Cargo ship collides with Coast Guard icebreaker near Quebec City
Quebec City, QC – A collision between a cargo ship and a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker temporarily halted maritime traffic Saturday afternoon in the St. Lawrence River, near the port of Quebec City.
The Federal Crimson bulk carrier collided with the stern of the CCGS Pierre Radisson icebreaker near Sainte-Foy, not far from the two bridges connecting Quebec City to the South Shore. It happened while the icebreaker was escorting the cargo vessel through the icy waters.
The hull of the icebreaker was damaged in the collision, but the vessel is not taking on water, according to Marie-Ève Caron, spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard.
No one was injured, she added. The coast guard ship is now anchored in St-Nicolas and will return to the Port of Quebec City for repairs. Pierre Radisson has in the past been called in to help break ice on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.
Another Coast Guard icebreaker, the Des Groseilliers, will take over for the Pierre Radisson this afternoon, while a third icebreaker that had been called in as backup. The Martha L. Black will return to Trois-Rivières, according to Caron.
CBC
Traverse City shipmate remembered by Great Lakes community
Traverse City, MI – Traverse City local Richard Gray, 35, died Monday from a tragic accident aboard his 1,000 – foot freighter ship the Walter J. McCarthy, off the shore of Gary, Indiana. Many people across the Great Lakes state have reached out in support to his close family and friends.
Gray was a graduate of Great Lakes Maritime Academy. He also served as 1st Vice President of the International Shipmasters’ Association Grand Traverse Lodge #23.
“It was hard not to like Richard,” says Captain Mark Mather, ISMA Lodge #23 President and GLMA alum. “He had a sense of humor that not everyone got, but oh my gosh, he is famous for having the world’s worst puns and loving puns.”
Friends and colleagues say he was a part of many organizations. He is also said to have been a great man, devoted husband and father of three.
“An extremely dedicated father,” says Rebecca Hancock. “Loved those kids like his life depended on it and was one of the sweetest husbands you’d ever want to meet. He will be very much missed by everyone, but his legacy is evident in so many ways, his spirit will never be gone.”
Gray was part of getting a committee started called Membership and Outreach at the ISMA Lodge #23. Hancock says they thought it would be necessary to reach out to the younger people and that Gray was dedicated to Shipmasters’ and wanted to help the organization grow.
Hancock also says each year Gray would pay for a cadet’s subscription to a program called lapware, used to help cadets study for their license exams.
“Richard was also an adjunct instructor at the academy in his of times,” she says. “So, you can see that he truly cared about the future of not only individual people but the Great Lakes maritime industry in general.”
His friend and colleague Ryan Miller says the two met while at the GMLA in 2008. They were two of the “older” guys and bonded from that. They both went on to work for the same ship company. Gray was working for the American Steamship Co. when he died.
Read more and view the 9&10 News video report here: https://www.9and10news.com/2022/01/21/traverse-city-shipmate-dies-remembered-by-great-lakes-community/?fbclid=IwAR0r43vyROKm_kj0ocPClYeH1yz2VVjFiRF1AzCuOoajF4W5qeIN5C3mXO4
Lake Superior water levels drop by nearly 30 cm compared to a year ago
Lake Superior’s water level is 7 cm lower than average over the past century
Despite a wetter-than-average December, water levels on Lake Superior are nearly 30 centimetres lower than a year ago, according to an organization that monitors lake levels.
The International Lake Superior Board of Control said Lake Superior water levels in January are 28 centimetres below levels recorded a year ago, and seven centimetres lower than the long-term average between 1918 and 2020.
Shelley Psikla, who lives on the shore of the lake in northwestern Ontario, said the lake has been low for some time at her home in Shuniah. There was no place to put the boat at the dock, she said, adding there was no water.
“This summer, it was even worse,” Psikla said. “It just lowered and lowered. And as the fall approached, it is literally a sandbar.”
Psilka has lived on the lake for a decade, and said three years ago, the water level was so high “you had to step up into your boat from the dock.”
Last year, the water level had dropped by about 45 centimetres, she said.
“Obviously when you live on the waterfront, you want the water there, and you want to be able to participate in all of the wonderful water sports that are available to us,” Psikla said. “When you can’t put … your jet ski or your boat anything right at your own dock and in front of your home, it’s a big concern.”
The board said in a media release issued this week that Lake Superior water levels typically drop by as much as 10 centimetres in January.
The board said Lake Superior declined two centimetres in December, less than the average December drop of eight centimetres
Obituary: Capt. David Mathie
Capt. David Burton Mathie was born Sept. 4, 1958, in Detroit, to Betty and Burton Mathie. He passed away in his home on Jan. 11, 2022.
David is survived by his loving wife, Heather; and his four children, Ashleigh, Jacob (Gabby), Nicole (Corbin) and Monica; as well as his grandchildren, Lee and Addison. David also leaves behind his siblings, Karen Henry, Susan (John) Fisher, Michael (Melissa); and his mother-in-law Barbara Tibbetts; as well as many nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his mother and father; and father- in-law, Harold Tibbetts.
Family was the most important thing to David. Dave and Heather were married for 40 years and relocated to Traverse City while Dave attended school at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and NMC. He was a master in his field and on the ship, making captain at the young age of 37. Among the vessels he commanded was the 1,000-footer Stewart J. Cort.
He was celebrated on the Great Lakes, as he would blow the horn for those on the St. Marys River who waited for the freighter to come through. He worked hard to provide for his family. Dave was the life of the party and loved game nights, bonfires, and pool days with his family. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed nature, planting trees and tending to his bees. He shared his knowledge of nature and astronomy with his children because “knowledge is power.” David also shared his woodworking, jars of honey and homemade bee candles.
A celebration of David’s life will be held this summer. “Home is the sailor, home from the sea.” Raise a glass to the best. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family.
Lay-up reports needed
Now that the end of the shipping season has arrived, please send reports of vessel lay-ups to news@boatnerd.net. This will help us compile our annual lay-up list. Include vessel name, date, port and name of lay-up dock. Click here to view the Lay-Up List: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-layup-2021-2022/
