Boatnerd News

Boatnerd News January 22, 2026

Jan 22, 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 keeps vessel traffic moving

   U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) assisted the steamer Wilfred Sykes Wednesday through heavy ice in the vicinity of the Mackinaw Bridge. The Sykes is bound for Burns Harbor, IN. Mackinaw was hove to south of Lime Island Wednesday night.
   American Spirit finally arrived at Toledo for winter layup on Wednesday afternoon, assisted by USCG Neah Bay and the tugs New York and Michigan. After delivering the American Spirit, the Neah Bay turned its attention to the tanker Algoterra, bound for Nanticoke, assisting it through the Pelee Passage.
   Most vessels have gone into layup, except for vessels running salt and some tankers. Algoma Central’s tanker Algoberta, unloading at Green Bay, is expected to depart eastbound, likely for Sarnia, Thursday morning.
   Calumet was northbound on Lake Michigan Wednesday night, headed for Detroit.
   Frontenac’s AIS has popped back on at Port Colborne, heralding her return to service to fill in for Whitefish Bay, which has gone into layup at Sarnia after incurring hull damage.

[Know Your Ships]

 

Port Report – January 22, 2026

Jan 22, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Wednesday January 21.  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 1/22/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
1/21/2026  Vezhen-DEPARTS-11:40 AM-For-Quebec, Canada
1/21/2026  Federal Skye-ARRIVES-1:27 PM
DUE:
Cresty-DUE-1/29/2026-12:17 AM
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-6:42 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-1/31/2026-7:35 AM

NANTICOKE, ONTARIO                             [CANAN]-Bill Kloss
DUE:
Algoterra-DUE-1/22/2026-6:02 AM

PORT DOVER, CANADA                             [CAPDV]-Bill Kloss
Algocanada is at the anchorage. Algoterra is due.

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

TOLEDO, OHIO                                               [USTOL]-Bill Kloss
American Spirit finally arrived in Toledo for layup.

MONROE, MICHIGAN                                 [USMOI]-Bill Kloss
New York/Double Skin 509A is unloading at Michigan Paving. Karen Andrie/Endeavour departed for Indiana Harbor.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
1/21/2026  Karen Andrie-DEPARTS-7:53 AM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana
1/21/2026  Iver Bright-ARRIVES-1:39 PM
DUE:
USCG Bristol Bay-DUE-1/21/2026-7:23 PM
Calumet-DUE-1/24/2026-6:02 AM

ESCANABA, MICHIGAN                            [USESC]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/22/2026-2:32 AM
Nickelena-DUE-1/21/2026-12:12 AM

STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN               [USSUE]
1/21/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-2:17 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

BURNS HARBOR, INDIANA                     [USBNB]
1/21/2026  Nathan S-ARRIVES-1:54 PM
1/21/2026  Nathan S-DEPARTS-3:00 PM-For-Calumet Harbor, Illinois
DUE:
Wilfred Sykes-DUE-1/22/2026-11:24 AM

GARY HARBOR, INDIANA                         [USGYY]
1/21/2026  Nathan S-ARRIVES-11:57 AM
1/21/2026  Nathan S-DEPARTS-12:57 PM-For-Burns Harbor, Indiana

 

Today in Great Lakes History –  January 22

Jan 22, 2026

1884
1884:   M. R. SWAN [Built-1880 by Anderson, Buffalo New York. Names; J H UPHAM JR 1882-1908-US-91256, J. H. Upham 1908-1937 C-126046] First enrollment issued at Duluth, MN, January 22, 1884, with reference to License #5, issued at Duluth, MN, January 5, 1883

1913
1913:  January 22, 1913 – SAINTE MARIE (Hull#127) was launched at Toledo, Ohio, by Craig Shipbuilding Co.
1967
1967:   SIMANSUR  Abandoned as constructive total loss, January 22, 1967

1973
1973:  GOLDEN HIND was sold on January 22, 1973, to Trico Enterprises Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda (Quebec & Ontario Transportation Co. Ltd., Thorold, Ontario, mgr.).

1976
1976:  INGRID WEIDE first came to the Great Lakes in 1953, and the West German freighter returned on many occasions including 23 trips through the Seaway to the end of 1965. The vessel stranded as c) DENEB B. off Borkum Island, West Germany, while inbound for Emden with a cargo of stone. The hull broke in two and sank but all on board were rescued.

1991
1991:  The c.) WOODLAND, a.) FRENCH RIVER) was sold to International Capital Equipment of Canada and cleared the lakes from Montreal January 22, 1991, under the Bahamian flag with the modified name to d.) WOODLANDS.

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

Legendary Christmas Tree Ship Inspires Toledo Kindness

Jan 4, 2026

Christmas trees arriving at NMGL 12-6-2025 [NMGL] [7]

UPDATED 1/21/26.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The air was crisp and cold on Saturday morning, but that didn’t stop Santa Claus and the tugboat Josephine from making a magical delivery to the waiting families at the docks at the National Museum.of the Great Lakes in east Toledo.

It’s becoming an annual tradition on the Maumee River as the museum and the Gradel company combine energies to create holiday memories for many families. It’s the continuation of an old tradition on the lakes of delivering Christmas trees by boat to the needy families in the cities.

Most notably, the schooner Rouse Simmons was a well known and popular Christmas Tree Ship on Lake Michigan, whose captain delivered thousands of trees to families in Chicago, but tragically the schooner sank on a voyage in 1912.

“After the sinking, the people of Chicago continued to the tradition for years after,” Kate Fineske, the Communication Director for the National Museum of the Great Lakes said.

The delivery of fresh Christmas trees to the dock at the museum this year is a tribute to the Rouse Simmons and other Christmas Tree Ships on the Great Lakes.

“Toledo has its own Christmas Tree Ship now,” Fineske said.

The museum partnered with the East Toledo Family Center to find families to receive the trees. The Gradel tugboat Company supplied its tug Josephine to bring the trees in.

The trees were pre-ordered and many were purchased by third parties to give to the families that needed them.

About 100 people, young and old, gathered under the frigid blue skies to watch the colorful tug, with Santa and his helpers aboard, to hand out the trees.

Fineske said the museum hopes to keep this cheerful tradition going for many years to come.

Source: WTOL-TV — Watch a Video Here

Boatnerd News January 21, 2026

Jan 21, 2026

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

Whitefish Bay damaged, Frontenac fitting out

 Whitefish Bay laid up at Sarnia Monday night. The vessel reportedly sustained damage after she struck a dock and is now tied up at the Cargill Dock  as a result.
   To maintain service continuity, Frontenac – which had been laid up in Port Colborne – is now fitting out, the crew has been called back and she will return to active service to complete the final two salt voyages originally scheduled for Whitefish Bay.
   At this time, the nature and cause of the damage have not been confirmed. According to AIS, Whitefish Bay’s last port of call was the Morton Salt Dock in Windsor, ON, and she may have struck the dock there. From photos, it looks like she did not load.

[Janey Anderson – Ship Junkies – Lakes, Locks & Rivers (LL&R)]

 

Port Report – January 21, 2026

Jan 21, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Tuesday January 20.  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 1/21/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
1/20/2026  Vezhen-ARRIVES-1/20/2026-12:44 AM
DUE:
Cresty-DUE-1/26/2026-11:29 AM
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-7:56 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-1/30/2026-12:36 PM

PORT DOVER, CANADA                             [CAPDV]
Algocanada is at the anchorage.

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

TOLEDO, OHIO                                               [USTOL]-Bill Kloss
American Spirit is waiting for an icebreaker escort to get to Toledo.
DUE:
American Spirit-DUE-1/20/2026-8:33 PM

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

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
Karen Andrie-DUE-1/20/2026-9:06 PM
Calumet-DUE-1/24/2026-8:41 AM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
1/20/2026  Algoma Intrepid-DEPARTS-3:06 PM-For-Escanaba, Michigan
1/20/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-ARRIVES-3:13 PM
1/20/2026  Algoma Niagara-ARRIVES-3:26 PM
DUE:
Algoma Niagara-DUE-1/19/2026-7:00 AM

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
1/20/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-DEPARTS-6:40 AM-For-Goderich, Canada
1/20/2026  Algonova-ARRIVES-5:51 PM

PORT HURON, MICHIGAN                       [USPHN]
1/20/2026  USCG Neah Bay-DEPARTS-9:14 AM-For-Toledo, Ohio [Anchor]

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
1/20/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-DEPARTS-12:59 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

ESCANABA, MICHIGAN                            [USESC]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/22/2026-8:11 AM
Nickelena-DUE-1/21/2026-12:12 AM

STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN               [USSUE]
1/20/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-5:08 PM

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN                         [USGRB]
1/20/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-1:04 PM
1/20/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-1:16 PM-For-Green Bay, Wisconsin
1/20/2026  Algoberta-ARRIVES-1:49 PM

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
1/20/2026  Stewart J Cort-ARRIVES-7:01 AM

SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
1/20/2026  Rebecca Lynn-DEPARTS-10:01 AM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana
1/20/2026  Nathan S-DEPARTS-11:21 AM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana
1/20/2026  Nathan S-ARRIVES-2:52 PM

BURNS HARBOR, INDIANA                     [USBNB]
1/19/2026  Calumet -ARRIVES-8:36 PM
1/20/2026  Calumet-DEPARTS-4:03 PM-For-Detroit, Michigan
DUE:
Wilfred Sykes-DUE-1/22/2026-2:18 AM

INDIANA HARBOR-INDIANA                  [USECH]
1/20/2026  Rebecca Lynn-ARRIVES-10:43 AM
1/20/2026  Nathan S-ARRIVES-12:00 PM
1/20/2026  Nathan S-DEPARTS-2:25 PM-For-Calumet Harbor, Illinois

Today in Great Lakes History – January 21

Jan 21, 2026

1895
1895:  On 21 January 1895, CHICORA (wooden propeller passenger/package freight vessel, 199 foot, 1,123 gross tons, built in 1892, at Detroit, Michigan) was bound from Milwaukee for St. Joseph on a mid-winter run when he foundered with little trace. All 25 on board were lost. The ship’s dog was found wandering on the beach by St. Joseph, Michigan, a few days later. A well-organized search for the wreck continued until mid-June. Many small pieces of wreckage were washed ashore in the spring.

1904
1904:  HENDRICK S. HOLDEN was torn loose by flooding on the Black River at Lorain, Ohio, and the vessel smashed a coal dump. It also crushed and sank the tug GULL on its way into Lake Erie. The bulk carrier last sailed as VANDOC (i) in 1965.

1921
1921:  G.J. BOYCE had been sold off-lakes in 1916. It was inbound for a Cuban port when it lost its rudder. The wooden schooner stranded near Porto Padre and broke up as a total loss.

1928
1928:  The Lake Michigan rail car ferry MADISON struck a sand bar off Grand Haven and went aground with close to $50,000 in damage. High winds and ice were a factor.

1959
1959:  High winds at Buffalo tore the MacGILVRAY SHIRAS loose when a heavy current swept the Buffalo River. The wayward vessel struck MICHAEL K. TEWSBURY and MERTON E. FARR and eventually demolished the Michigan Ave. Bridge. The damaged SHIRAS was not repaired and arrived in Hamilton in June 1959 for scrapping.

1978
1978:  On January 21, 1978, the Multifood Elevator #4 at Duluth, Minnesota, caught fire and collapsed onto the deck of the steamer HARRY L. ALLEN, which was laid up beneath the elevator. Her pilothouse was destroyed by fire. Severe warping and cracking of her plating occurred when cold water was poured onto her red-hot deck. Declared a constructive total loss, she was scrapped at Duluth in 1978.

1978:  VESLEFJELL was sailing as e) MARLEN when abandoned by the crew after developing leaks in heavy seas near the Canary Islands. The vessel was enroute to Nigeria with cement when it went down. It had been a Great Lakes trader beginning in 1951 and last called inland in 1962.

1983
1983:   As EROL BEKER: [Built 1982 at Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin also named- MARY TURNER and Became ASHTABULA] Ran aground in the Gulf of Mexico on January 21, 1983 after breaking away from the tug APRIL T. BEKER. [Also named BEVERLY ANDERSON and now is DEFIANCE} The Ship which was recovered was scheduled to go into drydock on the coast on January 27, 1983.

2022
2022:   Canadian Coast Guard‘s oldest serving vessel, the CCGS HUDSON, is being decommissioned after 59 years of service, in what the agency calls the “end of an era.” The East Coast ocean science vessel was determined to be “beyond economic repair” after its starboard propulsion motor failed in November.

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

Boatnerd News January 20, 2026

Jan 20, 2026

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

A fond farewell to a Seaway/Great Lakes heavyweight
The Atlantic Huron makes her final voyage

   CLAYTON, NY – An iron lady of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a familiar site along the waterway, has completed her final voyage to close out more than 40 years of service.
   The Atlantic Huron, owned by Canadian Steamship Lines, now rests at Sheet Harbor, Nova Scotia, where it arrived on Jan. 5. Work has commenced to dismantle and recycle the bulk carrier.
   For its final assignment in December, Atlantic Huron picked up iron ore in Superior, Wisconsin, for delivery to an export terminal in Quebec City, where it arrived Dec. 31.
   Delivered in 1984 at Collingwood Shipyards in Ontario as Prairie Harvest, the 736-foot vessel was one of the last straight-deck bulk carriers built in Canada and the first of the Caribbean Class, designed for both Great Lakes and ocean service. Converted to a self-unloader in 1989 and renamed Atlantic Huron, (for the ocean and the Great Lake) she went on to carry grain, ore, coal, salt and other bulk cargoes throughout the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and beyond.
   CSL issued a statement on the vessel’s service shortly after she arrived at Sheet Harbor:
   “For the crews who sailed with her, Atlantic Huron was more than a vessel. She was a workplace, a home, and a constant companion through long watches, rough weather, and quiet nights on the lakes. Generations of seafarers learned their trade on her decks and engines, shared meals in her galley, and formed friendships that last a lifetime. We give our final salute to a ship that gave everything she had, right to the end.”
   One of the crew members on board Atlantic Huron this season was Brockville, Ontario, native Catherine Schmuck — aka the “Ship to Shore” chef. She has worked on scores of ships that travel the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System and has written two cookbooks based on her experiences. She also has an e-magazine, “The Galley Girl’s Diary,” that is published weekly when she is aboard a vessel and bi-weekly when she’s at home in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
   Schmuck completed her fourth assignment this year aboard Atlantic Huron.
   “It was a privilege to be there for its last trip,” Schmuck said in a phone interview on Monday, a couple of days after taking a 24-hour train ride from Nova Scotia to Montreal. “Each ship has its own character. There are things I like about them and look forward to seeing again.”
   According to John U. Bacon, author of “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” Great Lakes freighters can easily have a lifespan of 50 years, outlasting saltwater freighters due to less corrosive freshwater.
   Atlantic Huron’s final voyage was a constant topic of conversation in the ship’s dining area, Schmuck said.
   “Some of the guys have sailed together for years,” she said. “They were sad about being broken up — with everyone going to a different ship. It was a big topic of conversation every day.”
   Like other ships on the Seaway system, Atlantic Huron faced January delays caused by ice. The 2025 commercial navigation season in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway officially closed on Monday, the latest of any season since the navigational waterway opened in 1959.
   “It’s expected this time of year,” Schmuck said. “Winter sailing is all about delays.”
   Atlantic Huron was delayed for a few days above Montreal due to ice at locks and in the area. An issue on shore caused a delay of about 24 hours in Quebec City while unloading, and a delay of about 36 hours was experienced when the ship was forced to take shelter in a cove at Cape Breton Island. The vessel then went up and around Cape Breton and down the coast to Halifax/Sheet Harbor.
   As the ship’s chef, Schmuck had to do some juggling when faced with delays.
   In the first few days of January, Atlantic Huron made a detour. “We left the Seaway and made our way to this area (location pin) to anchor for 36 hours to wait out bad weather,” chef Catherine Schmuck said. “Then we left and went around the tip of Cape Breton, then down the coast to Halifax to pick up a pilot, then back up a short distance top Sheet Harbor. Illustration by C. Schmuck
   The challenge for me personally was yes, we wanted to make sure we had enough food,” Schmuck said. “But we also wanted to make sure we didn’t have too much food.”
   Because Atlantic Huron was being scrapped, no food was left behind and wasted, Schmuck said.
   Christmas was spent docked at a wharf in Port Weller, Ontario, on the Welland Canal, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
   “Some of the crew who usually take December off to spend Christmas at home arranged to stay on board this year to accompany the Huron on her last trip,” Schmuck said. “It was perfect because there was no rocking or rolling, and everybody had a chance to come in and eat without having to rush in and out. It was quite nice. I did a prime rib, of course with lots of appetizers, desserts and cookies.”
   Even though there was some nostalgia on the final trip, Schmuck said the general sense was that Atlantic Huron had run her course.
   “It’s like when you have a pet, when you know it’s time,” she said. “It was time for the final sailing. It wasn’t like, ‘She can still go!’”
   But the chef did experience some sad moments, especially when she departed the ship for the final time at Sheet Harbor. Much of the crew had departed at stops along the way, including nine who departed at Quebec City.
   “We were just five for a few days,” Schmuck said. “On Tuesday night, we went down the ship’s ladder, and we couldn’t believe that the name had already been painted over. The CSL painted on the side was also gone.”
   Any thoughts of taking a final photo of the ship, highlighting its name, evaporated.
   “That was the moment of wow, OK. That’s it. It’s over.”

[Watertown Daily Times – Chris Brock]

Coast Guard closes Pipe Island Passage in St. Marys River

   SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – In accordance with 33 CFR 162.117, Vessel Traffic Service St.
Marys River is scheduled to close the Pipe Island Passage, east of Pipe Island Shoal and north of
Pipe Island Twins from Watson Reef Light to Sweets Point, on Jan. 22, 2026 at 10 a.m.
   The Pipe Island Course will become a two-way route.
   The Coast Guard would like to remind all recreational ice users to plan their activity carefully,
use caution on the ice, and stay away from shipping channels. Further inquiries can be made by phone to Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River at 906-635-3299 or via email at SOOTFC@USCG.MIL.

Port Report – January 20, 2026

Jan 20, 2026

Port and vessel activity for Monday January 19.  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 1/20/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
1/19/2026  Harbour Feature-ARRIVES-9:41 AM
DUE:
Vezhen-DUE-1/19/2026-11:33 PM
Cresty-DUE-1/25/2026-1:59 PM
Federal Trident-DUE-1/27/2026-12:15 AM
Federal Baltic-DUE-1/31/2026-6:38 PM

PORT DOVER, CANADA                             [CAPDV]
Algocanada is at the anchorage.

CONNEAUT, OHIO                                       [USCDY]-Bill Kloss
American Spirit departed for Toledo. She’s having a rough time in the ice pack in western Lake Erie.

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

TOLEDO, OHIO                                               [USTOL]-Bill Kloss
DUE:
American Courage-DUE-1/18/2026-9:00 PM
American Spirit-DUE-1/19/2026-5:40 PM

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

WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
1/19/2026  USCG Vincent Massey-ARRIVES-11:51 AM
1/19/2026  USCG Vincent Massey-DEPARTS-1:17 PM-For-Sarnia, Canada
1/19/2026  Whitefish Bay-DEPARTS-1:23 PM-For-Sarnia, Canada
DUE:
Leo A McArthur-DUE-1/19/2026-2:10 PM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
DUE:
Algoma Niagara-DUE-1/19/2026-6:59 AM

OWEN SOUND, CANADA                          [CAOWS]
1/19/2026  Algoma Compass-ARRIVES-7:00 AM
1/19/2026  CCGS Judy LaMarsh-DEPARTS-7:02 AM-For-Owen Sound, Canada
1/19/2026  CCGS Judy LaMarsh-ARRIVES-7:18 AM

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
1/19/2026-Baltic-ARRIVES-8:04 AM
1/19/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-ARRIVES-7:27 PM
DUE:
Whitefish Bay-DUE-1/19/2026-7:50 PM
Algonova-DUE-1/19/2026-9:20 PM

ESCANABA, MICHIGAN                            [USESC]
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-1/20/2026-7:22 AM
Nickelena-DUE-1/18/2026-10:02 PM

STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN               [USSUE]
1/19/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-2:30 PM

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN                         [USGRB]
DUE:
Algoberta-DUE-1/20/2026-12:45 AM

SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
1/19/2026  Rebecca Lynn-ARRIVES-4:04 PM

BURNS HARBOR, INDIANA                     [USBNB]
1/18/2026  Lois M-ARRIVES-11:34 PM
DUE:
Calumet-DUE-1/19/2026-8:35 PM 

INDIANA HARBOR-INDIANA                  [USECH]
1/19/2026  Rebecca Lynn-DEPARTS-1:45 PM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana
1/19/2026  Rebecca Lynn-ARRIVES-2:17 PM
1/19/2026  Rebecca Lynn-DEPARTS-3:00 PM-For-Calumet Harbor, Illinois

Today in Great Lakes History – January 20

Jan 20, 2026

1907
1907:  WILLIAM NOTTINGHAM broke loose in wild winds and flooding at Buffalo. When the storm subsided, the ship had come to rest high and dry about 440 yards from the channel. A total of 12 vessels stranded in the storm but this one was the biggest challenge. A new channel had to be dug to refloat the vessel.

1911
1911:  January 20, 1911 – The ANN ARBOR NO 5 made her first trip into Kewaunee.

1917
1917:  On January 20, 1917, American Ship Building’s Lorain yard launched the steel bulk freighter EUGENE W. PARGNY for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

1923
1923:   On 20 January 1923, CHOCTAW (steel propeller packet, 75 foot, 53 gross tons, built in 1911, at Collingwood) burned at her dock at Port Stanley, Ontario.

1942
1942:  LAKE FLAMBEAU Believed torpedoed off St. John’s on January 20, 1942

1960
1960:  LAKE KYTTLE, under tow as b) JAMES SHERIDAN, foundered in a storm on Long Island Sound. The ship had been built at Manitowoc in 1918 and converted to a barge at River Rouge in 1927 before returning to the sea about 1945.

1962
1962:  The Liberty ship FIDES was a Seaway visitor in 1961. It went aground at Grosser Vogelsand, in the Elbe Estuary and broke in two as a total loss.

1975
1975:  The tug  Built as the [CHARLIE S in 1954 C-197522, Renamed CATHY McALLISTER in 1975, Renamed SEVEN SISTERS, Renamed Doc Morin in 2005] sank alongside the dock at Montreal as CATHY McALLISTER after suffering some grounding damage on the St. Lawrence. The vessel was salvaged on February 13, 1975. It was scrapped at Port Weller as d) DOC MORIN in the fall of 2011.

1979
1979:  ZAMOSC first came to the Great Lakes in 1971. It was enroute from Montreal to Antwerp when in a collision with the JINEI MARU off Terneuzen, Holland. The damaged ship was beached but it heeled over in the sand and had to be broken up.

1980
1980:  20 January 1980 – The E. M. FORD (406 foot, 4,498 gross tons, built in 1898, at Lorain, Ohio as a bulk freighter, converted to self-unloading bulk cement carrier in 1956, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) was raised at her dock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She sank on Christmas Eve of 1979, when gale force winds forced her from her moorings and repeatedly slammed her bow into the dock facing. Crews had to remove a solid three feet of hardened cement and patch her holed bow before she could be re-floated.

1981
1981:  The former SILVER FIR, a Seaway caller in 1977, ran aground and became a total off Libya as d) GALAXY II.

1981:  NORDIC BLOSSOM was launched January 20, 1981 as the a.) NORDIC SUN.

1983
1983:  The YDRA sustained an engine room fire and went aground about a mile east of Bizerta, Tunisia, as a total loss. All on board were saved and the hull is still there. The ship first came to the Great Lakes as a) MANCHESTER PORT in 1966 and was back as b) BIOKOVO in 1972.

2023
2023:   Richard Gray, second mate on the American Steamship Co. 1,000-footer Walter J. McCarthy Jr., died Monday night in a shipboard accident. 1-20-2023

2025
2025:   Algoma Central has acquired two 2009 built, 16,600 dwt product tankers from Norway’s Knutsen OAS Shipping.

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