Michigan maritime: Ports set to grow economy throughout the state
MONROE, Mich. – A new law that gives the state’s 32 ports tools to expand and grow the maritime economy started out as a community project for a handful of University of Michigan students.
U-M students first worked with the Port of Monroe in 2012 and over the next decade would make the case for investing in ports around the state to increase container and industrial shipments, which is expected to lead to job creation.
The Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program Act, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed in July, sets up an office in the Michigan Department of Transportation to oversee the grants. It puts the Great Lakes state ports in line for federal grant dollars that neighboring states have enjoyed for years.
The Port of Monroe, Michigan’s only Lake Erie port, received $5 million in state funding this summer, which helped it to leverage an $11 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in November. The funding will help it build a container cargo scanning facility and a riverfront wharf for vessel transfer of wind energy cargos and other improvements.
Read more at this link: https://impact.govrel.umich.edu/ports-grow-michigan-economy/?fbclid=IwAR0sTD8Pn9NnERlJ3idToM3COYvCD-td_xqbRO2sb—A2A_YgmTk75YkrQ
Investigation ongoing into capsized barge in Conneaut harbor
CONNEAUT, Oh. – An investigation is ongoing into the barge that capsized in Conneaut harbor on Dec. 23.
Coast Guard spokesperson William Kelley said the Coast Guard was notified at 2:07 p.m. on Dec. 23 that a barge carrying an excavator and tug boat and had broken loose from its mooring at the Pittsburgh and Conneaut dock. The barge capsized and floated down Conneaut Creek, he said.
“The barge was recovered, the tug has not yet been recovered,” Kelley said. “They’re still trying to find it, whether it’s sunken, or free-floating somewhere in Lake Erie.” Both the tug and the barge had fuel onboard, but no spills have been reported as of yet, he said.
The owner of the barge is responsible for taking ownership of the barge and the tug, once the tug has been found, Kelley said.
“The Marine Safety Unit, Cleveland, they would investigate this as a reportable marine casualty, and perform a causal analysis and determine exactly what happened,” Kelley said. Investigations typically take a few weeks to a month, depending on the case, he said. The results of those investigations are typically not released to the public.
Any boater who sees the tug is encouraged to inform the Coast Guard immediately.
Kelley said the Coast Guard cannot say one way or the other whether the tug sank or has floated out into Lake Erie. That investigation is in process.
Canadian National, parent company of the Pittsburgh and Conneaut Dock company, declined to comment for this story.
Ashtabula Star Beacon
Line 5 study: Ice makes oil spills harder to detect, easier to contain
LANSING, Mich. – What happens if oil spills under ice in freshwater? That question is particularly relevant in the Straits of Mackinac, where the 645-mile long Line 5 pipeline crosses from the Upper Peninsula to the Lower on its way to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
“People imagine that the risk is greater with a spill under ice, but there’s actually a lot of cases in which it might be helped by ice,” said Douglas Bessette, the lead author of a 2021 study in the Journal of Great Lakes Research that examined that problem.
There hasn’t been much attention paid to oil’s behavior in icy, freshwater conditions, so the study explored that, said Bessette.
It also surveyed the public to gauge their perception of risks posed by a petroleum pipeline that crosses under the Straits of Mackinac — a major shipping channel — located between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas.
The ice can contain the oil, making for an easier cleanup — but it’s harder to detect, the researchers said.
The study was prompted when a freighter’s anchor struck and dented the pipeline in 2018.
It’s operated by Enbridge, a Canadian natural gas company, and most of the petroleum products it moves are just cutting through the state on their way to Canada, said Stephen Hamilton, a professor of ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry at Michigan State University.
About 30% of the oil Line 5 carries goes to Michigan, Ryan Duffy, an Enbridge communications and media relations strategist, wrote in an email. By 2063, there’s a 1 in 60 chance of the pipeline failing, the study said.
Over half of the Michigan residents surveyed for the study reported that they were extremely concerned about an oil spill at the straits. Most preferred that the almost 70-year-old pipeline be shut down. Michigan aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, and environmentalists say the pipeline isn’t aligned with that goal.
Read more at this Sault News link: https://www.sooeveningnews.com/story/news/environment/2023/01/05/ice-makes-oil-spills-harder-to-detect-easier-to-contain/69774405007/?utm_source=sooeveningnews-DailyBriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=hero&utm_content=NSLT-MICHIGAN-SAULTSAINTMARIE-NLETTER65
Sault awards Carbide dock, Easterday Avenue project bids after several years
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Sault Ste. Marie City Commission has awarded construction bids for the Carbide dock and Easterday Avenue construction projects after several years.
At the Jan. 3 meeting, commissioners officially awarded the bids to Roen Salvage Company, a Wisconsin firm, in the amount of $21,793,000 to complete the Carbide dock, and Bacco Construction Company, a Michigan firm, in the amount of $10,676,514.55, for the truck route.
In 2017, the commission approved the dock rehabilitation project and Easterday truck route project. The projects will make all parts of the dock usable, as currently the portions of the dock closest to the water are in disrepair.
The projects will replace approximately 1,100 linear feet of the existing condemned dock structure to create a working waterfront. There will also be several updates to the dock, including secure storage areas, improved stormwater management facilities, and a critical connection from the Easterday Avenue truck route to the riverfront.
The Carbide dock and Easterday Avenue projects have been worked on for several years by the city, and over the years the price of the work has increased drastically.
“I hope everyone has a smile on their face as this passes after seven years of consideration,” said Mayor Don Gerrie at the city commission meeting on Jan. 3. “This project has outlived multiple city engineers and city managers.”
For the past several years, the city commission has worked to bring in new grants, and cut costs where it is possible so the project could be bid out.
“We’re only expecting construction costs to continue to increase,” said city manager Brian Chapman at the commission meeting on Jan. 3. “This gives us the ability to lock in the prices so we won’t have to rebid later,”
In 2019, the city was awarded a $20.7 million USDOT BUILD grant for both projects, but the lowest bid for completing the project was $37.5 million, meaning the city had to come up with at least $14.5 million before the projects could begin.
In fall 2022, the project was rebid again. This time the low bid was $32.2 million, leaving a funding gap of $9.3 million. These bids were approved with a phased approach because costs were only expected to increase, and officials said the project is too important to delay any longer.
The city has stated that an extra $14.4 million in funding for these bids will become available through grants and other funding sources by the end of March 2023.
Sault News
Obituary: Kenneth Donald Michelson
Kenneth Donald Michelson of East China Township, Mich., passed away peacefully at the Medi-Lodge of St. Clair on January 3 at the age of 89.
Ken’s primary interest was the ships of the Great Lakes and their steam whistles. He was truly an expert of the ships built in the twentieth century, with his favorites being the older coal-fired bulk freighters. He maintained meticulous, accurate records on their design and engineering. He was a long-time member of several maritime historical societies on the Great Lakes. Other interests were steam whistles, theatre pipe organs, family genealogy, collecting books, photographs and sound recordings.
Born on February 21, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan to Earl George Michelson and Elaine Julia (Dewey) Michelson, he was raised in Detroit and later in Marine City. From an early age, Ken had had the fine gift of drawing and lettering and used these skills to illustrate the world around him. Upon graduation from Marine City High School in 1950, he attended Port Huron Junior College (now St. Clair County Community College). In 1953, he joined the United States Army and was deployed in Korea in 1954 and 1955 as an artillery spotting and communications specialist on the front lines.
Upon his honorable discharge in 1956, Ken began a career as an architectural draftsman working for at least three prominent firms in Detroit, Marysville and Port Huron over the next 37 years. His work on the drafting board can be seen in numerous area public buildings, churches and schools.
Ken never married, remaining a bachelor his entire life. However, he remained close to his immediate family. He was always willing to share his knowledge and interests to the younger members of the family. Upon his retirement in 1992, Ken devoted his time to his home and hobbies.
He is survived by his brother Daniel, his nephew David (Diane) Michelson of New Baltimore, nieces Barbara (Gary) Schaible of Chesterfield, Virginia and Nancy (John) Bresnahan of Macomb, MI, great nephew Daniel (Jennifer) Michelson of Traverse City, MI, and great nieces Dorian (Adam) Axiak of Plymouth, MI, Emily (Ryan) Trapp of Richmond, VA, Julie (Brian) Wright of Midlothian, VA., great-great nephews Andrew Michelson, Adrian Axiak, and Matthew Wright, and great-great niece Nora Michelson.
He is pre-deceased by his parents Earl and Elaine Michelson, and brothers Earl and Robert Michelson.
A private graveside service with be held on Saturday January 7, 2023 at 11:00 am at Rosehill Cemetery on Puttygut Road in East China Township. Arrangements are being handled through Young Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of St. Clair, Michigan. To leave a message of comfort visit www.youngcolonial.com
