3 vessels from eastern Canada headed to scrap in Port Colborne

6/24 - Three tenders for shipbreaking have recently been awarded to Marine Recycling Corporation in Port Colborne, Ont. The vessels involved are the ferry Princess of Acadia and the Canadian government vessels Preserver and the Quest. The three ships were all based in Nova Scotia.

HMCS Preserver is a Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy commissioned in 1970. Built at Saint John, New Brunswick, the ship underwent a major refit in 2005 after she was plagued by electrical problems. She was retired last October in Halifax.

The Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel Quest is an oceanographic research ship that was sidelined in 2014 as a result of cost-cutting by the government. The ship was commissioned in 1969 but underwent an upgrade in 1999.

Princess of Acadia, which dates from 1971, is a roll-on/roll-off passenger and motor vehicle ferry that traveled between Digby, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick, crossing the Bay of Fundy. On July 28, 2015, the ship was replaced by the M/V Fundy Rose.

There is no word on when the vessels will make the trip to Port Colborne.

The Advance

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Mesabi Miner arrived Duluth early Thursday morning to load iron ore pellets at CN. CSL Assiniboine arrived around noon to fuel before departing a few hours later and heading to Two Harbors to load. Late Thursday evening, James R. Barker arrived and docked at Calumet to fuel. She was expected to depart late Thursday/early Friday to load in Silver Bay. Mesabi Miner was also due to depart late Thursday. In Superior, Indiana Harbor arrived mid-day Thursday and began loading ore at BN.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney Two Harbors traffic on Friday had the CSL Assiniboine departing the CN ore dock at 07:15 for Quebec City. Arriving the shiploader at 19:47 was the Tim S. Dool. As of 20:30, running checked down east of the Apostle Islands, was the Joseph L. Block also due Two Harbors. The Cason J. Callaway is due Two Harbors to load and as of 20:30 she was still at the Graymont-Superior facility. Due late Saturday morning/early afternoon is the Roger Blough. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the James R. Barker at 06:52, coming from Duluth after fueling at the Calumet dock. The Barker is due to depart late Friday/Saturday morning. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Saturday.

Escanaba, Mich.
John J. Boland unloaded coal on Friday, headed up the lake, then turned around with the new destination of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Milwaukee, Wis.
Wilfred Sykes made a rare arrival Friday afternoon to unload slag from Indiana Harbor. The saltie Fearless departed eastbound in the mid-evening.

Gary, Ind.
Philip R. Clarke was inbound Friday night.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Olympic was headed in to load Friday evening.

Port Huron, Mich.
The tug Salvage Monarch towing the former CCGS Alexander Henry to Thunder Bay was in the St. Clair River just below Port Huron late Friday evening, making 4 knots, according to AIS.

Toledo, Ohio
Kaye E. Barker was inbound Friday night. Ashtabula/Defiance were outbound.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
At dock: Damia Desgagnes

Welland Canal upbound:
Iryda (Cyp), tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement, Isadora (Cyp), Algoma Equinox at 0130, Florence Spirit at 0653, tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 0725, Beatrix (Nld) at 1645 and tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at wharf 1

Welland Canal downbound:
Mississagi, Algoma Hansa, Algowood at 0622 and Algoma Discovery at 1545

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrival: Whistler (Lbr) at 2136 on June 22 and Algoma Hansa at 0622. Departure: Algoma Hansa at 1113 for Tracy

Port Colborne anchorage:
Arrival: Isadora (Cyp) at 0644. Departed at 1947

Welland Canal docks:
Tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware remained at wharf 1 as of 2030

Bronte:
At dock: Algonova

Hamilton:
Arrival: Mississagi at 0320. Departures: Florence Spirit at 0145 and tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 0320. At docks: Federal Mosel (Mhl), Algolake. At anchor: Dimitrios K (Mhl) ex Lady Tramp-13, Atlantic Castle-07, Cedar-03

Clarkson:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson at 1129. At dock: Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11)

Toronto:
Departure: English River at 0003 eastbound. At docks: tug Evans McKeil & barge Metis at 1057 on June 21 and Drawsko (Bhs) 1338 on June 22 at Redpath unloading sugar.

Maritime museum issuing a call for boat festival entries

6/24 - Sturgeon Bay, Wis. – The Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival is making its annual call for entries for the various events associated with the festival, August 12 -13. The call includes boats to be exhibited and teams to compete in the Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition and sea trials.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13. The Maritime on Madison festival will be conducted along Madison Avenue on Sturgeon Bay’s Westside on Saturday to add to the surrounding celebrations.

The Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival annually features a remarkable assortment of vessels that will compete for People’s Choice honors. Boats will be displayed either trailered, in-water or on the grass. Registration materials and information are available at the museum, 120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay, online at www.dcmm.org/events or contact boat registration coordinator Bill Freyman at dcclassicboatfestival@gmail.com.

The Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition returns with construction on Saturday, followed by decoration to attract the discerning eyes of the voting spectators, and lastly the much-anticipated sea trials. The field is limited to 12 two-person teams. Again, participants are restricted in the amount of wood and tools being provided with an ample supply of Sikaflex marine sealant available for use during construction. Visit the museum’s website or contact the museum at (920)743-5958 for rules and registration materials. Participants needed. Entry is $20 per team.

Door County Maritime Museum

On June 24, 1971, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ROGER BLOUGH at the American Ship Building, Lorain, Ohio, yard, killing four yard workers and extensively damaging her Pielstick diesel engines. Extensive repairs, which included replacement of both engines, delayed her delivery for nearly a year.

The WILLIAM E. COREY (Hull#67), was launched at Chicago, Illinois by Chicago Ship Building Co., the first flagship for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Sold to Canadian registry and renamed b.) RIDGETOWN in1963. Sold for use as a breakwall at Nanticoke in 1970, and since 1974, she has been used as a breakwater in Port Credit, Ontario.

CANOPUS (2-mast wooden brig, 386 tons, built in 1855, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying 16,500 bushels of wheat when she collided with the bark REPUBLIC between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. on 24 June 1865. The CANOPUS sank in about 20 minutes off Clay Banks on Lake Erie. No lives were lost.

The wooden scow MYRA of Ashtabula, Ohio, was lost in a terrible squall on Lake Erie off Elk Creek on 24 June 1875. Three lives were lost.

1938 – REDFERN received minor hull damage when the steering cable broke near Dain City, on the Welland Canal and the vessel hit the west bank. It was taken to Port Colborne for repairs.

1955 – MANZZUTTI was taking water after the cargo of pulpwood shifted in heavy seas near the Straits of Mackinac. The vessel was initially in danger of sinking but reached safety.

1962 – JOHN A. FRANCE (ii) was aground in the upper St. Marys River and some of the cargo of grain was lightered before the ship could be refloated.

June 24 – The recently repaired PARKER EVANS and the ANNA KATRIN FRITZEN collided in heavy fog in Lake Huron with minor damage. The latter, a West German freighter and Seaway trader since 1961, and a return visitor as b) KATRIN in 1974, was scrapped at Bilbao, Spain, due to engine problems, in 1977.

1980 – CARTIERCLIFFE HALL, upbound with a cargo of iron ore, went aground in the Seaway near Cornwall, Ont. due to a steering problem and was released the next day with the aid of three tugs.

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

Flevoborg towed to Quebec after refloating

6/23 - The general cargo vessel Flevoborg ran aground at around June 21 in front of Sainte-Croix, St. Lawrence River, while proceeding downstream en route from Montreal to Warrenpoint, U.K., with a cargo of maize. The grounding was caused by engine failure. The vessel was refloated in the evening June 21 after ballasting and was towed to Quebec for repairs. The vessel is a member of the Netherlands-based Wagenborg fleet.

Historic icebreaker to pass by Windsor en route to Thunder Bay

6/23 - Windsor, Ont. – A historic retired Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker will be passing by Amherstburg and Windsor early Friday en route to Thunder Bay, the place it was built and where it will become a tourist attraction. On Thursday night, she was entering the Pelee Passage in tow of the tug Salvage Monarch.

The Alexander Henry was built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company in what is now part of Thunder Bay and launched in July 1959. “It has come through the Welland Canal, all eight locks,” said Windsor native Shelley Simon of the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society.

The Alexander Henry was originally classified a Canadian Marine Ship (CMS) but with the creation of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1962 it became a Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) and remained in service, based on Lake Superior, until 1984.

While operational, the Alexander Henry was used in the 1970s to test experimental methods of icebreaking — using hover platforms at the front of the ship. But that proved to be too noisy and costly. In 1986, the ship became a floating museum at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, also serving as a bed and breakfast in the summer months.

The ship was put in dry dock in 2010 to undergo inspection and last year the museum moved to a new location that could not accommodate the ship. The ship’s future has been uncertain of late, with some in Kingston wanting to sink it in Lake Ontario to become a diving reef.

The Thunder Bay group bought the ship for $2 and it is now heading home thanks to $125,000 from Thunder Bay city council to help cover towing costs. The Alexander Henry is named after a pioneer of the Canadian fur trade.

The ship may be accompanied up the Detroit River by the CCGS Samuel Risley, the ship that took over its icebreaking and buoy-placing duties on the Great Lakes.

Windsor Star

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Mesabi Miner arrived Duluth early Thursday morning to load iron ore pellets at CN. CSL Assiniboine arrived around noon to fuel before departing a few hours later and heading to Two Harbors to load. Late Thursday evening, James R. Barker arrived and docked at Calumet to fuel. She was expected to depart late Thursday/early Friday to load in Silver Bay. Mesabi Miner was also due to depart late Thursday. In Superior, Indiana Harbor arrived mid-day Thursday and began loading ore at BN.

Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Thursday morning in Two Harbors saw the departure of the Edwin H. Gott at 05:20 from the shiploader showing an AIS destination of Gary, Ind. Two Harbors saw an unscheduled arrival at 17:53 Thursday with the arrival of the CSL Assiniboine. She was originally scheduled to load at the CN ore dock in West Duluth, but was switched to Two Harbors. She did arrive Duluth to fuel, but departed for Two Harbors after fueling. She should depart Friday morning. Friday traffic in Two Harbors are tentatively scheduled the Cason J. Callaway coming from the Twin Ports after unloading coal. Also, later in the day are also scheduled the Joseph L. Block and the Tim S. Dool. Northshore Mining traffic for Friday will be the James R. Barker that will be arriving from Duluth after fueling. She should arrive in the morning.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Wednesday and none are due until Friday when the Herbert C. Jackson is expected in the early morning. Philip R. Clarke is due on Sunday in the early morning to load. Joseph L. Block is due June 28 in the early morning.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Wednesday and none are expected to arrive until Friday when the Sam Laud is due in the early morning to load. Calumet is due on Saturday in the mid-afternoon, followed by the Wilfred Sykes also on Saturday in the early evening.

Southern Lake Michigan
The saltie BBC Alabama arrived in Burns Harbor to unload cargo on June 1. While in port, it was renamed Pia. She was still there Thursday night, as were Stewart J. Cort, Federal Baltic and Algoma Enterprise. Wilfred Sykes was loading slag at Indiana Harbor Thursday night.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Thursday and none were expected until Saturday when the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore are expected in the late evening to load. Arriving on Sunday will be the Herbert C. Jackson in the late afternoon. Due Monday are the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann during the early morning. Two vessels are due in for Tuesday during the early afternoon with Kaye E. Barker arriving first followed by the Great Republic.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The barge Erie Trader and tug Clyde S. Van Enkevort arrived in the late evening on Wednesday to load at the South Dock. Also due Thursday was the barge Menominee and the tug Olive L. Moore. They went to the North Dock to await the Erie Trader's departure before shifting over to the South Dock to load. There are no vessels due Friday and Saturday.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algowood cleared Wednesday around 9 p.m. with salt for Becancour, Quebec. Algoma Olympic is due sometime Friday.

Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey
Indiana Harbor called on the Saginaw River to unload coal at the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville, on June 20. Later that morning, she backed from the dock out into Saginaw Bay to turn and head for the lake. Olive L Moore / Menominee arrived on the 21st, traveling up the river to unload at the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw. The pair was back outbound during the early evening hours.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
Algosteel was expected at the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock early on Thursday morning to unload. Due at the Torco Dock are the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory on June 24 in the late afternoon to unload iron ore pellets. Also due at the Torco Dock in a rare visit is the Interlake Steamship Co. 1,000-footer Mesabi Miner, arriving during the early afternoon on June 25. The barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory are due back at Torco on June 30 in the early morning. Due at the CSX Coal Dock are the barge Defiance and tug Ashtabula on Friday during the early morning hours. The Kaye E. Barker is due at CSX on Saturday also during the early morning. Due at CSX on June 25 is the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory and rounding out the schedule is the CSL Laurentien due at CSX on June 26 in the late morning. The tug Genesis Victory and barge GM 6506 still remains in port.

Erie, Pa.
Floretgracht arrived Thursday morning, docking at the Mountfort Terminal.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
Departure: Algoma Hansa at 1337 eastbound. Arrival: Damia Desgagnes at 1400

Welland Canal upbound:
Bro Alma (Sgp), Vlieborg (Nld), Algoma Olympic, Saginaw, G3 Marquis at 0712, Whitefish Bay at 0730, CSL Welland at 1224, tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 0954, tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 1445,Iryda (Cyp) at 1627, Isadora (Cyp) at 1815

Welland Canal downbound:
Baie Comeau, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 0449, Algoma Strongfield at 0512, Whistler (Lbr) at 0638, Algosea at 0645, Mississagi at 1348

Port Weller anchorage:
Departure. Drawsko (Bhs) at 1125. Arrival: Whistler (Lbr) at 2136

Welland Canal docks:
Tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware stopped at wharf 1 at 1445,

Bronte:
Arrival: Jana Desgagnes at 1421, Algonova at 1833. Departure: Jana Desgagnes at 1758 east bound

Hamilton:
Departures: tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 0535. Arrivals: Dimitrios K (Mhl) (ex Lady Tramp-13, Atlantic Castle-07, Cedar-03) at approximately 0037. Anchored: Federal Mosel (Mhl) eta 0210 (first trip into Great Lakes), Algoma Equinox at 0537 and Algolake at 1534. At docks: Florence Spirit and tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 2015 on June 20

Oakville anchorage:
Departure: Algonova at 1831

Clarkson:
At dock: Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11)

Toronto:
Arrivals. English River at 0939 and tug Evans McKeil & barge Metis at 1057. Departure: Iryda (Cyp) at 1339. At docks: Stephen B. Roman at 2031 on June 20.

Summer the perfect time to get out and see Cheboygan’s historic lights

6/23 - Cheboygan, Mich. – Cheboygan boasts two lighthouses downtown, plus one light tower, two lighthouses easily seen from the beach on Lake Huron, plus another in ruins visible at Cheboygan State Park.

The most complete and easily accessible light is the front range light on Water Street, behind the Eagles building. It is owned by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, as is the crib light at Gordon Turner Park.

“We’ve restored the lantern to its original appearance, replaced the stairways and completely excavated and repaired the foundation,” said Terry Pepper, of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. GLLKA is raising funds now to replace the siding and install a historically accurate roof. The Cheboygan River Front Range Light was built in 1880. The Rear Range light tower stands about a quarter mile behind it along the Cheboygan River.

Mariners coming to mills in the heyday of the lumbering business would line up the two lights, rear light above the front light, to safely find the center of the Cheboygan River. Today’s boaters continue to use the range lights to locate the center of the river. The range light is open on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the summer with guided tours given by GLLKA volunteers.

Besides the range lights, the Cheboygan Crib Light stands at the inner edge of the pier at Gordon Turner Park along the Cheboygan River. Originally built offshore in 1894 to mark the end of the dredged river channel, the little light was moved to its current location in the 1980s as the crib it was sitting on was deteriorating and in danger of collapse. GLLKA volunteers can give tours there as well.

Two more lighthouses can be seen offshore. Fourteen Foot Shoal, built in 1930, is about two miles from shore, and Poe Reef, built in 1929, is about six miles from the river mouth. Both are inaccessible to visitors, but are featured on Shepler’s eastbound Lighthouse Cruises.

Cheboygan River Front Range Light is at 606 Water St., behind the Eagles building, across from Continental Inn. The lighthouse is open weekends and holidays throughout the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 231 436-5580 or visit www.gllka.com for details.

Cheboygan Daily Tribune

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.

U.S.-flag shipping on lakes in May near carbon copy of a year ago

6/22 - Cleveland, Ohio – U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters moved 9.5 million tons of cargo on the Great Lakes in May, a virtual repeat of a year ago. The float totaled 9,496,663 tons this May and 9,473,709 tons a year ago. This May’s shipments were, however, down 5 percent from the month’s long-term average.

Iron ore cargos for steelmakers totaled 4.9 million tons, an increase of 4 percent compared to a year ago. Coal loadings were little changed in May. Shipments totaled 1,435,400 tons, an increase of 36,953 tons. Limestone cargos hauled in U.S. bottoms totaled 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 7 percent compared to a year ago.

Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargos total 20,833,120 tons, again a virtual tie with a year ago. Iron ore shipments have increased 6.5 percent to 12.9 million tons. Coal cargos mirror a year ago: 2.9 million tons. However, shipments of aggregate, fluxstone and scrubber stone – 3.9 million tons – have dipped nearly 15 percent.

Lake Carriers’ Association

Local steel production shoots up by 30,000 tons

6/22 - Steel mills in the Great Lakes region cranked out 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 in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana.

So far this year, U.S. steelmakers have produced 41.6 million tons of steel, about 2.5 percent more than they did during the same period in 2016. Steel mills have been running at a capacity of 74.4 percent so far this year, up from 72.6 percent through the same time last year.

Domestic steelmakers used about 74.6 percent of their steelmaking capacity in the week that ended June 17, up from 73.7 percent the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Some analysts say 90 percent would be considered healthy for the industry.

Steelmaking capacity utilization was 75.1 percent during the same time period in 2016. Overall, U.S. national steel output rose by 21,000 tons last week to 1.739 million tons, a 1.22 percent increase, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Production in the Southern District, the country's second-largest steel-producing region, which spans mini-mills across the South, rose to 638,000 tons last week, up from 623,000 tons the previous week.

NW Indiana Times

Water releases to lower Lake Ontario remain high; shipping industry is managing

6/22 - The International Joint Commission Board, which controls the water level on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, voted Monday to continue record-high water releases at the Moses-Saunders dam in Massena until further notice.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman from the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Ottawa, Ontario, said that "following several days of continuous feedback, ship captains on the St. Lawrence Seaway reported that they have been able to safely navigate and manage the currents from the increased water flows."

IJVC spokesman Frank Bevacqua said today that the board voted to up water releases at the dam beginning last Wednesday from 10,200 to 10,400 cubic meters per second.

The idea, Bevacqua said, was to try the increased water release level out for only 72 hours "to see how the Seaway would handle it." The situation downstream from the dam around the greater Montreal area, which experienced extensive flooding this spring, he said, is improving as water levels at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers are dropping.

He said the board on Monday voted to continue the 10,400 flow until further notice, evaluating the situation weekly.

Bevacqua said in 1993, when Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River were also at flood levels, the IJC during a three-week period set water releases at 10,900 cubic meters per second on two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and the rest of the week to 9,900. During the high flows, the shipping industry was halted on the St. Lawrence Seaway due to high, dangerous currents.

Currently, ship captains have reported the 10,400 cubic feet per second water release level is manageable, with some restrictions, said Julia Fields, of the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Ottawa. Captains have been reducing speeds to minimize the wakes the ship create and imposing alternating, one-way traffic in certain areas to keep ships moving safely. A tug is also stationed at the Iroquois Lock for assistance if needed.

The lake's water level was measured at 248.62 feet as of Sunday, -- about 3.3 inches lower than at the beginning of this month. Nevertheless, the lake's level is currently about two feet higher than last year's June average.

The water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are expected to remain high through the fall, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

newyorkupstate.com

Duluth-Superior - Daniel Lindner
American Integrity arrived Duluth early Wednesday morning to load coal at Midwest Energy. Her fleetmates Walter J. McCarthy Jr. and American Mariner both departed later in the morning, the former with coal and the latter with grain from General Mills. American Integrity was expected to complete loading and depart late Wednesday evening. At Burlington Northern in Superior, CSL Laurentien arrived at sunrise after fueling in Duluth, and loaded throughout the day before departing during the late afternoon. Michipicoten arrived shortly afterwards from anchor, and began loading.

Port Report-Two Harbors/Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Two Harbors traffic on Tuesday had the Edgar B. Speer departing the ore dock at 05:00 for Conneaut. The American Spirit arrived for the CN shiploader at 09:05. As of 22:00 she was still loading. Due Wednesday are the Lee A. Tregurtha early in the morning. Due later in the day in Two Harbors is the Edwin H. Gott. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the Algoma Guardian at 20:05. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Wednesday.

On Wednesday Two Harbors saw the departure of American Spirit from the CN ore dock at 00:30 for Indiana Harbor. 01:00 saw the arrival of the Lee A. Tregurtha for the shiploader. She departed at 13:20 also showing a destination of Indiana Harbor. Arriving at 13:39 was the Edwin H. Gott. Her departure should be Thursday morning. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Two Harbors on Thursday. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Algoma Guardian at 11:57 with a destination of Contrecoeur, Quebec. There is no inbound traffic scheduled on Thursday.

Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
The tug Undaunted and barge Pere Marquette 41 arrived at Lafarge Tuesday morning and unloaded its cargo throughout the day. Early Wednesday morning the tug G.L Ostrander and barge Integrity loaded cement at Lafarge for delivery to Detroit, Mich. Alpena was in port Wednesday as well, taking on a load of cement.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algowood spent Wednesday loading.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
At dock: Algoma Hansa

Welland Canal upbound:
Frontenac, Kaministiqua, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1047, Federal Seto (Mhl), Floretgracht (Nld) at 1722, Bro Alma (Sgp) at 1818, Vlieborg (Nld) at 1825, Algoma Olympic at 1945, Saginaw eta at 2210

Welland Canal downbound:
Saginaw at 1815, Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 0548, light tug M R Kane at 1343, Baie Comeau at 2315

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrivals: Maccoa (Cyp) at 0206, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1047. Departures: BBC Elbe (Atg) at 2030 and Maccoa (Cyp) at 2130

Port Colborne anchorage:
Departure: Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 0328 for Hamilton

Welland Canal docks:
Departure: Saginaw at wharf 18-2 at 1830 downbound and Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 1350 upbound

Bronte:
Arrival: Jana Desgagnes at 1421

Hamilton:
Arrivals: tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 2015 on June 20, G3 Marquis at 0520, tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 0535, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1100, Algoma Equinox at 1551, Federal Mosel (Mhl) eta 2300 (first trip into Great Lakes) and Dimitrios K (Mhl) (ex Lady Tramp-13, Atlantic Castle-07, Cedar-03) at approximately 2305. Departure: tug Evans McKeil & barge Metis at 0742. At dock: Florence Spirit

Clarkson:
At dock: Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11)

Toronto:
Arrivals: tug Evans McKeil & barge Metis at 1057, Saginaw at 1233. Departures: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 1004 eastbound, Algoma Olympic at 1748 and Saginaw at 2050. At docks: Stephen B. Roman at 2031 on June 20 and Iryda (Cyp) at Redpath dock since June 15 at 2136

Oshawa:
Departure: Dimitrios K (Mhl) (ex Lady Tramp-13, Atlantic Castle-07, Cedar-03) at 2008 for Hamilton

Great Lakes Shipyard awarded contract for work on Gradel tugs

6/22 - Cleveland, Ohio – The Great Lakes Shipyard has been awarded a contract by the Geo. Gradel & Co. for drydocking and repairs on the tug George Gradel and barge Moby Dick. The contract for the 2,400 hp tug includes steel repairs, keel cooler repairs, underwater hull inspections and repairs as well as painting and replacing fuel tanks. Work is planned to be completed by the end of June. Worked completed for the 120' x 33' x 10.5' deck barge with 875-ton capacity included surveys, inspections and repairs for load line renewal. That work was completed on June 5. As a regular customer of Great Lakes Shipyard, this is the third and fourth drydocking for Geo Gradel & Co. this year.

Great Lakes Shipyard

Metro Ports to operate Port of Indiana bulk terminal

6/22 - The Ports of Indiana announced that Metro Ports – the country's oldest stevedoring company – will become the new bulk terminal operator at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. Starting July 1, Metro Ports will manage the loading and unloading of shipments along the port's East Harbor for port tenants and outside companies shipping bulk cargoes, including products for the steelmaking, agricultural, manufacturing, energy and construction industries.

Metro Ports is the brand used to collectively identify stevedoring affiliates of Metropolitan Stevedore Co. and its parent company, Nautilus International Holding Corp., both based in Long Beach, Calif. The company's roots date back to 1852 when its original parent corporation, California Stevedore and Ballast Co., was established during the Gold Rush era, and it has maintained continuous family ownership for 165 years. Metro Ports operates at 27 U.S. ports on the East, West and Gulf Coasts in the states of Washington, New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, California, North Carolina and Georgia. This is the company's only Great Lakes facility.

Metro Ports handles a wide range of bulk and breakbulk cargoes around the country, including aggregates, potash, coke, coal, cement, fertilizer, borax, bauxite, RoRo, military, steel, wind energy, yachts and project cargo.

In 2016, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled nearly 2.6 million tons of cargo, completing the highest three-year total in the port's history. In addition, the Ports of Indiana invested nearly $2.5 million into port infrastructure, including dredging and stabilization of two ship berths to increase dock capacity for handling Seaway draft vessels as well as replacement of 2,000 feet of rail track and rehabilitation of multiple rail turnouts. Additional investments are planned by the Ports of Indiana and Metro Ports to upgrade the bulk terminal to increase the port's throughput capacity.

maritimeprofessional.com

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.

Cleveland welcomes first Great Lakes cruise ship of season

6/21 - Cleveland, Ohio – The Port of Cleveland on Tuesday welcomed the Victory 1 cruise ship to its docks, marking the addition of Cleveland to Victory Cruise Lines’ Great Lakes Grand Discovery tour of the Great Lakes.

The 10-day tour on the 105-room, 200-passenger liner highlights attractions along the Great Lakes in the U.S. and Canada, starting in Toronto and concluding in Chicago, with stops at major destinations such as Niagara Falls, Georgian Bay and Mackinac Island along the way.

Victory Cruise Lines is an international cruise line with a diverse menu of itineraries focusing on Colonial America, Canada, and even Cuba. Bruce Nierenberg, president and CEO of Victory Cruise Lines, said he added Cleveland as a stop this season because he sees it a city on the rise.

“I asked our people, 'Why don't we stop there?' said Nierenberg. “Cleveland is an up-and-coming city, they've got the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And there are a lot of other things to do in Cleveland, so I thought it would be a really good stop.” The company’s website also highlights the Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Orchestra, West Side Market, and Steamship William G. Mather as attractions in the Cleveland for those who join the cruise.

Cruise ships in the Great Lakes are a growing industry, with revenues in the tens of millions. Those involved in the industry – from Victory to Great Lakes’ ports to visitors bureaus – all see the potential to nurture an untapped market that boasts a number of stellar destination cities and venues.

Port of Cleveland

New Federal Mosel enters Seaway for first time

6/21 - Entering the St. Lawrence Seaway for the first time on Tuesday was the newest addition to the Fednav Ltd. fleet, Federal Mosel (IMO 9766188), built in 2017 at New Century Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. shipyard in China.

Federal Mosel is owned by the Intership Navigation Co. Ltd. but it is chartered to Fednav Ltd. It is 199.99 meters in length and has a beam of 23.750 meters. Federal Mosel arrived in Sorel on June 18 to unload a cargo of steel before departing on June 20. The vessel is headed next to Hamilton, Ont., where it is due sometime on June 21 in the late evening.

Federal Mosel has two sisterships – Federal Baltic built in 2016 and Federal Ruhr – built in 2017, each of which have made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system and are registered in the Marshall Islands. Federal Mosel is also a near sistership to five other vessels: Federal Danube, Federal Elbe, Federal Ems, Federal Leda and Federal Weser, also registered in the Marshall Islands. All have made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system.

Denny Dushane

Goderich approves port budget

6/21 - Goderich, Ont. – Goderich council approved the 2017 budget for the Goderich Port Management Corporation at Monday night’s council meeting. Councillors did express some concerns about the dramatic reduction in the number of ships that came into the port in 2016.

GPMC President Rowland Howe said about 118 ships came into the port last year compared to the average of about 250. But Howe also pointed out that’s an internal matter within the three companies that use the port and beyond the influence of the corporation.

Howe says one factor is it was a mild winter and that can affect the demand for road salt. He also pointed out that the harbor expansion should alleviate some of that problem because the addition of more businesses in the harbor will increase the range of products that come in or out of the harbor rather than being limited to three products now.

Blackburnnews.com

Duluth-Superior - Daniel Lindner
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Duluth on Tuesday evening to load coal at Midwest Energy. American Mariner was at General Mills loading grain. At the BN dock in Superior, Algoma Discovery loaded on Tuesday and departed early in the evening. Philip R. Clarke then began loading, and was still at the dock late Tuesday night.

St. Marys River
Downbound traffic Tuesday included Algoma’s newest, Algoma Strongfield, downbound in the morning, and one of Algoma’s oldest, Algoway, upbound in the late afternoon. Algoway went to Essar to load for Bay City. Whistler was also downbound in the morning, while Great Republic and Mississagi were downbound in the early afternoon. Edwin H. Gott and Manitoulin were upbound during the day.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann were expected during the late afternoon on Monday. Expected Tuesday during the late evening were the barge Pere Marquette 41 and tug Undaunted. After that, there is nothing due until June 23 in the early morning, when the Herbert C. Jackson is expected.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
H. Lee White was expected Monday in the late afternoon, followed by the Wilfred Sykes also on Monday in the late afternoon. Following that there is nothing due until June 22 when the Sykes is due back at noon to load.

Southern Lake Michigan
ASC's John J. Boland departed Burns Harbor early Tuesday morning and sailed over to the Calumet River, heading stern first to the KCBX south dock, where she remained late Tuesday. Joseph L. Block was at ArcelorMittal in Indiana Harbor Tuesday night. Burns Harbor was at her namesake port.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore loaded on Tuesday and were due to depart around 12:30 p.m. There are no vessels due from Wednesday-Friday. Due in for Saturday is a return visit from the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore in the late evening. Due in during late afternoon Sunday is the Herbert C. Jackson. Due Monday, June 26, are the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann in the early evening.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Sam Laud loaded at the South Dock on Tuesday but did not have any departure time listed. Two vessels are due for Wednesday, with the first being the John G. Munson in the morning for the South Dock, followed in the early evening Wednesday by the barge Erie Trader / tug Clyde S. Van Enkevort for the South Dock. For Thursday, two more vessels are expected, with the first being the barge Menominee and the tug Olive L. Moore in the late morning for the South Dock, followed at noon on Thursday by the Great Republic, also for the South Dock to load.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algowood was loading Tuesday evening.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
The barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance unloaded iron ore pellets at the Torco Dock early on Tuesday morning. Also due at the Torco Dock were two other vessels Tuesday, the barge Erie Trader/tug Clyde S. Van Enkevort in the morning followed by the Joseph H. Thompson during the mid-afternoon. At the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock ,the Algosteel is due June 21 at noon to unload stone. Vessels due at the CSX Coal Dock include the barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance on June 21 during the late evening. Kaye E. Barker is due at CSX on June 24 during the morning, and the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory are due at CSX the same day in the late morning. Vessels in port Tuesday included the G tug Colorado and the tug Genesis Victory / barge GM 6506.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
At dock: Algoma Hansa

Welland Canal upbound:
Kaministiqua, Federal Kushiro (Mhl) at 0125, Tim S. Dool at 0639, Arneborg (Nld) at 0635, Frontenac at 0800, tug Sea Eagle II & barge St. Marys Cement at 1035, tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 1055, tugs M.R.Kane & Salvage Monarch with former CCG Alexander Henry at 1030 (bound Thunder Bay to become a museum there), Federal Seto (Mhl) at 2028, Lake Ontario (Atg) (ex Federal Manitou-11 launched as Lake Ontario), Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 1906

Welland Canal downbound:
Algoma Spirit, Tecumseh, light tug Presque Isle for Port Weller Dry Dock, tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 0510, BBC Elbe (Atg) at 0924, Mac coa (Cyp) at 1040, Algoma Transport at 1245, Saginaw at 1815, Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 2015

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrival: BBC Elbe (Atg) at 1950

Port Colborne anchorage:
Arrival: tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 2009

Welland Canal docks:
Arrival: Saginaw at wharf 18-2 at 1830

Hamilton:
Arrivals: tug Evans McKeil & barge Metis at 0915 and Florence Spirit at 1752 - departures - Tim S. Dool at 0230, tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 0720 and Lake Ontario (Atg) (ex Federal Manitou-11, launched as Lake Ontario)

Clarkson:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson at 1129. At dock: Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11).

Toronto:
Arrivals: Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 2335 on June 19 and Stephen B. Roman at 2031. Departures: tugs M.R. Kane & Salvage Monarch with Alexander Henry at 0603 - Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 1610. At dock: Iryda (Cyp)

Oshawa:
Arrival: Dimitrios K (Mhl) (ex Lady Tramp-13, Atlantic Castle-07, Cedar-03 - anchored at 1157, docked at 1611

Soo Boatnerd Cruise sold out

6/21 - The annual Boatnerd St. Marys River Freighter Chasing Cruise has sold out. Reservations with a postmark of Tuesday, June 20, were accepted subject to available space. The person submitting the reservation forms will be by advised by e-mail whether or not their reservation has been accepted.

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.

Lake outflow causes slight shipping delay

6/20 - Welland, Ont. – As an international agency works to lower water levels on Lake Ontario, shipping has been somewhat delayed on the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Kingston, said the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.’s spokesman.

Andrew Bogora said the westbound trip usually takes vessels 24 hours to complete.

“That stretch of the seaway, at present, is taking about 26 hours. It’s a credit to the skilled captains and pilots to be able to sustain navigation with a two-hour delay as the only impact being observed. It’s a credit to the mariners that they’re able to keep this vital supply line moving in this time of above normal river flow,” Bogora said, adding it’s also impressive because of stringent measures already in place.

That two-hour delay, however, may increase as the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board, which controls outflows from Lake Ontario, met Monday and agreed to increase it Wednesday to a record high 10,400 cubic metres per second. The outflow is controlled through 32 turbines at the Moses Saunders Dam between Cornwall, Ont. and Massena, N.Y.

The increased outflow will not have any significant effect on St. Lawrence River levels near Montreal, as declining Ottawa River flows are expected to continue, and this will offset the effects of the increased Lake Ontario outflow, the board said.

Bogora said there’s a high level of confidence that both lakers and ocean-going vessels will manage to safely travel the seaway system even with the record outflow - designed to lower Lake Ontario levels slightly, and provide additional relief to lake riparians. A riparian is a person who owns land on the bank of a natural watercourse or body of water

“We’ve been in extensive consultations with the industry, both ocean-going and lakers, prior to the implementation of 10,400 (cubic metres per second),” said Bogora. “We have daily conference calls with the industry and our Seaway operations team to gather information on the conditions being experienced by captains and pilots.” He said those calls are to ensure that shipping can continue safely and effectively.

Special measures have been taken by the Seaway through notices sent to mariners. Notices over the past few days said the Seaway plans to continue operations at the outflow conditions, even as it creates velocities higher than normal in navigation channels and variations in normal current patterns.

The notices have also said vessels equipped with bow thrusters will have to use them when transiting the Montreal to Lake Ontario section of the waterway. It also said all tall ships and tows (tug-barge combinations) transiting Montreal to Lake Ontario must be capable of making a minimum of eight knots through the water.

“Vessels will have to make a determination as to whether they can comply with the special measures,” Bogora said.

The higher outflows will initially be tested for a 72-hour period to monitor any effects it may have, the board said in a post on its Facebook page. “After the 72 hours at 10,400 has concluded, it may well continue for some extended period of time,” said Bogora.

Welland Tribune

Alexander Henry tow expected Tuesday in Welland Canal

6/20 - The tugs M.R. Kane and Salvage Monarch are expected to tow the former CCG icebreaker Alexander Henry through the Welland Canal on Tuesday. Alexander Henry is a former CCG icebreaker headed for Thunder Bay, Ont., to continue her duties as marine museum in that port after most recently being located at Kingston.

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Algoma Strongfield, Algoma Central's newest Equinox-class straight deck bulk carrier, arrived Duluth on Sunday to load iron ore pellets. She departed early Monday morning. American Mariner arrived during the late morning Monday with limestone for the Graymont dock. Fleetmate American Century arrived early in the afternoon to load iron ore pellets. Philip R. Clarke was expected late Monday evening to discharge stone at the C. Reiss dock. Orsula was loading grain at CHS. In Superior, Stewart J. Cort loaded at Burlington Northern throughout the day Monday, while Algoma Discovery waited at anchor outside the harbor.

Two Harbors, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Traffic on Monday for Two Harbors was the arrival of the Edgar B. Speer at 18:10 for the CN shiploader. Her departure should be Tuesday morning. Traffic for Tuesday in Two Harbors includes the American Spirit that's due in the morning and the Lee A. Tregurtha that's due Tuesday evening. Silver Bay traffic for Monday was the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader that arrived Northshore Mining at 06:25 after unloading limestone in Superior. She departed at 16:20. Traffic for Tuesday at Northshore is the Algoma Guardian that's due Tuesday evening.

St. Marys River
Upbound traffic on a slow Monday included Walter J. McCarthy Jr., Lee A. Tregurtha, CSL Laurentien and Algoma Guardian. Downbound traffic included Roger Blough and Herbert C. Jackson. Saltie Whistler remained at the Essar Export Dock. Straits ferry Chippewa was still on the MCM Marine Drydock.

Port Inland, Mich.
H. Lee White was loading Monday evening, and Wilfred Sykes was anchored, awaiting her turn at the dock.

Southern Lake Michigan
John J. Boland, Pia and Federal Baltic were all at Burns Harbor, Ind., Monday evening. John G. Munson was arriving at Gary. Reggeborg was at S. Chicago.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Manitoulin was at the salt dock on Monday.

Fairport, Ohio – Dave Merchant
Tugs Paul L. Luedtke, Karl E. Luedtke, Derrick Boat No. 16, and mud scows were tied up at the Union Sand dock Sunday evening. It is not yet known if they they will be working in Fairport, or are in transit.

Erie, Pa. – Dan McNeil
The tug Presque Isle dropped off her barge Presque Isle Monday, June 19, at the Erie Gravel dock and departed for the Welland Canal. The tug was headed for the former Port Weller dry docks where it will undergo its five-year survey.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
Arrival: Algoma Hansa at 1334

Welland Canal upbound:
CSL Assiniboine, Algoma Harvester and Victory I (Mhl) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09), Algoma Hansa at 2354, Algoma Harvester at 0809, Rt. Hon Paul J. Martin at 1402 and Kaministiqua at 2110

Welland Canal downbound:
Stephen B. Roman, Flevoborg (Nld), Federal Shimanto (Mhl), Tim S. Dool, Spruceglen, Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 0700, Algoma Olympic at 0808, Algoma Spirit at 1314, light tug Presque Isle for PWDD at 2047 and Tecumseh at 2315

Welland Canal docks:
Arrival: Algoma Olympic at 0816. Departure: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement from wharf 2 at 2118

Hamilton:
Departures: Algoma Harvester at 0503 and Tim S. Dool at 0927. At dock: Lake Ontario (Atg) (ex Federal Manitou-11, launched as Lake Ontario)

Clarkson:
Arrival. Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11) late afternoon

Toronto:
Arrival: tug Radium Yellowknife with Alexander Henry in tow at 1908. At dock: Iryda (Cyp)

Welland Canal workers memorial nears funding goal

6/20 - The fundraising campaign for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial has almost reached the finish line. With recent funding from both St. Catharines City Hall and Niagara Region, the project is closing in on the $1.19 million needed to build the memorial to the workers who died building the iconic canal.

In recent weeks both regional and city councils each voted to approve $284,000 in funding for the memorial, bringing the total amount of money raised to date to around $934,000.

“We’re close now. We’re not all the way there, but we are close,” said Rebecca Cann, St. Catharines’ cultural services supervisor. “Greg Wight, who has been leading the fundraising campaign, has done a great job.”

In March, The Welland Canal Fallen Workers Task Force told city hall that it needed to raise $500,000 to complete the project to honour the 137 men who died building the canal from 1918 to 1932 and dredging the canal from 1932 to 1936.

When the canal opened in 1932, the then-federal minister of railways and canals Robert James Manion hailed the fallen workers as peace-time heroes and pledged that Ottawa would build a memorial to them. But the memorial never came to be and, over decades, the project faded away.

The effort to make Manion’s unfulfilled promise a reality began in 2013 when local historian and former curator of the St. Catharines Museum Arden Phair pulled together as much existing data on the workers as he could. By then, local historians Phair was working with had revised the number of workers known to have died to 124 from 115.

The St. Catharines Standard ran a series of articles on the men who died and published an online petition urging all levels of government to build the long-promised memorial. The petition not only produced thousands of signatures but also became a place where family of fallen workers told their stories, giving local historians more leads to follow.

After the Standard series, a task force of key stakeholders including then-St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan (and later current Mayor Walter Sendzik), local MPs and representatives from the regional government and local unions was formed to get the memorial off the ground.

The initial estimated cost to build the memorial was $450,000. At the time the task force was considering a bronze sculpture, and the estimate was based on the cost of the bronze.

Over time, the projected evolved to its current stage, which will be a small park near the Lock 1 Museum in St. Catharines. Designed by architect Dereck Revington, the memorial will include a large, black steel monolith with a quote from Manion.

More information about the memorial and how to donate can be found at the city’s website at www.stcatharines.ca/en/governin/Fallen-Workers-Memorial.asp

St. Catharines Standard

Can a tsunami occur on the Great Lakes?

6/20 - A meeting in Ann Arbor this week has brought attention to a Great Lakes risk many don't know about or fully understand. Tsunamis on the Great Lakes are real, but they are different from what you might be thinking. First, there are 2 events where water rises dangerously – a seiche and a meteotsunami.

What is a seiche? A seiche is an oscillation of water in an enclosed area like a lake. Storms, strong winds, or a change in atmospheric pressure causes water to push from one side of the lake to the other. The water then floods back to the original side, like the water swishing back and forth in a bathtub. This oscillation is called a seiche and can cause flooding and damage along the shoreline of the lakes.

What is a meteotsunami? A meteotsunami is a tsunami that occurs due to weather conditions and not from an earthquake. High winds or a quick change in air pressure can cause these so they are very similar to a seiche in this regard. Meteotsunamis are not as large as tsunamis caused by earthquakes. They are very real and according to the Michigan State University Extension and National Weather Service, an average of 106 a year occur on the Great Lakes. Water floods in one direction and does not oscillate back like a seiche does.

What is the difference between a seiche and a meteotsunami? There are a couple of major differences between each event. A seiche oscillates back, sloshing across the lake while a meteotsunami does not and only floods in one direction. The other major difference is the duration of each. According to the MSU Extension, a seiche can take up to 4-7 hours to go from the high to low water level. A meteotsunami occurs in minutes, extremely quickly in much the same way a tsunami generated by an earthquake would. It is highly likely that multiple recordings of a seiche were actually meteotsunamis and have been incorrectly recorded.

Experts are meeting this week to determine a way to warn people along the coast of these events.

NBC25 News

Oil tankers collide in Newfoundland; TSB investigating

6/20 - Lewisporte, NL – The Transportation Safety Board is investigating after two oil tankers collided in the waters off Lewisporte. It’s alleged to have happened over the weekend. The vessels in question – Havelstern and Travestern – are owned by the Woodward Group of Companies.

The TSB says they’re still working to determine exactly what happened, but say the large tankers collided during the transfer of cargo. The Travestern is now located in Lewisporte. From the road you can see a large hole in the superstructure of the ship, exposing the cabins or rooms. The TSB says they’re still assessing the damage to both vessels. There is no word if there were any injuries. Both vessels have been visitors to the St. Lawrence Seaway system.

vocm.com

Soo Boatnerd Cruise sold out

6/20 - For the first time in the history of the annual Boatnerd St. Marys River Freighter Chasing Cruise, the cruise has sold out. Reservations with a postmark of Tuesday, June 20, will be accepted subject to available space. The person submitting the reservation forms will be by advised by e-mail whether or not their reservation has been accepted.

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.

Tanker refloated

6/17 - 10 a.m. update: Damia Desgagnés was freed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday. At 10 a.m. she was moving westbound at 6 knots, according to AIS. The tugs Ocean Georgie Bain and Ocean Serge Genois were nearby. There is no word on damage. She will need to be inspected, possibly at Johnstown, before being allowed to continue her trip to Nanticoke. Meanwhile, the back up of traffic is slowly getting underway.

Original Report:
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a tanker grounded west of Cornwall, Ont., late Thursday night. The TSB said it was informed early Friday morning of the grounding of the Damia Desgagnés at 11:40 p.m. on the St. Lawrence River between Iroquois, Ont., and Morrisburg, Ont.

The tanker is owned by Group Desgagnés in Quebec City.

The tanker was travelling west from Montreal to the Lake Erie community of Nanticoke in Ontario when the engine failed, according to Serge Le Guellec, the president of Transport Desgagnés, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Group Desgagnés.

After the engine failed, the ship drifted and ended with its nose grounded on sand about three nautical miles east of Iroquois, Ont., Le Guellec said. The ship was carrying what he described as heavy fuel, but he said no spill has occurred.

TSB spokesperson Alexandre Fournier confirmed the ship is stable and there is no report of a spill. Navigation is not expected to resume until early Saturday morning, according to authorities. On Friday night the tug Ocean Georgie Bain and a second, unnamed, tug were heading to assist the stranded vessel.

The tanker is less than a year old, and Le Guelle said it was only recently launched from a European shipyard. It's not known what caused the engine failure.

The vessel is aground near the home of Sandra and Fred Goulet, who said they were startled from their sleep around midnight last night.

“We thought a car crashed here or something. It made one heck of a noise, and then, there was all kinds of clanging … and then you could hear it hit the rocks and everything coming in,” said Fred Goulet. “It did that for quite a while, so I don’t know how far out it was when we heard that.”

Sandra Goulet said they could also hear yelling coming from the ship — along with grinding noises — after an explosion woke them up. “We went to the window to look, and we could see the ship all lit up, just where you see it right now. It was just kind of crazy. We said ‘What’s that? ‘It sounds like a bomb went off.”

In more typical circumstances, other boats would have been allowed to pass by the grounded vessel. But high water flows on the St. Lawrence River (also known as Lake St. Lawrence between Iroquois and Cornwall) have authorities taking extra precautions this time, said St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation Communications Officer Andrew Bogora.

As the International Joint Commission brings down water levels in Lake Ontario from historic highs by cranking open the Cornwall Dam, flows have hit 10,400 cubic meters per second in the last couple of days, the “maximum rate which navigation [on the Seaway] can be sustained,” he said. Begora said the grounding was not in any way related to the high water, noting the flow rate was just about as fast – at 10,200 cubic metres per second – over the previous three weeks. And it’s not far off the previous recent flow record of 9,900 cubic meters per second that went through the dam at times in both 1993 and 1998, he said.

In an unrelated matter, repairs were completed Friday on a ship arrestor at the Iroquois Lock, which was damaged Thursday when the tanker Chem Polaris struck it. The saltwater vessel Alina was allowed to make her way upbound Friday, but the downbound Vikingbank and Baie St. Paul, as well as Chem Polaris, were still on the lock wall as of 9 p.m. Friday due to the closure of the waterway until Damia Desgagnés is refloated.

CBC, Nation Valley News, Local Reports

Tug headed to Picton to tow Alexander Henry to Thunder Bay

6/17 - The Tug Radium Yellowknife will be departing Toronto on Saturday and arriving in the Picton area on Sunday to prepare the former icebreaker/museum ship Alexander Henry for its upcoming tow to Thunder Bay. The expected arrival in Thunder Bay will be June 29 or 30.

Boosted by rain, Lake Michigan approaches 20-year high water level

6/17 - Chicago, Ill. – Boosted by above-average rainfall this spring, Lake Michigan is on pace to swell to its highest water level in two decades.

The rising water, which could climb more than 1 1/2 feet above its long-term average this month, has swallowed up mounds of beach along Illinois' shoreline and created an opportunity for taller, stronger waves that could accelerate erosion. With forecasts suggesting Lake Michigan could remain high through the next six months, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, communities will likely be on guard for powerful autumn storms that could pulverize lakefront property.

The surge was brought on, in part, by an unexpected deluge this spring, when Chicago saw 43 percent more precipitation than usual, including an April with nearly double the normal rainfall, according to data from the National Weather Service.

"We always think of the Great Lakes as responding very slowly to these events, but they can actually be moving rather quickly," said Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel.

During 15 years of persistently low levels, Lake Michigan dipped to a record low in January 2013. In a dramatic reversal, two years later it rebounded nearly 4 feet, largely because of increased ice cover from back-to-back polar vortex winters that limited evaporation. Lake levels have continued to be elevated, though they are still 2 feet below the record high set in 1986.

Periods of high and low lake levels have drawbacks, said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

Read more and view a video at this link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-lake-michigan-water-levels-met-20170615-story.html

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Two Harbors traffic included the arrival of the James R. Barker Thursday night at 22:53. She went to lay at North of #2 awaiting the departure of the Edwin H. Gott that departed at 13:15 for Gary. Arriving Two Harbors at 16:10 was the Joseph L. Block. The Block was anchored off Duluth for several hours while awaiting north of #2 to open up. As of 20:00 the Barker was still at the CN shiploader. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Two Harbors on Saturday. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw no traffic on Friday and there is no traffic scheduled for Saturday.

St. Marys River
Fog closed the river Friday morning. The downbound American Integrity was stopped at the locks and Presque Isle was anchored in Hay Lake. When the fog cleared, the saltie Whistler was upbound for the Essar Export Dock, which had earlier been vacated by Orsula. Roger Blough and Herbert C. Jackson followed. Federal Shimanto and Tim S. Dool were downbound in the mid-evening. Algoma’s latest, Algoma Strongfield, looks like an early morning, and possibly rainy, arrival at the locks headed for Duluth.

Cedarville, Mich.
Great Republic was loading stone Friday evening.

Port Inland, Mich.
Great Lakes Trader was under the shiploader Friday night taking on limestone.

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Kaye E. Barker departed BayShip Friday afternoon after a stay of several days undergoing unspecified repairs.

Burns Harbor, Ind.
Hon. James L. Oberstar and Pia were in port on Friday night.

Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
On Thursday morning the tug G.L Ostrander and barge Integrity were in port loading at Lafarge. Fleetmates Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation arrived late Thursday night and remained docked at Lafarge on Friday. The Calumet backed into the river around 12:30 pm on Friday to deliver a load of salt from Goderich, Ont., to the Alpena Oil Dock. Calumet tied up not far from the Lake Guardian, which is moored in the river, and unloaded salt throughout the afternoon. It departed at 6:30 p.m. to head for Calcite.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algolake was loading Friday. Algoway was enroute to load.

Monroe, Mich.
American Century was outbound Friday night after unloading coal at the power plant.

Fairport, Ohio
Frontenac arrived to load Friday afternoon.

Regional and Welland Canal transits – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
Departure: Frontenac at 0508 for Fairport, Ohio. At dock: Algocanada

Tonawanda:
Arrival: Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 2002

Welland Canal upbound:
Cuyahoga, tugs Paul L. Luedtke & Karl E. Luedtke & derrick barge 16 with barges GL-70 and GL-73 at 0340

Welland Canal downbound:
Algosteel at 0047, CSL Welland at 0618, Evans Spirit at 0830, , Whitefish Bay at 1115, Algoma Guardian at 1105, Zelada Desgagnes at 1215, Esta Desgagnes at 1729 and tug Undaunted & barge Pere Marquette 41 at 1955

Welland Canal docks:
Stopped at wharf 16 to unload: tug Undaunted & barge Pere Marquette 41 at 2042 Hamilton:
Arrival: Algosteel at 1204 and Algoma Guardian eta for 2305. Departure: Algosteel at 2038. At docks: Federal Mayumi (Mhl) and Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock

Bronte:
At dock: Algonova on June 15 at 1200

Toronto:
Arrival: Iryda (Cyp) at 2136

Bill easing boating red tape in Canadian waters to become law next week

6/17 - Brockville, Ont. – Senator Bob Runciman’s bill to ease red tape for American boaters who venture into Canadian water has passed the Senate and will become law shortly. The bill – adopted Monday and voted on Tuesday – is expected to become law next week after receiving Royal Assent.

“This is great news for boaters and for the tourism industry of border communities across Canada,” Runciman said. “It will help Americans and Canadians alike and I could not be happier that it will become law in time for the boating season.”

Under the new law, Americans who enter Canadian water won’t have to report to customs as long as they remain on board and they don’t land, anchor to come into contact with another vessel.

The law is expected to ease headaches for fishers and pleasure cruisers, who happen to stray into foreign water. Runciman said the current requirement to report under these circumstances was “impractical…in areas such as the Thousand Islands, where it sometimes isn’t even clear which side of the border you are on.”

Canada Border Services Agency officials can still compel boaters to report in order to protect border security.

Brockville Newswatch

Seaway salties renamed

6/17 - The following two saltwater vessels have been renamed, with each one having made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system.

Hr Maria (IMO 9164017), which first came inland as such in 2013 and made its last visit as such in 2014, is now the H Orca of Panama. This vessel has had a long history of names starting with Maria Green, a name it carried from 1998 to June 2004. It first came inland as such in 1999 and last visited as such in 2000. In June 2004 the ship was renamed the BBC India and it carried this name from 2004 until May 20, 2008. As the BBC India, the ship first came inland as such in 2004 and last visited as such in 2008. The ship was renamed on May 20, 2008 to the Maria Green while at Windsor, Ontario, and carried this name from 2008 until August 2010 and it did not return inland as such. In August 2010, the ship was renamed Se Viridian and it carried this name from 2010 to July 2012 and did not come inland as such. In July 2012 the ship was renamed the Hr Maria.

Hr Margaretha (IMO 9187033), is now Margaretha of Moldova flag. This vessel has also had a very long list of names, starting as Margaretha Green, a name that it carried from 1999 to 2000. It first came inland as such in 1999 and last visited in 2000 as such. In September 2000, the ship was renamed Coral Green and it carried this name from 2000 until August 2001 but did not come inland with this name. In August 2001, the ship was again renamed Nirint Voyager and it carried this name from 2001 until April 2002. It did not come inland with this name. In April 2002, the ship was renamed Margaretha Green again and it carried the name from 2002 to 2004. It also returned inland as such in 2003 on its only visit with that name. In August 2004, the ship was renamed Newpac Cumulus and carried this name from 2004 until November 2005. It did not come inland as such, and in November 2005, the ship was again renamed Margaretha Green. The ship carried this name from 2005 until October 2010. It also came inland as such in 2006 on its only visit with this name. In October 2010 the ship was renamed Se Verdant and carried this name from 2010 until June 2012. It also came inland as such in 2010 on its only visit with this name. In June 2012, the ship was renamed the Hr Margaretha, but it did not return inland with this name.

Denny Dushane

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.

Cliffs chooses Toledo area for its new iron processing facility

6/16 - Toledo, Ohio – Cliffs Natural Resources has selected the Port of Toledo and East Toledo's Ironville site as a home for its new Hot Briquette Iron processing facility, Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur announced Thursday.

She said the facility will receive iron ore mined in Minnesota and Michigan and convert it to briquettes used in steel making. The project will break ground next year and be operational in 2020, said Kaptur

According to Kaptur, the Cleveland-based firm's new facility will bring a $700 million investment to Toledo, along with more than 130 permanent jobs and 1,200 construction jobs.

The company considers the brownfield site at the Port of Toledo a premier location for development due to its relative proximity to several future customers, as well as its logistics advantages, including affordable gas availability and access by multiple rail carriers, said a statement from Cliffs Natural Resources.

Its CEO, Lourenco Goncalves, said the project has strong earnings potential for the company. He and thanked stakeholders including Gov. John Kasich, JobsOhio and local partners in the Toledo area for efforts to advance the project, including an offer of approximately $30 million in grants and other financial incentives.

"We will continue to work closely with the State of Ohio through the environmental permitting process, and are excited to bring a significant number of high-paying jobs to Ohio," said a statement from Goncalves.

The project is contingent on final approvals of state and local incentives.

Cleveland.com

Lake Michigan may get new maritime highway

6/16 - Chicago, Ill. – A new shipping route potentially could eliminate a million semi-trailer trucks a year from Northwest Indiana highways.

Supply Chain Solutions announced at the Rail Supply Chain Summit 2017 in the Union League Club in downtown Chicago it was launching a new cross-lake shipping route after being awarded the first marine highway designation on Lake Michigan.

The Maritime Administration will encourage freight to pass between the Port of Milwaukee and the Port of Muskegon in Michigan, which the Rail Supply Chain Summit Founder Mary Elisabeth Pitz said has the potential to greatly reduce the amount of truck traffic on the Borman Expressway passing through Northwest Indiana while en route from Michigan to Wisconsin, or vice versa.

“It's the first marine highway designation for Lake Michigan,” Supply Chain Solutions CEO Leslie “Les” G. Brand III said.

The route would launch at the end of summer and restore intermodal service to the Port of Milwaukee, a competitor with the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

The company is pitching the maritime route across Lake Michigan as a more efficient alternative than sending semi-trailer trucks through Chicago's congestion. It would give midwestern manufacturers an alternative to trucking goods on the Borman, part of Interstate 80/94, one of the busiest stretches of highway in the country.

“The congestion doesn't just come with orange cones,” Brand said. “It's year-round and especially bad in the winter. This gets past the pinch point of Chicago.”

Lake vessels that can travel up to 17 knots per hour would carry cargo directly across the width of Lake Michigan, instead of south and all the way around the southern shore.

“According to our modeling, there will be significant cost-savings,” he said.

Supply Chain Solutions estimates that ships consume only 30 percent of the fuel of trucks, and the cross-lake route would reduce emissions, wear and tear on roads, and accidents.

NW Indiana Times

Dismantling of Kathryn Spirit delayed again

6/16 - Beauharnois, Que. - The federal government has decided to allow a rotting bulk carrier that has been anchored off Beauharnois for years to stay there for at least another year.

Despite a pledge by Transport Minister Marc Garneau last fall to begin dismantling the 150 metre Kathryn Spirit this year, the federal government has delayed awarding the contract for the job. The Journal de Montreal says the work won't begin until next year at the earliest.

The Mayor of Beauharnois along with a number of environmentalists say there is a real danger of an ecological disaster if the ship breaks up before oil and toxic chemicals are removed. The ship has been beached at Beauharnois since 2011.

CJAD

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Traffic in Two Harbors on Thursday was the arrival of the Tim S. Dool after being anchored off the piers waiting for the fog to lift. She arrived at 06:15 and departed at 15:55 after loading pellets. Arriving at 07:20 was the Edwin H. Gott, which went to lay-by at North of #2. On the departure of the Dool, the Gott shifted to the shiploader. Due late Thursday night is the James R. Barker and due Friday morning is the Joseph L. Block, coming from Duluth. There is no other traffic scheduled for Friday. On Thursday Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of American Integrity at 03:50 bound for Cleveland. There is no scheduled traffic for Northshore on Friday.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Calumet made a rare visit to Sifto to load salt Thursday. Manitoulin remained loading at the elevators.

Detroit, Mich.
The new Algoma Strongfield was westbound in the Pelee Passage on Lake Erie at 9 p.m. Thursday. She may pass by Port Huron around sunrise on Friday.

Regional and Welland Canal transits – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
Arrival: Algocanada docked at 1828, Thunder Bay at 0808 and Frontenac at 1745. Departure: Thunder Bay at 1912 westbound

Welland Canal upbound:
Algoma Strongfield, tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 0104, CSL Niagara at 0820, Federal Baltic (Mhl) at 0850, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 0952, HHL Amur (Lbr) at 1307, Cuyahoga at 1342

Welland Canal downbound:
Sally Ann C (IOM), Sarah Desgagnes at 0900, Hemgracht (Nld) at 1154, Federal Maas (Bbs) at 1236, John D. Leitch at 1320, Algosteel at 2245

Hamilton:
Departure: Algoma Discovery at 0503. At docks: Federal Mayumi (Mhl) and Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock

Bronte:
At dock: Algonova on June 15 at 1200

Toronto:
Arrival: Iryda (Cyp) at 2136

Rochester:
Departed: tugs Paul L. Luedtke and Karl E. Luedtke with barge toward the Welland Canal

Iroquois, Ont.
Chem Polaris damaged the Iroquois Lock fender boom around 9 a.m. Thursday and vessel traffic was stopped. Vikingbank and Baie St. Paul (downbound) and Alina (upbound) were delayed.

Happy Birthday: Lorain-built Roger Blough turns 45

6/16 - Lorain, Ohio – A Lorain-built freighter faced tragedy before it ever left its dock when a blaze erupted more than 45 years ago. But since then, the vessel Roger Blough has carried thousands of tons of iron ore pellets by sea over the Great Lakes.

The Roger Blough celebrated its 45th “birthday” June 15. The day is an anniversary — but not of the tragic fire during its construction. Rather, June 15, 1972 was the day the Roger Blough made the start of a 45-year career.

“It’s a beautiful boat, one of a kind,” said Ed Bansek, a Lorain resident and on-shore boat spotter who has taken photos of freighters for 28 years.

Lorain residents may best remember the Roger Blough for the fire that broke out June 24, 1971. The fire claimed the lives of four workers: Clyde Burdue, 60, of Vermilion; John Alexander, 28, of Lorain; Leonard Moore, 34, of Elyria; and George Adams, 44, of Lorain.

The fire slowed down — but did not stop — plans to launch the vessel, which at the time was the largest freighter ever built entirely on the Great Lakes. “It is an awesome boat,” Bansek said. “It would be really cool and a great source of pride for us Lorainites to know she is still contributing to our economy.”

The historical information was compiled by Bansek; author George Wharton, who published a vessel description at the online resource boatnerd.com; the Lorain Historical Society; and Morning Journal archives.

The vessel currently is owned by Great Lakes Fleet Inc. of Duluth, Minn. A company spokesman declined to comment about the freighter.

In September 1968, American Ship Building Co. laid the keel for the bow of a new “super ore carrier” for United States Steel Corp. Work on the stern keel started a little more than a year later, and they were joined in 1970. The vessel was named for Roger M. Blough, U.S. Steel’s chairman of the board from 1955 to 1969.

The vessel was built to carry 45,000 gross tons of iron ore pellets, nearly triple the capacity of a lake freighter in the 600-foot class. It is 105 feet wide and 858 feet long – 17 feet longer than the height of U.S. Steel’s 841-foot-tall headquarters in Pittsburgh.

“Much is expected of this ship in performance, endurability and in leadership on the inland seas,” the retired chairman Roger Blough said at a ship christening luncheon in Elyria in June 1971. On June 5, 1971, Blough’s wife, Helen, took six swings at the bow with a bottle of champagne, then got help from AmShip Division President Gordon Stafford to crack the glass. More than 1,000 people attended that ceremony in Lorain.

“One look at this ship makes me believe that it’s a real masterpiece in the art of shipbuilding,” Blough said.

It was a proud time for AmShip and for the city as the mammoth freighter would bear the label “Made in Lorain,” said a Journal editorial about the christening.

The festive feelings ended June 24, 1971, when a fire broke out inside the ship. Smoke rose over Lorain and news about the fire spread across town. Then a boy, Bansek said he did not get to the riverfront to see the fire as it happened.

“I remember being 12 years old and seeing the smoke all the way across town,” he said. “That’s how big the fire was.”

Capt. Bill Craig was present when the fire happened.

In a letter to Bansek, Craig praised the fast response and “courageous action in trying to fight a fire on board a vessel,” when they generally were not trained for shipboard firefighting. Craig said he gave credit to George Steinbrenner. Before he became the owner of the New York Yankees, Steinbrenner was board chairman and chief executive of AmShip in Lorain.

“The firemen and company officials wanted to pour foam on the fire in hopes of saving the engine and engine room machinery,” Craig said. “George rejected the idea and refused to allow any foam to be discharged as long as there was hope that the four men were alive.”

Steinbrenner explained why the company did not use a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher system. He said that method would have cut off oxygen to the flames — and to workers, creating a risk of killing a number of people.

The fire raged 19 hours and temperatures inside the hull reached 2,500 degrees, according to a news report of the time. A day later, the fire was extinguished. As the ship cooled, firefighters and city workers pumped more than a million gallons of water out of the Roger Blough.

Then the search began for four missing workers. In the blaze, 20 people were hurt and damage was estimated at $10 million. By September 1972, the National Fire Protection Association said the $10 million fire was the largest property loss fire in the United States in 1971, according to a news report from the time.

After the tragedy at the dock, AmShip continued building the Roger Blough.

The Roger Blough has a unique unloading system designed to unload the taconite pellets into a hopper system on shore in Gary, Ind., and Conneaut, Bansek said. That is where Bansek toured the ship in August 2015.

“The shuttle type transverse self-unloading boom is located in the stern of the vessel behind the engine room and can be extended 54 feet to either port or starboard and can unload at a rate of up to 10,000 tons per hour,” Bansek said. The vessel has two engines producing 15,000 horsepower; its top speed is 16 mph.

Lorain’s current residents likely have seen various freighters sailing the Black River, particularly those that come under the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge. Many of them may never see the inside of one. Bansek used his August 2015 visit to take photos of the Roger Blough’s interior, including the pilot house.

There is an observation lounge in the passenger area, although the passengers are corporate or industry customers, not the general public. The aft end of the ship has a cafeteria style galley and separate mess rooms for officers and unlicensed crew, “though nowadays, everyone usually eats together in the crews’ mess,” Bansek said.

The Roger Blough occasionally would revisit Lorain. It hasn’t been back in a long time, but the vessel remains part of a fleet that is a huge part of the regional and national economy, Bansek said.

Proportionally, lake freighters produce fewer emissions per ton of cargo than trains and trucks, according to the Lake Carriers Association, citing a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Bansek said he will watch for whatever comes to port. “I just think, as big as they are, that it’s amazing that they float,” he said about Great Lakes freighters. “Empty, let alone loaded down. A thousand-footer can have 60,000 tons of ore. It’s just incredible.”

The Morning Journal

Soo Boatnerd cruise almost full: Reserve your space now

6/16 - Reservations for the annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing cruise, on Friday, June 30, are now being taken. This event is part of the annual Engineers’ Day weekend Boatnerd Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The three-hour cruise will travel through the U.S. and Canadian locks, and the price includes an on-board buffet dinner. Reservations are a must as we are limiting the group to 100 persons. Deadline for reservations to be received is Friday, June 23.

www.boatnerd.com/gathering

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
Made a beautiful suique
On a direction oblique
Into a big crique,
So to spique."

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.

Algoma Strongfield heads for upper lakes

6/15 - Algoma Central’s latest, Algoma Strongfield, departed Hamilton shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, headed for Duluth. She was in the Welland Canal Wednesday evening.

St. Lawrence River braces for largest dam-water release ever

6/15 - Toronto, Ont. – As part of an emergency measure that began Wednesday, more water from Lake Ontario will flow into the St. Lawrence River than ever before, as officials put into effect a flood-reducing strategy expected to delay shipping schedules and keep captains and others affected by high water levels on anxious watch.

At a meeting Monday, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board agreed to increase the flow rate over the Moses-Saunders Power Dam near Cornwall, Ont. – from 10,200 to 10,400 cubic metres a second. That's the equivalent of four Olympic-sized swimming pools draining into the river every second.

Though Lake Ontario levels seem to be receding, the emergency measure will be in effect for at least a 72-hour trial period. Officials will determine whether the river, and the ships that navigate it, can handle the swelling current as they attempt to drain Lake Ontario – which has seen record depths in recent weeks. The change in flow rate over the dam means new measures for cargo ships: reduced speeds; one-way sailing; and the use of a tugboat around the Iroquois Lock, at Brockville, Ont., where the current is expected to be the most problematic.

Wallace James, a ship captain with Algoma Central, said the higher water and stronger currents have made it a challenge to navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway. Mr. James, a captain for 16 years, called conditions "terrible." He said strong currents around locks near Montreal made it difficult to steer his 225-metre vessel into a channel on his way upriver to Lake Ontario this week.

"It almost turned us around," Mr. James said aboard the Algoma Strongfield, which was docked in Hamilton Tuesday to unload 29,000 tonnes of iron ore.

"This is an exceptional scenario," said Andrew Bogora, spokesman with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. Mr. Bogora said his group will continue to talk with captains as they navigate the river under the high-flow conditions, to gauge any difficulties vessels may encounter while travelling between Montreal and Lake Ontario. Mr. Bogora said captains are under strict guidelines to monitor the wake their vessels produce, so as to minimize any possible or further damage caused to property and shorelines affected by water levels.

Jacob Bruxer, a senior water resources engineer with Environment Canada, said Lake Ontario levels have actually decreased by about six centimetres since the start of June. Mr. Bruxer, who has been providing technical expertise to the board, said the lake peaked at 75.88 metres above sea level on May 29.

Mr. Bruxer said the increase in flow rate over the Moses-Saunders dam will shave about 0.6 centimetres from Lake Ontario's depth each week. While that may not sound like much, he said every little bit counts. Mr. Bruxer said the increased flow, combined with Lake Erie's decreasing water level – he said it is "drying out" – and the warming the region will experience as summer approaches, will further help the high-water situation. He said it will likely be weeks before water levels return to normal.

Mr. Bruxer said the decision to increase the flow rate into the St. Lawrence River is in part because downstream Quebec, in areas that have seen widespread flooding, also appears to be drying out.

"We are well aware of and very concerned by the impacts both upstream and downstream," he said. "We are kind of doing all we can and just hoping for dry weather."

And while water levels in Lake Ontario have been responsible for flooded beaches, flooded downtown Toronto condos, and the closure of the Toronto Islands, rising shorelines on the U.S. side of the lake are also causing concern.

"Counties on the south shores of Lake Ontario have declared states of emergency," said Arun Heer, the U.S. secretary for the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board. "Erosion, flooding, things of that nature to homes and business and marinas are all being affected."

Globe & Mail

Great Lakes steel production rose slightly to 630,000 tons last week

6/15 - Steel mills in the Great Lakes region cranked out 621,000 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 in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana.

So far this year, U.S. steelmakers have produced 39.8 million tons of steel, about 2.6 percent more than they did during the same period in 2016. Steel mills have been running at a capacity of 74.4 percent so far this year, up from 72.6 percent through the same time last year.

Domestic steelmakers used about 73.7 percent of their steelmaking capacity in the week that ended June 10, down from 75 percent the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Some analysts say 90 percent would be considered healthy for the industry.

NW Indiana Times

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Traffic at the CN shiploader in Two Harbors included the departure of the American Spirit at 09:00. After her departure the Presque Isle shifted from North of #2 to the shiploader. As of 20:30 she was still loading. Tim S. Dool anchored off the piers at 09:32 awaiting the shiploader. Two Harbors inbound traffic for Thursday includes the Edwin H. Gott, which has been running checked down all afternoon. James R. Barker is expected late in the day. Northshore Mining traffic in Silver Bay shows no inbound traffic on Wednesday or Thursday. As of 20:30 AIS shows the American Integrity still at the dock.

St. Marys River
Downbound traffic Wednesday included CSL Welland, Philip R. Clarke, Manitoulin, Whitefish Bay, Evans Spirit, Edgar B. Speer, American Century and Algoma Guardian. Upbound traffic included Mesabi Miner, Algoma Spirit, Tecumseh, James R. Barker and Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader.

Muskegon, Mich.
Herbert C. Jackson was in port on Wednesday afternoon. She left for Stoneport in the early evening. Algoway is due in with salt late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Milwaukee, Wis.
Flevoborg remained at the Nidera Grain elevator in Milwaukee's inner harbor on Wednesday.

Burns Harbor, Ind.
Vessels in port Wednesday evening included Prosna, Stewart J. Cort and Pia.

Indiana Harbor, Ind.
Wildred Sykes was at ArcelorMittal Wednesday evening.

Alpena, Mich.
Steamer Alpena arrived at her namesake port Wednesday afternoon to load cement.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algolake was loading salt on Wednesday. She cleared mid-afternoon for Detroit’s Rouge River.

Toledo, Ohio
Federal Maas departed Wednesday afternoon. Victory and her barge James L. Kuber remained in port Wednesday evening.

Regional and Welland Canal transits – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke:
Departure: Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 0713. Arrival: CSL Laurentien at 0955, Algocanada anchored Long point Bay at 1941

Welland Canal upbound:
Stephen B. Roman at 0409, Baie Comeau at 0513, Algoma Olympic at 1529 and Algoma Strongfield at 1716

Welland Canal downbound:
Baie St. Paul at 0457, Cuyahoga at 1045 and Sally Ann C (IOM) from wharf

Welland Canal docks:
Sally Ann C (IOM) departed wharf 20 at at about 1843

Hamilton:
Arrivals: Federal Mayumi (Mhl) at 1126 and Algoma Discovery at 1454, Departures: Chem Polaris (Lbr) (ex Maemi-15, Braken-10) at 0855, Algoma Strongfield at 1307, Algoma Olympic at 1317 and Vikingbank (Nld) at 1646. At docks: Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock

Bronte:
Arrival: Algonova on June 13 at 2306, departed dock at 1349, anchored off dock at 1413

Toronto:
Departure: English River late morning eastbound

Oshawa:
Departure: Federal Mayumi (Mhl) at 0622

Seaway Notice No. 15: Tug available for assistance at Iroquois Lock

6/15 - Mariners are advised that a tug is available for assistance with the approach at Iroquois Lock while outflows from Lake Ontario are greater than 10,200 cubic metres per second.

• Downbound vessels requiring assistance at Iroquois Lock must make the request at Cross Over Island

• Upbound vessels requiring assistance at Iroquois Lock must first make the request at Snell Lock and then confirm the request at Richards Point

Col. James M. Schoonmaker’s Medal of Honor coming to National Museum

6/15 - Toledo, Ohio – The National Museum of the Great Lakes has announced that the actual Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, awarded to Col. James M. Schoonmaker for heroism at the Third Battle of Winchester in September 1864, will be on display as part of the coming temporary exhibit “Col. James M. Schoonmaker: A Life Lived with Honor. “

The Colonel's Medal of Honor is held by the Virginia Military Institute’s museum and is being loaned to the National Museum for the exhibit.

“Many people do not know of Col. Schoonmaker’s incredible record of heroism in the Civil War and this exhibit will address that deficiency,” said Chris Gillcrist, executive director of the museum.

Schoonmaker entered the Union army as a private and within 20 months reached the rank of colonel. As a Lieutenant, Schoonmaker planned and led a daring suicide mission to burn a critical railroad bridge behind enemy lines and for that action, was recommended by the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton for the rank of colonel in the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

In 1864, Schoonmaker led a cavalry brigade in the largest cavalry charge in American history at the Third Battle of Winchester. Schoonmaker’s improbable capture of Star Fort on the heights above Winchester enabled General Sheridan to rout the Confederates and finally pacify the Shenandoah Valley after three years. For his actions on that day, Colonel Schoonmaker was awarded the Medal of Honor.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Col. Schoonmaker’s 175th birthday, June 30 at 6 p.m. Those interested in attending the opening reception can contact the museum at 419-214-5000.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

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.

Former icebreaker Alexander Henry heading back to Thunder Bay

6/14 - Thunder Bay, Ont. – The Alexander Henry will be coming home. Thunder Bay city council on Monday night voted to spend up to $125,000 towards the costs of towing the decommissioned Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker from southern Ontario back to where it was built nearly 60 years ago.

The decision marked a victory for the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, which has been working since last fall to bring the ship to the city with plans to continue its legacy as a tourist attraction.

The Alexander Henry was constructed by the former Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company and commissioned as a Canadian Coast Guard vessel in 1959. The ship, which broke ice on the Great Lakes, was a familiar sight in the local harbour until its decommissioning in 1984. It had a second career as a featured attraction at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston but came on the market when that property was sold, leaving the future of the ship in question.

Kingston city council previously pledged $50,000 to relocate the ship to Thunder Bay, saving it from being scrapped.

The cost of towing the ship to Thunder Bay from where it is currently docked in Picton, Ont. is pegged at $250,000. In addition to the commitment from both Thunder Bay and Kingston, the transportation museum society has received a pledge of $50,000 from a private donor, the group is working towards a $50,000 fundraising target and they have applied to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for another $150,000.

Further site preparation costs range from $40,000 to $70,000.

“If everything goes without any unseen delays we hope to have the ship here in Thunder Bay sometime in late July. It could be earlier, we have to have discussions with our tow operator,” transportation museum society president Charlie Brown said.

Administration is recommending the ship be displayed at the Kam River Heritage Park, rather than the transportation museum society’s desired location at Pool Six. Coun. Larry Hebert said damage from mischief done to the former VIA Rail train and James Whalen tugboat in the area makes him reluctant to want the Alexander Henry at the site.

Coun. Shelby Ch’ng was the lone opposing vote, questioning the group’s business plan that counts on drawing 7,000 visitors in the first year and a net profit of nearly $15,000. “This is not just adding up,” Ch’ng said. “We’re voting on bringing the Henry here but it doesn’t say which docks it is. If it’s at Kamview you’re not getting the visitors.”

TBNewsWatch

Poe Lock embedded gate anchorage replacement ribbon cutting on June 30

6/14 - Detroit, Mich. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Engineers Day at the Soo Locks to celebrate the completion of major gate anchorage repairs at the Poe Lock.

The ceremony will begin at the Soo Locks park, in front of the gate leading to the MacArthur Lock pedestrian entrance, on Friday, June 30, at 8:15 a.m., just before gates open for the annual Soo Locks Engineers Day event.

The $6.7 million project involved removal of the existing original embedded anchorages on the Poe Lock and installing new embedded anchorages. The project required fabricating new steel anchorage frames, drilling concrete cores and installing anchor rods to accommodate the new anchorage frames, as well as installing new anchorage frames, new concrete placement, disassembling and re-assembling gate linkage assemblies, and placing a 1,050 foot long concrete access road. A total of eight anchorage frames were completed ensuring that the Poe Lock was operational prior to the start of the 2017 shipping season.

The contractor, Morrish-Wallace Construction Inc. (dba Ryba Marine Construction Company) of Cheboygan, Michigan, self-performed over 75 percent of the project and more than 95 percent of the subcontractor man-hours on the project were performed by Michigan residents.

Both Poe Lock gates one and three were operational on February 17 ahead of the March 25 scheduled opening date.

USACOE

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Whitefish Bay and American Century departed Duluth early Tuesday morning, the former with iron ore pellets and the latter with coal. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived mid-morning to load coal at Midwest Energy. Capt. Henry Jackman also arrived during the morning to load at CN. At Burlington Northern in Superior, Algoma Guardian loaded on Tuesday and departed during the early afternoon. Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived mid-afternoon and began loading.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Edgar B. Speer arrived Two Harbors Monday night after the departure of the Algosteel which loaded for Hamilton. The Speer departed the CN shiploader at 10:45 bound for Conneaut. At 11:30, American Spirit arrived and took its place at the shiploader. Both the Speer departing and the American Spirit arriving were assisted by Heritage Marine's tug Nancy J. Presque Isle arrived Two Harbors at 20:17 and went to North of #2. The only inbound traffic for Two Harbors on Wednesday will be the Tim S. Dool. American Integrity was still at Northshore Mining in Silver Bay at 21:00 possibly waiting for the winds to subside. No inbound traffic is on the schedule for Northshore on Wednesday.

St. Marys River
Traffic at the Soo Tuesday included Tim S. Dool upbound in the morning and Spruceglen upbound in the evening. Stewart J. Cort, Thunder Bay, Pearl Mist, John D. Leith and Hemgracht were downbound. Frontenac and Algosteel were in the upper river downbound in the late evening.

Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Flevoborg arrived from Calumet Harbor Tuesday morning and berthed at the Nidera Grain elevator in Milwaukee's inner harbor. Anglian Lady and its barge followed soon after, and docked near the Heavy Lift Dock on Jones Island.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke:
Departure: Bro Alma (Sgp) at 0122. Arrival: Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 1912

Welland Canal upbound:
Tug Wilf Seymour & barge Alouette Spirit, tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 0051. Esta Desgagnes at 0138, tug Sea Eagle II & barge St. Marys Cement II at 0703, Whistler (Lbr) at 0930

Welland Canal downbound:
Atlantic Huron, CSL Niagara at 0040, Algoma Equinox at 0237, Algowood at 0359, Bro Alma (Sgp) at 0506, tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 0614, tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 0935

Welland Canal docks:
Sally Ann C (IOM) arrived late morning at wharf 20

Hamilton:
Arrivals: Chem Polaris (Lbr) (ex Maemi-15, Braken-10) at 0330. At docks: Vikingbank (Nld), Algoma Strongfield moved into Arcelor Mittal Dofasco dock late Tuesday afternoon to unload and Pelee Islander is on Heddle dry dock

Toronto:
Departure: Whistler (Lbr) at 0740 for the Canal

Oshawa:
At dock: Federal Mayumi (Mhl) at 1129 on June 11

Increased outflow from Cornwall dam will quicken current in St. Lawrence River

6/14 - Recreational boaters on the St. Lawrence River are being warned to exercise caution in the coming days as a dam upriver increases the outflow of water from Lake Ontario. The joint U.S.-Canadian board that controls outflow through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Cornwall, Ont., said it's increasing the releases starting on Wednesday.

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board said on its Facebook page that it agreed at a Monday meeting to boost releases to "slightly" decrease water levels on Lake Ontario, which are at a record high for June.

The board said the 10,400 metres cubed per second outflow will be the "highest … that has ever been released on a sustained basis." Effects of the outflow will be monitored for a 72-hour period.

The board said the outflow will increase the current in the St. Lawrence River and warned recreational boaters on the river to be "cautious of the extreme conditions." The release, however, should not have a significant effect on water levels along the St. Lawrence near Montreal, the board said.

The organization in charge of the board, the International Joint Commission, faced criticism earlier Tuesday from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who visited Lake Ontario shoreline communities and said it was too slow to release more water.

Cuomo said the commission bears much of the blame for flooding in New York's lakeside communities that he said has affected "hundreds and hundreds" of lakeshore homes and businesses.

A spokesman for the commission said nobody could have predicted the record spring rainfall that raised the lake level. The Army Corps of Engineers said the level of all five Great Lakes will be above normal all summer. Forecast data showed that as of Sunday, Lake Ontario is up nearly one metre from the level it was at this time last year.

The lake exceeded its highest elevation ever for June, which was set in 1952.

CBC

More Seaway salties renamed

6/14 - The following saltwater vessels have been renamed. Each has made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system.

Clipper Marinus, better known as Marinus Green from 2000-2012 and which first came inland as Marinus Green in 2000, has been renamed Thorco Manatee of Gibraltar registry. Flinterdijk, which first came inland as such in 2002 last visited as such in 2010, is now the Longdijk of the Netherlands. Sistership and fleetmate Flinterduin, which first came inland as such in 2002 and made its last visit inland as such in 2011, is now Longduin of the Netherlands. The tanker Oste, which held the name Chemtrans Oste and first came inland in 2011 on its only visit with that name, is now Camden of the Marshall Islands. BBC France, which first came inland in 2005, is now the Don Charles Robert of the Philippines registry. Kasteelborg, which first came inland as such in 1998 and last visited as such in 2011, is now the Adel of Sierra Leone registry.

Denny Dushane

High water prompts Seaway notices to shipping

6/14 - Seaway Notice #14-2017: Transit requirements under high flow conditions Following feedback from mariners on navigation under high flow conditions, the following navigation requirements are deemed necessary at flows greater than 10,200 cubic metres per second until further notice.

• All ships equipped with a bow thruster shall have the bow thruster operational when transiting the Montreal to Lake Ontario section of the Seaway. • All Tall Ships and Tows (Tug/Barge) transiting the Montreal–to-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway shall be capable of making a minimum of 8 knots through the water.

• No transits of Dead Ship tows will be permitted.

Ships unable to transit safely at these flows may be subject to transit restriction(s). Mariners will be advised when the above restrictions will be lifted.

Seaway Notice #13-2017: Restrictions to ship inspections In response to the high flows currently being experienced, the expertise of our ship inspectors is required in our Traffic Control Centers. The ship inspectors’ availability will therefore be limited. As a result, beginning Thursday, June 15 and until further notice, ship inspections will be done Monday to Friday, during business hours only.

Seaway Notice #12-2017: Increased Outflows – Montreal Lake Ontario Section Mariners are advised that the International Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Board will release outflows of 10,400 cubic meters per second (cms) from Lake Ontario through the St. Lawrence River beginning Wednesday, June 14, 2017. The exact time of the increase will be communicated via special radio message which will also be posted on our Great Lakes-Seaway website. The Seaways plan to continue operations at these outflows. These flows will create velocities higher than normal in the navigation channels and variations in the normal current patterns may occur. Mariners are advised to take these conditions into account when transiting the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section. Mariners are reminded that there is a zero tolerance for ship’s draft in excess of the maximum permissible draft, as per Seaway Notice No. 8. Mariners are to operate at the lowest safe speeds to minimize their wake, particularly when navigating close to shore. Speed limits outlined in Montreal-Lake Ontario Notices to Shipping No.14 and 15 remain in effect. Mariners are invited to provide feedback to the Traffic Control Centers on navigation conditions encountered due to the higher than normal outflows.

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.

Detroit Corps office receives more than $16.5 million in recently approved Work Plan

6/7 - Detroit, Mich - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District announced additions to its fiscal year 2017 program based on the recently approved Work Plan.

 The additional $16.5 million will be used in 2017 to repair breakwaters, dredge harbors, repair critical components at the Soo Locks and complete various projects and studies throughout the Great Lakes.

 "These Work Plan funds will help address the most critical needs in six of our harbors around the Great Lakes,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Sugrue, district engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. “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.”

The work plan was developed when Congress appropriated additional funding for ongoing work in the fiscal year 2017 Energy & Water Development Appropriations Act as contained in the 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act.  The Corps developed an allocation plan for high priority work packages based on the criteria established by Congress.

In addition to the projects being completed from the 2017 President’s budget of $67.5 million, the Detroit District’s work plan increase of $16.5 million includes four dredging projects and eight repair, replacement, or construction projects. In addition, the work plan includes design funding for two environmental projects.

Additional work that will be executed as a result of the fiscal year 2017 work plan includes the following:

 Dredging projects –

                       Michigan –

                        Inland Route, Mich.                                                         $615,000

            Little Lake Harbor, Mich.                                                  $540,000

            Leland Harbor, Mich.                                                       $500,000  

                        Wisconsin –

            Saxon Harbor, Wis.                                                         $575,000            

Repair, replacement or construction projects –  

     Operations and Maintenance

                        Michigan –

Portage Lake Harbor, Mich.                                              $6.2 million

St. Marys River, Soo Locks, Mich.                                    $3.7 million

Grand Haven Harbor, Mich.                                               $500,000

            Wisconsin –

                        Milwaukee Harbor, Wis.                                                   $2.3 million

                        Saxon Harbor, Wis.                                                         $800,000

                        Two Rivers Harbor, Wis.                                                   $500,000 

     Construction

                        N. Wisconsin Environmental Infrastructure                         $50,000

                        Oakland County, Mich., Environmental Infrastructure          $100,000

     Studies

            Saginaw River Deepening, Mich.                                       $100,000

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District

Lakes limestone trade down 5.4 percent in May 

6/7 - Cleveland, Ohio – Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in May, a decrease of 5.4 percent compared to a year ago.  May’s loadings were, however, slightly above the month’s 5-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 4.2 percent compared to a year ago.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 683,000 tons, a decrease of 9.3 percent. 

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 5.3 million tons, a decrease of 12.3 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 4.3 million tons, a decrease of 11.4 percent.  Shipments from Ontario quarries total 980,000 tons, a decrease of 16.3 percent.  

Lake Carriers’ Association

Port Reports – June 7

 Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
A busy Tuesday in Duluth began with the early morning arrival of Walter J. McCarthy Jr., which headed to Midwest Energy to load coal. John G. Munson arrived at sunrise and headed to C. Reiss to discharge stone. Joseph L. Block arrived soon after with limestone for the Graymont dock. The Barbados-flagged Zelada Desgagnes arrived just before noon, and backed into the Port Terminal slip to offload general cargo. Early in the afternoon, two tugs recently purchased by Heritage Marine, Fort Point and Taurus, arrived. The tugs will be renamed Edward H. and Nels J, respectively, after two tugs of the same names that the company recently sold. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed from Midwest Energy mid-afternoon Tuesday. Oakglen arrived a few minutes later to load iron ore pellets at CN. During the evening, Joseph L. Block departed from Graymont and dropped anchor off Superior, and Mottler departed from CHS 1 with wheat. At Burlington Northern in Superior, CSL Niagara loaded on Tuesday, and was expected to depart during the late evening. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin was at anchor waiting for the dock. John G. Munson, which unloaded limestone in Duluth, was next in line.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Tim S. Dool arrived Two Harbors at 02:05 for the shiploader. She departed for Hamilton at 11:45. Arriving Two Harbors at 12:30 was the Edgar B. Speer. As of 20:00 she was still at the shiploader. Due Two Harbors late Tuesday is the American Spirit. Due in Two Harbors on Wednesday are the Presque Isle and the Hon. James L. Oberstar. Due Silver Bay late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning is the Joseph L. Block. She will be arriving from the Twin Ports where she unloaded limestone. She is scheduled to load sinter at Northshore Mining. No other boats are scheduled for Silver Bay on Wednesday.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Calumet was expected to load on Tuesday in the early evening. Due in for Wednesday are the barge Pere Marquette 41 and the tug Undaunted in the late evening. The Wilfred Sykes is due to arrive on Thursday in the early morning.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Tuesday and none are expected to arrive until June 10 when the Joseph H. Thompson and the barge Pere Marquette 41 and tug Undaunted are both due in the early morning. Due to arrive on June 11 is the Joseph L. Block in the late evening.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Cason J. Callaway loaded Tuesday and was due to depart around 11 p.m. Due in for Wednesday is the barge Menominee and the tug Olive L. Moore in the early afternoon. There are no vessels scheduled for Thursday. Two vessels, both late evening arrivals, are due for Friday with the first one being the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann followed by the barge Great Lakes Trader and tug Joyce L. Van Enkevort. Due in for Saturday is a return visit from the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore in the early morning. Rounding out the schedule and due in for Sunday is the Kaye E. Barker in the early morning.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
The barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory unloaded iron ore pellets at the Torco Dock on Tuesday. Also due at Torco are the barge Ashtabula and the tug Defiance on June 10 in the late evening followed on June 13 by the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory in the early morning. There is nothing due for the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock. At the CSX Coal Dock, the Manitowoc is due to load on Wednesday in the late evening. Also due at CSX is the barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance on June 11 in the early morning. They are due to return to CSX on June 12 again during the early morning. The barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory are due at CSX on June 13 in the late morning. Vessels in port at the time of this report had the Great Republic, tug Calusa Coast with a barge along with the tug Mississippi and the tug Genesis Victory and barge GM 6506. Also in port was the tug Petite Forte and barge St. Marys Cement delivering a cement cargo to the St. Marys Terminal.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen
 Nanticoke, Ont.
Arrival: Thunder Bay at 1105. At dock: Algocanada

Welland Canal upbound:
Flevoborg (Nld), Algoma Equinox at 0641, Grande Mariner (pass vessel) at 0625, tug Spartan & barge Spartan II at 1315, Baie St. Paul at 1545, tug Leo A. McArthur & barge John J. Carrick at 1810, Algoma Transport at 1849 and tug Sea Eagle II & barge St. Marys Cement II at 1855

Welland Canal downbound:
Spruceglen, Isolda (Cyp) at 0608, Hanse Gate (Atg) (ex CL Hanse Gate-15, Federal Matane-11) at 0644, Tecumseh at 0745, and Algoma Guardian at 1915

 Welland Canal docks:
Tug John Marshall & barge Pere Marquette 41 departed wharf 16 at 1420 westbound

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrived - Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaattin Bey-07) at 2144 on June 4 and Harbour Progress (Por)

Hamilton:
Arrival:  Algoma Transport at 0810 and Algoma Strongfield at 1625. Departures: Algoma Equinox at 0430, tug Leo A. McArthur & barge John J. Carrick at 1345 and Algoma Transport at 1625. At docks: Prosna (Lbr), Ocean Castle (Mlt) (ex Federal Mattawa-16) and Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock. At anchor: Vikingbank (Nld)

Bronte, Ont:
Arrival: Algonova at 0054. Departure: Esta Desgagnes departed dock to anchorage at 1523

Clarkson:
Departure: Adfines Sea (Mlt) at 1012 to fuel off Burlington then headed eastbound

Toronto, Ont:
Departure: English River at 0320 eastbound

Oshawa, Ont:
At dock: Fearless (Lbr) (ex Bright Laker-13)

Kingston, Ont:
Departure: Polar Prince ex Gilbert I-02, 2001 06-02 Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01 on June 5 at 2219 eastbound

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

Lake freighter Michipicoten unable to unload at Ontonagon

6/6 - Ontonagon, Mich. – It has been nine years since a lake ship unloaded cargo on the Ontonagon dock. That hiatus was to have ended Sunday as the lake freighter Michipicoten was scheduled to pull into the harbor and unload 16,500 tons of road construction materials.

Over the past nine years, the state of Michigan has spent money on studies to revitalize the harbor. Last fall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took depth soundings in the harbor but have not yet returned this year. Lost Bowl Development — owner of the former paper mill property — and the Ontonagon County Economic Development Corporation had worked together for months to make the arrangements for the shipment.

Lost Bowl President Pat Tucker said the 698-foot-long, 70-foot-wide freighter arrived at 12:30 a.m. Sunday. “Lake Superior conditions were excellent,” Tucker said.

But after four attempts to enter the river to the EDC dock, the ship was unable to do so. Tucker explained that, as the ship entered the river it hit a row of just 17-foot draft and could not get over that area. “The ship needs 21 feet of draft and it appears all the rest of the river was fine except for that small area,” Tucker said.

He continued that he does not know if the row is a residual from dredging only one half of the river, the result of a bad storm or if the original soundings by the Army Corps was wrong.

The Michipicoten made the attempts until 3:30 Sunday morning. Tucker said the shipper is still interested in bringing in items to the port. “We were anticipating receiving two to four ships in the harbor this summer,” Tucker said.

Sue Preiss, president of the Ontonagon EDC, and Tucker said they were “very disappointed,” the ship couldn’t dock. The only revenue the EDC receives is from ships using the dock and since the last ship was in 2008, the corporation has operated on a shoestring budget.

Preiss and Tucker commented that the state spent “a lot of money” over a period of several months hiring teams from units of education and government in the state and meeting with citizens on how to “revitalize the harbor.” Both indicated it will be up to the state to decide if these efforts were just a study or if they are serious enough to take the next step to enable the area to again receive shipments through the harbor.

It is expected the EDC will meet with the village and Lost Bowl to take the next step.

YourDailyGlobe.com

National Museum celebrates birthday of Col. James M. Schoonmaker

6/6 - Toledo, Ohio – On June 30, The National Museum of the Great Lakes will celebrate the 175th birthday of Col. James M. Schoonmaker with a new temporary exhibit exploring the history of the man and namesake of the museum’s historic museum ship. 

“Col. James Schoonmaker was an American hero of the Civil War,” said Christopher Gillcrist, executive director of the museum.  “He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in the largest Cavalry charge in American history at the Third Battle of Winchester in 1864.”   

After the Civil War, Col. Schoonmaker entered the coal and coke business, ultimately selling his interests to Carnegie ally Henry Frick. In his third major occupation of his career, Schoonmaker was named vice president of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, responsible for operating the most important rail system in the United States in the first two decades of the twentieth century.  The exhibit will feature rare artifacts from all aspects of Schoonmaker’s career.

An opening reception on the evening of June 30 will be held as one of the museum’s micro fundraising efforts to match a $30,000 grant from the Schoonmaker Foundation given to museum to underwrite maintenance and operation expenses of the museum ship.   

“Each year we spend in excess of $50,000 for expenses ranging from utilities, to insurance, to general maintenance on the museum ship.  Our goal is to match the generous support of the Schoonmaker Foundation,” Gillcrist said.

Attendees at the opening reception are asked to make a $20 per person donation to this effort. To attend the opening reception, contact the museum at 419-214-5000 extension 200.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Lawmakers tour Soo Locks after unveiling legislation promoting building a new lock

6/6 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – It's been talked about since the 1980s, but now more than ever lawmakers are pushing to build another super lock in Sault Ste. Marie. With a lot of talk, but not much action, it's left many in Northern Michigan wondering if the project will finally move forward.   

In 1986 a new lock was authorized on the site of the unused Sabin and Davis Locks. Some funds were finally appropriated in 2009 for prep work which included dredging the locks. A flawed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study that falsely said there were other ways for goods to be transported if the locks were to go down brought the project to a halt. 

"We want to speed this along. We don't need yet another study. We want the money invested in building a new lock. So, that's step number one," Congressman Fred Upton said.

Money was appropriated for the Army Corps to do a new benefit-cost study they are in the process of completing. Last Thursday, lawmakers unveiled the new Soo Locks Modernization Act they plan to introduce to put them one step ahead when the study is done. Friday, they toured the locks.

Port Reports – June 6

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Departing Two Harbors before midnight on Sunday was the Roger Blough at 22:54 for Gary. Arriving at 23:24 on Sunday was the Algoma Harvester. Algoma Harvester departed at 11:30 for Quebec City. Arriving Silver Bay on Monday at 08:29 was the Joyce L. VanEnkevort / Great Lakes Trader loading for Cleveland. Two Harbors traffic for Tuesday include the Tim S. Dool and the Edgar B. Speer. Both are due in Tuesday morning. Traffic for Silver Bay is the Joseph L. Block due late in the day. She will be coming from the Twin Ports.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Manitowoc was expected Monday during the late afternoon to load. Two vessels are expected on Tuesday, with the first one being the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann in the early morning, followed in the late afternoon by the Calumet.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Manitoulin arrived in the mid-afternoon on Monday to load a stone cargo. Due in for Tuesday is the Joseph H. Thompson during the early evening to load. Following that, there is nothing scheduled until June 10 when the barge Pere Marquette 41 and tug Undaunted are due in the early morning.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Herbert C. Jackson was expected to arrive on Monday during the late afternoon to load. Due in Tuesday in the morning to load will be the Cason J. Callaway. The barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore are due in for Wednesday at noon to load. There are no vessels scheduled for arrivals on Thursday. Three vessels, all evening arrivals, are due in for Friday with the first one being the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann followed by the barge Great Lakes Trader and tug Joyce L. Van Enkevort and a return visit from the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Philip R. Clarke was due Monday in the late afternoon for the North Dock to load. Also due in on Monday was the Manitowoc during the early evening for the North Dock. Two vessels are expected to arrive on Tuesday with the first being the barge Erie Trader along with the tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort in the early morning for the South Dock and also the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann are due in for Tuesday arriving in the late afternoon for the South Dock. There are no vessels scheduled for Wednesday.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algowood was loading at Sifto with a destination of Hamilton on Monday. Algolake will be next.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
Cuyahoga loaded at the CSX Coal Dock on Monday. Also due at CSX on Monday was the barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance in the late afternoon to load. At the Torco Dock, the Lee A. Tregurtha was expected to arrive on Monday in the evening to unload iron ore pellets. Also due at Torco is the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory on Tuesday in the early morning hours to unload. Vessels in port included the G tug Mississippi along with the tug Michigan/barge Great Lakes and the tug Genesis Victory/barge GM 6506. The salwater vessel Three Rivers was still in port upriver at one of the grain elevator docks.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke, Ont.
Departure: Algonova at 0013 eastbound. Arrival: Algocanada at 0052

Welland Canal upbound:
Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaattin Bey-07) at 2115 June 4,  John D. Leitch at 0523, Atlantic Huron at 1015, G3 Marquis at 1533 and  Flevobrog (Nld) at 1808

Welland Canal downbound:
Eeborg (Nld), Solando (Swe) at 0603, Algonova at 0757, Warship #707 Goose Bay, Algoma discovery at 0641, Esta Desgagnes at 0830, Algoma Transport at 1545, tug John Marshall & barge Pere Marquette 41 at 1630 - unloading at wharf 16 and Spruceglen

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrived: Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaattin Bey-07) at 2144 on June 4 and Harbour Progress (Por)

Hamilton:
Arrivals: tug Leo A. McArthur & barge John J. Carrick - eta 2300 Departures: John D. Leitch at 0306, Algoma Olympic at 0525, G3 Marquis at 1400 At docks: Algoma Equinox, Prosna (Lbr), Ocean Castle (Mlt) (ex Federal Mattawa-16) and Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock  At anchor: Vikingbank (Nld)

Bronte, Ont:
Departure: Sarah Desgagnes at 0244 eastbound. Arrival: Esta Desgagnes at approximately 2300

Toronto, Ont:
Arrival: English River at 1215

Oshawa, Ont:
At dock: Fearless (Lbr) (ex Bright Laker-13)

Kingston, Ont:
Arrival: Polar Prince (ex Gilbert I-02, 2001 06-02 Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01)

Rochester, N.Y. – Tom Brewer
The cruise ship Grande Mariner arrived at the Port of Rochester Monday morning.

Montreal Que. – Denny Dushane
Salarium departed from its winter lay-up berth in Montreal during the mid-afternoon on Friday, June 2, and according to AIS they were due to arrive in Grande Anse, New Brunswick, on June 7 in the evening. In 2016 Salarium was in Montreal laid-up for most of the season before it was re-activated during the late summer to early fall. This leaves the Pineglen as the last remaining vessel from the winter lay-up fleet of 2016/17 that sailed during the 2016 shipping season.

Erosion threatens historic Sleeping Bear Dunes lighthouse, $1M fix needed

6/6 - Leland, Mich. – The last few years have been rough on the shoreline ringing the South Manitou Island Lighthouse, just off the mainland of Michigan's iconic Sleeping Bear Dunes.

A combination of strong storms, punishing wave action and high water levels have worsened the erosion on the island's southeast side, threatening to undercut the fog signal building and - if not fixed quickly - its stately old lighthouse.

This spring, engineers determined the erosion had eaten the shoreline within 20 feet of the fog signal building, and is about 45 feet away from the historic lighthouse itself.

Read more and view photos at this link: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/erosion_threatens_historic_sle.html

Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connection reported as a Casualty or Demolition

The following information taken from June 2017 Marine News – Journal of the World Ship Society

Chief Ahmad (7113715; Tanzania) Cpt Ahmad I-12, Talavera-07, Ivon-03, Nirikos-02, Ivon-94, Kings Star-77 (first trip up Seaway 1975) 2,125/71 general cargo. By Royal Prince Shipping LLC, United Arab Emirates, to Pakistani shipbreakers and arrived Gadani Beach. Scrapping commenced 23/12/2016

Pacific Hickory (7315777; Dominica) (Atlantic Hickory-07, Irving Miami-95) 880 /73 tug. (1st trip into Seaway was May 3, 1995 towing barge Sea Barge One) By Pacific Offshore Services Inc. (Seabridge Marine Servies Ltd.) Dominica, to Izmir Gemi Geri Donusum Ltd., Turkey and arrived Aliaga 16/12/2016. Scrapping 27/12/2016.

Spirit of Sphongle (8016639; St. Vincent & the Grenadines) Atlantic Erie-16, Hon Paul Martin-88) 24,300 / 85 self-discharging bulk carrier (laker). By London Financial Ltd. (Laden Maritime Inc.) British Virgin Islands, to Ersay Gemi Geri Donusum Ltd., Turkey and arrived Aliaga 11/12/2016. Scrapping commenced 13/12/2016

William H. Donner (5390682; USA) (6,423/14 non-propelled crane vessel.  By K & KW LLC, USA, to American breakers - reported 2016

Compiled by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

Obituary: Kimberly Getin

6/6 -  Kim Getin passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family at her home on June 3 at the age of 57 years after a battle with cancer. Kim spent 39 years with Algoma in purchasing and then senior accounts payable. She was a long-time supporter of the International Shipmasters Association and organizer of partner programs for ISMA 2010 and CMIE conventions. (Canadian Marine Engineers Institute. She is survived by her husband of 17 years, Dino Dini, who is captain of the Algoway.

Family and friends are invited to visit at Davidson Funeral Home, 135 Clarence St., Port Colborne on Wednesday June 7 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the Port Colborne Brethren in Christ Church on Thursday June 8 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow in St Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.  Mariners attending are asked to be in uniform at Kim's request.

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.

Man rescued after boat, tanker crash on Lake St. Clair

6/5 - Detroit, Mich. – The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating after a 17-foot boat and a 400-foot cargo vessel collided in Lake St. Clair near St. Clair Shores on Sunday morning.

The incident involving a small recreational boat and the Esta Desgagnes happened about 11:15 a.m., said Coast Guard spokeswoman Lauren Laughlin. Marine inspectors are working to determine what caused the crash. The occupant of the recreational boat was thrown from the boat after the collision. He swam to a buoy, where a Coast Guard rescue crew from the St. Clair Shores station found him.

The master of the involved cargo vessel, the Esta Desgagnes, a Canadian-flagged chemical tanker home-ported in Quebec, Canada, immediately hailed the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 to report the collision and that the operator of the recreational vessel was in the water.

The boater, who was not identified, was not hurt in the collision or from being in the water. His boat sank, Laughlin said. The man’s age was not immediately available, and the condition of the cargo vessel was not immediately known.

The Coast Guard reminds the boating public to stay well clear of cargo vessels on the Great Lakes and river systems. These large vessels are typically restricted in their maneuverability due to their deep drafts and can only operate in marked navigational channels. Recreational boaters should be fully aware of their own vessel’s capabilities and limitations, as well as the depth of water where they intend to transit.

“We were relieved to be able to recover the small boat operator unharmed,” said Lt. Ben Chamberlain, a command duty officer for Coast Guard Sector Detroit. “It is our hope that recreational boaters will maintain situational awareness to avoid these kinds of scenarios when enjoying the beauty of the Great Lakes. We also continue to implore boaters to wear their life jackets. No one plans for these kinds of emergencies to happen to them, but when they do occur, wearing a life jacket can be the difference between life and death.”

The Detroit News, USCG

Port Reports - June 5

 Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Alpena arrived Duluth at noon on Sunday and began discharging cement at La Farge. Mottler arrived from anchor early in the evening and headed to CHS 1 to load wheat. Silda, which departed after unloading cement late last week, was at anchor off Duluth, presumably awaiting her next orders. The BN dock in Superior saw no traffic on Sunday, although CSL Niagara was expected very late Sunday night to load.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Traffic in Two Harbors on Sunday included the arrival of the Roger Blough at
15:25. She's due out either late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Also due at Two Harbors is the Algoma Harvester late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Algoma Harvester has been running checked down since late afternoon. There was no traffic on Sunday in Silver Bay. The Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader are due Northshore Mining Monday morning.

Grand Haven, Mich.
Wilfred Sykes arrived, unloaded, and departed on Sunday. Her next dock will be Port Inland. Manitowoc also came in to unload on Sunday.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Capt. Henry Jackman was expected to arrive on Sunday in the early evening to load. Also due in Sunday was the Calumet in the late evening to get the dock following the Jackman's departure. There are no vessels due for Monday. Due in Tuesday are the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann expected in the early morning.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
H. Lee White arrived Sunday during the late morning to load. There are three vessels expected Monday with the first being the Wilfred Sykes in the early morning to get the dock upon the White's departure. Manitoulin is also due Monday in the morning and they will get the dock upon the Sykes' departure. Due Monday in the early afternoon is the Philip R. Clarke, getting the dock upon the Manitoulin's departure.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Sunday and none are expected until Monday when the Herbert C. Jackson is expected to load during the late afternoon. Due in for Tuesday is the Cason J. Callaway during the morning and due in Wednesday are the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore at noon.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The revised schedule had the John G. Munson on Sunday loading at the South Dock and due to depart the dock at around 8:30 p.m. Also expected on Sunday evening was the Calumet to get the dock upon the Munson's departure. Due in Monday is the Manitowoc in the late morning to load.

Port Gypsum, Mich. – Denny Dushane
John J. Boland arrived Sunday in the early afternoon to load gypsum. This is also the first time that the vessel has ever docked and loaded at this port, as this run is usually handled by the ASC river-class vessels Buffalo and Sam Laud. It is expected that the Boland will deliver her cargo of gypsum to Waukegan, Ill. This will also be a first visit for the Boland to Waukegan.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
Algoma Transport loaded at the CSX Coal Dock on Sunday. Also due at CSX is the Cuyahoga on Monday in the early morning followed by the barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance during the lunch hour to load. At the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock, the Capt. Henry Jackman is due there on June 19 in the early afternoon. Due at the Torco Dock is the Lee A. Tregurtha on Monday in the late afternoon. Also due at Torco are the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory on Tuesday in the early morning. Vessels in port Sunday included the tug Genesis Victory and barge GM 6506 along with the tug Michigan and barge Great Lakes and the G tug Mississippi. Further upriver, the saltwater vessel Three Rivers was still in port.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke, Ont.
Arrival: Algocanada anchored Long Point bay at 0739. At dock: Algonova

Welland Canal upbound:
Algolake, Algoma Hansa, Cuyahoga at 0050, Kaministiqua at 1250 and Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaattin Bey-07)

Welland Canal downbound:
Strandja (Mlt) (ex Eastwind York-10, Federal Yangtze-10), HHL Rhine (Lbr) (ex Beluga Feasibility-11), tug Sea Eagle II & barge St. Marys Cement II, tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 1752

Port Weller anchorage:
Downbound at anchor: Harbour Progress (Por)

Hamilton:
Arrivals: Algoma Equinox at 0925 and Ocean Castle (Mlt) (ex Federal Mattawa-16) from the anchorage to dock at 1610. At docks: John D. Leitch, Algoma Olympic, G3 Marquis, Prosna (Lbr) and Pelee Islander on Heddle dry dock. At anchor: Vikingbank (Nld)

Bronte, Ont:
At dock: Sarah Desgagnes

Clarkson, Ont:
Arrival:  Robert S. Pierson at 1856. At dock: Adfines Sea (Mlt) ex Osttank Norway-12

Toronto, Ont:
At dock: Stephen B. Roman

Oshawa, Ont:
At dock: Fearless (Lbr) (ex Bright Laker-13)

Kingston, Ont:
Arrival: Polar Prince (ex Gilbert I-02, 2001 06-02 Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01)

Oswego, N.Y. – Ned Goebricher
Cruise ship Grande Caribe transited Lake Ontario Sunday for the NYS Barge Canal.

Montreal Que. – Denny Dushane
Algoma Strongfield (IMO 9613953), Algoma Central's newest vessel, arrived in Montreal Sunday in the early afternoon with iron ore pellets that were loaded at Port Cartier, Quebec. After the ship departs Montreal, it will head to Hamilton, Ont., where it is expected to arrive June 6 in the early morning to unload.

Remembering fallen Seaway workers

6/5 - In a short but touching ceremony on Friday, June 2, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation gave tribute to Seaway workers who lost their lives during the creation of the seaway.

“Today we remember the fallen Seaway workers for their contributions and sacrifices with a very special candle lighting ceremony,” said master of ceremonies Ryan Chatland. “Recognizing the significance of this remembrance ceremony, we are joined today by several family members who made the journey to be here to be a part of this tribute.” Chatland recognized the families of Martin Crippen, Arlen Pyke, David Hanna and Martin and Floyd Pinkerton.

A monument dedicated to the workers will be a permanent fixture at the Eisenhower Visitor Center. Several family members addressed the crowd gathered to thank the SLSDC for honoring their family and providing closure.

Standard-Freeholder

Today in Great Lakes History -  June 5

Over the winter of 1960 - 1961, CHARLES M. SCHWAB was rebuilt by joining the forward end of the original SCHWAB with the after end of the former oil tanker GULFPORT. On this date in 1961, Captain Raphael "Dewey" Marsden conducted sea trials with the vessel on Lake Erie between Lorain and Cleveland.

On 05 June 1884, the wooden 3-mast 139-foot schooner GUIDING STAR, which went ashore 12 miles north of Milwaukee on 06 November 1883, was finally abandoned when all efforts to release her had failed. About two-thirds of her cargo of coal was salvaged.

On 05 June 1888, the wreck of the tug FRANK MOFFAT was removed from the St. Clair River at Sombra, Ontario by the Canadian Government. The tug was wrecked when her boiler exploded in November 1885.

In 1972, ROGER BLOUGH (Hull#900) was christened at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. for U.S. Steel Corp.

Also in 1972, PARKER EVANS was in collision with the upbound Erie Sand steamer SIDNEY E. SMITH JR just below the Blue Water Bridge, at Port Huron, Michigan. The SMITH sank in 20 minutes with no loss of life. The EVANS, with bow damage, proceeded to Port Weller Dry Docks for extensive repairs. As a result of this accident, on October 4, 1972, alternate one-way traffic between the Black River Buoy and Buoys One and Two in Lake Huron was agreed upon by the shipping companies. Also a call-in system was initiated to monitor traffic between the Detroit River Light and Buoys 7 and 8 in Lake Huron by the newly established Sarnia Traffic.

On 05 June 1979, while carrying corn on Lake Superior, CARTIERCLIFFE HALL (steel propeller bulk freighter, 730 foot, 18,531 gross tons, built in 1960, in Germany as a.) RUHR ORE) caught fire 10 miles north of Copper Harbor, Michigan. Her crew abandoned ship in two life rafts and one lifeboat. Six died in this tragedy while five were injured; four (including Captain Raymond Boudreault) were injured seriously enough to be flown to the University of Michigan Burn Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. U. S. Steel's THOMAS W. LAMONT rescued 17 at 4:52 a.m. while CSL’s LOUIS R. DESMARAIS rescued two more. The CARTIERCLIFFE HALL was towed to Thunder Bay by the tug PENNSYLVANIA the following day.

June 5, 1947, the Pere Marquette Railway was acquired by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

LIGHTSHIP 103, (HURON) had her keel laid June 5, 1918, at Morris Heights, New York by Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp. Upon her retirement in 1971, the lightship was acquired by the City of Port Huron for use as a museum.

On 5 June 1864, COL A B WILLIAMS (2 mast wooden schooner, 110 foot, 150 tons, built in 1856, at Big Sodus, New York) was carrying coal on Lake Huron when she collided with the big ore-laden bark TWILIGHT. The WILLIAMS sank in 85 feet of water, 3 miles below Port Sanilac. Her crew was rescued by the TWILIGHT.

Shortly before midnight, Sunday, 5 June 1870, the WABASH and EMPIRE STATE collided in Lake Huron about 10 miles above Fort Gratiot Light. The WABASH sank and the EMPIRE STATE was damaged. The steamer JAY GOULD took the passengers off both vessels.

1943: FRANK ARMSTRONG, upbound on her maiden voyage, collided with the C.S.L. bulk carrier GODERICH in the St. Mary's River. Both sustained significant damage.

1991: OLYMPIC POWER was a year old when it first came through the Seaway in 1969. The vessel was sailing as c) FREE POWER when a fire broke out in the engine room off Oman on this date in 1991 and the ship had to be abandoned by the crew. One sailor was lost. The hull was a CTL and it reached Alang, India, for scrapping on February 8, 1993.

1998: The small Danish flag freighter, SEA STAR came to the Great Lakes with steel for Cleveland in April 1998. The vessel returned to the sea and sank in the Caribbean two months later on this date after a collision with the tuna boat MASA YOSHI MARU. SEA STAR was traveling from Colombia to Haiti with 2000 tonnes of bagged cement. Two members of the crew were lost.

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.

Interlake moves first load of Cliffs’ Mustang Pellets for ArcelorMittal

6/4 - Middleburg Heights, Ohio – The 1,004-foot M/V James R. Barker sailed Saturday from the Twin Ports with 60,000 tons of Mustang superflux pellets – the first cargo of its kind since the new pellet production began at Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.’s United Taconite mine last month.

The inaugural shipment departed the CN/Duluth dock to begin its 2½-day journey to ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, Ind., where the cargo will be discharged. ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor is the largest integrated steelmaking complex in North America.

“We feel very fortunate to carry the Mustang pellet for Cliffs and ArcelorMittal,” says Brendan O’Connor, Interlake’s Vice President of Marketing and Marine Traffic. “We recognize the tremendous investment made by Cliffs in producing the Mustang pellet and the understandable excitement from ArcelorMittal to receive this improved and customized raw material.”

Production of the specialized Mustang pellet began in May. Cliffs invested $75 million at its Minnesota operation to support the production with a new storage facility, a limestone crusher, conveyors and rail infrastructure.

Mustang pellets, which will be used for the automotive industry and other markets, contain a higher level of calcium added to dolomite and limestone than the standard taconite pellets.

“We are proud to continue our role in providing best-in-class marine transportation of raw materials from the Head of the Lakes to ArcelorMittal on behalf of Cliffs,” O’Connor adds.

The Interlake Steamship Co.

Port Reports – June 4

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Ship traffic on the north shore Saturday was the Edwin H. Gott departing Two Harbors at 09:25 for Gary. Indiana Harbor departed Northshore Mining in Silver Bay at 14:40 for Cleveland. There is no traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Sunday. Two Harbors traffic has the Roger Blough arriving Sunday afternoon and the Algoma Harvester arriving Sunday night.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Saturday and none expected until Sunday when the Capt. Henry Jackman is due to make a rare visit in the late afternoon. Also due on Sunday is the Calumet arriving in the late evening. There are no vessels scheduled for Monday. Due on Tuesday are the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann in the early morning.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Manitowoc was expected Saturday during the lunch hour to load. Also due on Saturday was the Joseph L. Block in the late afternoon. They would get the dock following the Manitowoc's departure. Of note, the Block was originally scheduled to load at Calcite on Saturday in the late afternoon but this trip was changed and the Block was diverted to Port Inland to load. Due on Sunday is the H. Lee White in the early morning. Rounding out the schedule is the Manitoulin, which is due to arrive on Monday in the early morning.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Cason J. Callaway loaded on Saturday and was expected to depart around 2 p.m. At anchor and waiting to load following the Callaway were the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann. There are no vessels due Sunday. Three vessels are expected for Monday, with the first being a return visit by the Callaway during the early afternoon. Two evening arrivals, the Herbert C. Jackson and with the barge Menominee / tug Olive L. Moore are due on Monday.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The revised schedule has American Mariner due in on Saturday in the early afternoon to load at the South Dock. Due Sunday is the John G. Munson in the early morning for the South Dock. Expected on Monday in the late morning is the Manitowoc for the North Dock to load. Joseph L. Block, which was scheduled for a late afternoon arrival on Saturday, was was diverted to Port Inland to load.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
The barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance were due to arrive at the Torco Dock on Saturday in the early afternoon to unload iron ore pellets. Also due at Torco is the Lee A. Tregurtha on Monday in the late afternoon and on Tuesday the barge James L. Kuber / tug Victory arriving in the early morning. At the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock, the Capt. Henry Jackman is expected to arrive on June 19 during the early afternoon. Vessels due at the CSX Coal Dock include the Algoma Transport on Sunday in the early morning followed by the Saginaw at noon to load. The barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory are due at CSX on Tuesday in the morning to load. Vessels in port Saturday included the Algoma Transport at one of the docks along the Maumee River. The G tugs Colorado and Mississippi were also in port as were the tug Genesis Victory / barge GM 6506 and Mississagi. The tug Sea Eagle II and barge St. Marys Cement II were unloading cement at the St. Marys Terminal. Further upriver was the saltwater vessel Three Rivers.

Regional and Welland Canal - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke, Ont.
Departure: CSL Laurentien June 2 at 2257 westbound. Arrival: Algonova at 1940

Welland Canal upbound:
Arrivals: Algowood, BBC Elbe (Atg) at 0341, Oakglen at 0545, tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 0730, CSL Assiniboine at 1230, Algocanada, Algolake at 1801 and Algoma Hansa at 2240

Welland Canal downbound:
Arrivals: Whitefish Bay, CSL St. Laurent, Radliffe R. Latimer 2320 June 2, English River at 0203, Saginaw at 0647, Algoma Spirit at 0930

Port Weller anchorage:
Federal Alster (Mhl) departed at 0012 downbound  At anchor: Harbour Progress (Por)

 Welland Canal docks:
Algocanada at wharf 2 and departed at 1755 upbound. Saginaw arrived wharf 6 at 1050 and departed around 1835 upbound

 Hamilton:
Arrivals: Prosna (Lbr) at 0235, John D. Leitch at 1505,  Algoma Olympic eta 2100, G3 Marquis eta 2130. Departures: Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0500 eastbound, Algoma Olympic at 0626, Finnborg (Nld) at 1310 for Ireland, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1408 from anchorage. At anchor: Ocean Castle (Mlt) and Vikingborg (Nld): On Heddle dry dock: Pelee Islander

 Bronte:
Arrival: Sarah Desgagnes at 1755

Clarkson:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson at 0113, departed at 1914 eastbound At dock: Adfines Sea (Mlt)

Toronto, Ont.
Arrival: Stephen B. Roman at 0530. Departure: tug Salvage  Monarch at 0902 eastbound, arrived back at dock 2125

Oshawa:
Arrival: tug Salvage Monarch at 1151, departed at 1819, Fearless (Lbr) (ex Bright Laker-13) at 1711

Bowmanville:
Arrival: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 1154

Colborne:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson approximately 0610 - remains at dock

Picton:
Departures: Stephen B. Roman late evening on June 2 westbound and Cuyhaoga mid-morning today westbound. At dock: Polar Prince (formerly Gilbert I-02, 2001 06-02 Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01)

Seaway – Rene Beauchamp
Algoma Strongfield departed Port Cartier Friday night headed for Hamilton, Ont.

Point Abino Lighthouse set to hit century milestone

6/4 - Fort Erie – The Point Abino Lighthouse is iconic and one of Greater Fort Erie’s most important landmarks, says local historian Rick Doan. Its many stages of life will be celebrated for the next few months as the light station turns 100 years old, as well as on June 10 when the 2017 summer schedule of guided tours kicks off.

There will be displays and equipment used during its time in operation available for history enthusiasts to admire, says Doan, who is also president of the Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society (PALPS)

The Point Abino Lighthouse is located on the north shore of Lake Erie and was first lit in 1917 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries, in response to increased traffic at the east end of Lake Erie.

Doan explained a lot of the reasoning behind the need for a lighthouse on Lake Erie in Point Abino and Crystal Beach goes back to the Light Vessel 82, a U.S. Coast Guard ship that perished in the lake, killing six crew members during a major storm in 1913.

Since being decommissioned in 1995, it has been designated as a classified heritage building, a national historic site, as well as a classified federal building. The lighthouse consists of three structures: the deck, tower and fog alarm building, but only the main lower area is open to the public on tour days, for insurance reasons.

In 2012, the Town of Fort Erie completed a $1.3 million restoration of the historic structure, a project met with some criticism by people who argued the expenditure was too much to put toward a site that’s only accessible to the general public on scheduled tour days.

Preserving the lighthouse was a very important decision at the time, as Doan says the building was in great disrepair. “It was literally falling apart – there were chunks falling off it,” said Doan.

The nearby keeper’s dwelling was sold by the municipality at the time of the restoration project, offsetting the cost by more than $800,000. A new light was installed at the top of the structure last month and will stay switched on until October, as part of the 100-year anniversary celebrations. Doan estimated the Fresnel lens at the top of the tower is worth $1 million.

For tickets to this summer’s biweekly tours, contact the municipality’s facilities management department at 905 871-1600, ext. 2431. You can also visit www.palps.ca or find PALPS on Facebook for more information. The Town of Fort Erie acquired the Point Abino Lighthouse from Public Works Canada in 2003. Each day, there are four tours provided.

St. Catharines Standard

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.

 Senator: ‘If lock is shut down, economy shuts down’

6/3 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The 455-foot Zelada Desgagnes pauses while 22 million gallons of water are pumped into the Poe Lock, raising the hefty cargo ship 21 feet so it can continue on to Lake Superior to pick up iron ore, grain or other commodities.

It’s one of about 3,800 ships this year that will pass through the Poe, the largest of four locks at the Soo complex Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the only one capable of handling ships wider than 76 feet.

“The raw materials that come through here on a massive basis – we can see it with this large ship here – would probably take three or four thousand trucks if these locks were broken and you couldn’t get these ships through,” U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said Friday.

“If this lock is shut down, the American economy shuts down. It is that significant.”

Peters joined U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Gov. Rick Snyder, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton and other congressional members for a bipartisan tour of the Soo Locks, an engineering marvel that is showing significant signs of age.

They are urging the federal government to authorize as much as $1 billion to construct a new Poe-sized lock at the Soo complex, a critical conduit between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes for transporting goods and raw materials, including iron ore for steel production that is heavily relied on by automakers and other industries.

A mechanical or structural failure at the 49-year-old Poe Lock would be “catastrophic for the nation,” according to a late 2015 report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which concluded a disruption could jeopardize 11 million U.S. jobs and plunge the economy into a severe recession.

“We’re on borrowed time, I think,” Stabenow, a Lansing Democrat, told The Detroit News. “We looked at a pump that was 100 years old. It’s unbelievable the engineering and that it’s still working.”

Stabenow and Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet on Thursday announced new federal legislation that would authorize spending on Soo Locks upgrades. They are hoping to jump start congressional action while they await the results of a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine if the benefits of the project would outweigh the cost.

A positive score could make the project a top priority for the Corps, Stabenow said.

The project, estimated to cost close to $1 billion over a 10-year construction period, would replace two smaller decommissioned locks built during World War I with a second Poe-sized lock capable of handling large “lakers” used to transport goods on the Great Lakes.

Lakers carrying iron ore use the Poe almost exclusively because they are too large for the smaller MacArthur Lock, built in 1943. Michigan officials have long pushed for federal action on the Soo Locks modernization project, originally authorized in 1986 but never funded. Their renewed efforts come as President Donald Trump pushes for increased infrastructure spending.

Trump’s proposed budget sets aside $200 billion for infrastructure spending over 10 years. During the 2016 campaign, the president pledged a $1 trillion investment. Trump advisers have been working on an infrastructure funding plan that would involve private money and not rely solely on government aid.

The Soo Locks topped Snyder’s federal infrastructure spending wish list for Michigan, which was transmitted to the White House in February by the National Governors Association. The state House recently approved a resolution, sponsored by Republican Rep. Lee Chatfield of Levering, urging the president and Congress to fully fund construction of a new lock.

“This is critical to the national economy, to all of us,” Snyder said. “We’re talking potentially millions of jobs at risk. We need a second lock.”

Snyder told reporters he has had multiple conversations with White House officials about the Soo Locks project. Peters said Michigan lawmakers are attempting to build a broad coalition with congressional members in other states whose economies are closely tied to the locks.

Much of the iron ore that passes through the Soo complex comes from Duluth, Minnesota, and is shipped to steel processing facilities in Cleveland or Chicago. “This is the heartbeat of the nation that comes through here,” said Upton, a St. Joseph Republican and GOP dean of Michigan’s congressional delegation. “We got to make sure that it’s done.”

U.S. Reps. Dave Trott, R-Birmingham, Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, also toured the locks.

Mechanical problems with the 74-year-old MacArthur Lock, which handles roughly 4,100 smaller ships a year, forced an unexpected shutdown in 2015 that delayed transportation of an estimated 1.8 million tons of cargo.

Iron ore is typically transported by massive ships roughly the length of four 747 planes nose to tail. They each carry about 70,000 tons of iron ore, the capacity of approximately 100 rail cars or 3,000 trucks.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to complete its analysis by December, updating a 2005 study that concluded costs of the modernization project would outweigh its benefits. Officials have questioned the assumptions, citing the economic importance of the locks.

A Poe failure would cause an almost complete shutdown of steel production in the Great Lakes, according to the Homeland Security report. Almost all appliance, auto, construction equipment, farm equipment, mining equipment and railcar production in North America could cease within weeks, according to the document.

The Soo project is also important for national security, said Bergman, telling reporters that one of the older locks was built during World War II to ensure the continued transportation of raw material needed to build planes, tanks and other equipment to win the war.

“They got it done then,” said Bergman, a retired Marine general. “It’s our time to get it done now, knowing as we look forward, the potential threats that we face.”

The Detroit News

Port Reports – June 3

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Mottler arrived Duluth on Friday afternoon and dropped anchor in the harbor. James R. Barker arrived shortly afterwards, and headed to CN to load iron ore pellets. Isolda was expected to depart from Riverland late Friday night. Silda continued discharging at Holcim. In Superior, Stewart J. Cort loaded at Burlington Northern on Friday. She was expected to depart during the evening. Thunder Bay was due next at the dock, followed by Algoma Guardian. Chemical barge Robert F. Deegan and tug Zeus were also due via the Superior entry late Friday night to discharge calcium chloride at Hallett #8.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Presque Isle departed Two Harbors at 04:45 on Friday bound for Zug Island. Arriving Two Harbors at 02:15 was the Spruceglen. The Spruceglen was originally scheduled to load at the CN ore dock in West Duluth, but was changed to Two Harbors. She anchored off the breakwall until the Presque Isle departed. Spruceglen departed with pellets at 18:36 bound for Quebec City. Shortly after, Edwin H. Gott arrived for the shiploader. Arrival time was 19:03. Silver Bay traffic for the day was the Indiana Harbor arriving at 18:30 for Northshore Mining. No inbound traffic is scheduled for either port on Saturday.

Milwaukee, Wis. – Paul Erspamer
Hanse Gate remained loading Friday at Nidera Grain in Milwaukee's inner harbor.
Capt. Henry Jackman is expected with salt from Goderich on Saturday morning, with Federal Bering to follow later after visits to Cleveland and Burns Harbor.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Algoway was loading salt on Friday. She departed in the late afternoon for Muskegon, Mich.

Saginaw River – Todd Shorkey
On May 25th, Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload. On the 27th, American Mariner was inbound, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. Also in on the 27th were the Olive L. Moore / Menominee, calling on the Burroughs North dock in Essexville and the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw. Finally, on June 1st, Great Republic called on the Saginaw River for the first time in her new Great Lakes Fleet colors, and with her new name, unloading a split cargo at the Burroughs North Dock and the Essexvile Wirt Sand & Stone dock. Great Republic had previously visited the Saginaw River as the American Republic while sailing for the American Steamship Company. Her last visit to the Saginaw River was on October 12, 2008, when she unloaded at the Bay Aggregate dock in Bay City.

Toledo, Ohio
Work continues on cargo hold repairs aboard the St. Clair. She has a fit-out date of July 4.

Regional and Welland Canal  - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke, Ont.
Departure: John D. Leitch at 1859 on June 1 eastbound. Arrivals: CSL Laurentien at 0624 and Algosteel at 0517 (departed 1420)

Buffalo, N.Y.:
Arrival: English River at 0038

Welland Canal upbound:
Arrivals: Algoma Harvester, Esta Desgagnes, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, Algowood at 0825, warship 707 Goose Bay at 1105, Tim S. Dool at 1459 and Algowood at 2146

Welland Canal downbound:
Arrivals: Algoma Olympic, John D. Leitch at 0106, Federal Alster (Mhl) at 0541, Algolake at 0617, Whitefish Bay at 1330, CSL St. Laurent at 1658 and Radcliffe R. Latimer at 2320

Hamilton:
Arrivals: Algowood at 0915, Algoma Olympic at 1347, Algolake at 2100. Departures: Muntgracht (Nld) at 1042 eastbound, Tim S. Dool at 1200, Algowood at 1954 and  Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1117 out to anchorage. At anchor: Ocean Castle (Mlt) and Vikingborg (Nld). At dock:  Finnborg, (Nld), Federal Mackenzie (Mhl). On Heddle dry dock - Pelee Islander 

Bronte:
Departure: Esta Desgagnes at 1736 on June 1 westbound

Clarkson:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson 1405 on June 1 - departed at 0031 eastbound. At dock: Adfines Sea (Mlt)

Toronto, Ont.
Departure: Stephen B. Roman at 0531 on June 1 eastbound

Bowmanville:
Arrival: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys  Cement at 1154

Colborne:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson approximately 0610. Still at dock later on Friday evening.

Picton:
Arrivals: Stephen B. Roman 1940 on Jun 1 - departed mid-day Friday, Polar Prince (formerly Gilbert I-02, 2001 06-02 Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01) anchored around noon At dock: Cuyahoga

 Lease amendment approved to ship ethanol from port of Milwaukee

6/3 - Milwaukee, Wis. – Milwaukee's Common Council has approved a lease amendment that will likely lead to more ethanol being shipped on the Great Lakes.

The lease is with Wisconsin-based U.S. Oil, a division of parent company U.S. Venture Inc., which wants to build a 1,000-foot-long, $3.5 million pipeline to connect company storage tanks at the Port of Milwaukee to a cargo pier in Lake Michigan.

On their first of two votes on the matter Wednesday, common council members narrowly rejected the plan. There was concern more rail or truck transport of ethanol to the harbor might be dangerous and that the company might someday ship crude oil on Lake Michigan 

But Alderman Bob Bauman warned his colleagues that the lease gave the city little choice but to approve the amendment. "All we're doing is giving them a cause of action to either terminate the lease or sue us for breach of contract, and if that's what we want to do, fine," Bauman said.

The council then agreed to reconsider its vote. In a second vote, the measure passed easily. City officials say they still hope to eventually get U.S. Oil to guarantee it won't ship crude oil from the Milwaukee harbor.

U.S. Oil Vice President Mike Koel previously told WPR the Appleton-based company has no plans to ship crude oil and that the company has a track record of responsible shipping, citing an identical practice in Green Bay.

Members of Citizens Acting for Rail Safety's Milwaukee chapter urged the council to reject the lease amendment and silently held up signs during the discussion.  In the past, petroleum products have been shipped in and out of the Milwaukee port, but not recently, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The company has approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to house ethanol at the Port of Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Public Radio

 Lawmakers urge expedited study of Soo Locks

6/3 - Washington. D.C. – Most of Michigan's congressional delegation signed a bipartisan letter Wednesday urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite its study of upgrading vital shipping locks on the river connecting Lakes Huron and Superior.

Only one of the four aging locks in Sault Ste. Marie is large enough to handle ships that carry 70 percent of the cargo through the corridor. For years, the delegation and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder have been pushing to replace two outdated locks with a new one capable of handling the largest freighters.

According to the lawmakers, the Army Corps is re-evaluating its original economic analysis of constructing a new shipping passageway at the Soo Locks complex due to “erroneous assumptions” in its initial study that left the project unable to compete for federal funding.

The new study, expected by December, is reportedly considering a pulley-conveyer belt system around the Soo Locks as an alternative to the typically cost-efficient transport of commodities by vessel.

“We write to ensure that USACE engages stakeholders and considers appropriate transportation alternatives to ensure an accurate benefit-cost ratio analysis for the project, which is critically important to our states and the entire country,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland, who co-chair the Senate and House Great Lakes Task Forces, respectively.

The lawmakers urged the Army Corps to conduct the Soo Locks re-evaluation “in a manner that is consistent with other navigation lock and dam project evaluations regarding alternate transportation modes, and that every step is taken to expedite the completion of this critically important analysis.”

A January report commissioned by the U.S. Treasury found that spending $600 million to construct a new lock at the facility could provide an economic benefit of up to $1.7 billion. The report designated the Soo Locks modernization plan as one of 40 infrastructure projects “of major economic significance” to the nation.

Through the National Governors Association, Snyder has asked the Trump administration to fully fund a replacement for the Davis and Sabin locks, which are nearly 100 years old and no longer in use. The Soo Locks transport roughly 80 million tons of raw goods and materials a year, including iron ore.

Having another 1,200-foot-long lock — built on the site of the existing Davis and Sabin locks — would allow for better maintenance and keep shipping traffic moving when the 1,200-foot-long Poe lock needs repairs.

The delegation highlighted a study by the Department of Homeland Security in October 2015 that concluded the Poe lock is a weak link in the North American industrial economy and that a six-month closure of the lock could plunge the U.S. economy into recession. After that analysis, the Corps agreed to re-evaluate its benefit-cost analysis of upgrading the Soo Locks.

In their letter, the lawmakers urged the Corps to calculate the rate of savings through other modes of transportation as has historically been done for other lock and dam projects. They indicated that it would mean considering alternate transportation via rail or truck, rather than transporting commodities around the Soo Lock falls using a conveyer belt system.

The 10 other delegation members who signed the letter are members of the Senate or House Great Lakes Task Force: Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and Republican Reps. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet, Fred Upton of St. Joseph, Tim Walberg of Tipton, Dave Trott of Birmingham and Paul Mitchell of Dryden as well as Democratic Reps. Sander Levin of Royal Oak, Dan Kildee of Flint Township, Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, and Brenda Lawrence of Southfield.

The Detroit News

200-year-old Erie Canal back in service as shipping route for giant beer tanks

6/3 - Rochester, N.Y. – The first two of 12 massive beer tanks being delivered to upstate New York's Genesee Brewery are scheduled to be off-loaded at the company's downtown Rochester facility this weekend.

The fermentation tanks built in China arrived this week in suburban Rochester via barges on the Erie Canal. They started their 362-kilometre voyage two weeks ago at the waterway's terminus near Albany.

The tanks are 6.1 metres wide and 18.3 metres tall, making them too big to be hauled long distances by truck or rail. Genesee says a truck hauling the first two tanks will leave the Gates canal area late Friday or early Saturday for the roughly 8 kilometre trip to the brewery.

Off-loading is set to start early Saturday morning.

The Associated Pres

Opinion: Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow
For the economy, invest in the Soo Locks

6/3 - Detroit, Mich. – If you have grown up in Michigan, chances are you have seen a freighter making its way across the Great Lakes or down the Detroit River.  You may know that the Soo Locks are the gateway for these freighters, which navigate the lakes to connect our military and manufacturers with raw materials like iron ore and our farmers and food processors with grains and other commodities. Every year, an average of 7,900 freighters carry 80 million tons of materials through the Soo Locks. The locks are the only viable and economically feasible way to transport the vast majority of this cargo.

What you might not realize is that there have been no comprehensive improvements to the two operating locks at Sault Ste. Marie, the MacArthur Lock and Poe Lock, in nearly 50 years.  Of those, only the Poe Lock, is large enough to handle 70% of the cargo that passes through the locks. 

A report by the Department of Homeland Security concluded it was “hard to conceive” of another lock and dam that is more consequential to the North American economy.  A six-month closure of the Poe Lock would bring steel production and manufacturing industries to an effective halt. That would lead to a nationwide recession, causing unemployment in Michigan to spike above 20%.

A failure of this lock would have devastating consequences for Michigan and the country. Imagine if our automakers and suppliers had no access to raw materials and could not produce cars or parts. Imagine if construction companies could not start projects that create jobs in Michigan and across the country. Imagine if our military did not have the steel it needed to build tanks and aircraft carriers. 

Given the locks’ critical importance to our economy, Michigan’s members of Congress met at the Soo Locks Friday for a bipartisan tour. This tour was an opportunity for us to focus on the crucial role the locks play in our state and country’s economy and national security. We are committed to working together to secure the funding to upgrade and build a replacement lock, ensuring this vital gateway for commerce and jobs remains open. 

Read more and see a video at this link: http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/06/02/stabenow-economy-invest-soo-locks/362539001/

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.

SIU and Canada Steamship Lines reach agreement

6/2 - The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) and it’s members has announced that an agreement has been reached with Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), ending the SIU’s planned strike action against the company.

A government of Canada mediator played a role in the negotiations, assisting SIU and CSL to avoid a strike that would have significantly impacted both parties.

The terms of the agreement will be released once members have provided an additional review and the opportunity for final sign off.

SIU

Ashton Marine building two new hopper barges

6/2 - Ashton Marine, LLC based in Muskegon, MI is building two 200 x 35 x 15 ABS full load-lined hopper barges. These barges will primarily be used on the Great Lakes where they can transport up to 2,100 tons of cargo per barge. The size of these barges will give customers access to the river system without the cost of transloading into standard river hopper barges. Delivery is expected in mid August this year

Ashton Marine

Desgagnés adds another vessel to its fleet

6/2 - Desgagnés bought another second hand vessel, the BBC Oder. She arrived at Quebec Thursday morning and will be renamed Nordika Desgagnes. IMO No. 9508316. She has been on the St. Lawrence River before but not the Seaway.

René Beauchamp

Port Reports – June 2

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
American Century arrived Duluth early Thursday morning to load coal at Midwest Energy. Philip R. Clarke departed just before noon with ore pellets. During the evening American Century departed with coal, and Eeborg departed from Peavey with beet pulp pellets. Isolda continued loading at Riverland, while Silda was at Holcim offloading cement. On the south side of the harbor, Burns Harbor departed from BN Thursday afternoon, and Stewart J. Cort arrived and began loading.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Mesabi Miner spent the day at the CN ship loader departing Two Harbors at 19:40 for Indiana Harbor 7-H. Also in Two Harbors was the Presque Isle North of #2 pocket/gravity dock. At approx. 19:50 she shifted to the ship loader. Due in Two Harbors Friday evening is the Edwin H. Gott. Silver Bay traffic for the day was the departure of the Herbert C. Jackson at 01:05 showing a destination of Cleveland. Due in Silver Bay for Northshore Mining on Friday is the Indiana Harbor in the evening.

Port Inland, Mich. – Denny Dushane
Wilfred Sykes arrived in the early afternoon on Thursday to load. There are no vessels expected Friday. Due in for Saturday is the Manitowoc in the early morning. Two vessels are due for Sunday, with the H. Lee White due first in the early morning followed by the Manitoulin in the late evening.

Cedarville, Mich. – Denny Dushane
There were no vessels loading on Thursday and none are expected to arrive until Sunday when the Calumet is due in the evening to load. Due in Monday are the barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann in the early morning. Due June 7 in the morning is the Sam Laud.

Stoneport, Mich. – Denny Dushane
The barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore loaded at Stoneport on Thursday and were expected to depart around 4 p.m. Two vessels are due for Friday – Cason J. Callaway in the mid-afternoon and the Great Republic in the early evening. There are no vessels scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Three vessels are scheduled for Monday with the Herbert C. Jackson due first in the early morning followed later on by the Cason J. Callaway in the early afternoon. The barge Pathfinder and tug Dorothy Ann are also due Monday in the evening. Due in for Tuesday is a return visit by the barge Menominee and tug Olive L. Moore.

Calcite, Mich. – Denny Dushane
John G. Munson was expected Thursday during the evening to load at the North Dock. There are no vessels due Friday. Due Saturday is the American Mariner arriving in the late morning for the South Dock. Also due Saturday making a rare visit is the Joseph L. Block arriving, in the late afternoon to load at the South Dock.

Goderich, Ont. – Bruce Douglas
Capt. Henry Jackman was loading salt at Sifto Thursday. Algoway will be the next vessel to arrive for salt.

Saginaw River – Gordy Garris
Thursday evening saw the arrival of Great Republic for the first time under its current name and ownsership. Great Republic arrived around 7 p.m. and began unloading at the Lafarge Stone dock in Essexville. She is expected to be back outbound for the lake Friday morning. Many Boatnerds were along the banks of the Saginaw River photographing the event, which wasn’t much of a surprise since it was the Republic's first visit to the river in nearly a decade. This was also the first visit to the Saginaw River by a Great Lakes Fleet vessel in nearly two decades.

Toledo, Ohio – Denny Dushane
John J. Boland is due at the CSX Coal Dock to load on Friday during the early morning. Also due at CSX is the Algoma Transport, expected to arrive on Saturday in the late afternoon. Saginaw is due at CSX on Sunday in the early afternoon. Due at the Midwest Terminal Stone Dock is the Capt. Henry Jackman on June 19 in the mid-afternoon. At the Torco Dock, the barge Ashtabula and tug Defiance are due on Saturday in the morning. Also due at Torco is the Lee A. Tregurtha on June 5 in the late afternoon and the barge James L. Kuber and tug Victory are due at Torco on June 6 in the early morning. In port Thursday was the tug Genesis Victory and barge GM 6506 along with the saltwater vessel Three Rivers, which was upriver loading a grain cargo at one of the elevators.

Lackawanna, N.Y. – Brian W
Algolake departed Lackawanna at 1 Thursday morning, bound for Toledo.

Regional and Welland Canal transits - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke, Ont.
Departure: John D. Leitch at 1859

Tonawanda, N.Y.
Departure: Tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware at 0959

Welland Canal upbound:
Arrivals: tugs Taurus and Edward H, Pearl Mist (Mhl), Victory I (Mhl), Solando (Swe) at 0030, English River at 0441, Saginaw at 0125, Sterling Energy to anchorage, CSL Niagara - anchored at 0840 for fuel, Baie Comeau anchored at 1025 for fuel, Federal Maas (Bbs) at 1040,  Algoma Harvester at 1730 and Esta Desgagnes at 1916

Welland Canal downbound:
Arrivals: Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, tug Spartan & barge Spartan II at 0715, CCGS Cape Dundas at 1049, Mississagi at 1146, Trudy (Lbr) at 1250, Harbour Fountain (Por) at 1453 and Algoma Olympic at 2245

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrival: Harbour Progress (Por)

Welland Canal docks:
At wharf 2: Algocanada. Departures: tugs Taurus and Edward H from wharf 6 mid-morning. From wharf 16: Pearl Mist (Mhl) mid-day and Victory I (Mhl) at 1630 and Solando (Swe) at approximately 1910

Hamilton:
Departures: Saginaw on May 31 at 2344  - Algoma Harvester at 1525. Arrival: Tim S. Dool at 1625 and CCGS Cape Dundas at 1800. At anchor: Ocean Castle (Mlt) and Vikingborg (Nld). At docks: Finnborg, (Nld), Federal Mackenzie (Mhl), Muntgracht (Nld), Bro Anna (Sgp). On Heddle dry dock - Pelee Islander  

Bronte:
Departure: Esta Desgagnes at 1735

Clarkson:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson at 1405. At dock - Adfines Sea (Mlt) at 1011

Toronto, Ont.
Departure: Stephen B. Roman at 0531 eastbound and Polar Prince at 2132 (formerly Gilbert 1-02, 2001 06-02, Sir Humphrey Gilbert-01) bound Picton. At dock: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement

Bowmanville:
Arrival: Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 1120. Departed at 1405 westbound

Colborne:
Departure: Robert S. Pierson approximately 0650

Picton:
Arrivals: Cuyahoga at 0730 and Stephen B. Roman at 194

Vote could clear way for ethanol shipments from Milwaukee's port

6’2 - Milwaukee, Wis. – U.S. Venture wants to lease less than an acre of land next to property it already uses at the Port of Milwaukee. The extra piece would give the company a path to create a pipeline to the city pier that handles liquid cargo.

"It's always been our desire to connect to the liquid cargo pier so that we can handle water shipments, and the primary cargo that we've been looking at for a number of years is ethanol," says Richard Sawall, director of business development. He outlined U.S. Venture's plans at a recent Common Council committee meeting.

"Wisconsin has a very strong ethanol industry and it's an export market for the state, so we've always looked at Jones Island as an outlet for that product for international markets, primarily," Sawall says.

Sawall says the company wants to truck ethanol to Milwaukee's port, then transfer it onto barges. The company says the system would be designed so no ethanol would seep into Lake Michigan during the transfer. The ethanol would be pumped through a pipeline to a hose that connects to the barge.

The company says it would put emergency plans in place, to contain and clean up ethanol, in the unlikely event of a spill. Yet the firm admits that a mishap could kill off a number of fish.

That kind of scenario worries the group Citizens Acting for Rail Safety. Members testified at the committee meeting, saying ethanol is volatile, and arguing that the flammable cargo would put the harbor and the whole community at risk.

Meanwhile, Ald. Jim Bohl says he's worried about a possible increase in trucks hauling ethanol through the city on their way to the port.

"It's all part of the same chain. And we are talking about safety for citizens in this community -- above and beyond the water. It's part of the whole process," Bohl says.

Ald. Nik Kovac says he's concerned about the city establishing an infrastructure to handle liquid cargo, perhaps even crude oil. Kovac says by doing so, the city could become a hub.

"The idea that infrastructure is destiny really does concern me, made famous, you know, in the movie we've all seen -- Field of Dreams -- 'if you build it, they will come.' If you build pipes, people are going to put stuff in (those) pipes because they've got capital investments," Kovac says.

The Common Council will vote Wednesday not on whether to allow shipments of flammable cargo from Milwaukee's port. Rather, members will vote on U.S. Venture's desire to lease the small parcel that would enable the company to extend a pipeline to the city’s liquid cargo pier. The company already has permission to use the pier.

wuwm.com

Is Hamilton high water and erosion the new normal?

6/2 - Hamilton, Ont. – City officials are scrambling to find the best way to manage massive erosion along shorelines in Hamilton, trying to figure out whether this summer is a high-water aberration or a sign of the new normal.

"We're hoping this is an anomaly, however, with the design plans we are looking at, we have to take into consideration there is a possibility that water levels could be this high again or continue at this level," says Kara Bunn, the city's manager of parks and cemeteries.

She says emergency repairs are being done along the Breezeway Trail near the Burlington Lift Bridge and on the Waterfront Trail near Confederation Beach Park amid Lake Ontario water levels that are the highest ever in records going back to 1918.

A two-stage approach is being used that involves "protecting assets by rebuilding and securing so no more damage can take place" and later on rebuilding habitat into a "final fix that deals with potential high water that may come in the future."

But like most long-term solutions to big problems, there could be huge costs. "We're still trying to figure out what the costs are going be. We're talking about this internally about where we're going to find funding to do this work," Bunn said.

Water is so high and erosion so extensive along the waterfront trail between Bayfront Park and Princess Point that crews are waiting until the water recedes before they can properly assess damage.

Hamilton Spectator

Reserve now for Soo Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise

 Reservations for the annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise, on Friday, June 30, are now being taken. This event is part of the annual Engineers’ Day weekend Boatnerd Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The three-hour cruise will travel through the U.S. and Canadian locks, and the price includes an on-board buffet dinner. Reservations are a must as we are limiting the group to 100 persons. This will afford everyone enough space to take photos and enjoy themselves. Check the Gatherings page for complete details and other events taking place during the weekend.

Today in Great Lakes History -  June 2

On 02 June 1958, the Liberian-flagged freighter MOUNT DELPHI sank enroute to Karachi, Pakistan. She was built by the British American Shipbuilding Company at Welland, Ontario, during the final years of World War I. She had 12 different owners during her career and had been seized by Vichy interests at Casablanca, Morocco, in 1940, and then by the Italian government in 1942.

On 02 June 1893, CORSICAN (wooden schooner, 112 foot, 210 gross tons, built in 1862, at Olcott, New York) was carrying coal from Cleveland, Ohio to St. Ignace, Michigan, on a foggy night on Lake Huron. She collided with the iron steamer CORSICA and sank quickly off Thunder Bay Island. All six onboard went down with her. The wounded CORSICA was beached near Ossineke, Michigan, was later patched and proceeded to Ashtabula, Ohio.

In 1973, the SYLVANIA, downbound light in fog, collided with the FRANK PURNELL just north of the Detroit River Light at 05:23 hours. The SYLVANIA suffered minor bow damage and went to Toledo for repairs.

On 2 June 1855, J.W. BLAKE (wooden scow-schooner, 68 foot, 33 tons, built in 1853, at Dover, Ohio) was carrying lumber in a storm four miles off Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, when she capsized. Her crew escaped in her yawl, but it was a very close call for one who was asleep below decks when she capsized. The vessel was later recovered and put back in service.

June 2, 1988 - The CITY OF MIDLAND 41 took on 17 truckloads of lake trout, which were planted off Beaver Island.

On 2 June 1882, INDUSTRY (wooden schooner, 63 foot, 30 tons, built in 1847, at Michigan City, Indiana) capsized and sank just a half-mile from South Haven, Michigan. The three crewmen clung to the wreck for a while as rescue attempts were made from shore, but they all perished. The wreck later drifted to the beach about five miles south of town and went to pieces.

1943: The W.W. HOLLOWAY and HARRY WM. HOSFORD collided in foggy lower Whitefish Bay and the latter steamer had to be beached at Point Iroquois to avoid sinking.

1958: WAR RACCOON was built at Welland in 1919. It was sailing under Liberian registry as l) MOUNT DELPHI when it hit a rock and was beached at Grand Island, near Mormugao, India, on a voyage from Mouimein, Burma, to Karachi, Pakistan. The ship was a total loss.

1968: CASTALIA, a Greek flag freighter, struck the north pier of the Mackinac Bridge, in dense fog and made a small gouge in the structure. The ship was holed and leaking but cleared to proceed to Chicago. It was on its first trip through the Seaway and was later scrapped as c) NEW ENGLANDER after arriving at Bilbao, Spain, on July 4, 1973.

1978: The bulk carrier ARCTIC was christened in a ceremony at Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines.

1981: The sidewheel Toronto Island ferry TRILLIUM was unable to stop in time at the mainland dock. It struck the restaurant ship NORMAC and the latter sank two weeks later.

2000: ALGOWOOD buckled amidships while loading stone at Bruce Mines. The hull was patched, strengthened, refloated and towed to Port Weller Dry Docks to be lengthened and repaired.

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.

Record water levels risk $50M-per-day closure of St. Lawrence Seaway.

6/1 - Heavy spring rains have swelled Lake Ontario to its highest level in nearly a century -- a situation that could force officials who operate the St. Lawrence Seaway to balance the need to protect low-lying communities against the economic incentive to keep the vital shipping artery open.

The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes through a series of channels, canals, and locks. It handles more than 35 million tonnes of cargo per year and supports an estimated 227,000 jobs.

The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board has the outflow taps at the Moses-Saunders Power Dam in Cornwall, Ont., opened as wide as possible to get rid of the glut of rain water while still allowing shipping to continue.

“It is indeed the highest flow rate that shipping has ever encountered on the St. Lawrence Seaway,” St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. spokesperson Andrew Bogora told CTV Ottawa on Tuesday.

The board decided to keep the dam’s flow rate at a record-setting 10,200 cubic metres per second on Monday, and will reassess that call next Monday.

Pushing the outflow beyond 10,200 cubic metres per second would halt shipping due to unsafe currents -- a rare situation, but not an unprecedented one.

“In 1993, navigation was permitted five days a week and suspended for two to permit the high flow rates,” Bogora said. “That could be an alternative if the demand materializes.”

CTVNews.ca

New pellet, new life for United Taconite

6/1 - Forbes, Minn. –Jeff Kayfes was sitting in a bucket seat, hands on dual joysticks, trying to line up his unloading machine with a cog on a rail car full of limestone and dolomite. This limestone unloading job is new for Kayfes who was still getting used to his bird's-eye view from above the rail car and the video-game controls in his hands. But after 41 years as a steelworker at United Taconite, it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

"It's not that different than unloading ore cars, which is what I did before ... except that I'm sitting up here now and not down at eye level," Kayfes said Tuesday. "It takes a little getting used to."

With the flick of his wrist Kayfes opened up the trapdoor on the bottom of the rail car and 50 tons of the mixed rock — workers here call it fluxstone — tumbled onto a conveyor belt.

Off the rock went to be merged with taconite iron ore and made into a valuable little iron-rich pellet called the Mustang, destined for ArcelorMittal's Furnace No. 7 at Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, Ind., the largest blast furnace steel mill in the U.S.

Kayfes, like the other 474 workers at United Taconite, was part of an on-the-job celebration Tuesday by Cliffs Natural Resources for the new pellet that has breathed new life into a facility that was idle at this time last year, a victim of the downturn in the domestic steel industry and domestic iron ore industry that feeds it.

Now, less than one year after nearly all of them were on indefinite layoff, they are not only back on the job making taconite pellets, they're making an all-new pellet for Cliffs' largest customer, a new product that should add years, if not decades, to United's life.

"It's good to be back. I was off six months," Kayfes said. "We needed this."

By "this" he meant the $75 million Cliffs spent on the project finished earlier this month on-time and under budget. Every day 60 rail cars of the limestone-dolomite mix from Michigan come up the train tracks from the Duluth waterfront. Here at the United processing plant it's mixed with taconite iron ore from the nearby Thunderbird mine in Eveleth.

The button was pushed to start the new pellet production at 3 a.m. on May 12. Starting June 2, the first shipments of the Mustang pellet will be heading south to the steel mill.

"We now have a more marketable product that will carry us forward,'' said Brian Zarn, a United employee and president of Steelworkers Local 6860.

Cliffs' investment was praised at Tuesday's celebration at the plant by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan as well as other state lawmakers and local dignitaries. In turn, Cliffs' CEO Lourenco Goncalves praised the Minnesota Democrats for their efforts pushing for stiff federal trade penalties against below-cost foreign steel that had flooded the U.S. market, displacing American-made steel and triggering an Iron Range mining recession that saw more than 2,000 workers laid off.

That push-back against foreign steel has led to more demand for U.S. made steel, officials say, and more demand for Minnesota taconite. "We're back on track and this time we're going to keep it on track,'' Nolan said of the Iron Range mining industry.

Flux pellets aren't new for the Iron Range, and Cliffs made a nearly identical pellet at its now-shuttered Empire Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But Cliffs ran out of ore there and made the decision to transfer the ArcelorMittal order to United, which can produce about 5 million tons of taconite pellets annually. About 40 percent of the plant's annual production will be the Mustang pellet. When that order is filled by late autumn the plant will produce traditional acid pellets for the rest of winter for other customers.

"It will be a seasonal thing. We'll fill one order, then move to the other pellet, then back," said Ryan Korpela, plant manager.

The flux pellets mix limestone and dolomite with iron at the front end of the process, instead of at the steel mill, Korpela said, saving the steelmaker time, energy and money.

"They like us to have the headaches," he said. "But it ends up working better for everyone, so we're glad to do it."

Duluth News Tribune

Port Reports – June1

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
American Spirit departed Duluth with ore from CN early Wednesday morning. Isolda arrived just after sunrise, sporting a fresh coat of black paint (she was blue on her last visit), and headed to the Riverland elevator to load grain. Herbert C. Jackson arrived 20 minutes later and offloaded limestone at Hallett #5. She was outbound during the early afternoon, and headed to Silver Bay to load. Wednesday evening, Eeborg was at Peavey loading beet pulp pellets, Silda was discharging cement at Holcim, and Philip R. Clarke, after spending a few days tied up in Fraser Shipyards, had shifted to the Graymont dock to unload coal. At Burlington Northern in Superior, Erie Trader/tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort loaded on Wednesday. The pair departed during the evening, and Burns Harbor arrived shortly after to begin loading.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, Minn. – Gary A. Putney
Edgar B. Speer departed Two Harbors at 03:30 heading for Conneaut. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Two Harbors for the ship loader at 04:15. She departed Two Harbors at 19:30. Arriving Two Harbors at 20:18 to load pellets was the Mesabi Miner. Due early morning on Thursday is the Presque Isle. Herbert C. Jackson arrived Northshore Mining in Silver Bay at 18:05 to load pellets. American Century was scheduled to load at Northshore, but she has been changed to load at SMET.

Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
The Alpena loaded cement at Lafarge on Tuesday and has since delivered to Green Bay, Wis. Also coming in late Tuesday night to load were the tug G.L Ostrander and barge Integrity.  The tug Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation are expected to return on Thursday afternoon.

Regional and Welland Canal - Barry Andersen
Nanticoke, Ont.
Departure: tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 0949. Arrival: John D. Leitch at 2129

Tonawanda, N.Y.
At dock: tug Calusa Coast & barge Delaware

Welland Canal upbound
Arrivals: Federal Shimanto (Mhl), Hemgracht (Nld), Zelada Desgagnes at 0441, tug Leonard M & barge Niagara Spirit at 0516, John D. Leitch at 0743, tugs Taurus and Edward H at 1300, Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 1702 and Victory I (Mhl) at 2057

Welland Canal downbound:
Arrivals: Esta Desgagnes, Saginaw at 2350, Bro Alma (Sgp) at 0344, Algoma Harvester at 0409, tug Everlast & barge Norman McLeod at 1440, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin at 1600 and tug Wilf Seymour & barge Alouette Spirit at 1745

Welland Canal docks:
Algocanada at wharf 2

Port Weller anchorage:
Arrival: Harbour Progress (Por). Adfines Sea (Mlt) departed at 0820

Hamilton:
Arrivals: Saginaw at 1440, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1630, Algoma Harvester at 2135 - at anchor - Ocean Castle (Mlt) and Vikingborg (Nld). Departure: Zelada Desgagnes (Bbs) at 0150. At docks: Finnborg, (Nld), Federal Mackenzie (Mhl), Muntgracht (Nld) - on Heddle dry dock - Pelee Islander 

Bronte:
At dock: Esta Desgagnes

Clarkson:
Arrival: Adfines Sea (Mlt) at 1011. Departure: Robert S. Pierson at 1343 eastbound

Toronto, Ont.
Arrival: Pearl Mist (Mhl) at 0418. Departure: Pearl Mist ( Mhl) at 1529 and Victory I (Mhl) (formerly Sea Voyager-15, Saint Laurent-15, Sea Voyager-11, Cape May Light-09) and Victory I (Bhs) at 1915. Docks Stephen B. Roman and tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement

Colborne:
Arrival: Robert S. Pierson approximately 2000

Bath:
Departure: tug Petite Forte & barge St. Marys Cement at 0640 approximately At dock: English River

Dams in Massena drain enormous amounts of water from lake, river

6/1 - Massena, N.Y. – High water on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River has been causing havoc for weeks. The group that regulates water levels is trying to fix that.

"The board has authorized the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation to increase flows up to the maximum in what we've seen in recent decades," said Tony David, a member of the International Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Board. The board regulates water levels on the lake and river.

For a week, the board has had water flowing out of the Moses-Saunders and the Long Sault Power dams in Massena at a rapid rate. It has been releasing more than 300,000 cubic feet of water per second. That's enough to fill over 52,000 Olympic sized swimming pools a day.

"It's as much as allowable because we're keeping the river downstream at Montreal at flood stage," said David.

And even though there's a lot of water going through the dams, it will still take some time before water levels on the lake and river are back to normal

"If we have a string of dry weather, it could be sooner, but if it continues kind of like how we're doing now, it could be into August before we really see some significant reductions," said David.

David says the board is going to continue releasing water at this rate until water levels are back to the way they should be.

www.wwnytv.com

. 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.