the Great Lakes. In 2006, she was sold to American Steamship and became the American Victory. She last sailed in 2008. Once the ship reaches Turkey, according to the Duluth News Tribune, her hull, reduced to scrap, will be worth $3 million. View photos at this link: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/historic-seaway-carrier-makes-last-trip-down-st-lawrence-20180627 |
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Manitowoc's lighthouse comes to life for 100th birthday; could be opened to public 6/28 - Manitowoc, Wis. – There’s been a lot of buzz around town lately concerning Manitowoc’s lighthouse, and with good reason. After about 10 years with no lighting and several decades of abandonment, the beacon of the Lakeshore is coming to life. New York businessman Phil Carlucci visited the iconic lighthouse he owns a few weeks ago, and says renovations should be completed in time for a 100th birthday celebration and ribbon-cutting during Subfest, July 13-15. Carlucci has invested around $300,000 to renovate the structure, which he bought in 2011 for $30,000 when he was the successful bidder after the U.S. Coast Guard put it on its “excess list.” Crews have been in town for a few months cleaning the building inside and out, replacing windows and redoing floors. Carlucci wanted the interior and exterior restored 100 percent so people can see the craftsmanship that went into building it, he said. The work all fits with his longstanding love of lighthouses. “One of my childhood dreams was to own a lighthouse,” Carlucci said. “I’ve always enjoyed going to visit them, I was so glad I got to buy one. I’m very fortunate to be able to do this project for the community.” At some point, he plans to open the building to the public for special events or on specific days for tours. He has expressed interest in making the interior time-specific to when the lighthouse opened in the early 1900s. “I want it to be of use to the public,” Carlucci said. “I’m very excited to see so much interest in what’s being done.” He is working with the city and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum to coordinate tours and events. In addition to restoration work, Carlucci has had security cameras put in place at the three-story structure, in part to discourage vandals from doing graffiti. As part of his obligation as the purchaser from the federal government, he must have the lighthouse retain proper historical appearance, and he also is responsible for paying for labor and materials linked to graffiti removal. Carlucci said he appreciates the city’s willingness to work with him to bring power to the lighthouse. Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels said Monday that city leaders are excited about the work that’s being done. “I think it’s awesome,” the mayor said. “The lighthouse is a symbol of Manitowoc. We were ecstatic when we found out he wanted to buy the building and redo it. It was something we would have liked to do, but never had the city funding to do. It’s so great someone is willing to do this, and he doesn’t even live in the community. “The lighthouse has been the talk of the town," Nickels added. "It’s something Manitowoc has always been proud of. It fits into our whole maritime heritage. It’s such a great thing.” Herald Times Reporter |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 28 On this day in 1955, the 456 foot WYCHEM 105, a.) SAMUEL F. B. MORSE, was loaded with sand at the B&O docks in Lorain and towed to Rocky River, Ohio where she was sunk as a temporary breakwall. She was later raised and taken to Bay Ship Building Co, and became a barge for the Roen Steamship Co. fleet. In the early 1970s, most of the hull was scrapped, except for two sections of the bottom, which were used for scows around Sturgeon Bay until the 1980s.On this day in 1957, the JOSEPH S. YOUNG departed Manitowoc, Wisconsin on her maiden voyage. She traveled in ballast to Port Inland, Michigan to load a cargo of stone. The YOUNG was the a.) ARCHERS HOPE, A T2-SE-A1 tanker, converted to Great Lakes service at Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock, Baltimore, Maryland. Renamed c.) H. LEE WHITE in 1969, and d.) SHARON in 1974. Scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1986. On June 28, 1938, at 8:50 a.m., the WILLIAM A. IRVIN departed Duluth with her first cargo of iron ore for Lorain, Ohio. 48 years later, in 1986, almost to the minute, the WILLIAM A. IRVIN opened as a museum to the public. The ATLANTIC SUPERIOR arrived at the Algoma Steel Plant, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on her maiden voyage in 1982, with a load of taconite but before she was unloaded christening ceremonies were conducted there. The SAM LAUD ran aground June 28, 1975, on a shoal south of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with a cargo of coal from Chicago, Illinois for Green Bay, Wisconsin. Six-thousand tons of coal were off-loaded the next day into the NICOLET, a.) WILLIAM G. MATHER, before she could proceed to Green Bay along with the NICOLET to discharge cargoes. SAM LAUD entered the dry dock at Sturgeon Bay on July 3rd for repairs. She had suffered extensive bottom damage with leakage into seven double bottom tanks and the forepeak. She returned to service on August 21, 1975. On 28 June 1893, JAMES AMADEUS (wooden propeller tug, 65 foot, 44 gross tons, built in 1872, at Cleveland, Ohio) sprang a leak and foundered near Cleveland, Ohio. Her crew abandoned her just before she went down. On 28 June 1909, TEMPEST (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 138 foot, 370 gross tons, built in 1876, at Grand Haven, Michigan) burned to a total loss while unloading coal at the Galnais Dock at Perry Sound, Ontario. She was consumed very quickly and six of her crew were killed. 1923 The PHILETUS SAWYER sinks in the Detroit River off Windmill Point after a collision with the HARRY R. JONES. 1960 DIVINA sustained heavy damage to the portside after striking a pier of the Prescott-Ogdensburg Bridge along the St. Lawrence. The Norwegian freighter had been a Great Lakes visitor since 1952 and was scrapped as d) PETROL 20 at Eleusis, Greece, in July 1984. 1970 CASTOR, enroute from Japan to Chicago with automobiles and steel products, sinks in the Pacific after a collision with the ORIENTAL HERO two days out of Yokohama. All 38 on board are saved. The ship dated from 1960 and first came through the Seaway in 1966. 1979 STAR GERANTA, a Seaway visitor in 1966 and a return caller as d) REGAL SWORD in 1977, sinks in the Atlantic off Cape Cod, MA after a collision in fog with the EXXON CHESTER. 1987 The small tanker NADY was built at Rochester, NY as the army tanker Y-86 in 1944 and returned to the Great Lakes as b) NADY in 1953 and again in 1955. It was abandoned, in leaking condition as d) ELENI S. while inbound 12 miles off the Lagos, Nigeria, breakwall. Water is entering the engineroom and the ship settles in shallow water. (One source suggest this may have occurred 2 days earlier) 2005 CSL NIAGARA loses power and goes aground in the American Narrows of the St. Lawrence while upbound with a cargo of coke. The ship is holed in the forepeak but soon released and repaired. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow continues 6/27 - At 10 p.m. Tuesday, the American Victory scrap tow had just passed Cornwall, Ont., eastbound for Montreal. |
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Tug heads to aid of Algoma Innovator 6/27 - Sault Ste. Marie – The Purvis Marine tug Avenger IV left Sault, Ont., Tuesday evening and appeared to be heading eastbound to where the Algoma Central Corp.’s newest vessel, Algoma Innovator, appeared to be having problems. The vessel was sailing a little over 13 knots near Whitefish Point on Lake Superior downbound Tuesday morning. She turned in a northerly direction and spent the day barely moving. More details will be posted as they become available. |
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Scrap tow update: former Algosteel arrives at Aliaga, Turkey 6/27 - The former Algoma Central Corporation self-unloading bulk carrier Algosteel (IMO 6613297), renamed Oste for the tow and registered in Sierra Leone, arrived in Aliaga, Turkey, for scrapping on Tuesday, June 26, in the early afternoon. She was towed overseas by the deep-sea tug Fairmount Alpine (IMO 9344784). Algosteel is the second of the Algoma Central fleet to arrive at Aliaga to be scrapped in 2018. Its former fleetmate Algoma Olympic (IMO 7432783), renamed the Oma and flagged in Sierre Leone, arrived at Aliaga on June 13 after being towed by the deep-sea tug VB Hispania (IMO 9476018). Meanwhile Algolake (IMO 7423093), renamed Gola and also flagged in Sierra Leone, is expected to arrive at Aliaga to be scrapped on July 6. She is being towed by the deep-sea tug Diavlos Force (IMO 8214023). The Oma ex-Algoma Olympic departed on May 9 from Montreal, while the Oste ex-Algosteel departed June 1 and was followed by the Gola ex-Algolake on June 3. All three vessels had been laid-up in Montreal. Denny Dushane |
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Port Reports - June 27
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel
Owen Sound, Ont. – Paul Martin, Keith Fawcett
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday Jun 26 ... Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto: |
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Museum ship Alexander Henry opening set for July 18 at Thunder Bay 6/27 - Thunder Bay, Ont. Just over a year after being towed to the Lakehead from Kingston, the former Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Alexander Henry will open for public tours on July 18. The date is significant, as it will mark the anniversary of her launching at the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company in 1958. Charlie Brown, spokesperson for the volunteer group Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, says July 18 will be "60 years, to the day, that she went into the water." The LTMS had hoped to have the ship ready for tours by the middle of June, and to take advantage of the influx of people to the waterfront for Canada Day celebrations. Brown said there was an unanticipated delay, however, in cabling the Alexander Henry to keep it secure after she was moved about 20 metres farther along the cruise ship dock at the former Pool 6 elevator site. Before visitors can board the ship for tours, she needs an inspection for insurance purposes, and must undergo a final electrical inspection. Both are scheduled for next week. Brown said the LTMS is still inviting people to come down to the dock on Canada Day "We will open the gate. We will have staff and board members down here. We're going to dress the entire ship, she will be full of flags, and people will be able to talk to us, take pictures and hopefully come back on July 18 for the official opening and re-dedication." When shipboard tours begin, the admission charge will be $9 for adults, and $7.00 for seniors and children. Family and group rates will also be available. Thunder Bay Newswatch |
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Tall Ship Manitou debuts new look, specialty sails on Grand Traverse Bay 6/27 - Traverse City, Mich. – Sleek sailboats leaning with the breeze. The muted rumble of a powerboat accelerating in the distance. Summer boat traffic on West Grand Traverse Bay means a little something for everybody. But when Tall Ship Manitou is nudged from her berth and glides into the bay - her huge sails catching the wind - people who get a glimpse of her might feel like they've just stepped back in time. Two centuries back. The double-masted Manitou is a replica of an 1800's coasting cargo schooner. It represents the workhorse chapter in our maritime history, the type of boat that tirelessly ferried cargo and fed the early industries around the Great Lakes. But this 114-footer was built to carry passengers. She's now in her 27th summer in Traverse City. With three trips a day and a growing number of specialty sailing events, the Manitou has become a well-known attraction on the bay. This season is special for her owners and crew because they undertook a massive renovation project over the winter, and now they get to show off their handiwork. Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2018/06/tall_ship_manitou_debuts_new_l.html |
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Boatnerd picnic this Thursday in Sault Ste. Marie; cruise on Friday 6/27 - The annual Boatnerd picnic will be held Thursday at our new venue, Sherman Park, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Snacks and coffee will be offered before noon, grilling begins at noon, with carrot cake and other delicacies to follow. Hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments, plates, napkins and utinsels are being provided by Boatnerd. Bring something to share (salad, chips, etc). Soo delis and groceries have food options to purchase and bring to the park. Bring your own beverage. The park, which has an enclosed pavilion and a covered area for grilling, is located west of the locks at 4th Avenue & 24th Street. If you are exiting from I-75 north, turn left (west) onto Easterday Avenue (which turns into 4th). Turn right on 24th Street (there is a sign) and follow it to the end. The park is on the water and we will still be able to view freighter traffic. There is plenty of parking and restrooms. Tickets for Friday night’s Freighter Chasing Cruise ($45, incudes buffet dinner) will be available until noon at the picnic, as we must get a head count to Soo Locks Boat Tours at that time. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 27 On 27 June 1892, in rain and fog, the FRED A. MORSE (wooden schooner, 182 foot, 592 gross tons, built in 1871, at Vermilion, Ohio) was being towed downbound by the HORACE A. TUTTLE (wooden propeller freighter, 250 foot, 1,585 gross tons, built in 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio) about 12 miles southeast of Thunder Bay on Lake Huron, both carrying loads of iron ore. At the same time, JOHN C. PRINGLE (wooden propeller freighter, 173 foot, 474 gross tons, built in 1880, at Detroit, Michigan) was sailing upbound in that vicinity with a load of coal and Italian marble with the schooners HARRISON, SWEETHEART and SUNSHINE in tow. At 1:30 a.m., the PRINGLE collided with the schooner MORSE, which sank in less than 15 minutes. The crew made it to the TUTTLE in the lifeboat, although one woman was badly injured. The PRINGLE's bow was stove in, her deck planks forward were split and spread, her bulwarks torn away, and her anchors and foremast were lost. She cast off her tow and made for Alpena, Michigan, where she arrived later in the day. At 4:04 p.m. on 27 June 1890, the Beatty Line's MONARCH (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 240 foot, 2,017 tons) was launched at Sarnia, Ontario. The launching was watched by numerous people on the decks of various steamers and on both sides of the St. Clair River. The MONARCH was built of white oak and braced with iron. She had 62 staterooms Package freighter CHIMO (Hull#662) was launched in 1967, at Lauzon, Quebec by Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. In 1983, CHIMO's stern was attached to the bow and cargo section of the HILDA MARJANNE to create the CANADIAN RANGER. WILLIAM EDENBORN (Hull#40) (steel propeller freighter, 478 foot, 5,085 gross tons) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan by West Bay City Ship Building Co. for the American Steamship Co., Duluth (A. B. Wolvin, mgr.) on 27 June 1900. PRETORIA (3-mast schooner-barge, 338 foot, 2,790 gross tons) was launched at J. Davidson's yard (Hull #94) in West Bay City, Michigan on 27 June 1900. Mr. Davidson built her for his own fleet. She was one of the largest wooden vessels ever built and lasted until September 1905, when she sank in Lake Superior. 1916 JAMES J. HILL collided with the wooden steamer PANTHER in fog off Parisienne Island, Lake Superior and held its position so all of the crew could come safely aboard before their ship sank. 1952 WOODFORD, enroute from Quebec City to Europe, received major damage in a collision off Ile Verte, near the mouth of the Saguenay River, with the pulpwood laden canaller JOHN A. FRANCE. The former, a British freighter, was holed and leaking and the crew was taken off to the BIRCHTON. The damaged WOODFORD was towed back to Quebec City and almost sand at the dock but was kept afloat and repaired. It was a Seaway visitor in 1960 and was scrapped at Shanghai, China, in 1978 as d) WOOSUNG. 1954 WILCOX, a former minesweeper that was rebuilt for passenger and freight service down the St. Lawrence from Montreal, was blown ashore at Potato Bay, Anticosti Island, and was a total loss. The remains of the hull are still there. 1982 CLIO, a West German freighter, made 12 trips to the Great Lakes from 1959 to 1965. It arrived at Callao, Colombia, with engine damage as e) SUNLIGHT on this date in 1982 and was abandoned as a total loss. An apparent effort to repair the engine was not completed and the ship was eventually scrapped. Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow continues 6/26 - American Victory continued her tow through the St. Lawrence on Monday. After passing through the American Narrows, she was expected at Crossover Island at approximately 9:30 local time. Tugs Evans McKeil, Tim McKeil and Seahound are all present. Ted Mands |
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Port Reports - June 26
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel
Alpena, Mich. – Ben and Chanda McClain
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jun 25 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto: |
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Trump scraps Obama policy on protecting Great Lakes, oceans 6/26 - Traverse City, Mich – President Donald Trump has thrown out a policy devised by his predecessor to protect U.S. oceans and the Great Lakes, replacing it with a new approach that emphasizes use of the waters to promote economic growth. Trump revoked an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in 2010 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history, it killed 11 workers and spewed millions of gallons of crude that harmed marine wildlife, fouled more than 1,300 miles of shoreline and cost the tourism and fishing industries hundreds of millions of dollars. In his order this week, Trump did not mention the Gulf spill. He said he was “rolling back excessive bureaucracy created by the previous administration” and depicted the Obama council as bloated, with 27 departments and agencies and over 20 committees, subcommittees and working groups. The Republican president said he was creating a smaller Ocean Policy Committee while eliminating “duplicative” regional planning bodies created under Obama. Trump’s order downplays environmental protection, saying the change would ensure that regulations and management decisions don’t get in the way of responsible use by industries that “employ millions of Americans, advance ocean science and technology, feed the American people, transport American goods, expand recreational opportunities and enhance America’s energy security.” The Detroit News |
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Dock wall being refurbished at CHS in Superior 6/26 - Superior, Wis. – Major improvements are being made to the Cenex Harvest States (CHS) grain elevator facility in Superior, where 35 to 40 maritime vessels are loaded every year before sailing to to Europe, the Mideast and North Africa. The Wisconsin Harbor Assistance Program has awarded a $1.7 million grant for the project, in which 600 feet of dock is being rehabilitated. In addition to new sheet piling, the concrete top is being replaced. The investment will ensure the grain elevators remain active long into the future, said Superior Mayor Jim Paine. Currently, up to 70 percent of the grain transported through the Port of Duluth-Superior is loaded on vessels from CHS. It totals from 40 to 50 million bushels annually, said Chuck Schwede, CHS director of agriculture business terminal operations. It is brought to the facilities from Upper Midwest farms in about 14,000 rail cars per year. “If it wasn’t for the Harbor Assistance Program, we wouldn’t have this infrastructure in Superior and other ports in Wisconsin,” said State Sen. Nick Milroy. Keeping the working waterfront active is a top priority, he added. “Wisconsin is one of the most agricultural states in the entire country. It wouldn’t matter much if you can’t take the product of that agriculture and move it throughout the country and world, and that’s what this port does,” noted Paine, who once worked as a grain inspector. “Without ports and harbors like this, Wisconsin would not be the great agriculture state it is,” said Sheila Harsdorf, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “We can’t export without facilities like this.” The project is the third phase of dock work at the 82-year-old facility. Other dock walls were replaced in 2003 and 2006, said AMI Consulting Engineers Principal Chad Scott. AMI designed the project and is providing construction management services. Over the years, the Harbor Assistance Program has provided more than $30 million to Superior’s harbor-related projects, according to city Port and Planning Director Jason Serck. Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Dave Ross said the state is planning to make another large waterfront investment in about 10 years. He was referring to replacement of the Blatnik Bridge. “We will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on that project,” said Ross, who formerly was Superior’s mayor. Business North |
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Boatnerd picnic this Thursday in Sault Ste. Marie; cruise on Friday 6/26 - The annual Boatnerd picnic will be held this Thursday at our new venue, Sherman Park, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Snacks and coffee will be offered before noon, grilling begins at noon, with carrot cake and other delicacies to follow. Hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments, plates, napkins and utinsels are being provided by Boatnerd. Bring something to share (salad, chips, etc). Soo delis and groceries have food options to purchase and bring to the park. Bring your own beverage. The park, which has an enclosed pavilion and a covered area for grilling, is located west of the locks at 4th Avenue & 24th Street. If you are exiting from I-75 north, turn left (west) onto Easterday Avenue (which turns into 4th). Turn right on 24th Street (there is a sign) and follow it to the end. The park is on the water and we will still be able to view freighter traffic. There is plenty of parking and restrooms. Tickets for Friday night’s Freighter Chasing Cruise ($45, incudes buffet dinner) will be available until noon at the picnic, as we must get a head count to Soo Locks Boat Tours at that time. |
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Canada makes deal to buy three icebreakers for coast guard 6/26 - Ottawa, Ont. – The Liberal government has concluded a deal with a Quebec shipyard to purchase three medium icebreakers to relieve pressure on the Canadian Coast Guard's aging fleet. The agreement struck with Chantier Davie of Levis, Que., which operates the Davie shipyard, was announced Friday in a release by Public Services and Procurement Canada. No dollar figure was included in the statement, but sources close to the negotiations said that between the purchase and modification phase, the agreement could be worth just under $500 million. Negotiations to acquire the vessels were launched in January after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau abruptly announced the plan in a Radio-Canada interview. There has been growing concern in Quebec about both the shipyard — and its workforce of roughly 1,300 — and the coast guard's ability to break ice in the St. Lawrence River. What the federal government signaled Friday was its intention to award the contact to Davie. Competing shipyards will have two weeks to challenge that decision and demonstrate they can deliver ships with similar — or better — capabilities. The deal that was struck involves a straight-up purchase of three icebreakers, with the Davie yard set to complete a series of modifications, said sources. A spokesman for Public Services and Procurement Canada said no price tag was included with the announcement because the contract has yet to be negotiated. In an interview with CBC News, Alex Vicefield, CEO of Inocea Group — the company that owns the Davie yard — said he wouldn't speculate on how much the deal will cost taxpayers. "It's too early to say simply because we do not know the final specifications," said Vicefield, referring to the modifications his company will be asked to perform on the ships. "There's a lot engineering to go into this initially." When talks started with Davie, the federal government was looking to lease or buy four ships which would be converted from existing vessels. Those vessels had been intended for use in Alaska's offshore oil and gas industry until there was a downturn in the market. The agreement avoids a major work slowdown at the yard — and the resulting layoffs — ahead of a provincial election which will see the Liberal government of Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard fighting for its life. Vicefield said it's too early to say how many jobs will be saved. The company will have a clearer idea once the coast guard outlines the extent of the modications it requires. The contract also is bound to raise questions about the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which was introduced by the former Conservative government and championed by the Liberals since they came to power in 2015. The Davie shipyard was in bankruptcy when the strategy was announced. It submitted a bid but lost and therefore was excluded from the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which has seen Ottawa form a special relationship with Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax and Seaspan of Vancouver. Irving and Seaspan are the go-to companies for federal ship construction. The coast guard's new heavy icebreaker is supposed to be built by Seaspan, but the project is still years away from construction. The Quebec yard has been been aggressive in its pursuit of federal work. It pitched the federal government a series of unsolicited proposals over more than three years. One of them involved a plan worth roughly $1.7 billion to build or re-purpose a fleet of icebreakers and support ships for the coast guard. The Liberals have said consistently that the country's coast guard fleet is in desperate need of new ships. A comprehensive analysis of the nation's transportation network, completed at the end of 2015 as part of a statutory review, said icebreakers and support vessels that keep the nation's waterways clear and safe were old and in rough shape. "Not only is it understaffed, but its fleet is one of the oldest in the world and urgently requires renewal," said the review of the Canadian Transportation Act, which was led by former Conservative cabinet minister David Emerson. "Without such renewal, it will have to pull ships from service, further reducing reliability." It noted that most ships were nearly four decades old, well past their service life. CBC |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 26 On this day in 1942, the LEON FRASER, Captain Neil Rolfson, completed her maiden voyage and delivered a record cargo of 16,414 tons of ore to Conneaut. The downbound trip only required 67.5 hours and broke the record of 15,218 tons set by the Canadian freighter LEMOYNE 15 days earlier. The FRASER was shortened and converted to a bulk cement carrier in 1991, and sails today as the b.) ALPENA.On this day in 1969, the new Poe Lock was dedicated and opened to traffic. The first boat to transit the new lock was the PHILIP R. CLARKE. Captain Thomas Small, a 95-year old retired Pittsburgh captain, was at the wheel of the CLARKE. Thomas Small was also at the wheel of the COLGATE HOYT the first boat to transit the original Poe Lock on August 4, 1896. On 26 June 1890, the SKATER (wooden propeller excursion steamer, 85 foot, 65 gross tons, built in 1890, at Detroit, Michigan) burned to the water’s edge about 20 miles north of Manistee, Michigan. The crew did not even have time to save their clothes, but they all escaped unharmed. The SKATER had just been fitted out for the season and had started her summer route on Traverse Bay. She was rebuilt in Cleveland and lasted until 1942, when she was abandoned at Michigan City, Indiana. On 26 June 1895, the GEORGE FARWELL (wooden propeller steam barge, 182 foot, 977 gross tons) was launched by Alexander Anderson at Marine City, Michigan. After leaving the ways, she looked like she would capsize, but she righted herself. About 500 people watched the launch. She was taken to the Atlantic Coast in 1900. She only lasted until 1906, when she stranded on Cape Henry, Virginia and was a total loss. On 26 June 1867, WATERS W. BRAMAN (wooden propeller tug, 89 tons, built in 1858, at Boston, Massachusetts, for the U.S.Q.M.C. and named RESCUE) was near Pelee Island in Lake Erie when fire started in her coal bunker and quickly spread. Her crew abandoned her in the yawl and were later picked up by the propeller TRADER. She had been sold by the Quartermaster Corps just the previous year and she had come to the Lakes from the East Coast just five weeks before this accident. On 26 June 1900, Boynton & Thompson purchased the wreck of the NELLIE TORRENT (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 141 foot, 303 gross tons, built in 1881, at Wyandotte, Michigan) to raise her. She had been destroyed by fire at Lime Island near Detour, Michigan, on 22 June 1899. On 26 June 1882, The Port Huron Times reported that the ARAXES (wooden propeller, 182 foot, 569 gross tons, built in 1856, at Buffalo, New York) sank in the Straits of Mackinac. She was raised on 6 July 1882, and repaired. She was built in 1856, and lasted until the summer of 1894, when she sank 4 miles off Bay City in Saginaw. 1916: The first STORMOUNT, a steel canaller, was wrecked on Gull Ledge, near Marie Joseph, N.S. 1937: Passengers from the SOUTH AMERICAN, stranded on a shoal, were removed with the aid of ALGOMAH II. 1993: The Norwegian tanker BOW ROGN first came through the Seaway in 1970. It was back as b) JO ROGN in 1981 and was leaking sulphuric acid into the pump room on this date as c) BETULA after discharging at Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. The vessel was towed offshore but later driven aground on a sandy beach north of the port on June 28-29, and then blown over on its side during the passing of Hurricane Calvin on July 7, 1993. 2000: EMIL REITH first came through the Seaway in 1970. It was attacked by Tamil Tiger rebels as h) MERCS UHANA off northern Sri Lanka while carrying foodstuffs from Colombo to Tricomalee. The ship caught fire and five lives were lost. The ship sank the next day about 48 miles off Point Pedro. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series – Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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Port Reports - June 25
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
St. Marys River
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report – Sunday Jun 24 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal: Downbound - Jun 23 tugs - Tim McKeil, Evans McKeil & Vac with Victo (ex American Victory-18), Cape Dawson (Mhl) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 0829, Algoma Buffalo at 1616 and Algoma Guardian at 2252 - Jun 24 - Sten Moster (Gib) at 0044, Algoma Mariner at 0428, Fuldaborg (Nld) at 0901, CSL Laurentien at 1323, Cuyahoga at 1437 (for wharf 20-E), tugs Salvage Monarch and M.R. Kane with barge Metis at 1448 (stopped at wharf 16 for inspection), Baie Comeau at 1508, Florence Spirit at 1530, Kaministiqua at 1842 and Algoma Spirit eta 2245
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Mississauga:
Toronto: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 25 The whaleback steamer WASHBURN (steel propeller freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. (Hull #124) at W. Superior, Wisconsin on 25 June 1892. She lasted until 1936, when she was scrapped at Cleveland, Ohio.On this day in June 25, 1892, the American Steel Barge Company, West Superior Wisconsin, Captain Alexander Mc Dougall manager, held the first triple launching on the Great Lakes, which included the whalebacks PILLSBURY, WASHBURN and the small tug ISLAY. A crowd in excess of 10,000 people witnessed the event. Only the tug ISLAY remains. On 25 June 1892, the PILLSBURY (steel propeller whaleback bulk freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co., at West Superior, Wisconsin. She was rebuilt at Conneaut, Ohio in the winter of 1918-1919 (315.75 feet x 42.25 feet x 24.16 feet; 2,394 gross tons- 1,465 net tons) when she received straight sides and a flattened deck. In 1927, she was converted to crane vessel, with two cranes on deck. In November 1934, she stranded on the north pier at Muskegon, Michigan in a storm and then broke in half. She was scrapped the following year. In 1927, the B. F. AFFLECK (Hull#178) was launched at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. On June 25, 1938, the WILLIAM A. IRVIN began her maiden voyage for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., leaving Lorain, Ohio for Duluth to load iron ore. INDIANA HARBOR set a record cargo on June 25, 1993, loading 71,369 tons of western low sulfur coal at Superior's Midwest Energy Terminal and transporting it 50 miles to Silver Bay, Minnesota. At 1:00 a.m. on 25 June 1878, the 161 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner PESHTIGO and the 143 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner ST ANDREW collided and sank near Cheboygan, Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac. Newspapers of the time claimed that forest fire smoke hampered visibility. Both vessels sank quickly. Two of the crew of PESHTIGO were lost, but the rest were rescued by the schooner S V R WATSON. The entire crew of ST ANDREW was rescued by the Canadian propeller OCEAN. On the afternoon of 25 June 1885, the tug NIAGARA had the schooner MOUNT BLANC in tow while coming rounding to pick up the schooner REINDEER near Stag Island on the St. Clair River. The MOUNT BLANC struck the wreck of the tug B.B. JONES. The JONES had exploded in Port Huron on 25 May 1871, and the wreck was towed to the head of Stag Island where it was abandoned. After striking the wreck of the JONES, the ore laden MOUNT BLANC sank. She was later recovered and repaired and lasted until 1901. 1903 – JOHN CRAIG was seriously damaged in a grounding on Simmons Rock in the Straits of Mackinac. Once refloated, the wooden steamer was taken to St. Ignace and declared a total loss. It was subsequently rebuilt as PANAMA only to be lost in a storm on November 1, 1906. 1950 – Five lives were lost and another 12 passengers injured aboard the passenger ship CITY OF CLEVELAND III when it was in a collision with the Norwegian freighter RAVNEFJELL in fog on Lake Huron. The former was a total loss while the latter was repaired and returned to service. It became b) RINGSTEIN in 1955 and visited the Great Lakes through 1958. It was wrecked near Achona Point, Ghana, on September 11, 1966. 1959 – The Liberian registered MONROVIA became the first saltwater vessel of the Seaway era to sink on the Great Lakes. It went down in heavy fog on Lake Huron after going off course and colliding with the downbound ROYALTON off Thunder Bay Island. The vessel landed upright on the bottom and some of the cargo of steel was salvaged in the 1970s. 1980 – MONTREALAIS of Upper Lakes Shipping and ALGOBAY of Algoma Central collided head-on in heavy fog on the St. Clair River and both suffered massive bow damage. These vessels were repaired and today both sail in the Algoma fleet with the former as ALGOMA MONTREALAIS and the latter, later rebuilt with a new forebody in China, as RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER. 1980 – JEAN LYKES collided with and sank an 18-foot fishing boat in the St. Clair River, 2 miles north of St. Clair, MI. The American flag saltwater vessel was later beached at Alang, India, for scrapping as b) VELMA LYKES on July 9, 1994 1994 – While departing Bay City, McKEE SONS was swept crossways in the Saginaw River and went aground. Four tugs pulled the ship free without damage save for some shoreline erosion. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow passes through Welland Canal 6/24 - The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow spent Saturday transiting the Welland Canal. At 11 p.m. Saturday the tow was passing eastbound under the QEW bridge. |
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Port Reports - June 24
Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Saturday Jun 23 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Mississauga:
Toronto: |
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Detroit tug Cheyenne wins annual International Tug Boat Race 6/24 - Windsor Ont. – The normally sedate Detroit River came alive with roaring diesels and blaring air horns Saturday when tug boats of all sizes raced for glory and trophies in the 45th annual International Tug Boat Race. When all was said and done, the Detroit-based tug Cheyenne emerged the overall winner. The tug is on it’s first season on the Great Lakes after being brought from the East Coast late last year by the Open Lake Group, a new company owned by Detroiter Wade P. Streeter. Sindbad came in second and Josephine came in third. The race began at 1 p.m. at the Ambassador Bridge and ran to the finish line off Windsor’s Dieppe Park. Trophies were awarded to the first tug to finish the race as well as to each tug that finished first in its horsepower class. It is the most unusual tug race anywhere. As many as 30 tugs of all sizes race in a mad dash for the finish line. Tugs ranging in length from 45 to 140 feet compete at the same time, all muscling for the best position. Some of the larger tugs are actual working tugs with more than 2,000 horsepower. The Detroit River boils as the tugs create a huge wake. The race features tugs from all over the region — from tugs based in Detroit to others that arrive from Lake Huron ports just to participate in this great tradition. Tug boat racing on the Detroit River dates back to the 1950s and was originally a loosely organized event. For many years the event was discontinued until 1976 when the International Freedom Festival started the tradition once again. In 2003 the International Freedom Festival declared bankruptcy and the future of the race was in limbo. Local Detroit tug man Brian Williams, with the help of numerous companies, individuals and the Detroit and Windsor Port Authorities was able to organize the event, keeping the long standing tradition alive. Williams, who owns the Detroit-based tug Sheila Kaye, said there are few things more exciting than watching powerful tug boats racing at full throttle. “I love tug boat racing,” said Williams. “I’ve been doing it myself for seven years. My father has been doing it since the ‘70s.” He said it’s just as exciting to watch from shore as it is to participate aboard a tug. “How many tug boats do you ever see in one spot?” he asked. “There’s no kid out there – and people in general – who doesn’t think a tug is cool. Twenty or so tugs running at full speed is something you don’t see very often. “When you are on the tug, you’ve got a 3,000-horsepower engine screaming under you. There’s the thrill of actually being on a tugboat, and the waves. It’s a good time,” he said. Windsor Star |
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Soo’s Capt. John Wellington receives Professional Maritime Achievement Award 6/24 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Capt. John Wellington of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., recently received the Great Lakes Captain’s Association’s Professional Maritime Achievement award. Captain Wellington was born on Mackinac Island July 25, 1931. At a very early age he and his twin brother Jim acquired a small row boat and explored the area. At 14 or so he got a small sailboat and expanded his exploration to all around the Straits. At 17 he decided joining the United States Coast Guard was the way to see over the horizon. His first assignment was to Duluth and while there met his soon-to-be wife Dolly. He was sent to the station at Little Rapids Cut at the Soo, where he operated small boats for search and rescue. While there bought the Sugar Island ferry with his father and brother Jim. He was next sent to Kodiak Island, Alaska, where he sailed aboard the cutters Citrus and the Storis. He was finally assigned to Portland, Maine, where he remained until retirement in 1969. After retiring to the Soo he operated the ferry until they sold it in 1973. A stint at Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours followed. The open water called and he went tugging for several different companies and delivered boats all over the lakes. Soon he bought two tugs, the Seaway One and Two, and then the tugs Chippewa and Iroquois. These were used for ship assist and contract ice breaking on the St Mary’s River. A big achievement was converting the Chippewa from steam to diesel. He also owned the pilot boats in the Soo and Detour for a while, served the City of Sault Ste. Marie as Harbor Master for many years and facilitated port calls by numerous ships, providing them with anything they needed. He was instrumental in getting International Shipmasters Lodge 22 chartered as well as serving as Grand Lodge President. He is also a longtime supporter of the Great Lakes Captain’s Association and is currently serving as a board member. He continues to serve as a board member and president of Sault Historic Sites (Valley Camp museum ship) as well at the Soo Locks Visitors Association. Great Lakes Captain’s Association |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 24 The whaleback steamer WASHBURN (steel propeller freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. (Hull #124) at W. Superior, Wisconsin on 25 June 1892. She lasted until 1936, when she was scrapped at Cleveland, Ohio.On this day in June 25, 1892, the American Steel Barge Company, West Superior Wisconsin, Captain Alexander Mc Dougall manager, held the first triple launching on the Great Lakes, which included the whalebacks PILLSBURY, WASHBURN and the small tug ISLAY. A crowd in excess of 10,000 people witnessed the event. Only the tug ISLAY remains. On 25 June 1892, the PILLSBURY (steel propeller whaleback bulk freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co., at West Superior, Wisconsin. She was rebuilt at Conneaut, Ohio in the winter of 1918-1919 (315.75 feet x 42.25 feet x 24.16 feet; 2,394 gross tons- 1,465 net tons) when she received straight sides and a flattened deck. In 1927, she was converted to crane vessel, with two cranes on deck. In November 1934, she stranded on the north pier at Muskegon, Michigan in a storm and then broke in half. She was scrapped the following year. In 1927, the B. F. AFFLECK (Hull#178) was launched at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. On June 25, 1938, the WILLIAM A. IRVIN began her maiden voyage for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., leaving Lorain, Ohio for Duluth to load iron ore. INDIANA HARBOR set a record cargo on June 25, 1993, loading 71,369 tons of western low sulfur coal at Superior's Midwest Energy Terminal and transporting it 50 miles to Silver Bay, Minnesota. At 1:00 a.m. on 25 June 1878, the 161 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner PESHTIGO and the 143 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner ST ANDREW collided and sank near Cheboygan, Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac. Newspapers of the time claimed that forest fire smoke hampered visibility. Both vessels sank quickly. Two of the crew of PESHTIGO were lost, but the rest were rescued by the schooner S V R WATSON. The entire crew of ST ANDREW was rescued by the Canadian propeller OCEAN. On the afternoon of 25 June 1885, the tug NIAGARA had the schooner MOUNT BLANC in tow while coming rounding to pick up the schooner REINDEER near Stag Island on the St. Clair River. The MOUNT BLANC struck the wreck of the tug B.B. JONES. The JONES had exploded in Port Huron on 25 May 1871, and the wreck was towed to the head of Stag Island where it was abandoned. After striking the wreck of the JONES, the ore laden MOUNT BLANC sank. She was later recovered and repaired and lasted until 1901. 1903 – JOHN CRAIG was seriously damaged in a grounding on Simmons Rock in the Straits of Mackinac. Once refloated, the wooden steamer was taken to St. Ignace and declared a total loss. It was subsequently rebuilt as PANAMA only to be lost in a storm on November 1, 1906. 1950 – Five lives were lost and another 12 passengers injured aboard the passenger ship CITY OF CLEVELAND III when it was in a collision with the Norwegian freighter RAVNEFJELL in fog on Lake Huron. The former was a total loss while the latter was repaired and returned to service. It became b) RINGSTEIN in 1955 and visited the Great Lakes through 1958. It was wrecked near Achona Point, Ghana, on September 11, 1966. 1959 – The Liberian registered MONROVIA became the first saltwater vessel of the Seaway era to sink on the Great Lakes. It went down in heavy fog on Lake Huron after going off course and colliding with the downbound ROYALTON off Thunder Bay Island. The vessel landed upright on the bottom and some of the cargo of steel was salvaged in the 1970s. 1980 – MONTREALAIS of Upper Lakes Shipping and ALGOBAY of Algoma Central collided head-on in heavy fog on the St. Clair River and both suffered massive bow damage. These vessels were repaired and today both sail in the Algoma fleet with the former as ALGOMA MONTREALAIS and the latter, later rebuilt with a new forebody in China, as RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER. 1980 – JEAN LYKES collided with and sank an 18-foot fishing boat in the St. Clair River, 2 miles north of St. Clair, MI. The American flag saltwater vessel was later beached at Alang, India, for scrapping as b) VELMA LYKES on July 9, 1994 1994 – While departing Bay City, McKEE SONS was swept crossways in the Saginaw River and went aground. Four tugs pulled the ship free without damage save for some shoreline erosion. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow arrives Port Colborne 6/23 - The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow arrived at Port Colborne, Ont., Friday at around 8:30 p.m. The tug Evans McKeil has joined fleetmate Tim McKeil for the Welland Canal transit. As of 10 p.m. Friday, the tow was stopped at Wharf 16, most likely undergoing inspection before proceeding. |
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Port Reports - June 23
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel and Georgian Bay Welland Canal and regional report - Friday Jun 22 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Long Point bay:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Eight undiscovered shipwrecks of the Great Lakes 6/23 - Every spring, it starts again: The great treasure hunt. Not for actual treasure, as the ships that met their fates on the Great Lakes weren't known to carry gold, valuable coins or jewels. The prizes are the shipwrecks themselves. Of the estimated 10,000 ships believed to have been lost on the lakes over the past four centuries, only about a third have been found and identified. Amateur and experienced shipwreck hunters hit the water every year as soon as the weather warms, eager to make a new discovery and unearth a piece of the past. "There's still some real mysteries out there," said David Trotter, a renowned shipwreck hunter who has found about 100 lost ships. The cold, fresh water of the Great Lakes means wrecks are typically better preserved there than in the oceans. Advances in sonar and positioning technology have led to a surge in discoveries in recent years. Still, a number of famous vessels remain missing — for now. Here are the stories behind some of the most unique and sought-after undiscovered wrecks in the Great Lakes. See the list and view images at this link: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/06/22/great-lakes-most-mysterious-shipwrecks/621615002 |
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Plane crash reported northwest of Sault, Ont. near Ile Parisienne 6/23 - Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. – SooToday received word Thursday of an accident involving a light aircraft near Ile Parisienne, a remote undeveloped island located in the middle of Whitefish Bay about 25 kilometres northwest of Sault Ste Marie. Details were few as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, but an accident involving a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, a two-seat, single-engine monoplane, was reported to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) and the Sault OPP detachment, said TSB spokesperson Chris Krepski. He said initial investigation shows there were two people aboard, with no reports of injuries. The plane is believed to be registered with a Sault pilot. Editor’s note: On Friday, the Purvis Marine tug W.I. Scott Purvis with the barge PML 357 was enroute back to Sault, Ont., from the scene of the crash after recovering the aircraft. SooToday |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 23 In 1976 the NEPCO 140, carrying six million gallons of No. 6 bunker oil and being pushed toward Oswego by the tug EILEEN C., grounded on the shore of Wellesley Island in the American Narrows section of the St. Lawrence River, just upstream from Alexandria Bay, N.Y. The grounding occurred about 1:35 a.m. in heavy fog and was followed by a second apparent grounding further up river, just before the barge reached the Seaway anchorage site off Mason's Point, some four miles above the initial grounding site. In all, over 300,000 of the thick crude was spilled into the River, creating the largest slick ever to pollute an inland U.S. waterway to that day. Seaway traffic was halted immediately, sending at least 20 ships to anchor. Within hours, over 20,000 feet of boom were deployed, but the spill moved steadily down river, coating granite shoreline, trapping waterfowl, forcing boat owners to pull their boats, and oozing into sensitive marshland, particularly Chippewa Bay in New York waters. Some oil eventually reached as far down the river as Lake St. Lawrence and coated shoreline along the Long Sault Parkway on the Canadian side of the lake. Clean-up lasted into the fall and cost in excess U.S. $8 million.On 23 June 1903, the tug O.W. CHENEY steamed out of Buffalo harbor in heavy fog to tow the steamer CHEMUNG into the harbor. The tug ran too close to the oncoming steamer, was struck by the bow, and the CHENEY overturned and sank. Three crewmen were killed; two survivors were picked up by the tug FRANK S. BUTLER. On 23 June 1969, RALPH MISENER (steel propeller bulk freighter, 730 foot, 19,160 gross tons, built in 1968, at Montreal, Quebec) transited the Soo Locks upbound for the first time. She had an innovative self-unloading system with twin booms. The movable crane was equipped with a chain of buckets so it could discharge cargo from either side. This unloading system only lasted until 1976, when it was severely damaged in a squall on Lake Michigan. The vessel was then converted from a combination self-unloader/bulk carrier to a bulk carrier. She was renamed b.) GORDON C. LEITCH in 1994. In 1926, the GLENMHOR (Hull#16), the name was soon corrected to GLENMOHR, was launched at Midland Ontario by Midland Shipbuilding Co., for Great Lakes Transportation Co., (James Playfair). She was 6 feet wider and 4 feet shallower than the largest ship at that time. Purchased by Canada Steamship Lines in 1926, renamed b.) LEMOYNE. Scrapped at Santander, Spain in 1969. In 1929, the WILLIAM G. CLYDE (Hull#804) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. Converted to a self-unloader and renamed b.) CALCITE II in 1961. Renamed c.) MAUMEE in 2001. Launched in 1972, was the ALGOWAY (Hull#200) at Collingwood, Ontario, by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., for Algoma Central Railway. The first whaleback barge, 101, was launched along the shore of St. Louis Bay near Duluth, Minnesota, on 23 June 1888. Captain Alexander Mc Dougall, the inventor and designer, was there along with his wife, her sister-in-law and several hundred spectators. As the vessel splashed in to the bay, Mrs. Mc Dougall is supposed to have muttered, "There goes our last dollar!" On 23 June 1900, the 450 foot steel steamer SIMON J. MURPHY (Hull#135) was launched at Wyandotte, Michigan, by the Detroit Ship Building Co., for the Eddy - Shaw Transportation Co. of Bay City, Michigan. On 23 June 1873, B. F. BRUCE was launched at Crosthwaite's yard in East Saginaw, Michigan. She is not properly a schooner, but what is known as a "three-and-after" in nautical terms. Her capacity was 50,000 bushels of grain (800 tons) and the building cost was $50,000. 1942 – EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON struck Boulder Reef, Lake Michigan and the hull cracked in two places. The vessel as on the rocks for 25 days until it coould be strapped together and refloated. The ship was towed to Chicago for one of the largest repair jobs in Great Lakes history. 1948 – CRETE and J.P. MORGAN JR. were in a head-on collision, in fog, off the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior. Both ships suffered extensive damage. Two were killed, 3 more injured, aboard the latter steamer. ALTADOC and E.A.S. CLARKE also collided in fog near the Apostle Islands but the damage, while requiring repairs, was less serious. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Matthew Daley, Dave Swayze, Fritz Hager, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow heads for Port Colborne 6/22 - The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow passed downbound at Detroit Thursday afternoon on her way to Port Colborne, and then eventually to Turkey for scrapping. |
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Canadian registry opened for former American Valor 6/22 - On June 20, Canadian registry was opened for a vessel named Valo with a port of registry of St. Catharines, Ont., and the Algoma Central Corp. as registered owner. This is the American Valor, built in 1953 as the Armco. It is unknown what plans Algoma has for the vessel, but names are usually shortened in this manner for scrap tows. American Valor is in long-term layup at Toledo, Ohio. |
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Port Reports - June 22
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Drummond Island
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jun 21 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Trio to pay tribute to Fitzgerald while crossing Lake Superior on paddleboards 6/22 - Three Michigan men will attempt something that has never been done before later this summer. Sometime in mid-July, Joe Lorenz, 32, Kwin Morris, 31, and Jeff Guy, 32, will attempt to paddleboard across Lake Superior, the largest, coldest, and most dangerous of the Great Lakes, with the goal of raising $10,000 for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. "It can pick up like crazy out there in a matter of seconds," Morris said. "Superior's weather and waves have taken thousands of sailors and their ships to the grave." Dressed in their dry suits, the trio will traverse the often-deadly lake from Sinclair Cove, Ontario, near centuries-old pictographs of paddlers painted on the cliffs by the Ojibwe, to Whitefish Point in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. It's a route that crosses near the site of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald, Lake Superior's most-infamous victim which sunk on Nov. 10, 1975, killing the entire crew of 29. "We can stop and give respect to all of the shipwrecks and sailors that have gone down," Morris, a teacher in the Elk Rapids School District, said. Read more and view a video at this link: https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/trio_to_tribute_edmund_fitzger.html |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 22 On 22 June 1959, BAYPORT (steel propeller tug, 72 foot, 65 gross tons, built in 1914, at Cleveland, Ohio, formerly named a.) FAIRPORT) had the steamer MOHAWK DEER in tow when she was hooked by her own tow cable, capsized and sank at Collingwood, Ontario. Three lives were lost. The tug was later raised and converted from steam to diesel. Later renamed c.) TWIN PORT, and d.) ROD MC LEAN in 1974. She was scrapped in 2008 at the Purvis west yard at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.On 22 June 1909, W.P. THEW (wooden propeller freighter, 133 foot, 207 gross tons, built in 1884, at Lorain, Ohio) was in ballast, creeping through the fog off Alpena, Michigan on Lake Huron when she was rammed by the WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE (steel propeller freighter, 532 foot, 6,634 gross tons, built in 1908, at Ecorse, Michigan). After the collision, the LIVINGSTONE drifted away and lost track of the THEW. The THEW sank in 80 feet of water. Fortunately the steamer MARY C. ELPHICKE answered the distress whistle and picked up the THEW's crew from the lifeboat. No lives were lost. The WILLIAM R. ROESCH (Hull#901) was launched and christened at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., on June 22, 1973, for the Union Commerce Bank, Ohio (Trustee) and managed by the Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) DAVID Z. NORTON in 1995, c.) DAVID Z in 2007 and d.) CALUMET in 2008. June 22, 1957 - W. L. Mercereau, known as the Father of the Fleet, died. Mercereau developed the Pere Marquette fleet of car ferries into the largest in the world. On 22 June 1853, CHALLENGE (wooden propeller freighter, 198 foot, 665 tons, built in 1853, at Newport, Michigan) was bound from Chicago for Buffalo with barreled pork and oats on one of her first trips. However, her boiler exploded off Cheboygan, Michigan. She burned and sank. Five died. The schooner NORTH STAR heard the blast ten miles away and came to the rescue of the rest of the passengers and crew. On 22 June 1875, The Port Huron Times reported that "the Northern Transportation Company's fleet of 20 propellers, which have been idle all the season owing to difficulties between the Central Vermont and the Ogdensburg & Champlain Railroad Companies, have passed from the control of the Central Vermont Railroad Company and will commence regular trips as soon as they can be fitted out." Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. Marine Historical Society of Detroit. |
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American Victory tow in St. Clair River Thursday morning 6/21 - The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow was below Harbor Beach Wednesday night moving at about 5 knots. They should be in position for an early morning passage past Port Huron/Sarnia. Look for the tug Tim McKeil on AIS to monitor the tow’s progress. The tug Cheyenne is expected to rejoin the tow as stern tug Thursday before the tow enters the river. |
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Changes at Rand Logistics: Ed Levy out, Scott Bravener returns 6/21 - Jersey City, N.J. – Rand Logistics Inc. has announced the departure of Ed Levy as Chief Executive Officer, the appointment of Aaron Degodny as interim co-president & COO with responsibility for Rand Logistics, Inc. and Grand River Navigation Co., and the return of Scott Bravener as director of Rand and interim co-president & COO with responsibility for Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. In addition, Rand announced the commencement of a comprehensive search process to appoint a new chief executive officer of Rand. “We believe Aaron and Scott possess the right blend of transformative leadership ability, customer-centric commercial acumen, and knowledge of the Rand operations to make them uniquely qualified to lead Rand,” said John Becker, managing partner at American Industrial Partners (Rand’s majority shareholder). “Over the coming weeks, Aaron and Scott will be connecting with and visiting Rand’s operations and customers.” Degodny has served Rand as Chief Commercial Officer since February 2016. He has over 25 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry, with the majority of his career in the bulk commodities and industrial products sectors. Prior to joining Rand, Aaron was employed with Canadian National (CN) Railway for 20 years, where he served as Director of Sales for Bulk Commodities for the United States and Canada, one of the railroad’s largest business segments. At CN, he also held the positions of Director of Sales for Industrial Products and National Account Manager for Grain and Fertilizer. Earlier in his career, he held various positions focused on commodity trading, logistics and transportation at Cargill, Inc. He is a graduate of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus on transportation logistics and economics. Capt. Scott Bravener served as the president & CEO of Lower Lakes Towing Ltd and affiliated companies, a subsidiary of Rand Logistics, Inc., from 1994 until 2016. As co-founder and president of Lower Lakes Towing and affiliated companies, Bravener spearheaded the growth of the company from a single Canadian tug and barge vessel in 1994 to the largest bi-national shipping company operating on the Great Lakes. He has worked in the Great Lakes shipping industry since 1982, serving in various capacities for Canada Steamship Lines Inc. and P & H Shipping prior to the formation of Lower Lakes. He previously served as director of Lower Lakes and Rand Logistics Inc. from 2006 to 2015. Capt. Bravener is a certified shipmaster and is a graduate of Marine Navigation Technology, Georgian College, Owen Sound, Ont. Rand Logistics, Inc. |
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Port Reports - June 21
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Saginaw River – Gordy Garris
Sarnia, Ont. – Brad Kelch Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday Jun 20 ... Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Canadian shipping companies need seafarers 6/21 - St. Catharines, Ont. – Like most Niagara residents, Vincent Giannopoulos cursed a bit when he came across a raised bridge along the Welland Canal. But one day the Port Colborne native saw those raised bridges and ships passing by as a career opportunity. "I got on the ships at 21," said Giannopoulos, who now works for the Seafarers' International Union (SIU) of Canada inspecting foreign-flagged vessels when they arrive in Canada. Giannopoulos said being on board vessels in the Great Lakes allowed him to visit "cool spots" that most people don't visit. "People will go to Toronto, New York City or Chicago. One day I'd be in Green Bay, the next in Milwaukee, then Chicago and Sandusky. I got to see so much of North America," he said. This Sunday in St. Catharines, Giannopoulos will encourage young Niagarans to look at working on ships as a career as he, James Given, president of the Seafarers' Training Institute and the Seafarers' International Union of Canada, and Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey kick off the Be a Seafarer recruitment campaign. The initiative is a partnership between SIU of Canada, and Canada's major marine shipping companies, Canada Steamship Lines, St. Catharines-based Algoma Central Corp. and Groupe Desgagnés. Giannopoulos said there's an urgent need to hire 300 new seafarers, as well as an ongoing need to fill positions of an aging workforce, as almost 20 per cent of SIU members will retire within the next five years. He said the median age for those on board vessels in the Great Lakes is in the 50s, and that people are retiring faster than they can be replaced. "It's such a good opportunity to get out and see a bit of the world, especially for a young person finishing high school." St. Catharines Standard |
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Army Corps to work on $420K dredging project on AuSable 6/21 - AuSable Towsnhip, Mich. – The AuSable River mouth, known as AuSable Harbor, will undergo a $420,000 dredging project in the near future, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. The harbor location was one of many listed for funding for various projects, which will utilize $79 million to conduct work to repair breakwaters, dredge harbors and complete various projects and studies throughout the Great Lakes. According to a press release, the Detroit District’s work planned increase of $79 million includes funding to do 21 dredging projects and four repair, replacement, or construction projects. Significant funding will be applied to the Soo Locks to help further asset renewal projects and the major rehabilitation of key components of the MacArthur and Poe Locks. In addition, the work plan includes design funding for two environmental projects. “These Work Plan funds will help address critical asset renewal and major rehabilitation projects at the Soo Locks facility, and also address numerous dredging needs around the Great Lakes. We construct, maintain and operate key infrastructure projects that are crucial to the nation’s economy, environment, safety and quality of life, now and in the future,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Sugrue, district engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Officer Lynn Rose said she is unsure of the scope of work for the AuSable Harbor project, or even when the work will be conducted. “We come up with the plan on how much we want to be dredged, the contractors will ask how much they can dredge on how much is offered,” she said. “And other things go into the amount that we see here, other than the actual dredging.” According to Rose, the last time the river was dredged was in July and August of 201 where it was brought to a depth of 10 feet below low water datum (LWD). “The plan is to award a contract as soon as possible to dredge the harbor (most likely in the spring) to full authorized project depth, which is 10 feet below LWD in the inner channel and 12 feet below LWD in the channel entrance,” she said. AuSable Harbor is mostly used for recreational purposes, but Rose said the Corps is tasked with maintaining it all the same. “We are responsible for keeping navigational channels open,” she said. “Some of these harbors are what we call low use harbors and we don’t use them for commercial shipping, but that is our main focus is the shipping this is considered a federal channel and dredging keeps the channel at the authorized depth.” Because of the movement of the river water, the channel will continually need dredged. “Most channels fill in with silt and sand because of the water,” she said. “Sometimes they are so shoaled in even a small ship could not get in.” Oscoda Press |
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Help wanted: S.S. Badger 6/21 - Ordinary seaman needed aboard the S.S. Badger: An entry level position in the deck department. The OS performs deck department functions including line handling, deck maintenance, and fire/lifeboat/emergency duties. The OS can expect to live aboard the ship and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per week during the sailing season from now until mid-October. The OS is required to hold a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential and a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Benefit eligible after completing 90-day probationary period. Please visit our website at www.ssbadger.com scroll and click on the Employment Opportunities box to obtain an online or printable application. If you have difficulty with the application or need further information, please email laurieb@ssbadger.com |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 21 On 21 June 1868, the D&C Line's MORNING STAR (wooden side-wheel steamer, 243 foot, 1,075 tons, built in 1862, at Trenton, Michigan) was late in leaving her dock in Cleveland, Ohio, because she was loading some last-minute freight (iron bars and glass). As she sailed on Lake Erie to Detroit during the dark and rainy night, she collided with the heavy-laden bark COURTLAND and sank quickly, 10 miles off Lorain, Ohio. Twenty feet of the steamer's bow had been torn off while the bark was swept into one of the paddle wheels and destroyed. The side-wheel steamer R N RICE arrived on the scene at 3 a.m. and picked up the survivors - only 44 of them. In September, MORNING STAR was raised, towed to Lorain and re-sunk in 55 feet of water, for possible future rebuilding. Attempts were made to raise her again several times, but in the summer of 1872, she was abandoned because it was determined that the previous attempts had reduced her to rubble.On 21 June 1878, the small passenger steamer J. HOLT, which ran between Chatham and Wallaceburg, Ontario, burned on Lake St. Clair. The passengers and crew escaped in the lifeboats. On June 21, 1942, the LEON FRASER entered service as the largest vessel on the Great Lakes. The Pittsburgh Steamship Co. bulk freighter, originally 639 foot 6 inches long, retained at least a tie for that honor until the WILFRED SYKES entered service in 1949. She was shortened, converted to a self-unloading cement carrier and renamed b.) ALPENA in 1991. June 21, 1942, the U.S. Steel bulk freighter EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON ran hard aground on Boulder Reef in Lake Michigan and broke in two. The vessel was subsequently recovered and, after a long career with U.S. Steel, was finally sold for scrap in 1980. The m/v RANGER III (Hull#385) was side-launched at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Christy Corporation, on Saturday, June 21, 1958. The vessel was custom designed by R.A. Stearns (Bay Engineering) also of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for the National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park. On June 21, 1986, during a severe thunderstorm (and unofficial observations of a funnel cloud) in the Duluth area, the JOSHUA A. HATFIELD broke loose from Azcon Scrap Dock in Duluth and was blown across the harbor and ended up hard aground on Park Point (Minnesota Point). She remained stuck for nearly 3 weeks when a storm with east winds pushed the HATFIELD free and she blew most of the way back across the harbor back to the scrap dock. Tugs were dispatched in time to safely guide the HATFIELD back to the scrap dock. (June seems to be a bad month for U.S. Steel in accidents, with the June 7, 1977, accident involving the WILLIAM A. IRVIN, the June 15, 1943, collision between the D. M. CLEMSON and the GEORGE M. HUMPHREY, and the June 21, 1942, grounding of the EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON on Boulder Reef.) June 21, 1916 - The ANN ARBOR NO 5, after departing the shipyards in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1916, where 3 buckets (blades) were replaced on her starboard propeller, arrived in Manistique, Michigan. While maneuvering around in the harbor she struck the rocky bottom and broke off the same three blades off her starboard propeller. June 21, 1994 - The Ludington Daily News reported a planned sale of the CITY OF MIDLAND 41, to Contessa Cruise Lines of Minnesota. The deal included an option to sell the SPARTAN and Contessa was prohibited from competing against Lake Michigan Carferry Co., but it fell through. The 3-mast wooden schooner GEORGE MURRAY was launched in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on 21 June 1873. At the time, she was billed as the largest vessel ever built on Lake Michigan. Her dimensions were 299 foot long x 34 foot beam x 14 foot depth, with the capacity to carry 50,000 bushels of grain. She was built by G. S. Rand for J. R. Slauson of Racine, Wisconsin. 1910 – The tug C.W. ELPHICKE sank at Michigan City, Indiana, after a bizarre accident. The steamer UNITED STATES had struck the Franklin Street Bridge, which then collapsed on the tug. The tug was salvaged on July 12. 1941 – BOMMESTAD, a small Norwegian freighter, came to the Great Lakes in the 1920s and 1930s. It was sold and renamed HILDA in 1934 and registered in Finland when it was torpedoed and sunk by U-52 in the Bay of Biscay while enroute from Dunkirk, France, to the U.K. with a cargo of wheat. 1964 – The Norwegian freighter STELLA NOVA ran aground off Alexandria Bay, N.Y., while enroute from Duluth to Bombay, India. It was refloated June 24 with major bottom damage but was repaired. It had been a Seaway trader as a) VITO in 1959 and was scrapped as f) CORALBA after arriving at Split, Yugoslavia, on September 19, 1978. On 21 June 1900, the wooden bulk freighter R C BRITTAIN was raised at Toledo, Ohio. She was brought to Sarnia where repairs were made and the engine of the tug F A FOLGER was installed in her. She had previously sunk at Toledo and remained there for several years before being raised. She lasted until 1912, when she burned at Sarnia. Data from: Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Skip Gillham, David Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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American Victory scrap tow expected at Port Huron early Thursday morning 6/20 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow arrived at the Soo Locks about 8 a.m. on a sunny Tuesday and locked downbound through the Poe Lock. The tug Tim McKeil was on the bow and the tug Cheyenne was on the stern. They were downbound at Mission Point at 9:30 a.m. and in the Rock Cut just before noon. The tow was outbound at DeTour around 8 p.m. The tow should be at buoys 11 and 12 above Port Huron/Sarnia early Thursday morning and will likely waiting until day light to transit the river.
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Lakes limestone trade up nearly 4 percent in May 6/20 - Cleveland, Ohio – Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.745 million tons in May, an increase of 3.9 percent compared to a year ago. May’s loadings also bettered the month’s 5-year average by the same percent. Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.155 million tons, an increase of 7.9 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 590,000 tons, a decrease of 13.5 percent. Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 5.2 million tons, a decrease of 1.5 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 4.47 million tons, an increase of 3.1 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 767,000 tons, a decrease of 21.7 percent. Lake Carriers’ Association |
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Port Reports - June 20
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday Jun 19 - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer |
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Ahead of dock repairs, Wisconsin governor touts car ferry as Great Lakes asset 6/20 - Manitowoc, Wis. – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker helped Manitowoc officials celebrate the groundbreaking for $4 million in repairs to the S.S. Badger dock. Walker was joined by U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Dave Ross and Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels during the Monday celebration. "It's (the car ferry) a great asset, not only for here, but for anything water-based throughout the Great Lakes," Walker said. The S.S. Badger is one of six ferries in Wisconsin and provides four-hour passage between Manitowoc and Ludington, Michigan, for passengers and vehicles. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016. The project will update the docking and berthing facilities in Manitowoc, which are approximately 70 years old. In mid-April, a sudden spring storm caused damage to the loading structure and severely eroded the harbor side of the S.S. Badger facility. An emergency $800,000 HAP grant was given to the city for repairs before the ferry began its 2018 sailing schedule, which started May 11. In 2017, the federal government awarded a $5 million grant for work on both the Ludington and Manitowoc docks. Manitowoc also received a $2 million Wisconsin HAP grant to replace a seawall at the ferry dock. "I think this is the type of thing the federal fund should be used for, a kind of interstate commerce," said Grothman. "It does so much to connect Wisconsin and Michigan." Work on the repairs will begin in October, after the S.S. Badger completes its sailing season and will be completed by May 2019 before the ferry sets sail again. Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter |
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Duluth-Superior harbor security restrictions Wednesday due to Trump visit 6/20 - Duluth, Minn. – The U. S. Coast Guard in Duluth, Minn., is scheduled to establish security restrictions on portions of the Duluth-Superior Harbor on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 20, as part of President Trump’s visit to the area. The U.S. Coast Guard will establish and strictly enforce two security zones on northern and central portions of the Duluth-Superior Harbor, including the Duluth Ship Canal, East Gate Basin, and around the Blatnik Bridge. Enforcement times provided are subject to change. The most up-to-date information will be provided via Broadcast Notice to mariners over VHF channel 16. Security Zone A covers northern Duluth Harbor Basin and will be enforced from 4 p.m. through approximately 8 p.m. on June 20, 2018. Security Zone B covers central portions of Duluth-Superior Harbor and will be enforced from 4 p.m. through approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 20, 2018. All vessels and persons are prohibited from entry into or remaining in the security zones unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Duluth or designated representative. Vessels already at berth, moored, or anchored at the time the security zones are implemented do not have to depart the zone unless directed to depart by the COTP Duluth or designated representative. All vessels underway within the security zones at the time they are implemented are to depart the zone. Vessels and persons who wish to request authorization to enter the security zones may contact COTP Duluth or designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16. USCG |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 20 On this day in 1943, the IRVING S. OLDS departed Two Harbors with 20,543 tons of ore and the BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS departed Two Harbors with 20,386 tons of ore. It was the first time that two lakers departed the same harbor on the same day with cargos in excess of 20,000 tons.The SENATOR (steel propeller freighter, 410 foot, 4,048 gross tons) was launched by the Detroit Dry Dock Company (Hull #122) at Wyandotte, Michigan, on 20 June 1896, for the Wolverine Steamship Company. She lasted until 31 October 1929, when she collided with the steamer MARQUETTE in fog off Port Washington, Wisconsin, and sank with her cargo of 241 automobiles. On 20 June 1893, GEORGE STONE (wooden propeller freighter, 270 foot, 1,841 gross tons) was launched by F. W. Wheeler & Co. (Hull #98) at West Bay City, Michigan. She lasted until 1909, when she stranded and burned on Lake Erie. The WILLIAM P. COWAN (Hull#724) cleared Lorain, Ohio on her maiden voyage in 1918. Renamed b.) AMOCO ILLINOIS in 1962. Scrapped at Windsor, Ontario, by M & M Steel Co., in 1987. In 1903, the twin-screw rail car ferry GRAND HAVEN (Hull#92) was launched at Toledo, Ohio, by the Craig Ship Building Co., for the Grand Trunk Carferry Line, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 1953 – The Paterson steamer SCOTIADOC sank in Lake Superior near Trowbridge Island after a collision in wind and fog with the BURLINGTON of Canada Steamship Lines. One man was lost when the starboard lifeboat was swamped after being launched. 1954 – The bulk carrier PATRIA, built in Canada during World War Two as the tanker MOOSE MOUNTAIN PARK, was declared a total loss after coming ashore 1 mile northwest of East Point, Santa Rosa Island, California. The ship was salvaged, repaired and made one trip through the Seaway in 1961 as PATAPSCO RIVER before being scrapped at Hirao, Japan, in 1963. 1973 – The bulk carrier ATLANTIC TRADER first traded through the Seaway in 1961 and returned on a regular basis as INVEREWE beginning in 1962. It was back again as d) THEOKEETOR in 1972 but sank June 20, 1973, after a collision with MARINA L. in dense fog off the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. All on board were saved. 1978 – A fire broke out in the cargo of coal aboard WILLIS B. BOYER and the ship docked at River Rouge where part of the cargo was unloaded to get at the fire. The vessel was enroute from Toledo to Silver Bay. 1995 – SAULT AU COCHON, built by Port Weller Dry Docks as a pulpwood barge in 1969, buckled and sank at Forestville, QC. The hull was refloated and taken to Hamilton for repairs later in the year. 2007 – KAPITAN RADIONOV first came to the Great Lakes in May 1992 with coal tar for Cleveland. It sank in severe weather on this date in 2007 as i) ALEXANDRA C. after flooding began in the engine room the previous day. The vessel went down 95 miles off Socotra Island, Yemen, while enroute to Australia with ammonium nitrate. All 19 crew on board were rescued. On June 20, 1959, the SEAWAY QUEEN began her maiden voyage. The vessel was appropriately named, as at the time she was the largest Canadian vessel on the Great Lakes, the 2nd largest on the Great Lakes overall (behind the EDMUND FITZGERALD), and she entered service the same week that Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicated the St. Lawrence Seaway. She was one of the more popular and classic looking vessels on the Great Lakes. June 20, 1936 - PERE MARQUETTE 21 was blocked in Manitowoc following an accident that disabled the Manitowoc Tenth Street Bridge, making it impossible to raise the structure. June 20, 1993 - BADGER struck the Ludington breakwall while arriving Ludington. She was sent to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. Ten operating days and 21 sailings were lost. The 230-foot wooden freighter JAMES DAVIDSON (Hull#4) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan, for James Davidson at his shipyard on 20 June 1874. JAMES DAVIDSON was wrecked in Lake Huron in 1883. The MINNEHAHA, a wooden "clipper" schooner, was launched at James A. Baker's shipyard in Oswego, New York, on 20 June 1857. Her dimensions were 110 foot keel, 125 foot overall, x 25 foot 6 inches x 10 foot 6 inches. She could carry 13,000 bushels of grain. Mr. James Navagh, her master builder, received a gold watch and chain worth $200 in appreciation of his fine work on this vessel. On Wednesday night, 20 June 1877, the schooner EVELINE (wooden schooner, 118 foot, 236 gross tons, built in 1861, at Litchfield, Michigan) was struck by lightning about sixty miles out from Alpena, Michigan. The bolt shattered the mainmast, throwing three large pieces over the vessel's sides. The large spar was split perpendicularly in two and the lightning bolt followed the grain of the wood in a circular manner until it reached the main boom jaw, which is enclosed in a band of iron fastened by a large bolt. This bolt was literally cut in two. The mate, George Mayom, had the left side of his body blistered and the skin burned off from the shoulder to the foot. His right leg, hands and arm were also severely burned, and he suffered internal injuries and bled freely. The vessel made it to port and she was repaired. She lasted until September 1895, when she sank off Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Data from: Max Hanley, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Skip Gillham, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Paul R. Tregurtha cleared to proceed after fire 6/19 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The U.S. Coast Guard cleared the motor vessel Paul R. Tregurtha in Lake Superior for transit to her next port of call for repairs Monday evening. After a generator fire was extinguished Monday morning, Coast Guard marine inspectors began a marine casualty investigation. The investigation is ongoing. No injuries or pollution were identified. The vessel was at anchor off Brimley, Mich., for most of Monday. She was downbound at the Soo in the late evening headed for St. Clair, Mich., to unload coal. USCG |
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American Victory scrap tow expected at Soo Locks Tuesday morning 6/19 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The American Victory (Victo) scrap tow is expected at the Soo Locks around 11 a.m. Tuesday and at Mission Point around 1 p.m. The ETA for Port Huron buoys 11 and 12 is 4 a.m. June 21. Times are subject to change. Look for the tug Tim McKeil on AIS to follow the tow’s progress. |
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American Spirit continues downbound trip after grounding 6/19 - Duluth, Minn. – American Spirit floated free from the bottom at approximately 10 p.m. (central standard time) Sunday. Tug were on scene but the Coast Guard reports that the thousand footer floated free due to a water level. It proceeded under its own power, with tug assistance, to the Husky Fuel dock. An examination of the interior and exterior of the hull revealed no damage and the vessel was cleared to proceed on her trip to Indiana Harbor. The vessel grounded about 3:30 p.m. local time Sunday. She was departing Duluth Harbor fully loaded with taconite when it ran aground just short of the breakwall while attempting to turn out of the harbor. The cause of the incident is under investigation. USCG |
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Port Reports - June 19
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jun 18 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Welland canal docks: Port Weller anchorage: Anchored - Jun 7 - Chem Norma (Mhl) ) eta 2347 approx., - Jun 17 - Federal Churchill (Mhl) at 1920 - Jun 18 - Three Rivers (Atg) at 1515 from Hamilton - Departures - Jun 17 - Palabora (Atg) at 2346 eastbound
Hamilton:
Clarkson:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Seaway |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 19 On 19 June 1889, NORTH STAR (steel propeller freighter, 299 foot, 2,476 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio) collided with CHARLES J. SHEFFIELD (steel propeller freighter, 260 foot, 1,699 gross tons, built in 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio) about sixty miles west of Whitefish Point on Lake Superior in heavy fog. The NORTH STAR kept her bow in the SHEFFIELD's side after the impact, giving the crew time to board. The SHEFFIELD then sank in 8 minutes. Her loss was valued at $160,000. The courts found both vessels to be equally at fault after years of litigation.In 1954, GEORGE M. HUMPHREY (Hull#871) (named for President Eisenhower's Secretary of Treasury) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Shipbuilding Co, for National Steel Co., M.A. Hanna, mgr. In 1978, ALGOBAY (Hull#215) was launched by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) ATLANTIC TRADER in 1994, and renamed c.) ALGOBAY in 1996 and d.) RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER in 2012. On 19 June 1836, DELAWARE (wooden passenger/package freight side wheeler, 105 foot, 178 tons, built in 1833, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying general merchandise and passengers in a storm on Lake Michigan when she was thrown ashore off Niles, Illinois. She broke in two and was wrecked. No lives were lost. On 19 June 1900, the wooden schooner THOMAS L. HOWLAND was raised and towed to Buffalo, New York for repairs. She had been sunk by the ice off Windmill Point in the Detroit River early in the season. At 5:30 p.m., on 19 June 1872, the wooden package freight/passenger propeller MONTANA (236 foot, 1,535 gross tons) was finally afloat at Port Huron, Michigan. She was successfully launched at the Port Huron Dry Dock Company on Saturday, 15 June, but she got stuck in the mud. The tugs VULCAN, PRINDEVILLE, BROCKWAY and BURNSIDE were all employed to free her and the MONTANA's engines were also going. It took four days of pulling, hoisting and dredging to free her. The effort to get her free and afloat cost Alexander Muir, her builder, over $3,000 (in 1872 dollars). She lasted until 1914, when she burned near Alpena, Michigan. 1905 – The wooden passenger and freight steamer CITY OF COLLINGWOOD of 1893 vintage was destroyed by a fire at Collingwood and four lives were lost. 1917 – The Canadian bulk carrier NATIRONCO was beached in the Detroit River after a collision with the ASTERN STATES and was deemed a total loss. It was raised and repaired at Toledo and survived until scrapping at Civitavecchia, Italy, as d) SAN CARLO in 1929. 1925 – The wooden freighter MAPLEGLEN (i), is scuttled in Lake Ontario, west of Kingston, near Amherst Island. It had been idle since 1921 and was originally the WYOMING of 1881. 1929 –JOHN HANLAN was torched as a spectacle off the Sunnyside area of Toronto after having failed an inspection to continue service as a Toronto Island ferry. 1933 – MEADCLIFFE HALL sustained rudder damage after being struck by the CALGADOC (i) at Thorold. The grain-laden canaller was towed back to Port Colborne, unloaded, and repaired at Port Dalhousie. 1962 – Hatch cover planks give way at Cleveland aboard FLOWERGATE and a forklift and two men fell into the cargo hold, striking a third man. All were badly injured. The British freighter later returned through the Seaway under Panamanian registry as b) AMENITY and was scrapped at Troon, Scotland, in 1977. Data from: Jody Aho, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Skip Gillham, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Paul R. Tregurtha suffers generator fire 6/18 - Soo, Mich. - Monday afternoon the Paul R. Tregurtha departed the anchorage near Point Iroquois and continued her downbound trip. It is unknown if repairs have been completed or if they will stop in the Soo. Original Report: Monday morning about 4:20 a.m. the Paul. R. Tregurtha reported a generator fire while travelling downbound above the Soo. The vessel master reported the fire extinguished at 5:30 a.m. and stated that there were no injuries or pollution, and all 23 crewmembers are accounted for. The thousand footer is carrying 68,200 tons of coal, 124,000 gallons of fuel, and 88,000 gallons of caustic soda used in the exhaust scrubber. The Coast Guard had a vessel on scene to conduct an Investigation into the cause of the incident. The Paul R. Tregurtha is anchored near Point Iroquois, in Whitefish Bay. USCG |
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American Spirit refloated in Duluth 6/18 - Duluth - American Spirit floated free from the bottom at approximately 10 p.m. (central standard time) Sunday. Tug were on scene but the Coast Guard reports that the thousand footer floated free due to a water level. It proceeded under its own power, with tug assistance, to the Husky Fuel dock. An examination of the interior and exterior of the hull is ongoing. Original report: The American Spirit remains aground in Duluth Harbor Sunday evening. The thousand footer grounded about 3:30 p.m. local time Sunday. The vessel was departing Duluth Harbor fully loaded with taconite when it ran aground just short of the breakwall while attempting to turn out of the harbor. The cause of the incident is under investigation. USCG |
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Former American Victory begins first leg of long scrap tow 6/18 - Duluth-Superior – The tug Tim McKeil, assisted by the local tug Helen H. towed the American Victory out into a foggy Lake Superior Sunday morning. This is the first leg of a scrap tow that will eventually end up in Aliaga, Turkey. By Sunday evening, the tow was east of the Apostle Islands making 7.7 knots. A rough estimate would put her in the upper St. Marys River sometime Tuesday morning. The Detroit-based tug Cheyenne was upbound in the St. Marys River Sunday night and is expected to join the downbound tow at the Soo. The vessel, whose name was shortened to Victo for the tow, sailed for many years as the Middletown of the now-defunct Oglebay Norton fleet. When that company folded in 2006, she and other members of the fleet were sold to the American Steamship Co., which renamed her American Victory. She entered what would be her final layup, at Superior, Wis., in late 2008 during the economic crises of that time. Late last year she and four other vessels were sold to the Algoma Central Corp., a Canadian firm. Although she was moved to another layup dock, she was not returned to service. Her final port is expected to be Aliaga, Turkey. The vessel was aunched on Halloween 1942 as the tanker Marquette. She was built by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's yard in Sparrows Point, Md., as an oiler for the U.S. Navy. The vessel was commissioned, however, as the USS Neshanic (AO-71), and entered service in April 1943. During her first year, she was involved in several close encounters with both enemy submarines and air attacks on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On June 18, 1944, her luck ran out, as she was hit with a bomb from a Japanese plane while refueling a destroyer. She tied up alongside a sister ship, the Saranac, and some of the Saranac's injured crew (she was also attacked) were treated aboard the Neshanic. The Neshanic was later repaired and was decommissioned in December 1945. In 1947, she was sold to the Gulf Oil Co. and renamed Gulfoil. The years to follow were much less eventful than her war years until August 7, 1958, when she collided with the tanker S. E. Graham near Newport, Rhode Island. The Graham exploded, and the Gulfoil was heavily damaged. Many of her crew perished. After the collision, the Gulfoil was taken to Baltimore, where it was determined that her engine spaces had not sustained unrepairable damage. The vessel was converted to a straight deck bulk carrier, her pilothouse and forward cabins were moved to the bow and, after lengthening and widening with the new midbody, she was purchased by the Pioneer Steamship Co. of Cleveland and renamed Pioneer Challenger. She entered service under that name on July 16, 1961. The vessel was constructed as a maximum-sized Seaway carrier, 730 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 39 feet 3 inches deep. With her steam turbine plant producing 7,700 horsepower, the Pioneer Challenger was capable of over 16 miles per hour under full load, and remained faster than most vessels on the Great Lakes. The Pioneer subsidiary of Hutchinson was disbanded at the end of 1961, and the vessels were sold to various other fleets. The Columbia Transportation Division of Oglebay Norton Company acquired the Pioneer Challenger and renamed her Middletown in 1962. |
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American Spirit runs aground in Duluth harbor 6/18 - Duluth, Minn. – The 1,004-foot freighter American Spirit, loaded with iron ore pellets, ran aground in the Duluth harbor Sunday afternoon, closing the Aerial Lift Bridge entry to ship traffic for the time being. The freighter sat askew in the harbor, with its stern pointing just behind Amsoil Arena and its bow pointing toward the Canal Park seawall. It came to a stop just short of the seawall, but it didn’t hit it, according to Duluth Seaway Port Authority spokeswoman Adele Yorde. There were no injuries reported aboard the freighter and the Port Authority is requesting that boaters stay at least 500 feet away from the ship. Video shows the vessel dropping her port anchor in an effort to slow her progress. It’s unknown why the freighter ran aground, however a possible cause might have been strong currents whipped up by recent storms. Yorde said the reason will likely be determined during an investigation into the incident that could take weeks. Duluth firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were on scene, circling the American Spirit to determine whether the freighter was leaking oil. Authorities could not say Sunday evening when the ship would be moved. As word spread about the stuck freighter, the crowd grew in Canal Park, with people standing along the seawall to take photos of the ship’s unusual location. By late evening, AIS showed the tug Kentucky near the American Spirit. View photos and video of the vessel running aground at this link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4461598-ship-runs-aground-duluth-harbor Duluth News Tribune |
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Port Reports - June 18
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Manitowoc, Wis.
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Sunday Jun 17 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Space filling up fast for Boatnerd St. Marys River Cruise 6/18 - Annual Soo Freighter-Chasing Cruise, our annual 3-hour event Friday evening of Engineer’s Weekend at the Soo Locks, usually sells out. A buffet dinner is part of the trip to take close-up photos and videos of traffic in the St. Marys River. The cruise is limited to 100 passengers and advance reservations are required. Don’t be left on the dock. See the Gatherings page for complete details. |
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Updates - June 4 Saltie Gallery updated with pictures of the: Erin Schulte, Emanuele S, Exeborg, Fairchem Colt, Federal Caribou, Florijngracht, Isolda, Josef, Momentum Scan, Three Rivers, Torrent, Tundra and Whistler. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 18 The steamer ILLINOIS was the first vessel to pass through the newly opened Soo Locks in 1855. To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, an open house was held aboard the J. L. MAUTHE. While tied up at the Cleveland Lakefront dock, an estimated 1,700 persons toured the MAUTHE.During a moonlight charter on 18 June 1936, the TASHMOO (steel side-wheel excursion steamer, 308 foot, 1,344 gross tons, built in 1900, at Wyandotte, Michigan) struck a boulder in the Sugar Island channel in the Detroit River. The vessel docked at Amherstburg, Ontario, where her passengers disembarked as the vessel settled to the bottom in 14 feet of water. Although the damage was not fatal, the salvage crew botched the job. The TASHMOO had one end raised too quickly and her keel broke. This ended this well-loved vessel’s too-short career. The Soo Locks opened for their first season on 18 June 1855. The first vessel through the locks was the steamer ILLINOIS of 1853. In 1949, the WILFRED SYKES (Hull#866) was launched at American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio, for Inland Steel Co. At the time she was the largest and most powerful vessel on the lakes. The SYKES was also the first boat to have a poop deck. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1975. In 1964, the bulk freighter SAGUENAY (Hull#647) was launched at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Ship Building Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. In 1968, the ALGOCEN (Hull#191) was launched at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd, for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) VALGOCEN in 2005, she was used as a spoils barge in Keasby, New Jersey. She returned to the lakes in in 2008 as J.W. SHELLEY. Sold and renamed PHOENIX STAR in 2012. On 18 June 1869, a little less than a week after being launched, the schooner DAVID A. WELLS sailed on her maiden voyage from Port Huron for Menominee, Michigan. On 18 June 1858, the steamship CANADA left the Lakes via the St. Lawrence rapids since she was too large for the existing locks. She had been built by Louis Shickluna at the Niagara Drydock Company in 1853, at a cost of $63,000. She was sold for ocean service after the Depression of 1857. Her hull was rebuilt and she was renamed MISSISSIPPI. She foundered in a gale in the South Atlantic on 12 August 1862. The venerable side-wheel passenger ferry TRILLIUM (Hull #94) was launched June 18, 1910, at Toronto, Ontario by Polson Iron Works, for the Toronto Ferry Co. 1905 –ETRURIA sank after a collision with the AMASA STONE off Passage Island Light, Lake Superior. 1942 – The steamer THOMAS MAYTHAM of 1892 vintage was rebuilt as the New York State Barge Canal tanker DOLOMITE 2 in 1938 and renamed MOTOREX in 1942. It was sunk by gunfire from U-172 near the Colon entrance to the Panama Canal and all on board were rescued. 1944 – ALBERT C. FIELD, a former Great Lakes bulk canaller, was hit by an aerial torpedo from German aircraft and broke in two and sank in minutes. There were 4 lives lost when the ship was hit in the English Channel while carrying munitions and 130 bags of mail in support of the Normandy invasion. 1959 – SPRINGDALE, a Great Lakes trader in the early 1950s and later operated on charter to Reoch Transports, capsized and sank in the Gulf of Bothnia after the cargo of timber shifted in heavy weather. 1960 – GEERTJE BUISMAN came to the Great Lakes in 1960 and ran aground on Vienne Shoal in northern Lake Michigan while outbound from Chicago with a cargo that included new Nash Rambler automobiles for Europe. The Dutch vessel was stuck for 4 days, and had to be lightered. It returned to the Seaway again in later years and was finally scrapped as f) MOUNT at Varna, Bulgaria, in 2003-2004. 1991 – The saltwater trader AKTI was driven aground 14 miles north of Necochea, Argentina, in a storm and sold “as lies” before being refloated as d) AKTO on July 27. Examination determined that the ship was a total loss but it was rebuilt by Chilean interests as e) RIO CIERVOS. The vessel had been through the Seaway as a) ASIA PROSPERITY beginning in 1974, as b) HAN PACIFIC in 1983, and c) AKTI in 1988. It was scrapped at g) AL GIORGIS after arriving at Chittagong, Bangladesh, on November 17, 2005. 1997 – CANADIAN MARINER ran aground in the St. Lawrence near Crossover Shoal after losing power. The vessel had to be lightered to be released and was repaired by Port Weller Dry Docks. The ship was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 2007. Data from: Skip Gillham, Gerry O., Joe Barr, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Port Reports - June 17
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report for Saturday Jun 16 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 17 On June 17, 1895, the J. W. Westcott Co. inaugurated its unique mail delivery service.On 17 June 1878, the Canadian schooner JAMES SCOTT of Port Burwell capsized and sank in Lake Erie. The captain's wife, their child and two seamen were drowned. The wooden schooner MONTEREY, which stranded on Sleeping Bear Point on Lake Michigan in early December 1890, was released on 17 June 1891. The SCOTT MISENER (Hull#11) was christened on June 17, 1951, for Colonial Steamships Ltd. She was the first vessel built at Port Weller Drydocks Ltd. Renamed b.) JOHN E. F. MISENER in 1954, she was scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia, in 1986. The PATERSON of 1954 collided with the steamer EDMUND W. MUDGE in 1957, in fog on the St. Clair River opposite Marine City, Michigan. The WILLIAM A. IRVIN was towed to the Duluth Convention Center on June 17, 1986, by the tugs SIOUX and DAKOTA to be on station as a museum ship at the new $3 million convention facility. June 17, 1998 - The barge PERE MARQUETTE 41 and tug UNDAUNTED arrived Ludington, Michigan from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after the remainder of the conversion there. The propeller OWEN SOUND was launched at Collingwood, Ontario, on 17 June 1875. She measured 900 tons and could carry 30,000 bushels of grain. 1909 – The iron hulled passenger and freight steamer CAMPANA had been cut in two to leave the Great Lakes in 1895, but the hull broke in 1909 where the sections had been rejoined and sank in the St. Lawrence at Point St. Michael a few miles below Quebec City. 1918 – JAY GOULD was loaded with coal and towing the barge COMMODORE when it began leaking and then sank eight miles southeast of Southeast Shoal, Lake Erie. The hull was later dynamited as a hazard to navigation. The barge was overwhelmed by the seas and rolled in the trough for about two hours before it also sank. All on board both ships were saved. 1941 – The Lake Ontario passenger steamer KINGSTON ran aground on a shoal in the St. Lawrence 15 miles SW of Ogdensburg, NY after losing her way in thick fog. The passengers were transferred to RAPIDS PRINCE and the ship was released with the aid of pontoons and repaired at Kingston. 1998 – MOUNTAIN BLOSSOM was downbound in the Seaway when it struck the approach wall at the Eisenhower Lock, opening a crack in the hull that allowed about 50 gallons of xylene to escape. The immediate area was evacuated but the problem was quickly cleaned up. The ship was a regular Great Lakes trader from 1986 to 2007 and was scrapped at Xinhui, China, after arriving on January 10, 2010. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Detroit Marine Historian, Marine Historical Society's Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Sailors reflect as freighter American Victory nears its end 6/16 - Superior, Wis. – As a result of late-in-life transactions and maritime law, the American Victory will fly a Canadian flag and leave the Twin Ports early Sunday to journey to her resting place in a Turkish scrapyard under the crude sobriquet “Victo.” It is an end which belies a lifetime of both distinction and despair. “She’s got a lot of bad history,” said Willie Keyes, who experienced some of the ship’s darkest hours. Keyes is the fleet engineer for the Keystone Shipping Co., the Duluth-based operator of Canadian National Railway’s Great Lakes Fleet of ships. But half a lifetime ago, he was a young engineer working his way up the ranks aboard the American Victory, which was then known as the Middletown. Long owned by Oglebay Norton, the same company that operated the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Middletown was the sort of ship which left a lasting impression on her crewmembers. “I was in love with it,” Keyes said. “Unfortunately with engineers that’s what we do with our ships.” Keyes and Bryan Rydberg, a logistics expert and former Great Lakes captain, met with the News Tribune twice in recent weeks to discuss the history and importance of the ship. They reflected on her in depth at the Anchor Bar and Grill in Superior and later across the slip from Fraser Shipyards, where Rydberg was overseeing the salvaging of the vessel down to her bones. “There come the belts,” Rydberg said earlier this week as a crane hoisted a roll of heavy conveyor material from out of the belly of the ship. Sailors from the shipping hotbed of Northwestern Wisconsin used to pour their lives into the ship. Some even gave their lives as 24 died across her various iterations — from wartime fuel tanker to Great Lakes workhorse. Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/4460706-sailors-reflect-freighter-american-victory-nears-its-end |
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Port Reports - June 16
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Friday June 15 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay anchorage:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte: Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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To the lighthouse: Historic Duluth structure seeks qualified owner 6/16 - Duluth, Minn. – Free to a responsible owner: Lake Superior lighthouse. Sits at the end of the south breakwater adjacent to the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. Contact the federal government. The U.S. General Services Administration has put the red-roofed lighthouse on the market as an available property, and is willing to transfer it at no cost to a public body or nonprofit for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation. The lighthouse became expendable when the U.S. Coast Guard deemed the structure, which is approximately the size of a small house, as an “excess” to their needs, said Doug Sharp, marine information specialist with the 9th Coast Guard District’s Office of Aids to Navigation. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Under any deal, however, the federal government will keep an easement so it can maintain the beacon and fog horn, according to a notice attached to the listing. “We don’t need the whole piece of property,” Sharp said. “We just need it to support our light.” Many lighthouses once had someone living in them or nearby who was dedicated to keeping them in good shape, Sharp said. But it has become an expensive proposition to maintain them in modern times. “We do as much as we can, which isn’t much under the current climate,” Sharp said. “We just don’t have the people.” Probably hundreds of Great Lakes lighthouses have been divested or sold, Sharp said, including one right next to the Aerial Lift Bridge a few years ago. In many cases, he said, historical organizations take ownership of the lighthouses and restore them to their original condition. “These private entities take these things over and they make them golden,” Sharp said. “They’re beautiful, actually.” Interested parties must submit a letter by Aug. 10 to both the federal General Services Administration and the state historic preservation office. The application process is competitive and based on factors including financial viability and ability to handle maintenance and historic preservation requirements. If there are no qualified takers for the lighthouse, it could be put up for public auction in about a year. Asked if it is livable, Sharp said: “Sure. If you want to listen to the fog signal. It’s not on all the time, but when it’s on you’ll know it.” For details on obtaining the lighthouse, go to this link: https://disposal.gsa.gov/LighthouseNotices Minneapolis Star Tribune |
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Crowd greets new Pelee Islander II at Kingsville 6/16 - Kingsville, Ont. – It took three years to design and build, but the new Pelee Islander II arrived Friday like a hero in front of a crowd of eager admirers. Almost 100 people watched the $40-million boat pull into the Kingsville Dock, after sailing past Pelee Island. “It looks fantastic,” said Leamington boat enthusiast Jim Samson, who used binoculars to watch the Pelee Islander II arrive, after using a marine app to trace its month-long journey from Chile through the Panama Canal and past Montreal. “The design is beautiful. I like how it’s airy, how the wind can go through it (in parts of the deck wall). I think it’s going to be more stable on the lake.” The ferry, accented with navy and sky-blue stripes, will start welcoming passengers in mid- to late-September. For the next three months, however, prep work and operator and crew training will be conducted. The Pelee Islander II will ultimately replace the 58-year-old Pelee Islander. The swap-out process, however, could take perhaps two years, as the other ferry serving the island population, the Jiimaan, in operation since 1992, may undergo repairs. The 67.7-metre-long Pelee Islander II can accommodate 399 people and 34 cars, or four tractor-trailers and 16 cars. That is roughly the same as the Jiimaan, though the older ship can’t accept tractor-trailers. The Pelee Islander, by contrast, can only take 199 passengers and 10 cars. Neither the public nor the media were allowed on board Friday, but the Ministry of Transportation, which owns the vessel, plans to have a welcoming party for the new ship sometime in August. “It’s certainly a state-of-the-art vessel,” said Liane Fisher Bloxam, spokeswoman for the MTO west region, based in London. “It’s a large vessel. It’s a new vessel. We think it’s exciting news.” The Pelee Islander II was built by the Asenav shipbuilding company in Valdivia, Chile. Several company officials travelled to Kingsville for the ship’s arrival Friday. “It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Maggie Durocher, manager of parks, recreation programs and special events for the Town of Kingsville. “We have been working as a community, looking forward to having the ship come in. “We’re very pleased on behalf of Pelee Island. This is literally the highway to Pelee Island. The new ship ensures that we will continue to be able to bring tourists and customers over to the island. So I’m certainly happy to see it here today.” A crowd of people who gathered next to the Kingsville Dock watched in awe as the leviathan grew larger on the horizon. “We just wanted to see it right away,” said Ruth Woodsit, from Leamington, who has an affinity for Pelee Island since her daughter and daughter-in-law now own the island cottage she used to for many years. “This one promises to be a little more reliable.” View a video and photos at this link: http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/shoreline-crowd-greets-new-40m-pelee-island-ferry-at-kingsville-dock |
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Rand Logistics launches third annual marine miracle month program 6/16 - Jersey City, N.J. – Rand Logistics, Inc., a leading provider of bulk freight shipping and ship repair services throughout the Great Lakes Region, has announced the launch of its third annual Marine Miracle Month, a program to benefit children’s charities. As the cornerstone of the 2018 Marine Miracle Month program, Rand will donate $0.05 for every ton of cargo carried by its fleet during the month of August to non-profit organizations with a primary focus on the health and wellbeing of children. The company will provide its customers the opportunity to select the children’s charity of their choice and will make the donations in each customer’s honor. The donation amount will be based upon the total cargo volume (tonnage) each customer ships during the program month. Rand’s goal is to exceed the total donations raised and the number of organizations served during the 2017 Marine Miracle Month program. “Marine Miracle Month creates a vehicle for Rand to give back to our communities and expand the reach of our corporate social responsibility efforts, while strengthening partnerships with our valued customers,” stated Ed Levy, Rand’s President and CEO. “Rand introduced the Marine Miracle Month program in 2016, and we are proud to have contributed nearly $260,000 to date toward organizations across the Great Lakes. We are pleased to continue the program as an annual event for Rand, our customers and the organizations and children in the communities that it positively impacts.” “We were thrilled and inspired by the continued interest and positive response our customers, employees, and community partners have shown towards the initiative,” stated Aaron Degodny, Rand’s Chief Commercial Officer. “In 2017, more than $132,000 was raised for charities dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children, which was an increase of more than 5 percent over the prior year’s results. With approximately 30 customers participating in the program and just as many charities benefiting last year, we are hoping to expand the scope of the program in 2018. I encourage all of our customers, suppliers and employees to embrace the challenge and join us by contributing to the charitable organizations in their communities as part of the Marine Miracle Month initiative.” Customers will work with their Rand representatives to select a qualifying not-for-profit organization. Selected organizations must hold 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. or be a registered charity in Canada providing services and benefits to children. Rand Logistics, Inc. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 16 On 16 June 1891, Alexander McDougall himself took his brand-new whaleback steamer JOSEPH L. COLBY (steel propeller whaleback freighter, 265 foot, 1,245 gross tons, built in 1890 at West Superior, Wisconsin) down the St. Lawrence River to the sea. The double-hulled COLBY left Prescott, Ontario at 3 p.m., drawing six feet nine inches aft and five feet six inches forward and started on her wild ride through the rapids. The whaleback freighter plowed through the Galops, Iroquois, Long Sault, Coteau, Cedar, Split Rock and Cascade Rapids. She grated the bottom a number of times and had a number of close calls. Captain McDougall stood immobile throughout the trip but great beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead. When the vessel finally made it through the Cascades and was safe on Lake St. Louis, the French Canadian pilot left and the crew let out shouts of joy with the whistle blowing. The COLBY was the first screw steamer to attempt running the rapids.On 16 June 1892, GENERAL BURNSIDE (3-mast wooden schooner, 138 foot, 308 gross tons, built in 1862, at Wolfe Island, Ontario) foundered in a powerful northwest gale on Lake Erie near Southeast Shoal Light. Her crew was rescued by the tug GREGORY. The steamer UNIQUE (wooden propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 163 foot, 381 gross tons) was built by Alexander Anderson at Marine City, Michigan. She was launched stern first at 3:00 p.m. on 16 June 1894. There was quite a crowd assembled to watch the launch. While waiting for the launch, Engineer Merrill of the steamer MARY composed the following verse:
"The new steamer Unique The vessel was painted a bright yellow up to the promenade deck with white cabins and upper works. In 1901, she left the upper lakes and was chartered for the Thousand Islands cruise trade. Later that year, she was sold to Philadelphia buyers for Delaware River service. Her upper cabins were removed in 1904, when she was rebuilt as a yacht. She lasted until 20 November 1915, when she burned to a total loss in New York harbor. On 16 June 1905, at 2:00 a.m., a fire was discovered around the smokestack of the North Shore Navigation Company's CITY OF COLLINGWOOD (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 213 foot, 1,387 gross tons, built in 1893, at Owen Sound, Ontario) burned at the Grand Trunk Railway docks at Collingwood, Ontario and was destroyed along with the dock and nearby sheds. Four died, but most of crew jumped overboard. Captain Wright had gone to his home on Pine St. about an hour before and was preparing for bed when he heard four whistles sounded by the steamer BRITTANIC, which was laying alongside. He ran to the dock, went aboard and woke the 1st mate J. D. Montgomery and a wheelsman. They had to jump to the dock to escape the flames. James Meade, Lyman Finch, A. McClellan, and another unidentified crewmember who had just joined the vessel at the Soo were all sleeping in the forecastle and lost their lives. In 1967, the FEUX FOLLETS (Hull#188) was launched at Collingwood, Ontario, by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., for Papachristidis Co. Ltd. She was the last steam-powered lake ship. Renamed in 1972 as b.) CANADIAN LEADER and scrapped in 2012. Upbound in the Welland Canal on June 16, 1963, loaded with iron ore for Chicago, U.S. Steel's BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS suffered bow damage in collision with Canadian steamer RALPH S. MISENER. In 1918, the WILLIAM P. SNYDER JR was in collision with the steamer GEORGE W. PERKINS in Duluth Harbor resulting in damage of $5,000 to both vessels. On 16 June 1861, ANDOVER (2-mast wooden schooner, 98 foot, 190 tons, built in 1844, at Black River, Ohio) was carrying lumber in a storm and ground on Pointe aux Barques reef on Lake Huron. Though not thought to be seriously damaged, she resisted all efforts by the tug ZOUAVE to release her. She was finally stripped and abandoned. On 16 June 1887, CHAMPLAIN (wooden propeller passenger/package freight vessel, 135 foot, 438 gross tons, built in 1870, at Cleveland, Ohio) was carrying passengers, merchandise and horses on Lake Michigan when an engine room lamp exploded. The fire spread so quickly that the pumps could not be started. She headed for Fisherman's Island, Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, but struck a bar and sank a mile short of the beach. 22 of the 57 persons aboard died, most from drowning. Although initially declared a total loss, the hull was towed into Harbor Springs, Michigan, then taken to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and rebuilt as CITY OF CHARLEVOIX. She was also lengthened to 165 foot. She lasted until 1924, when she burned at her lay-up dock in Manistee, Michigan. At that time, she was named KANSAS. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II, the Fr. Dowling Collection and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Millions allotted for Soo Locks projects 6/15 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – More than $65 million earmarked for Eastern Upper Peninsula projects has been allocated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District for fiscal year 2018 under the official work plan rolled out early this week. The Detroit District, encompassing Great Lakes from Duluth-Superior Harbor on the far western end of Lake Superior on down into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron will receive an additional $79 million to repair breakwaters, dredge harbors and complete various projects and studies throughout its jurisdiction. Congressman Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) revealed in a press release from his office that the plan includes $42 million for a pump well system for the Poe Lock and Davis Lock. An additional $4.2 million has been allocated for Poe Lock ship arrestors, while $6.2 million has been dedicated to Poe Lock bulkheads. Another $5.2 million will go toward what was described as a tainter valve project for the MacArthur Lock. “Since taking office, I’ve worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) leadership and the Trump Administration to highlight the dangers to our economy and national security of an unscheduled outage of the 50 year old Poe Lock,” said Bergman. “After urging USACE in April to use additional appropriated funds towards Soo Locks modernization, the updated FY18 work plan released this week directs over $57 million to be spent on major rehabilitation and modernization at the soo Locks complex. This is great news for Michigan’s First District, and critical in our mission of building a new Poe-sized Lock,” said Bergman. “I appreciate the administration’s refreshing focus on our vital waterway infrastructure. This is another major step towards ensuring seamless operation of the Soo Locks. I will continue working to advance momentum we’ve begun to build a new Poe-sized lock on Sault Ste. Marie.” An additional $7.845 million has been allocated for asset renewal and hydropower projects on the St. Marys River, but specifics were not detailed by either Bergman’s Office or the USACE in their press released. Finally, for the Eastern Upper Peninsula coverage area, $305,000 has been earmarked for Whitefish Point Harbor improvements. Soo Evening News |
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Port Reports - June 15
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
North Channel
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jun 14 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay anchorage:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Sunk, burned, and haunted, this tugboat keeps on working 6/15 - Milwaukee, Wis. – In 1897, the Union Dry Dock Co. in Buffalo built a tugboat. In the years following, the tugboat sank (twice) and was raised, burned (twice) and was rebuilt. Today, after 118 strenuous years, the same tug is still at work in Milwaukee (Editor’s note: The Wisconsin was recently relocated to Monroe, Mich.), deftly assisting far larger ships in and out of the port. When it comes to tough workboats, the Wisconsin is in a class all its own. The Wisconsin, some say, is also haunted. In her excellent history Soul of a Port: The History and Evolution of the Port of Milwaukee (The History Press 2010) author Leah Dobkin relates several eerie encounters experienced by the Wisconsin’s crew. Dobkin also quotes the tug’s captain saying he isn’t troubled by talk of ghosts. If they exist, he said, they’re probably friendly enough. Traditional-style tugboats are distinctive-looking vessels. They have wide, round, deep-riding hulls for maximum stability. The low stern keeps lines close to the water for safer towing. The small superstructure gives its crew plenty of deck space all around for line handling and allows the tug to nestle under the curving hulls of bigger ships. It’s a purely functional design but its long-ago builders managed to give the Wisconsin elegant, flowing lines. More practically, this tug is known for its unusually good handling characteristics in rough weather (the Wisconsin is “a good sea boat,” in lake jargon). Since tugboats are usually seen alongside much larger ships, it’s easy to forget that they are not necessarily small themselves. The Wisconsin is 83 feet long, 21 feet wide, and its diesel engine produces more than 1,000 horsepower. For all their great stability and power, tugboats are potentially hazardous places to work. They perform the most demanding tasks in the maritime world, day or night, and frequently in harsh weather. Ghosts are far down the list of things tugboat captains worry about. They know tragedy can strike at any moment – even when you do everything right. It happened to the Wisconsin. In fall 1941, a freighter named the B.F. Jones with a capacity load of iron ore blundered onto a clay bank off the east end of Belle Isle in the Detroit River and stuck fast. The Wisconsin – it was then named the America – her sister tug Oregon, and several other vessels were dispatched to free the grounded freighter. The Oregon tied a heavy towline to bow of the America, which, in turn, attached its own towline to the Jones’ anchor. The two tugs started pulling the anchor further into the river as the big freighter slowly fed out anchor chain. Once the anchor was reset, the Jones could assist in pulling itself free by winding in its anchor chain. It was 2 a.m. on Oct. 23, 1941. Some of the tugboat’s crew were at their duty stations, others were asleep in their bunks. Inexplicably, the Jones’ suddenly stopped feeding out anchor chain. Before the Oregon could react, the America, jerked to a violent halt, rolled upside down, kept rolling until it was right side up, and sank – all within five seconds. Seven men aboard were rescued including the captain of the tug, who escaped by smashing the pilothouse windshield with his fists – seriously injuring himself in the process – and he dragged a company supervisor to the surface with him. Six others drowned in the submerged vessel. Read more and view photos at this link: https://milwaukeenotebook.com/2015/10/19/tugboat |
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There's a new 'buzz' on Hamilton's port lands 6/15 - Hamilton, Ont. – There will be a lot more 'buzz' at on Hamilton's port lands as it becomes a breeding ground for queen bees — an effort to increase essential pollination services. The Hamilton Port Authority (HPA) has partnered with urban beekeeping company Humble Bee, to provide 12 hive boxes at a yard adjacent to Sherman Inlet on the port's Pier 15, the heart of industrial Hamilton. "The queens end up supporting beekeepers across the province and help provide essential pollination services for food production," said Luc Peters of Humble Bee in a news release. The 12 boxes will be divided into three miniature colonies with approximately 500 bees in each 'mini-hive.' The authority says the breeding location for the queen bees was chosen due to its proximity to the waterfront, because of the distance from other beekeeping activity and because it allows for a more isolated breeding ground with greater control and quicker results. The HPA says the bee yard is a compliment to the authority's first pollinator garden that's also located at Pier 15. The garden is part of HPA's goal to create a corridor of native plantings that provide food and shelter for pollinators like butterflies and bees as they travel across the port lands. "The port lands are uniquely suited to contribute to a pollinator corridor in north Hamilton, because of the ability to create native planting nodes across the port's 630 acres," said HPA's community relations manager, Sharon Clark in a release. "And as it turns out, the port lands also offer ideal conditions for honeybee breeding, and the establishment of new 'queendoms,’ as we've been calling them." According to HPA, the beekeepers will first visit to catch the queens that have been raised, and then visit again to install new queen cells. As the season comes to a close in November, the hives will be wrapped up for winter until beekeeping activity resumes in the spring. The HPA is reminding people that honeybees are" non-aggressive" due to the fact that they can only sting once and only sting when they feel that their own life or their colony is threatened. They say unless you're in the immediate area of the colonies, the only thing that will be noticed is more honeybees on the flowers. CBC |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 15 On this day in 1967, the new $6 million Allouez taconite pellet handling facility in Superior, Wisconsin, was dedicated. The first cargo of 18,145 tons of pellets was loaded into the holds of the Hanna Mining Company freighter JOSEPH H. THOMPSON.At midnight, on Saturday, 15 June 1901, OMAR D. CONGER (wooden propeller ferry, 92 foot, 199 gross tons, built in 1882, at Port Huron, Michigan) burned at her dock on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. Her upper works were destroyed, but she was repaired and put back in service. She lasted until 1922, when her boiler exploded, killing four people and destroying the vessel. On June 15, 1943, the D.M. CLEMSON collided with and sank the GEORGE M. HUMPHREY in the Straits of Mackinac. Both of these 600-footers recovered for long careers. The D.M. CLEMSON was sold for scrap in 1980. The GEORGE M. HUMPHREY was recovered over a year later, renamed the b.) CAPTAIN JOHN ROEN, later converted to a self-unloader, and finished her career as d.) CONSUMERS POWER at the end of the 1985, season before being scrapped in 1988. In 1989, the ROGER M. KYES was rechristened b.) ADAM E. CORNELIUS by American Steamship Co. The wooden 180-foot schooner JOHN A. FRANCOMB was launched at West Bay City, Michigan, on 15 June 1889. She was built by F. W. Wheeler & Co. (Hull #61). She lasted until she was abandoned at Bay City in 1934. GRECIAN (steel propeller freighter, 296 foot, 2,348 gross tons, built in 1891, at Cleveland, Ohio by Globe Iron Works (Hull#40) struck a rock near Detour, Michigan, on 7 June 1906, but made dock at Detour before settling on bottom. After her cargo was removed, she was raised, and towed by her fleet mate SIR HENRY BESSEMER, bound for Detroit Shipbuilding Co. in Wyandotte, Michigan, for repairs, relying on air pressure in her sealed holds to keep her afloat. However, on 15 June 1906, her holds began to fill with water and she sank in Lake Huron off Thunder Bay. Her crew was rescued by SIR HENRY BESSEMER. 1933 – BRENTWOOD ran aground in the St. Marys River and was released on June 19 with about $60,000 in damage. The CSL vessel soon tied up at Midland and was scrapped there in 1937. 1943 – WILLIAM BREWSTER was on her maiden voyage when she collided with the W.D. CALVERLEY JR. and sank on her side in the St. Clair River off Algonac. The ship was not refloated until November and, after repairs, finally left the lakes in June 1944. It operated on saltwater routes until scrapping at Calcutta, India, as e) RAY MAYABUNDAR in 1967. 1962 – NYON, a Seaway visitor in 1961 and 1962, sank in the English Channel, 5 miles south of Beachy Head, after a collision in heavy fog with the Indian freighter JALAZAD. The latter came to the Great Lakes in 1969 and was eventually scuttled off Tema, Ghana, as b) JYOTI VINOD in September 1983. 1965 – BREIM, a Great Lakes visitor from Norway, got stuck in the mud below the Snell Lock at Massena, NY was released the next day after some cargo was lightered. The ship arrived at Visakhapatnam, India, for scrapping as c) CHRISTINA C. on October 24, 1983. 1988 – ALGOWEST and COUDRES D'ILE collided in fog on the St. Lawrence and the small coastal freighter sank with the loss of one life. The former now sails for Algoma as PETER R. CRESSWELL. 2001 – Fire broke out in the engine room of the Cypriot freighter FELIX 60 miles off Las Palmas, Canary Islands and the 21-member crew was removed. The ship first came to the Great Lakes as a) BEGONIA in 1978 and returned as b) TIMUR SWALLOW in 1983 and c) JENNIFER JANE in 1985. The burning vessel was anchored and the fire extinguished June 16. A total loss, the ship arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, under tow as f) ELI on December 1, 2001, and was broken up. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Great Lakes/Seaway iron ore trade up 3.1 percent in May 6/14 - Cleveland, Ohio – Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 6.3 million tons in May, an increase of 3.1 percent compared to a year ago, and just about on par with the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled 5.9 million tons in May, an increase of 2.4 percent. Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway totaled 443,000 tons, an increase of 13.7 percent. Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 15.7 million tons, a decrease of 7.6 percent compared to the same point in 2017. Year-over-year, loadings at U.S. ports total 14.1 million tons, a decrease of 9 percent. Shipments from Canadian ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway have increased slightly to 1.64 million tons. Lake Carriers’ Association |
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Update: American Victory scrap tow 6/14 - The tug Tim Mckeil was in the lower St. Clair River Wednesday evening headed for Superior, Wis., where she will tow out the former American Victory for scrap. When the tow will actually take place is still questionable. Allowing for upbound transit time as well as time to hook up the tow and the likely slow speed of the transit across Lake Superior, the vessels could be in the area of the Soo Locks as early as Tuesday next week. The tow will be bound for Montreal and eventually Turkey where Victo will be scrapped. When this tow is done, the Algorail scrap tow from Goderich will be next. |
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Seaway optimistic cargo shipments will grow after slow start 6/14 - St. Catharines, Ont. – Grain exports, along with demand for construction materials such as stone, cement and asphalt, led to shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway increasing in May after ice conditions in the St. Marys River and Lake Superior slowed deliveries in April. But despite the increase, figures released by St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. show the total number of transits and total tonnage of cargo moved through the 3,700-kilometre St. Lawrence Seaway was still down compared to last year at the same time. Total cargo moved through the system by the end of May sat at 7.8 million tonnes, down 3.71 per cent from 2017. The number of vessels — ocean-going, lakers and tugs/barges — was only slightly down over last year, with 859 ships moving through the system as compared to 867 last year. Iron ore shipments saw the biggest decrease, down 24.84 per cent, while dry bulk shipments dropped 18.55 per cent. Coal shipments were up 43.42 per cent, while liquid bulk shipments were up 19.44 per cent over the same time as last year. "Looking ahead, we foresee momentum continuing as ships transport Canadian grain exports and a wide variety of dry bulk cargoes including construction materials," said seaway corporation president and CEO Terence Bowles in a release through the Chamber of Marine Commerce. He said the authority is optimistic economic growth will translate into an increase in total cargo volume, with the potential to reach 40 million tonnes by the end of the year. St. Catharines-based shipping company Algoma Central Corp. — it's the largest Canadian ship operator in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region — said its vessels are fully-booked for the year. "We had two brand new self-unloading vessels, the Algoma Sault and the Algoma Innovator, arrive this spring, as well as two vessels purchased and reflagged from the U.S. side of the border," said Algoma chief operating officer Gregg Ruhl. "All are already hard at work delivering products for our customers in the manufacturing and construction sectors." Algoma and its partner NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC) are expecting the arrival of the NACC Argonaut this month, a recently-converted pneumatic cement carrier that will transport cement products on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The chamber said Ontario ports were also reporting positive business conditions. "Two thousand eighteen is off to a great start at the Port of Hamilton," said Ian Hamilton, chief executive officer of the Hamilton Port Authority. "Now with three grain terminals running at full capacity, exports of Ontario grain were lined up and ready to go from day one. More than half-a-million metric tonnes of Ontario grain has been exported overseas through the port already this season." St. Catharines Standard |
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Former Algoma Olympic arrives at Turkish scrap yard 6/14 - The tug VB Hispania towing the former Algoma Olympic arrived in Aliaga, Turkey at 5:21 EDT June 13th. |
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Last coal plant on the Saginaw Bay to go offline in 2023 6/14 - Hampton Township, Mi. - The last coal plant on the Saginaw Bay is slated to go offline in 2023, Consumers Energy officials announced Wednesday. The utility on Wednesday, June 13, said coal units one and two in the Karn Generating Complex in Bay County's Hampton Township will be retired in 2023. The decision comes two years after Consumers shut down its Weadock Generating Plant, located next door to the Karn plant. The decision is part of the utility's pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent and eliminate the use of coal to generate electricity by 2040. Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumers Energy and CMS Energy said her company plans to continue to support the township and Bay County after the units go offline. "We're grateful for the power the Karn coal units have provided for Michigan over the decades and proud of our co-workers who've operated and maintained them so faithfully," Poppe said in a statement. "The company will be working actively to care for our co-workers through this transition." About 300 employees are expected to be impacted by the closing of the coal units, said John Broschak, vice president of generation and compression for Consumers Energy. Broschak said Consumers has been in negotiation with the workers' unions to help transition employees. "Depending on their preference, we have various avenues for them to transition within the company," Broschak told MLive in an interview. The coal units at Karn came online in 1959 and 1961, respectively, and can generate 515 megawatts of electricity. Consumers Energy plans to replace that power through wind energy. He declined to comment on future sites for wind farms. Consumers will continue to operate units three and four at Karn. Those units run on natural gas and oil, Broschak said. Environmentalists on Wednedsay applauded Consumers' decision. "Consumers Energy is taking a step in the right direction by setting a retirement date for the Karn coal-fired power plant and apparently planning to replace that plant with clean energy. It is way past time for this antiquated technology and dirty fossil fuel to go," said Regina Strong, director of Michigan's Sierra Club. In April 2016, the Weadock plant, along with seven other coal-powered plants across the state, went offline as Consumers began its shift away from coal as a fuel source. Excluding the to Karn units, Consumers operates three coal units in Port Sheldon Township, north of Holland in Michigan. Two of those plants are scheduled to go offline in 2031, while the third will be retired in 2040, Broschak said. |
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Port Reports - June 14
Duluth, Minn.- Superior, Wis. – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Pelee Island – Frank Hood
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay anchorage:
Welland Canal:
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa:
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Coast Guard locates vessel with 49 people after passenger calls 911 6/14 - Chicago, Ill. – The Coast Guard located a motor vessel with 49 people aboard after one of the passengers called 911 stating she was concerned that the operator had become disoriented in heavy fog off of Navy Pier near the Chicago Harbor breakwall, Saturday. Shortly before 11 p.m., a watchstander in the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan command center received a call from Chicago 911 that a concerned passenger aboard the vessel, Serenity, a 56-foot yacht, reported the vessel had become disoriented in heavy fog with visibility less than one-quarter of a mile. The Coast Guard launched a rescue crew aboard a 45-foot response boat from the Chicago Maritime Safety Station near Navy Pier and began the search. The passenger, who was communicating with the Coast Guard on a cell phone, helped guide the rescue crew toward the Serenity by listening for the horn on the Coast Guard boat. Once on scene, the Coast Guard found the vessel transiting slowly with no operating navigation system. The Coast Guard escorted the Serenity into Monroe Harbor where a Coast Guard boarding team went onto the vessel to conduct a routine safety inspection. In addition to inoperable navigation and radio systems, the vessel did not have enough life jackets on board. Federal and state laws require all boaters to carry enough serviceable life jackets, correctly sized, for every person onboard. The master of the vessel was issued a Coast Guard violation for negligent operations and for operating without the required navigation lights. “The Coast Guard takes safety on the water very seriously,” said Chief Warrant Officer Matt James, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor. “This voyage could well have had a much different and tragic ending for these passengers, given the vessel had no way to communicate, was lost in fog in an area that typically sees an increase in boat traffic on a Saturday night after fireworks, and did not have enough life jackets for everyone aboard.” USCG |
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Sunk, burned, and haunted, this tugboat keeps on working 6/14 - Milwaukee, Wis. – In 1897, the Union Dry Dock Co. in Buffalo built a tugboat. In the years following, the tugboat sank (twice) and was raised, burned (twice) and was rebuilt. Today, after 118 strenuous years, the same tug is still at work in Milwaukee (Editor’s note: The Wisconsin was recently relocated to Monroe, Mich.), deftly assisting far larger ships in and out of the port. When it comes to tough workboats, the Wisconsin is in a class all its own. The Wisconsin, some say, is also haunted. In her excellent history Soul of a Port: The History and Evolution of the Port of Milwaukee (The History Press 2010) author Leah Dobkin relates several eerie encounters experienced by the Wisconsin’s crew. Dobkin also quotes the tug’s captain saying he isn’t troubled by talk of ghosts. If they exist, he said, they’re probably friendly enough. Traditional-style tugboats are distinctive-looking vessels. They have wide, round, deep-riding hulls for maximum stability. The low stern keeps lines close to the water for safer towing. The small superstructure gives its crew plenty of deck space all around for line handling and allows the tug to nestle under the curving hulls of bigger ships. It’s a purely functional design but its long-ago builders managed to give the Wisconsin elegant, flowing lines. More practically, this tug is known for its unusually good handling characteristics in rough weather (the Wisconsin is “a good sea boat,” in lake jargon). Since tugboats are usually seen alongside much larger ships, it’s easy to forget that they are not necessarily small themselves. The Wisconsin is 83 feet long, 21 feet wide, and its diesel engine produces more than 1,000 horsepower. For all their great stability and power, tugboats are potentially hazardous places to work. They perform the most demanding tasks in the maritime world, day or night, and frequently in harsh weather. Ghosts are far down the list of things tugboat captains worry about. They know tragedy can strike at any moment – even when you do everything right. It happened to the Wisconsin. In fall 1941, a freighter named the B.F. Jones with a capacity load of iron ore blundered onto a clay bank off the east end of Belle Isle in the Detroit River and stuck fast. The Wisconsin – it was then named the America – her sister tug Oregon, and several other vessels were dispatched to free the grounded freighter. The Oregon tied a heavy towline to bow of the America, which, in turn, attached its own towline to the Jones’ anchor. The two tugs started pulling the anchor further into the river as the big freighter slowly fed out anchor chain. Once the anchor was reset, the Jones could assist in pulling itself free by winding in its anchor chain. It was 2 a.m. on Oct. 23, 1941. Some of the tugboat’s crew were at their duty stations, others were asleep in their bunks. Inexplicably, the Jones’ suddenly stopped feeding out anchor chain. Before the Oregon could react, the America, jerked to a violent halt, rolled upside down, kept rolling until it was right side up, and sank – all within five seconds. Seven men aboard were rescued including the captain of the tug, who escaped by smashing the pilothouse windshield with his fists – seriously injuring himself in the process – and he dragged a company supervisor to the surface with him. Six others drowned in the submerged vessel. Read more and view photos at this link: https://milwaukeenotebook.com/2015/10/19/tugboat |
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Lake Michigan cruises from Michigan City to begin Friday 6/14 - Daily rides on a Lake Michigan cruise ship now based in Michigan City will start Friday. The 70-foot, two-deck Emita II docked in Trail Creek at Millennium Plaza can hold 150 passengers. It was acquired by Lowell resident Victor Tieri, owner of Harbor Country Adventures, who has more than 20 years in the hospitality industry. "It always amazed me that we didn’t have sightseeing boats like they have in Chicago," Tieri said. "Standing on the beach looking out over the lake is completely different than being out on the water and getting a view of the shoreline," he said. Tieri said the ship will offer light food items and a full bar during 90-minute cruises to be offered seven days a week at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. "Sunset Tour." There also will be a 2½-hour "party cruise" every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. for people 21 and over with live music on the upper deck. The boat also will be available for private gatherings with catered food allowed. After Labor Day, Tieri said, cruises probably will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October, weather permitting. Tieri said each cruise will begin with a presentation about Michigan City's maritime history. Passengers also will learn "fun facts" shared about Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes as the boat turns west. Tieri started offering speed boat rides on Lake Michigan six years ago when he started Harbor Country Adventures in New Buffalo, which also offers winery tours on luxury buses. "It went over so well I knew the next boat I was going to get had to be something larger," Tieri said. Two years ago, he began talking with Michigan City Port Authority officials, who welcomed the cruise ship idea with open arms. Tieri said the Emita II, constructed in 1953, was used for cruises of the Erie Canal in the Syracuse, New York, area the past 50 years or so. The longtime tour operators were looking to slow down in their later years, Tieri said. The boat arrived in Michigan City after a 14-day voyage through the canal and Lake Erie, then up Lake Huron and down the entire length of Lake Michigan. Daily cruises are $30 for adults, $16 for children and free for kids 2 and under. Fares are half price for all emergency responders and veterans. People currently active in the military ride at no cost. Tickets can be obtained at www.harborcountryadventures.com or at the dock, Tieri said. It’s believed the last time a tour boat operated in Michigan City was in the 1930s. Jack Arnett, executive director of the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the boat is a nice attraction for boosting Michigan City’s lakefront experience. Tieri is also relocating his speed boat ride business to Michigan City. NW Indiana Times |
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Rand’s Calumet, Manitowoc, Defiance recognized for commitment to safety at sea 6/14 - Jersey City, N.J. – Rand Logistics, Inc. has announced that three of the company’s U.S. flagged vessels have been recognized by the United States Coast Guard for their commitment to safety at sea as part of the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) System Program for the 2017 Sailing Season. The AMVER System, sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, is a computer-based voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. Rand’s Calumet and Manitowoc received the AMVER Blue Pennant for the vessels’ first year of participation with AMVER. The tug Defiance was honored for the third year and will continue to fly the AMVER Blue Pennant for the vessel’s participation with AMVER. “Rand Logistics is honored to have been recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of the prestigious AMVER Award Program,” stated Michael C. Farrell II, Director of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) at Rand. “The safety of our employees, customers, vendors and members of the communities in which we operate is our top priority and is one of our Rand Corporate Values.” Captain Karl Hardesty from the tug Defiance and barge Ashtabula attended the AMVER Awards event on Tuesday, May 22, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. as part of the 2018 National Maritime Day celebration. “Because of the efforts of mariners like our vessel captains and crewmembers who play an active role in the AMVER Program, we can all enjoy the beauty of our Great Lakes and rivers knowing that assistance is available if ever it is needed,” Mr. Farrell continued. “We look forward to continuing our involvement with AMVER during our current sailing season and beyond.” The AMVER Awards Program was inaugurated in 1971 to recognize those vessels that regularly participate in the AMVER system and the merchant shipping companies that volunteer to be available for maritime emergency response. Vessels in the AMVER Program commit to a minimum of 128 days on the system annually. Rescue coordinators are able to identify participating ships in the area of distress and divert the best-suited ship or ships to respond. Rand Logistics, Inc. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 14 On this day in 1985, Captain Edward Rogowski passed away. Captain Rogowski started sailing as a deckhand on the 514 foot JOHN SHERWIN in 1936. He retired in 1982 as the first captain of the largest freighter on the Great Lakes, the 1,013 foot PAUL R TREGURTHA.On this day in 1957, the Interlake Steamship Company freighter HARVEY H. BROWN, Captain Percy E. Mc Ginness, delivered the first cargo of coal to the new taconite loading port of Taconite Harbor, Minnesota. ROGER BLOUGH departed the shipyard in ballast on her maiden voyage for U.S. Steel Corp. the night of June 14, 1972, for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load 41,608 gross tons of taconite ore pellets. She was nearly a year late because of a fire in her engine room. On June 14, 1988, the CONSUMERS POWER of 1927, with her former fleet mate JOHN T. HUTCHINSON, departed Lauzon, Quebec, in tow of the Panamanian tug/supply ship OMEGA 809, bound for a scrap yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The steamer PRINCESS was sold to Little and Fitzgerald on 14 June 1873. She was built in 1858, at Algonac, Michigan by Z. Pangborn. The wooden scow TINKER was launched at Leighton & Dunford's yard in Port Huron, Michigan on 14 June 1876. 1954 – W.F. WHITE crushed the tug OHIO against a pier in Buffalo and the latter was a total loss. The tug was refloated and scrapped at Cleveland in 1955. 1977 – ALMAR came to the Great Lakes under Greek registry in 1964. It caught fire in the engine room as c) IJESHA LION at Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and sustained major damage. The hull was abandoned by the owners, towed out to sea and scuttled in 1978 Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Tug on the way to tow former American Victory away for scrap 6/13 - The tug Tim Mckeil was upbound in the Welland Canal Tuesday headed for Superior, Wis., where she will tow out the former American Victory, which has had its name shortened to Victo for the tow. In recent days, the vessel’s self unloading boom and other usable equipment have been removed at Fraser Shipyards. When the tow will actually take place is still questionable. Allowing for upbound transit time as well as time to hook up the tow and the likely slow speed of the transit across Lake Superior, the vessels could be in the area of the Soo Locks as early as Tuesday next week. The tow will be bound for Montreal and eventually Turkey where Victo will be scrapped. When this tow is done, the Algorail scrap tow from Goderich will be next. |
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Algoma Olympic, Algolake, Algosteel scrap tow updates 6/13 - The Algoma Olympic is expected arrive under tug in Aliaga, Turkey, at 1 pm local time on June 12. (6 pm EST on June 11) in tow of the tug VB Hispania where she will be scrapped. As of 11:45 AM central time on June 12 she was near Turkey in the Aegean Sea with restricted maneuverability, according to Marine Traffic. The former Algolake and Algosteel are in the Atlantic under tow for scrap and expected to arrive late June in Aliaga. |
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Port Reports - June 13
Duluth, Minn.- Superior, Wis. – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel and Drummond Island
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday Jun 12 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke: Long Point bay anchorage: Welland Canal - Upbound - Jun 11 - Algoma Mariner at 2127- Jun 12 - Algoma Sault at 0006, Mia Desgagnes at 0220, tug Sharon M I & barge Niagara Spirit at 0453, Whistler (Cyp) at 0644. Algoma Hansa at 0824, Algocanada at 0927, light tug Tim McKeil at 1313, Baie St Paul at 1922 and Victory I (Bhs) (ex St Laurnet-16, Sea Voyager-15 Cape May Light-09)at 2120 - Downbound - Jun 11 - Federal Satsuki (Mhl) at 1323 and CSL Tadoussac at 1616 - Jun 12 - Saginaw at 0053 (to wharf 12), tug Sea Eagle II & barge St. Marys Cement II at 0151, Whitefish Bay at 0555, tug Leo A McArthur & barge John J Carrick at 0012, Whitefish Bay at 0555, tug Petite Forte & barge St Marys Cement at 1229, Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1523 , Algowood eta 2200 and John D Leitch eta 2245
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Study: Ships move non-native species in the Great Lakes 6/13 - Madison, Wis. – A new study on ballast water discharge has found Great Lakes ships are moving non-native species from the lower lakes to western Lake Superior. The study was conducted by the Great Waters Research Collaborative, which is a project of University of Wisconsin-Superior's Lake Superior Research Institute, Wisconsin Public Radio reported. Researchers sampled 15 ballast water discharges from U.S. and Canadian lake vessels last year and found 13 samples had non-native species, said Allegra Cangelosi, the principal investigator. "It's the concern that we don't really know what happens after they've been discharged," Cangelosi said. "In some cases, the condition might be right that the organism could establish and possibly push out other things that are naturally already in the environment." The report recommends researching ballast water treatment systems for ships. The shipping industry contends more research is needed to understand the potential environmental impact before new ballast water policies are enacted. More research should be done to determine if the organisms were alive or dead at the time of discharge and if they could survive in the lake, said Tom Rayburn, director of environmental and regulatory affairs with the Lake Carriers Association. "If we can establish more than absence and presence so we can take it to that next level of live, dead, survivability and establishment that can give us better models and also help us specifically target and eliminate those pathways through different strategies, management or treatment at that point," Rayburn said. Further studies should use a larger sample size, the association said. The study sampled between 5 to 53 percent of the water volume in ships' ballast tanks that were discharged, which is not a lot of water, Cangelosi said. The Alliance for the Great Lakes contends the study is evidence that action is needed to protect lakes from invasive species. "All ships operating on the Great Lakes — oceangoing and lakers —must be accountable and stop introducing and spreading the biological pollution that is invasive species," said alliance President and CEO Joel Brammeier. Rayburn said the association is working with regulators and researchers to address the issue and create ballast water treatment systems. The Associated Press |
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Seafarer’s Job Fair on June 24 in St. Catharines, Ont. 6/13 – A Seafarer’s Training Institute Job Fair will be held Sunday, June 24 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the St. Catharines Museum, 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines, Ont. The Seafarer’s Training Institute has launched a national hiring initiative aimed at recruiting, training and retaining youth for Canada’s growing merchant marine. Students are invited to meet sailors, discover the world of seafaring and apply for a range of jobs on ships. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 13 On 13 June 2003, after completing her conversion from American to Canadian registry, Lower Lakes Towing's newly-acquired MICHIPICOTEN, a.) ELTON HOYT 2ND, departed the Government dock at Sarnia, Ontario. First she went to the Shell Oil dock in Corunna, Ontario to fuel, then she departed for Marquette, Michigan to load ore for Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. On 13 June 1902, METROPOLIS (wooden side-wheel steamer, 168 foot, 425 tons, built in 1868, at Detroit, Michigan) caught fire and burned to a total loss at her dock in Toledo, Ohio. She was only used occasionally for excursions and spent most of her time tied up to the dock. On June 13, 1983, JOHN B. AIRD began its maiden voyage for Algoma Central Railway, a load of coal from Thunder Bay to Nanticoke, Ontario. IRVING S. OLDS carried a record 17,817 gross tons of iron ore on June 13, 1943, from Lake Superior and transported a total of 736,800 short tons of various bulk cargoes the next year. On the morning of June 13, 1905, running downbound on Lake Superior, the heavily-laden SYLVANIA encountered heavy fog as she approached the Soo. Confused whistle signals resulted in the SYLVANIA glancing off the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., steamer SIR HENRY BESSEMER, which sustained a 175-foot port side gash from the SYLVANIA's anchor. The BESSEMER required $40,000 in repairs and the SYLVANIA's damage totaled $10,000, which included a new anchor and shell plating which was completed at the Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, Ohio. June 13, 1930 - Shortly after leaving Menominee, Michigan, fireman Walter O'Leary of the ANN ARBOR NO 7 became ill. The carferry proceeded at full speed to the nearest doctor at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where surgery was performed to remove gallstones. June 13, 1974 - The CITY OF GREEN BAY, formerly WABASH was sold to Marine Salvage Company to be scrapped. She was scrapped at Castellon, Spain in 1974. On 13 June 1903, CHARLES H. DAVIS (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 145 foot, 391 gross tons, built in 1881, at Saginaw, Michigan) was carrying limestone on Lake Erie off Cleveland when she developed a leak which quickly got worse and admitted water faster than her pumps capacity. She sank near the Cleveland breakwater. She was an unusual vessel, reportedly built of pine and pointed at both ends with her planking set diagonally. 1905 – The wooden steamer YAKIMA had stranded in Lake St. Clair on June 10, 1905, but caught fire and burned on this date while waiting to be salvaged. The remains were later towed into Lake Huron and scuttled. 1906 – The newly-built J. PIERPONT MORGAN carried a record 13, 294 tons of iron ore out of Escanaba for Chicago. 1944 – CANADIAN OTTER was built at Welland in 1920 but, in 1944, was sailing as f) FUKOKU MARU as a Japanese army cargo ship. It was sunk by aircraft from U.S.S. ESSEX while in a convoy from Philippines to Japan in the overnight hours of June 13-14, 1944. 1959 – A fire in the crew quarters of the FEDERAL PIONEER, docked at Section 51 in Montreal, was quickly controlled with only minor damage and sailing was delayed by three hours. The ship was a frequent Seaway trader for Federal Commerce and Navigation, now known as FedNav, and arrived at Hsinkiang, China, for scrapping on January 21, 1971. 1978 – Seven men were lost aboard the ANCO DUKE while cleaning tanks out in the Pacific. They were likely overcome by fumes. The ship later came to the Great Lakes as c) LAKE ANETTE in 1980, as d) SATU MAR in 1984 and as e) TOVE COB in 1987. It was scrapped in Bangladesh in 1993. 1978 – The bulk carrier ARCTIC hit the Cherry Street Bridge at Toledo on its first trip and had to return to Port Weller Dry Docks for repairs. 1980 – TROYAN first came through the Seaway in 1972. The ship began leaking in heavy weather as c) SUNRISE and foundered June 13, 1980, in the outer anchorage at Bombay, India, while enroute from Japan to Damman, Saudi Arabia, with bagged cement. 2004 – The SINGAPORE STAR first came to the Great Lakes in 1982. It caught fire in the accommodation area while on the Black Sea as c) BARBADOS OKTAY on June 13, 2004. The ship was carrying scrap steel from Novorossiysk, Russia, to Eregli, Turkey. The blaze was put out with tug assistance but the ship was sold for scrap and arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, to be broken up on July 19, 2004. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Port Reports - June 12
Duluth, Minn.- Superior, Wis. – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Marathon, Ont.
North Channel and Drummond Island
Milwaukee, Wis. Welland Canal and regional report - Monday Jun 11 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay anchorage: Welland Canal - Upbound - Jun 10 Ojibway at 1647 - Jun 11 - Tim S Dool at 0123, Fairchem Colt (Mhl) at 1120 and Algoma Mariner at 2001 delayed) - Downbound - Jun 10 - Emanuele S (Por) (ex Emilie-15) at 2026, Jun 11 - Algoma Compass at 2047, Damia Desgagnes at 0701, CSL St Laurent at 0741 - Victory I (Bhs) at 0716 (to stop at wharf 16), Federal Danube (Mhl) 0809, Federal Satsuki (Mhl) at 1323 and CSL Tadoussac at 1616
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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First cruise ship of 2018 season docks in Muskegon 6/12 - Muskegon, Mich. – The Pearl Mist of Pearl Seas Cruises made its first stop of the season on Monday. She is scheduled to moor in Muskegon 9 more times during the 2018 season, and has plans to visit through 2020. This will be the third season in a row for Pearl Mist visits to Muskegon. The ship docked at Heritage Landing, a park and outdoor event venue owned by Muskegon County at the east side of Muskegon Lake. About $350,000 in grants was invested in the dock at Heritage Landing to make it ready for the 2016 cruise ship season. View images and a video at this link: https://www.mlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/06/f838d4da255473/first_cruise_ship_of_2018_seas.html |
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Photos show 3 thousand-foot freighters converging near Soo Locks 6/12 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Ship lovers got a treat in recent days when three of the Great Lakes' massive thousand-footers where gathered at the Soo Locks in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. David Kaye got some great pictures of the heavyweight trio in the Soo Harbor last Friday, and agreed to share them with MLive readers. He had a lofty vantage point, too. Kaye shot the photos from the 210-foot Tower of History, which has viewing platforms overlooking the locks. The tower has exhibits featuring early history of the area's missionaries, Native Americans and later the local settlers. It's also a great place to watch the bustling maritime action at the Soo Locks. Kaye's photos are being shared by ship watchers around the Great Lakes. A primer outlining the backstory of the photos was shared by DRE Designs, which also posts a lot of great ship details. "(You can see) the Mesabi Miner leaving the Poe Lock and receiving supplies from the Ojibway supply boat, the Paul R. Tregurtha heading into the Poe Lock and the Edgar B. Speer floating along in the harbor patiently waiting her turn to follow into the lock after the (Tregurtha) locks through." "You can also see the State of Michigan moored at the Coast Guard station, the Museum Ship Valley Camp looking fabulous and, if you look closely, you can see our 2 G-tugs moored as well just to the left of the marina... and that's Sault Ste Marie Ontario on the other side of the river. View the photos at this link: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/photos_show_3_thousand-foot_fr.html |
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Lake Michigan water levels causing headaches for some who call the beach home 6/12 - One-third of the metal seawall that stands between Lake Michigan and the homes along the Ogden Dunes shoreline is now exposed due to erosion, according to Rodger Howell, chairman of the town's Beach Nourishment & Preservation committee. Where there is still beach, much of it is too small to even put up a volleyball net, he said. While much of the town's problems are the result of the nearby Port of Indiana and ArcelorMittal bulkhead blocking the natural flow of sand back west to the community's beach, Howell said, the high water levels are making the problem worse. The water level in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, which rise and fall as one, is at a high not seen since the late 1990s, said Lauren Fry, lead forecaster at the Detroit office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When the lakes rise to levels higher than average, it poses a threat to property along the shoreline, she said. The water in Lake Michigan rises and falls on a predictable annual cycle that begins low during winter and builds through July and August as a result of winter thaws and rains before dropping again, according to forecasts provided by the Army Corps. The water level remains 14 inches below the record high of May 1986, Fry said, but it appears to be on its way up. The rise took off in 2013 and 2014 with record increases those years, she said, and then slowed for a couple of years. It took off again last year with a steep increase and has been on track with seasonal norms so far this year, she said. This year's total increase will depend on how much rain falls this month. The high lake levels have resulted in narrower beaches within the boundaries of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, said Public Information Officer Bruce Rowe. Areas hit particularly hard include the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, and Central and West beaches, he said. There is also less beach this year at Indiana Dunes State Park, said Assistant Property Manager Mickey Rea. "It's shallow from the (parking) lot to the shoreline," he said. But the state park began with a large beach, so the rising water has not yet caused any real congestion problems among beachgoers, Rea said. One part of the shoreline that typically does better with higher water levels is the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, according to Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Lauren Edsall. "Generally speaking, high water levels allow for safer navigation and operation at ports than low water levels," she said. "In low-water situations, shipping channels have less draft for ships entering and exiting harbors, which creates additional risk of vessels running aground along the bottom or on a sand bar," Edsall said. "When the water levels are low, vessels might have to 'light load' or carry less cargo, which creates the need for more ships and additional costs." But even the local port can face some challenges as lake water rises. "There can be some complications for engineering inspections of dock walls and mooring structures that are not as easily accessible or visible when the lake levels are high, she said. "However, higher lake levels do not generally create major challenges for ports unless there are additional adverse conditions, such as strong winds or wave action," Edsall said. "In those cases, fendering and mooring devices may need to be adjusted to protect vessels and dock walls from damage." NWI Times |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 12 On 12 June 1898, SAKIE SHEPHERD (wooden propeller freighter, 100 foot, 189 gross tons, built in 1883, at Huron, Ohio) burned while at the dock in Courtright, Ontario. The fire was discovered at 1:00 a.m. and the crew just had time to escape. The schooner YOUNG AMERICA also caught fire and had damage done to her stern. The SHEPHERD was towed to Detroit where she was rebuilt and lasted until 1903, when she sank in Lake Huron. On 12 June 1900, the UNIQUE (wooden propeller, 163 foot, 381 gross tons, built in 1894, at Marine City, Michigan) was sold at public auction at St. Clair, Michigan to satisfy a mortgage. W. J. Laidlaw of Ogdensburg, New York purchased her for $20,000 for the Rapid Transit Co. to run between Ogdensburg and Kingston, Ontario. In 1904, her upper cabins were removed and she was rebuilt as a yacht. She lasted until 1915, when she burned in New York City harbor. "STUBBY", the bow and stern sections of the STEWART J. CORT welded together, passed Port Colborne, Ontario on June 12, 1970, bound for Erie, Pennsylvania under her own power. STUBBY's bow and stern sections were later separated at Erie Marine, Inc., a Div. of Litton, and joined to the 816 foot hull mid-body. The NANTICOKE (Hull#218) departed Collingwood, Ontario in 1980, beginning her maiden voyage for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. In 1959, the BENSON FORD of 1924 ran aground in the Amherstburg Channel on her upbound trip with coal for the Rouge Plant. After five days of lightering and with tug assistance, she was freed. Damage amounted to 41 bottom plates, which took 30 days to repair. On 12 June 1832, the wooden schooner GUERRIER was sailing from Oswego, New York for Detroit when she capsized in a squall off Bar Point on Lake Erie. Captain Pember and the crew and most of the passengers made it to the Canadian shore, but one family was trapped in the cabin. The husband was able to keep his head above water in the upside down cabin, but through the night, one by one, his four children and then his wife slipped from his grasp and perished. The following day, Capt. Stanard took his steamer NIAGARA to the wreck and rescued the man. On 12 June 1900, the steel tow barge BRYN MAWR (Hull#41) was launched at South Chicago, Illinois by the Chicago Ship Building Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. The wooden propeller freighter MILWAUKEE (264 foot, 1,770 gross tons) was launched at Quayle & Sons yard in Cleveland, Ohio on 12 June 1879, for the Western Transportation Company of Buffalo, New York. She had supporting arches above decks. In 1902, she was renamed YONKERS and rebuilt as a barge in 1911. She lasted until 1917-1918 when she stranded, then burned. 1897 – I.W. NICHOLAS (ii) stranded at Point Aux Pins in fog and was released two days later. The ship needed drydocking for repairs. 1904 – The sidewheel passenger ship CANADA sank on her side off Sorel after a collision with the CAPE BRETON. Five of the 110 on board perished. The ship was refloated and rebuilt at Sorel in 1905 as ST. IRENEE which later became part of the C.S.L. Fleet. 1919 – GERMAN was cut in two to leave the Great Lakes in 1918 and renamed b) YANKEE. It sank after a collision with the Italian steamer ARGENTIA off Fire Island, NY, while enroute from Norfolk, VA to Boston MA with coal. The hull has been found and is in two pieces on the ocean floor. 1977 – The VERA CRUZ first came to the Great Lakes in 1964 as a 10-year old Liberian flag freighter. It foundered in the Arabian Sea as c) BUKOM ISLAND on June 12, 1974, during a cyclone. The ship was enroute from Umm Said, Qatar, to Singapore with a cargo of bagged fertilizer and seven lives were lost. 1978 – YELLOWSTONE had been built as the C-4 troop carrier MARINE PERCH in 1944. After being laid up in the Reserve Fleet, it was rebuilt as a bulk carrier and renamed at Tampa in 1965. The ship was downbound in the Seaway with grain from Duluth to North Africa in May 1978 and sank after a collision in fog with the IBN BATOUTA on June 12, 1978. YELLOWSTONE was taken in tow but went down June 13 about 14 miles south of Gibraltar. Five lives were lost. 1993 – The deep-sea tug VORTICE was abandoned after fire broke out near the Canary Islands, while on a voyage from Bari, Italy, to Veracruz, Mexico. The vessel was laid up, unrepaired, and then towed to Canada for McKeil Marine. It received partial repairs but was sold and left the lakes for additional work. It returned inland as e) NORFOLK in 2005 and now serves Lafarge North America Inc. as f) SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Port Reports - June 11
Superior, Wis. – Daniel Lindner
Duluth, Minn. – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Saginaw, Mich. – Todd Shorkey
Pelee Island – Frank Hood Welland Canal and regional report - Sunday Jun 10 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay anchorage: Welland Canal - Jun 9 - Algoma Transport, Lake St. Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) - Jun 10 - Three Rivers (Atg) at 0558, Ojibway at 1647 - Dwonvbound - Jun 9 - Bro Alma (Sgp) at 0440, CSL Assiniboine, CSL Niagara - Jun 10 - Sten Moster (Gib) at 0807, tug spartan & barge Spartan II at 2034, Algoma Compass at 2007, Emanuele S (Por) (ex Emilie-15) at 2026
Welland canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 11 TASHMOO (steel side-wheel excursion steamer, 308 foot, 1,344 gross tons, built in 1900, at Wyandotte, Michigan) entered regular service for the White Star Line at Detroit, Michigan, on 11 June 1900.On 11 June 1903, HORACE H. BADGER (wooden 3-mast schooner, 129 foot, 263 gross tons, built in 1867, at Conneaut, Ohio as a 2-mast schooner, formerly KATE GILLETT) was carrying coal in a storm on Lake Erie. She was driven onto the breakwater at Cleveland, Ohio and broke up in the storm waves. The crew of seven was rescued by the Life Saving Service. This vessel had been wrecked twice before; once at Cross Village, Michigan, in 1895, and again near Alpena, Michigan in 1896. ATLANTIC SUPERIOR (Hull#222) was float-launched at Thunder Bay, Ontario, by Port Arthur Ship Building Co. Ltd., in 1982, for Federal Commerce & Navigation Ltd., Montreal, Quebec (Canada Steamship Lines Ltd., mgr.), built for the Caribbean trade. MESABI MINER was christened at Duluth, Minnesota in 1977; she became the fourth thousand-foot bulk carrier on the Great Lakes and Interlake Steamship Co.'s second. CARL D. BRADLEY (Hull#718) cleared Lorain, Ohio, in her gray and white livery in 1917, on her maiden voyage light bound for Calcite, Michigan, to load limestone. She was the first Great Lakes commercial ship equipped with both Morse code telegraphy as well as ship-to-shore radio in 1922, which was standard on only 20 vessels by 1924. Renamed b.) JOHN G. MUNSON in 1927, c.) IRVIN L. CLYMER in 1951, she was scrapped at Duluth, Minnesota, in 1994-5. June 11, 1981 - The BADGER steamed out of Ludington en route to Milwaukee under an MDOT subsidy that was approved earlier in March. The propeller E. B. HALE was launched at Cleveland, Ohio, at the yard of Quayle & Sons on 11 June 1874. Her length was 217 foot keel, 227 foot overall. She was owned by Capt. Bradley, Mr. Thomas Quayle and Mr. Loomis, and she cost $100,000. The wooden rabbit J. S. RUBY was launched at Fair Haven, Michigan, on 11 June 1881. Her dimensions were 106 feet 6 inches x 21 feet x 7 feet. She was towed to Port Huron for the installation of her boiler and engine that were built by the Phoenix Iron Works. She lasted until burned to a total loss off Stag Island in the St. Clair River on November 9, 1891. 1872 – Fire broke out aboard the passenger steamer KINGSTON about 18 miles upstream after the ship had left Brockville for Toronto. The ship was beached and the superstructure was destroyed but there were only two casualties. The hull was rebuilt at Montreal and later sailed as BAVARIAN, ALGERIAN and CORNWALL before being scuttled in Lake Ontario about 1929. 1936 – AYCLIFFE HALL sank in fog shrouded off Long Point, Lake Erie after a collision with the EDWARD J. BERWIND. All 19 on board were rescued. After salvage efforts failed, the rigging was blown clear by explosives. The EDWARD J. BERWIND was repaired and last sailed as LAC STE. ANNE in 1982. 1942 – HAVTOR, a Norwegian freighter, first came to the Great Lakes in 1932 and returned as late as 1939. It was sunk by a German submarine enroute from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Pictou, Nova Scotia, and 6 of the crew were lost. 1950 – The Italian freighter MARIA PAOLINA G. had been built in Canada as FORT ISLAND in 1944. It was downbound from the Saguenay River when it struck the Canada Steamship Lines passenger steamer ST. LAWRENCE, which had turned to dock at Tadoussac. Injuries were reported by 25 people and 30 cabins were damaged aboard the CSL ship. 1978 – The hull of the former passenger steamer RAPIDS QUEEN arrived at Toronto under tow from Kingston to be sunk as a breakwall off for the Queen City Yacht Club. It is still there. 1993 – PITRIA SKY first visited the Great Lakes in 1978. It departed Singapore for Shantou in southeast China, as h) HAI HONG 3 on June 11, 1993, but went back out to sea on arrival to ride out a pending typhoon. The ship was never seen again and it disappeared with all hands. Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Port Reports - June 10
Two Harbors/Silver Bay – Gary A. Putney Friday Report: Philip R. Clarke arrived the CN ore docks in Two Harbors on Friday the 8th of June at 01:04 after unloading limestone in Duluth. Upon arriving in Two Harbors she went to South of #1 where she loaded a partial cargo of blast furnace trim. She then shifted to North of #2 where she loaded at least one hold of pellets. Between 08:58 and 09:20 on Friday the 8th she shifted to North of #1 where she finished loading blast furnace trim and departed for Gary on June 8th at 16:35. All three docks she loaded at are gravity (chute) docks. The James R. Barker arrived on Friday the 8th of June at 09:40 for South of #2. She departed Two Harbors on Friday the 8th at 20:00 for Nanticoke. That is her 3rd trip to Nanticoke this season. Arriving Two Harbors on Friday the 8th of June was the Whitefish Bay at 21:58. Her AIS had been showing Duluth until early evening until it switched to Two Harbors. She departed Two Harbors on Saturday the 9th of June at 05:26 for Quebec City. Due Two Harbors on June 9th is the Edgar B. Speer. She should arrive in the afternoon. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the Indiana Harbor on June 8th at 19:33. Silver Bay has no inbound traffic scheduled for June 9th.
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain Port Huron, Mich. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 10 On 10 June 1891, the tug AMERICAN EAGLE (wooden propeller tug, 46 gross tons, built in 1865, at Buffalo, New York) collided with the tug ALVA B (wooden propeller tug, 73 foot, 83 gross tons, built in 1890, at Buffalo, New York), which was not in motion, about 2.5 miles west of the Cleveland breakwater. The ALVA B hooked up a line and started towing the AMERICAN EAGLE in, but she sank a half-mile from the harbor entrance.On 10 June 1891, CHARLES W. WETMORE (steel propeller whaleback freighter, 265 foot, 1,399 gross tons) left the shipyard at West Superior, Wisconsin, on her maiden voyage, bound for Liverpool, England with a cargo of grain. During her trip to the Atlantic Ocean, she shot the St. Lawrence River rapids. In Liverpool, she loaded machinery for Puget Sound. She only lasted until September 1892, when she stranded one mile north of Coos Bay, Oregon in fog. Bad weather stopped salvage attempts and the vessel was abandoned. Bethlehem's LEWIS WILSON FOY loaded her first cargo June 10, 1978, at Burlington Northern #5, Superior, Wisconsin, with 57,952 tons of Hibbing taconite pellets for Burns Harbor, Indiana. Renamed b.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991. In 1892, the keel for the ANN ARBOR NO 1 (Hull#55) was laid at Toledo, Ohio by Craig Shipbuilding Co. The ANN ARBOR NO 4 was sold to the Michigan State Ferries in 1937, and renamed b.) CITY OF CHEBOYGAN. On 10 June 1877, while lying at her dock at Detroit, the wooden side-wheeler R N RICE burned. The damage was estimated at $30,000. After this fire, she was rebuilt as a barge. The propeller MONTGOMERY burned in the early morning hours of 10 June 1878. The fire started while she was laying at the dock in Point Edward, Ontario. The carferry INTERNATIONAL towed her out into the St. Clair River and cast her off to drift. Fortunately there were no injuries. She finally was beached opposite Batchelor's Mill on the Canadian side by the tugs CRUSADER and J H MARTIN. At 10:00 a.m., she was still burning. The MONTGOMERY was a steam barge of 1,104 tons, built in 1856, and owned by Capt. John Pridgeon. She was fully loaded with 29,000 bushels of corn, 320 barrels of flour, 540 barrels of corn meal, 200 bags of timothy seed and 111 bales of broom corn, besides other freight. The local papers claimed that the spectacle presented by the burning vessel as she drifted down the river was "grand and beautiful". The light was so brilliant that the entire city of Port Huron was illuminated and many people came out to watch. The following day, the wreck was towed to the American side of the river just below Avery's Mill. Whatever was left of her cargo was taken off and sold. Her engines and boiler were so badly warped and twisted from the intense heat that they were worthless except as scrap. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer dredge MARKHAM (Hull#904) was launched in 1959, at Avondale, Louisiana, by Avondale Marine Ways Inc. 1940 – PAIPOONGE was cut in two and left the Great Lakes for saltwater service in 1919. It was registered in Latvia as d) KAUPO when it was sunk as a blockship at Dieppe, France, on this date in 1940. The hull was reported as refloated and scrapped in 1946-1947. 1942 – CONTINENT came to the Great Lakes in 1939-1940. The Newfoundland owned freighter was on a bareboat charter to the U.S. Army when it sank, following a collision with the American tanker BYRON D. BENSON, while enroute from New York to Bermuda. 1967 – The former Norwegian Seaway salty FRO was abandoned in sinking condition as c) WINSOME after a fire broke out in the cargo holds and spread throughout the ship on June 10, 1967. The vessel was enroute to Bangkok, Thailand, when it sank in the South China Sea. 1968 – JOHN T. HUTCHINSON suffered damage above the waterline when it was in a collision with the SUSANNE REITH at the head of Lake St. Clair. The latter, a West German salty, was on her first trip to the Great Lakes. This ship was eventually scrapped after arriving at Alang, India, as m) ALFA I on October 18, 2000. 1977 – RUTHIE MICHAELS came inland in 1970 and last reported in as d) EUROBULKER on June 10, 1977. The ship was enroute from Djibouti, to Bandar Shahpoir, Iran when it disappeared with the entire crew of 29. The ship is believed to have sunk off the coast of Oman perhaps as late as June 12. 1998 – The Greek flag bulk carrier OLYNTHIA first traveled the Seaway in 1978. It ran aground off Veraval, India, as d) OCEAN CRUISER in a tropical cyclone while bound for the United Arab Emirates. While released, it appears that the 26-year-old ship never sailed again and was broken up at Bharnvar, India, due to the damage. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody L. Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Port Reports - June 9
Duluth/Superior – Daniel Lindner
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
North Channel, Drummond Island and Georgian Bay
Port Colborne, Ont. |
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Annual Great Lakes Marine Market today in St. Clair 6/9 - St. Clair, Mich. – The Lake Huron Lore Marine Historical Society is sponsoring its annual Great Lakes Maritime Market at the Riverview Plaza Mall in St. Clair on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The mall is just across the street from the boardwalk in downtown St. Clair. There will be more that 30 vendors offering various items relating specifically to the ships and shipping industry of this region. Among the items that will be available for sale are historical artifacts, books, photographs, artwork, shipwrecks, memorabilia, advertising and more. It is a great way to learn more about the fascinating history of the Great Lakes shipping for the beginner or the advanced historian. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 9 TASHMOO (steel side-wheel excursion steamer, 308 foot, 1,344 gross tons, built in 1900, at Wyandotte, Michigan) hosted Admiral George Dewey on her inaugural trip from Cleveland, Ohio, to Detroit, Michigan, on 09 June 1900. Admiral Dewey had just returned from his conquest of the Philippines during the Spanish American War and was a national hero. TASHMOO entered regular service for the White Star Line two days later.The Lubeck, Germany-built, 305-foot Greek freighter CASTALIA of 1953 struck the north tower pier of the Mackinac Bridge at 7 p.m. on 09 June 1968, in dense fog. The bridge was not damaged and the ship took on water, but was able to proceed to Chicago without assistance. LIGHTSHIP 103 was delivered to the 12th District Headquarters at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 9, 1921, to begin her Great Lakes career. June 9, 1983, ALGOWEST loaded a record 1,047,758 bushels of wheat at Thunder Bay, Ontario. ROGER BLOUGH began sea trials in 1972. June 9, 1911, The ANN ARBOR NO 1 was raised by Smith Wrecking Company of Muskegon after being considered a menace to navigation by the Coast Guard (she had been sunk by the south breakwater at Frankfort, Michigan, after burning on March 8th). She was taken to Muskegon, and repaired sufficiently to become a sand scow for the Love Construction Company. The cost of raising her was $8,000. On 9 June 1884, ANNAPEE (2-mast wooden scow-schooner, 71 foot, 118 gross tons, built in 1867, at Ahnapee (Wolf River), Wisconsin) was bound from Torch Lake, Michigan, for Milwaukee with a load of railroad ties and cordwood when she stranded in fog on North Point in Lake Michigan, 2 1/2 miles from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Later a strong wind blew her into the rocks and she broke up. No lives were lost and part of her cargo was saved. On 9 June 1882, the LIZZIE A. LAW (wooden schooner, 196 foot, 747 gross tons, built in 1875, at Port Huron, Michigan) collided with the R.B. HAYES (wooden schooner, 147 foot, 668 gross tons, built in 1877, at Gibraltar, Michigan) near the foot of Lake Huron. Although the LAW suffered severe damage, she completed her trip to Buffalo and was repaired there. The LAW lasted until 1908, when she was lost in a storm. 1909 ASSINIBOIA and CRESCENT CITY were washed through the Canadian Lock at Sault Ste. Marie when the upbound PERRY WALKER struck the lower gate. All three ships were damaged but were repaired and returned to service. 1963 The newly built SILVER ISLE of Mohawk Navigation and the PRINS ALEXANDER of the Oranje Line, collided in fog and rain on the St. Lawrence near Kingston. Both ships required repairs. The former was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 2010 as ALGOISLE while the latter struck a reef and sank in the Red Sea as f) POLIAIGOS on December 28, 1980. 1979 The French freighter MELUSINE first came to the Great Lakes in 1962 and returned as b) LENA in 1978. It sank the French fishing vessel ANTIOCHE III in the English Channel with the loss of 4 lives on this day in 1979. LENA was scrapped at Ferrol, Spain, in 1982, after suffering engine damage on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain, to Detroit. 1998 COMMON VENTURE began Great Lakes trading in 1980. It broke loose of its moorings in a cyclone as f) PEARL OF DAMMAN and grounded at Kandla, India, on this date in 1998. The ship was loaded with sulphur and sustained considerable damage. Following a sale for scrap, the 27 year old carrier arrived at Alang, India, September 12, 1998, for dismantling. 1998 TOKAI MARU was a first time Seaway caller in 1977 and a return visitor as b) EASTERN HERO in 1993. This ship was also blown aground off Kandla, India, by the same cyclone. It was now d) SURPRISE and became a total loss. This ship arrived at Alang October 8, 1998, and was broken up. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody L. Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels. |
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Algoway scrap tow continues past Detroit and on to Lake Erie 6/8 - The tugs Evans McKeil and Cheyenne were downbound in the Detroit River Thursday afternoon headed for Port Colborne, Ont., with the retired Algoma Central Corp. laker Algoway in tow. Joining the Cheyenne as her river pilot was Alain Gindroz, who had been the Algoway’s captain in the 1990s. By 10 p.m. Thursday the tow had entered Lake Erie. In the coming weeks, Algoway’s former fleetmate, Algorail, will also be towed out of Goderich, Ont., for scrapping. Scott McCrindle |
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Opinion: ‘Stars aligning’ on Soo Locks expansion 6/8 - Detroit, Mich. – Sometimes presidential impulsiveness can be a good thing. Like when three Michigan congressmen climb into a limousine with President Donald Trump and he asks them for their wish list. By the time the ride from Selfridge Air National Guard Base to a Washington Township sports complex was over, Reps. Paul Mitchell, Jack Bergman and John Moolenaar had secured a nearly $1 billion promise to expand the critical Soo Locks, an infrastructure project state officials had been begging Washington to fund for more than three decades. Trump hastily added the Soo Locks pledge to his April 28 speech at the Macomb County rally. “Your lock isn’t working too well, it’s not working too well,” the president told the crowd. “It hasn’t been fixed in 50 years, in all fairness. I told your congressmen, ‘Write that name down for me. It’s the Army Corps of Engineers. We’re gonna be calling them. It could be tonight, depending on the time we get back.” The call didn’t come that night — nothing moves that fast in Washington — but in the weeks since Trump’s speech, the representatives say they’ve seen a surge of activity within the federal bureaucracy that they believe will soon produce the go-ahead for adding capacity to the locks. “We are closer to getting the Soo Locks to the next step in the process than we’ve been at any point in time,” says Mitchell, R-Dryden. “The Army Corp has been responsive to our requests.” That next step is a revised economic impact study expected in the coming month. A previous study determined the expansion was not economically justified. But Rep. Bergman, R-Watersmeet, says that original report, now 30-years-old, was based on bad metrics and is sorely outdated. Rep. Moolenaar, R-Midland, notes language was included in the water resources bill that passed the House Wednesday to authorize the Army Corps to expedite the Soo Locks project if the new economic report is favorable, as he expects it will be. That would allow funding to be included in the bill when it goes to conference committee later this summer. The lock expansion was first authorized by Congress in 1986, but the funds were never appropriated. Bergman, whose northern Michigan district includes the locks, says he senses a greater sense of urgency since the president’s speech, and is “cautiously optimistic” the corps will move on starting the work next year. It will take seven years to complete. “The president is watching this project,” Bergman says. “The White House is engaged at all levels.” He recounts how the subject came up with Trump. “I was sitting next to him in back of the limo and he asked ‘what are the issues in Michigan, what do I need to know?’” Bergman says. “I said Soo Locks. He said, ‘What are the Soo locks?’ I explained to him the impact on the economy and national security should the locks close and he jumped right on it. He read his notes right into the speech.” Moolenaar says that speech, “galvanized and energized interest in the locks in a way we haven’t seen before.” The Soo Locks, in Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, connect Lake Superior to the other four Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The locks are vital to the steel industry —99 percent of the iron ore used in steel making comes from Michigan and Minnesota mines above the locks. Most of it is transported on giant freighters. Sixty percent of those ships are restricted by size to the Poe Lock, which at 1,200-foot long, 110-foot wide and 32-foot deep is the largest of the four Soo Locks and the only one capable of handling the large lake freighters which make up 60 percent of shipping vessels. Nearly 7,000 ships carrying $500 billion of goods pass through annually. Should the Poe Lock become disabled it would back up ships and slow the national economy. Estimates are that a six-month emergency shut down for repairs would impact 11 million jobs nationwide. It would also impact national security, because iron ore is so essential to steel production. “It takes steel to go to war,” says James H.I. Weakley, president of the Lake Carrier’s Association, who is currently on Capitol Hill lobbying for the project. “Without the Soo Locks, there is no steel. There is no rail capacity to move that much ore.” A report from the Department of Homeland Security last year said “it is hard to conceive” of a piece of infrastructure anywhere in the United States that is more consequential than the Soo Locks. “It would be devastating if it shut down,” Mitchell says. Weakley says the value of Trump’s Macomb speech in moving things off the dime is inestimable. “Regardless of who a president is, when the president speaks, it has an impact,” he says. “The people in the corps are really starting to understand the national significance of the project. The stars seem to be aligning.” The Detroit News / Nolan Finley |
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Port Reports - June 8
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher Welland Canal and regional report - Thursday Jun 7– Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal -
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Oshawa: |
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Two Canadian-flagged ships visit Grand Haven 6/8 - Grand Haven, Mich. – This past week, we welcomed two vessels to port that fly the maple leaf off their stern. Early in the morning on the last day of May, Lower Lakes Towing Ltd.’s self-unloading motor vessel Cuyahoga could be heard out in Lake Michigan blowing its foghorn as it approached the Grand Haven piers. The Cuyahoga arrived at first light and headed for Meekoff’s D&M dock on Harbor Island. The vessel had a split cargo aboard, as it was loaded first in Thessalon, Ontario, and then Meldrum Bay, Ontario, so there were two different kinds of stone aboard. The Cuyahoga was unloaded before noon and backed out to Lake Michigan. June 1 saw the arrival of two freighters. First was Interlake Steamship Co.’s self-unloading motor vessel Kaye E. Barker. It arrived with a cargo of coal for the Board of Light & Power plant on Harbor Island at about 9 a.m. Following two hours or so behind the Barker was Lower Lakes Towing’s self-unloading motor vessel Mississagi. Mississagi eased past the Barker and traveled upriver to the Verplank dock in Ferrysburg. The Barker departed at about 4 p.m. and the Mississagi was outbound an hour later. Both ships headed up Lake Michigan. While the Barker was ahead of the Mississagi originally, the Mississagi ended up passing the Barker below Ludington. The Cuyahoga and Mississagi were our first and second Canadian visitors of the season. Both vessels were built as part of the Maritimer class in the early 1940s. The Cuyahoga was built by the American Shipbuilding Co. as the Mesabi and entered service as the J. Burton Ayers later that year. The Ayers began sailing for the Great Lakes Steamship Co., and then spent time with Wilson Marine Transit, then Kinsman Marine, and later the Columbia Transportation Division of the Oglebay Norton Co. The Ayers spent several seasons laid up in the 1990s and, despite being rumored for scrap, was purchased by Lower Lakes in 1995 and renamed Cuyahoga. It has been sailing for them ever since. The Mississagi was built at Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse as the Hill Annex, and began trading on the lakes as the George A. Sloan. The Sloan was converted to a self-unloader during the 1965-66 winter. The vessel sailed first for U.S. Steel and then later for Great Lakes Fleet. In 2001, the Sloan was part of a three-ship sale to Lower Lakes with fleetmates Calcite II and Myron C. Taylor. The Calcite II was renamed Maumee and the Myron C. Taylor became the Calumet. The Sloan was renamed Mississagi and reflagged Canadian. Both the Maumee and Calumet have since been scrapped, and the name Calumet now carries on with another vessel in the fleet. The Cuyahoga is named for the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. it is 620 feet long, 60 feet wide and 35 feet deep. Mississagi’s namesake is the Mississagi Strait located in Lake Huron. It has the same dimensions as the Cuyahoga, but is 6 inches longer. The port of Grand Haven received 12 cargoes last month. We have received 19 cargoes so far this season. This number is the same that we had a year ago. Our five-year average is 17 cargoes for May, so we are ahead of that. There’s a few ships to look out for in the near future. The Wilfred Sykes is expected both at D&M and Verplank’s in the next week or so. Also look for the Cuyahoga at Verplank’s. Additionally, the St. Marys Cement terminal is looking to get a boat sometime this weekend. Sam Hankinson / Grand Haven Tribune |
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‘Know Your Ships’ publisher to sign books in Port Huron area Sunday 6/8 - On Sunday June 10, ‘Know Your Ships’ editor and publisher Roger LeLievre will be at the Barnes & Noble bookstore, 4325 24th Ave. in Fort Gratiot (Port Huron), Mich. from 2-4 p.m. He will be signing copies of the 2018 edition. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 8 June 8 1951, CLIFFS VICTORY entered Cleveland with a load of iron ore from Marquette. The VICTORY completed the one-way trip in 37 hours - 20 hours faster than the best previous time.On 08 June 1854, J. YOUNG SCAMMON (2-mast wooden brig, built in 1845, at Chicago, Illinois) was sheltering from a storm at S. Manitou Island on Lake Michigan when she dragged her anchors, stranded and broke in three pieces. She was driven in so close to the shore that the crew was able to use a broken spar to climb to the beach. No lives lost. On 08 June 1897, RITA MC DONALD (wooden propeller tug, 72 foot, 69 gross tons) was launched by J. Davidson (Hull #84) at West Bay City, Michigan. She lasted until 1920, when she was abandoned in Chicago, Illinois. In 1978, the LEWIS WILSON FOY was christened for the Bethlehem Steel Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991. She now sails as AMERICAN INTEGRITY. In 1938, the GOVERNOR MILLER (Hull#810) a sister ship to the WILLIAM A. IRVIN, began her maiden voyage, leaving Lorain, Ohio. The GOVERNOR MILLER was only the second Great Lakes vessel to be powered by a steam turbine with a direct drive to the propeller shaft via reduction gear. In 1976 - the Midwest Energy Terminal at Superior, Wisconsin, loaded its first cargo of low-sulfur coal. The steamer JOHN J. BOLAND of 1953, took the honors as the first vessel to load at this dock. She was sold Canadian and renamed b.) SAGINAW in 1999. On this date in 1977, the HARRY .L ALLEN was the first freighter to load at Burlington Northern's Dock #5 in Superior, Wisconsin. On 8 June 1847, CHESAPEAKE (wooden side-wheeler, 172 foot, 412 tons, built in 1838, at Maumee, Ohio) was fully laden and had 97 aboard when she rammed the schooner JOHN F PORTER on a dark night off Conneaut, Ohio. As she started to sink, she was run to shore in an effort to save her, but she sank a mile short of the beach. Lake Erie was fairly calm and the crew and passengers tried to get to shore in boats and makeshift rafts. Most made it and many were also picked up by the steamer HARRISON. Estimates of the number of dead vary from 7 to 13. The wooden side-wheel tug and upriver packet TRAFFIC (75 foot, 50 tons, built in 1853, at St. Clair, Michigan) sank near Sebewaing, Michigan on 8 June 1868. She was recovered and repaired, but only lasted a little longer than a year since she burned in Saginaw in October 1869. 1933: WILHELMINE, dated from 1888 and was one of the world's earliest tankers, ran aground off Morgan Point, west of Port Colborne, while enroute from Chicago to Liverpool with 2,700,000 lbs of lard. The crew were removed and the ship abandoned. The hull was refloated June 3 but was not repaired and may have been dismantled at Ashtabula. 1954: The tug EDWARD C. WHALEN sank in Lake Superior near Corbeil Point. It was salvaged in 1955 and rebuilt a decade later as b) JOHN McLEAN. It survives in the Purvis Marine fleet as c) ADANAC. 1977: CYDONIA first came through the Seaway in 1962 and returned as b) VERMONT I in 1969. It was under tow due to rudder damage as e) JOY when a fire broke out in the engineroom near the mouth of the Mississippi River. The vessel was rocked by three explosions and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody L. Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Tugs tow Algoway begins trip to scrap yard 6/7 - The tug Evans McKeil arrived at Goderich, Ont., at 9:45 am Wednesday to pick up Algoway and tow her out for scrap. After hooking up, the tow departed at 3:15 p.m. headed for Port Huron/Sarnia and averaging about four knots. The tow entered the St. Clair River downbound about 7 a.m. Thursday. The Detroit-based tug Cheyenne was on the stern for steering assist. Follow the tow's progress by using the various AIS sites; look for Evans McKeil. |
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Port Reports - June 7
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
St. Marys River
Southern Lake Michigan ports Welland Canal and regional report - Wednesday June 6 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Buffalo:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal -
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Mississauga:
Oshawa: |
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3 new vessels for Fednav; Federal Maas sold 6/7 - Fednav has taken delivery of three new vessels. They are the Federal Dart (IMO 9805245), Federal Nagara (IMO 9805257) both 34,500 DWT box-hold, Lakes-suitable ocean carriers built at Oshima, Japan, and Federal Iberville (IMO 9820972), a long term-chartered 63,000-DWT Ultramax bulk vessel built at Imabari, Japan. Fednav's older handy-sized vessel Federal Maas, built in China in 1997, was sold earlier in 2018 to new owners and now sails as the Omolon of Russian registration. Denny Dushnae |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 7 1958, the largest freighter ever built on the Great Lakes slid down the ways at River Rouge, Michigan. The new freighter was christened by Mrs. Edmund Fitzgerald and named EDMUND FITZGERALD. The 729-foot FITZGERALD was owned by Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company and operated by Columbia Transportation under a 25-year bare boat charter.In 1977, tugs refused to tow the new MESABI MINER out of the harbor due to high winds. Captain William McSweeney brought the MESABI MINER out under her own power to begin her maiden trip. On 07 June 1890, EMILY P. WEED (steel propeller freighter, 300 foot, 2,362 gross tons) was launched by F. W. Wheeler (Hull #69) at W. Bay City, Michigan for the Hollister Transportation Co. She lasted until 02 September 1905, when she stranded on Sand Island Reef, Apostle Islands on Lake Superior and broke in two. On 07 June 1862, MORNING STAR (wooden side-wheel steamer, 248 foot, 1,265 gross tons) was launched by A. A. Turner at Trenton, Michigan. She only lasted until 1868, when she sank in Lake Erie in a collision with the bark COURTLAND. In 1977, WILLIAM A. IRVIN ran into the side of the Rock Cut after a power failure on board. The vessel received only slight damage. (For a more detailed account, read Jody Aho's book "The Steamer William A Irvin: Queen of the Silver Stackers"). On June 7, 1991, the ALPENA, the former LEON FRASER) began her maiden voyage as a cement carrier, departing Superior, Wisconsin, for her namesake port. Fraser Shipyards, which performed the conversion, took out a full-page ad in the Superior Evening Telegram proclaiming "INLAND LAKES MANAGEMENT, YOUR SHIP IS READY" and a picture of the vessel. On 7 June 1859, COLUMBIA (2-mast wooden brig, 92 foot, 177 gross tons, built in 1842, at Sandusky, Ohio) broke up in a storm near Sherwood Point, Green Bay (Death's Door). She was famous for bringing the first load of copper ore from the Keweenaw Peninsula to through the Soo. She also brought the first locomotive to Marquette. The METEOR (wooden steam barge, 201 foot, 729 gross tons, built in 1863, at Cleveland, Ohio) burned at Buckley's dock at the foot of 2nd Street in Detroit, Michigan on 7 June 1873. The fire supposedly started in her hold at 1:30 a.m. and was not discovered until it was too late. The ship burned to the waterline and sank. Some docks and warehouses also burned in this catastrophe. The wreck was raised in early September 1875, and towed to the foot of Belle Isle where the machinery and hull were sold at the U.S. Marshall's sale on 24 April 1876. Although originally thought to be the end of this vessel, the hull was purchased by Stephen B. Grummond of Detroit for $480. It was rebuilt as the schooner-barge NELSON BLOOM in 1882 and lasted until abandoned in 1925. 1894: The wooden steamer OCEAN received a massive hole in the bow after a collision with the barge KENT at Alexandria Bay on the St. Lawrence. 1902: The whaleback steamer THOMAS WILSON sank after a collision with the GEORGE G. HADLEY a mile off the Duluth piers while outbound with iron ore and nine lives were lost. 1915: JAMES B. EADS and the CHICAGO collided in the St. Clair River. 1941: The fish tug FINGLO caught fire and burned at Toronto. It was rebuilt for harbor duty as the steam tug H.J.D. NO. 1. In 1956-1957, the ship was unofficially renamed Salamander to star in the Canadian television series Tugboat Annie. 1971: SILVER CREST visited the Seaway in 1971 after previous calls as a) VIGRID in 1959 and 1963. It also returned as b) ROSTO in 1963 before becoming d) SILVER CREST in 1968. The ship stranded on Sisal Reef, in the Gulf of Mexico while enroute from Veracruz to Progresso, Mexico, but was refloated on June 12. The vessel arrived at Whampoa, China, for scrapping in July 1973. 1991: HERMES SCAN, a first time Seaway trader in 1977, sank in the Bay of Bengal as d) BRAUT TEAM after developing leaks the previous day. The heavy-lift vessel was reportedly carrying a Chinese steam locomotive for delivery to New York for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad. All on board were saved. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series |
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Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor sees slight decline in traffic 6/6 - The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor saw a slight decline in shipments during the first quarter of the year. But the deep-water port on Lake Michigan is coming off the highest three-year total in its 57-year history. And it gets more than 90 percent of its traffic during the final three quarters of the year because of all the international vessels that dock there after the St. Lawrence Seaway reopens for the season. Overall, the state's port system did well in the first quarter, with 3.2 million tons passing through its three ports. That included 2.2 million tons at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon on the Ohio River, which set a state record for cargo volume last year. "Coming off a record-setting year in Mount Vernon, it's encouraging to see the upward trends continue, especially in coal and agricultural shipments, which make up over 90 percent of this port's cargo," Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon Director Phil Wilzbacher said. "This first quarter certainly sets the pace for what we anticipate being another strong year for maritime shipments throughout Indiana." Last year, Indiana's ports handled 11.8 million tons of cargo, including coal, steel, fertilizer, ethanol, limestone, minerals, wind turbines, storage tanks and laboratory equipment. That included 2.8 million tons at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, which posted a 38 percent increase in steel shipments and handled ICARUS, the world's largest liquid argon particle hunter, as it made its way to the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia. NW Indiana Times |
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Port Reports - June 6
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Escanaba, Mich. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Southern Lake Michigan ports
North Channel/ Drummond Island
Goderich, Ont. Welland Canal and regional report - Tuesday June 5 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal -
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Oshawa: |
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Clinker dust concerns north-end St. Catharines residents 6/6 - St. Catharines, Ont. – Residents of a St. Catharines neighborhood want answers about what's in the air they're breathing after raising concerns with authorities about clinker dust settling on their properties. The dust, used in the manufacture of Portland cement, is being unloaded from ships, piled up and trucked out by a company operating on the Welland Canal north of Lakeshore Road. Residents have complained dust from the Port Weller Marine Terminal is covering their homes, cars and gardens. "We don't know what's in the air we're breathing down here," said David DeRocco, president of the Port Weller Residents Association, adding it's been a growing concern in the area because clinker dust is toxic. "And they're shipping it through the city. We don't know how many people they're affecting." The city said it was approached by residents in late 2017 with concerns about clinker dust appearing on their properties. It raised those concerns with Quebec Stevedoring Co. Ltd., St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. which leases out the land to the company, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The city said Quebec Stevedoring Co. Ltd. prepared a dust mitigation plan approved by the environment ministry and has worked on implementing dust suppression measures on the pile and the roads on the site. Trucks are now loaded within a building and barrier walls have been constructed. Residents say it's not working. "This dust is blowing into the canal. It's blowing into the lake. It's blowing on people's houses. It's getting into Malcolmson Park," DeRocco said. "People's homes are being covered in dust and we can't get answers." The city said the company has told it it's willing to work with residents and has offered property and vehicle-washing services to residents if there are further issues. St. Catharines Standard |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 6 On 06 June 1891, BAY CITY (wooden propeller freighter, 152 foot, 372 gross tons, built in 1867, at Marine City, Michigan) burned to a total loss while being repaired at the foot of Rivard Street in Detroit, Michigan. She was loaded with 300,000 feet of white pine lumber at the time. Her watchman reported the fire during the night and firemen thought they had it out, but it re-ignited and the vessel burned to a total loss. This ship had previously burned 20 years before on 10 April 1871, when she was on her first trip of the season after being rebuilt over the winter. Then she caught fire and burned nearly to the waterline but was rebuilt again and lasted until this last fire in 1891.On 06 June 1917, ISABELLA J. BOYCE (wooden propeller sandsucker, 138 foot, 368 gross tons, built in 1889, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin as a freighter) grounded on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie and then was destroyed by fire. No lives were lost. In 1944, the C-4 bulk carrier MARINE ROBIN participated in the D-Day invasion at Normandy. In 1952, after conversion into a bulk freighter she began service in the lakes for M.A. Hanna Co., as b.) JOSEPH H. THOMPSON. She serves today as a tug barge combination created from the sections of the original vessel. E.B. BARBER (Hull#111) of the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., entered service on June 6, 1953, for Algoma Central Railway Ltd. In 1953, ARMCO (Hull#870) began her maiden voyage from Lorain, Ohio, for the Columbia Transportation Div., bound for Superior, Wisconsin, to load iron ore. On June 6, 1959, ADAM E. CORNELIUS (Hull#) 424) began her maiden voyage for the American Steamship Co., from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. This was the last Great Lakes vessel constructed with telescoping hatch covers. Sold Canadian and converted to a barge she was renamed b.) CAPT. EDWARD V. SMITH in 1988, and c.) SEA BARGE ONE in 1991 and d.) SARAH SPENCER in 1996. Upper Lakes Shipping's POINTE NOIRE was in collision with Cleveland Tanker's SATURN on June 6, 1977, near Fighting Island in the Detroit River. On 6 June 1869, ASA COVELL (wooden propeller tug, 20 gross tons, built in 1852, at Buffalo, New York) was towing the brig IROQUOIS up the Cuyahoga River at Cleveland when her boiler exploded and she sank. Her captain was killed when the pilothouse was blown into the river. On 6 June 1883, HERCULES (wooden schooner-barge, 139 foot, 195 tons, built in 1867, at Algonac, Michigan) was upbound in the south bend of the St. Clair River near Algonac, Michigan when the CLARION (iron propeller package freighter, 240 foot, 1,711 gross tons, built in 1881, at Wyandotte, Michigan) overtook her and collided with her in broad daylight. HERCULES drifted to the bank, capsized and sank. No lives were lost. 1956: NEWBRUNDOC ran aground at Densmore Bay on the southeast side of Wellesley Island in the St. Lawrence after straying out of the channel in fog. The ore-laden vessel, enroute from Contrecoeur to Buffalo, was released the next day. 1964: The Norwegian freighter FRO made 10 trips through the Seaway from 1961 to 1965. It ran aground at Milwaukee after loading 7500 tons of scrap for France on June 6, 1964, and was lightered to the YANKCANUCK before being refloated June 9. 1967: FRANKCLIFFE HALL ran aground off Hare Island, Lake Superior in dense fog and received heavy damage to bottom plates. The ship was lightered and released June 9 and went to the Davie shipyard for repairs. This vessel was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, as HALIFAX in 2011. 1967: AUGUSTUS B. WOLVIN struck the bank of the Welland Canal and grounded. A subsequent survey of the damage at Port Weller Dry Docks revealed it was not worth the cost of repairs and the ship was laid up and sold for scrap. 1982: ALGOSEA (i) rammed the west pier at Port Weller entering the Welland Canal in fog turning the bulbous bow by 90 degrees. The damaged ship was allowed to go to Thunder Bay for repairs. It became c) SAUNIERE later in 1982 and was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 2011. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Scrap tow updates: Former Algoma Olympic approaching Aliaga 6/5 - The former Algoma Olympic is approaching the Aliaga, Turkey, scrapyard after more than a month of being towed by the VB Hispania. She is expected to arrive on June 13 at 1 p.m. local time. She departed Montreal on May 9. When she arrives, she will be scrapped. Her former Algoma Central fleet and now scrap mates Algolake and Algosteel are expected to arrive late June. In other scrapping news, American Victory's name has been shortened to Victo at Superior, Wis., in preparation for an eventual scrap tow. No date has been announced. As of Monday night, her self-unloading boom had yet to be removed. The tug Evans McKeil entered Lake Erie about 6:15 p.m. Monday on her way to Goderich, likely to tow Algoway away for scrap. Algorail is expected to follow at a later date. |
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Port Reports - June 5
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
North Channel/ Drummond Island
Calcite, Mich. Welland Canal and regional report for Monday June 4 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal -
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Mississauga:
Toronto:
Clarkson:
Oshawa: |
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Study: Ships move non-native species from lower Great Lakes to Superior 6/5 - Superior, Wis. – A new study on ballast water discharge has found Great Lakes ships are moving non-native species from the lower lakes to western Lake Superior. Study authors say the research provides clear evidence of the transport of organisms through ships' ballast water tanks while the shipping industry contends more research is needed to better understand the potential impacts of their movement. The study was conducted by the Great Waters Research Collaborative, which is a project of University of Wisconsin-Superior's Lake Superior Research Institute. Principal investigator Allegra Cangelosi said they sampled 15 ballast water discharges from eight U.S. and Canadian lake vessels last year. Of those, 13 contained non-native species, the DNA of bloody red shrimp or both. Several species of zooplankton were detected that were previously unreported at the time of testing. "It’s the concern that we don’t really know what happens after they’ve been discharged," said Cangelosi. "In some cases, the condition might be right that the organism could establish and possibly push out other things that are naturally already in the environment." She added that four discharges were examined "voyage-wide" as ships collected water for their ballast tanks in the lower lakes to their discharge in western Lake Superior. Cangelosi noted the study did not analyze whether specimens were alive or dead at the time water was taken up or discharged from ballast tanks. The report recommends identifying best management practices and researching ballast water treatment systems for ships. The study prompted quick reaction on Thursday from shipping and environmental groups. Tom Rayburn, director of environmental and regulatory affairs with the Lake Carriers Association, said their members would like to see more testing before any new ballast water policies are implemented. He said further study would include whether organisms were dead or alive at the time of discharge and their ability to survive in the lake. "If we can establish more than absence and presence so we can take it to that next level of live, dead, survivability and establishment that can give us better models and also help us specifically target and eliminate those pathways through different strategies, management or treatment at that point," said Rayburn. The association noted they’d like to see a larger sample size to determine impacts from lake vessels. Cangelosi said the study sampled 5 to 53 percent of the water volume contained in ships’ ballast tanks that were discharged. "That’s not much water. The thing is. in some ways. that strengthens the case that these ships are moving organisms because even though it was a relatively small portion of the relevant discharge that we analyzed, we still encountered several project-relevant non-indigenous species," she said. "We conclude that you don’t need more evidence that they’re moving organisms. It’s clear that they are. What might be important is to know what that all means that they’re moving organisms. What’s the risk? That’s a bit harder scientifically to figure out." She said the difficulty in determining risks to the lake ecosystem stems from a multitude of factors that are affecting characteristics within the Great Lakes, such as climate change. Environmental groups like the Alliance for the Great Lakes contends the study is further evidence of the need for immediate action to protect lakes from invasive species. "Today’s report confirms a common sense assumption: lakers contribute to the spread of aquatic invasive species around the Great Lakes," said alliance President and CEO Joel Brammeier in a statement Thursday. "As such, all ships operating on the Great Lakes — oceangoing and lakers — must be accountable and stop introducing and spreading the biological pollution that is invasive species." The Lake Carriers Association’s Rayburn said the group has been working with regulators and researchers to prevent the spread of invasive species and develop ballast water treatment systems for ships. He noted the group commissioned a study by firms Hull and Associates and Choice Ballast Solutions in Ohio, which showed it may cost $639 million to modify the Great Lakes fleet with treatment systems. Rayburn said shoreside treatment options at Great Lakes ports may cost up to $11 billion. Wisconsin Public Radio |
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Halifax tugboat with all-female crew 'like a family' 6/5 - Halifax, N.S. – This makeshift family really pulls together. “We’re a team but it’s also like a family here,” tug master Andrea MacDonald said of the non-traditional, all-woman crew who work the bridge, engine room and deck of the Atlantic Willow as it chugs and tugs around Halifax Harbor and beyond. “It’s going well,” MacDonald, 50, said of her newly assembled tugboat crew of engineer Kelsie MacLean, 23, and deckhand Jocelyn Smith, 29. “We live together. This is home. It’s more comfortable, if you need to get up in the middle of the night, to have all women on board. We were really excited to have the three of us on board. We were all a little curious, even I was thinking, 'Wow, this is going to be different.’ Three women, OK, this has never been done before. “We are getting along very well, the jobs are all getting done, everything is working fine.” Even a makeshift family that works one of the four harbor tugs operated by Atlantic Towing requires a modicum of structure. “I’m like the boat mom,” said MacDonald. Read more and view a video at this link: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1567431-video-halifax-tugboat-with-all-female-crew-like-a-family |
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Annual Great Lakes Marine Market Saturday in St. Clair 6/5 - St. Clair, Mich. – The Lake Huron Lore Marine Historical Society is sponsoring its annual Great Lakes Maritime Market at the Riverview Plaza Mall in St. Clair on Saturday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The mall is just across the street from the boardwalk in downtown St. Clair. If you have an interest in the ships that ply the Great Lakes, present or past, you will want to attend this event. There will be more that 30 vendors offering various items relating specifically to the ships and shipping industry of this region. Among the items that will be available for sale are historical artifacts, books, photographs, artwork, shipwrecks, memorabilia, advertising and more. It is a great way to learn more about the fascinating history of the Great Lakes shipping for the beginner or the advanced historian. For more information, contact Lake Huron Lore at 586-725-6276 or micheldr2005@yahoo.com |
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Vessels with Great Lakes/Seaway connections reported as a Casualty or Demolition 6/5 - The following information taken from June 2018 Marine News – Journal of the World Ship Society. Casualties: none reported
Demolitions: • Jamileh (8511603; Palau) - (ex Trader-17, Kent Trader-09 - (1st trip into Seaway 2008), Normed Antwerp-03, Weser Importer-02, Abitibi Claiborne-01, Weser Importer-88, Scol Enterprise-87) - 7,580 / 1985 general cargo. By Seablite Navigation Corp. (Nereide Marine SA), Liberia, to Pakstani breakers and arrived Gadani Beach 03/10/2017 - commenced demolition 18/10/2017 • Joy K (7306702; Sierre Leone) - (ex Senya-11, Lutz Schroder-86 - 1st trip into Seaway 1975) - 5,202 / 1973 general cargo By Bari Shipping Co SA (ISMGroup Inc), Belize, to Ege Gemi Sokum San Ve Tic AS., Turkey and arrived Aliaga 02/10/2017 - commenced demolition 04/10/2017 • Trom (763433; Comoros) - (ex Tron-17, Strong-17, Caroline-91, J.J. Oberdorff-85 - 1st trip down the Seaway from Marinette Marine - builder's yard - 1978) - 1,094 / 1978 articulated pusher tug. By Tri Dog Logistics Inc). Vanmarc Shipping Ltd Co), U.S.A. to Ayaan Ship Breaking, Pakistan and arrived Gadani Beach 28/09/2017 - commenced demolition 30/09/2017 Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 5 In 1955, J. L. MAUTHE established a new Great Lakes cargo record for a coal cargo delivered to an upper lakes port. She loaded 18392 tons of coal at the Toledo C&O dock.1943, BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS, Captain Harry Ashby, delivered a record cargo of 19343.5 net tons of iron ore at Cleveland. The ore was loaded at Two Harbors, Minnesota. In 1947, the Canada Steamship Lines steamer EMPEROR, loaded with ore and bound for Ashtabula, hit the rocks off Isle Royale at 4:10 a.m. The vessel sank within minutes but the crew was able to launch 2 lifeboats. Captain Eldon Walkinshaw, First Mate D. Moray, and 10 other crew members drowned when one of the lifeboats overturned. Twenty-one other survivors were rescued by the U.S.C.G. cutter KIMBALL. On 04 June 1872, while carrying wooden barrel staves from Bay City, Michigan to Buffalo, New York, the bark AMERICAN GIANT encountered rough weather off Port Stanley, Ontario, on Lake Erie. Heavy seas carried off her deck cargo of 25,000 staves and the vessel became waterlogged. As the crew considered abandoning, the steamer MENDOTA saw their plight and took the GIANT in tow for Buffalo where they arrived the following day. For days afterward, other vessels reported the litter of barrel staves floating in the middle of Lake Erie. At 2:00 a.m., 04 June 1891, in heavy fog, the NORTHERN QUEEN (steel propeller freighter, 299 foot, 2,476 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio) struck the schooner FAYETTE BROWN (wooden schooner, 178 foot, 553 gross tons, built in 1868, at Cleveland, Ohio) about ten miles off Dummy Light on Lake Erie. The BROWN, which was loaded with stone blocks, quickly sank in over 60 feet of water. One of the schooner's crewmen climbed aboard the QUEEN while the others barely had time to scramble up the schooner's masts. Accounts of the accident differ. The schooner's skipper claimed that the NORTHERN QUEEN continued on her journey while the schooner's crew clung to the masts while the skipper of the NORTHERN QUEEN claimed that he tried to find survivors, but lost the wreck in the fog and reluctantly continued on his journey, figuring that there were no survivors. Nevertheless, about an hour after the disaster, the steamer ROBERT MILLS (wooden propeller freighter, 256 foot, 1,790 gross tons, built in 1888, at Buffalo, New York) came along, heard the cries of the unfortunate seamen clinging to the masts and rescued them. No lives were lost. On 04 June 1881, the OGEMAW (wooden propeller freighter, 167 foot, 624 gross tons) was launched at Simon Langell's yard in St. Clair, Michigan for Mr. Wood & Company of Cleveland, Ohio. CLIFFS VICTORY sailed on her maiden voyage in ballast from South Chicago, Illinois, in 1951. On June 4, 1968, the keel for OTTERCLIFFE HALL (Hull#667) was laid at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., for the Hall Corporation of Canada. Renamed b.) ROYALTON in 1983, c.) OTTERCLIFFE HALL in 1985, d.) PETER MISENER in 1988 and e.) CANADIAN TRADER in 1994. She arrived at Alang, India, for scrapping on January 7, 2005. EDGAR B. SPEER (Hull#908) was christened on June 4th 1980, at Lorain, Ohio, for the Connecticut Bank & Trust Co., Hartford, Connecticut, managed by the Great Lakes Fleet of the United States Steel Corp., Duluth, Minnesota. In 1988, IRVING S. OLDS departed Duluth under tow of tug SALVAGE MONARCH, headed for overseas scrapping. She was scrapped by Sing Cheng Yung Iron & Steel Co., in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, scrapping began on November 24, 1988. June 4, 1940 - Oiler George Riemersma, 50, died of a heart attack while at work on the PERE MARQUETTE 21. June 4, 1942 - John A. Clancey, 58, general manager of the Grand Trunk Western Railway and president of the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Carferry Co. died suddenly of a heart attack while at his desk in Detroit. The Port Huron Times reported "The new trim and tidy tug, the P L JOHNSON, built for Capt. Sol Rummage, passed up last night with her first tow. She is of medium size and wears the national colors on her smokestack for which some of the boys call her a floating barber shop." On 4 June 1859, GENERAL HOUSTON (2-mast wooden schooner, 83 foot, 123 tons, built in 1844, at French Creek, New York) was bound from Port Huron for Buffalo with a load of lumber. During a terrific gale, she missed the mouth of the Grand River near Fairport, Ohio and went on the pier where she broke up. Fortunately no lives were lost. The lighthouse keeper on the pier where she broke up later refused to light the lantern while the wreck was in place for fear of drawing other vessels into it. The U. S. Government quickly contracted to remove the hulk from the channel, but a month later, a storm did the job for free, obliterating the wreck so completely that it was reported to have just "disappeared." June 4th is the anniversary of the famous race between the TASHMOO and the CITY OF ERIE, an exciting race that included many thousands of dollars in wagers, great advance publicity, and the use of many other boats to watch the action along the way. The drama was such that carrier pigeons were released at various times to take the latest updates to waiting newspaper reporters. The CITY OF ERIE won the race in a very close match, and the story has been retold in several books about the Great Lakes. 1961: C.A. BENNETT went aground in the Wiley-Dondero Channel of the Seaway while trying to avoid the REDFERN and was released with her own power. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Algolake scrap tow leaves for Turkey 6/4 - The tug Diavlos Force (IMO 8214023) of Panamanian registry departed Montreal early Sunday morning with the former Algolake, renamed for the tow as the Gola of Sierra Leone. They are headed to Aliaga, Turkey, where the Algolake will be scrapped. At present they have an ETA for Aliaga on June 30. Denny Dushane |
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Chem Norma released from grounding 6/4 - Morrisburg, Ont. – The tanker Chem Norma is free. She was yanked from the grip of the St. Lawrence River bottom just before 4 p.m. Sunday after running aground Tuesday. Three tugs, Ocean Tundra, Ocean K. Rusby and Ocean Pierre Julien, worked together with a rising river throughout the day to unloose the stuck ship. Late Saturday, the International Joint Commission took the step of slowing outflow on the river in order to aid in the release of the ship. The Chem Norma was en route to Sarnia, Ontario, on Lake Huron Tuesday morning when it lost steering and ran aground on a submerged berm that was once part of a canal system. Two smaller tugs worked on freeing the boat throughout the week before being joined by the Ocean Tundra, Canada’s most powerful tug boat, Saturday afternoon. The Chem Norma is a double-hulled tanker and is transporting a refined petroleum product. Early Sunday evening, the ship was at anchor not far from where it ran aground, according to Marinewatch.com. Watertown Daily Times |
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Gale warning issued for Monday on St. Marys River 6/4 - The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning for the St. Marys River from Point Iroquois to E. Potagannissing Bay from 6 a.m. Monday to midnight Tuesday. |
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Port Reports - June 4
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Port Inland, Mich.
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Southern Lake Michigan
North Channel
Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
Calcite, Mich.
Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey
Pelee Island, Ont. Welland canal and regional report - Sunday Jun 3 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal -
Welland Canal docks:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Bronte:
Oshawa: |
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Updates - June 4 Saltie Gallery updated with pictures of the : BBC Europe, Cinnamon, Emanuel S, Fearless, Federal Biscay, Federal Bristol, Federal Danube, Federal Satsuki, Federal Welland, Flevoborg, Floretgracht, Fuldaborg, Harbour Pioneer, Helena G, HHL Congo, Mamry, Muntgracht, Palabora, Pearl Mist, Resko, Skawa, Sunda, Vancouverborg and Victory I. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 4 In 1955, J. L. MAUTHE established a new Great Lakes cargo record for a coal cargo delivered to an upper lakes port. She loaded 18392 tons of coal at the Toledo C&O dock.1943, BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS, Captain Harry Ashby, delivered a record cargo of 19343.5 net tons of iron ore at Cleveland. The ore was loaded at Two Harbors, Minnesota. In 1947, the Canada Steamship Lines steamer EMPEROR, loaded with ore and bound for Ashtabula, hit the rocks off Isle Royale at 4:10 a.m. The vessel sank within minutes but the crew was able to launch 2 lifeboats. Captain Eldon Walkinshaw, First Mate D. Moray, and 10 other crew members drowned when one of the lifeboats overturned. Twenty-one other survivors were rescued by the U.S.C.G. cutter KIMBALL. On 04 June 1872, while carrying wooden barrel staves from Bay City, Michigan to Buffalo, New York, the bark AMERICAN GIANT encountered rough weather off Port Stanley, Ontario, on Lake Erie. Heavy seas carried off her deck cargo of 25,000 staves and the vessel became waterlogged. As the crew considered abandoning, the steamer MENDOTA saw their plight and took the GIANT in tow for Buffalo where they arrived the following day. For days afterward, other vessels reported the litter of barrel staves floating in the middle of Lake Erie. At 2:00 a.m., 04 June 1891, in heavy fog, the NORTHERN QUEEN (steel propeller freighter, 299 foot, 2,476 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio) struck the schooner FAYETTE BROWN (wooden schooner, 178 foot, 553 gross tons, built in 1868, at Cleveland, Ohio) about ten miles off Dummy Light on Lake Erie. The BROWN, which was loaded with stone blocks, quickly sank in over 60 feet of water. One of the schooner's crewmen climbed aboard the QUEEN while the others barely had time to scramble up the schooner's masts. Accounts of the accident differ. The schooner's skipper claimed that the NORTHERN QUEEN continued on her journey while the schooner's crew clung to the masts while the skipper of the NORTHERN QUEEN claimed that he tried to find survivors, but lost the wreck in the fog and reluctantly continued on his journey, figuring that there were no survivors. Nevertheless, about an hour after the disaster, the steamer ROBERT MILLS (wooden propeller freighter, 256 foot, 1,790 gross tons, built in 1888, at Buffalo, New York) came along, heard the cries of the unfortunate seamen clinging to the masts and rescued them. No lives were lost. On 04 June 1881, the OGEMAW (wooden propeller freighter, 167 foot, 624 gross tons) was launched at Simon Langell's yard in St. Clair, Michigan for Mr. Wood & Company of Cleveland, Ohio. CLIFFS VICTORY sailed on her maiden voyage in ballast from South Chicago, Illinois, in 1951. On June 4, 1968, the keel for OTTERCLIFFE HALL (Hull#667) was laid at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., for the Hall Corporation of Canada. Renamed b.) ROYALTON in 1983, c.) OTTERCLIFFE HALL in 1985, d.) PETER MISENER in 1988 and e.) CANADIAN TRADER in 1994. She arrived at Alang, India, for scrapping on January 7, 2005. EDGAR B. SPEER (Hull#908) was christened on June 4th 1980, at Lorain, Ohio, for the Connecticut Bank & Trust Co., Hartford, Connecticut, managed by the Great Lakes Fleet of the United States Steel Corp., Duluth, Minnesota. In 1988, IRVING S. OLDS departed Duluth under tow of tug SALVAGE MONARCH, headed for overseas scrapping. She was scrapped by Sing Cheng Yung Iron & Steel Co., in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, scrapping began on November 24, 1988. June 4, 1940 - Oiler George Riemersma, 50, died of a heart attack while at work on the PERE MARQUETTE 21. June 4, 1942 - John A. Clancey, 58, general manager of the Grand Trunk Western Railway and president of the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Carferry Co. died suddenly of a heart attack while at his desk in Detroit. The Port Huron Times reported "The new trim and tidy tug, the P L JOHNSON, built for Capt. Sol Rummage, passed up last night with her first tow. She is of medium size and wears the national colors on her smokestack for which some of the boys call her a floating barber shop." On 4 June 1859, GENERAL HOUSTON (2-mast wooden schooner, 83 foot, 123 tons, built in 1844, at French Creek, New York) was bound from Port Huron for Buffalo with a load of lumber. During a terrific gale, she missed the mouth of the Grand River near Fairport, Ohio and went on the pier where she broke up. Fortunately no lives were lost. The lighthouse keeper on the pier where she broke up later refused to light the lantern while the wreck was in place for fear of drawing other vessels into it. The U. S. Government quickly contracted to remove the hulk from the channel, but a month later, a storm did the job for free, obliterating the wreck so completely that it was reported to have just "disappeared." June 4th is the anniversary of the famous race between the TASHMOO and the CITY OF ERIE, an exciting race that included many thousands of dollars in wagers, great advance publicity, and the use of many other boats to watch the action along the way. The drama was such that carrier pigeons were released at various times to take the latest updates to waiting newspaper reporters. The CITY OF ERIE won the race in a very close match, and the story has been retold in several books about the Great Lakes. 1961: C.A. BENNETT went aground in the Wiley-Dondero Channel of the Seaway while trying to avoid the REDFERN and was released with her own power. Data from: Skip Gillham, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II, The Marine Historical Society of Detroit and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. |
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Chem Norma Pulled Free and Undergoing Inspection 6/3 - Cornwall, Ontario – 6 p.m. update - Sunday afternoon the Chem Norma, a product tanker that had run aground early Tuesday morning near Morrisburg, Ontario, was pulled free from the edge of the waterway. The ship is now undergoing an inspection process, to ensure that it is ready to resume its transit. Both federal and provincial authorities were engaged in the process, applying due diligence in reviewing the plan to free the ship. Among the authorities involved were The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. All tankers that transit the St. Lawrence Seaway are double hulled vessels, having both an outer hull and a second inner hull, within which a series of segregated holds exist to carry liquid cargoes. The Chem Norma, carrying refined petroleum products, went aground at 4:09 AM on Tuesday, May 29, due to an issue with its rudder. The vessel came to rest against the edge of a designated anchorage area, and was not blocking any traffic. No pollution has been observed as a consequence of the grounding.
Original report: The Chem Norma, a double-hulled tanker, hit shallow waters and became stuck at 4:09 a.m. Tuesday. The accident was caused by a steering issue that was deemed mechanical. |
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Port Reports - June 3
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Cedarville, Mich.
Brevort, Mich.
Port Inland, Mich.
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Southern Lake Michigan
Sandusky, Ohio
Pelee Island, Ont. – Frank Hood Welland canal and regional report for Saturday June 2 – Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Toronto:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Oshawa: |
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Coast Guard rescues 3 after vessel drifts into breakwall in Cleveland 6/3 - Cleveland, Ohio – A crew from Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor rescued 3 people from the water after their vessel became disabled and drifted into the Edgewater breakwall Saturday. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Buffalo command center received a mayday call at approximately 11:59 a.m. from a sailing vessel with 3 people aboard, against the rocks of the Edgewater breakwall. The command center watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted a small boat crew from Station Cleveland Harbor to assist. The boat crew arrived on scene at approximately 12:05 p.m. to find one person in the water and two still aboard the vessel, all wearing life jackets. The boat crew safely retrieved the person from the water and devised a plan to rescue the remaining two people from the vessel. Due to the sea conditions and safety concerns, the Coast Guard crew had the two people enter the water where they were safely recovered. All three people, two men and one woman, were then safely transferred to shoreside EMS where they were evaluated for mild hypothermia. The Coast Guard urges boaters to have their vessels checked to make sure everything is in proper working order. Additionally, make sure there are enough life jackets on board for every passenger. USCG |
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Great Waters Research Collaborative releases study on laker ballast water 6/3 - Superior, Wis. – The Great Waters Research Collaborative (GWRC), a project of the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI), has released results of a study on nonindigenous species of plankton in ballast discharges from U.S. and Canadian lakers to western Lake Superior. The research builds on work conducted by others in the Great Lakes in recent years. Operators of the lakers proposed the study as a means of complying with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ballast water permitting requirements, and approached GWRC to undertake the scientific research. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency paid for the study via the U.S. Maritime Administration portion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The study documented five species of non-indigenous zooplankton not yet established in western Lake Superior, including Hemimysis anomala (“bloody red shrimp”), in laker ballast water discharged there. It also detected, in uptake water, a species of zooplankton (Paraleptastacus wilsoni) that had not previously been recorded in the Great Lakes. Some of the species, including this one, live in harbor sediment and may have escaped routine surveillance to date. Determination of whether the collected nonindigenous species of zooplankton might be able to survive or establish in western Lake Superior waters was beyond the scope of the study. Ten U.S. and Canadian-flag lakers participated in the study. Sampling took place in 2017, primarily in the late summer through early winter, and focused on ballast water discharges into western Lake Superior of water loaded from the lower four Great Lakes. GWRC also conducted “voyage-wide” sampling on a subset of voyages, documenting selected characteristics of the source water system and the associated ballast water uptake, plus ballast water discharge and the associated receiving system in western Lake Superior. Ballast water samples were microscopically analyzed for any non-indigenous species of aquatic organisms not yet detected in western Lake Superior waters. Special emphasis was placed on detections of Hemimysis anomala which, until the summer of 2017 when a single specimen was found, had not previously been detected in western Lake Superior. A genetic detection probe targeted to Hemimysis anomala was used to analyze source and receiving water for presence/absence of its environmental DNA. The Great Waters Research Collaborative: Great Lakes Ship Ballast Monitoring Project Technical Report is available online at uwsuper.edu/lsri/publications. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 3 On 03 June 1882, the schooner C. BELL was launched at the yard of Mason, Corning & Company in East Saginaw, Michigan. Her dimensions were 185 feet x 30 feet x 11 feet, and she cost $20,000.JOHN B. AIRD was christened in 1983, at Thunder Bay for Algoma Central Marine, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. After successfully completing her sea trials on June 3, 1951, CLIFFS VICTORY entered service for Cleveland Cliffs Steamship Co., a little under six months from the time she was purchased from the U.S.M.C. PATERSON (Hull#113) of the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., entered service for N.M. Paterson & Sons Ltd., on June 3, 1954, by carrying 440,000 bushels of wheat from Port Arthur, Ontario. She was scrapped at Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1985. On 3 June 1870, T.F. PARK (wooden side-wheeler, 170 foot, 450 tons, built in 1851, at Chatham, Ontario) caught fire and burned to the waterline at the dock near the Detroit & Milwaukee Grain Elevator at Detroit, Michigan. The hull was later removed after being struck by several vessels. On 3 June 1875, the iron carferry HURON (238 foot, 1,052 gross tons) was launched at Point Edward, Ontario for the Grand Trunk Railway. Miss Jessie S. Hughes of Toronto christened the vessel with a bottle of wine. The hull's iron plates were manufactured in Scotland and shipped to Point Edward where they were assembled. Work began on 12 August 1874. Her engine and boiler were built at Dundas, Ont. This vessel ran between Windsor and Detroit for over a century. Her hull is still in existence, submerged in the old Great Lakes Engineering Works slip in River Rouge, Michigan. 1911: The passenger steamer NORTH WEST was gutted by a fire while fitting out at Buffalo. The hull remained idle until it was cut in two in 1918 for a tow to saltwater, but the bow section sank in Lake Ontario. The stern was rebuilt on the St. Lawrence as MAPLECOURT and returned to the lakes, again in two sections, in 1922. 1923: WILLIAM B. SCHILLER and HORACE S. WILKINSON collided in Whitefish Bay. The former was anchored when hit on the port side at #5 hatch. The SCHILLER’s captain pulled up the hook and raced for shore so as to sink in shallow water. It went down in about 40 feet and was salvaged on July 2. 1940: JOHN J. RAMMACHER and WILLIAM A. REISS (ii) collided just after midnight beneath the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia-Port Huron and both ships were damaged. 1999: HOPE I lost power in the Seaway while downbound with wheat and stranded above Morrisburg. The hull was holed and the ship was released with the aid of tugs on June 5. The ship first came inland as a) NOSIRA MADELEINE in 1983 and returned as c) HOPE I for the first time in 1993, and then as d) HOPE in 2004. It was last reported as f) H. PIONEER in 2011. 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. |
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Algosteel leaves for scrap, Algolake may follow today 6/2 - Montreal, Que. – The saltwater tug Fairmount Alpine, assisted by Ocean Echo II, towed the former Algosteel – renamed Oste for the purposes of the tow – from Montreal on Friday. Algosteel’s final port will be a Turkish scrapyard. Another tug, Diavlos Force, is also at Montreal, possibly to tow the Algolake – now named Gola –to Turkey. She has a departure date of June 2. René Beauchamp |
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Coast Guard medevacs man from the Manitowoc off Harbor Beach 6/2 - Detroit, Mich. – The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a medevac of an approximately 54-year-old man off a vessel 15 miles northeast of Harbor Beach, Mich., Friday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Detroit command center received a report from the Manitowoc, a 612-foot vessel, at about 1:15 p.m. local time, about a crewmember suffering from severe abdominal pains. A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit MH-65 Dolphine helicopter flight crew was diverted from a training mission to assist. After a brief return trip to the air station to refuel, the crew traveled north and arrived at the vessel, a U.S. flagged ship en route to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, at about 2:45 p.m. Once on scene, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Rotz, the crew’s rescue swimmer, assisted the man into the rescue basket. The man was safely hoisted approximately 80 feet into the helicopter. The man was transported to Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe, Michigan in good condition. USCG |
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Port Reports - June 2
Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Green Bay, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
North Channel and Georgian Bay,
Southern Lake Michigan Welland canal and regional report - Friday June 1
Nanticoke:
Buffalo:
Port Colborne anchorage:
Welland Canal -
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton:
Bronte:
Clarkson:
Oshawa: |
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Fednav adds new Federal Nagara to its Laker-class fleet of vessels 6/2 - Fednav Ltd. of Montreal has added another new vessel to its growing fleet of Laker-class vessels. Recently added is the Federal Nagara (IMO 9805257) built in 2018 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of Oshima, Japan. The vessel is 199.98 meters in length with a beam of 23.76 meters. Federal Nagara is a sistership to Federal Dart (IMO 9805245), another new vessel built at Oshima in 2018 with the same dimensions. Both Federal Dart and Federal Nagara have yet to visit the Great Lakes/Seaway system, however each should before the end of the 2018 season. Denny Dushane |
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Boatnerd St. Marys River Cruise reservations being taken 6/2 - Annual Soo Freighter-Chasing Cruise – This annual 3-hour event during the Engineer’s Weekend at the Soo Locks usually sells out. A buffet dinner is part of the trip to take close-up photos and videos of traffic in the St. Marys River. The cruise is limited to 100 passengers and advance reservations are required. Don’t be left out. See the Gatherings page for complete details. |
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S.S. Badger delayed by high winds in Manitowoc 11 p.m. Update - The S.S. Badger arrived in Ludington around 10 p.m. This weekend is the Boatnerd Badger Gathering with a overnight stay aboard the Badger on tonight and a crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday. Original Story - 6/1 - 4 p.m. - Manitowoc, WI - Due to strong winds on Lake Michigan the S. S. Badger has been delayed in leaving for her return to Ludington. A tug has been called to help pull the car ferry off the Manitowoc dock. The Badge is expected to arrive in Ludington at approximately 9:00 this evening. Overnight passengers will be boarded as soon as the arriving passengers are off the vessel. Evening activities will continue on a delayed schedule. |
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Effort ongoing to free the Chem Norma from the side of submerged lock 6/1 - Morrisburg, Ont. – Efforts remain ongoing today to “wiggle” the tanker Chem Norma free of the Morrisburg waterfront, where the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation has concluded the vessel is stuck in a muddy berm forming the outer side of old Lock 23 — partly informed by an overlay of historical and current Google mapping information assembled and supplied by Nation Valley News. The resulting digital map sandwich, sent to the SLSMC this afternoon, “confirms the idea that the ship nosed into an earthen berm” on the south side of the old, submerged lock, without contacting the nearby remains of a concrete structure also lying below the surface, says SLSMC spokesperson Andrew Bogora. “It confirms what we were looking at yesterday,” Bogora told NVN this afternoon. “We know there is a concrete structure off to the starboard side of the ship, some distance away. Your map shows exactly that. Very nicely done!” he exclaimed in a subsequent email. Bogora said they also know they’re dealing with an earthen berm because the ship’s anchor, when pulled up, was full of clay and silt. The Chem Norma was westbound, headed for Sarnia with a cargo of a refined product, when a steering problem sent the tanker off the Seaway shipping channel shortly after 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning (May 29). Comparing the tanker to a boot stuck in mud, the SLSMC spokesperson acknowledged the two tugboats on scene have so far failed to pull the Chem Norma free of the “little bit of suction” that’s keeping her in place. The tugs arrived from Montreal yesterday evening. As a next step, he said, they hope to “wiggle” her loose by shifting the cargo between chambers on the tanker. If that doesn’t work, another tanker will be brought in to offload product. Another option, though it’s not proposed in this case, would involve slowing the flow at the Cornwall dam to raise the water level in Lake St. Lawrence, the body of water between the city and Iroquois (also known as the St. Lawrence River). It’s been done in the past to free ships that have run aground, he said. Lock 23 formed part of the Rapide Plat Canal that disappeared beneath floodwaters when the St. Lawrence Seaway was completed 60 years ago this summer. Overseeing the effort to extricate the tanker from the lock’s remains are several entities, including SLSMC, Transport Canada, the Canadian Coastguard, Environment Canada and Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change are all overseeing plans to extricate the tanker, according to Bogora. Nation Valley News |
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Cargo ship brings power to the Upper Peninsula 6/1 - L'Anse, Mich. – The Palabora cargo ship completed its journey to L’Anse Bay all the way from Italy Thursday afternoon, May 31. The ship carried 10 reciprocating internal combustion engines for local power stations. "Considering we don't have a big dock here, it is kind of neat when the big ships do come in like the one that was docked this winter during the big storms. Twice in one year is kind of neat," said Sarah Thompson, local resident and Baraga Telephone Company employee. Seven engines will go on to the F. D. Kuester Generating Station in Negaunee. Three are for the A. J. Mihm Generating Station in Baraga. Preparation to accept the ship and its cargo have been underway for quite some time. "We started looking at this in late 2016, so it has been over a year in planning. There has been multiple surveys of the bottom of the lake and also marine surveyors, many hours of engineering and project management and communication," said Sean Lipinski of Vic’s Crane and Heavy Haul. Utility companies worked all spring to open roadways for the engines. "Our outside plant guys have been raising all of the lines in order for the transportation of all of the engines coming in," said Thompson. Each engine weighs 325 tons, is 46 feet long and 20 feet tall. Offloading the engines is expected to take two more days. "The ship is actually offloading itself with its own crane and then we will be using our specialized Goldhofer trailer that has 14 axle lines to take it off the barge," said Lipinski. Engines will be transported one at a time and at night. TV6, FOX UP and UpperMichigansSource.com will have more information about the final leg of transportation upcoming. WLUC |
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Port Reports - June 1
Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thunder Bay, Ont.
St. Marys River
Southern Lake Michigan
North Channel and Georgian Bay
Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Goderich, Ont. ¬ Bruce Douglas Welland canal and regional report - Thursday May 31
Nanticoke:
Long Point bay:
Buffalo:
Welland Canal:
Port Weller anchorage:
Hamilton: May 30 - tug Salvage Monarch & barge at 0828 - Departures - May 30 - tug Radium Yellowknife for Oswego and Salvage Monarch & barge for Toronto - May 31 - John D Leitch at 1333 for the canal
Toronto:
Bronte:
Oshawa:
Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher |
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Lake Carriers’ Association applauds great waters research collaborative report 6/1 - Cleveland, Ohio – The U.S.-based Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) applauds the findings in the Great Lakes Ballast Monitoring Project Technical Report released today by the Great Waters Research Collaborative (GWRC). LCA and its members were founding partners in the study along with GWRC, and worked in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The study provides an analysis of non-native organisms found in ballast water discharged into western Lake Superior by U.S. and Canadian lake vessels. While LCA believes this study is a productive first step, the research needs to go further before ballast management policy can evolve. Specifically, more work is needed to: • Broaden the scope of testing. While uptake and discharge of ballast water were sampled, non-native species were not identified as alive or dead at uptake, nor was it determined if any that were alive survived the voyage and then survived discharge. • Expand the data set. GWRC’s sample data was limited to just a few months, between August and December of 2017. • Expand the data sample size. The research collected samples from just 8 vessels, which took in ballast water from the lower four Great Lakes and subsequently discharged it into Western Lake Superior as part of routine voyages. While lakers make approximately 1,600 voyages to western Lake Superior each year, only 15 voyages were sampled. Moreover, just four of those 15 sampling events were for an entire voyage, which entailed sampling a vessel’s ballast water at uptake in the lower Great Lakes, sampling again at the location where the vessel discharged ballast water, and sampling the ambient waters at both ends of the voyage. “It would be premature to base policy going forward on this limited data,” said Jim Weakley, president of Lake Carriers’ Association. “Let’s do some more work and get some more data to determine whether this study is telling us something new, or if these are limited data points that don’t reflect bigger issues and trends in the Great Lakes.” “We think a broader study is needed in order to evolve effective ballast water management practices for the Great Lakes. A multi-year effort would yield more data and give us more information on which to base changes in the way ballast water is handled in the Great Lakes,” said Weakley. “We welcome the opportunity to continue working with our partners to broaden the solid work already accomplished with this study.” LCA has long recognized the threat non-native species may represent to the Great Lakes and has been a leader in working on solutions for decades. The organization created Voluntary Ballast Water Management Programs to respond to the incursion of Eurasian ruffe in the 1980s and to the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the mid-2000s. In 2001, LCA produced a seven-point initiative that encouraged industry-government partnerships, recommended processes for sediment management, set guidelines for ballast management and encouraged industry support of scientific research. That same year, LCA modified the Coast Guard’s voluntary ballast water management program and added eight very specific requirements for its members specifically designed to address the issue of invasive species. During the past two years, the association has spent about $500,000 on studies related to non-native species in the Great Lakes. One LCA member partnered with the National Parks Service and the National Parks Conservancy of Lake Superior to research ballast water treatment on lakers with a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant. “Our work on this issue is urgent and ongoing, and with this report, we’ve taken a step forward in the right direction,” said Weakley. “I think everyone will agree we share a common goal – to work together to construct a solid scientific foundation upon which we can build sound practices for non-native species management in the Great Lakes.” The full report, which was funded by the U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative via the U.S. Maritime Administration, can be accessed here: https://www.uwsuper.edu/lsri/publications/upload/LSRI-GWRC-TR-GLSBM-1_FINALv2_31May2018.pdf Lake Carriers’ Association |
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Today in Great Lakes History - June 1 On 01 June 1903, ISAAC ELLWOOD (steel propeller freighter, 478 foot, 5,085 gross tons, built in 1900, at W. Bay City, Michigan) broke the record for ore when she carried a cargo of 8,579 tons out of Duluth harbor. This broke the record held by JOHN SMEATON (steel barge, 458 foot, 5,049 gross tons, built in 1899, at Superior, Wisconsin), which was 8,571 tons of ore.ASA CHILDS (wooden scow schooner, 125 foot, 204 gross tons, built in 1866, at Mentor, Ohio) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan when she was driven ashore at Highland Park just north of Chicago, Illinois on 01 June 1879, and was a total loss. The crew escaped in the lifeboat. On 01 June 1914, the St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company bought the EASTLAND (steel propeller passenger steamer, 265 foot, 1,961 gross tons, built in 1903, at Port Huron, Michigan) from the Eastland Navigation Company for $150,000. In 1943, IRVING S OLDS collided with the 524 foot steamer CHARLES O. JENKINS in heavy fog 28 miles northeast of Cleveland on Lake Erie and was holed eight feet above the water line. The OLDS was able to help the badly damaged JENKINS back to Cleveland by lashing the two vessels together. After a grueling seven hours the JENKINS was beached in the outer harbor to prevent her from sinking. The OLDS was repaired in time to carry a new record of 17,817 gross tons of iron ore on June 13, 1943. In 1952, the steamer J.L. MAUTHE (Hull#298) was launched at Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Michigan, for the Interlake Steamship Co. The WHITEFISH BAY, loaded with 950,000 bushels of spring wheat, was honored as she carried the billionth metric ton of cargo through the Eisenhower Lock in 1983. On June 1, 1907, the Great Lakes Engineering Works launched the bulk steamer WILPEN (Hull#28) at Ecorse, Michigan, for the Shenango Steamship Co., a subsidiary of Shenango Furnace Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) DAVID P. THOMPSON in 1926, and converted to a self-unloader in 1957, at Superior, Wisconsin. She was renamed c.) JOSEPH S. YOUNG in 1969, and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy in 1979. H. LEE WHITE departed Sturgeon Bay in ballast on her maiden voyage for the American Steamship Co., on June 1, 1974, to load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan for Indiana Harbor. June 1, 1902 - While northbound for Manistique, Michigan, the ANN ARBOR NO 1 went aground in a heavy fog about noon on South Manitou Island, but was able to free herself and to proceed undamaged. June 1, 1938 - PERE MARQUETTE 21, under the command of Captain Arthur Altschwager, was released from a sand bar in the outer harbor at Manitowoc at 1:06 p.m. today after being aground for six hours. Her sister ship, the PERE MARQUETTE 22, commanded by J.F. Johnson, freed the ferry after taking a line and pulling the big ship back off the bar. June, 1958, The ANN ARBOR NO 6 was taken out of service for extensive refitting. She was renamed b.) ARTHUR K. ATKINSON. On 1 June 1887, LUCINDA VAN VALKENBURG (wooden schooner, 129 foot, 302 gross tons, built in 1862, at Tonawanda, New York) collided with the iron steamer LEHIGH in fog and sank near Thunder Bay Island on Lake Huron. The crew was safely taken aboard the LEHIGH and brought to Port Huron. On 1 June 1892, the steel bulk freighter CHOCTAW was launched at the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company (Hull #17) in Cleveland, Ohio for the Lake Superior Iron Company. Her dimensions were 207 feet x 38 feet x 18 feet and she had a triple expansion steam engine 17 feet, 29 inches, 47 inches x 36 inch stroke. She was built as "monitor" type vessel based on whaleback design with all her cabins aft. She lasted until sunk in a collision in 1915. 1923: The barge BROOKDALE of Canada Steamship Lines was sunk near Montreal after a collision with MAPLEDAWN. The wooden hulled vessel, originally the schooner MORAVIA, was refloated and scrapped. 1943: A collision on foggy Lake Superior between BATTLEFORD and PRINDOC sank the latter off Passage Island. All on board were saved from the downbound, wheat-laden bulk carrier of the Paterson fleet. 1944: The first NEWBRUNDOC had been built at Toronto in 1921 and had previously sailed as CANADIAN ENGINEER and b) DONALD E.McKAY. The ship became f) SAVLATORE in 1934 and, with the outbreak of war, was now the enemy. It was bombed and sunk by British aircraft as part of a German convoy in the Aegean Sea and all hands were lost. 1966: RIO ALTO, a Liberty ship, came to the Great Lakes under Liberian registry in 1963. It developed leaks on the Pacific while enroute from Manati, Puerto Rico, to China as d) AKTOR and sank on this date 860 miles SSW of San Diego, CA in 1966. 1967: RENVOYLE struck the docked SYLVANIA while turning at Port Huron and the latter sank against the dock. The former, a C.S.L. package freighter, received bow damage and was laid up and then sold for scrap. SYLVANIA was refloated, repaired and returned to service. 1979: GEORGES HERBERT, a wooden goelette that occasionally came to the Great Lakes, sank in the Gulf of Mexico while carrying a cargo of corn. 2011: CANADIAN RANGER, under tow on the St. Lawrence, got spun around 180 degrees by a wind gust above the Iroquois Lock and had to be towed through the lock stern first before being realigned below the lock. It reached the scrap yard at Aliaga, Turkey, on July 13, 2011. 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. |
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