January 1997 News Archive

CANADIAN OYLMPIC still running

01/30/1997:
Spotted downbound in Lake St. Clair today was the CANADIAN OLYMPIC bound for the Atwater dock in Detriot with a load of salt. After she unloads she heads back to Goderich for another load.

Reported by: Andrew Severson and Dave R. Marcoux

John B. Aird calls it a season

01/30:
John B. Aird (06:42) finally tied up in the North Slip, Sarnia. She backed in to the South end of the North slip, Port side to shore.

Reported by: Duncan White

Ore Trade To Finish Soon

01/28:
Inland Steel’s WILFRED SYKES and JOSEPH L. BLOCK will load the last iron ore cargos of the season today (January 28) and tomorrow at Escanaba, Michigan. Preliminary totals show that U.S.-Flag carriage will top 116 million tons during the 1996 navigation season, a new post-recession peak for Lakes Jones Act carriers.

Reported by: the Lake Carriers Association

Kinsman ordered to pay $246,000

01/28:
A jury in Douglas County, Wis., has awarded $246,000 to the estate of a Maple, Wis., man who died while working aboard the Kinsman Enterprise, according to the Duluth News-Tribune.Oiler John D. Becker, 50, suffered a heart attack and died Oct. 30, 1994, while the vessel was crossing Lake Erie enroute to Buffalo. On Jan. 24, the jurors found that Kinsman Lines was negligent in failing to provide prompt medical care and for failing to educate its employees in heart attack awareness, said James Cirilli, an attorney in Superior.The jury had returned a $492,000 verdict or negligence but that was cut in half when it found Becker 50 percent at fault because he didn’t insist on being helped when he had symptoms of a heart attack.

Reported by: the Duluth News-Tribune

John B. Aird still running

01/28:
JOHN B. AIRD has one more trip to Goderich for salt. She will load for Detroit and lay-up at the North Slip in Sarnia — ETA : February 1.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Amherst Island Ferry

01/28:
Early Saturday , Jan.25, the car Ferry Amherst Islander Damaged her propeller.(due to ice.) This left her secured at Millahven and left the people of Amherst Island stranded. The backup ferry for Wolfe Island, the Frontenac II, was asked help the Amherst Islander. There has been no ice breaking tug on stand-by here for the last two winters due to budget cuts.The Frontenac II left Kingston around 11 a.m. and did not arrive in Millhaven until 8 P.M. This is normally about a 1 1/2 hour trip. The ferry was making about 1 mph in the ice areas. She made one trip to the Island to clear the cars and then towed the Amherst Islander back to Kingston. The Frontenac II then returned to Amherst Island to assume the run between the Island and Millhaven.

The Amherst Islander has lost one blade and damaged others. The local dry dock is iced in at the moment.

We have three ferries running in this area. The Amherst Islander and the Wolfe ISlander have bubble systems to help keep the crossings ice free.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

Adam E. Cornelius holed

01/27:
After departing Escanaba loaded Inland Steels Adam E. Cornelius holed her bow enough to take on water. Thank goodness for bulkhead compartments as the water in the forward compartment was estimated to be 31 feet. A Coast Guard helicopter stood by as a precaution and the ship was escorted by tugs to Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay to end the season after expecting to run untill the end of Jan. The Inland Fleet including the Edward L. Ryerson are scheduled to be ready for fit out around mid March.

Reported by: Wayne M.Gray

New Toronto – Niagara Service

01/27:
A company is planning to operate regular passenger ship service across Lake Ontario from Toronto to Port Dalhousie, in St.Catharines, and Rochester, New York. Shaker Cruise Lines have acquired the former Marine Atlantic vessel Marine Courier, and are refitting the ship in Toronto for a start-up of service in March or April. The ship was built in 1986 as a 144-passenger ship; its passenger capacity is being increased, and the ship will be renamed Constellation. Up to three round-trips a day are planned between Toronto and Port Dalhousie, with service to Rochester starting when customs arrangements have been made. The company expects that service can operate up to ten months of the year, given the robust design of the former Newfoundland coastal ship.

Reported by: Pat Scrimgeour

Canadian tendering changed

01/25:
Canada has announced changes to the way it contracts for work on Canadian government vessels. In the east and Great Lakes, any shipyard can bid on work valued at more than C$25,000. Formerly, ships based in a certain province could only be worked on by shipyards in that province.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Corps of Engineers divisions realigned

01/25:
U.S. Secretary of the Army Togo D. West Jr. has approved a plan to restructure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers divisions. There will be eight divisions, with each having at least four subordinate units. The new Great Lakes and Ohio River Division will consist of the North Central and Ohio River divisions, located in Chicago and Cincinnati. The changes are in response to U.S. Public Law 104-206, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1997, which mandates reductions in the number of divisions.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Barge drifts in Lake Erie

01/25:
At 1200 23 Jan., a cable from the forward area of the Donald C. Hannah (U.S.-registry 191-gt, 28-meter/91-foot tug built in 1962, owned and operated by Hannah Marine Corp.) parted from the Hannah 3601 (U.S.-registry 35,360-barrel, 88.1-meter/290-foot tank barge built in 1972, owned and operated by Hannah Marine) in western Lake Erie. The tug, with a crew of six, was trapped in ice 20 centimeters/eight inches to 25 centimeters/10 inches thick. The barge, with 5.225 million liters/1.375 million gallons of medium heating oil, drifted and came within 730 meters/2,400 feet of Middle Sister Island. The tow was sailing from Sun Oil in Cleveland to Toledo, Ohio, under escort by the U.S. Coast Guard Katmai Bay-class Icebreaking Tug U.S.C.G.C. Neah Bay (WTGB 105) when the tow parted. The cutter was able to secure the barge and took it in tow. Either the Neah Bay or sister U.S.C.G.C Bristol Bay (WTGB 102) will escort the tow to a port, either Toledo or Canada. The Canadian Coast Guard Light Icebreaker/Navigational Aids Tender C.C.G.S. Griffon and the Navigational Aids Tender C.C.G.S. Samuel Risley were sailing or were already on-scene to assist. They have now left the area.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Cutter steers runaway barge away from island,disaster

01/24:
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Neah Bay may have averted disaster Thursday when it intercepted a runaway oil barge heading for the rocky shore of Middle Sister Island in Lake Erie.Neah Bay stopped the loaded Hannah barge about 800 yards from the island and pushed it to safety during the 5 hour mission in Canadian waters. Shifting ice up to 10 inches thick and 25 mph winds pushed the barge, loaded with about a million gallons of fuel oil toward the island where rocks and ice could have ruptured the hull.

The tug Donald C. Hannah was pushing the barge, loaded in Toledo to LTV Steel Co. in Cleveland. The Neah Bay was escorting the tug and barge until about 11 A.M. when a steering cable snapped disengaging the barge from the tug.

Once the Neah Bay had pushed the barge a safe distance from the island the crew on the Hannah tug was able to pair the cables enough to tow the barge to a port in Canada for repair. The tow may continue once they convince the Coast Guard that this won’t happen again.

Reported by:

Ice still causing problems in Western Lake Erie

01/24:
A report on NPR radio last night had a tug and barge, one of the Hannah fleet I believe, was stuck in ice near the western Lake Erie islands. the barge is loaded with 26,000 barrels of home heating oil and bound from Toledo to Cleveland. There is concern that ice and wind may drive the barge aground. The reported noted that the tow rope may have broken, and that the Coast Guard cutter Bristol Bay was on the way to help.

Reported by: Jim Flury

Season totals U.S. fleet

01/24:
Shipments of potash on the Great Lakes totaled 657,256 net tons in 1996, an increase of roughly 50,000 tons compared to 1995. Thunder Bay (north shore of Lake Superior) is the sole port loading potash on the Great Lakes.The Lakes potash trade used to top 2 million tons a year, but since farmers need the product to use as a fertilizer during the spring planting and the Soo Locks don’t open until March 25, most shipments have switched to rail.

Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 34,531,197 net tons in 1996, an increase of 4.8 percent compared to 1995. The only coal port to see its shipments decline was Thunder Bay, Ontario (north shore of Lake Superior); loadings fell by 25 percent to 1.6 million tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

C.S.L. and U.L.S. ordered to pay fines

01/24:
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority has fined Canada Steamship Lines Inc. and Upper Lakes Shipping Corp. $5,000 for each violation of a compulsory pilotage zone in December. Three C.S.L. ships, the Nanticoke, the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac, and one U.L.S. vessel, the Canadian Enterprise, violated St. Lawrence River pilotage regulations when they decided they had waited long enough for pilots. On 1 Dec., the Nanticoke sailed from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and the Canadian Enterprise sailed from Contrecoeur, Quebec, to Trois-Rivieres. On 2 Dec., the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac sailed from Trois-Rivieres to Montreal. None of the vessels had the required pilots. As a result, C.S.L. will now have to pay $15,000 and U.L.S. $5,000. The Laurentian Pilotage Authority also reportedly wants to C.S.L. and U.L.S. to pay extra charges it says were needed because vessels with pilots had to anchor while the ships without pilots passed.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Stuck in ice off Buffalo

01/23:
Follow up:
The mystery boat from last night turns out to be the John B. Aird. She dumped a load of salt at Lackawanna on the 21st and tried to make it out on the afternoon of the 22nd. The Samuel Risley came to her aid that evening and they were clear of the ice field by the morning of the 22nd. Once on the open waters of the lake the Risley turned around and cleared the track out again all the way back to Buffalo.There is an Algoma Central straight decker stuck in ten feet of ice in the Buffalo South Entrance Channel. There is a Coast Guard Breaker trying to free her (8pm) . They are making little progress and may wait until the morning. They have four miles of wind rowed ice to make it to open water off Buffalo.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Paul R. Tregurtha Still loaded

01/22:
PAUL R. TREGURTHA was unable to deliver her last cargo of season because of ice in Lorain. She rests in Cleveland with 40,000 tons of ore in her.

Reported by: the Lake Carriers Association

Duluth-Superior Lay-Up Activity

01/22:
As of Saturday, Jan. 18: the Calcite II had a fresh coat of paint, and it appeared the Philip R. Clarke was getting one too. Also in Fraser, it looks like the St. Clair is having some work done on her unloading boom because part of the belt was unwound and laying on her deck.Anyone interested in getting up-close views of vessels in winter lay-up should take a drive down to the Port Terminal in Duluth. There is a road you can drive on that is just a few feet from the Indiana Harbor and Edgar B. Speer. This gives you a great opportunity to see just how huge the 1000 footers actually are. There is also a road that goes under the two gantry cranes and right next to the Roger Blough. In the slip with the Blough are the 4 G-tugs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug Lake Superior. On a building next to the Blough, more than a dozen foreign vessel names were spray painted along with many crew members and the date the vessel was in the slip. It was an unusual thing to see. You can also get up-close views of the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker and Hallet Dock 5. Near the bow of the Barker is the old bum boat Marine Trader.

Reported by: Andy Hering

Paul R. Tregurtha changes lay-up port

01/21:
The Paul Tregurtha is now at the Port of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Port Authority. She arrived on 1-19, the ship was assisted by two tugs and ice apparently caused some problems.This leaves only three U.S. ships running, the self-unloaders JOSEPH L. BLOCK, WILFRED SYKES and ADAM E. CORNELIUS. The three will continue to load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan, until month’s end.

Reported by: Kevin Baker and the Lake Carriers Association

Tregurtha delayed

01/19:
The Paul R. Tregurtha was due to lay-up in Ashtabula on the 17th, she is now (mid-night) clearing the Detroit River with an ice breaker escort. The plan is to wait in the East Outer Channel for the tanker Saturn (now down bound on Lake St. Clair) and head for Ohio.

Reported by: Neil Schultheiss

Duluth and Superior’s Lay-up fleet

01/17:
Duluth and Superior are playing host to one of their largest winter layup fleets in recent years. Thirteen vessels are spending the winter at various docks in the two ports along with an additional vessel in long-term layup.In Duluth, the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker are docked end-to-end at Hallett 5, the first time in many years that dock has seen winter layup vessels. Docking space at the port terminal is filled with Roger Blough, Edgar B. Speer, Indiana Harbor and James R. Barker.

In Superior, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. has assumed its usual winter home at Midwest Energy Terminal while Fraser Shipyards is the location for St. Clair, Lee A. Tregurtha, Elton Hoyt II, Calcite II, Cason J. Callaway and Philip R. Clarke. John Sherwin remains in long-term layup at the nearby Superior municipal dock.

No word on what sort of winter work is being done on these vessels. A crane can be seen alongside the stern of Indiana Harbor and, apparently, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. The drydocks at Fraser are filled with one of the GLF’s AAA boats and, in the small drydock, a Corps of Engineers tug and two excursion boats.

Reported by: Al Miller

More on the LTV train derailment

01/17:
According to a recent story in the Duluth News-Tribune, the two-man crew of an out-of-control LTV taconite train at one point warned other workers that the train might run off the end of the loading dock and plunge into the harbor at Taconite Harbor.The accident earlier this week occurred while Paul R. Tregurtha was loading at the LTV Steel Mining Co. dock at Taconite Harbor. The boat left without a full load after the train derailed and cut off rail access to the shiploader.

The train was coming down a 2 percent grade at an estimated 45 mph instead of the usual 5 mph. LTV officials praised the trainmen for using their radio to warn other workers to block auto traffic on Highway 61 where it passes under the rail line and for alerting them that the train could crash into the shiploader and plunge off the dock.

A safety system functioned as planned when it automatically switched the onrushing train to an uphill loop track, diverting it away from the dock. The entire 93-car train derailed when it hit the switch at high speed.

Reported by: Al Miller

U.S. float up 26 Percent in December

01/17:
Aided by more “normal” sailing conditions, U.S.-Flag operators moved 11,141,893 net tons of dry-and liquid-bulk cargos on the Great Lakes in December, an increase of 26 percent compared to the corresponding period in 1995. The final month of 1995 was marred by the onset of a severe winter which slowed shipping to a crawl. In contrast, this past December was more typical and vessel delays were not excessive.The December U.S.-Flag ore float totaled 6.6 million tons, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to a year earlier. Stone loadings nearly doubled to 1,947,152 net tons. Coal cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 1.8 million tons, an increase of 8 percent.

Through December, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 114.9 million tons, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the same point in the 1995 shipping season. As of today (January 17), the iron ore trade is the only active dry-bulk move on the Lakes. Ore will continue to be shipped from Escanaba, Michigan, to steelmakers along Lake Michigan’s southern shore until month’s end.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Ice Hazard bulletin

01/16:
Note: this report is offered for entertainment and should not be relied on for navigation. Please consult Canadian Ice Service for current conditions (subscription necessary)

Ice Hazard bulletin for the Great Lakes issued by Environment Canada from Canadian Ice Service in Ottawa at 1700 Wednesday, 15 Jan.-Lake Huron
Open water in central portion of lake – narrow band of thin to medium lake ice along the eastern shore of the lake – mostly new lake ice within 5-8 miles of the western shore – greater than 9/10 mostly thin lake ice in Saginaw Bay.

-Lake Erie
7 – 9/10 new lake ice within 8 miles of the northern shore with fast ice in Long Point Bay – west of a line between Point Bruce and Cleveland, 8/10 new with some thin lake ice in the northern 2/3, with 2-4/10 new lake ice in the southern 1/3 of the lake – in the western basin, greater than 9/10 thin with some new lake ice – east of the line between Port Bruce and Cleveland, mostly open water except new lake ice within 3-5 miles of the shore – in Lake St. Clair, 9-10/10 mostly thin lake ice

The following comes from the good folks at the Canadian Ice Service (current forecast is available on-line to subscribers)

Area coverage is expressed in tenths
1-3/10’s—very open drift ice
4-6/10’s—open drift ice
7-8/10’s—close pack ice
9-9+/10’s–very close pack
10/10’s—compact
10/10’s—frozen together – consolidated

When ice reaches 6/10’s or greater, ships can no longer traverse between floes.

Fast ice–ice fastened to the shore (frozen all the way across)

New Lake Ice—-recently formed less than 5 centimeters thick.
Thin Lake Ice—5 – 15 centimeters thick.
Medium Lake Ice-15 – 30 centimeters thick.
Thick Lake Ice–30-70 centimeters thick.
Very Thick Ice–greater than 70 centimeters thick.

Reported by: Neil Schultheiss

Miner last to Duluth

01/15:
The Mesabi Miner arrived in Duluth about 6 p.m. Jan. 15, making it the 13th and final vessel expected to join the Twin Ports winter layup fleet.

Reported by: Al Miller

Paul R. Tregurtha last through the Soo Locks

01/15:
The M/V PAUL R. TREGURTHA locked down through the Poe Lock at 7 a.m. on January 15, thus bringing to a close the 1996 shipping season through the Soo Locks. The TREGURTHA is carrying iron ore to Lorain, Ohio. After delivery of this cargo, the 1,013.5-foot-long self-unloader will proceed to her winter berth in Ashtabula, Ohio. Iron ore will continue to be loaded at Escanaba, Michigan, until the end of the month.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

John B. Aird still sailing

01/15:
Algoma’s JOHN B. AIRD was due into Milwaukee today (Jan 15) with salt from Goderich.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Goderich Continues Shipping Salt

01/15:
CANADIAN OLYMPIC was in Goderich harbour today (01/14) for perhaps her final shipment of salt for the season. She is being accompanied on this trip by the Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker SAMUEL RISLEY.

Reported by: Mike Gibson

Tregurtha departs with partial load

01/14:
The Paul R. Tregurtha was forced to leave Taconite Harbor without a full load Jan. 13 after a railroad accident brought the shipping season there to a premature end. An entire 93-car train of taconite pellets derailed, spilling about 8,000 tons of pellets and tearing up at least half a mile of the track that links LTV Steel Mining Co.’s pellet plant with its shiploading facility. With the loading dock empty and the rail line closed indefinitely, the Tregurtha was forced to depart to beat the closing deadline at the Soo. Two men aboard the train were slightly injured.

Reported by: Al Miller

Visit the Duluth News-Tribune for more details (inc. picture)

Follow up on the Halcyon

01/13:
A Series of errors, some apparently made during hull modifications two years ago, have been cited as causes for the December 2 dockside sinking of the NOAA research vessel Halcyon in Muskegon Harbor (see story dated 12/03). An investigation of the incident revealed that zinc plates installed two years ago in Halcyon’s catamaran-type hull to control corrosion were installed improperly and allowed water to seep into the vessel’s two pontoons. That made Halcyon sit lower in the water. Then, during the winterizing process in late November, crews pumped water out of the four front ballast tanks, left several heavy drums of antifreeze and lubricants sitting on her aft section and failed to properly replace the covers on two deactivated bilge pumps in the aft part of the hull. All this steadily sunk the stern lower until water rushed in at a rate too fast to be controlled and the vessel sank. Halcyon was eventually rasied by three crains, costing about $200,000. At last report NOAA was still weighing whether to repair the 10-year old vessel or scrap her.

Reported by: C. Vincent

Finial calls in the Twin Ports

01/12:
Stewart J. Cort was scheduled to arrive Jan. 12 at the BNSF ore dock in Superior to load the last cargo of the season for the Twin Ports. Also making last-minute trips from ore docks on the western end of the lake were Paul R. Tregurtha, arriving Taconite Harbor on Jan. 12 and Edwin H. Gott, loading at Two Harbors on Jan. 11.

Reported by: Al Miller

Alpena stuck in ice and update

01/11:
7:00 P.M. EST – The Alpena has become stuck in heavy ice in the west end of Lake Erie. Heading out bound through the Pelee Passage for Cleveland, she became stuck in position 4152.3 – 8239.9. At this time, the Canadian Coast Guard ship Griffon is under way to free her.

01/12:
The Griffon was upbound about 9:00 A.M. this morning, I assume this means she was able to free the Alpena.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Tonnage through Duluth-Superior

01/10:
Tonnage through Duluth-Superior this season will total about 37 million tons, which is a respectable total near the ports’ five-year average but still down 10 percent from last season. Contributing to the decline was last spring’s extensive ice delays and environmental tussles over American grain with Canada and Turkey. Among the bright spots was Midwest Energy Terminal, which shipped 13.6 million tons of low-sulfur western coal, up about 3.5 percent from the previous season.

Reported by: Al Miller

Visit the Duluth News-Tribune for complete details

Fire boat to aid in ice breaking

01/10:
The 118 foot Buffalo Fireboat Edward M. Cotter has been put into service as an ice breaker on the Buffalo River and the Outer Harbor. She will leave her Michigan St. dock 5 times a week to keep the channels from becoming hard packed with ice.She will also be kept in a state of readiness to fight any major waterfront fires.She may also see some yard time in the Spring to have her hull kept up to ice breaking standards.The Cotter was built in 1900 and with this status she will be the oldest operational fireboat in the country.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Gott last to load, Speer enters lay-up

01/09:
Edwin H. Gott is scheduled to load the season’s last cargo for Two Harbors on Jan. 10 destined for Gary. Stewart J. Cort closes out the season for the BNSF ore dock in Superior when it loads there Jan. 11.Edgar B. Speer arrived Duluth Jan. 9 for layup.

Reported by: Al Miller

Heavy Ice calls for the Mackinaw

01/09:
Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is due to arrive in Duluth early this morning to break ice for the incoming layup fleet. After lots of snow and cold, the ice apparently is too much for the Sundew to handle alone. Two Interlake 1,000-footers are scheduled to layup at Hallett 5, a stone dock next to the DMIR ore docks in West Duluth. There hasn’t been a vessel in that slip since the ice began forming, so it’ll take something as big as the Mackinaw to bust it out.

Reported by: Al Miller

Escanaba still shipping

01/09:
Escanaba’s ore dock is still busy shipping taconite to lower Lake Michigan destinations. Inland Steel vessels — WILFRED SYKES, JOSEPH H. BLOCK, and ADAM E. CORNELIUS, Upper Lakes Towing’s — JOSEPH H. THOMPSON, and Oglebay Norton’s — COLUMBIA STAR have called recently.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Update on the Gregory Busch

01/09:
As of yesterday night the tug Gregory J Busch is back up at her berth in Saginaw.Last month the Busch was damaged when the Liberty Bridge in Bay City started to close as she passed underneath (see story dated 12/29). As far as the bridge is concerned, they said the brake on the west side draw had a loose wire or two and never locked in place. Instead asthe Busch approach, the span was allready floating downward and clipped the 55 foot mast leaving only about 15 feet on the vessel. Owners say about $5000 to repair. The city accepted responsibility for the accident, but no quote as to paying for the repairs to the tug.

Reported by: Lon W Morgan

Sarnia’s activities on Wed. Jan 8

01/08:
Tug John Spence, Barge McAshphalt No.?, Tug Menasha, Tug Paul E. No 1, Tugs Annie M. Dean and Neptune 3, with scows and barges, dredging the harbor slip at the Govt. Dock/Cargill Elevator (to be completed this week), and the CCG ship Samuel Risley (waiting for ice!!) and that was complimented with the passing of the Yankcanuck traveling from Cleveland to Sault Ste. Marie, carrying a 204,000 pound gearbox destined for Algoma Steel.

Reported by: Duncan White

The perils of a dockworker?

01/08:
A dockworker at Cleveland became stuck 7 Jan. aboard the Yankcanuck when he was wedged between two rungs of a ladder. He was pulled through a hatch by crewmembers and was uninjured.James Zeirke has this to add:
Today’s Milwaukee newspaper had a picture of a maintenance worker who got stuck between the rungs of a ladder while working on the Yankcanuck in Cleveland, OH. The caption said that rescue worker worked about an hour to free him. According the the caption, apparently his sizable belly got jammed between the rungs.

Reported by: James Zeirke and Steve Schultz

Steve’s report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Wednesday P.M. Mauthe tow up date

01/08:
The J.L. Mauthe arrived at Bay Ship at 1900 Hours on 7 Jan 1997.

Reported by: Al Miller

Vessel traffic in winding down

01/08:
Vessel traffic in Duluth-Superior is winding down. Burns Harbor and Stewart J. Cort both are scheduled to load at Superior’s BNSF ore dock later this week. Current schedules call for Paul R. Tregurtha, Lee A. Tregurtha, Mesabi Miner and James R. Barker to arrive early next week for layup.

Reported by: Al Miller

Wednesday Mauthe tow up date

01/08:
The J.L. Mauthe was westbound under the Mackinac Bridge last night (01/06) at 1730 hours. There is some drift ice in the Straits, and probably some at Lansing Shoal, too.

Reported by: Al Miller

Interlake Announces the Conversion of the Mauthe

01/08:
Interlake Steamship Company Announces the Conversion of the Steamship J.L. Mauthe (from a press release dated 01/07/97)Cleveland based Interlake Steamship Company, which owns and operates a fleet of ten ships, has announced plans to convert a 647′ x 70′ bulk carrier to a self-unloading barge. The ship selected for this major conversion is the steamship J.L. Mauthe. The Mauthe was built in 1953 for the Interlake Steamship Co. by Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Michigan. The vessel was last operated in 1993. Since July 1993, the Mauthe has been laid up in Superior Wisconsin.

Interlake has entered into an agreement with Bay Shipbbuilding Company, a division of Manitowoc Marine Group, located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for the conversion of this ship to a self-unloading barge. The basic design of this barge will include a 260′ unloading boom and an innovative cargo hold, tunnel belt and loop belt system capable of discharging a wide variety of cargoes.

Interlake expects to have other necessary agreements in place by mid-January which will permit the commencement of the conversion.

The barge is expected to be available for service in late 1997.

Reported by: Interlake Steamship Company

Alpena reaches Muskegon

01/08:
S.S. ALPENA was unloading cement early this morning (01/07) at LaFarge’s Muskegon dock. She reportedly passed U.S.S. SILVERSIDES in the Muskegon Channel at approximately 0100 hours, and was still dockside at 0800 hours 01/07/96. Ice is beginning to accumulate on the South lighthouse, with Lake Michigan whitecaps creating a nice show.

Reported by: Reported by: George Micka

Alpena loses cargo

01/08:
According to the story published today (01/07), the S. S. Alpena unloading cement at the Lafarge Corp. pumped tons of cement into the air. A passing Muskegon police officer in the area at the time, saw the dust cloud shooting into the air. Thinking of a possible fire he called for the Muskegon fire department. According to Bill Conwill, Lafarge terminal manager, his “best guess” was that 50 of the 13,000 tons of cement were pumped into the air just after 4 a.m. this morning. “As far as we know, the boat (crew) started pumping too hard and blew the door off the dust collector”. Most of the cement dust landed on top of the Lafarge building with some landing near the entrance to Heritage Landing Park. He also said Lafarge crews are likely to shovel the cement into buckets to clean up the mess.

Reported by: Bob Wheelock

Edited from a story appearing in the Jan. 07 Muskegon Chronicle

Marquette’s season winding down

01/07:
Marquette’s 1996-97 shipping season is coming to an end with the Soo Locks closing soon. ALGOMARINE and ALGOSTEEL have been shuttling taconite cargoes from Marquette to Algoma Soo the past week. Both were delayed by heavy weather over the weekend.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Mauthe tow up date

01/06:
The tug John Purves and J.L. Mauthe have been anchored off Detour at Black Rock Pt. since Friday afternoon, waiting on weather.

Reported by: Al Miller

Bay Shipbuilding Corp. gets contract

01/06:
Bay Shipbuilding Corp. of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., has been awarded a U.S.$655,812 contract by the U.S. Coast Guard for drydock repairs.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Duluth/Superior Lay-up Activity

01/06:
At 1230 This afternoon, the Cason J. Callaway was part way into the big drydock at Fraser Shipyard, assisted by the North Carolina. The Philip R. Clarke is laying in the ice off of the drydock entrance, and then it can go back where it was for the winter.The Indiana Harbor made it in yesterday, and they are laying at the Port Terminal. Supposedly, all three Interlake 1000-footers will be in Duluth/Superior this winter.

Reported by: Eric Bonow and Al Miller

J.A.W. Iglehart makes it to Muskegon

01/06:
According to the bridge tender at St. Joseph, J.A.W. IGLEHART was in port Friday at about 1700 hours. The bridge tender said she unloaded half her cargo at East Chicago, and the remainder at St. Joe. S.S. ALPENA didn’t make it into Muskegon on Thursday. I am not sure if she was here over the weekend.

Reported by: Reported by: George Micka

Duluth News

01/04:
At this time (0930) the wind at the Duluth Aerial Bridge is blowing steadily from the NE at 30 knots, with gusts to 40. The Indiana Harbor is outside and will decide whether or not to come in with the wind and its accompanying blowing snow. Ice is also moving in the canal, and the strong winds have pushed the Lake ice down into the end of the lake.If the Indiana Harbor comes in, it will be the first boat to lay up at the Port Terminal.

In other news, the large drydock at Fraser is still empty, but the Clarke (?) is tied across the end of it. I don’t know if any boats are scheduled in there this winter. In the small drydock, the Corp tug Billmaier and the two Vista boats are spending the winter. The Calcite is residing in the spot at the head of Howard’s Pocket, so it will again be the last boat out of the yard. The Sherwin is now at the Superior Municipal dock where the Mauthe had laid for the last couple of years. This leaves the Cummings Ave. slip in the shipyard empty. The Cummings Ave. slip is the site of the Whitney Bros. yard, where the tugs were built during WW I, as well as the tug Wm. A. Whitney.

Reported by: Reported by: Eric Bonow

Owen Sound Harbour

01/03:
Passed by Owen sound Harbour today & it seemed like the good old days were back. The Medusa Conquest was coming in to deliver a load of cement. The Mapleglen was tied up for the winter at the Great Lakes elevator. Both the Chi-cheeman and the Nindawayma were also there. Great to see that many boats in one place on Georgian Bay.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Woudstra

Sundew aids in Mauthe tow

01/03:
On New Year’s Eve, the SUNDEW was called out to assist the J. L. Mauthe, and Tug JOHN Purves and the Great Lakes tugs NORTH CAROLINA and MINNESOTA through the ice. The PURVIS was having trouble getting the MAUTHE through the ice and the other tugs had been trying to help for several hours.The Sundew left the port at about 6:30 PM and arrived on the scene about 1.5 miles from the breakwaters. At midnight we had only gotten them about a quarter of a mile. The wind finally shifted to the southwest and relieved the pressure on the ice, releasing the MAUTHE. We led them to open water about 5 miles out, and left the PURVIS and MAUTHE on their way. The SUNDEW, NORTH CAROLINA and the MINNESOTA got back to port about 1:30. At midnight, the SUNDEW carried out the tradition of ringing in the new year by striking eight bells, the first four struck by the oldest crewmember, and the last four struck by the youngest.

Reported by: Ken Newhams

Mauthe tow making progress

01/02:
Tug John Purves and J.L. Mauthe should reach Whitefish Point by 2100 hours. Plan is to lock through early a.m., then wait for cutter Mackinaw to escort them through the St. Mary’s River.

Reported by: Al Miller

Sarnia’s Lay-up Fleet Taking Shape

01/02:
Sarnia’s lay-up fleet is taking shape with the J.W.MCGIFFIN, LE CHENE NO.1, ALGORAIL,the tug and barge JOHN SPENCE, MCASHPHALT 401, and the AGAWA CANYON on the 1st of January 1997.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Severson

HF marine monitoring on 4369 kHz ssb.

01/02:
This is WLC Rogers City Mich.

Summary of info.
0950   Edwin H. Gott   45.9N 84.3W   Wx Obs
0959   Armco           47.2N 90.4W   Wx Obs

1510   USS Fleet Call in
Cason J Calloway      st. Clair cut   checked due to visibility
      03/1230 Sault   04/1800  Fraser shipyards
Presque Isle          unloaing Gary   56 degrees F etd02/1930
     04/0300  Sault 05/0500 Two Harbours
Roger Blough          
     2.5 miles NE Whitefish Point 1800 Sault
	04/0400 Gary, then Two Harbours to Gary again
Edgar B. Speer        Loading Two Harbours etd 2100-2300 to Gary
Edwin H. Gott         St Marys River 1600 Sault 03/1800 
                      Two Harbours load for Gary

Escanaba busy loading taconite

01/02:
Escanaba has remained busy loading late season taconite cargoes. New Year’s Eve, the dock had one vessel loading, the HERBERT C. JACKSON, and two vessels waiting — KAYE E. BARKER, and JOHN J. BOLAND. The BOLAND very rarely loads in Escanaba. Most late season cargoes have been destined for Indiana Harbor. As of December 31, loadings were scheduled through January 11.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Burns Harbor delayed by ice

01/02:
The Burns Harbor (?) spent over an hour at Johnsons Point trying to break through an ice pack. She went back and forth four times before finally breaking through on new years eve. I think it was the Burns harbor it was dark but I am 80% on the ID of this great vessel.

Reported by: N.Scott

Nanticoke Busy on New Year’s Eve

01/01:
While most ports have shut down for the winter and many boats headed for winter lay-up, Nanticoke continues to be a bee hive of activity with late season visits. New Year’s Eve saw the Gemini loading at Imperial Oil’s dock. The Canadian Transport was in with a load of coal for Ontario Hydro and Nanticoke’s own Cuyahoga was in to load a cargo of slag aggregate for Canada Lafarge.Several more trips of coal are in order for the Canadian Transport and tanker traffic will continue as weather and ice conditions permit.

The Cuyahoga will be wintering at Port Stanley later this week after their final trip with the slag.

Reported by: Reported by: Dave Otterman

Mauthe tow clears Duluth

01/01:
Sometime after midnight Dec. 31, the tug John Purves and J.L. Mauthe cleared the ice field off Duluth and proceeded down the lakes.

Reported by: Al Miller

Still more on the J.A.W. Iglehart Refloated

01/01:
J.A.W. IGLEHART was freed from the bottom of Saginaw Bay Monday, after 2,000 tons of cargo were unloaded. The paper said that since the J.A.W. IGLEHART will be unable to unload the rest of her cargo, since the Liberty bridge will be closed to boat traffic at least until January 6, when a General Electric technician will check it.”Whether the ice and wind pushed them aground or they ran aground of their own accord is undetermined” said Lt. Craig S. Cross of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The S.S. ALPENA is now scheduled to arrive in Muskegon on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., with departure scheduled for 11:00 p.m.

Reported by: Reported by: George Micka

17-year legal battle over sinking near close

01/01:
The City of Milwaukee must pay an estimated U.S.$6 million in interest to National Gypsum Co. in regards to the sinking of the Str. E.M. Ford, Harney B. Stover told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 31 Dec. Stover is a Milwaukee-based lawyer representing National Gypsum. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Curran ruled shortly before Christmas that the prime rate is to be used to determine back interest that has accrued during a 17-year legal proceeding between the city and National Gypsum. The interest is on U.S.$1.6 million in damages the city agreed to pay in 1990. On 24 Dec., 1979, the Str. E.M. Ford, then owned by National Gypsum, sank in a storm with 7,000 tons of dry concrete at the Port of Milwaukee. The ship broke loose from its moorings and sank in the outer harbor. National Gypsum filed a lawsuit against the city, as the ship was at a berth owned by the port and hence the city, seeking U.S.$4.5 million. The City of Milwaukee countersued for U.S.$250,000 in damages to the berth. During a trial in 1989, Curran found National Gypsum 96 percent liable, since the ship had few crewmembers aboard when it sank. An appeals court ruled, however, that National Gypsum was 66 percent liable and the firm should receive back interest for the damages assessed to the city. That ruling was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the appellate ruling in June 1995 and sent the case back to Curran to decide how to calculate the back interest. The city is self-insured and any payment would come from its damages and claims fund.

Reported by: Reported by: Steve Schultz

Ice delays the Mauthe

01/01/1997:
By 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the Purves and Mauthe were continuing to battle the ice off Duluth. Purves is pulling the Mauthe and GLT tugs Minnesota and North Carolina are assisting. Coast Guard Cutter Sundew has been assisting for several hours. The strategy is for the Sundew to run down close alongside the Mauthe, which briefly relieves the ice pressure and allowing the tugs to surge ahead anywhere from a few feet to 75 feet. At last report, the tugs had about 1,400 feet to go to get past a troublesome windrow and into looser ice. Meanwhile, James R. Barker was ready to leave the BNSF ore dock in Superior, about six miles away, but could not because no tugs were available. One GLT tug is not used in ice and two others were engaged with the Mauthe. Not sure on the status of the fourth. Ice had frozen in behind the Barker after its arrival and the master did not want to try backing away from the dock and turning without assistance.

Reported by: Al Miller, Gary A. Putney, Eric Bonow, and Tom Holecek