December 1996 News Archive

J.A.W. Iglehart Refloated Continued

12/31/1996:
The J.A.W. Iglehart was refloated yesterday morning after off-loading some of her cargo to the Alpena. She then moved to anchor about 2 miles north of the outer channel markers to assess any damage. The Liberty Bridge is out of service until 1/6, this could explain the change in destination.

Reported by: Lon Morgan and Dan Maus

Iglehart heading to Muskegon

12/31:
The 500-foot freighter J.A.W. Iglehart is scheduled to arrive in Muskegon at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The ship, which is carrying 5,500 tons of cement, is headed for the LaFarge cement dock near Heritage Landing. It is scheduled to depart at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Reported by: George Micka

Purves to tow J.L. Mauthe

12/31:
Purves towing J.L. Mauthe to Sturgeon Bay The tug John Purves arrived in Superior on Dec. 30 to make preparation for towing the idle steamer J.L. Mauthe to Sturgeon Bay for conversion to a barge. The Purves and Mauthe are expected to depart Duluth on the afternoon of Dec. 31.

Reported by: Al Miller

Ore docks keeping busy into 1997

12/31:
The BNSF and DMIR ore docks in the Twin Ports are running much later than normal this year and both plan to operate into 1997. BNSF expects to handle James R. Barker on Dec. 31, Burns Harbor on Jan. 1 and Stewart J. Cort on Jan. 2. The DMIR is expecting Armco on Jan. 2 and Courtney Burton Jan. 3. Meanwhile, the DMIR ore dock in Two Harbors is handling the big GLF boats now, with Edgar B. Speer due Jan. 2, Edwin H. Gott Jan. 3 and Presque Isle Jan. 5.

Reported by: Al Miller

Great Lakes Fleet’s AAA boats Heading for Lay-up

12/31:
GLF AAA boats going into layup Great Lakes Fleet’s AAA boats are all heading for layup around the first of the year. Arthur M. Anderson is due in Sturgeon Bay on Jan. 1, Cason J. Callaway is due in Superior on Jan. 4 and Philip R. Clarke is expected to arrive Duluth on Jan. 2. Other vessels laying up in the Twin Ports during the next few days include St. Clair and Indiana Harbor, both tying up at the port terminal.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Visit the Winter Lay-up list for more listings

News from the Welland Canal

12/31:
As of 1600 sunday the canal had drained from lock 7, to lock 3 and was draining between lock 2, and lock 1. Winter maintenance was expected to begin the morning of 12/30.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

J.A.W. Iglehart Aground update Sunday

12/29:
12:45 P.M. the Igelhart is still fast to the bottom of the Saginaw Bay. Three tugs , Manitou, Malcom, and Gregory Busch out of Saginaw are working on scene. When the Busch was outbound thru the Liberty Bridge in Bay City , power was lost to the west span and the bridge started down and caught the mast. The Busch arrived at the scene could not use the stern bit because the mast was in the way. They are discussing bring in the ALPENA to lighten the Igelhart to attempt to float her off.

Reported by: Dan Maus

8 P.M. J.A.W. Iglehart update

12/28:
The Manitou and Malcolm worked for a few hours this morning but did not have enough horsepower to pull her off. About 1530 the Gregory Busch out of Saginaw arrived. Last traffic was about 1/2 hour ago and all three are still trying to get her off the bank. The Iglehart is in the Saginaw Bay Channel at buoy 18 (about 7 miles north of the front range light.

Reported by: Lon Morgan

Emerald Star last to clear Seaway

12/28:
The Seaway officially closed on the morning of Dec. 27th, with the passing of the Emerald Star through St. Lambert Lock. It was open for 274 days and had its best tonnage year since 1988. It is estimated that tonnage was up 2.5% over 1995 with an estimated 3 835 vessels passages.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

Summary from Kingston Whig Standard.

Late Season calls on the DMIR ore dock

12/28:
The late-season parade of unusual callers continues for the DMIR ore dock in Duluth. Dec. 28 saw Oglebay Norton, Courtney Burton and Middletown call there. Buckeye was scheduled for later in the day and Columbia Star was due in Dec. 29. Of all these boats, only the Burton is a semi-regular caller.

Reported by: Al Miller

J.A.W. Iglehart Aground update

12/28:
At 10:00 A.M. EST, The J.A.W. Iglehart is still fast to the bottom at the mouth of The Saginaw River. The tug Manitou arrived on scene sometime last night, both the Manitou and tug Malcolm are working to free her.

Reported by: Dan Maus

J.A.W. Iglehart Aground

12/27:
At 8:30 P.M. EST, the J.A.W. Iglehart is reported aground in Saginaw Bay, Saginaw Channel. She is in postion 43 42.03N 083 48.53W on the red side. The tug Malcolm is on scene with another enroute, ice is reported to be 2-6″.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss and Lon Morgan

Duluth-Superior News

12/27:
After several days of limited activity, Duluth-Superior harbor sprang to life Dec. 27 as several vessels made unusually late calls for taconite pellets and others came in for winter lay up. Stewart J. Cort was loading at the BNSF ore dock while Lee A. Tregurtha waited at the Duluth port terminal for the next chance at the dock. Courtney Burton entered port for a rare late-season call at the DMIR ore dock, which usually closes by mid-December.Coast Guard Cutter Sundew and tow Great Lakes Towing tugs were breaking ice to help Walter J. McCarthy lay up at Midwest Energy Terminal and Elton Hoyt II enter Fraser Shipyards for lay up.

The current schedule calls for John G. Munson to arrive Sturgeon Bay on Dec. 29 for lay up.

Reported by: Al Miller

Delays continue at Burlington Northern Ore Dock

12/26:
After spending more than four days in port waiting for a berth and loading, Burns Harbor hopes to clear the BNSF ore dock in Superior on Dec. 26. By 9 a.m. the vessel had 37,000 tons loaded, another 13,000 in the dock bins ready to load. However, trouble was reported with the train bringing in more ore, which may cause more delays. Stewart J. Cort, which has been waiting since Dec. 24 at the Duluth port terminal, will then take its place at the ore dock once the Burns Harbor leaves. After two days of temperatures dropping as low as minus 20 degrees, the Cort will need a tug to free it from the dock and help it into the loading berth.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Ice in Saginaw Bay causing delays

12/26:
The J.A.W. Iglehart is out in the Saginaw Bay moving slowly through the ice inbound to the Saginaw River and all the way up to LaFarge Dock- Saginaw. Eight to nine-tenths new and thin lake ice in the Saginaw Bay seem to be giving the vessel some trouble. The Iglehart has to call the bridges and let them know their ETA. The last communication had the Iglehart stuck in the ice about 5 miles out (not sure if this is from the front range or if it is the outer buoys)

Reported by: Lon Morgan

Charter ends, Name returns

12/26:
The Atlantic Trader laid up at PASCOL Drydock Thunder Bay 21st Dec 10:00. The name will be changed (back) to Algobay over the winter and the vessel will no longer be under charter to CSL.

Reported by: P. Schultz

Visit the Winter Lay-up list for more listings

More on the Halcyon

12/25:
According to a story in the Muskegon Cronical, the Halcyon may be scrapped. It seems that the water damage combined with costs associated with her winter layup contributed to this decision. The report also said that the Halycon had design changes which contributed to the sinking, along with crew error. The design changes would also have to be corrected before it would be allowed to re-enter the water.

Reported by: Bob Wheelock

Seaway Radio Message No.21 – 1996

12/25:
This is the final Radio message for the closing period.The last vessel is expected to enter the Montreal-Lake Ontario section on December 25, and with the passage of this vessel, all operations in the St. Lambert to Iroquois section will cease.

Mariners are advised that for the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway the surcharges for December 21st to December 24th have been waived. Special agreements will be required for transits after 0001 hour December 25th. For transits of the Welland Canal after 0800 hours December 24th, written agreements will be required. Arrangements for written agreements can be made at the Authority’s St. Lambert, Quebec or St. Catharines, Ontario offices. Further details are available in Seaway Notice no. 7.

Mariners are advised to use caution in restricted channels due to higher than normal flows in the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section.

The openings of the Galop and the Prescott/Ogdensburg ice boom have been reduced to 243m and 610m respectively. The openings are indicated by flashing green and red buoys.

Mariners are advised that the implementation of the power to length ratio restrictions have been postponed until further notice.

The removal of essential aids will continue on Lake St. Francis, Lake St. Louis and the upper St. Lawrence River. Further information concerning this is available from the appropriate traffic control centres.

Water temperature at St. Lambert on December 24, 1996 is 1.3 degrees celsius. Last year’s temperature was 0.0 degrees celsius. The ten year average is 0.3 degrees celsius.

At midnight December 23, 1996, the number of ocean vessels above St. Lambert was 4 as compared to 13 in 1995. Above Port Weller the number was 1 as compared to 0 in 1995.

At 0700 hours December 24, 1996 the total number of vessels in transit and in ports between CIP 2 (St.Lambert) and CIP16 (Lake Erie) was approximately 26.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Visit the Seaway Authority’s home page for complete details

BNSF Ore Dock Busy

12/24:
The BNSF ore dock continues to rumble along the morning of Dec. 24 trying to deal with the backlog of vessels waiting to load. As of 11a.m. central time, the Stinson is finishing its load and expects to leave in about two hours. St. Clair has called for a tug to break it out from the port terminal dock and clear a path through the ice in the front channel linking Duluth to Superior. Stewart J. Cort is entering port and plans to take the St. Clair’s spot while it waits for the ore dock. Burns Harbor remains at the port terminal, where its been since Sunday waiting to load.

Reported by: Al Miller

Banner year for taconite

12/24:
Minnesota’s taconite industry is in the midst of its most productive decade ever and forecasts for 1997 call for the industry’s best year in 16 years.The state’s seven taconite plants will finish the year having produced nearly 46 million tons of pellets. Plants officials say they likely will produce 47.2 million tons in 1997.

Reported by: Duluth News-Tribune

Visit the Duluth News-Tribune for complete details

Rumors confirmed, J.L. Mauthe to be Converted to Barge

12/23:

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Loading Hose Failure Causes Oil Spill

12/23:
Shortly before 0600 hours on Saturday morning December 21, 1996 the motor tanker “Jade Star” suffered a loading hose failure while loading HFO-6C at Imperial Oil’s Nanticoke Marine Terminal. Quick actions by the vessel’s crew and Imperial’s dock staff prevented what could have been a much more serious incident. Much of the oil landed on the ship’s deck and was handled by the ship’s crew. The estimated 100 gals. which wound up in the harbour was contained by the permanent harbour booms (installed for this type of cargo) and quickly recovered by Imperial’s own Emergency Response Team and contract vessel of Cooper Marine despite a fresh breeze and heavy squalls. The cause of the vessel’s hose failure is still being investigated by the its owners Rigel, along with Imperial Oil Ltd. and the Canadian Coast Guard. “Jade Star” sailed at 1000 hours Sunday for a Quebec destination. Her spot was quickly taken by the Canadian Olympic with a late coal delivery and followed today by the “Emerald Star” with a load of aviation fuel for Nanticoke. The “Emerald Star” will be scurrying to beat the closure of the system on her way out of the Lakes.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Livingston Channel Open to Two way Traffic

12/23:
Effective today at 3:00 P.M. EST the Livingston Channel in the Detroit River is open to two way traffic. The Livingston Channel is normally used for downbound traffic only with upbound traffic using the Amherstburg Channel. Each winter the aids to navigation are removed from the Amherstburg Channel, though still open to navigation it makes for a difficult trip.Downbound Vessels calling in for Grassy Island have the right of way over upbound vessels calling in for the Detroit River Light

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Columbia Star last to Call

12/23:
Columbia Star is scheduled to be the last boat of the season to load at the Midwest Energy Resources terminal in Superior. The boat is expected to arrive about 5:30 p.m. central time Dec. 23. After that, the dock probably will serve its usual role as a layup berth for a vessel from American Steamship Co.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Burlington Northern Ore Dock Delays

12/23:
The end of the season is bringing some rare visitors to the Twin Ports: Both David Z. Norton and Wolverine are scheduled to call at the DMIR ore docks Dec. 23.Vessels are backing up at the Burlington Northern ore dock. George A. Stinson is loading Dec. 22/23. Meanwhile, on Dec. 22 the Oglebay Norton was tied up to the Duluth port terminal waiting for a turn to load. It was joined late in the day by St. Clair. Vessels scheduled to arrive for BN on Dec. 23 are Lee A. Tregurtha and Stewart J. Cort.

No indication about what’s causing the delay, although BN often has problem with its long conveyor system during cold weather as well as ice in the slip. With steady, blowing snow and cold temperatures, Burns Harbor on Dec. 23 was asking USCG Sundew to break ice in the front channel that links the Duluth and Superior sides of the harbor. Both Burns Harbor and St. Clair will use that channel to reach BN.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mail Boat Ends its 101st Season

12/23:
The U.S. Mail boat J.W. Westcott II was put into lay-up about 10:00 A.M. Friday (12/20). This marks the end of the 101st season of mid-river mail delivery for the Westcott Company. Also in lay-up is the back up boat, Joseph J. Hogan.
Pilot service will continue by tug from the Westcott Co.’s station on the Detroit River.

Reported by: Neil Schultheiss

Christmas Decorations on the Great Lakes

12/23:
Search for the Wilfred Sykes on Lake Michigan this week, it’s worth it. The entire after end is lined in red Christmas lights with a “tree” made from blue & red lights on either side of the unloading tower that angle down. Aft of the pilot house are additional lights and a lighted Christmas tree. There is an additional tree on the end of the boom. There are so many lights on the Sykes, the cook can’t make toast if they’re all lit at once. They will be in Escanaba tonight (12/22) and Ferrisburg later this week, then back to Milwaukee with coal. There is quite a line up of boats in Escanaba so delays are expected and this schedule may change. Bring a tripod.The Jackson was in Milwaukee unloading coal today (12/20). They were here long enough for me to get some night shots. Too bad the cold had taken its toll on the majority of lights around the pilot house. It was still a pretty sight. Sants Claus is positioned on top of the unloading tower. The Herbert C. Jackson has always had nice Christmas decorations. Look the the Medusa Challenger. They add more lights every year. The Wilfred Sykes was turned down by their front office for money for Christmas lights this year so the crew took up a collection and came up with $500 for lights. The should be visible for miles.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Pembina Starts New Life as Missionary Ship

12/21:
Twin Ports residents still have hope they may someday acquire the cargo ship Pembina – one of the last surviving small cargo vessels built in Duluth-Superior during World War II.Pembina was put up for sale recently and those interested in its preservation feared it might be scrapped. However, a Seattle man bought it a U.S. Marshal’s sale in San Francisco for $150,000. The new owner has renamed the vessel “The Spirit of Grace” and has chartered it to a religious group to be outfitted as a missionary ship. Its first destination is to be Honduras.

Twin Ports preservationists, lead by librarian Barry Singer, say they still hope to bring the vessel back to Superior some day.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Duluth Superior Grain up 4-Percent

12/21:
The heavy fall grain traffic in Duluth-Superior resulted in a 49-percent increase in international grain exports from the Twin Ports in November compared to the same month a year ago. Port officials expect that overall tonnage this season will exceed the five-year average of 33.6 million tons but probably won’t reach last season’s high of 40.6 million tons.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Cort May Run all Winter

12/20:
While upbound at the Soo, I overheard the Stewart J. Cort talking with another boat about the upcoming winter. It appears that the Cort has three or four more trips left to Superior and then she may be put on a run between Escanaba and Burns Harbor for the remainder of the winter. The USX and Inland fleets have often extended the season, running well into February and coming out in early March on this same run but as far as I know Bethlehem has never done this.

Dan Sweeley

Lay-up Continues, Work Starts

12/20:
Algowood came off drydock yesterday and went to layup at dock #10 (WellandDock) for the winter, she is to get new hatch covers. Canadian Navigator took her place at the drydock and is to be converted to a self unloader. The Algoway is still laid up outside the drydock but should be going on the blocks soon (saturday?) Algontario was upbound the Seaway (Massena) yesterday on her way to lay up at Hamilton.

Reported by: P. Schultz

Visit the Winter Lay-up list for more listings

Two Small Self-Unloaders Home For the Holidays

12/20:
The GEORGE A. SLOAN arrived her winter lay-up berth at Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., on December 19. As of this morning (12/20), the RICHARD REISS was anchored off Erie, Pa., waiting for the winds to die down so the ship could lay-up at the Erie Sand dock.
In other lay-up news, S. T. CRAPO was shifted from Collision Bend to G&W Dock in the Cuyahoga.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Alpena makes late season call

12/20:
Alpena arrived in port Dec. 20, slowly steaming across the harbor through rising mist caused by the below-zero air passing over the warmer waters of the harbor. This is an unusually late visit for a cement boat, and likely was prompted by last summer’s delays resulting from the labor dispute.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

American Mariner Loads at Elevator S

12/19:
Superior’s Elevator S – a turn-of-the-century structure that’s rarely used today – was visited Dec. 19 by American Mariner. The vessel was loading oats destined for Huron, Ohio.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

U.S.-Flag Float Up 8.4 Percent In November

12/19:
U.S.-Flag vessel operators hauled 12,048,704 net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargos on the Great Lakes in November, an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.The increase is mostly weather-related. November 1995 was characterized by excessive vessel downtime during to storms and high winds. This November was relatively calm.Iron ore and coal lead the upswing. Iron ore cargos totaled 5.9 million tons, an increase of 6.3 percent. Coal loadings in U.S. bottoms totaled 2.4 million tons, an increase of 13.2 percent. The U.S.-Flag stone float was virtually unchanged in November.

The November total represents a decrease from previous months, but that is no indication of demand or vessel utilization rates, but rather than many ships lose carrying capacity when they go to winter marks (permitted loadline) on November 1.

For the season, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 103,794,101 net tons, an increase of 1.2 percent. Only two commodities, coal and grain, show decreases compared to the previous navigation season. U.S.-Flag coal loadings are down as the result of lower demand for eastern coal. Reduced demand for grain reflects shifts in both transportation mode and production facilities.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA‘s home page for complete details

Saginaw River Closed for Season

12/19:
Technically the Saginaw River closed to traffic on 12/15. Vessels are now required to give 12 hour notice to the USCG and the bridges(which are unmanned now). If 12/17 was the last of the season, it was a good day…..the Fred R. White Jr. reported while inbound that it would be the last trip for both the White and the Joseph H. Frantz.

Reported by: Lon Morgan

George A. Sloan makes last trip of the Season

12/18:
Stmr. George A. Sloan delivered its last load of the season to Green Bay and is scheduled to enter winter lay-up Dec. 19 in Sturgeon Bay.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Louis R. Desmarais Unloading Boom Breaks

12/17: Story reported yesterday, pictures of the damaged boom added today.

Algolake makes rare maneuver in Duluth

12/17:
Boatwatchers in Duluth saw a rare sight Dec. 16 when the 730-foot Algolake left port by backing under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out the Duluth ship canal. The laker had unloaded salt at the Cutler-Magner dock, which is directly across from the canal that forms the harbor entrance. Rather than buck ice by turning the harbor, the vessel’s master decided to back straight away from the dock and out the canal before turning around in the open water on the lake. A bridge operator said it was only the second time in 15 years he’s seen a vessel back out the canal.Longtime boatwatchers recall that the best bit of ship canal boat handling occurred about 10 years ago when St. Clair lost power in the canal. Using his bowthrusters to avoid hitting the canal piers, the master let the brisk wind blow the vessel back into the harbor, where it went to anchor until power was restored.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Seaway season ends in the Twin Ports

12/17:
The St. Lawrence Seaway shipping season came to end Dec. 16 in Duluth-Superior as a pair of vessels cleared port to make the Seaway’s closing deadlines.The Greek-flag Panagiotis became Duluth-Superior’s last oceangoing vessel of the season when it departed with 16,517 metric tons of spring wheat from the Peavey Connors Point grain elevator bound for Ravenna, Italy.

A few hours later Canadian Trader motored under the Aerial Lift Bridge to become the ports’ last boat scheduled to travel the full length of the Seaway. The vessel loaded 7,000 metric tons of spring wheat at Harvest States grain elevator in Superior. It will load more cargo in Thunder Bay before continuing on to Port Cartier.

Twin Ports vessel traffic will drop considerably now as most remaining vessels will call only at the Midwest Energy Terminal coal dock and the BN and DMIR ore docks. The DMIR tends to shut down earlier than its counterpart in Two Harbors because of ice. At least one more cement boat – the Alpena – is due in this week.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Louis R. Desmarais Unloading Boom Breaks

12/16:
On Saturday December 14, the Louis R. Desmarais was unloading at the St. Marys Cement dock in the Rouge River when the unloading boom snapped about two thirds of the way up. When I saw the boom the only thing that was holding it together was the belt. I heard that they called a crain in to lift the broken piece down to the deck.

Reported by: Dave Marcoux

McKee Sons Enters Lay-up

12/16:
The tug/barge unit McKee Sons & Olive L. Moore laid up on December 15 in Escanaba, Michigan.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

J.W. McGiffin Making Christmas Brighter for Needy Families

12/16:
At this morning’s service (12/15) at Grace United Church in Port Dover, Ontario, Pastor Brian Elder was thankful to the Master and crew of CSL’s J.W. McGiffin. It seems a couple of weeks ago the Reverend received a cell phone call from Capt. Lars Bouman indicating the crew would like to do a little something for the needy families in the Port Dover area. Last Wednesday evening Reverend Elder visited the ship in nearby Nanticoke and was taken by surprise with a donation of several hundred dollars from the McGiffin’s crew. A deal had also been arranged with the local K-Mart in Simcoe to purchase toys with the money and food vouchers are also being purchased by the Church. Thanks to the thoughts of these mariners, Christmas will no doubt be a little brighter for the less fortunate.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

This one deserves a salute

Stinson to be sold

12/14:
Reports indicate that the George A. Stinson is going to be sold at the end of the season to American Steamship. She is to be laid up in Toldeo around the December 26 and will receive her new colors over the winter. She will probably receive a new name as well. Interlake has decided not to renew the contract for her.

Reported by: John Lynch and Dan Sweeley

Research ship raised; salvage costs going up, too

12/14:
Three large cranes raised the HALCYON Thursday morning and placed her onto a barge. Work crews had been trying to raise HALCYON since Monday. NOAA wasbeginning an investigation Thursday morning into the cause of the ships sinking. HALCYON went down stern first. While she was being lifted onto an Andrie Inc. barge, water was observed leaking from the area where her two outdrives was located. NOAA supervisor Steve Ruberg revised his previous cost estimate, and now says it may cost up to $150,000 by the entire salvage operation is complete. HALCYON will remain aboard a barge while her two diesel engines are worked on. Once the ship is repaired, NOAA plans to use her for their Great Lakes research effort along with the R/V Shenehon.

Reported by: George Micka

Edited from a story appearing in the Dec. 12 Muskegon Chronicle

Mail Boat Ready to Call it a Season

12/13:
The U.S. Marine Post Office located in Detroit, is set to lay up the Mail boat J.W. Westcott II on the morning of December 20, 1996. This marks the end of the 101st season of “mail by the pail” for the J.W. Westcott Company.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Kinsman Independent to Enter Lay-up

12/13:
The grain carrier KINSMAN INDEPENDENT is discharging her final cargo of the season in Buffalo today (12/13). When unloading is completed tomorrow morning, the ship will lay-up at the Lake & Rail dock.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

News from Duluth

12/12:
Two long-standing grain elevators on the Twin Ports waterfront will be coming down over the next few years. Work has been under way for some time on the Globe Elevator, located next to the Harvest States elevator in Superior. Workers have been dismantling equipment outside the elevator since last spring and appear to be working inside as well. The wooden structure was built in the 1880s. Also likely to come down soon is the old Peavey elevator complex next to the Duluth port terminal. The local port authority owns the complex and will soon be seeking bids for demolition.After a busy autumn that saw as many as half a dozen salties at a time waiting to load, the international shipping season in Duluth-Superior is coming to an end. The Wartenes was loading at the Cargill elevator on the evening of Dec. 11 and again Dec. 12, and salties Serenade, Ziemia Opinska (sp?) and Adveeka are scheduled to arrive in the next few days. They likely will be the last salties in port this season. Although a November cold snap caused an early onset of harbor ice, more moderate temperatures in December have eased the ice problem for boats and even allowed some open water to reappear.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Canadian Ships without Pilots

12/12:
Four Canadian-registry ships last week sailed through compulsory pilotage zones in the St. Lawrence River without a pilot, risking a potential C$5,000 fine. Three were from Canada Steamship Lines Inc. The firms involved said they were loosing C$1 million in the delays, which were up to two days at the Welland Canal due to heavy traffic and a lack of pilots or pilots arriving late. River temperatures were at 2.5 degrees Celsius and strong ice could form in 48 hours. As a result, each vessel must have two pilots. Shipowners asked that ships that have routinely sailed the area with capable navigation equipment be allowed to sail without pilots. The request was later changed to one instead of two pilots. When both requests were denied, the four ships sailed. It has been decided that fines will not be imposed. Apparently, the unortodox move by the four ships had an effect on the pilot system, as reports suggest the situation has begun to clear.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Upper Lakes Shipping ships get Certificates

12/12:
U.L.S. Corp. has become the first Canadian shipping line to receive I.S.M. accreditation, and the first to have both the I.S.M. Code and I.S.O. 9002 certification. I.S.M. safety management certificates were given to the M/V Canadian Progress, the M/V Canadian Ranger and the Str. Montrealais.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

M/V Utviken Refloated

12/09:
The M/V Utviken (Bahamian-registry 17,191-gt, 30,052-dwt, 189 meter/621 foot long bulk carrier built in 1987, oprated by Viken Shipping) has been refloated (see story dated 11/28). The vessel, sailing from Richards Bay, South Africa, to Detroit with titanium slag, ran aground in U.S. waters on a shoal along the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River below Massena, N.Y., on 26 Nov. The ship suffered electrical problems in her steering console, which is believed to have caused the grounding. The cargo was lightered before the refloating attempt. The M/V Utviken has damage to the port side forward and amidships. The forepeak tankand the No. 1 double-bottom tank flooded in the grounding.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

St Clair in for Repairs

12/09:
St. Clair docked at the Duluth port terminal Dec. 8 while a crew from Fraser Shipyards worked on the vessel’s stern on the starboard side near the propeller shaft. The vessel remained docked on the morning of Dec. 9 but the workers and their crane appeared to be gone.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Lee A. Tregurtha make first visit to Power plant dock

12/09:
The steamer LEE A. TREGURTHA docked at Port Washington, Wisconsin Friday to deliver a cargo of coal to the Wisconsin Electric Power Plant. It marked the first time that this vessel ever arrived at the small dock.The TREGURTHA, at 826-feet, is the longest vessel to dock at the 1100 foot long facility at Port Washington, since the 1000-footers MESABI MINER and JAMES R. BARKER visited several times in 1979-80. Prior to today’s arrival, the longest ship besides the 1000-footers to arrive at the coal dock was the 770-foot long m/v ST. CLAIR which was at the dock in 1984 and again in 1994.

The vessel was formerly the WALTER A. STERLING, part of the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Co. Although Cliffs had a large portion of the utility’s coal contract in the 1970’s, the STERLING was the only ship of that fleet to have never delivered coal to Port Washington during that era.

Reported by: Paul G. Wiening

M/V Utviken Refloated

12/09:
The M/V Utviken (Bahamian-registry 17,191-gt, 30,052-dwt, 189 meter/621 foot long bulk carrier built in 1987, oprated by Viken Shipping) has been refloated (see story dated 11/28). The vessel, sailing from Richards Bay, South Africa, to Detroit with titanium slag, ran aground in U.S. waters on a shoal along the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River below Massena, N.Y., on 26 Nov. The ship suffered electrical problems in her steering console, which is believed to have caused the grounding. The cargo was lightered before the refloating attempt. The M/V Utviken has damage to the port side forward and amidships. The forepeak tankand the No. 1 double-bottom tank flooded in the grounding.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

St Clair in for Repairs

12/09:
St. Clair docked at the Duluth port terminal Dec. 8 while a crew from Fraser Shipyards worked on the vessel’s stern on the starboard side near the propeller shaft. The vessel remained docked on the morning of Dec. 9 but the workers and their crane appeared to be gone.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Lee A. Tregurtha make first visit to Power plant dock

12/09:
The steamer LEE A. TREGURTHA docked at Port Washington, Wisconsin Friday to deliver a cargo of coal to the Wisconsin Electric Power Plant. It marked the first time that this vessel ever arrived at the small dock.The TREGURTHA, at 826-feet, is the longest vessel to dock at the 1100 foot long facility at Port Washington, since the 1000-footers MESABI MINER and JAMES R. BARKER visited several times in 1979-80. Prior to today’s arrival, the longest ship besides the 1000-footers to arrive at the coal dock was the 770-foot long m/v ST. CLAIR which was at the dock in 1984 and again in 1994.

The vessel was formerly the WALTER A. STERLING, part of the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Co. Although Cliffs had a large portion of the utility’s coal contract in the 1970’s, the STERLING was the only ship of that fleet to have never delivered coal to Port Washington during that era.

Reported by: Paul G. Wiening

St. Lawrence Seaway Statistics

12/06:
Cargo moving through the St. Lawrence Seaway as of the end of November was two percent higher compared to the same period last year.Some 45,558,446 tons of cargo moved through the seaway by 30 Nov., compared with 44,697,198 ton s as of 30 Nov., 1995. Toll revenue is up C$2 million over last year. In all, 3,463 ships moved through the seaway as of 30 Nov., compared to 3,566 during the same time in 1995. However oceanic vessel transits have increased by almost 100

The breakdown, in tons, is:

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Rumor Mill suggests Conversion of the J.L. Mauthe to a Barge

12/06:
The transfer of the idled J.L. Mauthe to Fraser Shipyards has prompted rumors about Interlake’s plans for the vessel. The most persistent report is that Interlake is eyeing the steamer for conversion to a self-unloading barge. No one knows whether Interlake would run the barge, create a subsidiary to run it or sell it. It’s also not clear on whether the work would be done at Fraser. Apparently, the boat was just brought into the yard so a bid could be prepared.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Raise the Halcyon: New try planned

12/06:
A government research ship that sank Monday remained on the bottom of Muskegon harbor this morning as federal officials worked on plans for another rescue attempt. The 60-foot-long R/V Halcyon sank Monday while tied up at a dock off the West Michigan Michigan Dock and Market Corp. Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which owns the vessel, spent Tuesday trying to line up a salvage contractor to hoist the ship out of the water.Crews tried Monday to raise the Halcyon with a crane, but the effort failed because one of the ship’s stern cleats, which can hold a cable, cracked. Another rescue attempt is expected next Monday, said Steve Ruberg, a NOAA supervisor.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Greg Case said that the boat must be lifted carefully. “It’s full of water,” he said. “If you just pulled it up, you could snap cables, injure people, crack open the hull and spill fuel.”

The ship rests on the bottom of the harbor; the top of the pilot house is the only portion above water. Federal officials have said the ship will be usable once it is pulled out of the water and repaired.

Reported by: George Micka

Edited from a story appearing in the Dec. 4 Muskegon Chronicle

Paul H. Townsend Enters Lay-up

12/06:
The Paul H. Townsend arrived in Green Bay for winter lay-up on December 5.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Duluth’s Grain Shipments to the World

12/05:
South Africa and the former Soviet Union nations of Georgia and Latvia are new destinations this year for grain shipments from Duluth and Superior. Cargoes of durum and spring wheat began moving to South Africa in August. During this fall, shipments of spring wheat began moving to Georgia while Latvia received corn. Grain shipments from the port i n 1996 were destined for 27 countries in Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan African, the Middle East, Central America and South America.

Reported by: Seaway Port Authority of Duluth

U.S.-Flag Lakers in Service on December 1

12/05:
Leading U.S.-Flag carriers on the Lakes had 55 of their ships in service on December 1, a decrease of one ship compared to a year ago. However, the fleet will pull even when the cement carrier PAUL H. TOWNSEND returns to service on December 4.A survey of U.S.-Flag carriers indicates that late-season plans remain largely unchanged. A few of the lower horsepower self-unloaders will finish their season by mid-December or so. A couple other vessels will lay-up before year’s end so they can be drydocked for inspections over the winter. The remainder of the active fleet will sail into January.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Welland Canal 167th Anniversary

12/05:
Peter Cresswell, CEO of Algoma Central Corp used the celebration to deliver an attack on the Canadian Federal Government’s policies and ill-conceived taxes which he says are threatening the Seaway. In particular Cresswell criticized the Marine Services Fee, levied this year. This fee of $70,000 per Canadian ship is collected whether the ship sails one day or all season. The fee is supposed to help cover the cost of navigation aids in the canal and on the lakes. Cresswell said the plans to privatise the Seaway was an indication that government is turning its back on what must be considered as a national treasure. Later Walt Lastewka MP for St. Catharines said he was disappointed that Cresswell chose the Merritt Day celebration to grandstand and criticize the government.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Duluth’s Lift Bridge Continues to Lift only for Deep-Draft Vessels

12/04:
Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge, which spans the Duluth entry to the Twin Ports, continues to lift only for deep-draft vessels until repairs can be made to its lifting mechanism over the winter. On Dec. 4, only the outbound Oglebay Norton, loaded with coal, was permitted to use the Duluth entry. All other vessels were routed through Superior Entry.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Steel Rods Hole Saltie

12/04:
The M/V Kamenitza (Bulgarian-registry 16,188-gt, 24,150-dwt bulk carrier built in 1980, operated by Nav. Mar. Bulgare) was damaged at Chicago on 29 Nov. Two bundles of steel rods were dropped into the No. 3 cargo hold, which holed the ship’s double-bottom.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

R/V Halcyon Sinks in Muskegon

12/03:
Apparently pumping efforts were unsuccessful Monday, in their effort to keep the R/V HALCYON afloat. Tuesday afternoon HALCYON’s U.S. flag, mast, radar and search light were the only features visible above Muskegon Lake. It appeared that a tug and barge from Andrie marine, and a large Erickson crane were also unable to help keep her above water. The crane was still connected to HALCYON, with the tug and barge standing by. The research vessel W.G. JACKSON was still moored South of HALCYON’s submerged bow. Spill containment booms were still in place around the sunken vessel. The slip is readily visible just behind Muskegon’s L.C. Walker Arena, on the east side of the West Michigan Dock and Market Company. Interested parties can view/photograph the events from Shoreline Drive, which runs South of the slip.

Reported by: George Micka

R/V Halcyon Sinks in Muskegon

12/03:
In a matter related to the “Mart Dock”, Muskegon city officials are updating the city’s master plan. This involves the Mart site, which has been proposed for use as an aquarium, cross-lake carferry terminal (previous home of S.S. MILWAUKEE CLIPPER & S.S. AQUARAMA), aquatic research center for Grand Valley State University (G.V.S.U.’s R/V W.G JACKSON is presently berthed there), and as a possible new home for the U.S.S. SILVERSIDES & Maritime Museum (now located at the Muskegon Channel) among others. In past years freighters frequently wintered in one of the Mart Docks slips.

Reported by: George Micka

Thanksgiving on the lakes

12/03:
Here are the entrees for the Indiana Harbor:
Lobster Tail & Alaska King Crab Legs w/drawn butter, Grilled Tenderloin Steak w/mushrooms, and Roast Turkey w/dressing & cranberry sauce. The Boland’s entrees were: Roast Tom Turkey w/sausage dressing, Broiled Beef Tenderloin w/sauteed mushrooms and Broiled lobster w/drawn butter. Of course there was also appetizers, soup, vegetables and desserts.The Stewards are usually not held to a budget by the companies for these special days. Before the CG changed the rules, most Captains even allowed beer and wine to be served at these meals.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

J.L. Mauthe Towed into Fraser Shipyards

12/03:
Interlake Steamship was busy in the Twin Ports on Dec. 2 with five vessels in motion. Kaye E. Barker and Paul Tregurtha called at the Midwest Energy coal dock and Lee A. Tregurtha loaded taconite pellets at DMIR. J.L. Mauthe, which has been idle the past three years, was towed into Fraser Shipyards. Interlake has not announced what sort of work will be done on the vessel this winter. To make room for the Mauthe, the long-idle John Sherwin was removed from the shipyard and docked in the berth formerly occupied by the Mauthe at the old Meehan Seaway Services dock. The Sherwin has been tied up since 1981 and has been cannibalized for parts.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Oglebay Norton Reaches Agreement on Mine

12/03:
Oglebay Norton Co. reportedly has reached an agreement to sell its share of Eveleth Mines, ensuring the taconite producer will remain in operation after O.N. withdraws from the operation at the end of this year.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Research Vessel Sinks at Mart Dock

12/03:
The icy waters of Muskegon Lake envelop the research vessel R/V Halcyon as it slowly sinks this morning along the West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. It is the vessel’s first winter in Michigan after coming to Muskegon from Georgia.Mart dock officials were uncertain as to why the research vessel M/V Halcyon sank at the dock this morning. A check of the vessel at 0400 hours was ok. At 0700 hours the vessel was observed by Mart Dock personnel to be sinking at the stern. The ship continued slowly sinking by the stern until pumping efforts began. Halcyon’s master Bill Burns was notified, and “said that the plan was to raise the ship, dry it out, “find out why it did what it did,” fix that, then finish winterizing it.”

A North Muskegon fire truck was hooked up to the Halcyon’s pumps, and by 1100 had raised the stern of the vessel by 2 feet. A dirty water line was readily visible on the side of the ship. At 1100 the 60 foot vessel was half submerged, and the newspaper picture showed the vessel with bow high and stern submerged.

The 10 year old Halcyon was stationed at sunny Savannah Georgia before arriving at Muskegon this fall. Crews were in the process of winterizing the ship, which features a double aluminum hull. Burns theorized that something may have broken due to the fact that the ship was not fully winterized. He also said that Halcyon will be fully usable, and that this happens once in awhile. Hazmat crews arrived at 0815, placing spill containment booms out for her leaking diesel fuel. The incident should not hamper research efforts, and the vessel should be repairable. Damage estimates were not available at the time of the article, as the ship was still being pumped.

The Grand Valley State University research vessel W.G. JACKSON was moored just South of Halcyon, and was fine.

Incidentally, the MHSD listed the Halcyon in their current issue. “HALCYON is referred to as a SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) type vessel and is similar in design to a catermaran, which will give her a much stabler platform for research work. Once in Muskegon, HALCYON will replace another G.L.E.R.L. (Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory) vessel, the 43 year old R.V. SHENEHON.”

Reported by: George Micka

Edited from a story appearing in the Dec. 2 Muskegon Chronicle

New Steel Terminal to ship to the Lakes

12/03:
A new steel terminal, capable of handling 1.2 million tons annually, has been opened in Dunkirk, France. It was built by Feron de Clebsattel for Sollac, a steel producer. The terminal will be used to export semi-finished steel products. As part of this, Fednav has contracted to load steel at the new terminal for transport to the Great Lakes.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Operation Taconite begins

12/02:
The U.S. Coast Guard on 29 Nov. began icebreaking operations on the Great Lakes, two weeks earlier than last year. Operation Taconite, on Lake Superior, began in the ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., where up to 15 centimeters/6 inches of ice was reported. The Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Sundew (WLB 404) was working to clear ice off Duluth. Ice was also reported at Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

World Maritime News relating to the Great Lakes

12/02:
MIL Davie, the shipyard at Levis, Quebec, Canada, is now Davie Industries.The U.S. Customs Service announced 21 Nov. a special tonnage tax and duty charged to Ukrainian-registry vessels calling at U.S. ports will be ended immediately. The penalty was begun in late September to counter discriminatory tonnage fees assessed against U.S.- registry ships at Ukrainian ports. Ukraine has ended the fees.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced 27 Nov. it has temporarily suspended part of the tanker under-keel clearance requirement under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Several firms petitioned the Coast Guard to review the responsibility of the owners in the under-keel clearance requirement, and as a result, a 60-day comment period began 25 Nov. Tanker masters must still calculate the deepest draft of the ship and discuss the draft’s impact on navigation with local pilots.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “the World Maritime News”

New Passenger and Auto Ferry for Miller Boat Line

12/02/1996:
Miller Boat Line of Put-in-Bay, Ohio announced they have contracted with Bay shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay to construct a 96-foot long passenger and auto ferry with a 38′ 6″ beam and 14′ 2″ overhead drive-through clearance. The new ferry, to be named PUT-IN-BAY, was designed by Timothy Graul of Sturgeon Bay and will include two 620-HP Caterpillar diesel engines which will provide a service speed of 12 miles per hour. The new PUT-IN-BAY is scheduled to begin service in the early summer of 1997.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Report comes from the November issue of the Detroit Marine Historian