Port Reports – December 29, 2022

Unless where otherwise noted, port and vessel activity from December 28, 2022. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.

Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
Ice has been the name of the game across the lakes as of late, and the Twin Ports are certainly no exception. Great Lakes Towing’s Missouri and Heritage Marine’s Helen H. have been kept very busy over the past few days keeping traffic moving through the harbor, their red/green and yellow/brown paint schemes a nice contrast while assisting ships to and from their docks. Even with their help, however, it’s been tough sledding with the harbor coated in a thick ice sheet reportedly up to eight inches thick in some places. The impending warm(er) spell forecasted for the coming days will hopefully provide some relief until the season closes in just over two weeks. 

Traffic on Tuesday, December 7 would begin out in the lake as John G. Munson got going from the anchorage at 06:00 heading up to Two Harbors. Over in Superior and within the confines of the port, American Integrity would get underway from BNSF shortly thereafter with a load of taconite bound for Conneaut. Her subsequent departure would be followed by a Michipicoten arrival at 06:47 after several days of sitting off the piers. Around 10:45, Arthur M. Anderson finally steamed up, up, and away from CN Dock 6 after what has been a long stay for her in port as well. The journey from West Duluth to the Aerial Lift Bridge typically takes a little over 45 minutes in the summer; due to ice, however, the steamer and tug Helen H. would struggle for over two hours before Anderson cleared for Gary at 13:03. Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader came in from anchor to take over at CN 6, appearing in dire need of a shave with a thick beard of ice.

Turnover in the port continued about two hours later as Mesabi Miner departed with coal for St. Clair and Monroe. Her exit cleared the SMET dock for John J. Boland, waiting nearby at CN-Hallett Dock 5, but the latter would not make her move until late Wednesday night. Michipicoten and CSL Laurentien traded places around 16:00, with the Mich’ getting underway for the Soo and Laurentien coming in from anchor to begin loading some ore of her own at BNSF. Tuesday would end with a quite painstaking venture into Superior by Walter J. McCarthy Jr. Arriving to take a delay at Enbridge around 21:47, it took the footer and G-tug Missouri nearly two hours to cover a distance of just one nautical mile.

Wednesday would also begin with a Great Lakes Fleet classic moving around off the piers. Philip R. Clarke, scheduled for a rare trip at BNSF, came off the lake at 06:30 and dropped anchor to wait out her turn. At the same time back in Duluth, tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort attempted to impress her mate Great Lakes Trader by detaching and breaking her own ice in the harbor. Left alone and exposed to the cold while loading frozen taconite at CN 6, the barge was not happy. Joyce would return to an angry Trader a little after 07:30, and the pair grumbled out for Cleveland together at 09:06.

Superior’s backup was further resolved later in the evening as CSL Laurentien departed for Hamilton at 17:20, clearing the way for Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader just nine minutes later as the tug/barge came in at a brisk pace. Very considerate of them, giving boatnerds time to head back to Duluth and catch an American Mariner arrival at 18:26. The Mariner was originally scheduled for Marquette but switched orders to take advantage of an empty CN dock.

Two Harbors, MN – Joshua Hebeisen
With fleetmate John G. Munson on hand to take over, Edwin H. Gott departed for Gary at 10:03 Tuesday. Presque Isle set up shop in the anchorage just after 19:00, and the Great Lakes Fleet relay continued the following morning as the Munson followed in the footsteps of the Gott at 05:30. Presque Isle was still loading as of Wednesday night.

Marquette, MI – Oggdo Bogdo
There has been some unique traffic as of late, including the Calumet and Olive L. Moore/Menominee. Tuesday did not have any particularly unusual visitors, though there was plenty of action. The Joseph L. Block had been waiting out some weather just outside Marquette before leaving for Indiana Harbor at 06:20. She was followed shortly by the Herbert C. Jackson, departing for Dearborn at 08:13. Fleet mate Kaye E. Barker was next to leave, at 15:03, also due next at Dearborn. Both Interlake vessels had arrived the previous night within an hour of each other. Finally, the Victory/Maumee arrived at 20:25. Her fleet mate, Olive L. Moore/Menominee, will be making another uncommon visit in the coming days.

An eventful day on Tuesday was followed with a comparatively unremarkable day on Wednesday, with traffic consisting only of the departure of the Victory/Maumee for Toledo at 11:30. Despite this, the Wilfred Sykes, Hon. James L. Oberstar, and Olive L. Moore/Menominee are all due in the coming days.

Muskegon, MI – Oggdo Bogdo
Steamer Wilfred Sykes appeared to pick favorites in the opening hours of Tuesday morning, choosing Muskegon instead of her original destination, Grand Haven. It remains to be seen whether the latter will hold a grudge. Editor’s Note: It also remains to be seen whether we hold a grudge against Oggdo Bogdo after the busy space lizard neglected his sacred reporting duties for two weeks… Don’t worry, folks, I’m just joking with our intergalactic friend – I’m related to him, after all. Nevertheless, the Sykes began unloading at Verplank in Muskegon after her 05:34 arrival. She came from Burns Harbor originally.

The Wilfred Sykes departed at 16:62 Wednesday for its now common destination of Marquette after finishing unloading at Cobb Verplank. She proceeded to the western end of Lake Michigan before heading upbound.

Manistee, MI – Chris Franckowiak
MANITOWOC remained docked at TES – Filer City Wednesday afternoon, waiting on weather. She will hopefully depart around midnight, bound for Indiana Harbor, IN.

Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Marblehead, OH: Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader is at Holcim and Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson remains at anchor.
Sandusky, OH: Lee A. Tregurtha arrived to load coal at Norfolk Southern but ice is thick in Sandusky Bay and she is stuck. Once freed she will head to the dock.
Cleveland, OH: Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder finished unloading at RiverDock and the tug/barge moved to Cargil to load salt.
Fairport Harbor, OH: CSL Tadoussac departed with salt for Toronto, ON. Calumet weighed anchor and is loading at Morton Salt.
Nanticoke, OH: Leonard M/Huron Spirit departed for Port Colborne, Algosea is at Imperial Oil and CSL Niagara remains anchored.

While we do not currently have daily write-ups for the following ports, their respective port authority websites post schedules of vessel traffic that are embedded below. Each schedule takes the form of a miniature webpage within a box – scroll with your cursor within the box (or slide your finger within the box on a mobile device) to move through the schedule as you would a normal webpage. To move up or down the actual Port Reports page itself, make sure your cursor/finger is outside of the box.

Green Bay, WI – Port of Green Bay
Click on vessel image for voyage info.

Hamilton, ON – Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
Scroll past AIS map for arrival/departure schedule.