Great Lakes Shipyard awarded $1.9 million in government contracts
Cleveland, OH – Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Towing Company, Cleveland, OH, USA, announced that it has recently been awarded government contracts amounting to more than $1.9 million. The contracts include haul out, maintenance, and repair work of the following vessels:
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter KATMAI BAY; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -Detroit District Floating Plant (Tug DEMOLEN and Crane Barge VELER); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -Buffalo District Barge BC6214.
The contracts could be valued at nearly $2.5 million if all options are exercised. Great Lakes Shipyard is a regular provider of maintenance and repair services to the federal government, particularly the USCG and USACE Great Lakes vessel fleets. The vessels are “repeat customers” and were at Great Lakes Shipyard for their last routine drydockings back in 2016.
“These are some of our favorite projects to have in the shipyard. We have great working relationships with the Coast Guard and the Army Corps, and the contracts help keep our crews busy with steady work,” says Dan Keith, Project Manager.
The shipyard will utilize its new 900-ton Marine Travelift to haul out the vessels and barges and perform the work simultaneously. For a short period, all four (4) vessels will be on drydock in the yard at the same time. Most of the work will be completed before the end of November.
Great Lakes Shipyard
The 2021 Gales of November traditional conference cancelled
Duluth, MN – Due to the increasing numbers of COVID infections and hospitalizations in our region, the board of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association has opted to cancel its in-person Gales of November. The board is exploring other options, including virtual presentations, for Nov. 12 & 13. Please stay tuned for updates coming shortly.
Lake Superior Marine Museum Association
Soo Locks Visitor Center to close temporarily for roof repairs
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is temporarily closing the Soo Locks Visitor Center from Oct. 4, 2021 to Oct. 8, 2021. The Visitor Center will temporarily close to protect the safety of visitors and contractors while repairs are made to the roof and ceiling of the facility.
“The park, observation platform and bathrooms will remain open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily,” said Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs. The Visitor Center will reopen to the public and updates to the boat schedule hotline will resume at 9 a.m. Oct. 9, 2021.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
U.S. Navy decommissions Great Lakes-built USS Freedom after 13 years of service
San Diego, CA – USS Freedom (LCS 1), the lead ship of the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, was recognized more than a decade of naval service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Base San Diego on Sept.29
Due to public health safety and restrictions of large public events related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the ceremony was a private event celebrated alongside ship plankowners and former crew members.
During the ceremony guest speaker, retired Rear Adm. Donald Gabrielson, former commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command/Commander, U.S. Fourth Fleet and commanding officer of Freedom’s commissioning crew, wished the current crew fair winds and following seas as they bid farewell to their ship.
“I have never in my life seen or served alongside a more capable, dedicated, devoted, talented, and inspiring group of people than the Sailors I served alongside with LCS and what I have watched in every day since.” said Gabrielson. “As we acknowledge this bittersweet moment, I hope well all remember that this ship was a vehicle to learn and innovate by doing and to make real progress in a short amount of time, and that doesn’t happen with other ship concepts.”
Freedom’s commanding officer, Capt. Larry Repass, reflected on the service of his crew and those who came before. “As we bid farewell to Freedom, her crew consists of superb, highly trained, deeply committed Sailors who are dedicated to mission accomplishment, defense of the nation, and defense of our families,” said Repass. “In them, the spirit of Freedom lives on.”
Freedom maintained a crew of nine officers and 41 enlisted Sailors. The ship was built in Marinette, Wisconsin, by Fincantieri Marinette Marine and commissioned Nov. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After the decommissioning of Freedom, 21 LCS remain in service to the fleet.
Naval Post
Fall Lighthouse Festival October 1-3 in Door County
Sturgeon Bay, WI – The 2021 Door County Fall Lighthouse Festival is this weekend. Many of the tour excursions provide exclusive access to lighthouses not typically open to the public, including Chambers Island, Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse, Sherwood Point and the Plum Island Range Lights. Some tours are already sold out, but tickets remain available for the Saturday Plum Island trip, Saturday morning Rock Island tour, and Saturday & Sunday Kayak Lighthouse Tours.
Visit www.dcmm.org for tour details and additional information. For questions, please email info@dcmm.org or call (920) 743-5958.Maritime Speaker Series Returns!
Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc.
Door County museum Maritime Speaker Series returns
Sturgeon Bay, WI – The first presentation of the 2021-2022 Maritime Speaker Series will be held on Thursday, October 7 at 7pm, featuring Barb Chisholm discussing the 150th anniversary of the Peshtigo Fire.
On the evening of Oct. 8, 1871, the worst recorded forest fire in North American history raged throughout Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, destroying millions of dollars of property, timberland, and taking between 1,200 and 2,400 lives.
Barb Chisholm, great granddaughter of fire-survivor Emmerence (Gaspard) Englebert, will take on the character of her great grandmother to tell the tale of her forebears’ survival, and give an overview of the fire that enveloped both sides of the Bay, and how it influenced the area and its people.
Each Fall, Winter and Spring, the Door County Maritime Museum hosts experts and interesting characters from around the country for the Maritime Speaker Series (presented in partnership with series sponsor Door County Medical Center).
The Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series programs are held the first Thursday of each month, October through May, beginning at 7pm, on the second floor of the Museum in Sturgeon Bay, as well as online.
There is no cost to attend; we suggest donation of a non-perishable food item, or if watching online, we ask you to donate to your local food pantry.
Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc.
