St. Clair fire out

2/19 - Oregon, Ohio - 3 p.m. update - Monday night the fire aboard the St. Clair had stopped burning. The Oregon Ohio Fire Department reported that they were no longer on scene and the investigation continues. Tuesday the St. Clair was reported to be listing and required to be pumped out. It is unclear if the water was from fire fighting or another source.

Original Report: Monday Fire crews had been unable to enter the St. Clair to fight the fire because it is still too dangerous due to the intense heat and smoke. The fire is expected to be burning for days to come. The fire department has no idea when the fire will be extinguished. The U. S. Coast Guard, the National Transportation board as well as other agencies are on scene monitoring the fire.

Local reports

St. Clair damage Monday - Corey Hammond

Smoldering Sunday morning USCG Photo	Closer view	Sunday morning. Jake Bourdage	Fire Fighting efforts Saturday Night. USCG Photo	St. Clair ablaze Saturday night -  source unknown

Straits of Mackinac
Algoma Sault passed Westbound Monday morning with a load of salt for Milwaukee. They were escorted by the USCG Neah Bay who docked in Cheboygan after the escort.

Goderich
Algoma Innovator arrived Monday morning and was assisted to the Compass Minerals Salt Dock by the CCGS Samuel Risley. The Risley then headed downbound for icebreaking in the St. Clair River.

St. Clair River
The tanker Algoscotia was upbound under escort of the USCG Hollyhock and Bristol Bay Monday morning. Early afternoon the tanker became stuck in the ice below Russell Island. The tanker stopped in the ice and will wait for the CCGS Samuel Risley to continue the escort upbound Tuesday morning. The tug Leo A. McArthur and tank barge are anchored below Marine City waiting to pass downbound.

The b.) TROY H. BROWNING, c.) THOMAS F. PATTON was towed from the James River with two other C4s, LOUIS MC HENRY HOWE, b.) TOM M. GIRDLER and MOUNT MANSFIELD, b.) CHARLES M. WHITE, to the Maryland Dry Dock Co., Baltimore, Maryland, February 1951, to be converted to a Great Lakes bulk carrier according to plans designed by J.J. Henry & Co., New York, New York.

Wolf & Davidson of Milwaukee sold the JIM SHERIFFS (wooden propeller, 182 foot, 634 gross tons, built in 1883, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to Kelley Island Line on 19 February 1887.

1981: The Indian freighter JYOTI VINOD, a Seaway caller as a) JALAZAD beginning in 1969, departed Bombay with a cargo of jute, general freight and school buses. The nightmare voyage, which proved to be its last, did not reach Tema, Ghana, until December 23, 1981

1992: VIHREN, a Bulgarian built and flagged bulk carrier, was driven on the breakwall at Tuapse, USSR, in severe weather. The vessel later broke in two. The ship first came inland in 1983, headed for Thunder Bay. The two sections of the hull were refloated and each arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, for dismantling in August 1992.

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

St. Clair may burn for days

2/18 - Oregon, Ohio - Noon update: Fire crews have been unable to enter the St. Clair to fight the fire because it is still too dangerous due to the intense heat and smoke. The fire is expected to be burning for days to come, the fire department has no idea when the fire will be extinguished. The U. S. Coast Guard, the National Transportation board as well as other agencies are on scene monitoring the fire.

Original Report:

On Sunday, the fire was under control but not out. Two ladder trucks remained at the scene cooling off hot spots.  “Nobody can think of a fire of this magnitude in the city of Oregon,” said interim fire chief Dennis Hartman.

Two conveyor belts on the ship caught fire, burned and melted.

“Just think of two tire piles—big tire piles—basically same kind of thing: rubber. That’s on fire under the vessel. We just can’t get to that,” Hartman said.

It was a tough fire to battle. Only one in four fire hydrants on the dock worked.  Tanker trucks from 15 area departments were dispatched to a hydrant on Bay Shore Road.  “Those tanker trucks would come out here. We had an engine out here that would fill them, bring them back,” Hartman said.

The future of the St. Clair is uncertain. Parts of her superstructure have been destroyed such as the pilots deck and the captain and crew living quarters.

Hartman says the fire could continue to burn for several days.  No cause has been determined.

WTOL and local reports

Split Rock Lighthouse's longest-serving keeper retiring

2/18 - It's the end of an era at the North Shore's most iconic tourist destination. Lee Radzak, the main custodian of the Split Rock Lighthouse for 36 years, is retiring.

It's not just a long tenure, but the longest tenure of any lighthouse keeper at the historic site. He and his wife Jane have lived on the grounds since 1982. "The couple easily holds the record for the longest residents (sic) at Split Rock Lighthouse in its nearly 110-year history," a Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) news release says.

Radzak started at Split Rock after spending six years as a MNHS archaeologist, and has overseen "some the biggest achievements in the site’s last 40 years. That includes the construction of a visitor center in 1986, the centennial celebration in 2010, and in 2011, the naming of the lighthouse as a National Historic Landmark — "a process that took several years to complete," MNHS says.

And his service has not gone unnoticed. He's received a number of civic awards for his work, including the 2014 Lake Superior Magazine Achievement Award and the American Lighthouse Council’s lifetime achievement award.

He plans to officially step down in April, the Duluth News Tribune says. It's been a nice commute, just a couple hundred-foot walk to work every day," Radzak told the paper, adding, "the flip side is that you never get away from it."

Split Rock Lighthouse is located north of Two Harbors on the Superior North Shore.

Algoma Innovator makes third Milwaukee visit with salt

2/18 - Milwaukee - For the third consecutive weekend, Algoma Innovator was at Port Milwaukee delivering salt as Compass Minerals tries to catch up on salt shipments interrupted by a three-month strike last summer at their Goderich mine. She arrived Milwaukee at 7 a.m. on Saturday. After dropping almost 25,000 tons of deicing salt at the outer harbor open dock, she departed for Goderich just after 5:30 that afternoon.

Algoma Central is still operating two boats hauling salt for Compass Minerals. Algoma Innovator, a 650-foot Equinox-class bulk carrier that entered service in 2018, is shuttling between Goderich and Milwaukee. Algoma Sault, a 740-foot Equinox-class boat that also entered service in 2018, is doing the same between Goderich and Detroit.

As of mid February ice covered almost 35 percent of Lake Michigan and 60 percent of Lake Huron. Equinox-class vessels were not designed for operation in heavy ice and have required assistance.

Recent cold temperatures and strong westerly winds have created severe ice conditions in some areas along the eastern shore of Lake Huron. Around Goderich, ice fields are reported to be from three to seven feet deep. The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Samuel Risley has been busy keeping the harbor entrance open for the salt boats. To do this they have relied on a Coast Guard helicopter to locate seams between shifting ice plates, which the Risley then widens to create channels for the freighters.

Through the Straits of Mackinac, ice ranges from 12 to 28 inches thick. The U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking tug Katmai Bay, which is homeported at Sault Ste. Marie, has been escorting Algoma Innovator as she navigates the narrow passage connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan.

On her most recent trip, Algoma Innovator departed Goderich February 14 at 8:30 in the morning. So the 485-mile trip by water took about 47.5 hours (time change). This means her average speed exceeded ten miles per hour – not bad for February on the Great Lakes.

Wisconsin Marine Historical Society

The b.) JOSEPH S. YOUNG, a.) ARCHERS HOPE, was towed to the Great Lakes via the Mississippi River and arrived at the Manitowoc Ship Building Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin on February 18, 1957, where her self unloading equipment was installed. This was the last large vessel to enter the Lakes via the Mississippi. She was the first of seven T-2 tanker conversions for Great Lakes service. Renamed c.) H. LEE WHITE in 1969, and d.) SHARON in 1974. SHARON was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1986.

The Murphy fleet was sold on 18 February 1886. The tugs GLADIATOR, KATE WILLIAMS and BALIZE went to Captain Maytham, the tug WILLIAM A. MOORE to Mr. Grummond, the schooner GERRIT SMITH to Captain John E. Winn, and the tug ANDREW J. SMITH to Mr. Preston Brady.

1980: PANAGIS K. arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on this date and was soon placed under arrest. The ship was idle and in a collision there with NORTH WAVE on January 23, 1981. The hull was abandoned aground, vandalized and, on October 12, 1985, auctioned off for scrap. The ship first traded through the Seaway in 1960 as a) MANCHESTER FAME and returned as b) CAIRNGLEN in 1965, again as c) MANCHESTER FAME in 1967 and as d) ILKON NIKI in 1972.

1983: A fire in the bow area during winter work aboard the Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier RICHELIEU (ii) at Thunder Bay resulted in the death of three shipyard workers.

2010: The sailing ship CONCORDIA visited the Great Lakes in 2001 and participated in the Tall Ships Festival at Bay City, MI. It sank in the Atlantic about 300 miles off Rio de Janeiro after being caught in a severe squall. All 64 on board were rescued from life rafts after a harrowing ordeal. 2010: The tug ADANAC (Canada spelled backwards) sank at the Essar Steel dock at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was refloated the next day.

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

Algoma Conveyor departs China for long journey home to Canada

2/17 - The Algoma Conveyor departed from the shipyard in Jiangsu, China Saturday enroute to Canada on its delivery trip and maiden voyage. The ship has a present ETA for Davao, Philippines on February 22 where it is expected to arrive and take on fuel. From there the ship will continue on its long journey crossing the Pacific Ocean and travelling through the Panama Canal before eventually ending its journey in Canada. The trip is expected to take the ship approximately two months. The Algoma Conveyor is also carrying a foreign crew and is registered in Tuvalu however, this registration will change once the vessel arrives in Canada where it will then be re-flagged and registered Canadian and also will have a Canadian crew.

Algoma Conveyor was originally built in 2015 in Nantong City, China at the Nantong Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. shipyard. That ship yard went into bankruptcy while the ship was under construction leaving the ship half finished. The hull was then purchased in 2017 at auction by Algoma and then then taken to the Jiangsu New Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. shipyard for refurbishment and final construction.

It was supposed to have been Algoma's first self-unloading vessel. With the completion of the Algoma Conveyor the ship now joins seven other Equinox-class ships in the Algoma fleet. The Algoma Equinox built in 2013 followed by the Algoma Harvester in 2014 and the G3 Marquis ex-CWB Marquis also built in 2014. The Algoma Strongfield was also added to the fleet in 2017 followed by three self-unloading bulk carriers the Algoma Niagara in 2017. In 2018 the Algoma Innovator built in Croatia and the first 650-foot long forward mounted self-unloading vessel and the self-unloading bulk carrier Algoma Sault built in China.

Denny Dushane

Milwaukee, Wis. -
Algoma Innovator arrived with another load of salt from Goderich.

Goderich, Ont. -
Algoma Sault waited off port Saturday morning and was escorted into the Salt Dock by the CCGS Samuel Risley about 12:30 p.m.

Obituary: Dr. Alfred “Al” A. Hart

2/17 - Dr. Alfred “Al” A. Hart, 86, of Bay Village, Ohio, died Feb. 15. He was well-known around the Great Lakes not only for his work with the Great Lakes Historical Society and the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History, but for the many friends he made at Boatnerd gatherings, selling collectibles on eBay and attending marine marts around the Great Lakes.

He was was born Jan. 3, 1933 in Pittsburgh, PA. During his time as a Presbyterian pastor, he served churches in Benkelman, NE, Orwell, Ohio, and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Then, for 29 years, until his retirement in 1998, he served as pastor of the Avon Lake Presbyterian Church. He went on to serve as Parish Associate at John Knox Presbyterian Church in North Olmsted.

Al hosted a jazz radio program, “Sounds for Sunday,” on two Cleveland radio stations. He was listed in a 1993 issue of “Cleveland Magazine” as one of Cleveland’s 20 most interesting people. He served on the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Historical Society and the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History; as well as serving as chaplain of Cleveland Lodge 4 of the International Shipmasters' Association.

He leaves behind his wife, Jan Hart (nee: Doll) of over 40 years; children, Susan Hart: and step-children: Bonnie Hedges (Chris), Brin Odell (Erin); grandchildren: Amber, Heather (Aric), Lexie, Peyton and Taylor; and great-grandchildren: Porter and Stella. Al was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Chris Hart.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Al to John Knox Presbyterian Church, 25200 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 and the Great Lakes Historical Society 1701 Front St, Toledo, Ohio 43605.

The family will receive friends at Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Rd, Avon Lake from 2-4 and 6-8 pm Saturday, March 2, 2019. A memorial service will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church Sunday, March 3, at 2pm.(440) 933-3202 www.buschcares.com

Lorain Morning Journal

Captain's Dinner

2/17 - Traverse City Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy will present the fourth annual Captain's Dinner, a benefit for cadet groups, on March 1.

The evening at NMC’s Great Lakes Campus includes dinner in Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant and a cadet-guided tour of the Academy and the training ship T/S State of Michigan. Dinner will be prepared by chefs from the college's Great Lakes Culinary Institute, with the menu theme taken from former and current Great Lakes ships.

Dinner seating is unreserved, and tickets are $55 each. Tickets, menu and details on reserved table sponsorships, available for groups of two to ten, are all available online at www.nmc.edu/captains-dinner.

A silent auction of local and maritime-inspired items will also be held. The cadet groups benefitting are the Propeller Club, Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineers and Women on the Water.

Video: Edward M. Cotter breaks ice in Buffalo

2/17 - Buffalo News Video of the historic fireboat Edward M. Cotter from the Buffalo Fire Department breaking up ice in the Buffalo River to prevent flooding in communities upstream. https://youtu.be/8MPJryzsdi8

The b.) JOSEPH S. YOUNG, a.) ARCHERS HOPE, was towed to the Great Lakes via the Mississippi River and arrived at the Manitowoc Ship Building Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin on February 18, 1957, where her self unloading equipment was installed. This was the last large vessel to enter the Lakes via the Mississippi. She was the first of seven T-2 tanker conversions for Great Lakes service. Renamed c.) H. LEE WHITE in 1969, and d.) SHARON in 1974. SHARON was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1986.

The Murphy fleet was sold on 18 February 1886. The tugs GLADIATOR, KATE WILLIAMS and BALIZE went to Captain Maytham, the tug WILLIAM A. MOORE to Mr. Grummond, the schooner GERRIT SMITH to Captain John E. Winn, and the tug ANDREW J. SMITH to Mr. Preston Brady.

1980: PANAGIS K. arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on this date and was soon placed under arrest. The ship was idle and in a collision there with NORTH WAVE on January 23, 1981. The hull was abandoned aground, vandalized and, on October 12, 1985, auctioned off for scrap. The ship first traded through the Seaway in 1960 as a) MANCHESTER FAME and returned as b) CAIRNGLEN in 1965, again as c) MANCHESTER FAME in 1967 and as d) ILKON NIKI in 1972.

1983: A fire in the bow area during winter work aboard the Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier RICHELIEU (ii) at Thunder Bay resulted in the death of three shipyard workers.

2010: The sailing ship CONCORDIA visited the Great Lakes in 2001 and participated in the Tall Ships Festival at Bay City, MI. It sank in the Atlantic about 300 miles off Rio de Janeiro after being caught in a severe squall. All 64 on board were rescued from life rafts after a harrowing ordeal. 2010: The tug ADANAC (Canada spelled backwards) sank at the Essar Steel dock at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was refloated the next day.

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

More than half the Great Lakes are covered in ice, experts say

2/14 - Detroit, Mich. – Ice has blanketed more than 56 percent of the five Great Lakes as of Monday, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

The lab issued a report that found ice coverage is close to 35 percent on Lake Michigan, 60 percent on Lake Huron, close to 90 percent on Lake Erie, 70 percent on Lake Superior and about 20 percent on Lake Ontario. WLUC-TV reported that the amount of ice was more than normal for this time of the winter season and frigid temperatures in January and February significantly added to the ice coverage.

"You see the shelf ice close to the shoreline, but you have to remember that there is always moving ice underneath them and you have to be careful because if you do fall in there is no way to get out," Matt Zika, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the TV station.

A Great Lakes Surface Environmental Analysis (GLSEA) showed that water temperatures on the Great Lakes were 40 degrees and below.

Detroit Free Press

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator continued to load salt on Wednesday.

Lake Erie
Algocanada was docked at Nanticoke Wednesday night. Algosea, Algoscotia and Algoma Hansa remained at anchor. There were high winds in the area on Wednesday, with one vessel reporting 56-knot winds, gusting to 103.

Poor weather strands U.S. Coast Guard cutter

2/14 - Goderich, Ont. - (Feb. 8) – An ice cutter with the United States Coast Guard was docked in Goderich harbor last week because of 75-kilometre an hour winds.

The Hollyhock, a 225-foot-long cutter, attracted the attention of the public on Friday, and some residents were permitted to board the vessel to check it out. The Hollyhock was in the Goderich area to break ice to allow safe passage for vessels carrying loads of salt. The vessel is usually used as a Great Lakes bouy tender.

“Salt ships come from Goderich to Detroit and need a safe route to achieve this,” said Ensign Kevin Wetmore.

“While conducting this the wind increased to 40 knots which left us in need of a safe place to stay until the wind decreased.”

The Hollyhock is based out of Port Huron. Crew members said they conduct missions throughout the Great Lakes.

“We conduct operations throughout the Great Lakes frequently and there is never any issues between the U.S. and the Canadians,” said Wetmore.

“There are times when we will help them with a buoy, and in turn, they will help us.”

The ship’s crew consists of eight officers and 44 enlisted members. Their time in Goderich presented an opportunity to provide public tours of the vessel.

For two days The Hollyhock allowed curious Canadians to board and visit the officers’ quarters, the mess hall, the engine control room and the operations deck.

Members of the public were invited to tour the interior of the Hollyhock while it was docked in Goderich. Among them were members of the Killbourne family. Daniel Caudle / Postmedia Network

“This ship is really big and I’ve never seen this before,” remarked Lincoln Kilbourne, who was excused from school to attend the tour. Crew members embraced the chance to spend the night in Goderich, a place many said they had never visited.

“We had the opportunity to see Canada’s prettiest town, which I don’t think anyone on board had visited before,” said Wetmore. The Hollyhock was to depart Goderich once favorable conditions returned.

Goderich Signal Star

Coast Guard icebreaking support for commercial vessels in Goderich

2/14 - Goderich, Ont. - (Feb. 8) – The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley worked in severe ice conditions on eastern Lake Huron this week to ensure a cargo ship could safely reach the port of Goderich.

Recent extreme cold temperatures combined with strong and gale force westerly winds created very heavy ice conditions. Rough estimates have the ice field from three to seven feet deep.

Icebreaking was necessary over the course of several days.

Signe Gotfredsen, commanding officer of CCGS Samuel Risley reported that with persistence and information gathered from the air, from a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter, they were able to complete this challenging icebreaking mission.

“Early Monday afternoon, with an open water lead that developed between two large shifting ice plates, we used this opportunity to widen a path that allowed for the safe passage of the cargo ship into Goderich,” added Captain Gotfredsen.

The Goderich-based tug Escort broke out the harbour and entrance channel. Coast Guard Icebreaking on the Great Lakes is delivered in close cooperation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards and industry.

The United States Coast Guard cutter Hollyhock is now working on Lake Huron to continue ice-breaking operations.

Goderich Signal Star

Waukegan's popular 'lighthouse pier' lined up for an extreme makeover

2/14 - Waukegan – From the boat launch all the way out to the lighthouse, Waukegan Harbor’s south pier — known bureaucratically as the “government pier,” but to locals as the “lighthouse pier” — extends more than a half-mile out into Lake Michigan.

If you haven’t enjoyed that walk on a calm, sunny day almost any time of year, put it on your list. If you have, you know about the pier’s many characteristics, from the holes used to anchor fishing poles to the rocks that form works of art along the south side of the breakwall.

The view from the eastern tip, in the shadow of the lighthouse, delivers a pocket of calm beyond the noise of the city. Walking back toward the harbor, the postcard sight of the boat slips stands against the towers on the bluff and the remaining industrial silos to illustrate the history of Waukegan.

The pier is one of the great public amenities in not just Waukegan, but Lake County as a whole. But, as with most man-made structures, there comes a time when nature starts to reclaim its territory to a point where something has to be done.

That point was reached a while ago. Along with the charming features mentioned above, the eastern half of the lighthouse pier is a minefield of fractured concrete and exposed rebar. In a city wrestling to balance its books and repair aging infrastructure, the casual visitor might think this is just another post-industrial reality that will stubbornly remain as-is.

Fortunately, as the above-mentioned “government pier” title might imply, the facility is under the umbrella of the federal government — and the good news is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to cover a renovation that will wipe away all that damaged concrete.

According to a report before the Waukegan City Council last week by Waukegan Port District General Manager Joe Seidelmann, taxpayers can thank rising lake levels for the Corps having the available funds to do the job — which will cost about $1.6 million.

The lighthouse at the end of what is formally known as the "government pier" in Waukegan Harbor sits more than a half-mile out from the Lake Michigan shore. (Dan Moran/News-Sun).

“Last year, there was a surplus of funding because of the lake level being up, and they did not have to dredge as much sand (out of the harbor entrance),” Seidelmann said. “They were able to redo the concrete on the north pier (in 2017) near the public beach.

“This year, due to a surplus of funding due to the lake level continuing to rise, the Corps of Engineers is going to finally take care of the concrete problem on the (south) pier of that channel.”

Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-moran-waukegan-harbor-pier-rebuild-st-0213-story.html

Cuyahoga River Ambassador Program aims to keep paddlers safe

2/14 - Cleveland, Ohio – Oh CRAP, here comes a freighter! The first-ever volunteer Cuyahoga River Ambassador Program will patrol the Cuyahoga this summer in kayaks and paddleboards, to warn paddlers when freighters are coming and teach them to stay safe.

The Cleveland Metroparks, Nalu Paddle & Surf, the Foundry and Phastar Corp. are organizing the group of two dozen volunteers. They’re embracing the acronym, too, with plans for cheeky T-shirts.

Concern for safety on the Cuyahoga River has grown as the river grows more crowded. Rowing shells, paddleboards, kayaks, pleasure boats and jet skis all compete for space against freighters navigating the twisty waterway.

Cleveland last summer painted NO DOCKING signs on 10 safety zones in the river. Students at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School paced the river on a boat, handing out literature with safety tips.

“Our interactions last year could have gone better if we were in a kayak,” said Drew Ferguson, founder of Phastar, the Northeast Ohio aviation non-profit that provides the aerospace and marine instruction at Davis. Phastar has applied for grants to cover volunteer training in CPR and first aid and equipment, including radios and maybe paddlecraft. They will work weekends and holiday shifts, entering the river from Whiskey Island or around Rivergate Park.

The ambassadors will solve one of the major issues discussed by the Cuyahoga River Safety Task Force – educating casual river users. “From a paddling stand point, I don’t think people are doing it intentionally,” said Bill Cochrane, owner of Nalu surf shop. “They just don’t know any better.”

Tim McKenna, director of facilities and operations for the Foundry, which teaches youth rowing and sailing, said 20 rowing coaches could also help with the program. Paddlers and boaters need to know the dangers of the river and the freighters.

“This is not Mohican,” he said, referencing the state park. “You can’t get your cooler full of beer and float around.”

If you’re interested in volunteering, email Drew Ferguson at dferguson@phastar.org.

Read more at this link: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/02/oh-crap-a-freighters-coming-cuyahoga-river-ambassador-program-aims-to-keep-paddlers-safe.html

Ford Motor Co., looking to expand its fleet, purchased the JOSEPH S. WOOD, a.) RICHARD M. MARSHALL on February 14, 1966, for $4.3 million and renamed her c.) JOHN DYKSTRA. In 1983, she was renamed d.) BENSON FORD. Renamed e.) US.265808, in 1985, she was scrapped at Recife, Brazil in 1987.

On February 14, 1973, the LEADALE’s forward cabins burned during winter lay-up at Hamilton, Ontario and were later repaired. Built in 1910, at Great Lakes Engineering Works (Hull#77) as a,) HARRY YATES, for the American Steamship Co. renamed b.) CONSUMERS POWER in 1934, c.) FRED A. MANSKE in 1958 and d.) LEADALE in 1962. Scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia in 1979.

1997: The SD 14 cargo ship PATRICIA M. was a Seaway trader in 1974 and returned as c) SELATAN in 1991. It was sailing as d) NIKA II when it stranded on a breakwall near Veracruz, Mexico, while inbound, in ballast, to load sugar. The hull was refloated on March 8, towed to an anchorage and declared a total loss. It was broken up for scrap at Tuxpan, Mexico, beginning on April 27, 1997.

2000: ZAFIRO, a Seaway trader in 1984, sank as d) ZAFIR off Calabria, Italy, after a collision with the ESPRESSO CATANIA while carrying 6000 tons of cement clinker. Thirteen sailors were lost or missing.

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

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator was at the salt dock on Tuesday.

Lake Erie
Algocanada was docked at Nanticoke Tuesday night. Algosea, Algoscotia and Algoma Hansa were at anchor.

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor extends Federal Marine Terminals as stevedore

2/13 - The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor has renewed its contract with the stevedore Federal Marine Terminals through 2023.

Since 1999, Montreal-based FMT has unloaded and loaded steel, wind turbine blades, beer tanks, forest products, breakbulk cargo and heavy lift cargo including the Icarus, the world's largest liquid argon particle hunter that was shipped from Europe to the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont in 2017.

"FMT has been a vital collaborator with the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor since 1999," Port Director Ian Hirt said. "This consolidated operating agreement underscores FMT's commitment to the greater Northwest Indiana and Chicago markets."

Spun off from Fednav Limited, Federal Marine Terminals handles bulk, specialized and general cargoes along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The stevedore has 12 facilities along the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes, including at the 49-year-old deepwater port on Lake Michigan in Burns Harbor and Portage.

"FMT is solidifying our commitment to the port and our customers by investing in our fleet of equipment at Burns Harbor," said Matthew McPhail, FMT's vice president of sales and marketing. "FMT has recently ordered a new crane and we are bringing in a second crane to accompany it. FMT strives to meet the needs of all its customers, regardless of shipment size. Our ability to handle large-dimensional cargo is due to our safety-conscious staff, our modern equipment and the facilities the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor provides."

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor decided to extend the long-term stevedore's contract after a record amount of cargo passed through Indiana's port system in 2018, the most since the state's port authority was founded in 1961. The three-port system, which also includes two ports on the Ohio River on Indiana's southern border, handled 14.8 million tons of cargo last year, 25 percent more than the previous year and 21 percent more than the previous annual record in 2015.

NW Indiana Times

February 13, 1897 - PERE MARQUETTE (later named PERE MARQUETTE 15) arrived in Ludington on her maiden voyage, with Captain Joseph "Joe" Russell in command.

1941: The first WESTCLIFFE HALL, overseas to assist in the war effort, was damaged when hit by a bomb while two miles off Whitby High Light. The ship was repaired and returned to the Great Lakes after the war. It last sailed as b) WHEATON in the Misener fleet before scrapping at Hamilton in 1965-1966.

1973: MITERA MARIA loaded street cars on deck during a Great Lakes visit to Toronto in August 1967. The ship sustained fire damage in the engineroom at Karachi, Pakistan, as d) MARBELLA and sold for scrap. The 25-year old vessel was broken up at Gadani Beach in 1974.

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

Two Great Lakes levels could hit record, forecast finds

2/12 - Detroit, MI – Great Lakes water levels will be higher than normal, and some may approach record levels, for the summer boating season, according to the latest forecast of Great Lakes water levels issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Lake Superior is already near record high levels and by May could reach a record that was set in the mid-1980s, according to a six-month forecast. Lake Erie could reach record highs in late spring as well. Lakes Michigan-Huron, and St. Clair won't break records but are expected to be above normal, the Army Corps predicts.

Higher levels can mean more erosion, less beach and less room to pass under bridges. They also could mean more clearance from underwater obstacles and help prevent the need for costly dredging of harbors.

Lake levels, dependent on precipitation and evaporation, have recovered substantially from January 2013, when Lakes Huron-Michigan set record lows.

Lake Superior is just 2 inches below its record high February level and Lake Erie is 7 inches below its record this month, according to the Corps.

The above-normal lake levels are happening despite the Great Lakes area getting below average rain in January and December.

The Detroit News

Grosse Ile Lighthouse damaged by ice piled up in Detroit River

2/12 - Grosse Ile, Mich. – Shifting ice on the Detroit River has caused damage to the foundation and a railing at the Grosse Ile Lighthouse. According to the Grosse Ile Historical Society’s Facebook page, the damaged was noticed last week when a resident saw piles of ice had come ashore.

The lighthouse was built in 1906 and has been deactivated since 1963. Tours of the lighthouse are still given, but you must be accompanied by someone from the historical society.

As a result of the damage, a committee has launched a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of the historical society which is seeking $75,000. However, it does not appear all the money sought would be used strictly for the repairs. The campaign also lists preventative measure to stop ice from coming ashore again, a new paint job, window and door repair and more as possible uses for the funds.

See photos at this link

Straits of Mackinac
The USCG Katmai Bay and Algoma Innovator resumed their trip east bound on Monday morning. Once through the Straits, the Innovator continued down Lake Huron for Goderich while the Katmai Bay stopped in Mackinaw City.

Goderich, Ont.
The CCGS Samuel Risley was waiting at Goderich Monday for the Algoma Innovator. The Risley broke out the harbor and then headed down the lake. She was downbound past Sarnia Monday night.

St. Clair River
On Monday, the tug Leo J. McArthur and tank barge John M. Carrick and the Algoma Sault started down the St. Clair River and had planned to stop in the lower river and wait for ice escort. By early afternoon the pair had passed Marine City when Sarnia Traffic informed them ice escort would not be available until Tuesday morning. McArthur/Carrick anchored below the Salt Dock in Marine City while the Sault turned and headed upbound to anchor below Recors Point in St. Clair. Both are bound for Detroit.

Lake Erie
Algocanada was unloading Monday. Algosea, Algoscotia were at anchor off Port Dover. Algoma Hansa was headed back to Sarnia.

Coast guard's $227M ships rock 'like crazy,' making crews seasick, unable to work

2/12 - Canada's $227-million fleet of mid-shore coast guard vessels are rolling "like crazy" at sea, making crews seasick and keeping some ships in port during weather conditions where they should be able to operate, CBC News has learned.

Some of these vessels are stationed at Great Lakes and Seaway ports. Canadian Coast Guard records and correspondence obtained under federal access to information legislation raise questions about the patrol vessels' seagoing capability and reveal a two-year debate — still unresolved — on how to address the problem.

At issue is the lack of stabilizer fins — blades that stick out from the hull to counteract the rolling motion of waves — on nine Hero class ships that were built by the Irving Shipyard in Halifax between 2010 and 2014.

The problem is reportedly so bad that a trip along the West Coast required one Fisheries and Oceans Canada supervisor in B.C. to place rolled up jackets under the outer edge of his bunk to keep him pinned against the wall instead of being tossed out by the amount of roll in the ship.

"It goes without saying that the crew [is] in favour of [stabilizers]," wrote supervisor Mike Crottey. "Seasickness is felt both by conservation and protection and coast guard personnel and has an impact on vessel operation."

The coast guard decided it did not need stabilizers when the ships were being built, but has been considering retrofitting them since 2017 amid criticism from commanding officers and others who serve on board.

Crottey said that in exposed water, the skipper of the CCGS M. Charles sets a weather course to "keep the ship from really rocking around," which can result in more fuel consumption and increased operating costs. "This course is based on the swell and the wind direction and is used [to] alleviate excessive ship motion and not based on the shortest distance to destination," Crottey wrote.

The vessels, which are 42 metres long and seven metres wide, are known as the Hero class since each is named after an exemplary military, RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard or DFO officer. Their primary mission is fisheries enforcement and maritime security in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The ships also provide search and rescue and pollution control.

The coast guard denies there is any problem with the safety and stability of the fleet. However, in a March 2017 "configuration change request" to have stabilizers installed, coast guard project manager David Wyse described "an increased hazard of crew injuries and program failures.

"All vessel operators agree the Hero class vessels require stabilizers in all area of operation," Wyse wrote. "Program operations can suffer [due] to the fact that the vessels have extreme roll in high sea state conditions."

More than a year later, in May 2018, Wyse relayed an unidentified at-sea testimonial: "I'm rolling 15 degrees port and starboard (30 degrees total) out here today and the winds are less than 10 knots and seas are less than one metre. We need to make this platform more workable."

Read more at this link

New café to open at Great Lakes Maritime Center

2/12 - Port Huron, Mich. – When the Maritime Center at Vantage Point reopens for the season this spring, visitors will be able to get a different taste of downtown Port Huron while they watch freighters. Kate’s Downtown owner Kate Voss is opening another daytime café spot in the center in March and plans to give local foodies a new menu of options.

And the name of the second venue? The Boathouse by Kate's.

“We’re going to have pastries and some coffee and some fun nautical-themed drinks,” she said. “Some cool stuff for the kids. I’m really into plating and presentation. So, I want to make the kids’ sandwiches look like they’re sailboats with the triangle, a little mast, a strawberry sail. Maybe some goldfish crackers at the bottom of the plate. You know, something the kid’s going to get excited about.”

Vantage Point, including the Great Lakes Maritime Center, is one of the properties along the river listed for sale by Acheson Ventures. In addition, Acheson is looking to sell several acres of land along the river south of Vantage Point, the Seaway Terminal and Bean Dock and several other buildings along Military Street.

The Boathouse’s first day of business is expected to be March 11. Acheson Ventures owns the Maritime Center, which also opens that month.

Mike Delong, vice president of operations at Acheson, said the owners of the Waterfront Deli, the last establishment in the center, moved south. “There wasn’t anything wrong; we loved their service,” he said. “But for family reasons and retirement, they moved south.”

He said it was important they worked with another local business to fill the spot.

Voss is entering into a one-year lease there. And while they want the venture to succeed, Delong said businesses there are also briefed on one point, like all Acheson’s other riverfront properties in that area, the Maritime Center is technically listed for sale. “We’re not there yet. That’s why we go year by year,” Delong said. “We’re trying different things and trying to get other developers into the property. We don’t do anything long term because things could change.”

But of the Boathouse, he said, “They’ll be there all season, and hopefully after that, many more.”

Voss said she understands those circumstances, but opening another spot has been something she’s thought about for a while.

“I was looking in St. Clair when the St. Clair Inn was going to be opening. I thought that might be a good avenue, but it was all just pipe dreams, really,” she said. “It was really just me putting it out to the universe if I could do it. But this makes so much more sense because it’s so close. I can be at both locations, hopping back and forth each day, which would’ve been very hard if I were in St. Clair.”

Times Herald

ISMA announces winners of 2019 Freighter Trip Raffle

2/12 - International Shipmasters’ Association Grand Lodge President Capt. Mark Mather had announced the winners of the 2019 Grand Traverse Lodge 23 freighter trip raffle. Sandie Young of Madison Heights, MI, won the 2019 car ferry Badger round trip for 2. Ron Moss of Springsport, MI, won the round trip for 2 on the VanEnkevort ATB Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader, and Bruce Morrison of Port Huron, MI, won the Interlake Steamship Co. trip for 4.

Capt. Mark Mather

1965: MARGIT, a Danish vessel, came inland in 1964 for one trip. It suffered an explosion and fire in the engine room about 1,000 miles southwest of Honolulu on a voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Calcutta, India, and had to be abandoned. Three members of the crew were killed and the ship was burning fiercely when last seen. The drifting hull later grounded at Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, and was found, still burning, on March 11, 1965. The ship was a total loss.

1975: E.B. BARBER was in winter quarters at Port Colborne when a fire broke out in the engine room. Local fire fighters contained and extinguished the blaze.

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

Lake Michigan
Sunday the Algoma Innovator was eastbound through the Straits of Mackinac escorted by USCG Katmai Bay. That stopped for the night west of the Mackinaw Bridge.

Goderich, Ont.
Algoma Sault was at the salt dock on Sunday. USCG Hollyhock had been on scene performing ice escort. They were relieved by the CCGS Samuel Risley Sunday afternoon and headed back to their dock in Port Huron. Sunday night about 9 p.m. the Algoma Sault was outbound under escort of the CCGS Samuel Risley and tug Escorte.

Lake Erie
Algoscotia was leaving Nanticoke Sunday night. Algosea, Algocanada and Algoma Hansa were at anchor off Port Dover.

NIXON BERRY was sold to Marine Salvage for scrap on in 1970, she was the former a.) MERTON E. FARR.

BEN W. CALVIN (Hull#388) was launched in 1911, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co.

The keel was laid for ROY A. JODREY (Hull#186) on February 11, 1965, at Collingwood, Ontario by Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. The tanker IMPERIAL CORNWALL was retired on February 11, 1971.

Albert Edgar Goodrich, the founder of the Goodrich Steamboat Line, was born in Hamburg, New York, near Buffalo on 11 February 1826.

February 11, 1918 - Amid blasts of whistles from nearby ships and factories and the cheers of several hundreds of people, the cargo steamer Asp was launched at the Polson Iron Works. Fears that the launching could not be carried out because of the thickness of the ice proved unfounded. Gangs of men cut away the ice barrier and at 3:20 the vessel slipped easily into the water without any mishap. Curiosity was aroused when one of the ice cutters found a three-foot alligator frozen just under the surface of the ice. Whether or not it escaped from some sailor or from the local zoo is not known.

1987: UNILUCK first came through the Seaway in 1977. The vessel was sailing as b) TINA when it reported water entering the engine room and cargo holds in the Sula Sea off the Philippines. The crew said they were abandoning the ship but no trace of them or their vessel was ever found.

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

Sale sinks cruise ship visits to Duluth this year

2/10 - Duluth. MN – Duluth will need to wait at least another year to welcome its next load of cruise ship passengers. The city had been scheduled to receive two visits in 2019 from the Victory II, a member of the Victory Cruise Lines fleet. But a change of ownership resulted in a change of plans.

The American Queen Steamboat Co. recently acquired the Victory cruise line and soon after announced that it would cancel all Lake Superior cruises this year. When contacted Thursday, an American Queen public relations representative said the company would release a statement regarding the cancellation, but the company has yet to respond.

Although she was admittedly disappointed to hear the news, Kate Ferguson, director of trade and business development for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said American Queen's decision to suspend Lake Superior cruising in 2019 is understandable.

"I think with any ownership change, they had to review what was on the books and see what they were comfortable with. And they want a chance to create their own Lake Superior itinerary," she said. "So, they are continuing to look towards the future of coming to Lake Superior... But with the change of ownership happening in January of this year, they aren't prepared to do that in 2019, Ferguson said.

The now-canceled MC Victory II visit would have marked the return of cruise ship traffic to Duluth after a six-year hiatus. The most recent cruise vessels to call on the city were the Yorktown in 2013, the Columbus in 2011 and the Clelia II in 2010.

To accommodate the MC Victory II and future cruise ships, Duluth was preparing to set up a cruise ship terminal, equipped with the necessary systems for international visitors to clear U.S. Customs. Funding for the proposed facility was to have come in the form of $50,000 from the Duluth Economic Development Authority, $25,000 from the city of Duluth and $10,000 from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, according to Heather Rand, DEDA's former executive director.

Ferguson said local support for the project has not wavered, despite recent developments. "We continue to march ahead," she said.

"We can continue our preparations for the interest that we're seeing in 2020. We don't have anything confirmed yet, but there has been much stronger interest in 2020. We already knew that. The momentum was building. But this just gives us more time," she said.

The recent setback has not dimmed Ferguson's confidence that Duluth will emerge as a popular cruise ship destination. "The partners here are on Lake Superior are working closely with American Queen Steamboat Co. to help them develop an itinerary for the future that they're comfortable with. Whether that be 2020 or beyond, we are working with them," she said.

But American Queen isn't the only prospect Duluth officials are pursuing. "There are several other cruise lines that are plying the Great Lakes right now with their vessels. So, we continue to converse with those cruise lines and work with them on their potential future operations on Lake Superior, as well," Ferguson said.

"Of course it's a disappointment, but we're really still very optimistic about cruising on Lake Superior. The demand for Great Lakes cruising is nothing but strong. So, we're looking forward to the future and what it holds for Duluth," she said.

Duluth News Tribune

Cleveland-Cliffs: Possible Restart at Empire Mine

2/10 - Cleveland-Cliffs is looking at supplementing their pellet supply, as they eventually feed their new HBI plant in Toledo. And one of those ways, would be to restart the idled Empire Mine in Michigan. It was idled in 2016.

CEO Lourenco Goncalves said, "We still have a few i's to dot and a few t's to cross. But I'm very pleased to inform for the first time, that we are close to announcing the resurgence of Empire. It's great news for Michigan and for the great people of Michigan."

He said it could be an investment of $600 million dollars over the course of three years. The potential pellet capacity would be around 3.2-3.5 million tons. He also said it would take three years to get down to the ore that they need.

The other opportunity for more pellets would be the Nashwauk property, which Cliffs owns part of. Goncalves praised Governor Tim Walz for taking action to bar Essar from doing business with the state of Minnesota. "As soon as this virus is eradicated from Minnesota, we are ready to step in and take care of Nashwauk."

Cliffs plans on increasing the capacity of their new HBI facility in Toledo. Construction is underway, with the expectation to see the briquettes in mid 2020. "We have 350 people on-site now, with 900 expected this summer," Goncalves updated on the call.

DR grade pellets from Northshore Mining in Silver Bay will feed the plant. The company plans on investing $40 million dollars into that project in 2019, according to their earnings statement.

Goncalves added that the unions and USW have been great partners, through the company transformation. Also, the former U.S. Iron Ore segment is now "Mining and Pelletizing."

WDIO

Lake Michigan
Algoma Innovator departed Milwaukee after unloading salt and was headed back up the lake on Saturday evening.

Goderich, Ont.
Algoma Sault was at the salt dock on Saturday.

Lake Erie
Algosea and Algocanada were eastbound on Lake Erie Saturday evening for Nanticoke. Algoscotia was anchored off that port.

Buy a castle for $495,000 on island in St. Lawrence River

2/10 - There's a majestic estate standing on the tip of Carleton Island near Cape Vincent in the Thousand Islands. Its beauty and grandeur still shine although you can see the years of neglect eating away at the structure.

Before the famous Boldt Castle and Singer Castle were built on the islands, there was Carleton Island Villa built in 1894. Also known as Wyckoff castle, the home has not been lived-in for more than 70 years. Although set behind a barbed wire fence, its once Gilded Age glory continues to fascinate those cruising nearby on the waters.

The Villa is currently on the market for $495,000, according to listing agent Barry Kukowski of Howard Hanna. He says it will probably cost $10 to $12 million to rebuild.

The story behind this mansion starts out like an American dream, but ends tragically.

William O. Wyckoff was born on his father's farm in the town of Lansing of Tompkins County. He attended public schools and the Ithaca Academy. He studied law but quit during the Civil War. He joined 32nd N.Y. Inf., going in as a private and rising to the rank of captain. After the war, he graduated from Ames Business College in Syracuse and was later appointed as an official stenographer for the New York State Supreme Court Sixth Judicial District. He was one of the founders of the York State Stenographers Association.

Wyckoff made his fortune helping the Remington Arms Company develop a market for the typewriter.

Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.newyorkupstate.com/expo/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/02/b509f845152680/photos-buy-a-castle-for-495000-on-island-in-st-lawrence-river.html

In 1998, The Ludington Daily News reported that a private investment group (later identified as Hydrolink) was planning to start cross-lake ferry service from Muskegon, Michigan to Milwaukee running two high-speed ferries.

On 10 February 1890, NYANZA (wooden propeller freighter, 280 foot, 1,888 gross tons) was launched at F. W. Wheeler's yard (Hull #63) in W. Bay City, Michigan by West Bay City Ship Building Co. In 1916, she was renamed LANDBO and she lasted until abandoned in 1920.

In 1975, a fire onboard CRISPIN OGLEBAY a.) J.H. HILLMAN JR of 1943, caused $100,000 damage to the conveyor and tunnel while she was laid up at Toledo. The forward end of CRISPIN OGLEBAY is now ALGOMA TRANSFER (C.323003).

1973: The CUNARD CAVALIER was launched at Seville, Spain. It first appeared on the lakes in 1978.

1981: A pair of former Seaway traders collided in the Mediterranean off Algiers and one sank. The FEDDY had been inland as b) SUNSEA in 1969, c) SAGA SAILOR in 1971 and as d) ELLY in 1976. It went to the bottom with the loss of 32 lives. This ship had been enroute from Boston to Volos, Italy, with a cargo of scrap steel. The second vessel, SOUNION, survived. It had been to the Great Lakes as a) SUGAR CRYSTAL in 1968 and was back as b) SOUNION in 1979. It sailed until scrapping at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, following arrival as c) MED VITORIA on April 17, 1993.

1982: TEXACO BRAVE (ii) was pushed off course by the ice and current and struck the bridge crossing the St. Lawrence at Quebec City damaging a mast and the radar. The vessel still sails as d) ALGOEAST.

1984: Scrapping of the Italian freighter b) VIOCA got underway at La Spezia, Italy. The ship made 8 trips through the Seaway as a) BAMBI from 1959 to 1964.

1984: The AEGIS FURY arrived at Shanghai, China, for scrapping as e) WELL RUNNER. The ship first came to the Great Lakes in 1972.

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

American Spirit’s horn creates ruckus in Superior

2/7 - Superior, Wis. – If you heard a loud noise coming from Superior's East End on Tuesday night, you weren’t alone. “The air horn on the American Spirit, docked behind McDonalds on E. 2nd St. at 21st Ave. E., is malfunctioning,” the Superior Police Department reported on Facebook. “We are working on finding a speedy resolution to the issue.” Police announced around 9 p.m. that the horn had been shut off. Witnesses said the sound could be heard for miles.

Duluth News Tribune

Lake Huron
Algoma Innovator was still loading salt at Goderich on Wednesday.

St. Clair River – Marc Dease
Frontenac arrived at the elevator Feb. 4.

Detroit-River Rouge – Raymond H
Iver Bright arrived at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal Wednesday afternoon to unload. Algoma Sault arrived later, calling on the Motor City Materials dock to unload salt.

Transport Canada announces intent to merge Hamilton, Oshawa port authorities

2/7 - Hamilton, Ont. – Transport Canada has announced plans to merge the Hamilton and Oshawa port authorities. Both carry similar commodities, including steel, project cargo and bulk cargo like fertilizers, asphalt and grain, according to the release.

The federal government's intention to merge the Hamilton and Oshawa port authorities makes sense for "economic reasons," according to Canada's transport minister. Marc Garneau said the amalgamation, which would see one new entity formed, would allow for synergy between the two ports — both of which are primarily focused on cargo.

The Hamilton and Oshawa port authorities carry similar commodities, including steel, project cargo and bulk cargo like fertilizers, asphalt and grain, according to a government news release.

If the amalgamation happens, the newly formed port authority would have a single board of directors and be responsible for all assets and liabilities, despite the lands being physically separate, Garneau said.

While PortsToronto — formerly the Toronto Port Authority — is geographically sandwiched between the ports of Hamilton and Oshawa, it is smaller and responsible for managing the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in addition to the harbour.

The federal government created the Hamilton Port Authority, which is the largest port in Ontario, in 2001 to replace the 89-year-old Hamilton Harbour Commission. In 2012, Oshawa's Harbour Commission became a port authority. The Oshawa Harbour Commission, which had been in place since 1960, was the last harbour commission in the country.

The move toward amalgamation comes after Garneau announced a review of Canada's port authorities in March 2018 — 20 years after they were first established.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who served as chair of the Hamilton Port Authority board in the early 2000s, said the possibility of a merger was raised then as the government looked to create efficiencies.

Hamilton Spectator

In 1973, ENDERS M. VOORHEES closed the Soo Locks downbound.

In 1974, ROGER BLOUGH closed the Poe Lock after locking down bound for Gary, Indiana.

1965: The Liberty ship GRAMMATIKI visited the Seaway for one trip in 1960. The vessel began leaking in heavy weather on the Pacific enroute from Tacoma, Washington, to Keelung, Taiwan, with a cargo of scrap. The vessel, also slated to be scrapped, was abandoned by the crew the next day and slowly sank.

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

Five-year record broken at Port of Green Bay

2/6 - Green Bay, WI – The Port and Resource Recovery Department has announced a new record for the Port of Green Bay. More than 2,000,000 tons were moved this year. The port closed on January 28 after a shipment of petroleum products was imported.

"We're very pleased to see the high totals for the 2018 season," said Dean Haen, Port Director. "Two million tons is typically our goal for a shipping season, and this year's strong economy in Northeast Wisconsin made that achievable."

The season began March 26, 2018, five days later than 2017 and 2016. Foreign imports allowed the increase of petroleum products by 528 percent.

Haen also said, "Growth in petroleum product movements continues to be exceptional year after year." He went on to say, "Much of the growth can be attributed to the closure of petroleum pipeline serving Northeast Wisconsin."

WLUK

Moran Iron Works to build tour boat for Pictured Rocks Kayaking

2/6 - Onaway, Mi – Moran Iron Works, Inc. (MIW) has signed a contract with Pictured Rocks Kayaking to build a specialized passenger tour vessel. Together, and in conjunction with DLBA (a division of Gibbs & Cox, Inc.), they are creating a special purpose tour boat that is first of its kind in the Great Lakes region.

The 64’ by 19’ vessel will be constructed out of aluminum at Moran Iron Works’ headquarters in Onaway. The purpose of this particular unnamed vessel is to escort 72 passengers and 36 kayaks around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for guided kayak tours. This vessel will feature a custom-designed kayak launch system that is tailored to meet the specific needs of offshore kayak launching.

“Fabrication officially began with the laying of the deck plate on December 6, 2018,” said Lee Fayssoux, project manager at MIW. “This is a very exciting project for us. It is a real privilege to have an ‘Inspired by Michigan’ vessel in our shop. This vessel will not only be capable of carrying passengers, but will also be capable of deploying and retrieving guests in kayaks. It’s a revolutionary way of experiencing the beauty that Northern Michigan, particularly Pictured Rocks, has to offer. This vision was recognized by our customer, and acted on with development from MIW and our partner architect DLBA. We are ecstatic that they chose MIW for this build, and ecstatic that this vessel will serve tourists who visit the waters of Pictured Rocks.”

The main engines will be twin Cummins QSK19, rated at 800HP each, driving propellers through Twin Disc reduction gears. Twin Seakeeper HD gyro stabilizers will be fitted for passenger comfort and safety. The hull form will be a double chine, variable deadrise monohull for improved seakeeping and efficiency. The vessel’s hull form, structure, machinery, and electrical systems will be designed by DLBA (a division of Gibbs & Cox, Inc.) to meet USCG Subchapter T requirements.

With nearly two months into the project, MIW and PRK are on their way to achieving the goal of launch and delivery in late 2019.

Lake Huron
Algocanada departed Cheboygan and was downbound for Sarnia on Tuesday. Algoma Innovator was loading salt at Goderich. Algoma Sault departed with a load of salt for Detroit.

St. Clair River
CCGS Samuel Risley was leading the tanker Algosea into the lower end of the river Tuesday night headed for Sarnia.

Lake Erie
CCGS Griffon was leading the tanker Algoscotia through the Pelee Passage Tuesday night with a Nanticoke destination.

Welland Canal’s shipbuilding past to be unearthed

2/6 - Hidden under several metres of soil along the Twelve Mile Creek lies a significant part of the history of St. Catharines. A Brock University history professor hopes to bring it back from the depths.

Kimberly Monk will lead a team whose mandate is to re-engage local historical environments – specifically the Shickluna Shipyard. Monk said the project will look at different ways not only managing local historical sites but also interpreting them.

"It's been a long time coming for me," said Monk, whose connection to the [project goes back to 1997 when she was working on her master's thesis on shipbuilding along the Welland Canal.

The project is focused on the maritime landscape of the Shickluna Shipyard, which was operated from 1828 by a previous shipbuilder and then Shickluna who took possession in 1838. It remained a shipbuilding yard until 1891, when it was leased to a box and basket making manufacturer. After 1901 the site was abandoned.

Monk called it as a nationally significant archeological site. "It was the most important Canadian shipbuilding centre during the 19th century."

While some groundwork was done in 2017, Monk said archeological investigations will begin in earnest this spring, with geophysical investigations in May followed by archeological coring.

The Standard

Cruise ship not coming to Thunder Bay this summer

2/6 - Thunder Bay, Ont. – No cruise ships will be sailing into Thunder Bay’s harbour this year and while the city will lose a significant economic benefit, the future may still be bright for this niche tourism market.

“Long term the prognosis is really good for growth in the industry,” said Thunder Bay manager of tourism, Paul Pepe. “Right now we just have to take this as a bit of a speed bump.”

Victory Cruise Lines was scheduled to have a turnaround stop in Thunder Bay during the 2019 season, making it the first cruise ship to come to the city since 2012. However, a recent change in ownership has left those plans in dry dock.

According to Pepe, American Queen Steamboat Company acquired the company just two weeks ago following a deal that has been negotiated for more than a year. “The new owners have made a decision just to dial things back a little bit on their Lake Superior itineraries, go back to the drawing board, and reconfigure them,” Pepe said.

The 202-passenger vessel, Victory II, was originally scheduled to stop in Thunder Bay in the summer of 2018 but delays in retrofitting the ship pushed that date back to 2019.

With this latest delay, Pepe said the city is still in talks with the new owners and he anticipates they will once again have Thunder Bay on their itineraries in 2020 because they appear to be committed to Lake Superior.

Pepe added that the city is also speaking with other cruise line companies about bringing ships to Thunder Bay to explore what he calls an exotic gem right in our own back yard. “There are a number of new builds that started entering service in 2018, 2019, we have new ships that are being built right into 2021,” Pepe said. “There is interest in the Great Lakes and there is interest in Superior, it just takes time to build it out and we just have to be patient.”

Because Victory’s stop in Thunder Bay was scheduled to be a turnaround, meaning it would have been where one voyage ended and another began, Pepe estimates that it would have brought between $120,000 and $150,000 into the city.

“It had a different kind of economic impact, a much bigger economic impact on the city,” Pepe said. “So we are disappointed to lose that.”

“That is a bit of a chunk of money for us. But at the end of the day cruising is still a very small part of our overall tourism economy. We believe in the Great Lakes product, but it’s also a niche. It’s going to take time to build.”

The city did not make any capital investments this year specifically for the cruise ship coming to Pool 6. “It just gives us some breathing room to develop future opportunities,” Pepe said.

TBNewswatch

Casualties/Demolitions from World Ship Society

2/6 - Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connection reported as a casualty or sold for demolition taken from February 2019 issue of Marine News - Journal of the World Ship Society.

SOMAYA (8116960; Tanzania) (Castor-12, Arklow Day--3, Diane Green-00, Sarine 2-96, Fastnes-93 - (1st trip into the Seaway 1987), Fjellnes-86 - (1st trip into the Seaway 1982) - 8,351 / 1982 general cargo ship. By Best Leaders International SA (Mallah Ship Management Co Ltd), Panama to Sa Traders, Pakistan and arrived Gadani Beach 4.05.2018 - commenced demolition 10.05.2018

GEN. OGLETHORPE (8971683, United States of America) (John G. Amato-86, Ojibwa WTM-97-80) - last trip down Seaway 8.04.1979, - 147 / 1943 - USCG tug (latterly stationed at Buffalo, N.Y.) Sold 1980 by U.S.Coast Guard to Crescent Towing & Salvage, U.S.A. and renamed John G. Amato - 1986 - renamed Gen. Oglethorpe - 2017 resold to State of South Carolina for use in the formation of the Comanche Reef off Charleston, S.C. - scuttled 5.16.2018

Report compiled by Barry Andersen, René Beauchamp and Ron Beaupre

Update: Bob-Lo boat Ste. Claire

2/6 - The following appeared on the Facebook page for the former Bob-Lo boat Ste. Claire, which burned last summer while undergoing restoration at a Detroit dock.

“Right now is all about protecting the ship through the winter season. After 2 years of waiting, we were finally able to dredge the river where we are. This allowed us to move the boat much closer to the shore (approximately 28 feet from shore). We also moved her forward about 80 feet, allowing boaters easier access to the marina entrance. With the ship secured to shore, we placed 3 large piling clusters at the bow of the ship to block ice and protect her hull. The ship being closer to the shore will be a huge help to the crews this spring when we plan to aggressively start the restoration process again.

As many may have seen, the ship has a fresh coat of paint! We want you to know that this is a white primer designed to preserve any remaining good steel. It also makes the ship’s presentation much better for the public in the meantime. She will, however, receive a final paint job later in the process.”

LORNA P, a.) CACOUNA was damaged by fire at Sorel, Quebec, which was ignited by a welder's torch on February 6, 1974.

ALVA C. DINKEY (Hull #365) was launched February 6, 1909, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co.

HALLFAX (Hull#526) was launched February 6, 1962, at Port Glasgow, Scotland by William Hamilton & Co. Ltd.

On February 6, 1904, the PERE MARQUETTE 19 went aground on Fox Point, Wisconsin approaching Milwaukee in fog. Engulfed in ice and fog, she quickly filled with water.

On 06 February 1885, Capt. William Bridges of Bay City and A. C. Mc Lean of East Saginaw purchased the steamer D.W. POWERS (wooden propeller freighter, 140 foot, 303 gross tons, built in 1871, at Marine City, Michigan) for the lumber trade. This vessel had an interesting rebuild history. In 1895, she was rebuilt as a schooner-barge in Detroit, then in 1898, she was again rebuilt as a propeller driven steamer. She lasted until 1910, when she was abandoned.

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

Lake Erie freezes over; ice covers half of the Great Lakes

2/3 - Following the polar vortex in the Midwest this week, Lake Erie has frozen over and nearly half of Michigan's Great Lakes are covered in ice. More than 90 percent of Lake Erie is covered in ice, prime conditions for fishing on the shoreline. Meanwhile, about 48 percent of the Great Lakes are ice covered, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Even though it's the southernmost of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie tends to freeze over the earliest because it is shallow and has less heat capacity than the other lakes, NOAA Researcher Brent Lofgren said.

"It's not all that rare. Lake Erie freezes often," Lofgren said. "There aren't really any negative effects of it. Actually, it will prevent further lake effect snow for that season."

Most of the lakes have between 2-6 inches of ice covering with parts of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with anywhere between 12-28 inches of ice. Weather temperatures are expected to rise through the weekend starting Saturday with a high of 37. Sunday and Monday will be in the high 40s.

"The warm weather isn't going to have all that big of an effect on Lake Erie. But for other lakes like Lake Michigan, you'll see a lot of open water again soon because of transport and it's likely to melt quickly," Lofgren said.

"Do not go ice fishing far from shore on Lake Erie, because that ice can shift," he said. "Check with local authorities on the safety of fishing on nearshore ice."

Visit www.glerl.noaa.gov  for more information

The Detroit News

St. Marys River – Joy Fett
With the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Katmai Bay in the lead and the Avenger IV following up the rear, the tug Anglian Lady / Ironmaster barge finally arrived at the Purvis Marine home dock in Soo, Ont., Saturday afternoon struggling for several days with ice. Katmai Bay tied up at the USCG dock in Soo, Mich., for the night. Cutter Mackinaw was in the lower river above Lime Island Saturday night. Tanker Algonova is expected in Soo, Ont., Sunday.

Lake Michigan
Canada Steamship's Frontenac was assisted out of South Chicago Saturday morning by the G-tugs Massachusetts and Arizona. Frontenac had been unloading road salt. Algoma Innovator was still at Milwaukee Saturday.

Lake Huron
Samuel Risley and Algoma Sault were underway north of Port Huron Saturday night and will make another attempt to enter Goderich on Sunday.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H.
The Michigan/Great Lakes, with the assistance of the tug Patricia Hoey, docked at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal to load/unload Saturday afternoon. The tanker Iver Bright was inbound on the Rouge River, calling on the Buckeye Terminal to unload.

On 03 February 1899, the steamer GEORGE FARWELL (wooden propeller freighter, 182 foot, 977 gross tons, built in 1895, at Marine City, Michigan) burned while laid up near Montreal, Quebec. She had just been taken from the Great Lakes by her new owners, the Manhattan Transportation Company, for the Atlantic coastal coal trade, The loss was valued at $50,000 and was fully covered by insurance. The vessel was repaired and lasted until 1906 when she was lost near Cape Henry, Virginia.

1939: LUTZEN came ashore in dense fog at Nauset Beach, Chatham, Mass., off Cape Cod. The vessel rolled over on its side with its cargo of frozen fish and fruit. The small ship had been built at Fort William, (now Thunder Bay) in 1918.

1970: The tanker GEZINA BROVIG sank 300 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. An explosion in the main engine on January 31 blew a piston through the side of the ship and it gradually sank. The vessel had been a Great Lakes trader beginning in 1965.

1993: The former Spanish freighter MARTA, a Seaway trader in 1981, was sailing as b) PROSPERITY when it began leaking in a storm. The ship subsequently broke in two and sank with the loss of 5 lives. The vessel went down 120 miles west of Sri Lanka while enroute from Jordan to Madras, India.

1996: An engine room fire aboard the C.S.L. self-unloader JEAN PARISIEN at Port Colborne resulted in about $250,000 in damage.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection and the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes.

Three strikes for Algoma Sault at the port of Goderich

2/2 - The Canadian laker Algoma Sault has been trying to enter Goderich since Tuesday alternating between waiting off port and anchored in Lower Lake Huron while the port is broken out.

The extreme cold temperatures over the last few days, combined with strong and gale force westerly winds, have created very heavy ice conditions outside of Goderich piers. The ice that has developed extends approximately 1 nautical mile wide west of the piers and is called pack ice. It is dense, refrozen brash and pancake ice that has frozen under pressure. Rough estimates have the ice field from 3-7 feet deep.

Algoma Sault arrived off port Tuesday afternoon, but after failed attempts to make it through the ice they headed downbound to anchor above Port Huron and wait for assistance, arriving in the anchorage Wednesday morning.

Thursday morning they departed the anchorage and headed back to Goderich. The Goderich-based tug Ocean Golf was attempting to break out the port. The tug was not able to open a track for the Algoma Sault, so the Sault returned to the anchorage above Port Huron that night.

Thursday night the CCGS Samuel Risley headed upbound to attempt ice breaking into the port. About 11 p.m. they were making 1.5 knots while 20 miles west of the port.

Algoma Sault departed the Port Huron Anchorage about 4 a.m. Friday upbound to wait off Goderich, the third time for the vessel making the trip to the port.

Samuel Risley spent the night fighting through the ice making it about a mile off the port before stopping in the ice. They tried multiple routes adjusting course north and south of the port but found the same heavy ice field on each course. About 8 a.m. the icebreaker set a course downbound for Sarnia to assist the tanker Algonova and the Algoma Sault followed.

Friday afternoon Algoma Sault took up her position in the anchorage while Samuel Risley proceeded downbound to break ice off the Imperial Oil Dock in Sarina for the arrival of the Algonova. The tug Pride assisted in breaking out the Imperial Oil dock. The Risley headed upbound to the Sarnia Government Dock for a well-deserved over night rest.

The Canadian Coast Guard reported Friday that there was no emergency and they are working closely with the shipping company requesting icebreaker assistance and the U.S. Coast Guard to plan icebreaking activity near the community of Goderich and it's vicinity.

Temperatures are forecast to increase over the next several days as well as light winds which will help with icebreaking.

St. Marys River
On Friday the USCG cutter Mackinaw was working to get the Purvis Marine tug Anglian Lady and barge Ironmaster, beset in heavy ice, moving again. AIS late Friday showed them just north of Sailors’ Encampment on the east side of Neebish Island.

Milwaukee, Wis.
Algoma Innovator remained in port Friday, frozen in. The tug John Marshall was working Friday night to clear a path so she can leave.

S. Chicago
Frontenac was unloading salt at Chicago Friday night.

Port of Montreal considers taking on more debt to fund $500-million expansion

2/2 - Montreal, Que. – The Montreal Port Authority will need about $500 million for a proposed expansion of container facilities by the middle of the next decade, said vice-president Ryan Dermody. A potential debt issue would help pay for a first phase of infrastructure work.

“We absolutely have the capability to borrow, so debt could be an option,” Dermody, who has been overseeing the project since his appointment last year, said in a telephone interview. “We will look at everything that’s required to make this project work. Nothing is off the table.”

Montreal, Canada’s biggest port by volume after Vancouver, is coming off five consecutive years of rising volumes. After tonnage climbed 9 per cent last year to 1.6 million containers, the federally owned facility expects to reach full capacity within five years if the proposed expansion doesn’t proceed.

Montreal serves as a gateway between North America and Europe for imports of wine and electronic devices and exports of commodities such as lumber. Its main competitor for shipments to the U.S. Midwest is the port of New York and New Jersey.

Key carriers with service to and from Montreal include MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co., Hamburg-based Hapag Lloyd AG and Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S.

Having picked up a sixth shipper last year, Montreal is planning to add a seventh in April. The new terminal would initially add about 500,000 20-foot equivalent units annually to Montreal’s current capacity of 2.1 million containers.

“We don’t have a choice but to grow with the customers,” Dermody said. “We have had record years, and we need to unlock additional capacity. Based on the growth figures in our financial model, we have to have that built around 2023 or 2024. It’s an absolutely strategic objective for us.”

To help with the project, the port authority has hired London-based Arup Group as its engineering firm. Bank of Montreal will help the port assess financial options.

Montreal’s new container terminal would be built in the town of Contrecoeur, about 40 kilometres northeast of the city on a 468-hectare site.

Port officials are working on securing federal environmental approval for the project, possibly by the end of 2020, Dermody said, and construction would begin once that was obtained.

Montreal Gazette

February 2, 1939 - CHIEF WAWATAM went to the shipyard to have a new forward shaft and propeller placed.

1913: The wooden passenger and freight carrier MANITOU sustained fire damage at Owen Sound and sank at the dock. The vessel was refloated, repaired and operated to the end of the 1939 season.

1972: IRISH SPRUCE first appeared in the Seaway in 1960. The ship was enroute from Callao, Peru, to New Orleans with zinc and copper concentrates as well as coffee, when it ran aground on Quinta Suero Bank (14,25 N / 81.00 W) off the coast of Nicaragua. The ship had its back broken and became a total loss.

1981: EDOUARD SIMARD and JAMES TRANSPORT collided in the St. Lawrence River east of Port Neuf, Quebec. Both received bow damage.

1981: ARTHUR SIMARD received extensive bottom damage after going aground in the St. Lawrence. It was enroute from Montreal to Sept-Iles, but returned to Trois Rivieres to unload and then to Montreal for repairs.

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