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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN - Gary A. Putney
Indiana Harbor departed Two Harbors on Oct.19th at 08:51 for Gary. Joseph L. Block went to anchor off Duluth after it departed Duluth around 22:30 on the 18th. It got underway off Duluth at approx. 07:00 on Oct. 19th and arrived Two Harbors at 09:40 for South of #2. As of 19:30 on Oct. 19th she is still at South of #2. The CSL Assiniboine went to anchor off Two Harbors between 10:30 and 11:00 on Oct. 19th. She was stopped SW of Two Harbors. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 19th around 20:00 is the Presque Isle. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Two Harbors on Oct. 20th. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no inbound traffic on Oct. 19th and none scheduled on Oct. 20th.

Thunder Bay, ON
Friday; 11:38 Frontenac arrived at Keefer Terminal to refuel and departed Saturday at 0:47 for Nanticoke. 1:08 Algoma Discovery departed for Quebec City. 1:55 Federal Kivalina departed for Sorel. 13:41 Federal Rideau departed for Montreal. The saltie Vitosha weighed anchor and proceeded to the Superior Elevator to finish loading.

Marquette, MI
Arthur M. Anderson arrived Saturday evening to load. Kaye E. Barker was ahead of her.

Northern Lake Huron ports
Meldrum Bay: Saturday; 8:06 Whitefish Bay arrived to load dolomite.

Calcite: Saturday 18:19 H Lee White arrived to load.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI - Raymond H
Saturday Arrivals: Lee A Tregurtha arrived at AK Steel to unload ore. Calusa Coast and Delaware arrived at the Marathon Asphalt Terminal to load.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Sea Eagle was at St. Marys Cement Saturday. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder was at Cargill loading salt. American Courage was loading at the Bulk Terminal for a shuttle.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Saturday October 19 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - docked - Oct 18 - Algoma Hansa at 0657

Buffalo - Oct 18 - Manitoulin at 1433 - departed Oct 19 at 0944 for the canal

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 18 - Algoma Equinox at 1521 and NACC Argonaut at 2128 - Oct 19 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 0714, John D Leitchat 1200, Robert S Pierson at 1439, Whitstler (Cyp) at 1706, Carolus Magnes (Bds) (ex SCT Breihorn-17, MCT Breithorn-09, HHL Celtic-07) at 1900, Algoma Spirit at 2012 and Algoscotia eta 2210

downbound - Oct 18 - Algoma Spirit at 1221, Algoma Conveyor at 1314, Ruddy at 1853 and Kitikmeot W at 2248 - Oct 19 - Algoma Compass at 0601, Atlantic Huron at 0920, CSL Tadoussac at 1106, Manitoulin at 1118, Isolda (Cyp) at ____

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 15 - tug Sharon M I & barge stopped wharf 16 at 0725 - Oct 16 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1032 - both at wharf 16 holding for weather

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 17 - Juno (Bhs) at 1025 - Oct 19 - Whistler (Lbr) at 0215 and Ruddy (Cyp) at 0615 - departures - Oct 19- Whistler (Cyp) for the canal and Rosy (Brb) (ex SCT Stockhorn-17, MCT Stockhorn-16, HLL Caspian-08) at 0144 eastbound

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct - 19 - Algoma Spirit at 0340, Algoma Conveyor at 0525 and Algoma Compass at 2019 - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 (Heddle Dry Dock) - Oct 16 - Jamno (Bhs) at 2131 and Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 0535 - Oct 18 - Kaministiqua at 1054 - departure - Oct 19 - Algoma Spirit at 1736 for the canal

Bronte - arrival - Oct 18 - Paul A Desgagnes at 1920

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 18 - Robert S Pierson at 2305 - departed Oct 19 at 1242 for the canal

Mississauga - Oct 19 - Wicky Spirit at 1116

Toronto - arrival - Oct 19 - Labrador (Cyp) at 1045 - docked - Oct 18 - McKeil Spirit at 0636 - departed - Oct 18 - Whistler (Lbr) 2251 for Port Weller

Oshawa - docked - Oct 16 - NACC Quebec at 1755 - departed Oct 17 at 1050 eastbound

On this day in 1916, the whaleback JAMES B. COLGATE sank off Long Point in Lake Erie with a loss of 26. The lone survivor was Captain Walter J. Grashaw who was picked up two days after the sinking. Captain Grashaw had sailed as First Mate on the COLGATE for ten years and was conducting his first trip as Captain. The "Black Friday" storm also claimed the MERIDA, D.L. FLYER, and M.F. BUTTERS.

On 20 October 1875, the wooden schooner F.C. LEIGHTON was loaded with ore when she struck a rock in the St. Marys River and sank a few miles from Detour, Michigan. A tug was sent right away to raise her.

On 20 October 1916, MERIDA (steel propeller bulk freighter, 360 foot, 3,261 gross tons, built in 1893, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was heavily loaded with iron ore when she encountered the "Black Friday" Storm on Lake Erie. She sank about 24 miles east of Erieau, Ontario. All 24 onboard were lost. A few days later the wheelhouse was found floating 15 miles south of Port Stanley. 21 bodies were eventually found, but not the bodies of Capt. Harry L. Jones or crewman Wilfred Austin. The wreck was found in 1975 by Larry Jackson, a commercial fisherman.

The SCOTT MISENER of 1954 proceeded to the Port Arthur shipyard for dry docking and repairs on October 20th, after striking bottom October 15, 1973, near Whaleback Shoal on the St. Lawrence River.

The JAMES S. DUNHAM was launched October 20, 1906, for the Chicago Navigation Co. (D. Sullivan & Co., mgr.) Duluth, Minnesota. Renamed b.) LYNFORD E. GEER in 1926, and c.) OTTO M. REISS in 1934. Scrapped at Castellon, Spain in 1973.

PETER A.B. WIDENER was launched October 20, 1906, for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. (later the U.S. Steel Corp. in 1952), Cleveland, Ohio.

The tug RESCUE was sent from Port Huron to Tawas, Michigan to release the 246-foot barge OCEAN that was grounded. After pulling the barge free, Capt. Fitch of RESCUE began towing her down Lake Huron, but the storm got so bad that he was about to turn back and run for Tawas. However, the captain of OCEAN yelled that they were all right and to go ahead down the lake. Soon the seas got the better of the barge. The tug kept with her until she was about to sink. Then the line was cut, the tug turned about, ran under her lee, and rescued her crew of 9 from the lifeboat. The barge sank. On the way down Lake Huron, opposite Port Sanilac, the RESCUE picked up 6 men and 1 woman from the wrecked barge JOHN F. RUST. In this one trip, the RESCUE earned her name by rescuing 16 persons!

October 20, 1898 - The SHENANGO NO 2 (later PERE MARQUETTE 16) was arriving Milwaukee when her steering gear failed, causing her to crash into a grain elevator that was under construction.

October 20, 1926 - The keel was laid for the twin screw lake passenger and railcar ferry WABASH (Hull#177) of the Toledo Shipbuilding Co.

On 20 October 1863, E. S. ADAMS (3 mast wooden bark, 135 foot, 341 gross tons, built in 1857, at Port Robinson, Ontario) was carrying 18,500 bushels of wheat on a clear night when she collided with the American bark CONSTITUTION resulting in the loss of the ADAMS. One life was lost. Neither vessel was blamed for the accident.

On 20 October 1854, JOHN J. AUDUBON (wooden brig, 370 tons, built in 1854, at Black River, Ohio) was carrying railroad iron from Buffalo to Chicago when she was struck amidships by the schooner DEFIANCE on a dark night, halfway between Thunder Bay and Presque Isle, Michigan. AUDUBON was cut almost in half. Both vessels sank quickly. No lives were lost.

On 20 October 1844, DAYTON (2-mast wooden schooner, 69 foot, 85 tons, built in 1835, at Grand Island, New York) capsized and sank in Lake Erie off Dunkirk, New York in a terrific gale. All onboard were lost.

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

Sarah Spencer scrap tow departs Toledo for Port Colborne

10/19 - Toledo, OH – The Sarah Spencer scrap tow departed the CSX Coal Docks Frog Pond at Toledo at 11:25 am Friday. The tug Molly M 1 is handling the tow, assisted by the tug Ohio. The tow is bound for Port Colborne, ON, where the Spencer will be cut up.

Jacob Silvan, Jim Hoffman

Most destructive Lake Michigan storm in over 30 years eats away up to 30 feet of dunes

10/19 - – The powerful storm this past Wednesday combined with near record high Great Lakes water levels to do lots of damage. The National Weather Service states this was the most shoreline destructive storm since 1986. They say some of the sand dunes at Lake Michigan lost 30 feet of dunes in 12 hours during the storm. Here's a look at some of the details and damage with the storm.

https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/10/fe356b33cc6100/most-destructive-lake-michigan-storm-in-over-30-years-eats-away-up-to-30-feet-of-dunes.html

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN - Gary A. Putney
American Integrity departed Two Harbors from South of #2 on Oct. 17th at 21:51 for Conneaut. The Edgar B. Speer arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 17th at 23:13 for South of #2. She departed Two Harbors on Oct. 18th at 12:32 for Conneaut. Arriving Two Harbors on Oct. 18th at 13:47 was the Indiana Harbor. Due Two Harbor late on Oct.18th or early on Oct. 19th is the Joseph L. Block. As of 19:30 on the 18th she was unloading stone at Graymont in Superior. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 19th is the CSL Assiniboine. As of 19:30 on the 18th she was unloading salt at Hallett #8 in Superior. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on Oct. 18th and none scheduled on Oct. 19th. Also due Two Harbors on Oct. 19th is the Presque Isle.

Thunder Bay, ON
Wednesday; 21:00 The saltie Vitosha shifted to the main anchorage. 21:46 Algoma Discovery weighed anchor and proceeded to the G3 elevator to load grain. 22:26 The saltie Isolda departed for Montreal. Thursday; 15:21 G 3 Marquis departed for Baie Comeau. 15:34 Federal Rideau weighed anchor and proceeded to the Superior Elevator to load. 17:51 Federal Kivalina weighed anchor and proceeded to the Richardson Main Terminal to load grain.

Marquette, MI
Arthur M. Anderson is expected late Saturday to load pellets. This is a very unusual trip for her.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI - Raymond H
Friday Arrivals: Hon. James L Oberstar arrived at AK Steel to unload ore. Florence Spirit arrived at Zug Island to load coke.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Calumet was at Ontario Stone, Federal Caribou was at the Port docks. G.L. Ostrander/Integrity was at Lafarge with cement and Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder was at ArcelorMittal.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Friday October 18 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - James R Barker at 2206 - Oct 18 - Algoma Hansa at 0657 departed - Oct 18 - Robert S Pierson at 0614 eastbound, James R Barker at 1133 westbound and Kitikmeot W at 1852 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Oct 16 - Algoma Hansa at 2136 - Oct 17 - James R Barker at 1014 - departed - Oct - 17 James R Barker at 2017 for the dock - Oct 18 - Algoma Hansa at 0629 to the dock

Buffalo - (Tonawanda) - docked - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245 - departed Oct 18 westbound

Welland Canal - upbound - - Oct 17 - Florence Spirit at 1821 and Algoma Strongfield at 2300 - LOct 18 - Algonorth at 0619, CSL Laurentien at 0904, Pia (Atg) (ex BBC Alabama-17, Western Voyager-07) at 0928, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 1241, Algoma Equinox at 1521 and NACC Argonaut eta 2052

downbound - Oct 18 - light tug Leonard M at 0155, Robert S Pierson at 0646, Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1138, Algoma Spirit at 1221, Algoma Conveyor at 1314 and Kitikmeot W eta 2120

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 15 - tug Sharon M I & barge stopped wharf 16 at 0725 - Oct 16 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1032 - both at wharf 16 holding for weather

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 17 - Florence Spirit at 0625 - departures - Oct 15 - Iver Bright (Nld) at 2237 - Oct 16 - Happy Ranger (Nld) at 0108 Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 0206, Federal Hunter at 0225 and Adfines Sea ( Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 0757 - Oct 18 - Patalya (Mlt) (ex Maersk Newport-13) at 0630 eastbound

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 17 - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 (Heddle Dry Dock) - Oct 16 - Jamno (Bhs) at 2131 and Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - departed - Oct 17 - Algoma Strongfield at 2001 - Oct 18 - Algoma Equinox at 1332 - both for the canal

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 18 - Robert S Pierson eta 2315 - anchored - Oct 17 - Algonorth off Clarkson at 0916 for weather - departed Oct 18 at 0428 for the canal

Mississauga - docked - Oct 15 - Hinch Spirit at 1354 - departed - Oct 17 - Hinch Spirit at 2039 eastbound

Toronto - docked - Oct 16 - NACC Argonaut at 0930 and Petite Forte at 1646 - departed - Oct 17 - NACC Argonaut at 0713 eastbound

Oshawa - docked - Oct 16 - NACC Quebec at 1755 - departed Oct 17 at 1050 eastbound

Historic Great Lakes Coast Guard cutter may be headed to auction block

10/19 - A former U.S. Coast Guard cutter that for decades was a familiar sight cruising and breaking ice on the Great Lakes may now be headed to the auction block. The Bramble, which made history at least twice in her Coast Guard career before being decommissioned in 2003, is caught up in an Alabama court case over unpaid debts, staff at the Maritime Executive site reported this week.

According to court documents found online, the case against M/Y Bramble, Bramble Historic Epic Companies, LLC and Orinoco Natural Resources, LLC was filed on Aug. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

The vintage cutter built in Duluth during WWII could be auctioned off as soon as Nov. 6, Maritime Executive reported. It’s a surprising twist for a beloved ship that spent her early retirement years as a floating museum in Port Huron, before being purchased by an entrepreneur late last year and moved down south.

The new owner had talked about plans to renovate the Bramble and get the ship ready to retrace its historic 1957 Northwest Passage trip. During that trip, the Bramble was one of three U.S. Coast Guard vessels - along with its sister ship, the Spar, and the Storis, to motor along semi-charted waters on the northern shore of Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. To toughen up for that voyage through Arctic ice, the Bramble was outfitted with a stronger bow and a stainless steel propeller, reports show. The 4,500 nautical-mile journey took the three cutters 64 days, and made them the first American ships to circumnavigate North America.

A video team poised to document the Bramble’s repeat performance posted about the change in circumstances this week on social media: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out about the status of the Bramble. The film production is independent and not affiliated with the owner of the ship. The film crew shares your passion for the ship and remain hopeful that the voyage will live on,” staff at Bramble Reborn posted on Facebook.

People commenting on the site are sharing the hope that the Bramble could somehow be returned to Michigan, where she made a name for herself as a buoy tender and icebreaker.

The cutter was built by Zenith Dredge Company in Duluth and launched in 1943. She left her Great Lakes home in 1945, becoming a workhorse in California and Alaska. She had her first brush with history in Hawaii in 1947, when she was present for the first test of an atomic bomb’s effect on ships at Bikini Island, records show.

After her famed Northwest Passage journey, the Bramble returned to the Great Lakes, where she spent the next three decades on law enforcement, search and rescue and buoy-tending work. She was home-ported in both Detroit and Port Huron during those years.

The Bramble then did some work in the Caribbean before coming back to the Great Lakes for her final years in the fleet. She was decommissioned in 2003, replaced by the current cutter, the Hollyhock.

M Live

Minntac's Line 3 shutting down, no layoffs expected

10/19 - A production line at Minntac is being shut down this week, and could be down the rest of the quarter. Local 1938 President Steve Bonach said it could be started up again when other lines are taken down for maintenance, if demand calls for it.

Minntac, which is in Mountain Iron, is owned by U.S. Steel. The company sent a statement on Thursday evening. It said, "In order to reflect changing market conditions and the need to adjust our raw materials accordingly, we plan to take advantage of this situation by performing additional maintenance on our 5 Minntac Agglomerators for enhanced reliability in preparation for improved market conditions. We do not anticipate any employment impacts as a result of this action."

Bonach said he was told no layoffs are expected. U.S. Steel announced in June they were idling two blast furnaces in the Midwest and one in Europe, in response to market conditions.

WDIO

Soo Locks Visitor Center closes for the winter

10/19 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The Soo Locks Visitor Center closes for the year on Sunday. The rest of the park and the observation deck will remain open year around.

Obituary: Lillian Dorothy Keith

10/19 - Lillian Dorothy Keith, born November 9, 1920, was the daughter of Captain Ezra and Lily Boice Purdy. Growing up in Port Huron on the shores of Lake Huron, she took trips on her father's ore boats by climbing up the side on a rope ladder from the moving Wescott mail boat. She married her high school sweetheart, captain of the football team, Wallace John Keith. After WWII the couple moved to Trotwood, Ohio and began a new life together. Never losing touch with their Michigan roots, they would summer at the family home on the lake until its sale in the 1960s. A graduate of Michigan State University she held two Master's Degrees from the University of Dayton. A devoted teacher, she taught in Marine City during the War, then as both a kindergarten and later a high school English teacher, eventually becoming the head of the Language Arts Department at Trotwood Madison High School. She often recalled teaching students both as kindergartners and later as young adults, an experience that provided her an amazing opportunity to see her students' progression. She loved teaching and was beloved and highly respected by students and colleagues alike. She also had a lifelong love of animals, especially the many collies she had as faithful companions. She traveled extensively, both in North America and throughout Europe. She was a proud progressive, being a founding member of NOW (National Organization of Women) and Another Mother for Peace. In 1990 she returned to summer on Lake Huron in a cottage near Lexington. She treasured being back on 'her lake' and boating to ports in Canada and elsewhere with family and friends on Largo II. For a short time, she lived in Santa Cruz, California and enjoyed exploring the area before returning and downsizing to the Michigan cottage full time in summer of 2012. In the end she denied her age, saying that wasn't possible, and preferring the company of young minds to "old people." Survived by her devoted son Kenneth L. Keith, she was preceded in death by her husband Wallace and son W. John Keith, her beloved brothers Boice, Delbert and Donald Purdy, her parents and many other family members. She will be laid to rest with her family at Lakeside Cemetery across from the shores of her cherished Lake Huron. A service in celebration of her life will be held on May 22, 2020 in the Lakeside Chapel.

At 2 a.m. October 19, 1901, the Barry line steamer STATE OF MICHIGAN (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 165 foot, 736 gross tons, built in 1875, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) sank in 60 feet of water about four miles northwest of White Lake harbor on Lake Michigan. The crew and captain reached shore in boats with the assistance of the White Lake Life Saving crew and the tug MC GRAFF. The vessel was sailing in good weather when a piston rod broke and stove a hole through the bottom of the boat. The water came gushing in. By the time the tug MC GRAFF came and took on the crew, the STATE OF MICHIGAN was in serious trouble. She went down shortly after the tug began towing her toward shore.

On October 19, 1871, ELIZA LOGAN (2-mast wooden schooner, 130 foot, 369 gross tons, built in 1855, at Buffalo, New York) foundered in rough weather about 12 miles off Erie, Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. She was sailing from Toledo, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York, with a load of wheat when she sank. Captain Lawson and one sailor were lost, but the six others scrambled up the rigging and held on to the crosstrees for 42 hours until they were rescued by the schooner EMU at 6:00 a.m. on the morning of 21 October.

GEORGE A. SLOAN ran aground off Bob-Lo Island in the Amherstburg Channel on October 19, 1987. She was released when she unloaded part of her cargo to the CALCITE II. SLOAN was repaired in Toledo. Purchased by Lower Lakes Towing in 2001, renamed c.) MISSISSAGI.

ALGOSEA, a.) BROOKNES, was christened on October 19, 1976, at Port Colborne, Ontario. She was renamed c.) SAUNIERE in 1982. Scrapped in Turkey in 2011.

BUFFALO was able to leave the Saginaw River once it opened to traffic on October 19, 1990. The river was closed after the tanker JUPITER exploded as the BUFFALO passed.

KINSMAN VOYAGER was launched October 19, 1907, as a.) H. P. BOPE for the Standard Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio.

WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE of 1908, had the honor on October 19, 1912, of being the first vessel to navigate the opening of the Livingstone Channel named after the man who helped conceive the idea of a separate down bound channel on the east side of Bob-Lo Island in the lower Detroit River. Mr. Livingstone, President of the Lake Carriers Association at the time, piloted his namesake vessel in the channel on that historic trip. Renamed b.) S B WAY in 1936 and c.) CRISPIN OGLEBAY in 1948. She was scrapped at Santander, Spain, in 1974.

The crew on the stranded WILLIAM C. MORELAND was removed in gale force winds on October 19, 1910, by the Portage life saving crew.

On October 19, 1923, SAMUEL MATHER was driven onto Gull Rock on Lake Superior near Keweenaw Point during a snowstorm and gale winds. The crew was safely removed from the badly exposed steamer on October 21st by the Eagle Harbor life saving crew. Renamed b.) PATHFINDER in 1925, sold Canadian in 1964, renamed c.) GODERICH, d.) SOO RIVER TRADER and e.) PINEGLEN in 1982. Scrapped at Port Maitland, Ontario in 1984.

Michigan Limestone's self-unloader B. H. TAYLOR sailed from Lorain on her maiden voyage on October 19, 1923. She was renamed b.) ROGERS CITY in 1957, and scrapped at Recife, Brazil in 1988.

On October 19, 1868, PARAGON (wooden schooner, 212 tons, built in 1852, at Oshawa, Ontario as a brig) was being towed up the St. Clair River by the tug WILLIAM A MOORE with a load of lumber in the company of four other barges. During a gale, the tow was broken up. While the tug MOORE was trying to regain the tows, she collided with PARAGON causing severe damage. Four were drowned, but two were rescued by the Canadian gunboat/tug PRINCE ALFRED. PARAGON was then towed into Sarnia, but she sank there and was abandoned in place.

October 19, 1919 - ANN ARBOR NO 4, while on the Grand Haven to Milwaukee run, got caught in a gale, stretching the normal 6-hour crossing to 27 hours.

On October 19,1876, MASSILON (3-mast wooden schooner with foretop and topgallant sails, 130 foot, 298 gross tons, built in 1857, at Cleveland, Ohio, as a bark) was sailing from Kelley's Island for Chicago with limestone when she sprang a leak 20 miles above Pointe aux Barques at the mouth of Saginaw Bay. She was abandoned at about 2:00 a.m. and then sank. The crew was in an open boat until 7 a.m. when they were rescued by the tug VULCAN.

On October 19, 1873, JOHN F. RUST (wooden schooner-barge, 161 foot, 347 gross tons, built in 1869, at East Saginaw, Michigan) was carrying lumber in tow of the steamer BAY CITY in a storm when she broke her towline and went ashore a few miles north of Lakeport, Michigan.

1901: The wooden freighter STATE OF MICHIGAN, a) DEPERE sank off Whitehall, MI enroute to Manistee to load salt. A piston rod had broken and fractured the hull the previous day and the vessel went down slowly. All on board were saved.

1905: KALIYUGA foundered in Lake Huron with the loss of 18 lives. The ore laden steamer was enroute to Cleveland.

1905: SIBERIA sank in a storm on Lake Erie while eastbound with a cargo of grain. All on board were saved.

1916: The wooden schooner D.L. FILER, loaded with coal and enroute from Buffalo to Saugatuck, MI, became waterlogged and sank near the mouth of the Detroit River 3.5 miles east of Bar Point Light. The vessel settled in shallow water with the crew clinging to the masts. The forward mast cracked throwing the sailors into the water and all 6 were lost. Only the captain on the after mast survived.

1947: MANCHESTER CITY went aground off Cap Saumon, QC, while inbound from the United Kingdom with freight, 12 passengers and a crew of 50. The ship stranded in fog and the passengers were removed safely before the vessel was lightered. The vessel made 17 trips through the Seaway from 1959 to 1963 before being scrapped at Faslane, Scotland, in 1964.

1981: ELSIE WINCK first came through the Seaway in 1962. It was bombed and sunk at Bandar Khomeini, Iran, as e) MOIRA on this date and was a total loss.

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

USCGC Bramble faces auctioneer's hammer

10/18 - The vintage U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble has been arrested in Mobile, Alabama, for unpaid bills and will be auctioned on the steps of Mobile courthouse on November 6 .

The vessel was sold to USCGC Bramble, LLC in 2013. This entity ran the vessel as a museum ship. Financial backer Tom Clark bought the Bramble in 2018 and has refurbished it, with plans to recreate the northwest passage undertaken by Bramble in 1957.

However, despite court action, debts remain unpaid. A spokesman from the plaintiff, Inchcape Shipping Services, Inc., says: “We hope that a passionate person or institution will be able to save her.”

Bramble is one of the 39 original 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. In 1947, she participated in Operation Crossroads, the first test of an atomic bomb's effect on surface ships at Bikini Island. Bramble took over responsibility for the maintenance of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) in Bikini’s lagoon from her sister ship Redbud, which had helped prepare the target area for the first round of tests. Bramble was located about 15 miles from the atoll to watch the detonation of an atomic bomb over the target area before setting a course for Hawaii.

In 1957, Bramble, along with her sister ships, USCGC Spar and USCGC Storis, were selected to attempt a forced passage along the northern shore of Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The ships traveled through 4,500 nautical miles of semi-charted water in 64 days. The success of the mission distinguished the three cutters as the first American surface ships to circumnavigate the North American continent.

After Task Force Five completed its mission Bramble returned to Miami to take up her duties as an AtoN tender and SAR platform. These duties included assisting in the evacuations of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, under the threat of Hurricane Gracie. In August 1962, she took up station in Detroit, Michigan, and went to work as an AtoN tender and icebreaker.

Maritime Executive

Duluth's museum ship William A. Irvin comes home

10/18 - Duluth, MN – After more than a year away, the William A. Irvin returned home to the Minnesota Slip Wednesday night. Wren Works LLC orchestrated the move in which tugboats pulled the vessel from Fraser Shipyards to the pedestrian bridge between Canal Park and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, which owns and operates the floating museum.

From there, barges guided the 611-foot vessel through the bridge with only 7 inches to spare on each side of the ship. The ship made it completely through the Minnesota Slip Bridge around 10:37 p.m.

Chase Dewhirst was the consultant to the DECC on matters concerning the Irvin. "It is a slow process. It can only go about one foot every four seconds," said Dewhirst, marine civil engineering manager with AMI Consulting Engineers, of the alignment process, which was meant to minimize the potential for damage.

The retired ore ship left the slip for Fraser in September 2018 so crews could begin work on a project to stabilize and contain contaminated sediments in the water. The DECC decided to make the most of the displacement and use the time to make needed repairs and a new coat of paint. In July, the ship was dry-docked at Fraser for restoration.

Dewhirst said while the ship was dry-docked AMI took the opportunity to do more detailed inspections, as it's harder to do so in the water. Small cracks and about 285 rivets were fixed as a result.

"There are other things that can get done while it's not in dry dock," Dewhirst said. "We were prioritizing things that needed to get done in dry dock. We're just increasing the service life of this vessel." A $500,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society was used to fund the work.

Chelly Townsend, executive director of the DECC, said an official welcome is planned for after Irvin returns. It's expected to return to business as usual in 2020.

View photos at this link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4724866-Duluths-museum-ships-homecoming-meets-delay

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

Duluth-Superior - Daniel Lindner
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed Duluth at 01:33 Thursday morning after loading coal at Midwest Energy. Edwin H. Gott arrived at 02:35 for a load of iron ore pellets from Canadian National, and Paul R. Tregurtha came in at 03:14 to pick up coal at SMET. She was outbound for St. Clair at 15:13. Edwin H. Gott had a departure time of 22:30 Thursday night listed. In Superior, Frontenac spent the day Thursday loading iron ore pellets at Burlington Northern, and was still at the dock as of 19:00 with no departure time listed. Burns Harbor was due at 21:30, however she will likely anchor and wait to arrive until Frontenac completes loading.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN - Gary A. Putney
American Integrity arrived Two Harbors for South of #2 on Oct. 17th at 03:13. As of 19:45 on Oct. 17th she is still at the loading dock. Due Two Harbors early on Oct. 18th is the Edgar B. Speer. Due Two Harbors later in the day on Oct. 18th is the Indiana Harbor. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw no traffic on Oct. 17th and none scheduled on the 18th.

Owen Sound, ON – Paul Martin
Cuyahoga arrived early Friday morning and spent the day unloading two types of road salt on to the pier south of the grain elevator in Owen Sound. Weather permitting she will depart early Friday evening.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI - Raymond H
Thursday Arrivals: John G Munson shifted to Zug Island to finish unloading stone. Philip R Clarke arrived at the Jefferson Ave stone dock to unload stone. American Spirit arrived at Zug Island to unload ore. Sam Laud arrived at Zug Island to unload coal.

Toledo, OH
Tug Molly M 1arrived on Thursday and is expected to tow the long-idle barge Sarah Spencer out for scrap Friday, weather permitting.

Port Colborne, ON – Bill Bird
International Marine Salvage has bulldozed a ramp astern of where the one Algoma ship remains. The idea is to drag the two cement ships onto the land to make more room for more scrap-bound vessels this winter, including Sarah Spencer, due over the weekend. Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Thursday October 17 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Oct 17 - Kitikmeot W at 1402 and Robert S Pierson at 1450 - departed - Oct 17 - Rosy (Bds) (ex SCT Stockhorn-17, MCT Stockhorn-16, HLL Caspian-08) at 1003 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Oct 16 - Algoma Hansa at 2136 - Oct 17 - James R Barker at 1014, Robert S Pierson at 1134 - departed Oct 17 - Robert S Pierson at 1412 to the dock

Buffalo - (Tonawanda) - docked - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 16 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0947 stopping at wharf 16, Robert S Pierson at 1954 and Kitikmeot at 2319 - Oct 17 - Algoma Sault at 0008, Evans Spirit at 0307, Oakglen at 0522, Florence Spirit at 1821

downbound - Oct 16 - Ojibway at 1311 and CSL Laurentien at 1800 - Oct 17 - Rosy (Brb) (ex SCT Stockhorn-17, MCT Stockhorn-16, HLL Caspian-08) at 1446

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 15 - tug Sharon M I & barge stopped wharf 16 at 0725 - Oct 16 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1032 - both at wharf 16 holding for weather

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 16 - Patalya (Mlt) (ex Maersk Newport-13) at 2355 - Oct 17 - Florence Spirit at 0625 - departures - Oct 15 - Iver Bright (Nld) at 2237 - Oct 16 - Happy Ranger (Nld) at 0108 Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 0206, Federal Hunter at 0225 and Adfines Sea ( Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 0757 - Oct 17 - Federal Dee (Mhl) at 0003, Blacky (Cyp) at 1210, and Florence Spirit at 1715 for the canal and Rodopi (Mlt) at 2105 eastbound

Hamilton - arrival - Oct 17 - Algoma Equinox at 0450, docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 (Heddle Dry Dock) - Florence Spirit at 1816 and Algoma Strongfield at 2126, Oct 16 -Jamno (Bhs) at 2131 and Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - departed - Oct 16 - Patalya (Mlt) (ex Maersk Newport-13) at 2156 for Port Weller -

Clarkson - Oct 17 - Algonorth anchored off Clarkson at 0916 for weather

Mississauga - docked - Oct 15 - Hinch Spirit at 1354 - departed - Oct 17 - Hinch Spirit at 2039 eastbound

Toronto - docked - Oct 16 - NACC Argonaut at 0930 and Petite Forte at 1646 - departed - Oct 17 - NACC Argonaut at 0713 eastbound

Oshawa - docked - Oct 16 -NACC Quebec at 1755

Seaway – Rene Beauchamp
Humbergracht will transit the Seaway next week. She is the second vessel of that name in the waterway. She previously visited as HHL Tyne.

Great Lakes’ last coal-fired car ferry to get operations facelift

10/18 - Ludington, MI - – The last coal-fired car ferry operating on the Great Lakes - and in the United States - will get a new ticket booth to welcome passengers with a modern look. The building has been there since “the railroad days,” according to an Associated Press report.

The S.S. Badger, a National Historic Landmark, carries passengers across Lake Michigan between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis., multiple times a day each spring and summer, with an occasional industrial cargo load mixed in. It can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles. Its original purpose was to ferry rail cars, which it did from 1953-1990.

With the 2019 season concluded as of Monday, Oct. 14, it’s time for Lake Michigan Carferry, which operates the 410-foot vessel, to start off-season projects, The AP reports. This year’s big endeavor will be the new ticket booth in Ludington that will be built at the same location as the current building after it’s demolished. It will include a gift shop and is expected to be complete by the start of the 2020 season.

There are no plans for major upgrades to the ship this year.

In May, the company completed a $9.5 million project that replaced its docks on both sides of Lake Michigan. In April 2018, the Manitowoc pier sustained significant damage due to shore erosion caused by high winds and waves.

The Badger makes about 450 trips a year transporting passengers, autos, RVs, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan. The slow journey - advertised as an adventure in itself - takes about four hours.

The ship’s passengers are encouraged to slow down and reminisce about simpler times. Onboard entertainment includes bingo, movies, satellite TV, lounge areas, play areas, Wi-Fi, an arcade, a gift shop, two food service areas and two bars, and large outdoor decks. Evening and night crossings offer sunset views and stargazing free of light pollution.

2020 passenger service will begin in mid-May; reservations will be available in January.

On October 18, 1869, GERALDINE (3-mast wooden schooner, 232 tons, built in 1856, at Wilson, New York as a bark) was carrying coal from Buffalo to Detroit in heavy weather. During the night, she collided with the schooner E. M. PORTCH five miles below "The Cut" at Long Point on Lake Erie and sank in 5 minutes. The PORTCH stood by while the GERALDINE's crew got off in the yawl. No lives were lost.

ALVA C. DINKEY departed Quebec City October 18, 1980, in tandem with her former fleet mate GOVERNOR MILLER, towed by the FedNav tug CATHY B., in route to Vigo, Spain, for scrapping.

Tragedy struck on the WILLIAM C. MORELAND's fifth trip October 18, 1910, Loaded with 10,700 tons of iron ore from Superior for Ashtabula, Ohio, the vessel stranded on Sawtooth Reef off Eagle Harbor, Michigan, on Lake Superior. Visibility had been very limited due to forest fires raging on the Keweenaw Peninsula and the lake was blanketed with smoke as far as one mile off shore. The MORELAND hit so hard and at such speed that she bounced over the first reef and came to rest on a second set of rocks. The stern section was salvaged and combined with a new forward section she became b.) SIR TREVOR DAWSON in 1916. Renamed c.) CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON in 1920, d.) GENE C. HUTCHINSON in 1951, sold into Canadian registry in 1963, renamed e.) PARKDALE. Scrapped at Cartagena, Spain in 1970.

On October 18, 1896, AUSTRALASIA (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 282 foot, 1,829 gross tons, built in 1884, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was carrying 2,200 tons of soft coal when she caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank 3 miles east of Cana Island in Lake Michigan. The Bailey's Harbor Lifesavers saved her crew.

At 8 p.m., on October 18, 1844, the steamer ROCHESTER left Rochester, New York for Toronto. She encountered a severe gale about halfway there. Captain H. N. Throop had the vessel put about to return to Rochester. The gale was so severe that all thought they were lost. When they finally arrived in Rochester, the passengers were so grateful that they had survived that they published a note of gratitude to Almighty God and Captain Throop in The Rochester Daily Democrat on 19 October 1844 -- it was signed by all 18 passengers.

On October 18,1876, the schooner R. D. CAMPBELL filled with water and capsized on Lake Michigan about 10 miles from Muskegon, Michigan. The crew clung to the vessel's rigging until rescued by the tug JAMES MC GORDAN. The schooner drifted to the beach some hours later.

1905: The schooner TASMANIA became waterlogged while under tow of the steamer BULGARIA and sank in the Pelee Passage

1911: ARUNDELL had been laid up at Douglas, MI, for about 2 weeks when fire Poke out, destroying the iron hulled passenger and freight vessel.

1917: ABYSSINIA had been under tow of the MARUBA when both ships stranded at Tecumseh Shoal in heavy seas. The grain-laden vessels had been following the north shore due to high winds when they struck bottom. The barge began leaking and was pounded apart but there was no loss of life but the steamer was refloated.

1933: The wooden steam barge MANISTIQUE caught fire on Lake Huron and the remains either sank or was scuttled.

1973: The AGIOS ANTONIOS first visited the Seaway in 1972 and, as a) SILVERWEIR, had come inland beginning in 1964. The ship had loaded iron ore at Coondapoor, on the southwest coast of India, and went aground leaving for Constanza, Romania. The vessel was abandoned as a total loss.

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

U.S. Great Lakes ports on pace to beat 2018 volumes

10/17 - U.S. Great Lakes ports are on pace to beat 2018 cargo volumes following a robust September handling road salt, cement, stone, petroleum and wind energy components.

“U.S. Great Lakes ports are reporting cargo growth as they support the region’s construction activity and energy needs and help our cities prepare for the winter ahead,” said Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “Iron ore exports from Minnesota to Japan and China via the St. Lawrence Seaway are also continuing.”

Overall, St. Lawrence Seaway tonnage for the season (March 22 to September 30) reached 24.8 million metric tons, down 6 percent from 2018. The figures reflect a combination of factors including the decrease in U.S. corn and soybean exports from earlier in the spring and current delays in the Canadian Prairie harvest due to the wet field conditions.

September was a busy month for the Port of Duluth-Superior, with overall tonnage pacing slightly ahead of last season and the five-season average. Grain made a strong move in September, posting its second-highest monthly tonnage total of the season and narrowly outpacing 2018. General cargo movement continued steady, with wind energy cargo arrivals from overseas via the Seaway tracking toward a record total. In addition, iron ore tonnage outpaced the September 2018 total by 3 percent, putting it almost 16 percent ahead of the five-year average.

Shipments of limestone and petroleum products continued to lead the way at the Port of Green Bay in September, bringing its year-to-date shipping total to more than 1.6 million tons through September; 17 percent ahead of 2018.

“It’s great to see the strong tonnage numbers for September,” said Dean Haen, Port of Green Bay Director. “We’ve had solid numbers for petroleum (up 44 percent over last year) and limestone shipments (up 64 percent over last year) throughout the season and salt shipments are typically strong this time of year with winter months not too far away. We’re optimistic that we’ll see a good finish for the 2019 shipping season for the Port and for the entire Great Lakes. It’s a good sign for the regional economy.”

Overall tonnage through Port Milwaukee is up 25 percent as the Port’s handling of salt, cement, steel, and other specialty cargoes have led the way this year.

“Port Milwaukee is continuing an impressive streak into the last quarter of 2019,” said Director Adam Schlicht. “The Port’s efforts to strategically market its multimodal capabilities to domestic and international customers is having a prodigious effect, culminating in the Port’s receipt of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) national Overall Award of Communications Excellence this week in Virginia.”

In September, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority reported a slight decrease in tonnage compared to the 2018 season. While coal, iron ore and grain were down, general cargo, dry bulk and petroleum numbers were up with robust aluminum shipments leading the way. The Port also handled bulk sugar for the first time since 2015. “The same vessel that brought sugar from Mexico to the Port of Toledo sailed up the Maumee River and loaded a combination of soybeans, distiller dry grain (DDG) and corn gluten meal (CGM). This single vessel discharge and reload is a great example of the diverse cargo mix handled at the Port of Toledo,” said Joseph Cappel, VP of Business Development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “With the ability to match export cargos with incoming shipments, the Port of Toledo can provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for shippers.”

Chamber of Marine Commerce

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

Duluth-Superior - Daniel Lindner
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Duluth at 12:48 Wednesday afternoon to pick up coal at Midwest Energy, and Mesabi Miner left port at 13:43 after loading iron ore pellets at CN. Late Wednesday afternoon, Heritage Marine tugs headed over to Fraser Shipyards and took the museum ship William A. Irvin under tow from the yard, where she has resided for the past year. The vessel was removed from drydock earlier this week after undergoing hull work and painting to prepare her to return to her home in the Minnesota Slip near the lift bridge. At the Superior entry on Wednesday, Michipicoten departed at 07:36 with iron ore and Frontenac was inbound at 19:04 to load at Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN - Gary A. Putney
Two Harbors had no traffic on Oct. 16th. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 17th is the American Integrity. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival and departure of the American Courage on Oct. 16th. She was inbound at 01:54 and outbound 12:12. She had arrived after unloading stone at Graymont in Superior. She is headed for Cleveland. There is no scheduled inbound traffic for Silver Bay on the 17th.

Thunder Bay ON
Wednesday; G3 Marquis is at the Superior Elevator loading wheat. The saltie Vitosha is at the G3 elevator loading grain. Atlantic Huron was loading coal at Thunder Bay Terminals and departed at 16:10 for Sydney NS. 17:19 Federal Mackinac weighed anchor and proceeded to Thunder Bay Terminals to load. The saltie Isolda is at the Richardson Current River Terminal loading grain. Federal Rideau and Federal Kivalina are at anchor in the main anchorage. Algoma Discovery is at anchor south of the Welcome Islands St. Marys River - Joy Fett
Sarter Marine's tug William C. Gaynor was upbound on a very wind, rainy, gloomy Wednesday and spent the day tied up next the Museum Ship Valley Camp. The Gaynor started upbound Tuesday and spent the night off Lime Island. She had in tow, two small U.S. Coast Guard vessels Erie and Fairport. They will be on their way to Superior, WI, once the weather moderates.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
In port Wednesday (10/16) were tug Anglian Lady with barge PML 9000 delivering just over 1,500 tons of Canadian steel at the heavy lift dock; Samuel de Champlain / Innovation with cement from Alpena at the Lafarge terminal; and Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Challenger with cement from Charlevoix at the St. Marys Cement Kinnickinnic River facility. Tugs Racine and Kenosha along with crane barge Manitowoc and two deck barges, all owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers, remain tied up at the south end of the mooring basin. This is Anglian Lady’s third visit to Milwaukee with steel coils from Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, since the Trump administration lifted tariffs on metal imports from Canada in May. Many of these coils are destined for a company in Oak Creek. Weighing approximately 24 tons, a truck can carry only one coil.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI - Raymond H
Wednesday Arrivals: Michigan/Great Lakes-arrived at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal. GL Ostrander/Integrity-arrived at Lafarge to unload cement. Cason J Callaway-arrived at Zug Island to unload ore. John G Munson-arrived at the Jefferson Ave stone dock to unload stone.

Cleveland, OH - Bill Kloss
Sam Laud departed Wednesday for Sandusky. Federal Caribou was at the Port, Dock 24E.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Wednesday October 16 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrival - Oct 16 - Algoma Hansa eta 2230 - docked - Oct 15 - Rosy (Brb) (ex SCT Stockhorn-17, MCT Stockhorn-16, HLL Caspian-08) at 0655 - departed - Oct 15 - Algoterra at 1935 eastbound

Buffalo - (Tonawanda) - docked - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 15 - light tug Wyatt M at 2231 - Oct 16 - Algoma Hansa at 0723, dredge Ocean Traverse Nord at 0805, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0947, CSL Welland at 1252 and Robert S Pierson at 1954

downbound - Oct 15 - CSL Niagara at 1858 - Oct 16 - Ojibway at 1311 and CSL Laurentien at 1800 Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 15 - tug Sharon M I & barge stopped wharf 16 at 0725 - Oct 16 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Mrys Cemenet II at 1032 - both a wharf 16 holding for weather

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0643 - Oct 14 - Federal Dee (Mhl) at 1949 - Oct 15 - Adfines Sea ( Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1435 from Mississauga - Oct 16 - Blacky (Cyp) at 0250 - departures - Oct 15 - Iver Swift (Nld) at 2237 - Oct 16 - Happy Ranger (Nld) at 0108 Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 0206, Federal Hunter at 0225, . departed - Oct 16 - Blacky (Cyp) at 0050 for Port Weller anchorage

Hamilton - arrival - Oct 16 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - docked - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 - Oct 15 - Patalya (Mlt) (ex Maersk Newport-13) at 1213, Florence Spirit at 1816 and Algoma Strongfield at 2126 - departed - Oct 14 - Spruceglen at 1414 and Algoma Guardian at 1442 - Oct 15 - Algoma Transport at 0614 - Oct 16 - Blacky (Cyp) at 0050 for Port Weller anchorage 2328

Bronte - arrival - Oct 12 - Sarah Desgagnes at 0826 - Oct 13 - Gaia Desgagnes anchored off the dock at 1115 - departed - Oct 15 - Gaia Desgagnes at 1648 eastbound

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 16 - Robert S Pierson at 0623 from the anchorage - departed Oct 126 at 1801 for the canal

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 15 - Hinch Spirit at 1354 - from Port Credit anchorage - departed - Oct 15 - Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1257 for Port Weller anchorage

Toronto - arrival - Oct 16 - NACC Argonaut at 0930,

Oshawa - anchored - Oct 16 -NACC Quebec at 1150 - departed Oct 16 at 1750 for the dock - arrival Oct 16 1755

Fitzgerald Experience at National Museum November 9-10

10/17 - Toledo, OH - In honor of the 44th anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, the National Museum of the Great Lakes will offer a weekend of special programming. The Fitzgerald Experience begins with a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using our lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. The tour is approximately 75 minutes long. Although the Schoonmaker was built in 1911, its conversion to a steam turbine in the 1950s and reconfiguring of its hatches allow excellent comparisons to be made to the Fitzgerald. "An event like the loss of the Fitzgerald is sometimes better understood when you can see the topic first-hand, whether is a hatch clamp, fence rail, or vent cover,” said Christopher Gillcrist, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “You really can't appreciate the Fitzgerald storm until you are in the pilothouse of the Schoonmaker and envisioning waves breaking over your head"

Following the guided tour, participants can view the museum's own documentary A Good Ship and Crew Well Seasoned: The Fitzgerald and Her Legacy. This hour-long documentary explores the less documented and overlooked history of the Fitzgerald and her crew before their tragic loss through unpublished manuscript material and photographs while at the same time reflecting on the impact of their loss on family, friends and colleagues in the maritime community. The film takes a refreshing break from debating the possible cause of her loss in order to direct more time to those important historical questions not yet asked.

Tickets are $25 per person and $20 per person for members of the National Museum. Admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes is included in the price for the Fitzgerald Experience.

Tickets can be purchased at Fitzexperience.eventbrite.com or by calling 419-214-5000 extension 200.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

On this day in 1889, the whaleback 103 completed her maiden trip by delivering 86,000 bushels of Duluth wheat to Buffalo.

On this day in 1936, the 252-foot sand sucker SAND MERCHANT rolled over and sank when a 50 mph gale swept across Lake Erie. The steamer THUNDER BAY QUARRIES, Captain James Healey, rescued three survivors and the steamer MARQUETTE & BESSEMER NO 1, Captain George Wilson, rescued four additional survivors. Eighteen crewmembers and one female passenger drowned in the accident.

On October 17, 1887, Henry McMorran and D. N. Runnels bought the engine and boiler of the tug GEORGE HAND at the U.S. Marshall's sale in Port Huron, Michigan, for $500.

The CARLTON (Hull#542) was launched October 17, 1963, at Sunderland, England, by Short Brothers, Ltd., for Chapman & Willan, Ltd. Renamed b.) FEDERAL WEAR in 1975. Purchased by Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. in 1975, renamed c.) ST LAWRENCE PROSPECTOR in 1975. Lengthened to Seaway size and renamed d.) CANADIAN PROSPECTOR in 1979. Scrapped in 2009 at Aliaga, Turkey.

The EMS ORE was launched October 17, 1959, for Transatlantic Bulk Carriers, Monrovia, Liberia. Purchased by Hall Corp. of Canada in 1976, reconstructed for lake service and renamed b.) MONTCLIFFE HALL in 1977. Renamed c.) CARTIERDOC in 1988, she sails today as d.) CEDARGLEN.

With an inexperienced Taiwanese crew, boiler problems and the collapse of Lock 7's west wall in the Welland Canal on October 17th, SAVIC's (CLIFFS VICTORY) departure was delayed until December 17, 1985, when she departed Chicago under her own power.

The carferry PERE MARQUETTE 19 was launched October 17, 1903.

In 1893, the FLINT & PERE MARQUETTE NO 1 was damaged by fire while in Ludington.

In 1988, the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee purchased CITY OF MILWAUKEE from the City of Frankfort for $2.

On October 17,1871, CASCADEN (2 mast wood schooner, 138 tons, built in 1866, at Saugeen, Ontario) was carrying much needed supplies for the Cove Island Lighthouse keeper and his family who were in desperate straits. But she went ashore 3 miles below Cape Hurd near Tobermory, Ontario, in a storm and was wrecked.

On October 17, 1843, the wooden schooner ALABAMA collided with a pier during a storm at the mouth of the Grand River at Fairport, Ohio, and was a total loss.

On October 17, 1871, the 42-ton wooden schooner SEA HORSE stranded on Fitzwilliam Island at the mouth of Georgian Bay in a storm. She was a total loss.

1923: The bulk carrier LUZON went aground in Lake Superior, northeast of Passage Island, due to poor visibility from the dense smoke of local forest fires. The vessel sustained serious bow damage but, fortunately, the bulkhead held. It was enroute from Fort William to Buffalo with grain at the time. The ship returned to service as b) JOHN ANDERSON in 1924 and was last known as G.G. POST.

1936: SAND MERCHANT sank in Lake Erie about 13.5 miles off Cleveland with the loss of 19 lives. The ship began taking on water faster than it could be pumped out and only 7 sailors survived.

1951: GEORGE F. RAND and HARVEY H. BROWN collided just below the Huron Cut at Port Huron and the former was beached with a starboard list. After being refloated, this vessel unloaded its cargo of silica sand at Port Huron and then went to Toledo for repairs. The latter later sailed as PARKER EVANS and MARLHILL.

1980: The Canadian tanker GULF CANADA and MEGALOHARI II collided at Montreal with minor damage. The former had been built at Collingwood as a) B.A. PEERLESS in 1952 and was scrapped at Alang, India, as d) COASTAL I in 1990. The latter had begun Seaway trading in 1965 and was scrapped at Alang as b) AGIOS CONSTANTINOS in 1985.

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

14-foot waves, 50 mph gusts to pound Michigan’s shorelines Wednesday

10/16 - Strong winds are going to develop and really churn up the Great Lakes Wednesday, October 16. By late Wednesday afternoon, winds from the northwest gusting up to 50 mph will create a long fetch across the waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The northwesterly flow is a wind that builds big waves on the Michigan sides of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

The strong northwest winds will likely push water over the piers. Water will also be shoved up into the channels and rivers and cause the rivers to rise. Waves are expected to be bigger than this past weekend.

The entire Lake Michigan coast from Frankfort to Benton Harbor will have waves over 10 feet by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Some waves are expected to top 14 feet.

Lake Superior wave forecast shows 10 foot waves by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Lake Huron will have its biggest waves on the Ontario side.

Shoreline erosion is going to become more significant as we go into fall and early winter because storm systems get stronger. The stronger storm systems with longer periods of higher winds will produce more beach erosion than in summer.

View graphs at this link: https://www.mlive.com/weather/2019/10/14-foot-waves-50-mph-gusts-to-pound-michigans-shorelines.html

Sarah Spencer may be heading for scrap on Friday

10/16 - Word on the Toledo waterfront is that the long-inactive barge Sarah Spencer may be departing Toledo under tow for the scrapyard at Port Colborne, ON, this Friday, weather permitting. The Spencer, built in 1959 for the American Steamship Co. as Adam E. Cornelius, has been laid up since 2009.

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
American Century departed Duluth at 01:42 Tuesday morning with a load of iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor, and Mesabi Miner arrived at 06:16 to load at Canadian National. American Courage was inbound at 10:37 to discharge limestone at Graymont. She was expected to depart late Tuesday evening for Silver Bay to load, while the Miner has a departure time of 10:00 Wednesday listed. In Superior, Algoma Spirit arrived at 00:21 Tuesday, loaded iron ore pellets at BN, and departed at 11:46 for Hamilton. Her fleetmate Algoma Compass then arrived at 12:03 and began loading at Burlington Northern. She is expected to depart early Wednesday.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The Roger Blough arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 14th at 23:23 for South of #2. She departed Two Harbors on Oct. 15th at 12:53 for Gary. The American Integrity is due Two Harbors on Oct. 16th. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader depart at approx. 01:15 on Oct. 15th for Toledo. Due Silver Bay late on the 15th or early on the 16th is the American Courage. As of 19:00 on the 15th she was unloading stone at Graymont in Superior.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
CSL Assiniboine cleared 9:58 am Tuesday, upbound with salt for Superior WI. Algoma Buffalo returned (from basin) to the Compass Minerals Dock to top up; her salt is for Sandusky.

Detroit-River Rouge, MI – Raymond H
John J Boland arrived at Zug Island to Tuesday to unload coal.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Herbert C. Jackson delivered to ArcelorMittal on Tuesday and then headed to Stoneport. Sam Laud delivered stone from Marblehead. Cuyahoga loaded salt at Cargill for Owen Sound. Volgaborg was still at the Port docks.

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
McKeil Spirit unloading at Lehigh Cement.

Thunder Bay shipyard owner hopes for federal contracts

10/16 - Thunder Bay, ON - The owners of the Thunder Bay shipyard are pressing ahead with an effort to get some contracts through the federal government's national shipbuilding strategy. Hamilton-based Heddle Shipyards says if the company were to obtain some of the work required to build at least six new icebreakers there would be spinoffs for its various Ontario operations, including Thunder Bay.

Heddle filed a complaint this year with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, alleging flaws in the government's process for qualifying a third shipyard to participate. Currently, shipyards in Vancouver and Halifax are the only qualifiers, but a Quebec City shipyard seems in line to be chosen as the other participant.

Last month, after the government moved to curtail the tribunal's investigation by invoking a controversial national-security exception, Heddle withdrew its complaint.

Company president Shaun Padulo said the decision was made for strategic reasons on the advice of its lawyers. "Although we have withdrawn our complaint, we are not going to give up," Padulo said Thursday in a statement delivered to tbnewswatch.com.

"The Coast Guard needs ships as soon as possible. To suggest that only three shipyards would be capable of meeting the replacement needs in the required timeline is unreasonable," he said.

Padulo said a truly national shipbuilding strategy requires participation by an Ontario shipyard, and he wants Heddle to be given a "fair, open and transparent opportunity." The company has three shipyards in Ontario as well as two on the east coast.

According to Padulo, its current capital expenditure objectives include significant upgrades in Thunder Bay, a program that an icebreaker contract would expedite.

Heddle has partnered with a Dutch shipbuilding company in a bid to become a qualifying shipyard for the federal procurement program. Padulo said Damen Shipyards specializes in constructing ships using modules.

"Damen is coming to Thunder Bay to review the facility, and to our yards in Port Weller and Hamilton. to see how we could fabricate modules in each," he said. The modules would be assembled to launch a ship at the Port Weller dry dock in St. Catharines, but "it could mean a significant number of jobs in each of our Ontario locations," Padulo said.

Heddle bought the Thunder Bay shipyard in 2016. It includes a dry dock, a large fabrication shop and a large machine shop. The company formed a strategic partnership with Thunder Bay's Fabmar Metals Inc., which Padulo said has done "a lot of repair work and regular maintenance."

He has previously described Fabmar as the cornerstone of the local shipyard. Fabmar employees are currently sent to the facility on an as-needed basis. "Their team typically mobilizes to the yard when we have a ship. We just had an Algoma ship there for about a month. We've done four major projects since we took it over and a number of minor projects for local tug operators, by example," Padulo said.

He hopes to bring a ship into the dry dock every winter, but also to work with Fabmar to expand its existing industrial fabrication work for the forestry and mining sectors. Padulo's ultimate goal is to operate the Thunder Bay facility 365 days a year. "The onus is on us to generate sustainable work in the winter, and to make sure we have work in the summer when the ships are all out sailing, to keep our people busy."

He said those efforts will continue exclusive of the current effort to participate in the new icebreaker program. "My goal is to have over 100 employees there full-time," Padulo said.

TB Newswatch

Duluth Cargo Connect wins worldwide Heavy Lift Award

10/16 - Duluth, MN – Tuesday in Antwerp, Belgium, Heavy Lift and Project Forwarding International selected Duluth Cargo Connect as the publication’s 2019 Worldwide Port/Terminal Operator of the Year.

An international panel of industry experts selected the award winners. HLPFI established the Heavy Lift Awards to recognize excellence in complex logistics, transport and engineering projects around the world. Duluth Cargo Connect is a working partnership between the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority owns and maintains the assets of the Clure Public Marine Terminal, Duluth’s only general cargo terminal, and Lake Superior Warehousing operates the Clure Terminal assets as the Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s agent.

“We’re honored to accept this award and we appreciate the recognition for our terminal,” said Jonathan Lamb, president of Duluth Cargo Connect. “It’s a big world of ports and operators, so being selected at the head of that class for 2019 is something special.”

Judges based their selections on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated safe and efficient handling of oversize cargo.
• Investment in new equipment and facilities for the storing and handling of oversize cargoes.
• Maintenance of existing facilities.
• Minimized wait time for customers.

“Building and sustaining a great multimodal logistics terminal is a team effort, and we’re fortunate to have a tremendous team – the Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing staff, the terminal workers and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners. We also have important support at the city, county, state and federal government levels,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “The Clure Terminal opened 60 years ago. That’s a long time when it comes to infrastructure and business planning, but today, the Clure is as successful as it’s ever been because of our team’s ongoing dedication to nurturing a world-class terminal in Mid-America.”

Specializing in breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo, Duluth Cargo Connect manages some of the Great Lakes’ most complex and sizable cargoes while delivering supply chain cost-savings to regional and international customers. The 120-acre Clure Terminal is a multimodal hub for these arrivals and departures. It features seven Seaway-depth vessel-docking berths, access to four Class 1 railroads with on-dock rail, a mobile 300-ton crawler crane, and twin 81-ton gantry cranes. The facility is also home to Foreign Trade Zone No. 51, along with more than 430,000 square feet of warehouse storage and 40-plus acres of secured outdoor ground storage. This laydown area has been the disembarkation point for the record amount of wind energy cargo coming to Duluth from around the world this season.

Opened in 1959 at the tip of Rice’s Point, the Clure Terminal has received more than $25 million in capital investments over the past four years. These efforts included rehabilitating a historic 28-acre dock, creating two new Seaway-depth ship berths, a roll-on/roll-off dock, and adding on-dock rail, constructing a new road through the original terminal to enhance traffic flow efficiency, adding a scale and trucker’s lounge, and expanding and enhancing the CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal with added rail and paved storage area. The transformation of the 28-acre blighted dock into a fully functioning multimodal transportation hub was a finalist for the Minnesota Brownfields 2018 ReScape Award in the Economic Impact category.

Nearly 50 employees power the terminal operations, earning a reputation worldwide as Lake Superior’s primary destination for dimensional and heavy-lift maritime cargo (e.g., equipment supporting the power generation, pulp and paper, mining and manufacturing industries).

“The Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing have been an outstanding team for many years,” said Rick Revoir, president of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners. “Under the Duluth Cargo Connect banner, there’s a unified commitment to going the extra mile for customers and providing value-added services they can’t get elsewhere. This team and its level of commitment, combined with our excellent facilities, help set us apart.”

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

On this day in 1950, the JOHN M. McKERCHEY of the Kelley's Island Lime and Transport Company sank at 2:30 a.m. while returning from the pumping grounds with a load of sand. Captain Horace S. Johnson went down with the boat, but the remaining 19 crewmembers were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On October 16,1855, SENECA (wooden propeller tug, 92 foot, 73 tons, built in 1847, at Buffalo, New York) was towing the brig LANSING past the foot of Randolph Street at Chicago, Illinois, when her boiler exploded. Her skipper and engineer were killed instantly and several others were injured. The vessel was later recovered.

On October 16, 1990, the JOHN B. AIRD's loop belt caught fire while loading mill scale at Inland Steel Mill, East Chicago, Illinois. Fueled by coal dust left over after unloading coal at the mill, 1,400 feet of the rubber conveyor belt burned causing nearly $500,000 in damages.

ALGOWEST set a cargo record carrying 27,517 tons of grain down the Seaway October 16, 1982, to Port Cartier, Quebec. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1998, and renamed b.) PETER R. CRESSWELL in 2001.

The Cayman Islands-registered tanker RIO ORINOCO grounded off Anticosti Island, Quebec on October 16, 1990, and was abandoned. Later she was salvaged by Le Groupe Desgagnes (1981) Inc., refloated, repaired and renamed d.) THALASSA DESGAGNES.

Sea trials of MERTON E. FARR were successfully completed October 16, 1920.

On October 16, 1954, the SCOTT MISENER of 1954 became the first laker to load a record 800,000 bushels of grain on the Great Lakes when she was loaded with barley at Fort William, Ontario, for delivery to Port Colborne.

WILLIAM G. MATHER of 1925 was towed from her Cuyahoga River berth on October 16, 1990, by the Great Lakes Towing tugs IDAHO and DELAWARE. She was placed next to the 9th Street Pier of Cleveland's North Coast Harbor and now serves as a marine museum.

On October 16, 1912, JAMES BUCKLEY (2 mast wood schooner-barge, 161 foot, 442 gross tons, built in 1884, at Quebec City) was carrying coal and being towed by the tug WILLIAM PROCTOR in consort with the barges H B and MENOMINEE in Lake Ontario. The BUCKLEY separated from this group in a storm and was driven into the shallows off the coast of Jefferson County, New York. The tug PROCTOR delivered MENOMINEE to Cape Vincent, then returned in time to take BUCKLEY’s crew out of the rigging - hand over hand on a heaving line - before BUCKLEY finally sank.

On October 16, 1855, the brig TUSCARORA was carrying coal from Buffalo to Chicago. She anchored off Chicago's Harrison Street, but a storm dragged her in. Volunteers from shore were unable to get to the stricken vessel. A group of 9 ship captains and 4 seamen then organized a rescue party and took two new "Francis" metal lifeboats out and rescued the entire crew of eleven. By 21 October, TUSCARORA was pounded to pieces.

On October 16, 1853, PHILO SCOVILLE (2-mast wooden brig built in 1853, at Sheboygan, Wisconsin) was carrying flour, wheat, pigs and barreled fish when she encountered a gale in the eastern Straits of Mackinac. She was dismasted and drifted ashore where she was pounded to pieces. Her crew was saved by floating ashore while clinging to the floating main mast.

1880: ALPENA, a wooden sidewheel passenger steamer, was lost in Lake Michigan in a violent storm. All 67 on board perished.

1928: PARKS FOSTER ran aground, due to fog, in Lake Huron near Alpena. The ship was lightered, pumped out and refloated. While declared a total loss, the vessel was rebuilt as b) SUPERIOR and eventually dismantled at Port Weller in 1961.

1940: TREVISA was torpedoed and sunk by U-124 while 600 miles off the coast of Ireland. The ship had become a straggler from convoy SC-7 that had been attacked over a period of 3 nights. Seven lives were lost when TREVISA was hit in the engineroom by a single torpedo.

1968: The NORMAN P. CLEMENT was at Collingwood for examination of the grounding damage of earlier in the month when an onboard explosion on this date injured 11. The hull was contaminated with chemicals and declared a total loss.

1969: FREDEN V. came to the Great Lakes in 1958 and returned through the Seaway in 1959. The small tanker was heavily damaged as c) YARIMCA in an engine room fire at Sinop, Turkey, but that was repaired in 1972 and the ship survived until scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey, as f) ORTAC in 2004.

1971: The Cypriot freighter UNION came through the Seaway in 1971 after prior visits as c) MICA beginning in 1965. Fire broke out in the engine room and the ship was abandoned 130 miles off Freetown, Sierra Leone, on October 10, 1971. The vessel sank on October 16 and had been enroute from Gdynia, Poland, to Chittagong, Bangladesh.

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

Team uncovers long-lost Great Lakes wreck of the Russia

10/15 - Whitefish Point, MI – In July, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society founder and Director Emeritus Tom Farnquist and shipwreck enthusiasts from Minnesota, Ken Merryman and Jerry Eliason uncovered the Russia, a cargo ship lost at the bottom of Lake Huron for 11 decades.

Archaeologists Phil Hartmeyer, Stephanie Gandulla with the Thunder Bay NOAA Marine Sanctuary and Michigan DNR Archaeologist Wayne Lusardi conducted additional sonar imaging of the site. The Michigan State Police Dive Team headed by Randy Parrols were invited to conduct Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) UP-RIGHT video survey work as a way of collecting preliminary inventory data for future underwater cultural resource management.

Plans to return to the Russia next summer are being discussed.

Soo Evening News

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
There was no traffic through either the Duluth or Superior entries on Monday. The only vessel in port, American Century, shifted from Lakehead Pipeline to Canadian National at 07:30 Monday to load iron ore pellets. She is expected to depart early Tuesday. Mesabi Miner is due Tuesday morning to load at CN, and American Courage should arrive around noon with limestone. Algoma Spirit and Algoma Compass are both due in Superior on Tuesday morning to load at Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Presque Isle departed Two Harbors on Oct. 13th at 21:35 for Indiana Harbor 7H. American Spirit arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 13th at 22:12 for South of #2. She departed on the 14th at 11:37 for Conneaut. Due Two Harbors late on the 14th, early on the 15th is the Roger Blough. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader on Oct. 13th at 18:43. As of 19:30 on the 14th she was still at the dock. She is headed for Toledo. There is no scheduled inbound traffic for Silver Bay on Oct. 15th.

St. Marys River
Blustery fall weather on Monday greeted the upbound Great Lakes Trader, Hon James L. Oberstar, Federal Mackinac and, late, Michipicoten. Downbounders included Ojibway, Stewart J. Cort, Manitoulin and Arthur M. Anderson.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Algoma Innovator arrived Milwaukee Sunday night (10/13) with salt from Compass Minerals in Goderich, Ontario. She unloaded untreated salt at Kinder Morgan’s bagging plant on the outer harbor before proceeding to the inner harbor. She then deposited approximately 5,000 tons of chemical salt into the south salt dome and almost 6,000 tons of treated (road) salt on the pad. Algoma Innovator cleared Milwaukee just before noon on Monday (10/14). Calumet River Fleeting’s tug, Aiden William, arrived Milwaukee early Monday morning with three river barges for loading at the COFCO grain elevator. Still in port are the tugs Racine and Kenosha, the crane barge Manitowoc, and two deck barges. Operated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the equipment will be used for scheduled breakwall repair. Due in Monday afternoon is the tug/barge Samuel de Champlain/Innovation with cement from Alpena for the Lafarge terminal.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Buffalo was loading salt Monday. CSL Assiniboine backed in at 7:30 pm to load salt.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Monday October 14 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Oct 13 - Algocanada at 2034 - Oct 14 - CSL Tadoussac at 0301 and Algoterra at 1712 - departed - Oct 13 - Robert S Pierson at 2114 for the canal - Oct 14 - Algocanada at 1509 eastbound

Long Point Bay - departed - Oct 14 - CSL Tadoussac at 0205 for the dock

Buffalo - arrival - Oct 13 - NACC Argonaut at 1128 - departed Oct 14 at 2114 for the canal

Tonawanda - docked - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 13 - tug Spartan & Spartan II at 1929 and Algoterra at 2150 - Oct 14 -Algoma Enterprise at 0449, CSL Laurentien at 0605, Baie Comeau at 0729, Solina (Bhs) at 1100, Rosy (Brb) (ex SCT Stockhorn-17, MCT Stockhorn-16, HLL Caspian-08) at1815 and tug Michigan and Great Lakes at 2054

downbound - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 0700, Algoma Transport at 1208, CSL Laurentien at 1753, Iver Bright at 2005 and Algoma Enterprise at 2115 - Oct 13 - Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel) at 0652, Hamburg (Bhs) (ex c Columbus-12) passenger ship at 1022, Tim S Dool at 1318 - Oct 14 - Robert S Pierson at 0121, Federal St Laurent iv (Mhl) at 0152, CSL St Laurent at 0346, Federal Dee (Mhl) at 0521, Algoma Harvester at 0611, Federal Hunter (Mhl) at 0855, NACC Argonaut at 1233 and Algocanada at 1848

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 14 - Federal St Laurent iv (Mhl) departed wharf 12 at 2355 - going out on lake to turn around

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0643 - Oct 12 - Erieborg (Nld) at 1942 - departures - Oct 12 - Wicky Spirit at 1510 - Oct 14 - Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 1604, Federal Dee (Mhl) at 1949 and Federal Hunter (Mhl) eta 2210 - departed - Oct 13 -Drawsko (Bhs) at 2330 eastbound - Oct 14 - Whistler ((Lbr) at 0745 for Toronto

Hamilton - Oct 13 - Algoma Transport at 0241, Algoma Guardian at 0252, Spruceglen at 0814, CSL Laurentien at 1015 - anchored - Oct 8 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 - Oct 9 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2328 - departure - Oct 14 - Algoma Enterprise at 0212 and CSL Laurentien at 0306 - both for the canal

Bronte - arrival - Oct 12 - Sarah Desgagnes at 0826 - Oct 13 - Gaia Desgagnes anchored off the dock at 1115

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 13 - Hinch Spirit anchored off Port Credit at 1326 - docked - Oct 12 Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 0815

Toronto - arrivals - Oct 14 - Hamburg (Bhs) (ex c Columbus-12) passenger vessel at 2046 - departed - Oct 14 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) passenger vessel at 1248 for Brockville, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1439 and Hamburg (Bhs) passenger vessel at 1748 - all eastbound

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
McKeil Spirit arrived at about 14:00 Monday afternoon at Lehigh Cement.

56 feet above Lake Superior, lighthouse buyer finds the beauty of life on the edge

10/15 - There is no driveway, not even a sidewalk, to Steven Broudy's new home away from home. vTo get there requires a long drive through a narrow canopy of trees, then a 10-minute scamper down a third-of-a-mile-long breakwater at the end of Wisconsin Point — first over mammoth boulders, then along a thick concrete pier that juts 9 feet out of the water.

There, rising nearly six stories above Lake Superior, stands the Superior Entry Lighthouse, built in 1913 to help guide ships into the Duluth-Superior harbor. And, as of a month ago, it’s his.

"Standing here, I didn’t realize how big this thing was,” marveled Broudy, gazing upward at it for the first time. It’s a classic Lake Superior lighthouse: cylindrical, bright white walls, red metal roof — and a light tower, perched above the lake. “I’ve never owned anything like this,” Broudy added. “I’ve never owned a single piece of land or property.”

This is not your typical starter home. And Broudy isn’t your typical first-time homebuyer.

The 34-year-old is vice president of sales at Bevy, a tech company in San Francisco where he grew up. But before he got into tech, he served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army Ranger.

He first learned that he could actually buy a lighthouse from the federal government during one of those deployments in Afghanistan, while he was surfing the internet during a break. He became fixated on the possibility.

“The thing about a lighthouse that always appealed to me is, on the one hand, there's something about staring out at a body of water that's really calming and soothing,” he said. “And then on the other hand, I don't know, it feels like it’s a fortress of solitude.”

So, for nearly a decade, he’d regularly check real estate listings of lighthouses the Coast Guard no longer needed. He was looking for something close to an airport, but still removed. When the lighthouse at Wisconsin Point went to auction, he knew immediately it was the one he had been waiting for. In early September, after a bidding war, he won it.

He had just purchased a dilapidated, century-old lighthouse half a continent away on a frigid, unforgiving lake, sight unseen, for $159,000.

He knew people thought he was crazy. But he didn’t see it that way. "Life is too short to not take big, bold risks and do something because it feels right,” he said..

Read more and view photos at this link: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/10/14/56-feet-above-lake-superior-lighthouse-buyer-finds-the-beauty-of-life-on-the-edge

On this day in 1893, according to reports in Buffalo newspapers, First Mate Ben Lewis was washed off the decks of the JAY GOULD during a storm. A succeeding wave picked him up and dropped him back on the deck of the GOULD.

On October 15, 1871, LA PETITE (wooden schooner, 94 foot, 122 gross tons, built in 1866, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying lumber from Alpena, Michigan, to Huron, Ohio, when she was caught in a terrific gale on Lake Huron. The heavy seas carried away the lumber strapped on deck. Then the vessel sprang a leak and turned on her beam ends. Capt. O. B. Smith, his wife, and four other sailors rode out the storm on the wreck until found by the tug BROCKWAY. The schooner was towed to Port Huron and repaired.

On her maiden voyage, Branch Lines new tanker LEON SIMARD was spotted traveling eastward on the St. Lawrence River on October 15, 1974. Renamed b.) L'ORME NO 1 in 1982. Sold off the lakes, renamed c.) TRADEWIND OCEAN in 1997 and d.) AMARA in 2001.

The self-unloader WOLVERINE departed the American Ship Building Co., October 15, 1974, on her maiden voyage from Lorain, Ohio, light to load stone at Stoneport, Michigan, for delivery to Huron, Ohio.

HERBERT C. JACKSON cleared Fraser Shipyard on October 15, 1988, after having the 1000 h.p. bowthruster motor installed from the JOHN SHERWIN. The motor from the JACKSON was later repaired and placed in the SHERWIN's cargo hold for future use.

The PAUL H. CARNAHAN came out on her maiden voyage October 15, 1961.

On October 15, 1984, JOHN O. McKELLAR of 1952, was sold to P.& H. Shipping of Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd., Mississauga, Ont., and renamed b.) ELMGLEN.

Scrapping began on October 15, 1988, of JOHN T. HUTCHINSON at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, by Li Chong Steel & Iron Works Co. Ltd.

C. H. McCULLOUGH JR was laid up on October 15, 1969, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

COVERDALE (Hull#34) was launched at Midland, Ontario, on October 15, 1949, for Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal, Quebec. Renamed b.) GEORGE HINDMAN in 1973 and c.) MELDRUM BAY in 1979. Scrapped at Lisbon, Portugal in 1985.

SCOTT MISENER of 1954 struck bottom on October 15, 1973, near Whaleback Shoal on the St. Lawrence River reportedly damaging 60 of her bottom plates. She proceeded to the Port Arthur shipyard for drydocking and repairs from October 20th through the 28th.

On October 15, 1980, the NIPIGON BAY, loaded with ore for Hamilton, Ontario, grounded at the "crossover" near Brockville, Ontario, on the St. Lawrence River and sustained a 100-foot rip in her bottom plates. She proceeded to Thunder Bay arriving there on October 24th where repairs were made at an estimated cost of $500,000.

R. P. MASON (3 mast wooden schooner, 115 foot, 155 gross tons, built in 1867, at Grand Haven, Michigan) was bound from Chicago for Detroit when she struck a rocky reef near Waugoshance Point in the Straits of Mackinac on October 8. 1871. Water gushed in an 8-foot hole. However, she was temporarily patched and her cargo of grain, flour and meat was taken off over the next few days. The tug LEVIATHAN took her in tow, going to Little Traverse Bay when, on October 15, they encountered a gale near Cross Village, Michigan. The MASON broke free and capsized. 5 died and 4 were rescued. The MASON drifted ashore upside down. She was eventually salvaged and sailed for another 46 years. She ended her days when she burned in Lake Michigan in 1917.

The tug DOUGLAS caught fire near Wyandotte while going down the Detroit River and sank. The crew all jumped overboard and was saved by the steam yacht JOSEPHINE, except for John Cassidy, one of the firemen, who drowned. A few days later, plans were made to raise and rebuild the DOUGLAS.

On October 15,1871, R. G. COBURN (wooden propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 193 foot, 867 tons, built in 1870, at Marine City, Michigan) was carrying 15,000 bushels of wheat, 3,500 barrels of flour and 30 barrels of silver ore from Lake Superior to Detroit. As she came down Lake Huron, she encountered a terrific gale that had driven most vessels to seek shelter. The COBURN fought the wind at Saginaw Bay throughout the night until she lost her rudder and turned broadside to the waves. Her large stack fell and smashed the cabin area and then the cargo came loose and started smashing holes in the bulwarks. About 70 passengers were aboard and almost all were terribly seasick. As the ship began her final plunge beneath the waves, only a few lifeboats were getting ready to be launched and those were floated right from the deck as the ship sank. 32 people perished, including Capt. Gilbert Demont. No women or children were saved.

On October 15, 1900, the wooden 186-foot freighter F. E. SPINNER was sunk in a collision with the steamer H. D. COFFINBERRY in the St. Marys River. She was raised from 125 feet of water, one of the deepest successful salvage operations to that time. She was later renamed HELEN C and lasted until 1922.

October 15, 1910 - After the sinking of the PERE MARQUETTE 18 of 1902, built at Cleveland, Ohio, the previous September, a new PERE MARQUETTE 18 of 1911, was ordered by the Pere Marquette Railway from the Chicago Ship Building Co.

On 15 October 1871, the EXCELSIOR (3-mast wooden schooner, 156 foot, 374 gross tons, built in 1865, at Buffalo, New York) was struck by a gale near Thunder Bay on Lake Huron. She sailed through the early morning hours only to sink about 4:30 a.m. Only Charles Lostrom survived. He was on the cabin roof, which blew off when the vessel went down. Mr. Lostrom remained on the floating roof-raft for two days and two nights until he was rescued by fishermen near South Hampton light on the Canadian side of Lake Huron.

1916: The wooden bulk freighter L. EDWARD HINES was sold to Nicaraguan owners and left the Great Lakes in 1916. The ship had loaded coal in New Orleans for Venezuela for its maiden voyage on this date in 1916 but got caught in a hurricane and sank with the loss of 17 lives while 45 miles east of Belize, British Honduras.

1971: SINGAPORE TRADER was upbound with general cargo from Japan to Detroit, on its first trip to the Great Lakes, when it ran aground in the Thousand Islands. The vessel was released on November 29 and towed back to Montreal on December 16. The ship was arrested there and offered for sale, by court order. The successful bidder for the 27-year-old vessel was a shipbreaker at Santander, Spain, and the ship arrived there for dismantling on June 22, 1972.

1977: The three-year old Panamanian bulk carrier GOLDEN STAR damaged its rudder when it struck the opposite bank while backing from the dock at Huron, Ohio. The vessel, bound for the United Kingdom, needed four tugs when it was towed out of the Seaway for repairs at Sorel, QC. The vessel was last noted as c) FUN JIN under the flag of Panama in 1993.

1978: The West German freighter FRANCISCA SARTORI made 21 trips through the Seaway from 1959 through 1967. It was lying at Piraeus, Greece, as f) GIOTA S. when the engine room flooded on this date in 1978. The ship departed for Chalkis on October 24, 1979, but further leaks developed and the vessel had to be beached at Laurium, Greece.

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

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
There was no traffic through the Duluth entry on Saturday, however American Century was due just before midnight to load iron ore pellets at CN. Pathfinder/tug Dorothy Ann remained tied up at Hallett #5 for the fifth consecutive day unloading salt, and has no departure time listed. In Superior, Indiana Harbor departed at 07:54 Saturday morning with a load of iron ore pellets for Gary, and Stewart J. Cort arrived at 19:31 to load at Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Two Harbors has seen no boat traffic on Oct. 12th. The Presque Isle went by Two Harbors on the 12th and stopped out in the lake off Duluth the afternoon of the 12th to wait on weather. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 13th is the American Spirit. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on Oct. 12th. Due the 13th is the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader. As of 19:20 on the 12th she is following the Michigan shore of Lake Superior. The Arthur M. Anderson departed anchorage off the South Shore at approx. 15:20 on Oct. 12th. As of 19:20 on Oct. 12th she is running checked down NE of Two Harbors. The CSL Niagara went to Thunder Bay after departing Silver Bay on the 10th. The afternoon of the 12th she departed Thunder Bay, proceeded across the lake to NE of Outer Island and is heading down the lake.

St. Marys River
Algoma Conveyor delivered road salt to the Carbide Dock Saturday morning. She departed in the late mornng for Hancock, MI, where she will discharge the rest of her load.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator arrived Friday 12:43 pm, loaded salt for Milwaukee and cleared Saturday at 6:11 am upbound.

Marysville, MI – Dawn C. Roberts
Algoma Compass arrived at the Bluewater Aggregates dock around 11:30 Saturday morning and American Courage joined her at noon.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Hon. James L Oberstar was unloading ore at AK Steel on Saturday.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Saturday October 12 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrival - Oct 11 - Algoscotia at 0119 - departed Oct 11 at 2341 for the canal

Buffalo (Tonawanda) - arrival - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245

Long Point Bay - anchored - Oct 12 - Algocanada at 1427 and CSL Tadoussac at 1820

Port Colborne anchorage - Oct 12 - Happy Ranger (Nld) at 1435

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0614 to Port Weller anchorage, Adfines Sea ((Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1300 for Port Weller anchorage - Oct 11 - Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 0158 stopped wharf 12, Algoma Spirit at 1455 and Edenborg (Nld) at 2131 - Oct 12- Atlantic Huron at 0038, Volgaborg (Nld) at 0329, NACC Argonaut at 0727, Whitefish Bay at 1257, Florence Spirit at 1309, Robert S Pierson at 1649

downbound - Oct 11 - Kaministiqua at 1429, Baie Comeau at 1455, BBC Edge (Atg) (ex Industrial Edge-19, Castor J-16, BBC Pilbaras-14, Industrial Edge-13, Castor J-09) at 1613, Algoma Sault at 1703, Drawsko (Bhs) at 2040 and Frontenac at 2127 - Oct 12 - Algoscotia at 0321,tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 0451,Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 0700, Erieborg (Nld) at 0754, Algosea at 0906, Algoma Transport at 1208, CSL Laurentien at 1753, Iver Bright at 2005 and Algoma Enterprise eta 2115

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0643 - Oct 11 - Whistler (Lbr) at 0250 awaiting dock at Toronto and Drawsko (Bhs) at 1232 - Oct 12 - Erieborg (Nld) at 1942 - departures - Oct 12 - Wicky Spirit at 1510, Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 0615 back to Mississauga dock, Oct 12 - Happy River (Nld) at 2100

Hamilton - anchored - Oct 8 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 - Oct 9 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2328 - Oct 11 - G3 Marquis at 0824 - departure - Oct 12 - Florence Spirit at 1100

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 12 - Robert S Pierson at 0634 - departed Oct 12 at 1447 for the canal

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 12 Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 0815 back to dock from Port Port Weller

Toronto - docked - Oct 9 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 2355 - departed Oct 11 - Volgaborg (Nld) at 2307 for Cleveland

Oshawa - docked - Oct 8 - Onego Merchant (Nld) (ex Texel-17, Onego Merchant-13, Texel-11, Dewi Parwati-08, Beluga Spirit-03, Dewi Parwati-03) at 1848

Record-shattering Great Lakes water levels could be even higher in 2020

10/13 - Detroit, MI - It appears 2020 won't bring relief from high Great Lakes water levels – and they could be even higher than this past record-shattering spring and summer.

Following a generally rainy September, measurements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers show every Great Lake, and Lake St. Clair, well above long-term monthly average water levels for October – almost 3 feet higher on connected lakes Michigan and Huron (35 inches) and on Lake St. Clair (33 inches). Lake Erie is 29 inches above long-term October averages, Lake Ontario 20 inches above and Lake Superior 15 inches above.

Forecasters now predict Lakes Michigan and Huron will start 2020 at 11 inches higher than water levels in January 2019, said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit.

"The latest forecast extends into March, and for the most part, levels are going to be on-par with or above where they were at the same time last year," he said.

Whether records go even higher next summer will be determined by factors such as snowpack and whether heavier-than-usual rains occur for a fourth straight spring, Kompoltowicz said.

Lake Superior, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario set new record high water levels over the summer, with lakes Michigan and Huron an inch or less off their 100-year highs. In July, lakes Erie and Ontario broke their monthly records by more than 4 inches.

The impacts of climate change on Great Lakes water levels going forward isn't clear. Historical data shows temperatures in the Great Lakes region are rising faster than the rest of the continental U.S., and winter and spring precipitation, particularly via strong storms, is increasing. Those trends are expected to continue. But modeling also shows hotter summers and less ice cover on the Great Lakes in the winter, which will tend to increase evaporation.

Now it all comes down to winter and spring rain and snowfall. "If we see another winter with a very healthy snowpack, coupled with the flooding rains that we saw last spring, then we would be dealing with even higher record-breaking water levels next year," Kompoltowicz said.

Even average precipitation levels would keep lake levels well above their historic averages, Fry said. "It would take a fairly dry season, and even year, to bring things down," she said.

Detroit Free Press

Remembering Bert MacDonald, guardian of the Goderich waterfront

10/13 - Goderich, ON – Daring, thrilling and perilous are terms used to describe the maritime exploits of Captain Bert MacDonald. In his day, Capt. MacDonald was the most well known mariner on the Goderich waterfront. His reputation for gallantry on Lake Huron spread across the province, earning him the admiration of all who knew him and the gratitude of the countless lives he saved.

Bertram MacDonald was born in Goderich on Oct. 14, 1885. He was one of six boys and seven girls born to legendary schooner captain, John ‘the Minister’ MacDonald and his wife Annie McKay. At age 14, Bert went to sea with his father aboard the schooner Kolfage. Young MacDonald learned the seaman’s trade by hard experience. In 11 seasons sailing with his father, Bert instinctively knew how to feel the wind, reef the sails and watch the barometer.

In early 1914, just after the Great Storm, Bert MacDonald was appointed the Goderich harbor’s Foghorn Master. His first recorded rescue was of an unidentified girl whom he pulled from the water. For his courage, MacDonald was awarded a $10 gold piece.

In 1920, MacDonald took over the operation of the bathing house and refreshment booth on the harbor’s south pier. A 1927 advertisement in the Huron Signal noted that Capt. MacDonald had painted the slides and diving boards so bathers could be “afforded every convenience.” In addition, MacDonald operated a small fleet of motor launches, or boat livery, that served multiple roles such as pleasure cruiser, fishing craft, ship victualler and tug service.

Capt. MacDonald was also the port’s wharfinger (harbormaster) from 1930-35 and lighthouse keeper for several years in the 1920s and ’30s.

One of the most valuable services MacDonald rendered was as a swim instructor and unofficial lifeguard for hundreds of young swimmers. No one was permitted to swim in the harbor unless they passed a rigorous swimming test under his watchful eyes. One common test involved tying a safety tether around the swimmer’s waist and asking him to swim the channel. If the swimmer could make it across and back, he was often rewarded with a chocolate bar and cleared for swimming.

MacDonald was known as the ‘guardian’ of the Goderich harbor and endeared himself to generations. Yet, it was the many daring rescues in the most dangerous weather conditions that made Capt. Bert MacDonald a Great Lakes legend.

In 1937, the Royal Canadian Life Saving Society gave “long overdue” recognition with an award “for his courage and cool judgement” in saving the life of fisherman Fred Hardy of Stratford, who was washed over the break wall and swept out into the lake on Oct. 10, 1936 during a gale. MacDonald in the tug Captain John saw Hardy’s predicament and pulled him out of the chilly waters.

On Sept. 18, 1937, when giant waves pitched the package freighter Gilly on shore two miles north of Goderich, Capt. MacDonald set out on the 30-foot tug Anna Mac to save the Gilly’s crew. When MacDonald found the ship, she was grounded and lashed by high waves. After two unsuccessful attempts at taking her crew off, MacDonald was finally able to rescue the Gilly’s crew just as the doomed ship was breaking up. The Free Press called the rescue of the Gilly’s crew a ‘thrilling’ adventure.

During the war, Capt. Bert MacDonald was involved in rescuing airmen whose aircraft had crashed in the lake. The Free Press said that “people in distress on earth, air, land or water seem to turn instinctively towards Bert MacDonald” after he saved two airmen whose Eastman flying boat was forced down.

On one occasion, MacDonald spent two days in “rough and dirty weather” searching for the body of Samuel Billington, a young Royal Navy airman who became disoriented in a sudden snowsquall and crashed in the lake.

The Town of Goderich formally acknowledged MacDonald’s life-saving service in 1949 when it presented him with a gold wristwatch.

Mayor George MacEwan cited MacDonald for his willingness “to take your boats out, in any kind of weather, even at the risk of your own life to succor those in distress” in “complete disregard of personal sacrifice in helping others in trouble on our lakes.”

Greater recognition came on Aug. 4, 1952 when Capt. MacDonald was awarded the Imperial Service Medal for 38 years of exemplary marine service in Goderich by Queen Elizabeth II at a Home Week ceremony.

Not content to rest on his laurels, MacDonald to continued to risk life and limb to save others. In August 1954, MacDonald added three more lives saved to his total of 50 when he rescued three children after their fishing boat capsized just outside the Goderich harbor. Despite their best efforts, high winds and heavy seas pulled the trio back out into the lake. A Goderich Elevator employee spotted the distressed swimmers and signalled Capt. MacDonald who ploughed through wind and rain to retrieve the swimmers from the water. He even hooked the sailboat to his tug Anna Mac and towed it into the harbour.

On Dec. 31, 1953, MacDonald, himself, had to be rescued when a swinging steel cable knocked him into the Lake Huron’s icy waters. For over two hours, the 68-year-old captain clung to the hand of his grandson, Donald Bert MacAdam, who was finally able to hoist him out of the frigid waters. MacDonald was wrapped in blankets and carried to his Elgin Street home to recover.

One last dramatic rescue occurred in March 1956 when three fishermen were trapped in ice about a mile offshore near Bluewater Beach. An attempt to reach the men by MacDonald on the tug Skipper was blocked by impassable ice. An airdrop of food and cigarettes on the second day by airport manager Keith ‘Hoppy’ Hopkinson helped the distressed fishermen survive until MacDonald arrived from the shore and led the fishermen back across the ice cracking up beneath their feet. Not since the rescue of the A. C. Maxwell’s crew in December 1885 was a more daring rescue exploit in local history.

Capt. Bertram MacDonald died suddenly on Jan. 2, 1957 at the harbor near the boathouse where he spent most of his life. The area mourned his passing as “A rugged sailor” who “heroic personality was widely known and respected.”

An official count of 68 lives saved (others put the figure at close to 200), Capt. Bert MacDonald was a beloved waterfront figure. Two generations later his family continues the family’s marine trade making them one of the oldest seafaring dynasties on the Great Lakes.

Clinton News Record

On this day in 1893, Chief Engineer J. H. Hogan left the DEAN RICHMOND in Toledo to take care of some family business. One day later, the DEAN RICHMOND burned off Dunkirk, New York, with a loss of 17 lives including the replacement Chief Engineer.

On October 13, 1909, GEORGE STONE (wooden propeller freighter, 270 foot, 1,841 gross tons, built in 1893, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was sailing from Ashtabula, Ohio for Racine, Wisconsin, with cargo of coal when she stranded on Grubb Reef in the Pelee Passage on Lake Erie. She then caught fire and was destroyed. Five of the 18 crewmen were lost.

The SASKATCHEWAN PIONEER made her first trip out of Thunder Bay, Ontario with grain on October 13, 1983. Renamed b.) LADY HAMILTON in 1995, sold to Voyageur Maritime in 2006, and now sailing as c.) KAMINISTIQUA for Lower Lakes Towing.

The tug GLENADA towed the BROOKDALE from Port Colborne to Newman's scrap yard at Port Maitland, Ontario the week of October 13, 1980.

On October 13, 1902, the MAUNALOA collided with her whaleback consort barge 129 on Lake Superior and sank it 30 miles northwest of Vermilion Point, which is between Upper Michigan's Crisp and Whitefish Points. MAUNALOA had been towing the 129, both vessels loaded with iron ore, when the towline parted in heavy seas. While trying to regain control of the barge, they came together and the steamer's port anchor raked the side of the barge, which started taking on water. The crew was taken off the barge before it sank.

On 13 October 1875, off Alpena, Michigan, the tug E. H. MILLER had her boiler explode while racing with the tug CITY OF ALPENA - both in quest of a tow. The ALPENA, who was ahead of the MILLER when she blew up, immediately turned around to pick up survivors. The ALPENA sunk in minutes. The engineer, fireman and a boy were rescued, but the captain and cook were lost. The fireman was in such poor shape that it was thought that he would not live.

On 13 October 1877, The Port Huron Times reported that the tug PRINDIVILLE and the 2-masted schooner PORTLAND had both gone ashore at the Straits of Mackinac and been pounded to pieces.

On 13 October 1886, SELAH CHAMBERLAIN (wooden propeller steam barge, 212 foot, 1,207 gross tons, built in 1873, at Cleveland, Ohio) collided with the 222-foot wooden lumber hooker JOHN PRIDGEON, JR. in heavy fog off Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The CHAMBERLAIN had been towing the schooner FAYETTE BROWN. The CHAMBERLAIN sank quickly. Five of the crew went down with the vessel when the lifeboat davits became fouled and they were unable to launch the lifeboat. The rest of the crew made it to shore in the other lifeboat after a 3-hour pull through the fog.

1902: The wooden steamer C. B. LOCKWOOD was swamped in a storm and sank on Lake Erie with the loss of 10 lives.

1927: The ONTARIO, once the largest carferry on the Detroit River, was later reduced to a barge and it foundered on Lake Superior, near Outer Island, while carrying 1100 tons of pulpwood. It had been under tow of the tug BUTTERFIELD and all on board were saved.

1973: SCOTT MISENER damaged 60 bottom plates when it hit bottom near Whaleback Shoal in the St. Lawrence.

1976: The former T2 tanker and now bulk carrier SYLVIA L. OSSA, remembered on the Great Lakes as the MARATHONIAN that was in a head-on collision with ROLWI in Lake Michigan, disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle with the loss of all 37 members of the crew.

1990: ERNA WITT first visited the Great Lakes in 1958 and returned through the Seaway in 1962. The vessel sank off Port Sudan as k) SHIBA after a collision with the ALTAAWIN ALARABI while inbound from Aqaba, Jordan. Three members of the crew were lost.

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

Gale warning for Lake Superior, up to 18-foot waves forecast

10/12 - The National Weather Service issued a gale warning for Lake Superior on Friday. Gusty winds and waves in the 12-foot to even 18-foot range are possible as a storm system sweeps across the Great Lakes, bringing rain and much colder temperatures. Lake Superior’s gale warning was in effect through Friday, while a lesser gale watch is in effect for the top part of Lake Huron.

Superior’s gale warning affects a line from Manitou Island to Marquette and west of a line from Grand Marais to the United States/Canadian border and from Grand Marais to Whitefish Point offshore to the Canadian border, according to the National Weather Service’s Marquette office.

“Expect sustained winds of up to 35 knots from the southeast, with gusts up to 41 knots. The largest expected significant waves will be 12 feet with a maximum wave height of up to 18 feet possible. The maximum winds are expected around 7 p.m. EDT Friday with the largest waves expected around 5 p.m. EDT Friday.”

M Live

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
There was no traffic through the Duluth entry on Friday, with none scheduled until Saturday night when American Century is due to load iron ore pellets at CN. Pathfinder/tug Dorothy Ann remained at Hallett #5 offloading salt for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. In Superior, Indiana Harbor arrived at 00:30 to load ore at Burlington Northern. She was expected to depart at some point Friday night.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
CSL St-Laurent departed Two Harbors on Oct. 10th between 20:00 and 20:15 for Quebec City. The Edgar B. Speer arrived Two Harbors at 21:16 on Oct. 10th for South of #2 after laying off Duluth. She departed Two Harbors on Oct. 11th at 12:24 for Conneaut but had problems getting away from the dock because of a strong west wind. She needed an assist from Heritage Marine's tug Nels J. The Speer backed out into the lake stern first before turning and heading down the lake. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 12th is the Presque Isle. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Arthur M. Anderson on Oct. 11th at 10:50. Upon departing she went East of Superior and went to anchor to wait on weather. As of 17:30 on the 11th she didn’t have an updated AIS. An update: Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder at 17:30 on the 11th was still at Hallett #5 taking a delay. HarborLookout has her departing on the 13th for Silver Bay. An update on the Munson. She ended up unloading in Indiana Harbor.

Thunder Bay, ON
Thursday; 14:00 Tim S Dool departed for Port Cartier. 15:48 The saltie Ruddy arrived and went to anchor. 18:06 Federal Kivalina arrived and went to anchor. Friday; 1:01 CSL Niagara arrived from Silver Bay and went to anchor south of the Welcome Islands to wait out weather. 1:24 Ojibway arrived at the Richardson Main Terminal to load grain. 3:07 Federal Hunter departed for Montreal.

Sturgeon Bay, WI
The tug Highland Eagle was removed from the floating drydock Friday around 1400 and was towed to berth 14. Radio chatter indicated it was going out on sea trials later and then returning to BayShip

Northern Lake Huron ports

Thessalon: Friday; 2:00 Michipicoten arrived to load gravel.

Bruce Mines: Thursday; 5:53 Saginaw departed for Sarnia.

Meldrum Bay: Thursday; 23:06 Algoma Buffalo departed for Cleveland. Friday; 5:40 Algoma Compass arrived to load dolomite.

Calcite: Thursday; 23:22 H Lee White departed for Green Bay. Friday; 1:03 John J Boland departed for Ashtabula. 1:06 Great Republic arrived to load. 9:46 Laura L Vanenkevort arrived to load.

Stoneport: Friday; 2:43 Olive L Moore departed for Detroit.

Alpena: Thursday; 19:28 The cement carrier Alpena arrived to load and departed Friday 3:01 for Detroit.

Port Inland: Thursday; Cason J Callaway departed for Green Bay.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor cleared 12:17 pm Friday upbound with road salt for Sault Ste Marie, MI. Algoma Innovator arrived 12:43 pm, loading salt at Compass Minerals.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Friday Arrivals: Saginaw-arrived at the St. Clair Aggregates dock to unload stone. Herbert C Jackson-arrived at Zug Island to unload coal. Alpena-arrived at Lafarge to unload cement.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Joyce L. VanEnkevort unloaded at the Bulk Terminal Friday. Sam Laud was running a shuttle out of Ashtabula. American Courage was in Marblehead. Petite Forte was at St. Marys Cement.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Friday October 11 – Barry Andersen

Buffalo (Tonawanda) - arrival - Oct 11 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1245

Nanticoke - arrival - Oct 10 - Algoscotia eta 2300

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0614 to Port Weller anchorage, Adfines Sea ((Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1300 for Port Weller anchorage, Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 2217 and Algoma Discovery at 2313 - Oct 11 - Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 0158, CSL Assiniboine at 1132, Algoma Spirit at 1455 and Edenborg (Nld) at 2347

downbound - Oct 10 - G3 Marquis at 1449, Algonorth at 1647 and Federal Beaufort (Mhl) at 1747 - Oct 11 - Federal Churchill (Mhl at 1204, Happy River (Nld) at 1258, Kaministiqua at 1429, Baie Comeau at 1455, BBC Edge (Atg) (ex Industrial Edge--19, Castor J-16, BBC Pilbaras-14, Industrial Edge-13, Castor J-09) at 1613, Algoma Sault at 1703, Drawsko (Bhs) at 2040 and Frontenac eta at 2100

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 9 - Wicky Spirit at 1648 - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0643 and Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1350 - Oct 11 - Whistler (Lbr) at 0250 awaiting dock at Toronto

Hamilton - arrival - Oct 11 - Florence Spirit at 0028 and G3 Marquis at 0824 - anchored - Oct 8 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - docked - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 - Oct 9 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2328 - Oct 10 - Edenborg (Nld) at 2140 - departures - Oct 10 - Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 2004 for Thunder Bay, Federal St Laurent at 2343 for Port Colborne - Oct 11 - Algoma Spirit at 1250 and Edenborg (Nld) at 1853 for Chicago

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 10 - Robert S Pierson at 2301 - departed Oct 11 at 0849 eastbound

Toronto - docked - Oct 8 - Volgaborg (Nld) at 1039 - Oct 9 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 2355 - departed - Oct 11 - McKeil Spirit at 0858 eastbound

Oshawa - docked - Oct 8 - Onego Merchant (Nld) (ex Texel-17, Onego Merchant-13, Texel-11, Dewi Parwati-08, Beluga Spirit-03, Dewi Parwati-03) at 1848

Oswego, NY – Ned Goebricher On Friday, NACC Argonaut unloaded cement.

Shipping at Port of Green Bay remains ahead of 2018 pace

10/12 - Green Bay, WI – Port officials say 314,000 tons of goods moved through the port in September, bringing the total for the year to more than 1.6 million tons. That is 17% ahead of 2018's pace. Leading products are domestic limestone imports, up 64% over last year; petroleum imports, up 44% over last year; and imports of foreign salt, up 47% over last year.

“We’ve had solid numbers for petroleum and limestone shipments throughout the season and salt shipment are typically strong this time of year with winter months not too far away," port director Dean Haen said in a news release. "We’re optimistic that we’ll see a good finish for the 2019 shipping season for the Port and for the entire Great Lakes. It’s a good sign for the regional economy.”

So far this year, 127 ships have moved through the port, five more than at the same point last year.

Fox 11

Milwaukee doubles number of cruise ships to port in 2019

10/12 - Milwaukee, WI – Port Milwaukee ended its 2019 cruise ship season this week, welcoming a 300-passenger ship from Hamburg, Germany.

Milwaukee hosted 10 cruise ships this season, more than double the number from 2018. The port estimates cruise ships brought more than 3,200 passengers to the city this year.

Increasingly, Milwaukee has become a turnaround point, so passengers start and end their itineraries in the city, which has meant additional business for local attractions and hotels, according to port officials.

"Milwaukee is an important and growing port-of-call for Great Lakes cruising, and that means more visitors, more tourism dollars, and greater attention focused on our city," port director Adam Schlicht said in a written statement. "I am pleased with this year’s increase and optimistic that we will see even more cruise ship visits in the coming years."

The vessel that docked in Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon markets its cruises to German tourists. It has visited Milwaukee a number of times in recent years.

Nicole Asmussen arrived in Milwaukee Tuesday with her husband and 9-year-old son. The family lives just outside of Hamburg and was hoping to see the Harley Davidson Museum and Milwaukee Public Market while in the city.

So far, the cruise had taken them to Montreal, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto and Mackinac Island in Michigan, Asmussen's favorite.

"We've never been to this region, so it was really our dream," she said.

The cruise ship season in Milwaukee runs from June through October. Historically, Milwaukee has attracted about five or six vessels. But this year, the city made an effort to go after more tourists. Several efforts are underway to promote the passenger cruise business in Milwaukee and throughout the Great Lakes.

Port Milwaukee is a founder of the Milwaukee Cruise Collaborative, a regional partnership that includes Visit Milwaukee, Discovery World, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

It's also a participant in the Cruise the Great Lakes initiative of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the 2020 season will likey bring 10 to 12 cruises to Milwaukee. He's anticipating doubling that for 2021.

"There is a growing market for cruise ships on the Great Lakes," Barrett said at an event Tuesday. "They wanted to have a site in Canada and they wanted to have a site in the United States. So Toronto and Milwaukee are emerging as two of the key spots on these tours."

Wisconsin Public Radio

Text a buoy and it’ll text you back: Making Lake Erie the most connected Great Lake

10/12 - Cleveland, OH - The biggest wave in Lake Erie this past summer topped 11 feet. The highest water temperature reached nearly 80 degrees. That’s according to data from a smart buoy near Cleveland’s water intake crib, about 3 miles north of the downtown shore.

Lake Erie has about 20 smart buoys, some privately owned and some public, which cost tens of thousands of dollars and measure all kinds of data:

Of the five Great Lakes, “Lake Erie is the most wired, connected lake. And we’re going to keep pushing this forward,” said Ed Verhamme, of Limnotech, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company, that partners with the Cleveland Water Alliance. The alliance is a five-year-old nonprofit that works with researchers, academia, corporations, government and utilities, in the hope of building a giant water industry in Cleveland.

“Creating a connected ‘Smart Lake’ is key to keeping our freshwater safe and our Blue Economy growing,” said alliance president and executive director Bryan Stubbs. “We’re so glad to see how technology like these sensors and data-collecting buoys are providing key information to help better understand our lake.”

This summer, Limnotech added a new underwater wireless sensor network to the buoy near the Cleveland crib, through a grant awarded to the University of Windsor in Ontario. A series of sensors in a half-mile radius around the buoy transmitted data to each other, to get a better picture of the lake.

“Lake Erie is kind of like this bathtub that keeps swirling around,” Verhamme said. “If we rely on one sensor we get just a glimpse of what’s happening. If we have more sensors, we start seeing changes of oxygen, temperature, algae levels. We see movement in the lake.”

The technology is also used to track fish – including 1,000 tagged walleye -- across the lake. So researchers are now able to see how changes in water quality affect fish movement.

Cleveland.com

On this day in 1976, three boats discharged a record 108,379 tons of cargo on a single day at the Pinney Dock in Ashtabula, Ohio. The three boats were the JAMES R. BARKER (57,305 tons), the WILFRED SYKES (20,678 tons), and the JOSEPH L. BLOCK (30,306 tons).

On the night of October 12, 1871, the grain laden schooner PLOVER struck a reef near Whitefish Point on Lake Superior, put a hole in her hull and sank in deep water. Captain Jones and the crew of eight escaped in the yawl. They spent two days making their way to Sault Ste. Marie.

The JEAN PARISIEN suffered considerable bottom damage when she ran aground near Comfort Island about a mile west of Alexandria Bay, New York. She was released October 12, 1981, and returned to service after repairs were completed at the Canadian Vickers Montreal yard.

The CLIFFS VICTORY was sold October 12, 1985, to Hai International Corp. of New York for scrapping in the Orient and transferred to Panamanian registry. Her name was changed to c.) SAVIC, utilizing the "S" from CLIFFS, the "VIC" from VICTORY and inserting an "A". All the other letters were painted out.

The JOHN A. KLING sailed on her maiden voyage for the Rockport Steamship Co. (Reiss Steamship Co., mgr.) on October 12, 1922, light from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to load stone at Rockport, Michigan. Sold into Canadian registry in 1981, renamed b.) LEADALE. She was scrapped at Ramey's Bend in 1983.

The keel was laid October 12, 1925, for the Interlake Steamship Co.'s steamer COLONEL JAMES PICKANDS.

The SYLVANIA returned to service on October 12, 1967. She sank at the Peerless Cement Co. Dock at Port Huron, Michigan in June of that year after being struck by the Canada Steamship Lines package freight steamer RENVOYLE.

The tug EDNA G remained at Two Harbors, Minnesota, until October 12, 1993, when she was towed to the Fraser Shipyard at Superior, Wisconsin, by the Great Lakes Towing Co. tug KANSAS. She is now on display as a floating exhibit for the city.

On October 12, 1967, the Papachristidis Company Limited's FEUX FOLLETS entered service with the distinction of being the last steam-powered vessel built on the Great Lakes. The vessel was renamed b.) CANADIAN LEADER when it was sold to Upper Lakes Shipping in 1972 It was scrapped in 2011.

At 3:00 a.m., 12 October 1870, the 76-ton tug ONTARIO caught fire and burned to the waterline while lying at Harrow's dock in Algonac, Michigan.

On 12 October 1901, ALVINA (wooden schooner-rigged scow-barge, 89 foot, 95 gross tons, built in 1871, at Fair Haven, Michigan) was being towed by the steamer WESTON and had a load of 700 barrels of lubricating oil. They were bound from Cleveland for Manistique. The ALVINA was overwhelmed in a storm and sank near Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron. Her entire crew made it to shore in her yawl. Her cargo was salvaged five days later.

On 12 October 1880, TRADER (wooden propeller, 115 foot, 169 gross tons, built in 1865, at Marine City, Michigan) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan. She was battered severely and became waterlogged. Her crew abandoned her with water up to her decks. They were saved by the schooner GUIDE in a daring rescue. A few days later, in the "Alpena Storm,” her wreckage washed ashore near Holland, Michigan and she was erroneously reported as another "all-hands" victim of that storm.

On 12 October 1874, on her maiden voyage, the tug MARY passed Port Huron down bound with the bark FAVORITE in tow. The tug was owned by William Hardison of Port Huron.

1912: MARENGO, a wooden schooner under tow of the LLOYD S. PORTER, broke loose in a storm, came ashore west of Port Colborne and was pounded to pieces by the waves. The anchor was salvaged and now sits on the lawn of Port Colborne High School.

1912: S.K. MARTIN began leaking in heavy weather and sank in Lake Erie off Harbor Creek, NY. The coal laden wooden steamer ran for shore but the effort fell short. The crew took to the lifeboat and were saved. The ship went down bow first and rested on the bottom in 56 feet of water.

1918: The wooden tug ELLA G. STONE was destroyed by a brush fire that swept through the town of Cloquet, MN. Several scows, tugs and a dredge as well as over 400 lives were lost.

1941: ENARE, a Great Lakes visitor in 1932-1933, sustained heavy damage in an air attack in the North Sea as h) GLYNN. The ship was subsequently sunk by a convoy escort as a hazard to navigation. It had also been a Great Lakes trader as f) FLAKS in 1933 and 1934.

1991: ZIEMIA GNIEZNIENSKA hit the wall at Lock 7 and dislodged a chunk of concrete. The Welland Canal was closed for three days.

2002: STELLANOVA and CANADIAN PROSPECTOR were in a head-on collision on the Seaway near Cote St. Catherine and both ships sustained considerable damage. The former was repaired at Les Mechins and the latter at Port Weller Dry Docks.

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

Salvage plan established for Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin

10/11 - Cardinal, ON – A salvage plan has been approved by the Unified Command overseeing the ship stuck in the St. Lawrence Seaway off Galop Island. Salvage operations are planned to begin Thursday afternoon, according to Ensign Josoph Neff of the United States Coast Guard. As of 10 p.m. Thursday, the vessel was still aground, according to her AIS.

An estimated 5,000 metric tons of iron ore will be removed from the vessel and offloaded onto awaiting barges to lighten the vessel. The Seaway in the vicinity of Galop Island will be closed to all vessel traffic during salvage operations.

The Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, a 740-foot vessel, ran aground Sunday evening en route to Quebec City. The vessel is loaded with iron ore. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

NNY 360

Great Lakes iron ore trade down slightly in September

10/11 - Cleveland, OH – Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in September, a decrease of 1.8 percent compared to a year ago. However, shipments outperformed the month’s 5-year average by 1.8 percent.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 38.6 million tons, a decrease of less than 1 percent compared to the same point in 2018. Through September iron ore loadings are 4.8 percent ahead of their 5-year average for the first three quarters.

Lake Carriers’ Association

East Toledo iron plant on track to open next summer

10/11 - Toledo, OH - Ten days ago workers finished erecting the 457-foot furnace reactor tower at the hot briquette iron manufacturing plant under construction in East Toledo, officially making it the tallest structure in the city. So on Wednesday, the plant’s owner, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., decided it was time to provide a progress update on the $830 million plant by holding an hour-long open house downtown at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority offices.

Clifford Smith, the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the project is on schedule and expects to be making its first iron briquettes by June. It hopes to ramp up production quickly to be making 1.9 million tons of briquettes annually by 2021.

“We have 60 employees now in training,” Mr. Smith said. Those are plant operators, but fairly soon it will hire another 100 workers to physically run the plant.

A few weeks ago, the construction force that has been building the briquette plant since April 2018 peaked at 1,100. It is now at just under 1,000 but those numbers will continue to dwindle as the plant moves closer to completion.

“We are excited. This has been a journey since we started looking at this in 2014,” Mr. Smith said. Cleveland-Cliffs, which is based in Cleveland, eventually will spend over $1 billion on the project that includes a redevelopment of a mine in Minnesota to provide the Toledo plant with iron pellets that have silicon in them.

To date, it has spent $500 million building the Toledo plant. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz attended the open house and called the briquette plant “the most exciting economic project that has come to Toledo in the last five years.”

The project already has changed the face of Toledo by building the tallest structure, a title until Sept. 30 was held by the Fifth Third Center building on Summit Street. “On every metric this project has exceeded expectations — and it was already fantastic,” the mayor said.

Mr. Smith said once Cleveland-Cliffs, which has until now always confined its business to mining and making iron ore pellets for use by the electric-arc furnace steel industry, decided to get into the hot briquetted iron business, Toledo was always its preferred location for the plant.

Great Lakes freighters will transport pellets to the plant, and Toledo has rail and interstate to transport finished briquettes. Plus, Toledo is very close to several electric-arc furnace steel mills. “We are already in contract negotiations with several steel companies who are interested in the product,” Mr. Smith said.

Hot briquetted iron, known as HBI, is a supplement that when combined with scrap iron, makes a premium grade of steel. HBI is made from iron ore pellets that are heated and condensed by extracting the oxygen in them. The finished briquettes are about 4 inches but extremely heavy and are about 90 percent iron. Hot briquetted iron needs less energy to be turned into steel.

A Cleveland-Cliffs official said the HBI process actually was developed in Toledo years ago, but because of the high cost of natural gas it has never been economically practical in the United States. With cheaper natural gas now available because of fracking, HBI is now affordable, the official said.

Steel makers that now want hot briquetted iron must get it from overseas, primarily Russia and the Middle East. But because of transportation costs it is expensive. Mr. Smith said Cleveland-Cliffs, which tried and failed to develop an HBI plant in 2000, saw the price of natural gas plummeting 10 years ago it began rethinking the idea.

The Blade

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Edwin H. Gott departed Two Harbors on the 10th at 06:17 from South of #2 for Gary. The CSL St-Laurent arrived Two Harbors on the 10th at 06:43 after being stopped in the lake. She went to South of #2. As of 19:15 she is still at the dock, but is showing a Quebec City destination. The Speer departed Duluth around 17:30 from the Port Terminal in Duluth. She stopped in the lake off Duluth, but is showing a Two Harbors destination. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the CSL Niagara at 12:25 for Quebec City. As of 19:15 on the 10th the Anderson was still loading fines at Northshore Mining. Tentatively due in Silver Bay on the 11th is the Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder that is still at Hallett #5 in Duluth. An update. The John G. Munson is on Lake Michigan, but still isn't showing an updated destination.

St. Marys River
Traffic Thursday afternoon included upbounders Ruddy and downbounders Paul R. Tregurtha, CSL Tadoussac and Michipicoten. Saltie Vitosha was at Algoma’s Export Dock.

Traverse City, MI – Daniel Lindner
The German cruise ship Hamburg arrived in Grand Traverse Bay mid-day Thursday and put her anchor down just off the Great Lakes Maritime Academy harbor. Two of the ship's lifeboats ferried passengers to and from the vessel throughout the day before the ship weighed anchor and departed shortly after 19:00. This was her second trip to Traverse City in the past two weeks.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Sault cleared 11:03 am Thursday, downbound with salt for Valleyfield, QC. Algoma Conveyor arrived 11:22 am to load salt.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Herbert C Jackson unloaded stone at the St. Clair Aggregates dock on Thursday

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Thursday October 10 – Barry Andersen Buffalo - Oct 9 - tug William C. Gaynor at 2103 - departed Oct 10 at 0926 westbound

Nanticoke - arrival - Oct 10 - Algoscotia eta 2300

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 9 - CSL Laurentien at 1916 and Algoma Transport at 1940 and Algoma Harvester at 2344 - Oct 10 - Algoma Hansa at 0547, Rodopi (Mlt) at 0614 to Port Weller anchorage, Algoma Enterprise at 0815, Algoscotia at 0927, Adfines Sea ((Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1300 for Port Weller anchorage and Federal Rideau (Mhl) eta 2145

downbound - Oct 9 - Algoma Discovery at 1520, Industrial Strength (Lbr) at 1630, Kitikmeot W (Icdas-09-18) and Algoma Niagara at 1828 - Oct 10 - Flevoborg (Nld) at 0350, Thunder Bay at 0655, John D Leitch at 0803, CSL Welland at 0858, Florence Spirit at 1042, G3 Marquis at 1449, Algonorth at 1647 and Federal Beaufort (Mhl) at 1747

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Oct 9 - Wicky Spirit at 1648 - Oct 10 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 0643 and Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1350 - departed - Oct 9 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2133 for Hamilton

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 9 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2328 from Port Weller anchorage - Oct 10 - Algoma Discovery at 0515 and Algoma Spirit at 1724 - anchored - Oct 8 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 2211 - docked - Rodopi (Mlt) at 1711 - Oct 8 - ferry Wolf Islander III at 0711 and Federal St Laurent (Mhl) at 2245 - Oct 10 - Edenborg (Nld) eta 2143 from the anchorage - departures - Oct 10 - Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0108 eastbound, Rodopi (Mlt) at 0424 for Port Weller anchorage, Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 2004 and Algoma Discovery at 2110

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 10 - Robert S Pierson eta 2205

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 6 - Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1443 - departed Oct 10 at 1126 for Port Weller anchorage

Toronto - docked - Oct 8 - Volgaborg (Nld) at 1039 - Oct 9 - McKeil Spirit at 0753 and tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 2355

Oshawa - docked - Oct 8 - Onego Merchant (Nld) (ex Texel-17, Onego Merchant-13, Texel-11, Dewi Parwati-08, Beluga Spirit-03, Dewi Parwati-03) at 1848

Lakes limestone trade up 12 percent in September

10/11 - Cleveland, OH – Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled nearly 4.1 million tons in September, an increase of 12.4 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s 5-year average by 20.3 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.3 million tons, an increase of almost 12 percent from 2018. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 785,000 tons, an increase of 14.5 percent.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 23.4 million tons, an increase of 12.4 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 19.1 million tons, an increase of 12.5 percent. Shipments from Ontario quarries total 4.3 million tons, an increase 12.1 percent.

Lake Carriers’ Association

German cruise ship Hamburg returning to Alpena

10/11 - Alpena, MI - The German cruise ship, M.S. Hamburg will be stopping by Alpena Friday. It stopped in Lake Huron on September 25 and was set to return. The ship is carrying a different set of German passengers this time and ferries will be docking behind the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Expect a lot of foot traffic on Friday, as these German tourists will be walking around downtown Alpena. “This group is interested in history, heritage, local culture, and everything is based on learning something,” said Mary Beth Stutzman, president and CEO of the Alpena Convention and Visitors Bureau. “So they were most interested in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the lighthouses in Presque Isle, and just experiencing our daily lives.”

The best place to view the cruise ship would be at the break wall. If you would like to welcome our German visitors, you can meet them getting off of the ferries behind the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary around 12:30 p.m. on Friday. However, the time could change depending on the weather.

Help wanted: Pere Marquette Shipping

10/11 - Pere Marquette Shipping, located in Ludington, MI, is looking for a chief engineer to come aboard the Tug Undaunted/PM 41 Barge. Anyone looking to apply for this position should have a DDE 4000 unlimited license. Starting pay will be $460-$500/day rate with dental/medical benefits after 90 days along with a 401K contribution after 1000 hours sailed. This position is 7 days a week/12hr days and a 4 week on/2 week off rotation.

If interested, please contact Roger Beadle at (231) 843-7241 or send your resume to rbeadle@pmship.com

On this day in 1923, the HENRY STEINBRENNER of 1901 collided with the J. McCARTNEY KENNEDY at 4:20 p.m. off Parisienne Island, Whitefish Bay. The accident occurred during thick, smoky weather and both boats were severely damaged.

MEDINA (wooden propeller tug, 66 foot, 57 gross tons) was launched by O'Grady & Maher at Buffalo, New York on October 11, 1890. She cost $12,000.

Quebec & Ontario Transportation's b.) BAIE COMEAU II cleared Sorel October 11, 1983, as c.) AGIA TRIAS, Panamanian registry #1355. Her Canadian registry was closed on October 12, 1983. Her mission was to carry grain from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mexican and Caribbean Island ports. Subsequently she was renamed d.) OCEANVIEW in 1988, e.) SEA DIAMOND in 1989, f.) GOLDEN CREST in 1990, g.) ATLANTIC WOOD in 1991, h.) LONDON FURY in 1994 and i.) DONG SHENG in 1995. Cleveland Tankers’ MERCURY scraped the South Grand Island Bridge in the Niagara River in heavy fog on October 11, 1974. Her forward mast snapped off, the amidships mast was tilted and her smoke stack was toppled. She proceeded after the mishap to G&W Welding at Cleveland, Ohio under her own power for repairs. Upper Lakes Shipping's WHEAT KING, under tow, arrived at Chittagong Roads, Bangladesh on October 11, 1989, to be broken up.

In 1911, the rail ferry CHIEF WAWATAM arrived at St. Ignace, Michigan, and began service shortly thereafter.

On 11 October 1913, THOMAS H. CAHOON (3 mast wooden schooner-barge, 166 foot, 431 gross tons, built in 1881, at E. Saginaw, Michigan) was carrying lumber in tow of the steamer C. W. CHAMBERLAIN. They were bound from Sault Ste. Marie to Byng Inlet. However during a storm, the CAHOON stranded and went to pieces on 'Kenny Shoal' by the southwest corner of Innes Island in Georgian Bay. No lives were lost.

On October 11, 1839, DEWITT CLINTON (wooden passenger/package freight side-wheeler, 147 foot, 413 tons, built in 1836, at Huron, Ohio) foundered off Milwaukee with the loss of 5 lives. She was recovered the following year and lasted until 1851. She and her near-twin ROBERT FULTON were reportedly the first Lake steamers built primarily as freighters with relatively few passenger accommodations.

On October 11, 1866, GREAT WEST (wooden 3-mast bark, 175 foot, 765 tons, built in 1854, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying wheat in a storm on Lake Michigan when she stranded on Racine Reef. She was reported to be a total loss but she may have been recovered and then lost near Chicago in 1876. When launched, she was the largest sailing vessel on the Lakes and much was made of her beautiful lines. She was diagonally braced with iron. She stood 174 feet tall from her deck to her masthead. So if she were sailing today, although she'd be able to sail under the Mackinac Bridge, she'd be stopped at the Blue Water Bridge whose roadway is only 152 feet above the water.

1923: The canal-sized steamer GLENGELDIE, enroute from Killarney to Welland with a cargo of quartz rock, hit bottom in Georgian Bay and had to be towed to Collingwood for over $15,000 in repairs to the starboard side. The ship later sailed for Canada Steamship Lines as b) ELGIN.

1924: SENATOR DARBYSHIRE, a wooden bulk carrier upbound and in ballast, was destroyed by a fire on Lake Ontario, and sank near Point Petre Light. The crew fought the early morning blaze but eventually had to abandon the ship and was picked up by MAPLEBAY. Capt. J.W. Scarrow was later a master for Canada Steamship Lines.

1942: WATERTON was lost due to enemy action in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The former Misener freighter, operating for the Bowater Steamship Co., was attacked with 2 torpedoes from U-106 and went down in the Cabot Strait in 8 minutes. All on board got off safely. The ship was traveling from Cornerbrook, NF, to Cleveland with newsprint and pulpwood.

1982: The Israeli freighter DAGAN made 18 trips to the Great Lakes from 1959 to 1967. It ran aground on Cay Sal Bank, north of Cuba, as f) CORK and was abandoned the next day as a total loss.

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

Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin remains aground in Seaway

10/8 - The Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, which ran aground Sunday evening in the Galop Island Cut just southwest of Cardinal, ON, a few miles above Iroquois Lock, remained aground Monday night.

The United States Coast Guard has responded to the incident and is now working with the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation on a salvage plan. Coast Guard officials say the ship is taking on water at a slow rate but no fuel or cargo tanks have been breached. The vessel was en route to Quebec City with a load of iron ore.

Unconfirmed reports say the vessel suffered engine problems. The vessel is owned by Canada Steamship Lines. Traffic is being restricted to one way only during daylight hours.

Coast Guard helicopter crew rescues 4 off boat in Lake Huron

10/8 - Rogers City, MI – A helicopter crew from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Air Station Traverse City flew a search and rescue mission Saturday night after receiving word there was a boat in distress in Lake Huron, with four people on board.

Winds were clocking in at 35 mph and waves were reaching about 15 feet when the crew aboard the MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter located the boat near Rogers City, about 40 miles north of Alpena. They reached the vessel amid thunderstorms, about two hours after the initial distress call.

“After deploying our rescue swimmer and nearly an hour of hovering over the vessel, we successfully hoisted 4 individuals and transported them to Cheybogan, MI, for transfer to ambulatory services,” the Coast Guard said Monday in a description of the incident posted to Facebook.

A video of the rescue released by the Coast Guard shows how tricky the operation was, with high waves rocking the boat. A rescue swimmer dropped down into the back of the boat, where that person helped all four people aboard get into a rescue basket so they could be pulled up into the helicopter, one by one.

At one point, a crew member aboard the chopper can be heard warning the rescue swimmer about the rough water: “You got a couple heavier waves coming your way,” the crew member said, advising the rescue swimmer and those still on board to hold onto something to keep their balance.

Air Station Traverse City has had a small fleet of the Jayhawks since the summer of 2017. They replaced the earlier group of MH-65 Dolphins the crew had been flying. Coast Guard's new Jayhawk helicopters are built for search-and-rescue operations

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
American Century departed Duluth at 10:33 Monday morning with a load of coal from Midwest Energy. She had arrived via the Superior entry on Sunday and took a delay at Lakehead Pipeline before shifting to SMET late Sunday to load. Edgar B. Speer was inbound at 14:03, and tied up at Port Terminal to wait out a delay. She is due next in Two Harbors to load. Her fleetmate Roger Blough came in at 16:02 to load iron ore pellets at CN, and Great Republic was outbound at 16:10 after loading petroleum coke at Midwest Energy. Also in port were Happy River, unloading wind turbine towers at Port Terminal, and Erieborg, moored at Gavilon taking on beet pulp pellets. The only traffic through the Superior entry on Monday was G3 Marquis, which left port at 08:29 for Hamilton with iron ore pellets from BN.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 7th at 15:50 for South of #2. There is no scheduled traffic for Two Harbors on Oct. 8th, but the Speer is in Duluth taking a delay and she's due in Two Harbors to load sometime this week. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader on Oct. 7th at 10:15 for Cleveland. Arriving Silver Bay on the 7th was the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader at 11:12. Tentatively due in Silver Bay on Oct. 8th is the Dorothy Ann/Patfinder. She is due at Hallett #5 the morning of Oct. 8th to unload salt. She could arrive Silver Bay late in the day.

Thunder Bay, ON
Sunday; 20:16 CSL Welland departed for Montreal. 22:46 Drawsko weighed anchor and proceeded to Viterra A to load grain. 23:56 Algoma Niagara departed for Quebec City. Monday; 2:25 Kaministiqua arrived at the Richardson Main Terminal to load grain. 8:15 Manitoulin arrived at the G3 elevator to load grain. 12:15 The saltie Isolda arrived and went to anchor. 15:34 Tim S Dool arrived at the Richardson Current River terminal to load.

Hancock, MI
After sitting in the hook in the lee of the Keweenaw for over 24 hours, Interlake’s Dorothy Ann with articulated barge Pathfinder made the unconventional decision to transit the Portage Lake Waterway Monday morning, versus rounding the peninsula itself. This may be the first laker to transit east of Hancock since the M/V Manitowoc did it in October 2017 on a salt delivery. The salt boats to Hancock have been coming mostly via the more traveled upper entry used routinely by the Ranger III to Isle Royale.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Meldrum Bay: Monday; 10:31 Philip R Clarke arrived to load limestone.

Port Dolomite: Monday; 0:16 Undaunted weighed anchor and departed Manistee. 0:42 Arthur M Anderson arrived to load and departed at 8:42 for Duluth Superior. 10:15 Frontenac arrived to load.

Calcite: 1:14 Olive L Moore arrived to load. 6:05 Calumet departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. 17:32 Olive L Moore departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. American Mariner arrived to load.

Stoneport: Sunday; 18:44 Kaye E Barker departed for Marquette. 20:44 Laura L Vanenkevort arrived to load and departed at 18:50 for Calumet.

Alpena: Monday; 5:21 The cement carrier Alpena arrived to load and departed at 10:36 for Green Bay.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Sault cleared with salt 3:42 am Monday downbound to Toledo OH. Cuyahoga was loading salt at Compass Minerals for Alpena MI.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
H. Lee White and Sam Laud departed Cleveland on Monday, the White going to Sandusky and the Laud to Marblehead. Ruddy was still at the port and Sea Eagle II was at St. Marys Cement.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Monday October 7 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Oct 6 - Sloman Hera (Atg) at 1423 and Algoterra at 1745 - departed - Oct 5 - tug Albert (ex Craig Eric Reinauer-18, El Bronco Grande-06, Hercules-81) & barge Margaret at 2345 westbound Oct 7 - and Algoterra at 1539 eastbound

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 6 - tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 1429, Thunder Bay at 1716 and Vitosha (Mlt) at 2340 - Oct 7 - Kitikmeot W at 0658, tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 0951, Ojibway at 1406, Florence Spirit at 1555, Algosea at 1757 and Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 1757

downbound - Oct 6 - Spruceglen at 1702 and NACC Argonaut at 1954 - Oct 7 - BBC Hudson (Gib) (ex Dornumersiel-09) at 0221 going to Port Weller anchorage, Federal Cedar (Mhl) at 0600 going to Port Weller anchorage, Algoma Conveyor at 0752 and Algoma Strongfield at 1417

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - Oct 7 - BBC Hudson (Gib) (ex Dornumersiel-09) at 1354, Federal Cedar (Mhl) at 1725 - departed - Oct 7 - BBC Hudson (Gib) at 1004

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 7 - Algoma Conveyor eta 2120 - anchored - Oct 2 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 1105 - Oct 4 - Edenborg (Nld) at 1018 - docked - Oct 3 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 1915 - Oct 4 - Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 1726 and Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 2116 - Oct 5 - Rodopi (Mlt) at 1711 and Wicky Spirit at 2004 - departures - Oct 5 - CSL Laurentien at 2313 - westbound - Oct 7 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 0715 and Florence Spirit at 1403

Bronte - arrival - Oct 5 - Gaia Desgagnes at 0756 from Port Weller - Oct -6 - departed anchorage at 1845 for the dock - docked Gaia Desgagnes at 1850

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 7 - Robert S Pierson at 0947 - departed - Oct 7 - Blair McKeil at 1426 eastbound

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 6 - Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1443

Toronto - arrival - Oct 7 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) eta 0700 - docked - Oct 4 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1848

Oshawa - arrivals - Oct 6 - NACC Quebec at 1824 - docked - Oct 4 Federal St Laurent at 1259 - departed Oct 7 - NACC Quebec atr 1004 eastbound

Two Great Lakes not falling as expected

10/8 - With the fall season comes a usual lowering of the Great Lakes water levels. That didn’t happen this past month for two of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron were higher on October 4 than September 4.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says heavy rain over the Great Lakes in September halted the typical lowering of water levels in September for Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron. If we look at the long-term average fall in water levels from September to October is 1.2 inches on Lake Superior and 2.76 inches on Lake Michigan-Huron.

Friday, October 4 data released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer forecasts Lake Superior rose one inch from September 4 and Lake Michigan-Huron rose two inches since September 4.

That water level rise may not sound like a large rise in water levels. If we look at what the lakes actually did versus the typical long-term average water level fall, it’s a 2.2 inch swing on Lake Superior and a 4.76 inch difference from normal on Lake Michigan-Huron.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rule of thumb is 800 billion gallons of water for each inch of water on Lake Michigan-Huron. The extra almost five inches in Lake Michigan-Huron represents an extra 3.7 trillion gallons of water.

The water levels for October 4 still have all the Great Lakes lower than the record highest level. Lake Superior is one inch below the record level. Lake Michigan-Huron is seven inches below the record October high. Lake Erie is five inches below record levels, and Lake Ontario four inches below record levels.

Even though two of the lakes bucked the trend in September, all of the Great Lakes are expected to continue their typical seasonal water level decline between now and November 4. While it would be tough for lake levels to rise in fall and winter, any less-than-average fall sets us up for a higher start to the seasonal water rise which starts in March.

The U.S. Corps of Engineers water level forecast typically projects average precipitation amounts. If precipitation amounts turn out extremely abnormal, either wet or dry, the long-range forecast will be off.

M Live / Mark Torregrossa

Great Lakes Moment: Five decades since the infamous Rouge River fire

10/8 - Fifty years ago this month on October 9, 1969, the Rouge River caught on fire. Smoke billowed over the river that October morning, about 1,000 feet downstream from the I-75 freeway bridge near the City of River Rouge boundary with southwest Detroit.

Floating oil and oil-soaked debris on the north bank of the river were on fire. Detroit firefighters, who extinguished the blaze, estimated that flames shot 50 feet into the air. The cause of the fire was sparks from an acetylene torch that ignited the debris.

To fight and contain the fire, the Detroit Fire Department deployed 10 pieces of equipment and 65 men. However, it was the Detroit fireboat John Kendall that quickly brought the blaze under control. It was reported that shortly before the blaze started a gasket on an oil pipe broke, allowing furnace oil to escape from the Shell depot. Some of it was pumped into a truck. Wind helped spread the remainder of the oil across the river. The U.S. Coast Guard had been called to the scene before the fire started to position oil containment booms to keep floating oil from spreading.

However, despite these U.S. Coast Guard efforts, the oil spread out across the river and caught on fire. The flames spread upstream and stopped at a culvert about 500 feet from the origin of the fire. The U.S. Coast Guard had to halt traffic on the river. In an Oct. 12, 1969, editorial, the Detroit Free Press had this to say about the Rouge River fire: “When you have a river that burns, for crying out loud, you have troubles. It happened on Cleveland’s Cuyahoga, and now it has happened on the Rouge River.”

When most people think of burning rivers, they think of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. It caught on fire on June 22, 1969, less than four months before the Rouge River caught on fire. The 1969 Cuyahoga River fire, like the 1969 Rouge River fire, received relatively little local news coverage. However, the Cuyahoga River fire came precisely at the right time when the national media began to cover the environment as a serious issue and just as there was growing national public recognition of the urgent need to protect the environment.

Time magazine’s August 1, 1969, issue was one of the most widely read issues at a time when access to news was more limited than it is today. It was the week after Apollo 11 returned from its mission to the moon and the magazine featured this historic flight. It was also the first issue with a new environment section, with the Cuyahoga River as its focus. It is fair to say that the Rouge and Cuyahoga river fires in 1969, the Buffalo River fire in 1968, the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969 and other environmental crises helped awaken the nation to widespread environmental degradation.

These river fires and other environmental disasters became national symbols of industrial indifference and the weakness of public regulation. The public outcry over these river fires and other polluted waterways helped lead to the passage of the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, the 1972 Clean Water Act, the 1972 U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the 1973 Endangered Species Act.

These laws and agreement helped regulate and control water pollution and encourage voluntary pollution prevention initiatives. Since 1985, over $1 billion has been spent on sewer improvement projects and controlling combined sewer overflows that discharge raw and partially treated sewage to the Rouge River during heavy rainfall events. Approximately 396,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediment have been remediated at a cost of $62.8 million and nearly $7 million of habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects have been implemented in the watershed.

These cleanup and rehabilitation efforts have resulted in considerable river improvements.

In 1969, when the Rouge River caught on fire, oil slicks were common on the lower river, hydrogen sulfide (the smell of rotten eggs) was off-gassing from the river because there was no oxygen in the river, county health departments had to ban human contact with the river because there was so much raw sewage being discharged into it, and even pollution-tolerant carp were dying in the lower river because of no oxygen.

Today, oxygen conditions have improved, fish are returning, peregrine falcons have returned at the river mouth, and the river is being rediscovered as a recreational resource.

In 1969, the Rouge River was perceived as a working river that supported industry and commerce. Water pollution and the 1969 fire were just part of the cost of doing business. Today, the Rouge River is seen an ecological and community asset that provides many ecosystem services and beneficial uses that enhance quality of life.

Despite these improvements in the Rouge River, some significant challenges remain, including remediating the legacy of industrial pollution in contaminated sediments and brownfields, controlling runoff from the land, rehabilitating and conserving habitats and biodiversity, controlling invasive species, and addressing climate change. For example, 23 percent of the Rouge River watershed is impervious surface that causes both significant runoff problems and loss of habitat.

Read the full story at this link: https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2019/10/rouge-river-fire-anniversary-great-lakes-moment

On 08 October 1871, PHILO PARSONS (wooden side-wheel steamer, 221 tons, built in 1861, at Algonac, Michigan) burned to a total loss in the great Chicago fire. She burned so completely that her remains were not located in the Chicago River until 1877. She was the vessel commandeered by Confederate raiders in a plot to capture the iron gunboat U.S.S. MICHIGAN on Lake Erie during the American Civil War. The Chicago fire destroyed many fine vessels while they were docked in the harbor. These included the new propeller NAVARINO, the schooner GLENBULA, the schooner ECLIPSE, the schooner BUTCHER BOY, the bark VALETTA, the schooner ALNWICK, the bark A. P. NICHOLS, the bark FONTANELLA, the fore-and-aft schooner STAMPEDE, the schooner N. C. FORD, and the schooner CHRISTINA NEILSON. The only recorded casualties among the sailors were on the ALNWICK; her mate died and the captain burned his hands severely.

The keel was laid October 8, 1976, for the 660-foot forward section of the BURNS HARBOR, but was completed as b.) LEWIS WILSON FOY for the Bethlehem Steel Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Purchased by Oglebay Norton and renamed c.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991, and d.) AMERICAN INTEGRITY in 2006.

The MATHEWSTON (Hull#47) entered service on October 8, 1922. On her maiden voyage she sailed from Port Arthur, Ontario with 11,634 tons of barley and wheat. Renamed b.) RALPH S. MISENER in 1954 and c.) MATHEWSTON again in 1967. Scrapped at Vado, Italy in 1970.

The Canadian registry for MENIHEK LAKE was officially closed on October 8, 1985, with the notation "sold Spain." She was scrapped at Gijon, Spain.

WILLIAM G. MATHER arrived on October 8, 1988, in tow of the Great Lakes Towing Co. tugs WYOMING and ALABAMA at the G&W Shipyard at Collision Bend in the Cuyahoga River to be refurbished.

On 8 October 1906, PASADENA (wooden barge, 250 foot, 1,761 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio as a propeller bulk freighter) was carrying coal, in tow of the steamer GLADSTONE, bound for Superior, Wisconsin. The PASADENA went out of control in a gale and her skipper had the tow line cut. She was thrown against a pier near the upper entry to the Keweenaw Waterway and pounded to pieces in a few hours. Two lives were lost, but 8 made it to shore on the floating wreckage.

On 8 October 1854, E. K. COLLINS (wooden passenger/package freight side-wheeler, 256 foot, 1,095 gross tons, built in 1853, at Newport, Michigan) caught fire and beached near the mouth of the Detroit River where she burned to the waterline. About 23 lives were lost. About 43 persons were rescued in small boats and by the steamers FINTRY and GLOBE. There was some speculation that arson was the cause. The hull was recovered in 1857, and rebuilt as the barge ARK.

On October 8, 2000 the tug UNDAUNTED and barge PERE MARQUETTE 41 departed Calumet Harbor loaded with pig iron for Marinette, Wis., under favorable conditions and were later caught by the heavy weather. During the storm, the 5,000 tons of pig iron and the barge's four pieces of heavy loading equipment were washed into Lake Michigan. Both the tug and barge suffered damage in the incident.

1899: The tug RECORD sank at Duluth after a collision with the whaleback steamer JAMES B. NEILSON and one life was lost.

1906: The barge PASADENA, loaded with iron ore for Cleveland and under tow of the steamer GLADSTONE, was cut loose approaching the Keweenaw Waterway. The anchors fail to hold. The ship smashed into the east pier of the waterway and broke up on the rocks. Seven sailors were rescued but two were lost.

1964: A fire aboard West German-flag freighter ERATO at Detroit left two dead when they were trapped in their stern quarters. Another three sailors were injured. The 2-alarm blaze was brought under control and the ship was eventually repaired at Toledo. It arrived at Bombay, India, and laid up as d) VIJAYA DARSHANA on May 26, 1983, and eventually scrapped there beginning in May 1986.

1971: DIDO went aground leaving Goole, U.K. for Porsgrunn, Norway, but returned to Goole the next day after being refloated. The 22-year-old Norwegian freighter was listed as a total loss and sold for scrap. It was taken to Hull, U.K., a year later and dismantled. The ship had been a pre-Seaway trader as early as 1951 and made 14 voyages to the Great Lakes from 1959 through 1963.

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

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Joseph L. Block departed Two Harbors on Oct. 6th at 00:30. After departing Two Harbors she went to anchor off Duluth and then got underway around mid morning on the 6th for Indiana Harbor. The Presque Isle departed Two Harbors on Oct. 6th from South of #2 at 10:24 for Ecorse. Arriving Two Harbors on Oct. 6th at 15:26 was the Great Republic for South of #2 to fuel. She departed on the 6th at 17:57 for Duluth. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 7th is the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. The McCarthy Jr. as of 18:30 on the 6th was anchored in Keweenaw Bay with no ETA for Two Harbors. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the James R. Barker on Oct. 6th at 13:38 for Cleveland. Arriving Silver Bay on Oct. 6th at approx. 15:58 was the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader. Due Silver Bay on Oct. 7th is the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader. As of 18:30 on Oct. 6th she was hugging the Michigan shore of Lake Superior West of Marquette.

Thunder Bay, ON
Saturday; 22:02 Algoma Equinox finished loading and shifted to the main anchorage to wait out weather. Sunday; 11:22 Federal Churchill weighed anchor and proceeded to the Superior Elevator to load grain. 17:38 Algoma Equinox weighed anchor and is down bound on Lake Superior.

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Jim Conlon
On Saturday morning the USCG icebreaker Mackinaw was removed from the large graving dock. On Sunday she was at the dock and was being refueled. On Saturday afternoon the Indiana Harbor arrived at Bayship with the help of Sarter Marine Towing tugs.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Spragge: Sunday; 2:32 Manitoulin departed for Thunder Bay.

Bruce Mines: Saturday; 21:59 Manitowoc departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. 2:34 Mississagi arrived to take on a partial load of trap rock and departed at 6:46 for Thessalon.

Thessalon: Sunday; 8:14 Mississagi arrived to finish loading stone and departed at 13:58.

Port Dolomite: Saturday; Undaunted finished loading and went to anchor to wait out weather. Sunday 16:00 Arthur M Anderson arrived and went to anchor.

Calcite: Saturday; 23:38 Defiance departed for Burns Harbor. Sunday; 17:57 Calumet arrived to load.

Stoneport: Sunday; 3:00 Kaye E Barker arrived to load.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Sault backed in at 12:14 pm Sunday, loading salt for Toledo. Cuyahoga arrived at 6.13 pm and is expected to load salt next.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Salties Ruddy and Castor 1 were in port Sunday, as was the cruise ship Victory 1. Sam Laud was at the Bulk Terminal loading a shuttle and H. Lee White lightered at the Bulk Terminal before heading for ArcelorMittal.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Sunday October 6 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrival - Oct 4 - tug Albert (ex Craig Eric Reinauer-18, El Bronco Grande-06, Hercules-81) & barge Margaret eta 2135 - docked - departed Oct 4 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 2306 westbound

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 5 - Federal Hunter (Mhl) at 1609, Algonorth at 1837, Sloman Hera (Atg) at 2330 - Oct 6 - Algoterra at 0102, CSL Laurentien at 0653, tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 1429, Thunder Bay at 1716 and Vitosha (Mlt) eta 2310
downbound - Oct 5 - Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 2041 and tug Michigan & Great Lakes at 2330 - Oct 6 - Federal Seto (Mhl) at 0541, Florence Spirit at 0644, Sloman Helios (Atg) at 1241, Spruceglen at 1702 and NACC Argonaut at 1954

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 6 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1305 - Oct 6 - Florence Spirit at 2012 - anchored - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855 - Oct 2 - Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 1105 - Oct 4 - Edenborg (Nld) at 1018 - Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 0726 and Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 2116 - Oct 5 - CSL Laurentien at 0610, Rodopi (Mlt) at 1711 and Wicky Spirit at 2004 - departures - Oct 5 - Algoma Transport at 0418 and CSL Laurentien at 2313 - both westbound

Bronte - arrival - Oct 5 - Gaia Desgagnes at 0756 from Port Weller - Oct -6 - departed anchorage at 1845 for the dock - docked Gaia Desgagnes at 1850

Clarkson - arrival - Oct 4 - Blair McKeil at 1245 from the anchorage - anchored - Oct 5 - Robert S Pierson at 0549 - departed Oct 5 at 0616

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 6 - Adfines Sea (Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1443

Toronto - arrival - Oct 7 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) eta 0700 - docked - Oct 4 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1848  

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
Arrival: McKeil Spirit arrived Sunday morning at Lehigh Cement's dock.

Obituary: Steve Witucki

10/7 - Steve Witucki, formerly of Rogers City, MI., known for his historic murals of Great Lakes freighters, including realistic recreations of the shipwrecked vessels Carl D. Bradley, Daniel J. Morrell and Cedarville, passed away Oct. 5 of cancer. He and his wife Michelle lived in Port St. Lucie, FL, the past several years.

He became a local, and later national celebrity with his nautical paintings and artwork, and was featured in the film "November Requiem," detailing the loss of the Bradley. He was born on September 5, 1956 in Onaway, MI. Arrangements are incomplete.

On October 7, 1968, the NORMAN P. CLEMENT was damaged in a grounding off Britt, Ontario. The Canadian boat was towed to Collingwood for repairs. However, while in dry dock, an explosion occurred on October 16 that injured 11 workers and further damaged the hull. Rather than repair her, the owners had the CLEMENT towed out into Georgian Bay where she was intentionally sunk on October 23, 1968.

On this day in 1939, the E. G. MATHIOTT collided with the steamer CORVUS on the St. Clair River. Damage to the CORVUS totaled $37,647.70.

On this day in 1958, the WALTER E. WATSON, Captain Ralph Fenton, rescued the sailing vessel TAMARA on Lake Huron.

On October 7, 1871, GEM (wooden schooner, 120 foot, 325 tons, built in 1853, at Buffalo, New York) was sailing up bound in a storm on Lake Erie with a load of coal. She began to leak and was run to shore in an effort to save her. However, she went down before reaching shoal water and settled with six feet of water over her decks.

ALGOWOOD was launched October 7, 1980, at Collingwood, Ontario, for Algoma Central Marine, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

PAUL THAYER was launched October 7, 1973, for the Union Commerce Bank Trustee, Cleveland, Ohio and managed by Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland. She was built under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, for $12.6 million. Renamed b.) EARL W. OGLEBAY in 1995.

The WILLIAM MC LAUCHLAN (Hull#793) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co., on October 7, 1926, for the Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) SAMUEL MATHER in 1966, c.) JOAN M. MC CULLOUGH in 1975 and d.) BIRCHGLEN in 1982. Scrapped at Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 1988.

BLACK RIVER, a lake bulk freighter, was built as a steel barge in 1897, by the F.W. Wheeler & Co., she was launched October 7, 1896, as a.) SIR ISAAC LOTHIAN BELL (Hull# 118).

HUTCHCLIFFE HALL was raised October 7, 1962, and taken to Port Weller Dry Docks for repairs. She had sunk after a collision a few days earlier.

October 7, 1923 - The ANN ARBOR NO 4 went back into service after being overhauled and having new cabins built on her main deck.

MADISON suffered a fire on October 7, 1987, while lying idle at Muskegon, Michigan, and was badly damaged.

In 1903, ADVENTURE (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 108 foot, 142 gross tons, built in 1875, at Detroit, Michigan, as a schooner) caught fire while tied to the Kelleys Island Line & Transport Co. Dock. The blaze spread so quickly that those on board barely escaped. She was towed from Kelleys Island out into Lake Erie by the tug SMITH to save the dock and the adjacent schooner ANDERSON.

In a severe gale and rain/hail storm on October 7, 1858, the 247-ton schooner OSPREY approached Oswego, New York. As she was about to enter the harbor, the vessel struck the east pier broadside. Her masts and rigging were carried away and she started to sink. Capt. John Parsons got his wife and child out of the cabin to try to escape to the pier. His wife was washed overboard and drowned. Capt. Parsons held on to his child, but another wave struck the wreck and swept the child into the water. George Crine, the mate, was also swept overboard. Those three were lost, but the next wave swung the wreck about with her bowsprit over the pier and the captain and the six remaining crewmen scrambled to safety. The entire town and harbor mourned those deaths and held a dockside service two days later with many prayers and all flags at half-mast. Donations were accepted for the surviving sailors since they escaped with only the clothes on their backs.

On October 7,1873, the PULASKI was launched at the Archibald Muir yard on the Black River in Port Huron. Her dimensions were 136 feet x 26 feet x 11 feet, 349 gross tons. She was a three mast "full canaller", painted white and her private signal was a red M on a white ground bordered with blue. Her sails were made by Mr. D. Robeson of Port Huron, Michigan.

On October 7, 1886, The Port Huron Times reported that "The old side-wheel ferry SARNIA, which was a familiar sight at this crossing [Port Huron-Sarnia] for so many years, and which is said to have earned enough money in her time to sheet her with silver, the hull of which has been for some years back used as a barge by the Marine City Salt Company, has closed her career. She was last week scuttled near the Marine City Salt Works wharf."

1902: ANN MARIA hit a sandbar approaching Kincardine while inbound with a cargo of coal and broke up as a total loss. Four crew and a volunteer rescuer were reported lost.

1917: GEORGE A. GRAHAM was wrecked off Manitoulin Island, Georgian Bay, when the cargo shifted when turning in a storm. The ship ran for the safety of South Bay but stranded on the rocks. All on board were saved but the ship was a total loss.

1919: The wooden steamer HELEN TAYLOR was damaged by a fire in the pilothouse near Hessel, Mich., but was repaired.

1937: M & F DREDGE NO. 14, Hull 39 from the Collingwood shipyard, foundered in the St. Lawrence off Batiscan, QC as b) D.M. DREDGE NO. 14.

1956: The consort barge DELKOTE of the Hindman fleet was adrift for 9 hours in a Lake Superior storm with 13 on board and waves up to 20 feet. The ship had broken loose of the GEORGE HINDMAN but was picked up by the CAPT. C.D. SECORD.

1968: EDWARD Y. TOWNSEND, under tow for scrapping in Bilbao, Spain, broke in two about 400 miles southeast of St. John's, NF, and the bow sank. The stern was apparently retrieved and towed into Santander, Spain, for scrapping on October 28.

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

Activity picks up at Thunder Bay port: Grain, general cargo shipments ahead of last year

10/4 - Thunder Bay, ON – The Port of Thunder Bay reports strong cargo movement at harbor terminals through the end of September. The year-to-date shipments through the western Lake Superior port are 5.9 million tonnes, nine per cent ahead of last year’s pace.

In a news release, the authority said grain shipments have trended upward this season as a result of increased canola deliveries from Western Canada being shipped to Europe. Total canola volumes are two-thirds higher than last year.

The cargo tally during the month of September reached 1.1 million metric tonnes, about 20 per cent higher than during the same month in 2018.

The port authority said an increase in coal shipments has helped to offset a return to normal volumes of potash this season. Meanwhile, a spike in the other dry bulk figure is largely due to deliveries of salt for winter maintenance of regional roadways.

Keefer Terminal handled two shipments in European-made steel rails during the month. The rails are destined for Western Canada.

Northern Ontario Business

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The Edwin H. Gott arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 3rd at 15:27. She had been anchored off Sand Island during the night and got underway at 12:35 on the 3rd. When she arrived Two Harbors she was assisted to South of #2 by Heritage Marine's tug Nels J. Also arriving Two Harbors on the 3rd was the Cason J. Callaway that also had been anchored off Sand Island. She got underway on the 3rd at 13:30 and arrived Two Harbors at 16:49 for South of #1. Tentatively she is loading pellets and bft. Tentatively due Two Harbors on Oct. 4th are the Algoma Compass, American Spirit, and the Joseph L. Block that will be arriving after unloading stone in the Twin Ports. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the H. Lee White on Oct. 3rd at approx. 07:25. She's showing a "Soo" destination, but probably once she arrives at the Soo her destination will change. Arriving Silver Bay on Oct. 3rd were the Hon. James L. Oberstar at 17:52 and the James R. Barker at 18:15. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Oct. 4th.

Thunder Bay, ON
Wednesday; 23:59 Federal Cedar weighed anchor and proceeded to Thunder Bay Terminals to load Potash.

St. Marys River – Joy Fett
Algoma Niagara was unloading road salt at the Carbide Dock on Thursday.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Meldrum Bay: Wednesday; 23:00 Frontenac arrived and went to anchor. Thursday; 13:44 Algoma Innovator departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. 14:10 Algoma Buffalo weighed anchor and proceeded to the loading dock.

Drummond Island: Wednesday; 21:24 Laura L Vanenkevort arrived to load and departed Thursday at 8:39 for Fairport.

Port Dolomite: Thursday; 9:21 Kaye E Barker arrived to load dolomite.

Calcite: Thursday; 3:42 Olive L Moore arrived to load.

Stoneport: Thursday; 12:30 Great Republic arrived to load.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Niagara arrived Tuesday at 7:32 pm loaded salt, cleared Wednesday 6:21 pm for Sault Ste. Marie MI.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Thursday October 3 – Barry Andersen Nanticoke - docked - Sep 30 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1848

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 2 - light tug Vigilant I towing tug Florence M to Thunder Bay, ON, at 1148 and Baie Comeau at 1217 - Oct 3 - Kaministiqua at 0646, Algocanada at 0804, CSL Tadoussac at 0901, Algoscotia at 1430 and Federal St Laurent (Mhl) iv at 1819 going to Port Weller anchorage and Federal Kivalina (Mhl) eta 2125

downbound - Oct 1 - Saginaw at 1211 going to wharf 20 - Oct 3 - Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 0743, Evans Spirit at 0902, CSL Assiniboine eta 1907 and Algoma Transport eta 2100

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 1 - Saginaw stopped wharf 20 at 1235 - departed Oct 3 at 2120 approximately - westbound

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - Oct 3 - Federal St Laurent (Mhl) iv at 1912 - departure - Oct 2 - Harbour first (Por) at 2350 eastbound - Oct 3 - Federal Kivalina (Mhl) at 1906 and Blair McKeil at 1910 and NACC Capri (Mlt) etd 2120 - re-scheduled from Oct 1 - all eastbound

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 3 - Federal Rideau (Mhl) at 0726 - anchored - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855 - docked - Sep 30 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) at 0635 - Oct 1 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1001 - Oct 2 - Nordic Ace (Pa) at 0600, Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 1105 and Wicky Spirit at 1534 - departures - Oct 3 - Tim S Dool at 0342, Federal Kivalina (Mhl) at 1906 and Blair McKeil at 1910 eastbound

Bronte: arrival - (docked) - Oct 1 - Paul A Desgagnes 2203

Clarkson: - arrival - Oct 2 - Robert S Pierson at 0952 departed Oct 2 at 2240 eastbound

Toronto - arrival - Oct 3 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0045 - docked - Sep 30 - Isolda (Cyp) at 1439

Picton terminal - docked - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 - departed Oct 3 at 0800 for Port Weller anchorage

Oswego, NY – Ned Goebricher
Passenger ship Grande Caribe was in port Wednesday along with cement carrier NACC Argonaut.

Lake Superior ties record high water for September

10/4 - Lake Superior tied its all-time high-water level for September, the fifth straight average monthly water level that has hit a record high mark. The big lake reached a month-long average of 183.86 meters, which tied September 1985, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Lake Superior also tied the August high-water mark and set new records in May, June and July as an unprecedented wet period continues across the Great Lakes region. Accurate water level records for Lake Superior date back to 1918.

Thanks to copious amounts of rain, Lake Superior rose 1.6 inches in September, a month on average the lake drops a half inch. The lake now sits 7 inches higher than last year on Oct. 1 and 14 inches higher than the average level for this time of year. The lake is now just 0.05 meters, or 2 inches, from the all-time monthly high set in October 1985. It would have to top that mark and maintain it as the average monthly level at month’s end to count as the new record.

It remains unclear, but certainly possible, if the big lake will continue to rise in October, a month it usually drops, but that's just what happened in September. Duluth, for example, received 5.76 inches of rain in September, 1.65 inches more than average. “It's possible, but it would need to be close to, but not quite, record’’ water supply to the lake, said Charles Sidick of the Army Corps’ Great Lakes Hydrology Office.

For example, September rainfall and overall water supply over the entire Lake Superior basin was in the top 10 percentile. October would have to be even wetter, in the top 5 percentile, to hit a record water level for the lake, Sidick told the News Tribune.

All of the Great Lakes either hit or approached record-high levels for summer months this year and are expected to remain higher than normal for the foreseeable future. Lake Superior generally rises from April to September and then drops through late fall and winter as moisture is tied up in ice and snow.

Duluth News Tribune

Canada Border Services Agency seizes 148 kg of suspected cocaine at Port of Quebec

10/4 - Quebec, QC – The Canada Border Services Agency says it seized $7 million worth of possible cocaine at the Port of Quebec last week. Some 148 kilograms of the substance was found, in total. The agency said the substance is being taken to an RCMP lab for analysis.

The suspected cocaine was found aboard the Navios Luz, a container ship that docked at the port last week. The ship, which flies the flag of Malta, was carrying iron pellets. So far in 2018-2019, the agency said, it has seized 1,430 kilograms of cocaine and crack.

CBC

Casualties, demolitions from the World Ship Society

10/4 - Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connections reported as a casualty or sold for demolition - taken from October 2019 issue of Marine News - Journal of the World Ship Society.

Casualties: none reported

Demolitions: STEPHEN B. ROMAN (6514900; St. Vincent & the Grenadines) - 1st trip in the Seaway 1986 - Fort William-83 - 1st trip in the Seaway 1965 - 7,019 / 1965 - cement carrier. By McKeil Work Boats GP Inc) (Redwise Maritime Services BV) Canada, to Oge Gemi Sokum Ithalat Ihracat, Turkey and arrived Aliaga 15.12.2018 - commenced demolition 18.12.2018

ARKAIM-4 (8121252; Panama) - Beluga Performer - 1st trip in the Seaway 1999, Haskerland-98, Inara-92, Haskerland-91, Samsun Carrier-86) - 3,965 / 1982 - general cargo ship. By Tenera Ltd (Joint Venture "Arkaim') ( S/P 'Arkaim'), Russia, to Bangladesh shipbreakers and arrived Chittagong 13.12.2018 - commenced demolition 26.12.2018

DIAVLOS PRIDE (7914470; Panama) - Mega One-14, Carangue-09, Pilot Fish-93, Maersk Handler-92, Smit-Lloyd 119-82, launched as Atlas Tasman) 1,474 / 1980 - anchor handling tug supply. By Diavlos Pride Ltd (Diavlos Salvage & Towing Ltd), Marshall Islands, to Ersay Gemi Geri Donusum, Turkey, arrived Aliaga 11.12.2018 - commenced demolition 12.12.2018. (DIAVLOS PRIDE not a Seaway trader but towed lake vessels to Aliaga from 2015 until 2018.)

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

Where vessels go to die: Inside Canada’s ship graveyard

10/4 - In January, new rules from the International Maritime Organization in London are set to take effect, with the potential of roiling the global shipping industry and energy markets. IMO 2020, as the regulations are called, will mandate that vessels drastically reduce sulfur emissions. Failure to comply may result in a vessel being labeled “unseaworthy.”

More than 2,800 vessels would have to retrofit with what are known as exhaust gas cleaning scrubbers, or switch to such low-sulfur-compliant fuels as diesel or marine gasoil – but supplies are tight. The potential disruption comes just as the World Trade Organization has sounded an alarm over a darkening outlook for global commerce growth.

Bloomberg News visited the Marine Recycling Corp. facility in Port Colborne, Ontario, the world's first ISO 14001 certified ship recycling company, to explore what might await some outdated vessels. View the photos at this link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2019-10-02/where-commercial-shipping-vessels-go-to-die

On October 4, 1887, ORIENT (wooden propeller tug, 60 foot, 37 gross tons, built in 1874, at Buffalo, New York) foundered three miles west of Point Pelee on Lake Erie in a storm. She was seen going down by the schooners LISGAR and GLENFORD but neither was able to help. All six on the ORIENT were lost. She was out of Marine City, Michigan.

On October 4, 1979, the ST. LAWRENCE NAVIGATOR arrived at the Port Weller Dry Docks, St. Catharines, Ontario, where she was lengthened to the Seaway maximum length of 730-foot overall. A new bow and cargo section was installed including a bow thruster and was assigned Hull #66. New tonnage; 18,788 gross tons, 12,830 net tons, 32,279 deadweight tons. She was renamed c.) CANADIAN NAVIGATOR in 1980 and ALGOMA NAVIGATOR in 2012. She sails for Algoma Central Corp. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1997.

TEXACO BRAVE (Hull#779) was launched October 4, 1976, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki, Japan for Texaco Canada Ltd., Don Mills, Ontario. Renamed b.) LE BRAVE in 1987, c.) IMPERIAL ST LAWRENCE in 1997, and d.) ALGOEAST in 1998.

On October 4, 1980, Bethlehem's ARTHUR B. HOMER was laid up for the last time at Erie, Pennsylvania. As a result of the collision between the PARKER EVANS and the SIDNEY E SMITH JR, four months earlier, alternate one-way traffic between the Black River Buoy and Buoys 1 and 2 in Lake Huron was agreed upon by the shipping companies on October 4, 1972

The JAMES E. FERRIS' last trip before scrapping was from Duluth, Minnesota, with a split load of 261,000 bushels of wheat for Buffalo, New York, arriving there October 4, 1974.

The JIIMAAN, twin screw ro/ro cargo/passenger ferry built to Ice Class 1D standards had its keel laid October 4, 1991, at Port Weller Drydocks, Ltd. (Hull# 76).

On October 4, 1982, the BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS laid up for the last time in Duluth, Minnesota. She was towed out of Duluth, on her way to Kahoshiung, Taiwan for scrapping, on June 17, 1988.

October 4, 1940 - The Ludington Daily News reported "The Pere Marquette car ferries handled approximately 95,000 freight cars last year." (1939)

On October 4,1877, BRITISH LION (3 mast wooden bark, 128 foot, 293 tons, built in 1862, at Kingston, Ontario) was carrying coal from Black River, Ohio, to Brockville, Ontario. She was driven ashore at Long Point in Lake Erie by a storm and wrecked. She was the first bark on the Lakes to be wire rigged and she was built for the Great Lakes - Liverpool trade.

On October 4, 1883, JAMES DAVIDSON (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 231 foot, 1,456 gross tons, built in 1874, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was carrying coal and towing the barge MIDDLESEX in a storm on Lake Huron. She was driven onto a reef near Thunder Bay Island and ripped up her bottom. The barge was rescued by the tug V SWAIN. No lives were lost. Financially, the DAVIDSON was the most extensive loss on the Lakes in the 1883, season. She was valued at $65,000 and insured for $45,000. Her coal cargo was valued at $8,000.

1904: CONGRESS burned at the dock at South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan while loading lumber. The ship was towed away, abandoned, burned to the waterline and sank.

1966: ROBERT J. PAISLEY ran aground in heavy weather off Michigan City, IN. The ship was released the next day but went to Sarnia with hull damage and was laid up.

2008: MERKUR BAY came through the Seaway in 1984. It hit a rock as m) NEW ORIENTAL in heavy weather off Tuy An, Vietnam, and settled on the bottom with a large hole in the bow. The crew abandoned ship on October 18 when it showed signs of sinking. It was enroute from Thailand to China with iron ore and was a total loss.

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

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Cason J. Callaway arrived Duluth at 00:23 Wednesday morning to discharge limestone at Hallett #5, and Paul R. Tregurtha was outbound at 01:46 with a load of coal from Midwest Energy. The Callaway finished unloading and departed at 09:27 for Two Harbors. Erieborg was inbound at 12:35 and anchored in the inner harbor to undergo inspections, and American Integrity left port at 15:36 after loading iron ore pellets at Canadian National. Federal Seto departed at 18:09 loaded with wheat from CHS 1. She was followed out of port by Erieborg, which departed at 18:43 and then put her anchor down offshore to wait to load grain at Gavilon. Also in port on Wednesday, Hon. James L. Oberstar finished discharging limestone at Graymont early Wednesday morning and shifted to SMET to load coal. She was still at the dock as of 20:00 Wednesday night, but will be shuttling that coal load back to Graymont before departing for Silver Bay. BBC Hudson continued loading wheat at Riverland Ag, while Happy Ranger remained at Port Terminal unloading lumber. Both Flevoborg and Erieborg were anchored outside the harbor. There was no traffic through the Superior entry on Wednesday, although Algoma Conveyor arrived offshore late in the afternoon and dropped anchor for unknown reasons. Burns Harbor was also due Wednesday night, however she will likely anchor as she must wait for the Conveyor to load first.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Whitefish Bay departed from South of #2 on Oct. 1st at 23:41 for Quebec City. After the Cason J. Callaway finished unloading stone in Duluth she went to Two Harbors and arrived off Two Harbors early in the afternoon of Oct. 1st. Heritage Marine's tug Nels J. went to assist. After a few minutes the Nels J. returned to port and the Callaway continued on to Sand Island arriving there on the 2nd at approx. 15:15 and where she still sits as of 19:20 on Oct. 2nd. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 3rd is the Edwin H. Gott. An update. Radcliffe R. Latimer is heading for Quebec City. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departed of the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin on Oct. 2nd at 02:30 for Quebec City. Arriving Silver Bay at approx. 03:00 on Oct. 2nd was the H. Lee White arriving from the Twin Ports. As of 19:20 on the 2nd she was still at the dock. Due Silver Bay on Oct. 3rd is the James R. Barker.

Thunder Bay, ON
Wednesday; 1:06 Federal Beaufort arrived and went to anchor.1:34 Algoma Mariner arrived at Thunder Bay Terminals to load coal. 2:00 Tecumseh departed for Windsor. 13:09 Spruce Glen arrived at Viterra A to load grain. 14:35 Algoma Mariner departed and is down bound on Lake Superior. 15:02 Algoma Strongfield arrived at the Richardson Current River Terminal to load grain.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Midland: Wednesday; 7:49 Frontenac departed for Meldrum Bay.

Spragge: Wednesday; 11:19 John D Leitch arrived to unload slag.

Meldrum Bay: Wednesday; 18:35 Algoma Buffalo arrived and went to anchor. 20:25 Algoma Innovator arrived to load limestone.

Drummond Island: Tuesday; 21:34 John G Munson arrived to load lime stone and departed Wednesday at 9:59 down bound on Lake Huron.

Port Dolomite: Wednesday; 6:13 Joseph L Block arrived to finish loading and departed at 11:35 for Duluth Superior.

Calcite: Wednesday; 3:28 Philip R Clarke departed for Buffington.

Stoneport: Tuesday; 22:11 Clyde S Vanenkevort departed for Ashtabula.

Alpena: Tuesday; 22:07 The cement carrier Alpena arrived to load and departed Wednesday at 3:40 for Detroit.

Huron, OH
On Wednesday, Sam Laud was heading to Huron with a stone cargo from Port Inland.

Erie, PA – Gene Polaski‎
The tug Joseph H. Thompson Jr. arrived in Erie Wednesday morning and tied up at Don Jon shipyard. It will be there for a retrofit so it can connect to a new barge.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Wednesday October 2 – Barry Andersen Nanticoke - docked - Sep 30 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1848 from the anchorage

Welland Canal - upbound - Oct 1 - Happy River (Nld) at 1905 Oct 2 - CSL Laurentien at 0109, Manitoulin at 0631, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod Rogers at 0745, G3 Marquis at 0837, light tugs Vigilant I towing Florence M (possibly for scrapping) at 1148 and Baie Comeau at 1217

downbound - Oct 1 - Saginaw at 1211 going to wharf 20, Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 1631, Thunder Bay at 1719, tug Leo A McArthur & John J Carrick at 1851 stopping wharf 16 and Algoma Sault at 2035 - Oct 2 - McKeil Spirit at 0409, Algosea at 0455, NACC Capri (Atg) at 0739 and tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1517

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Oct 1 - Saginaw stopped wharf 20 at 1235

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - Oct 1 - Johanna G (Por) (ex Redhead-18) at 1138 and Harbour First at 1840 - Oct 2 - Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 0230 and NACC Capri (Atg) at 1725

Hamilton - arrivals - Oct 2 - Tim S Dool at 0436, Nordic Ace (Pa) at 0600, Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 1105 and Wicky Spirit at 1534 - anchored - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855 - docked - Sep 30 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) at 0635, Blair McKeil at 2130 - Oct 1 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1001, CSL Laurentien at 1013 - departures - Oct 2 - CSL Laurentien at 2300 and G3 Marquis at 0644 - both for the canal

Bronte: arrival - (docked) - Oct 1 - Paul A Desgagnes 2203

Clarkson: - arrival - Oct 2 - Robert S Pierson at 0952

Toronto - arrival - Oct 2 - Baie Comeau at 0220 - docked - Sep 30 - Isolda (Cyp) at 1439 - departed Oct 2 - Baie Comeau at 1033 for the canal

Oshawa - arrival - Sep 28 Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 0637 - departed Oct 2 - at 0714 for Hamilton

Picton terminal - docked - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 on maiden trip from builder's yard

Cruise Ship Update – Tom Chambers
Le Champlain was northbound on Lake St Clair. Victory I was in Cleveland. Hamburg was westbound from Montreal. Grande Mariner was in Montreal. Pearl Mist was in Gaspe, New Brunswick.

The importance of shipping for Detroit

10/3 - Anyone who has spent any time on the Great Lakes or enjoyed Detroit’s Riverwalk has no doubt borne witness to at least one of the commercial ships that ply our waters carrying cargo of all types. From the iron ore that becomes steel in our cars, to the coal that powers our society, or the grain that feeds the world, Great Lakes shipping enables the world, and certainly enables southeast Michigan. With that in mind, I was excited to board the Lee A Tregurtha, owned and operated by Interlake Steamship Company at the AK Steel facility in Dearborn, MI. Many have admired these ships from afar but have no idea how directly they impact our lives in Detroit. Many ships make many stops in the Detroit region throughout the 10-month shipping season, and they bring us the staples of modern life.

Read the story and view photos at this link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-shipping-detroit-kyle-burleson

On October 3,1887, EBENEZER (3-mast wooden schooner-barge, 103 foot, 158 gross tons, built in 1847, at Buffalo, New York) was driven ashore off the breakwater at Holland, Michigan, during a storm. She had sprung a leak in the terrific storm, lost her deck load of shingles and struck the pier trying to get into the harbor. She broke in two but was later raised and rebuilt. She lasted until 1903.

On October 3,1887, CITY OF GREEN BAY (3-mast wooden schooner, 145 foot, 346 gross tons, built in 1872, at Green Bay, Wisconsin) was carrying iron ore from Escanaba to St. Joseph, Michigan, on Lake Michigan and having difficulty in a strong westerly gale. She sprang a leak and anchored four miles from South Haven and put up distress signals. The wind and waves were so bad that the crew could not safely abandon the vessel. She slipped her anchor and was driven on to a bar at Evergreen Point, just 500 feet from shore. The crew scrambled up the rigging as the vessel sank. The South Haven Life Saving crew tried to get a breeches buoy out to the wreck, but their line broke repeatedly. So much wreckage was in the surf that it fouled their surfboat. Soon the masts went by the board and the crew members were in the churning seas. Six died. Only Seaman A. T. Slater made it to shore. The ineffective attempts of the Life Saving crew resulted in Keeper Barney Alonzo Cross being relieved of his command of the station.

The E. G. GRACE was delivered to the Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland on October 3, 1943. The GRACE was part of a government program designed to upgrade and increase the capacity of the U.S. Great Lakes fleet during World War II. In order to help finance the building of new ships, the U.S.M.C. authorized a program that would allow existing fleets to obtain new boats by trading in their older boats to the government for credit. As partial payment for each new vessel, a fleet owner surrendered the equivalent tonnage of their existing and/or obsolete vessels, along with some cash, to the Maritime Commission.

October 3, 1941 - The CITY OF FLINT 32, eastbound from Milwaukee, collided with the PERE MARQUETTE 22 westbound. The PERE MARQUETTE 22 headed directly for Manitowoc for repairs while the CITY OF FLINT 32 continued to Ludington where she discharged her cargo, then headed for the shipyard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

The barges BELLE CASH and GEO W. HANNAFORD, owned by Capt. Cash of East China Township, Michigan, were driven ashore on Long Point in Lake Erie on 3 October 1875.

On October 3, 1900, the steel freighter CAPTAIN THOMAS WILSON left Port Huron on her maiden voyage for Marquette, Michigan, where she loaded 6,200 tons of iron ore for Cleveland, Ohio.

ARK (3-mast iron-strapped wooden scow-schooner-barge, 177 foot, 512 tons, built in 1875, at Port Dalhousie, Ontario) was in tow of the steam barge ALBION (wooden propeller, 134 foot, 297 gross tons, built in 1862, at Brockville, Ontario) on Lake Huron when a terrific storm struck on October 3,1887. Both were loaded with lumber. Both vessels were driven ashore near Grindstone City, Michigan. The U.S. Lifesaving Service rescued the crews. The ALBION was pounded to pieces the next day and the ARK was declared a total loss, but was recovered and was sailing again within the month.

1907: The wooden tug PHILADELPHIA dated from 1869 and briefly served in the Algoma fleet. It was wrecked at Gros Cap, Lake Superior, on this date in 1907.

1911: The wooden freighter A.L. HOPKINS had cleared Bayfield the previous day with a full load of lumber and foundered in a storm on this date near Michigan Island, Lake Superior. Buoyed by the cargo, the hull floated a few more days before it disappeared. All 15 on board were picked up by the ALVA C. DINKEY.

1928: The steel bulk carrier M.J. BARTELME ran aground at Cana Island, Lake Michigan. The bottom was ripped open and the ship was abandoned. It was dismantled on site in 1929.

1953: The superstructure of the idle passenger steamer PUT-IN-BAY was burned off in Lake St. Clair and the remains of the iron hull were later dismantled at River Rouge.

1963: The Liberian flag Liberty ship TRIKERI, on her only trip to the Great Lakes, swung sideways in the Welland Canal near Welland, blocked the waterway and delayed traffic for 4 hours. The ship arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for scrapping as e) DAHLIA on December 27, 1967.

1963: A fire broke out in the cargo hold of the FRED CHRISTIANSEN while downbound at Sault Ste. Marie. The stubborn blaze took 4 hours to put out and was believed caused by some of the grain igniting as it was close to a steam line. The Norwegian freighter began Seaway trading in 1959 and returned as b) HERA in 1964. It arrived at Pasajes, Spain, under this name for scrapping on May 30, 1974.

1969: JOSEPH H. ran aground at Bic Island, in the St. Lawrence while enroute from Milwaukee to Russia with a cargo of rawhides. The Liberian-flag vessel sustained heavy bottom damage. It was refloated on October 6, taken to Levis, QC, and subsequently broken up there for scrap. The ship was operating under her fifth name and had first come through the Seaway as a) GRANADA in 1959.

1980: POLYDORA first came inland for four trips as a) FERNFIORD in 1963 and returned under her new name in 1964 on charter to Canadian Pacific Steamships. The ship had been at Marina di Carrara, Italy, and under arrest as d) GEORGIOS B., when it sailed overnight without permission. A fire in the engineroom broke out the next day and, while taken in tow, the ship foundered east of Tavolara Island, Sardinia.

1999: MANCHESTER MERCURIO traded through the Seaway in a container shuttle service beginning in 1971. It was abandoned by the crew and sank off the coast of Morocco as f) PHOENIX II on this date in 1999.

2000: The tug KETA V. usually operated on the St. Lawrence for Verreault Navigation but came to the Great Lakes with barges for Windsor in 1993. It ran aground and sank near Liverpool, NS on this date in 2000 but all on board got away safely on life rafts.

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

High water on Great Lakes reveal pieces of shipwreck history

10/2 - Detroit, MI – Fragments of long-lost ships are being flung ashore on Michigan beaches. Skeletons of foundered vessels are showing themselves, then vanishing again.

With water levels at or approaching record highs on the Great Lakes, history has been visible in unexpected volume on Michigan shorelines. It's been months of unburied treasure for the people who study and explore the unfortunate legends that never reached their final port.

The Lake Huron coast has been particularly active, with timbers sighted from Oscoda to north of Rogers City. At Hoeft State Park in Presque Isle County, a 45-foot stretch of unidentified ribs and keel lies magnified in shallow water where there used to be bone-dry dunes.

"A wild summer for sure," state maritime archaeologist Wayne Lusardi, a Michigan DNR staffer who works out of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena, told The Detroit News. "Over the course of the last six months, I've probably had 50-plus reports of various pieces of wreckage."

In December, across the state on Lake Michigan, erosion exposed a ship in Whitehall that had been swathed in a sand dune for so long most people forgot it was there. "Totally uncovered," says John Hanson, president of the West Michigan Underwater Preserve. "Keel, centerboard and ribs." But the waves giveth, and the wind taketh away: within two weeks, it was invisible again.

Research showed the ship had emerged from the dunes in 1942, then again in '74. The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association took a look this time and decided it's the Contest, a schooner that went down in 1882.

Hanson isn't quite so ready to affix a name; he says it might also be the schooners North Yuba or Little Belle, lost in 1855 and 1879, or the two-masted brig Alexander Mitchell, gone since 1866. They're among more than 6,000 ships claimed by the Great Lakes.

"Especially back in the day," he says, "they would run into trouble, start taking on water, and hit bottom or sandbars in maybe 30 feet of water. Then the waves would just beat them apart." Lake winds dig quick graves near the shore, Lusardi says, and often, there wasn't much to bury.

"That's free lumber. Free nails. Things you have to purchase, right there in your yard," he says.

If that sounds ghoulish, consider the century and the circumstances. "If a Home Depot truck crashed in your front yard and it was left there," Lusardi points out, "you'd probably take the lumber off. It's fair game."

Relative scarcity is one of the reasons the recent artifacts are so welcome, even if their origins can be impossible to pin down. A timber might come from a known, nearby wreck, or currents might have carried it 40 or 50 miles.

The lakes are particularly volatile as they reach levels not approached since 1986. Erie was at an August record 574.21 feet, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the previous high was 573.95. Superior was at 603.21 feet, Ontario 247.81 and Michigan-Huron 581.77, all within three inches of the most ever.

What caused them to rise is also what has made them so capricious — or, if you're a historian, so generous.

The same conditions that have presented or exposed artifacts have also had the opposite effect. A huge starboard section of the Joseph S. Fay, resting in peace since 1905 on the sand north of Rogers City, is underwater for the first time since the good ship hit the rocks at 40 Mile Point and splintered in a Lake Huron gale.

As logic suggests, snowmelt and runoff, heavy rain and only modest evaporation have created the high levels, says Hans Van Sumeren, director of the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

What's different besides the amount of melting snow, he says, is the origin — not lake effect, which is pulled from the lakes and is more or less a wash in terms of buildup, but storm systems from the West Coast. "Those strong storms erode shorelines," he says. "Then the energy that's also dumping the rain can erode the lake bed or the near shore."

There's little rhyme or reason to what gets pummeled or preserved.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in the U.P. has fought in previous years to save its deck, says executive director Bruce Lynn. "Then suddenly this spring, we have another 40 yards of beach in front of it." Five miles south, however, at his family's cottage, a gentle dune that used to taper to the beach has become "a mini-cliff."

Along Lake Superior, "the appearing and disappearing act isn't that unusual," he says. What stood out was a visit two months ago from a man who'd found a large chunk of steel on a beach. "He wasn't sure what it was," Lynn says, and upon examination, "neither were we."

Even when something turns out to be nothing much, Lusardi says, he'd still like to see it, though ideally he'd prefer it not be moved. "My preference is that people take pictures, record the measurements and send GPS coordinates," he says, the better to evaluate them in context.

Artifacts belong to the state, which owns the Michigan half of the lake bottoms.

Whatever shape they take, Lusardi says, the clues they give are "all about people" who made them. Examining a 150-year-old white oak beam, he says, is like studying a leaf instead of a forest. How was it cut? Why did the builder use an unusual nail pattern? "How people built ships. How people used ships. There's a lot to learn."

A few weeks ago, Alpena hunkered down before a rainstorm so powerful that it relocated some of the ponderous slabs of rock placed on the beach to fight erosion. Afterward, bicyclists in Bayview Park noticed a long piece of timber on the rocks and dialed his office.

Lusardi measured it at 16 feet from its tip to the waterline that concealed the other end. He noted the square spikes that once connected it to the adjoining beam, and the limber passage, a U-shaped cutout at the base that allowed water to flow between frames so that it didn't pool in the bottom of the ship.

It looked sturdy, but an artifact that's spent generations beneath the surface is actually doomed if it becomes someone's illegal souvenir. Under a microscope, Lusardi says, a piece of fresh wood resembles a sponge, with its cells full of fluids, saps and sugars. Lake water had preserved the beam, but allowed to dry on land, it would crack, flake, and ultimately turn to historic mulch.

There's a preservation process involving a waxy mix of chemicals, but the beam would have needed gallons of it, along with two years of his time.

Lusardi left it on the rocks. When he checked a few days later, it was gone. "The lake took it back," he says — maybe forever, or maybe just until the next storm. Time will tell, and the lakes are in no hurry.

The Detroit News

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed Duluth at 01:45 Tuesday morning with a load of coal from Midwest Energy, at which point the Algoma Enterprise shifted to the dock and began loading petroleum coke. Federal Beaufort was outbound at 10:58 light after unloading powdered cement at CRH, and headed for Thunder Bay to load. H. Lee White arrived at 11:46 to discharge limestone at Hallett #5, and Paul R. Tregurtha came in at 13:16 to load at SMET, where Algoma Enterprise was just topping off. She was outbound at 13:52 for Bath. American Integrity arrived at 19:10 to pick up iron ore pellets at Canadian National. Hon. James L. Oberstar was due at 22:00 with a cargo of limestone for Graymont. H. Lee White was expected to depart from Hallett #5 just before midnight Tuesday for Silver Bay, while the Tregurtha and Integrity should both depart on Wednesday. Also in port were BBC Hudson, taking on wheat at Riverland; Happy Ranger, offloading lumber at Port Terminal; Federal Seto, loading at CHS 1; and Flevoborg, still anchored outside the harbor. There was no traffic in Superior on Tuesday, with none expected until late Wednesday.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Roger Blough departed Two Harbors on Oct. 1st at 01:29 for Gary. Radcliffe R. Latimer arrived Two Harbors on Oct. 1st at 05:16 for South of #2. She departed on the 1st at 15:58. As of 19:00 her AIS hadn't been updated. Arriving off Two Harbors on the 1st at 15:30 was the Whitefish Bay. She arrived thru the piers on the 1st at 16:46 for South of #2. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 2nd is the Cason J. Callaway after unloading stone at the C. Reiss dock in West Duluth. She will be loading pellets and bft in Two Harbors. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Mesabi Miner on Oct. 1st at approx. noon for Cleveland. Arriving Silver Bay on Oct. 1st at approx. 12:28 was the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. Possibly due Silver Bay on Oct. 2nd is the Hon. James L. Oberstar. She will be unloading stone at Graymont in Superior, then go to SMET and load coal for Graymont before heading to Silver Bay. She probably won't arrive Silver Bay until the 3rd.

Thunder Bay, ON
Tuesday 15:24 The saltie Barnacle departed for Montreal.

Muskegon, MI – Brendan Falkowski
On Tuesday, Lee A. Tregurtha arrived at 06:03 with stone from Port Inland. It is unknown the last time the Tregurtha visited Muskegon, if ever. She departed at around 16:27 bound for Marquette.

Southern Lake Michigan ports
Herbert C. Jackson and Presque Isle were at Indiana Harbor Tuesday evening, with Wilfred Sykes due Wednesday. American Spirit was unloading at Gary. Stewart J. Cort was unloading at Burns Harbor, with Arthur M. Anderson due Wednesday.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Port Dolomite: Monday ; 23:45 Wilfred Sykes departed for Indiana Harbor.

Calcite: Tuesday; 3:55 Manitowoc departed for Fairport. 13:08 Philip R Clarke arrived to load.

Stoneport: Tuesday; 4:26 Kaye E Barker departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. Clyde S Vanenkevort weighed anchor and proceeded to the loading dock.

Port Inland: Monday; 20:37 Sam Laud arrived to load. Tuesday; 0:16 Joseph L Block arrived and went to anchor. 10:46 Sam Laud departed for Huron OH. 10:50 Joseph L Block weighed anchor and proceeded to the loading dock.19:58 Joseph L Block departed.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Wednesday was a busy day in port. Sea Eagle II was at St. Marys Cement. Great Republic was inbound with stone. NACC Capri had cement for LaFarge. Also in with cement was McKeil Spirit at Lehigh. American Courage was at the Bulk Terminal to load a shuttle. John J. Boland departed after delivering to the Bulk Terminal. At the Port docks, Sharon M1 was at dock 24W and Florence Spirit was at dock 22E.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Tuesday October 1 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - docked - Sep 30 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1848 from the anchorage - departed - Sep 30 - Florence Spirit at 1453 westbound - Oct 1 - Sep 29 - Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 1336 for New York

Long Point Bay anchorage - Sep 27 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1344 - departed Sep 30 at 1525 for the dock

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 30 - Algoma Compass at 1517, CSL Welland at 2131, Algoma Transport at 2243 and Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 2319 to the anchorage - Oct 1 - Algoma Equinox at 0353, Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 0541, Iver Bright (Nld) at 0801 and Happy River (Nld) at 1905

downbound - Sep 30 - CSL Laurentien at 1654 and Ojibway at 2322 - Oct 1 - Johanna G (Por) (ex Redhead-18 at 0103, Algoma Guardian at 0157, tug Spartan & Spartan II at 0330, Algoma Spirit at 1141, Saginaw at 1211 going to wharf 20, Baie Comeau at 1307, Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 1631, Thunder Bay at 1719, tug Leo A McArthur & John J Carrick at 1851 and Algoma Sault at 2035

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller -

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - departures - Sep 29 - Wigeon (Cyp) at 2340 - Oct 01 - BBC Louise (Atg) at 0300 and Shoveler (Cyp) at 0110

Hamilton - arrivals - to the anchorage - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855, Blair McKeil at 2010 - Sep 30 - Sep 30 - Federal Kivalina (Mhl) at 1909 - docked - Sep 28 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) - Sep 29 - Algoma Niagara at 0753 - Sep 30 - G3 Marquis at 1700 - departures - Sep 30 - Algoma Transport at 1958 and Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 2136 - Oct 1 - Algoma Equinox at 0200

Bronte: arrival - Sep 30 - Paul A Desgagnes eta 2250 - docked - Sep 30 - Harbour First (Por) at 2324 from the anchorage - anchorage - departed Sep 30 at 2322 for the dock

Mississauga - arrival - Oct 1 - Hinch Spirit at 0121 from the anchorage - anchorage - departed - Oct 1 at 0120

Toronto - arrivals - Sep 30 - Isolda (Cyp) at 1439 and NACC Argonaut at 1509

Oshawa - arrival - Sep 28 Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 0637

Picton terminal - arrival - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 on maiden trip from builder's yard

U.S. Steel acquires 49.9% stake in Arkansas’ Big River Steel mini-mill

10/2 - U.S. Steel operates some of the oldest integrated steel mills in the United States, including the 113-year-old Gary Works on the Lake Michigan shore. Now it's taken a big stake in the country's newest steel mill.

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, one of Northwest Indiana's largest employers, acquired a 49.9% interest in the new Big River Steel mini-mill in northeast Arkansas for $700 million in cash, "creating a partnership with a clear path to consolidation."

The steelmaker has an option to buy the remaining 50.1% of the "newest and most advanced flat-rolled mill in North America" at a market-dictated price in the next four years.

U.S. Steel said the deal gives the company a "best of both" footprint of integrated mills and mini-mills across a wider geographic area as many of its automotive customers shift south. The $2.325 billion Big River Steel mill makes a wide array of steel products for the automotive, energy, construction and agricultural industries, including advanced automotive steels and electrical steels.

“Our new partnership with Big River is designed to accelerate our strategy to offer our customers the ‘best of both’ by bringing together the capabilities of integrated and mini-mill steel production,” U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt said in a news release announcing the deal. “Big River operates the most advanced, state-of-the-art and sustainable mill in North America, and our investment would ultimately strengthen our competitive positioning in highly strategic steel-end markets, creating an unmatched value proposition for our stakeholders.”

Big River Steel opened two years ago and is currently going through an expansion project that will increase its production capacity to 3.3 million tons a year, which will make it one of the largest flat-rolled mills in the United States to use electric arc furnaces, which turn scrap metal into steel.

“We have been investing in leading technology and advanced manufacturing so that we can assemble a portfolio of competitive assets with distinct advantages to serve strategic markets to better position U. S. Steel to be an industry leader in delivering high-quality, value-added products," Burritt said. "The investment in Big River, coupled with our announced investments at Mon Valley Works and Gary Works, would ultimately position U.S. Steel with three core market-leading, differentiated and technologically advanced assets that will enable us to compete with anyone, anywhere, for generations to come."

Going forward, Gary Works, Mon Valley Works and Big River Steel will focus "on the products that each facility is best designed to produce," Burritt said.

"As an organization, we will be nimbler, more resilient and our teams will be more efficient," he said. "Collectively, these actions will help us continue to create long-term value for our stockholders, customers, employees and the communities in which we live and work.”

U.S. Steel said Big River Steel's low operating costs will increase its profitability and help it achieve up to $1 billion in capital and operational cash improvements over the next three years.

The steelmaker said the deal means it will be better able to capitalize off high-margin markets like energy, infrastructure and automotive, and position it to serve both the United States and Mexico, which has a growing automotive industry.

“U. S. Steel’s decision to partner with us through this investment in Big River is a decisive vote of confidence in our company, our vision and our people,” Big River Steel CEO Dave Stickler said in the news release. "As the newest steel production facility in North America, I could not be more proud to be partnering with a company started by Andrew Carnegie more than 118 years ago,” Stickler said.

U.S. Steel said it is boosting its $1.5 billion asset-backed lending facility to $2 billion and using that larger facility to fund the deal.

“We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this exciting transaction that combines Big River’s state-of-the art, LEED-certified steel-making technology and U. S. Steel’s experience and demonstrated know-how,” Big River Steel chairman Dan Murray said.

NW Indiana Times

Infrastructure next step as Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority looks to future

10/2 - Oshawa, ON – It has been a few months since the Port of Oshawa amalgamated with the Port of Hamilton, creating the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA). President and CEO Ian Hamilton says they’re looking to the future.

“First and foremost, it’s figuring out what we can do to be drivers of the local economies, attracting investments, facilitating trade, creating jobs,” shared Hamilton. “These are our core reasons to exist.”

Now that they’ve had a good look, Hamilton says there’s a need for some critical infrastructure in Oshawa.

“Drudging, building a ring road, reinforcing the dock wall… all of these things are essential to take advantage of the assets that are already there,” explained Hamilton. “[and] create a second berth so two ships can be unloaded at the same time and so I think in the short term, it’s making those investments to support existing operations.”

He says once more infrastructure is in place, they’ll develop a land use plan.

“One of the final steps in that process is to actually go open a consultation process with the public,” Hamilton said. “That will give real transparency to the local communities and a genuine way for them to give their input as to how they’d like to see the port developed.”

Hamilton says HOPA has gotten off to a great start with the City of Oshawa. They’ve written a letter to all councillors, making a commitment to transparency.

They’ll meet with council every year and have quarterly meetings with Oshawa senior staff to ensure there’s always open dialogue.

Durham Radio News

Obituary: Captain Gordon Rose

10/2 - Captain Gordon Rose passed away peacefully on Sunday September 29, 2019, in his 85th year after a lengthy illness. He served as Master for Quebec & Ontario Transportation after a long career in the shipping industry, and in 1976 joined the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, retiring from there in 1995. He was also a member of the International Ship Masters' Association, Lodge 20 Niagara Region at the time of his passing. He had also been a past member of the Corporation of Professional Great Lakes Pilots.

Captain Rose is resting at the Butler Funeral Home, 424 Niagara Street in St. Catharines. Visitation will take place Thursday October 3rd from10 a.m. until noon, with a service to follow at 12 noon.

On her maiden trip in 1905, the PETER WHITE grounded outside the Lackawanna breakwall. After lightering 200 tons, she proceeded to the Lackawanna Steel mill where the remainder of the cargo was unloaded.

On this day in 1979, the ELTON HOYT 2ND unloaded her last cargo as a straight decker at the Ashtabula & Buffalo Dock, Ashtabula, Ohio.

On October 2,1901, M. M. DRAKE (wooden propeller freighter, 201 foot, 1,102 gross tons, built in 1882, at Buffalo, New York) and her consort MICHIGAN (3-mast wooden schooner-barge, 213 foot, 1,057 gross tons, built in 1874, at Detroit, Michigan) were loaded with iron ore while sailing in a strong gale on Lake Superior. The MICHIGAN began to leak and the DRAKE came around to take off her crew, but the two vessels collided. Both sank off Vermilion Point, Michigan. One life was lost. As the vessels sank, the passing steamers NORTHERN WAVE and CRESCENT CITY stood by and rescued the crews.

Upper Lakes Shipping's new self-unloader CANADIAN OLYMPIC was christened on October 2, 1976, at St. Catharines, Ontario. Her name honored the Olympic Games that were held at Montreal that year.

TADOUSSAC (Hull#192) departed Collingwood on her maiden voyage for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. on October 2, 1969, to load iron ore at Fort William, Ontario.

The sandsucker AMERICAN last operated in 1956, and laid up at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She was scrapped in S. Chicago in 1984.

JOHN T. HUTCHINSON and CONSUMERS POWER arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan on October 2, 1988, where dismantling began on October 14t by Li Chong Steel & Iron Works Co. Ltd.

On her maiden voyage October 2, 1943, E. G. GRACE cleared Lorain, Ohio, bound for Superior, Wisconsin, to load iron ore.

HOCHELAGA of 1949 departed Toronto October 2, 1993, in tow of the McKeil tugs GLENBROOK and KAY COLE for Montreal, Quebec, and then to the cutter’s torch.

October 2, 1954 - The PERE MARQUETTE 21 sailed into Ludington, Michigan, on her second maiden voyage of her career.

On October 2,1888, OLIVER CROMWELL (wooden schooner-barge, 138 foot, 291 tons, built in 1853, at Buffalo, New York) was being towed by the steamer LOWELL in a storm in Lake Huron when she broke her towline. She rode out most of the storm at anchor, but then she snapped her anchor chains and she was driven ashore at Harbor Beach, Michigan, where she broke up.

The 183 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner QUEEN CITY was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan, on 2 October 1873.

The Port Huron Times reported the following shipwrecks from a severe storm that swept the Lakes over 2-3 October 1887: Schooner CITY OF GREEN BAY lost near South Haven, Michigan; the schooner-barge CHARLES L HUTCHINSON, lost near Buffalo, New York; the steam barge ALBION and her consort the schooner-barge ARK ashore near Grindstone City, Michigan; the 3-mast schooner EBENEZER ashore near Holland, Michigan; the wooden package freighter CALIFORNIA sunk in the Straits of Mackinaw; the schooner HOLMES ashore at Middle Island on Lake Huron; the schooner GARIBALDI ashore near Port Elgin on Lake Huron; the barge MAYFLOWER disabled near Grand Haven, Michigan; the schooner D. S. AUSTIN ashore at Point Clark; and the schooner HENRY W HOAG ashore at Erie, Pennsylvania.

1891: WINSLOW ran aground in fog while inbound at Duluth. The hole in the wooden hull was patched and the ship was released and able to be docked. The vessel caught fire while unloading the next day and destroyed.

1938: The first WINDOC was struck when Bridge 20, a railway bridge across the Welland Canal, was lowered prematurely and removing the stack, spar and lifeboats of the N.M. Paterson steamer.

1953: A collision occurred between PIONEER and WALLSCHIFF in the St. Clair River on this date and the latter, a West German visitor to the Great Lakes, rolled on its side and settled in shallow water. One crew member perished. PIONEER, a Cleveland-Cliffs steamer, was repaired for further service and was later scrapped at Genoa, Italy, in 1961. WALLSCHIFF, on her first and only trip to the Great Lakes, was refloated and departed for permanent repairs overseas in 1954. The vessel was still sailing as g) GOLDEN MERCURY in 2011.

1973: A head-on collision in fog off Gull Island, Lake Michigan between the T-2 tanker MARATHONIAN and Norwegian freighter ROLWI left both ships with massive bow damage. The former had begun Seaway service as f) MARATHON in 1960 and was repaired at South Chicago. It disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle as h) SYLVIA L. OSSA in October 1976. ROLWI, a Norwegian salty, was also repaired and returned inland as b) DOBERG in 1974 and c) LORFRI in 1976. It arrived at Alang, India, for scrapping as e) PEROZAN on February 6, 1996.

1992: The Canadian coastal freighter SIR JOHN CROSBIE was built in St. Catharines by Port Weller Dry Docks in 1962. It sank in the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida as c) HOLSTEN on this date but all on board were rescued.

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

Sturgeon Bay tugboat owner Donald Sarter dies in boat accident

10/1 - Duluth, MN – Donald Sarter, a Sturgeon Bay tugboat captain, died during a boat accident Monday morning, Duluth Fire Department reported. Sarter, 68, recently purchased Selvick Marine Towing. According to Sarter Marine Towing's website, he was a Great Lakes tugboat captain for more than 40 years.

Sarter and two other men were in a 21-foot boat on Lake Superior but were caught by massive waves. Duluth Fire Department responded to their water emergency call, off Park Point Beach, at 11:02 a.m.

A St. Louis County Sheriff's Office report said the three men were sailing a 21-foot Monark Aluminum Hulled boat, operated by Sarter. The engine was overcome with water, and eventually waves pushed the boat upside down. They escaped and swam to shore, when they called police. The other two returned with no apparent injuries, but despite rescue efforts, Sarter was pronounced dead on the scene.

One man said all three wore life jackets, but they were not zipped together.

Waves reaching two to four feet caused local authorities to issue a red flag warning early Monday that said small craft should avoid going out, according to Duluth Fire Department Public Information Officer Kate Van Daele. The National Weather Service said winds measured 12 to 18 miles per hour.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident.

Green Bay Press Gazette

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
American Century arrived Duluth at 02:22 Monday morning to load coal at Midwest Energy, and CSL Assiniboine was outbound at 06:18 for Quebec City with a load of iron ore pellets. Maumee/tug Victory, which had arrived late Sunday night to load at Canadian National, departed at 11:33 with their ore cargo. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived at 12:41 to load at SMET after the Century, which left port at 14:00 for St. Clair. Algoma Enterprise arrived offshore at 20:00 Monday night and dropped anchor to wait for the McCarthy to finish loading at Midwest Energy. Still in port on Monday were BBC Hudson, taking on wheat at Riverland Ag; Happy Ranger, discharging lumber at Port Terminal; Federal Beaufort, unloading cement at CRH; Federal Seto, at CHS 2 loading wheat; and Flevoborg, anchored waiting for the Riverland elevator. The only traffic through the Superior entry on Monday was Indiana Harbor, which departed at 12:40 with a load of iron ore pellets from Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Edgar B. Speer departed Two Harbors on Sept. 30th at 01:52 for Conneaut. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 30th at approx. 06:30 was the Roger Blough for North of #2. She shifted to South of #2 between 10:51 and approx. 10:20. As of 19:15 on Sept. 30th she was still at the loading dock. Due Two Harbors on Oct. 1st are the Radcliffe R. Latimer and the Whitefish Bay. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the Mesabi Miner on Sept. 30th at approx. 09:25. She had been anchored off Sand Island from later in the day on Sept. 29th until the morning of Sept. 30th. Due Silver Bay on Oct. 1st is the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin arriving from Thunder Bay after unloading salt.

Thunder Bay, ON
Monday; 10:10 RT. Hon. Paul J Martin departed for Silver Bay. 13:58 Tecumseh arrived at the G3 elevator to load grain. 16:02 Evans Spirit departed and was downbound on Lake Superior.

St. Marys River
Upbounders on a blustery, rainy Monday included H. Lee White, Paul R. Tregurtha, Whitefish Bay, American Integrity, Hon. James L. Oberstar and Cason J. Callaway. Downbounders included Stewart J. Cort and, late, Arthur M. Anderson.

Green Bay, WI
The Tug Michigan/barge Great Lakes arrived from Toledo, OH with petroleum products for the U.S. Oil Venture terminal and backed into the Fox River Dock Terminal to wait for the tug Albert/barge Margaret to finish up.

Southern Lake Michigan ports
Edwin H. Gott was departing Gary upbound in the evening, while American Spirit was inbound. James R. Barker was at Indiana Harbor, with Herbert C Jackson due early Tuesday.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Midland: Monday; 16:18 Frontenac arrived at the ADM elevator to unload wheat.

Bruce Mines: Monday; 12:08 Mississagi arrived to load trap rock and departed at 19:51.

Meldrum Bay: Monday; 8:40 Algoma Innovator departed for Sarnia.

Port Dolomite: Monday; 12:05 Cason J Callaway departed for Duluth Superior. Wilfred Sykes arrived to load.

Calcite: Monday; 1:40 Calumet arrived to load. 11:01 Hon. James L Oberstar departed for Duluth Superior. 14:11 Calumet departed and is down bound on Lake Huron. 17:51 Manitowoc arrived to load.

Stoneport: Monday; 6:55 Great Republic departed for Cleveland. 7:16 Kaye E Barker arrived to load limestone. 17:39 Clyde S Vanenkevort arrived and went to anchor.

Alpena: Monday; 5:54 G L Ostrander arrived to load cement products and departed at 11:15 for Detroit.

Port Inland: Monday; 14:42 Lee A Tregurtha departed and is down bound on Lake Michigan.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Compass arrived to load salt in the mid-evening Monday.

Detroit River - Mike Nicholls
Algoma Sault touched bottom by Fighting Island South Light in the Detroit River Monday evening after experiencing a power failure that disabled electronics and propulsion. After dropping anchor, her captain told Sarnia Traffic there was no obvious damage. After power was restored, he picked up the anchor and continued downbound, with a midnight ETA at Detroit River Light. Their destination is Morrisburg, ON.  

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Monday September 30, Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Sep 27 - Florence Spirit at 1403 - Sep 29 - Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 1830 - departed - Sep 30 - Florence Spirit at 1453 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage - Sep 27 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1344

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 29 - NACC Capri (Mlt) at 1227 from the anchorage, Spruceglen at 0718, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0842, Algoma Strongfield at 1618, Le Chateau (Fra) passenger vessel at 2030 headed to Port Weller anchorage and Industrial Strength (Lbr) at 2235 - Sep 30 - Algoma Niagara at 0606, Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel at 0723, Algoma Buffalo at 0755, Algoma Compass at 1517, CSL Welland eta 2120 and Algoma Transport eta 2215

downbound - Sep 29 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 1117, BBC Louise (Atg) at 1513 and Algoma Transport at 1526 - Sep 30 - Atlantic Huron at 0702, Algonorth at 0853, CSL Laurentien at 1654, Johanna G (Por) (ex Redhead-18 eta at 2305 and Ojibway eta 2315

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 27 - CSL Tadoussac stopped wharf 16 at 1300

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 26 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 1601 - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - Sep 29 - Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel at 2037 and Shoveler (Cyp) at 2229 - Sep 30 - BBC Louise (Atg) at 0130 - departed - Sep 30 - Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel at 0705, Cape Dawson (Mlt) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 1000, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1930 - all eastbound

Hamilton - arrivals - Sep 30 - Federal Kivalina (Mhl) at 1909 to the anchorage and G3 Marquis at 1700 - anchored - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855, Blair McKeil at 2010 - docked - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - Sep 28 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) - Sep 29 - Algoma Niagara at 0753 and Algoma Equinox at 2037- departure - Sep 29 - Algoma Strongfield at 1416 for the canal - Sep 30 - Algoma Transport at 1958

Bronte: docked - Sep 28 - Harbour First (Por) at 1312 - departed at 0741 out to anchorage

Mississauga - arrival - Sep 26 - Hinch Spirit at 0246 - departed - Sep 29 at 0711 out to anchorage

Toronto - arrivals - Sep 30 - Isolda (Cyp) at 1439 and NACC Argonaut at 1509

Oshawa - arrival - Sep 28 Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 0637

Picton terminal - arrival - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 on maiden trip from builder's yard

Lake Michigan mystery of schooners St. Andrew and Peshtigo solved

10/1 - Boyne City, MI - Bernie Hellstrom’s boat is a 24-foot, 1975 Sea Ray loaded with an analog mapping system and a drop camera he built himself in the 1990s. The boat and its obsolete shipwreck-hunting equipment are as weathered as their owner, who has spent a lifetime in and on the water.

Hellstrom’s low-tech toys can’t compete with today’s highly-specialized equipment, but they got the job done when they were used to discover two schooners on the bottom of Lake Michigan that collided and sank in 1878 – nearly 150 years ago.

Some news stories of the day had the St. Andrew and Peshtigo sinking in Lake Huron, so years ago when a ship was found about 5 miles off the coast of Cheboygan it was identified as the St. Andrew. The Peshtigo should have been nearby, Hellstrom said, as the two vessels struck and sank in less than 10 minutes, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. Even so, she was never found.

Hellstrom’s discovery changes history by putting the collision southeast of Beaver Island — about 50 miles from where it was originally thought to have taken place. “So what is the boat in Cheboygan?” Hellstrom said. “We don’t know. We just created a new mystery from this.”

Hunting for sunken ships and other Great Lakes flotsam and jetsam is Hellstrom’s hobby. It keeps him plenty busy, as estimates put the number of shipwrecks there at more than 6,000. “I’m pretty much exploring the Great Lakes because you never know what’s down there,” Hellstrom said. “There’s a little bit of everything on the bottom of the Great Lakes.”

Steel rails, locomotives and train cars that fell off barges have been found. Hellstrom has seen cars, shopping carts, fishing shanties and even a sewing machine. There are also sinkholes, waterfalls and tree trunks more than a dozen feet in diameter, he said.

Hellstrom sees beauty in the lake bottom, likening it to looking at the fall colors. “If I could live underwater I would stay there,” he said. “These ships are art. They’re beautiful.”

Read more and view images at this link: https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/lake-michigan-mystery-solved/article_7fe26ab2-dbbe-11e9-87e1-d3b16c4b5bd2.html

Lake Erie water levels receding, but still above average

10/1 - Conneaut, OH – Lake Erie water levels reached record highs this year. Waters have begun to recede, but are still above average. Conneaut Harbormaster Denver Spieldenner said water levels have gone down but there were still issues at some of the harbor’s facilities.

Water levels were 4.7 inches above the record high in June, and 32 inches above average, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

In mid-June, the Port Authority had to shut down power to parts of the Port Conneaut Marina because of the high water level. Power is still off because of the water, Spieldenner said. The Port Authority also had to construct bridges atop some docks to allow safe access.

“The water is down to the dock height again, so things are looking up,” Port Authority Chairman Wally Dunne said.

Several Port Authority docks were damaged during the winter of 2018-19 by ice, waves, and wind. This year, ice and wind and will be the biggest threat to the docks, Spieldenner said. “It just depends on the wind and how much ice we get,” he said. “It’s mostly the wind that affects us. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of storms we get in November, December and January.”

Lake levels are at 573.56 feet, said Andrew Kornacki, chief of public affairs with the Buffalo Army Corps of Engineers. Lake levels are still 25 inches above average, Kornacki said. The levels are down five inches from August, according to data from the Corps of Engineers.

In July, the city of Conneaut constructed a $300,000 wall to protect the pumps that provide the city with drinking water. The pumps are near the water-level, and the enclosure that protected the pumps and the building that houses them was washed away by high water and storms, city officials said.

The Conneaut sandbar is still closed, Spieldenner said. The road leading to the sandbar has been under water for most of the summer. “We’re looking forward to being able to open the sandbar next year,” Dunne said.

The Corps of Engineers expects lake levels to continue to decline and end up near their averages if rainfall levels are in line with past years, Kornacki said. Depending on how much rainfall there is, lake levels could vary widely.

“It really fluctuates,” Kornacki said. “It’s safe to say it’s going to continue to decline.”

Star Beacon

In 1986, the HERBERT C. JACKSON rescued Carl Ward and his nephew after they had been adrift on lower Lake Michigan for 80 hours.

On October 1,1888, the ST CLAIR (3-mast wooden schooner, 156 foot, 296 gross tons, built in 1859, at Montreal as a bark) was carrying coal in a storm on Lake Huron as part of a 5-barge tow of the tug CHAMPION. She broke loose and came to anchor off Harbor Beach, Michigan. The anchor dragged and she sank near the mouth of the harbor. The crew was rescued by the U.S. Life Saving Service. However, this rescue was ill fated since all were taken in the lifesavers surfboat and the boat was rowed 23 miles to Port Sanilac. 100 yards from shore, just a half mile from Port Sanilac, the surfboat capsized and five lives were lost. The wreck of the ST. CLAIR was later lightered, raised and towed out into the lake and re-sunk.

CHICAGO TRADER, a.) THE HARVESTER of 1911, was laid up on October 1, 1976, at the Frog Pond in Toledo, Ohio.

Dismantling commenced October 1, 1974, on the KINSMAN INDEPENDENT a.) WILLIAM B. KERR of 1907, at Santander, Spain.

October 1, 1997 - The CITY OF MIDLAND 41 was towed out of Ludington to be converted to a barge.

On October 1, 1843, ALBANY (wooden brig, 110 tons, built in 1835, at Oswego, New York) was carrying merchandise and passengers when she went aground in a storm and was wrecked just a few miles from Mackinaw City, Michigan.

The steam barge C. H. GREEN was launched at E. Saginaw, Michigan, for Mason, Green & Corning of Saginaw on October 1, 1881. She was schooner rigged and spent her first year as a tow barge. The following winter her engine and boiler were installed. Her dimensions were 197 feet X 33 feet X 13 feet, 920 tons. She cost $70,000.

On October 1,1869, SEA GULL (wooden schooner, 83 tons, built in 1845, at Milan, Ohio) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan. She was driven ashore and wrecked south of Grand Haven, Michigan. The wreck was pulled off the beach a few days later, but was declared a constructive loss, stripped and abandoned. She was owned by Capt. Henry Smith of Grand Haven.

1918: The Canadian bulk carrier GALE STAPLES was blown ashore Point au Sable about 8 miles west of Grand Marais. All on board were saved but the wooden vessel, best known as b) CALEDONIA, broke up.

1942: The former CANADIAN ROVER, Hull 67 from the Collingwood shipyard, was torpedoed and sunk as d) TOSEI MARU in the Pacific east of Japan by U.S.S. NAUTILUS.

1946: KINDERSLEY, loaded with 2074 tons of excess munitions, was scuttled in the deep waters of the Atlantic. The former C.S.L. freighter had been on saltwater to assist in the war effort.

1984: ANNEMARIE KRUGER arrived at Finike, Turkey, as e) BANKO with engine damage on this date and was laid up. The ship, a frequent Seaway visitor in the 1960s, was sold for scrap and arrived at Aliaga, Turkey, under tow on August 3, 1986, and was dismantled.

1998 The tank barge SALTY DOG NO. 1 broke tow from the tug DOUG McKEIL and went aground off Anticosti Island the next day. The vessel was released and it operated until scrapping at Port Colborne in 2005.

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

Storm in western Lake Superior stops traffic

9/30 - A storm in the western part of Lake Superior has stopped shipping traffic. In Duluth, the CSL Assiniboine was expected to depart at 2:30 after loading iron ore pellets at Canadian National, but anchored in the inner harbor anchorage due to the harsh conditions. At Silver Bay, the Mesabi Miner was supposed to arrive at 4:45 after the Arthur M. Anderson departed, but she instead anchored off the Apostle Islands to wait for the conditions to moderate.

Logan Rice

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
There was no traffic through the Duluth entry on Sunday. CSL Assiniboine finished loading at Canadian National in the mid-afternoon hours, but she dropped anchor in the inner harbor and was still there as of Sunday night with a destination of Quebec City posted. There are still numerous saltwater vessels in port, including BBC Hudson and Happy Ranger, both unloading at Port Terminal; Federal Beaufort, discharging cement at CRH; Federal Seto, at CHS 2 loading wheat; and Flevoborg, which remained on the hook outside the harbor. In Superior, Mesabi Miner departed from Lakehead Pipeline mid-morning Sunday where she had been taking a delay and headed for Silver Bay to load. Indiana Harbor was due at 20:00 to load at Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Presque Isle departed Two Harbors on Sept. 29th at 03:26 for Indiana Harbor 7H. The Edgar B. Speer arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 29th at 12:44 for South of #2. She is loading for Conneaut. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 30th is the Roger Blough. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Arthur M. Anderson at approx. 15:30 for Burns Harbor. The Mesabi Miner was due Silver Bay on Sept. 29th, but after arriving off Silver Bay on the afternoon of Sept. 29th went to anchor off Sand Island in the Apostles. She had departed Superior after taking a delay at the Lakehead dock. There is no other traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Sept. 30th.

Thunder Bay, ON
Saturday; 20:55 Algoma Spirit departed for Port Cartier. Saginaw departed for Port Colborne. 22:38 RT. Hon. Paul J Martin arrived at the MobilEx Terminal, Valley Camp dock to unload salt. 22:46 The self unloader Thunder Bay departed for Becancour. Sunday; 0:36 Frontenac departed for Midland. 1:39 Barnacle weighed anchor and proceeded to the Superior Elevator to load grain. 12:34 Evans Spirit arrived at the Richardson Main Terminal to load grain. 17:44 Federal Churchill arrived and went to anchor.

Green Bay, WI
The Tug Albert/Barge Margaret arrived mid-morning Sunday from Cheboygan, MI with petroleum products for the U.S. Oil Venure Terminal. Then, later in the day, the steamer Alpena arrived from Alpena, MI, with cement for the Lafarge Terminal.

Southern Lake Michigan ports
Burns Harbor was unloading at her namesake port Sunday night. John D. Leitch, James R. Barker and Joseph L. Block were at Indiana Harbor.

Northern Lake Huron ports

Little Current: Sunday; 7:37 The cruise ship Victory I arrived for shore excursions and departed at 17:37 for Detroit.

Meldrum Bay: Sunday; 17:37 Algoma Innovator arrived to load dolomite.

Port Dolomite: Sunday; 18:38 Cason J Callaway arrived to load.

Calcite: Sunday; 20:06 Philip R Clarke departed down bound on Lake Huron. 20:12 H Lee White departed for Duluth Superior. Hon. James L Oberstar weighed anchor and proceeded to the loading dock.

Stoneport: Sunday; 19:34 Great Republic arrived to load limestone.

Port Inland: Sunday; 13:44 Lee A Tregurtha arrived to load limestone.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor arrived 7:26 am Sunday to load at the grain elevators. Algoma Sault arrived 11 am to load salt at Compass Minerals...

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Sunday September 29 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Sep 27 - Florence Spirit at 1403 - Sep 29 - Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 1830 - departed - Sep 29 - Algoterra at 0501 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage - Sep 27 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1344 from the dock

Port Colborne anchorage - departed - Sep 28 - Cape Dawson (Mhl) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 2158 eastbound - Sep 29 - Bro Anna (Sgp) at 0415 eastbound, Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 0600 for Sarnia and Shoveler (Cyp) at 1130 for the canal

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 28 - Sea Crescent and Vigilant I with Stevens 2501 at 1653, Michipicoten at 2028 and Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 0601 from the anchorage, Blacky (Cyp) to anchorage - Sep 29 - Algoma Hansa at 1030 from the anchorage,0702, Erieborg (Nld) at 0702, McKeil Spirit at 0129, Spruceglen at 0718, NACC Capri (Mlt) at 1227 from the anchorage, Spruceglen at 0718, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0842, Algoma Strongfield at 1618 and Industrial Strength (Lbr) eta 2215

downbound - Sep 27 - CSL Tadoussac at 0727 stopping at wharf 16 - Sep 28 - Federal Ems (Mhl) at 1343, NACC Argonaut at 1905, Cape Dawson (Mlt) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 2213, Damia Desgagnes at 0231, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 0436, Algoterra at 0837, tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 0940, BBC Louise (Atg) at 1513, Algoma Transport at 1526,

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 27 - CSL Tadoussac stopped wharf 16 at 1300

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 26 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 1601 - Sep 28 - Blacky (Cyp) at 2330 - Sep 29 - Federal Ems (Mhl) at 0305, Cape Dawson (Mlt) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 0651, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1445 and Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel at 2037 - departed - Sep 29 - Floragracht (Nld) at 0100 for Three River, Carolus Magnus (Bds) (ex SCT Breithorn-17, MCT Breithorn-16, HLL Celtic-07) at 0550, Algoma Hansa at 0953 westbound, NACC Capri (Mlt) at 1210 for Cleveland, Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11) at 1315 eastbound, Lubie (Bhs) at 1700 eastbound and Federal Ems (Mhl) at 2028 approx. for France

Hamilton - arrivals - Sep 29 - Algoma Niagara at 0753 and Algoma Equinox at 2037- anchored - Sep 26 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) anchored at 2240 - Sep 28 - Federal Mackinac (Mhl) at 0855, Blair McKeil at 2010 and Algoma Strongfield at 2012 - docked - Sep 19 - Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - departure - Sep 29 - Algoma Strongfield at 1416 for the canal

Bronte: docked - Sep 28 - Harbour First (Por) at 1312 - departed at 0741

Mississauga - arrival - Sep 26 - Hinch Spirit at 0246 - departed - Sep 29 at 0711

Toronto - departures - Sep 28 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0005 eastbound

Oshawa - arrival - Sep 28 Lake St Clair (Atg) (ex Federal Miramichi-16) at 0637

Picton terminal - arrival - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 on maiden trip from builder's yard

Netherlands ship Floragracht makes stop in Manistee

9/30 - Manistee. MI - Last week, Manistee residents and visitors saw something that hasn’t been seen in nearly 50 years. The Amsterdam, Netherlands, registered Floragracht arrived in Manistee on Monday and departed on Tuesday morning.

It was the first foreign flagged dry cargo vessel to visit Manistee since the Russian vessel Tolya Komar, which visited Manistee in 1972, according to the Facebook page Manistee, MI Vessel Traffic.

The ship was slated to deliver parts at TES – Filer City to be used at PCA, which were loaded in Gdynia, Poland, and Antwerp, Belgium, according to Manistee, MI Vessel Traffic.

Floragracht was built in 2011 in Jiangyin, China, for the Spliethoff Bevrachtingskantoor Company of Amsterdam. She has carried the same name and owner since she was built. The ship is one of six nearly identical sisters (known as the F-Type), with names all beginning in “F” and ending in “gracht”. Gracht is the Dutch word for canal. The ship is named after the Flora canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, according to Manistee, MI Vessel Traffic.

The ship is 448 feet long and 62 feet wide and is capable of carrying 12,178 tons of cargo in two cargo holds. The ship’s holds are shaped like shoe boxes. It designed to carry anything dry that will fit in her holds, such as containers, dry bulk, project cargo and more. The ship is equipped with three cranes on the starboard side, which can lift 80 tons at a time individually (the weight of six school buses) or 160 tons when two cranes are used together.

The ship is manned by Dutch officers and Filipino crew members. She’s powered by a Wartsila diesel engine and is equipped with a bow thruster. While a first-time visitor to Manistee, the ship is a regular visitor to the Great Lakes.

Manistee News Advocate

Minnesota town of Two Harbors struggles with saving beloved tug

9/30 - Two Harbors, Minn. – The maroon and gold tugboat has been bobbing around the Lake Superior harbor of this North Shore town for almost all of its 123 years, escorting ships picking up iron ore bound for Eastern steel mills.

The vessel Edna G. – once considered among the finest tugs on the Great Lakes – has become so synonymous with Two Harbors that its image appears on signs lining the main thoroughfare, on the city’s website home page and even on the municipal liquor store. But lately, the tugboat has been caught in a virtual tug of war.

Donated to the city in 1981, the boat needs extensive maintenance work and, as one city worker noted, the town’s 3,700 residents have about 3,000 different opinions on what should happen. “There’s definitely dividing lines” among people, City Administrator Dan Walker said. “We know that if we don’t do anything, it’ll eventually sink.”

Volunteer Tom Koehler, who checks the boat regularly, noticed a trickle coming down its seam inside, with water building up in the bilge. A rivet head had rusted off, requiring an emergency repair by a diver to Epoxy the spot.

The boat is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places, and the nonprofit Friends of the Edna G occasionally opens it to the public for tours.

Built by Cleveland Ship Building in 1896, the 110-foot, coal-powered tug was considered state-of-the-art with its all-steel construction and lush, paneled captain’s quarters. It has been a mainstay in Two Harbors except for a stint moving war materials on the East Coast during World War I.

“It is my claim that this tug helped build America and helped fight her wars,” Koehler said. “I have a feeling for this tug which is not rational, but you’re talking about a boat here, so it doesn’t have to be rational.”

Dozens of ideas for its fate have been bandied about. Koehler and others argue that in order to keep the Edna G. intact, it should be pulled out of the water and turned into a museum where people can see it inside and out. The estimated price tag for that is slightly more than $1 million – an expensive proposition for a city with a total budget of $20 million and a lot of infrastructure needs.

Others argue a tourism boat needs to live afloat and should be repaired in dry dock and put back into the water. Some estimate that the cost for that would be even higher. Other ideas: Let it sink and make it a diving attraction; sell it to an outside group; build a retaining wall and drain the water around it every winter.

None of the options are cheap, officials acknowledge. The city sets aside some lodging tax revenue for boat maintenance. Right now, it has about $275,000 squirreled away.

“Ultimately, I think what the [city] council would like to see is some sort of group” take it over, Walker said. “We don’t have the capability as a city to do right by the Edna G.”

Some proponents argue that grants and fundraising could cover whatever money is needed to save the vessel and keep it nearby. “I know we can raise the money,” said Hayes Scriven, who serves on the city’s Edna G. Commission. People just want a decision made soon, he said.

“It’s got a lot of history in the community,” Walker said. “Everybody’s got a story about the Edna G.”

On September 30, 1896, SUMATRA (wooden schooner-barge, 204 foot, 845 gross tons, built in 1874, at Black River, Ohio) was loaded with railroad rails in tow of the steamer B.W. ARNOLD in a storm on Lake Huron. The SUMATRA was blown down and foundered off the Government Pier at Milwaukee. Three of the crew was lost. The four survivors were rescued by the ARNOLD and the U.S. Lifesaving Service. The SUMATRA was owned by the Mills Transportation Company.

The 660-foot forward section of the BELLE RIVER (Hull#716) was side launched on September 30, 1976, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, by Bay Shipbuilding Co. Renamed b.) WALTER J. McCARTHY, JR. in 1977.

ARTHUR SIMARD entered service on September 30, 1973, sailing to Montreal, Quebec, to load gasoline.

GOVERNOR MILLER was towed down the Welland Canal on September 30, 1980, in tow of TUG MALCOLM, STORMONT and ARGUE MARTIN on her way to Quebec City.

ROBERT C. STANLEY departed light on her maiden voyage from River Rouge, Michigan, on September 30, 1943, bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota, to load iron ore.

On September 30, 1986, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CARIBOU ISLE struck a rock in Lake Huron's North Channel and began taking on water. C.C.G.S. SAMUEL RISLEY arrived and helped patch the ship. The pair then departed for Parry Sound, Ontario.

On September 30, 1888, AUSTRALIA (wooden schooner, 109 foot, 159 gross tons, built in 1862, at Vermilion, Ohio) was carrying cedar posts from Beaver Island to Chicago when she encountered a gale. She was laid on beam ends and sprung a leak. She headed for shelter at Holland, Michigan, but struck a bar and foundered in the mouth of the harbor. The wreck blocked the harbor until it was removed on October. 5 Her crew was rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service.

On September 30, 1875, AMERICAN CHAMPION (wooden scow-schooner, 156 tons, built in 1866, at Trenton, Michigan) dropped anchor to ride out a gale near Leamington, Ontario, on Lake Erie. The chains gave way and she struck a bar and sank to the gunwales. The crew of eight spent the night in the rigging and the next day a local woman and her two sons heroically rescued each one.

1906: The first FAYETTE BROWN ran into the pier entering Lorain, became disabled and stranded on the beach. The ship was refloated with considerable damage. It last operated as c) GLENMOUNT in 1923 and was scrapped about 1928.

1913: CITY OF LONDON sank off Point Pelee, Lake Erie after a collision with the JOE S. MORROW. The hull was later dynamited as an obstacle to navigation.

1964: DUNDRUM BAY was a pre-Seaway visitor to the Great Lakes on charter to the Hall Corporation. The vessel was driven aground on this date as f) ESITO near Necochea, Argentina, while traveling in ballast. The hull broke in two and was a total loss.

1965: PROTOSTATIS, a Greek Liberty ship, went aground on Traverse Shoal, Lake Ontario, while enroute from Detroit to Genoa, Italy, with a cargo of scrap. The vessel was lightered and refloated with the aid of tugs. It went to Kingston to anchor and reload in the shelter of Wolfe Island.

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

Corps of Engineers to address Mission Point erosion issues

9/28 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Shoreline erosion at a park popular with boatwatchers will be addressed this fall, according to Robin Troyer, Sault Ste. Marie Deputy City Manager/City Clerk.

High water this year has led to serious erosion at Mission Point’s Rotary Park. In particular, the piece of land where boatwatchers gather to park and take pictures has been undermined, causing two large limestone blocks to tumble into the river.

“The property is actually owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I’ve spoken with (Area Engineer) Kevin Sprague, he went and checked it out and they will do shore work this fall to help mitigate the erosion that’s going on down there,” Troyer told BoatNerd.com on Friday.

“He didn’t give me a specific timeline, but it is on their radar,” she added. “He’s got rocks and stone they are going to bring in. Hopefully that will help.”

“With those high waters, it’s taken a beating this year,” she added. Onshore gales have also contributed to the problem.

The location in question was for years the site of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Lookout No. 3, one of several manned vessel observation structures on the St. Marys River. The building was intentionally burned in 1976 due to its dilapidated condition.

BoatNerd.com

New tug Seaway Guardian will take to the Seaway in 2020

9/28 - Massena, NY – The Robinson Bay tugboat that has broken ice, hauled and placed buoys along the St. Lawrence Seaway for six decades will soon retire, and a newer, larger and more powerful vessel will take its place.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., which manages the U.S. portion of the international waterway, expects its new tugboat, the Seaway Guardian, to be delivered soon to its Massena facilities in preparation for its inaugural shipping season next year. The 181-foot long, 45-foot wide steel vessel boasts multiple enhancements from its 61-year-old counterpart, including almost three times the horsepower at 5,350 horsepower, a faster maximum speed at 13 knots, more than three times the towing strength at 65 tons and the ability to break three times as much ice.

Representatives from the development corporation supplied informational material about the Seaway Guardian, which emphasized the vessel’s deck-mounted crane for hauling and deploying buoys, command center for emergency response operations and “enhanced ship firefighting capabilities,” during the 60th anniversary celebration for the Seaway Tuesday. Deputy Administrator Craig Middlebrook also highlighted the tugboat.

“As you heard, we’re replacing the (development corporation’s) beloved 60-year-old tug Robinson Bay with a new, first-class ice tug. The name of that new tug will be Seaway Guardian,” Mr. Middlebrook said, adding that name was selected from a list of suggestions submitted by workers from the development corporation.

Onlookers have witnessed the green and white Robinson Bay cruise along the St. Lawrence River from the waterfront since the shipping channel opened in 1959, watching it deploy and remove buoys at the beginning and end of each navigation season. The 103-foot-long, 24-foot-wide vessel first launched in 1958 in Massena.

Seaway officials have discussed replacing the Robinson Bay through its asset renewal program for years, particularly due to rising maintenance costs, according to a recent capital investment plan for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. The development corporation awarded a contract to Gulf Island Shipyards, Houma, La. to build the $24 million vessel, in 2017, and construction began in the 2018 fiscal year. Officials expect sea trials for the vessel to begin next month, following its launch Sept. 12, according to the information pamphlets handed out Tuesday.

“The new tugboat will further enhance the SLSDC’s ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergency operational incidents on the St. Lawrence Seaway. In addition, the new tug will achieve greater operational and cost-savings efficiencies,” the development corporation wrote in its 2018 annual report to Congress. “The new tugboat will produce lower emissions than the current Robinson Bay tugboat.”

The development corporation has another tugboat, Performance, used for buoy positioning, moving buoys back onto station and aiding the Robinson Bay in buoy tending and by hauling the gatelifter crane barge.

According to the corporation’s capital investment plan, however, the vessel has “experienced serious corrosion issues with the hull and some of the appurtenances,” prompting frequent, reoccurring removal for inspection and repairs. The corporation plans to have the vessel replaced by 2020 or 2021 for $6 million.

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Maumee/tug Victory departed Duluth at 02:00 Friday morning with a load of iron ore pellets for Sault Ste. Marie, and Great Lakes Trader/tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort was inbound at 12:30 to load at Canadian National. Arthur M. Anderson came in at 16:33 to discharge limestone at C. Reiss. Also in port on Friday were BBC Hudson and Happy Ranger, unloading at Port Terminal; Federal Beaufort, discharging cement at CRH; Johanna G, loading wheat at CHS 1; Federal Seto, loading wheat at CHS 2; Mesabi Miner, taking a delay at Lakehead Pipeline in Superior; and Flevoborg, anchored outside the harbor waiting to load at Riverland Ag. In Superior, American Spirit arrived at 06:00 to load at Burlington Northern. She was expected to depart around midnight.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader departed Two Harbors on Sept. 26th at 23:32 for Detroit. The Edwin H. Gott arrived Two Harbors approx. between 00:30 and 01:00 on Sept. 27th for South of #2. The Gott then departed Two Harbors on Sept. 27th at 13:42 for Gary. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 27th after being anchored off Duluth was the Algoma Guardian. She arrived at 14:42 after departing off Duluth at approx. 11:30. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 27th was the Presque Isle for North of #2 lay-by. She arrived Two Harbors at approx. 11:30. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the John J. Boland on Sept. 27th at 04:57 after unloading stone at Graymont in Superior. She departed Silver Bay on the 27th at approx. 16:45 for Cleveland. Due Silver Bay on Sept. 28th is the Arthur M. Anderson after unloading at C. Reiss in West Duluth. Two Harbors has no scheduled inbound traffic on Sept. 28th.

Thunder Bay, ON
Wednesday; 23:44 Algoma Harvester departed for Baie Comeau. 23:55 Algoma Conveyor weighed anchor and proceeded to the Superior Elevator to load. Thursday; 1:33 Algoma Sault departed for Detroit. 3:25 Atlantic Huron weighed anchor and proceeded to Thunder Bay Terminals to load coal. 15:27 Atlantic Huron departed and went to anchor north of Pie Island possibly to wait out weather. 20:40 Ojibway arrived at the Richardson Main Terminal to load grain. Friday; 13:21 Atlantic Huron weighed anchor and departed for Sydney Nova Scotia. 15:00 The saltie Barnacle arrived and went to anchor. 18:11 Algoma Conveyor departed for Goderich. 18:37 Ojibway shifted to the Richardson Current River Terminal to finish loading grain.

St. Marys River
The new-to-the-lakes tug Laura L. VanEnkevort paid her first visit to the river system Friday night. She and the barge Joseph H. Thompson were upbound in the lower river in the late evening headed for Marquette.

Green Bay, WI
On Friday, H. Lee White arrived from Michigan with cargo of limestone to the GLC Minerals Terminal.

Southern Lake Michigan ports
Wilfred Sykes was unloading at Burns Harbor Friday night. John D. Leitch was arriving at Indiana Harbor Friday evening. American Integrity was due at Gary late Friday or early Saturday.

Alpena, MI – Ben & Chanda McClain
On Thursday the tug Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation loaded cement at Lafarge. Vessel arrivals on Friday at Lafarge included the Alpena and the tug Undaunted/ barge Pere Marquette 41 coming in late.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Friday September 27 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals -Sep 27 - Algoscotia at 0329 and Florence Spirit at 1403 from the anchorage - departed - Sep 26 - CSL Laurentien at 2344 westbound - Sep 27 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1315 back out to the anchorage and Sep 27 - Algocanada at 0323 eastbound,

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Sep 26 - Algoscotia at 0256 - Sep 27 - Florence Spirit at 0143 and Ruddy (Cyp) at 1344 from the dock

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 26 - Algoma Transport at 1523, tug Molly M I with MM220 at 1855 from wharf 16 and Algoma Enterprise at 1937 - Sep 27 - NACC Argonaut at 0154, Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 0724 - stopped wharf 2, Tecumseh at 0915, Algoterra at 1206, Radcliffe R Latimer at 1242, Algoma Mariner at 1359, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1718, tugs Evans McKeil & Wyatt M with Dowden Spirit eta 2030 - delayed, Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 2043 to the anchorage, tug Leonard M & MM Newfoundland eta 2140 - delayed, Bro Agnes (Sgp) eta 2130 to the anchorage and Whitefish Bay eta 2220

downbound - Sep 26 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 0600 anchored Port Weller, Amstelborg (Nld) at 1523 anchored Port Weller, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 1853 anchored Port Weller - Sep 27 - Manitoulin at 0129, Acadia Desgagnes at 0624, Algocanada at 0712, CSL Tadoussac at 0727 stopping at wharf 16, Hamburg (Bhs) (ex c Columbus-12) passenger vessel at 1023, Bluewing (Cyp) at 1129 and BBC Russia (Atg) at 2006

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 27 - CSL Tadoussac stopped wharf 16 at 1227 - departed - Sep 26 - tug Molly M I & MM220 - departed wharf 17 at 1855 and tug Madison R & BTI 210 & The Clyde departed wharf 17 - both westbound

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 26 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 1601 - Sep 27 Amstelborg (Nld) at 0621 and tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 0710 - departed - Sep 27 - Amstelborg (Nld) at 2030 eastbound Hamilton - arrival - Sep 26 - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) anchored at 2240 - docked - Sep 19 - Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - Sep 25 - Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1913 - departures - Sep 27 - Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1905 for Port Weller anchorage

Clarkson - arrival - Sep 26 - Radcliffe R Latimer at 1136 -departed Sep 27 at 1043 for the canal

Mississauga - arrival - Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11) at 0525

Toronto - docked - Sep 22 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1757 - Sep 25 - Drawsko (Bhs) at 0626 - departed - Sep 26 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 2250 eastbound - Sep 27 - McKeil Spirit at 0205 westbound and Drawsko (Bhs) at 01505 for the canal

Oshawa - arrival - Sep 27 - NACC Quebec at 0835 - departed Sep 27 at 1928 eastbound docked

Picton terminal - arrival - Sep 27 - Federal St Laurent (iv) (Mhl) at 0932 on maiden trip from builder's yard

Marquette unveils Lighthouse Park

9/28 - Marquette , MI - – Marquette City Mayor Fred Stonehouse performed the official ribbon cutting Thursday on Marquette’s newest park, officially named Lighthouse Park.

"This is a wonderful park for the people in the City of Marquette. It really is a prime piece of property. I would argue that pound for pound it’s probably better than what we have in Presque Isle. It’s a place for people to come and enjoy not only the view, but the sense of history of being here," Stonehouse announced.

The ribbon cutting was the final step in this newest construction project which passersby and neighboring residents are well-aware has been ongoing all summer.

"The project itself really began back in 2002 when the Marquette Maritime Museum was able to obtain a long-term historic structures lease with the Coast Guard for the lighthouse," Stonehouse said.

According to Mayor Stonehouse, the Maritime Museum recognized the historical value of the lighthouse. Since then, the project has been a rather complex collaboration between the Maritime Museum, the City of Marquette and the United States Coast Guard.

Marquette City Manager, Mike Angeli says it was up to the Parks and Recreation Department and the Community Services Department along with Oberstar Inc. to follow through with the park vision.

"The accessibility has changed. You don't have to go through McCarty's Cove anymore. We've created a whole new entrance off of Arch Street and Lake Shore Blvd. The bike or pedestrian access has been improved tremendously. Now there's a clearly delineated bike path,” Angeli declared.

Hilary Billman, Director of the Marquette Maritime Museum, says she hopes foot and vehicle traffic runs more smoothly from now on.

"It's a lot safer back here and there's a lot more parking spaces for people that want to visit the museum and the lighthouse and the park. Just make sure if you are a bicyclist or a pedestrian please stay on the bike path," Billman requested.

The Marquette Maritime Museum and Lighthouse will remain open through late-October with several upcoming events.

TV 6

Cruise ships coming to Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor?

9/28 - Cruising on the Great Lakes has been taking off in recent years, with three different cruise lines offering weeklong cruises, such as from Chicago to Montreal, Halifax to Buffalo and Milwaukee to Toronto. As many as eight cruise ship companies are expected to sail on the Great Lakes within the next few years as global instability has left many wanting to cruise closer to home, and people seek out more affordable cruise options.

Indiana Dunes Tourism is working to get a piece of that action. The Chesterton-based tourism agency, which promotes the Indiana Dunes and other attractions in Porter County, is looking to bring massive cruise ships to the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. About 150 to 350 people would deboard a few times a week and take bus tours to see the Indiana Dunes National Park, heavy industry and other sites in Northwest Indiana.

"Indiana Dunes Tourism aims to have Indiana added to the list of Great Lakes cruise stops in the near future," Indiana Dunes Tourism Assistant Director Christine Livingston said. "Who knew that cruising Lake Michigan was a thing? Turns out that Great Lakes cruising is big business. There are already three cruise lines carrying hundreds of passengers regularly to ports and cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Montreal.

"Indiana Dunes Tourism and the Northwest Indiana Forum believe that Northwest Indiana has compelling enough attractions to jump into this arena."

The deepwater Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan would welcome cruise ships to dock there, Ports of Indiana spokeswoman Alicia Thomas said. "While a few folks on the Great Lakes and in the Region are starting to explore this possibility, we are letting the local tourism board drive this initiative," she said. "We have told them that we will make space available at the port if they are successful."

The Indiana Dunes National Park likely would merit a stop for many cruise ships, and industry tours have proven popular in Detroit.

"We are just beginning to work with a team to develop tours and offerings," Livingston said. "Northwest Indiana is unique and interesting. We plan to showcase the Indiana Dunes and surrounding areas and its unique juxtaposition to modern industry. Tour themes and partners are already in development."

The visitors will stay on the cruise ships overnight and not at local hotels and likely not dine at local restaurants, because they pay from $3,000 to $12,000 for all-inclusive tours that include meals on the ship, Livingston said. But the cruise ship stops would benefit the bus tour operators and expose more people to the region, potentially resulting in return trips.

"This effort is in its infancy, but we have already generated plenty of interest and are optimistic that we can get Indiana in the Great Lakes cruising game within the next two years," she said.

NW Indiana Times

$6 million in funding announced for new Visitors’ Center at Eisenhower Lock

9/28 - Masena, NY – A new visitor’s center at the U.S. Eisenhower Lock will be constructed thanks to $6 million in funding for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Chao and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced the funding at the 60th anniversary of the Seaway. The new center will welcome the tens of thousands of people from around the world who come to watch ships transit the lock each year, and serve as a cornerstone for tourism in the North Country.

Secretary Chao and Stefanik were joined by Transport Canada Director General of Marine Policy Marc-Yves Bertin, U.S. Seaway Deputy Administrator Craig Middlebrook, Canadian Seaway President and CEO Terence Bowles, and U.S. and Canadian government and transportation officials.

“For 60 years, the St. Lawrence Seaway has been a safe and reliable gateway for global commerce, further demonstrating our nation’s strong and strategic partnership with Canada,” said Chao.

“I am so honored to host Secretary Elaine Chao for the 60th anniversary of the St. Lawrence Seaway. We have worked together to announce this significant investment in the North Country to promote tourism, economic development, and trade,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I thank Secretary Chao for her leadership and for her commitment to delivering results to our community.”

The bi-national waterway was officially opened in 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower. It has been proclaimed as one of the 10 most outstanding engineering achievements of the past 100 years. Since its inception, nearly 3 billion tons of cargo, valued at over $450 billion, have been transported via the Seaway. Maritime commerce on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System supports more than 237,000 U.S. and Canadian jobs and generates $35 billion in economic activity annually.

“As the Seaway marks 60 years of operations, it is important to remember its history, but also to take this opportunity to highlight the investments and innovations in the Seaway System under the leadership of Secretary Chao that keep the waterway well positioned for the future,” said U.S. Seaway Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook.

Michigan Maritime Museum offers Great Lakes Ghosts concert

9/28 - South Haven, MI – On Oct. 19, the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, MI, will host a performance by musician Lee Murdock as he explores the lore and legend of Great Lakes ghosts. Tickets can be reserved by phone at 269-637-8078 and will be available at the door. Seating is first come first serve. This event will take place during Haven Harvest weekend in South Haven.

Obituary: Captain John O. Presley

9/28 - Captain John O. Presley, 95, of Mattawan, MI, formerly of Marysville, MI, died Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

He spent 31 years with the shipping division of Bethlehem Steel Co. He was the captain of the Burns Harbor when she was christened in 1980, and retired as captain, last skippering the Lewis Wilson Foy, a 1,000-foot vessel. John was first mate on the Stewart J. Cort, the first 1,000-foot freighter, when she made her maiden voyage through the St. Clair River in May 1972.

He was born January 25, 1924 in Port Huron to the late Frederick and Lillian Presley. He married Patricia A. O'Reilly on December 27, 1948 in Port Huron. She died December 24, 2004. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus #521, member of Black River Boat Club, and former member of St. Christopher Catholic Church and the International Shipmasters Association. He also had a passion for ice hockey and was a long time season ticket holder for the Port Huron Flags. John was a member of the Port Huron YMCA for many years and was a member of the 1000 mile swim club, which he was quite active with in to his 80's.

He is survived by his son, David (Cindy) Presley; grandsons, Nicholas (Miranda) and Brian (Debbie), and great-grandchildren Harper and Hayden Presley. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Jack, Dorothy, Eleanor, Frederick and Walter Dean Presley.

A funeral nass will be held at 11a.m. on Monday, September 30, in St. Christopher Catholic Church with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. The Reverend James Arwady will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Christopher Catholic Church, Marysville. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com

On September 28, 1980, BURNS HARBOR entered service, departing Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, bound for Superior, Wisconsin, to load pellets.

THOMAS WILSON left Toledo on September 28, 1987, in tow of the tug TUSKER for overseas scrapping. WILSON had been laid up since December 16, 1979.

On 28 September 1891, THOMAS PARSONS (2 mast wooden schooner, 135 foot, 350 tons, built in 1868, at Charlotte, New York) was carrying coal out of Ashtabula, Ohio, when she foundered in a storm a few miles off Fairport in Lake Erie.

On 28 September 1849, W.G. BUCKNER (wooden schooner, 75 foot, 107 tons, built in 1837, at Irving, New York) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan when she sprang a leak, then capsized. The man to whom the cargo belonged was aboard with his wife and five children. One child was washed overboard while the wife and three children died of exposure. The schooner ERWIN took off the survivors plus the bodies.

1921: The W.H. RITCHIE caught fire and sank at Port Arthur, ON where it had become a bulk grain transport vessel. The remains were uncovered during dredging work in 1961.

1946: BRIG. GEN. M.G. ZALINSKI, built at Lorain in 1919 as a) LAKE FROHNA and later operated inland in the package freight trade as b) ACE, hit the rocks off Pitt Island, British Columbia. The vessel was enroute from Seattle to Whittier, Alaska, with a cargo of army supplies, and sank in 20 minutes. All on board were rescued by the tug SALLY N. and taken to the fishing village of Butedale.. The hull was located in June 2011 and is upside down.

1960: CHICAGO TRIBUNE and SHENANGO II were both damaged in a collision in the St. Clair River off Marysville.

1973: FRANK R. DENTON and FEDERAL SCHELDE (i) collided in the St. Marys River with minor damage to both ships. The former was scrapped at Ashtabula in 1985-1986. The latter began Seaway service when new in 1968, returned as b) C. MEHMET in 1977 and was delivered to the scrappers at Nantong, China, on March 16, 1999.

1998: ANDROS TRANSPORT, a Fortune Class cargo ship, first came through the Seaway in 1978. Flooding occurred in the engineroom in the Caribbean off Trinidad as d) GRIGOROUSSA on this date while traveling in ballast. The crew of 15 were removed and the ship was towed into Port au Spain. It was declared a total loss, sold to Mexican shipbreakers, and arrived at Tuxpan, under tow for dismantling on December 4, 1998.

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

Great Lakes iron ore trade down nearly 6 percent in August

9/27 - Cleveland, OH – Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 6 million tons in August, a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to a year ago. However, shipments outperformed the month’s 5-year average by 1.4 percent.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 32.8 million tons, a decrease of less than 1 percent compared to the same point in 2018. Through August iron shipments are nearly 5.4 percent ahead of their 5-year average for eight months of the year.

Lake Carriers’ Association

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Saginaw started off a busy Thursday in Duluth, departing at 02:19 with iron ore pellets from CN. Erie Trader/tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort departed light for Two Harbors at 02:57 after after unloading stone at Hallett #5. Maumee/tug Victory arrived at 12:23 to load at Canadian National on her first trip to the Twin Ports since being renamed last winter, and Happy Ranger was inbound at 12:42 to discharge lumber at Port Terminal. John J. Boland came in at 13:38 with limestone to unload at Graymont Superior. Her fleetmate American Mariner left port at 14:07 for Buffalo with wheat from General Mills, and BBC Louise departed at 15:48 after loading wheat at Riverland Ag. Also in port were BBC Hudson, unloading wind turbine generators at Port Terminal; Federal Beaufort, offloading powdered cement at CRH; Johanna G. and Federal Seto, both loading wheat at CHS 1 and 2, respectively; and Flevoborg, on the hook outside the harbor waiting to load wheat at Riverland Ag. John J. Boland was expected to depart at 22:00 Thursday night for Silver Bay to load, while Flevoborg had no arrival time listed but may arrive anytime now that the Riverland elevator is unoccupied. At the Superior entry on Thursday, Mesabi Miner arrived at 08:00 to take a delay at Lakehead Pipeline, and Burns Harbor was outbound at 09:34 with a load of iron ore pellets from Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
James R. Barker arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 25th at 20:20 for South of #2. She departed Two Harbors on Sept. 26th at 13:13 for Indiana Harbor. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 26th at 04:00 was the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader after unloading stone at Hallett #5. She went to North of #2 lay-by. She then shifted to South of #2 between 13:18 and 13:37. As of 19:45 on the 26th she was still at the loading. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 27th are the Algoma Guardian and the Presque Isle. Tentatively due Northshore Mining in Silver Bay on Sept. 27th are the John J. Boland and the Arthur M. Anderson. The Boland will be arriving from the Twin Ports after unloading at Graymont in Superior. The Boland should arrive in the morning. The Anderson is due the Twin Ports to unload stone at C. Reiss in Duluth the morning of the 27th. Edwin H. Gott arrived off Duluth mid-morning on Sept. 26th and stopped to wait on the Two Harbors dock.

St. Marys River
Frontenac and saltie Barnacle, both bound for Thunder Bay, were at anchor of Bay Mills Thursday night. Algoma Innovator was at the Algoma Export Dock.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Karen Andrie/Endeavour arrived Milwaukee at 16:13 Thursday (9/26) afternoon. She brought liquid asphalt from BP’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana, to Construction Resources Management’s Milwaukee Terminal.

Indiana Harbor, IN
John G. Munson was unloading on Thursday night.

Gary, IN
Edgar B. Speer was unloading late Thursday.

Burns Harbor, IN
John D. Leitch was in port Thursday night.

Owen Sound, ON
St. Marys Challenger arrived at about 6 p.m. Thursday to unload cement.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Compass arrived Wednesday, loaded salt, and cleared Thursday at 4:50 pm for Morrisburg, ON.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
After three days in Lake Erie, Algoma Buffalo finally raised anchor Thursday and was being towed to Cargill to load salt. American Courage as departed for Ashtabula and Federal Dee was on her way to Detroit. American Century was arriving to discharge ore at the Bulk Terminal. In other area port activity, Calumet was arriving at Fairport Harbor and Manitoulin was loading ore in Ashtabula for Quebec City.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages for Thursday September 26 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrivals - Sep 25 - CSL Laurentien at 0913, Algosea at 1706 and Algocanada at 1802 - Sep 26 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 0906 - departed - Sep 26 - Algosea at 1029 westbound

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Sep 25 - Algosea at 1647 and Algocanada at 1114 anchored Sep 26 - Algoscotia at 0256 - departed Sep 25 - Algosea at 1647 - Sep 26 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 0844 back to the dock

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 25 - tugs Molly M I and Vac with MM220 at 0834 stopped wharf 17 and Algonova at 2039 - Sep 26 - Algoscotia at 1314 and Algonova at 2039 - Algonorth at 0136, Evans Spirit at 0242, tug Leo A McArthur & John J Carrick at 0600, Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0737, tug Madison R with BTI 210 & The Clyde at 0745, Florence Spirit at 1220, Algoma Transport at 1339 and Algoma Enterprise at 1937

downbound - Sep 25 - Algoma Enterprise at 1616 and Robert S Pierson at 1729 - Sep 26 - Baie Comeau at 0227, Wigeon (Lbr) at 0600, COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) at 0954, Amstelborg (Nld) at 1523, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 1853 stopping wharf 12 and Manitoulin eta 2120

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 25 - tug Molly M I & MM220 stopped wharf 17 at 2335 - Sep 26 - Algonova atug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 2013 and tug Madison R & BTI 210 & The Clyde stopped wharf 17 eta 2140

Port Weller anchorage - anchored - Sep 26 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 1601

Hamilton - arrival - COE Leni (Mlt) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) eta 2235 - docked - Sep 19 - Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - Sep 25 - Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1913 - departures - Sep 26 - Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0530, Florence Spirit at 1029 and Algoma Transport at 1054

Clarkson - arrival - Sep 26 - Radcliffe R Latimer at 1136

Mississauga - arrival - Adfines Star (Mlt) (ex Osttank Sweden-11) at 0525s

Toronto - docked - Sep 22 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1757 - Sep 24 - McKeil Spirit at 2012 - Sep 25 - Drawsko (Bhs) at 0626 and NACC Capri (Mlt) at 1936 -

Oshawa - docked - Sep 24 - tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 1823 - departed Sep 26 at 0232 eastbound

Brady Park pavilion opens in Sault Ste. Marie

9/27 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI - A new outdoor place to gather in Sault Ste. Marie held its grand opening Thursday. The Brady Park Pavilion, at the eastern end of the MacArthur Lock approach, was built with cooperation between the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the Sault Tribe and Bay Mills Tribe, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Soo Locks Visitors Association and the Interlake Steamship Co.

The $90,000 project sits on property that has a lot of history. “It’s always been a communal gathering space. The Anishinaabe people would encamp here in the summers and harvest whitefish. Later the French settled here and built a fort. The British took over that fort and maintained that fort there,” says Michelle Briggs, USACE Park Ranger.

The shelter is open to the public on first come-first serve basis.

9 & 10 News

September 27, 1959: The West Neebish Channel, through which downbound traffic normally passes, was temporarily closed to permit dredging to the maximum Seaway depth of 27 feet. Two-way traffic was instituted in the Middle Neebish Channel until dredging was completed.

On 27 September 1877, the HIPPOGRIFFE (wooden schooner, 295 tons, built in 1864, at Buffalo, New York) had just left Chicago for Buffalo, loaded with oats, on a fine day with clear weather. The crew saw EMMA A. COYNE (wooden schooner, 155 foot, 497 tons, built in 1867, at Detroit, Michigan) approaching from a long way off loaded with lumber. The two vessels' skippers were brothers. The two schooners collided about 20 miles off Kenosha, Wisconsin. The COYNE came along side and picked up the HIPPOGRIFFE's crew a few minutes before that vessel rolled over and dove for the bottom.

The CITY OF GENOA arrived with the first cargo of iron ore for the new factory at Zug Island, reported The Detroit Free Press on September 28, 1903.

The H. M. GRIFFITH experienced a smoky conveyor belt fire at Port Colborne, Ontario on September 27, 1989. Repairs were completed there.

ROGER M. KYES proceeded to Chicago for dry-docking, survey and repairs on September 27, 1976. She struck bottom in Buffalo Harbor September 22, 1976 sustaining holes in two double bottom tanks and damage to three others.

GEORGE M. HUMPHREY under tow, locked through the Panama Canal from September 27, 1986, to the 30th on her way to the cutter’s torch at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The tanker IMPERIAL COLLINGWOOD (Hull#137) was launched September 27, 1947, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Imperial Oil Ltd., Toronto, Ontario. Renamed b.) SEAWAY TRADER in 1979, sold off the Lakes in 1984, renamed c.) PATRICIA II, d.) BALBOA TRADER in 1992.

September 27, 1909 - The ANN ARBOR NO 4 entered service after being repaired from her capsizing at Manistique, Michigan the previous May.

On 27 September 1884, WALDO A. AVERY (wooden propeller, 204 foot, 1,294 gross tons) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan. Her construction had been subcontracted by F. W. Wheeler & Co. to Thomas F. Murphy.

On 27-29 September 1872, a big storm swept the lower lakes. On Lake Huron, the barges HUNTER and DETROIT were destroyed. The tug SANDUSKY rescued the 21 survivors from them. The schooner CORSAIR foundered off Sturgeon Point on Saginaw Bay at 4 p.m. on Sunday the 29th and only 2 of the crew survived. The barge A. LINCOLN was ashore one mile below Au Sable with no loss of life. The barge TABLE ROCK went ashore off Tawas Point and went to pieces. All but one of her crew was lost. The schooner WHITE SQUALL was sunk ten miles off Fish Point -- only one crewman was saved. The schooner SUMMIT went ashore at Fish Point, 7 miles north of Tawas with two lives lost.

1911: The water-logged wooden steamer THREE BROTHERS was beached off South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan. The cargo of lumber was salvaged but the 23-year-old vessel was left to rot.

1912: The wooden steamer GEORGE T. HOPE, loaded with 2,118 tons of iron ore, foundered in Lake Superior near Grand Island when it began leaking in heavy weather. All on board were saved.

1934: SASKADOC departed Erie, Pa., for the short run to the Welland Canal with 7,500 tons of coal and the hatches left open. The vessel encountered a storm on the lake, developed a list and arrived 11 hours late.

1943: NORMAN B. MACPHERSON, a small canaller in the Upper Lakes fleet, went aground on Hammond Shoal in the American Channel of the St. Lawrence near Alexandria Bay, N.Y.

1969: OPHELIA was a Great Lakes caller before the Seaway opened. The West German freighter also made 16 trips inland from 1959 to 1964. It was under Greek registry when it was abandoned off Sibu, Sarawak, with a fire in the engine room, on this date in 1969. The vessel was enroute from Sibu to Kuching, China, and the hull drifted aground as a total loss.

1991: OGDENSBURG was built as a barge to ferry rail cars across the St. Lawrence between Prescott and Ogdensburg. The vessel had joined McKeil as a regular deck barge in 1988 and broke loose in a storm on this date in 1991 while working off Blanc Sablon, Q.C. carrying heavy construction equipment. Refloated, the hull was towed to Hamilton and became one of three former railway barges rebuilt as a floating drydock.

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

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Erie Trader/tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort arrived Duluth at 16:02 Wednesday afternoon with a load of limestone for Hallett #5. She was followed into port by Saginaw, which came in at 16:14 on a rather rare trip to the Twin Ports to load iron ore pellets at CN. Federal Beaufort was inbound at 19:23 with cement to discharge at CRH. The only other laker in port on Wednesday was American Mariner, which finished unloading her stone cargo at Graymont early Wednesday and shifted to General Mills to load wheat. Among the salties in port were BBC Louise, loading wheat at Riverland Ag; BBC Hudson, discharging wind turbine generators at Port Terminal; Shoveler, loading grain at CHS 1; Federal Seto, taking on wheat at CHS 2; and Johanna G. and Flevoborg, both on the hook outside the harbor. Both BBC Louise and Shoveler had tentative departure times of 20:30 listed, however neither vessel had left their dock as of 20:00. The only traffic through the Superior entry on Wednesday was Burns Harbor, which arrived at 18:15 to load at Burlington Northern. She should depart late Thursday morning.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The American Integrity departed Two Harbors on Sept. 24th at 23:27 for Gary. The James R. Barker should arrive Two Harbors on Sept. 25th between 19:30 and 20:00. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 26th is the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader after unloading stone at Hallett #5 in Duluth. Also due Two Harbors on Sept. 26th is the Edwin H. Gott. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on Sept. 25th and none scheduled on Sept. 26th. A couple updates. When the Blough left Two Harbors she was showing a Gary AIS. She is now headed to Conneaut. When the Speer departed Two Harbors she was headed for Conneaut. Her destination has now been changed to Gary.

Thunder Bay, ON
Wednesday: Algoma Harvester is loading grain for Bae Comeau at the Superior Elevator. Algoma Sault is loading at Thunder Bay Terminals. Algoma Conveyor is at anchor south of the Welcome Islands. Atlantic Huron and Federal Cedar are at anchor in the main anchorage. Algoma Discovery is in dry dock at the Current River Shipyard for repairs.

St. Marys River
After at least a week at anchor in the lower river near DeTour awaiting engine parts, Ojibway was upbound for Thunder Bay Wednesday night, escorted by a Purvis Marine tug.

Manistee, MI
Saltie Floragracht departed on Wednesday after unloading boiler parts for a system that will be used to burn natural gas and wood waste to produce steam for the Packaging Corporation of America. Mississagi was unloading.

Indiana Harbor, IN
Joseph L. Block was unloading at ArcelorMittal Wednesday night.

Burns Harbor, IN
Stewart J. Cort was unloading Wednesday evening, while John D. Leitch was at anchor waiting for the dock.

Alpena, MI – Ben & Chanda McClain
Great Republic finished unloading coal at Lafarge on Wednesday morning. The cruise ship MV Hamburg anchored offshore on Wednesday. Passengers were brought ashore on smaller tender boats from the ship. Hamburg headed back out into Lake Huron before nightfall.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Compass was loading salt Wednesday night.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Algoma Buffalo remained at anchor in Lake Erie on Wednesday. Federal Dee was still at the port and American Courage was at the Bulk Terminal.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages for Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Barry Andersen Nanticoke - arrival - Sep 25 - CSL Laurentien at 0913, Algosea at 1706 and Algocanada at 1802 - departed - Sep 24 Ruddy (Cyp) at 2155 - back out to the anchorage

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Sep 24 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 2306 back out from the dock - Sep 25 - Algosea at 1647 and Algocanada at 1114 - departed Sep 25 - algosea at 1647 and Algocanada at 1747 - both for the dock

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 23 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 2345 - Sep 24 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1452, CSL Assiniboine at 1615, Algosea at 1715, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1845 headed to Port Weller anchorage, Algocanada at 2018 and Sloman Helios (Atg) at 2306 - Sep 25 - tugs Molly M I and Vac with MM220 at 0834, Damia Desgagnes at 0922, Algoscotia at 1314 and Algonova at 2039

downbound - Sep 24 - tug Undaunted & Pere Marquette 41 at 1442 stopping wharf 16, Algoma Transport at 1942 and NACC Argonaut at 2313 - Sep 25 - Florence Spirit at 0059, Gaia Desgagnes at 0639, Iver Bright (Nld) at 0953, CCGS Samuel Risley at 1224, Algoma Enterprise at 1616 and Robert S Pierson at 1729

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - departed Sep 25 - tug Undaunted & Pere Marquette 41 at 0030 from wharf 16 westbound

Port Weller anchorage - anchored Sep 24 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 0022 and Drawsko (Bhs) at 1906 awaiting dock in Toronto - departed - Sep 25 - Drawsko (Bhs) at 0440 for Toronto

Hamilton arrivals - Sep 25 - Algoma Transport at 1131, Florence Spirit at 1503 and Bro Agnes (Sgp) at 1913

docked - Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - Sep 23 - Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0442 -

departures - Sep 25 - Stella Polaris (Nld) at 2051 for Zelzate, Belgium

Toronto - arrival - Sept 25 - Drawsko (Bhs) at 0626 - docked - Sep 24 - McKeil Spirit at 2012

Oshawa - docked - Sep 24 - tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 1823

Oswego, NY – Ned Goebricher On Wednesday, Evans Spirit unloaded aluminum.

Obituary: Joanne Crack

9/26 - Joanne Crack, 57, passed away at her home in Prescott, ON, Monday Sept. 23. She was well-known and much loved for her outgoing personality as well as for her website The Prescott Anchor, what she described as “your one stop for shipping news and information … so we all have an idea where ‘our’ ships are.” She filed her last report on Sept. 21.

Tributes has filled social media, including this one: “Jo was such an incredible advocate for Prescott and for our connection to the St. Lawrence River that we all love so much … She was tireless in her work with The Prescott Anchor, her photography, and also keeping the town on its toes when it came to looking after the waterfront that she loved so much.”

She leaves her three children:Amanda Godwin (Steven Pelehos), Kristina Godwin, Gordon Godwin (Mackenzie) and their father Raymond Godwin. She was the grandmother of Ethan, Landon and Jude. Joanne is survived by her siblings Brenda Benoit (Reggie), Karen Crack (Brian) and Jeffrey Crack. She was predeceased by her partner Doug Ferguson and is survived by her parents Robert and Phyllis Crack. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may call on Monday September 30th, 2019 from 1-3 and 6-8 at the MacKay Funeral Home 416 Dibble St West Prescott, and on Wednesday October 2nd, 2019 from 12-1:45 PM at the Cass Funeral Home 295 rue Principale S, Richmond, Quebec with funeral service at 2 PM. Interment to follow in Melbourne Ridge Cemetery Route 243 Melbourne Ridge, Estrie Region, Quebec. Send flowers, place a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or share a special memory of Joanne at www.mackayfuneralhome.com

Updates

9/26  – The saltie gallery has been updated with the following images: Amstelborg, Barnacle, BBC Everest, BBC Hudson, BBC Leda, BBC Louise, BBC Russia, Bluewing, Bro Agnes, Bro Alma, COE Leni, Drawsko, Federal Rhine, Federal Seto, Hamburg, Le Champlain, NACC Capri, Sloman Helios and ZEA Bremen.

September 26, 1930, the schooner OUR SON, launched in 1875, sank during a storm on Lake Michigan about 40 miles WSW of Big Sable Point. Seventy-three year old Captain Fred Nelson the crew of OUR SON were rescued by the self-unloader WILLIAM NELSON.

September 26, 1937, the Canadian Seaman's Union signed a tentative wage contract. Sailors would continue a two watch system (working 12 hours every 24 hours) and be paid the following monthly wages: Wheelsmen and Oilers - $72.50, Watchmen and firemen - $67.50, Second Cooks - $52.50, deckhands and coal passers - $50.00, porters - $45.00, Chief Cooks on the Upper Lakes - $115.00, and Chief Cooks on Canal boats $105.00.

September 26, 1957, Taconite Harbor, Minnesota loaded its first cargo of 10,909 tons of taconite pellets into the holds of the Interlake steamer J. A. CAMPBELL.

On 26 September 1892, JOHN BURT (3-mast wooden schooner, 138 foot, 348 gross tons, built in 1871, at Detroit, Michigan) was carrying grain in a strong northwest gale. Her rudder broke and she was blown past the mouth of Oswego harbor and was driven hard aground. Two died when the vessel struck. The U.S. Lifesaving Service rescued the remaining five crewmembers. The vessel quickly broke up in the waves.

CHI-CHEEMAUN cleared the shipyard on September 26, 1974.

H. M. GRIFFITH was christened on September 26, 1973 at Collingwood for Canada Steamship Lines.

C.C.G.S. GRIFFON (Hull#664) was launched September 26, 1969 by Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon, Quebec for the Canadian Coast Guard.

ROGER M. KYES returned to service on September 26, 1984; she had grounded off McLouth Steel and ended crosswise in the Detroit River's Trenton Channel a month before. She was renamed b.) ADAM E. CORNELIUS in 1989.

The BELLE RIVER was sideswiped by the Liberian FEDERAL RHINE, of 1977, at Duluth on September 26, 1985. Both vessels received minor damage.

On 26 September 1914, MARY N. BOURKE (wooden schooner-barge, 219 foot, 920 gross tons, built in 1889, at Baraga, Michigan) was docked at Peter's Lumber Dock in St. Mary's Bay, 15 miles north of St. Ignace, Michigan. The crew was awakened at 9:30-10:00 p.m. by smoke coming from her hold and they escaped. The BOURKE burned to the waterline and the fire spread ashore, destroying the dock and a pile of lumber.

At 3 a.m., 26 September 1876, the steam barge LADY FRANKLIN burned while moored near Clark's dock, about three miles from Amherstburg, Ontario in the Detroit River. One life was lost. This vessel had been built in 1861, as a passenger steamer and ran between Cleveland, Ohio and Port Stanley, Ontario. In 1874, she was converted into a lumber freighter, running primarily between Saginaw, Michigan and Cleveland. The burned hull was rebuilt in 1882.

1979: MAHONI, an Indonesian-registered freighter, went aground on the west coast of Taiwan and was abandoned by the crew. The ship was refloated in June 1980 and sold to Taiwanese shipbreakers for scrapping at Kaohsiung. It had been a Seaway saltie as b) CLARI beginning in 1968 and returned as c) ARNIS in 1970.

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

118 years after ship sank in Lake Superior, searchers locate wreck 825 feet deep

9/25 - Duluth, MN – Flags flew at half-mast as the freighter Hudson passed through the Duluth ship canal on a mid-September day just over 118 years ago. The crew of the ship was paying their respects to President William McKinley, who had succumbed to an assassin's bullet the day before. It was a somber start to the Hudson's passage across Lake Superior — and in retrospect, perhaps an eerie foreshadowing of what was to come.

“Not one on board realized that before many hours they would be vainly flying signals of distress,” the Duluth News Tribune would later report.

The day after leaving the Twin Ports, the Hudson ran into a vicious gale and sank along the storm-lashed shore of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula; there were no survivors. In the decades that followed, there were tales that the Hudson still sailed the lake as a “ghost ship.” But for the most part, its story faded with the passage of time. And the ship itself was lost to the depths of Lake Superior — until this summer.

Shipwreck hunters Jerry Eliason of Cloquet, Minn., and Kraig Smith of Rice Lake, Wis., used sonar and then a camera to locate and confirm the discovery of the Hudson, now resting in 825 feet of water.

“It's very intact, speared into the bottom bow-first,” Eliason said. “So the bow is about even with the mud and the stern is probably around 20 feet off the bottom, and the propeller is hanging high up in the air off the bottom.

Eliason and Smith have been part of a number of Lake Superior shipwreck discoveries in recent years, including the 2013 find of the freighter Henry B. Smith that had vanished with all hands a century before.

Read more and view images at this link: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/09/22/searchers-locate-shipwreck-hudson-lake-superior

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
The Duluth harbor was bustling with activity on Tuesday, starting with Herbert C. Jackson, which left port three minutes after midnight for Silver Bay to load after discharging limestone at Hallett #5. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. was outbound at 05:21 with coal from Midwest Energy, and Algoma Sault came in at 08:05 to discharge salt at Hallett #8. Paul R. Tregurtha arrived at 09:51 to load at SMET, and American Mariner was inbound at 13:20 with limestone for Graymont. BBC Russia departed with a load of wheat from Riverland Ag at 16:30, at which point her fleetmate BBC Louise, which was anchored offshore, got underway. She arrived at 17:01 and tied up at the Riverland elevator to load. There were quite a few other saltwater visitors in port on Tuesday. BBC Hudson was at Port Terminal unloading wind turbine generators; Shoveler was taking on grain at CHS 1, and Federal Seto was at dock #2 loading wheat; Lubie was loading wheat at Gavilon; and Johanna G. was on the hook offshore waiting to load at CHS 1. Algoma Sault was just backing from the Hallett #8 slip as of 19:45 Tuesday evening, and has a destination of Thunder Bay posted. The Tregurtha and Lubie were both expected to depart late Tuesday night. American Mariner will shift to General Mills to load wheat once her unload is complete. There was no traffic in Superior on Tuesday, however Burns Harbor is due on Wednesday afternoon to load at BN.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Roger Blough departed Two Harbors on Sept. 24th at 01:33 for Gary. The American Integrity arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 24th at 02:10 for South of #2. As of 19:15 on Sept. 24th she was still at the dock. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 25th is the James R. Barker. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the Herbert C. Jackson on Sept. 24th at 04:34 from Duluth after unloading stone at Hallett #5 in Duluth. She departed on the 24th at approx. 13:00 for Cleveland. Silver Bay has no scheduled traffic on Sept. 25th.

St. Marys River
Fog closed parts of the St. Marys River Tuesday morning. Downbound traffic included Joseph L. Block (early), Great Republic, Kaministiqua, CSL Laurentien, Amstelborg and, late, Edgar B. Speer, American Century and John G. Munson. Upbound traffic included Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader, Atlantic Huron, Federal Beaufort, James R. Barker, Lee A. Tregurtha and, late, Mesabi Miner. Ojibway remained at anchor above DeTour waiting for parts to fix engine issues.

Traverse City, MI – Daniel Lindner
Traverse City saw the arrival of not one but two cruise ships on Tuesday. Le Champlain, on its first cruise into the Great Lakes, entered Grand Traverse Bay mid-morning from Muskegon and dropped anchor just off Greilickville Harbor Park. The Hamburg, a fairly regular lakes visitor, arrived at 13:45 and put her anchor down on the opposite side of the West Bay. Both vessels used their lifeboats to ferry passengers to and from shore throughout the day. By late evening, the boats were hoisted back aboard their respective vessels, and Hamburg weighed anchor and turned around for departure at 20:00. Le Champlain followed her out towards the open lake a few minutes later.

Manistee, MI
Saltie Floragracht was in port Tuesday unloading boiler parts for a system that will be used to burn natural gas and wood waste to produce steam for the Packaging Corporation of America.

Sturgeon Bay, WI
The Beaver Island ferry Emerald Isle is currently in the small graving dock at BayShip.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Federal Dee was still at the Port on Tuesday. Algoma Buffalo continued to wait in Lake Erie and Calusa Coast was still at Marathon. American Courage was bringing a shuttle from Ashtabula to ArcelorMittal.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Tuesday September 24 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke - arrival - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1256 from the anchorage - docked - Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1023 - departed Sep 24 at 1446

Long Point Bay anchorage - anchored - Sep 23 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 0253 - departed Sep 24 at 0710 for the dock

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 22 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 1055 stopping wharf 12 - Sep 23 - Cape Dawson (Mhl) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 1135 and Algoma Guardian at 1514, CSL Tadoussac at 2250 and NACC Capri (Atg) at 2345 - Sep 24 - Federal Churchill (Mhl) at 0136, Algoma Compass at 0230, Acadia Desgagnes at 0547, Rt Hon Paul J Martin at 0803, Frontenac at 1122, Barnacle (Cyp) at 1250, Thunder Bay 1356, tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1452, CSL Assiniboine at 1615, Algosea at 1715, Drawsko (Bhs) at 1845 headed to Port Weller anchorage, Algocanada at 2018 and Sloman Helios (Atg) eta 2230

downbound - Sep 23 - Algoma Spirit at 1249, Spruceglen at 1403, CSL Welland at 1956 - Sep 24 - Algoma Hansa at 0140, tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 0402, tug Undaunted & Pere Marquette 41 at 1442 stopping wharf 16, NACC Argonaut eta 2240 and Florence Spirit eta 2330

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 24 - tug Undaunted & Pere Marquette 41 stopped wharf 16 at 1510 - departed Sep 24 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 0730 westbound

Port Weller anchorage - anchored Sep 24 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 0022 and Drawsko (Bhs) at 1906 awaiting dock in Toronto

Hamilton - arrivals - Sep 24 - Algoma Spirit at 0103 - docked - Sep 19 - Stella Polaris (Nld) at 0251, Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 - Sep 23 - Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0442 - departures - Sep 23 - Algoma Guardian at 1220 -

Sep 24 - Algoma Compass at 0029, tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1141 and Algoma Spirit at 1646 - all for the canal

Clarkson - arrival - Sep 23 - Robert S Pierson at 1242 - departed - Sep 24 at 0111 westbound

Toronto - arrivals - Sep 24 - McKeil Spirit at 2012 - departures - Sep 24 - Frontenac at 0944 and Barnacle (Cyp) at 1144 for Thunder Bay

New future for third oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes

9/25 - Charlevoix, MI -  Charlevoix County and Networks Northwest have entered into a partnership to buy the historic Beaver Island Lighthouse School property. “This is something that's been in the works for about two years,” explained Charlevoix County Administrator Kevin Shepard. “Last year it gained steam and we made the purchase in July. It's a real exciting project.”

The sale includes 171 acres of property, the lighthouse, 1,400 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, and 11 total buildings. The purchase price was $215,000, with the county owning 51 percent and Networks Northwest 49 percent.

The county and Networks Northwest plan to work with the Beaver Island Historical Society and island residents to identify potential future uses of the site that will increase the presence of the historical asset and surrounding property.

“The property was owned by Charlevoix Public Schools since 1975,” said Networks Northwest CEO Matt McCauley. “Networks Northwest has been an operational partner, in the form of Beaver Island Lighthouse School, and steward of the property since 1978. We have a decades long relationship to the property and island community that we didn't want to disappear.”

“Moving forward, our mission for the property will be two-fold,” added McCauley. “One, to restore and protect the third oldest lighthouse in the Great Lakes and, two, to create an infrastructure and programming that increases the use and visibility of this public asset.”

There are several opportunities to use the location, according to Shepard, and the public is invited to a forum on Sept. 26 to offer input and raise questions. The meeting is set for 2pm to 4 pm at the Peaine Township Hall on Beaver Island.

Some immediate projects include restoring a rustic camp site on the property and repairing water damage to some of the buildings, according to Shepard.

The property had been used for more than 25 years as an alternative education site by Northwest Michigan Works!, a program of Networks Northwest. That program was suspended in 2016 due to changes in federal regulations and funding.

The county and Networks Northwest plan to work with the Beaver Island Historical Society and Island residents to identify potential future uses of the site that will increase the presences of the historical asset and surrounding property.

The Beaver Island Lighthouse, sometimes known as the Beaver Head Light Station, is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a significant site. Located high on a bluff on the southern tip of the island, the light guided boats trying to safely navigate north, working their way between the island and Gray's Reef.

The 46-foot cylindrical tower was built in 1858, replacing an earlier one which had toppled over. In 1866, a yellow brick keeper's dwelling was added. In 1915 a fog signal building was constructed.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1962 when it was replaced by a radio beacon. Charlevoix Public Schools acquired the site from the U.S. Coast Guard for $1 in 1975 with an obligation to use the property for educational purposes. In 1978 the school district founded an alternative school for young people ages 16 to 21. An environmental and vocational education center was operated there with maintenance and restoration of the structure as part of the curriculum. That took place for the past 25 years with the school district working with Northwest Michigan Works! and Networks Northwest.

Northern Express

In tandem tow, MENIHEK LAKE and LEON FALK JR. arrived at Vigo, Spain, on September 25, 1985. The MENIHEK LAKE was scrapped at Vigo, and the FALK was towed to Gijn, Spain, for scrapping.

HENRY C. FRICK departed Bay City on her maiden voyage on September 25, 1905 and rammed and damaged the Michigan Central Railroad Bridge at Bay City.

On 25 September 1869, COMMENCEMENT (2-mast wooden schooner, 75 foot, 73 tons, built in 1853, at Holland, Michigan) was carrying wood in her hold and telegraph poles on deck from Pentwater, Michigan, for Milwaukee when she sprang a leak 20 miles off Little Sable Point on Lake Michigan. The incoming water quickly overtook her pump capacity. As the crew was getting aboard the lifeboat, she turned turtle. The crew clung to the upturned hull for 30 hours until the passing steamer ALLEGHENY finally rescued them. COMMENCEMENT later washed ashore, a total wreck. 1922: AUBE, on her first trip back under this name, went aground off Carleton Island, while carrying 65,000 bushels of grain. Tugs released the stranded vessel the following day.

1978: FRANQUELIN (ii) went aground in the Seaway below Beauharnois. Once refloated, the ship went to Canadian Vickers in Montreal for repairs and was caught there in a labor dispute.

1980: DERWENTFIELD, a British-flag freighter, first came through the Seaway in 1975. The ship grounded on this date as c) CAVO ARTEMIDI off Brazil, while enroute from Vitoria, Brazil, to Rotterdam, Holland, with a cargo of pig iron and broke in two as a total loss.

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

118 years after ship sank in Lake Superior, searchers locate wreck 825 feet deep

9/24 - Duluth, MN – Flags flew at half-mast as the freighter Hudson passed through the Duluth ship canal on a mid-September day just over 118 years ago. The crew of the ship was paying their respects to President William McKinley, who had succumbed to an assassin's bullet the day before. It was a somber start to the Hudson's passage across Lake Superior — and in retrospect, perhaps an eerie foreshadowing of what was to come.

“Not one on board realized that before many hours they would be vainly flying signals of distress,” the Duluth News Tribune would later report.

The day after leaving the Twin Ports, the Hudson ran into a vicious gale and sank along the storm-lashed shore of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula; there were no survivors. In the decades that followed, there were tales that the Hudson still sailed the lake as a “ghost ship.” But for the most part, its story faded with the passage of time. And the ship itself was lost to the depths of Lake Superior — until this summer.

Shipwreck hunters Jerry Eliason of Cloquet, Minn., and Kraig Smith of Rice Lake, Wis., used sonar and then a camera to locate and confirm the discovery of the Hudson, now resting in 825 feet of water.

“It's very intact, speared into the bottom bow-first,” Eliason said. “So the bow is about even with the mud and the stern is probably around 20 feet off the bottom, and the propeller is hanging high up in the air off the bottom.

Eliason and Smith have been part of a number of Lake Superior shipwreck discoveries in recent years, including the 2013 find of the freighter Henry B. Smith that had vanished with all hands a century before.

Read more and view images at this link: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/09/22/searchers-locate-shipwreck-hudson-lake-superior

New future for third oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes

9/24 - Charlevoix, MI – Charlevoix County and Networks Northwest have entered into a partnership to buy the historic Beaver Island Lighthouse School property. “This is something that's been in the works for about two years,” explained Charlevoix County Administrator Kevin Shepard. “Last year it gained steam and we made the purchase in July. It's a real exciting project.”

The sale includes 171 acres of property, the lighthouse, 1,400 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, and 11 total buildings. The purchase price was $215,000, with the county owning 51 percent and Networks Northwest 49 percent.

The county and Networks Northwest plan to work with the Beaver Island Historical Society and island residents to identify potential future uses of the site that will increase the presence of the historical asset and surrounding property.

“The property was owned by Charlevoix Public Schools since 1975,” said Networks Northwest CEO Matt McCauley. “Networks Northwest has been an operational partner, in the form of Beaver Island Lighthouse School, and steward of the property since 1978. We have a decades long relationship to the property and island community that we didn't want to disappear.”

“Moving forward, our mission for the property will be two-fold,” added McCauley. “One, to restore and protect the third oldest lighthouse in the Great Lakes and, two, to create an infrastructure and programming that increases the use and visibility of this public asset.”

There are several opportunities to use the location, according to Shepard, and the public is invited to a forum on Sept. 26 to offer input and raise questions. The meeting is set for 2pm to 4 pm at the Peaine Township Hall on Beaver Island.

Some immediate projects include restoring a rustic camp site on the property and repairing water damage to some of the buildings, according to Shepard.

The property had been used for more than 25 years as an alternative education site by Northwest Michigan Works!, a program of Networks Northwest. That program was suspended in 2016 due to changes in federal regulations and funding.

The county and Networks Northwest plan to work with the Beaver Island Historical Society and Island residents to identify potential future uses of the site that will increase the presences of the historical asset and surrounding property.

The Beaver Island Lighthouse, sometimes known as the Beaver Head Light Station, is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a significant site. Located high on a bluff on the southern tip of the island, the light guided boats trying to safely navigate north, working their way between the island and Gray's Reef.

The 46-foot cylindrical tower was built in 1858, replacing an earlier one which had toppled over. In 1866, a yellow brick keeper's dwelling was added. In 1915 a fog signal building was constructed.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1962 when it was replaced by a radio beacon. Charlevoix Public Schools acquired the site from the U.S. Coast Guard for $1 in 1975 with an obligation to use the property for educational purposes. In 1978 the school district founded an alternative school for young people ages 16 to 21. An environmental and vocational education center was operated there with maintenance and restoration of the structure as part of the curriculum. That took place for the past 25 years with the school district working with Northwest Michigan Works! and Networks Northwest.

Northern Express

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Edgar B. Speer arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 22nd at approx. 23:00 for South of #2. She departed on Sept. 23rd at 11:23 for Conneaut. Arriving Two Harbors for North of #2 on Sept. 23rd at 12:36 was the Roger Blough. She shifted to South of #2 between 14:45 and 15:08. Due Two Harbors early on Sept. 24th is the American Integrity. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the arrival of the American Century at 00:17 and she departed on Sept. 23rd at 17:48 for Cleveland. Due Silver Bay on Sept. 24th is the Herbert C. Jackson arriving from Duluth after unloading stone at Hallett #5 in Duluth.

Green Bay, WI
Tug Nickelena with Barge BMI 192/with tug Crystal arrived to Ace Marine Terminal on Monday.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Just after 5 Monday morning (9/23), G.L. Ostrander/Integrity arrived at Port Milwaukee with cement from Alpena and headed for the Lafarge terminal. An hour later, Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Challenger arrived with cement from Charlevoix and tied up on the west side of the mooring basing. After almost eight hours, Brown/Challenger proceeded up the Kinnickinnic River to the St. Marys terminal.

Muskegon, MI – Brendan Falkowski
On Monday, Kaye E. Barker was inbound at 16:17 with aggregate for the Verplank B.C. Cobb Dock. The new cruise ship Le Champlain was in port at Heritage Landing.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Calusa Coast was at Marathon and NACC Argonaut was at LaFarge with cement on Monday. At the Port docks, Federal Dee was at dock 24W and Sharon M1 was at 22E. Algoma Buffalo was due in later in the afternoon.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Monday September 23 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrivals - Bro Anna (Sgp) at 1023

Lomng Point Bay anchorage: anchored Sep 2 - Ruddy (Cyp)

Welland Canal - upbound - Sep 22 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 1055 stopping wharf 12, Algoma Conveyor at 1145, Ruddy (Cyp) at 1411, light tug Ocean A Gauthier at 2118 - to assist Federal Columbia (Mhl) from wharf 2, Bro Anna (Sgp) at 2131 - Sep 23 - Happy Ranger (Nld) 0018, Baie Comeau at 0742, Cape Dawson (Mhl) (ex Rio Dawson-09) at 1135 and Algoma Guardian at 1514 and and NACC Capri (Atg) eta 2310

downbound - Sep 22 - Tim S Dool at 1417, Elbeborg (Nld) at 1425, Whitefish Bay at 1704 and Frontenac at 1747 - Sep 23 - Algoma Comapss at 0223, Michipicoten at 0305, BBC Orinoco (Atg) (ex Clipper Miami-17, Amanda-13, Gisele Scan-12, BBC Orinoco-11, Beluga Generation-08) at 0744. Algoma Spirit at 1249, Spruceglen at 1403, CSL Welland at 1956

Welland Canal docks - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 19 - Federal Columbia at 0430 approx. stopping wharf 2 - Sep 22 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader stopped wharf 12 at 1952 - departed - Sep 22 - Federal Columbia (Mhl) at 2210 eastbound

Hamilton - arrivals - Sep 23 - Isabelle G (Por) (ex Eider-18) at 0442, Algoma Guardian at 1348 and Algoma Compass at 1540 - docked - Sep 19 - Stella Polaris (Nld) at 0251, Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255, Algoma Guardian at 1348 and tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1533 - departure - Sep 22 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1157

Bronte: arrival - Sep 21 - Harbour First (Por) at 2314 - departed Sep 23 at 1053 eastbound

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 23 - Robert S Pierson at 1242

Toronto: arrival - Sep 23 - Frontenac at 0828 - docked - Sep 19 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1748

The EDMUND FITZGERALD's first cargo of taconite pellets was loaded September 24, 1958 at Silver Bay, Minnesota for Toledo, Ohio.

The PERE MARQUETTE 22 entered service September 24, 1924.

In early morning fog on the St. Clair River on September 24, 1962, the J.L. REISS was hit three glancing blows by U.S. Steel's SEWELL AVERY. The AVERY had lost control just below Robert's Landing and crossed the channel from the Canadian side and struck the REISS, which was proceeding slowly by radar on the U.S. side.

On September 24, 1952, the CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON entered service. This vessel was renamed b.) ERNEST R. BREECH when it was sold to the Ford Motor Company in 1962, and it was renamed c.) KINSMAN INDEPENDENT, when it was sold to Kinsman Lines in 1988. Sold Canadian in 2005, and renamed d.) VOYAGEUR INDEPENDENT. She sails today as the motorship e.) OJIBWAY.

September 24, 1924 - The PERE MARQUETTE 22 arrived at Ludington, Michigan on her maiden voyage.

On 24 September 1902, H.A. BARR (3 mast wooden schooner, 217 foot, 1,119 gross tons, built in 1893, at W. Bay City, Michigan) was in tow of the saltie THEANO with a load of iron ore in a storm 30 miles off Port Stanley in Lake Erie. She broke her towline in giant waves and foundered. THEANO rescued her crew.

On 24 September 1879, the tug URANIA was towing the schooner S V R WATSON into Sand Beach at about noon when the schooner struck the tug amidships, cutting a hole in the hull and sinking her in three fathoms of water. No lives were lost.

1901: M.M. DRAKE was towing the schooner barge MICHIGAN across Lake Superior when the latter began to sink. The steamer came alongside to take off the crew when a towering wave bashed the two vessels together resulting in heavy damage. Both vessels went down, but all except one sailor were rescued by the passing ships NORTHERN WAVE and CRESCENT CITY.

1915: WESTERN STAR ran aground on Robertson Rock, Georgian Bay, while enroute to Little Current with a cargo of coal. The ship was badly damaged and early attempts to refloat the freighter failed. It was not released until September 18, 1917, and was rebuilt at Detroit. The ship returned to service as b) GLENISLA in 1918 and was scrapped at Hamilton as c) PRESCOTT in 1962-1963.

1937: NEEBING foundered with the loss of 5 lives in western Lake Superior while towing the barge COTEAU in a heavy storm. The crane-equipped ship was approaching the Nipigon Strait, with a load of gravel for Red Rock, ON at the time. Nine sailors were rescued.

1947: MILVERTON, downbound with a cargo of coal, and TRANSLAKE, upbound with crude oil, collided near Iroquois, ON. The latter got caught in the current and veered to port resulting in the collision. The former, one of the few oil-burning canal ships, had the fuel lines rupture, caught fire, drifted downstream and grounded at the head of Rapide Plat. The ship burned for two days and 11 sailors were killed. Despite the heavy damage, MILVERTON was refloated, repaired and later sailed as c) CLARY FORAN and d) FERNDALE (i) before being scrapped at Hamilton in 1963.

1952: BAYTON was loading at Pool 4A Elevator at the Canadian Lakehead when there was an explosion at the elevator and chunks of concrete rained down on the deck of the Colonial Steamship Co. (Misener) steamer. One person was killed and nine more were injured.

2008: DRAGOMIRESTI was a Romanian freighter that first visited the Seaway in 1992 to load a food aid cargo in Thunder Bay for Sudan & Yemen. The ship was driven aground as j) CHUN JIANG, about 22 miles from Macao in Typhoon Hagupit. The crew were removed by helicopter.

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

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Cason J. Callaway left Duluth four minutes past midnight on Sunday morning after unloading stone, bound for Two Harbors to load. After spending the morning anchored offshore, CSL Niagara was inbound at 10:42 to load iron ore pellets at CN. During the evening, BBC Hudson arrived at 17:04 to discharge wind turbine generators at Port Terminal, and Federal Seto weighed anchor and arrived at 18:12 to load wheat at CHS 1. Great Republic, which had finished unloading her stone cargo at C. Reiss late Sunday morning and shifted to SMET to load, departed at 19:47 for Alpena with petroleum coke. John G. Munson was on her way inbound just after 20:00 with a load of sugarstone for Hallett #8. Joseph L. Block spent the day Sunday taking on blast furnace trim at both Hallett #5 and the gravity dock at Canadian National and was just getting underway for departure as of 20:00. CSL Niagara is expected to depart early Monday morning from CN. Also in port on Sunday was Lubie, taking on wheat at Gavilon. BBC Louise, BBC Russia, and Johanna G. were all anchored outside the harbor waiting to load. The only traffic through the Superior entry on Sunday was Stewart J. Cort, which departed at 04:30 with iron ore pellets from BN. No further traffic is expected at BN until mid-week.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Cason J. Callaway arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 22nd at approx. 02:00 for South of #1 to load blast furnace trim. She shifted to North of #2 to load pellets. She shifted between 08:38 and 09:02 on Sept. 22nd to North of #1 where she finished loading bft. She departed Two Harbors for Gary on Sept. 22nd at 15:39. CSL Laurentien departed Two Harbors on the 21st at 23:12 for Nanticoke. Due Two Harbors late on the 22nd is the Edgar B. Speer. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 23rd are Roger Blough and late in the day American Integrity. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on Sept. 22nd. Due Silver Bay early on the 23rd is American Century.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Sunday Arrivals: Sam Laud arrived at Zug Island to unload coal. Algoma Buffalo arrived at the St. Marys Cement dock to unload clinker.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Sunday September 22 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrivals - Sep 21 - James R Barker at 2150 from the anchorage - departed - Sep 22 - James R Barker at 0946 westbound

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 21 - Atlantic Huron at 1635, Algoma Harvester at 1717, Algoma Transport at 1851, NACC Argonaut at 2027 and Federal Beaufort 2340 - Sep 22 - Florence Spirit at 0234, Algoma Enterprise at 0415, tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 1055 stopping wharf 12, Algoma Conveyor at 1145, Ruddy (Cyp) at 1411 and Bro Anna (Sgp) eta 2110 and Happy Ranger (Nld) eta 2245

downbound - Sep 21 - tug Undaunted & Pere Marquette 41 at 1300 stopping wharf 16, CSL St Laurent at 1438, G3 Marquis at 1507 and Happy River (Nld) at 1815 - Sep 22 - Algoma Guardian at 0005, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0644, Tim S Dool at 1417, Elbeborg (Nld) at 1425, Whitefish Bay at 1704 and Frontenac at 1747

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 19 - Federal Columbia at 0430 approx. stopping wharf 2 - Sep 22 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader stopped wharf 12 at 1952

Hamilton: arrivals - Sep 22 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1255 from the anchorage, Algoma Guardian at 1348 and tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1533, docked - Sep 19 - Stella Polaris (Nld) at 0251, Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - departure - Sep 22 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1157

Bronte: arrival - Sep 21 - Harbour First (Por) at 2314

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 22 - Robert S Pierson at 0139 - departed - Sep 22 - Algoma Enterprise at 0050 for the canal and Robert S Pierson at 1119 eastbound

Toronto: docked - Sep 19 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1748 - departed - Sep 22 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 0628 eastbound and McKeil Spirit at 1651 eastbound

“Know Your Ships: Decades” is now off the press

9/23 - “Know Your Ships: Decades” is off the press and now being shipped to customers who pre-ordered, as well as those who placed orders more recently. The 248-page book is hardcover and in a larger format (11” x 8.5”) than the regular “Know Your Ships.”

“Decades” represents an editors' choice of the best of the many outstanding images that have appeared in the annual Know Your Ships since its founding in 1959. The book also includes a year-by-year timeline of important events on the shipping scene from 60-year Seaway era as well as the major fleet stack markings and house flags.

Books may still be ordered at www.knowyourships.com

September 23, 1922, the 306-foot NEPTUNE loaded the first Head-of-the-Lakes cargo of pig iron at Zenith Furnace, Duluth, Minnesota. The 5,000 tons of malleable pig iron was delivered to Buffalo, New York.

September 23, 1975, HERBERT C. JACKSON lost power while upbound on Lake Superior. She was towed back to the Soo by the USS straight decker D.G. KERR.

September 23, 1952, the steamer CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON became the first boat christened at Cleveland since the early years of World War II. The 644-foot HUTCHINSON, Captain T. A. Johnson, was the new flagship of the Pioneer fleet and one of 35 boats in the three fleets operated by Hutchinson & Co. Renamed b.) ERNEST R. BREECH in 1962, c.) KINSMAN INDEPENDENT in 1988. Sold Canadian in 2005, and renamed d.) VOYAGEUR INDEPENDENT. She sails today as the motorship e.) OJIBWAY.

On 23 September 1910, the BETHLEHEM (steel propeller package freighter, 290 foot, 2,633 gross tons, built in 1888, at Cleveland, Ohio) was carrying general merchandise when she went ashore in a gale on the SW side of S. Manitou Island in Lake Michigan. Lifesavers and the crew unloaded her over several days. Although battered by several storms while ashore, she was eventually pulled free and repaired. She lasted until 1925, when she was scrapped.

The scow WAUBONSIE was launched at the Curtis yard in Fort Gratiot, Michigan on 23 September 1873. 1935: HURRY-ON was a Great Lakes visitor in 1934 when it loaded bagged flour at Port Colborne. The ship was lost off Port Hood Island, near Judique, NS, after developing leaks and a list. The lifeboat swamped twice and five were lost.

1961: CRYSTAL JEWEL, inbound for London in thick fog, was in a collision with the B.P. Tanker BRITISH AVIATOR. The captain was seriously injured and his daughter was killed. The vessel first visited the Great Lakes in 1960 and was enroute from Duluth to London with a cargo of grain at the time of the accident. The vessel grounded and, after being released, was taken to Rotterdam where the entire mid-ship superstructure was replaced. The ship made many more trips through the Seaway and returned as b) MELTEMI in 1970. It was scrapped at Busan, South Korea, after arriving as d) TETA on July 17, 1979.

1980: FERNLEAF first visited the Seaway in 1965 and returned as b) AALSUM in 1974. The ship was detained at Basrah, Iraq, in 1981 as c) INICIATIVA on this date in 1980 and declared a total loss in December 1981. It was salvaged in 1993 and renamed d) DOLPHIN V but perhaps only for a trip to the shipbreakers. The vessel arrived at Gadani Beach December 27, 2003, and dismantling began at once.

2000: Vandals attacked the museum ship NORGOMA at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., breaking windows, light fixtures and setting off fire extinguishers, leaving an estimated $15,000 in damage.

On September 23, 1991, J.W. MC GIFFIN rescued several people in a 24-foot pleasure craft off Presque Ile State Park. The group had been disabled since the day before. They were taken aboard the McGIFFIN and their boat taken under tow. The MC GIFFIN was rebuilt with a new forward section and renamed b.) CSL NIAGARA in 1999.

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

On September 22, 1958, the EDMUND FITZGERALD entered service, departing River Rouge, Michigan for Silver Bay, Minnesota on its first trip. The FITZGERALD's first load was 20,038 tons of taconite pellets for Toledo. The vessel would, in later years, set several iron ore records during the period from 1965 through 1969.

While in ballast, the ROGER M. KYES struck bottom in Buffalo Harbor September 22, 1976, sustaining holes in two double bottom tanks and damage to three others, whereupon she proceeded to Chicago for dry docking on September 27, 1976, for survey and repairs. Renamed b.) ADAM E. CORNELIUS in 1989.

While being towed from Duluth, Minnesota by the Canadian tug TUSKER on September 22, 1980, the D. G. KERR rammed into the breakwater at Duluth causing $200,000 in damages to the breakwater. The tow apparently failed to make the turning buoy leaving Duluth Harbor.

On September 22, 1911 the HENRY PHIPPS collided with and sank her Steel Trust fleet mate, the steamer JOLIET of 1890, which was at anchor on the fog-shrouded St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario. The JOLIET sank without loss of crew and was declared a total loss. The PHIPPS then continued her downbound journey and collided with the Wyandotte Chemical steamer ALPENA, of 1909, but incurred only minor damage.

The T.W. ROBINSON and US.265808 (former BENSON FORD) departed Quebec City in tow of the Polish tug JANTAR bound for Recife where they arrived on September 22, 1987. Scrapping began the next month in October.

MATHILDA DESGAGNES was freed from polar ice in the Arctic on September 22, 1988, by the West German Icebreaker Research Vessel POLARSTERN.

September 22, 1913 - The ANN ARBOR No. 5 struck bottom in the Sturgeon Bay Canal and damaged her rudder and steering gear. After undergoing repairs at Milwaukee, she was back in service the following October.

On 22 September 1887, ADA E. ALLEN (wooden propeller steam barge, 90 foot, 170 gross tons, built in 1872, at Walpole Island, Ontario.) caught fire while moored at Amherstburg, Ontario. She was cut loose and set adrift to prevent the fire from spreading ashore. She drifted to Bois Blanc (Bob-Lo) Island and burned to a total loss.

On 22 September 1882, Mr. H. N. Jex accepted the contract to recover the engine and boiler from the MAYFLOWER, which sank in the Detroit River in 1864. He was to be paid $600 upon delivery of the machinery at Windsor, Ontario. He succeeded in raising the engine on 12 October and the boiler shortly thereafter.

1917: The wooden steamer WILLIAM P. REND, a) GEORGE G. HADLEY, foundered off Alpena while carrying livestock. All 9 crewmembers were rescued.

1951: The Liberty ship THUNDERBIRD visited the Seaway in 1959. Earlier, on this date in 1951, the ship received major bow damage from a head-on collision with the Chinese freighter UNION BUILDER (built in 1945 at Brunswick, GA as a) COASTAL RANGER) at the entrance to Colombo, Ceylon. THUNDERBIRD was also a Great Lakes trader as d) NEW KAILING in 1964 and scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1967.

1979: OCEANIC KLIF first visited the Seaway in 1971. The ship stranded near Las Palmas, Canary Islands, while on a voyage from Kamsar, Guinea, West Africa, to Port Alfred, QC with calcinated bauxite and was abandoned by the crew.

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

International shipping down 3.5% on the Great Lakes

9/21 - International shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway to Great Lakes ports like the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor have fallen by 3.5% so far this year. Cargos have totaled 20.9 million tons from the start of the shipping season on March 22 through the end of August, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce. Shipments of construction materials, road salt, aluminum and wind energy components picked up last month.

“Great Lakes ports have been busy moving cargo supporting the construction and renewable energy sectors. Aluminum shipments from Canada to the U.S., which are used in automotive manufacturing, have also resumed this season following the lifting of trade tariffs,” Chamber of Marine Commerce President Bruce Burrows said. “These gains have been offset by a 20 percent decline in U.S. grain exports via the St. Lawrence Seaway after flooding this past spring prevented some U.S. farmers from getting into their fields to plant corn and soybeans.”

The U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation reported year-over-year increases in August of salt, ore, general cargo, stone, and cement shipments.

“Shipments of project cargo, particularly windmill components, remained strong in August," U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook said. "We are also seeing solid gains in dry bulk commodities as we head into what is traditionally the busiest time of the Seaway navigation season.”

So far this year, shipments of salt on the Great Lakes are up 23.7%, cement and clinkers by 1%, stone by 10.5%, ore by 81.3% and other general cargo by 99.4%.

NW Indiana Times

Algoma Central announces agreement to acquire Croatian-built vessel

9/21 - St. Catharines, ON – Algoma Central Corporation has announced it has reached an agreement with 3Maj Brodogradiliste d.d. of Croatia under which Algoma will acquire a new Equinox Class 650-foot-long self-unloading dry-bulk carrier upon completion of the vessel by the shipyard.

The vessel, the second of two such ships that were to be built by 3Maj for the company, is partially built and moored at the 3Maj shipyard in Rijeka. Work on the vessel was halted in 2017 when the shipyard entered an extended period of financial difficulties. Algoma took delivery of the Algoma Innovator, a sister ship and the first ship built under a two-vessel contract, near the beginning of the 2018 navigation season. Algoma cancelled the contract for the second ship along with the contracts for three Seaway-max self-unloading vessels in 2018 as a result of the financial problems at the shipyard.

Under this new contract, 3Maj will complete the vessel with financing provided by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) and has committed to a delivery date of September 15, 2020. Algoma will pay the agreed price of the vessel at delivery, subject to certain penalties for late delivery, including a cancellation right if delivery is delayed beyond an agreed date.

When completed, hull 733 will be named Algoma Intrepid. She will join her sister ship Algoma Innovator, which entered service in early 2018, as the newest and most efficient river-class vessels to enter the Great Lakes market in nearly 40 years. Both ships feature forward-mounted booms permitting cargo to be delivered at hard to reach docks typical of Algoma’s short-sea customers.

Algoma Central Corp.

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
The only vessel to transit the Duluth ship canal on Friday was Presque Isle, which departed at 14:28 with a load of iron ore from CN. After her departure, CSL Laurentien shifted from CN's berth 6 to the loading dock, and began taking on ore. She is expected to depart mid-morning Saturday. Also in port was Alpena, discharging cement at Lafarge. Both the BBC Louise and Johanna G. were anchored outside the harbor, and are waiting to load wheat at Riverland Ag and CHS 1, respectively. At the Superior entry, Algoma Spirit arrived at 00:47 Friday, loaded at Burlington Northern, and was outbound at 12:51 with a load of ore for Hamilton. Alpena was expected to depart from Lafarge via the Superior entry mid-evening Friday.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The American Spirit departed Two Harbors on Sept. 20th at 02:24 from South of #2 for Indiana Harbor. After the American Spirit departed the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader shifted from South of #1 lay-by to South of #2. The Joyce L. departed from Two Harbors on Sept. 20th at 13:50. As of 19:45 on the 20th her AIS hasn't been updated. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 20th at 14:47 was the Edwin H. Gott. She had stopped off Two Harbors at approx. 7:05 on the 20th and got underway at approx. 12:25. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 21st are the Joseph L. Block and Cason J. Callaway. Both are due the Twin Ports to unload stone on Sept. 21st. The Block is then due in Two Harbors to load pellets and the Callaway is due Two Harbors to load pellets and blast furnace trim. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure of the Lee A. Tregurtha on Sept. 20th at 05:57 for Toledo. Silver Bay has no scheduled inbound traffic on Sept. 21st.

St. Marys River
The French-flagged passenger liner Le Champlain made her first visit to the Soo Friday, tying up at the Valley Camp dock. She was downbound for Mackinac Island in the early evening. Victory 1 is due Saturday. Downbound traffic Friday also included Elbeborg, Tim S. Dool and Whitefish Bay. Upbound traffic included Great Republic in the late morning and Stewart J. Cort late. CSL Niagara, Federal Ems and Ojibway were all upbound below Neebish Island at 9 p.m.

Green Bay, WI
Tug Samuel de Champlain with the barge Innovation arrived from Michigan with cement for the Lafarge terminal on Friday, then the Arthur M. Anderson arrived from Cedarville with limestone for the Graymont Terminal.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Friday September 20 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrivals - Sep 20 - tug Sharon M I & Niagara Spirit at 1417 and Algoma Buffalo at 1738 - docked - Sep 19 - tug Albert (ex-Craig Eric Reinauer-18, El Bronco Grande-06, Hercules-81) & barge Margaret at 2223 - departed - Sep 19 - Damia Desgagnes at 2204 - Sep 20 - Algoma Enterprise at 1702 - both eastbound

Welland Canal: upbound - Fed 19 - Federal Columbia (Mhl) at 0355 stopped wharf 2 - Sep 20 - Algoma Buffalo at 0038, Floragracht (Nld) at 0610

downbound - Sep 19 - Frontenac at 0859 stopping wharf 19E - Sep 20 - BBC Leda (Atg) at 0039, Damia Desgagnes at 0457, Algoma Niagara at 0538, Algoma Equinox at 0636, Algoma Transport at 1343, Tecumseh at 1418

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - departures - Sep 19 - tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 2030from wharf 16 - Sep 20 - Frontenac at 0835 from wharf 19E westbound and tug Sharon M I & Niagara Spirit at 0925 from wharf 16 - all westbound

Hamilton: arrivals - Sep 20 - Algoma Harvester at 1954 - anchored - Sep 20 - Federal Yoshino (Mhl) at 1130 docked - Sep 18 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1106 - Sep 19 - Algoscotia at 0036, Stella Polaris (Nld) at 0251, Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - departures - Sep 20 - Algoscotia at 1807 and Selasse (Mlt) (ex Selay-7) at 1514 - both eastbound

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 20 - Robert S Pierson at 1422

Mississauga: docked - Sep 16 - Hinch Spirit at 0200

Toronto: arrival - Sep 20 - NACC Capri (Atg) at 0802 - docked - Sep 19 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 0227, Algoma Buffalo at 1738 and Barnacle (Cyp) at 1748 - departed - Sep 19 - Algoma Buffalo at 2302 for the canal

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
Departure: McKeil Spirit at about 09:30 Thursday, in ballast for Picton, Ont.

Civil War-era ships that collided, sank in 1878 found in Lake Michigan

9/21 - Charlevoix, MI - Two massive Civil War-era ships were discovered in Lake Michigan this month about 50 miles from where they were thought to have collided and sank.

The schooners Peshtigo and St. Andrews, lost in 1878 in northern Lake Michigan, were discovered in an “amazing state of preservation” about 200 feet below the surface between Beaver Island and North Fox Island off the shore of Charlevoix, according to a news release from Shipwreck World.

The discovery was first viewed by underwater camera during June 2019, the release states. Long-time diver and explorer Bernie Hellstrom, of Boyne City, located an obstruction at the site in 2010 while using a bottom sounder.

When he lowered his custom camera system in June, Hellstrom found a ship graveyard, according to the release. The remains of the two tall ships lay only 10 feet apart at the bottom. Their masts were laid over each other and coal was strewn across the sand. A huge hole in one of the hulls indicates that the vessels crashed and sank quickly.

The find was a “real mystery,” because there was no record schooner collision within 50 miles, according to the release. The Peshtigo and St. Andrews were thought to have gone down in Lake Huron in the eastern Straits of Mackinac.

The location was presumed after an 1857 flying eagle penny was found in the mast step of a wreck that was thought to be the St. Andrews. But the Peshtigo was never found in that area despite searches.

Marine historian Brendon Baillod went on a fact-finding mission and discovered that many news accounts of the St. Andrews-Peshtigo disaster placed the collision in Lake Michigan between Charlevoix and Beaver Island – the approximate location of Hellstrom’s ship graveyard, according to the release.

Technical divers John Janzen and John Scoles were recruited to descend to the eerie site, which lies beyond normal sport diving depths. Paul Ehorn was brought in to handle surface support with his specialized dive boat. Janzen and Scoles’ dive resulted in a high-definition video that reveals evidence of a dramatic and violent disaster.

Dives and investigation confirm that the ships at the bottom of Lake Michigan between Beaver Island and North Fox Island are the St. Andrews and Peshtigo - “two iconic Great Lakes sailing ships from the Civil War era,” the release states.

Read more and view images and video at this link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/09/civil-war-era-ships-that-collided-sank-in-1878-found-in-lake-michigan.html

On 21 September 1892, the whaleback steamer JAMES B. COLGATE (steel propeller whaleback freighter, 308 foot, 1,713 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. (Hull #121) at W. Superior, Wisconsin. She only lasted until 1916, when she foundered in the "Black Friday Storm" on Lake Erie with the loss of 26 lives.

ALGOWAY left Collingwood on her maiden voyage in 1972, and loaded salt for Michipicoten, Ontario, on Lake Superior.

On 21 September 1844, JOHN JACOB ASTOR (wooden brig, 78 foot, 112 tons, Built in 1835, at Pointe aux Pins, Ontario but precut at Lorain, Ohio) was carrying furs and trade goods when she struck a reef and foundered near Copper Harbor, Michigan. She was owned by Astor’s American Fur Company. She was reportedly by the first commercial vessel on Lake Superior.

On 21 September 1855, ASIA (2-mast wooden schooner, 108 foot, 204 tons, built in 1848, at Black River, Ohio) was carrying corn from Chicago for Buffalo when she collided with the propeller FOREST CITY off the mouth of Grand Traverse Bay. ASIA went down in deep water in about 10 minutes, but her crew just had enough time to escape in her boat. The schooner HAMLET picked them up.

1907: The passenger ship PICTON, a) CORSICAN caught fire and burned at the dock in Toronto. The hull was later converted to a barge and was, in time, apparently abandoned near the Picton Pumping Station.

1907: ALEX NIMICK, a wooden bulk freighter, went aground near west of Vermilion Point, Lake Superior, and broke up as a total loss. The vessel was enroute from Buffalo to Duluth with a cargo of coal and six lives were lost

1921: The 3-masted schooner OLIVER MOWAT sinks in Lake Ontario between the Main Duck and False Duck Islands after a collision with KEYWEST on a clear night. Three lives were lost while another 2 sailors were rescued from the coal-laden schooner.

1924: The whaleback self-unloader CLIFTON, the former SAMUEL MATHER, foundered in Lake Huron off Thunder Bay while carrying a cargo of stone from Sturgeon Bay to Detroit. All 25 on board were lost.

1946: A second typhoon caught the former Hall vessel LUCIUS W. ROBINSON as b) HAI LIN while anchored in the harbor at Saipan, Philippines, on a voyage to China.

1969: AFRICAN GLADE, a Seaway caller in 1963, lost power in the Caribbean as c) TRANSOCEAN PEACE and was towed into Port au Spain, Trinidad. The repaired ship departed for Durban, South Africa, in April 1970 only to suffer more boiler problems enroute. The vessel was sold for scrapping at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, later in the year.

1977: HELEN EVANS suffered steering problems and went aground on Whaleback Shoal while upbound with iron ore in the St. Lawrence. There was minor damage and the vessel was released September 23.

1982: CALGADOC left the Great Lakes in 1975 and saw service in the south as b) EL SALINERO. The ship sank on this date in 1982 on the Pacific off the coast of Mexico.

1985: ELTON HOYT 2ND struck the 95th Street Bridge at Chicago and headed to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. 1988: The small tug MARY KAY sank in a Lake Ontario storm enroute from Rochester to Oswego. The former b) CAPT. G.H. SWIFT had recently been refitted and went down after a huge wave broke over the stern. It had seen only brief service on Lake Ontario after arriving from the Atlantic in 1987.

1993: The tug DUKE LUEDTKE sank in Lake Erie about 12 miles north of Avon Point when the ship began taking water faster than the pumps could keep up. One coastguardsman was lost checking on the source of the leak when the vessel rolled over and sank.

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

Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry unveils new name for $4M jet-driven boat

9/20 - Mackinaw City, MI – Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry has announced its new $4M jet-driven boat will be named the William Richard, in honor of the Shepler family’s patriarch. The name-unveiling was done at a public gathering at the ferry service’s Mackinaw City docks.

The moniker on the new boat will be a 60-ton hat tip to the Shepler’s CEO, Bill Shepler, 87. He was there at the company’s beginning in 1945, and while he now leaves the day-to-day business operations to his children, he can still be seen helping passengers on the ferry docks.

“Our father is the guy that is responsible for where we are today,” said Chris Shepler, company president and third-generation captain. “To be able to cement his legacy through naming our new vessel is an honor to him, which is so well-deserved.”

Bill Shepler’s father was the Capt. William H. Shepler, who used a speed boat to get a handful of passengers at time over to Mackinac Island more than 75 years ago. Today, Shepler’s fleet of ferries transports more than 600,000 people to the island during the season.

When finished next year, the new 210-passenger ferry will be able to cruise across the Straits of Mackinac at 30 mph, whisking guests, luggage and cargo between the mainland docks and Mackinac Island. It is being built by Moran Iron Works in Onaway, which also built Shepler’s most recent passenger boat - the Miss Margy. That ferry made its debut in 2015.

The new boat will feature four HamiltonJet HM461 series waterjets to propel it through the water. This is meant to ensure a faster, quieter trip. The new ferry will be wheelchair-accessible, with plenty of room for bikes, baby strollers and luggage on its aft deck.

Once it is ready, it will be taken by trailer to a deep-water port in Rogers City, where it will be then be sailed to Shepler’s docks in Mackinaw City.

Shepler’s is one of two ferry services that run regularly-scheduled trips each day to and from Mackinac Island and mainland ports in summer and fall. The family-run business has expanded its island trip service in recent years to include scenic cruises built around lighthouses, sunsets, fireworks and skywatching trips.

M Live

Duluth-Superior port on pace for banner year

9/20 - An increase in overseas wheat exports from the port of Duluth-Superior is keeping the port’s overall tonnage on pace to beat its 2018 totals and five-year average.

Through Aug. 31, exports of grain were up 5% compared to the same time last year, mainly with grain from western Minnesota and the Dakotas, according to a Chamber of Marine Commerce news release.

Shipments of iron ore and wind turbine components were also near-record pace. “Cargo movement in the Port of Duluth-Superior remained brisk through August,” said Jayson Hron, a Duluth Seaway Port Authority spokesperson, in the release. “Iron ore led the way, finishing the month more than 15 percent ahead of the five-year average and within 2 percent of last season’s pace, which was a 23-season high. We also welcomed several shipments of wind energy cargo in August, continuing a near-record pace for that particular cargo.”

Water levels throughout the Great Lakes have been near record highs since spring, making it possible to load ships with heavier loads, but it’s also slowed shipping traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

In an interview with the News Tribune, Hron didn’t attribute the port of Duluth-Superior’s high cargo numbers to the ability to load more tonnages in higher-than-normal water levels on the Great Lakes, but said the high-water levels “create both challenge and opportunity.”

On one hand, Hron said, “ships can sail at a deeper draft and carry more tonnage per shipment in high-water situations, and that makes each shipment more profitable.”

As an example, Hron said the Edwin H. Gott, a 1,000-foot-long lake freighter owned by Key Lakes Inc., which operates the Great Lakes Fleet of ore boats for Canadian National Railway, can carry an additional 267 tons of iron ore per inch of draft.

“That's something like $26,000 worth of extra iron ore per inch. So if you multiply that by 2 or 3 inches of extra water and extra draft, and multiply it by, perhaps, 30 trips over the course of a shipping season, that adds up to significant benefits for everyone, including consumers,” Hron said.

Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a July earnings call with investors that the high-water levels were helping his company move more iron ore pellets produced in Minnesota and Michigan to further down the Great Lakes for steelmaking.

“We have so much water in the lakes that we can load the boats above and beyond what was the draft line before, and we are really taking advantage of that because we have depths in the lakes that are favoring transportation,” Goncalves said.

But on the other hand, high waters also cause powerful currents that force ships to sail at a lower speed or require the hiring of tugs to guide it through ports, Hron said. He said the currents can also cause sediment to pile up below sensitive channels.

Read more at this link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/transportation/4668684-Duluth-Superior-port-on-pace-for-banner-year

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Elbeborg departed Duluth at 00:51 Thursday morning with a load of beet pulp pellets from Gavilon, and Great Lakes Trader/tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort was inbound at 04:18 to discharge limestone at Hallett #5. Presque Isle arrived at 06:25 to load a cargo of iron ore pellets at Canadian National, however she moored at berth #6 to wait for Mesabi Miner to finish loading. The Miner was outbound from CN at 14:36 with her ore cargo, and was followed out by Great Lakes Trader at 14:42, which was bound for Two Harbors to load. CSL Laurentien came in at 16:40 and moored at CN #6 to wait for her turn to load at CN. Alpena arrived at 17:34 with a load of cement for Lafarge Superior. The saltie Johanna G. was due late Thursday night, however she will likely join the BBC Louise at anchor outside the harbor. At the Superior entry on Thursday, Burns Harbor departed at 00:26 with a load of ore for her namesake port, and Algoma Compass was inbound at 00:45 to load at Burlington Northern. She departed at 19:01 with a destination of Hamilton posted.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Algoma Guardian departed Two Harbors on Sept. 19th at 02:44 for Hamilton. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 19th at 03:53 for South of #2 was the Whitefish Bay. She departed on Sept. 19th at 13:19 for Quebec City. American Spirit arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 19th at 09:48 for North of #2 lay-by. She shifted from North of #2 to South of #2 from 13:21 to 13:54. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 19th at 16:48 was the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader for South of #1. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 20th is the Edwin H. Gott. As of 19:45 on Sept. 19th the Lee A. Tregurtha was still at Northshore Mining in Silver Bay. There is no inbound traffic scheduled for Silver Bay on Sept. 20th.

Sturgeon Bay, WI
The tug Dorothy Ann was removed from the drydock, up with the barge Pathfinder and the tug and barge left Bay Ship Thursday afternoon.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator remained at Compass Mineral Thursday, destined or Sarnia Shell next.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Thursday Arrivals: GL Ostrander/Integrity-arrived at Lafarge to unload cement. John G Munson-arrived at the Carmeuse Dock to unload stone. Calusa Coast and Delaware-arrived at the Marathon Asphalt Terminal to load.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
American Courage departed Thursday and was at Marblehead. Sam Laud was at ArcelorMittal with a shuttle from Ashtabula. The cruise ship Hamburg was at the Port dock 28W and Sea Eagle was at St. Mary's Cement.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages for Thursday September 19 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrivals - Sep 19 - Algoma Entereprise at 2006 - docked - Sep 18 - Damia Desgagnes at 1604 - departed - Sep 19 - Algoterra at 1641 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage: anchored - Sep 19 - tug Albert (ex Craig Eric Reinaurer-18, El Bronco Grande-06, Hercules-81 & Margaret at 0802

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 18 - tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 2148 and BBC Hudson (Atg) at 2326 - Sep 19 - light tug Ocean Golf at 0233 to assist Federal Columbia, Federal Columbia (Mhl) at 0355 ) stopping wharf 2), Algoma Enterprise at 0612, tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 0926 and Shoveler (Cyp) at 1926

downbound - Sep 18 - Narie (Bhs) at 1732, Algoma Buffalo at 1756, Algonorth at 2040, Rt Hon Paul J Martin at 2125 and Thunder Bay at 2155 - Sep 19 - CSL Assiniboine at 0047, tug Sharon M I & Niagara Spirit at 0241 (stopping wharf 16, Frontenac at 0859 stopping wharf 19E, Algoma Strongfield at 0512, CCGS Cape Providence at 0948, Algoterra at 1957 and Federal Baltic (Mhl) eta 2055

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 19 - tug Sharon M I & Niagara Spirit at 0310 (stopping wharf 16, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 0842 stopping wharf 16 and Frontenac at 0925 stopping wharf 19E,

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Sep 14 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1200 - departure - Sep 19 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1205 for Toronto

Hamilton: arrivals - Sep 19 - Algoscotia at 0036, Stella Polaris (Nld) at 0251, Blacky (Cyp) at 1255 - docked - Sep 18 - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1106 - Sep 19 - Selasse (Mlt) (ex Selay-7) at 1620 from the anchorage - departures - Sep

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 18 - Algoma Enterprise at 0223 and Robert S Pierson at 1541 - departed - Sep 19 - Algoma Enterprise at 0431 for the canal and Robert S Pierson at 1319 eastbound

Mississauga: docked - Sep 16 - Hinch Spirit at 0200

Toronto: arrival - Sep 19 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1748 from anchorage - departed - Sep 19 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 1438 for Brockville and Shoveler (Cyp) at 1748 for Duluth

Artist's work decorates park, reminds locals of city's maritime past

9/20 - Port Huron, MI - More than just natural beauty can be found in Marine City's parks.Thanks to a local artist and not so local artist, the city parks have been adorned with new mosaic art along the St. Clair River.

"These beautiful additions are the creation of local artist, Heather Bokram, and each one depicts ships built in Marine City," Marine City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Erika DeLange said in an email.

Eight different pieces of mosaic art can be found divided among Drake Park, River Park, Watchman Park and Broadway Park in Marine City. The pieces have names like "The Maud," ''The Mary" and "The Northerner."

The creation started around eight or nine years ago, when Bokram, 79, who also founded the Historical Society of Marine City, used old photos to create pastel drawings of the ships. All the ships displayed were made in Marine City's many shipyards that lined the banks of the St. Clair River and Belle River in the 1800s, Bokram told the Times Herald .

"This kind of brings them to life again," she said. She wanted people in Marine City to be more aware and prouder of the history and the accomplishments of the city's past.

Belle River didn't use to have steel walls like it does now and it was wider. The land on the river was lined with the ship builders, which built around 250 or more of these ships and was one of the bigger shipbuilding towns around the Great Lakes, Bokram said.

Although Bokram made the pastel drawings years ago, the other part of the project didn't get started until about a year ago, when glass mosaic muralist Allison Eden in New York started working on the mosaic part.

Bokram said the people undertaking the project tried to find someone in Michigan to do it, but it was a big project that not everyone was willing to take on. Eden, however, was.

Bokram took the pastel work, blew it up to the size she wanted it to be and sent that to Eden. Eden did the mosaic part in New York and sent the pieces back to Michigan. Now the pieces can be seen in the parks. Bokram is excited to see her artwork displayed and hopes residents and visitors enjoy it.

The Associated Press

John Jonathon Boland was born on 20 September 1875, in New York. Along with Adam E. Cornelius, he formed the partnership of Boland and Cornelius in 1903, and was one of the founders of the American Steamship Company in 1907. He died in 1956.

On September 20, 1986, vandals started a $5,000 fire aboard the laid up NIPIGON BAY at Kingston, Ontario, where she had been since April 1984.

GEORGE A. STINSON's self-unloading boom was replaced on September 20, 1983. The boom had collapsed onto her deck due to a mechanical failure on the night of April 19, 1983, at Detroit, Michigan. No injuries were reported. She continued hauling cargoes without a boom until replacement could be fabricated. She was renamed b.) AMERICAN SPIRIT in 2004.

On September 20, 1980, EDGAR B. SPEER entered service for the U.S. Steel Fleet.

CHARLES E. WILSON sailed light on her maiden voyage from Sturgeon Bay September 20, 1973, bound for Escanaba, Michigan, to load ore. She was renamed b.) JOHN J. BOLAND in 2000.

CHARLES M. WHITE was christened at Baltimore, Maryland, on September 20, 1951.

On 20 September 1873, W. L. PECK (2 mast wooden schooner-barge, 154 foot, 361 gross tons) was launched at Carrollton, Michigan.

On 20 September 1856, COLONEL CAMP (3-mast wooden bark, 137 foot, 350 tons, built in 1854, at Three Mile Bay, New York) was carrying wheat to Oswego, New York, when she collided with the wooden steamer PLYMOUTH and sank in just a few minutes. No lives were lost.

1970: MARATHA ENDEAVOUR, enroute from Chicago to Rotterdam, broke down in the Atlantic and sent out a distress call. The ship was taking water but survived. The 520-foot long vessel had been a Seaway trader since 1965 and returned as b) OLYMPIAN in 1971. The ship arrived at Huangpu, China, for scrapping as c) HIMALAYA on January 9, 1985.

1980: The Canadian coastal freighter EDGAR JOURDAIN was built at Collingwood in 1956 as MONTCLAIR. The ship had been a pre-Seaway trader to the lakes and returned as b) PIERRE RADISSON in 1965, c) GEORGE CROSBIE in 1972 and d) EDGAR JOURDAIN beginning in 1979. It was wrecked at Foxe Basin, off Hall Beach in the Canadian Arctic, after going aground. The ship was abandoned, with the anchors down, but disappeared overnight on December 15, 1982, while locked in shifting pack ice. It is believed that the vessel was carried into deeper water and, at last report, no trace had ever been found.

1982: BEAVERFIR served Canadian Pacific Steamships as a Seaway trader beginning in 1961. The ship stranded off Barra de Santiago, El Salvador, as d) ANDEN in a storm on this date in 1982 after dragging anchor. Sixteen sailors from the 26-member crew perished.

2011: MINER, a) MAPLECLIFFE HALL, b) LEMOYNE (ii), c) CANADIAN MINER broke loose of the tug HELLAS and drifted aground off Scaterie Island, Nova Scotia, while under tow for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey. The ship was a total loss and, in 2013, was still waiting to be dismantled and removed.

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

Lake Michigan water levels may break a record in 2020, officials say

9/19 - Grand Haven, MI – The high water levels on Lake Michigan that have impacted counties statewide could break a record in 2020, officials said Tuesday. Based on current conditions, the water levels on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in 2020 will start higher than they did in 2019, said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

Ottawa County is one of six in Michigan that has received assistance from the USACE this summer to deal with water damages. Representatives from the organization gave a presentation Tuesday in Grand Haven, where officials expect damages will reach $500,000.

"Across all of those counties, we've provided upwards of 200,000 sandbags and then multiple hours of technical assistance via site visits and phone calls," said Krystle Walker, an emergency management specialist with the USACE Detroit District.

The water levels have caused numerous cases of shoreline erosion, which have threatened homes and infrastructure. Weather patterns and storms have also caused coastal flooding.

The Great Lakes recently started their seasonal decline, just shy of a record set for water levels in 1986. That decline doesn't mean areas won't see an impact, Kompoltowicz said. "We're getting into the time of year where we see very strong storms rolling over the Great Lakes, so the impacts heading into the fall and early winter could still be very significant," he said.

The current USACE Great Lakes water level forecast extends out to February 2020. Water levels could exceed the 1986 record depending on the winter, Kompoltowicz said. "If we see a ton of snowfall followed with another wet spring, then levels would tend to rise quickly again to start 2020," he said.

Grand Haven Tribune

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Indiana Harbor left Duluth at 11:59 Wednesday morning with a load of coal from Midwest Energy, and Mesabi Miner was inbound at 17:13 to load iron ore pellets at Canadian National. Also in port were Happy River, discharging wind turbine towers at Port Terminal; Elbeborg, taking on beet pulp pellets at Gavilon; and BBC Louise, on the hook outside the harbor waiting to load wheat at Riverland Ag. In Superior, James R. Barker departed at 10:05 Wednesday after loading an ore cargo for Nanticoke, and Burns Harbor arrived at 10:43 to load at Burlington Northern. She is expected to depart early Thursday morning. Algoma Compass was due shortly before midnight, however she will more than likely anchor to wait for Burns Harbor to finish loading.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Roger Blough departed Two Harbors from South of #2 at approx. 23:30 on Sept. 17th for Gary. The Algoma Guardian arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 18th at 14:39 for South of #2. Tentatively due Two Harbors on Sept. 19th are the Presque Isle, American Spirit, Whitefish Bay that is coming from Thunder Bay, and the Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader that would be arriving from the Twin Ports after unloading stone. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay will see the arrival of the Lee A. Tregurtha on Sept. 18th at approx. 21:00. Silver Bay has no inbound traffic scheduled on Sept. 19th.

Green Bay, WI – Jim Conlon
On Monday morning the ATB Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder arrived at Bay Shipbuilding and by Monday evening the Dorothy Ann was put in the floating dry dock. Cason J. Callaway arrived from Port Inland, MI with a cargo of limestone for the Graymont Terminal.

Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Federal Ems returned to Port Milwaukee just after 6 Wednesday morning (9/18). In mid July, she had loaded grain for Europe at the COFCO elevator. On this trip to the city, she delivered about 6,000 tons of food-grade steel from Europe at the Federal Marine Terminal dock along slip one of the outer harbor. Federal Margaree was still tied up at the COFCO elevator. She has been there since September 9.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator arrived 7:47 pm Tuesday to load salt at Compass Minerals.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Wednesday Arrivals: Arthur M Anderson arrived at the Jefferson Ave stone dock to unload stone. American Mariner arrived at Zug Island to unload coal. Michipicoten arrived at the St. Clair Aggregates dock to unload stone. Hon. James L Oberstar arrived at AK Steel to unload ore. Cuyahoga arrived at Zug Island to load coke. Tuesday Arrivals: Leo A MacArthur/John J Carrick arrived at the Marathon Asphalt Terminal to load. John J Boland arrived at Zug Island to unload coal.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Visitors Wednesday were Herbert C. Jackson, Sam Laud and American Courage on the river and Victory 1 and Coe Leni at the Port docks.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Wednesday September 18, Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrivals - Sep 18 - CSL Niagara at 1358, Damia Desgagnes at 1604 and Algoterra eta 2105 - departed - Sep 18 - Algoscotia at 0759 eastbound and Algoma Hansa at 1513 westbound

Long Point Bay anchorage: anchored Sep 17 - Damia Desgagnes at 1134 - departed -Sep 18 - at 1542 for the dock

Buffalo (Tonawanda): departed Tonawanda - Sep 18 - tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 0735 westbound

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 17 - Kaministiqua at 1552, Algoma Transport at 1714 and Lubie (Bhs) at 2236 from the Port Weller anchorage - Sep 18 - tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit at 0244, Hamburg (Deu) (ex c Columbus-12) at 0423, Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 0701 stopping at wharf 2,Algoterra at 0724, tug Sea Eagke II & St Marys Cement II at 0926, Baie Comeau at 1302, John D Leitch at 1413, tug Everlast & Norman McLeod eta 2120 and BBC Hudson (Atg) eta 2135

downbound - Sep 17 - Algonova at 2145 - Sep 18 - NACC Capri (Mlt) at 0428, Algoma Conveyor at 0625, Algoscotia at 1135, tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1333, Narie (Bhs) at 1732, Algoma Buffalo at 1756, Algonorth at 2040, Rt Hon Paul J Martin eta 2110 and Thunder Bay eta 2120

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 18 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) docked wharf 2 at 0725 - departed Sep 18 from wharf 2 at 1656 for Toronto before heading eastbound

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Sep 14 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1200 - departure - Sep 17 - Lubie (Bhs) at 2210 approx. for the canal

Hamilton: arrival - Ruddy (Cyp) at 1106 - anchored - Sep 16 - Selasse (Mlt) (ex Selay-7) at 1620

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 18 - Algoma Enterprise at 0223 and Robert S Pierson at 1541

Mississauga: docked - Sep 16 - Hinch Spirit at 0200

Toronto: arrival - Sep 18 - Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 1835 from Port Weller wharf 2 - docked - Sep 15 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 1630 - departed - Sep 18 - NACC Argonaut at 0217 eastbound

Obituary: Lori Johnston

9/19 - - With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our long-time friend and colleague, Lori Johnston. She passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday September 14. She worked in the office with the Inland Steel fleet and Central Marine Logistics for over 40 years. Lori was an avid animal lover and supported Illinois Alaskan Malamute rescue Association. (IAMRA) If you would like to memorialize her life the family has asked donations be made to IAMRA. The website is www.iamra.org.

Central Marine Logistics

At Rush Street in Chicago, Illinois, a hand-operated ferry carried pedestrians across the Chicago River. The ferry operator would pull on a rope, hand over hand, to move the ferry across the river. At a signal from schooners, the rope was dropped and the schooner would sail over it. On 19 September 1856, the rope was dropped but the impatient passengers picked it up to move the ferry themselves. The incoming schooner snagged the rope and the ferry was spun around and capsized. 15 people were drowned.

When Cleveland Tankers’ new SATURN entered service and made her first trip to Toledo, Ohio, on September 19, 1974, she became the first of three tankers built for the fleet's modernization program. EDGAR B. SPEER departed the shipyard on her maiden voyage for U.S. Steel on September 19, 1980, bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota, where she loaded her first cargo of taconite pellets.

The twin-screw rail car ferry GRAND HAVEN of 1903, was laid up in the spring of 1965, at the old Pennsylvania Dock at Cleveland, Ohio and later at dockage on the Old River Bed where she sank on September 19, 1969.

September 19, 1997 - officials at Lake Michigan Carferry, Inc. announced that the CITY OF MIDLAND 41 would be converted to a barge.

On 19 September 1893, SAMUEL BOLTON (wooden schooner-barge, 150 foot, 330 gross tons, built in 1867, at Bangor, Michigan as a schooner) was loaded with lumber and being towed in fog in Lake Huron. She got lost from the tow and drifted ashore near Richmond, Michigan where she broke in two and was then torn apart by waves. She was owned by Brazil Hoose of Detroit.

On Saturday, 19 September 1891, at 11 a.m., the whaleback steamer CHARLES W. WETMORE left Philadelphia, Pennsylvania loaded with the materials to build a nail mill, iron smelter and shipyard for the new city of Everett, Washington. Her skipper was Captain Joseph B. Hastings and she had a crew of 22.

On 19 September 1900, the Great Lakes schooner S.L. WATSON foundered off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She had been sent to the Atlantic the previous autumn by her owner, J. C. Gilchrist of Cleveland.

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

U.S. Great Lakes ports report busy August

9/18 - U.S. Great Lakes ports reported a busy August, shipping construction materials, road salt, aluminum and wind energy components. Despite those areas of strength, bi-national cargo volumes via the St. Lawrence Seaway (from March 22 to August 31) at 20.9 million metric tons were down 3.5 percent compared to the same period in 2018.

“Great Lakes ports have been busy moving cargo supporting the construction and renewable energy sectors. Aluminum shipments from Canada to the U.S., which are used in automotive manufacturing, have also resumed this season following the lifting of trade tariffs,” says Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “These gains have been offset by a 20 percent decline in U.S. grain exports via the St. Lawrence Seaway after flooding this past spring prevented some U.S. farmers from getting into their fields to plant corn and soybeans.”

The Port of Duluth-Superior, however, is seeing an increase in overseas wheat exports from Western Minnesota and the Dakotas. Outbound grain tonnage tracked nearly five percent ahead of last year’s pace, helping push the Port’s overall tonnage slightly ahead of 2018 and the five-year average. Jayson Hron, Director of Communications and Marketing Duluth Seaway Port Authority adds: “Cargo movement in the Port of Duluth-Superior remained brisk through August. Iron ore led the way, finishing the month more than 15 percent ahead of the five-year average and within two percent of last season’s pace, which was a 23-season high. We also welcomed several shipments of wind energy cargo in August, continuing a near-record pace for that particular cargo.”

The Port of Green Bay had an excellent month, totaling 316,224 tons of cargo moved; an 18 percent year-to-date increase in tonnage from August 2018. Limestone, up 75 percent over 2018, and petroleum products, a 72 percent increase in foreign exports and a 47 percent increase in foreign imports, were the largest contributors to the increase, along with an increase in salt.

“As we make our way into winter, stockpiles of salt are building up,” says Port Director Dean Haen. “In Wisconsin, salt is an important commodity that keeps our roads and drivers safe from ice. We’re likely to continue seeing salt as a major import in the following months.”

Through August 2019, the Port of Toledo has handled over 5.4 million tons of cargo. “While our cargo tonnage total is nearly identical to the 2018 and 2017 shipping seasons, the commodity mix is always changing,” says Joseph Cappel, VP Business Development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “In 2019, the Port has seen an increase in aluminum and steel, petroleum products and dry bulk products, while iron ore held steady.” Coal and grain were down from 2018, which offset some of the increases.

“Cargo diversity continues to be key in our business strategy,” adds Cappel. “When one cargo category is down, generally something else is up.” The Port of Toledo also handled several project cargo shipments of windmill components and continues to set a brisk pace for direct overseas traffic with 35 salties loaded or unloaded through August.

Chamber of Marine Commerce

Great Lakes icebreaking yields frosty debate

9/18 - Attention on Great Lakes infrastructure has come furiously of late — regional congressmen riding ore boats to highlight the importance of the Soo Locks, industry reports emphasizing how valuable lakes’ trade is to the economy, and a summerlong emphasis on how vital attaining new icebreaking assets has become.

But not all is rosy, as two major trade organizations, one Canadian, one American, have taken umbrage with how each is approaching the difficult procurement of new icebreaking assets.

In July, the News Tribune reported on $10 million wending through Congress that would “scope” a new Great Lakes icebreaker, by studying for needs and design. For the Chamber of Marine Commerce based in Ottawa, it was hardly news at all.

“When you get excited in the U.S. system is when it gets financed and a budget item is approved and passed through Congress,” Chamber President Bruce Burrows told the News Tribune.

Burrows spoke after the Chamber announced in August that Canada was already funding and taking requests for bid on a half dozen new icebreakers. The timeline put the first new arrivals within eight years of completion — ahead of the U.S. curve.

Additionally, the Canadians were going about recommissioning up to four more used Swedish icebreakers. Burrows said his agency has a campaign asking for five of the new icebreakers — two in the Upper Great Lakes, two for lakes Superior and Michigan, and one to be stationed in the St. Lawrence River leading to the Atlantic Ocean. It seemed like an over-ask in an effort to receive at least some assets.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Burrows, forecasting “a reasonable amount of upgrading and modernization” on the Great Lakes.

But the Lake Carriers' Association, based in Ohio and representing nearly 50 U.S.-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes, scoffed at the Canadian claims.

“I have absolutely zero faith that any of those Canadian icebreakers will be home ported on the Great Lakes,” Lake Carriers' President James Weakley said. “This is all about the Arctic.”

Weakley was referring to the Arctic Ocean, where diminishing ice caps have created an international race for dominance of the globe’s northernmost trade routes. The Navy Times announced in April $1.9 billion in spending for a new fleet of United States Coast Guard and Naval icebreakers to be built in Mississippi and unequivocally bound for the Arctic.

Weakley was critical of the current arrangement on the Great Lakes, where the U.S. has one heavy icebreaker (the Mackinaw), and eight other buoy tenders and tugs equipped for ice-breaking. The Canadians offer two — the Samuel Risley and the Griffon — and have seen five ice-capable assets leave and not be replaced in the past few decades.

“That’s our frustration right now,” Weakley said. “The U.S. Coast Guard will tell you they’re one big happy family and that they operate the Great Lakes as a system (with Canada), but it’s really to the Canadian industry and government benefit.”

The Canadians boast a greater assemblage of lakers than the U.S., some 80 vessels that are generally smaller than the U.S.’s biggest ore boats. “To supply icebreaking resources for all those Canadian lakers with two vessels is impossible,” Weakley said. “(Yet) they've gone from seven icebreakers to two and had no reduction of service."

Read more and view images at this link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/4664285-Great-Lakes-icebreaking-yields-frosty-debate

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
Edgar B. Speer departed Two Harbors on Sept. 16th at 20:06 for Conneaut. The Roger Blough arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 17th at 10:32. She then went to North of #2 where she took on a partial load at the gravity dock. She then shifted to South of #2 between 13:57 and 14:25 where she is still loading at 19:30. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 18th is the Algoma Guardian. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on Sept. 17th. Due Silver Bay on Sept. 18th is the Lee A. Tregurtha.

Cleveland, OH – Bill Kloss
Algoma Buffalo was loading salt for Toronto at Cargill on Tuesday. Calumet was at Osborne #3. Sam Laud was loading a shuttle at the Bulk Terminal. American Courage left for Ashtabula and NACC Capri departed for Bath.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Tuesday September 17, Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: Sep 16 - arrival - Algoma Hansa at 1347 from the anchorage - Sep 17 - Algoscotia at 1634 - departed - Sep 17 Edwin H Gott at 1418 westbound

Long Point Bay anchorage: anchored Sep 17 - Damia Desgagnes at 1134 - departed Sep 16 - Algoma Hansa at 1325 for the dock

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 16 - Algoma Spirit at 1856, Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 1924, Damia Desgagnes at 2030 and Algoscotia at 2309 - Sep 17 - Lubie (Bhs) ar 0420 - anchored at Port Weller, COE Leni (Lbr) (ex Marselisborg-16, Clipper Anne-14, Marselisborg-12) at 0534, Ojibway at 0921, Federal Cedar (Mhl) at 1025, Kaministiqua at 1552 and Algoma Transport at 1714

downbound - Sep 16 - Algosea at 1734 - Sep 17 - Patras (Mlt) (ex Gan-Sword-10) at 0054, Algoma Enterprise at 1123 and Algonova eta 2045

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Sep 14 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1200 - Sep 17 - Lubie ( Bhs) at 0443 from Hamilton - departure - Sep 17 - Lubie (Bhs) etd 2200 for the canal

Hamilton: anchored - Sep 16 - Selasse (Mlt) (ex Selay-7) at 1620 - arrivals - Sep 17 - Algoma Transport at 0128 - departed - Sep 17 - Lubie (Bhs) at 0240 for Duluth-Superior and Algoma Transport at 1432 for the canal and Evans Spirit at 1704 eastbound

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 17 - Robert S Pierson at 0452 - departed Sep 17 at 1424 eastbound

Mississauga: docked - Sep 16 - Hinch Spirit at 0200

Toronto: arrival - Sep 17 NACC Argonaut at 0108 - docked - Sep 15 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 1630

Oshawa: arrival - Sep 16 - NACC Quebec at 1502- departed Sep 17 at 0913 eastbound

Oswego, NY – Ned Goebricher
On Tuesday, the tug Wilf Seymour and barge Aluette Spirit were unloading aluminum.

Rochester, NY – Tom Brewer
Arrival: McKeil Spirit at 9 a.m. Tuesday for Lehigh Cement.

Watch freighters travel through Soo Locks via webcams

9/18 - Sault Ste. Marie, MI - – Ever want to see the Soo Locks in action, but live far away from Sault Ste. Marie? Well now you can. New webcams feature views of the upper approach, chamber, lower approach and the east center pier. The cameras allow those interested to view the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes” from four unique camera angles.

The Army Corps of Engineers noted Sept. 13 that some users are having trouble viewing the webcams and that it is looking into the issue. MLive was able to bypass the security certification warning by using the advanced settings. https://soowebcams.lre.usace.army.mil

M Live

$830M Toledo HBI plant will create jobs, boost economy

9/18 - Toledo, OH – Considered the largest construction project in the Great Lakes, the new Cleveland-Cliffs hot briquetted iron (HBI) plant in Toledo, Ohio, is already being described as a landmark facility. When it opens next year, the $830 million plant will have the nominal capacity to produce 1.9 million metric tons of HBI per year.

"It's truly amazing to see a project of this magnitude take off," said Joe Cappel, vice president of business development of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "Currently, the largest crawler crane in the world, with a 3,000-ton lift capacity, is at work helping construct portions of the furnace, which will be visible for miles. Coordinating the volume of construction workers and sequenced activities is truly a team effort. There are road improvement projects happening simultaneously with building construction, site work, conveyor installation and utility work on a massive scale."

In 2008, the former Chevron refinery brownfield site was acquired by the Port Authority, so the port area could be expanded, and direct access could be gained to a second Class I railroad. Improvements were made to the site, and in 2014, the facility officially opened as the Ironville Marine Terminal operated by Midwest Terminals.

Infrastructure and transportation access were fully restored at the site that allowed the receipt and transfer of bulk, break bulk and liquid cargo between vessel, rail and truck. In 2017, Cleveland-Cliffs announced they would lease and use 100 acres of the facility to construct a hot briquetted iron production facility.

"The HBI plant will process [more than] two million tons of iron ore and produce hot briquetted iron units that will be utilized by electric-arc steel furnaces for steel production throughout the Great Lakes region," said Cappel. "The Port Authority, Midwest Terminals, the state of Ohio, city of Toledo, Lucas County and many others were very supportive of this development, and helped accommodate and welcome Cleveland-Cliffs into the community, assisting with an incentive package and other aspects of planning the project throughout the site selection decision-making process."

Cleveland-Cliffs broke ground on the project in April 2018, with numerous dignitaries turning out for the ceremony. Cappel noted that while the total economic impact of the highly-anticipated plant is not currently known, more than 1,000 construction jobs and 130 permanent jobs will be created. And that's only the beginning.

"There are countless related benefits to transportation companies, hotels, restaurants, suppliers and other service providers," said Cappel. "The plant also is good for the U.S., and, more specifically, the economy of the Great Lakes Region. U.S. iron ore will ship to Toledo on U.S. vessels to the plant where U.S. natural gas will be used to produce U.S.-made iron units. Those iron units will ship to mills to produce steel that will be used to make U.S. automobiles, appliances and other products.

"The economic impact of such a product is exponential in nature, and has a more profound impact on our national economy than importing substitute products. This is likely the largest development project that involves Great Lakes shipping in the past several decades. More than 100 additional vessels will call on the Port of Toledo each year for this project alone, in addition to the 400-500 vessels that already call upon the port. This project would be huge for any sized port, but for Toledo on the Great Lakes, it certainly will have a profound impact in helping the port grow."

Cappel said reaction from the public has been positive.

"Cleveland-Cliffs has been a great partner. They had several community meetings early on, and we know they will be engaged in improving the area around the plant and throughout the community. The plant will utilize the best technology to minimize impact to the environment."

Even though construction won't be completed until next year, Cleveland-Cliffs will likely begin to receive iron ore this fall to stockpile, so that they can begin making product early in 2020.

"The Soo locks close for winter maintenance annually from mid-January until March, so material needed during that time must be shipped in advance of closure," said Cappel. "There also may be several more project cargo shipments on vessels and barges of large components necessary for construction from various locations."

Brandon Sehlhorst, commissioner of economic and business development of the city of Toledo, said the project helped earn Toledo the title of fifth fastest-growing construction jobs market in the United States, based on data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

"This project will have a significant impact on numerous aspects of Northwest Ohio's economy, including the utilization of a world-class multi-modal transportation network, highly-skilled workforce and economically competitive utility rates. These are some of our best-selling attributes. It also will complete the transformation of the former Chevron property, in which the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and its economic development partners have invested more than $25 million over time to redevelop.

"As a result of the Cleveland-Cliffs project, East Toledo is bustling with activity associated with the construction of the facility, infrastructure improvements and upgrades to the Port of Toledo," said Sehlhorst. "There are thousands of people working on the site on a daily basis. This project has completely transformed the immediate area, which was previously a vacant site being marketed for development.

"Watching the new facility come out of the ground has been exciting for our community. More recently, the excitement has been around the world's largest crawler crane that can be seen from most parts of our fairly flat region. This also gives our community a sense of how tall the new facility will be when it's completed, which will be the tallest structure in Northwest Ohio."

Mammoet's LR13000, known for its load capacity and high flexibility, is among the heavy machinery being used on the project, where activity appears to be non-stop. Based on the most current update provided by the company, 62,000 cu. yds. of concrete has been poured by crews, with more than 7,700 tons of rebar installed. In addition, workers have put in place more than 3,700 tons of steel, with close to 11,000 linear ft. of process pipe installed.

According to Cleveland-Cliffs' website, the selected site at the Port of Toledo is roughly 120 mi. from the company's corporate headquarters in Cleveland, and is a premier location for development. In determining the best location for the new HBI plant, the relative proximity to future customers in the Great Lakes region was a key consideration. The HBI plant will be situated in close proximity to a heavy concentration of electric-arc furnace steel producers.

The Toledo site also has logistical advantages that include an existing dock, rail access, heavy haul roads for construction and operation logistics and availability of natural gas, water and electrical power. Based on its location, the plant will be able to receive iron ore pellets produced in Michigan and Minnesota, similar to how it currently supplies its existing blast furnace customers.

Cleveland-Cliffs has stated that producing steel using HBI requires significantly less energy, and generates lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional processes. The overall life cycle of the HBI plant, and its products, is expected to further improve the energy efficiency and lower the carbon footprint of the domestic steel industry. Natural gas and DR-grade pellets are the only raw materials used in the HBI process. No hazardous or toxic by-products will be generated from the process. Water recycling initiatives will conserve water use and minimize discharges.

Founded in 1847, Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest and oldest independent iron ore mining company in the nation, and is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry.

Officials of Cleveland Cliffs declined to be interviewed for this story.

Construction Equipment Guide

On September 18, 1855, SEBASTOPOL (wooden side-wheel steamer, 230 foot, 863 tons, built in 1855, at Cleveland, Ohio) was sailing on Lake Michigan in a gale. Her cargo included copper, tin, lead and iron ingots, safes and general merchandise. Her skipper misread the shore lights while she was coming in to Milwaukee and she stranded 500 feet from shore, broadside to the storm waves which pounded her to pieces. Most of the crew and 60 passengers were saved with the help of small boats from shore, but about 6 lives were lost. This was the vessel's first year of operation. Her paddlewheels were 50 feet in diameter.

On September 18,1679, GRIFFON, the first sailing ship on the upper Lakes, left Green Bay with a cargo of furs. She left the explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, behind. GRIFFON never reached her planned destination.

E J BLOCK, a.) W. R. WOODFORD of 1908, returned to service on September 18, 1946, as the first large bulk freighter powered by a diesel-electric power plant and one of the first equipped with commercial radar on the Great Lakes. She lasted until scrapped at Ramey's Bend in 1988.

On September 18, 1959, the HENRY FORD II ran aground in the St. Marys River and damaged 18 bottom plates.

LAKE WINNIPEG was the first vessel to enter the Nipigon Transport fleet. She loaded her first cargo of 22,584 gross tons of iron ore clearing Sept Isles, Quebec, on September 18, 1962, bound for Cleveland, Ohio.

The Pere Marquette carferry CITY OF MIDLAND 41 (Hull#311) was launched on September 18, 1940, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She was built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Corporation at a cost of $2 million. She was named after Midland, Michigan, for one of the Pere Marquette Railway's biggest customers, Dow Chemical Co. She was christened by Miss Helen Dow, daughter of Willard H. Dow, president of Dow Chemical Co. Converted to a barge in 1998, renamed PERE MARQUETTE 41.

On September 18, 1871, E. B. ALLEN (wooden schooner, 111 foot, 275 tons, built in 1864, at Ogdensburg, New York) was carrying grain when she collided with the bark NEWSBOY and sank off Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron.

On September 18, 1900, the large steamer CAPTAIN THOMAS WILSON was taken from her launch site on the Black River in Port Huron out to the St. Clair River. The tug HAYNES was at the bow and the tug BOYNTON at the stern. It took an hour and a half to maneuver through the various bridges. Newspapers estimated that a couple thousand persons watched the event. Once the WILSON made it to the St. Clair River, she was towed to Jenks Shipbuilding Company where she was completed and received her machinery.

1909: LACKAWANNA lost steering and sank in the St. Clair River with a hole in the starboard bow after a collision with the wooden schooner CHIEFTAIN off Point Edward.

1918: BUFFALO, formerly the Great Lakes package freighter a) TADOUSAC, b) DORIC, was torpedoed by U-117 and sunk off Godfrey Light and Trevose Head, Cornwall, UK

1942: ASHBAY traded on the Great Lakes for Bay Line Navigation from 1923 until 1935 when it was sold for Brazilian coastal service. The ship was sunk by gunfire from U-516 on this date at the mouth of the Marowyne River, Brazil, as c) ANTONICO and 16 lives were lost.

1942: NORFOLK, enroute from Surinam to Trinidad, was hit, without warning, by two torpedoes from U-175, on the starboard side near the British Guiana Venezuela border. The Canada Steamship Lines ship went down in minutes. Six lives were lost was well as the cargo of 3055 tons of bauxite destined for Alcoa.

1958: ASHTABULA sank in Ashtabula harbor after a collision with the inbound BEN MOREELL. All on board were rescued but there were later two casualties when the captain committed suicide and an insurance inspector fell to his death while on board.

1970: HIGHLINER was heavily damaged amidships as d) PETROS in a fire at Tyne, UK. The vessel was not repaired and, after being laid up at Cardiff, was towed to Newport, Monmouthshire, for scrapping on June 12, 1972.

1978: The British freighter DUNDEE was a pre-Seaway trader into the Great Lakes and returned through the new waterway on 14 occasions from 1959 to 1962. It foundered in the Mediterranean as g) VLYHO near Falconera Island after an engine room explosion caused leaks in the hull. The vessel was enroute from Chalkis, Greece, to Tunis, Tunisia, at the time.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Max Hanley, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Museum ship Norgoma is on the selling block

9/16 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON – The St. Mary's River Marine Heritage Centre has given up its fight to keep the M.S. Norgoma and the city has put the vessel on the selling block.

The M.S. Norgoma has been conveyed back to the City of Sault Ste. Marie, an agreement reached between the parties to avoid a costly court hearing. Under the agreement, artifacts and displays will remain with the St. Mary’s River Marine Heritage Centre for exhibits in Sault Ste. Marie and in other communities visited by the Norgoma. The fixtures on the vessel will remain with it.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie will post the availability of the vessel publicly to determine levels of interest and the results will be presented to city council in the future, a press release from the city states.

Tom Vair, deputy CAO of community development and enterprise services, said the vessel’s availability is expected to be posted on the city’s website and Merx by the end of the day. Notification will also be provided to two individuals who expressed interest in the ship, a Chicago businessman and another “regional” interested individual who has not yet been identified.

In addition, the SMRMHC said it too had received inquiries from interested parties and the city is hoping the board will also pass along the information. “We’re trying to spread the notice out as far as we can,” Vair said. It’s hoped that the vessel will be taken off the city’s hands with minimal costs to taxpayers.

In order to do that, the city will be seeking bids from any interested parties and any the submission deadline will be Oct. 4. At that point, any submitted bids will be evaluated and the results presented to city council, he said. “We hope that the vessel can be moved before the close of shipping season this year,” he said.

While the conveyance of the vessel has now been finalized, Vair said there are still outstanding matters between the two parties that must be discussed. To date, the SMRMHC has not paid any of the costs to have the Norgoma removed from the Bondar Marina to its temporary home at the far end of Algoma Steel’s docks. It has also not paid for the daily docking fees charged by Purvis Marina.

“We haven’t concluded those conversations yet but now that phase one is complete, we’re hoping to move to those discussions,” Vair said. Louis Muio, president of the SMRMHC could not be reached for comment.

In July, the City of Sault Ste. Marie filed a motion seeking an order to reconvey ownership of the MS Norgoma back to the city. Several adjournments of the court process were granted in an attempt for the parties to reach an out-of-court settlement. The city used a local lawyer to handle the matter, partly because it was anticipated that the matter could be lengthy and take city legal staff away from their regular duties. City legal staff may also have been required to testify at any hearing, thus preventing them from also handling the case, Vair said.

Cost to retain an independent local lawyer have not yet been finalized. It’s anticipated a final report will be presented to council.

The city had argued that the SMRMHC breached the terms of its 1981 agreement, which allows the city to reconvey the vessel. The court documents also seek costs for moving the ship from the Roberta Bondar Marina, the cost of berthing it and costs associated with completing repairs, including the remediation and removal of contaminated water from the hull of the ship. Attempts to reach an agreement with the volunteer board had not been successful, forcing the city to the legal action, CAO Malcolm White had previously told The Sault Star.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie had acquired the Norgoma in 1975 and conveyed it to the board in 1981 to allow the heritage centre to continue to operate it as a museum ship and tourist attraction.

The board’s obligations were to keep the vessel in good repair, operate the museum and maintain comprehensive and liability insurance. The city’s argument focused on a clause which stated if the agreement was breached, it could reconvey the Norgoma for $1.

The city further alleged the vessel has not been kept in good repair, that the board has not provided proof of insurance and that it was unable to relocate after being provided with amble notice that its berthing rights were to be cancelled. The SMRMHC has repeatedly said it only has about $25,000 in its coffers and doesn’t have the money to move the ship.

The city’s costs to move the ship were estimated at $50,000 and daily docking fees are $40.

If there is no interested buyer in the Norgoma, the city may be forced to decommission the ship, at the estimated cost of $150,000.m The Norgoma was moved from the city’s marina on June 4.

Sault Star

Marblehead Lighthouse tower closed for exterior renovations

9/16 - Marblehead, OH – One of the region's most iconic landmarks is getting some much-needed cosmetic repairs. The Marblehead Lighthouse Tower's exterior renovation project began Sept. 3.

Maureen Kocot, an Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesperson, said Wednesday the exterior stucco of the lighthouse is failing, with cracks and areas of delamination apparent on much of the building’s exterior. Kocot said a contractor will remove the delaminated stucco and patch the affected areas and cracks.

"The entire exterior will receive new paint and minor electrical work will be conducted on the interior of the building. The harsh environment to which the lighthouse resides, along with age, is the primary reason for the renovation project," Kocot said in an email to the News-Messenger.

ODNR anticipates the lighthouse renovation project to be substantially completed by mid-November, barring any weather-related delays. The tower is currently fenced off and will remain so for the duration of the renovations.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has maintained the property surrounding the lighthouse since 1972 and accepted ownership of the Marblehead Lighthouse tower in May 1998. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to operate and maintain the lighthouse beacon.

According to ODNR, the 24th Annual Lakeside-Marblehead Lighthouse Festival will be held at the state park Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Keeper’s House Museum, Life Saving Station Museum, and the gift shop will all be open to the public during the festival. No tours of the lighthouse tower will be available during the festival due to construction and renovation.

Built in 1821, the Marblehead Lighthouse is considered the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes. Kocot said the lighthouse's last major renovation occurred in the early 2000s.

Fremont News-Messenger

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Duluth at 13:17 Sunday afternoon, and tied up at Canadian National to load iron ore pellets. BBC Plata weighed anchor and arrived at 14:21 to load wheat at CHS 1, and Elbeborg was inbound at 17:20 to pick up a load of beet pulp pellets at Gavilon. Also in port was Federal Baltic, which was taking on grain at Riverland Ag. At the Superior entry, CSL Niagara departed at 05:56 Sunday morning with a load of ore for Nanticoke. There is no further traffic expected at Burlington Northern until Tuesday. American Integrity spent the day tied up at Lakehead Pipeline taking a delay, and currently has an unknown departure date. She will be loading next in Two Harbors.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The CSL Assiniboine arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 15th at 01:09 for South of #2. She departed Two Harbors on Sept. 15th at 14:09 for Quebec City. Arriving Two Harbors on Sept. 15th from lake anchorage was the Algoma Strongfield. She had stopped off Two Harbors at approx. 06:00 on the 15th, got underway at approx. 14:20, and arrived thru the piers at 14:42 for South of #2. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 16th is the Edgar B. Speer. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin arrive on Sept. 15th at 02:56 and she departed on Sept. 15th between 13:00 and 13:30 for Quebec City. There is no scheduled traffic for Silver Bay on Sept. 16th.

Green Bay, WI
The Alpena arrived from Michigan with cargo of cement for the Lafarge Terminal.

Muskegon, MI – Brendan Falkowski
Sunday the G.L.Ostrander/Integrity were in with cement for Lafarge, arriving at 3:55. The pair departed at 17:48.

Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor arrived 4.40 pm Sunday, loading at Compass Minerals, salt for Morrisburg ON.

Detroit River – Raymond H
Sunday Arrivals: Iver Bright-arrived at the Marathon Asphalt Terminal to load. BBC Leda arrived at Nicholson's Ecorse Terminal to unload general cargo.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Sunday September 15, Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrival - Sep 14 - Algosea at 1056 and Algocanada at 2206 from the anchorage - departed - Sep 15 - Algocanada at 1639 eastbound

Long Point Bay anchorage: anchored Sep 15 - Algoma Hansa at 1131

Buffalo: departed - Sep 15 - Manitoulin at 0152 westbound

Port Colborne anchorage: anchored - NACC Argonaut at 1359 - Sep 15 tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 0257 - departures - Sep 14 - NACC Argonaut at 2357 - Sep 15 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 0330 - both for the canal

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 14 - NACC Capri (Mlt) at 2003 stopping wharf 16 - Sep 14 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 1820, Algoma Hansa at 1859 and Le Champlain (Fra) passenger vessel at 2032 - Sep 15 - Tim S Dool at 0223, Algoma Guardian at 0422, Flevoborg (Nld) at 1012, Spruceglen at 1230 and tug Leo A McArthur & John J Carrick at 1950

downbound - Sep 14 - CSL Laurentien at 1422, Algoma Spirit at 2313 and NACC Argonaut at 2354 - Sep 15 - tug Mary E Hannah & Lake Trader at 0346 and Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 0715 and Algocanada eta 2130

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Sep 14 - NACC Capri (Mlt) stopped wharf 16 at 1401 - Sep 15 - Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 0730 and Le Champlain (Fra) stopped wharf 16 at 0848 - departed - Sep 15 - Le Champlain (Fra) at 1530 for Georgian Bay and Victory I (Bhs) at 1700 for Toronto

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Sep 11 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 0633 awaiting dock in Toronto - Sep 14 - Barnacle (Cyp) at 1200 - departed - Sep 15 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 1417 for Toronto

Bronte: Sep 14 - docked - Gaia Desgagnes at 1657

Clarkson: arrival - Sep 15 - Robert S Pierson at 1821

Mississauga: arrival - Sep 15 - Selasse (Mlt) (ex )Selay-S-17) at 0228

Hamilton: arrival - Sep 15 - CSL Laurentien at 0423 - docked - Sep 9 - Lubie (Bhs) at 1429 and Federal Leda (Mhl) at 0436 - departed Sep 15 - Tim S Dool at 0014 for the canal

Toronto: arrival - Sep 15 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 1630 from the Port Weller anchorage

Oshawa: arrival - sep 14 - tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 2113 - departed Sept 15 at 1123 eastbound

On September 16, 1893, HATTIE EARL (wooden schooner, 96 foot, 101 gross tons, built in 1869, at South Haven, Michigan) was driven ashore just outside the harbor of Michigan City, Indiana, and was pounded to pieces by the waves. No lives were lost.

At about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, September 16, 1990, the inbound motor ship BUFFALO passed close by while the tanker JUPITER was unloading unleaded gasoline at the Total Petroleum dock in the Saginaw River near Bay City, Michigan. As the BUFFALO passed the dock's aft pilings broke off and the fuel lines parted which caused a spark and ignited the spilled fuel. At the time 22,000 barrels of a total of 54,000 barrels were still aboard. Flames catapulted over 100 feet high filling the air with smoke that could be seen for 50 miles. The fire was still burning the next morning when a six man crew from Williams, Boots & Coots Firefighters and Hazard Control Specialists of Port Neches, Texas, arrived to fight the fire. By Monday afternoon they extinguished the fire only to have it re-ignite that night resulting in multiple explosions. Not until Tuesday morning on the 18th was the fire finally subdued with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard's BRAMBLE and BRISTOL BAY. The tanker, which was valued at $9 million, was declared a total constructive loss, though the engine room was relatively untouched. Unfortunately the fire claimed the life of one crew member, who drowned attempting to swim ashore. As a result the Coast Guard closed the river to all navigation. On October 19th the river was opened to navigation after the Gaelic tugs SUSAN HOEY and CAROLYN HOEY towed the JUPITER up river to the Hirschfield & Sons Dock at Bay City (formerly the Defoe Shipyard) where a crane was erected for dismantling the burned out hulk. Her engines were removed and shipped to New Bedford, Massachusetts, for future use. The river opening allowed American Steamship's BUFFALO to depart the Lafarge dock where she had been trapped since the explosion. JUPITER's dismantling was completed over the winter of 1990-91. Subsequent investigation by the NTSB, U.S. Coast Guard and the findings of a federal judge all exonerated the master and BUFFALO in the tragedy.

Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd. purchased all nine of the Soo River's fleet on September 16, 1982, for a reported C$2.5 million and all nine returned to service, although only four were running at the end of the season.

The NORISLE went into service September 16, 1946, as the first Canadian passenger ship commissioned since the NORONIC in 1913.

On September 16, 1952, the CASON J. CALLAWAY departed River Rouge, Michigan, for Duluth, Minnesota, on its maiden voyage for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

On September 16, 1895, ARCTIC (2 mast wooden schooner, 113 foot, 85 gross tons, built in 1853, at Ashtabula, Ohio) was rammed and sunk by the steamer CLYDE in broad daylight and calm weather. ARCTIC was almost cut in half by the blow. The skipper of CLYDE was censured for the wreck and for his callous treatment of the schooner's crew afterwards. Luckily no lives were lost.

On September 16,1877, the 46 foot tug RED RIBBON, owned by W. H. Morris of Port Huron, Michigan, burned about 2 miles below St. Clair, Michigan. Capt. Morris ran the tug ashore and hurried to St. Clair to get assistance, but officials there refused to allow the steam fire engine to go outside the city. The tug was a total loss and was only insured for $1,000, half her value. She had just started in service in May of 1877, and was named for the reform movement that was in full swing at the time of her launch.

On September 16, 1900, LULU BEATRICE (2-mast wooden schooner, 72 foot, 48 gross tons, built in 1896, at Port Burwell, Ontario) was carrying coal on Lake Erie when she was wrecked on the shore near the harbor entrance at Port Burwell in a storm. One life was lost, the captain's wife.

1892 The wooden propeller VIENNA sank in foggy Whitefish Bay after beiing hit broadside by the wooden steamer NIPIGON. The latter survived and later worked for Canada Steamship Lines as b) MAPLEGRANGE and c) MAPLEHILL (i) but was laid up at Kingston in 1925 and scuttled in Lake Ontario in 1927.

1901 HUDSON was last seen dead in the water with a heavy list. The steeel package freighter had cleared Duluth the previous day with wheat and flax for Buffalo but ran into a furious storm and sank in Lake Superior off Eagle Harbor Light with the loss of 24-25 lives.

1906 CHARLES B. PACKARD hit the wreck of the schooner ARMENIA off Midddle Ground, Lake Erie and sank in 45 minutes. All on board were rescued and the hull was later dynamited as a hazard to navigation.

1937-- The large wooden tug G.R. GRAY (ii) of the Lake Superior Paper Co., got caught in a storm off Coppermine Point, Lake Superior, working with GARGANTUA on a log raft and fell into the trough. The stack was toppled but the vessel managed to reach Batchawana and was laid up. The hull was towed to Sault Ste. Marie in 1938 and eventually stripped out. The remains were taken to Thessalon in 1947 and remained there until it caught fire and burned in 1959.

1975 BJORSUND, a Norwegian tanker, visited the Seaway in 1966. The 22--year old vessel began leaking as b) AMERFIN enroute from Mexico to Panama and sank in the Pacific while under tow off Costa Rica.

1990 JUPITER was unloading at Bay City when the wake of a passing shipp separated the hose connection spreading gasoline on deck. An explosion and fire resulted. One sailor was lost as the ship burned for days and subsequently sank.

2005 Fire broke out aboard the tug JAMES A. HANNAH above Lock 2 of the Welland Canal while downbound with the barge 5101 loaded with asphalt, diesel and heavy oil. City of St. Catharines fire fighters help extinguish the blaze.

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

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

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The Edwin H. Gott arrived Two Harbors on Sept. 14th at 17:31 for South of #2. Due Two Harbors on Sept. 14th is the CSL Assiniboine. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay saw the departure on Sept. 13th of the American Spirit at approx. 07:40 for Cleveland. She had been waiting on weather. Due Silver Bay on Sept. 14th is the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. An update. After the Philip R. Clarke finished unloading her stone cargo at Graymont in Superior went to CN-Duluth to load pellets.

Detroit River – Raymond H
Friday Arrivals: CSL Tadoussac arrived at St. Marys Cement to unload clinker. Kaye E Barker arrived at AK Steel to unload ore. American Century arrived at the Waterfront Petroleum Terminal to fuel. Sharon M I and barge Huron Spirit arrived at Nicholson's Ecorse Terminal to unload steel coils.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages for Friday Sept. 13 – Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: arrival - Sep 13 - Algosea at 0812 - departed - Sep 13 - Patras (Mlt) (ex Gan-Sword-10) at 0046 and Algosea at 1844 back out to anchorage for weather

Long Point Bay anchorage: departed Sep 13 Algosea at 0756 for the dock - back to anchorage at 1927 from the dock

Buffalo: anchored - Sep 12 - NACC Argonaut at 1050 and Manitoulin at 1622 - arrivals - Sep 13 - Manitoulin at 0433 and NACC Argonaut at 0758

Welland Canal: upbound - Sep 12 - Algoma Transport at 1801 - Sep 13 - Algocanada at 0707, Evans Spirit at 0802, Happy River (Nld) at 1018, Amstelborg (Nld) at 1114, CCGS Kelso at 1605 (stopping CG base) and NACC Capri (Mlt) at 2003

downbound - Sep 14 - tug Everlast & Norman McLeod and Mary E Hannah & barge

Welland Canal docks: docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Sep 11 - Shoveler (Cyp) at 0633 awaiting dock in Toronto

Hamilton: arrivals - - docked - Sep 9 - Lubie (Bhs) at 1429 - Federal Leda (Mhl) at 0436 and Evans Spirit at 1855 - departed - Sep 12 - G3 Marquis at 1022 for the canal

Toronto: arrival - Sep 13 - McKeil Spirit at 0029 - docked - Sep 12 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement at 1546 - docked - Sep 9 - Wigeon (Lbr) at 0114

September 14, 1962, the HORACE S. WILKINSON was involved in a collision with the Canadian freighter CAROL LAKE in the Welland Canal. Rather than repair the WILKINSON, Wilson Marine had her towed to Superior, Wisconsin, for conversion to a barge. All cabin superstructure, the engine, boilers, and auxiliary machinery were removed. The stern was squared off and notched to receive a tug. The WILKINSON was renamed WILTRANCO I and re-entered service in 1963, as a tug-barge combination with a crew of 10, pushed by the tug FRANCIS A. SMALL of 1966.

September 14, 1963, the BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS, Captain Earl C. Bauman, received a National Safety Council Award of Merit for operating 1,001,248 consecutive man-hours without a lost time accident. This accomplishment required 15 years, 600 round trips, and 1,200 passages through the Soo locks.

Captain Albert Edgar Goodrich died on September 14,1885, at the age of 59, at his residence in Chicago. He was a pioneer steamboat man and founded the Goodrich Transportation Company, famous for its passenger/package freight steamers on Lake Michigan.

The J. J. SULLIVAN (Hull#439) was launched September 14, 1907, at Cleveland, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. for the Superior Steamship Co. (Hutchinson & Co., mgr.). Renamed b.) CLARENCE B. RANDALL in 1963. She was scrapped at Windsor, Ontario in 1988.

On September 14, 1871, R. J. CARNEY (wooden barge, 150 foot, 397 gross tons) was launched at Saginaw, Michigan.

The 203-foot wooden schooner KATE WINSLOW was launched at J. Davidson's yard in East Saginaw, Michigan, on 14 September 1872.

The steamer ASIA sank in a storm off Byng Inlet on Georgian Bay September 14, 1882. Over 100 people lost their lives with only two people, a man and a woman, rescued. ASIA was built in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1873, and was bound from Collingwood, Ontario, to the French River and Canadian Sault.

1960: The Bahamas registered vessel ITHAKA stranded 10 miles east of Chhurchill, Manitoba, after the rudder broke and the anchors failed to hold in a storm. The ship had served on the Great Lakes for Hall as a) FRANK A. AUGSBURY and e) LAWRENCECLIFFE HALL (i), for Canada Steamship Lines as b) GRANBY and for Federal Commerce & Navigation as f) FEDERAL PIONEER.

1965: FORT WILLIAM, which recently entered service as a package freight carrier for Canada Steamship Lines, capsized at Pier 65 in Montreal. There was an ensuing fire when part of the cargo of powdered carbide formed an explosive gas and five were killed. The vessel was refloated on November 22, 1965, repaired, and still sails the lakes a b) STEPHEN B. ROMAN.

1970: The barge AFT, the forward part of the former STEEL KING (ii), arrrived at Ramey's Bend, Port Colborne, under tow of the tug HERBERT A. for dismantling. The barge had been part of a tandem tow with the dipper dredge KING COAL but the latter broke loose in a Lake Erie storm and sank.

1998: The Cypriot-registered STRANGE ATTRACTOR first came through the Seaway in 1989 as a) LANTAU TRADER. It returned under the new name in 1996 and lost power on this date in 1998 while leaving the Upper Beauharnois Lock and had to be towed to the tie up wall by OCEAN GOLF and SALVAGE MONARCH. The ship was soon able to resume the voyage and continued Great Lakes trading through 2003. It arrived for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey, as d) ORIENT FUZHOU on August 7, 2009.

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

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

Duluth-Superior – Daniel Lindner
CSL Assiniboine arrived Duluth at 06:52 Saturday morning, and tied up at Canadian National to load iron ore pellets. She was still loading Saturday night, and is expected to depart early Sunday morning. Fortunagracht remained at anchor outside the harbor, and now is expected to arrive early next week to load bentonite at Hallett #5. There was no traffic in Superior during the day Saturday, however Stewart J. Cort was due around 23:00 to load ore at Burlington Northern.

Two Harbors-Silver Bay, MN – Gary A. Putney
The American Integrity arrived Two Harbors on August 30th at 22:00 for South of #2. As of 19:30 on August 31st she was still at the loading dock. The Edwin H. Gott arrived off Two Harbors mid-afternoon on August 31st. She is stopped South of the Two Harbors light. Running checked down is the Edgar B. Speer. As of 19:30 on the 31st she was North of Outer Island. Due Two Harbor late in the day on September 1st is the Roger Blough. As of 19:30 on the 31st she was just below the locks. Northshore Mining in Silver Bay had no traffic on August 31st. Due Silver Bay on September 1st is the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. An update on the American Spirit. When she departed Silver Bay on the 30th she had an AIS of Cleveland. Her destination is now Ashtabula.

Detroit-Rouge River – Raymond H
Saturday Arrivals: Cason J Callaway-arrived at the Carmeuse Dock to unload stone. CSL Niagara-arrived at the Motor City Materials dock to unload salt.

Oswego, NY – Ned Goebricher
Saturday NACC Argonaut was unloading cement.

Montreal, QC – Rene Beauchamp
Expected in the Seaway next week will be a pusher tug on her delivery trip to new owners, the Laurel L. VanEnkevort. IMO No. 8875310 and ex-Naida Ramil built in 1994, it changed name recently in Florida. She will be stopping on Toledo for unspecified work, then heading to Escanaba, MI., her new home port, where she will be mated with the barge Joseph H. Thompson Jr.

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Saturday August 31 2019 - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: docked - Aug 28 - Algosea at 0827 - departed - Aug 31 - Algocanada at 0126 westbound

Long Point Bay anchorage: Aug 31 - tug Everlast & Norman McLeod at 0442

Welland Canal: upbound - Aug 30 - Frontenac at 2147 - Aug 31 - tug Wilf Seymour & Alouette Spirit 0643, Spruceglen at 1307, Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaatin Bey-07) at 1708 from Port Weller anchorage and Manitoulin at 1955

downbound - Aug 30 - ALgoma Guardian at 2209 and tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 2340 - Aug 31 - Fuldaborg (Nld) at 1332

Welland Canal docks: Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Jul 23 - Atlantic Huron wharf 16 at 1605 (temporary lay-up) - Aug 25 - Tecumseh at 2308 - departed - Aug 31 - Atlantic Huron at

Port Weller anchorage: anchored - Aug 29 - Rio Orinoco (Mhl) (ex Clipper Miami-17, Amanda-12, Gisele Scan-12, Beluga Generation-08) at 0735 - departed - Aug 31 - Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaatin Bey-07) 1645 for Sarnia

Hamilton: arrivals - Aug 31 - Algoma Transport at 0319, Federal Baltic (Mhl) at 1013, Algoma Guardian at at 1106, BBC Louise (Atg) at 1258 and tug Calusa Coast & Delaware at 1307 - departures - Aug 30 - Ojibway at 1634 - Aug 31 - Algoma Strongfield at 0851 - both eastbound

Clarkson: docked - Aug 31 - Robert S Pierson at 0446 - departed Aug 31 at 1520 eastbound

Toronto: departed - Aug 29 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1001 eastbound

Welland Canal and vicinity vessel passages - Friday August 30 2019 - Barry Andersen

Nanticoke: docked - Aug 27 - Algosea at 0827 - departed - Aug 28 - Edwin H Gott at 2206 - Aug 29 - Algoscotia at 0315

Long Point Bay anchorage: docked - Aug 28 - tug Molly M I & Dowden Spirit at 1033 - departed Aug 28 at 1623 - anchored - Aug 29 - Molly M I & Dowden Spirit at 1127

Welland Canal: upbound - Aug 29 - CSL Tadoussac at 1330, McKeil Spirit at 1528 - Aug 30 - Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 0615 anchored Port Weller

downbound - Aug 28 - Victory I (Bhs) (ex Saint Laurent-16, Sea Voyager-15, Cape May Light-09) at 0615, Victory II (Bhs) (ex Sea Discoverer-18, Coastal Queen-17, Clipper Discoverer-09, Cape Cod Light-07) at 0623, Evans Spirit at 1114, Algonova at 1213, sailing vessel and Picton Castle (Ck.Is) at 1607 - Aug 29 - Ojibway at 0007, Algoma Transport at 0619, tug Spartan & Spartan II at 0619 and tug Calusa Coast & Delaware eta 1145 - anchored Port Colborne at 1240

Welland Canal docks: arrival - Aug 25 - Thunder Bay at 1440 - docked - Jun 7 - CCGS Pierre Radisson at 0925 into Heddle Dry Dock at Port Weller - Jul 23 - Atlantic Huron wharf 16 at 1605 (temporary lay-up) - Aug 25 - Tecumseh at 2308 - Aug 26 - Oakglen stopped wharf 2 at 1130 - Aug 27 - tug Petite Forte & St Marys Cement stopped wharf 16 - departed - Aug 28 - tug Madison & Mobro 2000 from wharf 13 westbound and Oakglen at 2210 approx from wharf 2 eastbound

Port Weller anchorage: arrival - Aug 29 - Erria Swan (Den) (ex Erria Helen-12, Alaatin Bey-07) eta 1510 - anchored - Aug 29 - Rio Orinoco (Mhl) (ex Clipper Miami-17, Amanda-12, Gisele Scan-12, Beluga Generation-08) at 0735 - departed - Aug 29 - Aug 29 - Taagborg (Nld) at 0430 Narie (Bhs) at 0615 - both for the canal and Adfines Sea Mlt) (ex Osttank Norway-12) at 1500 approx eastbound

Hamilton: docked - Aug 28 - Algoma Strongfield at 1330, Ojibway at 1500

Bronte: arrival - Aug 27 - Gaia Desgagnes at 1012 from Port Weller anchorage - departed Aug 28 at 1915 eastbound

Toronto: arrivals - Aug 29 - tug Sea Eagle II & St Marys Cement II at 1808 - departed - Aug 30 - Three Rivers (Atg) at 0044 westbound

Historic Hulett ore unloader could rise again on Lake Erie's shore

9/1 - The Hulett ore unloader was an engineering marvel that helped make Cleveland an industrial powerhouse. The massive machines revolutionized shipping by unloading a freighter in a half day instead of week. But self-unloading ships turned the machines into relics. Now, just two Huletts remain.

Efforts to preserve them moved forward Aug. 22, when the Cleveland Landmarks Commission unanimously supported plans for a park honoring the massive machines. The decision is bringing an end to 20 years of arguing about restoring and commemorating the machines.

The new site will be part of Cumberland Development’s mixed-used project on the Lake Erie waterfront, near FirstEnergy Stadium. The company has donated $10,000 toward the proposed Hulett park, where an exhibit will feature the loading “leg” and bucket of the huge machines.

But Environmental Design Group’s Jeff Kerr says explanatory panels and video will add context. “We also are suggesting that we have a video kiosk that could actually show videos of the working Hulett back in the day, and the impact they had on the city of Cleveland and Great Lakes maritime,” he told commissioners Thursday.

The proposal includes a pedestrian walkway and pavers designed to mimic the tracks where loading cars travelled.

Environmental Design Group is part of a working group on the Huletts project. The effort, led by CanalWay Partners, must come up with a plan for displaying the machine by 2021 – or else the Cleveland Port Authority, which owns the remaining Huletts, can sell the dismantled, rusting parts for scrap.

Right now, the ore-unloader parts are sitting at Cleveland Bulk Terminal on Whiskey Island. That’s in Council member Matt Zone’s ward and he’s afraid a vital part of local history will rust away.

“It’s unfortunate that these magnificent machines were taken down, without a permit in 1999. They’re made of steel. So they’ve been sitting there, rusting since 1999. They’re decaying, they are dying,” he says.

The machines are named after their inventor, Northeast Ohio native George H. Hulett, who patented them in the 1898. The machines were groundbreaking and soon became essential to Great Lakes maritime for almost a century.

The unloaders helped Cleveland become a shipping hub, Zones says. The city’s location gave an edge to industrialists like John D. Rockefeller -- and the Hulett sharpened the edge.

“As manufacturing was starting to boom, this local guy, George Hulett invented this magnificent machinery that really revolutionized how we unloaded ships,” Zone says. “Because of that, so much iron and steel flowed through the Cleveland port.”

The machines were used for 80 years, until 1992, when newer technology like self-unloading ships replaced them. Seven years later, preservationists successfully fought plans to dismantle and sell the city’s four remaining Huletts.

Ray Saikus led that charge. His goal was, and is, to have the machines completely restored. He wants a Hulett, as well as the William Mather Steamship, placed on Scranton Island. If the city uses components, they should import them from Conneaut, Ohio, where Hulett himself was born and the site where he built his first working ore unloader. But Cleveland’s machines should remain intact, Saikus says.

“If the city only wants a leg and bucket, I think we could negotiate with [Conneaut],” he told commissioners. “But not with the leg and bucket of the Hulett that we have. They’ve got to still be protected.”

However, Tim Donovan of Canalway Partners says re-building the machines simply isn’t feasible because the 96-foot-tall behemoths would be too heavy for the park site, which is mostly fill dirt.

Now that they have the commission’s support, the working group will refine its design and create a budget. Donovan would not yet estimate the project’s cost. The city will get a look at the revised park and mixed-use development design when Cumberland Development next.

WKSU

September 1, 1880, the Cleveland Vessel Owners Association, later Lake Carriers’ Association, was created, with Alva Bradley as its first president.

September 1, 1892, the upbound WESTERN RESERVE, flagship of the Kinsman fleet, sank approximately 60 miles above Whitefish Point. There were 31 casualties among the crew and passengers. The lone survivor was Wheelsman Harry W. Stewart.

On 01 September 1891, EDWARD H. JENKS (wooden propeller freighter, 119 foot over all, 180 gross tons, built in 1882, at Port Dover, Ontario as the passenger/package freight steamer E.M. FOSTER) was carrying limestone up the Detroit River during a foggy night when she collided with GEORGE W. MORLEY (wooden propeller freighter, 193 foot, 1,045 gross tons, built in 1888, at W. Bay City, Michigan) in a misunderstanding of passing signals. Three were killed in the collision and the JENKS quickly sank at Ballard's Reef on the Detroit River. Her cargo kept her in place until she was recovered the following month and rebuilt.

Tragedy struck four days after the launch of the AGAWA CANYON, September 1, 1970, when the ship was rocked by an engine room explosion, killing one of the crew and injuring seven more. The AGAWA CANYON entered service in November, 1970, equipped with four 10 cylinder, two stroke cycle, single acting opposed piston diesel engines, built in 1970, by Fairbanks, Morse (Canada), Kingston, Ontario. Total bhp 6,680. Rated service speed: 12 knots (13.8 mph).

The TEMPLE BAR (Hull#101G) was launched September 1, 1970, at Govan, Scotland by the Govan Division of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd. for Lambert Bros. (Shipping) Ltd., London, England. Renamed b.) LAKE NIPIGON in 1977, c.) LAKETON in 1984, d.) LAKE NIPIGON in 1986, and e.) ALGONORTH in 1987.

Upon her arrival at Quebec City on September 1, 1962, the LAKE WINNIPEG was the first vessel of the Nipigon Transport Ltd. (Carryore Ltd., mgr.) fleet.

The self-unloader B.H. TAYLOR (Hull#787) was launched September 1, 1923, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., the third self-unloader built for the Bradley Transportation Co., Rogers City, Michigan. Renamed b.) ROGERS CITY in 1957. Scrapped at Recife, Brazil in 1988.

From September 1, 1947, to September 15, 1959, the U.S.C.G.C. MESQUITE was stationed at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

On 1 September 1854, ABIAH (2-mast wooden schooner or brig, 134 foot, 353 tons, built in 1848, at Irving, New York) was sailing light from Chicago, Illinois, to Oconto, Wisconsin, when she capsized and sank in a squall about 10 miles off Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The schooner L. LUDDINGTON rescued her crew and 2 passengers.

The 135-foot wooden schooner JOSEPH E. SPARROW was launched at Bangor, Michigan, on 1 September 1873.

On 1 September 1900, the Canadian steamer ADVANCE (wooden propeller package freighter, 168 foot, 1,178 gross tons, built in 1884, at St. Catharines, Ontario) was placed in service. In August 1899, when she was named SIR S. L. TILLEY, she had caught fire off shore, about 7 miles from Fairport, Ohio, and was destroyed. However, the hull was later recovered and used as the basis of the steamer ADVANCE. She lasted in this role until 1903, when she burned again.

September 1, 1919 - A switchman was killed in the yard at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, while the ANN ARBOR No. 6 was being loaded. This caused a delay of four hours in her sailing time.

September 1, 1931 - W. L. Mercereau retired as superintendent of steamships, a position he had held since 1899.

1916 DRONNING MAUD, a Norwegian freighter visited the Great Lakes on charter to Keystone Transports beginning in 1909. It hit a mine in the North Sea on this date and sank off the east coast of England, between Southwall and Lowestoft.

1929 EDWARD BUCKLEY caught fire and was destroyed in the North Channel of Georgian Bay. The blaze broke out aft while enroute to Little Current to load pulpwood. The hull burned to the waterline and sank near Narrow Island Lighthouse. Local fishermen rescued the crew.

1936 The Canadian canaller BENMAPLE of the Port Colborne & St. Lawrence Navigation Company, sank in the St. Lawrence at about 0400 hours, near Father Point, after being hit in fog by the inbound liner LAFAYETTE. A wheelsman was killed but all others on board were rescued.

1983 INDIANA HARBOR sets a record loading 67,896 tons of iron ore at Escanaba.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, James Neumiller, Jody L. Aho, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.