Port and vessel activity from April 1, 2023, unless stated otherwise. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Two Harbors, MN – Gary Putney
American Mariner departed Two Harbors for Indiana Harbor. Edwin H. Gott departed Two Harbors for Nanticoke. Arriving Two Harbors on 4/1 at 18:28 was the John G. Munson.
Thunder Bay, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
A pair of midday departures on Saturday would show off what is now over a decade of Algoma Central’s fleet renewal program. At 11:28, Captain Henry Jackman — the latest rendition of the Equinox class — departed G3 with grain product for an unknown destination. Loading just across from the Jackman at P&H, Algoma Mariner — not part of the exclusive Equinox club but a pioneer of the design — would depart exactly one hour later for Hamilton, ON. Besides catching the newbuild bookends, Thunder Bay also bid farewell to the older-styled bulker Kaministiqua at 16:28. The Kam loaded at Richardson Main and will be heading to Sorel, ON, to unload.
Muskegon, MI – Anonymous
After a 90+ hour stay at the LaFarge cement dock, the Alpena finally made her way back out the Muskegon piers at 21:04 and headed back to her namesake port. In the bookend months of the season, it’s difficult to say whether the extra-long visit was due to weather or unloading difficulties.
Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Compass loading at Compass Minerals, salt for Milwaukee.
St. Clair River – Marc Dease
At approximately 22:00 on March 31, the downbound ALGOMA INNOVATOR loaded with salt for Toronto lost power in the St. Clair River south of Sarnia, ON. She dropped anchor and made a 180º turn and eventually went aground in the mud bottom of the St. Clair River. The Tugs Welland, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin responded and she was freed and headed back down bound at around 11:00 April 1 with no reported damage.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Less than two weeks into the season, it already feels like Herbert “Herbie” C. Jackson is a regular visitor, and that doesn’t figure to change well into the summer and beyond. At 04:52, the classy classic arrived yet again from Marquette, MI, with pellets from the Tilden Mine, making her way up the River Rouge to unload at the Dearborn Works. She would be headed on her way back north before midnight.
At 08:31, Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader left port from Mistersky after a long overnight stay at the fuel dock. Coming from Cleveland, OH, the pair will be greeted next at Superior, WI, at least eventually — a long line of traffic is currently backed up for the ore dock. Also headed upbound from Cleveland following a very rare trip to The Land was the legend herself, Arthur M. Anderson. The venerable steamer fueled up before getting underway for Two Harbor, MN, at noon.
14:00 saw a quick switch across the river in Windsor as Harvest Spirit departed ADM for Thunder Bay, ON. Algoma Conveyor, anchored nearby, promptly took her place as soon as the ex-saltie cleared. Just to the north at Morterm, unique Egbert Wagenborg is handling cargo as the port’s first saltwater visitor of the season. The pilothouse-forward vessel and her sleek sister Maxima were popular catches among boatnerds on their debut trips to the lakes last season.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: New York/Double Skin 509A is still unloading at the Port docks.
Toledo, OH: John D. Leitch departed with a destination of Hamilton, ON.
Marblehead, OH: Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder loaded stone and set a course for Fairport Harbor, OH.
Cleveland, OH: James R. Barker is on the schedule for the Bulk Terminal as the next boat due in.
Fairport Harbor, OH: Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder is the second boat of the season here, arriving to unload at Osborne Stone.
Conneaut, OH: The next scheduled boat is the American Integrity.
Nanticoke, ON: Paul A. Desgagnes is loading at Imperial Oil. Anchored are Algonova and Sarah Desgagnes.
Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
The Latimer departed Lackawanna with a full load of coal for destinations unknown (somewhere down the Seaway) at 3PM on March 31st.
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.
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- Due to high winds out on the lake, John G. Munson hugs the shore near Split Rock Lighthouse on her way to Two Harbors, MN. Andy Brunfelt image, April 1
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- Rolling waves crash against the snowy Duluth, MN, shore as Algoma Transport arrives to load petroleum coke at Midwest Energy. David Schauer image, April 1
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- G-tug Missouri helps the Transport turn in the harbor while Federal Dart unloads cement in the distance. David Schauer image, April 1
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- Edwin H. Gott kicks up a cloud of taconite dust while loading pellets in Two Harbors, MN. Rich Pedersen image, April 1
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- Stewart J. Cort departs Sault Ste. Marie, MI, at sunset to begin another trip to the head of the lakes. David Kaye image, April 1
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- Alpena departs Muskegon, MI, with bright lights piercing through the dark. Jason Bhaskaran image, April 1
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- A small fleet of tugs works to free Algoma Innovator from the sandy banks of the St. Clair River. Marc Dease image, April 2
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- Aerial view of the rescue efforts. Jeff Thoreson image, April 1
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- Unique saltie Egbert Wagenborg comes off Lake Erie and onto the Detroit River with a destination of Windsor, ON. Michael Chase image, March 30
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- All tied up at the Morterm dock. Michael Chase image, March 30
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- Spruceglen is a diamond in the rough at Lock 7 of the Welland Canal. Kai Ruhl image, April 1