Port and vessel activity from March 7, 2023, unless stated otherwise. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
The first “official” activity of the 2023–2024 Twin Ports shipping season was recorded on Tuesday as USCGC Spar left her berth at U.S. Coast Guard Station Duluth around 09:15. Kicking off her first full season of service to the harbor, Spar leisurely broke her way down the bay to BNSF before returning to her berth around 14:00. The cutter is expected to be back in action again later this week.
St. Marys River – Joshua Hebeisen
Coast Guard operations on the river would continue bright and early on Tuesday morning, with USCGCs Mackinaw and Bristol Bay leaving Lime Island around 08:00 for another full day of icebreaking. The Big Mac picked up where she left off on Monday night, continuing up the frozen river for an eventual 11:01 arrival in the Soo. Bristol would set sail in the opposite direction to soften up the waters off De Tour, MI; she returned to the Lime Island area later in the evening. Earlier in the day, her sister USCGC Katmai Bay broke ice around the MacArthur and Sabin Locks before departing the Soo downbound at 10:57. The two would be reunited in the vicinity of Lime to spend the night. CCGS Judy LaMarsh took the day off, instead watching the U.S. action from her berth along the Canadian Lock.
Sturgeon Bay, WI – Bob
On Tuesday morning, the Indiana Harbor was towed out of the graving dock and rafted outboard of the McCarthy. The tug Clyde VanEnkvork was towed into the graving dock followed by the barge Erie Trader. The tugs used for the tow were the Kobasic tugs.
Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
After finally delivering refined petroleum products from the Imperial Oil refinery in Nanticoke, AlgoCanada headed back late Monday. AlgoCanada has spent much of her time anchored in the outer harbor after arriving here last Wednesday. She moved to the Liquid Cargo Pier Sunday after Albert/Margaret finished loading petroleum products and returned to its winter berth in the mooring basin.
Port Huron, MI – Sarnia, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Algosea spent yet another day motionless at the Imperial Oil facility, though she received some company at the lower dock around 01:07 Tuesday in the form of her fleetmate Algoterra. The unmistakably orange tanker had previously departed from Nanticoke, ON, with petroleum products. Iver Bright would later arrive at 11:23 from Detroit, MI, to tie back up at Suncor, of course.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Iver Bright departed at 06:32 following a stay at Mistersky, allowing the waiting New York/Double Skin 509A combo to shift up to fuel. The tug pushed her barge outbound at 18:37 heading for Towawanda in her namesake state.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Harvest Spirit arrived in Cleveland Tuesday morning from Nanticoke to unload steel coils from Stelco. Intelake’s Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder continues on the shuttles for the Cliffs mill on the Cuyahoga River.
Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
The H. Lee White began unloading her winter storage cargo at the Frontier elevator on 3-6 & may be ready to depart for Toledo as soon as 3-8.
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- USCGC Spar pours on the smoke while breaking ice in Duluth MN-Superior, WI. Paul Scinocca image, March 7
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- An aerial view of the cutter’s first voyage of the season. David Schauer image, March 7
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- CCGS Judy LaMarsh, the newest addition to the Coast Guard fleet, spends the day tied up in snowy Sault Ste. Marie, ON. David Kaye image, March 7
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- USCGC Mackinaw makes an appearance in the Soo on Tuesday morning. David Kaye image, March 7
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- Algocanada heads east in the Straits of Mackinac with picturesque Mackinac Island in the distance. Aaron Thompson image, March 7
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- A “boatload” of ships are still sleeping in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Jeff Liethen image, March 7
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- G-tug Hawaii assists Albert/Margaret at Milwaukee, WI’s Liquid Cargo Pier while Algocanada waits her turn at anchor. MKE Marine Reports image, March 5
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- Harvest Spirit unloads coils in the shadows of Cleveland, OH. Bill Kloss image, March 7