Port and vessel activity from March 28, 2023, unless stated otherwise. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Scott Bjorklund
Duluth Entry
It was a busy Tuesday afternoon and evening for the Duluth entry! First, US Coast Guard cutter Spar departed at 14:12 (Central) for buoy-tending duties in the Apostle Islands. Federal Dart, loaded down with cement from Turkey, set the new record for earliest ocean-going arrival in the Twin Ports at 15:30; they were assisted to Ash Grove (CRH) by G-tugs Missouri and Kentucky. Paul R. Tregurtha departed with their first cargo of low sulfur coal of the year at 16:31 for the DTE plant at St. Clair, Michigan. American Century came in from anchor at 17:41 to fuel, and then they departed at 19:54 to continue waiting at anchor for BNSF. Arthur M. Anderson finally departed at 21:44 with iron ore pellets destined for Cleveland. Finally, James R. Barker arrived at 22:10 Tuesday night to take the Anderson’s place at CN.
As of Tuesday night, James R. Barker was loading at CN while Federal Dart was docked at Ash Grove for unloading. Baie Comeau and John J. Boland are expected around the same time just after midnight (early Wednesday morning); Baie Comeau will be unloading salt at Envirotech-Hallett #8 while John J. Boland loads petroleum coke at SMET. James R. Barker is estimated to depart sometime Wednesday evening with iron ore pellets.
Superior Entry
The day’s action started with an infrequent move by pusher tug Dirk S. VanEnkevort; they detached from barge Michigan Trader, leaving it at anchor, and arrived through Superior at 15:15 (Central) Tuesday afternoon to drop off a crewmember at BNSF. Dirk S. VanEnkevort departed at 16:26 to return to the Michigan Trader. CSL St.-Laurent departed at 18:22 with iron ore pellets for Quebec City. American Integrity then arrived at 19:01 for a long load at BNSF.
As of Tuesday night, Laura L. VanEnkevort was still waiting at Fraser, American Spirit was still wintering at Elevator M, Burns Harbor was still waiting at Lakehead, and American Integrity was loading at BNSF#5. American Integrity is estimated to depart Wednesday evening with the Burns Harbor due next in the lineup.
Two Harbors, MN – Gary Putney
Mesabi Miner departed Two Harbors at 19:15. Algoma Guardian arrived Two Harbors at 19:20. Anchored off Duluth waiting on Two Harbors are the Defiance/Ashtabula and the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin. The CSL Laurentien had no destination when it departed. She is going to Quebec City.
Thunder Bay, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Though lacking an official port call until later in the morning, Thunder Bay’s day began (not) bright and (very) early when Spruceglen came to a halt outside the breakwall around 04:00. Eventually due at the P&H Superior Elevator, CSL’s bulker may have become stuck in the ice until CCGS Samuel Risley could lend a helping hand around noon. Either way, she arrived at 11:33 and pulled into the slip to load.
Other traffic on the day included fleetmate Thunder Bay, arriving her namesake port at 12:08 for Viterra A. Algoma Harvester cleared at 20:21 for Port-Cartier, QC, with a load of grain from Richardson Current River. Tim S. Dool and Algoma Strongfield remained at the Midcontinent Terminal and G3 elevator, respectively.
Marquette, MI – Anonymous
After a 57 hour stay at the LS&I dock, VTB’s Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader departed at 22:57, likely for Toledo. At the same time, Interlake’s Herbert C. Jackson arrived, her first visit of the season. Marquette was the Jackson’s exclusive ore provider last season, though Herbie ran other cargos more often. Future arrivals include the Lee A. Tregurtha, making her second trip, and the Kaye E. Barker, making her first of the season. All four classic Interlake vessels will have made an appearance in the first week of the season.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Andrew Meyer
Indiana Harbor, IN: Mark Barker departed at 1040 Tuesday for Muskegon.
Gary, IN: Edwin H. Gott made port with the first load of taconite for the blast furnaces at Gary Works at 1918 Tuesday night.
Muskegon, MI – Anonymous
The first non-tug/barge vessel of the Muskegon shipping season was the Mark W. Barker, arriving from Indiana Harbor at 19:45 to unload at Cobb Verplank. The new kid on the block will be joined by the grand lady Alpena sometime in the early morning on Wednesday. The steamer will be in town to deliver cement per usual after a partial unload in Green Bay.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Fuel was the only cargo handled on a busy Tuesday in the Motor City, with almost exclusively upbound traffic passing through and all stopping at Mistersky. Lee A. Tregurtha, already at the fuel dock when the clock struck midnight, would cast off for Marquette, MI, before 04:00, ceding her berth to Sam Laud. The latter would later depart at 05:45 to continue her journey from Toledo, OH, to Manistee, MI. A break in the action lasted until 13:15 with the arrival of American Mariner, upbound from Cleveland, OH, and resuming the voyage north to Marquette shortly after 16:00. Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Challenger were next in line coming up from Toledo and set off for Charlevoix, MI, all fueled up. Algosea, anchored in the river all day just off of Windsor Salt, immediately proceeded to the now-empty dock around 18:30 to pump a petroleum cargo ashore.
While we do not currently have daily summaries for the following ports, their respective port authority websites post schedules of vessel traffic that are featured below. Each schedule is a miniature webpage within a box. Scroll with your cursor in 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.
Rock out to this amazing timelapse from wheelsman Nick McCall as the mighty Wilfred Sykes transits Cleveland, OH’s twisty Cuyahoga River. Complete with AC/DC!
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- A colorful Lake Superior sunrise greets Defiance/Ashtabula, American Century, and American Integrity at anchor off the Twin Ports. Adam Bjornberg image, March 28
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- AAA classic Arthur M. Anderson loads at CN Dock 6 in West Duluth, MN, on her first trip of the season. David Schauer image, March 28
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- Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha watches the sunrise in Superior, WI, while taking on her first load of low-sulfur western coal this season. David Schauer image, March 28
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- Edward L. Ryerson and Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson make for an unusual sight at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, WI. Michael Konczak image, March 28
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- Federal Dart arrives beneath the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge to become the earliest saltie visitor in the port’s history. David Schauer image, March 28
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- Passing PRT in the icy inner harbor. David Schauer image, March 28
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- Wisconsin Point Lighthouse graffiti and CSL St-Laurent’s Sea Keeper mural make for quite the artistic display at the Superior Entry. Scott Bjorklund image, March 27
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- Sunlight gleans off the hull of Interlake’s Mark W. Barker as the baby boat arrives Muskegon, MI. John Larson image, March 28
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- The MWB silhouette slowly approaches the dock at dusk. David Ruck image, March 28
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- Cargo flows off the boom that once belonged to WWII veteran American Victory. David Ruck image, March 28
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- Wilfred Sykes and her nice lines approach Cleveland, OH, on a rare early season visit to Lake Erie. Tom Burke image, March 28
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- The veteran steamer is greeted by a pair of G-tugs outside port. Roger Durfee image, March 28
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- Navigating a tight bend in the Cuyahoga River. Roger Durfee image, March 28
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- Do you think she’ll fit? Roger Durfee image, March 28