UPDATE,11 A.M. SATURDAY: Hon. The Hon. James L. Oberstar stopped for unknown reasons near Frechette Point on her way upbound from the Hay Lake Anchorage, closing the river to traffic. By noon she was moving slowly with the tug Adenac III on the bow and Colorado on the starboard side. AIS is changed to SOO, which probably means the Carbide Dock. Waterfront reports indicate the Oberstar may have lost power on one engine. This is a developing story, check back for details.

UPDATE, 8 A.M. SATURDAY: The Hon. James L. Oberstar got underway upobound from the Hay Lake Anchorage around 7:30 a.m., with an AIS destination of Superior, WI.

Oberstar being readied for move to Fraser Shipyards

SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. – Responders are preparing the M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar for safe transit from Hay Lake Anchorage to Fraser Shipyards in Superior, WI.

Personnel aboard M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar transferred 4,500 net tons of limestone to the M/V Kaye E. Barker to increase the draft of the vessel and allow divers to complete assessments of damage to its hull. The Hay Lake Marine Casualty Unified Command (UC) is reviewing the

assessments to determine a prudent course of action to facilitate the safe transit of the vessel to Fraser Shipyards.

To date, personnel aboard the vessel completed a transfer of 16,000 gallons of fuel and oily water to temporary storage aboard an adjacent barge. Marine pollution mitigation teams were on-scene throughout the transfer and remain ready to respond to any signs of a discharge of the remaining maximum capacity of 92,000 gallons of fuel and other product contained in the vessel.

On-water and aerial surveys of the area around and downriver from the anchorage report no signs of discharges from the vessel. 600 feet of containment boom and approximately 400 feet of sorbent boom remains strategically arranged around the stern of the M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar, and a Current Buster 2 is staged on-site ready to rapidly deploy if needed.

Approximately 140 personnel are on-site and supporting the UC to ensure the safety of the public and responders, protect wildlife and the environment, ensure economic activities in the area are minimally affected, and to safely transit the vessel from Hay Lake Anchorage.

The UC consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Chippewa County, and Interlake Steamship Company. Multiple federal, state, local and partner organizations are also assisting in the response.

USCG

Mackinac Island fears ‘economic strangulation’ by ferry. Will Lansing step in?

MACKINAC ISLAND — Over 1 million travelers are spending more this summer to reach Michigan’s iconic vacation destination, and the officials fear price increases on the only ferries to the island could be devastating.

New fees could push the cost of a family day trip to the island to upwards of $200, the result of a Florida company, The Hoffmann Family of Companies, gaining a monopoly on ferries to one of Michigan’s top tourist attractions.

Nowadays, when friends or family visit him on the island, “You’re into this for a lot of money,” bookstore owner Joe Brandonisio told Bridge Michigan.

In response, state Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, introduced Senate Bill 304 in May that would allow the island to change its city charter to control “all aspects of ferry service.”

The fear, Damoose said, is that “families are beginning to consider whether they can afford to go over to Mackinac Island.”

Tickets to the island are $38, despite the island government saying Florida-based Hoffmann had to hold the price to $36. The ferry operator also added unregulated charges: Passengers pay a $3 convenience fee, plus extra for bringing a bicycle or to skip the line. Some parking fees increased, too.

Mackinac Island “believes if it is to be saved from economic strangulation by this Florida based company, and Michigan tourists are to be saved from being ripped off, we need to amend this charter,” Dennis Cawthorne, a former state representative and Mackinac Island resident, said Thursday as the Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs considered Damoose’s bill.

“The Hoffmann family’s unwavering dedication to Mackinac is rooted in a deep respect for its history, a passion for its preservation, and a vision for its thriving future,” Geoff Hoffman, co-CEO of the Hoffman Family of Companies, said in an emailed statement. “We are proud to contribute to this incredible community through our commitment to excellent service for Mackinac Island visitors, workers and residents.”

Chris Shepler, president of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service, testified the price hikes were necessary to continue established service and maintenance. Now an employee of Hoffmann, he and his family sold the three-generation ferry business to Hoffmann in 2022.

Running fast ferries, including maintaining the docks and parking lots, “is not cheap,” Shepler said.

Red the full story here: https://www.bridgemi.com/business-watch/mackinac-island-fears-economic-strangulation-ferry-will-lansing-step?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Canada’s Davie to Acquire Texas Shipyards,
Seeking to Supercharge U.S. Icebreaker Production

Canadian shipbuilder Davie has announced plans to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation, marking a significant expansion into the U.S. shipbuilding sector.

The acquisition, expected to close in summer 2025, remains subject to various conditions, including negotiations with the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees. For Davie, the move represents a strategic step in addressing America’s critical icebreaker shortage. The U.S. currently operates only three Arctic-ready vessels, while Russia maintains a fleet of nearly 50. Both Russia and China have increased their presence in the region.

We share a vision with Gulf Copper to make Texas a world-class hub for American icebreaker and complex ship production,” said James Davies, President and CEO of Davie. “Texas is ready to lead a new Golden Age of American shipbuilding—backed by our commitment to delivering ships on time, on budget, and in service of national security priorities.”

The expansion aligns with the recently established ICE Pact, a trilateral agreement between the United States, Canada, and Finland announced in July 2024. This collaboration aims to enhance polar icebreaker production while strengthening economic, climate, and national security interests in contested polar regions.

Davie brings significant expertise to the U.S. market through its extensive shipbuilding experience. The company’s Helsinki Shipyard in Finland has contributed to more than half of the global icebreaker fleet, while its Canadian operations have produced over 720 specialized vessels since 1825.

Gulf Copper CEO Steve Hale welcomed the acquisition, noting it would mark the return of complex shipbuilding to Galveston and Port Arthur “for the first time in decades”.

The transaction fulfills Davie’s July 2024 commitment to establish a permanent presence in America.

The project includes a planned $1 billion investment to upgrade and expand the Texas facilities, with projections indicating the creation of approximately 4,000 American jobs – 2,000 directly at Gulf Copper and another 2,000 throughout the supply chain.

The acquisition is strategically positioned to support key U.S. initiatives, including the President Trump’s establishment of a Maritime Action Plan, the recently reintroduced Ships for America Act, and the ongoing U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Security Cutter program. The Coast Guard’s broader strategic vision includes building a fleet of eight to nine polar icebreakers, supporting the President Trump’s stated initiative to acquire at least 40 new icebreakers.

In April, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from both domestic and international shipyards on the feasibility of building up to three medium-sized icebreakers, with construction starting within a year and launch within three years by utilizing a commercial vessel construction model.

Davie said its production-ready icebreaker designs, which meet U.S. mission requirements, promise faster delivery and improved cost efficiency for American taxpayers.

The acquisition comes as the Coast Guard’s Polar Security Cutter program, has faced numerous challenges, with construction timelines and costs more than doubling since the initial contract signing in 2019. Construction of the first heavy icebreaker in the program is underway at Bollinger Shipbuilding in Mississippi, with delivery now expected in early 2030—more than six years beyond the initial target.

In March, Davie was awarded a major contract to construct a new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Government, with delivery expected by 2030. The vessel, dubbed the Polar Max, will leverage expertise from Helsinki Shipyard, which Davie acquired in 2023.

Gulf Copper, with over 75 years of experience in marine and offshore industries, currently operates shipyards, dry docks, and fabrication facilities across the Gulf Coast, serving various sectors including oil and gas, marine transportation, petrochemical, and government.

The transaction has garnered support from stakeholders in both Texas and Washington, D.C., as Davie works to expedite the closing process.

Source: gCaptain