Federal Michigan enters Seaway on maiden voyage
Saturday morning, Fednav’s new Federal Michigan made her inaugural trip in the St. Lawrence Seaway, destination Hamilton. At the Côte Ste-Catherine lock, it met a fleet mate, the Federal Beauport.
Rene Beauchamp
Tim S. Dool remains aground in Seaway near Morrisburg
Just after noon Saturday, Tim S. Dool, loaded with grain for Quebec City, went out of the shipping channel and grounded on Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, ON. The fixed channel marker is on the south side of the channel, and she is south of it. She is up by the bow and listing slightly to port. The wreck of the Eastcliffe Hall, which sank there on July 14, 1970, is very close to her stern.
There were no injuries and traffic is moving normally. There is no information on what caused the incident or on the extent of damages. According to AIS Sunday morning, there are no tugs in the area, although a salvage plan is likely in the works.
Tim S. Dool was built in 1967 as Senneville and later sailed as Algoville. She is the oldest vessel in the Algoma Central fleet.
New Corps of Engineers’ tugs for the Soo
nearing completion at Louisiana shipyard
Conrad Shipyard’s new construction facilities in Louisiana are “going and blowing,” according to Conrad Shipyard vice president of business development Robert Sampey.
At Conrad’s Morgan City, LA, yard, a pair of icebreaking tugs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are well underway, a 6,000-hp towboat was taking shape, several barges were being assembled and the first of four ferries for Puerto Rico and a new hybrid-electric passenger vehicle ferry for the Trust for Governors Island in New York were in the water.
The two Detroit ice-class tugs for the U.S. CoE will operate on the St Marys River and Soo Harbor in the Upper Great Lakes in assisting the mobilization of various floating equipment, as well as breaking ice up to 300 mm thick.
The diesel-powered, twin-screw tugs, which will be named H.J. Lawson and R.J. Pierce, are being built to ABS standards and will have 1,200 kW of propulsion power. Harold J. Lawson (1934 – 2018) served as Soo Locks Area Engineer was assistant project engineer during deepening of the rock-cut channel at Neebish island and construction of the Poe Lock.
Delivery will be at the end of 2024 or early 2025. Their arrival will likely spell the end for some of the older, smaller tugs stationed at the Soo.
At other Conrad yards, a series of large construction barges for an undisclosed customer were in various stages of build, modules for a tank barge were visible and a massive trailing suction hopper dredge dominated the landscape at the Conrad Deepwater South yard. At Conrad Amelia, a government contract for the US Navy’s new generation Yard, Repair, Berthing and Messing (YRBM) vessel program is full steam ahead.
Riviera Maritime Media
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
