Tanker Algoberta ready to enter service

Anchors aweigh! We’re thrilled to announce that the Algoberta is officially Canadianized and ready to set sail in our domestic product tankers fleet. We want to give a big shout out to the incredible team onboard for their hard work in preparing her for service.

In December 2022, Algoma added two new product tankers to our fleet, the Algoberta and her sister ship, the Algotitan. Originally named the Chiberta, the vessel was renamed after our largest tanker customer, which calls Calgary, Alberta home.

Algoma Central Corporation

 

Michigan’s cruise ship season begins with 665-foot Viking Octantis

DETROIT, MI – Michigan’s cruise ship season kicks off today with the Viking Octantis docking in Detroit before continuing north along the state’s eastern shoreline.

The luxurious, 665-foot ship is docked on the Detroit River at the Nicholson Terminal, 4105 W. Jefferson Ave., until about 2 p.m. today, May 1. It will depart up the river this afternoon.

Viking Octantis made its Great Lakes debut in 2022. It’s the largest cruise ship to sail the Great Lakes in the modern era. However, it will soon share that title with its identical sister, Viking Polaris, which makes its Great Lakes debut on May 3 with its first call on Toronto, Ontario. The new ship will arrive in Detroit for the first time on May 30.

Read more here: https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/05/michigans-cruise-ship-season-begins-with-665-foot-viking-octantis.html

 

Port Weller at the core of economic stimulus in the region 

PORT WELLER, ON – The vessels sit on blocks, drying in the open air. Then, the real work begins.

Dozens of skilled mechanics, welders, electricians, painters and other labourers from Heddle Shipyards, the largest Canadian ship repair and construction company on the Great Lakes, launch into comprehensive maintenance jobs that can take longer than a year to complete.

At least 100 direct jobs and hundreds more indirect positions are created or sustained with these repair contracts, which often require more than $100 million of work shared by Heddle employees and secondary contractors from southern Ontario.

And while this kind of work has only recently resumed in Port Weller, it’s at the core of an ambitious growth strategy that’s expected to provide massive economic stimulus to the region.

“We see Port Weller as the epicentre for growth at Heddle Shipyards,” says Shaun Padulo, the company’s president and CEO. “[We’re now] capable of docking the largest ships that transit the Welland Canal, and the St. Lawrence Seaway … it almost instantaneously doubled our business, overnight.”

In 2017, Heddle Shipyards won a competitive process for a long-term lease at Port Weller, a sprawling facility that has served as a centrepiece of Canada’s shipbuilding industry for decades.

After an industry decline, the facility was operated by its owner, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), and made available to new tenants.

Heddle Shipyards jumped at the opportunity, seeing the two graving docks at Port Weller — also known as dry docks, because they can be pumped free of water — and its large fabrication and machine shops as an ideal venue to expand.

The company is headquartered in Hamilton, where it has operated smaller floating dry docks and production facilities for more than 35 years. It also has a third shipyard in Thunder Bay that services vessels on the upper Great Lakes.

Port Weller is by far its largest facility, and its size enables Heddle Shipyards to bid for major maintenance contracts from government and commercial operators.“ The deep dock in Port Weller can actually handle the largest Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers, because of the depth requirements,” says Padulo. “So, it really gave us an opportunity to expand, and work on the largest ships.”

Though most of its current operations are focused on maintenance and repair, Heddle Shipyards is also eyeing a return to shipbuilding, with Port Weller as its main construction hub.

In the process, the company draws on Niagara’s extensive supply of skilled labour, including several employees who worked locally in shipbuilding for up to 40 years.

“There is certainly a history and an experience, and knowledge, in the local area in St. Catharines that we’ve been fortunate enough to tap into,” notes Padulo.

“And for us, because of the growth opportunities with [Canada’s] National Shipbuilding Strategy — the largest federal procurement in the history of Canada — having that second location…and being able to draw from a different labour pool, was extremely important.”

Read more at this link:

https://nationalpost.com/sponsored/news-sponsored/port-weller-at-the-core-of-economic-stimulus-in-the-region?twclid=2-72ycy66ngokvljiv5ea96z6g6

 

Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio open for the season

TOLEDO, OHIO – The Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio are open for season. Climb on board the 617-foot cargo ship and historic tug to experience what life was like on the lakes in the early 1900s while also visiting the museum galleries. More details in the image gallery below.

Titanic-era steamer Keewatin tow arrives at Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON – The tow of the iconic, Edwardian-era passenger ship Keewatin reached Hamilton Saturday around 2 p.m. after passing through the Welland Canal on Friday. Spectators lined the Burlington piers to watch the stately vessel’s arrival. She was towed in by the McKeil Marine tug Molly M1.

Keewatin is bound for the Heddle Marine shipyard. After drydocking, she will be towed to her hew home in the transportation collection of the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, ON.

The historic vessel was tugged out of Port McNicoll, ON, Monday afternoon, with hundreds of people lining the waterfront at Port Huron/Sarnia, Detroit/Windsor and at the Welland Canal to view the once-in-a-lifetime passage.

The Keewatin was built in Glasgow, Scotland and set out on her maiden voyage in September 1907, docking in Quebec. She spent nearly 60 years carrying passengers on the Great Lakes, often docking at Port McNicoll, Ontario. Port McNicoll was known as the “Chicago of the North” for some time until trains and ships stopped coming through in 1965 due to the completion of the Trans Canada Highway.

After coming out of service that same year, the Keewatin permanently docked in the Kalamazoo Harbor in Douglas in 1968, across from the summer resort town of Saugatuck.

The ship became a museum and sat in the harbor for more than 40 years, when it was towed out of the river back to Port McNicoll in June 2012. Her departure that summer was a big event, with large crowds gathering to see the historic ship make its way out of Saugatuck one last time.

The Keewatin is expected to arrive in Kingston sometime this fall.

Link to the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes web site detailing plans for the Keewatin: https://www.marmuseum.ca/ss-keewatin?fbclid=IwAR2t49zFHYIOXV_hQD5QN8Zy0uX1kxE9TYAKmRJ0J0OBI88HXb83XU75wZ0

Link to an interview talking about work to be done on the vessel: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2023/04/29/historic-steamship-arrives-in-hamilton-on-long-journey/?fbclid=IwAR3mwGsEYZhfRbQdkKCCjH6ee0wf7GIWQRzRc4rXElnByP5vNsFL5ByhYXk

Rough lockage at the Soo for BBC St. Petersburg

BBC St. Petersburg had a little trouble at the Soo Locks Friday early afternoon.

First, on approach to the MacArthur Lock, it bumped the wall and railing just outside the lower end of the lock. Then, after leaving the lock, they got sideways in the lock canal as the downbound American Integrity was approaching. Fortunately, there was no contact between the two ships and the only damage was to the railing on the pier.

David Kaye

 

Beaver Island ferry begins 2023 crossings to Lake Michigan’s largest island

CHARLEVOIX, MI – The ferry that transports people and vehicles between Charlevoix and Beaver Island has begun its 2023 season.

Beaver Island Boat Company is running three trips a week right now and will begin increasing that number in May. During peak season, from June to August, there will be several days a week with three or four trips. Most trips use the company’s Emerald Isle ferry with select trips using the Beaver Islander.

Read the full MLive article here: https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/04/beaver-island-ferry-begins-2023-crossings-to-lake-michigans-largest-island.html

 

Change of command for USCG Ninth District

CLEVELAND – Rear Adm. Jonathan P. Hickey relieved Rear Adm. Michael J. Johnston as commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District in a change-of-command ceremony April 27.

Vice Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, presided over the event.

Hickey previously served as the Director of Operational Logistics (DOL), responsible for the delivery of mission support logistics for Coast Guard steady state and contingency response operations and for planned events of national significance. Hickey is a 1994 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy.

“I couldn’t be more grateful and excited for this opportunity to be on the Great Lakes team,” says Adm. Hickey. “I look forward to getting to work with all of you, as we work together to ensure the safety, security and economic prosperity of the Great Lakes.”

Johnston served as the Ninth District commander from May 2021 to April 2023. He will head to New London, Connecticut, to serve as the superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy.

The Ninth Coast Guard District is responsible for all Coast guard operations throughout the five Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway and parts of the surrounding states including 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of the international border with Canada. The 6,000 active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliary men and women who make up the Ninth District deliver multi-mission services in search and rescue, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation and icebreaking.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that formally states to the officers, enlisted, civilians and auxiliarists of the command the continuity and authority of command. It signifies the total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one individual to another.

 

2023 cruise ship season kicks off May 4 with arrival of Viking’s Octantis

The 2023 cruise ship season will officially launch in Milwaukee when Viking Octantis returns to the inner harbor on May 4.

The season is expected to comprise 31 port calls by cruise ships this year – carrying an estimated 12,000 passengers – both at the City Heavy Lift Dock on Jones Island and on the Municipal Pier near Discovery World.

Read the rest of the article here: https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/2023-cruise-ship-season?fbclid=IwAR2THNY48v76Q-145O5u5pGU3A-UN8rH6P9NGjK-0Iu86NJHmfQ8T1xNY30

 

Mark your calendars for Soo Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers’ Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 29-30. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-29-30-2023/

 

Titanic-era steamer Keewatin towed down St. Clair and Detroit rivers Wednesday

 Port Huron, MI – A ‘last-of-its-kind’ iconic steamship made its way down the St. Clair River glimpse of history. The century-old S.S. Keewatin passed under the Blue Water Bridge just before noon, on its way to be permanently relocated from Port McNicoll to the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, Ont.

Pulled by the Molly M1 – one of three tugs to assist along the route – the 300-foot Keewatin is the world’s last Edwardian (Titanic-era) passenger steamship.

A pilot exchange was expected to take place in Port Huron, while the tug Manitou will assist from Port Huron to the lower Detroit River, while the Vigilant 1 was expected to be the tail tug for the Welland Canal.

The tow is bound for the Heddle Marine shipyard at Hamilton, ON. After drydocking, the Keewatin will be towed to her hew home in the transportation collection of the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes.

Formerly owned by CP Rail and built in 1907 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd. of Glasgow, Scotland, CP Rail steamships such as ‘The Kee’ ferried tourists, settlers, and cargo throughout the Great Lakes until their retirement in the 1960s. This ship is the last of its kind, with its sister ship having been scrapped in 1970 following a fire.

The Keewatin made its way past Belle Isle around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. T.J. Gaffney, a Port Huron native and self-proclaimed history buff who volunteers with several organizations for historical work, has been keeping tabs on her voyage.

Gaffney told WWJ’s Beth Fisher that he learned that the ship would travel through the Blue Water Bridge area and to the St. Clair River by tug on Sunday. He immediately jumped to let other enthusiasts know on social media.

“For local folks in Port Huron: this is a site you will NEVER see again,” he wrote early Wednesday morning. “The chance to get a picture of a passenger boat five years older than Titanic coming by Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and under the Bluewater Bridges.”

Gaffney told Fisher that he and a few other spectators were at the lighthouse earlier in the morning, watching the SS Keewatin under tow by a couple of tugs. “She’s pretty dramatic against the skyline,” he described. “She has a bright white hull and a yellow and black smokestack, so like I say, she stands out in comparison with everything else.”

The Keewatin was built in Glasgow, Scotland and set out on her maiden voyage in September 1907, docking in Quebec. She spent nearly 60 years carrying passengers on the Great Lakes, often docking at Port McNicoll, Ontario. Port McNicoll was known as the “Chicago of the North” for some time until trains and ships stopped coming through in 1965 due to the completion of the Trans Canada Highway.

After coming out of service that same year, the Keewatin permanently docked in the Kalamazoo Harbor in Douglas in 1968, across from the summer resort town of Saugatuck.

The ship became a museum and sat in the harbor for more than 40 years, when it was towed out of the river back to Port McNicoll in June 2012. Her departure that summer was a big event, with large crowds gathering to see the historic ship make its way out of Saugatuck one last time.

The Keewatin is expected to arrive in Kingston sometime this fall. The exact time she is expected to pass by Detroit is not clear, though the ship had nearly made its way to the lake late Wednesday afternoon.

WWJ, Audacity

 

U.S. Brig Niagara gears up for 2023 sailing season

It’s springtime at the Erie Maritime Museum which means it’s rigging time on the U.S. Brig Niagara.

After being put away for the winter and maintenance, it’s time for the U.S. Brig Niagara to be put back together for the sailing season. This past week, the Niagara had its winter cover removed along with other projects like putting the bowsprit and mast into place.

James Hall, the site director of the Erie Maritime Museum, said the ship should be ready to sail by the end of May and open to the public by June.

“We’ve got some sail training programs going on this year where the public is actually going to come out and take week-long sails on the ship. The ship will also be available for day sails around here on Presque Isle Bay and out into the lake ” said Hall.

Starting April 26, the museum will be open five days a week Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

yourerie.com

 

‘The timing of it is not ideal’ Pelee Island ferry dry docked longer than expected

The Pelee Islander II is staying out of service longer than expected this spring due to ‘an unforeseen technical issue’ found during a scheduled out-of-water inspection.

Local officials are concerned the delay will hinder the region’s ability to prepare for the upcoming busy season on the Lake Erie Island.

“The timing of it is not ideal,” said, Cathy Miller, Mayor of Pelee Island.

“It just for us only highlights the need for there to be a real two vessel solution.”

Read the full story here: https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/the-timing-of-it-is-not-ideal-pelee-island-ferry-dry-docked-longer-than-expected-1.6369253?cid=sm%3Atrueanthem%3Actvwindsor%3Apost&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2MRM-ZAtW2y7-g0pvdYWLCzLLCGWnauSiQeX3FKA0T1ssGTxAdS5fMkls

Windsor CTV

 

 

Historic Keewatin on the move

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The tow is due at the Bluewater Bridge between 10-11 a.m.

The tug Molly M1 towed the retired passenger/museum ship Keewatin out of Port McNicoll, ON, on Monday around 5 p.m. The tow was making 5.7 knots at 9 p.m. The tug Manitou will assist from Port Huron to the lower Detroit River. Vigilant 1 will assist through the Welland Canal. The tow is bound for the Heddle Marine shipyard at Hamilton, ON. After drydocking, the Keewatin will be towed to her hew home at the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, ON.

Janey Anderson

Kaye E. Barker freed from sand bar at Muskegon

Muskegon, MI – At approximately 10 a.m. Monday, the M/V Kaye E. Barker grounded just off the Muskegon outer breakwall as it approached the harbor at a slow speed. There were attempts to free the vessel with tugs, including Meredith Ashton. Eventually a barge was dispatched to lighter some of the cargo. She was released Monday evening and was inbound to unload. Algoma Buffalo, which had been waiting outside of the harbor for the Barker to get underway, was inbound at 8:15 p.m.

The Barker was loaded with approximately 25,408 net tons of stone from Meldrum Bay, ON, according to Interlake Steamship Co., which owns the vessel. The lake bottom was surveyed, and it was confirmed that there was sand around the vessel.

 

MacArthur Lock now open for the season

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The MacArthur Lock at the Soo Locks officially opened for the navigation season Monday. The first ship through was the Great Republic.

The 79-year-old MacArthur Lock is 800 feet long by 80 feet wide and can accommodate vessels smaller than 730 feet long and 76 feet wide.

While down for winter maintenance, Corps of Engineers Soo Locks crews completed tainter valve repairs, installed encoders, replaced fender timbers on the piers and performed inspections and preventative maintenance on electrical and mechanical systems.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Keewatin tow to leave Port McNicoll Monday

UPDATE: The tow departed about 5 p.m. Monday.

The tug Molly M1 is expected to tow the retired passenger/museum ship Keewatin out of Port McNicoll, ON, on Monday afternoon. The tug Manitou will assist from Port Huron to the lower Detroit River. Vigilant 1 will assist through the Welland Canal. The tow is bound for the Heddle Marine shipyard at St. Catharines, ON. After drydocking, the Keewatin will be towed to her hew home at the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, ON.

Janey Anderson

Kaye E. Barker runs aground at Muskegon

 

UPDATE: The Barker was freed Monday evening and was inbound to unload. Algoma Buffalo, which had been waiting outside of the harbor for the Barker to get underway, was inbound at 8:15 p.m.

Muskegon, MI – At approximately 10 a.m. Monday, the M/V Kaye E. Barker grounded just off the Muskegon outer breakwall as it approached the harbor at a slow speed.

The vessel is loaded with approximately 25,408 net tons of stone from Meldrum Bay, ON, according to Interlake Steamship Co., which owns the vessel.

The lake bottom has been surveyed, and it has been confirmed that there is sand around the vessel. No injuries have been reported. There has been no pollution or any harm to the environment. Additionally, there does not appear to be any damage to the vessel.

Interlake is working with its internal response team to free the vessel, however efforts Monday afternoon were unsuccessful. If this news sounds familiar, it might be because the Barker ran around in just about same place almost exactly a year ago.

 

2 Upper Peninsula lighthouses slated for restoration program

UPPER PENINSULA — The State of Michigan lays claim to many trophies. To name a few:
#1 producer of tart cherries
Longest freshwater coastline (3,200 miles)
The state with the only authentic, operating Dutch windmill
Second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, after California

And, of course, Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state in the nation, with 120 lighthouses dotting the shoreline.

But these lighthouses are exposed to extreme natural elements every year, according to Martha MacFarlane-Faes, deputy state historic preservation officer at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

“These icons on our shorelines require constant maintenance and attention,” she said. “Our lighthouse preservation grants help repair and restore these beacons, so they can connect us with our maritime heritage for years to come.”

To ensure the lighthouses receive the care they need, SHPO directed $106,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grant funding to the Rock of Ages Lighthouse and the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, both located in the U.P.

The Rock of Ages Lighthouse is located on a small rock island three miles off the coast of Isle Royale, near Windigo. The 117-foot lighthouse was built in 1908 and is composed of steel, concrete and brick, with a black base and lantern. After the Rock of Ages Reef (the rock outcropping upon which the lighthouse sits) claimed two large ships — the Cumberland in 1877 and the Henry Chisholm in 1898 — Congress approved the construction of the lighthouse in 1905. An engineering feat of the time, the lighthouse is one of the tallest and most powerful beacons on the Great Lakes.

The Eagle Harbor Lighthouse is located in Eagle Harbor, on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Originally built as a wooden structure in 1851 and rebuilt into its present-day brick structure in 1871, this lighthouse has been critical to guiding mariners on Lake Superior across the northern edge of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

The Keweenaw County Historical Society, which owns the lighthouse, will use an MLAP grant of $60,000 and a match amount of $39,000 to rehabilitate the lighthouse tower. Proposed work projects include replacing deteriorated brick, selective repointing of the tower, repairing damaged plaster on the tower interior, diverting water drainage issues on the roof and walls, and repairing the deck and lantern room.

Beyond their cultural and historical contributions, Michigan lighthouses serve an important economic function. Many of them are still operating, and the structures assist mariners in navigating the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes. Further, the lighthouses are significant attractions for travelers, tourists and Michigan residents who want to learn the history of the structures and the unique stories each lighthouse can tell.

Read more and view images at this link: https://www.sooeveningnews.com/story/news/history/2023/04/22/2-upper-peninsula-lighthouses-slated-for-restoration-program/70135269007/?fbclid=IwAR2Q8VTRcv3XdNOVOXkbQA-JDyrM_Dh2D5xQtnSq74I2cXS6-ORROtiJr8s

 

Update On Molly M1 – Keewatin Tow

Tug Molly M1 expected ETA in Port McNicoll, ON, is 10 am Sunday (23rd). The crew will spend Sunday setting up the tow while waiting for pilot ladders to arrive Monday. All dead ship tows in Canada require a pilot. There will be 4 pilot changes from Port McNicoll to Heddle shipyards in St. Catherines. (Port McNicoll to Port Huron – change in Port Huron, Detroit, Port Colborne and Lock 7). Weather window is favorable on Lake Huron and Erie if they leave first light Tuesday morning. So as of now departure with the Keewatin in tow is Tuesday (25th) morning.

Janey Anderson

Frontenac opens 2023 season at Midland

Midland, ON – The CSL motor vessel Frontenac was the first ship of the season to call the Port of Midland Friday morning, earning the prestigious Top Hat for the classic laker. Congratulations Captain Brandon Durant, Chief Engineer Olivier Lapointe and the entire crew.

With the pandemic waning, Milwaukee saw a big increase in cruise ship activity in 2022.

Milwaukee, WI – With the COVID-19 pandemic waning, Milwaukee saw a big increase in cruise ship activity in 2022, according to a new city report. More cruise vessels traveled to or from Milwaukee last year than any other year in recent history, said Port Milwaukee’s latest annual report.

That resulted in 33 visits from eight Great Lakes cruise ships visiting Milwaukee from May through October − carrying 13,611 passengers, the report said. That compares to 3,000 passengers in 2019. Those vessels included the 665-foot Viking Octantis. It’s the largest cruise ship to ever dock in the city.

Along with Viking, cruise lines that sail on the Great Lakes with stops in Milwaukee include Ponant, Plantours and Pearl Seas. In 2020 Pearl signed a deal with Port Milwaukee to make it a turnaround location for ships through at least 2030.

Read the full story here: https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2023/04/19/milwaukee-saw-a-big-increase-in-cruise-ship-activity-in-2022/70130473007/

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

New Neebish Island ferry out of service

Neebish Island, MI – A post on the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority web site Friday reported the Neebish Islander III ferry as shut down “due to a mechanical issue. Right now we are preparing for a lengthly shutdown.” It is unknown what the issue is. The previous ferry, Neebish Islander II, which has been laid up since last fall when the new ferry was delivered, will be put back into service.

 

 

Molly M1 bound for Hamilton

McKeil Marine Tug  MOLLY M1 has departed Hamilton (April 20) with her destination – Port McNicoll, Ontario to prepare the tow of the S.S. KEEWATIN 1907 Steamship. ETA is the 24th.

All goes well, they will depart Port McNicoll in about a week for Heddle Drydock in St.Catharines, ON. prior to heading to her forever home at the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, On.

Janey Anderson

 

Michigan History in the Making: The Legacy of the Great Lakes Maritime Industry in the Tri-Cities

Join us for a presentation on the Great Lakes Shipping Industry that explores local connections and contributions to the maritime industry, built upon the foundations of shipping in Michigan. This is an extra special presentation, as we have TWO speakers!

Jon Brosseit – Muskegon Community College History Professor, Jon Brosseit, will present examples of how shipping in the Great Lakes is integral to Michigan history, leading into modern-day shipping.

Samuel Hankinson – Port Development Coordinator at the Port of Monroe, Samuel Hankinson, will highlight past maritime activities in the Tri-Cities, pictures of the current era of Great Lakes shipping he profiles in the Grand Haven Tribune’s Ship’s Log column, and an industry perspective on the future of Great Lakes shipping.
Program will be held in Program Room A.

Registration encouraged but not required.

To learn more about this event, click this link: https://www.loutitlibrary.org/calendar/#/events/2PMaX0kJVQ/instances/7xK3PiNKsv/

 

Mark your calendars for Soo Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers’ Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 29-30. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-29-30-2023/

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Algoma Discovery back in service after fire

Algoma Discovery departed Port Colborne, ON, for Two Harbors, MN, last Tuesday. On Feb. 27 she suffered an engine room fire, which observers feared would doom the 36-year-old Croatian-built Algoma Central Corp. bulk carrier. Launched as Malinska, she later sailed as Daviken before being brought into Great Lakes and Seaway service when Algoma purchased her in 2008.

Janey Anderson

 

Giant Great Lakes cruise ship to be joined by twin this spring

DETROIT – The giant Viking Octantis cruise ship will be joined in the Great Lakes this spring by its identical twin, the Viking Polaris.

The 665-foot Viking Octantis first entered the Great Lakes during the 2022 cruising season, making its first Michigan port of call on May 3, 2022, in Detroit. It was the largest cruise ship even to sail the Great Lakes.

Its twin, the Viking Polaris, will make its first Michigan port of call on Tuesday, May 30, in Detroit. The stop is part of the eight-day Niagara & Great Lakes cruise, which starts $5,995 per person. The ship is also expected to stop at Alpena and Mackinac Island throughout the 2023 cruising season.

Read the full article: https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/04/giant-great-lakes-cruise-ship-to-be-joined-by-twin-this-spring.html?utm_campaign=mlivedotcom_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR00fS3kMUJH45frQS29v9h9udSteebwcW2cZG_9sFVE4eSYFy14mK1-H44

MLive