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Edmund Fitzgerald life ring is on the auction block at Detroit gallery

   A significant Great Lakes maritime relic, an orange ring buoy with white stenciled lettering “S. S. Edmund Fitzgerald” and four black reinforcing bands holding a nylon rope, is up for auction at Detroit’s Dumouchelle’s gallery. It is being offered along with with a wooden plank from Lifeboat 1 from the Edmund Fitzgerald. 
   On November 18, 1975, 10 days after the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 27 year old man named Larry Orr found this life ring and plank from the ship’s Lifeboat 1 . While walking 30 to 40 feet above the shoreline of Lake Superior he noticed each leaning against a large tree trunk in a wash that had likely been created by high water surf during the storm.
   The life ring and plank are both believed to have come from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s No. 1 lifeboat. In 1988, Mr. Orr loaned these relics to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan until health and financial concerns necessitated its sale at public auction. 

Starting bid is $11,250.

Find out more here: https://live.dumoart.com/online-auctions/dumouchelles/life-ring-from-the-s-s-edmund-fitzgerald-and-plank-to-lifeboat-1-ca-1958-1-pc-8478091

Leftover pellet inventory being removed from idled Dearborn blast furnace

   According to waterfront reports, unused iron ore pellets at the idled Cleveland-Cliffs plant at Dearborn, MI, on the Rouge River, were being loaded aboard the steamer Wilfred Sykes over the weekend with mobile conveyor belts and front-end loaders.
   Cleveland-Cliffs idled some operations at the Dearborn plant this past summer, citing “the current reality of weak automotive production in the U.S.” as the reason for laying off about 600 employees. At the time, the closure was expected to be a temporary measure to rebalance capacity and improve efficiency.
   The pellets will be taken to Cleveland. 

If the Soo Locks ever failed, America’s steel production would collapse in days.

   Nearly all of America’s domestic production of iron ore from Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula moves across Lake Superior and through this single choke point in Michigan. If the Locks shut down, the steel for our cars, bridges, skyscrapers, railways, and shipyards would grind to a halt almost overnight.
   During World War II, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called this shipping route the “jugular vein” of America’s war production. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even created a special military district to guard it — the only one of its kind — because a single attack here could have crippled the Arsenal of Democracy.
   And they’re still that critical today.
   That’s why the $3 billion New Lock at the Soo is being built right now — preparing this single point for the next century of American industry.
[Only in Michigan-Brian Calley]

[See photos in Gallery below]

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Legendary Christmas Tree Ship inspires Toledo kindness

   TOLEDO, Ohio — The air was crisp and cold on Saturday morning, but that didn’t stop Santa Claus and the tugboat Josephine from making a magical delivery to the waiting families at the docks at the National Museum.of the Great Lakes in east Toledo. 
   It’s becoming an annual tradition on the Maumee River as the museum and the Gradel company combine energies to create holiday memories for many families. It’s the continuation of an old tradition on the lakes of delivering Christmas trees by boat to the needy families in the cities.
   Most notably, the schooner Rouse Simmons was a well known and popular Christmas Tree Ship on Lake Michigan, whose captain delivered thousands of trees to families in Chicago, but tragically the schooner sank on a voyage in 1912.
   “After the sinking, the people of Chicago continued to the tradition for years after,” Kate Fineske, the Communication Director for the National Museum of the Great Lakes said.
   The delivery of fresh Christmas trees to the dock at the museum this year is a tribute to the Rouse Simmons and other Christmas Tree Ships on the Great Lakes.
   “Toledo has its own Christmas Tree Ship now,” Fineske said.
   The museum partnered with the East Toledo Family Center to find families to receive the trees. The Gradel tugboat Company supplied its tug Josephine to bring the trees in. 
   The trees were pre-ordered and many were purchased by third parties to give to the families that needed them.
   About 100 people, young and old, gathered under the frigid blue skies to watch the colorful tug, with Santa and his helpers aboard, to hand out the trees.
   Fineske said the museum hopes to keep this cheerful tradition going for many years to come

[WTOL]

View a video here: https://www.wtol.com/article/features/christmas-tree-ship-on-the-maumee-river/512-e6e69798-740f-409b-8fe2-2b9c3bf16f32

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Seaway traffic resumes after ship arrestor repairs

   Traffic resumed through the Cote Ste Catherine Lock Friday after repairs were made to the ship arrestor, which was damaged Thursday when it was struck by the Maltese-registered bulk carrier Osogovo.
   A ship arrestor is an arm that extends across the lock to prevent a vessel from hitting the gates.

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Ship arrestor hit by Osogovo, halting Seaway traffic

   The Maltese-registered bulk carrier Osogovo hit the ship arrestor in Cote Ste Catherine Lock near Montreal on Thursday morning. Ship traffic has been halted until repairs can be made. Drawsko, Algoma Niagara and Nukumi were stopped as of 7 p.m. Thursday.
   Osogovo, built in 2011, is owned by Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar), and is a frequent visitor to the Great Lakes and Seaway system.
   A ship arrester is an arm that extends across the lock to prevent a vessel from hitting the gates.

Marinette Marine lays off almost 100 workers a week after the Navy canceled ship orders

   MARINETTE, WI – Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid off nearly 100 workers on Wednesday, about a week after the U.S. Navy announced it was canceling much of a multi-billion dollar order for ships that would have been built in Wisconsin.
   Marinette Marine laid off 93 employees who were “primarily white collar positions,” according to a spokesperson for Marinette Marine’s parent company, Fincantieri Marine Group.
   In an email, the spokesperson said the layoff was in response to the Navy’s decision to only move forward with construction of two frigates instead of the six that had previously been awarded to Marinette Marine.
   “We must balance the size and composition of our workforce against the now-reduced demand from our government customer,” the email read. “We have a framework agreement with the Navy that promises opportunities to keep our workforce stabilized, in accordance with federal acquisition regulations.”
   But even with that agreement, the spokesperson said additional “workforce adjustments” may be needed “without meaningful government-directed business coming into our Wisconsin system of shipyards.”
   Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has called on the Trump administration and the Navy to bring more work to Marinette to make up for the canceled contract. Earlier this week, she told WPR there could be a “really big negative impact on the workforce” at Marinette Marine if the Navy fails to “keep commitments made.”
   According to Fincantieri, the company had 2,175 employees and contract workers at Marinette Marine as of last week. The shipbuilder is Marinette’s largest employer.

[Wisconsin Public Radio]

Lake Superior and Michigan-Huron water levels drop more than average in November

   Water levels on both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron dropped significantly more than their seasonal averages during November, according to a new update from the International Lake Superior Board of Control.
   The board expects the total St. Marys River flow in December to be 2,150 m³/s (75,900 ft³/s) as prescribed by Regulation Plan 2012.
   The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will remain at the typical winter gate setting of one-half gate open (Gates 1 and 7 through 10 open 20 cm, or 8 in, each). The St. Marys Rapids flow will remain at approximately 86 m³/s, or 3,000 ft³/s (equivalent to approximately one-half gate open).
   Water supply conditions were much drier than average in both the Lake Superior basin and the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in November.
   Lake Superior decreased by 10 cm (3.9 in) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Superior to decline by 5 cm (2.0 in) in November.
   Lake Michigan-Huron declined by 11 cm (4.3 in) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Michigan-Huron to decline by 4 cm (1.6 in) in November.
   At the beginning of December, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Superior was 13 cm (5.1 in) below the seasonal long-term average (1918–2024) and 3 cm (1.2 in) above the level of a year ago.
   At the beginning of December, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Michigan-Huron was 30 cm (11.8 in) below the seasonal long-term average (1918–2024) and 20 cm (7.9 in) below the level of a year ago.
   If weather and water supply conditions are near average in December, Lake Superior may decline by approximately 8 cm (3.1 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may decrease by approximately 5 cm (2.0 in).
   If conditions are much wetter than average, Lake Superior may decrease by approximately 4 cm (1.6 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may rise by approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) in December.
   If conditions are much drier than average in December, the water level of Lake Superior may fall by 13 cm (5.1 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may decrease by about 10 cm (3.9 in).

[International Lake Superior Board of Control]

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Lake Erie shipwreck spotted off Kingsville, Ont., uncovered by strong winds

   KINGSVILLE, ON  – Strong winds that prompted an Environment Canada alert this week have laid bare Lake Erie shoreline not often seen. But they also — briefly — uncovered a rarely-seen shipwreck.
   Matt Vermette is the owner of The Dive Shop in Kingsville, Ont., and was out for a walk Wednesday night when he spotted something from a far.
   “It was just really cool. I saw some birds sitting on a structure. I thought, oh, maybe it’s an old dock or something, right. And as I got closer, I said, ‘no, that’s, that’s definitely a shipwreck.’”
   It was about 150 metres out from shore, and about 22 metres long, Vermette estimated, also noting it’s a schooner because of the distinct “skeleton” of the wreck.
   Even though he scuba dives often, it was a wreck he’d never seen, and there are many on Lake Erie. Vermette estimated at least a couple hundred, though there are maybe 20 or 30 that are commonly known.
   It’s not clear which vessel the wreck could be. Historians Vermette spoke with think it could be one of two possible wrecks: The Demming, or the Overton, both wrecks documented in local newspapers from the time and both dating back to before 1900.
   Robert Lynch, a local historian, says the wreck has been exposed before.
   “This end of (Lake Erie), Pigeon Bay it’s called, is fairly shallow but it does generate very high waves … If you happen to be passing over top of a reef when your boat is riding down into the hollow of a wave, you can hit bottom.
   “It can create havoc for ships. So more shipwrecks are in this portion of the lake than the rest of the lake.”
   Vermette posted photos and video to Facebook, where he says people are equally excited and eager for more information about the wreck.
   Kingsville resident Jennifer Wright says she went out looking for the wreck on Thursday afternoon after seeing pictures of it posted on social media.  “I guess a whole bunch of us are out trying to find it … I don’t see it,” Wright said with a laugh. “The water has come in and covered it back up.
   “He was in the right place at the right time. Lucky guy, I guess.”
   Vermette agreed. By Thursday morning, the water had come back in and the structure was long underwater.
   The wreck is one you’re not likely to see if you were out diving in the area, according to Vermette. Because of the amount of mud, visibility is very limited.
   “You’ll see it right before you hit it. But to be able to walk around it and get those videos and to take the pictures I did, you wouldn’t get those pictures underwater,” he said.
   “Even if it was clear, it wouldn’t be the same.”
[CBC]

Ontario Venture coming in 2026 for McKeil Marine

   Canada’s McKeil Marine will debut another new self-unloader, Ontario Venture, on the Great Lakes in 2026. The vessel was built as a tanker in 2004 as Patrona and sailed later as Maersk Nordenham and Patrona l.

   Watch a video at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIY7dXXqzZw

Homemade Houseboat Hits Hardship;
Captain Calls it Quits In Michigan’s Thumb

DETROIT, MI – The Neverlanding has landed.
   A Canadian man’s nearly 70-foot homemade houseboat, dubbed Neverlanding, a wooden-framed modular building on a platform of barrels with a singular, 85-horsepower engine, captivated gawkers on the St. Clair River and southern Lake Huron late last month and developed a fan following on social media. A Facebook fan page called Neverlanding – The Houseboat of Dreams has nearly 14,000 followers.
   But all great adventures must come to an end, especially when they involve homemade houseboats on barrels, the Great Lakes and the onset of wintry weather.
   Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said the Neverlanding made it to Port Austin early Tuesday morning, Dec. 2. “We had been monitoring him since we heard he left Port Sanilac northbound,” Hanson said.
   “We took note that the boat was there” at Bird Creek Beach in Port Austin’s harbor, “and he was trying to make it ashore. He did get it into shallow enough water there to accomplish that.”
   A volunteer crew attempts to bring to land the Neverlanding, a homemade Canadian houseboat, at Bird Creek Beach in Port Austin’s harbor on Dec. 2, 2025.
   The sheriff then spoke with the Neverlanding’s builder, owner and captain, Steven Mylrea of Harrow, Ontario, Canada, “to see what his intentions were going to be.”
  The sheriff said he even offered to have the department’s air boats break nearshore lake ice to get the houseboat afloat again on Lake Huron. Mylrea, however, “indicated he was pretty exhausted, and was second-guessing what he was trying to attempt.”
   “I had a conversation with him,” Hanson said. “I questioned his judgment. (But) the fellow was a friendly individual.”
   Mylrea told the sheriff he was trying to travel up Lake Huron, through the Straits of Mackinac and then down Lake Michigan “trying to get to Chicago by Christmas.”
   And from there? Hanson said a Coast Guard report based on its contact with Mylrea indicated he intended to navigate the Neverlanding “through the American river system, through the country and eventually make it back to the Atlantic.”
   Hanson said Mylrea was starting to have misgivings about how the changed weather conditions were affecting his boat and his travel, such as ice building up on the craft and concerns that the lumber may not hold up in extreme cold.
   The sheriff noted that wave conditions can intensify quickly at this time of year, and that as Mylrea traveled farther north on Lake Huron, he may have encountered many iced-up ports with nowhere nearby to stop in case he felt he needed to.
   “I think he made a good decision” to end the adventure, Hanson said. “In my opinion, that boat is not something to be considered seaworthy for some of the conditions Lake Huron can pose.”
   U.S. Coast Guard officials earlier told the Free Press the boat was registered by Canadian authorities and met all required specifications for operation.
   A local contractor volunteered to help Mylrea pull the Neverlanding onto shore − a task that was proving difficult and taking much of the day on Tuesday.
   Hanson said he doesn’t imagine the houseboat will be trailered up and driven to Canada or somewhere else. “The boat’s too big; I couldn’t see it being hauled by anything. It will be on that beach until spring comes. I’m sure it’s going to be an attraction for people for a little while.”
   More: High winds causing water to ‘vanish’ from western Lake Erie
   Fans of the Neverlanding on Facebook weighed in on at least this chapter of the adventure’s closing.
   “Damn! I was hoping he would make the trip all the way to Florida. Better to be safe than sorry,” posted Bridget Ford.
   Added Steven Pietrangelo, with a winking emoji: “No big deal…just a bigger destination when the weather breaks….Thailand.”

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in November

   CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes decreased 19.1 percent from 2024 to 3.4 million tons in November. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 20.3 percent.
   Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 39.2 million tons, a decrease of 13.2 percent compared to the same point in 2024.
   Through November, iron ore loadings are 8.1 percent below their 5-year average.
   Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  More information is available at www.lcaships.com.

[Charts are posted in gallery below]

Seaway Traffic Results (as of November 30, 2025)

[See Chart in gallery below]

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