Replacement Blatnik Bridge plans safety
measures in case of future ship collision

Dan Kraker Duluth March 27, 2024 4:00 AM

As authorities in Maryland respond to the collapse of a major freeway bridge that was struck by a cargo ship, transportation officials in Minnesota say guarding against a similar scenario is part of the planning for the replacement of the Blatnik Bridge linking Duluth and Superior, Wis.

At nearly 8,000 feet, the Blatnik is the second longest bridge in Minnesota, carrying I-535 over St. Louis Bay, the headwaters of Lake Superior.

More than 30,000 vehicles travel across the bridge every day, and giant ships up to 1,000 feet long pass underneath it, bound for docks in the bay to load with iron ore, grain and other cargoes, and departing under the bridge with full loads, bound for the lower Great Lakes or the Atlantic Ocean.

Like the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, freighters traveling under the Blatnik pass between giant pillars that hold the bridge high above the water.

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials say they have “comprehensive emergency plans” in place should the Blatnik or any of the other 53 bridges in Minnesota that cross over navigable waters sustain a hit from a ship or a barge and require rescue operations.

“For bridges over bodies of water in Minnesota, we put safety measures in place to both prevent any direct hit to the bridge and to mitigate any risk to the structure through our design should it sustain a collision,” the agency said in a statement.

MnDOT says it has offered support and assistance to transportation officials in Maryland and plans to light the 35W bridge in Minneapolis Tuesday night the colors of the Maryland state flag.

MnDOT and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are currently planning a replacement for the Blatnik Bridge, which was built in 1961. The Biden administration recently announced $1 billion in funding for the project; Minnesota and Wisconsin are each contributing $400 million.

State officials say that increasing safety on the bridge to further mitigate the risk of a ship collision “will be a core component of Blatnik design work.” Once a final design is selected, construction could begin as early as next year.

In the last 20 years, MnDOT said it is aware of two other incidents where water vessels collided with bridges.

About 15 years ago a barge struck the Lexington Bridge that carries Interstate 35E over the Mississippi River, causing minor damage.

In 2018, a barge struck a pier on the new Winona bridge over the Mississippi River, causing the need for concrete repairs.

Fednav takes delivery of Federal Indiana

Another new bulk carrier has been delivered to Fednav, the Federal Indiana, a vessel identical to the Federal Hamilton currently on Lake Erie, destination Thunder Bay. Built in Oshima, Japan.

René Beauchamp

Burns Harbor lighters cargo into H. Lee White at Superior

There was rare occurrence Saturday at Superior, WI, as the H. Lee White took on ore from former fleetmate Burns Harbor at BNSF Dock 5. The Burns Harbor had loaded heavy and was touching bottom, so it needed to unload a portion of its cargo. The White was enroute to Silver Bay when it was diverted to Superior to handle the lightering. A crew in a small boat were checking draft readings. Not a good week for Rand with the American Mariner and Burns Harbor grounding.

David Schauer

CCSG Terry Fox arrives at Port Weller for a refit

The newly-named Ontario Shipyards (formally Heddle) at Port Weller, ON, welcomed a new guest Saturday morning, the Canadian Coast Guard heavy icebreaker CCGS Terry Fox.

Ontario Shipyards was awarded the contact to replace her aging Stork-Werkspoor engines as well as her propulsion and steering. This is an approximately a three-year contract. She will be tied up outside the drydock for a couple of weeks while the crew works to remove what needs to come off before work can begin

Terry Fox was built in 1983 by the Burrard-Yarrows Corporation as part of an arctic drilling system. In the early 1990s she was leased and later sold to the Canadian Coast when the offshore drilling project ended.

Amy Daggett

Opening For Chief Engineer – Interlake Logistics

Interlake Logistics Solutions, Inc. operates the versatile articulated tug-barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette, which carries diverse cargoes  on the Great Lakes.   Equipped to self-load cargo with an 800C John Deere excavator, long reach material handler, the uniquely outfitted vessel can utilize a clam bucket for flowable material or a five-tine grapple for large rocks and scrap metal.  The tug Undaunted that powers the Pere Marquette 41 is a repowered Navy ATA/Rescue Tug that served in World War II.  The barge Pere Marquette41 is the repurposed carferry City of Midland.

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the vessel’s (both tug and barge) machinery and propulsion plants.

Responsibilities: 

• Both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of equipment / machinery.
• Ordering needed supplies and maintaining inventories.
• Proper record keeping, documentation and adherence to rules and regulations.
• Working with the Engine Utility to maintain a clean, safe, and positive work environment.
• This is not an all-inclusive list, but an overview of responsibilities.

Qualifications/Certifications Required: 

• Minimum requirement; Valid USCG license, Chief Engineer (Limited) with at least a 2000HP endorsement.
• TWIC Card
• Current Physical / USCG Medical Certificate.
• DOT Drug Screen
• Legally eligible to work in the USA (proof of identity or eligibility required.

The rotation is 28 days on the vessel and 28 days off. After completing a 90-day probationary period, your eligible for medical, dental, vision and a 401k plan.

Applicants please apply thru website:  www.ssbadger.com