May 1997 News Archive

Unusual calls by the USS fleet

05/31:
Two vessels from Great Lakes Fleet will be making unusual port calls this week. Arthur M. Anderson will call in Gladstone in the first few days of June while Myron C. Taylor is due in Milwaukee May 30.Meanwhile, Edwin H. Gott is becoming a semi-regular in Duluth. The vessel is due at the DMIR ore docks June 3, for at least its third call of the season.

Reported by: Al Miller

Kinsman Enterprise moved

05/31:
The Kinsman Enterprise has been moved from the Bethlehem Ship Canal to the Old Port of Buffalo terminal “A”. She is tied up to the peir on her starbord side and is facing out to the lake. This may have been in preperation for the Aird’s arrival since Kinsman Enterprise was taking up dock space normaly used for salt or stone.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Siscowet docks in Thunder Bay

05/31:
The U.S. Geological Survey research vessel Siscowet docked in Thunder Bay on Thursday night. It’s participating in a joint research project with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. On Friday, the boat will spend the day working around the bay and the Sibley Penninsula. The crew is surveying the population of forage fish like smelt and herring. Research from last year indicates both populations are in decline but not enough to be worried about yet.

Reported by: Richard Boon

Clipper group offers to buy ship for $1

05/31:
A group dedicated to saving the Milwaukee Clipper and bringing it back to Muskegon has offered to purchase the former car ferry for $1. But the ship’s rapidly deteriorating condition may halt the effort.A Muskegon-based group calling itself The Great Lakes Clipper Preservation Association Inc. appeared this week before the Hammond, Ind., Port Authority in the hopes of saving the ship and bringing it back to its former home port. Under the plan presented, the group wants to purchase the ship for $1 from the authority and have it towed back to Muskegon as a maritime museum and convention center.

The port authority, which has owned the answer financial and logistical questions surrounding the plan. Port authority officials are anxious to find a new owner for the ship, which is at a temporary berth in the Calumet River south of Chicago.

Jim Plant, who heads the group that has been labeled “Clipper Huggers” by Hammond-area media, said the Muskegon offer appears to be the only one on the table designed to save the ship, which operated year-round out of Muskegon from 1941 through 1970. The only other interest is from scrap dealers.

Organizers, he said, hope to have a Hammond-based casino finance the estimated $20,000 towing fee as a contribution to help Hammond clean up its waterfront.

The group, he said, also has a verbal commitment that would allow the ship to be berthed at the West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. The proposal presented to the port authority estimates it would cost $100,000 to partially restore the vessel.

But Plant said the six-person delegation that toured the ship Tuesday was shocked by the deterioration and vandalism that has occurred since the ship was removed from the Hammond Marina 14 months ago. The 500-pound ship’s bell, dating back to the ship’s earlier career as the passenger ship Juniata, recently was stolen. Rust is attacking the hull, and interior paint is pealing badly because the ship was not heated during the past winter. Plant said the group is so concerned by the ship’s condition it may reconsider its effort to bring the ship back to Muskegon.

The group will meet Tuesday to decide whether to continue its effort to save the Clipper. “We were very disappointed when we toured the ship,” Plan said. “There has been a lot of vandalism and deterioration. As it sits today, we cannot bring it back into Muskegon’s harbor without a lot of people questioning what we are doing.”

Robert J. Nelson, director of the Hammond Marina and a staff member for the port authority, said among their concerns is the apparent lack of financial backing, a specific site to berth the ship and the absence of endorsements by local government and business leaders.

Nelson said after trying to find a new home for the Clipper for more than two years, the port authority may have no choice but to sell the ship for scrap.

“The last thing the Hammond Port Authority would like to see is the boat go up for auction and sold for scrap,” he said.

Reported by: Chuck Vincent

Today in Great Lakes History – May 31

The CITY OF SAGINAW 31 cleared Manitowoc in 1973 in tow of the tug HELEN M. McALLISTER, this was the first leg of her tow to the cutters torch

From the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Sea Maid

05/30:
The small 1680 DWT, 1984 built Danish dry cargo vessel SEA MAID can be sail assisted according to Lloyds Register. She reported at Crossover Island at 05/29 1744 en route to Cleveland with steelThe former Paterson vessel MONDOC was sold to Jamaican owners in 1979 and renamed CORAH ANN under the Jamaican flag. She was reflagged to Belize in 1996. In March of this year she was offered up for sale at Auction in Kingston Jamaica

Reported by: John Whitehead and Rene Beauchamp

Mercy visit -1997 update

05/30:
On Thursdays 8pm bulletin the Carribean Mercy had Orders to depart Montreal at 2200 Thursday for CGRH (Grand Haven MI). This is one day earlier than expected.

Reported by: John Whitehead

Today in Great Lakes History – May 30

The Columbia Star began her maiden voyage in 1981 from Sturgeon Bay to load iron ore pellets at Silver Bay, MN for Lorain, OH. She was the last of the 1000 footers to enter service and, excluding tug-barge units or conversions, was the last new Great Lakes vessel on the American side.

Dates by Jody L. Aho and from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Pair of T2’s

05/29:
Yesterday the Lee A. Tregurtha and the Middletown were five minutes apart upbound near the Soo. A unique opportunity to see the former T2 tankers together again. Later fleet mates Lee A. tregurtha (upbound ) and Paul R. Tregurtha (downbound) passed just below nine mile point.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

Manitowoc bridge rammed

05/29:
A barge rammed the 10th Street Bridge in Manitowoc, Wis., on 22 May. The tow was waiting for the bridge to open when the span malfunctioned. The tow attempted to stop but when it was apparent an allision would occur, the barge was aimed at a concrete section of the bridge. Though damaged, the bridge’s condition was not serious enough to force it to close.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Mercy visit -1997

05/29:
The Panamanian registered CARRIBEAN MERCY missionary/medical ship arrived in Montreal 5/27 in preparation for her 1997 visit to Great Lakes ports. The good looking white hulled 2152 GRT vessel (formerly passenger ship POLARLYS) was built in Denmark in 1952. On her last visit in 1995 she departed with a full load of medical supplies after stops at Grand Haven MI, Chicago, Duluth, Cleveland, and Toronto. She is expected to transit the Seaway-East area late this week on her voyage west. See next Friday evenings Seaway-East Vessel Passage Report for an update on her position.”

Reported by: John Whitehead

American Mariner loses an engine

05/29:
Last Saturday the American Mariner was upbound in the St. Clair River. She was followed by the Canadian Provider, then the George A. Sloan. The Mariner reported one of their engines had to be shut down and told the Provider and the Sloan to pass. It took about 2 hours for the Mariner to make it from Marine City, MI to Marysville, MI. The Mariner tied up at the Marysville power plant to complete repairs.

Reported by: Dave Marcoux and John Belliveau

Signs of Summer

05/29:
The fuel saving and shorter route through the Strait of Belle Isle (North of Newfoundland), for vessels destined to the Heart of North America is now open. The issue of ice maps for the area is being discontinued.The American passenger vessel NANTUCKET CLIPPER, is expected inbound at Escoumains Pilot 5/29 at 4am. en route to the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway for another series of summer cruises

Reported by: John Whitehead

Cable TV on the lakes

05/29:
Reports are that a few boats in the Great Lakes fleet have now been fitted with DSS marine satellite TV systems. These system are similar to the home roof top units but can track the satellite while under way. Looks like the crews wont have to be in port to catch the hockey game.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Today in Great Lakes History – May 29

ROBERT S. McNAMARA was Launched in 1909 as a) STADACONA (1)

JAMES R. BARKER was Float launched in 1976

TADOUSSAC (2) Prematurely launched herself on this day in 1969

from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Ryerson’s always a crowd pleaser

05/28:
Relief Captain Eric Treece gave the Memorial Day boat watchers at the Soo a day to remember as he brought the Edward L. Ryerson down at Mission Point Monday afternoon. The banks were lined with people waiting to see and hear the Queen of the lakes. The Ryerson let out with 2 long Masters salutes that were captured on scores of video cameras. Later most of the crowd ventured down to the Rock Cut where another salute was given to the “Ryerson fan club.”

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Unusual callers in the Twin Ports

05/28:
Two vessels are scheduled to make unusual calls in the Twin Ports. American Mariner is expected to make a rare call May 27 at Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior. On May 28, Oglebay Norton is scheduled to load at Midwest Energy Terminal with a coal cargo bound for Silver Bay. From there it goes to Taconite Harbor to load a downbound cargo.

Reported by: Al Miller

Today in Great Lakes History – May 28

THOMAS W. LAMONT departed Toledo on her maiden voyage May 28, 1930 bound for Duluth, MN where she loaded iron ore.

from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Charles E. Wilson has close call in the Saginaw River

05/27:
The CHARLES E. WILSON had a close call in the Saginaw River yesterday in what the skipper desribed as ” being dangerously close to an unopened bridge”. The Wilson had to reverse her engines and drop the stern anchor when the Lafayette Bridge (across the Saginaw River at Bay City) failed to open for the vessel.The bridge tender reported having radio difficulty and claimed he didn’t hear the 4 radio calls, and 4 blasts of the whistle. After some waiting the bridge opened, and the WILSON proceeded to the airport turn basin, and left the system.

Reported by: Lon Morgan

Tug Venture Removed from Soo Compensating Works

05/27:
The tug Venture and its barge were cleared from the compensating works at the Soo on Saturday. The vessel had rolled after becoming pinned against the gates last week (see story dated 5/21). The work accomplished by the tug Rochelle Kay from Ryba Construction of Cheboygan Mi., the Venture’s owner.

Reported by: Jeffrey Smeed

Port Weller Lands C$300,000 job on MV TZINI Correction

05/27:
TZINI is Greek for JEANNIE. The Greeks put the English spelling on the bow, and Greek on the stern. That’s why there is often confusion with the port of registry also.

Reported by: John Whitehead and Anil Soni

EDWIN H. GOTT arrives at Nanticoke, Ontario

05/26:
The EDWIN H. GOTT arrived at Nanticoke on May 25, 1997, and unloaded her cargo of taconite pellets into Stelco’s receiving dock which juts into Lake Erie. The Taconite upon being unloaded into a hopper, is then carried up into Stelco’s storage yard, by conveyor belts. As of 4PM May 25, 1997 she was still unloading.

Reported by: Ray Bawal, Jr.

Port Weller Lands C$300,000 job on MV TZINI

05/26:
The MV TZINI (Greek flag) entered Port Weller Dry Dock on Thursday, May 22, for repairs caused by a grounding recently in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The vessel proceeded to Detroit to unload a cargo of ferro manganese before coming to Port Weller. Local news reports named the ship JEANNIE with Liberian registry but this is incorrect. Port Weller recently achieved ISO 9000 certification. They credit this achievement as part of the reason for securing this contract which will take approximately 10 days and cost C$300,000. ISO certification puts the company in an excellent competitive situation. It is demanded by many governments and business, particularly in Europe.

Reported by: David Bull

Today in Great Lakes History – May 26

In 1979 the FRED R. WHITE, JR. departed the shipyard on her maiden voyage to load iron ore pellets at Escanaba, MI for Cleveland.The J.A.W. Iglehart began its maiden Great Lakes voyage in 1965

The Halifax (former Frankcliffe Hall) began its maiden voyage in 1963

SCOTT MISENER (3) was launched in 1954

from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Today in Great Lakes History – May 25

WALTER J. McCARTHY JR. was re-christened by Linda McCarthy, the wife of Detroit Edison Company’s newly-retired Chairman Walter J. McCarthy, Jr., at Edison’s Marysville, MI power plant on May 25, 1990.

from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Port Weller Dry Docks activity

05/24:
The Canadian Mariner is in Port Weller Dry Docks and all her black paint is off the ship’s starboard side. I do not know the story on the work.

The Seaway Queen is at the wall along the canal and is pumped out completely. She is at Port Weller Dry Docks for her 5 year inspection.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

HMCS CORMORANT on Lake Ontario

05/24:
The HMCS CORMORANT passed Cape Vincent ,westbound, on Tuesday, May 20, at 1830. She was bound for OSWEGO NY and is a navy ship, with deep diving submarines. The CORMORANT was part of the dive on the Edmund Fitzgerald etc.

Reported by: Ron Walsh and John Whitehead

Today in Great Lakes History – May 24

In 1980 the M/V BURNS HARBOR was christened for the Wilmington Trust Co., (Bethlehem Steel Co., Mgr.) Wilmington, DE.The CANADIAN OLYMPIC was launched in 1976

CHICAGO TRADER arrived at Ashtabula, OH on May 24, 1977 for scrapping (scrapping did not begin until May 1, 1978 by Triad Salvage Inc.)

The CLIFFS VICTORY set a record (by 2 minutes) for the fastest time from Sault Ste. Marie to Duluth, in 1953. She logged a time of 17 hours and 50 minutes. The CHARLES M. WHITE had been declared the fastest earlier that year by the Cleveland papers.

All items are from the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Superior News

05/23:
Algonorth is loading May 23 at Harvest States grain elevator in Superior. The ship’s agent brought by visitors interested in seeing the vessel’s ballast filtration system.Joseph L. Block was maneuvering early May 23 in the mouth of the channel leading to Fraser Shipyards in Superior. It wasn’t clear whether the vessel was backing out of the channel after a quick overnight visit to the yard or simply making an awkward turn to back into the DMIR ore dock.

Reported by: Al Miller

Wisconsin calls for a U.S.S. Manitowoc

05/23:
The Wisconsin Senate on 20 May approved a measure calling on the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to name the third Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine the U.S.S. Manitowoc. SSN 23 would thereby honor the Wisconsin city in which 28 attack submarines were built during World War II. The proposal has been forwarded to Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the state’s congressional delegates and the Secretary of the Navy.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Outflows from Lake Ontario

05/23:
SEAWAY NOTICE No. 7 — 1997
The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation have been advised by the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control, that flows higher than normal for this time of the year, will be run in the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section for an indefinite period of time.These flows will create current velocities higher than normal in the navigation channels and variations in the normal current patterns may occur.

Mariners are advised to take these conditions into account when transiting the Montreal- Lake Ontario Section.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Today in Great Lakes History

The H. LEE WHITE (2) also completed her sea trials on this day in 1974.

On the morning of May 23, 1974, the HENRY STEINBRENNER (3) traveling downbound in Lake Erie, collided with the upbound Canadian tanker, CARDINAL (3) at Pelee Passage. The STEINBRENNER suffered approximately $100,000 in damages to her port side and was repaired at Lorain, OH. The CARDINAL (3) limped into North Bay Harbor, Pelee Island with a damaged bow and listing, and never sailed again.

The WILLIAM G. MATHER (2), was christened and launched this day, 1925 for the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., Cleveland, OH

All items are from the new bookAhoy & Farewell II

Aquarama moved

05/22:
The Aquarama has been moved from the Union Ship Canal in Lackawanna to the old Cargil Pool Elevator pier in Buffalo Harbor. She was spun around and now has her bow toward the city instead of out to the lake. No vessel has tied up there since the elevator closed many years ago.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship COLUMBUS plans 5 lakes cruises for 1998

05/22:
The 1997 Great Lakes cruising season of the new 13,950-ton Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship COLUMBUS sold out within weeks of their announcement in Germany in November 1996. As a result, Hapag-Lloyd plan to offer five Great Lakes cruises in 1998, when the COLUMBUS will arrive in early August, as opposed to late September this year. The new 420-passenger German-built cruise ship delivers to Hapag-Lloyd next month. This year also marks the 150th Anniversary of Hapag-Lloyd, a company first incorporated in Hamburg in May 1847. All of Hapag-Lloyd’s passenger and cruise activities have now been consolidated in the famous Ballindamm headquarters in Hamburg. Tickets are still available for this year’s September 10 COLUMBUS overnight mini-cruise from Port Colborne to Toledo, from The Mariport Group Ltd, in Cambridge, Ontario, on (519) 624-5513 or 1-800-319 9997. In Europe, contact Griffin Maritime Limited in London, England, on +44 (171) 723-2450.

Reported by: Kevin Griffin

Marinette Marine part of MARITECH project

05/22:
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected nine projects for negotiation from the fiscal year 1997 MARITECH competition. Combined, the nine are expected to receive a total of $36 million in government funding matched by $39.2 of industry money. MARITECH, part of the National Shipbuilding Initiative, is an effort to develop and apply advanced technology to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.Among the nine is “Transitioning to a 21st Century Advanced Manufacturing Facility, Phase II.” The project will develop and deploy a design,manufacturing and information system, with concentration on engineering and material control. Design and manufacturing practices from the automotive and aerospace industries will be evaluated and adapted to a small shipyard. Software for materials tracking, prediction of material and resource requirements and anticipation and resolution of emerging problems will be developed and implemented. The project will also develop procedures for extended work with suppliers via electronic communication, purchasing marine equipment using “just-in-time” methods and a vendor rating system. The project involes Marinette Marine Corp. of Marinette, Wis., and Grant Thornton L.L.P. of Appleton, Wis.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Today in Great Lakes History

On May 22, 1942 the IRVING S. OLDS was launched in Lorain, Oh. The Lake Bulk Freighter was built by the American Ship Building Co. as Hull #825 for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland, OH.

From the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Tug rolls over at Soo Locks

05/21:
The tug Venture rolled over yesterday while working in the area of the compensating works at the Soo Locks. The tug and barge became pinned against the gates by strong water pressure and was unable to free her self. Commercial assistance was called, but in their efforts to pull her free the tug rolled. All crew members escaped and there were no reports of injuries.

Reported by: Ron Konkol

Manitoulin has trouble in the Rouge

05/21:
This past Sunday the Manitoulin was inbound the Rouge River (Detroit, MI) heading for Rouge Steel escorted by the tug Pennsylvania at the bow and the Wyoming at the stern. As the Manitoulin cleared the Conrail railroad bridge the current caught it and she was heading right for the river bank. The tugs were trying their best to keep her from hitting and it nearly missed the bank by about 7 to 10 feet! She was then stuck for about 10 minutes and finally they broke free and proceeded up the river to Ford Rouge.

Reported by: Dave Marcoux, Robert Cioletti, and John Belliveau

Twin Ports round up

05/21:
After laying off Duluth for about a week, the Oakglen finally entered port May 19. It’s docked at the Harvest States elevator layby berth waiting for Federal Rhine to finish loading May 20. Once again this year, Harvest States appears to be using only one of its two loading berths.After delivering cement and then anchoring on Lake Superior for several days, Quebecois returned to Duluth May 19th to begin loading at Cargill B1 elevator.

A couple of interesting vessels – American Mariner and Joseph H. Thompson – were due in Taconite Harbor May 20 to load.

Tug Evans McKeil and barge Salty Dog paid a rare visit to Duluth over the weekend to load at Hallett 6.

Reported by: Al Miller

Busy day in Goderich

05/21:
On Sunday, May 18th the AGAWA CANYON completed loading a cargo of salt and departed Goderich at 7:30 a.m. The ALGORAIL arrived off Goderich as the AGAWA CANYON departed. The ATLANTIC HICKORY with barge SARAH SPENCER was also heading to Goderich. The ALGORAIL let the ATLANTIC HICKORY proceed in first and she tied up at the elevators. The ALGORAIL tied up at the salt dock and began loading. The MANTADOC was due Goderich at 12:30 p.m. (5/20) for the elevators.

Reported by: Philip Nash

Carferry news

05/21:
The carferry S. S. BADGER began the 1997 season one day late due to a broken boiler tube. She was scheduled to begin service on Friday, May 16, but the boiler tube broke during the night and delayed the Friday sailing. Passengers were offered a 20% discount to make the trip on Saturday or later. On Monday, May 19 her starboard engine blew a piece of piston ring which stuck in her exhaust valve. This caused a 2 hour and 10 minute delay in leaving Manitowoc for her return trip. The return trip was slower than usual due to only partial power being applied to the starbord engine to avoid additional problems. The trip took nearly 4-1/2 hours compared to the usual 4-hours. Docking at Ludington was a bit of a trick due to using only the port engine. Plans were to work all night Monday to pull the starboard piston and replace the broken ring.The canvas side curtains on BADGER’s upper aft deck have been replace with steel panels and windows, making a nicer area on cold May days. This is the area where vehicles were carried when she still carried railroad cars on the main deck.

Oglebay Norton’s MIDDLETOWN was unloading coal from Ashtabula in Manitowoc when BADGER departed on Monday. The MIDDLETOWN’s skipper, Capt. Winslow Anderson, was on board the BADGER heading for vacation at his home in Michigan. The occasion called for whistle salutes between the vessels as BADGER left Maintowoc. MIDDLETOWN was due to leave Manitowoc late Monday afternoon to head for Two Harbor to load taconite.

Reported by: Dave Wobser and Max S. Hanley

Door County WI Lighthouse Tour

05/21:
The Door County Wisconsin Martime Museum sponsored their 4th annual Lighthouse Walk the weekend of May 17-18. A highlight of this years tour was the availability of a landing on Plum Island. No civilians have been allowed on the island for many years. Plum Island was formerly a Lighthouse and Life Saving station. It served as a summer USCG station until about 5 years ago when the Coasties moved to Washington Island. The island houses the Plum Island Range Lights which guide boats into Green Bay and Escanaba, thru the Death’s Door Passage, from Lake Michigan. There is also the original brick duplex light keeper’s dwelling and fog signal building, on the south side of the island. On the NW side is the former U. S. Life Saving Service station. The main building is a large 2-story wooden structure with a lookout tower. There is also a fairly current 3-stall boathouse. Local rumor is that the Wisconsin DNR has obtained control of the island and will turn it into a daytime only park. This means they would tear down the historic buildings, as is their want. The range lights will remain as an active USCG navigation aid.

Reported by: Dave Wobser

Today in Great Lakes History

On May 21, 1938, the John Hulst entered service as the first vessel on the Great Lakes to use steam turbine propulsion via reduction gear to the propeller shaft. Turbo-electric plants on the Great Lakes came before this, but the Hulst (and the Governor Miller, William A. Irvin, and Ralph H. Watson later that summer) marked the beginning of the era of a direct drive turbine via reduction gear for use on the Lakes.

Submitted by: Jody L. Aho

Gott going to Nanticoke

05/20:
The Edwin H. Gott is due the Duluth DMIR ore dock at 2130 on the 21st. She will be loading for Nanticoke Ontario, this is the second USS ship to load for the steel plant. She will arrive in Nanticoke at 0700 on the 25th.

Reported by: Chris Franckowiak

News from Port Colborne and the Welland Canal

05/20:
The Mapleglen in slated for her 5 year inspection and will require drydocking. The survey should take several weeks because there is quite a list of things that need to be done. They are unsure if they will go to Port Weller or not.The Seaway Queen has been at the fitout wall at Port Weller above Lock 1 for several weeks—as is the Canadian Mariner in the drydock.

Unconfirmed reports are that Paterson’s Comeaudoc x Murray Bay may never sail again.

Reported by: Joe Van Volkenburg

Algolake visits Port Stanley

05/20:
The Algolake entered Port Stanley harbour on Tuesday May 13, at 0600 hours with a shipment of under 9000 tons of Potash for Lakes Terminals & Warehousing. This was the first shipment of Potash Lakes Terminals has received this year. The crew did a great delivery job and where in and out of the harbour within 3 hours.

Reported by: Richard Hill

U.S. Coast Guard contract

05/20:
J.F. Brennan Co. of La Crosse, Wis., has received U.S.$56,678 from the U.S. Coast Guard in Cleveland for fender pile replacement.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Today in Great Lakes History

On May 20, 1960 the STANDARD PORTLAND CEMENT sank on Lake Huron two miles above Port Huron, MI in a collision with the steamer AUGUST ZIESING with no loss of life. She was raised three days later and taken to the Great Lakes Engineering Works at River Rouge, MI for repairs and then was laid up at Windsor, Ont.

From the new book Ahoy & Farewell II

Herbert C. Jackson Visits Manistee

05/19:
A rare first time visit to Manistee was enjoyed by Manistee boat watchers Sunday afternoon, May 18th, when Interlakes Herbert C. Jackson came to Manistee with a load of stone for Sengs Dock. No problems were encountered by the Jackson and it was nice to see a different ship. The crew was unfamiliar with the Manistee River and compared as worse than the Cuyahoga river. Interlake now has the Slag contract along with stone so more ships will be coming.A busy day was also enjoyed in Ludington where the Wilfred Sykes and the David Z. Norton were both unloading at the same time on Saturday, May 17th. If all is well the Wolverine will be into Manistee at 19:00 hrs to unload coal.

Reported by: Kevin Gray and Chris Franckowiak

U.S.S. Fahrion to make Great Lakes cruise

05/19:
The U.S. Naval Reserve’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class Guided-Missile Frigate U.S.S. Fahrion (FFG 22) will be making the Navy’s Canadian/U.S. Great Lakes cruise this summer. The ship will depart for the cruise on 13 June. The U.S.S. Fahrion will be in Milwaukee on 1 and 2 Aug. with a ceremony at noon 1 Aug. and public tours both days from 1300 to 1900. After Milwaukee, the frigate will sail to Chicago. Other dates and locations will be announced.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Grain traffic in the Twin Ports

05/18:
Twin Ports grain traffic remains strong this spring. On May 17, Canadian Leader was loading at Harvest States (unusual for a weekend) while Halifax was unloading at Cargill B2 and American Mariner was unloading at General Mills. Grain boats due in May 17 or 18 include Federal Rhine, Pomorze Zachodnie, Oak, Grant Carrier and possibly Oakglen.St. Clair is becoming a regular this season at Silver Bay. She’s due there again May 18.

Reported by: Al Miller

S.S. Badger embarks on her maiden voyage for 1997

05/17:
With one long blast from her whistle, theS.S. Badger eased away from her dock and embarked on her maiden voyage for 1997 at 8:32 AM. Just as she was clearing the channel, she gave 2 longs and 2 shorts from her whistle and headed out into Lake Michigan.She was about 24 hours behind schedule because of a faulty tube in one of her boilers, but there were a lot of happy faces this morning at LMC as the S.S. Badger carried on the 100 year tradition of cross-lake carferry service.

Reported by: Max S. Hanley

Middletown making unusal trip

05/17:
The Middletown is making an unusual trip from the Ashtabula coal dock to Manitowoc Wisconsin Reiss dock due at 1400 on the 19th. This trip is very unusual for the Middletown.

Reported by: Chris Franckowiak

Barge dewatered in Ohio

05/17:
On 7 May, the fire department in Eastlake, Ohio, reported to the U.S. Coast Guard in Cleveland that a barge was sinking at the dock at the Chagrin River Lagoon Yacht Club in Eastlake. The Coast Guard sent personnel from Cleveland and Coast Guard Station Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and with the fire department and the vessel’s owner, used six 10-centimeter/four-inch pumps to dewater the barge.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Badger Delayed

05/17:
The Lake Michigan car ferry, SS Badger was unable to make her first scheduled trip of the season do to mechanical problems.

Reported by: Ken Ottmann

Le Chene No.1 renamed Enerchem Trader

05/16:
The Le Chene No.1 which is laid up in the North Slip in Point Edward has been repainted from the red hull to dark green, and the name of Enerchem Trader has been painted on.

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Stephen Reinauer back on the lakes

05/16:
The tug barge Stephen Reinauer-George Morris is back from the East Coast for the season. She began trips into Buffalo with a load of gas from Nanticoke on 5-14.She is waiting at the Mobil dock for the wind to die down at 9PM on thursday.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Stone Loadings at U.S. Ports Up 43 Percent in April

05/16:
Shipments of limestone and gypsum from the eight U.S. loading ports on the Lakes totaled 2,775,860 net tons in April, an increase of 43.3 percent compared to a year ago. The fast start reflects not only continued high demand, but also more typical ice conditions this spring, and thus vessel delays were few.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Station Sault Ste. Marie to get housing

05/16:
The first phase of a U.S.$10.8 million contract for construction of 60 family housing units at U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded 14 May to Devere Construction Co. of Alpena, Mich. The initial award of U.S.$2.99 million requires Devere Construction to complete 11 units, with construction to begin this summer for completion in July 1998. Two more phases will follow. The contract will create about 100 new jobs, according to Devere Construction. The Coast Guard’s Facilities Design and Construction Center in Norfolk, Va., will supervise site design and will manage the construction contract.About 140 Coast Guard personnel are based at Sault Ste. Marie. Families are currently living in privately owned residences, rental units in the area and Coast Guard leased housing up to 32 kilometers/20 miles away. There is no U.S. government-owned housing in Sault Ste. Marie.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

LCA’s 1996 Annual Report Released on May 9

05/16:
LCA’s 82-page 1996 ANNUAL REPORT will be mailed on May 9. Highlights from the 1996 edition will be made available on LCA’s homepage during the coming weeks.Copies of LCA’s ANNUAL REPORT are free to individuals with a business relationship to the industry. However, due to the significant costs of production, a fee of $20 must be charged the general public and even these requests will be answered depending on availability.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Injured crewman evacuated by Coast Guard

05/15:
The tug Atlantic Hickory & barge Sarah Spencer departed the Cargill elevator in Thunder Bay yesterday. An Injured crewman had to be taken off the ship when they were approximately 66 miles out into Lake Superior. The crewman was transported by a Coast Guard vessel to Silver Islet and then by ambulance to the hospital. No word on type of injuries or the condition of the crewman.

Reported by: Ron Konkol

Update on the Algolake

05/15:
New details on the Algolake running aground last month (see story dated 4/18) in the St. Mary’s River have been reported. The vessel was originally thought to have grounded because of a buoy anchor that was pushed into the Algoma Steel harbor channel by ice. Reports now indicate that a large unmarked bolder was the cause of the accident and the vessel never left the channel. What ever the cause, damage was extensive. A roughly 200 foot long hole was torn in the hull. It took Pascol Engineering in Thunder Bay three weeks to repair the damage and the ship is now back in service

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Twin Ports host Canadian vessels

05/15:
The Twin Ports on May 14 were the destination for a wave of Canadian vessels. Canadian Ranger was loading at Harvest States elevator in Superior while Canadian Leader and Oakglen lay at anchor on Lake Superior waiting for elevator berths. Halifax was arriving for taconite pellets at BNSF in Superior while Quebecois was due in with cement for St. Lawrence Cement in Duluth. Tadoussac was loading bentonite at Hallett 6 – the westernmost dock on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The vessel reportedly is bound for Point Noire, one of the easternmost points on the Seaway.

Reported by: Al Miller

Grand Haven studies how to repair Boardwalk

05/15:
Grand Haven is studying plans to fix their boardwalk, to fix damage caused by the WILFRED SYKES. Asphalt and wood boardwalks are being considered, although the entire cost of a wooden boardwalk wouldn’t be paid by the ship’s insurer.

Reported by: George Micka

Today in Great Lakes History

Thursday, May 15, the Philip R. Clarke–the first of the AAA class of vessel–turns 45. The Clarke began her maiden voyage from Lorain, Ohio on this date in 1952.

Submitted by: Jody Aho

S.S Badger ready for another season

05/14:
With the strike of a match on May 12, the fires were lit in the boilers and the S.S. Badger car ferry is preparing for her sixth season as a passenger and auto vessel.The Badger, which sports a new exterior paint scheme this year, will be open for public tours on the evening of May 15. Following a dockside breakfast and flag dedication ceremony the next morning, the ship will leave her home port of Ludington, Michigan bound for Manitowoc, Wisconsin on the first of more than 400 such round trips she will make between the two ports in 1997.

Upon returning to Ludington Friday evening, there will be a ceremony at the dock to unveil a marker commemorating the listing of the S.S. Badger and the Ludington dock facilities on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites. Passengers will then embark for a sold-out Shoreline Party Cruise and fireworks display. The fun will continue on the west side of Lake Michigan Saturday afternoon, with a second Shoreline Cruise (which is also sold out) scheduled from Manitowoc. On Sunday, the Badger will resume her normal spring sailing schedule of one daily round trip; twice-daily trips will run from June 20 – August 24.

The 410′ S.S. Badger was built in 1952, and accommodates over 600 passengers and 180 automobiles. This year, in addition to the new paint job, visitors will discover improvements to the ship’s interior that include video viewing areas with recliner airline-style seats and an expanded outdoor deck. 1997 marks 100 years of car ferry service between Ludington and Manitowoc.

Reported by: Kari Karr

Mauthe conversion news

05/14:
Name choices are still anyone’s guess but Interlake is reported as considering PATHFINDER for a rename. The system to mate tug to barge is still under debate, the two would connect by either an Intercon or Blundworth articulation system.With the conversion to a barge slowly making progress, the question of how she will be pushed remains. Possibilities include: the former Richmond Bay, a 5,800-hp tug purchased recently from Amoco Corp., the 128 foot tug Richmond Bay which is owned by Moran Towing (Moran and Interlake are owned by a partnership headed by James Barker and Paul Tregurtha), or a new tug built for that purpose. Interlake expects the barge to be ready for service by the end of summer, althought it may be well into 1998 before the tug and barge are finally working as a complete unit.
Speculation in the boatwatchers circles is that Sunday’s trip by the Hoyt up the Cuyahoga to LTV may have been a test to demonstrate that a vessel this size could negotiate the river.

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Idling of tanker fleet

05/14:
With the idling of the fuel tanker Reiss Marine (see story dated 05/08), vessels calling at the Twin Ports no longer can fuel while they load. James R. Barker elected to fuel at the Duluth port terminal May 13 before proceeding to its loading berth.

Reported by: Al Miller

Infrequent visitors arrive

05/14:
Two mid-afternoon arrivals on Tuesday to the Twin Ports are also two boats that are infrequent visitors to the harbor. Anchored in the inner anchorage is the CANADIAN RANGER and anchored in the lake is the OAKGLEN. Both boats, along with the CANADIAN LEADER, await Harvest States gallery. The RANGER and the OAKGLEN are seen in the Twin Ports on the average of once or twice a year.

Reported by: Gary A. Putney

Elton Hoyt 2nd leaves Cleveland

05/13:
The Elton Hoyt 2nd left the upper LTV dock around noon on 12 May and began making her way down the river assisted by the Great Lakes tug Idaho.So now we know that a 698 foot long vessel can make it all the way up the Cuyahoga River. Perhaps we’ll begin to see other vessels that normally do not call on Cleveland.

Reported by: Robert Martel

Oak loads in Thunder Bay

05/13:
The “Oak” is docked at Thunder Bay’s Keefer Terminal. It arrived Saturday and will spend the rest of the week being loaded with 7-million board feet of timber from Buchanan Forest Products. The ship will then head to Britain. At least three more similar loads of timber are expected to be shipped from Thunder Bay this season.

Reported by: Richard Boon

Twin Ports Report

05/13:
Adam E. Cornelius seemed destined to battle the wind over the weekend in Duluth. In the face of stiff winds May 11, the boat made its way up the St. Louis River and into the DMIR ore docks while light. It left early May 12 in the face of gale warnings on Lake Superior.Canadian Leader anchored off Duluth on May 12. The straightdecker is scheduled to remain there until May 15 before coming in to load.

St. Clair is making an unusual trip to Silver Bay May 11. It will likely anchor on the lake until evening, when Middletown is expected to complete its load.

James R. Barker is making its second trip in recent weeks into the DMIR ore dock in Duluth. The Barker usually loads coal in the Twin Ports.

Reported by: Al Miller

Aquarama to shift docks

05/13:
The former WWII troop carrier a) Marine Star b) Aquarama is to shift docks this Friday moving to No. 1 Slip North. The move will be made with the help of tugs. She was towed to Lackawanna, Ny. in 1995 under her original name Marine Star with the hopes of converting her to a casino/gaming ship.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

High water levels cause flooding, speed restrictions

05/13:
The Ottawa River Regulating Board is trying to dispell rumours that operation of the Carillon Dam was responsible for much of the flooding recently in waterfront towns. In resonse to some 300 phone calls a day it has stated that the dam was built to generate electricity for local use and has a temporary storage pond capacity of only 250 million cu. metres of water, and consider this peanuts compared to a spring run-off of 30 billion cu. metres of water in the Ottawa River. Current flooding in the area was blamed on a 20 year flood cycle. The Ottawa River flows into the St Lawrence River near Montreal. Ship speed restrictions have been imposed from Montreal up to 80 miles to the east, as a result of currently high water heights.

Reported by: John Whitehead

Elton Hoyt 2nd to LTV UPDATE

05/12:
The Elton Hoyt 2nd passed (very slowly) under the Detroit-Superior bridge crossing the Cuyahoga in the early evening Sunday (5/11). It had one tug in front, one in the rear, with a third standing by. The Center Street drawbridge was open for at least 15 minutes. She arrived a day ahead of schedule. What makes this trip so special is that no vessel this large has ever attempted a trip that far up the river, the Hoyt is 60′ longer than any other vessel to make the trip.

Reported by: Randy Reese

Cement transfer in Milwaukee

05/12:
The tug Sea Eagle II and barge St. Marys II carrying cement arrived in Milwaukee to unload their cargo into the waiting tug Triton and barge St. Marys I. They tie up in the outer harbor and act as a mother ship to the Triton/St. Marys I. The Sea Eagle unloads into the Triton after which the Triton then takes the load up river to the St. Marys dock. The Triton will then return to the Sea Eagle and takes a second load to Waukegan or back up the river to the Milwaukee dock. St. Marys II holds 18,500 tons and the smaller St. Marys I carries 9,400 tons.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

LeCHENE NO. 1 painted in Enerchem colors

05/12:
The laid up ex-Soconav tanker LeCHENE NO. 1 which has been idle Point Edward, Ontario is being repainted in Enerchem colors. She was sold to CIBC at Marshal’s Sale in Montreal on April 7, since sold again to EnerChem of Montreal (see story dated 04/20). The hull is in the process of being painted a dark green, and as of May 11, 1997 this process is about 75% complete. No name has been painted on the vessel, however.

Reported by: Ray Bawal Jr.

Prospector working on a Sunday

05/12:
Canadian Prospector was loading May 11 at Harvest States elevator in Superior. Pretty unusual for a boat to load grain on a Sunday this early in the season. Prospector apparently wanted to free the HSC berth for Canadian Leader or Canadian Trader, both of which were due to arrive May 11.

Reported by: Al Miller

EXPLORERS FIND SUNKEN BRADLEY IN TWO PARTS

05/11:
When the Carl D Bradley sank in 1958, the two surviving crewmembers swore it broke in half. The company that owned the ship claimed it went to the bottom of Lake Michigan in one piece.On Thursday, the crewmen were proven correct when explorers reported that the Bradley lies broken in two pieces at the bottom of a 370 feet deep trench.

The halves of the ship remain upright and both pieces are resting about 90 feet apart and nearly inline, according to Expedition ’97 co-leader Jim Clary.

Clary told the Alpena News that the vessel appears to have little structural damage, other than at the break.

The only survivor of the accident still alive accompanied the explorers on the expedition. Frank Mays, who is retired and lives in Florida, said the Bradley split in two before it sank.

J.A.W. Iglehart heads out

05/11:
J.A.W.Iglehart’s stay at Fraser Shipyards was a short one. It departed Duluth shortly after sunrise May 10.

Reported by: Al Miller

Update on the Mauthe Conversion

05/10:
It appears that a delay in the signing of the contract for the conversion of the Mauthe has pushed the completion date back to some time in November at the earliest. The only work completed over the winter was the removal of asbestos by Robinson Environmental Inc. from Green Bay, Wi.As far as progress on the project, as of May 9th all uneeded wiring has been removed (about 65 cubic yards of waste), work has begun on the extraction of piping, the stack has been removed, boiler 50% removed, aft spar deck 50% removed, I have seen 1 to 2 semi trailers of scrap steel leave each day, the notch is scheduled to take 30 days to cut beginning on July 1st.

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Repairs in the Twin Ports

05/10:
J.A.W. Iglehart is now in the big drydock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. No word on the reason.After undergoing four days of repairs at Duluth’s port terminal, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. moved across the harbor May 8-9 to begin loading coal at Midwest Energy Terminal.

Reported by: Al Miller

Unusual trips for the USS fleet

05/10:
John G. Munson and George A. Sloan are both scheduled to make some unusual port calls in the next few days. The Munson is scheduled to take a partial cargo in Two Harbors on May 10, then go to Thunder Bay (for coal?) on May 11 to complete a load for Burns Harbor. Sloan is due into Alabaster, Mich., on May 13.

Reported by: Al Miller

St. Marys I fills in for Challenger

05/09:
The tug Triton and barge St. Marys I will be hauling for Medusa Cement out of Charlevoix while Medusa Challenger is at Bayship for the next month. The Challenger is expected to be on the drydock for at least 4 weeks for another session of bottom replacement.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Elton Hoyt II sails

05/09:
Elton Hoyt II left its winter layup berth in Superior and departed Duluth shortly after 1 p.m. May 8 en route to Taconite Harbor. The Hoyt was the second-to-the-last member of the Twin Ports winter fleet to start the season.

Reported by: Al Miller

Federal Rhine forced to unload in Toledo

05/09:
Fednav’s brand new Federal Rhine on her 1st inland lakes voyage was headed for Cleveland with a near full load of steel products. Apparently, labor disputes and no contract between the union and the terminal forced the Rhine to move onto Toledo to discharge. Toledo’s sheds are basically full and are currently struggling to find space for this surprise port visitor. Definitely an historic 1st trip.

Reported by: J Luke

Presque Isle makes unusual trip

05/09:
The ITB PRESQUE ISLE is making an unusual trip, she departed Duluth on Wednesday , May 7th with a cargo destined for NANTICOKE, ONTARIO. At 3:00 p.m. (May 8th) the PRESQUE ISLE was due Nanticoke on Saturday, May 10th at 1:30 p.m. Cargo weight was 54,483 gross tons.

Reported by: Philip Nash

RESERVE calls at Marine City

05/09:
The Oglebay Norton steamer RESERVE arrived at the McClouth Stone Yard in Marine City, Michigan on May 7, 1997. The RESERVE is one of the larger vessels (767 feet in length) to dock in that city, as it usually served by smaller carriers of the Oglebay Norton, and American Steamship fleets.

Reported by: Ray Bawal Jr.

Reiss Marine up for sale

05/08:
Reiss Marine, the small tanker that fueled hundreds of ships in the Twin Ports for many years, is idle this year and up for sale. The company apparently could not compete on fuel prices with fuel docks on the lower lakes. The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth is considering adding a fuel depot to its marine terminal, but until then there’s no word on how vessels are fueling in the Twin Ports.

Reported by: Al Miller

Seaway Queen in for survey and repairs

05/08:
Reports are that the Queen is in Port Weller for a five year inspection and major engine repairs. She will sail this season but probably not until the fall. There is still no decision about her future.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

First tug/barge of the year due in Duluth

05/08:
The Joseph H. Thompson Jr./Joseph H. Thompson is due to arrive in Duluth on May 8, going to the DMIR ore docks. She will be the first tug/barge to arrive in Duluth this year (except for the Presque Isle). Tug/barges aren’t to common in Duluth, especially the Joseph H. Thompson.

Other notable vessel movements occuring in Duluth are the arrival of the J.A.W. Iglehart unloading cement at Lafarge on May 7, the Elton Hoyt 2nd departing Fraser shipyards for Taconite Harbor on the 8th, and the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. shifting from the Port Terminal to Midwest Energy after her repairs, on the evening of the 8th.

Reported by: Andy Hering

Lots of coal, few boats

05/08:
As the MESABI MINER docked in Port Washington, WI at 10:00 last night it was the second time this big boat has visited the dock this year. Port is getting lots of coal, nearly 150,000 tons already, but in only four dockings so far.It looks like a banner year for coal, but not so good for boat watchers. With the expected electricity shortage this summer, the coal dock is being filled quickly. It has a storage capacity of about 400,000 tons.

Reported by: Paul Wiening

Twin Ports News

05/08:
Duluth’s port terminal hosted back-to-back salties this week. Med Viareggio arrive May 5 to unload steel coils. The vessel left May 6 and, within a couple of hours, the saltie Menomonee was in the warehouse berth to unload. The Menomonee’s deck is dominated by two rather odd-looking unloading rigs that appear capable of handling containers as well as opening and closing hatches.J.W. McGiffin was in Duluth on May 6 to unload grain at the Cargill elevator. The vessel is scheduled to shift to the BNSF ore dock in Superior for outbound cargo.

Reported by: Al Miller

Killing the Canadiana

05/08:
The beautiful Canadiana is about to be lost. This very historic, 215 foot, three decked, turn-of-the-century, passenger steamship could be gone forever, by the end of summer. This would be a tragedy beyond words.It is something that does *not* have to happen!

The S. S. Canadiana Preservation Society is ready and able, right now, to proceed with the restoration of her hull and to bring her back to Buffalo. She can sail again, for many decades to come.

The society was awarded $400,000 two years ago with the stipulation that it raise $118,000 as its portion of the total cost. When that was done, the group was to go forward with the restoration. The Money was rasied by the society.

Now, the New York State D.O.T. says it will not give the $400,000.00. It is unclear exactly why the money is not being released, but this will destroy the entire project. The D.O.T. appears to be complying with those who oppose the Canadiana.

It is explained in great detail on the Canadiana web page

Please write the Governor of New York to save this vessel:

Governor George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capital
Albany NY 12224

Thanks very much for your help.

Floyd Baker
President of The S. S. Canadiana Preservation Society, Inc.
fbaker@webpay.com
tel. (716) 833-2998
fax. (716) 833-2999

Seaway Queen arrives

05/07:
The Seaway Queen arrived at Port Weller yesterday about 4:00 P.M. EST. She was towed across Lake Ontario and is to go to the fit-out berth. Apparently her future is still in doubt.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Elton Hoyt 2nd to Cleveland?

05/06:
The Elton Hoyt 2nd is scheduled to depart Superior, WI, Thursday, May 8. The current orders have them making their first trip from Taconite Harbor to LTV Steel in Cleveland. If this does happen, she would be the largest boat to make that trip up the Cuyahoga. It should be interesting to watch! After that the plan is to resume the normal Marquette, MI, to Rouge Steel runs, plus whatever may come along.

Reported by: Jim Mihalek

News on the tug Cheteck

05/06:
The ex US Navy harbor tug Cheteck was spotted at the old Port of Buffalo pier on the outer harbor on 5-6-97. She was sitting in the notch of the crane barge Mcaully. The Cheteck has been repainted from Navy grey to Army Corps colors. She will be doing some maintanace work around Buffalo Harbor for the next few weeks and will be using the port pier as a home base of sorts. This makes it easier to get her out to the harbor area than having her at the Army Corp yard down the Black Rock Canal.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

McCarthy in for repairs – Port Terminal received 1st cargo

05/06:
Walter J. McCarthy Jr. tied up at the Duluth port terminal May 5 for four days of unspecified repairs.Duluth’s port terminal received its first cargo of the season when saltie Med Viareggio arrived May 5 with steel coils. Another saltie, the Menomonee, is due later this week.

Reported by: Al Miller

Spencer delivers grain

05/05:
The Barge Sarah Spencer (Adam E. Coenelius) was in Miland On. (Georgian Bay) over the weekend delivering grain.

Reported by: A.Woudstra

Elton Hoyt 2nd getting ready to sail

05/05:
Fitout crews are aboard Elton Hoyt 2nd and the vessel had steam coming from its stack on the afternoon of May 5. The Hoyt has been in lay-up at Fraser Shipyards in Superior since December 27, 1996.

Reported by: Jim Mihalek and Al Miller

Boland aground in Sandusky update

05/05:
The Boland was refloated around 1300 Friday and towed back to the coal dock. After inspection she was cleared to proceed to Ecorse MI. Two tugs were need to free her, the tug Illinois who was assisted by the big G-Tug Ohio.

Reported by: Brian McCune

Paterson set new record

05/05:
The largest U.S. grain shipment in Great Lakes history was loaded in the Twin Ports May 5, 1996, by the Canadian laker Paterson, according “Minnesota’s World Port,” published by the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth. The Paterson loaded 28,941.6 metric tons of soybeans at Harvest States Cooperative elevator in Superior. The record-breaking tonnage wasn’t noticed until researchers reviewed data during the past winter.

Reported by: Al Miller

Twin Ports round up

05/05:
Duluth’s port terminal gets its first visitor of the year May 4 when Med Viareggio arrives with steel coils.Roger Blough is due to make an unusual call May 7 to the BNSF dock in Superior. The Blough loaded there several times last season.

Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior likely will have quite a backup May 5, with Paul R. Tregurtha, Columbia Star and Walter J. McCarthy Jr. all due to arrive that day.

The 37-year-old tank farm at the Duluth Port Terminal is in the final stages of dismantling. Although it saw occasional use through the years, the tank farm never lived up to the expectations set after the Seaway opened. The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth reports that the tank farm site may be redeveloped as a maritime fueling facility.

Reported by: Al Miller

Grampa Woo crew member to speak in Duluth

05/05:
On May 14 at 7:00 P.M. Dana Kollars, one of two men plucked from the excursion boat Grampa Woo when it went adrift in a storm on Lake Superior last fall, will talk about his experiences at the next entertainment meeting of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association. The meeting will be held at the Canal Park Marine Museum in Duluth.

Reported by: Lake Superior Marine Museum Association

Boland aground in Sandusky

05/03:
The John J. Boland arrived 5/1 and unloaded salt at the Erie Sand and Gravel dock in Sandusky. She then proceeded to move to the coal dock, after loading for Ecorse she ran aground . Evidently the combination of 50+ mph winds from the Southwest and the low water created by the wind helped her wandered out of the channel. I heard that the G-tug ILLINOIS came from Toledo to try to get her free but was unsucsessful. I saw the Illinois heading back late this morning (5/2) and as far as we know the Boland is still stuck. Probably wait for the water to come back now that the wind has come around to the Northeast. If that doesn’t work they will probably have to lighter her.The Boland was refloated and is currently (4/3 11:30am EST) upbound in the Detroit River

Reported by: Brian McCune

1997 Marks a Trio of Anniversaries

05/03:
The Stewart J. Cort inaugurated the era of the 1,000-footer 25 years ago this week. She made her maiden voyage upbound through the Soo Thursday May 4, 1972. Also, the Roger Blough marks her 25th anniversary in June. Also 25 years ago this June, the Parker Evans sank the Sidney E. Smith Jr. at Port Huron.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

Busy day in Milwaukee

05/03:
On May 2, the J.A.W. Iglehart arrived 6 hours after the Alpena and had to wait for the vessel to finish unloading. The Kaye Barker was unloading a cargo of coal, the Middletown arrived and tied up behind the Iglehart and waited for the Barker to finish unloading. Three boats in the Milwaukee inner harbor at once is a rarity.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Fednav busy on the Lakes

05/02:
The FEDNAV. fleet prominent in the Great Lakes as usual includes FEDERAL AALSUND -eastbound for Montreal, FEDERAL FRASER and FEDERAL BERGEN westbound for Duluth,and the FEDERAL FUJI is west bound for Chicago. The FEDERAL Mackenzie is headed for Milwaukee and the newest vessel FEDERAL RHINE, in Montreal unloading sugar, is expected to depart shortly for the lakes. Several other Federal ships have already visited the Lakes this year”

Reported by: John Whitehead

April Coal Shipments from SMET Up almost 50 Percent

05/02:
Loadings of western coal at Superior Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior, Wisconsin, totaled 1,173,614 net tons in April, an increase of 48.9 percent. The increase reflects the absence of heavy ice formations which a year earlier delayed the resumption of shipping from Lake Superior ports. However, another factor is that every cargo loaded in April was carried by a 1,000-foot-long vessel, the must efficient in the U.S.-Flag Lakes fleet.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

May 1 Vessel Utilization Rates

05/02:
Major U.S.-Flag carriers on the Great Lakes had 61 of their 70 ships and tug/barge units in service on May 1, a decrease of 3 vessels compared to a year earlier.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Visit the LCA’s home page for complete details

Berth of ship may not be easy

05/02:
Water lines, time, river depth and the United States Navy are all hurdles in the efforts to bring the guided missile destroyer USS Charles F. Adams to a final berth in Bay City.The Saginaw Valley Naval ship Museum committee, in its quest to bring the ship to Bay City in 1998, Thursday discussed the proposed site for the ship. If it come to Bay City, the 437-foot ship would be the only guided missile destroyer on display in the nation.

The major concern is that a water line that crosses the Saginaw River south of Veterans Memorial Bridge would lay beneath the ship, if it’s docked at the ship committee’s first choice for a berth. The site is just south of the bridge on the east bank of the river.

The water line, owned by Consumers Energy, is buried 10 feet under the river bed. Company and city officials worry that the pipe might burst if the ship ever rests on the river bottom.

Reported by: Dan Maus

Edited from a story appearing in the Thursday Bay City times

Clarke Breaks Own Record for Jones Act Salt Trade

05/01:
The PHILIP R. CLARKE has again set a new U.S.-Flag record for the Lakes salt trade. The 767-foot-long self-unloader took on 27,621 net tons of salt at Fairport Harbor, Ohio, on April 26. The Clarke broke the record she set just one month ago when she loaded 25,325 net tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Taylor to depart lay-up berth

05/01:
Myron C. Taylor departed its winter layup berth in Sturgeon Bay on April 30 and proceed to Stoneport, where it will load on May 1 with a cargo for Saginaw. The only vessel from Great Lakes Fleet that is not active so far this season is Calcite II, which remains in the Fraser Shipyards in Superior.Edgar B. Speer’s brief stop at the Duluth port terminal April 30 appeared to involve work on its bowthruster.

Reported by: Al Miller

Bomb threat closes Seaway update

05/01:
Yesterday’s bomb threat caused major road traffic jams. Road bridges were not opened until the afternoon.Shipping was not affected much. The eastbound laker Quebecois was held at Beauharnois Lock for a couple of hours

Reported by: John Whitehead

News from Buffalo

05/01/1997:
Work has begun by New York State Power Authority tug-barges on removing the Niagara River Ice Boom in Buffalo Harbor. Now that the boom has been breeched Buffalo Harbor is clear of all remaining ice except for in some of the smaller slips. The two tug-derrick barge units are moored at the old Connecting Terminal Elevator on the Buffalo River when not in use.

Cleveland’s passenger vessel Nautica Queen is also in town this week to promote tourism between the two cities. She is tied up just ahead of the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Little Rock in the Buffalo River entrance channel at the Visiting Ship’s dock.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski