Only 2 more salties left in Seaway

December 31, at around 7:30 a.m., there were only two ocean-going ships left in the Seaway, the Strandja and the Tufty, which will be the last of the two to leave today. The last downbound vessel of the year would be the laker G3 Marquis for Port Cartier and the last upbound the laker Kaministiqua for Sarnia today. No ship to report for tomorrow January 1st to my knowledge.

Rene Beauchamp

Great Lakes pilotage groups defend proposed rate increases

U.S. Coast Guard has proposed a 5.78 percent increase for Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2023 shipping season.

The new rate structure would raise shipping costs by about $4.5 million over 2022, or about 14 percent, according to a Coast Guard estimate.

Shipping industry representatives expressed concern over the steady rise in rates over the past decade. They describe Great Lakes pilots “among the wealthiest two percent of Americans” whose pay eclipses that of nearly all other mariners, including captains of Great Lakes freighters.

The three Great Lakes pilotage groups are the St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots Association, the Lakes Pilots Association, and the Western Great Lakes Pilots Association. In a joint statement, they highlight the pay increase as a cost-of-living adjustment during a period of steep inflation.

The Coast Guard’s 2023 rate proposal contemplates 55 Great Lakes pilots in 2023 and seven apprentice pilots. That is a modest increase over the 2022 season when there were 51 pilots and nine apprentices. Those pilots would earn about $422,336 per pilot on average, which is about $23,000 more than 2022.

That salary range remains lower than many other U.S. pilotage groups, where salaries often exceed $500,000.

The Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960 gave the Coast Guard the authority to set rates for oceangoing vessels on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. The Lakes are divided into six districts including St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, navigable waters from Southeast Shoal to Port Huron, Michigan; Lake Erie, St. Mary’s River and Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior.

Each district is divided into “designated” areas, where pilots must direct navigation at all times, and “undesignated” areas, which are open bodies where pilots must be on board and available to direct navigation. Pilotage rates in designated areas can be significantly higher than those in undesignated areas.

Foreign-flagged ships are required by law to employ pilots while transiting the Great Lakes. U.S. and Canada-flagged freighters that only transit in Great Lakes waters may also use pilots at various times but are not required by law to do so. Carriers that use the pilots pay for their services. That revenue covers operating expenses, pays salaries for registered pilots and apprentices, and helps maintain infrastructure, among other things.

Roughly 285 foreign-flagged ships transit the Great Lakes each year, the Coast Guard said. That estimate is down slightly from the projected 293 ships said to use the system during the 2022 rate-setting process.

Congress addressed pilot staffing on the Great Lakes with an overhaul of the ratemaking methodology starting in 2015. For 2023, the Coast Guard is proposing increases in hourly that vary based on where the service is provided. The service used an existing 10-step process for setting pilotage rates.

The American Great Lakes Ports Association, the Shipping Federation of Canada and the U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Association submitted joint comments to the Coast Guard raising concerns about the proposed rates.

“The cost keeps going up exponentially,” Steven Fisher, executive director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association told Professional Mariner. “There have been double digit percentage increases every year for most of the last eight years. The service has gotten very expensive.”

Broadly speaking, industry groups believe the Coast Guard has done a poor job of keeping the economic health of the shipping system in mind when setting costs. “If the cost of service makes shipping less competitive on the Great Lakes, everybody loses, including the pilots. The cost the shipowner pays for pilots, fuel, labor, and crew, anything the ship needs to operate, it all gets passed to the customer,” he said.

None of the three pilotage groups operating on the Great Lakes responded to an inquiry from Professional Mariner. However, their joint comment to the Coast Guard said industry groups have mischaracterized the proposal.

The three groups also urged the Coast Guard to consider adding more pilots to serve the Great Lakes. The joint statement said there were nine cruise ships on the Lakes in 2022 carrying 25 percent more passengers than 2019, the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Those cruise vessels are adding to the workload of the existing pilots.

“Quite simply,” the pilots argued, “there are many more vessels and more pilots need to be authorized to move them.”

The Coast Guard will decide pilotage rates in the coming months. They will take effect for the 2023 shipping season, which will begin around April 1. The Coast Guard declined to comment on the proposal.

Professional Mariner

Welland Canal closing date extended to Jan. 9

See gallery below for the Welland Canal extension notice

Winter Lay-Up List Now Active

The annual winter lay-up list is now active. Click on the Extra Tonnage tab on the top of the main page or view it here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/category/extra-tonnage/

Please send information about lay-ups to news@boatnerd.net

U.S., Canadian coast guards free freighter stuck in ice on Detroit River

Amherstburg, ON –A freighter is once again making its way up the Detroit River after becoming temporarily stuck in the ice on Wednesday. The ship became stuck near the southern tip of Boblo Island, but the Canadian and U.S. coast guards were on hand to help free the ship and send it on its way at about 11 a.m.

The ship had been stuck overnight, waiting for the coast guard vessels to resume operations Thursday morning and free it. The incident also prevented three other vessels, which were behind the stuck ship, from moving along the river until the ship was freed.

“We’ve launched Operation Coal Shovel, which is a joint, bi-national operation with the Canadians and the Americans to ensure maritime commerce runs smoothly as the ice builds up,” said Ensign Adeeb Ahmad of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit. “Usually, we start this operation in mid-January … but due to the winter storm and the ice buildup, we started on Monday.”

“What we’re doing now is, we’re just monitoring the area and we’re ice breaking, and any ships that need our help getting free from the ice, we’re there to assist.”

Isabelle Pelchat, ice breaking superintendent for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Central Region, said the recent storm led to the quick formation of ice in the western basin of Lake Erie, and the Livingstone Channel of the Detroit River. “We’ve been assisting shipping for a few days now,” Pelchat said. “We’ve escorted, jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard … over 30 ships already.”

She said the recent winter storm is behind the treacherous conditions on the water. “It had an effect that we hadn’t seen before at this time of the year,” Pelchat said. “The combined cold weather and the show just created that ice formation, and it was spread very quickly.”

“In the Livingstone Channel, it went up to two feet, the ice, so that was something that is really unusual,” she said. “We’re expecting that the warm weather that is starting now, and will continue for the rest of the week, will ease conditions and make it much easier.”

Jeff Brown, who’s lived in the area for two years, said there’s been a “traffic jam” of ships on the Detroit River in recent days, with the coast guard helping several ships move along the river, through the ice. “The storm that came through just around Christmas there, I witnessed this lake freeze over within 24 hours,” he said. “Freeze over probably about 1,000 feet out, almost to the shipping channel.”

Salties waiting to get through Seaway dwindles to just a few

Future of truck ferry uncertain once the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens

Windsor, ON – When the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens in 2025, it will allow trucks hauling hazardous materials, leaving a question mark around the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry. Currently, trucks carrying hazardous goods have to use the truck ferry when going between Windsor and Detroit.

While company president Gregg Ward is supportive of the bridge, he says since the bridge will handle the goods he now carries, the future of his ferry service is uncertain.

“We haven’t received anything in writing. We haven’t had any meetings with the government, municipal, Ontario or federally. The border is something you want to have as many options as possible,” said Ward.

Windsor West MP Brian Masse, who is also the NDP’s border critic, agrees the ferry service should be kept. Masse has written Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino asking that the ferry service be kept as a redundancy for security reasons.

“When we’ve had other disruptions at the border, the auto industry for just-in-time delivery, and other serviceable goods they’ve gone across the truck ferry when we’ve actually had that need,” said Masse. “It [the ferry service] also has a perfect record .. so I really believe that keeping it around for a couple of years after at least would be the wisest thing we can do,” he said.

Ward said once the ferry service is gone it will be nearly impossible to bring it back, so keeping it as a redundancy would keep the options open for the future. “So that should be a very thoughtful process to think, do we want to end or do we want to keep that redundancy in the system,” said Ward, who has been operating the service since 1990.

Ward would not say how many trucks the service handles per year for security reasons but did say it runs Monday through Friday carrying mostly flammable and corrosive goods. Ward said the service could still be used to carry over-sized goods such as wind turbine towers which it currently handles.

“How those get across if we’re not here I’m not sure,” said Ward, adding he would still need to carry some hazardous goods as well to make the operation viable.

Masse has also not given up on the possibility of using the dock located at the end of Maplewood Drive near Morterm Terminal for a passenger ferry service.

“Having someone who can navigate the channel like Gregg Ward is a blessing. It’s a learned skill so we don’t want to lose that capacity,” said Masse, adding that Detroit is investing heavily on trails and other amenities on the riverfront which could attract visitors.

“We don’t know what the future could be but the future without the ferry would be less chances of expanding our opportunities versus getting rid of it,” said Masse.

Read more and view images at this CBC News link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/gordie-howe-international-bridge-gregg-ward-detroit-windsor-truck-ferry-border-hazmat-1.6689254

THURSDAY UPDATE: As December 29 at 09:30, were 9 ships left to transit. Since Wednesday, the following vessels exited the Seaway: Federal Alster, Federal Dart, Federal Dee and Taagborg

.Salties scramble to meet Seaway closing date

Montreal, QC – As of Wednesday morning, there were at least 13 ocean-going vessels left to pass through the St-Lambert Lock by January 1, the new official date of the closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They are Federal Alster, Federal Bering, Federal Dart, Federal Dee, Federal Hudson, Federal Kushiro, Federal Seto, Isadora, Jamno, Scot Bremen, Strandja, Taagborg and Tufty.

It seems (though unconfirmed) that the Thunder Bay, which arrived Tuesday night at Côte Ste-Catherine, will spend the winter there.

Rene Beauchamp

Coast Guard’s Operation Coal Shovel aims to keep vessels moving on lower lakes

On December 26, the U.S. Coast Guard commenced its annual Operation Coal Shovel, a domestic ice-breaking operation with an area of responsibility spanning from southern Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair, to the St. Clair/Detroit River system, and into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario including the St. Lawrence Seaway.

USCG

What’s it like being on an icebreaker? ‘It will shake your fillings loose’

365 days a year, the Great Lakes are a gateway for commerce and travel, a feat that wouldn’t be possible without the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of icebreakers.

That work is accomplished through Operation Taconite, the only domestic icebreaking mission in the United States. Set forth by an executive order issued in 1936, the operation encompasses all the Great Lakes, St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac and Georgian Bay. The goal is to protect the environment, safeguard island communities and meet the reasonable demands of commerce.

Assisting ships, rescue missions and track-making are all in the job description for icebreakers. The crew and vessels put in roughly 5,000 employment hours from December to April.

Ride along on a coast guard icebreaker in this 9 & 10 News report: https://www.9and10news.com/2022/12/27/everything-to-know-about-great-lakes-icebreakers/?fbclid=IwAR3kMtcMWmI05xOkli4ba-WtxSRX-9-_Xye4jsz1xGI0MiC4JC5pS2MMCkso

Obituary: Nicholas Zilincik

Nicholas T. Zilincik “Nick” of Livonia, Michigan passed away December 23, 2022 at the age of 25. Beloved son of Todd and Christa Zilincik. Loving brother of Katherine “Katie” Zilincik. Cherished grandson of Marie & Abraham Keisoglou and Jerry & Sandy Zilincik. Dear great-grandson of Shirley Palmer and Eleanor Scott. Dearest nephew of Nicole Allen, Laura Blair, Scott (Janar) Zilincik, and Jerome (Javier) Zilincik. Nick is also survived by many cousins and friends.

Nick was a 2015 graduate of Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Maritime Technology at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy located at Traverse City, Michigan in May 2020. He successfully passed the U.S. Coast Guard examinations and was licensed as a 3rd Mate of unlimited tonnage upon oceans and as a first class pilot of unlimited tonnage vessels upon Great Lakes waterways. He was employed as a 2nd mate on the Great Lakes with Van Enkevort Tug and Barge, Inc. (VTB) on the ship Laura L. VanEnkevort.

Visitation will be Monday, January 2, 2022 from 3-8 pm at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154. Instate 10 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2022 until time of service 11 am at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 14175 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154. Interment will take place at Parkview Memorial Cemetery, Livonia, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA Program) in honor of his memory or the Livonia Save Our Youth Coalition.

Ice Becoming a Factor On Great Lakes, Seaway

As winter gears up, so is the accompanying ice season, although warming temperatures later this week could stall ice build up, at least for a while.

On Monday night, ice in the Amherstburg Channel stopped the upbound barge Menominee/tug Olive L. Moore. The CCG Samuel Risley, as well as two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, freed her Tuesday and several downbound vessels were able to continue their trips. Among those were the tanker Algoma Hansa, headed eventually to Halifax, where she will be sold, and Federal Kushiro, the last saltie of the season from the upper lakes.

Ice cover has been growing quickly in Duluth-Superior, thanks to a run of sub-zero weather, though vessels are still moving there without much difficulty thanks to tug and icebreaker assistance.

Tuesday morning, Soo Traffic reported refrozen brash and plate ice was about 4 inches thick at Johnson Point at the upper end of Neebish Island, and 2-4 inches of the same from there to Nine Mile Point. Again, traffic was moving without icebreaker assistance.

Aerial footage shows ice formations covering Lake Michigan, including ice pancakes, a phenomenon only seen if temperatures drop to well below freezing for several days. View a CNN video at this link: https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2022/12/27/ice-formations-lake-michigan-contd-lon-orig-na.cnn

Winter storm Elliot had a huge impact on the Lake Michigan shoreline, both seen and unseen. It added more than just feet of ice to the piers and channels, but also drastically changed the topography of the lake bed. Wilfred Sykes attempted to enter Grand Haven early Tuesday morning but was unable to, likely due to shoaling from the storms of the past weekend. After about an hour of working at it, they headed north to Muskegon, where they encountered more ice but were able to dock and unload.

Vessels in the Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway locks are also encountering late December ice. Heavy ice at Port Colborne is causing problems, with tug Vac trying to flush ice between each lockage though Lock 8. The process is leading to about an hour between downbound transits.

CGC Bristol Bay was on her way down to the upper Seaway paired with barge CGB-12001 to decommission buoys for the winter. The new tug Seaway Guardian was on buoy duty with Amy Lynn D but had issues. She will be heading to Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton for repairs,

The saltie Greenwing, stopped since 5 am Tuesday morning a little above the port of Côte Ste-Catherine, left around 9 a.m. Meanwhile, the tug Laprairie is assisting to clear the lock at Côte Ste-Catherine.

From news and social media reports

Grain Exports from Duluth-Superior Headed For Lowest or Second-lowest Year Since 1890

DULUTH, MN – Grain shipments through the Port of Duluth-Superior are lagging.

Through November, 510,547 metric tons of grain had moved through the port on ships so far this season, setting it up to be the lowest or second-lowest season since 1890, according to historical tonnage figures dating back more than 150 years.

Exports of grain by ship have declined for decades, down from a high of 9.2 million metric tons in 1978. Soybeans now go by rail to the West Coast, for example, and the geographic area where grains were harvested before being sent to the port for transport has shrunk, among other factors. But a unique set of circumstances have caused the 2022 decline.

Daniel Rust, associate professor of transportation and logistics management at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, said fewer ocean-going ships coming into the port means less grain leaving the port.

“It’s oftentimes the case that grain outbound is a backhaul. There will be some other commodity coming in like wind energy components, (or) something else — that’s the reason for the vessel to come all the way to Duluth-Superior — and then they don’t want to go out empty. So they pick up a load of grain and head back to the ocean,” Rust said in an interview with the News Tribune.

Both 2019 and 2020 set records for the amount of wind energy components moved through the port, and each year saw 85 total salties arrive (in 2020, 30 of those were for wind parts). But the number of salties arriving fell during the last two years, with 50 salties arriving in 2021 and 54 arriving through November of this year, according to port statistics.

“So with the combination of fewer wind energy components coming in and the rates being high, the owners/operators of vessels say, ‘Why should I come in empty all the way to Duluth-Superior to pick up grain when I can make more money elsewhere?’ I think that’s the bottom line,” Rust said. “A lot of grain here to be exported, but it’s not going out by ship.”

Instead, grain is largely going out by rail, Rust said. Unlike shipping’s tonnage reports, the amount of grain moved by rail is not public.

At the CHS, Inc. grain elevator in Superior, fewer salties were filled with grain this year. Justin Cauley, senior director of transportation at CHS, said the war in Ukraine has disrupted demand. The country is one of the top exporters of grains like wheat, corn and barley.

Cauley said European demand for corn and beans shifted from the Black Sea to the Great Lakes, driving “much more” vessel demand in the Chicago and Toledo ports. If salties are discharging in lakes Michigan, Erie or Huron, then they are less likely to continue to Duluth and Superior, the western-most port on the Great Lakes, to fill up with grain.

Read more and view images at this Duluth News Tribune link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/grain-exports-from-port-of-duluth-superior-on-pace-for-lowest-or-second-lowest-year-since-1890?fbclid=IwAR39WIyiuXsX4OagrA0lP59sf5HXBVvwP0NXItwlF_7luXEO9-mvcyoFyJc

New Lock at the Soo Reauthorized at $3.219 Billion

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District New Lock at the Soo Project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is reauthorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2022 on Dec 23, 2022. The project reauthorization amount is $3.219 billion.

An authorization sets how much money agencies and programs can receive, and how they should spend the money. This authorization makes it possible for the project to maintain efficient funding eligibility. Due to recent cost increases, the project cost was estimated to exceed the previously authorized spending limit.

“With continued funding, the remaining construction work, valued at $794.5 million could be awarded over the next three years allowing the project to stay on schedule and be completed in 2030.” Deputy District Engineer Kevin McDaniels said.

Since the project’s authorization in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, the authorized cost changed from $922 million to $3.219 billion. Over the last four years, the project cost has been impacted by labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and material cost increases.

The Corps of Engineers sought consideration of an increased authorized project cost in WRDA 2022 by transmitting the approved Post Authorization Change Report to the House and Senate Authorizations Committees on June 8, 2022. The project received strong bipartisan support while going through both the House and Senate.

A 2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimates a six-month Poe Lock closure would temporarily reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss of 11 million jobs. This Great Lakes Navigation System critical node is essential to U.S. manufacturing and National Security according to the study.

For more information about the New Lock at the Soo project, visit our website: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/About/Highlighted-Projects/New_Soo_Lock/

Seaway Closing Date Extended Slightly Due To Weather

MONTREAL, QC – As a result of severe environmental conditions impacting navigation, the closing date for the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section has been extended from 12:00 (noon) December 31, 2022 to 12:00 (noon) January 1, 2023.

Mariners are advised that the cut-off date for acceptance of vessel transits under special agreement have been extended as follows:
• Any ship calling in downbound at Cape Vincent before 23:59 hours December 30, 2022, may be accepted to transit the Montreal to Lake Ontario section, under special agreement, operating conditions permitting.|
• Any ship calling in upbound at CIP2 before 04:00 hours December 31, 2022, may be accepted to transit the Montreal to Lake Ontario section, under special agreement, operating conditions permitting.
• Any ship leaving a port within the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section, before 06:00 December 31, 2022 may be accepted to transit the Montreal to Lake Ontario section, under special agreement, operating conditions permitting.

Obituary: John Spooner

John Spooner, age 91, a long-time docent at the William G. Mather museum ship in Cleveland, passed December 7, 2022. Born in 1931 in Rocky River, he was resident of Berea for 56 years. John was a teacher for 35 years, an avid sailor and camp counselor (lovingly known as Capt. John), and served as an interpreter with the US Army in Germany. He was a member of the Christ United Church and a Paul Harris member of Berea Rotary. A memorial service will be at a later time. In memory, a gift to the organization that relates you to John, would be appreciated.

Middle River Marine LLC. Acquires Kindra Lake Towing

MOKENA, IL – Middle River Marine LLC has acquired the assets of Kindra Lake Towing LP, of Chicago. The agreement will expand MRM’s bulk material logistic operations with the addition of five vessels, marine equipment, and a harbor slip in South Chicago. This agreement creates an organization better able to serve customers and grow in the marketplace.

Kindra’s fleet includes the tugs Buckley, Ellie, Koolkat, Morgan and Tanner.

Middle River will expand its affreightment, towing, fleeting and terminal services to customers on the Illinois Waterways, including Lake Michigan. Additionally, Middle River is excited to increase its workforce and add more experience to our team. This marks another step forward in MRM’s ability to serve the construction materials, agricultural products, and industrial commodities in Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and the Great Lakes.

“Our people make the difference and we’re happy to welcome new coworkers to expand the MRM team,” said Aaron Halcomb, President of Middle River Marine. “For our customers, this further extends our ability to economically, efficiently, and sustainably meet their logistics needs.”

Kindra, through its 2 companies, began in South Chicago in 1983 cleaning and repairing barges. Beginning in 1992, Kindra began moving barges between South Chicago and Burns Harbor, Gary, Buffington, and Indiana Harbor in Northwest Indiana as well as Lemont, Illinois. They have provided Coast Guard approved fleeting areas for tank barges as well as marine equipment and services for special projects.

John Kindra, President of Kindra Lake Towing said, “Since starting Kindra Lake Towing in 1992 with three tugboats, it has been fun, challenging, rewarding and a pleasure growing our companies. We have grown internally through the development and promotion of our employees. Our continued success has been due to the loyalty of our customers.”

Middle River Marine began river and rail terminal operations on the Great Lakes and the Illinois river system in 1998. Terminal operations now include South Chicago, Calumet Park, Lemont, Joliet, Rock Creek, and Henry. MRM’s marine operations now include eleven vessels, and 88 barge fleet with over 120 total coworkers.

Middle River Marine Press Release

Merry Christmas!

Duluth a parking lot for freighters; no vessels moving on Lake Superior

DULUTH, MN – Anchored off Duluth are Edgar B. Speer, Great Republic, John G, Munson, Michipicoten, Clyde S. VanEnkevort, CSL Laurentian, American Spirit and Stewart J. Cort, which finished loading pellets at Superior and moved offshore so American Integrity could take her place at the shiploader.

Besides American Integrity, docked vessels are Alpena, H. Lee White, American Century, John J. Boland, Joseph L. Block and Arthur M. Anderson. To the east, Edwin H. Gott is on the hook at Two Harbors, which Mesabi Miner and James R. Barker are tucked in at the lower end of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Algoma Equinox and Federal Kushiro were anchored in the lee of Whitefish Bay, with Kaye E. Barker and Presque Isle anchored in Goulais Bay on the Canadian side. Maumee/Victory and Manitoulin remain docked at Algoma Steel until the storm clears.

Further afield, the Interlake vessels Hertbert C. Jackson, Hon James L. Oberstar and Paul R. Tregurtha were anchored above DeTour on the St. Marys River, along with John D. Leitch and Philip R. Clarke. American Mariner and Ashtabula/Defiance sought shelter north of St. Ignace. Burns Harbor remained stopped of Port Inland in the lee of Seul Choix Point.

Walter J. McCarthy Jr. hove-to off Milwaukee Friday night but was underway northbound Saturday morning. Manitowoc, anchored off Alpena, will resume her trip to Manistee when the weather clears.

Lee A. Tregurtha tied up at Nicholson’s Dock in Detroit to wait out the weather.

Massive 20-foot storm seiche rolls across Lake Erie

DETROIT, MI – We’re used to big storms over the Great Lakes producing some big waves, but a phenomenon is forecast to happen in Lake Erie during this current storm that is going to look like a huge, rolling section of water. It’s called a seiche (pronounced say-sh) and it’s kind of like if you tipped a nearly-full bathtub of water and sent ripples rolling from one end to the other.

From the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL): “The upcoming winter storm is predicted to cause a massive seiche in Lake Erie, with a water level difference of nearly 20 ft (6 m) between Toledo & Buffalo!“ They describe a seiche is a large, standing wave that oscillates in a body of water.

The GLERL researchers say Lake Erie is known for having seiches when strong winds blow. “However, the seiche this Fri-Sat is predicted to be off the charts – literally! GLERL scientists had to extend the range of our color scales & graphs to account for it.”

Waves on the Great Lakes are expected to reach more than 30 feet high in isolated areas, while sustained winds could push enough water east to cause flooding that could reach record levels in Buffalo, N.Y.

In eastern Lake Erie, winds in the mid-60 mile-an-hour range were forecast to create waves up to 32 feet high in open water about five miles north of Conneaut, Ohio, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Images on Facebook show Lake Erie islands ferries sitting on the bottom at docks in Sandusky, Ohio, as the water level dropped to -42 inches below datum.

Due to wind and water levels, AIS showed no vessels moving on the lake Saturday morning. Vessels anchored to the east of Sandusky include Evans Spirit, Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, Florence Spirit, CSL Niagara, CSL Tadoussac and Algoma Intrepid. On the Canadian side, Algoma Sault, Frontenac, Algocanada and Algonova were anchored off Turkey Point.

No vessels were moving in the Welland Canal Saturday morning.

View charts at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/12/massive-20-foot-storm-seiche-forecast-to-roll-across-lake-erie.html

Storm to bring 20-foot waves to four of five Great Lakes; freighters batten down

DETROIT, MI – Twenty-foot waves on the Great Lakes as fall turns to winter are not uncommon. But 20-foot waves on every Great Lake are.

But that could be in the cards this weekend as a “once in a generation” Arctic storm moving through North America unleashes its wrath over the Great Lakes region. And with large freighters still shipping on the Great Lakes, ship captains and crews are doing what they can to get ready. Around the Great Lakes, freighters have gone to anchor in sheltered areas or have stayed tied up to docks.

“The forecast is for 20-foot waves or a little higher on just about all the Great Lakes − maybe a little less on Lake Huron,” said Daniel Titze, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor.

“It’s not super-common.”

Read more and view charts at this Detroit Free Press link: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/12/22/winter-storm-20-foot-waves-great-lakes/69751971007/

Soo Locks Money, New Great Lakes Icebreaker Authorized in Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, DC ­– An $858 billion national defense bill that President Joe Biden is expected to sign this week contains funding authorizations for a new Great Lakes icebreaker and increased spending on the Soo Locks shipping complex.

The U.S. Senate passed the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Dec. 15, sending the defense funding and policy bill to Biden’s desk.

As part of expanded U.S. Coast Guard authorizations, the bill allows for $350 million to build new heavy Great Lakes icebreaker like the cutter Mackinaw which is stationed in Cheboygan. It also requires new reporting on the economic impact of vessel delays on the lakes caused by ice.

Great Lakes shipping interests have long advocated for another heavy icebreaker despite historical data showing that total ice cover is on the long-term decline. Icebreaking began on Lake Superior last week.

The NDAA also authorizes $3.2 billion toward ongoing reconstruction at the Soo Locks shipping complex. That roughly triples the amount previously authorized for the infrastructure project after inflation and increasing costs of labor and materials ballooned cost estimates this year.

Over the next six years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reconfiguring the inactive Davis and Sabin locks into a single large chamber similar to the existing Poe Lock, which is the only lock big enough to move the largest Great Lakes ships.

Read more at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/12/soo-locks-money-new-great-lakes-icebreaker-authorized-in-defense-bill.html

Obituary: Charles J. Geiger

Charles J. Geiger, age 85, a Manitowoc resident, died on Thursday afternoon December 22, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Charlie was born on August 29, 1937, in Manitowoc, son of the late Lawrence J. and Germaine A. (Mueller) Geiger. He was a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School with the class of 1955. On February 27, 1965, he married the former Joanne Neuser at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Manitowoc. After graduating from high school, Charlie was employed with D. Sullivan & Co. of Chicago, IL. as a mate and pilot on the great lakes for 14 years. He was then employed in the trucking and construction business. Charlie was later employed with C. Harvey Co. of Manitowoc until his retirement. He was a member of the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology, Bay Area Bird Club, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Detroit Marine Historical Society for over 50 years, Great Lakes Marine Historical Society, Friends of Branch River and a former member of the Bluebird Restoration Association.

Survivors include his wife: Joanne, Manitowoc; two brothers and two sisters-in-law: John and Carol Geiger, Trego, WI, Thomas and Connie Geiger, Picayune, MS; two sisters-in-law: Kathleen Miller, Elizabeth Neuser both of Manitowoc; two brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Norbert and Carol Neuser, Kewaskum, WI, Walter Aumann, Menominee Falls, WI, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends also survive.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Norbert and Blanche Neuser; sister: Ellen Aumann; brother-in-law: David Miller; one niece: Angela Geiger; one nephew: Bryan Aumann; and one great nephew: Elijah David Miller.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Kellnersville. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Santigo Turiano Jr. & Rev. Paul Demuth, with entombment to follow at Calvary Mausoleum, Manitowoc.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Kellnersville, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM. The Lakeshore Family Funeral Home, Pfeffer location is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.lakeshorefuneralhomes.com

2022 list of new saltwater visitors to the Seaway

As the St. Lawrence Seaway and its locks are scheduled to close for the season on December 31, 2022, a look back at the season shows that there were 43 new saltwater visitors that made westbound transits through the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, NY. during the 2022 Great Lakes/Seaway shipping season. The 43 new visitors are up eight vessels from the 2021 season, in which there were 35 new visitors.

A breakdown from 2017-2021 shows the following number of new visitors in each year.
2021: 35
2020: 47
2019: 49
2018: 39
2017: 42

A list of the 43 new visitors in 2022 is as follows: ABB Vanessa, Ale, Barbro G, BBC Arkhangelsk, Bogdan, Brattingsborg, Bruce, Celine C, Charlie, Chem Tiger, Eagle, Egbert Wagenborg, FWN Splendide, Gwen, Harbour Express, Houtmangracht, Industrial Color, Janis, Jessica B, Lea Atk, Marguerita, Maxima, Nordic Aqua, Nordic Kylie, Nordika Desgagnes, Onego Duero, Onego Maas, Owl 2, Patagonman, Perelik, Pichon, Scot Bremen, Scot Leipzig, SFL Weser, Shipka, Sider London, Sloman Discoverer, Sophia, Sten Frigg, Sveva, Unisea, Verila and Vezhen.

Of note, the Malta-flagged tanker Scot Bremen was the last new visitor for the 2022 season to make an upbound transit of the Seaway. It arrived in Montreal on December 22, then departed December 23 for Hamilton.

Denny Dushane

Storm-force winds to sweep Great Lakes during blizzard, waves could top 25 feet

The incoming large-scale blizzard is forecast to be a heck of a storm for those of us living on Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. But it will also be a doozy of a blow out on our Great Lakes.

Vessels have been seeking shelter since late Thursday. Among them, Kaye E. Barker was anchored in Goulais Bay off the Canadian shore above the Soo. Herbert C. Jackson, Hon. James L. Oberstar, Paul R. Tregurtha and Philip R. Clarke were on the hook above DeTour. Mesabi Miner and James R. Barker were anchored at the southern end of the Keweenaw Peninsula, east side. American Mariner was headed for St. Ignace to drop anchor. Burns Harbor was stopped off Port Inland. Traffic in the Duluth/Superior area was at a standstill (see AIS map in the photo gallery).

Storm-force wind warnings covering Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior have been issued by the National Weather Service. These Storm Warning-strength winds, which are higher than Gale Force winds, are to whip across the Great Lakes Friday and into Saturday. Some of these wind gusts on Lake Superior could top out at nearly 70 mph, meaning they’d be approaching hurricane-force winds.

The waves being churched up by all this wind will be huge. The NWS meteorologists in Marquette expect waves up to 25 feet and some possibly higher on Lake Superior. That’s the same wave height as the monster storm that sent the famous Edmund Fitzgerald to the bottom in two pieces, with her 29 crew aboard, in 1975.

Waves could build to 19 feet in Lake Michigan along a stretch from Muskegon to South Haven. On Lake Huron, the biggest waves will be on the Canadian side of the lake. Lake Erie’s highest waves will be from the Cleveland area and east.

Back to Lake Superior, here’s what meteorologists from the NWS office in Marquette are forecasting:

“The wind … will be increasing to north gales Thursday night (to 51 mph), and then storm force winds (to 69 mph) through Saturday. The strong gale (to 51 mph) drops off by Sunday night. In addition to the winds, strong northerly winds will usher in cold air and a heavy freezing spray hazard and wind-driven waves in the eastern half could exceed 25 feet Saturday.”

Read the full report at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/12/storm-force-winds-to-sweep-great-lakes-during-blizzard-waves-could-top-25-feet.html

Algoma Central Corporation announces acquisition of two product tankers

ST. CATHARINES, ON – Algoma Central Corporation has announced that it has acquired two 18,894 dwt product tankers to join the Algoma product tankers fleet. Built in 2007, the sister ships were purchased to prepare for the coming replacement of two older vessels in the company’s product tanker fleet. Both vessels are well-suited to the company’s domestic tanker trades.

“The vessels are high quality additions to our product tanker fleet,” said Gregg Ruhl, president and CEO of Algoma,“ and mark an important step in our on-going fleet renewal journey, which is expanding to include renewal within our tanker fleet. It is important that we acquire the right ships, at the right time to ensure they fit our market and our commitment to deliver safe and sustainable transportation solutions to our customers for the long-term.”

The Algotitan, previously named the Chantaco, will operate on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and will be a strong addition to the fleet when the vessel begins domestic operations, expected in early 2023. The Algoberta, previously named the Chiberta, will begin her career with Algoma operating in Northwestern Europe and commercially managed by our partner Furetank AB of Sweden. The vessel will trade in Europe until the company is ready to bring her into Canadian trade, expected later in 2023. The Algoberta’s name is a nod to Algoma’s largest customer in the segment which calls Calgary, Alberta, home.

As of Thursday evening, Chantaco was at anchor off Hamilton, while Chiberta was at Keil, Germany.

In the third quarter of 2022, Algoma acquired a 2010 built Norwegian vessel named the Birgit Knutsen, which is a sister ship to the Algoterra. The vessel currently operates internationally under bareboat charter and has already proven to be a strong addition to the Product Tanker segment.

Algoma Central Corporation

St Lawrence Seaway’s new tug experiences issue ahead of 2022 buoy pull

After much anticipation, the St Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation’s (SLSDC) new $24 million tug, Seaway Guardian, was expected to get its first crack at serving as the replacement for the 64-year old tug Robinson Bay during the annual buoy retrieval mission, however the new tug has been benched for this year’s mission.

Earlier this week, Seaway Guardian departed the Massena marine base at the US Locks en route for Clayton, NY to begin work on retrieving buoys from Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River. The tug was just east of Morrisburg, ON when the crew reported an issue and determined it was best to return to Massena. Divers were summoned to assess the concern once back in Massena and the tug has since remained on the upper Eisenhower Lock wall since Monday.

With the clock ticking on the Seaway closure, which will occur on December 31 at Noon, the US Seaway has had to resort to finding an alternative vessel to help conduct the work.

After seeking assistance from Ocean Group that went unsuccessful, the Seaway was able to secure the Picton Terminal/Doornekamp tug, Amy Lynn D (ALD). ALD arrived at Eisenhower on Thursday morning before sunrise. It is currently unknown if the tug will take the place of Seaway Guardian completely or if it will serve as a support vessel, towing or pushing Guardian and her barge in order for the work to be done.

Seaway Guardian’s primary missions are to be buoy maintenance and ice management. It is also equipped to assist in firefighting and emergency operational response on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The new tug cost $24 million to construct as part of the SLSDC’s Asset Renewal Program and serves as the replacement of the 64-year-old vessel, Robinson Bay, which still remains part of the SLSDC fleet and is docked in Massena.

Construction of Seaway Guardian began back in 2018 with the keel being laid on June 26, 2018. The vessel launched on September 12, 2019. Sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico were completed in June 2020 and the tug began its delivery voyage to SLSDC’s marine base in Massena in July 2020. Since arriving in Massena, the tug has performed very little duties as the buoy tending barge had to undergo refit in Hamilton, ON. In November, the tug returned the barge from Hamilton as the crew prepared for this year’s buoy mission.

ALD’s crew is expected to return to Massena to begin its role in the operation on Boxing Day, December 26. Until then, no buoy work by the SLSDC will be completed.

Michael Folsom, Seaway Ship Watchers Network

Storm-force winds to sweep Great Lakes during blizzard, waves could top 25 feet

The incoming large-scale blizzard is forecast to be a heck of a storm for those of us living on Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. But it will also be a doozy of a blow out on our Great Lakes.

Storm-force wind warnings covering Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior already have been issued by the National Weather Service. These Storm Warning-strength winds, which are higher than Gale Force winds – are to whip across the Great Lakes on Friday and into Saturday. Some of these wind gusts on Lake Superior could top out at nearly 70 mph, meaning they’d be approaching hurricane-force winds.

The waves being churned up by all this wind will be huge. The NWS meteorologists in Marquette expect waves up to 25 feet and some possibly higher on Lake Superior. That’s the same wave height as the monster storm that sent the famous Edmund Fitzgerald to the bottom in two pieces, with her 29 crew aboard, in 1975.

Waves could build to 19 feet in Lake Michigan along a stretch from Muskegon to South Haven. On Lake Huron, the biggest waves will be on the Canadian side of the lake. Lake Erie’s highest waves will be from the Cleveland area and east.

Back to Lake Superior, here’s what meteorologists from the NWS office in Marquette are forecasting:

“The wind stays at (17 to 34 mph) today before increasing to north gales tonight to (51 mph), and then storm force winds to (69 mph) through Saturday. The strong gale to (51 mph) drops off then by Sunday night. In addition to the winds, strong northerly winds will usher in cold air and a heavy freezing spray hazard and wind-driven waves in the eastern half could exceed 25 feet Saturday.”

“Mariners with passage plans through Lake Superior tonight through Monday should make the appropriate plans now to avoid these conditions.

Read the full report at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/12/storm-force-winds-to-sweep-great-lakes-during-blizzard-waves-could-top-25-feet.html

Last saltie of season reaches Duluth

DULUTH — The last ocean-going ship, or “saltie,” of the 2022 shipping season passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The 624-foot-long Federal Kushiro , which flies under the Marshall Islands flag and is owned by FedNav of Canada, will be loaded with approximately 23,000 short tons of wheat at Duluth’s Ceres-Riverland Ag grain terminal before departing for Italy, according to Jayson Hron, spokesperson for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Hron said the ship is expected to leave Duluth on Thursday, Dec. 22, which would tie with 1984, 2016 and 2019 as the latest departure date of an ocean-going vessel in port history.

The ship needs to get through the St. Lawrence Seaway System before it closes next week.

All ships need to be clear of the Seaway, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, by noon Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 31. The Seaway typically reopens in late March.

The Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron and the rest of the Great Lakes at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, are scheduled to close Jan. 15 and will reopen March 25.

Duluth News Tribune

The history of that ship in Port Credit and how it got to Mississauga

Long before it ended up as a breakwater in Mississauga, the SS Ridgetown plied the Great Lakes under a different name.

Originally named the SS William E. Corey, the ship was built by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company and was launched on June 24, 1905, according to Great Lakes Vessel History. The ship was a steel-hulled, propeller-driven Great Lakes freighter, which spent about 64 years on the lakes.

Today, she is the fourth-oldest surviving Great Lakes freighter, according to Heritage Mississauga.

Read the full story here: https://www.insauga.com/the-history-of-that-ship-in-port-credit-and-how-it-got-to-mississauga/

insauga.com