Boatnerd News Archive

February 1997

Feb 1, 1997

Escanaba ready to load

02/28

the Escanaba Ore Dock is expecting to load the Barge Joseph H.Thompson on March 9, the bubble system around the ore docks has been activited, and fisherman have been warned.

Reported by: Jim Grill

Great Lakes Maritime Industry And Customers Oppose Icebreaking User Charges

02/27

Lake Carriers’ Association, the American Iron and Steel Institute, American Great Lakes Ports and the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force have sent a joint letter to Great Lakes Senators and members of the House opposing the Clinton Administration’s proposal to implement a user charge for icebreaking starting in FY1999. The proposed fee would generate $25 million a year. The letter, dated February 25, follows:

Dear Senator/Dear Representative:

We are writing to express our firm opposition to a provision in President Clinton’s FY1998 Budget to develop and implement a “fee-for-service” for icebreaking performed by the U.S. Coast Guard on the Great Lakes by FY1999. This ill-conceived proposal must be immediately rejected as both bad for the Great Lakes and national economies and a major reversal of long-standing U.S. government policy.

Without Coast Guard icebreaking, the Great Lakes shipping industry would be so reduced in scope that it would become a “used to be” in the nation’s transportation system. The ice season can begin in early December and generally lasts until early or mid-April. (In 1996, the Coast Guard continued “ice ops” on Lake Superior until May 17.) Every facet of Great Lakes shipping is affected by Coast Guard icebreaking – the domestic trades, imports and exports to and from Canada, and overseas cargos via the St. Lawrence Seaway. In recent years, these trades have approached 200 million tons.

In the past three years, U.S.-Flag vessels have carried approximately 46 million tons of cargo during the ice season. Iron ore for the steel industry predominates that total. Had these cargos gone undelivered, Great Lakes basin steel mills would have faced shutdowns and lay-offs when their stockpiles were exhausted. Millions of tons of coal, stone, cement, grain and general cargo also moved to and from Canada and overseas during periods of ice.

Government-funded icebreaking is not “corporate welfare.” The American steel industry, the iron ore mining industry in Minnesota and Michigan, and U.S.-Flag Great Lakes carriers collectively pay more than $1 billion a year in corporate taxes to the Federal Treasury. Their employees (140,000 strong) are likewise major contributors to the Federal Treasury. It is blatantly unfair for these industries and citizens to be asked to bear an even greater share of the Federal budget.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard provides a variety of services to commercial navigation, recreational boaters and the fishing industry throughout the United States. However, the Administration’s budget singles out domestic icebreaking – a service provided almost entirely on the Great Lakes – for user fees. In fact, there are no other user fee proposals contained in the Coast Guard budget. The proposal is blatantly unfair in that it asks our region and its industries to pay for Coast Guard services, while no effort is made to recover costs for services provided on the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf of Mexico or other regions.

We urge you to communicate your strong opposition to user charges for Coast Guard icebreaking to Secretary of Transportation Slater and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kramek by contacting Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar and signing the attachedletter.

Sincerely,

American Great Lakes Ports
American Iron and Steel Institute
Great Lakes Maritime Task Force
Lake Carriers’ Association

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Salt Trade Tops 8 Million Tons In 1996

02/27

Shipments of salt from U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports totaled 8.1 million tons in 1996, an increase of 20.6 percent compared to 1995. Given the very limited number of salt producers, further analysis is not possible without divulging confidential information.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Public meeting on pilotage in Cleveland Update

02/26

St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. will hold a public meeting in Cleveland at 10:00 A.M. March 11, 1997 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel. The purpose of the meeting is to seek ideas on how to improve U.S. Great Lakes pilotage. In particular, comments will be sought in the areas of efficiency, reliability and safety.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

St. Lawrence Seaway opening

02/25

Canada and the United States plan to open the St. Lawrence Seaway to vessels on 2 April. However, there may be restrictions. If water levels in Lake Ontario remain high on that date, vessel transits will be restricted to daylight only. Heavy precipitation since October has caused higher than usual levels.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

“Big 3” Trades Up in 1996

02/25

Shipments of iron ore, coal and stone on the Great Lakes in 1996 totaled 141,168,971 net tons, an increase of more than 3 million tons compared to 1995. These three cargos represent the major commodities moving on the Great Lakes in the domestic and cross-Lakes trades.

Iron ore shipments topped 71 million tons for the first time since the recession of the early- and mid-1980s. Compared to 1995, the ore trade increased roughly one percent.

Thanks in large part to increased demand from utilities in Canada and the United States, coal shipments rose 1.9 million tons to 34.8 million net tons.

The Lakes stone trade increased 1.5 percent to 35.1 million tons.

In assessing the 1996 shipping season, credit must again be given to the icebreaking crews of the Ninth District Coast Guard. The USCG Cutter MACKINAW and other Coast Guard icebreakers played an instrumental role in getting commerce moving in March and April of last year. Without the Coast Guard’s assistance, the season-end totals would much lower.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Grain elevators to be dismantled

02/24

The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth has awarded a $1 million contract to a Duluth firm to dismantle two grain elevators on the city’s waterfront.

Isle Engineering Inc. will dismantle the former Cargill C and D elevators, which have been idle for many years. Cargill D was built in 1900 and C in 1923. The port authority acquired the structures in 1989.

Both elevators occupy land that is separated from the port authority’s terminal by a loading slip. Once the structures are razed, the port authority plans to prepare the site for use as a bulk cargo facility by June 1999.

The waterfront on Duluth’s inner harbor was once packed with grain elevators and coal docks. Three elevators remain – General Mills, Cargil and AGP. One vacant dock – dubbed Dakota Pier – was obtained several years ago by the port authority and eventually turned into the Northland Constructors Dock. This site is now an asphalt recycling facility that receives roughly a dozen stone cargoes a year.

Reported by: Al Miller

U.S. Coast Guard orders more buoy tenders

02/24

The U.S. Coast Guard announced 20 Feb. that Marinette Marine Corp. has been awarded a contract for six Ida Lewis-class Coastal Buoy Tenders at a cost of about U.S.$73 million. Construction will begin this year with delivery in 1999 and 2000. With this order, a total of 10 such vessels have been or will be built. Another four are planned.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Ryerson in the rumor mill

02/19

Rumor mill has Inland Steel’s Edward L. Ryerson coming out of long term lay-up this spring. They plan to use her as is for a year or two then convert it to a self-unloader next year or the year after.

The Ryerson has been in long term lay-up since January 24,1994 at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.
This is a RUMOR that has not been confirmed

Reported by:

Tug/barge combo damaged

02/19

The tanker barge Great Lakes, pushed by the tug Michigan was damaged when the combination “nudged” the EJ&E and Canal Street Bridge In Indiana Harbor. Minor hull fractures on the startboard side ballast tanks were discovered as the unit was approaching Grand Traverse Bay. These cracks caused the barge to take on water which was handled by the on board tanks.The unit will have permanet repairs made in Chicago.

Reported by: Rken

Port of Goderich re-cap

02/18

The CANADIAN OLYMPIC departed February 1st ending the 1996-1997 shipping season at the Port of Goderich. The first ship to arrive was the JOHN B. AIRD, he loaded salt on March 27, 1996. Since then, 171 ships have loaded salt, 32 grain boats visited the elevators, 4 barges delivered liquid calcium and 2 visits by the passenger ship NANTUCKET CLIPPER. Numerous visits were made by the Canadian Coast Guard ships, SAMUEL RISLEY AND GRIFFON.

The first ship for the 1997 season is expected mid to late March.

Reported by: Philip Nash

New pilot rates update

02/17

As of 1 March, new pilotage rates will take effect on the U.S. Great Lakes. Rate increases of eight percent to 19 percent will be implemented in the three districts, affecting 38 pilots. The new rates are lower than those proposed by the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., and were calculated using a new method of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To calculate pilot rates, Great Lakes masters were assumed to earn an average of U.S.$131,213 annually, comprised on U.S.$116,767 in wages and U.S.$14,446 in benefits. First mates were assumed to receive an average wage of U.S.$92,290. Using these figures, the average weighted increase on District 1 is eight percent, including nine percent on the St. Lawrence River and six percent on Lake Ontario. District 2 will increase an average of 19 percent, with no increase on Lake Erie but 31 percent on the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. District 3 will see a six percent increase overall, with seven percent on Lake Huron, six percent on Lake Michigan and four percent each on Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. The new rates stemmed from the first full Great Lakes pilotage review since 1987. In addition to the new rates, it will also be mandated that pilotage rates be reviewed at least once a year.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

More on the Halcyon

02/17

The Muskegon Cronical implied in a story published 2/9/97 stated that the Halcyon had sea water in her after she was raised. They also implied that the core of engineers knew about the many problems and that one marine engineer told them it was a wonder the boat didn’t sink before she did. The boat was not built to original specifications and sat some 3 feet lower in the water than original specs called for, makeing it unstable in heavy seas.

Reported by: Bob Wheelock

Tanker Gemini running

02/13

The tanker GEMINI was spotted upbound in Lake St. Clair yesterday Feb. 12 with the Canadain Coast Guard icebreaker SAMUEL RISELY for an escort.

Reported by: Andrew Severson

Canadian Olympic in lay-up

02/12

The Canadian Olympic arrived at Nanticoke at 0800 hours on Friday February 7, 1997 under escort of the Samuel Risley. The Olympic is tied up at the west dock at Ontario Hydro Nanticoke Generating Station.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Ore boat wanted

02/11

The Marquette Underwater Preserve is looking for an ore boat or other Great Lakes vessel (should be linked to the iron mining industry) to clean and sink within Preserve boundries. The Vessel will become a historic diving attraction, drawing attention for our community. Vessel can be recieved as a non-profit donation, allowing donator to write off value of ship. For more information, please contact Kurt Fosburg @ 906-475-5101 or Rob Schmitt @ Diver Down Scuba, 906-225-1699. Any assistance, including possible leads, would be greatly appreciated.

Reported by: Kurt Fosburg

Record Lay-Up at Bay Ship

02/10

According to Great Lakes/Seaway Log, Bay Shipbuilding Co. in Sturgeon Bay,Wisconsin has its largest winter lay-up fleet ever. Eighteen vessels are tied up in Sturgeon Bay. So many are there at the PRESQUE ISLE is being tied up in the inactive Peterson Shipbuilders yard. The large number of ships means up to 300 jobs.

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Socanav formally bankrupt

02/08

Socanav Inc. has been formally declared bankrupt, after its bankruptcy trustee, KPMG, announced that a buyer had not been found. In addition, Socanav failed to present a restructuring proposal by 31 Jan. The date was the end of a third extension granted to Socanav by the Quebec (Canada) Superior Court. Socanav has debts of C$15 million to C$17 million. Its four remaining vessels will be sold, but how and when it will be accomplished is at the discretion of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The bank is owed C$10 million, with the rest of the debts owed to 700 creditors, ranging from crews to ports on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Unsecured creditors will meet 6 March. The four remaining ships, owned and/or operated by Socanav, are the Le Chene No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,065-gt, 7,809-dwt, 3,451-nt tanker built in 1961 at Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel, Quebec); the L’Orme No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,890-gt, 9,178-dwt, 4,109-nt tanker built in 1974 at Marine Industries); the Le Saule No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,114-gt, 7,175-dwt, 3,382-nt tanker built in 1970 at Marine Industries); and the W.M. Vacy Ash (Canadian-registry 5,725-gt, 8,697-dwt, 4,342-nt tanker built in 1969 at Marine Industries). All are iced in at Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the estimated value of all four is C$8.5 million. The four were to be sold to Gorse Down Canada, but that deal collapsed in October under questions from regulators. Socanav and Gorse Down Canada shared offices and for six months had the same president.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Ada Gorthon aground in Seaway

02/07

The Ada Gorthon (Swedish-registry 13,525-gt, 10,565-dwt ro/ro built in 1984, operated by Gorthon Lines) ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway on 5 Feb. near Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada. Heavy ice was reported in the area. The ship was sailing to Pointe-au-Pic with paper, and suffered damage to a tank. The Ada Gorthon was later escorted to Quebec.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

CANADIAN OYLMPIC calls it a season

02/06

The CANADIAN OYLMPIC departed the Atwater dock in Detriot this morning (2-6) bound for Nanticoke Ont. for winter lay-up.

Reported by: Andrew Severson and Dave Marcoux

Repairs to the Aerial Lift bridge

02/05

Repairs will be started on the Aerial Bridge in Duluth this week. On Wednesday or Thursday, the bridge will be jacked up about a foot in order to relieve the tension on the cables around the pulleys. Makeshift asphalt ramps will be placed to allow traffic to cross without having to hit the one-foot difference in height. This same procedure was done last winter when the northeast pulley was moved back into place (it had started to slide and would likely have become stuck sometime last year had the repair not been made). This winter’s work includes more pulley and shaft work. The bridge will be closed to any vessel traffic until sometime early in March.

Reported by: Jody Aho

Float on Lakes Reaches New Post-Recession Peak in 1996

02/05

U.S.-Flag carriers moved more than 117 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargo during the recently completed 1996 Great Lakes shipping season, a new record for the post-recession era. The previous peak was 115 million tons in 1994.

Iron ore cargos moved in Jones Act lakers totaled 60.6 million tons in 1996, the highest level since 1988. The Lorain/Cleveland iron ore shuttle reached it highest ever – 6.7 million tons. The Lorain/Cleveland shuttle dates from the early 1980s.

Stone cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 27 million tons, the most since LCA begain its survey of U.S.-Flag carriage in 1985.

The cement trade in U.S.-Flag vessels also set a new record – 3.8 million tons.

Two commodities registered decreases in 1996. Coal cargos declined slightly from 1995. Grain loadings fell to their lowest level since 1988. High grain prices prompted millers to switch to the spot market in 1996 and thus increase their usage of rail deliveries.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

More on the Mauthe conversion

02/05

The conversion calls for the entire aft to be cut off, including living quarters and removal of the engines. The tug (unknow at this time) will then fit into a steel notch. Last week crews were removing asbestos from the vessel.

In related news: this years lay-up fleet at Bay Shipbuilding is the largest ever – 18 vessels, the old record was 15 during the 94/95 lay-up

Reported by: Norm Becker

Tug Atomic breaking ice in Kingston

02/05

Feb 3 the tug Atomic departed Hamilton enroute to Kingston to break ice for the Kingston ferries. She had been called in after the ferries started to have trouble working in heavy ice. One ferry had already sustained prop damage. The tug was requested a couple days earlier but had to wait on the Burlington Bridge to leave Hamilton.The Atomic has quite an extensive history of Ice- Breaking from years past but this is her first foray since McKeil’s bought and repowered her.

Reported by:

Tug John Spence Still Working

02/05

The Spence And MacAsphalt 401 are still plying there trade between Sarnia and Lake Erie Ports. She will be going on hire to Pembina in a couple days as there is no other vessels available to serve as a dive/work platform in the heavy ice in Lake Erie

Reported by:

Canadian Olympic continues to run

02/03

The Upper Lakes vessel Canadian Olympic was in Goderich yesterday (Feb. 2) for what appears to be one more shipment of salt for this season. Also in harbor was the C.C.G.S. Samuel Risley, to assist her in the ice. The Canadian Olympic continues to work overtime in the salt trade this late in the season. On her last trip into Goderich for salt (January 23) she was accompanied by the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw (WAGB-83)

Reported by: Mike Gibson

ULS changes name

02/02

Name Change: ULS Corporation Becomes Upper Lakes Group Inc.

Ottawa, January 23, 1997 – ULS Corporation has become Upper Lakes Group Inc., effective January 1, 1997, and all correspondence should be addressed accordingly, the company advises.

Reported by: Canadian Shipowners Association

Barge refit in Milwaukee

02/01

The City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will spend U.S.$55,000 to refit a city barge to clean the Milwaukee River this summer. About U.S.$20,000 will be spent on skimming equipment and outboard engines and the rest will be spent on operating the barge. The city’s share must be approved by the Common Council. Eventually, the barge will be replaced by a new, dedicated vessel.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

January 1997

Jan 1, 1997

CANADIAN OYLMPIC still running

01/30

Spotted downbound in Lake St. Clair today was the CANADIAN OLYMPIC bound for the Atwater dock in Detriot with a load of salt. After she unloads she heads back to Goderich for another load.

Reported by: Andrew Severson and Dave R. Marcoux

01/24

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Neah Bay may have averted disaster Thursday when it intercepted a runaway oil barge heading for the rocky shore of Middle Sister Island in Lake Erie.

Neah Bay stopped the loaded Hannah barge about 800 yards from the island and pushed it to safety during the 5 hour mission in Canadian waters. Shifting ice up to 10 inches thick and 25 mph winds pushed the barge, loaded with about a million gallons of fuel oil toward the island where rocks and ice could have ruptured the hull.

The tug Donald C. Hannah was pushing the barge, loaded in Toledo to LTV Steel Co. in Cleveland. The Neah Bay was escorting the tug and barge until about 11 A.M. when a steering cable snapped disengaging the barge from the tug.

Once the Neah Bay had pushed the barge a safe distance from the island the crew on the Hannah tug was able to pair the cables enough to tow the barge to a port in Canada for repair. The tow may continue once they convince the Coast Guard that this won’t happen again.

Reported by: Edited from a story appearing in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ice still causing problems in Western Lake Erie

01/24

A report on NPR radio last night had a tug and barge, one of the Hannah fleet I believe, was stuck in ice near the western Lake Erie islands. the barge is loaded with 26,000 barrels of home heating oil and bound from Toledo to Cleveland. There is concern that ice and wind may drive the barge aground. The reported noted that the tow rope may have broken, and that the Coast Guard cutter Bristol Bay was on the way to help.

Reported by: Jim Flury

Season totals U.S. fleet

01/24

Shipments of potash on the Great Lakes totaled 657,256 net tons in 1996, an increase of roughly 50,000 tons compared to 1995. Thunder Bay (north shore of Lake Superior) is the sole port loading potash on the Great Lakes.

The Lakes potash trade used to top 2 million tons a year, but since farmers need the product to use as a fertilizer during the spring planting and the Soo Locks don’t open until March 25, most shipments have switched to rail. Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 34,531,197 net tons in 1996, an increase of 4.8 percent compared to 1995. The only coal port to see its shipments decline was Thunder Bay, Ontario (north shore of Lake Superior); loadings fell by 25 percent to 1.6 million tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

C.S.L. and U.L.S. ordered to pay fines

01/24

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority has fined Canada Steamship Lines Inc. and Upper Lakes Shipping Corp. $5,000 for each violation of a compulsory pilotage zone in December. Three C.S.L. ships, the Nanticoke, the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac, and one U.L.S. vessel, the Canadian Enterprise, violated St. Lawrence River pilotage regulations when they decided they had waited long enough for pilots. On 1 Dec., the Nanticoke sailed from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and the Canadian Enterprise sailed from Contrecoeur, Quebec, to Trois-Rivieres. On 2 Dec., the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac sailed from Trois-Rivieres to Montreal.

None of the vessels had the required pilots. As a result, C.S.L. will now have to pay $15,000 and U.L.S. $5,000. The Laurentian Pilotage Authority also reportedly wants to C.S.L. and U.L.S. to pay extra charges it says were needed because vessels with pilots had to anchor while the ships without pilots passed.

Reported by: Steve Schultz, From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Stuck in ice off Buffalo

01/23

Follow up:

The mystery boat from last night turns out to be the John B. Aird. She dumped a load of salt at Lackawanna on the 21st and tried to make it out on the afternoon of the 22nd. The Samuel Risley came to her aid that evening and they were clear of the ice field by the morning of the 22nd. Once on the open waters of the lake the Risley turned around and cleared the track out again all the way back to Buffalo. There is an Algoma Central straight decker stuck in ten feet of ice in the Buffalo South Entrance Channel. There is a Coast Guard Breaker trying to free her (8pm). They are making little progress and may wait until the morning. They have four miles of wind rowed ice to make it to open water off Buffalo.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Paul R. Tregurtha Still loaded

01/22

PAUL R. TREGURTHA was unable to deliver her last cargo of season because of ice in Lorain. She rests in Cleveland with 40,000 tons of ore in her.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Duluth-Superior Lay-Up Activity

01/22

As of Saturday, Jan. 18: the Calcite II had a fresh coat of paint, and it appeared the Philip R. Clarke was getting one too. Also in Fraser, it looks like the St. Clair is having some work done on her unloading boom because part of the belt was unwound and laying on her deck.

Anyone interested in getting up-close views of vessels in winter lay-up should take a drive down to the Port Terminal in Duluth. There is a road you can drive on that is just a few feet from the Indiana Harbor and Edgar B. Speer. This gives you a great opportunity to see just how huge the 1000 footers actually are. There is also a road that goes under the two gantry cranes and right next to the Roger Blough. In the slip with the Blough are the 4 G-tugs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug Lake Superior. On a building next to the Blough, more than a dozen foreign vessel names were spray painted along with many crew members and the date the vessel was in the slip. It was an unusual thing to see. You can also get up-close views of the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker and Hallet Dock 5. Near the bow of the Barker is the old bum boat Marine Trader.

Reported by: Andy Hering

Paul R. Tregurtha changes lay-up port

01/21

The Paul Tregurtha is now at the Port of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Port Authority. She arrived on 1-19, the ship was assisted by two tugs and ice apparently caused some problems.

This leaves only three U.S. ships running, the self-unloaders JOSEPH L. BLOCK, WILFRED SYKES and ADAM E. CORNELIUS. The three will continue to load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan, until month’s end.

Reported by: Kevin Baker and the Lake Carriers Association

Tregurtha delayed

01/19

The Paul R. Tregurtha was due to lay-up in Ashtabula on the 17th, she is now (mid-night) clearing the Detroit River with an ice breaker escort. The plan is to wait in the East Outer Channel for the tanker Saturn (now down bound on Lake St. Clair) and head for Ohio.

Reported by: Neil Schultheiss

Duluth and Superior’s Lay-up fleet

01/17

Duluth and Superior are playing host to one of their largest winter layup fleets in recent years. Thirteen vessels are spending the winter at various docks in the two ports along with an additional vessel in long-term layup.

In Duluth, the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker are docked end-to-end at Hallett 5, the first time in many years that dock has seen winter layup vessels. Docking space at the port terminal is filled with Roger Blough, Edgar B. Speer, Indiana Harbor and James R. Barker.

In Superior, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. has assumed its usual winter home at Midwest Energy Terminal while Fraser Shipyards is the location for St. Clair, Lee A. Tregurtha, Elton Hoyt II, Calcite II, Cason J. Callaway and Philip R. Clarke. John Sherwin remains in long-term layup at the nearby Superior municipal dock.

No word on what sort of winter work is being done on these vessels. A crane can be seen alongside the stern of Indiana Harbor and, apparently, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. The drydocks at Fraser are filled with one of the GLF’s AAA boats and, in the small drydock, a Corps of Engineers tug and two excursion boats.

Reported by: Al Miller

More on the LTV train derailment

01/17

According to a recent story in the Duluth News-Tribune, the two-man crew of an out-of-control LTV taconite train at one point warned other workers that the train might run off the end of the loading dock and plunge into the harbor at Taconite Harbor.

The accident earlier this week occurred while Paul R. Tregurtha was loading at the LTV Steel Mining Co. dock at Taconite Harbor. The boat left without a full load after the train derailed and cut off rail access to the shiploader.

The train was coming down a 2 percent grade at an estimated 45 mph instead of the usual 5 mph. LTV officials praised the trainmen for using their radio to warn other workers to block auto traffic on Highway 61 where it passes under the rail line and for alerting them that the train could crash into the shiploader and plunge off the dock.

A safety system functioned as planned when it automatically switched the onrushing train to an uphill loop track, diverting it away from the dock. The entire 93-car train derailed when it hit the switch at high speed.

Reported by: Al Miller

U.S. float up 26 Percent in December

01/17

Aided by more “normal” sailing conditions, U.S.-Flag operators moved 11,141,893 net tons of dry-and liquid-bulk cargos on the Great Lakes in December, an increase of 26 percent compared to the corresponding period in 1995. The final month of 1995 was marred by the onset of a severe winter which slowed shipping to a crawl. In contrast, this past December was more typical and vessel delays were not excessive.

The December U.S.-Flag ore float totaled 6.6 million tons, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to a year earlier. Stone loadings nearly doubled to 1,947,152 net tons. Coal cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 1.8 million tons, an increase of 8 percent.

Through December, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 114.9 million tons, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the same point in the 1995 shipping season. As of today (January 17), the iron ore trade is the only active dry-bulk move on the Lakes. Ore will continue to be shipped from Escanaba, Michigan, to steelmakers along Lake Michigan’s southern shore until month’s end.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Ice Hazard bulletin

01/16

Note: this report is offered for entertainment and should not be relied on for navigation. Please consult Canadian Ice Service for current conditions (subscription necessary)

Ice Hazard bulletin for the Great Lakes issued by Environment Canada from Canadian Ice Service in Ottawa at 1700 Wednesday, 15 Jan.

Lake Huron — Open water in central portion of lake – narrow band of thin to medium lake ice along the eastern shore of the lake – mostly new lake ice within 5-8 miles of the western shore – greater than 9/10 mostly thin lake ice in Saginaw Bay.

Lake Erie — 7-9/10 new lake ice within 8 miles of the northern shore with fast ice in Long Point Bay – west of a line between Point Bruce and Cleveland, 8/10 new with some thin lake ice in the northern 2/3, with 2-4/10 new lake ice in the southern 1/3 of the lake – in the western basin, greater than 9/10 thin with some new lake ice – east of the line between Port Bruce and Cleveland, mostly open water except new lake ice within 3-5 miles of the shore – in Lake St. Clair, 9-10/10 mostly thin lake ice

The following comes from the good folks at the Canadian Ice Service (current forecast is available on-line to subscribers)

Area coverage is expressed in tenths:
1-3/10—very open drift ice
4-6/10—open drift ice
7-8/10—close pack ice
9-9+/10–very close pack
10/10—compact
10/10—frozen together – consolidated

J.A.W. Iglehart makes it to Muskegon

01/06

According to the bridge tender at St. Joseph, J.A.W. IGLEHART was in port Friday at about 1700 hours. The bridge tender said she unloaded half her cargo at East Chicago, and the remainder at St. Joe. S.S. ALPENA didn’t make it into Muskegon on Thursday. I am not sure if she was here over the weekend.

Reported by: Reported by: George Micka

Duluth News

01/04

At this time (0930) the wind at the Duluth Aerial Bridge is blowing steadily from the NE at 30 knots, with gusts to 40. The Indiana Harbor is outside and will decide whether or not to come in with the wind and its accompanying blowing snow. Ice is also moving in the canal, and the strong winds have pushed the Lake ice down into the end of the lake.

If the Indiana Harbor comes in, it will be the first boat to lay up at the Port Terminal.

In other news, the large drydock at Fraser is still empty, but the Clarke (?) is tied across the end of it. I don’t know if any boats are scheduled in there this winter. In the small drydock, the Corp tug Billmaier and the two Vista boats are spending the winter. The Calcite is residing in the spot at the head of Howard’s Pocket, so it will again be the last boat out of the yard. The Sherwin is now at the Superior Municipal dock where the Mauthe had laid for the last couple of years. This leaves the Cummings Ave. slip in the shipyard empty. The Cummings Ave. slip is the site of the Whitney Bros. yard, where the tugs were built during WW I, as well as the tug Wm. A. Whitney.

Reported by: Reported by: Eric Bonow

Owen Sound Harbour

01/03

Passed by Owen sound Harbour today & it seemed like the good old days were back. The Medusa Conquest was coming in to deliver a load of cement. The Mapleglen was tied up for the winter at the Great Lakes elevator. Both the Chi-cheeman and the Nindawayma were also there. Great to see that many boats in one place on Georgian Bay.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Woudstra

Sundew aids in Mauthe tow

01/03

On New Year’s Eve, the SUNDEW was called out to assist the J. L. Mauthe, and Tug JOHN Purves and the Great Lakes tugs NORTH CAROLINA and MINNESOTA through the ice. The PURVIS was having trouble getting the MAUTHE through the ice and the other tugs had been trying to help for several hours.

The Sundew left the port at about 6:30 PM and arrived on the scene about 1.5 miles from the breakwaters. At midnight we had only gotten them about a quarter of a mile. The wind finally shifted to the southwest and relieved the pressure on the ice, releasing the MAUTHE. We led them to open water about 5 miles out, and left the PURVIS and MAUTHE on their way. The SUNDEW, NORTH CAROLINA and the MINNESOTA got back to port about 1:30. At midnight, the SUNDEW carried out the tradition of ringing in the new year by striking eight bells, the first four struck by the oldest crewmember, and the last four struck by the youngest.

Reported by: Ken Newhams

Mauthe tow making progress

01/02

Tug John Purves and J.L. Mauthe should reach Whitefish Point by 2100 hours. Plan is to lock through early a.m., then wait for cutter Mackinaw to escort them through the St. Mary’s River.

Reported by: Al Miller

Sarnia’s Lay-up Fleet Taking Shape

01/02

Sarnia’s lay-up fleet is taking shape with the J.W.MCGIFFIN, LE CHENE NO.1, ALGORAIL,the tug and barge JOHN SPENCE, MCASHPHALT 401, and the AGAWA CANYON on the 1st of January 1997.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Severson

HF marine monitoring on 4369 kHz ssb.

01/02

This is WLC Rogers City Mich.

Summary of info.
0950  Edwin H. Gott  45.9N 84.3W  Wx Obs
0959  Armco      47.2N 90.4W  Wx Obs

1510   USS Fleet Call in
Cason J Calloway      st. Clair cut  checked due to visibility
      03/1230 Sault   04/1800  Fraser shipyards
Presque Isle          unloading Gary  56 degrees F etd02/1930
      04/0300 Sault   05/0500 Two Harbours
Roger Blough     
      2.5 miles NE Whitefish Point 1800 Sault
	  04/0400 Gary, then Two Harbours to Gary again
Edgar B. Speer        Loading Two Harbours etd 2100-2300 to Gary
Edwin H. Gott         St Marys River 1600 Sault 03/1800 
                      Two Harbours load for Gary

01/01

By 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the Purves and Mauthe were continuing to battle the ice off Duluth. Purves is pulling the Mauthe and GLT tugs Minnesota and North Carolina are assisting. Coast Guard Cutter Sundew has been assisting for several hours. The strategy is for the Sundew to run down close alongside the Mauthe, which briefly relieves the ice pressure and allowing the tugs to surge ahead anywhere from a few feet to 75 feet. At last report, the tugs had about 1,400 feet to go to get past a troublesome windrow and into looser ice. Meanwhile, James R. Barker was ready to leave the BNSF ore dock in Superior, about six miles away, but could not because no tugs were available. One GLT tug is not used in ice and two others were engaged with the Mauthe. Not sure on the status of the fourth. Ice had frozen in behind the Barker after its arrival and the master did not want to try backing away from the dock and turning without assistance.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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.

	1995	1996
Grain	13,711,524	11,170,551
Iron ore	11,205,623	12,405,683
Coal	3,734,556	4,146,410
Other Bulk	11,481,316	12,177,529
General Cargo	4,564,179	5,658,273
TOTAL	44,697,198	45,558,446

Reported by: Steve Schultz 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

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 in 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

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 (GVSU’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.”

8-25

Algoma’s Algoway was Loading stone at warf 12. They were having trouble with the gears of the unloading boom as the boom must be moved so that complete loading of the vessel takes place.

At the same time Patersons Cartiadoc was unloading grain at warf 19 Maple Leaf Mills—Port Colborne. It could only unload a partial load beacause the warf can only accomodate full loads from smaller vessels. The mill has been serviced exclusively by the smaller Mantadoc in the past few years and before that P and H’s Beechglen.

Reported by: J. Joseph Van Volkenburg

Barge INTEGRITY docks in Milwaukee

8-25

The new LaFarge cement barge INTEGRITY, pushed by the tug JACLYN M. arrived today at the new Milwaukee LaFarge cement terminal. The barge, built this year at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, entered service two weeks ago. Having already passed up through the Soo, the INTEGRITY loaded a cargo for delivery to the new LaFarge Terminal in Milwaukee.

Both the barge and the new terminal are to be officially commissioned in ceremonies planned for August 28. The INTEGRITY is the largest cement barge on the lakes, with a carrying capacity in excess of 14,000 tons. She is painted in the light cream color of the Inland Lakes Management Company cement carriers, however she carries a LaFarge logo in black with a green stripe amidships on her hull.

The tug, JACLYN M., is likewise painted in cream. Both vessels have light green trim, including the visors of both of the tug’s regular pilot house as well as its elevated house.

The combination sailed its maiden voyage August 6 when the unit left Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay for Alpena to load cement for Green Bay.

Reported by: Paul G. Wiening

Date Set for Nicolet Tow

8-25

The Nicolet is scheduled to be towed out of the Hans Hanson dock on Tuesday August 27th bound for Canada and the cutters torch. Last month she was sold to International Marine Salvage of Port Maitland, Ontario. This ship has been in Toledo since the end of 1990 and leaves many a good story to be told.

Reported by: JVincPep

Canadian Navigator to be converted to a self-unloader

8-22

Port Weller Dry docks has been awarded a contract which calls for the Canadian Navigator to be converted to a self-unloader over the winter (96-97).

Reported by: Launy Paul

Duluth Superior News

8-14

After a long absence from the Twin Ports, the Fred R. White Jr. is now seemingly a constant caller. The vessel has made several trips Duluth and Superior this summer. The most recent is set for Aug. 15, when the vessel is due to unload stone at the Reiss Inland dock in Duluth before proceeding to Silver Bay to load taconite pellets.

Indiana Harbor is scheduled for an unusual shuttle this week. The vessel is due to load coal Aug. 14 at Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior. It’s then scheduled to proceed to Silver Bay to unload at the power plant there before returning to Superior to take on taconite pellets at the BN ore dock.

8-11

Paul H. Townsend has been in drydock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior for the past week. The vessel appears to be receiving quite a few new shell plates on both sides of the hull amidships. A large area on both sides has been sandblasted free of paint and some sort of large lean-to type structure has been erected over the portion of the hull undergoing work on the port side.(Paul Townsend’s work in Fraser Shipyards apparently is being doing in conjunction with its 5-year inspection.)

8-10/8-11

The Oglebay Norton tied up at Duluth’s port terminal for about a day to undergo repairs to its bowthruster. It was interesting to watch the work. Crewmen ballasted the stern of the boat so that the bowthruster tunnel was raised completely clear of the water. Then workers entered the tunnel from outside the hull (the tunnel appears to be about 7 or 8 feet in diameter) and made repairs to a faulty hydraulic pump.

It’s interesting to see how much below-the-waterline work is done on 1,000-footers without their entering a drydock. We probably get
1,000-footers here 5 to 10 times a year that need quick repairs to thrusters, rudders or propellers and the work is down by raising the bow or stern through ballasting.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Coal fire Posed Danger to Crew, Coast Guard Says

July 30, 1996

(Whitefish Point) — The Coast Guard says a fire aboard the coal freighter H-M Griffith put the 28-member crew in grave danger. The temperature in the hold yesterday was so hot that the 730-foot ship’s steel bulkheads glowed. Crewmen ended up dumping more than three-thousand tons of burning coal into Lake Superior.

A coal fire in a cargo hold is among the most dangerous of ship fires. Once started, coal is virtually impossible to extinguish and can smolder for weeks.Coast Guard Petty Officer Jack Crumbaugh says the crew was in a lot of danger because if the fire had gotten severe, it could have blown up the ship.

The Canadian vessel was headed south toward Sault Ste. Marie when the fire was discovered shortly before noon. It was loaded with nearly 32-thousand tons of coke, a highly carbonized residue used for making steel. Officials believe some of the cargo was loaded in an advanced stage of oxidation, which caused it to spontaneously combust aboard ship.

The problem is fairly common on lengthy ocean voyages but rare for ships making a Great Lakes passage. That’s according to Captain John Pace, vice-president of fleet management for Canada Steamship Lines in Montreal. That company owns the Griffith.

Captain Steve Pauley ordered the crew to flood the tunnel surrounding the cargo hold to help reduce the temperature. The crew then began cooling the burning cargo with water hoses as it was run along conveyor belts normally used to load and unload the ship.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard dispatched the 140-foot cutter Katmai Bay from Sault Ste. Marie and two helicopters from Traverse City in case anyone needed to be rescued.

Instead, the crew decided to dump the 3-thousand-63 short tons, or 6-point-1 (m) million pounds, of burning coke into the lake. No injuries were reported. The ship was inspected last night at the Soo Locks, but Curumbauigh says there was no structural damage and only minor distortions to some of the metal gates that keep the cargo on the conveyor belts.

The ship left the locks bound for Lake Erie shortly after 4 a.m. today (7/31/96). Normally, cargo dumping on any of the Great Lakes is prohibited. But a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality official says dumping the coke would not pollute Lake Superior.

Reported by: alt.great-lakes newsgroup post

November 1996

Nov 1, 1996

M/V Utviken aground in Seaway

11/28

The M/V Utviken (Bahamian-registry 17,191-gt, 30,052-dwt bulk carrier built in 1987, operated by Viken Shipping) sailing from Richards Bay, South Africa, to Detroit with titanium slag, ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway, near Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada, on 26 Nov. The ship suffered electrial problems in her steering console, which is believed to have caused the grounding. The M/V Utviken is hard aground with damage to her port side forward and amidships. The forepeak tank and the No. 1 double-bottom tank flooded.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Welland Canal Closed

11/28

The canal was closed around 1300 today after a road accident between lock 1 and lock 2 sent a vehicle into the water. Fire and police are there and at the moment no further information is available. I will update this when I can.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Two ships collide in the Welland Canal

11/27

On Monday two ships collided in the Welland canal below lock 1. The Mallard up bound apparently bounce off the wall and into the path of the Canadian Enterprise. It was a sideswipe rather than a head on collision. The Enterprise was repair at Port Weller DD. The repairs to the gangway and ballast vent pipes took six hours. The Mallard proceeded to Port Colborne to be repaired there.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Reserve Delivers Coal to Marquette

11/27

Oglebay Norton’s RESERVE made her first ever delivery of coal to Marquette on November 25. She then loaded taconite for Toledo which she has done many times before. Before this trip, coal had been delivered to Marquette this season by Interlake vessels. Before this season, ASC delivered most of the coal in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Twin Ports Report

11/27

Two reminders of winter’s proximity are now clearly in evidence in the Twin Ports.

Ice has formed across the harbor in depths ranging from 4 to 10 inches, according to the Coast Guard, and from 6 to 8 inches, according to estimates from some vessel masters. No vessels have needed icebreaking assistance, although the Sundew reportedly has been at work in the channels.

With the end of the season looming, grain traffic remains brisk, especially among salties. Maria SJ, Peter Strolfok and Rixta Oldendorf are all arriving, departing or loading today. The clearest sign that the end of the season is nearing, however, was evident Nov. 23 when Kinsman Independent and Maria SJ were busy loading on a Saturday at the General Mills and Cargill grain elevators, respectively.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

More on Duluth’s Lift Bridge Shutdown

11/27

Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge is back in service Nov. 26 on a limited basis, the bridge will open for outbound deep-draft vessels. Inbound light are requested to use Superior entry. Yesterday the bridge operators requested the master of Paul R. Tregurtha give a 60- to 90-minute advance notice of departure so they could clear the bridge of repair workers before lifting for the vessel.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

More on the Viking I

11/26

There was much more of a story behind the move from Port Stanley to Erie then originally reported. According to a story in the Erie Daily Times, Captian Gerry Matherne sailed the vessel in the middle of the night from Port Stanley, Ont. to Erie on his own volition because of threats of violence made to him and at least one other crew member. Viking I was to be used for a ferry service between Port Stanley and Cleveland but the investor group behind the venture, apparently underestimated the cost of renovating the 71-year old vessel and fell behind on payments to previous owner Contessa Cruise Lines, for whom Matherne worked. It was apparently under the pretense of repossessing the vessel that Matherne took command and sailed her from Port Stanley, claiming that a telephone caller has threatened bodily harm to him if he tried to take back the ferry. Matherne had previously called Raymond Schreckengost, executive director of the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, to seek permission to berth the ferry there. Upon arriving in Erie, the U.S. Coast Gurad cited Matherne and Contessa with numerous violations, including lack of radar and a gyrocompass, lack of a pilot licensed for the Great Lakes and failure to notify the Coast Guard of Viking I’s arrival in Erie.

Reported by: Robert D. Kennedy

First cut at Interlake’s lay-up ports

11/25

J R Barker          Duluth/Superior area

Mesabi Miner        Duluth/Superior area

Paul R. Tregurtha   Duluth/Superior area

Stinson             Duluth/Superior area

Beeghly             River Rouge

Jackson             River Rouge

Hoyt                Fraser

Kaye Barker         River Rouge

Lee Tregurtha       Fraser

*First cut is subject to change

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Duluth’s famed Aerial Lift Bridge Shutdown

11/25

Engineers and operators of Duluth’s famed Aerial Lift Bridge decided Nov. 22 to idle the bridge’s lift span for several days until they repair a cracked steel rod in the lift mechanism.

The shutdown has forced vessels to enter and leave port through the Superior Entry, about six miles from the Duluth ship canal. For most vessels, this means a slow journey down the harbor’s “front channel” instead of making the relatively quick turn for the Duluth entry.

The bridge was being inspected in preparation for work scheduled to be done over this winter. The discovery of the cracked rod prompted the shutdown to avoid the possibility, however slight, that the bridge might become disabled in either the “up” or “down” position. The lift bridge is the only means of access to Duluth’s Park Point area for the hundreds of people who live there.

The bridge was expected to be reactivated in several days after temporary repairs are made. The bridge will operate on a limited basis for the rest of the shipping season, when it will be idled and long-term repairs made to the rod and other areas.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Grampa Woo Breaking Up

11/21

The stranded excursion boat Grampa Woo appears to be breaking up off Passage Island. Meanwhile, its owner plans to be back in business next spring.

A salvage crew boarded the 110-foot Grampa Woo on Nov. 20. They removed a small quantity of fuel and other potential pollutants that were left aboard the boat when it blew aground on Passage Island late last month. Electronic gear aboard the boat was too badly damaged to be salvaged. Kollars also reported the vessel’s bow has moved and that parts of the vessel are scattered about the area.

The same day, Kollars purchased another vessel of similar size. He plans to bring the vessel into the lakes next spring and resume his excursion business along Lake Superior’s North Shore.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Saltie aground in Duluth Harbor

11/19

The saltie Seadaniel was blown aground in Duluth harbor Nov. 17 but tugs from Great Lakes Towing Co. were able to free the vessel with little difficulty later that day.

The empty vessel had anchored in the harbor’s anchorage area Nov. 15. A sudden shift in the wind and strong gusts from the south west freed the Seadaniel’s anchor and blew the vessel across the harbor and into a mud bank of Minnesota Point, which protects the harbor from Lake Superior.

Tugs Vermont and Minnesota were summoned to free the saltie. After a couple hours of work, they were able to maneuver the ship to a berth at Duluth’s port terminal. The ship suffered no apparent damage.

Seadaniel’s encounter with the mud bank came exactly 11 years after the saltie Socrates was blown aground on the lake side of Minnesota Point. That ship was aground for about a week while as many as seven tugs and dredging equipment worked to free it.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

U.S.-Flag Float Surges In October

11/19

Aided by good sailing conditions, U.S.-Flag carriers moved 13.2 million net tons of cargo on the Great Lakes in October, an increase of 1 million tons compared to the same period last year. The increase has nothing to do with the number of ships in service; vessel utilization rates were essentially unchanged. The difference was the weather; October 1995 was characterized by high winds and storms which forced the fleet to go to anchor an inordinate number of times.
The U.S.-Flag ore float totaled 6.4 million tons in October, an increase of 7.8 percent. Stone cargos totaled 3.2 million tons, an increase of 14.3 percent. Coal loadings were up by 100,000 tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

St. Lawrence Seaway on Course for Another Strong Shipping Season

11/19

Cargo volumes passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway during the 1996 shipping season as of October 31 are currently running at 38,635,000 tonnes. The combined cargo for the period is as follows:

	1995	1996
Grain	11,879,000	9,160,000
Iron ore	9,785,000	10,840,000
Coal	3,253,000	3,585,000
Other Bulk	10,080,000	10,703,000
General Cargo	3,799,000	4,347,000
TOTAL	38,796,000	38,635,000

Some notable increases are in the movements of iron ore, coal, other bulk (stone, salt, sugar, coke,etc.) and general cargo (value-added, steel products, imported steel slabs, etc.). Iron ore and coal traffic have increased substantially thanks to the healthy economy in North America. Bulk cargo is up because of important movements of salt and sugar, and general cargo has risen due to the vigour of the steel industry.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Myron C. Taylor Aground CORRECTION

11/14

The Myron C. Taylor did not run aground as reported on 11/12. She arrived at lay-up safe and sound. The ship did go to anchor in the harbor to wait out the weather.

Correction by: Lake Carriers Association

Myron C. Taylor Calls it a Season

11/13

The Myron C. Taylor went into winter layup on Tuesday November 11,1996. She is laid-up in Sturgeon Bay

Reported by: Industry Source

Grampa Woo Doomed

11/13

Owners, insurance officials and the Coast Guard generally agree the 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo is doomed. Now it’s just a matter of determining where and when to dispose of the boat.

The Grampa Woo remains stranded at Passage Island in Lake Superior. A Coast Guard photo published in the Nov. 13 Duluth News-Tribune shows the vessel’s decks awash.

Owner Dana Kollars and his insurance company agree the $1 million boat is a total loss. Kollars has indicated he wants to pull the vessel offf the rocks and allow it to sink in about 100 feet of water.

The National Park Service, however, is not ready to agree to that plan. NPS officials want to make sure pollutants are removed from the vessel before it is sunk. They also are unsure whether the Grampa Woo should be allowed to sink in the park and say it might be better to tow the vessel to shore for scrapping, if possible.Efforts to remove the boat from Passage Island are unlikely to occur this fall.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

David Z. Norton in tailings trade

11/13

David Z. Norton made three straight trips to Escanaba on November 3, 7, and 10. She loaded taconite tailings for Alpena’s Lafarge Cement Plant. Oglebay Norton has normally used the smaller, venerable Joseph H. Frantz for this trip since only about 10,000 tons are moved a trip.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Closing of the 1996 Navigation Season

11/12

MONTREAL-LAKE ONTARIO SECTION

Mariners are reminded that the clearance date for the 1996 navigation season is 2400 hours,December 20, 1996.

For the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section, vessel demand, weather and ice conditions will dictate the final closing date. It will be announced no later than December 15 whether or not, based upon operating conditions, vessels will be subject to operational surcharges after December 20.

WELLAND CANAL

Vessels will be accepted to transit the Welland Canal upbound at CIP15 and downbound at CIP16 up to 0800 hours December 24, 1996. The Welland Canal may be kept open beyond this date depending on vessel demand and weather conditions. However, vessel transits after 0800 hours December 24, 1996, will be allowed subject to Agents/Owners signing a written agreement with the Authority.

Mariners are reminded that there is always a possibility that severe climatic conditions may occur during the closing period. Should this happen, there is a chance that the above-noted dates, for the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section or the Welland Canal, may not be met.

The Seaway entities will monitor weather conditions and demand, and the final closing dates for both sections will be confirmed when better information is available.

SAULT STE. MARIE LOCKS AND CANAL

Canada — The Canadian Sault Ste. Marie Canal is closed to navigation.

United States — The official closing date for the Sault Ste. Marie Locks (U.S.A.) is 2400 hours January 15, 1997.

PORTS EAST OF MONTREAL

Vessel owners and operators are advised that there are a number of ports east of the Seaway (St.Lambert Lock) on the St. Lawrence River that remain open to navigation during the winter months.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Duluth/Superior News

11/11

On Nov. 9-10, J.A.W. Iglehart made its first call in the Twin Ports since the labor dispute began to unload at the LaFarge terminals in Superior and Duluth. Alpena has made several trips here since replacement crews were hired. There have been no incidents at either of the terminals.

Atlantic Hickory and Sarah Spencer have made a couple of unusual calls in Duluth over the past few days. The tug/barge combo has unloaded at Cargill B2 and at General Mills. This could possibly be the first calls ever for the vessels at those elevators.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Personnel Changes At Canada Steamship Lines Continue

11/09

After loosing several key executives over the past few weeks Canada Steamship Lines has announced the appointment of Gerry Carter to the position of Vice President Administration. Carter, having served many years with the company will have responsibility for labour relations, accounting, information systems, and human resources.

Canada Steamship Lines is the world’s largest owner/operator of continuos belt self unloadingvessels. Their head office is in Montreal, Canada.

Reported by: Ocean Wide

Busy day for the Harvest States grain Terminal

11/08

Superior’s Harvest States grain terminal is playing host Nov. 8 to rare “full house.” Both loading berths and the layby berth are occupied today, an event that has occurred only one other time this season. Paterson’s Cartierdoc is loading at HSC 1 while Upper Lakes’ Canadian Provider is loading at the Gallery, which is a long, spindly legged conveyor system extending from the main elevator. Sitting in the layby spot ahead of the ULS boat is saltie Nikolay Novikov. The terminal sits alongside the I-535 bridge between Superior and Duluth, giving motorists a good view of all boats, but particularly the berth occupied today by Cartierdoc.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Grampa Woo Remains Stranded

11/07

The fate of the 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo remains uncertain November 6 as the vessel remains stranded at Passage Island off Isle Royale.

Winds and 6-foot waves prevented Dana Kollars, the boat’s owner, from boarding it Nov. 5 to salvage equipment. He returned to Thunder Bay with the tug Glenada. There’s no word on when another attempt might be made to board the boat.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Captain Promoted at Algoma Central Marine

11/06

Peter Schultz, captain of ALGOVILLE who this year split his time between ALGOLAKE and ALGOCAPE, has been promoted to Marine Superintendent Deck Operations.

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Great Lakes Fleets Respond Quickly To New Ruffe Threat

11/05

Cleveland–U.S.- and Canadian-flag Great Lakes vessel operators have instituted new measures to slow the spread of the European Ruffe, a nuisance fish introduced to the Great Lakes by ocean-going vessels in the 1980s. Beginning today, all U.S. and Canadian lakers loading and discharging cargo at terminals in Alpena, Michigan, will take extraordinary steps to limit the chances that Ruffe discovered in that harbor will be transported to other locations on the Great Lakes.

Three Ruffe were discovered in Alpena harbor in 1995. However, recent sweepings of the area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service indicate that a reproducing population now inhabits Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay River. The concern is that vessels taking on ballast water in Alpena can transport these Ruffe to subsequent ports of call.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Grampa Woo Update

11/05

Insurance and salvage officials may decide Nov. 5 whether to try salvaging the stranded excursion boat Grampa Woo or to scuttle it.

The 110-foot vessel was swept from its moorings in Grand Portage, Minn., last week by a storm. Two men were rescued from the boat before it smashed against a cliff at Passage Island off the northern tip of Isle Royale.

Capt. Dana Kollars, Grampa Woo’s owner, and insurance officials boarded the boat Nov. 4 to assess the damage. They reported the vessel is stranded on a rocky bottom. The port side of the hull is badly damaged, and holes as big as 6 feet have let in enough water to reduce buoyancy to a minimum. Photographs of the vessel show it’s hard against the base of a cliff that appears to be about 100 feet tall. It’s stranded on the opposite side of the point which is the site of Passage Island Light.

Kollars and others plan to return to the vessel Nov. 5 to remove electronic equipment from the pilothouse and to salvage other gear. They’ll also try to pump out about 300 gallons of fuel that remains on board. At that point, they may decide whether to try saving the vessel or to pull it free and allow it to sink.

Reported by: Duluth Shipping News

Calcite II First to Lay-Up

11/04

Calcite II is scheduled to be the first boat to go into winter layup in the Twin Ports. The vessel is due to unload at the Hallett 5 on Nov. 4 stone dock in Duluth before going into Fraser Shipyards.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Woo may Remain Until Spring

11/04

The last word on the Grampa Woo, the 110-foot excursion vessel aground at Passage Island, is that it may remain stranded there until spring. Seas were too rough Nov. 2 to attempt salvage operations. Seas have calmed considerably since then, but there’s been no word on whether an attempt to retrieve the vessel will be made. People who have flown over the site report the vessel’s hull appears to be badly damaged and water is surging in and out of broken windows.

Reported by: Al Jackman

Delays on the Upper Lakes

11/04

Heavy weather on Lake Superior caused delays in Marquette. FRED R. WHITE JR. and PHILIP R. CLARKE were at the LS & I ore dock all day Friday, November 1. They were both loaded and waited until Saturday morning to depart. If the weather delays weren’t enough, the Union Pacific ore dock in Escanaba was broken down on Sunday, November 3. ST. CLAIR and DAVID Z. NORTON were waiting to load. The NORTON was waiting to load tailings for Alpena — a trip normally handled by JOSEPH H. FRANTZ.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Walter J. McCarthy Aids in Rescue

11/01

The 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo is aground on Passage Island off the northern tip of Isle Royale after breaking free from its moorings in Grand Portage, Minn., on Oct. 30.

Meanwhile, the two men who were aboard the vessel when it went adrift are alive thanks to a combination of good luck and good seamanship and bravery by the crews of the Walter J. McCarthy, the Canadian tug Glenada and the Canadian Coast Guard boat Westfort. The vessels braved winds up to 70 mph and seas to 15 feet to save the two men from their ice-covered boat.

The adventure began about 9 a.m. Oct. 30. The tour boat was tied to a mooring buoy in Grand Portage harbor when 50 mph winds pulled the buoy loose from its 4,000-pound anchor and blew the boat into Lake Superior with Capt. Dana Kollars and his first mate aboard. The Grampa Woo was powerless to save itself because its propellers and rudders had been removed for repairs. Eight-foot waves in the harbor prevented small boats there from getting a line aboard the tour boat.

About 11 a.m., Kollars contacted the 1,000-foot Walter J. McCarthy, which was sailing the North Shore route to avoid 20-foot waves on the open lake. The coal-laden McCarthy was the last vessel to leave Duluth before a major storm blew across Lake Superior and brought vessel traffic to a halt. The McCarthy was likely the only vessel off the North Shore that morning – an amazing bit of good luck for the Grampa Woo’s crew.

The McCarthy’s master, Capt. Lawrence Smyth, declined a request to tow the Grampa Woo into Grand Portage – an impossibility given the McCarthy’s size. Instead, Smyth offered to tow the Grampa Woo to Thunder Bay, about 40 miles away. The McCarthy spent three hours and made two passes before putting a line aboard the tour boat about 2 p.m. Oct. 30.

“You don’t turn tight circles in a 1,000-footer, and you don’t just stop it. I was worried they’d get blown into us and then pulled under and I’d end up killing the people I was trying to rescue,” Smyth told the Duluth News-Tribune. “Our crew was running around on icy decks, in what was 8 foot seas and building…That boat (the Grampa Woo) was rocking like a bucking horse.”

A Coast Guard official in Duluth called the McCarthy’s work “amazing seamanship” under the weather conditions that existed.

The McCarthy towed the tour boat for four hours until reaching the entrance to Thunder Bay. But in the open waters of the bay, the vessels encountered winds to 70 mph and waves of 15 feet and higher. The tow line parted and the Grampa Woo was adrift again.

Meanwhile, the tug Glenada and the 38-foot buoytender Westfort had been hovering in the lee of Pie Island in case assistance was needed. When the tow line parted, the vessels went into action. Because of heavy ice buildup and the imminent threat of capsizing, the Westfort had to turn back. The Glenada continued on through dropping temperatures and snow squalls to approach the tour boat.

Unable to get a line on the tour boat, Capt. Gary Dawson of the Glenada decided to save the two men. He put his tug alongside the Grampa Woo about 7 p.m. and the two men, wearing survival suits, somehow managed to leap aboard the tug despite the high seas. The men were saved minutes before a Coast Guard helicopter was to be dispatched from Traverse City to rescue them.

“With it pitching like that and with the waves and the ice on the decks, I don’t know how anyone could stand up on the deck to jump,” Smyth said. “I thought it was bad for us. I can’t imagine what they were going through.”

The Glenada and Westfort sought shelter in the lee of Thunder Cape and the “Sleeping Giant” formation. The vessels were still in shelter late on Oct. 31.

A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the Grampa Woo about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31, aground on Passage Island. The vessel was intact but being battered against 30-foot cliffs.

Reported by: Duluth News Tribune

More News from Duluth/Superior

11/01

Few vessels were moving in Duluth-Superior on Oct. 31 as a massive fall storm moved across the upper Great Lakes. Storm warnings remained in effect on Lake Superior, with westerly winds at 35 mph and expected to rise. Waves were predicted at 16 to 20 feet.

The coal-laden Walter J. McCarthy apparently was the last vessel to leave the Twin Ports, departing early on Oct. 30. Edgar B. Speer remained at anchor off Duluth Oct. 31, unwilling to attempt entry into Two Harbors. Algomarine loaded in Superior Oct. 30 but went to anchor off Duluth on Oct. 31 until the wind subsides. Inside the harbor, the Algoriver was loaded with grain but remained in port. John J. Boland was loading coal but also expected to remain in port.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

October 1996

Oct 1, 1996

Oglebay Withdrawing as Mine’s Manager

10/31

Oglebay Norton Co. has filed a notice that Eveleth Mines, a 31-year-old Minnesota taconite producer employing 650 people, will close Dec. 31 unless a management agreement with the mine’s other three owners is reached within 60 days.

Oglebay Norton officials said the notice doesn’t necessarily mean the plant will close. It is simply required because Oglebay is withdrawing as the mine’s manager and co-owner at the end of the year.

The mine’s three remaining owners – Rouge Steel, AK Steel and Stelco – want to keep the mine open and increase production. Negotiations among the steelmakers and Oglebay Norton are continuing, although it’s unclear when a new management agreement will be reached.

Eveleth Mines is located near Eveleth, Minn. It ships taconite pellets through the DM&IR dock in Duluth.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Edward L. Ryerson to see Service Next Season?

10/30

Inland Steel has officially declared they are not buying the HERBERT C. JACKSON, but may run the EDWARD L. RYERSON next year.

Reported by: Industry Source

Inland Still looking to Replace Striking Workers

10/30

Scott Feldmeyer reports that Inland Lakes Management placed another ad in the October 28th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a help-wanted display ad for masters and mates, chiefs, 1st, 2nd and 3rd assistant engineers, for steam and motor vessels.

B. Schroder reports seeing the same ad in the Sunday (10/27) Detroit News

Weather Closes the Welland Canal

10/30

The Welland canal was closed at noon today due to high winds gusting to 100Km/Hr. As of 1700Hrs there were 14 ships either at anchor or on the wall at various locks. I’m told that the canal may remain closed until tomorrow morning.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Storm Warnings Cause Delays

10/30

A nasty autumn storm Oct. 29-30 sent many boats to anchor on Lake Superior and prompted others to stay in port. Winds in Duluth at 8 a.m. Oct. 30 were gusting to 20-25 knots, down considerably from the 40 knot winds recorded about 4 a.m. Winds at the Soo were reported to be around 55 knots. Waves were low off Duluth because winds were from the west and northwest, but currents were strong in the Duluth ship canal. A vessel master at the BN ore dock reported breakers going past the stern of his boat. Walter J. McCarthy left Duluth on tuesday afternoon and was reportedly encountering slow going and was only off Grand Marais by Wednesday morning. Algomarine and Algoriver apparently were staying in port for several more hours Wednesday morning waiting for the winds to ease. One master said he could avoid most of the winds by taking the northerly course around Lake Superior, but he didn’t want to get caught in the high seas that a west wind tends to build off Coppermine Point.

Forecasts call for Storm Warnings to continue on Lake Superior through Oct. 30, with winds to 50 knots and waves building to 12 to 14 feet. Wind and waves are expected to diminish to gale force tonight. At least one master in Duluth harbor is now saying he won’t leave port until the Storm Warnings are dropped.

A weather buoy in eastern Lake Superior recorded winds gusting to 40 knots and a 21.3′ wave at 20 UTC

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News From Duluth/Superior

10/29

Six of Northeastern Minnesota’s seven taconite plants plan to maintain or increase next year’s production over 1996 levels. If that holds true, Iron Range taconite production could exceed 48 million tons for the first time in 16 years.

National Steel Pellet Co. in Keewatin is the only plant anticipating lower production next year. However, the company plans to improve the quality of its pellets. NSPC ships pellets through the Burlington Northern dock in Superior.

Despite the rosy forecast, industry watchers, union leaders and government officials are concerned that the Iron Range is not taking part in the next generation of iron production — direct-reduced iron. Approximately 14 plants are being built in the United States and the Caribbean to produce direct-reduced iron. Unlike taconite pellets, the highly concentrated direct-reduced iron briquets can be used in mini-mills, which are capturing a growing share of the steelmaking market.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News from the Welland Canal

10/29

N.M. Paterson’s Cartierdoc (Car-she-a-doc) has been idle at above warf 12 in the Welland Canal (Port Colborne) since Sat. Oct 19th. The firm of E.G. Marsh Port Colborne is handling the repairs to the engine. Word has it the timing gear is “all chewed up and caused much damage”) Rumor has it repairs should be finished yesterday—but everytime I have talked w/ the crew in the last week they said it should not be too much longer. This ship was the former Montcliffe Hall (Halco) before they went out of business and acquired by the present group out of Thunder Bay, Ontario—at the lake head of Surperior.

Last night the ship Cuyhoga was loading stone just below the idle ship at warf 12. While Paterson’s Matadoc proceeded to tie up on the west wall a waiting entrance to Lock 8 which was occupied by the Capt Henry Jackman—The salty Luckyman tied up on the west wall above the lock also a waiting the lock downbound.

Reported by: J. Joseph Van Volkenburg

Legal fallout from log spill

10/29

Some 44 businesses and individuals, including Lake Michigan boat owners, have filed claims against Woodlands Harvesting Inc. of Alpena, Mich., after an incident 22 May that left 30,000, eight-foot-long pulp logs floating in Lake Michigan. As of 3 Oct., the claims, named in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Milwaukee, Wis., total U.S.$142,289 with more expected, including U.S.$30,000 for salvage of the logs.

Woodlands Harvesting, the owner of the logs, filed the suit and is asking a federal judge to either find the firm not at fault or limit its liability to U.S.$175,000, the value of the barge and logs.

The barge was being towed from Michigan to Manitowoc, Wis., by SelvickMarine Towing Corp. when it spilled its cargo more than two miles from Point Betsie, Mich. Most logs were apparently recovered, but the U.S. CoastGuard in July said about 1,000 were still drifting in a 200 square mile area between Frankfort, Mich., and Door County, Wis. There were several reports of boats hitting logs near Michigan.

In the lawsuit, Woodlands Harvesting said the accident was caused through negligence and misconduct of Selvick Marine Towing, which itself is filing a lawsuit in a federal court in Michigan over a towing contract with Woodlands Harvesting. Selvick Marine Towing is seeking U.S.$36,162 in damages in the log case, the largest claim.

Anyone seeking damages from Woodlands Harvesting must file a claim with the clerk of the federal court in Milwaukee by 23 Dec.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

First Forecast For Late-Season Sailing Plans

10/29

To assist the U.S. Coast Guard in planning for the ice season, LCA surveyed its members for a first projection of lay-up dates. According to current plans, approximately 50 LCA-registered vessels will be in service on January 1, 1997. The smaller, low-horsepower self-unloaders will, as usual, be home by Christmas.

Of the 50 ships expected to be operating on January 1, most will complete their tonnage commitments by January 15. Iron ore shipments from Escanaba, Michigan, are expected to be completed by January 31.

This is just the first forecast. Much will depend on how many delays the fleet experiences in November. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that all icebreakers will be in service when ice ops begin. The MACKINAW will be out of the shipyard in early November.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

News From the Welland Canal – Algoville Conversion Completed

10/28

Algoville has finished its conversion and is due to be returned to service this Tuesday (Oct 29.) The side tank renewal and widening was performed by Port Weller Dry Docks, it brings Algoville to maximum canal beam and I believe increases cargo capacity by about 3500 tons. In related news, the cost of converting Canadian Navigator to a self-loader this winter is now placed at $15 million Canadian.

The Welland Canal will be drained between Lock 1 and Lock 2 this winter to rebuild the west wall and widen the channel to allow ships to pass in this area to speed up traffic.Taffic note: Bridge 1 will be closed for the first three months of 1997

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Deal Falls Through for the Viking I

10/28

The Viking 1 was not officially purchased by the Port Stanley Ferry Corporation from Contessa Cruise Lines Inc. of Minnesota, and the deal has now fallen through. This is the reason why the Viking 1 was moved from Port Stanley Ontario, to Erie Pa. According to articles published in the London Free Press, the Ferry Corporation “had begun renovating the boat when key steps such as finalizing the sale had not been completed.”

Chairperson of the ferry corporation, Bob Henderson said “the ferry sailed away because of our relationship with Contessa.” It is believed Gerry Matherne of St. Louis Mo. was at the helm of the vessel. Matherne was originally to be the captain of the boat when the ferry service begins, however, Matherne quit just three weeks before the vessel vanished. The Port Stanley Ferry Corporation has said it will look into purchasing a new vessel to replace the Viking 1. The corporation is looking into ferrys that are now in service to Prince Edward Island, but will become unnecessary, after the bridge to the island opens.

Reported by: Grace Goetheyn

Repairs Completed on the John J. Boland

10/25

John J. Boland was scheduled to take on fuel Oct. 25 at Fraser Shipyards, then shift to Superior Midwest Energy Terminal to load coal (left port Oct. 26.). The Boland has been in the yard for more than a week undergoing repairs in the forward hold that appear to have been related to its unloading system.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Yankcanuck Running Again

10/23

Yankcanuck has made several trips into Nanticoke Ontario with gypsum from Alabaster Michigan and synthetic gypsum from Conneaut Ohio. Material is being off-loaded via the vessel’s own crane and loaded onto dump trucks for the trip to the Canadian Gypsum Co. in nearby Hagersville Ontario. Two visits in 3 days for the Yankcanuck. She arrived here Saturday morning October 19th, offloaded, sailed for Conneaut and back in the Bay at anchor last night October 21st and is just finishing up offloading tonite (10/22).

The James R. Barker has become a regular to Nanticoke this year at the Stelco Dock and the tug Stephen Reinhauer with barge Geo. A. Morris has become a regular caller about every other day hauling gasoline and diesel products stateside from Nanticoke. In the last 24 hours we’ve had the Algowood, Yankcanuck,Stephen Reinhauer and barge, Imperial St. Clair, Tarantau, and Canadian Olympic. Some tug assists by the venerable old Miseford.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Kapitonas Stulpinas Makes Contact with the Viking I

10/22

This is an update to the story dated 10/16

On October 10 it was agreed that ms Viking I was to be removed from its berth at the west side of the harbor since that was the spot for Kapitonas S. However due to pressure of its owners, no insurance for the vessel, no captain or other qualified crew, Transport Canada agreed to put her at the far southern end of the west dock, without notifying the owners/charterers of Stulpina.

On arrival the captain and pilot of Stulpina made in my opinion an error of judgment of coming in, since Viking I was obstructing the slip and safe passage to the elevator. While being towed in by two small tugs, we observed the Viking moving out due to suction between both vessels, a normal occurrence between ships in limited waters. Although the mate on the Viking appeared to be heaving on the lines it proved not to be enough and the bow of the Stulpinas rubbed the Viking on her ps wing. On the radio there were only commands to tug holding the bow until after the occurrence. The master has a nice video of it all. Later the Stulpinas docked.

On Saturday the winds turned to SW 4 gusting to 5, and the Viking was still in port obstructing the passage. The pilot thought he could make it but the captain was now being very careful, and did not want to go out until the morning. In the morning the wind was the same and the captain still did not want to go out, so he lost the pilot.

Due to the holidays there were no pilots until Tuesday. The Viking left with two tugs, and the Stulpinas on her own steam, while digging her way out since the wind now was N at the available water only 22ft+ and draft was 23. After an emergency drop of the anchor she too made it safely out of port.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Port Weller Dry Docks fined

10/22

Port Weller Dry Docks Ltd., a unit of Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., has been fined C$80,000 for a violation of the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Port Weller Dry Dock pleaded guilty in St. Catharines Provincial Court, Ontario, on 15 Oct. to failing to take every reasonable precaution to protect a worker’s safety (Section 25[2][h] of the C.O.H.S.A.). Justice of the Peace Donna Cowan took into consideration that the firm is seasonal, mid-sized, had no previous safety violations and had improved safety precautions after the accident.

Thomas Quinn, 45, a supervisor, was working outside a ship under repair at the dry dock in St. Catharines on 10 June, 1995. As an 8,500 kilogram/19,000 pound steel plate was being cut out of the hull from inside the ship, it fell and killed Quinn as he was retrieving hoses in the area where the plate was to fall.

Quinn was to have kept people away when the plate was about to drop. No other safety precautions were in place.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Viking moved

10/21

The Viking was towed from her dock in Port Stanley on October 17th at 12:13am. It is now docked in Erie,PA.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

Rumor Mill

10/21

Please note: these are rumors, I’ve heard them from several different folks, but they are just RUMORS.

1) Herbert C. Jackson has been sold to Inland Steel, transfer to take place at end of season. Adam E. Cornelius to be returned to ASC. George A. Stinson has been sold to ASC again end of season transfer.

2) There are 2 1000 footers up for sale*. The Oglebay Norton and possiblly the James R. Barker or Mesabi Miner. Coal contract at St. Clair is up for grabs again. (**could mean just that the mortgage is up)

3) S. T. Crapo on charter to Medusa. Inland strike getting nasty. Some of the ships will be converted to barges with tugs. Medusa Chanlanger may be a conversion candidate.

4) Canadian Navigator will receive a different type of s/u gear. Jackman conversion was late and did not work out as well as planned.

5) CSL to lay-up the Tarantau, Manitoulin and Halifax at end of season. They are bring back the Lakers that went to Saltwater. A couple of them are now running into Lake Ontario.

6) Socnav is bankrupt and people taking over are the old board people. The ships need serious repairs and will still not qualify under new tanker rules. Their days are numbered. The tankers coming in from the East Coast are really making hay.

Reported by: Al Jackman

Icebreaker Mackinaw to be Modernized

10/21

Congress has decided to modernize the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw. The Coast Guard Authorization Bill of 1996 (S. 1004) directs the Coast Guard to develop plans and a cost estimate for re-engineering and other modifications which will permit the Cutter to continue to operate with a reduced crew while maintaining its ability to break ice round-the-clock when necessary. S. 1004 requires the Coast Guard to submit its plan and cost estimate no later than May 1 of next year.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Proposed Great Lakes Piloting Rates

10/21

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) is proposing to amend the Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations by increasing Great Lakes Pilotage Rates by: 6% in Area 1 (St. Lawrence River) ; 20% in Area 2 (Lake Ontario) ; 7% in Area 4 (Lake Erie) ; 35% in Area 5 (South East Shoal to Port Huron, MI) ; 11% in Area 6 (Lake Huron and Michigan); 44% in Area 7 (St. Mary’s River); 12% in Area 8 (Lake Superior); and 17% for mutual rates.

The proposed pilotage rate adjustments are different in each area because the rates have not been set on an area-by-area basis since 1967. In the interim years pilotage rates were increased by a single percentage across areas and this led to disparities between areas and between districts. The rates proposed above were calculated by applying the same formulas uniformly to each area.

The increase in Great Lakes pilotage rates is necessary because pilot compensation has fallen below established compensation targets. The compensation target for pilots providing service in the designated waters of the Great Lakes is the approximate average annual compensation for masters on U.S. Great Lakes vessels and the compensation target for pilots providing service in the undesignated waters of the Great Lakes is the approximate average annual compensation for first mates on U.S. Great Lakes vessels.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

John J. Boland in for Repairs, Gain Rush Continues

10/16

John J. Boland remains in Fraser Shipyards on Oct. 18. Work on aboard appears to be related to the self-unloading system.

John J. Boland paid a rare visit to the Twin Ports, arriving Oct. 15 to enter Fraser Shipyards for unspecified repairs. The boat is reportedly due to be in the yard a short time, then load at Midwest Energy Terminal.

The always-busy Harvest States Cooperative elevator in Superior has been loading ships this year using only its “gallery” berth while the No. 1 berth remained idle. That changed Oct. 16 when Makeevka was tied up in Harvest States 1 to load.

Also starting to see an increase in business is the General Mills elevator in Duluth. The elevator has seen little use this year, but in the past few days has loaded Docegulf and, on Oct. 16, the Kinsman Independent.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Sketchy News

10/16

I caught part of this one on the scanner, I’m hoping someone can add more details.

One of the Kapitonas fleet ran into the Carferry VIKING in Port Stanley Sunday, radio chatter described the collision as “rubbing paint”.

The VIKING, former Ann Arbor Railroad Co. ferry was moved in June this year and restored with hopes of starting Port Stanley to Cleveland service April 1, 1997.

The real trouble came when the crew aboard the Kapitonas ship refused to move from the dock fearing another collison. Tugs were brought in (the bill going to the government with repayment by the VIKING owners when funds are available) to move the Kapitonas vessel and free up the dock. The refusal of the Kapitonas’ crew to move caused other ships to be delayed.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News on the Status of the George A. Stinson

10/16

The rumors reported on 10/14 have been comfirmed…the George A. Stinson is indeed up for sale. The contract held by Interlake Steamship Co. (since March 1992) will expire at the end of this season. A number of other companies are interested in operating the Stinson, the rumor mill puts the deal to American Steamship Co. but this HAS NOT been confirmed.

Reported by: Al Jackman

ZiemiaTarnowska – Repairs Complete

10/16

Apparently the Ziemia Tarnowska has completed temporary repairs and is underway passing by the Ren Cen the morning of 10/15/96. (See story below for details on accident)

Reported by: Tom Lauterbach

Update on the Algonorth, Duluth Superior News

Port Washington Report

10-10

The Str. MIDDLETOWN docked at Port Washington, Wisconsin at 11:15 am CDST on October 6, 1996, marking the first time in over two months that the ship has been in the Port. On an average year the MIDDLETOWN is a regular visitor to the local Wisconsin Energy electric generating dock. This trip, however, marked only the fourth visit of the year for the steamer.

The Port Washington power plant received upwards of one million tons of coal per year on average during the 1950’s and 60’s. However, this tonnage diminished dramatically during the 1980’s and early 90’s as the plant was used only on a part time basis. However, major improvements at the facility have resulted in increased usage of coal, and resulting in considerably larger tonnages of coal receipts in 1996.

Since the MIDDLETOWN’s last visit on July 15, 1996, the following vessels have been in Port Washington’s small harbor to deliver coal:

Aug. 7    HERBERT C. JACKSON

Aug. 20   WILFRED SYKES

Aug. 22   JOSEPH H. FRANTZ

Sept. 7   EARL W. OGLEBAY

Sept. 16  EARL W. OGLEBAY

Sept. 25  JOSEPH L. BLOCK

Sept. 29  JOSEPH L. BLOCK

Oct. 3    ADAM E. CORNELIUS

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Milwaukee News

10-02

Lewis Harriman (smallest cement carrier owned by ILM) departed Milwaukee 9/25 for Green Bay, WI under tow of the Selvick tugs ‘Mary Page Hanna’ & ‘Bonnie Selvick’. It is either going to LaFarge dock to replace the E M Ford for add’t. storage or St. Marys Cement may have bought it for the same purpose.

‘Mapleglen’ arrived Milwaukee this morning for boiler repairs.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

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