Port and vessel activity from April 23, 2023, unless stated otherwise. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Editor’s Note: My apologies for the lack of posts last week. A family emergency prevented me from getting the reports up each night, but everything since April 21 should be accounted for below. As always, a big thanks to all of our contributors! — Joshua
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Scott Bjorklund
Duluth Entry
Having switched orders, Indiana Harbor arrived early Wednesday morning at 00:46 (Central) to load iron ore at CN#6; they departed into the building wind and waves at 19:04 that same day for their namesake port. After the Nor’easter we had Thursday, which produced 55 mph winds and 10 plus foot waves at the canal, a virtual flotilla of boats invaded western Lake Superior. First to arrive in Duluth was Algoma Intrepid Friday evening at 18:31 with salt for Envirotech-Hallett# 8 and Compass Minerals. Michipicoten arrived for another CN ore-load at 21:30. Joseph L. Block arrived a few hours later at 23:38 to load at the CN shiploader while Michipicoten loaded under the chutes. Great Republic arrived at 01:02 Saturday morning with limestone for CN-Hallett #5; they hovered behind American Spirit to fuel before unloading. American Spirit left on their first trip of the season at 02:55 to load iron ore pellets at Two Harbors. Algoma Transport arrived at 07:16 to load petroleum coke at SMET. Finally, Michipicoten departed at 09:05 with iron ore pellets for Algoma Steel.
The Duluth entry continued to be busy with boat traffic Saturday into Sunday. Joseph L. Block departed at 13:52 Saturday afternoon with iron ore pellets bound for Cleveland Bulk Terminal. Algoma Transport departed at 21:13 that evening with petroleum coke for Holcim at Bath, Ontario. Algoma Intrepid left not long after at 22:46 empty for Thunder Bay. Great Republic started Sunday’s traffic, departing at 06:12 with iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor; this is a rare destination for them! Mark W. Barker arrived at 09:29 with Cargill salt for Envirotech-Hallett #8; they will be shuttling coal to Graymont while in port before leaving with another coal cargo for the lower lakes. John G. Munson arrived at 14:12 with C.Reiss Coal’s first shipment of limestone for the season. Paul R. Tregurtha departed soon after at 14:42 with low sulfur coal for DTE at St. Clair. Finally, Mesabi Miner arrived at 21:22 to load iron ore pellets at CN#6. As of Sunday night, John G. Munson was still unloading at C.Reiss Coal, and Mesabi Miner began loading at CN#6. Clyde S. VanEnkevort is expected early Monday morning with limestone for Graymont. Mesabi Miner may depart Monday afternoon with iron ore pellets.
Superior Entry
CSL Tadoussac left on Wednesday before the storm at 09:49 (Central) with iron ore pellets for Nanticoke. After the storm, H. Lee White departed with iron ore pellets for Conneaut Friday morning at 08:27. Vlieborg, our second salty of the season, arrived at 18:32 to load beet pulp pellets at Viterra. Finally, Burns Harbor arrived at 00:14 for BNSF. Burns Harbor departed Superior at 14:26 (Central) Saturday afternoon with iron ore pellets destined for her namesake port. Stewart J. Cort arrived from anchor soon after at 14:58; the Cort departed at 13:24 Sunday afternoon for Burns Harbor. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin arrived at 14:04 to load at BNSF#5. As of Sunday night, Mark W. Barker was loading at SMET, Vlieborg was still loading at Viterra, and Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin was loading at BNSF. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is estimated to depart Monday morning with iron ore pellets.
Two Harbors, MN – Silver Bay, MN – Gary Putney
American Century arrived Two Harbors 4/21 at 08:24. She had originally anchored off Sand Island to wait on weather. After she got underway she went to Duluth to fuel and after fueling she went to load pellets. The CSL Assiniboine, at 19:30 Friday, was underway for Two Harbors. Earlier in the morning, she headed for Two Harbors after being anchored off Sand Island. She returned to Sand Island, probably because it was too rough to anchor off the ore dock.
CSL Assiniboine loaded in Two Harbors 4/20, 22:17-12:17 for Quebec City. The American Century loaded in Two Harbors 4/21 between 08:24 and 21:17 for Conneaut. The Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader arrived Cliffs-North Shore Mining at 21:45 on 4/21 and departed on 4/22 at 13:05 for Toledo. Two Harbors saw the arrival of the American Spirit on 12:30. This is her first trip of the season. Stopped off the Twin Ports for Two Harbors on Sunday night was the James R. Barker. Off Copper Harbors for Two Harbors were the Algoma Discovery and the Arthur M. Anderson.
American Spirit departed Two Harbors on 4/23 at 05:32. The James R. Barker arrived Two Harbors at 05:32 on 4/23. Also waiting on Two Harbors are the Arthur M. Anderson, Edwin H. Gott, and the Algoma Discovery.
Marquette, MI – Arthur Pickering
Well, after a quiet weekend here in Marquette, the ore dock in the upper harbor will get busy once again. The Michigan Trader is scheduled for a late evening arrival followed by the Lee Tregurtha and the Hon. James Oberstar which are scheduled for a very early morning arrival on Tuesday. The Kaye Barker is scheduled for a early Wednesday arrival.
Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
Tug Albert with tank barge Margaret arrived from Cheboygan at 02:58 Friday and cleared for Green Bay at 00:50 Saturday. Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 arrived from Grand Haven at 01:12 Saturday. After loading coal ash, the pair cleared for Alpena at 09:11. Federal Churchill arrived from Burns Harbor at 06:18 Saturday and tied up at Federal Marine Terminals, south slip one, outer harbor. She is the second salty of the year to call at Milwaukee and brings steel from Antwerp. Bradshaw McKee/St. Marys Conquest and Samuel de Champlain/Innovation are both expected Sunday with cement.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Andrew Meyer
Chicago, IL: Baie Comeau arrived Calumet Harbor and snaked up the river late Saturday night. She’s currently outbound the river system.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Indiana Harbor arrived her namesake port at 06:41 Sunday morning. Her arrival marked the only traffic for the weekend, which should stay slow until later this week with the Great Republic. Safe to say that weather has played a factor.
Gary, IN: Gary has been quiet as well, with the American Century slated next for a Monday night arrival.
Burns Harbor, IN: The Wilfred Sykes was back in familiar territory once again after a hiatus doing some shuttles in Cleveland. She arrived on Friday evening, and after spending almost 24 hours in port, departed for yet another of her regular haunts, Grand Haven. Manitowoc arrived just before noon on Sunday. Later on in the week, the Federal Sakura is expected in Burns Harbor.
Grand Haven, MI – Noah H.
Steamer Wilfred Sykes made her second visit of the season at 22:55, again bringing some type of aggregate from Indiana Harbor to the Meekhof’s D&M dock. The Sykes has been the only true laker to visit thus far.
Muskegon, MI – Noah H.
The grand old Alpena made her 4th arrival of the season already, entering the lake at 07:44 to unload cement. It was July last season before her 4th appearance. This would be a quick visit, as she departed at 15:21 for a sub-8 hour load. Next up will be the Kaye E. Barker’s first arrival of the season, bringing stone from Meldrum Bay. After that, as a bit of a shocker, the newly-out-of-layup Algoma Buffalo is scheduled to arrive. If this holds, she would be an extremely unusual visitor: this would appear to be her first visit in over 3 years.
Calcite, MI – Andrew Meyer
Herbert C. Jackson made an appearance at 03:00 on Saturday, and after spending the day at the dock, was outbound at 19:59. A slow weekend for Calcite. Laura VanEnkevort and her barge should arrive early in the morning on Monday.
Bay City, MI – Todd Shorkey
Cuyahoga had a memorable visit to the Saginaw River April 20 & 21. On Thursday during their inbound trip, Cuyahoga had to come to a stop at Liberty Bridge in Bay City for almost 30 minutes before the bridge opened for her. She again ran into difficulty outbound on Friday when Liberty Bridge did not open again, causing Cuyahoga to take action for the second day in a row at this bridge, this time fighting the wind and current
Goderich, ON – Bruce Douglas
Algoma Conveyor cleared 04:40 Thursday downbound to Johnstown, ON, with salt. Algoma Sault arrived 13:49 Thursday and loaded at Compass Minerals; she cleared 13:45 Friday upbound for Superior, WI, with salt.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
April 20
Monroe, MI: Harvest Spirit unloaded steel coils at the Port dock, then departed for Windsor. New York/Double Skin 509A is still unloading.
Toledo, OH: Evans Spirit is at Midwest Terminals.
Cleveland, OH: It was an Interlake kind of day in Cleveland as newbuild Mark W. Barker arrived to load salt at Cargill and the classic Herbert C. Jackson unloaded at Ontario Stone. The Mesabi Miner was the next Interlake boat to arrive. She brought in 56,000 tons of UTAC pellets for the Bulk Terminal. She was followed in by G.L. Ostrander/Integrity with cement for Holcim. Departures were Sea Eagle II/St. Marys Cement II for Hamilton, Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Challenger for Charlevoix, Herbert C. Jackson for Rogers City and Mark W. Barker with salt for Superior, WI. American Courage is still on the shuttles.
Fairport Harbor, OH: Mark W. Barker departed for Cleveland.
Nanticoke, ON: Departures from Imperial Oil were Algonova for Sarnia and Algoterra for Tracy. Algoma Equinox unloaded ore at Stelco then left for Hamilton, ON.
April 21
Monroe, MI: New York/Double Skin 509A finally finished unloading and departed for Detroit.
Toledo, OH: Algoma Mariner and Evans Spirit are at Midwest Terminals. Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader unloaded at Ironville and departed for Stoneport. Karen Andrie/Endeavor was a late night arrival.
Sandusky, OH: CSL Niagara loaded coal and left for Nanticoke.
Cleveland, OH: Arrivals were Royal Wagenborg saltie Fivelborg with steel for the Port. She’s at Dock 22E, then Polsteam’s Solina arrived at Dock 24W and has steel coils and skids for the Port. Next in was Sam Laud with limestone for Ontario Stone. Departing were Mesabi Miner for Duluth and G.L. Ostrander/Integrity for Essexville.
Nanticoke, ON: Tanker Kitikmeot W is loading at Imperial Oil.
April 22
Toledo, OH: Evans Spirit departed for Thunder Bay and Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H.Thompson arrived to unload at Ironville. Still at Midwest Terminals is Algoma Mariner. Karen Andrie/Endeavor departed for Burns Harbor, IN.
Sandusky, OH: Lee A. Tregurtha arrived to load coal at Norfolk Southern.
Cleveland, OH: Salties Fivelborg and Solina are at the Port docks. Sam Laud unloaded at Ontario Stone, then moved to the Bulk Terminal to load a shuttle. American Courage is unloading at Cliffs. Sharon M1 and her barge arrived at the Port, unloaded steel coils and departed for Marblehead.
Nanticoke, ON: CSL Niagara unloaded coal at Stelco then left for Hamilton. Kitikmeot W departed with petroleum products for Montreal. Arriving at Stelco was Presque Isle with ore.
April 23
Toledo, OH: Departures were Algoma Mariner for Port Daniel, PQ and Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H.Thompson to Drummond Island.
Marblehead, OH: Sharon M1/Huron Spirit departed with no destination on AIS. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder arrived from Detroit to load stone at Holcim.
Sandusky, OH: Lee A. Tregurtha departed with coal for the “Zug Island Yacht Club”, the AIS nickname for the coke plant there.
Cleveland, OH: American Courage departed for Detroit and Sam Laud has taken over the shuttles. Fivelborg and Solina are at the Port docks.
Nanticoke, ON: Presque Isle departed for Two Harbors and once cleared, CSL Tadoussac docked at Stelco to unload ore. Once empty she left for Fairport Harbor, OH. Algoma Tankers Algosea arrived to load at Imperial Oil and was joined later in the day by fleetmate Algocanada.
Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
The Vermont went out to Lackawanna on the morning of the 20th at 09:00 to tow the Blacky out. They proceeded stern first from Gateway Metroport, winded in the Outer Harbor Southern Channel, and then dropped the tow. The big salty then headed for the Port Colborne Anchorage around 09:30.
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.