Another day, another passenger ship: Soo welcomes Ocean Voyager

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The busy passenger ship season welcomed another new vessel, Ocean Voyager, on Wednesday. She was the third different cruise ship to visit the Soo in the last four days. After locking up in the morning, she returned downbound and moored at the Valley Camp dock, after which passengers boarded hop on-hop off buses that took them to various locations such as the Soo Locks. Ocean Voyager is the former Victory I.

Roger LeLievre

 

Watch a 740-foot freighter slide out of the Soo Locks up close

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI — If you want to feel small, stand a few feet from a 740-foot freighter as it slides past on its way out of a 1,200-foot shipping lock.

The Baie Comeau, a self-unloading bulk freighter owned by Canada Steamship Lines, passed through the Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie about 8:15 a.m. on Monday, May 16 while en route to Nanticoke, Ontario from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The Baie Comeau, named for the city of Baie-Comeau in Quebec, locked through the Soo after a busy weekend at the shipping complex, which saw 21 vessels, including tour boats and survey boats as well as large cargo-carrying freighters, lock through the day prior.

To watch the video and read the rest of this article, click on this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/05/watch-a-740-foot-freighter-slide-out-of-the-soo-locks-up-close.html

MLive

 

Marblehead Lighthouse celebrating 200th year

MARBLEHEAD, OH —  For two centuries, Marblehead Lighthouse has been a towering mainstay along Lake Erie’s shoreline.

Since its construction in the early 19th century, the lighthouse has provided a steady beacon and landmark for sailors and served as a popular subject for photographers and painters.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is hosting a series of events this year to honor Marblehead Lighthouse’s bicentennial anniversary, beginning Saturday with “Legacy on the Lake: Celebrating 200 Years of the Marblehead Lighthouse.” Sarah Wickham, ODNR’s chief of communications, said the Legacy on the Lake celebration will be held from 12-4 p.m. at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park.

Wickham said there will be entertainment, food trucks, birthday cake, games, giveaways, ODNR naturalists with some of the area’s wild animal friends, a touch-a-truck, Smokey Bear, free lighthouse tours, and other activities.

She said the lighthouse continues to be a popular spot for visitors traveling to Ottawa County.

“Each year, more than 25,000 people climb to the top of the lighthouse, but we estimate more than 1 million visitors come to the park every year,” Wickham said. Wickham said Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822.

Read the full article at this link: https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/2022/05/18/marblehead-lighthouse-celebrating-200th-year/9804099002/

Fremont News Messenger

 

Summer ship & shore days allow museum visitors to explore Great Lakes history on land and water

TOLEDO, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) and The Sandpiper passenger tour boat are teaming up again this summer to offer the “Ultimate Great Lakes History Day.” One Saturday a month, a special ticket will be available combining full access to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and a trip along the Maumee River aboard The Sandpiper. 

“The Ship & Shore experience provides a way to explore Great Lakes history all day long,” says Kate Fineske, the museum’s spokesperson. “Guests receive full-day access to the National Museum of the Great Lakes including our museum’s world-class, family-friendly exhibits, a 617-foot iron ore freighter and a lake class tugboat—along with a mid-day trip aboard The Sandpiper departing and returning from the museum docks.”

While touring the Maumee River aboard The Sandpiper, visitors will have access to the award-winning Port of Toledo: Then and Now exhibit. This exhibit uses QR codes onboard the vessel to allow cruisers to interact with Great Lakes history along the Maumee River. The codes provide additional images and information about the rich history behind various spots along the river’s banks—giving visitors the opportunity to visually compare and contrast the old Maumee River with the new.

“Ship & Shore: The Ultimate Great Lakes History Day” is offered three Saturdays this summer—June 11, July 9 and August 13. Tickets must be purchased in advance at nmgl.org or by calling 419-214-5000. For additional information please visit nmgl.org/event.

View the gallery to read the full press release and see prices.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Dredging contract awarded for Toledo Harbor, Maumee River

A contract for the dredging of the federal navigation channel in Toledo Harbor and the Maumee River was awarded this week to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co.

The announcement was made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, which said the contract is valued at about $4.6 million.

Dredging of harbors like Toledo’s and rivers like the Maumee ensures accessible depths for large vessels, the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and the economic viability of U.S. waterways, the Army Corps said in its announcement.

The contract was awarded on Tuesday.

Toledo Blade

 

Help Wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry

Lake Michigan Carferry is accepting applications for placement in the engine department aboard the historic S.S. Badger.  Candidates must possess a Merchant Mariner’s Credential with QMED (Fireman/Oiler/Watertender) endorsement, a current Medical Certificate and a valid TWIC card.  QMED will expect to live aboard and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season (as soon as possible to Oct 16th, 2022) QMED wage is $28.91p/hr ($43.37 for OT hours).   Visit our web site at http://www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew to fill out an online application or email lbialochowski@interlakems.com  for more information.

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

US Great Lakes shipping reports mixed results; signs for optimism 

U.S. Great Lakes ports reported mixed results for the start of the spring shipping season, with gains and losses heavily tied to global trading conditions and Lake Superior ice-breaking resources. U.S. grain exports, steel imports, road salt and containerized goods were strong performers.

“Inadequate ice-breaking resources in Lake Superior had a major impact on cargo shipments out of the port of Duluth-Superior, which underlines how much we need new and improved capacity for the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking fleet,” says Bruce Burrows, President and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “On a more positive note, grain exports from U.S. ports were in strong demand along with shipments of salt, steel and containers. We expect that the demand for different cargo segments will continue to be impacted by fluctuating prices and trade flows related to global supply chain issues and the Russia/Ukraine conflict.”

Overall cargo shipments (from March 22 to April 30) via the St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 3.5 million metric tons, down by 18 percent compared to the same period in 2021. Iron ore volumes were down 23 per cent. Year-to-date U.S. grain shipments via the Seaway totaled 176,000 metric tons, up 175 percent compared to 2021. Road salt shipments were also up 21 percent, as Canadian mines delivered to cities throughout the bi-national region.

The Port of Toledo was off to a good start in 2022. Through April, 78 vessels have already called upon the Port and tonnage is up nearly 11 percent over the same period in 2021. Grain, salt, coal and liquid bulk are all outpacing 2021 totals. “While it is early in the season, there are signs that 2022 will be successful,” said Joseph Cappel, VP of Business Development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “Grain and fertilizer are expected to be big movers in 2022 as trade patterns and pricing continue to fluctuate based on various global happenings. If our staple commodities like coal, iron ore and other dry bulk commodities remain consistent, we will have a strong year.”

The Port of Cleveland has experienced a very strong start to the 2022 season in its general cargo operation. April tonnage more than doubled its total tonnage from April 2021. “Our container numbers have also increased dramatically due to the addition of Doornekamp’s Peyton Lynn C to the Spliethoff service last September,” said David Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cleveland. “Export customers are now jumping on board due to shortages of containers and vessel space at coastal ports. We are very close to completing the first phase of a very large infrastructure project which will improve the efficiency of the movement of general cargo throughout the Port. This project will be completed in its entirety late first quarter of 2023.”

Hampered by Great Lakes icebreaking challenges and a slower-than-normal start for the American lake freighter fleet, total tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior reached only 2.43 million short tons in April 2022. Combined with an icy March in which only three ships called on the port, overall tonnage through April 30 trailed last year’s pace and the five-season average by 38 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

Iron ore, the port’s top cargo by tonnage, neared 1.6 million short tons through April. This represented a 42 percent dip from the 2021 pace and a 34 percent drop compared to the five-season average. Each of the port’s major cargo categories finished April behind the 2021 pace with the exception of grain and salt. Outbound grain shipments comprised of wheat and beet pulp pellets totaled 148,620 short tons through April, nearly doubling the 2021 pace and exceeding the five-season average by 24 percent. Almost two-thirds of the Duluth-Superior grain float sailed through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System as export commerce.

Inbound salt deliveries to Duluth-Superior topped 81,000 short tons in April, more than doubling the April 2021 total and the five-season average.

“Winter lingered a bit too long this year, which made March and most of April a tough slog for Coast Guard icebreakers and the freighters that depend on them for support to power through those conditions,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We started to see an uptick in vessel traffic later in the month, as the ice situation improved, but it’s still hard to predict the tenor of 2022. Unusual factors continue to affect the world of cargo transportation, including ongoing global supply chain delays and the situation in Ukraine. That instability keeps everyone guessing, but there’s still reason for optimism that it’ll be a good season in the Port of Duluth-Superior.”

AJOT 

 

Soo welcomes another passenger ship, Ocean Explorer

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The busy passenger ship season welcomed another new vessel, Ocean Explorer, on Tuesday. She moored at the Valley Camp dock, after which passengers boarded hop on-hop off buses that took them to various locations such as the Soo Locks. They departed just after 6 p.m. for Mackinac Island. The 432-foot-long vessel, built in 2021, is operated by Vantage Deluxe World Travel, Boston, MA.

Roger LeLievre

 

Help Wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry

Lake Michigan Carferry is accepting applications for placement in the engine department aboard the historic S.S. Badger.  Candidates must possess a Merchant Mariner’s Credential with QMED (Fireman/Oiler/Watertender) endorsement, a current Medical Certificate and a valid TWIC card.  QMED will expect to live aboard and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season (as soon as possible to Oct 16th, 2022) QMED wage is $28.91p/hr ($43.37 for OT hours).   Visit our web site at http://www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew to fill out an online application or email lbialochowski@interlakems.com  for more information.

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul arrives in Duluth

DULUTH, MN – A naval ship to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy arrived in the port Monday morning.

The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is scheduled for commissioning at 10 a.m. Saturday before it is moved to its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Florida, where it will have a crew of 140 sailors, the News Tribune first reported in 2020.

Built by Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, the Freedom-class littoral combat ship was launched and christened June 15, 2019. Littoral combat ships are “a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats,” according to a press release from the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The USS Minneapolis St. Paul was expected to become the first anti-submarine warfare littoral combat ship in the U.S. naval fleet. It is designed for speed and shallow-water, near-shore combat. The Navy League described anti-submarine warfare as a “branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.”

Duluth News Tribune

 

Icebreaker shortage freezes up supply chain on Great Lakes

CLEVELAND, OH – The ice season is over on the Great Lakes, but the impacts of insufficient Coast Guard icebreaking linger.

During this year’s ice season, the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry lost the equivalent of a month due to delays in ice-covered waters. More than 1.6 million tons of cargo carrying capacity was delayed for 28 days due to ice conditions on Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and in Green Bay. A lack of Coast Guard icebreakers hampered efforts to meet the needs of commerce.

“It amazes me that a cargo container stuck in Chesapeake Bay or in the Suez Canal gets worldwide attention, and that happens on the Great Lakes every year. The loss of one day of shipping is tremendous, but a month is devastating. Imagine if highways in the northern states didn’t have enough snowplows to keep traffic moving during frequent winter storms and sat on the road for a month. It is unacceptable,” stated Jim Weakley, president of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ice conditions this past winter were “average” to “slightly below average” during the bulk of the icebreaking period. Several ships, including some Canadian-flag lakers, faced perilous journeys through ice-infested waters that nearly forced a vessel aground in the Straits of Mackinac and shut down waterways.

At one point, several vessels were stuck in eastern Lake Superior for more than three days. With an aging fleet of six 40-year-old small icebreaking tugs and only one heavy icebreaker, the U.S. Coast Guard couldn’t keep up. Multiple vessels were shoved near the edge of the navigational channels as ice floes over a foot thick shifted, which lasted up until mid-April. At the beginning of the ice season, the U.S. Coast Guard lost five icebreakers to engineering casualties, just when they were needed most.

“The Coast Guard needs more icebreakers on the Fourth Sea Coast. We have 237,000 jobs depending on a reliable Great Lakes Navigation System. In addition, our sailors deserve to feel safe navigating our waterways regardless of the time of year,” said John Baker, International Longshoremen’s Association and Vice President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.

While progress fixing the icebreaking issue has been slow, it is moving forward thanks to key Great Lakes senators and Congressional representatives. Over the past year, both the current commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the nominee to replace him testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, acknowledging the need for another heavy Great Lakes icebreaker.

In addition, the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act has passed the House as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Bill, which authorizes full funding for the new icebreaker, mandates transparent and accurate performance measures, and commissions a study by the Government Accountability Office to examine the impacts and needs for additional U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers on the Great Lakes.

Transport Topics

 

Two North Shore communities have ambition to revive a Lake Superior port

The Town of Marathon and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (formerly Pic River) are looking to revive the port facilities at the site of the former Marathon Pulp mill.

The two neighbouring communities have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a port authority and establish the only commercial port on the north shore of Lake Superior, between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. Besides being blessed with a natural harbour, what remains from the pulp mill days is a 500-foot (152 metres) wharf with 11 steel bollards in place for ship tie-up.

“From what we’ve been looking at and from the preliminary discussions with the engineers, it’s ship-ready,” said Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas. “We could pull in ships today.”

The port initiative and repurposing the brownfield site has figured prominently in the municipality’s economic development plans since the closure of Marathon Pulp in 2009. Discussions began picking up steam in the last two years with the arrival in town of Generation Mining. The Toronto mining company has plans to develop an open-pit palladium and copper mine 10 kilometres north of the town centre. Commercial production at the proposed mine will tentatively begin in late 2023 and early 2024.

The dock is attached to 93 acres of developable land, where the mill once stood, near the middle of town. The current draft at the dock is 25 feet (7.6 metres), deepening to 30 feet (9 metres) further out in Peninsula Harbour.

The property is five kilometres off the Trans-Canada Highway and a CP rail spur runs onto the site, ending 500 metres from the dock. The site, zoned heavy industrial, has municipal water, sewer and fibre-optic connections, and a five-megawatt substation. In terms of inbound marine cargoes, Dumas said they would be looking to attract bulk freight that area communities and industry always need, such as road salt, aggregates and fuel oil.

“We’re looking at things we use every day.”

Read the full article at this link: https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/transportation/two-north-shore-communities-have-ambition-to-revive-a-lake-superior-port-5285635

Northern Ontario Business

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Warship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul locks upbound Saturday

Sault Ste. Marie – The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was upbound at the Soo Locks around 12:30 p.m. Saturday headed to Duluth-Superior where she will be commissioned at 10 AM on May 21.

 She was assisted at the locks by the Great Lakes Towing Co. tug Kentucky. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul has no thrusters and the high sides act like a sail, although wind was not an issue Saturday.

 The USS Minneapolis Saint Paul, LCS-21, is a littoral combat ship built at Marinette, Wisconsin’s Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

 The ship was christened and launched into the Menominee River in 2019 but problems with the vessel surfaced during trials and the commissioning, twice in both 2020 and 2021.

Roger LeLievre

 

Pearl Mist cruise ship returning to Great Lakes, passengers to explore 2 Michigan ports

Pearl Seas Cruises is returning to the Great Lakes this summer – after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with plans to visit two ports in Michigan multiple times.

The cruise line’s Pearl Mist will soon begin a 15-night itinerary through the St. Lawrence Seaway ending in Toronto, Canada, on Lake Ontario. From Toronto, the ship will begin its 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay cruise on May 29, which includes stops at Mackinac Island and Muskegon; the cruise ends in Milwaukee, WI.

The Pearl Mist will operate two itineraries from May to August: the 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay and the 7-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay, both include the two Michigan ports. A total of 10 cruises are planned.

The 210-passenger, six-deck ship has operated on the Great Lakes since 2014 and called on Muskegon for the first time in 2015.

According to Cruise Industry News, Pearl Seas is also offering expanded onboard and shore enrichment programs this year, including activities from kayaking to hiking to glass-bottom boat tours.

MLive

 

Time running out for Boatnerd Freighter-Chasing Cruise Early Bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

• When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

• Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

• Limit: 100 passengers

• Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

• General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

• Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

‘Sure looks beautiful’: Freshly painted, SS Badger gets to work

Ludington, MI – Decked in fresh paint and outfitted with several upgrades, the SS Badger made its first trip of the season to Manitowoc, Wisconsin and back on Thursday.

It was an “absolutely beautiful day for a first sail,” said Shelby Soberalski, Director of Marketing and Sales for Lake Michigan Carferry. “Perfect weather. Couldn’t have asked for anything better.” On the ground in Manitowoc, speaking between honks of the Badger’s horn, Soberalski said the ride was “so much fun. … It’s been a great day.”

Thursday marked the Badger’s first trip since the 69-year-old National Historic Landmark was sandblasted and covered with 800 gallons of fresh paint late last year.

“It’s a definite visual testament to the future of the Badger,” Soberalski said. “Some passengers specifically wanted to come and see the new paint. … People were very excited to see that she’s being so well taken care of.”

The Badger also crossed the lake equipped with renovated crew quarters and a new system for passengers to stream movies and shows on their devices, but on Thursday, “a lot of passengers were excited to be outside on the open air decks,” she said.

Arcade games are set to be installed on the ship this week, and from June 10 to Sept. 7, the ship will get back to running doubles — taking a night trip back to Manitowoc and returning to Ludington by morning.

“We’re really excited to bring back doubles,” Soberalski said. “This is something that we had hosted in the past, that we had a lot of demand for, and people are getting really excited for an opportunity to see the sunset, see night sky stargazing opportunities.”

Read the full article at this link: https://www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/news/local/sure-looks-beautiful-freshly-painted-ss-badger-gets-to-work/article_c83ab81f-b74a-5f1b-a1d2-ee1016e885c7.html#tncms-source=signup

Ludington Daily News

 

Great Lakes iron ore trade down in April

Cleveland, OH – Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 3 million tons in April, a decrease of 44.7 percent compared to last year.  Shipments were 41.3 percent below the month’s 5-year average. 

 Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 5.5 million tons, a decrease of 41.7 percent compared to the same point in 2021. Through April, iron ore shipments are 37.4 percent below their 5-year average for four months of the year.

 Lake Carriers’ Association

 

Great Lakes limestone trade down in April

Cleveland, OH – Shipments totaled 2 million net tons, a decrease of 16.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings were above the month’s 5-year average by 5.5 percent. 

 Loadings at U.S. ports totaled 1.6 million tons, a decrease of 14.6 percent.  Shipments from Canadian quarries decreased by 24.4 percent to 370,107 tons. 

 Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 2 million tons, a decrease of 19.1 percent from 2021.  Shipments from U.S. ports decreased by 16.5 percent from the previous year, while shipments from Canadian ports decreased by 28.8 percent.

Lake Carriers’ Association

 

Guests tour giant vessels, old and new

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Visitors saw more history-making Great Lakes vessels than usual during this year’s tours at the Sturgeon Bay shipyards.

Some years, the winter fleet has sailed away for freight-hauling duty before the Rotary Club’s annual shipyard-tour fundraiser takes place, but this year, 1,000 people who bought $20 tickets for the tours got a chance to approach and learn about two of the oldest Great Lakes super-freighters. 

They also saw a 1,004-foot-long vessel up on blocks, without its props or rudder, in Fincantieri’s large graving dock, and they got a close look at the exterior of the newest freighter on the Great Lakes.

Docked along the bay of Sturgeon Bay, the 858-foot-long bulk freighter M/V Roger Blough floated high in the water, wedged and winched between the 1,000-foot-long Stewart Cort and a 70-year-old, oil-fired steamship, the Cason J. Callaway. At least this month, the Stewart Cort had a much different cargo, said tour volunteer Stu Fett, who retired after 47 years at the shipyard.

“The Stewart Cort is being used as hotel accommodations for the crew that is going to be on the Mark W. Barker,” Fett said, motioning northeastward toward a somewhat shorter, new vessel.

Fett said that while carrying taconite or other freight, the Cort would need 23 or 24 crew members to operate, but the Mark W. Barker, built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, could need as few as 16 or 17 crew members.

Visitors on the tour asked about the future of the Roger Blough, which caught fire and sustained millions of dollars’ worth of damage 15 months ago. Fett said he couldn’t speak to the future of the vessel, which is part of the Canadian National Railway Great Lakes Fleet, along with the Callaway.

The Cort, built for Bethlehem Steel, became the first “thousand-footer” on the Great Lakes, Fett said. Launched in 1972, it had construction delays, too. A Mississippi yard built and connected its fore and aft sections so it could navigate the Atlantic Coast and seaway to Erie, Pennsylvania, where its center sections were added. Fett said its side tanks were added after it got through some locks that could not handle its 105-foot total width.

The anticipated christening this spring of Interlake Steamship’s Mark W. Barker will make history – and not just for the Sturgeon Bay yard, said Craig Perciavalle, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding vice president and general manager, who was hired for the shipyard’s top spot after Todd Thayse retired in January of this year.

“That will be the first bulk carrier built in the Great Lakes for 40 years, so that’s a pretty big milestone for U.S. shipbuilding,” Perciavalle said. “We have a lot of great customers. Interlake is one of them. We were happy to win that contract and to finish that up.” When the 639-foot-long vessel was floated out of dry dock at Sturgeon Bay in November 2021, it marked the first launch of a large bulk freighter in the lakes since 1983, and the first for Interlake since 1981.

Perciavalle said Fincantieri did not allow any public access to the south yard, where the company has been helping Fincantieri Marinette Marine complete sections of frigates for the Saudi Arabian navy. Though he did not specify a date or month, he confirmed that it won’t be long before the company needs to ramp up to build sections of modern frigates for the U.S. Navy.

Perciavalle said there’s still plenty to see on the commercial side of the shipyard, and the annual Rotary Club tours should continue as the years go on.

“This is really phenomenal,” Perciavalle told the Peninsula Pulse. “To have this open to the public through the Rotary, I think is a great thing for us. I think it’s a great opportunity, and we look forward to this every year. We’re very proud to be a part of this and to do all we can for a community that provides a tremendous amount of support for us.” Perciavalle said the Rotarians seem to have the tour routes “down to a science. They pretty much run the show, and we provide the support.”

This is the 29th year that the Rotary Club has held the event. Tour proceeds go to the club’s scholarship funds and student-exchange program, tour chair Keith Mutchler said. The Rotary Club did not have tours in 2020, and it delayed the 2021 tours until September because of COVID-19 concerns.

Years ago, the Rotary Club did not limit crowd sizes.  “A couple of years, we had way too many people, and we were pushing things and pushing the volunteers,” Mutchler said. The club now ensures a high-quality event by limiting the number of visitors it allows in, and it always sells all of the available tickets. “We sold out about two weeks ago, and we continued to have people emailing or approaching us for more tickets,” Mutchler said.

Door County Pulse

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

• When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine
• Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
• Limit: 100 passengers
• Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
• General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17
• Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

 

Have a good weekend everyone!

– Jack

CSL’s New Purpose-Designed Diesel-Electric Self-Unloading Ship Begins Service for Windsor Salt

Montreal, QC – Earlier this week, Canada Steamship Lines’ new diesel-electric self-unloading vessel, MV Nukumi, successfully completed its inaugural loading and discharge of deicing salt for dedicated customer, Windsor Salt.

 “The successful launch of Nukumi’s operations is the culmination of many years of planning with our visionary partner, Windsor Salt, to achieve the next level of safe, sustainable and efficient shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region,” said Louis Martel, President and CEO, The CSL Group. “We are extremely proud of our vessel’s early performance, which is a testament to the expertise, ingenuity and skill of our design and newbuild teams who conceived Nukumi, and of our seafarers who are now operating this highly sophisticated ship.”

Purpose-designed to service Windsor Salt’s deicing salt shipping and handling needs in Eastern Canada, the vessel’s state-of-the-art technology and innovative features were put to the test for the first time during loading at the Mines Seleines salt mine in the Magdalene Islands last week, and during the discharge in Montreal yesterday.

On her first trip to the Mines Seleine salt mine, the ship’s modern hull design and twin-fin diesel-electric propulsion system demonstrated the vessel’s ability to transit through narrow channels more quickly, at lower tide and with exceptional maneuverability.

 The ship’s fully automated single point of loading and state-of-the-art cargo handling systems performed as designed and eliminated the need for vessel shifting during loading, making for a safer and more efficient operation. 

 During discharge in Montreal, the vessel’s shuttle discharge boom arrangement significantly reduced shifting, while sensor technology installed on the boom and programmed to auto-pile mode contributed to saving time and crew effort.

 Several innovations built into the design of M/V Nukumi are also reducing the ship’s overall environmental footprint and are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants by 25% and 80% respectively, compared with previous ships servicing the same routes. These include diesel-electric tier 3 engines, a ballast water treatment system, a waste heat recovery system, and overall quieter machinery.

 “Canadians count on the critical deicing salts that Nukumi will deliver to stockpiles throughout Eastern Canada to help keep roadways safe during the winter,” said Luc B. Savoie, Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, Windsor Salt Ltd. “Reducing the environmental impact of shipping our deicing salt and ensuring everyone’s safety are important objectives at Windsor Salt, and we are delighted that this new, advanced ship will help us achieve both.” 

 CSL is grateful to the Ministère des Transports du Québec for its financial contribution as part of the Ministry’s program to improve the efficiency of marine, air and rail transportation. 

 “With Avantage Saint-Laurent, our government has given Quebec a clear vision for the marine industry: aligning economic development and protecting ecosystems. CSL’s Nukumi is a perfect example to what we want to do on the St. Lawrence. I am very proud to support this project, which uses innovative marine transportation practices that respect the environment, and has concrete benefits for communities,” said Chantal Rouleau, Quebec’s Minister for Transport.

Canada Steamship Lines

 

Great Lakes Ships Lose a Month Due to Lack of Icebreakers

Cleveland, OH – The ice season is over on the Great Lakes but the impacts of insufficient Coast Guard icebreaking linger.  With a defined shipping season of 10-months, due to the closure of the navigational locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan which connect Lake Superior and the iron ore mines to the steel mills in the southern lakes, delays to the maritime supply chain have tremendous impacts.

During this year’s ice season, the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry lost the equivalent of a month due to delays in ice covered waters.  1.645 million tons of cargo carrying capacity was delayed for 679.5 hours or 28 days due to ice conditions on Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and in Green Bay and a lack of Coast Guard icebreakers to meet the needs of commerce. 

 “It amazes me that a cargo container stuck in Chesapeake Bay or in the Suez Canal gets worldwide attention and that happens on the Great Lakes every year.  The loss of one day of shipping is tremendous, but a month is devasting.  Imagine if highways in the northern states didn’t have enough snowplows to keep traffic moving during frequent winter storms and sat on the road for a month…it is unacceptable,” stated Jim Weakley, President of the Great Maritime Task Force.

 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ice conditions this past winter were “average” to “slightly below average” during the bulk of the icebreaking period.  Several ships, including some Canadian-flag lakers, faced perilous journeys through ice infested waters that nearly forced a vessel aground in the Straits of Mackinac and shutdown waterways.  At one point several vessels were stuck in eastern Lake Superior for more than three days.  With an aging fleet of six 40-year-old small icebreaking tugs and only one heavy icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard couldn’t keep up.  Multiple vessels were shoved near the edge of the navigational channels as ice floes over a foot thick shifted which lasted up until mid-April.  At the beginning of the ice season the U.S. Coast Guard lost five icebreakers to engineering casualties, just when they were needed most.

 “The Coast Guard needs more icebreakers on the Fourth Sea Coast.  We have 237,000 jobs depending on a reliable Great Lakes Navigation System.  In addition, our sailors deserve to feel safe navigating our waterways regardless of the time of year,” stated John D. Baker, International Longshoremen’s Association and Vice President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.

 While progress fixing the icebreaking issue has been slow, it is moving forward thanks to key Great Lakes Senators and Congressional Representatives.  Over the past year both the current Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the nominee to replace him testified before the Senate Commerce Committee acknowledging the need for another heavy Great Lakes icebreaker.  In addition, the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act has passed the House in the Coast Guard Authorization Bill which authorizes full funding for the new icebreaker, mandates transparent and accurate performance measures, and commissions a study by the Government Accountability Office to examine the impacts and needs for additional U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers on the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

 

SS Badger ready to sail with big changes on horizon

 Ludington, MI – The ownership of Lake Michigan Carferry and the SS Badger are happy to see the 2022 season start off today, and there could be some changes on the not-too-distant horizon, too.

 “It’s always a fun day. I think it’s exciting and a lot of anxiety to get it going and get it out there,” Mark Barker, president of Interlake Holding Company and parent company of LMC, told the Daily News after remarks at a kickoff event Wednesday evening at the Lake House in downtown Ludington.

 “Sara (Spore, general manager of LMC) and her team have been working non-stop. It’s always a sigh of relief to get underway and start the season.”

 Barker outlined some of the changes the boat went through over the course of the winter and what could be ahead for the national historic landmark in brief remarks to the people on hand for the event. He mentioned in brief remarks the company is starting to investigate looking into the possibility of moving away from the Badger being powered by coal.

 “We’re looking at all options,” Barker told the Daily News. “At the end of the day, we need a boat that is sustainable, and that means economically, environmentally, from everything. We want the boat to continue to run for the communities that we serve. We need to look at all options.

 “Coal is not the most favored fuel in the world.”

 The previous ownership group studied and even received a grant from the State of Wisconsin to convert from coal to natural gas in the early 2010s. Barker said Wednesday that the company is going to start from the beginning in its search to determine a new fuel source for the Badger.

 “We looked at natural gas. We were actually looking at natural gas for our other ships at the same time Bob (Manglitz, former co-owner of LMC) was looking at natural gas for here,” he told the Daily News. “I was talking to Bob because he was asking me questions about it. I don’t think natural gas is the right fuel for this application nor is it in the future.

 “I think we have to look at opportunities, and what they are, I don’t know, yet,” he said. “There’s a lot of talk about what the right long-term fuel is to decarbonize by 2050. That’s maritime goal, to be carbon-neutral by 2050. We have to look at all options, and we have to start somewhere. We’re starting from scratch and looking at what can we do now and how is that going to work for the future.”

 Read more at this Ludington Daily News link: https://www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/news/local/ss-badger-ready-to-sail-with-big-changes-on-horizon/article_7151e4b9-6ee1-55e7-97a5-b77edc2f6d03.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2q1HGeII6VF5fF7s2ex5jOyJzF6ke7QQTx-dTX4-91k-lunhNYGF6gnc8

Ludington Daily News

 

US Navy chief defends plan to scrap troubled warships even though some are less than 3 years old

The chief of the US Navy defended the service’s plans to scrap nine relatively new warships in the coming fiscal year even as the service tries to keep up with China’s growing fleet. Three of the littoral combat ships slated for decommissioning are less than three years old.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the anti-submarine ships could not perform their primary mission.

“I refuse to put an additional dollar against a system that would not be able to track a high-end submarine in today’s environment,” Gilday told the committee. He said the main reason for the early retirement was that the anti-submarine warfare system on the ships “did not work out technically.” The decommissioning of the ships would save the Navy approximately $391 million, according to the service’s proposed FY23 budget.

But that recoups only a fraction of the cost of the nine littoral combat ships, which totaled about $3.2 billion.

The USS Indianapolis, USS Billings and USS Wichita were all commissioned in 2019, which means the Navy plans on decommissioning ships that are only a fraction of the way into their expected service life. The Navy also plans to retire six other littoral combat ships, all of the single-hull Freedom-variant, as opposed to the trimaran Independence-variant. Both variants can achieve speeds of 40+ knots.

Under a 2016 Navy plan, the Freedom-class variants were all homeported Mayport, Florida, mainly for use in Atlantic Ocean operations. The Independence-class variants were homeported in San Diego, and designated for mainly Pacific operations.

The decision amounts to an embarrassing admission that some of the Navy’s newest ships are not fit for modern warfare.

Read the full article at this Microsoft Start link: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/us/us-navy-chief-defends-plan-to-scrap-troubled-warships-even-though-some-are-less-than-3-years-old/ar-AAXaSon?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=abcc3f89602641d6b5ec907fcac79327

Microsoft Start

 

Visitor Center boat hotline has new number for 2022

 Sault Ste. Marie – The Soo Locks Visitor Center Boatwatcher’s Hotline has a new number this year for checking what vessels are due at the locks. Call 906-202-1333 to play the recording. The Visitor Center is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays in May but the recording will still be updated those days.

S.S. Badger to make first Lake Michigan crossing of the season

Ludington, MI – The S.S. Badger is set to make its first voyage of the season on Thursday. 

The 410-foot Great Lakes car ferry will sail 60 miles from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin sporting a fresh coat of paint. It will continue to operate daily from May 12 through Oct. 16, with two crossings a day scheduled for the height of the season, from June 19 to Sept. 6. 

“We’ve had a busy off season making many investments that are visible not just in the Badger’s appearance but in our enhanced schedule of crossings and cruises and additional on board amenities,” said Sara Spore, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry, which operates the Badger, in a news release.

A press release from Lake Michigan Carferry states the ship will be staffed by 100 employees on opening day. This includes 40 between the deck and engine crews.

The Badger can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motorcoaches, and commercial trucks and oversized load in a single trip. 

”In addition to the 800 gallons of paint that restored the Badger … passengers will enjoy new amenities such as an onboard video entertainment system where they can browse and select movies to watch on their own devices, on demand,” reads part of the release. 

Also new this year is an evening Shoreline Cruise leaving from Manitowoc, adding to the lineup that includes two afternoon cruises from the Wisconsin port. “Our Shoreline Cruises are very popular and we wanted to offer an evening cruise experience where people can enjoy the sunsets, star gazing and an absolutely beautiful night time sky like you’ve never seen before,” said Shelby Soberalski, director of marketing and sales at Lake Michigan Carferry, in the release. 

For more information on the S.S. Badger or to book a reservation, visit ssbadger.com.

Manistee News

 

Duluth port prepares for cruise ships to arrive

Duluth, MN – The cruise ship passenger terminal on the Harbor Drive side of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center will be completed later this month, just in time for the first cruise ship since 2013 to dock in Duluth’s harbor.

During the Cruise the Great Lakes annual meeting, which is being held at the DECC this week, organization and Duluth officials highlighted the work that’s been done to allow for cruise ships to come to Duluth. This summer, nine cruises will be stopping in Duluth for the day. David Naftzger, executive director of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers, said having a fixed location for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility was “instrumental” in attracting cruise ship companies Viking Cruises and American Queen Voyages to add Duluth to their networks.

“This effectively opens Lake Superior to cruising that crosses that U.S.-Canadian border,” Naftzger said. “Ports like Thunder Bay will benefit, ports like Duluth will benefit, and we will see it grow over time to other places.”

The Great Lakes have been named top global tourism destinations by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and Travel + Leisure Magazine in recent years. Naftzger said because of this, he expects to see more international visitors to the Great Lakes in the coming years.

Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said even though the Great Lakes are among the fastest-growing cruise destinations in the world right now, Lake Superior wasn’t previously included in the growth because there was no fixed customs facility until now.

Dan Hartman, executive director of the DECC, said the effort to get the facility to meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements was a yearslong effort between many entities, including the city of Duluth and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Hartman said depending on reconstruction of the Duluth seawall, ships will hopefully dock behind or near the DECC during their stays.

“Imagine this cruise ship, that’s going to be almost the size of the (William A.) Irvin, coming through that beautiful Lift Bridge around 8 a.m., and they’ll come in here and go through our facility, which is kind of like the TSA for cruise boats,” he said. “Then they’re going to come out and go on these excursions.”

Read the full article at this Duluth News Tribune link: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/duluth-port-prepares-for-cruise-ships-to-arrive

Duluth News Tribune

 

Doubters abound as Charlevoix couple think they found Great Lakes’ oldest shipwreck

It’s the oldest mystery on the Great Lakes: Whatever happened to the Griffon? It was the first big ship to sail the Great Lakes. Loaded with furs in what’s now Wisconsin, the Griffon was said to have sunk somewhere in northern Lake Michigan in 1679.

A couple in Charlevoix think they’ve found it. Steve and Kathie Libert, of Charlevoix, said they’ve spent more than 40 years seeking the answer to one of North America’s most enduring mysteries — the final resting place of the legendary Griffon. Reports by French explorers and missionaries said Native Americans told them they saw the ship go down with all hands.

The Liberts say the wreck lies near tiny, uninhabited Poverty Island, part of a chain of islands that runs southwest into Lake Michigan from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. French archeologists who visited the site at the Liberts’ invitation have said they believe the couple is on to something; they even staked a claim for France for whatever wreckage turns up, Steve and Kathie Libert say in their 2021 book, “Le Griffon and the Huron Islands”.

Prominent historians and shipwreck experts in Michigan doubt the Liberts’ claim. Yet none has accompanied Steve on his dives, the couple said in an interview last week at their waterfront condominium in Charlevoix. The Liberts are well-known in northern Michigan for their decades-long campaign to find the Griffon, but this week’s talk is Steve’s first appearance in metro Detroit.

“I’ve been interested in this ship since I was 14,” he said in an interview in Charlevoix last week. “It started with a junior high teacher, talking about early European explorers. He mentioned this ship. As he walked the room, he said, ‘Who knows? Maybe somebody will find that ship someday,’ and he touched me on the shoulder.”

Read the full article at this Detroit Free Press link: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2022/05/11/great-lakes-shipwreck-griffon-lake-michigan/9665058002/

Detroit Free Press

 

Historic shoreline cruise ship begins 3rd season on Lake Michigan, offers holiday cruises

Manistee, MI – The historic Princess shoreline cruise ship is sailing Lake Michigan for the third season.

Owner and Capt. Albert Laaksonen is embarking on his second season operating the 65-foot Princess out of the Manistee Municipal Marina situated along the Manistee Riverwalk. New this year are five holiday cruises.

Manistee Harbor Tours kicked off its season last week offering two, 90-minute cruises daily. The ship traverses the Manistee River out to Lake Michigan for afternoon and sunset cruises. “Many for the first time are just enjoying being on one of the greatest bodies of fresh water in the world,” Laaksonen said. “Of course, the most popular viewing are the awesome sunsets.”

One of this year’s holiday cruises will include not only the sunset but also a fantastic view of Manistee’s 4th of July fireworks display. This is the first year that these special cruises are being offered. Here’s the line-up: Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 29; Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19; Independence Day, Monday, July 4; Family Day, Sunday, Aug. 14; and Labor Day weekend, Sunday, Sept. 4. Except for the Independence Day cruise, they will all be from 2-3:30 p.m. Wine, beverages, appetizers and treats for children will be included for those who reserve tickets online. Tickets will be $50 for adults and $25 for children.

Regular cruise tickets are $35 for adults, $17.50 for children 4-14, and free for infants and toddlers 0-3. The Princess accommodates up to 148 passengers and can also be reserved for private tours.

The Princess is something of Up North royalty. She is a former Arnold Transit ferry for Mackinac Island before heading to Lake Superior to be outfitted as a car ferry in Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands.

Laaksonen brought the ship to Lake Michigan in 2020. He first offered cruises out of Ludington before moving to Manistee in 2021. He was attracted to the town’s “safe and adequate” docking facilities along with a welcoming local government and chamber of commerce, he said.

MLive 

 

UWM uses vessel to get more students interested in Great Lakes research

Milwaukee, WI –  The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hopes to get more students interested in Great Lakes research.

Maxwell Morgan is the captain of the Neeskay. It is a vessel that conducts on research on Lake Michigan for the university. Recently, he took a group of UWM students for a day out on the water. “It’s great. It’s a lot better than sitting at the dock. I can tell you that. This is what I took this job for. Being out on the open water,” Morgan said. “It’s something I have always loved, and it’s my favorite place to be.”

Morgan guided students through several experiments. This included monitoring the temperature of the water and examining the mud for contaminants. “Whether it be for making it clean for drinking or how to treat contaminated water or recreational for swimming or for fishing, drinking,” Morgan said. “Water is one of the most important resources on the planet, so if we could get a better idea of what’s going on with the water, we have the better off we will be.”

For one test, Morgan examined the health of the Lake Michigan ecosystem by finding out how much plankton is in the water.

Alaina Blackledge is one of the students. She volunteered to toss the net used to gather samples from the lake. When pulled up, the students found a good amount of plankton. Blackledge wants to become a science teacher. She went on this trip to increase her knowledge in the field. “I think, honestly, exciting people about learning is really important so when you offer an opportunity, ‘Hey let’s go out on Lake Michigan on this research vessel,’ that can excite a lot of people who would maybe never think about coming out here for this purpose,” said Blackledge.

Seeing students like Blackledge who take part in this research gives Morgan a sense of pride. “It’s a great opportunity. I think with that being such a big resource,” Blackledge said. “There’s going to be more and more job opportunities out there, so the more people we can have trained to know the different science about water, the better.”

Morgan said the Neeskay has served the university for decades and they will eventually replace it with a new research vessel called the Maggi Sue. He believes while the Maggi Sue will help advance great lakes research, he will always be thankful for Neeskay’s contribution to UWM.

More information on the university’s new research vessel can be found at https://uwm.edu/freshwater/facilities/fleet/maggi-sue/.

Spectrum News 1 

 

Boatnerd fully back on line, including old forums

After a few days of working, Boatnerd is fully back on line, including the old forums. We are working to improve the site’s functionality and on ways to make sure the bot attack that took us down won’t happen again.

Thank you for your patience,

Nathan Leindecker 

President boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/

MacArthur Lock still closed for repairs, expected to open first week of June

Sault Ste. Marie – Maintenance on one of the Soo Locks has taken longer than expected.

The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie has two locks: the larger Poe Lock and the smaller MacArthur Lock.

It’s the smaller lock that has been delayed in opening up. It was originally planned to open mid-April.

Some of the components are 80 years old and need repair. One is the powertrain.

The powertrain for the fill and empty valves has gears that are over 2,000 pounds, then came issues with getting the right parts.

“The problem was that one of the subcontractors, there were some problems with some of the parts,” said Kevin Sprague, area engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers. “And now one of our local machine shops have stepped in and they have really been able to help bring it back on-track.”

The MacArthur Lock is expected to be open by the first week of June.

9&10 News

 

Split Rock Lighthouse closed after lightning strike

Two Harbors, MN – Split Rock Lighthouse is closed after the facilities took a lightning strike Monday afternoon. 

Lightning struck a tree near the parking lot.

The lighthouse site manager tells us the electricity then went from a nearby light pole to the visitor center, and fried some of the building’s internal systems.

The strike was also frightening for the people who were there at the time.

“Basically it sounded like a gunshot going off,” said Split Rock Site Manager Hayes Scriven. “It was so loud and it was intense, you could feel the shaking even where I was in the house and where the staff was in the visitor center, they could feel it too.”

The visitor center and historic site will be closed for at least the next couple days for assessment and repairs, with a goal of being open again by the weekend.

Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most photographed and visited spots in the state.

The lighthouse was built by the United States Lighthouse Service in 1910, and has 1000 watts of power.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1969, the lantern is still in operational condition and is lit each November 10 during the Edmund Fitzgerald Beacon Lighting Ceremony.

Split Rock Lighthouse is a Minnesota Historical Society site and now operated by the group.

KBJR-TV Channel 6

 

Water flow to increase on St. Marys River

Sault Ste. Marie – Anglers and other users of the St. Marys River are advised that on Wednesday morning, May 11, 2022, Gates #9 through #12 will be raised from their current position to a setting of 33 cm (13 in) open for the remainder of the month. Gates #9 through #12 are located near the middle of the Compensating Works structure at the head of the St. Marys Rapid on the US side of the border. Gates #7 and #8 (near the middle of the structure on the Canadian side of the border) will remain at their current setting of 20 cm (8 in). 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.

 Beginning on May 11, the gate setting will be equivalent to approximately one gate fully open. These gate movements will result in an increase in the flow through the St. Marys Rapids from approximately 85 m3/s (3,000 cfs) to approximately 156 m3/s (5,500 cfs).

 These gate movements are being conducted in order to achieve the Plan 2012 prescribed flow for the month. During routine maintenance and testing, mechanical problems were identified at the Canadian hydropower plant requiring urgent repairs and a reduction in flow capacity. Maximum flows are being released from the US hydropower plants to compensate for some of this difference.

 It is possible that the gates will need to be raised again in June resulting in a higher flow in the St. Marys Rapids. Further changes to the gate settings will be communicated in future

 Lake Superior News

 

Water-level pendulum befuddles Great Lakes scientists

Though still higher than average, Lake Erie’s water level has stabilized and is not expected to approach record levels or interfere with many activities this summer.

Just two to three years ago, people got their feet wet getting on and off ferries that shuttled them between the mainland and the Lake Erie islands. Destinations such as Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island were closed because their docks were submerged. And many shoreline residents were on the lookout for erosion more than usual because of high water.

One of the Great Lakes region’s leading hydrologists, Drew Gronewold, a University of Michigan associate professor of ecosystem science and management, said the current high-water era is still with us.

But he said it shouldn’t be as much of a threat this summer because Lake Superior and Lakes Michigan-Huron have started to move back toward something which more closely resembles their historic average water levels.

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are considered the same body of water by hydrologists because they’re divided by only the Mackinac Bridge.

The Upper Lakes greatly influence the levels of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario because they flow southward into them.

“Water levels are almost surely going to stay above normal, but not reach record levels [this year],” Mr. Gronewold said Monday during a 45-minute webinar when asked specifically about Lake Erie.

Read the full article at this Toledo Blade link: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/environment/2022/05/09/swing-high-swing-low-great-lakes-water-level-pendulum-befuddles-scientists/stories/20220509117?fbclid=IwAR2qL9gwDA0NtaoIcN-QVbtrZvbWZH3SiTOBjict-2O3VM9YUllh2wfXzL4

Toledo Blade

 

Boatnerd fully back on line, including old forums

After a few days of working, Boatnerd is fully back on line, including the old forums. We are working to improve the site’s functionality and on ways to make sure the bot attack that took us down won’t happen again.

Thank you for your patience,

Nathan Leindecker 

President boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/

Largest cruise ship on Great Lakes will lock through the Soo May 24

Sault Ste. Marie – River-watchers in the Canadian and U.S. Saults will get their first look on Tuesday, May 24 at the biggest cruise ship on the Great Lakes.

 The Viking Octantis, named after the pole star of the southern hemisphere, won’t stop here on that date, or any time in 2022. It will just quietly slip through the Soo Locks on its inaugural cruise from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay.

 “The first time Viking Octantis will pass through the Soo Locks is scheduled for May 24, which is the sixth day of the Great Lakes Explorer itinerary, which begins in Milwaukee on May 21,” Viking spokesperson Amanda Hollinger tells SooToday.

 If you can’t get to the St. Marys River on May 24, you’ll have lots of other opportunities this summer to catch a glimpse of the brand-new, 665-foot, six-deck expedition ship. Upbound and downbound, the Octantis will pass through the Sault a total of 14 times this year.

 Under current pricing, an eight-day cruise costs as little as $8,395 for a 222-square-foot stateroom, or up to $23,395 for the 1,223-square-foot Owner’s Suite with private garden lounge and dining area, wood-sided hot tub, library and a welcoming bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

 Downbound to Milwaukee, the ship adds a stop at Duluth. Upbound to Thunder Bay, it spends three days exploring Georgian Bay. The downbound cruises cost a few hundred dollars more than the upbound trips. Six of the 14 cruises planned for 2022 are already sold out.

 In 2023, an identical sister ship, Viking Polaris (named after the northern pole star), will also start cruising in our area with 15-day voyages between Toronto and Duluth costing between $18,195 and almost $50,000.

 Next year, Viking will stop in the Michigan Sault, with day excursions planned for Hiawatha Highlands, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Soo Locks.

 Both ships carry 378 guests in 189 staterooms. Read more about the ship at this SooLeader link: https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/largest-cruise-ship-on-great-lakes-will-be-here-may-24-21-photos-5345288utm_source=SND&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=AutoPilot&fbclid=IwAR0OwCOayuYwPi7vrI7o-uRTry1r1FUGHDd4nr4gOva1k3lHE-DV6FjfZH8

SooLeader

 

Cruise ship leaves Milwaukee twice

Milwaukee, WI – The Viking Octantis, the largest and newest cruise ship on the Great Lakes, spent extra time in Milwaukee this weekend.

The ship arrived in Milwaukee mid-day Friday to great fanfare. And as part of the city’s role as a turn-around port, it was scheduled to leave Sunday with a new set of passengers. Early Sunday afternoon the ship was pulling out of the port of Milwaukee en route to Mackinac, Michigan.

But after making it to a point as far north as Mequon, the 666-foot-long Octantis turned around and headed back into Milwaukee’s port. The ship is scheduled to return to Milwaukee nine times this year, but with weeks, not hours, between each trip.

“On May 8th U.S. Customs and Border Protection was notified by Viking Cruise Lines that a crewmember failed to report to the vessel for departure. No further details are available,” said a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson.

In addition to accommodating 378 passengers, the ship is configured to hold up to 250 crew members. Dozens of crew members were spotted cleaning, prepping and painting the vessel during a media tour Friday.

The ship’s workforce is led by captain Anders Steen.

By 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening, the vessel was departing Milwaukee for the second time that day. It sailed under the Hoan Bridge and out into Lake Michigan. At the time of publication, it was approaching Mackinac Island.

Trips from Milwaukee end in the Canadian ports of Toronto or Thunder Bay, but along the way the vessel stops in a number of ports and passengers have a choice of multiple excursions.

The all-inclusive, eight-day trips start at $5,995.

The Octantis is a Seawaymax-size vessel, which means it is the largest possible ship that can still fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.

The city is rebuilding its South Shore Cruise Dock to accommodate the larger vessels, but for 2022 the Octantis will dock at the Heavy Lift Dock in the inner harbor.

In addition to Viking, other carriers are expected to call on Milwaukee 23 times this year. It’s part of what the city hopes to be a record-breaking year with more than 10,000 cruise passengers visiting Milwaukee.

Urban Milwaukee 

 

Marine market: 134 years as a grocer

Alpena, MI – In decades past, almost every major Great Lakes port city offered a specialty grocery supplying freighters.

In recent years, the operation of those supermarkets to the Great Lakes has dramatically changed. That is due to the presence of 1,000-foot freighters, as long as three football fields, replacing the smaller boats. In addition, technological advances have created smaller crews.

Recently, a Cleveland, Ohio-based fleet grocer ceased operation, leaving only three U.S.-based Great Lakes fleet grocers in operation. Those are located in Duluth, Minnesota, Sault Ste. Marie, and at Alpena’s Marine Market.

The Marine Market, originally known as Kannowski Bros., was opened in 1888 by August Kannowski, who immigrated from Germany.

According to Kannowski’s great-grandson, Al Kannowski, his first market was briefly located on Chisholm Street, across from the current Culligan Plaza. The operation was primarily noted as a meat purveyor. The operation soon relocated just north of the 2nd Avenue bridge, on the site where Alpena Furniture is now located.

For a short period, August operated the market with his brother, Otto.

The market would next move to the current location of Alpena’s U.S. Post Office.

Marine Market’s Thunder Bay River location provided access to the arriving Great Lakes boats, along with timber industry boats and camps.

According to 1955 Alpena News accounts, Al’s father, Robert, was approached by Harry Fletcher to acquire the Second Avenue property.

According to Al, he set his sights on Ripley Boulevard property to build a new Marnie Market structure. Al commented that, at that time, Ripley was a gravel road located at Alpena’s far edges. After several presentations to the city committees and council, the property was rezoned to commercial.

After the 1956 move to Ripley Boulevard, Robert, his son, Max, and longtime employee Ed Schultz continued to operate the Marine Market.

Read the full article at this Alpena News link: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2022/05/marine-market-134-years-as-a-grocer/

The Alpena News