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Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
Finished unloading stone at the company’s Hallett Dock 5, a load of ore in Two Harbors was next on the schedule for Great Lakes Fleet’s Great Republic. The maneuverable vessel made it look easy as she pulled away from the dock, made her way up the harbor, and departed beneath the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge at 03:17 for the journey two hours up the North Shore. Later in the morning, Whitefish Bay was outbound at around 07:15 for Quebec City after piling on all the ore she could carry at BNSF Dock 5. At CN Dock 6 across the harbor, another load of taconite pellets was complete as Indiana Harbor wrapped up around noon and departed at 12:52 for Cleveland. The anchored Algoma Sault, hanging out in the lake since 06:00, made a rare arrival at 13:10 to take her turn at the dock. Her visit was juxtaposed with the comparatively-common weekly appearance of the Paul R. Tregurtha at 17:04. You don’t even need me to tell you she was loading 68,000 tons of coal at SMET. Saltie Floretgracht left port at 19:44 for Montreal, very likely to be followed by a trip overseas. She had been spending some time at the port terminal.
Port Inland, MI – Andrew Meyer
While Port Inland looks as though it will be quiet for a couple days, the port saw three vessels over the last several days. The Herbert C. Jackson arrived at 0930 and departed 10 hours later. Rand’s Sam Laud arrived 30 minutes after the Jackson’s departure. She, too, would spend about 10 hours in port. Pere Marquette 41/Undaunted made an appearance for a quick load around dinnertime Saturday. She would cast her lines around midnight, heading south.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Andrew Meyer
Chicago, IL: Caroline McKee has been doing her thing, having left Calumet Harbor this morning for Ferrysburg, undoubtedly to pick up another load for the Windy City. In the Chicago anchorage are Federal Kumano and Federal Shimanto, likely waiting for either a pilot or the Fuldaborg to clear. Fuldaborg has been at the dock since the 18th, and is now showing an AIS destination of Thunder Bay, so she should depart sometime later today.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Indiana Harbor has also been graced with the presence of 2 of the 13 over the last several days, with Mesabi Miner arriving late on the 18th and departing around suppertime on the 19th. American Century arrived about an hour later, and departed in the evening on 20th.
Gary, IN: It has been quiet in Gary, too, since the classics Arthur M. Anderson and John G. Munson cycled through mid-last-week. Now, the port awaits the American Spirit and the recently reactivated Philip R. Clarke, I believe the Spirit coming from Marquette and the Clarke from Duluth. Both should arrive on the 21st. Due Monday evening is the Edgar B. Speer.
Burns Harbor, IN: American Integrity and Burns Harbor have been the only traffic the last few days at Burns Harbor. Departing the morning of the 18th was the American Integrity, replaced shortly thereafter by the Burns. The latter would depart the morning of August 20. Joseph L. Block was due on the 18th, but is only halfway between the locks and her destination. Further out, the James R. Barker is due with ore.
Drummond Island, MI – Andrew Meyer
Victory/Maumee has been the only traffic the last couple days, with the exception of Drummond Islander IV.
Port Dolomite, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Laura L. VanEnkevort mosied on up the lake from Calcite to top off her barge Joseph H. Thompson’s limestone load at around 06:00. The pair departed for Lorain at 15:45.
Bruce Mines, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Algoma Innovator spent a baker’s dozen hours in port before leaving for Windsor at 01:00.
Meldrum Bay, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
In another example of diversification of the 1,000-foot fleet, American Integrity took on a footer-first load of limestone at Meldrum Bay before departing at 03:00. Her destination is an equally-rare trip to Muskegon. Algoma Buffalo arrived to load at 14:30.
Fisher Harbor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Algoma Buffalo was outbound for Meldrum Bay at 02:30.
Calcite, MI – Andrew Meyer
Limestone has been moving through Calcite….arriving after the Munson on the 18th was the Ashtabula/Defiance. The pair would depart at 0345 the next morning, leaving the port vacant for a bit over 12 hours. Fellow ATB fleetmate Olive L. Moore/Menominee would arrive in the waning hours of the 19th. Lee A. Tregurtha would arrive in town under cover of night the early morning of the 20th, and the Moore would roll out at 1453. The Lee would follow her out four hours later, only to be replaced by the Laura L. VanEnkevort and Michigan Trader, which would make an incredibly short stay, departing only four hours later. John G. Munson would arrive at 0200, ending an impressive day and a half of traffic. No expected traffic via AIS, so it should be a quiet day or two now.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, Detroit was already receiving its first port call as Clyde S. VanEnkevort pushed her barge Erie Trader inbound to fuel up at Mistersky. The pair are headed upbound to Marquette after unloading in Toledo and continued on the journey to Lake Superior around 04:15. Preceding the pair in leaving port was fellow tug/barge combo Defiance/Ashtabula at 01:09, heading north for Meldrum Bay and more limestone after discharging the stuff at Carmeuse. CSL Tadoussac took the Trader’s place at Mistersky immediately after the latter’s departure, casting off herself for Superior shortly before 07:00. Her fleetmate CSL Assiniboine was inbound for fuel at the same; she, however, would be serviced by Sterling Fuels in Windsor. Arriving at 13:39 with salty holds from Goderich was Algoma Intrepid. Algoma’s versatile laker would unload at multiple locations on the River Rouge throughout the day. Calumet and Alpena paid visits to Detroit at 14:18 and 16:40, respectively; Calumet fueled while Alpena passed by for Holcim with a load of cement. The former ceded the dock to American Mariner upon departure for Port Dolomite at Cedarville just after 17:00. Mariner was also outbound for stone in the evening, firing up the engines around 20:00 for Calcite.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: Calumet arrived at 04:37, unloaded and departed for Cedarville. New York/Double Skin 509A arrived at 12:25.
Toledo, OH: Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader departed at 16:22. Wilfred Sykes arrived at 18:39.
Marblehead, OH: Cuyahoga arrived at 19:45.
Sandusky, OH: Manitoulin arrived at 12:40 and berthed behind Algoma Mariner.
Lorain, OH: Cuyahoga arrived at 04:37, unloaded at Holcim and departed for Marblehead.
Cleveland, OH: G.L. Ostrander/Integrity is at Holcim Cement. Federal Leda and Federal Barents are at the Port. Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement departed for Hamilton, ON. Mark W. Barker is on the shuttles. Sam Laud was a late evening arrival.
Fairport Harbor, OH: H. Lee White arrived at 11:18, unloaded and left at 14:17.
Erie, PA: H. Lee White departed for Fairport Harbor.
Nanticoke, ON: Florence Spirit departed for Cleveland. Algocanada and Algoterra are at Imperial Oil. Edwin H. Gott departed for Two Harbors at 10:47 and Baie Comeau weighed anchor and went to Stelco.