Tug William C. Gaynor has close call in USS Cleveland launch

Video footage on YouTube shows the launch of the USS Cleveland at Marinette, WI, Saturday. Unofficial reports indicate the naval vessel did hit the tug and it is fortunate no one was killed. Watch the launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vTlIRwbKA

 

Fireboat Cotter to the rescue along the Buffalo waterfront

The oldest working fireboat in the world was put to the test Saturday as the Edward M. Cotter responded to a brush fire along Gallagher Beach.

Buffalo Fire equipment on land was unable to reach the flames at the base of a break wall and the Cotter was dispatched to pour water on the flames.

Upon arrival, the Cotter was able to successfully douse the fire without further incident.

The Edward M. Cotter recently was celebrated on its 123rd anniversary of service in Buffalo.

NewsBreak

 

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/

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Fincantieri Marinette Marine launches last Freedom-class littoral combat ship

The end of an era Saturday, at Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

The final littoral combat ship built at the shipyard was launched and christened.

It was the last planned side-launch of a ship at the marine.

The future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, is the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS.

Robyn Modly, wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy and Cleveland native, Thomas Modly, christened the ship.

“A side launch, like you saw behind you, is the way that human beings have been launching ships literally for millennia, it was the first way a large vessel could be launched… but for the building of a modern warship that leaves quite a bit to be desired,” says Fincantieri CEO, Mark Vandroff.

Fincantieri is now working on a new launch for the frigates, which are the next generation of ships following the littoral combat ships.

“We are very pleased that the Navy chose us to build the frigate I think those are great ships, the one they chose for us is based on a frigate designed for various European Navy’s,” says Vandroff.

And in doing so, they are working on constructing a new launch.

“The shiplift that you can see behind me is under construction, we are making great progress on it, I expect to have it done and certified before the end of 2023,” says Vandroff.

The first frigate is expected to be launched and christened in 2025, and completely finished in 2026.

Although it is in the water, the future USS Cleveland is not quite finished.

“As the ship is launched, production completion is about 85% so we’ve got more work to do and we have to go to test and trials,” says Program Director at Lockheed Martin, Chris Minster.

Vandroff says it was truly all hands on deck to get the future USS Cleveland in the water.

“It was a million hours of effort…I’ve got roughly 1,400 if you count both blue collar and white collar employees who come here everyday,” says Vandroff.

And Marinette Marine needs even more employees for the frigate.

It has already added 200 employees, and is looking for another 200.

FOX 11

 

HELP WANTED: Interlake Logistics

We are looking for a Chief Engineer to join our Tug/Barge Company that operates on the Great Lakes. Join our fleet and work a rotating schedule of 28 days on the vessel and 28 days off!

Interlake Logistics Solutions

Please see graphic below for more information

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Former Boblo Island Detroit Detroit dock building being torn down

DETROIT– The end has finally come for the Detroit Harbor Terminal, better known to many as the former Boblo Island Detroit dock. The Moroun family is currently tearing down the long-vacant warehouse.

It was designed by Albert Kahn and was made of reinforced concrete to support the weight of stored cargo coming off freighters. It was the largest warehouse on the Great Lakes when it opened March 15, 1926.

The Boblo boats stopped docking there in 1991, and the building was abandoned in the early 2000s.

HistoricDetroit.org

 

Navy to christen USS Cleveland, a new Freedom-class combat ship, Saturday

The USS Cleveland, a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be launched and christened in Marinette, Wisconsin on Saturday morning, according to a press release from the U.S. Navy.

Cleveland is the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS and the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city. The last ships to be named the USS Cleveland include:

World War I cruiser
World War II light cruiser
Vietnam-era amphibious transport dock (decommissioned in 2011)

Austin Davis, Senior Police Advisor for the City of Cleveland, will give remarks before the ceremony. Additionally, Robyn Modly, wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy and a Cleveland native, Thomas Modly, will break the bottle to christen the ship.

“This christening is a significant milestone for the future USS Cleveland, the ship’s sponsor Mrs. Robyn Modly, and the prospective crew,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “LCS 31 will be another step closer to joining our fleet, sailing the open seas, continuing to defend our nation, and representing the strong connection our Navy has with the city of Cleveland.”

The USS Cleveland is the last planned side-launch of a ship at the Fincantieri Marinette.

 

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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Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade More than Doubles in March

CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 1.3 million tons in March, more than double their volume of a year ago. Loadings also topped the month’s 5-year average by 10.6 percent.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 3.7 million tons, an increase of 53.5 percent compared to 2022. Iron ore shipments are 17.4 percent above their 5-year average for the first three months of the year.

Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  More information is available at www.lcaships.com.

LCA

 

Detroit expects record-breaking Great Lakes cruise season in 2023

A record number of cruises are expected to dock in Detroit this year as part of a growing Great Lakes cruise industry.

Last year, there were a record 52 cruise ships that docked in Detroit, and according to Cruise the Great Lakes and the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, there will be 67 cruise ships docking during the season.

Mark Schrupp, with the Port of Detroit, said the cruise ship season will kick off in May with the first ship docking in Detroit on May 1 – the Viking Octantis.

David Lorenz, the vice president of Travel Michigan, said Cruise the Great Lakes met in Montreal earlier this year to look at the ships that planned to sail the Great Lakes this year. According to Lorenz, they have all the ships they had last year, and a new ship – the Hanseatic Inspiration.

The ships have a variety of routes on the Great Lakes with stops in Michigan including Detroit, Mackinac Island, Muskegon, Sault Ste. Marie and more.

When they stop in Detroit, the team from Visit Detroit works with the Port Authority to provide a welcome for passengers on the dock.

Passengers from the cruises have a variety of options to explore metro Detroit while they’re in the area, with locations like The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, the Motown Museum and more.

“Most people from all around the U.S., places like Texas and California, they’ve heard about places like Michigan, but they might not know the real story about pure Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes region. So when they come here, they get this two-nation destination experience pretty unique,” Lorenz said. “They get to see that people in our region are really friendly and they see this freshwater experience, which not many cruisers around the world really get to see.”

The cruise industry doesn’t just benefit Michigan and Detroit – it also helps other cities along the Great Lakes like Cleveland and Milwaukee.

According to the Port of Detroit, the cruise ships will continue to dock in the city throughout the summer and last until mid-October.

In all, there will be nine cruises in May, nine in June, 12 in July, 15 in August, 17 in September and five in October. That doesn’t include the dinner cruises along the river that use the Port of Detroit.

According to Lorenz, the future of cruising on the Great Lakes is bright, and he thinks the initial visit to Detroit will bring people back.

He also said they’re hoping to lure some ships to start and stop their journeys in Detroit in the future.

“I think what you’re going to find is that the Port of Detroit is going to continue to make accommodations so that they can lure additional ships, including some of these bigger ships like the Hanseatic Inspiration,” he said. “You’re going to be able to see more and more ships here. And I tell you, we’re going to all benefit from that initial visit because people are going to be able to see Detroit.”

WXYZ news

 

3 Ships Sunk, 28 Lives Lost on November 18th, 1914

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) along with Marine Sonic Technology, is thrilled to announce the discovery of two vessels that sank in Lake Superior on November 18th, 1914.

November 18th, 1914, the Steamship C.F. Curtis was towing the schooner barges Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson from Baraga, Michigan (Lake Superior) to Tonawanda, New York, all with a load of lumber. The three ships soon found themselves battling through howling winds, snow squalls and punishing waves. Sadly, the Curtis, Marvin, and Peterson were never seen again. Not one person from the trio survived, 28 lives were lost that day.

In 2021 GLSHS located 9 lost vessels including the C.F. Curtis. This discovery was a huge highlight for the team that summer. This ship that went missing over 100 years ago, was only a piece of the puzzle though…what about the Marvin and the Peterson? One year later in the summer of 2022, after a lot of work and a hint of luck, the crew in the Shipwreck Society’s research vessel, David Boyd, came across another shipwreck within a few miles of the Curtis. After putting the organization’s ROV on the wreck it soon became apparent that the Marvin had been located!

Finding the Curtis and the Marvin are significant historic discoveries in American history as they were all part of the Hines Lumber industry, one of the biggest lumber companies of that era. On November 18th, 1914, they lost almost one quarter of their fleet in one horrific storm.

When the GLSHS first saw the name Selden E. Marvin is an event that can never be reproduced. The raw emotion and joy of a new find is intense, and we had cameras rolling capturing our excitement!

“It was a career highlight to have witnessed the discovery of the Marvin” GLSHS board member and maritime historian, Ric Mixter, said “as it not only solved a chapter in the nation’s darkest day in lumber history, but also showcased a team of historians who have dedicated their lives towards making sure these stories aren’t forgotten.”

“The combined losses of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson have comprised one of the more tragic stories of shipwreck on the Great Lakes and certainly became one of the Lake Superior’s enduring mysteries. Executive Director, Bruce Lynn, of the GLSHS said, “To locate the Curtis and Marvin in a space of two years has been amazing…now we just have to find the Peterson!”

The GLSHS is searching for the Peterson!

“It’s one of our goals to find the Peterson, Director of Marine Operations for the GLSHS, Darryl Ertel said, “it would be great to know where all 3 wrecks are lying on the bottom of Superior, and finally be able to tell the stories of the Curtis, Marvin and Peterson.”

This moment of maritime history and discovery will be showcased in the video we have on our website www.shipwreckmuseum.com and other streaming sites.

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

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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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Coast Guard ends Operation Taconite

Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie concluded Operation Taconite this evening. What ice remains rapidly deteriorates, posing no hindrance to commercial navigation.

Operation Taconite is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic icebreaking operation, encompassing Lake
Superior, St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan and the northern portion of Lake Huron.

In the 114 days (16 Dec-09 Apr) of the 2023 domestic icebreaking season, the nine ice assets assigned to
Sector Sault Sainte Marie provided 999 hours of icebreaking assistance to the benefit of 235 vessel transits;
24 of these movements required direct icebreaking assistance to ensure commercial vessel safety. These same icebreaking assets delivered an additional 1,416 hours of preventative icebreaking support to establish and maintain tracks in the ice hampered waterways of western Lake Superior, the St Marys River, Green Bay, and the Straits of Mackinac. It is estimated more than 4.5 million tons of dry bulk and liquid cargoes were assisted during the 114-day operational period. This translates to roughly $165 million US dollars of cargo
critical to power generation, industrial productivity, and public safety, assisted during the winter months.

USCG

 

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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First “salty” arrives at Port of Windsor

A ceremony steeped in old navy history marked the resumption of foreign trade in Canada’s shipping industry earlier this week in Windsor.

The M/V Egbert Wagenborg is the first foreign ship to arrive at the Port of Windsor this year.

To mark the occasion, Harbour Master Peter Berry and officials from ADM Agri Industries greeted the master of the vessel with a Port of Windsor Challenge Coin.

The “salty” is registered in the Netherlands and is classified as a general cargo ship. She is capable of carrying more than 20,000 metric tonnes of cargo. M/V Egbert Wagenberg arrived at ADM Agri Industries on Tuesday.

Captain Francis Bos admitted he was surprised his ship was the first foreign vessel to arrive at the port.

“We tried to be the first in the [St. Lawrence] Seaway, but we arrived, and there was already a ship in line for the opening,” he said. “We did not realize we are the first here. I am very proud that we were the first salty to the port.”

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened for the season on March 22.

The Port of Windsor is the third largest port in Ontario and receives more than 600 ships a season, delivering more than 5-million tonnes of aggregate, salt, steel, and grain to Windsor-Essex. It also has the largest ship fueling depot in the province.

Windsor News

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Algoberta name painted on hull of Algoma Central tanker

SARNIA, ON – While the former saltwater tanker Chiberta was moored at Sarnia this week, she received her new name, Algoberta. The naming of the latest Algoma Central tanker fleet acquisition began on April 1 or 2. The name is a nod to Algoma’s largest customer in the segment which calls Calgary, Alberta, home. Algoberta (and her sister whip Chantaco, now Algotitan), were built in 2007 at RMK Marine Shipyard, Istanbul, Turkey.

 

Port of Cleveland welcomes first freighter to open the 2023 Great Lakes shipping season

CLEVELAND — The beginning of April marks the opening of the 2023 Great Lakes shipping season with the first freighter arriving Tuesday night at the Port of Cleveland — the Isadora, a 652-foot-long bulk carrier cargo ship carrying steel coils from the Netherlands. It was smooth sailing for the ship as the mild winter weather has left the Great Lakes mostly ice-free.

The opening of the shipping season though dictated more by the maintenance done each winter to the locks that connect the lake than the weather itself.

“That is dictated by the St. Lawrence Seaway system, so the locks opened March 22 this year,” said David Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer for the Port of Cleveland. “So the locks are drained every year, every winter for maintenance and they’re refilled when the system is ready to open and these vessels start to arrive.”

The Port is looking to welcome more ships this season, building on the job they’ve done in the wake of the nation’s supply chain struggles and positioning Cleveland as a viable alternative.

“Certainly, the congestion issues that have occurred over the last two years at coastal ports have helped us gain stature; we need to capitalize on that and continue to improve our infrastructure and give customers the opportunity to use the port more than ever,” he said. “We’re looking at another good year. We’re optimistic that [with] the steel that we bring in on an annual basis we’ll continue to stay strong.”

The port recently completed a $22 million project to overhaul one of its main docks and just received $27 million in part to modernize the warehouse. This is on top of improvements that will allow the port to begin handling, for the first-time, bulk liquids which will come into Cleveland this summer from Southeast Asia.

“So that will be our first direct partnership with the Southeast Asia origin cargo, so we’re excited about that,” Gutheil said.

Most of the cargo that comes through the port each year you never see but for one exception in recent years — the fast-growing area of cruise ship tourism. It turns out the port’s location at the doorstep of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Science Center and downtown as a whole is becoming a popular stop since the first ship stopped here in 2017. They had nine that summer; this year they’ll welcome 53.

“We’re really happy to welcome three new lines here this year, Viking, LeDumont and Pearl Seas, all will be in Cleveland for the first time and can’t wait to see those vessels start to arrive next month,” Gutheil said. The additional tourism dollars are dropped on top of the $3.5 billion in economic activity the Port generates through the 13 million tons of cargo that pass through it each year.

News 5 Cleveland

 

Ice conditions along St. Marys being monitored, board says

The International Lake Superior Board of Control says it is carefully monitoring ice conditions with the goal of raising gates at the Compensating Works on the St. Marys Rapids as soon as ice conditions permit.

In its monthly update, the board said it will issue another notice in advance of gate movements planned for later this month.

In the meantime, anglers and other users of the rapids are being reminded that a higher than customary gate setting continues to be maintained to minimize the impacts of ongoing maintenance at Evolugen’s Clergue hydropower facility on the Canadian side.

The gates of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will be maintained at an equivalent of two gates fully open for the start of April.

The board said that, at the beginning of April, the lake-wide water level of Lake Superior was 18 cm (7.1 in.) above the seasonal long-term average (1918-2021) and 24 cm (9.4 in.) above the level of a year ago.

The lake-wide level of Lake Michigan-Huron was 11 cm (4.3 in) above average and 14 cm (5.5 in.) below the level of a year ago.

Lake Superior declined by 4 cm (1.4 in.) last month, while the seasonal long-term average decline is 1 cm (0.4 in.) in March.

Lake Michigan-Huron rose by 4 cm (1.6 in) last month, which matches the seasonal long-term average rise in March.

What happens in Lake Superior will depend on weather and water supply conditions during the next month, the board said. Lake Superior may decline slightly in April, or it may rise by as much as 14 cm (5.5 in.).

Depending on the weather and water supply conditions, Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to continue its seasonal rise in April and may rise by as much as 20 cm (7.9 in), the board’s update states.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control is responsible for managing the control works on the St. Marys River and regulating the outflow from Lake Superior into Lake Michigan-Huron.

Under any outflow regulation plan, the ability to regulate the flow through the St. Marys River does not mean that full control of the water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron is possible, the board noted.

This is because the major factors affecting water supply to the Great Lakes (i.e. precipitation, evaporation, and runoff) cannot be controlled, and are difficult to accurately predict.

Outflow management cannot eliminate the risk of extreme water levels from occurring during periods of severe weather and water supply conditions.

Additional information can be found at the board’s homepage.

Soo Leader

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Detroit-Windsor truck ferry to close in 4 to 6 months, company says

After an unsuccessful plea for public funding, the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry (DWTF) will be shutting down later this year, the operator of the service confirmed.

The move will leave the cities without a direct way to transport hazardous or oversize loads across the border amid two mega projects in Windsor: the construction of the Stellantis-LG EV battery plant and the building of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The president of the truck ferry, Gregg Ward, says he made a decision Friday not to make a long-term renewal of his lease agreement for the equipment to run the crossing.

“The government’s decision to not financially support the Truck Ferry operation means the service will wind down operations in the next 4-6 months and then close,” he said in an email to CBC News.

Ward said last week that it’s no longer financially viable to run the ferry following a decrease in traffic from trucks carrying hazardous materials, so he advocated for government funding.

Ward said he would need $160,000 US a month to keep operating, a cost he hoped could be split by governments on both sides of the border.

“If they would like it to stay open, I will need support to do that,” Ward said in an interview Thursday evening.

Ward said he believes it is a service that has significant public value.

The ferry has been in operation since 1990. It’s currently the only legal way for trucks to move hazardous materials across the border and it also can be used for overweight or large dimension trucks.

Ward wanted to receive funding to at least keep the service running until the Gordie Howe International Bridge — which will allow hazardous materials to cross — is open in 2025.

In a statement, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says the company building the bridge uses the truck ferry, along with other crossings. But it doesn’t believe a closure of the truck ferry would affect the project’s timeline.

“Should the truck ferry become unavailable as a component of their transportation route, [Bridging North America] and their subcontractors will assess other available options. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority does not anticipate a possible closure of the truck ferry as having an impact on construction or schedule,” said Heather Grondin, vice-president of corporate affairs and external relations.

A spokesperson for Stellantis said that the closure of the truck ferry “does not impact our battery plant construction.”

CBC

 

Sturgeon Bay shipbuilding company suspends VP/GM following criminal allegations

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s vice president/general manager has been suspended following criminal allegations from his time at another shipbuilder.

Fincantieri Marine Group decided to suspend Craig Perciavalle Wednesday after receiving word of the allegations at Austal USA.

FMG says none of the charges involve FBS, FMG or Fincantieri SpA. The company also says the Department of Justice charges and investor complaint are based on alleged wrongdoing by three Austal employees from 2013 to 2016.

“We are aware of the criminal indictment and civil complaint filed against Craig [Perciavalle] related to his previous employment before coming to FBS,” said Marco Galbiati, CEO of FMG. “We have chosen to suspend him from his current duties until these matters are resolved.”

Perciavalle became the vice president/general manager of FBS in November of 2021.

FMG Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Community Relations Jan Allman will serve as FBS’ interim general manager.

Fox 11 News

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Gov. Whitmer tours Port of Monroe following multimillion grant award

Paul LaMarre couldn’t help himself.

For years, the Port of Monroe director has worked to bring to life his vision of the port as the quintessential maritime gateway to the state of Michigan and has championed the state and federal leaders that have helped push that dream forward.

On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited the Port of Monroe on the heels of another grant approval, and LaMarre took the opportunity to give her a warm greeting.

“I have to give you a hug,” LaMarre said to Whitmer as they toured the port on a bus provided by Lake Erie Transit. “I am so thankful.”

Whitmer came to the Port of Monroe bearing gifts, namely the award of state and federal grants that will help the port become the first in Michigan to build an essential container terminal. That comes on the heels of an over $11 million federal grant awarded to the port last year through the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD).

“Today, we’re celebrating the state of Michigan’s $13 million investment in the Port of Monroe from the bipartisan budget that I signed last year,” Whitmer said. “These funds go toward construction of a cargo scanning facility and fund improvements and programming at the Opportunity Center. This work is critical. A lot of the facilities here were built in the 1930s and have not been significantly upgraded until now.”

The port will receive $5 million from the state for the fiscal year 2023. Last summer, the city of Monroe invested $1.7 million and the port also appropriated funds from the Marine Highway grant program to install a new Manitowoc crawler crane. The port has received a steady stream of city, state and federal funding over the years that has helped build the port into what it is today.

“Now I’m here to put my foot on the accelerator,” Whitmer said. “This is an effort that transcends any one administration. It’s got to be bipartisan because this is about industry, this is about Michigan, this is about our economy, and this is about all the men and women that make Michigan go.”

Whitmer also quoted state Sen. Joe Bellino Jr., R-Monroe, championing his words that “this much-needed funding will help Monroe continue to hire skilled employees while improving and enhancing the port for years to come.”

LaMarre worked for years to get the port to the point where it could handle containerized cargo. In the past, he had secured deals with the Ford Motor Co. and Arauco North America that were struck down by Customs and Border Patrol. Officials from CBP said the port would need proper security screening equipment to handle such cargo.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that CBP’s policies had cost the Monroe region substantial revenue and jobs. LaMarre worked with those officials and state and federal politicians to make the port compliant and secure funding to realize his vision.

Monday’s visit from Whitmer marked a significant milestone in that journey.

“There are but few moments in life when you put the finishing touches on one canvas and begin the next masterpiece. This is that moment today,” LaMarre said. “It has taken a decade to get us where we are at. Governor, your presence here is that moment for the Port of Monroe and for the Great Lakes maritime industry. … You are our champion.”

Established in 1932, the Port of Monroe is Michigan’s only port on Lake Erie. The marine terminal provides access to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway and it serves 17 states. A total of 2,513,890 tons were received at the port’s facilities and docks during in 2022, representing a 10% increase in tonnage compared to the previous season.

Last season, the port partnered with tenant Ventower Industries to create new supply chain opportunities in Monroe. Ventower is the country’s only active wind turbine tower manufacturer at a port. Ventower and the Port of Monroe manufactured and exported 90 wind tower sections last summer to Oswego, New York. Turbine sections have been shipped as far away as South America.

Upgrades will allow both the port and Ventower to reach even further into the global trade market.

In addition to the container terminal and security upgrades, grant funds will help the port rehabilitate both aging infrastructure and the existing riverfront wharf. Also, a new identical wharf will be constructed to help transfer more wind energy components.

“This port is really vital to our state’s economy,” Whitmer said. “The goods that flow here represent some of our most profitable and important industry, like mining and energy, and soon agriculture. The diversified economic activity spurred by this port supports thousands of jobs through its supply chain and drives tens of millions of dollars in commerce. Over the last decade, the port has had the most tonnage growth in the seaway system and has become a national model for revival and sustainability. So we are all invested in this port’s success.”

Monroe News

 

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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