American Integrity undergoing repairs at Duluth

American Steamship Co.’s 1,000-footer American Century pulled in next to her sistership American Integrity Friday at the Ash Grove cement dock in Duluth. The loaded Integrity will discharge some of her cargo into the Century so repairs can be made to the American Integrity’s propulsion system.

After the Integrity loaded iron ore pellets at CN, an issue with its propulsion system was discovered while attempting to depart. With a deep draft of 28 feet, the ship required the help of tugs Missouri and North Carolina to be safely moved and secured at this dock, which is rarely used for lakers.

The Integrity recently spent more than three weeks at the pipeline dock in Superior having propeller shaft work done.

Vibe With Mike, David Schauer
UPDATE:
As work continues on the American integrity we have some photo updates in the gallery below of the off loading etc.

Cruise ships now docking at upgraded Carbide Dock

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The new Soo lock has not been the only major construction project in the Soo. Over the last two years, the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s deteriorating Carbide Dock has undergone a complete transformation. This season it has hosted several visits by the cruise ships Victory I and Victory II.

On Saturday morning, it welcomed the large cruise ship Viking Octantis for the first time.

A study in 2016 found the dock infrastructure was crumbling, causing safety and environmental concerns for residents and the St. Marys River fishing grounds. Reconstuction work included refurbishment of an existing cruise ship terminal, installation of new seawall, stabilizing the dock surface, and installing EV charging and shore power for ships. Shore power connections for docking ships make it possible for the vessels to run off electricity from land rather than run diesel generators onboard. Power is provided from the adjacent Cloverland Electric Cooperative Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The Carbide Dock gets its name from the Union Carbide calcium carbide processing plant that was built in the 1890s and operated there until the early 1960s. The dock was transferred to the City of Sault Ste. Marie in 1967 and was used for storage of bulk materials such as road salt. Years of industrial use left harmful heavy metals and petroleum compounds in the soil.

Viking Octantis departed for Thunder Bay around 1:30 p.m. While she was docked, her sistership Viking Polaris made an appearance upbound in the harbor, locking straight through headed for Silver Islet on northern Lake Superior

From Know Your Ships 2025

Toledo welcomes a cruise vessel to its port for the first time in years

TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo welcomed a cruise vessel to its port for the first time in years, marking a major milestone in the city’s effort to boost tourism and riverfront development.

Victory I, a 286-foot ship operated by Victory Cruise Lines, docked in the city Friday morning, bringing more than 190 passengers to explore what Toledo has to offer. City officials and local organizations celebrated the occasion with a warm welcome and live entertainment.

“Every time that we can host a cruise ship, it further solidifies our position as a major Great Lakes port destination,” said Lance Woodworth, president and CEO of Destination Toledo.

The festive arrival included performances by the Toledo School for the Arts steel drum band, cheerleaders, and participation from the Maritime Academy, creating a celebratory atmosphere along the waterfront.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz called the docking of Victory I a potential turning point for the city.

“Part of the plan is to build a permanent docking space so that these sorts of cruise ships won’t just show up rarely, like today, but will show up routinely several times a year. So this could be the beginning of something big for Toledo,” Kapszukiewicz said.

The collaborative effort included the National Museum of the Great Lakes, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Destination Toledo, and the City of Toledo. Organizers say today’s event is part of a broader strategy to enhance the city’s riverfront and attract more tourism.

Kate Fineske, executive director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, emphasized the cultural significance of the visit. “It’s so exciting for Toledo. We are the city that has everything. Now we’re being able to get it out there and make it even more known when we’ve got ships like these coming in,” she said.

Passengers disembarking from the ship were scheduled to enjoy various excursions around the city. Joe Cappel, vice president of business development at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, said the day represented a proud moment for the community.

“Passengers are going to have a great time on their excursions throughout the city,” he said. “It’s just a really great day for Toledo and something we should all be proud of.”

WTOL   [Photos in the gallery below]