St Marys River now open to commercial vessels following spill

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON –Commercial traffic entering through the St. Marys River is now able to pass through the Soo Locks, but recreational traffic is advised to steer away from the north side of Sugar Island as oil from a 5,300-gallon (20,063-liter) spill Thursday is expected to accumulate in that area.

“Garden River is where a lot of oil is ending up,” said U.S. Coast Guard Command Center Chief Lt. Daniel Rynard.

“Thursday morning, we got a report from Algoma Steel on the Canadian side in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.,” said Rynard. “They had an equipment failure, which led to the discharge of oil into the St. Marys River.”

As a precaution, U.S. and Canadian coast guards worked in union to secure traffic along the St. Marys for safety purposes. The closure prohibited commercial traffic from spreading the oil around the river and into the great lakes.

“We had folk from different agencies go out and make the assessment as to whether it was safe for commercial traffic,” said Rynard. “There is still oil in the water.” Assessments were conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA helped make projections through oil modeling, letting the coast guard know where the oil was heading.

Rynard could not speak to the oil response on the Canadian side. “This is a little bit of a unique case,” said Rynard of the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard’s cooperative response to a situation stemming from a Canadian spill.

“Our request is that recreational traffic stay clear of the north side of Sugar Island,” said Rynard. “That is where the oil is collecting. That is based on several different environmental factors.” Rynard pointed out that oil could damage kayaks, canoes, fishing vessels and related equipment.

The Sugar Island Ferry remained running throughout the incident.

Soo Today

 

Oil spill shuts down part of St. Marys River for most of Thursday

The U.S. Coast Guard closed a section of the St. Marys River in northern Michigan Thursday following an oil spill, it said.

The spill, reported at 8:30 a.m., originated from Algoma Steel, a Canadian company, the Coast Guard said. The river was closed at the Soo Locks to Nine Mile point on Sugar Island, just north of Lake Nicolet, a 12 mile stretch, said Coast Guard Lt. Daniel Rynard. The leak of gear oil came from a 5,300 gallon container in the Algoma Steel mill in Sault Ste. Marie, across the St. Mary’s from Soo Locks.

The container has stopped leaking oil. Rynard could not provide an estimate of how much oil leaked into the river.

“We have high confidence in saying that the amount of oil that made it to the St. Mary’s river is less than 5,300 gallons,” Rynard said. Containment measures to stop the movement of oil across the water have been put in place around the mill, he said. “We got field reports back from our people that we have on the ground and we determined that the impact to the marine traffic system was negligible,” Rynard said. “It appears that the oil should stay out of the channel.”

Since the spill originated in Canada, most containment efforts are occurring there and have been carried out by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Three commercial vessels were temporarily slowed or stopped and were allowed to resume course shortly after 3 p.m.

The Coast Guard was working with the Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Department for cleanup to determine what response is necessary in Michigan.  “We encourage the public, if they see any sheening or any oiled wildlife or anything like that to notify the coast guard in Sault Ste. Marie.”

The Detroit News

 

Port of Monroe goals – and grant investments – could mean 10K new Monroe County jobs

MONROE, MI – The Port of Monroe’s longstanding efforts to become the first maritime container terminal in the State of Michigan could soon bear fruit – provided Monroe County matches the City of Monroe’s recent investment in the project.

On Monday, Monroe City Council unanimously agreed to appropriate $1.7 million of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the port for the purpose of cargo inspection operations, which would include the facility and equipment. This funding allocation will help the port retrofit one of its existing buildings to be able to scan containerized cargo with both X-ray and radiation detection technology, bringing it into compliance with the federal government’s SAFE Port Act.

On Tuesday, Port Director Paul C. LaMarre III asked the County Board of Commissioners to match the city’s contribution. Combined, this funding would allow the port to leverage an additional $5 million in federal grants to retrofit their facility and purchase the necessary equipment, as well as an annual federal contribution of $500,000 for upkeep of both aspects of the project. 

Should the county agree to match the city’s contribution, LaMarre said the port “could be in the container business by mid-2023”. ”Our request is that Monroe County consider matching the city’s investment of $1.7 million into this customs facility, and literally turn a key in the ignition of this project,” he said. “We’re at 30 percent design right now for making this happen… This project, in a 30-year period, based on the number of vessel calls it would generate to the port, would have over a billion dollars in economic impact and generate over 10,000 new jobs in Monroe County. “That’s a big deal.”

The port has worked for more than seven years to be able to handle containerized cargo, but the project – coined Michigan’s Maritime Gateway – was stymied by a regulatory standoff between the port and Customs and Border Patrol that persisted for several years. Deals spearheaded by LaMarre and other port officials were scuttled as CBP barred the port from handling such cargo.

LaMarre had secured a deal with Ford Motor Co. to export Ford Mustangs to Europe via the St. Lawrence Seaway. As the pilot program launched, CBP intervened, saying it could not regularly dedicate the needed manpower from its Detroit field office for such an endeavor. The agency also told the port it needed to acquire additional security screening equipment.

Another deal with Arauco North America was halted. As the first of several ships approached the Port of Monroe, CBP officials in Detroit diverted the vessel to the Port of Cleveland, stating at the time that no port in the state would be permitted to handle the cargo. A study conducted by the University of Michigan – which has a longstanding partnership with the port – found that CBP’s policies had cost the Monroe region substantial revenue and jobs.

LaMarre said Tuesday that he is confident those deals could be revisited, should the port secure the funding to construct this secure screening facility.

“Michigan does not have single seaport that can move the most commonly moved form of freight movement in the entire world,” he said. “Containers are everywhere; You can get a container to the most remote spots on our globe, however, you can’t bring one across a port in Michigan. This has been about controlling freight flow to the coast.”

“What I always say is that investment in coastal ports, although necessary, is bolstering a system allowing for more and more imports, rather than exporting products made right here in the industrial heartland of America.”

The issue prompted a bipartisan coalition of federal lawmakers to take up the cause. Democrat Sen. Gary Peters and Republican Rep. Tim Walberg pushed CBP for answers and clarifications. Peters eventually became the chairman of the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee, which LaMarre says helped significantly in leading to a partnership between the port and CBP. State lawmakers passed a bipartisan resolution calling for changes, highlighting the impact such policies had on the state economy. State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, co-sponsored the resolution. Last August, LaMarre and Peters hosted a delegation of bureaucrats from the agency, touring the port and explaining its positions and desire to be able to engage in handling more cargo. The port subsequently received federal grant funding to increase its security and scanning equipment.

“Never ever in my life did I think… that U.S. Customs would go from a position of I’m Public Enemy No. 1 to we’re giving each other bro hugs at the dock at the Port of Monroe, and we’re buddies and we’re partners,” LaMarre said. “…It’s taken us a long time to get to square one. However, I’d rather get to this point and have a partner, as we have now, and build a facility that will place us in the most capable position of any secure screening facility in the country.”

LaMarre said that while the CBP is now working with the port on this issue, others at the federal level remain uncooperative.

“We thought we had funding on the way for the facility through the Port Infrastructure Development Program that the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration has,” LaMarre explained. “We found out that our project ranked highest of any on the entire Great Lakes, but it was hand-pulled by (U.S.) Secretary of Transportation, (Pete) Buttigieg, when it was out for signature to be funded, to not fund it. That happened three days before Christmas last year. Again, it’s about controlling freight flow, (but) the little engine that could is going to keep pushing ahead. That’s because of our partners.”

Multiple Monroe City Council members lauded the project Monday. “I know this has been a long-term battle,” said Councilman Andrew Felder. “…I absolutely believe that, set aside the money (the port is) going to receive from outside funding for our city’s investment in our port. We are going to pay for our portion by itself just with the economic impact the port is going to have by additional cargo screening, and the additional business it’s going to do, and the economic impact on the area, the port and the businesses there, just over time.”

LaMarre said he was on a tug boat in the middle of Lake Huron when he received a text message informing him that the city had agreed to appropriate the $1.7 million.

“It is humbling,” he said. “…I literally teared up, because this is been a call to action that we’re all going to benefit from.”

While no vote was taken by the county commissioners Tuesday, the general consensus from the members of the board was that they want to find a way to help fund the project. “We’ve been, of course, discussing with (LaMarre) and the city about how that contribution might be made,” said County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Mark Brant. “As everyone is aware, safety is (this board’s) number one priority, but probably number two is economic development. We’ve had some pretty substantial economic development successes in the not-too-distant past.

“We will look at (the port’s) proposal very seriously, and try to work something out between the county, and the city and the port, to try to leverage this thing going forward.”

Monroe News

 

Duluth East graduate starts new career out on the water

Wednesday, before East High School’s graduation ceremony started, one student made quite the entrance.

As most students arrived to the ceremony by car… Ethan Rentschler, his family, and mentors all arrived to the graduation ceremony by tug boat to honor his passion for the maritime industry. “Incredible, it’s just it one of a kind. I never even dreamed that this would happen”, says Ethan.

Ethan Rentschler grew up with a strong maritime background. His parents Dan, who was second mate at the time, and Sarah Rentschler met aboard the aboard the Roger Blough. And now Ethan is continuing to pursue a career out on the water. He says, “I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was in kindergarten. So I never had to doubt it.”

In high school Ethan put in hours of work alongside Edward H. Capt. Bryan Rydberg ever since he was fifteen. “I would call in a lot of times, I’d actually call in to school and go work for a day. Or I would come in school with no sleep because I was out at like five in the morning”, Ethan says.

Rentschler even obtained his U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariners credentials at just 16 years old.

“It’s great because we really need the younger generation to come up to take our places. And Ethan is enthused, willing to work, and wants to learn. He does a great job,” says Bryan Rydberg. And because of his gained experience and passion, Ethan now has a job lined up after high school graduation.

Ethan will be working aboard the S.S. Wilfred Sykes at an entry level position in the engine room. He is shipping out to Port Inland, Michigan a day after Wednesday’s graduation ceremony. And he’s excited, saying, “I love being around big machinery, the people, and just what we do. And the views too! You know it’s a beautiful port to be working in.”

Ethan’s advice to other graduates is, “Whatever position or job you get, or thing you go for, take it and run with it. Do you best and enjoy life.”

WDIO 

 

Museum vying for beloved Keewatin runs into choppy water

While a Kingston museum still hopes to land the SS Keewatin, its board of directors seems to have splintered in two.

And one former board member of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston noted, the Keewatin pursuit was one of the issues that led to the recent split that saw six board members tender their resignations.

“The reason was a difference of opinion about the future direction of the museum,” said former board member John Summers, who serves an adjunct professor of Museum Studies at Faculty at the University of Toronto as well as Hamilton’s manager of Heritage Resource Management where he directs the operation of eight civic museums.

When asked if the Keewatin played a factor in that regard, Summers replied: “Yes, but only insofar as it was part of an overall approach to the future direction of the museum.”

Read the full article at this link: https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/museum-vying-for-beloved-keewatin-runs-into-choppy-water-5453824?fbclid=IwAR0rYBpE81RP3pVTQrxyyLLD9kiJYZ9ig8ReveYyALUVKN9nlivMojYo3Qg

orillamatters.com 

 

Marine Mart in Port Huron to resume in June

 PORT HURON, MI – A long-standing tradition, sidelined by COVID, will make a return this year in a new location. The Summer Marine Mart, formerly the St. Clair Marine Mart, will be held Saturday, June 11, at the American Legion Post #8, 1026 Sixth St., in Port Huron, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Mart features nautical items, artifacts, photos, books, artwork, models, postcards and more. See the poster in the image gallery below for more information.

 

Second printing of 2022 Know Your Ships now available 

For the second year in a row, Know Your Ships has had to do a second printing of the standard-bound edition. Replacing the Stewart J. Cort for the cover of the second printing is the Roger Blough. In the announcement post, author Roger LeLievre stated, “She is 50 years old this year, and since her future is uncertain, we felt she deserved the honor. Note the second printing is for the standard-bound book only… we have plenty of the spiral-bound book with the Cort on the cover and those will continue to be available.”

You can order a copy at http://www.knowyourships.com/catalog.html 

 

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Oil spill prompts drinking water advisory

Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Ontario’s Ministry of Environment said earlier in the day most of the oil spilled at Algoma Steel fell on the ground, but some also entered the city’s wastewater system.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release it was notified at 10:30 a.m. of a “5,300-gallon gear oil spill into the St. Marys River. Initial Coast Guard estimates show a sheen that covers an area from the steel mill all the way to the north side of Sugar Island,” the release said.

The Coast Guard said it has established an incident command team to manage the U.S. response efforts. “We’re working in lockstep with our Canadian, American, and tribal partners to ensure the sanctity of our river,” Capt. Anthony Jones, said in the release.

In a statement, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment said the substance that spilled into the water was ‘Morgoil,’ a heavy oil used for lubrication of heavy machinery. MOE is on site heading up cleanup efforts, the statement said, which are in the early stages.

“Most of the oil was spilled to ground,” ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler said in a statement. “Some of the oil entered the wastewater treatment plant where it was then discharged to the river.”

Algoma Steel has hired cleanup contractors that have deployed absorbent booms on the river to contain the spill, Wheeler said. “Algoma Steel is using vacuum trucks to remove oil from inside the wastewater treatment plant,” he added.

The spill prompted a drinking water advisory from Algoma Public Health. Not affected is the municipal water supply from the City of Sault Ste. Marie. “There is no concern relating to this system at this time,” the health unit said in a news release.

 

Canada’s greenest transportation sector is moving toward net-zero emissions by 2050

Key stakeholders in Canada’s inland shipping industry are looking to establish a green transportation corridor in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region as part of ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050.

The corridor would integrate new energy-efficient ships, alternative fuel sources, digital processes and other infrastructure improvements to further reduce the already tiny carbon footprint of an industry that is said to be the greenest mode of transport in North America. “There is lots of progress, but we want to do more,” said Bruce Burrows, president and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC). “Net-zero is a huge challenge. We have to do more R&D [research and development] and more experimenting,” he said. “We want to work with government to put funding towards lasting climate change solutions rather than reactive emergency relief.”

As a whole, the transportation industry in Canada makes up 30 per cent of the country’s GHG emissions, said Burrows. But the bulk of that figure is attributed to road, rail and air transport; the marine industry accounts for only about two percent. “For every ship, we could take almost 1,000 trucks off the road,” said Burrows. “From a [road] decongestion perspective, that’s a tremendous benefit. “And from an emissions perspective, that would be reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 800 tonnes for a typical movement.”

Over the last few years, Canadian ship operators on the Great Lakes have invested over $2 billion to acquire new eco-friendly ships that are up to 40 per cent on average more energy efficient than the previous generation, said Burrows. Some operators are also experimenting with low-carbon fuels, including second-generation biodiesel made from agricultural waste products, and liquefied natural gas. Researchers are also exploring hydrogen and ammonia as future sources of power. “There’s a real benefit to putting this green shipping corridor together,” said Burrows “It’s not going to be an easy process. There’s going to be a lot to do. But we can start — get going — and showcase and expand on what already is being done.”

On the Great Lakes, ports are modernizing their own operations, while also making system-wide changes that can make a more transformative impact. The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) in southern Ontario generates about 580,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year through solar panels mounted on its buildings, and is in the process of converting its land vehicle fleet to electric. This includes electric forklifts, and energy-efficient LED lighting in its warehouse space which saves nearly 2 million kwh per year. HOPA also operates a peak power cogeneration unit, which services tenants’ sugar refining and beer brewing operations. “Every little bit helps,” said Ian Hamilton, president & CEO of HOPA. “But when we can make system-wide change, that’s where we can have our greatest impact.”

Among these game-changing initiatives is an effort to position the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence as a greener alternative to long-haul trucking for moving goods. The province of Ontario, for example, which is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes and has 3,840 km of shoreline, could expand the use of so-called “short-sea” shipping.“Southern Ontario has one of the most congested road networks in North America, so by taking better advantage of marine shipping, we can actually create a win-win for consumers: reducing supply chain costs, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.”

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence is a 3,700-kilometre marine highway, connecting the North American heartland to the rest of the world through an integrated network of multimodal transportation infrastructure, including the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. About 164 million tonnes of cargo move on the entire waterway each year, but the system can accommodate 50 per cent more volume, said Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC).

“It’s a very modern and vital waterway, using current cutting-edge and sustainable technology that helps green the transportation of cargo throughout North America and to overseas markets,” he said.

Innovations like hands-free mooring have reduced transit times on the St. Lawrence Seaway, and a zero-carbon, hydroelectric plant on the Welland Canal powers locks, bridges and other infrastructure. As a result, the SLSMC has reduced the carbon emissions from its operations by 69% since 2005, well ahead of Canada’s 2030 targets, said Bowles.

As scientists continue to highlight an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, the marine shipping industry in Canada is eager to do its part. “It’s no surprise that we think green,” said Bruce Burrows, CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “It’s just the way we do our business.”

National Post

 

Family-owned tour company celebrating 87 years of operation on Chicago’s waterways

CHICAGO, IN – Docked on Chicago’s vibrant Riverwalk, Chicago’s First Lady Cruises is a Chicago experience that connects locals and visitors alike.

The city’s rich architectural history and breathtaking beauty is on display through the official Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise. And the cruises are also a first-class venue for private events.

This year marks the 29th anniversary of the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise. The tour was recently named the “#1 Boat Tour in North America” by USA Today’s 10 Best.

For 87 years, Chicago’s First Lady Cruises and its sister company, Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruiseline have seen the development of Chicago’s vibrant Riverwalk. Perhaps the most impressive feat is that both cruise lines are fourth-generation family-owned and operated, and committed to enviro-friendly practices for continued sustainability.

Holly Agra will step down as the President of Chicago’s First Lady Cruises and assume the new role of Board Chair. “Captain Bob and I are thrilled to charge our sons with leading our fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business into an exciting contemporary chapter of our legacy,” she said. “As a mom and business leader, I couldn’t imagine a grander way of celebrating 87 years than by passing the torch to our sons.”

Captain Bob Agra, Jr. will remain in his role as Lead Captain and Chief Financial Officer of both cruise lines.

“Our family has been lucky to witness the growth of Chicago’s downtown business district and waterfront neighborhood,” he said.  “Real estate developers and city officials have worked to highlight downtown waterfronts making them more accessible and enjoyable for guests. Due to their efforts, the Chicago River is now flanked with cafe’s, Riverwalk parkland, and a new generation of modern skyscrapers, offering a completely different perspective than during my parent’s career on the river.”

Agra Jr. took the helm of Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruiseline in 1976 at the age of 18 following the death of his father, Captain Bob Agra Sr. Mercury Cruises, which began as a single speedboat operation, was founded by Portuguese immigrant Arthur Agra and his wife Myrtle in the 1930s.

The Agras and their team of 128 professionals operate a fleet of nine passenger carbon neutral vessels docked at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive on Chicago’s Riverwalk and cruise along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan from April through November.

WGN 9 

 

Indigenous community to oversee Point Iroquois Lighthouse

BRIMLEY, MI – After years of discussion, a partnership between Bay Mills Indian Community and the US Forest Service has come to fruition. BMIC  has entered into an interpretive agreement, which will empower Bay Mills to oversee the operations at Point Iroquois Lighthouse in Brimley, on the shores of Lake Superior.

The Bay Mills Executive Council reviewed and approved the agreement in 2020, but when the pandemic hit, plans were put on hold.Finally, this summer, Bay Mills will open the lighthouse on June 15, and museum under the lead of Museum Director Candice LeBlanc.

“The area surrounding Point Iroquois Lighthouse has rich cultural and historical significance to the Anishinaabe. Recently, the museum has focused on maritime history and the way of life of a 1950s lighthouse caretaker. This collaboration means the Bay Mills Indian Community can tell its story and share Anishinaabe history, cultural information and artifacts at the lighthouse,” said Kari Thompson, Recreation Program manager for the East Zone of Hiawatha National Forest. “The US Forest Service looks forward to furthering its relationship with Bay Mills Indian Community through this partnership.”

The tribe looks forward to bringing Native history and perspective to the highly trafficked historical area, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The lighthouse is named after the 1662 battle between the local Anishinaabe from Bay Mills and an invading Iroquois war party. The battle halted westward expansion with a Bay Mills victory.

On average, nearly 40,000 people make a stop at the lighthouse. Visitors often marvel at the lighthouse itself, unaware of the rich history behind the structure and the land. Bay Mills hopes to enrich and educate visitors to the area about Pt. Iroquois’ historical prominence.

“The hope for Bay Mills’ partnership with the US Forest Service in managing Pt. Iroquois Lighthouse is to create an inclusive and welcoming space, which allows for visitors to learn of the connections of the past to our people’s present and the importance of the connection between the land, our community, and Anishinaabe culture,” said LeBlanc. “The vision is to create and build a place of learning, connection, and appreciation for Anishinaabe people and Bay Mills Indian Community.”

The museum hours will be 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. There will be live exhibitions scheduled throughout the summer, including Lacrosse, black ash basket and pottery making. LeBlanc is also building a list of community volunteers of people to visit with travelers and tend to the grounds.

Soo Leader

 

Marine Mart in Port Huron to resume in June

 PORT HURON, MI – A long-standing tradition, sidelined by COVID, will make a return this year in a new location. The Summer Marine Mart, formerly the St. Clair Marine Mart, will be held Saturday, June 11, at the American Legion Post #8, 1026 Sixth St., in Port Huron, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Mart features nautical items, artifacts, photos, books, artwork, models, postcards and more. See the poster in the image gallery below for more information.

 

Second printing of 2022 Know Your Ships now available 

For the second year in a row, Know Your Ships has had to do a second printing of the standard-bound edition. Replacing the Stewart J. Cort for the cover of the second printing is the Roger Blough. In the announcement post, author Roger LeLievre stated, “She is 50 years old this year, and since her future is uncertain, we felt she deserved the honor. Note the second printing is for the standard-bound book only… we have plenty of the spiral-bound book with the Cort on the cover and those will continue to be available.”

You can order a copy at http://www.knowyourships.com/catalog.html 

 

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Goodbye tugboat, hello Wilfred Sykes: High school graduate sails into adulthood

SUPERIOR, WI – Just days away from high school graduation, Ethan Rentschler already sounded like a veteran merchant ­mariner. “I’ve been chipping and painting on this boat for years,” Rentschler said aboard the Edward H. on Monday.

The Heritage Marine tugboat was docked on Connors Point, and the water lapped at its hull as Rentschler gave a tour and explained how he’ll go from Duluth East High School graduation Wednesday to working aboard the 678-foot Wilfred Sykes two days later. “I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do since I was in kindergarten,” Rentschler said. “The answer has never changed.”

A graduating senior, Rentschler plans to take the Edward H. under the Aerial Lift Bridge and dock it outside the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center prior to the ceremony. He’ll be joined by several members of the shipping community as they celebrate with a grad party on the deck of the boat.

“He’s going to walk off the boat in his gown and work boots right into the Amsoil Arena to graduate — and the next day he leaves to go on a laker,” said Edward H. Capt. Bryan Rydberg. “He’s the next generation.”

Rydberg alerted the News Tribune to Rentschler’s plans last week. A mentor and admirer of the young man, Rydberg has spent the past few years with Rentschler under wing — from 16-hour days breaking ice to letting Rentschler dock and run the tug. “He just loves the big boats,” Rydberg said. “He’s taken to it with an aptitude that he wants to learn. He’s so polite and personable, you just automatically like the kid.”

Rentschler speaks in “yes, sirs” and “no, sirs,” and is quick with a smile or a story. His parents, Dan and Sarah Rentschler, met aboard the Roger Blough in the late 1990s, when she was a passenger porter and he was second mate. Dan went on to captain the Edgar B. Speer for 10 years and is now a pilot who guides foreign vessels through the Great Lakes.

“It’s a tight-knit community around this harbor,” Rentschler said. “A lot of it’s built up on stories and tradition and passing it forward. Rentschler is already looking forward to the day when he’ll pass his knowledge forward. But, before then, he’s got a career to start.

After graduation, he’ll make his way to Port Inland, Michigan, where he’ll catch up with the Sykes — a boat he expects to sail through to the end of season in January. He’s starting out as an “ordinary seaman,” and wiper in the engine room. 

It’s  clear hearing Rentschler talk about his work that he’s learned a ton by working on the docks. He started at 15, earning his merchant marine credential and license to sail from the U.S. Coast Guard at 16. On busy days in which he was needed to help crew the tug, Rentschler would call the school for an excused absence. “The school was pretty understanding of that,” he said. “The high school and my mom pushed me to keep on task and stay on top of school. The way I saw it, I was never going to go to college ever.”

For Rentschler, the journey was never in doubt. He learned early that the wind is a sailor’s aid. And for now, it’s at his back — propelling him into adulthood. “When you run into a new situation, it’s always pretty nerve-wracking, but you’ve got to just trust the people around you,” Rentschler said about working a boat. “You’ve got to trust yourself, too, and let it happen.”

Duluth News Tribune

 

Marine Mart in Port Huron to resume in June

 PORT HURON, MI – A long-standing tradition, sidelined by COVID, will make a return this year in a new location. The Summer Marine Mart, formerly the St. Clair Marine Mart, will be held Saturday, June 11, at the American Legion Post #8, 1026 Sixth St., in Port Huron, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Mart features nautical items, artifacts, photos, books, artwork, models, postcards and more. See the poster in the image gallery below for more information.

 

Second printing of 2022 Know Your Ships now available 

For the second year in a row, Know Your Ships has had to do a second printing of the standard-bound edition. Replacing the Stewart J. Cort for the cover of the second printing is the Roger Blough. In the announcement post, author Roger LeLievre stated, “She is 50 years old this year, and since her future is uncertain, we felt she deserved the honor. Note the second printing is for the standard-bound book only… we have plenty of the spiral-bound book with the Cort on the cover and those will continue to be available.”

You can order a copy at http://www.knowyourships.com/catalog.html 

 

Boatnerd survey

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Viking Cruises to sail from Duluth to Antarctica and South America in 2023

DULUTH, MN – Cruise passengers boarding the Viking Polaris in Duluth in the autumn of 2023 will embark on an epic 71-day, eight-country, three-continent voyage that includes stops in Canada, New York City and Mexico, a transit of the Panama Canal and a week in Antarctica, before disembarking in Argentina.

Viking Cruises’ expedition ship Octantis has already begun plying the Great Lakes this spring, with Duluth as one port of call. Its new sister ship Polaris will sail from Duluth to Toronto and back on Great Lakes grand tours next summer.

But now the Swiss-based cruise line has quietly started selling tickets for a blockbuster new itinerary that starts in Duluth on Sept. 12, 2023. The “Longitudinal World Cruise II” will explore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, the U.S. East Coast and the Caribbean, Chilean fjords and glaciers and parts of Antarctica, before terminating on Nov. 21 in Ushuaia, Argentina, some 7,000 miles south of Duluth.

That makes it a roughly north-south voyage between the world’s farthest-inland seaport (Duluth) and the southernmost city in the world (Ushuaia). Pricing for this novel itinerary starts at an equally eye-opening $49,995. A current promotion on Viking’s website offers unspecified savings and free international airfare through June 30, 2022.

“Viking’s world cruise from Minnesota is totally unprecedented,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, a TripAdvisor website. “It’s an incredible itinerary that no other cruise line offers. The price is perfectly in line with other ships of similar nature — and the fare includes a ton too, which helps deliver even greater value to travelers.”

The “Longitudinal” journey is what’s known as a repositioning cruise, in which a cruise ship transitions between regions — such as moving from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean — at the beginning or end of a season. In this case, the Viking Polaris will be concluding its Great Lakes season and repositioning to the Antarctic region for the Southern Hemisphere summer.

The Duluth-to-Ushuaia cruise will be Viking’s second “Longitudinal” voyage of 2023. For the first one, the Octantis will reposition from Buenos Aires to Milwaukee from March 2 to May 5, excluding Duluth. That 65-day voyage starts at $44,995.

The midsize, 378-capacity Octantis and Polaris are themselves unprecedented in Great Lakes cruising. The Polar Class 6 luxury expedition vessels feature an in-ship marina called the Hangar, which can launch expeditions on special boats, kayaks and even six-passenger submarines.

“We’re seeing an enormous interest in these types of world cruises,” said McDaniel. “They’re an exciting vacation option for those who are eager to see the world, and do so in a comfortable and convenient way.

StarTribune

 

St. Marys Rapids to see highest flow level since 2019

SAULT STE. MARIE – Anglers and people using the St. Marys Rapids are advised that the area will see the highest flow since 2019 after June 6.

The compensating works gate movements are scheduled for June 6 and will increase the flow to approximately 720 cubic meters per second, or 25.4 thousand cubic feet per second. More detailed information about the change is available below in the International Lake Superior Board of Control release:

Anglers and other users of the St. Marys Rapids, please be advised of the increased flows and water levels that will be experienced in the Rapids in June. After the Compensating Works gate movements scheduled for Monday June 6, the St. Marys Rapids flow is expected to be approximately 720 cubic meters per second (m3/s) (25.4 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) which is the highest flow in the Rapids since 2019.

At these flows, some flooding of low-lying areas of Whitefish Island is expected as additional gates are opened and flows increase. As a result, some recreational trails and features in these areas will likely be flooded, and users are encouraged to use extreme caution.

he water level of Lake Superior rose significantly in May after another month of significantly wetter than average conditions in the basin. Lake Superior increased 22 cm (8.7 in) last month, while on average the lake rises 10 cm (3.9 in) in May. Water supplies were closer to average in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin. Lake Michigan-Huron rose 8 cm (3.2 in) last month, which is the seasonal long-term average for that month. Outflows from Lake Superior and into Lake Michigan-Huron continue to be set in consideration of water levels upstream and downstream.

The Board expects the total outflow to be 2,470 m3/s (87.2 tcfs) in June, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. As a result of this increase in total outflow, combined with ongoing repairs at the Canadian hydropower plant, the gate setting at the Compensating Works will be increased to the equivalent of approximately five gates fully open on Monday, June 6. This will be achieved by raising Gates #7 through #12 to a setting of 162 cm (64 in) open. Gate #16 will be opened to a setting 5 cm (2 in) to provide improved efficiency of sea lamprey trapping conducted annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1, which supplies a flow of about 15 m3/s to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.

At the beginning of June, the lake wide water level of Lake Superior is 12 cm (4.7 in) above the seasonal long-term average (1918-2021) and 2 cm (0.8 in) above the level of a year ago. At the beginning of June, the lake-wide level of Lake Michigan-Huron is 27 cm (10.6 in) above average, 14 cm (5.5 in) below the level of a year ago.

Depending on the weather and water supply conditions during the next month, Lake Superior may rise by as much as 15 cm (5.9 in) and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels may rise by as much as 12 cm (4.7 in) in June.

Soo Today

 

Second printing of 2022 Know Your Ships now available 

For the second year in a row, Know Your Ships has had to do a second printing of the standard-bound edition. Replacing the Stewart J. Cort for the cover of the second printing is the Roger Blough. In the announcement post, author Roger LeLievre stated, “She is 50 years old this year, and since her future is uncertain, we felt she deserved the honor. Note the second printing is for the standard-bound book only… we have plenty of the spiral-bound book with the Cort on the cover and those will continue to be available.”

You can order a copy at http://www.knowyourships.com/catalog.html

 

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Port of Oswego increases tonnage by nearly 100% from 2021, leads in maritime commerce

OSWEGO, NY – Activity at the Port of Oswego (POA), is growing at a rapid pace and is seeing a brisk uptick in both activity, and economic impact, said William Scriber, POA executive director.

“As of May 31, the Port has increased tonnage by 107,701.73 tons delivered and loaded from our dock in the first quarter of the year,” Scriber said.  “Last year 53,954.68 tons were delivered and loaded in the same period. That’s an increase of nearly 100%. Since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to shipping traffic in March, The Port has had 45 working days on the dock for local labor, which yielded more than $745,000 in local payroll, pension and health benefits in April and May alone.

“In 2022, the Port is matching the tonnage and activity of the larger ports in the Great Lakes, and we in Oswego are seeing the results of a surge in maritime business that once was the hallmark of Oswego. Our continuing investments of over $26 million  include upgrades to the Port’s facilities.

“It’s important to note that the Port is self-sustaining and does not rely on tax dollars. All operations are funded by the Port’s revenue, so it depends upon itself to operate, grow, and thrive rather than tax dollars. The economic benefit from the Port has a positive impact on the local and regional economy when it purchases diesel, forklifts, gas, hardware, and other equipment. The Port’s revenue supports its operations, but also supports local jobs and local businesses.

“Anyone who lives in Oswego can see the increased economic activity this year. Ships are being unloaded and trucks are carrying product to local plants that support local jobs.  One day it’s Wind turbine components and aluminum ingots, while the next day it could be grain and potash. All are delivered, stored, and transported from the Port, which adds to the local economy and the expansion of commercial business. Just this month alone two new customers have called the Port home. 

At one time the Port of Oswego was one of the major ports in the Great Lakes creating a large number of jobs and supporting commercial growth for the City of Oswego and central New York.  As markets changed and other ports made substantial investments in their operations, the Port of Oswego declined in trade and business.

“The good news is the Port of Oswego is coming back strong with increases in business and investments that are designed to help the Port be more competitive in the new Great Lakes marketplace,” Scriber said. “All indications are that we will have a record year. In addition to our revival as a major grain exporter and local shipping source for hundreds of Central NY farmers, the Port stepped up shipments of aluminum ingots for Novelis, and it’s got three wind turbine generator component contracts to fill this year, which are good for our local economy and for the environment.”

As a result of the Port’s  growth, it recently received the 2021 Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation—for the third time in the past four years. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the pacesetter award, which was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities result in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison with the previous year.

“The Port of Oswego is accessible from any international port in the world,” Scriber said.  “The U.S. Department of Transportation has designated the Port—one of only 32 in the United States—as a Marine Highway. This designation makes the Port of Oswego a key logistics partner in the Great Lakes shipping industry.  We are the first deep draft harbor on the Great Lakes and the only New York State port on Lake Ontario that can unload international tonnage without passing through the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada (which connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie) or being delivered at an ocean coastal port. With the global supply chain issues we’re seeing right now; this could potentially provide an outlet for coastal harbor congestion in the future as navigation patterns change.”

The historical port is also home to the Oswego Marina, the H. Lee White Marine Museum, historic maritime district, and fourteen companies that call it home for its domestic and international operations. The Port of Oswego’s strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts them less than 350 miles from 60 million people. As a result of its productivity , the Port of Oswego supports 209 local jobs, $26.7 million in economic activity, and $13.8 million in personal income and local consumption expenditures, Scriber said.

Oswego County Today 

 

Vessels with Great Lakes – Seaway connections reported as a Casualty or Sold for Demolition taken from June 2022 issue of Marine News, Journal of the World Ship Society

CASUALTIES:

 Ayla (8407448) (Ranyus Sea-22, Basel S5-16, Cheget-14, T M Cheget-13, Kotkas-07. Edda-04, Torm Tema-98, Edda-96 – 1st trip into seaway 1995), 2,729 / 1985 – general cargo – ship owned by Lebanese owners, sank in heavy weather while anchored in waiting area off Alexandria, Egypt 11.03.2022

DEMOLITIONS:

 TIINA TOO (9031492; Panama) (Valor-17, Namisa-17, Diamond Park-11, Diamond Wave-09 – 1st trip into seaway 1992) 4,989 / 1992 – Chemical Products tanker – By Helios Maritime Inc. (Maru LLC), Marshall Islands to Agrasen Ship Breaking Pvt Ltd, India and arrived Alang 5.01.2022 – commenced demolition 8.01.2022

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

 

Video shows United States Coast Guard conducting hoist training onboard Kaye E. Barker

LAKE HURON – On Sunday afternoon, a video captured by an Interlake Steamship Co. crew member aboard the Kaye E. Barker showed a USCG MH-60T Jayhawk conducting a hoist training operation just east of the Mackinac Bridge.

Click on this link to view the full video: https://fb.watch/dt9OpXb33H/

 

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Fed up with supply chain delays, Wisconsin company turns to Twin Ports shipping service to move goods

In a word, Charles Wachsmuth describes ongoing supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic as a “cluster.”

The vice president of Menomonie-based Chippewa Valley Bean ticked off a list of challenges the family-owned company has been forced to navigate as the self-described largest processor and exporter of kidney beans nationwide. The company has struggled with a global shortage of shipping containers, inadequate rail service and congestion at the Port of Montreal. Seeking alternatives, Wachsmuth said they moved containers of kidney beans to Chicago, which were then loaded onto trains headed for East Coast ports. Even then, shipments that made it to ports overseas waited weeks for overbooked ships to move their product to its final destination.

Wachsmuth said that’s why company officials jumped at the opportunity when the Duluth-Superior port began shipping cargo containers over water for the first time in years. “We’ve been processing beans since ’73, and the whole supply chain issue was a fatal threat to us,” Wachsmuth said. “So, this is allowing us to move forward.”

On Saturday night, nearly 200 shipping containers holding almost 9 million pounds of kidney beans from Chippewa Valley Bean departed the Port of Duluth-Superior aboard the vessel Nunalik. The containers are bound for European ports, including Salerno and Antwerp.

The exports mark the first maritime container shipments from the Twin Ports in recent years. Until last fall, the port had been restricted to moving shipping containers over land by truck or rail. With the recent expansion of service, Duluth-Superior is the only U.S. port besides Cleveland, Ohio, that’s capable of handling maritime container shipments on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity and possibilities for the future,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Port officials announced in October that Duluth’s Clure Public Marine Terminal could begin handling larger volumes of international shipping containers. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing Co. have been partnering to provide seamless cargo handling through Duluth Cargo Connect. The latest expansion of container capabilities has been touted as a way to bypass bottlenecks at other coastal ports.

Jon Lamb, president of Lake Superior Warehousing, said supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 has created greater urgency for alternative options to move cargo. ”While our approach hasn’t changed in our goal to get the service, the marketplace is perhaps more conducive to having alternatives in place. It’s probably pointed more opportunities our way sooner than later in the current environment,” Lamb said.

A broader range of alternatives has become vital for companies like Chippewa Valley Bean. Wachsmuth noted they’re leasing more than 200 climate-controlled containers for the first time in a multi-million dollar agreement with Nexyst 360, which was recently acquired by Minneapolis-based company Realm5. He said that decision was driven by the lack of service elsewhere. “And, if we don’t get the service, we don’t survive,” Wachsmuth said.

He said the company had 100 to 200 loads of beans waiting to move for months that resulted in the company cutting back production. Wachsmuth hopes having more control of their supply chain will eventually allow their business to grow. He feels the capability to ship containers from Duluth-Superior to overseas ports allows the entire region to do more business.

DeLuca said serving the regional economy and providing flexible solutions for businesses were a driving force behind efforts to expand the port’s container capabilities. “We’re always seeking to grow cargo diversity through the port, and that’s another reason the Great Lakes ports as a whole have been seeking to develop container trade,” she said.

Other ports on the Great Lakes are looking to provide maritime container shipments, DeLuca said, although she declined to name any specific locations. She and Lamb voiced cautious optimism about the ability to grow more business through the new service. Other customers and shippers have expressed interest in utilizing maritime container shipments, including from the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Lamb noted farmers are having an especially difficult time finding containers to ship their products overseas. “There’s a lot of pent-up demand for the exports right now, and obviously that’s as hot as anything in terms of that sector and the level of interest to use the service,” Lamb said.

Agricultural and food products in Wisconsin accounted for almost $4 billion of the state’s exports last year to nearly 150 countries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

Wachsmuth said the company’s president, Cindy Brown, plans to meet with two shipping lines in Europe soon to inquire about possibly sending more ships to the Twin Ports to meet their needs for service. Looking ahead, he projects they’ll be able to export around 27,000 metric tons or roughly 59.5 million pounds of beans this year.

WPR

 

Shepler’s Ferry adds new adventure to 2022 Lighthouse Cruises lineup

MACKINAW CITY, MI – Thousands of vacationers hop on a Shepler’s ferry each summer for a quick trip to or from Mackinac Island. But then there are the adventure-seekers who step on board seeking a whole different kind of experience: They want to see some amazing Great Lakes lighthouses up close and hear snippets of their fascinating history. They want to be carried across the water while gazing up at the night sky, learning about star lore in such an enthralling way that they’ll never look at the constellations quite the same way again. Or maybe they want an exclusive waterfront tour of the Les Cheneaux Islands’ archipelago.

Shepler’s is kicking off its Lighthouse Cruises and Night Sky Cruises this month with one new kind of cruise and some other fresh sights added into an always-popular lineup.

“For the 2022 season, we will be offering 19 tours of our lighthouse cruises in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with your choice of five different cruise routes,” Shepler’s said. These include up-close views of 20 lights.

“New this season we will be offering one early morning Westbound lighthouse cruise to enjoy daybreak illuminating the lights on the peaceful waters of Lake Michigan. Our lighthouse cruise schedule starts the first week of June and will run until the middle of September. We end our season with our exclusive and popular Les Cheneaux lighthouse cruise on September 11th. While onboard, you will hear maritime history and stories from our narrator from the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association.”

Read the rest of this article at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/06/sheplers-ferry-adds-new-adventure-to-2022-lighthouse-cruises-lineup.html 

MLive

 

Obituary: Dave Falconer

David N. Falconer, age 66, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2021 at his home in East Lansing, Michigan. He worked as an engineer for various Great Lake, river, and international shipping companies for several years, serving on a variety of vessels including Great Lakes freighters, tugboats on the Mississippi river and saltwater ships in the Caribbean. He later was employed as an engineer at the Michigan State University T.B. Simon Power Plant, where he was active in his union, serving as steward and other advisory roles. He retired from MSU in 2015.

David grew up in Roscommon, Michigan, and graduated from Roscommon High school. He attended the University of Texas for his freshman year, playing in the Texas Longhorn Band. He transferred to Michigan State University where he completed his undergraduate degree and was a member of the Spartan Marching Band. He then attended the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, graduating in 1980 and subsequently obtaining his US Merchant Marine Engineers license. Dave’s classmates at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy remember him as a wonderful friend and a true shipmate (always to be counted on at any time).

David was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara (Reisdorf) Falconer and Ralph Falconer; and sister, Caroline. He is survived by his Reisdorf and Falconer cousins, many devoted friends and dear friend, Kim McKeon.

Throughout his adult life, Dave maintained his love of music and connections with the MSU Music Department and member of the MSU Alumni band. He also performed in the DeWitt Community Band, Grand Ledge Community Band and later with the Central Michigan Area Concert Band as a percussionist.

A celebration of Dave’s life will be held at a future date. Those wishing to honor his legacy may contribute to the Central Michigan Area Concert Band, MSU Softball or Field Hockey, or the charity of their choice (links provided below).

Read more or leave condolences and memories at www.greastlansing.com

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Have a good weekend!

– Jack

Great Lakes cruises return, with stops in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH – Great Lakes cruising has returned to the Port of Cleveland with the first ships dropping anchor in Northeast Ohio last month.

Cleveland has seen a steady increase in cruise ships in recent years, particularly before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the industry. The Port expects as many as 50 stops this year as the industry sets sail on another season.

“Cleveland has been rated over the years and still continues to be the number two most popular destination for passengers on these ships,” said Jade Davis, Vice President of the Port of Cleveland. “Each ship that docks here for a single day, passengers get off. They go and visit everything from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cuyahoga Valley, Metroparks, Amish Country, downtown, our various casinos, restaurants.”

The Ocean Voyager made a stop in Cleveland this week, part of the American Queen Voyages line. The cruise ship is one of two operated by the line and offers luxury trips with newly renovated interiors and amenities. The ship is on the smaller side, at 285 feet and holds roughly 200 passengers.

“Our ships here in the Great Lakes are sort of confined by the locks that you have to take to get down the St Lawrence River and then get through the Welland Canal and so that necessitates some smaller ships.”

Ships that travel on the Great Lakes will typically have a capacity of 200-500 people, which is much smaller than the larger ocean liners. The Great Lakes cruises offer a more casual experience for anyone who may be thinking about exploring a cruise.

“It’s a high-end cruise is a boutique kind of experience. We go to places where a lot of the larger ships can and cannot go to. And you feel very personalized here with our guests to be we get to know them like almost like family,” said Captain Geir Lilleeng. “It is a more laid back. It’s leisure. And the weather here is we don’t have this season the waves that you will have in the ocean.”

Cruising season on the Great Lakes runs from May through October, coinciding with the St. Lawrence Seaway months of operation. The shipping season runs roughly from March through December. Larger cruise ships started docking in the port of Cleveland in 2017 and the City of Cleveland has made investments into attracting more vessels, including a new customs clearance facility.

“We’re investing a lot of infrastructures to help support this industry. We anticipate being a big part of the industry,” Davis said. “As it grows and looking at having possible origin and destination trips from Cleveland, the port will be here to help facilitate that.”

New this year on the Great Lakes Viking cruises is Cleveland, which has been added to the itinerary for the cruise line that started sailing the region this year. Viking is headquartered in Switzerland and announced its expansion into the Great Lakes in 2020, however, the first stop in Cleveland won’t come until 2023.

News 5 Cleveland

 

NOAA vessel Thomas Jefferson in Cleveland marking history, mapping Lake Erie

CLEVELAND, OH – For the first time in 35 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a ship operating in the Great Lakes. 

NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson is in port in Cleveland on a mapping mission to help mariners understand what’s beneath Lake Erie. “The ship is a hydrographic survey ship, which is typically ocean mapping, in this case it’s lake bed mapping,” NOAA Ship Commanding Officer Matthew Jaskoski said.

It’s the first time since the 1940s that hydrographic survey data has been collected by NOAA around the Cleveland area. “The information that we had in the 1940s, while it was accurate and good then, might not be the most accurate picture that it is now,” said Lt. Michell Levano, operations officer aboard the Thomas Jefferson.

The Thomas Jefferson, which is one of 15 vessels operated by the NOAA, traveled from Norfolk, Virginia to Cleveland. “It was such a wonderful experience,” Lt. Levano said. The crew of 35 left Virginia on the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Lawrence River, went through Quebec and Montreal, then had to pass eight locks along the St. Lawrence Seaway. The trip across Lake Ontario took the Thomas Jefferson 16 hours, and then a whole day of transit to get through the locks of the Welland Canal. 

The ship operates 24/7 for two to three weeks at a time, and then returns to port. “We’re collecting data to update the nautical charts or the maps ships use to get in and out of ports safely,” Lt. Levano said. The updated data is key for Lake Erie because the Port of Cleveland is one of the top 50 U.S. ports, according to Lt. Levano. “We’re out here using modern sonars, modern positioning techniques to do a full bottom coverage of high-resolution data gathering,” said Jaskoski.

The Thomas Jefferson is equipped with multiple sonar systems to map the bottom of the sea floor. The ship also has two 29-foot vessels on board that can drop into the water and be more maneuverable. “We use acoustics to find the depth of the sea floor,” said Lt. Levano. “We send out a signal from the bottom of the ship, it hits the bottom of the sea floor and we wait for that sound signal to return.”

The Thomas Jefferson typically covers the East Coast and the Gulf Coast, but is in the Great Lakes for the first time. Jaskoski told 3News that NOAA planned the mission at least two years in advance. “The bulk of our work is going to be in Lake Erie,” said Jaskoski. The crew will have a small project in the Detroit River that will take about a month, according to Jaskoski. “Our main goal is to find anything that may be dangerous to surface navigation,” says Jaskoski.

The NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is scheduled to map the areas surrounding Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island. For that mission, the water depth will dictate when their 29-foot vessels will have to operate. Luckily, the vessels that can detach from the ship contain the same equipment and are able to gather the same information. “Our most efficient method of running is if the ship is collecting data for 24 hours a day and both launches are going out for about 10 hours a day,” said Jaskoski. “So that gives us about 46 hours of data collected in one 24 hour span.”

The ship and its crew will be on Lake Erie until October, at which point it will travel back to Norfolk, Virginia for the winter.

WKYC 3 Studios

 

OBPA awaits decision from state on reallocating money from suspended harbor project

OGDENSBURG, NY – The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is waiting to hear if $5.8 million from New York state originally slated for the suspended harbor deepening project can instead be used to extend a Port of Ogdensburg dock.

In April, the OBPA board passed a resolution acknowledging that financial difficulties are preventing it from moving forward on the $29.5 million harbor deepening project that was initially estimated at $11.4 million. Between the federal funding and a portion contributed by the state Department of Transportation, there’s an $11.4 million gap that the OBPA would have to cover, which it can’t afford. The project would have modified a 300-by-500-foot section of the federal channel to an authorized depth from 19 feet to 27 feet.

Part of that money is $6.1 million from the state DOT that the OBPA in turn gave to the Army Corps of Engineers. OBPA Executive Director Steven J. Lawrence said about $300,000 of it was spent on bid work and design. The corps will return the remaining $5.8 million to the OBPA, which will either give the money back to the state or spend it on the dock expansion, depending on what the DOT decides. The dock expansion would extend a 1,200-foot dock by another 500 feet, which would make more space for ships to load and unload.

“When that money comes back to us … we’ll ask the state what they want to do with it,” Mr. Lawrence said. “The state’s been more than helpful on all our projects. They stepped in at the last minute with this (original amount of) $6.1 million and (the harbor deepening) didn’t happen.”

He says the OBPA is in the process of planning to move forward with the dock work. “We hope to get started on the dock expansion this year,” Mr. Lawrence said.

He said they’re now coming up with cost estimates to see if $13.2 million, most of which is committed grant funding, will cover the entire project.

NNY 360

 

Army Corps using harbor dredge materials to replenish eroded Lake Michigan beaches

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using harbor dredge material to shore up Lake Michigan beaches this summer.

Four harbors along Lake Michigan — Holland, Grand Haven, St. Joseph and South Haven — were approved for dredging this spring and summer. Materials gathered through the process will be used to “nourish and replenish” beaches that suffered erosion from recent high water levels.

To read about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers schedule and their plans for dredging, click on this link: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/environment/2022/05/28/lake-michigan-beaches-getting-replenished-through-harbor-dredging/9958216002/

Holland Sentinel 

 

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High winds cancel Viking Octantis cruise ship’s first visit to U.P. town

HOUGHTON, MI – The largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes was expected to make its first stop in the Keweenaw Peninsula on Wednesday but safety concerns due to high winds have canceled the visit, officials announced Tuesday afternoon.

The 665-foot Viking Octantis was expected to anchor outside of Dollar Bay in Portage Lake and then take passengers ashore using tender boats, according to a news release from the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau. Officials are concerned about passengers’ safety while on the tenders. “It’s a bit disappointing, but safety is the top priority,” Brad Barnett, executive director of the visitors bureau, said in a statement. “I know the community was excited to see the Octantis in the Keweenaw Waterway, but we’ll have to wait a few more weeks until their next planned visit.”

The ship, which accommodates 378 passengers, has six more visits to Houghton planned this year with the next one on June 29.

Next, the ship will traverse the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. After that, there’s a stop at Mackinac Island. The route is part of the eight-day Undiscovered Great Lakes cruise, which begins in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and ends in Milwaukee.

The ship has itineraries throughout the Great Lakes with ports of call in Canada and the United States this spring, summer and fall. Next year, the Octantis will be joined by its identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris.

MLive

 

Chefs, cooks serve important roles aboard Great Lakes ships

The Great Lakes are filled with a variety of vessel traffic, ranging from Great Lakes and ocean freighters, tugboats, barges, American and Canadian coast guard boats, and passenger cruise ships.

Many of those boats and ships are in operation for weeks and months at a time — even, for some, year-round. That means the crew and passengers need to have access to nutritious, creative, and healthy meals and snacks.

With months and weeks on the lakes, food is a major and important aspect not to be skimped upon.

Imagine you are the chef, cook, or lead steward on a Great Lakes freighter, and are preparing for the upcoming shipping season. A major in-port fire engulfs the boat’s stern and upper decks, which includes the galley and dining area. That is what Dick LaLonde experienced in 2015 with the then-73-year-old S.S. Alpena.

To read more about the chefs and cooks on the Great Lake ships, click this link: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2022/05/chefs-cooks-serve-important-roles-aboard-great-lakes-ships/?fbclid=IwAR1j9YGbUkUkfC0NHI_asqFMSDJIVJ5ImWMDuF7L0YvfntRUpULjmccPE88

The Alpena News

 

The Navy might have a garage sale for the Littoral Combat Ships they just built but don’t want

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday has suggested that the Navy dispose of the Littoral Combat Ships. “We should consider offering these ships to other countries that would be able to use them effectively,” Gilday told lawmakers on Thursday.

Gilday’s suggestion came in response to questions from Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who had asked if the Navy could find other uses for the nine Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships that are slated for decommission next fiscal year. Moran noted that one of those ships, the USS Wichita, was just commissioned in January 2019, and it recently practiced interdicting drug smugglers with the Dominican Republic’s navy.

Most of the remaining Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships were built on the Great Lakes in Marinette, WI.

“There are countries in South America, as an example – as you pointed out – that would be able to use these ships, that have small crews,” Gilday told Moran. “And so, instead of just considering scrapping as the single option, I think that there are others that we can look at, sir.” It was not clear from Gilday’s comments whether he advocated selling the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships or giving them away for free, but at this point, the Navy is one step away from hauling the nine ships out to the curb, hoping that someone will take them overnight.

The Navy expects to save about $3.6 billion in upgrades, repairs and retrofits, by mothballing a total of 24 ships including the nine Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships, which are among the newest vessels in the Navy. All have been commissioned since 2012 and the USS St. Louis isn’t even two years old yet. And that’s to say nothing of the fact that the Navy expects to spend more than $60 billion over the lifespan of the Littoral Combat Ship program, only to turn around and begin decommissioning the vessels once they’re in service.

But these ships have been hobbled by a design flaw that limits their speed. The coup de grâce for the Freedom-variants came when the Navy determined that they were not suited for anti-submarine warfare.

The Navy’s plans to decommission the nine Littoral Combat along with 15 other vessels have drawn sharp rebukes from lawmakers and navalists, who argued the Navy cannot afford to get smaller.

During Thursday’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, Gilday said the Navy is focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of its ships. “We need a capable, lethal, ready Navy more than we need a larger Navy that’s less capable, less lethal, and less ready,” Gilday said.

Task & Purpose 

 

Sights and sounds on the St. Marys River: Great Lakes freighters cross paths

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Freighters on the Great Lakes vary in size and shape.

In today’s Sights and Sounds, photojournalist Jim LeHocky shows us the 1,000 foot by 104 foot “American Century” crossing paths with the much smaller 500 foot by 72 foot “Harvest Spirit” on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie.

Click on this link to view the drone video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Xp3VYwJls

9&10 News

 

Marine Mart in Port Huron to resume in June

PORT HURON, MI – A long-standing tradition, sidelined by COVID, will make a return this year in a new location. The Summer Marine Mart, formerly the St. Clair Marine Mart, will be held Saturday, June 11, at the American Legion Post #8, 1026 Sixth St., in Port Huron, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Mart features nautical items, artifacts, photos, books, artwork, models, postcards and more. See the poster in the image gallery below for more information.

Duluth welcomes first cruise ship in nearly a decade

DULUTH, MN – The City of Duluth welcomed a cruise ship and its passengers to the city’s docks Monday for the first time in nearly 10 years.

The Viking Octantis ship brought more than 600 people to port Monday morning – including nearly 400 passengers – who will be able to take the day and enjoy what the city has to offer. Hubbard-owned affiliate WDIO reports the ship arrived in the Duluth Harbor around 6:15 a.m.

“I think it was pretty amazing,” said Dan Hartman, executive director of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. “It wasn’t quite the view everyone was hoping for because of the fog, but I think it’s almost symbolic of the whole effort that went into this whole thing.”

The stop in Duluth is part of an eight-day tour through the Great Lakes. “We’re writing a new chapter with cruising,” said Tricia Hobbs, senior economic developer for the city of Duluth, adding, “we’re obviously looking ahead to be a turnaround port so [that] people can start and end their trips here.”

The Octantis won’t be alone — more than half a dozen cruise ships are expected to arrive in Duluth during the next four months. “To see those tourists from different areas of the country, maybe even the world, to see what great things we have in Duluth, we’re excited,” Dustin Heckman told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. Heckman is the executive director of the Glensheen Mansion.

Hartman concurred, noting, “I think that’s the most exciting for Duluthians, that there are a lot of people coming to Duluth today who would have never ever, thought of ever being in our city before.” Passengers are expected to come out of customs around 7:30 a.m., and shuttles for Duluth excursions are expected to leave around 8:30 a.m.

KSTP Eyewitness News

 

Kidney beans mark the start of container shipping from Port of Duluth

DULUTH, MN – Two hundred containers of kidney beans are being loaded on an ocean-going vessel and will leave the Port of Duluth-Superior this weekend, marking the return of container shipping at the United States’ westernmost inland port.

Until recently, container shipping on the Great Lakes was restricted to the Port of Cleveland, limiting importing and exporting opportunities for this region. Duluth Cargo Connect worked to reverse the Department of Homeland Security’s ruling and open Clure Public Marine Terminal to the popular way of transporting freight.

The Port of Duluth-Superior said last fall that it would open to containers, and be able to handle a larger volume from international vessels.

Twenty-foot containers of legumes from Menomonie, Wis.-based Chippewa Valley Bean, loaded onto the general cargo ship Nunalik, are bound for what’s expected to be a 14-day trip from the Clure Terminal to Europe, where the beans will be delivered to several countries.

It’s speedier than what the company has seen recently. “This last number of months we’ve fought our way through supply chain issues and have had extreme difficulty in trying to deliver product to our customers in Europe,” said Cindy Brown, president of Chippewa Valley Bean. “This is just really a saving grace for us.”

The company exports 70% of its product and had been shipping from Montreal — until it faced a strike at the port, shipping congestion and stalled railways. In February 2021, the company loaded a container that didn’t land on a vessel until June. “That’s a long time for a product to sit in the middle of the U.S. waiting to find its way someplace,” she said.

Clure Terminal has been limited to container shipping by rail and by truck. The addition of the maritime elements broadens capabilities for Duluth Cargo Connect — a partnership between the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, which owns Clure, and Lake Superior Warehousing, which operates the terminal. “We’re always seeking to enhance and increase cargo diversity that moves through this port,” port authority spokesman Jayson Hron said. “That makes it more vibrant and brings more vitality to the port.”

Before Nunalik could be loaded Friday, wind energy cargo was unloaded by crane. The ability to import and export at the same port is expected to be a draw for other businesses looking to bypass the coasts.

Claus Sorensen, vice president of Spliethoff, the ocean transport company that owns Nunalik, has been in the shipping business for the past eight years. Duluth is now the second U.S. port on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system able to handle container shipping — a welcome addition as a spot farther west than the company’s base in Cleveland, he said.

“There are truck issues around the country; there are rail issues around the country, and it really is easy to put containers on this ship and get them out of here,” Sorensen said. “And that’s what we do.”

Duluth Star Tribune

 

Cleaning up Cleveland’s waterways with Flotsam & Jestam

CLEVELAND, OH – The Port of Cleveland has two custom vessels that patrol the waters of the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor with the task of capturing and removing floating debris.

Dating back to 1868, the Cuyahoga River caught fire a total of 13 times, including a blaze in 1952, which caused over $1.3 million in damage.  The story garnered national attention when a photograph of the 1952 fire ran in Time Magazine just two months after the Cuyahoga River caught fire on June 22, 1969.

That image of the fire acted as a catalyst, calling for a major focus on environmental protection and sustainability. In 1972, the charge for environmental responsibility and protection was marked by the introduction of the Clean Water Act.

In an effort to sustain and support these efforts, the Port of Cleveland planned, designed, and built a pair of custom tandem vessels – Flotsam & Jetsam – with the purpose of collecting and removing plastic and organic floating debris from the Cuyahoga River along Cleveland Harbor.

Commissioned in 2012, Flotsam & Jetsam were predated by the vessel, Putzfrau — meaning ‘cleaning lady’ in German — that vacuumed up floating muck on the Cuyahoga River immediately after the 1969 fire.

The Port planned, designed, and built a pair of custom vessels – Flotsam and Jetsam – to capture and remove plastic and organic floating debris from Cleveland Harbor. Commissioned into service in late 2012, the Port operates both vessels from mid-May through mid-October.

The crew and vessels annually remove over 200,000 pounds of floating debris.

Click on this link to watch a Youtube to learn more about Flotsam & Jetsam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITHYMN7Ew_E

Fox 8 & Port of Cleveland

 

Boatnerd forum issues

As we work to update the Boatnerd forums, please bear with us if some posts display incorrectly. We are aware of the issue – some of which caused the recent Boatnerd outage – and we are working to fix things as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding.