Watch for new Algoma vessel The Algoma Bear in 2024
St. Catharines, ON – Algoma Central Corporation has announced the name of its next Equinox-class 740-foot-long self-unloader will be The Algoma Bear, a name representing strength, stability and size. It is expected to join the Algoma fleet in 2024.
In June 2021 – Algoma Central Corporation signed a contract with China’s Yangzijiang (YZJ) Shipyard for the construction of a new Seaway-Max self-unloading vessel for its domestic dry-bulk fleet. The vessel will be the first of the new Equinox 2.0 Class. The new class vessel’s design will build on the original Equinox Class standards to offer increased deadweight capacity, better fuel efficiency and improved speed at lesser engine power.
The Equinox 2.0 will also incorporate weight-saving features and a modified stern. With a dual-rudder design, the reconfigured stern will increase the cargo holding capacity by nearly 1,440 mt. The design enhancements will also include changes to the cargo hold shape, which will improve the handling of ‘sticky’ cargoes, along with an upgraded propeller.
The newbuild will replace the Algoma Transport, one of the oldest ships in the Algoma dry-bulk fleet.
Algoma Central Corporation
Official statement regarding Kaye E. Barker’s recent grounding
As previously reported, our M/V Kaye E. Barker stranded on a sandbar as it was attempting to enter Muskegon Harbor on Thursday evening (April 28, 2022). Most importantly, the incident remains injury-free and there was no pollution or harm to the environment.
The vessel was freed from the sandbar the following Friday afternoon after approximately 2,000 net tons of cargo was transferred to a small barge that was brought alongside the ship. We were hopeful that would be enough to permit the ship to pass over the sandbar and into Muskegon but following another attempt to enter the harbor and subsequent bottom surveying, it became evident that additional cargo would have to be removed from the vessel.
Consequently, the vessel anchored for the evening and after the small barge was discharged at our customer’s dock, it returned to our M/V Kaye E. Barker on Saturday morning and an additional 2,000 net tons of cargo was transferred from the vessel to the barge and subsequently unloaded at the customer’s dock.
By then, weather conditions prohibited our M/V Kaye E. Barker from safely entering the harbor so out of an abundance of caution, the vessel went to anchor until conditions improved. When they did, the vessel entered the harbor and discharged the remainder of the cargo without issue. Fortunately, it does not appear that the soft sandbar caused any damage to the vessel.
When the vessel was loaded for Muskegon, it was loaded based upon the most recent bottom survey which indicated that there was sufficient water depth at the entrance. The sand bar developed after the last bottom survey was conducted and we are currently working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get the area dredged soon. The Corps conducted a survey of the waterway on Saturday.
The Interlake Steamship Co.
Great Lakes research vessels begin annual fish surveys
Petoskey, MI – As the ice on the Great Lakes begins to clear, research vessels from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries division have begun their annual fish surveys.
The overall goal of the surveys is to find out how many fish are in the lakes, how they are growing and identifying what is impacting the population. Each lake has individual goals and focuses for the survey.
On Lake Michigan, the SV Steelhead, stationed at the Charlevoix Research Station, will focus on adult yellow perch, lake whitefish, lake trout, Chinook salmon and forage fish populations. The vessel began operation this week in Saugatuck and will likely work until the first week of December.
Read the full article at petoskeynews.com: https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/environment/2022/04/28/great-lakes-research-vessels-begin-annual-fish-surveys/9545043002/
Petoskey News-Review
