Please send port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
Though Wednesday would be another strong day for shipping in the Twin Ports, a thick fog over the harbor proved disruptive for early-morning vessel traffic. Joseph L. Block, her stone cargo long since ashore at CN Dock 6, was finally able to depart port for Silver Bay via the Duluth Entry at 05:07. Attempting to depart Duluth from Graymont about an hour later was the Great Republic; however, she would be forced to anchor in the inner harbor just after 07:00 to wait for visibility conditions to improve. The Republic would eventually complete her outbound journey for Two Harbors at 10:08. Paul R. Tregurtha was also outbound Duluth at 11:10, departing with a load of 68,000 tons of coal from SMET – 38,000 in holds 1, 3, and 5 for St. Clair, and the remaining 30,000 in holds 2 and 4 for Essexville. Even the Queen of the Lakes was no match for the fog, which promptly swallowed her up after the footer entered the lake. Things would clear up significantly over the lunch hour to greet the departing Indiana Harbor from BNSF Dock 5 in Superior at 13:02. She is due next in Conneaut, likely with Keetac pellets. The lifting of the fog was also great timing for a fun trio of Duluth arrivals, all proceeding inbound within the span of fewer than 30 minutes. Samuel de Champlain/Innovation (13:39) and H. Lee White (13:44) were the first, and actually arrived under the same lift of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge with only a short distance separating the two vessels. John G. Munson (14:02) came in on her own after the lift bridge lowered for a short time to clear traffic backups. The Champlain/Innovation are discharging cement from Alpena at Holcim, the White was inbound for SMET, and the Munson hauled in limestone for CN-Hallett Dock 5 that she loaded in Calcite. Whitefish Bay arrived Superior later in the evening at 21:22 to take on ore at BNSF. At 23:18, H. Lee White sailed out the Duluth Ship Canal after a fast load of 19,000 tons of petroleum coke, headed for another rare trip to Thorold in the Welland Canal. Federal Caribou spent the day tied up at Gavilon loading agricultural products, the specifics of which are unknown at this time.
Marquette, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Kaye E. Barker arrived at 00:08 for the north side of the ore dock, departing for Dearborn only 6.5 hours later with a load of Tilden pellets.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Joshua Hebeisen
Calumet Harbor, IL: Tuesday, July 5 saw Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 arrive for what appeared to be Reserve Marine Terminals at 08:21. The pair was headed back up the river overnight and cleared the pier at 00:36 Wednesday morning with an AIS destination of Holland.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Mesabi Miner was a 14:56 July 5 arrival; she tied up at Dock 7H to unload ore from Duluth, likely UTAC pellets. The footer set her sights back on the Twin Ports when she departed at 18:08 on the sixth.
Buffington, IN: American Spirit cast off from the dock shortly after noon on Tuesday, headed to Marquette after bringing an aggregate cargo from Calcite into port.
Gary, IN: Tuesday traffic included American Integrity, departing empty at 10:26 for the Twin Ports, and Arthur M. Anderson, arriving at 22:56 from the same destination with blast furnace trim. She would unload her cargo against the east side of the slip, opposite from her usual berth on the west side of the complex. The next morning, Edgar B. Speer arrived at 05:42 from Two Harbors on what was her first trip hauling cargo in a few weeks. She went to the hopper across from her fleetmate Anderson before the latter departed for Cedarville at 08:20. The footer would head outbound herself about 12 hours later, settling back in on her usual runs to Two Harbors.
Burns Harbor, IN: Lubie departed FMT Burns Harbor at 21:46 Wednesday for Milwaukee, leaving Federal Montreal at Metro Ports the only vessel in port as of Wednesday night.
St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, MI: Dock 63 received a load of limestone Tuesday from the inbound Sam Laud; the river-class vessel arrived at 09:55 before departing at 17:05 for Port Inland. Her cargo will be used for local construction projects.
Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor loading at Compass Minerals. Algoma Innovator arrived 12.05 Wednesday now tied up North Pier. Algoma Intrepid arrived 03.40 Wednesday and now anchored outside harbour to load salt next. Goderich now hosted 71 lake boats this season.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: Manitowoc arrived at 05:36, unloaded and left for Toledo at 13:23. American Century arrived with coal for DTE at 18:45.
Toledo, OH: John D. Leitch arrived at 15:01and Manitowoc at 15:54.
Marblehead, OH: Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H.Thompson loaded at Holcim and left for Lorain at 16:22. Cuyahoga is anchored.
Lorain, OH: Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H.Thompson arrived at 19:14 to unload at the Holcim yard.
Cleveland, OH: Calumet arrived at 18:53 and loaded a shuttleforCliffs.
Ashtabula, OH: CSL Welland departed for Two Harbors at 11:51.Calumet arrived at 06:44. She unloaded and left for Cleveland at 13:57. The Coast Guard cutter Hollyhock arrived at 12:26 to place bouys. Saltie Maria G arrived at the Pinney dock at 13:21.
Conneaut, OH: American Mariner departed for Gary, IN at 18:55.
Nanticoke, ON: Algocanada departed for Oakville, ON at 12:23. Algonorth arrived at Imperial Oil 23 minutes later. CSL Tadoussac was a late night arrival to Stelco.
Port Colborne, ON: Anchored in Lake Erie are the salties Redhead and Gwen.