Port and vessel activity from February 14, 2023, unless stated otherwise. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
St. Marys River – Joshua Hebeisen
USCGC Mobile Bay and Canadian tanker Algocanada kicked off Valentine’s Day with an early-morning rendezvous in Mud Lake — how romantic! The tanker, sitting at anchor overnight in her red-and-blue dress, would soon be escorted up the river by the black-and-white tuxed Coast Guard cutter for a date in the Soo. Mobile Bay made port at 10:46, courteously clearing the ice at Purvis Marine (the ship equivalent of holding the door) before checking in for her reservation at the U.S. Coast Guard station. Algocanada was not far behind and got to work unloading petroleum products at Purvis.
Of note, yesterday’s report indicated that Algocanada might have gone to anchor overnight due to ice conditions. A more likely explanation is that vessels in the river are restricted from moving after dark during the winter season, as navigation buoys have been removed from the frozen waters until spring thaw-out.
Cheboygan, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Heading back up Lake Michigan after a trip to Milwaukee, WI, Algonova set an AIS destination of Cheboygan and went to anchor off the town on Tuesday afternoon.
Eastern Lake Huron – Joshua Hebeisen
In a social media post on Tuesday evening, the Canadian Coast Guard confirmed that CCGS Griffon is participating in the search for the unidentified object downed over Lake Huron. Griffon spent the day working north to south in a standard search pattern in conjunction with Coast Guard helicopters and is also operating a search drone off her deck.
It is not been confirmed if any vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet are aiding in the search, though USCGC Mackinaw has not been showing up on AIS since Sunday. USCGC Katmai Bay left her berth in St. Ignace, MI, early Tuesday morning and headed into Lake Huron, only to return exactly 12 hours later.
Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Innovator arrived 01:21 Tuesday, loading at Compass Minerals. Algoma Intrepid tied up about 10:00 Tuesday in Sarnia (Government Dock) for winter layup. Algoma Conveyor due in Goderich next for salt.
Port Huron, MI – Sarnia, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Algoma Intrepid received a welcome surprise Tuesday morning with a change of orders from salt at Goderich, ON, to winter lay-up at the Government Dock in Sarnia, a trade-off she and her crew will most happily take. The vessel eagerly arrived for her rest at 09:53, with CCGS Samuel Risley moving to an adjacent berth to make room.
At 16:15, Algoterra shifted from the lower dock to the specialty products dock at Imperial Oil, eventually leaving port at 20:45 to await further orders out in the lake. Iver Bright returned about 30 minutes later from a trip of her own down to Detroit, MI, once again tying up at Suncor.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Poor Iver Bright spent Valentine’s Day alone in the Motor City, though she certainly didn’t lack any holiday spirit with her bright red-and-white coat of paint. She was in port at Mistersky from 00:56 to 16:25 before heading back upbound for Sarnia, ON.
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- Algocanada approaches Mission Point at the Soo. David Kaye image, February 14
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- The tanker, loaded with petroleum products, is headed to Purvis Marine for the second time in a week. David Kaye image, February 14
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- CCGS Griffon hunts for the unidentified object on Lake Huron, as seen from a Coast Guard helicopter. Canadian Coast Guard image, February 14
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- A close-up from behind the vessel. Canadian Coast Guard image, February 14
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- Beautiful blue water as far as the eye can see… Canadian Coast Guard image, February 14
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- Algoterra passes Windsor, ON, on her journey to the St. Clair River. Earl Minnis image, February 13