Boatnerd News

Today in Great Lakes History – January 26

Jan 26, 2026

1898
1898:  On 26 January 1898, the CITY OF DULUTH (wooden passenger/package freight vessel, 202 foot, 1,310 gross tons, built in 1874, at Marine City, Michigan, as a passenger vessel) was carrying passengers, corn, flour and general merchandise from Chicago to St. Joseph, Michigan, during a late season run when she struck an uncharted bar in a storm inbound to St. Joseph. She was heavily damaged and driven ashore 350 feet west of the north pier where she broke up. The Lifesaving Service rescued all 24 passengers and 17 crew members using breeches’ buoy.

1907
1907:  THOMAS F. COLE (Hull #27) was launched January 26, 1907, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

1907:  J.F. SCHOELLKOPF JR. was launched January 26, 1907, as a.) HUGH KENNEDY (Hull#349) at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co.

1944
1944:   USS GUITARRO [SS-363]  [Built Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, Wisconsin 1944] Commissioned 1-26-1944  Transferred on loan to Turkey, August 7, 1955 Renamed: PERVESE [S-22] Turkey Navy. Returned to U.S. Navy and stricken from Navy List, January 1, 1972.

1945
1945:  The keel for CLIFFS VICTORY, a). NOTRE DAME VICTORY (Hull#1229) was laid on January 26, 1945, at Portland, Oregon, by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.

1967
1967:  ST. LAWRENCE NAVIGATOR was launched in 1967, as a.) DEMETERTON (Hull#619) at South Shields, United Kingdom, by John Readhead & Sons, Ltd.

1986
1986:  The saltwater ship f) MARIKA L. [IMO-5092424] was sold at auction to Scrap Hellas Ltd. on this date The vessel had arrived at Eleusis, Greece, under tow, on April 25, 1981, after an engine room fire on the Mediterranean. The ship had been arrested and partially sunk prior to being sold. It made one trip through the Seaway as a) DONATELLA PARODI in 1965 and was ultimately resold for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey. [Renames: Built 1957 as DONATELLA PARODI, AGUA MARINA, VALENCIA,EUROPA, MARIKA L]

1994
1994:  In 1994 THALASSA DESGAGNES (steel propeller tanker, 131.43 meters, 5,746 gross tons, built in 1976, in Norway, as the a.) JOASLA, renamed b.) ORINOCO in 1979, c.) RIO ORINOCO in 1982) entered service for Groupe Desgagnes.

2025
2025:   Free at last. The 663-foot lake freighter Manitoulin was freed from the growing Lake Erie ice field Saturday 1-26-2025  after four U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard vessels led the way in breaking the ice.

Data from: Skip Gilham, Joe Barr, Steve Haverty, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Boatnerd News January 25, 2026

Jan 25, 2026

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Algoma Mariner arrives in Mexico

   Algoma Mariner arrived in Veracruz, Mexico late in the evening on January 22nd for drydocking and refit.

[Denny Dushane]

Saginaw River Commercial Shipping Season Report – 2025

By TODD SHORKEY
   Another exciting and interesting year has passed, and a new season of commercial shipping will be here on the Saginaw River in just a few months. That means it is time to review what has happened during the 2025 season. This is my 21st Year-End Report for the Saginaw River. For those who have been around for the long haul, thank you! For those of you who are new to my reports, welcome aboard!
   The 2025 shipping season for the Saginaw River was an interesting one. Virtually the same number of commercial vessel passages from the previous year, but some interesting developments, first time visitors, emergency dredging, development of a fish habitat reef just east of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Confined Disposal Facility out in Saginaw Bay, Lafayette Bridge being demolished and then the start of rebuilding a new, modern drawbridge in its place, and ice, lots of ice on the Saginaw River and bay at the end of the season.
   The Saginaw River only had one international delivery made by an oceangoing saltwater vessel in 2025. There were continued demolition and remediation efforts at the Consumers Energy, Dan E. Karn power plant in Essexville, with remnants of the coal-fired power generators continuing to be removed. Where the skyline once had six exhaust stacks that were landmarks for fishermen and pleasure boaters coming in off the bay, headed for the Saginaw River, there is now only one. Two gas and oil-fired power generating units are all that are left, scheduled to remain online until 2031. Consumers also has an expansive solar generation farm under construction currently at the site.
   It has been encouraging to see our staple products remaining stable. The 190 commercial vessel passages during 2025 season made it the eighth busiest on the Saginaw River over the past 21 years, the years I have been logging vessel traffic. For reference, the slowest year during the past 21 years? That would be 2014, when there were only 110 vessel passages. Will we ever see higher numbers again? It is definitely possible and there are things underway that I think could help, including loading gypsum for transport out of the Saginaw River and hopefully someday, loading grain once again for export.
   At this point, it is my duty and my tradition to mention and reiterate the following in each of my year-end reports, because the recognition is warranted and worth mentioning again: A lot of hard work is put in by industry leaders, not just here on the Saginaw River locally, but across the entire Great Lakes region. These hard-working individuals continue to actively pursue improvements in infrastructure and to diversify the type of products that are transported by water. The resulting victories, when they happen, allow more opportunities to utilize maritime assets to move products, moving it more economically and more efficiently than other modes of transportation. More than ever, this continues to be crucial as traditional high-volume cargo such as coal and taconite are no longer what they were to the industry. As it is every year, it is my hope that the work being put in now by these industry leaders in the Great Lakes will continue to lead to more opportunities for commercial shipping and better things to come as we head into the future.
   The following report is a look back on the 2025 commercial shipping season on the Saginaw River. It utilizes information and data that I have collected during this period.
   The 2025 season officially began March 21, 2025. Early that morning, when many people were up at the Soo, waiting for the 8am opening of the locks for the season, the tug Samuel de Champlain and her powdered cement carrying barge, Innovation, quietly eased up the Saginaw River with no fanfare, arriving at the AmRize Cement Dock in Essexville around 4am. For the three AmRize workers and myself, who were there for the arrival, it was a beautiful early morning, with clear skies and a light breeze. This start to the season was three days earlier than the 2024 season.
   The 2024 season then ended with the arrival of McAsphalt Advantage on an icy Saginaw River, delivering a liquid asphalt emulsion cargo to Bit-Mat Products of Michigan in the slip at Port Fisher in Bay City on December 23 rd . The 2025 season on the Saginaw River lasted a total of 278 days, covering 10 months, which was three more days than in 2024. The season ended on the exact same day as in 2024 – December 23 rd . For the 2025 commercial shipping season, there was a grand total of 190 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River, representing a decrease of five passages compared to the year before. These passages were made by 30 different vessels, two fewer than the previous year, representing 14 different vessel management companies, one less than 2024.

Port Report – January 25, 2026

Jan 25, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Saturday January 24.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 1/25/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
DUE:
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-5:42 AM
Cresty-DUE-1/28/2026-6:29 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-2/2/2026-5:23 AM
Federal Satsuki-2/6/2026-12:08 AM

PORT COLBORNE,CANADA                    [CAPCO]
1/24/2026  USCG Bristol Bay-ARRIVES-5:12 PM

PORT COLBORNE,CANADA                    [CAPCO]-Bill Kloss
Frontenac is preparing to leave for Windsor.

NANTICOKE, ONTARIO                             [CANAN]-Bill Kloss
Algoterra and Algocanada are loading at Imperial Oil. Algoberta is making her way across Lake Erie escorted by CCGC Vincent Massey.
DUE:
Algoberta-DUE-1/25/2026-9:33 AM

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA                                 [USERI]-Bill Kloss
Algoma Niagara arrived at Carmeuse.

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Sam Laud continues on the shuttles.

MONROE, MICHIGAN                                 [USMOI]-Bill Kloss
New York/Double Skin 509A is unloading at Michigan Paving.

WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
DUE:
Frontenac-DUE-1/25/2026-12:00 AM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/25/2026-11:04 AM

CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN                        [USCHG]
1/24/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-8:30 AM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan
1/24/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-8:51 AM
1/24/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-9:07 AM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan
1/24/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-10:06 AM
1/24/2026  Baltic-ARRIVES-1/24/2026-10:16 AM
DUE:
Wm Boyd-DUE-1/24/2026-12:05 PM

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
1/24/2026  USCG Mackinaw-DEPARTS-9:22 AM-For-Mackinac Island, Michigan
1/24/2026  USCG Mackinaw-ARRIVES-9:39 AM
1/24/2026  USCG Mackinaw-DEPARTS-9:58 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
1/24/2026  USCG Mackinaw-ARRIVES-10:13 AM
1/24/2026  USCG Mackinaw-DEPARTS-10:31 AM

STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN               [USSUE]
1/24/2026  Jimmy L-ARRIVES-2:51 PM
1/24/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-5:26 PM

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN                         [USGRB]
DUE:
Algonova-DUE-1/25/2026-5:38 PM

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
1/24/2026  Wilfred Sykes-ARRIVES-7:38 AM

SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
1/24/2026  Rebecca Lynn-DEPARTS-10:46 AM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana

INDIANA HARBOR-INDIANA                  [USECH]
1/24/2026  Rebecca Lynn-ARRIVES-11:48 AM

 

 

Today in Great Lakes History – January 25

Jan 25, 2026

1890
1890:  On 25 January 1890, ALEX NIMICK (wooden propeller, 298 foot, 1,968 gross tons) was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan. She was built by J. Davidson (Hull # 30).

1908
1908:  The W.C. RICHARDSON was launched January 25, 1908, as the a.) WAINWRIGHT (Hull#175) at Wyandotte, Michigan, by the Detroit Ship Building Co.

1923
1923:  JOSHUA A. HATFIELD (Hull#782) was launched January 25, 1923, at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co.

1964
1964:  MAX MANUS  [Built 1937 according to Sunderland Site IMO-5229550 , built as: RODSLEY, Renames: MAX MAGNUS, TROMA, FLORA N] and as the MAX MAGNUS appeared  on the Great Lakes for one trip in 1959. An engine room explosion and fire at Ibiza, Spain, as c) FLORA N. took the lives of three crew and extensively damaged the midships area of the vessel. The freighter had been discharging cement but was towed out of the port and beached three miles south as a total loss.

1981
1981:  MANUEL CAMPOS  [IMO-6819867] first came through the Seaway when new in 1968. It sank off Crete on this date as c) DENIZ SOMNEZ after developing a severe list in heavy seas. The vessel was traveling from Sfax, Tunisia, to Mersin, Turkey, with a cargo of phosphate ore and all 34 on board were lost.

1988
1988:  On January 25, 1988, the tanker L’ORME NO 1 was involved in an accident at Ultramar Refinery near Quebec City when attempting to tie up during foggy weather. She struck the dock and the impact started a fire that extensively damaged the wharf and the forward section of the ship.

1988:  Scrapping on E. J. BLOCK began at Port Colborne, Ontario, on January 25, 1988.

1992
1992:  NORDSTERN  [IMO-6723862] came through the Seaway in 1968 and returned as b) GEORG RUSS in 1975 and c) CAPTAIN VENIAMIS in 1984. It was beached on the South Korean coast on this date after the hull began to flood during heavy weather on a long voyage from Europe to Yantai, China. The vessel was refloated on February 1 but was declared a total loss, sold to Chinese shipbreakers and arrived at Qinhuangdao under tow for scrapping on March 1, 1992.

2003
2003:  An arson fire aboard LA GRANDE HERMINE, a replica sailing ship, at Jordan Harbour, Ontario, destroyed the wooden superstructure and interior of the idle ship. The vessel was built in 1914 as a ferry across the St. Lawrence and had several subsequent uses under a variety of names. The listing and burned out hull became a tourist attraction with many passers-by stopping to take photos. Its remains were finally removed in late 2021..

2024
1/25/2024: Reports from the northeast lower Michigan area indicate the Malcom Marine Inc. tug
Manitou has been sold to Ryba Marine Construction of Cheboygan, MI.
The Port Huron-based tug, which is usually stationed in Alpena during the winter for ice-breaking, tied
up at the Ryba dock on Monday.
Malcolm Marine has been in the marine construction, towing and salvage business for
over 60 years, with the Manitou being captained by Dave Malcom, son of the founders.
The tug was later renamed [Kimberly Joy]

 

Data from: Skip, Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Boatnerd News January 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Coast Guard conducts ice-breaking operations

   CLEVELAND –  Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw (WLBB 30) and Neah Bay (WTGB 105) conducted ice-breaking operations to free, assist, and escort vessels transiting the Great Lakes on Jan. 21, 2026.
   The Mackinaw freed and escorted the Wilfred Sykes, a 678-foot motor vessel beset by ice on Lake Huron, and the Neah Bay directly assisted the American Spirit, a 1,004-foot motor vessel icebound on Lake Erie.
   Both of these missions are direct results of Great Lakes District ice-breaking operations Operation Taconite and Operation Coal Shovel. These are domestic ice-breaking operations established to provide ice-breaking services to assist vessels in emergency or urgent situations, assist communities in need and facilitate navigation on ice-covered waterways.
   “Coast Guardsmen have worked from sunup to sundown, to ensure the safe navigation of the ice-stricken maritime transportation system,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Tyrrell, Neah Bay’s commanding officer

[USCG]

Cold weather boosts Great Lakes ice coverage

   Michigan’s extreme cold this week has allowed ice to expand quickly throughout the Great Lakes, with officials reporting the highest coverage of the 2025-26 season.
   On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 25.08% of the Great Lakes were ice-covered, with Lake Erie recording the most ice at 76.57%., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
   The thickest ice has formed on Lake Superior’s shorelines — 12-28 inches in places — with lakes Erie, Michigan and Huron seeing a range of thickness from less than 2 inches up to 12 inches. Though the ice is thickening, shelf ice along shorelines isn’t considered safe.
   The Arctic temperatures — with wind chills as low as minus 35 degrees, according the National Weather Service — are forecast to linger in Michigan through the weekend, so ice is likely to continue expanding through next week.
   Lake Superior is forecast to see above-normal ice conditions this winter. Lake Ontario is forecast to see slightly below-normal ice; and lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie and St. Clair are predicted to see near-normal ice, according to the North American Ice Service’s seasonal outlook, issued on Dec. 1.
   Last season, the Great Lakes experienced ice levels that were near normal, rebounding after the historic winter low in 2023-24. Lake Erie recorded the highest amount of coverage in 2024-25, reaching 95.8% (which is typical as it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes) and Lake Superior had the second-most coverage at its peak, 71.1%.
   As the 2025-26 ice season continues, researchers will track ice percentages daily. To track the progression, the U.S. National Ice Center posts ice charts every Tuesday and Wednesday.

[Lansing State Journal]

Port Report – January 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Friday January 23.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 1/24/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
DUE:
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-5:42 AM
Cresty-DUE-1/29/2026-12:17 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-2/2/2026-3:29 AM
Federal Satsuki-DUE-2/9/2026-11:55 PM

PORT DOVER, CANADA                             [CAPDV]
Algoterra and Algocanada remain anchored.

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA                                [USERI]-Bill Kloss
Algoma Niagara is due in.

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Sam Laud continues on the shuttles.

MONROE, MICHIGAN                                 [USMOI]-Bill Kloss
New York/Double Skin 509A is unloading at Michigan Paving.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
1/23/2026  USCG Bristol Bay-ARRIVES-9:30 AM
1/23/2026  USCG Bristol Bay-DEPARTS-9:59 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
1/23/2026  CCGS Judy LaMarsh-ARRIVES-5:18 PM
1/23/2026  Calumet-ARRIVES-6:21 PM
1/23/2026  CCGS Judy LaMarsh-DEPARTS-6:56 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

 WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
DUE:
Frontenac-DUE-1/25/2026-12:00 AM

 GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/25/2026-9:01 AM

 SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
1/23/2026  Algonova-DEPARTS-1:25 PM-For-Green Bay, Wisconsin
1/23/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-DEPARTS-3:38 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

 CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN                        [USCHG]
1/22/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-10:37 PM
DUE:
Baltic-DUE-1/22/2026-11:24 PM

 ESCANABA, MICHIGAN                            [USESC]
1/23/2026  Jimmy L-ARRIVES-10:07 AM
1/23/2026  Algoma Intrepid-ARRIVES-11:31 AM
1/23/2026  Jimmy L-DEPARTS-6:53 PM-For-Escanaba, Michigan
1/23/2026  Algoma Intrepid-DEPARTS-6:56 PM-For-Goderich, Canada

 GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN                         [USGRB]
DUE:
Algonova-DUE-1/25/2026-12:15 AM

 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
1/23/2026  Donald J Sarter-ARRIVES-3:02 AM

 SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
1/23/2026  Rebecca Lynn-ARRIVES-12:43 AM

 BURNS HARBOR, INDIANA                     [USBNB]
1/23/2026  Wilfred Sykes-DEPARTS-11:36 PM-For-AM-FOR-Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 INDIANA HARBOR-INDIANA                  [USECH]
1/23/2026  Rebecca Lynn-DEPARTS-12:11 AM-For-Calumet Harbor, Illinois
DUE:
Rebecca Lynn-DUE-1/23/2026-11:01 AM

 

Today in Great Lakes History – January 24

Jan 24, 2026

1900
1900:  The steel barge MADEIRA (Hull#38)[US-93020] was launched on January 24, 1900, at Chicago, Illinois, by the Chicago Ship Building Co.

1924
1924:  SPRUCEGLEN was launched January 24, 1924, as a.) WILLIAM K. FIELD (Hull#176) at Toledo, Ohio, by the Toledo Ship Building Co. [Renamed b) REISS BROTHERS  c) GEORGE D GOBLE, d) ROBERT S PIERSON, e) SPRUCEGLEN]

1952
1952:  JOHNSTOWN (Hull#4504) was launched January 24, 1952, at Sparrows Point, Maryland, by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard.   After 33 years of service she departed Quebec in tow, May 28, 1985, and arrived at San Esteban de Pravia, June 24, 1985, for scrapping by Spanish shipbreakers. Scrapping began on September 20, 1985 by Vige S.A.

1964
1964:  RUTH ANN, a Liberian freighter[Built in 1947]  that came through the Seaway in 1960, ran aground on the Chinchorro Bank off the Yucatan Peninsula enroute from Tampico to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, as d) GLENVIEW. It later broke up as a total loss.

1967
1967:  DAMMTOR, a West German flag pre-Seaway trader,[Built-1953, IMO-5514364] foundered in heavy weather as b) HASHLOSHA while about 80 miles west of Naples, Italy, enroute from Greece to Marseilles, France. A distress call was sent but the vessel went down with the loss of 21 lives before help could arrive. The ship had also made four Seaway voyages in 1959,

1988
1988:  ENDERS M. VOORHEES, under tow on the Mediterranean, broke loose in gale force winds and went aground about 56 miles south of Athens off Kythnos Island and broke up. The hull was salvaged in sections and the bow and stern reached the scrapyard at Aliaga, Turkey, in August 1989.

1997
1997:  The U.S. Coast Guard cutter NEAH BAY may have averted disaster Thursday when it intercepted a runaway oil barge heading for the rocky shore of Middle Sister Island in Lake Erie.
   NEAH BAY stopped the loaded Hannah barge about 800 yards from the island and pushed it to safety during the 5 hour mission in Canadian waters. Shifting ice up to 10 inches thick and 25 mph winds pushed the barge, loaded with about a million gallons of fuel oil toward the island where rocks and ice could have ruptured the hull.
The tug DONALD C. HANNAH [Built in 1962, Renamed: DONALD C,  Renamed NATHAN S] was pushing the barge, loaded in Toledo to LTV Steel Co. in Cleveland. The NEAH BAY was escorting the tug and barge until about 11 A.M. when a steering cable snapped disengaging the barge from the tug.
Once the NEAH BAY had pushed the barge a safe distance from the island the crew on the Hannah tug was able to pair the cables enough to tow the barge to a port in Canada for repair. The tow may continue once they convince the Coast Guard that this won’t happen again.

2009
2009:  DIAMOND QUEEN  [Built as the MOWHAWK in 1956 at Marinette Marine] sank at the Gaelic Tugboat Co. dock at River Rouge. It was refloated on January 27, 2009.

2023
2023:   The former U.S. Coast Guard cutter BRAMBLE is being scrapped at  Gibson, LA. A photo (see gallery below) shows her in rough shape and missing her main mast and other equipment.
   USCGC BRAMBLE (WLB-392) was one of the 39 original 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built at Duluth, MN, between 1942 and 1944 for the Coast Guard. In commission from 1944 until 2003, she saw service in Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic waters, as well as the Great Lakes. In 1947 Bramble was present at the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll, and in 1957 a circumnavigation of North America involved a forced traverse of the Northwest Passage.

 

Boatnerd News January 23, 2026

Jan 23, 2026

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Mackinaw docks at Sault Ste. Marie

   USCG icebreaker Mackinaw transited up the St. Marys River Thursday morning, mooring at the Valley Camp dock around noon. No departure time is known.

[Know Your Ships]

Great Lakes shipping season is over. Where did all the ‘lakers’ go?

   LANSING, MI – With the Soo Locks closed until March, Great Lakes freighters have headed to port for winter maintenance at harbors from Minnesota to New York. Just a few of the bulk carriers are still moving as ice begins to cover more and more of the waterways.
   The last ship through the locks on Jan. 15, 2026, the American Spirit, delivered its final load of iron ore to Conneaut, Ohio, earlier this week and was en route back across Lake Erie toward Toledo as of Tuesday afternoon.
   Other 1,000-foot ships were already tied off for the next few months, as were dozens of other vessels that ply the waterways hauling ore, cement, grain and other bulk goods.
   The Great Lakes’ 13 1,000-foot freighters are owned by various companies and are going into winter layup at different locations, here’s where to find them, according to the Great Lakes shipping website www.BoatNerd.com.

  • Stewart J. Cort: The ship will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the city heavy lift dock. The first 1,000-foot ship, at exactly that length, was launched May 1, 1972. It’s owned by the Interlake Steamship Company.
  •   Presque Isle: The tug and barge combo owned by Great Lakes Fleet reached the Carmeuse Dock at Erie, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 17, 2026. The vessel is the only 1,000-foot tug/barge combo on the lakes, according to Pure Michigan.
  •   Edwin H. Gott: The 1,004-foot freighter owned by Great Lakes Fleet reached the CSX docks at Toledo, Ohio, on Jan. 18, 2026.
  •   James R. Barker: Interlake’s 1,004-foot-long freighter reached the Fincantieri Shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, on Jan. 5, 2026.
  •    Indiana Harbor: The 1,004-foot-long American Steamship vessel reached Lakehead Pipeline in Superior, Wisconsin, on Jan. 5, 2026.
  •    Mesabi Miner: The 1,004-foot Interlake vessel reached Fraser Shipyard in Superior on Jan. 10, 2026.
  •    Burns Harbor: The 1,000-foot American Steamship freighter docked at Elevator M at Superior on Jan. 13, 2026.
  •   Walter J. McCarthy Jr.: The 1,000-foot American Steamship vessel pulled up to Pinney Dock No. 4 at Ashtabula, Ohio, on Jan. 16. 2026.
  •   Edgar B. Speer: The 1,004-foot Great Lakes Fleet ship reach Fincantieri Shipyard in Sturgeon Bay on Jan. 18, 2026.
  •   American Integrity: The 1,000-foot American Steamship vessel docked at Don Jon Shipyard in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 14, 2026.
  •   American Century: The 1,000-foot American Steamship vessel docked at Pinney Dock No. 4 at Ashtabula on Jan. 14, 2026.
  •   American Spirit: The 1,004-foot American Steamship freighter was en route to Toledo as of Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 20.
  •   Paul R. Tregurtha: The queen of the lakes at 1,013.5 feet long, the Interlake Steamship Company freighter docked at the Midwest Overseas Terminal in Toledo on Jan. 14, 2026.

   The Soo Locks closed Jan. 15 and the Poe Lock will reopen for spring shipping on March 25. The MacArthur Lock is scheduled to reopen in late April 2026.
   Marinetraffic.com maintains a real-time map of all international shipping and includes the ability to click on Great Lakes ships to see their names, destinations, speeds and more.

[Lansing State Journal]

Dock condition bars cruise chips from docking at Mackinac Island

   The St. Ignace News reports that cruise ships will not be allowed to dock at Arnold Transit Co.’s Main Dock on Mackinac Island in 2026. The decision is a result of a Mackinac County court hearing during which attorneys for the ferry companies acquiesced to the City of Mackinac Island’s request to prohibit mooring due to the condition of the dock.
   Cruise ships can still anchor and shuttle guests to the Island via tender.

 

Port Report – January 23, 2026

Jan 23, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Thursday January 22.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 1/23/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
DUE:
Cresty-DUE-1/29/2026-12:17 AM
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-5:42 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-2/2/2026-3:56 AM

NANTICOKE, ONTARIO                             [CANAN]-Bill Kloss
DUE:
Algoberta-DUE-1/24/2026-2:02 PM

PORT DOVER, CANADA                             [CAPDV]
Algoterra arrived at the anchorage and Algocanada remains anchored.

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Sam Laud continues on the shuttles.

MONROE, MICHIGAN                                 [USMOI]-Bill Kloss
New York/Double Skin 509A is unloading at Michigan Paving.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
1/22/2026  Iver Bright-DEPARTS-10:00 AM-For-Sarnia, Canada
DUE:
Calumet-DUE-1/23/2026-2:45 PM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
1/22/2026  Algoma Niagara-DEPARTS-7:14 AM-For-Erie, Pennsylvania

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
1/22/2026  Iver Bright-ARRIVES-2:46 PM
DUE:
Algonova-DUE-1/22/2026-11:00 AM

CALCITE, MICHIGAN                                  [USMI3]
1/21/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-2:48 PM
1/21/2026  Baltic-ARRIVES-3:14 PM
1/22/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-7:00 PM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan
1/22/2026  Baltic-DEPARTS-7:00 PM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan

CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN                        [USCHG]
1/21/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-11:38 AM-For-Calcite, Michigan
DUE:
Baltic-DUE-1/22/2026-11:22 PM

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
1/22/2026  USCG Mackinaw-ARRIVES-11:37 AM

ESCANABA, MICHIGAN                            [USESC]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/22/2026-9:32 PM
Jimmy L-DUE-1/22/2026-8:17 PM

STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN               [USSUE]
1/22/2026  Jimmy L-DEPARTS-9:36 AM-For-Escanaba, Michigan
1/22/2026  Donald J Sarter-DEPARTS-1:15 PM-For-Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
DUE:
Donald J Sarter-DUE-1/23/2026-2:51 AM

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN                         [USGRB]
1/22/2026  Algoberta-DEPARTS-7:38 AM-For-Nanticoke, Canada

SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
DUE”
Rebecca Lynn-DUE-1/22/2026-8:29 AM

BURNS HARBOR, INDIANA                     [USBNB]
1/22/2026  Wilfred Sykes-ARRIVES-12:19 PM

 

Today in Great Lakes History – January 23

Jan 23, 2026

1903
1903:  January 23 – The CELTIC (wooden schooner-barge, 190 foot, 716 gross tons, built 1890, at W. Bay City, Michigan) broke away from the steamer H.E. RUNNELS during a fierce gale on Lake Huron on 29 November 1902, and was lost with all hands. No wreckage was found until 23 January 1903, when a yawl and the captain’s desk with the ship’s papers were found on Boom Point, southeast of Cockburn Island.

1943
1943:   TOULOUSE [Built 1917 by Superior Shipbuilding Co. Superior, Wisconsin NameS: AQUILA 1928-1934-Norway, UFA 1934-1943-U.S,S.R.]  Departed Kola Inlet on January 23, 1943, bound for Iceland and U.S.; no further report. German radio broadcasts claimed sinking a Russian vessel of about same size on January 29, 1943, 500 miles northwest of North Cape. This was probably UFA.

1965
1965:  The rail car ferry GRAND HAVEN sailed on her first trip as a roll on/roll off carrier from Port Burwell on January 23, 1965, loaded with 125 tons of coiled steel bound for Cleveland and Walton Hills, Ohio.

1965:  The Greek freighter CAPTAIN M. LYRAS visited the Seaway in 1960 and 1961 and returned as b) ANGELIKI L. in 1965. It arrived at Gadani Beach on this date as c) ANAMARIA for scrapping.

1979
1979:  GEORGE A. STINSON struck a wall of the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on January 23, 1979. The damage was estimated at $200,000.

2023
2023:  On Jan. 23, JOHN J. BOLAND arrived light at Milwaukee and headed up the Kinnickinnic River to COFCO. All grain (soybeans) remaining in the elevator was loaded onto the BOLAND and taken to COFCO’s Chicago terminal. COFCO then closed the Kinnickinnic elevator and sold the property.

2025
2025:   The lake freighter ‘Manitoulin’ is stuck in the growing Lake Erie ice field off Buffalo after attempting to leave following a delivery to the Buffalo waterfront Wednesday.
   The 662 foot freighter is jammed in the ice and now awaiting assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard

2025:   TOLEDO, Ohio – The Andersons is investigating after a grain bin collapsed Tuesday night in south Toledo. Andersons said the one-million-bushel capacity grain bin, located at 440 Kuhlman Drive, collapsed at approximately 9:10 p.m.
   The company said no one was on-site at the time of the collapse and no injuries were reported

 

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Load More

Jump to a Date:

Archives