Warship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul locks upbound Saturday
Sault Ste. Marie – The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was upbound at the Soo Locks around 12:30 p.m. Saturday headed to Duluth-Superior where she will be commissioned at 10 AM on May 21.
She was assisted at the locks by the Great Lakes Towing Co. tug Kentucky. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul has no thrusters and the high sides act like a sail, although wind was not an issue Saturday.
The USS Minneapolis Saint Paul, LCS-21, is a littoral combat ship built at Marinette, Wisconsin’s Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
The ship was christened and launched into the Menominee River in 2019 but problems with the vessel surfaced during trials and the commissioning, twice in both 2020 and 2021.
Roger LeLievre
Pearl Mist cruise ship returning to Great Lakes, passengers to explore 2 Michigan ports
Pearl Seas Cruises is returning to the Great Lakes this summer – after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with plans to visit two ports in Michigan multiple times.
The cruise line’s Pearl Mist will soon begin a 15-night itinerary through the St. Lawrence Seaway ending in Toronto, Canada, on Lake Ontario. From Toronto, the ship will begin its 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay cruise on May 29, which includes stops at Mackinac Island and Muskegon; the cruise ends in Milwaukee, WI.
The Pearl Mist will operate two itineraries from May to August: the 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay and the 7-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay, both include the two Michigan ports. A total of 10 cruises are planned.
The 210-passenger, six-deck ship has operated on the Great Lakes since 2014 and called on Muskegon for the first time in 2015.
According to Cruise Industry News, Pearl Seas is also offering expanded onboard and shore enrichment programs this year, including activities from kayaking to hiking to glass-bottom boat tours.
MLive
Time running out for Boatnerd Freighter-Chasing Cruise Early Bird rate
After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!
• When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine
• Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
• Limit: 100 passengers
• Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
• General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17
• Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.
This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf
If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.
The Boatnerd Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!
Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
