Cargo offload underway from Tim S. Dool
Cargo lightering and refloating operations began Thursday for the Canadian-flagged bulk carrier Tim S. Dool, marking a crucial phase in the recovery efforts following its grounding last month.
Cargo will be taken from two holds to safely lighter, and approximately 5000 MT will be offloaded. It is expected to take five-seven days to finish offloading depending on weather and barge availability.
The vessel, carrying a cargo of wheat grain, ran aground on November 23, 2024, in U.S. waters near Massena, New York, specifically in an area southwest of the Eisenhower Lock. While the incident has raised concerns about shipping delays, authorities have confirmed there have been no injuries or environmental contamination resulting from the grounding.
The 57-year-old bulk carrier, owned by Algoma Central Corporation, is positioned outside the navigation channel, though authorities cautioned that “cargo operations will necessitate speed restrictions in the surrounding area.”
The recovery operation is expected to extend over several days, with officials planning a temporary closure of a section of the Seaway once enough wheat cargo has been removed to attempt refloating.
The tug Amy Lynn D tug is on her way to join the recovery team. She was delayed as a result of high winds and preparing the two hopper barges with proper covers and inspections. She will add another two barges for this operation allowing the process to keep moving the cargo out without significant delays.
In a coordinated response to minimize shipping disruptions, multiple agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation are working in concert.
The cause of the grounding remains under investigation, with authorities confirming no other vessels were involved in the incident.
gCaptain, Janey Anderson, USCG
Ports group announces new executive director
Washington, DC (December 12, 2024) – The Board of Directors of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) has appointed Brian Oszakiewski to Executive Director, succeeding Steve Fisher at the end of December after 30 years of distinguished leadership.
A native Chicagoan, Mr. Oszakiewski is a longtime transportation and infrastructure advocate with extensive experience in policy, government relations, communications, administration, and stakeholder engagement at the federal, state, and local levels.
He has over a decade of experience on Capitol Hill managing transportation issues for a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, serving in almost every staff position, including Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. Mr. Oszakiewski has led transportation policy and agency management in a Great Lakes governor’s office and worked in government relations roles at transportation trade associations. At the National Transportation Safety Board, he oversaw all external affairs, including government relations, communications, advocacy, and safety recommendations, on behalf of the agency’s Chair.
“Brian Oszakiewski will be the fourth Executive Director of the AGLPA since it was founded in the late 1970s. He will be a strong and effective voice for our ports in Washington. And his ability to build relationships, provide insight, identify opportunities, and deliver results will serve us well,” said Capt. Paul LaMarre, President of the AGLPA. “Many thanks go to Steve Fisher for his three decades of service to our industry. Any words that could be shared about Steve’s far-reaching accomplishments can never truly express our appreciation for all that we have accomplished together. We wish him well as he begins his next chapter of life.”
A native of Northwest Indiana, Mr. Fisher was first named Executive Director in 1994. He previously served as staff to U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Quayle, both of Indiana. Over 30 years, Mr. Fisher worked to promote public policies that favored increased commerce at Great Lakes ports. These included the equitable handling of federal food aid exports, funding for Great Lakes harbor dredging and navigation infrastructure, funding for port development, expanded marketing of the St. Lawrence Seaway, promotion of short sea shipping, and funding for ballast water treatment technology research. Under Mr. Fisher’s leadership, Great Lakes ports fought for reasonable state and federal vessel discharge regulations and a cost-effective pilotage system.
Mr. Fisher led several binational research and public affairs efforts to improve industry data and enhance public understanding of the importance of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Appointed by Indiana Governors Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb, Mr. Fisher served on the Great Lakes Commission for more than a decade. In recognition of this service, he was recently awarded the “Sagamore of the Wabash” award by Governor Holcomb – one of the highest honors bestowed by the State of Indiana.
American Great Lakes Ports Association
MHSD’s Ahoy & Farewell III book
documents 30 years of laker history
Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s long-running series marking the MHSD’s 80th anniversary, is now available. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell, during the last 30 years. This 308-page, hardcover book features many color photos, with multiple images of each vessel referenced.
In a departure from the MHSD’s previous volumes, the nearly 308-page, hardcover book includes color photos, with multiple images of every vessel. The book’s authors are marine historians William Moran and Viktor Kaczkowski, and Know Your Ships publisher Roger LeLievre.
“Putting the book together has been a much greater challenge than any of us had expected,” Kaczkowski said. “With the influx of foreign-built new and used tonnage, writing the histories required a lot more research to ensure the information was correct, particularly due to the wide variety of languages that came into play.”
Order Ahoy & Farewell III now at MHSD.org.
