Port of Monroe celebrates successful 2022-23 shipping season

The 2022-23 shipping season was another successful season for the Port of Monroe. Along with terminal operator DRM Terminal Services, the Port welcomed new ships to its docks and celebrated new cargo evolutions during the shipping season while setting the stage for growth in 2023 and beyond.

Highlights
The Port undertook a large wind energy project that saw 90 wind tower sections manufactured in Monroe by partner Ventower Industries exported to Oswego, New York. This is just the latest renewable energy project the Port has completed with its stakeholders, previously handling and staging components destined for the Isabella Wind Project in Isabella County in 2020 and facilitating the export of Ventower wind towers to Peru in 2019.

A new Manitowoc crawler crane, purchased with funds from the Marine Highway grant program, was put into service. The Port is an active Marine Highway on route M-90 and continues to seek new short-sea-shipping opportunities.

In partnership with Gerdau and the Interlake Steamship Company, the Port realized an all-marine route for special bar quality (SBQ) steel manufactured at Gerdau’s facility in Monroe to the twin ports of Duluth, MN/Superior, WI. A trial shipment was loaded on Interlake’s Paul R. Tregurtha in August using the Port’s new crawler crane, demonstrating the feasibility of moving the cargo by vessel. Subsequent cargoes were loaded on the new Mark W. Barker. Over the past decade, Gerdau has invested nearly $400 million to transform the Monroe mill into a world class SBQ production facility and recently announced an additional $40.4 million investment at the Monroe mill to upgrade the facility’s rolling mill capabilities.

Additionally, the Port introduced a new alternate logo featuring the Port’s “flagship” tug Georgia of the Great Lakes Towing Co. Built in 1897, the Georgia celebrated her 125^th year of continuous service as the oldest commercially operated tugboat in the world. The Georgia also became fully compliant with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Subchapter M requirements making her the oldest vessel in compliance.

Tonnage
A total of 2,513,890 tons were received at the Port’s facilities and docks along the River Raisin during the 2022 shipping season. This represents a 10 percent increase in tonnage when compared to the previous season.

The DTE Monroe Power Plant received 1,753,772 short tons of coal and petroleum coke, as well as 246,745 tons of limestone.

The Port handled a total of 121,235 tons of bulk, a 3 percent increase from last season. The Port continues to be a valuable part of the beneficial reuse supply chain on the Great Lakes.

242,085 tons of steel coils were handled by vessel, smashing the total of 132,066 tons received the season prior and resulting in an 83 percent increase. 6,518 tons of SBQ produced by Gerdau were handled.

A total of 143,035 tons of liquid asphalt was received by Michigan Paving and Materials representing a 3 percent increase from last season.

The Port will continue to see shipments of liquid asphalt and steel coils through the winter as weather permits.

Visitors
The Port welcomed Ashton Marine for the first time this past season. This Michigan-based tug company provided the transportation to New York during the wind energy project.

Four different McKeil Marine vessels called on the Port to deliver steel coils during the season, including the Alouette Spirit, Florence Spirit, Harvest Spirit, and Huron Spirit.

In total, the new Mark W. Barker visited Monroe three times in its delivery season, loading synthetic gypsum once and bar stock twice. The vessel’s square holds and wide hatch openings make it well-equipped to handle a number of cargoes in and out of Monroe.

Other newcomers to the Port in 2022 included the articulated tug/barge Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader of VanEnkevort Tug & Barge and the Malcolm Marine tug Manitou.

The most frequent visitor to the Port was the Paul R. Tregurtha with 22 visits to the DTE Monroe Power Plant and 1 visit to the Riverfront dock. The Tregurtha was followed by the American Century with 18 and the Harvest Spirit with 11.

Check out this gallery to see all the ships that visited the Port during the 2022-23 shipping season!

On the horizon
In July 2022, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program Act which established the Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Office within the Michigan Department of Transportation that will create the Port Facility Improvement Fund. This increased maritime focus within MDOT will bring new funding opportunities to the Port of Monroe and other maritime stakeholders in the State of Michigan, which will enhance competition for stakeholders with this fund functioning as the local match in competitive federal grants.

In October 2022, the Port of Monroe was awarded over $11 million in funds from the Port Infrastructure Development Program for its Lake Erie Renewable Energy Resilience Project. The award is the largest in the Port’s history. The project will involve the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure at the Port including its turning basin dock which dates back to the 1930s and a small slip adjacent to the Port’s office that will be rebuilt into a “maritime readiness slip” to be used by local emergency response vessels. The Port’s existing riverfront wharf will also be rehabilitated, and a new identical wharf will be constructed on the riverfront to be used exclusively for the transfer of wind energy components. The project also includes the installation of shore power along the riverfront.

The Port continues to work with its stakeholders to develop the Michigan Maritime Gateway, a new container terminal that will complement existing maritime container operations on the Great Lakes and connect local importers and exporters to global markets. The Port received $5 million from the State of Michigan in support of this project.

Quotes
“The 2022 shipping season was one of the most historic in the Port’s history. While achieving near record tonnage throughput the Port handled the most diverse mix of vessels and cargoes since the Port’s inception in 1932,” said Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, Port Director, Port of Monroe. “Our continued growth is a testament to the hardworking men and women who breathe life into our operations. As we look to the season ahead, the amount of infrastructure investment and cargo throughput will only be rivaled by the pride each of us take in making the Port of Monroe more sustainable on behalf of the citizens and industry we serve.”

“Without the continued support and dedication of the Port’s management team, the local, state, and federal governments, the incredible successes to date would not have been possible,” said Stephen Gray, President, DRM Terminal Management. “DRM’s rapid increase in tonnage and investment in equipment and human capitol throughout the region is a testament to the potentials that become a reality when private and public partnerships are stewarded by good governing principles. I am particularly proud of our contribution to beneficial reuse and the impact it has on the local community and beyond.”

“The port commission is very proud of the achievements that the Port staff and DRM have accomplished, and we acknowledge that none of this would be possible without the exceptional leadership of our port director Paul LaMarre,” said Dale Brose, Chairman, Monroe Port Commission. “In the ten years he has been at Monroe, he has continuously demonstrated the ability to build effective public-private partnerships that serve the needs of Monroe citizens and strengthen local and regional industries.”

– Port of Monroe (February 13, 2023)

 

Ports of Indiana names Jody Peacock as new CEO

Ports of Indiana has named Jody Peacock as the new chief executive officer for the statewide port authority which operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The action was approved during today’s meeting of the Ports of Indiana Commission. Peacock has served in various leadership positions for the Ports of Indiana since 2001 and he most recently was senior vice president for business development. Peacock succeeds Vanta E. Coda II, who served as CEO from 2018 to 2022.

“We are extremely pleased to name Jody as Ports of Indiana’s new CEO,” said Commission Chairman Micah Vincent. “Jody’s extensive experience, customer-focused vision and deep understanding of the organization’s economic development mission make him uniquely well qualified for this role. We thank Vanta for his past service and leadership, and we look forward to a bright future as we strive to grow our state port system.”

During his 22 years with Ports of Indiana, Peacock helped develop multiple strategic plans and business initiatives that reshaped the bipartisan port authority from a small government-funded agency to a self-funded, entrepreneurial enterprise that has achieved record growth under five Governors. Peacock led business development efforts to attract millions of dollars in private investment to Indiana’s ports, expand the state’s foreign-trade zone and financing programs, and secure multiple federal grants for new infrastructure projects. Prior to his current role, Peacock spent more than 10 years directing the organization’s communications, marketing, government relations, corporate affairs and foreign-trade zone program.

“It’s a great honor to be asked by our Commission to lead an organization that has been such a big part of my life for more than 20 years,” Peacock said. “I am immensely proud to be part of the Ports of Indiana team and to share in our past success, but as I look to the future, I am even more excited to build on the relationships we have formed with our customers, our industry partners and community leaders to increase the contributions our ports make to Indiana’s economy.”

Peacock has previously received appointments by three Indiana Governors to serve on two binational Great Lakes boards that have established new regional economic and environmental policies, and by Governor Holcomb to the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund Committee to oversee distribution of Indiana’s Volkswagen settlement.

Peacock grew up on a farm in Union City, Ind., and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University Kelley School of Business and bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He lives in northwest Indianapolis with his wife, Dr. Orla Hart, a biochemistry professor at Purdue University, and their two children.

“The Ports of Indiana is made up of a great team of professionals, world-class companies and one of the most well-connected inland port systems in the country,” Peacock said. “We offer ocean access at the Crossroads of America in one of the most business-friendly states in the country, which is truly unique value proposition for multimodal companies.”

– Ports of Indiana (February 13, 2023)

 

U.S. Great Lakes fleet set for $126 million in winter work 

The U.S. Great Lakes shipping fleet has begun the annual transition from sailing to scheduled periods in regional docks and ship repair facilities for repair, maintenance and modernization.

This year alone, U.S. Great Lakes shipping companies will invest more than $126 million in their vessels—from over 1,000-feet to smaller tug and barge combinations—at shipyards and facilities across the Great Lakes, according to trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association. This includes more than $48 million in Wisconsin, $43.5 million in Ohio, $9 million in Michigan and $26 million spread across Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania.

Services range from replacing steel plating and engine overhauls, to navigation and other equipment updates and painting. Some vessels will be completely pulled from the water in a dry dock to be inspected, cleaned and repainted.

The work is critical to maintaining a fleet of freshwater vessels that will return to service in March, plying Great Lake waterways until January when they’ll return to the docks for the next repair cycle.

“It is a unique system here on the Great Lakes where U.S. shipping companies transport critical raw materials from the northern Great Lakes to manufacturing facilities on the lower lakes. The raw materials are transformed into finished products like steel which are then reinvested into our vessels,” said Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association. “The relationship between Great Lakes shipyards and U.S. shipping is vital to the regional economy and supports our national economic security. Without this mutually beneficial relationship, it would be difficult to keep the pilot light of North American manufacturing lit.”

– Marine Link (February 6, 2023)

U.S. Great Lakes port officials recap 2022 shipping season, provide insights

With the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System’s 2022 shipping season recently coming to a close, the Great Lakes Seaway Partnership is providing a closer look at the efforts that made last year’s successes possible.

“Ports around the Great Lakes Seaway System demonstrated a high level of resiliency and a commitment to uplifting the American economy in 2022,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “The ability of the Seaway System to adapt and overcome various supply chain challenges domestically and internationally leaves me with a great sense of pride and optimism as we gear up for a strong 2023 shipping season.”

2022 saw notable increases in shipments of corn, soy, fertilizer, wind energy equipment, and a diverse range of other essential commodities on the Seaway System.

2022 Highlights from U.S. Great Lakes Ports

Lake Ontario

Port of Oswego

A high volume of grains, aluminum, and wind energy equipment shipments tell the story of the Port of Oswego in 2022. The port proved to be well-positioned to respond to increased demand for moving essential commodities. One notable highlight included importing New York State’s largest wind turbine blade, which was made possible because of the construction of a new road connected to the port.

“We’re no longer looked at as the small little port on Lake Ontario, and we’re gaining our reputation in the Great Lakes commerce trade,” said William Scriber, Executive Director of the Port of Oswego. “I believe that a prosperous and healthy port creates a prosperous and healthy community, and that’s what the Port of Oswego has always been. Our board and I have a vision of ensuring that the Port of Oswego is a driving economic force in upstate New York.”

Scriber also pointed to his port’s role in supplying the growing domestic semiconductor industry. Micron Technology, Inc., announced plans to build what will be the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in the country by 2024 in nearby Onondaga County, N.Y.

The Port of Oswego isn’t without its challenges, however. Lake Ontario is impacted by rising water levels caused by climate change, prompting the port to stay ahead of the curve by investing in infrastructure and stabilization efforts.

“Our primary concern is our docks and our piers. We’ve invested heavily in upgrading our docks in response to high water levels brought on by climate change,” added Scriber. “We have to not only be prepared for the effects of climate change, but we have to be able to thrive and prosper amid these changes.”

Lake Erie

Port of Cleveland

The Port of Cleveland saw significant tonnage increases in 2022. General cargo was up 25 percent compared to 2021, as its docks moved roughly 525,000 metric tons in 2022. Container volumes through Cleveland also doubled last year compared to the previous year.

Infrastructure upgrades were significant in Cleveland last year. The Port of Cleveland is nearing completion of its Dock 24 and Dock 26 rehabilitation project, a $22 million investment that will position the port for success for the next 30 to 40 years. This and other projects have substantially reduced the port’s environmental footprint by limiting the amount of time trucks have to wait when moving in and out of the port.

Frequent destinations on the Great Lakes, including the Port of Cleveland, found themselves well-positioned to help shippers overcome global supply chain challenges in 2022.

“Congestion at coastal ports frankly helps smaller, inland ports like us because customers and cargo owners are looking for other locations to move their goods through,” said Dave Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cleveland. “We’ve done a good job of establishing ourselves as a viable alternative to the coastal ports. Cargo owners have come to the realization that ports like us can be used just as efficiently, if not more so, as the coastal ports.”

Port of Toledo

The Port of Toledo had a record year as its General Cargo Dock handled its highest volume of aluminum shipments to date. Additionally, grain shipments at Toledo jumped nearly 15 percent compared to 2021, marking the highest increase the port has seen. State and federal partnerships empowered the port to upgrade its infrastructure and reduce its environmental impact.
“The extensive capabilities of the Port of Toledo were demonstrated throughout our record-setting shipping season,” said Joe Cappel, Vice President of Business Development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “Strategic infrastructure and sustainability investments not only made our accomplishments in 2022 possible but they also position our docks for high productivity and efficiency in the years ahead.”

Lake Michigan

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor

It was a record setting year at Burns Harbor, which for the second straight season handled more cargo through its docks than any other year since the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened in 1970. The port handled record volumes of foundry coke, minerals, and steel products in 2022.

“We’re excited to celebrate another record year, but we believe the best is yet to come,” said Ryan McCoy, Port Director for the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. “Our team is currently working on a $32 million facilities expansion funded, in part, by two federal grants that includes construction of two rail yards, new bulk and general cargo terminals, a bulk warehouse and a truck marshalling yard. These new assets will drive significant future growth.”

Illinois International Port District

The Illinois International Port District’s (IIPD) productive 2022 was driven by increased volumes of lumber, sugar, and non-ferrous metals shipped through Chicago. Other highlights at IIPD include securing $21.5 million in state grant funding through the Rebuild Illinois program and implementing its first ever master plan.

The grant funding will go towards the reconstruction of a landing dock wall and to replace warehouse roofs, which will make the port more energy efficient as it sees continued growth. Additionally, federal bipartisan infrastructure investments passed during the last Congress are taking effect. Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited the 95th Street Bridge over the Calumet River to tout $144 million to upgrade the bridges and roads near the IIPD.

Erik A. Varela, Executive Director of the IIPD, explained that the steel and concrete needed for these infrastructure investments wouldn’t be possible without the shipments that come through his docks.

“Without our partnerships at all levels of government, we wouldn’t be able to obtain the capital necessary to complete these projects on our own. It’s been so long since we’ve had capital improvement projects of this magnitude here in Chicago,” Varela said. “We’re getting the materials we need to build our cities, states, and country.”

Port Milwaukee

Overall tonnage through Port Milwaukee was down slightly in 2022 compared to 2021, but new developments underway give good reason to be optimistic heading into the next shipping season. Construction of a new agricultural export facility is expected to complete this spring and should position Milwaukee for sustained productivity going forward.

“We’re constantly working on reinvesting in our infrastructure. Our port is pretty old, so we’re making sure that we prioritize keeping our assets in good repair in order to accommodate new business when it comes,” said Jackie Q. Carter, Port Director of Port Milwaukee.

Carter also emphasized that breakbulk shipments, including brewery tanks and construction materials support broader industries in the region. “It’s nice to be able to connect something that people associate with Milwaukee back to the port and demonstrate our role in supporting that,” added Carter.

As the shipping industry focuses on new ways to reduce its environmental impact, Port Milwaukee launched its StewardSHIP Initiative in 2022 to incentivize ship owners to utilize sustainable policies. Fourteen (14) Milwaukee-bound vessels participated in this program in its first year.

Port of Green Bay

The Port of Green Bay saw its tonnage numbers in 2022 decrease 10 percent compared to 2021. Green Bay’s top imports included foreign limestone, which increased 11 percent last year, and domestic petroleum products, which jumped 36 percent.

“We had a strong shipping season in 2021 and while we strive to reach 2 million tons a year, it’s not always possible due to marketplace conditions,” said Dean Haen, Director of the Port of Green Bay said in a statement. “Still, in the current economy, we’re pleased with where things finished.”

Lake Superior

Port of Duluth-Superior

Total tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior was down in 2022 compared to the year prior, as commodities like coal and grain shipments were down relative to historical trends. It was still a strong year for general cargo shipments, including 19 million tons of iron ore.

Deb DeLuca, Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, pointed out the important economic impact the cargo shipments have on the region in a statement:

“On the positive side, 2022 was a terrific season for general cargo tonnage, and while it doesn’t offset grain or coal in total tonnage, those general cargo shipments deliver outsized economic value per ton in comparison, and they also support development of regional industry and greener energy sources, so they represent a big win for our port and our region.”

AJOT

 

Extreme caution advised on ice along shores of lakes Erie, Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the St. Lawrence River

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Coast Guard reminds the public to exercise extreme caution on ice along Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

Each year the Great Lakes region sees multiple accidents due to unstable ice, resulting in people in the water as well loss of personal recreational equipment, such as snowmobiles and ATVs.

Current ice thickness is far below seasonal average, resulting in unstable, weak ice and extremely hazardous conditions. Varying air temperatures have also contributed to historically low ice coverage. This winter has already seen two large ice rescue cases in which multiple people had to be rescued on the Great Lakes.

“Never assume the ice is safe, even if others are on it,” said Sector Buffalo Commander Capt. Mark Kuperman. “Ice conditions are highly unpredictable this year, and where you may have safely gone on the ice last year, may be entirely different and unsafe this year.”

During the winter months, the public is reminded that certain safety precautions should be taken when engaging in recreational activities on or near the water. Wear the proper clothing to prevent hypothermia and choose bright colors to be easily seen. Carry proper safety equipment such as a whistle or noise-making device, waterproof VHF-FM radio or Personal Locating Beacon. Ice awls or screwdrivers can be vital in self-rescue, should an accident occur on the ice.

Please contact the Sector Buffalo Command Center at (716) 843-9527 with any questions.

USCG

 

President Biden Touts Port of Green Bay Expansion Project’s Potential for Job Creation

A Green Bay project talked about for decades has the eye of President Joe Biden.

While speaking in the Madison area on Wednesday, the President endorsed the job creation potential for expanding the Port of Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River, which is being done as part of a plan to move the city’s downtown coal piles.

“That is pretty incredible to have the President of the United States mention the Port of Green Bay, so that was very satisfying. I think I’ll be sharing that with a few people,” said Dean Haen, the director of the Port of Green Bay.

The project is moving forward faster than expected, helped by about $30 million in various government grants.

“At the Port of Green Bay, we’re helping turn an old water plant site into a new port terminal — going to create thousands of jobs over time,” said President Biden. “This is a big deal.”

The site is actually the former Pulliam Power Plant.

“Just as a reference, when we did our 2017 economic impact study, the port was responsible for 1,700 to 1,800 jobs total,” said Haen. “So, when you talk thousands, you’re doubling the port. That is always a target and a goal to double the port, but I think hundreds is more realistic.”

Haen says job estimates for the expansion project can be complicated with direct, indirect and induced jobs.

“There are the people that actually work on that site and the people that are there to pick up the goods, move it by truck, train and then move it to a manufacturing facility where there is indirect jobs, so it’s complicated. But from our estimate, we’d be in the hundreds,” said Haen.

The goal is to start construction at the old power plant site at this time next year.

The City of Green Bay and C. Reiss Coal are still in negotiations about moving the coal piles.

“Progress is being made,” said Haen. “It’s complicated. We didn’t expect to have these dollars or to be moving this fast with the development, and now some of the other pieces have to hurry along to meet the same timelines.”

WNCY

Crews discover 153-year-old shipwreck in Lake Superior

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced the discovery of the 144-foot Barquentine “Nucleus,” which sank more than 150 years ago in Lake Superior.

According to the society, the “Nucleus” was found under 600 feet of water, about 40 miles northwest of Vermilion Point on Lake Superior.

The “Nucleus” sank on Sept. 14, 1869, when it was going downbound from Marquette with a load of iron ore. It had already sunk twice, and in 1854, it rammed and sank the S.S. Detroit in Lake Huron.

On Sept. 14, 1869, the Nucleus was caught in a bad storm on Lake Superior and started to take on water. The crew reportedly abandoned ship and took the lifeboat, with the “Nucleus” sinking shortly after.

Thankfully, the crew did not suffer loss of life after they were picked up by the schooner “Worthington,” but another ship kept on steaming and left them behind before the Worthington showed up.

The “Nucleus” is one of the oldest ships to go down along the Lake Superior Shipwreck Coast.

“This is a pretty significant shipwreck…considering its age, the fact that it is a barquentine and we can’t overlook the vessel’s checkered past. The wreck site is littered with shovels too…and a few dinner plates, which speaks to their work and shipboard life,” Shipwreck Society Executive Director Bruce Lynn said in a statement.

The society used a marine sonic technology side-scan sonar in the summer of 2021 and positively identified the wreck in 2022

“The stern was intact. It had a straight back stern and then the port side also was intact. And so, I was more excited about it because at first, I thought it was totally in pieces on the bottom,” Society Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel Jr. said.

WXYZ

Cargill shutters Indiana grain elevator

PORTAGE, IND. — Cargill has closed its grain elevator at Burns Harbor in Portage as of Jan. 31, saying a variety of current and expected market conditions led to the decision to not renew its lease.

The elevator handled soybeans, corn and wheat on Lake Michigan with a storage capacity of 7.768 million bus, according to Sosland Publishing’s 2023 Grain & Milling Annual. The Ports of Indiana grain export terminal at Burns Harbor received by truck and rail and loaded barge, rail and truck.

Cargill said it notified customers of its decision in September 2022.

“There were several different contributing factors that led us to make this decision, which include the current and projected market environment,” Cargill said. “Cargill’s other local operations in the area continue, as do the larger network of grain and oilseeds facilities around the US, and we will utilize those operations to serve customers to ensure they continue to have access to markets for their grain.”

Cargill said it is retaining current employees at Burns Harbor through the duration of operations while also assisting them in finding other employment opportunities at Cargill.

Baking Business

 

Great Lakes ice coverage is well below average; what are the impacts?

Ice coverage along the Great Lakes is significantly below average, according to the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

As of Feb. 7, the average ice coverage on the Great Lakes is just 13.5%, and the average for this time of year is 37%.

When you compare the ice coverage from Feb. 7, 2023 to previous years on Feb. 7, it is below average. Ice coverage was 28.9% on Feb. 7, 2022, 18% on Feb. 7, 2021, 10.2% on Feb. 7, 2020, 42% on Feb. 7, 2019 and 55.5% on Feb. 7, 2018.

Breaking it down by each Great Lake, the ice coverage is below. The average ice cover per lake is in parentheses)

Lake Superior – 11.08% (15%)
Lake Michigan – 10.49% (10%)
Lake Huron – 18.42% (45%)
Lake Erie – 20.97% (60%)
Lake Ontario – 5.69% (5%)

The ice coverage for many of the Great Lakes had been in the single-digit percentages for most of the winter until a cold snap last week that spike ice coverage on much of the lakes.

Read the rest here: https://www.wxyz.com/news/great-lakes-ice-coverage-is-well-below-average-what-are-the-impacts

WXYZ

 

Chi-Cheemaun special events to continue in the 2023 season

OWEN SOUND, ON — Special events onboard the MS Chi-Cheemaun will once again be the norm when the ferry begins operating for the 2023 sailing season in May. This is only one of a few changes passengers will be seeing this year.

“We are hoping to be able to have the same type of special events regularly and have entertainment on board as there used to be on the ship,” said Carl Kuhnke, president and chief executive officer of the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), last week. “The whole world has changed over the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mr. Kuhnke pointed out the full schedule and rates for the Chi-Cheemaun sailing season have not yet been released but confirmed the Chi-Cheemaun 2023 season will begin on May 5.

“We are going to able to provide several special events again this (sailing) season, and have had several requests come forward,” continued Mr. Kuhnke.

“We will also be offering a new point of sale wireless system on the ship through Starlink Satellite Company and passengers will be able to use their cellphone and tablets on the ship.”

Manitoulin Expositor

 

The short life of the new USS Little Rock: Design flaws, setbacks lead to decommissioning

Some 8,500 people turned out on Dec. 16, 2017, to watch the commissioning of the new $440 million USS Little Rock — draped in red, white and blue bunting — at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.

That now appears to have been the ship’s only bright moment.

Not even six years later, the USS Little Rock will be decommissioned on March 31 at Mayport Naval Station in Florida, where it is stationed.

The 387-foot-long vessel was imperiled from the start with significant design flaws that the Navy has concluded cannot be overcome.

U.S. Navy officials first announced at a media briefing almost a year ago that nine Freedom-class littoral combat ships would be decommissioned as part of the 2023 fiscal year budget.

“It’s somewhat of an embarrassment,” said Paul Marzello, the Naval Park’s executive director. “It was a happy moment, a proud moment on Dec. 16, 2017, and here it is five and a half years later, and she’s being decommissioned.”

“It is really a disappointment,” said Maurice Naylon, who chaired the commissioning committee. “We were so proud of the way we joined forces for this historic event, and it certainly put a nice sheen on Buffalo’s reputation.”

The Little Rock suffered a major failure at sea in 2020, six weeks after departing Mayport on its first deployment due to a flaw in the propulsion system, according to defensennews.com.

The nine Lockheed Martin-built high-speed vessels were designed to operate in shallow waters, and they were outfitted with some 8,000 computer sensors. All were hit with the propulsion problem. The ships will likely be scrapped or sunk to the bottom of an ocean — the fate of many decommissioned ships.

Rear Adm. John Gumbleton, the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget, put the cost of the nine vessels — the newest of which was commissioned in 2020 — to be decommissioned at $4.5 billion, according to defensenews.com.

“That’s a lot of money going, literally, right down the drain,” said Mike Vogel, president of the Buffalo Lighthouse Association. “It was a very expensive ship that had all kinds of potential, and it was certainly an honor to have it commissioned here in Buffalo. It’s kind of heartbreaking to see it a little bit later being decommissioned and probably scrapped.”

The modular, reconfigurable ship was built to engage in surface warfare, hunt enemy submarines and eliminate mines. The ship had the rare capacity to change from one mission to another within 96 hours, and, in some cases, just 24 hours.

It’s “plug and play” mission versatility also accommodated different weapon systems delivered at sea in steel cargo containers and lowered into the ship on a freight elevator, then maneuvered into place with overhead cranes and plugged into the ship’s computers.

Littoral combat ships can also maneuver in water just 13 1/2 feet deep, well below the 30 feet most naval ships require. That allows the ships to enter more ports, particularly in islands from Sri Lanka to the Philippines.

But the $762 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2023 included a request from the Navy to decommission 39 warships, including the nine Freedom-class littoral combat ships.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, who represents the Fayetteville, Ark., area, and takes pride in the two ships named for the state capital, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in October that the littoral combat ship program represented “a sad chapter in the history of the Navy.”

“It’s sad that the USS Little Rock is one of those out of the Freedom class,” Womack said. “The Freedom class had more problems than the others, but the entire littoral combat ships program has suffered from a lot of setbacks.”

Deactivated ships are taken to one of three locations where mothballed fleets of naval vessels wait for disposal: Philadelphia, Bremerton, Wash., and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The ships are often disassembled for the steel to be recycled. But that’s not always the case. Ships are also deliberately sunk, generally in locations where they can become artificial reefs to promote sea life, Vogel said.

The Navy’s Ship Donation Program decides if a vessel can be donated as a floating museum. But that rarely happens with ships with short lifespans. The Naval Park’s USS Little Rock, commissioned in 1945, served until 1976, six times the length of service of the newer namesake.

Marzello recalls fondly the commissioning of the newer ship. Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, who once served on the-now museum USS Little Rock, and 300 former crew members and relatives, were on hand for the historic occasion. So was Commander Paul Burkhart, a Western New York native who served as the new Little Rock’s first commander while under construction.

“We’re going to certainly take a look at any opportunity that could possibly bring her back to Buffalo as a museum ship,” Marzello said. “It would be an interesting opportunity to see a 1940s ship called the USS Little Rock versus a 2017 version.

“It didn’t look like much from the outside, but the inside was a technological marvel.”

Stars and Stripes

 

American Lakers Invest $126 Million in the Great Lakes States

CLEVELAND, OHIO (February 6, 2023) – U.S. shipping companies operating exclusively on the Great Lakes transitioned from sailing to the annual process of repairing, maintaining and modernizing their fleet of lakers.  Vessels ranging in length from over 1000-feet to smaller tug and barge combinations have taken to docks and ship repair facilities around the Great Lakes region.

This year alone U.S. Great Lakes shipping companies will invest over $126 million in their vessels at shipyards and facilities across the Great Lakes.  That includes over $48 million in Wisconsin, $43.5 million in Ohio, $9 million in Michigan, and $26 million spread across Minnesota, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.  The work includes replacing steel plating, engine overhauls, navigation equipment updates, and painting.  Some vessels will be completely pulled from the water in a dry dock to be inspected, cleaned, and repainted.

The work is critical to maintaining a fleet of freshwater behemoths that beginning in March will constantly ply Great Lake waterways until January when the vessels return to the docks for the next repair cycle.  “It is a unique system here on the Great Lakes where U.S. shipping companies transport critical raw materials from the northern Great Lakes to manufacturing facilities on the lower lakes.  The raw materials are transformed into finished products like steel which are then reinvested into our vessels,” stated Jim Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers’ Association.  “The relationship between Great Lakes shipyards and U.S. shipping is vital to the regional economy and supports our national economic security.  Without this mutually beneficial relationship, it would be difficult to keep the pilot light of North American manufacturing lit.”

Hundreds of skilled workers will be employed welding, pipefitting, and installing electronics and other critical components.  The amount of work being invested by U.S. Great Lakes shipping companies remains a testament to the continued vitality of U.S. Great Lakes shipping.

LCA

 

US Steel reports second-best earnings year in its history

United States Steel Corp. logged its second-best financial performance in the company’s more than a century in business, just behind the record it set in 2021.

The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker saw revenue of $21.06 billion for 2022, up from $20.27 billion in 2021, and earnings were $2.5 billion, $9.16 a share, for the year, down from the record last year of $4.17 billion, $14.88 a share. The earnings were released Thursday afternoon after the close of the New York Stock Exchange.

“2022 was another exceptional year for U. S. Steel, marking our second-best financial performance in the Company’s history,” said President and CEO David B. Burritt in a statement. Burritt and other executives will be talking with financial analysts and reviewing the company’s performance Friday morning in the quarterly conference call.

U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) fourth-quarter revenue dropped from $5.6 billion in 2021 to $4.3 billion in 2022, while revenue slid from $1.1 billion, $3.75 a share, in the fourth quarter of 2021 to $174 million, 68 cents a share, in 2022. The big story in revenue was in the tubular segment, which saw a sharp increase. The mini mill and U.S. Steel segments posted losses while flat-rolled steel saw a drop in sales.

“Our fourth-quarter results exceeded our guidance expectations thanks to the combined efforts of our domestic steelmaking operations and Tubular segment,” Burritt said.

He said there was a positive EBITDA in mini mill in December and that showed positive momentum.

Burritt also voiced optimism for 2023, saying that the company would continue to with shareholder rewards after $900 million was returned to shareholders in 2022.

“We are already delivering on strategic commitments, including the Gary Works pig iron machine that was commissioned ahead of schedule and on-budget,” Burritt said. “Later this year, our non-grain oriented electrical steel line at Big River Steel will begin producing advanced steel grades to meet the growing electric vehicle demand.”

BizJournals

 

Sailors enduring harsh winter on 3 tugboats detained in Quebec port

Groups that advocate for seafarers are expressing concern for 11 sailors who are spending a harsh Quebec winter aboard three tugboats that have been detained for months in the port of Trois-Rivières.

Paul Racette, who operates the Foyer des Marins seafarers’ club in the port, said the workers, who hail from Mexico, Cuba and Guyana, aren’t used to winter.

“For them, 17 degrees is cold, so imagine them having to work outdoors at the temperatures we’re having now,” he said in an interview.

Montreal CTV News

 

Rotting 183-year-old Lake Erie lighthouse at risk of toppling: Officials

Port Burwell’s 1840-vintage wooden lighthouse – the oldest one on Lake Erie’s north shore – is so rickety it’s sealed off and at risk of being blown over.

More than a month after a three-day storm battered the lakeside community, downing trees and power lines and ripping the roof off a restaurant, part of the main road running past the lighthouse is closed.

Read the rest here: https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/rotting-183-year-old-lake-erie-lighthouse-at-risk-of-toppling-officials?fbclid=IwAR1fBuB-PhcwF-McIO7yjVKnXS36D628vxYC0OwgCC0Tfrvcx9j6DLwPUac

 

Steamer Alpena completes 81st year of service

The longest running vessel in service on the Great Lakes, the steamship Alpena, just completed its 81st overall year of service.

Originally built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works Corporation in 1942 as an iron ore carrier for World War II, its first name was Leon Fraser as part of five sister ships.

“At the end of the day, in the scenario of the Alpena, originally called the Leon Fraser, it was being built as an ore carrier, so that ship and its sister ships, would all have very very similar characteristics and hull design to them,” said Special Collections Librarian Don La Barre.

Built in River Rouge, Michigan, the Leon Fraser launched on February 28, 1942. The ship spent 43 years under the ownership of Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, and after a brief stint with Spitzer Marine Limited, was sold to Inland Lakes Transportation in 1989, where it became a cement carrier.

“It would have been sold over, converted over to them and Inland Lakes Management would be operating the ship itself for the purposes of Lafarge’s demands for cement,” said La Barre.

Since then it has been making cement deliveries all throughout the Great Lakes and docking at Lafarge. It finished up its season on January 21st, and should return to service in just a couple months when the weather gets warmer and it can more easily move through the water.

“It’s had an incredibly long history and an important history from the efforts of WWII, to kind of, you know, like you said before, one of the longest running bulk freighters in the area for 80+ years,” said La Barre.

WKB11

 

Transport Canada invests $22M for improvements for the Welland Canal

Transport Canada announced an investment of up to $22.7 million to support improvements for the Welland Canal under the National Trade Corridors Fund.

“Investing in the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure to improve the quality and the efficiency of our supply chains is crucial to Canada’s economic success and sustainable development. Our government’s investment in the Niagara region will help ensure that the supply chains here in Ontario and throughout our country remain efficient and reliable for future generations,” said Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport.

The $45.3 million project will support the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of three wharves located at the Welland Canal in Port Colborne, Ontario. The project aims to revive these wharves, which are currently out-of-service, to support operations and increase capacity of the trade corridor.

“This announcement brings the world to Port Colborne – a game changer for Niagara. The dynamic resources of the Niagara Region are being rediscovered as we chart our future economic path. New business and new opportunities are being created on once-abandoned lands along the Welland Canal and today our government is taking a bold step in strengthening the Niagara Ports Trade Corridor while also opening the door to an expansion of Niagara’s world class tourism market,” said Vance Badawey, MP for Niagara Centre.

“The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation welcomes this support from the National Trade Corridors Fund. We look forward to working with all partners to bring these wharves back into service with the goal of adding more fluidity to Canada’s supply chain and strengthening our connection to global markets. Once the work is completed, capacity to handle freight will increase by a million tonnes per year and new marine shipping opportunities will be created for Canadian exporters, along with a dock for cruise ships and the possibility of reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” said Terence Bowles, president and CEO, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

ReNewCanada

 

M/V BROUWERSGRACHT delivered

M/V BROUWERSGRACHT – the first of two Spliethoff DP2 B-type vessels – has been handed over from Fuzhou Mawei shipyard to Spliethoff Group on 1 February 2023. Sister vessel M/V BLOEMGRACHT will be delivered in about three months’ time.

The Spliethoff DP2 B-type vessels are the next generation offshore supply vessels with a number of versatile characteristics that makes them unique in the market.

These state-of-the-art vessels combine the intake of a multi-purpose vessel with a superior DP2 station keeping ability, making them ideal for supplying large volumes and weights of cargo directly offshore. To obtain fast, safe and efficient loading and discharge of pipes both on and offshore, the vessels are equipped with a removable automated pipe handling gantry crane.

Besides, the vessels are equipped with two Huisman 500 mt Heavy Lift Mast cranes, making them also suitable for heavy lift transportation and offshore installation.

To meet the strict regulations as regards to SOx and NOx emissions, the propulsion and power generation systems are equipped with scrubbers and SCR-systems. This, combined with the fuel-efficient character of the vessels, make them environmentally friendly, fitting well in Spliethoff Group’s continuous drive for greener operations.

With 12,500 mt deadweight, an open top notation, two tween deck levels and some 5,900 m2 of total deck space, the large underdeck intake of a general cargo vessel and the station-keeping capabilities of a supply vessel are combined in these two unrivalled ships.

M/V BROUWERSGRACHT and M/V BLOEMGRACHT are already booked for their first challenging pipe supply and offshore installation jobs until April 2024, giving them the chance to do what they are designed for right from the start.

Both vessels will be technically and commercially operated by Spliethoff Group sister companies Spliethoff and BigLift Shipping, providing customers with engineered and tailor-made solutions in the various project phases.

Spliethoff

U.S.-Flag Great Lakes Shipping Down in 2022

CLEVELAND – U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 76.4 million tons of cargo in 2022, a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to 2021. The 2022 float was 7.1 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average.

Iron ore cargos totaled 37.4 million tons, a decrease of 10.2 percent compared to a year earlier. Coal cargos were also down 10.2 percent to 9.3 million tons. Limestone shipments decreased by 1.8 percent, while cement shipments increased by 3.8 percent. Salt and sand cargos were up by 5.9 percent and 30.7 percent, respectively. Grain shipments decreased by 2.6 percent.

LCA

 

Help wanted: Edelweiss Cruises

Milwaukee River Cruise Line is hiring motivated, hard working, reliable individuals to
work as CAPTAINS aboard our fleet of tour boats this season.

Job Summary: The Captain will safely operate our vessels through high traffic
waterways, contend with changing weather conditions and provide a delightful
experience for our guests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
 Safety of the vessel, passengers and crewmembers
 Maintain daily cruise schedule
 Participate in USCG required training drills
 Oversee Deck Crew operations
 Follow all company policies as well as USCG rules and regulations

Requirements:
 Must be 18 years of age or older
 100 Ton Masters License (USCG)
 Experience operating passenger vessels
 Pass pre-employment drug test as per USCG regulations
 Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, which includes nights and weekends
 First Aid/ CPR certified

Pay rates based on experience
Flexible Hours
Fun, outdoor work environment

Milwaukee River Cruise Line is hiring motivated, hard working, reliable individuals to
work as CAPTAINS aboard our 19 passenger Pontiki this season.

Job Summary: The Captain will safely operate The Pontiki through high traffic
waterways, contend with changing weather conditions and provide a delightful
experience for our guests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
 Safety of the vessel, passengers and crewmembers
 Maintain daily cruise schedule
 Participate in USCG required training drills
 Oversee Deck Crew operations
 Follow all company policies as well as USCG rules and regulations

Requirements:
 Must be 18 years of age or older
 50 Ton Masters License (USCG)
 Experience operating passenger vessels
 Pass pre-employment drug test as per USCG regulations
 Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, which includes nights and weekends
 First Aid/ CPR certified

Pay rates based on experience
Flexible Hours
Fun, outdoor work environment
Bonus Opportunities available

 

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

Lake Michigan shipwreck added to National Register of Historic Places

The Sidney O. Neff, recognized for its innovative and architectural design as a steam barge, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

It was “one of the last wooden ships still used commercially in the Great Lakes,” said Mark Sprang, the archivist of historical collections of the Great Lakes at the Jerome Library at Bowling Green State University.

Now submerged in Green Bay, the ship was launched in 1890 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, from the Burger & Burger shipyard. The ship’s service ended in 1933, when it was allowed to just sit at a dock.

It sank at the dock in Marinette in 1939 and was later towed further out in Green Bay so it would not be in the way.

That was a common practice back then, said Sprang, explaining that “once an old wooden boat outlived its usefulness, you just stuck it somewhere and let it rot.”

The vessel traveled along the Great Lakes. In Milwaukee in 1898, the ship was transformed into a single screw steam barge.

“Wood ships have to be done every 10 years anyway, so it was probably due to be fixed up,” said Sprang.

The Sidney O. Neff carried all sorts of cargo, such as merchandise and even wood. “For the last few years of its career, they would just stack wood up on the deck and carry it around,” said Sprang.

The National Register is the “nation’s official list of historic places worthy of preservation” and is a National Park Service program to aid efforts in identifying U.S. history. It includes buildings, sites, districts and structures, as well as shipwrecks.

It is important for shipwrecks like the Sidney O. Neff and other historic artifacts to be recognized by the National Register because it gives them more protection, Sprang said.

“You also get to see another slice of life,” he said, providing “a window of how things worked back in the day.”

Makayla Vivio is a senior at Michigan State University.

“I think it’s great that something like that is now being recognized,” Vivio said. “I live in Marinette, and my backyard is on the border of Michigan and Wisconsin, so living there, my dad always told me stories of these historic shipwrecks.”

The shipwreck is protected under Wisconsin law and federal regulations against being defaced and damaged by divers and others.

Great Lakes Echo

 

COAST GUARD CHANNEL CLOSURE

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Per 33 CFR 165.901, Captain of the Port Sault Ste Marie will close
the waters between Cheboygan Michigan and Bois Blanc Island Michigan known as South Channel,
effective 1100 EST 04 February 2023.

The Coast Guard would like to remind all recreational ice users to plan their activity carefully, use
caution on the ice, and stay away from shipping channels.

Further inquiries can be made by phone to Sault Vessel Traffic Service at (906) 635-3232 or via
email at SOOTFC@USCG.MIL .

 

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

Algoma Steel shares construction update on electric arc furnace

The most expensive project in Sault Ste. Marie’s history is so far on budget and on time, according to Algoma Steel officials.

On Wednesday, SooToday had a rare opportunity to join a visiting delegation from the Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) on a tour of the construction site of Algoma Steel’s future electric arc steelmaking facility.

The $703-million project will feature a pair of electric arc furnaces (EAF) that will replace the plant’s existing blast furnace, coke oven batteries, and basic oxygen steelmaking operations.

The furnaces are expected to come online in 2024, and ultimately, the transformation aims to reduce Algoma’s greenhouse emissions by up to 70 per cent when construction efforts reach the final stages in 2029.

Wednesday’s tour primarily focused on the preparations being carried out for the foundations of several areas of the future facility, including the Scrap Yard and Melt Shop.

In addition to the two electric arc furnaces, the new steelmaking facility will include a power sub-station, water treatment plant, two dedicated baghouses, and a vacuum degasser.

The project is also expected to generate 500 new construction jobs for the community.

Senior project supervisor Shane Gillespie says they are on track for commissioning in the spring of 2024.

“The proposed operational transition will occur in two phases.

“During the first phase, we plan to alternate arcing on one furnace at a time, supplementing the scrap charge with approximately 30 per cent hot metal from the blast furnace which will be operating at a reduced level.

“In the second phase, as the availability of electric power from the grid increases, we’ll be able to run both furnaces together by 2029.”

Gillespie notes the project will eventually position Algoma among the leading producers of green steel in North America.

“It’s a good chance to really clean up what we have, and it’s a better way to make steel,” he says. “It will dramatically shrink Algoma’s environmental footprint, resulting in cleaner air and water in the community.”

“The furnaces are designed with special enclosures unique to North America that will contain noise deterrents, providing a safer, cleaner, and quieter work environment.”

“The new facility will also increase steelmaking capacity from 2.8 million to 3.7 million liquid tons – that’s over 30 per cent more capacity.”

Algoma Steel says other benefits of the EAF steelmaking facility include:

• Improves competitiveness
• Creates cost competitive platforms
• Reduces sustaining capital requirements to allow more opportunity to invest
• Reduces exposure to carbon taxes
• Enhances product quality and diversification
• Delivers modern workplace with skills development and succession opportunities
• Provides more apprenticeships, co-op placements, and highly skilled career opportunities

SooToday

 

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

 

Algoma Central tanker Algonorth sold

The Algoma Central Corp. tanker Algonorth has been sold to Furetank. She is currently on her way to Kalundborg, Denmark. Next, she will be drydocked, reflagged and given her new name.

Algonorth was built in 2008 at Tuzla Shipbuilding in Turkey as Ramira. Algoma Central Corp. purchased her in 2019 and was named in an employee “Name that Tanker” company contest.

This was the second vessel with the name Algonorth. The first one, a bulk carrier, was scrapped in 2013 in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Algoma Central Corp. and Furetank established a 50/50 joint venture named Furebear in August 2022

 

Build Great Lakes icebreaker in a decade? Port, industry leaders demand it sooner

Advocates for adding another heavy icebreaker on the Great Lakes celebrated last month when
Congress authorized $350 million for such a vessel but are now chafing at the U.S. Coast
Guard’s timeline for delivering it: 10 years after funding is received.

They note it took only eight years to put a man on the moon. The massive new Soo Lock is
supposed to be completed in 10 years, and the Navy built the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier
in about seven years.

“I mean, we’re not talking about putting somebody on the moon here. We’re talking about brute
force of breaking ice. These (ships) haven’t changed in, gosh, 60 years,” said Eric Peace, vice
president of the Lake Carriers’ Association that represents U.S.-flag vessel operators on the
lakes.

“It’s absolutely foolishness that we’re going to have to wait another 10 years and suffer another
$2 billion of economic impact, another 10,000 jobs.”

The Great Lakes maritime industry and its allies have lobbied for years to expand the Coast
Guard’s icebreaking fleet on the lakes by adding a second icebreaker capable of breaking up
heavy ice.

They argue the current fleet of U.S. icebreakers ― the 240-foot cutter Mackinaw, six
icebreaking Bay-class tugboats and two buoy tenders ― isn’t enough during a harsh winter to
keep shipping lanes clear of ice and respond to coastal flooding. The Canadian Coast Guard
helps but has even fewer icebreakers.

Ice delays cost the U.S-flag ship industry the equivalent of a month (680 hours) last winter,
according to the Lake Carriers’ Association. Icebreaking is also essential to flood mitigation in
ports and communities susceptible to flooding due to ice jams.

Flooding due to packed ice on the St. Clair River is a “constant worry” in the winters for Justin
Westmiller, emergency manager for St. Clair County, who said another icebreaking platform on
the lakes would allow for an icebreaker to work closer to the area more regularly.

“Let me be precise and say we absolutely appreciate the service from the U.S. and Canadian
Coast Guards,” Westmiller said. “But my priority as the emergency manager for St. Clair County
is we need more help when we need more help, and they have to figure out a way to provide it at
a national level.”

Over the last five years, the Port of Monroe on “numerous occasions” has had to rely on private
icebreaking tugs to avert “catastrophic” flooding events from the River Raisin when assets from

the U.S. or Canadian Coast Guards weren’t available, said Capt. Paul LaMarre III, the port’s
director.

“I find the 11-year timeline to be an insult to American ingenuity,” said LaMarre, noting there
are already two successful models for a Great Lakes heavy icebreaker, including the current
Mackinaw.

“The Great Lakes maritime industry ― the vessel operators, the ports and cargo owners ― have
advocated for this funding for years, and while we are humbly appreciative that the funding has
been authorized, the need for additional icebreaking assets is now.”

Read the rest of the article on the Detroit News Website

 

Help wanted: Interlake Logistics Solutions

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.

Apply here: https://workforcenow.adp.com/…/recr…/recruitment.html…

 

Amherst Island Ferry Update

Loyalist Township, in partnership with The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is excited to share an update which outlines the current plan that will allow the new state-of-the-art Amherst Islander II to begin service in spring 2023.

In the coming weeks you may notice the new vessel in the water around Amherst Island or at the ferry docks as staff begin training in accordance with Transport Canada regulations. Testing will also be conducted to ensure the vessel is ready to be put into service.

To maintain consistent service for the travelling public, regular operation of the Frontenac II will continue while training and testing is being completed on the Amherst Islander II. A temporary staffing agency has been retained to support Amherst Island Ferry operations while training of Loyalist Township Ferry staff is being completed on the new vessel. Although temporary staff will be operating the Frontenac II during training, Loyalist Township Ferry staff will continue to be responsible for onboard fare collection. Your patience during this transition is greatly appreciated.

As training and testing progresses, consistent communications will be provided to residents and the travelling public, via the Loyalist Township website. You can also follow the Amherst Island Ferry Service on Twitter for the latest ferry service updates.

Loyalist.CA