Boatnerd News

Boatnerd News – October 13, 2025

Oct 13, 2025

Ontario’s Wolfe Islander IV ferry grounding has raised
serious questions about data handling and vessel design

SUMMARY – Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has come under scrutiny following the grounding of the Wolfe Islander IV ferry last December. A new report shows that the ministry failed to preserve “crucial” voyage data, preventing a full investigation into the incident. While the MTO’s internal review attributes the grounding to crew error and environmental factors, the ship’s captain maintains that the ferry’s electric thrusters lacked sufficient power. The loss of key data, combined with findings of limited training and unfamiliarity with the new vessel’s handling, has raised concerns about oversight and operational preparedness.
   MTO report blames crew, while captain says electric thrusters didn’t have enough power.
   Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) failed to retrieve data it acknowledged was “crucial” for accident investigators after the Wolfe Islander IV ran aground, preventing a full review of the crash that tore a hole in the ferry’s hull.
   The vessel was carrying 58 passengers and crew when it went off course, entered shallow waters, then gashed its hull on rocks and mud shortly after leaving Marysville, Ont. on a windy day last December.
   It continued toward Kingston, eventually taking on approximately 70,000 litres of water — about the volume of a backyard swimming pool. No one was injured.
   What followed were months spent waiting for repairs and information from the ministry about how the new, electric ferry was damaged. Meanwhile, island residents who rely on the service were left guessing at what happened.
   Now, two documents obtained by CBC through freedom of information requests and made public for the first time provide conflicting explanations for the crash.
   A MTO investigation concluded it was the result of a combination of factors including “a delayed response from the Bridge team, environmental conditions and navigational challenges,” while a report from the ship’s captain blamed underpowered thrusters.
   Further complicating matters, the MTO report notes investigators were working without two key pieces of information
   A brand new vessel, the WI4 is packed with technology, including two Electronic Chart Display and Information System units (ECDIS), which show and log its location in real-time, like a GPS.
   Also onboard is a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), a device comparable to an airplane’s “black box.”
   The VDR securely stores information about the vessel’s position, movement and command decisions for a period of 30 days, according to the MTO report.
   “This objective data is crucial for accident investigators to reconstruct events, identify operational issues, and analyze human factors contributing to incidents,” it reads.
   However, data from both the VDR and the ECDIS units were not retrieved within the 30-day deadline, the MTO found.
   Those failures “prevented a full post-incident review,” the report stated, without explaining why the information wasn’t collected.
   It was up to MTO to retain that data, said John Dalziel, an adjunct professor of industrial engineering at Dalhousie University, where one of his focuses is marine safety..
   “I think it was very poor as an organization not to save it,” he said.
   “I think it was very poor as an organization not to save it,” he said.
   He was aboard during the crash, though off duty. A captain himself, with 15 years of experience, MacLaren said he’s “baffled” the ministry didn’t secure that data.
   “Those pieces of equipment are there for this type of situation, in order to have people debrief properly, to avoid similar situations happening again,” he said.
   MTO said no one was available for an interview. It also did not respond directly to a list of questions, including why the VDR and ECDIS data weren’t retrieved and how it could be confident in its findings without that information.
   Despite not having that data, MTO described its investigation as “extensive.” It found the immediate cause of the crash was a navigational error by the bridge team, which it said did not actively monitor the route or compensate for wind.
   Investigators also said a passage plan — the route the ferry would follow — hadn’t been entered into the ECDIS, meaning warning systems didn’t sound.
   The ministry listed “poor situational awareness” and a communication breakdown as other factors.
   The captain of the ferry had a different explanation in his account of the crash, also obtained by CBC through freedom of information laws.
   In a marine occurrence report filed with the Transportation Safety Board, he stated the wind blew the vessel off course and when he tried to correct it, the electric thrusters were “unable to provide the propulsion required” before it was too late.
   *MTO acknowledges the new ferry is different from the old one.
   Its report states the WI4’s electric drive comes with torque limits to protect the propulsion system. This approach maintains safe and sustainable performance, limiting the ability to ‘muscle’ the vessel as seen in previous ferries,” it reads.
   The hull design also “significantly impacts its maneuverability” because it has a keel. That increases stability compared to flat-bottomed boats but creates resistance when moving sideways.
   Those two factors require a different approach to steering.
   “Captains must anticipate turns earlier and apply more gradual adjustments rather than relying on brute force to negotiate tight maneuvers,” the MTO said.
   That came into play on Dec. 4. when the ministry said the ferry was operating in “suboptimal” conditions, involving snow, moderate visibility and winds up to 45 km/h.
   Given the situation, “continuous assessment and adjustment” of the vessel’s track should have been made, the MTO concluded, adding that “increased situational awareness in the wheelhouse, could have influenced the timing and effectiveness of corrective actions.”
   However, the ministry acknowledged that given the WI4 was newly in service, crew members didn’t have much experience handling it in rough conditions.
   Training protocols for the boat running aground had also not been integrated, the MTO found in a section titled “Training & Competency Gaps.”
   It’s a grim reminder of how dangerous the job can be.
    Lee MacLaren, President OPSEU Local 428
   Dalziel, the professor who teaches marine safety, said he sees a lack of experience and training as “almost the biggest failure in this whole thing,” noting the channel the ferry uses doesn’t leave much room for error.
   MacLaren, the union president, said in his opinion the new vessel is “grossly underpowered,” describing that as a “great concern” for crews with winter coming.
   “When you’re in tight situations or in narrow channels, there is a problem with gusts of wind putting you in places that no matter how good you are at handling the ship, you may simply not be able to get out of that situation due to the ship’s capabilities,” he said.
   In its statement to CBC, ministry spokesperson Julia Caslin said the safe operation of the ferry is its “highest priority.” “The Wolfe Islander IV has been designed and built for operation in local conditions, including varying weather conditions,” she wrote, adding following its review MTO has added “safeguards” for the vessel.
   “These include updated marine surveys along the navigation channel, additional buoys to mark the channel, and additional scenario-based drills and enhanced training programs for all ferry crews.”
   Those measures were among a list of 19 actions the ministry proposed in its report, along with mandated retrieval and archiving ECDIS and VDR data after any future crashes. MacLaren said those steps should have been taken before the grounding.
   He agreed crews could use more training, especially when it comes to rough weather or emergencies, but said this yet to materialize.
   While no one was hurt when the ferry bottomed out, MacLaren said had the hole been punched in a slightly different part of the hull, it would have flooded a main engine room.
   “That could have destroyed millions of dollars in equipment … as well as caused a way more dangerous situation in the stability of the ship as the water was coming in,” he said.
   “It’s a grim reminder of how dangerous the job can be.”

Source: CBC News via Janey Anderson

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

ISMA Milwaukee Lodge, Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Will Host 50th Anniversary Fitzgerald Commemoration

   International Ship Masters Association Milwaukee Lodge and the
Wisconsin Marine Historical Society have partnered to commemorate
the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and her Crew on the 50th anniversary of
her sinking.
   Join us on Monday, November 10th, from 5-8 PM, at The
Cooperage (822 S. Water St., Milwaukee). The event will feature a
solemn bell ringing ceremony at 6:10 PM in memory of the 29 lost
crew members, followed by speakers sharing their personal
connections to this historic event.
   Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets
are $20 presale, or $40 at the door if space allows. Secure your spot
early – the first 200 tickets sold will receive a commemorative
challenge coin and gift bag. Presale ends November 5, 2025.
   Don’t miss this unique opportunity to reflect on a solemn and
significant event in Great Lakes history. Space is limited, so purchase
your tickets today at:
http://www.shipmaster.org/lodge-6
This event is a commemoration, not a fund raiser.

 

Boatnerd News – October 12, 2025

Oct 12, 2025

Damaged Manitoulin remains stopped at Iroquois Lock

The self-unloading bulk carrier Manitoulin remains tied up on the South lower wall of Iroquois Lock after veering out of the channel October 3 slightly above Cardinal at the turn, with heavy current pushing her into a shallow area (as per her track line). She took on water, and divers have been spotted around her stern.

ISMA Milwaukee Lodge, Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Will Host 50th Anniversary Fitzgerald Commemoration

   International Ship Masters Association Milwaukee Lodge and the

Wisconsin Marine Historical Society have partnered to commemorate

the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and her Crew on the 50th anniversary of

her sinking.
   Join us on Monday, November 10th, from 5-8 PM, at The

Cooperage (822 S. Water St., Milwaukee). The event will feature a

solemn bell ringing ceremony at 6:10 PM in memory of the 29 lost

crew members, followed by speakers sharing their personal

connections to this historic event.
   Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets

are $20 presale, or $40 at the door if space allows. Secure your spot

early – the first 200 tickets sold will receive a commemorative

challenge coin and gift bag. Presale ends November 5, 2025.
   Don’t miss this unique opportunity to reflect on a solemn and
significant event in Great Lakes history. Space is limited, so purchase

your tickets today at:
http://www.shipmaster.org/lodge-6

   This event is a commemoration, not a fund raiser.

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 10, 2025

Oct 10, 2025

John J. Boland Under Tow After Engine Issues

1:42 p.m. UPDATE: The tugs and their tow have arrived at Mistersky Fuel Dock in Detroit.

10:30 a.m. UPDATE: Tugs Minnesota and Ohio have the Boland in tow and are proceeding downbound. 

ORIGINAL REPORT: Around 9 a.m. Friday, Sarnia Traffic advised another ship that John J. Boland experienced mechanical issues at lower end of Lake St. Clair. She appears to be at anchor near light 1, at the right side of the channel. Walter J. McCarthy is currently downbound Lake St. Clair, but at reduced speed. Tugs Minnesota and Ohio are headed to Boland to assist if needed. 

Cargo Ship Thamesborg Refloated After 33 Days in Remote Canadian Arctic

Royal Wagenborg confirmed that the refloating operation for its vessel Thamesborg was successful, and the ship will be proceeding to exit the Arctic to a port of refuge. The vessel had been stranded for 33 days after grounding on September 6 in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada.

The company and T&T Salvage, which was retained for the operation, had said earlier in the week that they were prepared for a refloating attempt depending on the weather conditions in the area. In preparation, they report that 5,000 tons of the cargo of carbon blocks for industrial use was offloaded to two cargo ships, Silver Copenhagen and Nunalik, which had been brought in as part of the rescue operation.

The Thamesborg was refloated at approximately 0600 local time on October 9. The operation involved reducing the water level in the ballast tanks that had been damaged during the grounding. The MSV Botnica, an offshore support vessel, aided in the refloating effort after arriving with specialized equipment. The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Des Groseilliers was also standing by to oversee the operation and monitor for potential pollution.

The company reports the vessel was floated without further damage, and there continues to be no signs of pollution. The crew of 15 and an ice advisor who was aboard to advise during the voyage have remained on the vessel and are reported to be in good health and uninjured. 

After the vessel was refloated, an inspection team was surveying the hull. Wagenborg reports that after receiving clearance to proceed, the vessel will be making its way to a port of refuge. The AIS signal was changed this morning to show a destination of Baie Comeau, Canada, on the St. Lawrence, where the vessel is due on October 24.

The Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Wagenborg said it was a race to get the vessel out of the Arctic before the onset of winter weather. The ship has an ice class hull, which will permit it to navigate in first-year ice, although the company said the route out of the Arctic would be determined by weather conditions.  Wagenborg said it is extending its sincere gratitude to the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, the salvage teams, and all government agencies and staff who provided crucial assistance throughout this operation.

Maritime Monster

 

2 Northern Venture Crew Injured at Goderich

Two crew members onboard Mckeil Marine’s Northern Venture were injured after being pinned under some equipment aboard their vessel in Goderich’s Harbour

One crew member of the Northern Venture was airlifted from the scene with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The other crew member also suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident happened on Tuesday around 1 p.m., as the crew members were doing maintenance work on the vessel, before preparing to load the ship with salt.
The Ministry of Labour and Transportation Safety Board are now in charge of the investigation.

Source – CTV News – Scott Miller

Seaway Monthly Traffic Results Through September-30-2025

   [Results chart below in gallery]

Cleveland port begins electrifying operations to reduce emissions

   CLEVELAND, OH  – One of the largest ports in the Midwest is officially starting to decarbonize, thanks to a Biden-era grant program that has so far survived the Trump administration’s assault on all things clean energy.

   Late last month, the Port of Cleveland began renovating its main warehouse on the shore of Lake Erie. When the work is complete, Warehouse A will have roughly 2 megawatts’ worth of rooftop solar panels, plus battery storage and numerous charging ports for cargo-handling equipment.

   Cleveland, which received a $94 million award from the Clean Ports Program announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last fall, is one of three Great Lakes port groups benefitting from the funding. Although the agency has reneged on many other funding commitments under President Donald Trump, work and payments for the $2.9 billion ports program are still moving ahead.

   The country’s more than 300 ports, which ship and receive the materials, food, and other products that Americans rely on, are mostly powered by fossil fuels. Their cranes, forklifts, and other freight-handling equipment burn diesel fuel, and so do the ships and boats docked at those ports, sending not only planet-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere but toxic pollution that can harm the people who work and live nearby.

   To address both problems, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. “We want to have a lower impact on surrounding communities. We also want to stay ahead of regulations,” said Bryan Celik, a contract engineer for the Port of Cleveland. The goal covers the port’s direct Scope 1 emissions, as well as its Scope 2 emissions for energy use.

   Global shipping companies face increasing pressure to decarbonize boats and ships, and technology for wind-powered and battery-powered vessels has improved in recent years.

   The U.S. has previously taken steps toward decarbonizing shipping, including by partnering with Norway on the Green Shipping Challenge, but the Trump administration has scuttled progress this year. Trump also opposes a proposed global fee on greenhouse gas emissions that the International Maritime Organization will consider formally adopting this month.

   The nearly $3 billion in Clean Ports Program funding nationwide “has transformative potential for U.S. ports,” said Jerold Brito, a program associate with the Electrification Coalition, a nonprofit that helped coordinate a Sept. 25 event on regional port electrification hosted by the Port of Cleveland.

   Indeed, Cleveland is not alone in its efforts to clean up its port. The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, for example, has an even more ambitious goal of reaching net-zero for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040, said its sustainability manager, Taylor Mitchell.

   Because so much is shipped through ports, Mitchell says, electrifying these hubs of commerce is a “cool opportunity to have a really huge impact on the planet.”

   During the late September event organized by the Electrification Coalition, representatives from Cleveland, Detroit, and Hamilton, Ontario, met with contractors and others in industry and nonprofit organizations to share plans and address challenges.

   For Brito, this sort of collaboration is key to the success of port electrification.
   “Realizing that potential will require buy-in from — and coordination with — the regional networks of industry, nonprofit, and government actors affected by ports’ electrification,” he said.

   For example, work at Cleveland’s Warehouse A necessitates collaborating with Cleveland Public Power, the city’s municipal utility. While solar panels and battery storage at the warehouse will eventually provide much of the port’s electricity needs, it still requires more grid power in order to fully electrify.

   Other phases of the work will add cabling and connections for vessels to operate with electric power while they’re in port. That “shore power,” or cold ironing, could let boats and ships shut off their diesel engines until it’s time to get underway again.

   Additionally, Logistec USA, the port operator, will acquire an electric crane and electric forklifts. And the Great Lakes Towing Co. will build two electric tugboats.

   Coordination with other stakeholders also presents challenges for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. “We really don’t have much of a footprint ourselves,” except for a cruise dock, noted Mark Schrupp, executive director for the port authority.

   Instead, most cargo carried by boats and ships moves through private docks in industrial port areas around the city. “We’ve definitely got to think of ways to get the private sector on board.”

   But companies may not want to take some steps on an individual basis, such as constructing and installing power lines and charging equipment at privately owned docks that would only be used part-time.

   So the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority is exploring alternatives, such as how hydrogen could produce clean electricity aboard a boat that could then act as a mobile plug-in port for docked vessels’ shore power.

   Developing shore power calls for even more groups working together on a broader scale. “We really need a standard as much for a port as for a ship, because if there is a mismatch, you would have invested all of that for nothing,” said Hugo Daniel, a doctoral candidate at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec who researches engineering challenges in shore power. Ideally, Canada and the United States will join forces on a strategy for the Great Lakes that aligns with practices from California, the European Union, and China, he said.

   Without standards set at the regional and national level, states and cities that try to compel changes on their own could see shippers simply move to other ports with more lax rules, Schrupp said. While some firms looking to slash their supply-chain emissions might prefer to work with a port that is decarbonizing operations, others might avoid areas that could restrict their diesel use.

   Great Lakes ports are big economic drivers. More than 23,000 jobs and about $7 billion in annual economic activity are tied to Cleveland’s port alone, Celik said. Yet it and other inland ports handle a smaller volume of business than most of their counterparts on the East and West coasts, making it that much harder to spread costs and recoup major investments like electrification.

   “Like all previous transitions, the electrification transition will present novel challenges and opportunities,” Brito said. “So Great Lakes ports must remain nimble.”

Canary Media

ISMA Milwaukee Lodge, Wisconsin Marine Historical Society to Host 50th Anniversary Fitzgerald Commemoration

   International Ship Masters Association Milwaukee Lodge and the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society have partnered to commemorate the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and her Crew on the 50th anniversary of her sinking.

   Join us on Monday, November 10th, from 5-8 PM, at The Cooperage (822 S. Water St., Milwaukee). The event will feature a solemn bell ringing ceremony at 6:10 PM in memory of the 29 lost crew members, followed by speakers sharing their personal connections to this historic event.

   Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 presale, or $40 at the door if space allows. Secure your spot early – the first 200 tickets sold will receive a commemorative challenge coin and gift bag. Presale ends November 5, 2025.

  Space is limited, so purchase your tickets today at:
http://www.shipmaster.org/lodge-6

   This event is a commemoration, not a fund raiser.

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.

   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.

   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.

   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
 

 Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.” Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”

   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.

   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.

   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.

   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.


Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 9, 2025

Oct 9, 2025

U.S. Steel sues Algoma Steel over refusal to honor multimillion-dollar contract

   U.S. Steel on Tuesday sued a Canadian steel company alleging that it is refusing to pay for millions of tons of iron ore pellets it agreed to purchase five years ago because of new Trump administration tariffs.
   Algoma Steel Inc., based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is accused of breach of contract. A message left with Algoma late Tuesday was not returned.
   According to the complaint, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, U.S. Steel and Algoma entered into a contract in May 2020 calling for Algoma to buy millions of tons of iron ore pellets — mined and processed by U.S. Steel facilities in Minnesota — for negotiated rates.
   The contract, the lawsuit said, runs through January 2027 and is governed by Pennsylvania law. It requires that all disputes be decided through arbitration proceedings in Pittsburgh.
   “Now Algoma has buyer’s remorse and wants out of the deal,” the lawsuit said. “It has repudiated the contract by refusing the latest shipment of iron ore pellets and has affirmatively told U. S. Steel that it will not accept any more iron ore pellets or otherwise honor the parties’ contract.
   The complaint alleges that Algoma already owes U.S. Steel more than $22 million, and that losses for U.S. Steel on the contract could approach $100 million.
   Further, U.S. Steel said that Algoma has said it will not consent to arbitration in Pittsburgh. Instead, the company has told U.S. Steel it plans to seek relief in a Canadian court and will ask for a declaration finding the parties’ contract is no longer binding.
   In late September, the lawsuit said that Algoma refused a shipment of the iron ore pellets. Then, on Sept. 29, the company wrote a letter to U.S. Steel in which it blamed the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canadian steel “for creating a situation where Algoma’s blast furnace steel, created using iron ore pellets, was no longer competitive in the American market.”
   The lawsuit alleges that Algoma has no legitimate basis to unilaterally end the contract.
   “A contract is a contract, and we expect Algoma Steel to live up to its commitments as have we,” said Andrew Fulton, a spokesman for U.S. Steel.
   Trump announced a doubling of tariffs for all countries except the United Kingdom at a rally in Pittsburgh in May. It took effect a week later. On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House to talk about U.S. tariffs on steel, automobiles and other good.

The Trib, Tarentum, PA

Spliethoff confirms death of seafarer from Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden

   Dutch carrier Spliethoff has confirmed the death of one of its seafarers who was critically injured and passed away in hospital on October 6 after the general cargo Minervagracht was hit on September 29 by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden.
   In a statement, the Amsterdam-based shipping line declared: “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. Our thoughts are with them as they face this unimaginable loss, and we will continue to offer all possible support during this difficult time.
   “The events of last week have left a profound impact on everyone at Spliethoff. Today’s news has deeply saddened everyone at the company, as we mourn the loss of a respected and valued seafarer.
   “Most of the crew of Minervagracht have now been safely repatriated to their home countries. One crew member remains under medical care in Djibouti; his condition is stable, and we expect he will be able to return home later this week.
   “Finally, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to the crew, and their families for the strength and resilience they have shown throughout this ordeal. We are thankful to the authorities and all those who assisted in the rescue and repatriation of our crew.”
   The missile strike set fire to the accommodation block Crew members were evacuated from the burning vessel by warships from the EU’s Operation Aspides. The Minervagracht, which has been a frequent Great Lakes visitor, was in international waters in the Gulf of Aden and heading eastbound from Djibouti at the time of the attack.
   Houthi forces said they targeted the Dutch-flagged vessel because the carrier had ships calling at Israeli ports.

Maritime Magazine

ISMA Milwaukee Lodge, Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Will Host 50th Anniversary Fitzgerald Commemoration

   International Ship Masters Association Milwaukee Lodge and the

Wisconsin Marine Historical Society have partnered to commemorate

the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and her Crew on the 50th anniversary of

her sinking.
   Join us on Monday, November 10th, from 5-8 PM, at The

Cooperage (822 S. Water St., Milwaukee). The event will feature a

solemn bell ringing ceremony at 6:10 PM in memory of the 29 lost

crew members, followed by speakers sharing their personal

connections to this historic event.
   Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets

are $20 presale, or $40 at the door if space allows. Secure your spot

early – the first 200 tickets sold will receive a commemorative

challenge coin and gift bag. Presale ends November 5, 2025.
   Don’t miss this unique opportunity to reflect on a solemn and
significant event in Great Lakes history. Space is limited, so purchase

your tickets today at:
http://www.shipmaster.org/lodge-6

   This event is a commemoration, not a fund raiser.

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 8, 2025

Oct 8, 2025

Poe Lock Closed Wednesday for Repairs

UPDATE: The lock reopened around 3 p.m.

The Poe Lock at the Soo is closed for unspecified repairs until possibly 7 p.m. this evening. Several vessels are facing delays, including the Hon James L. Oberstar, downbound with its first cargo since undergoing repairs from a grounding this summer. The Oberstar is moored at the West Pier. Upbound Edgar B. Speer moored below the Poe Lock. The MacArthur Lock remains open for smaller vessels and tour boats.

 

Cargo Ship Thamesborg Remains Aground in Arctic as Icebreaker Arrives on Scene With Sea Ice Building

   A month after running aground the Dutch cargo vessel Thamesborg remains aground atop a shoal along Canada’s Northwest Passage. Over the weekend an icebreaker, Botnica, arrived from Europe with a stop in Nuuk, Greenland after a nearly 3-week trip. The vessel is the fourth dispatched to aid in the recovery effort. Thamesborg was en route from Lianyungang, China to Baie-Comeau in eastern Canada when it ran aground on September 6.
   Coastal tug Beverly M I arrived on scene on September 22 together with the cargo vessel Silver Copenhagen. Since then part of Thamesborg’s cargo, consisting of carbon blocks, has been transferred to Silver Copenhagen. Another cargo vessel, Nunalik, stopped at the incident site last week likely to offload the remainder of the blocks.
   The presence of the Finnish-built icebreaker Botnica provides the operator with critical flexibility as sea ice begins to return to the Northwest Passage. With a bollard pull of 117 tonnes it is significantly more powerful than the Beverly M I tug which remains on standby in the area. The icebreaker also gives responders more options for moving Thamesborg out of the area should they encounter sea ice during the upcoming towing operation.
   Botnica is a multipurpose support vessel regularly chartered out during summer months. During the winter it is operated by Estonia’s Port of Tallinn to keep Baltic Sea shipping lanes open. The 6,370 tonnes vessel was built in 1998.
   With winter fast approaching and ice starting to form in the northern reaches of the Northwest Passage the vessel’s operator, Wagenborg, aims to refloat the vessel in the coming week, weather conditions permitting.
   Based on the Canadian Ice Service sea ice has begun to build in Barrow Strait to the north of the accident site. It is unclear if Wagenborg aims to tow Thamesborg out of the Arctic in an easterly or westerly direction.
   With the Barrow Strait possibly inaccessible by the time the vessel has been refloated another option in an easterly direction could be a transit via the Fury and Hecla Strait leading into Fox Basin to the north of the Hudson Bay. Though sea ice has also begun to build up in this strait based on the latest ice charts. An ice-free path remains in a westerly direction through the Amundsen Gulf toward Alaska and the Beaufort Sea.
   The Northwest Passage traditionally closes for commercial shipping at some point in October, though the exact time frame varies from year to year. Last year Wagenborg’s ice-strengthened Avonborg transited the route in an easterly direction in early November.

[gcaptain]

Wagenborg to Attempt Refloat of Grounded Thamesborg This Week Weather Permitting, Before Ice Window Narrows

   Dutch operator Wagenborg will attempt to refloat its grounded cargo vessel Thamesborg this week, weather conditions permitting, the company announced during a press briefing. The vessel ran aground in the Canadian Arctic on September 6.
   With the Estonian icebreaker Botnica arriving on scene over the weekend Wagenborg said that all resources and personnel required for a refloating are now on site.
   Over the past two weeks 4,000 tons of cargo have been transferred from Thamesborg to freighters Silver Copenhagen and Nunalik, in an effort to lighten the ship. Additional cargo may be removed if necessary, the company stated.
   The reloading completed phase one of the salvage operation and with the arrival of Botnica phase two is set to begin this week aimed at reducing the amount of ballast water in the damaged tanks and the subsequent attempt to refloat the vessel.
   “Multiple ballast tanks were ruptured in the grounding, these tanks were empty before the grounding and are now filled with seawater taken on in the Northwest Passage,” David Solsbery, a spokesperson for Wagenborg, explained.
   The incident site has experienced high winds and foggy conditions in recent weeks, posing a challenge to the crews requiring calm weather and seas to begin emptying of the ballast tanks. Conditions may be more favorable as the week progresses.
   With Botnica on scene the company says it is adequately prepared to deal with any potential early winter sea ice. In addition, Thamesborg itself holds a 1A ice-class suitable for navigation in icy conditions. The current plan is for the vessel to travel out of the Arctic under its own power, with Botnica standing by to escort or tow the vessel. The company said it was working on confirming the intended port of refuge.
   “That being said, questions have been raised regarding the onset of winter and the impact if the ship is not refloated before ice forms. All company resources and energy are currently being dedicated to ensuring the Thamesborg is successfully refloated prior to this window closing; we have contingency plans in place if this outcome does not materialize, but we will address that scenario only if and when faced with it,” the company elaborated further.
   Some sea ice has begun to form to the south, north and west of the incident site, but at this time does not pose a hazard to the salvage operation.
   “There are a few icebergs floating south of the ship’s position, about 100 nautical miles south,” said Kevin Tatryn, a Senior Ice Forecaster with the Canadian Ice Service. “The closest sea ice is actually in the McClintock Channel. That’s about 80 to 90 nautical miles to the west.”
   Meanwhile the cause of the grounding remains undetermined with an investigation together with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada currently underway.
   Wagenborg’s vessels have carried out over 50 transits of the Northwest Passage since 2016. The company emphasized that extensive planning precedes all its Arctic voyages and highlighted its use of low-sulfur marine gas oil, offering cleaner combustion and reduced emissions than heavier fuels

[gcaptain]

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in September

   CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes decreased 14.2 percent from 2024 to 4.7 million tons in September.  Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.4 percent.
   Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 31.4 million tons, a 14 percent decrease compared to last year. 
   Through September, iron ore loadings are 6.6 percent below their 5-year average for the first three quarters of the year.
   Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
[Charts are in Gallery below]

[Lake Carriers association]

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 7, 2025

Oct 7, 2025

PRESS RELEASE: Oberstar Back In Service

   We’re proud to share that our M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar is officially back in service, a milestone made possible by the exceptional collaboration and dedication of many.
   Our sincere thanks to the skilled teams at Fraser Shipyards and Maviro, whose expertise and hard work were instrumental throughout the repair process following the vessel’s side-lining incident in June.
   We’re also incredibly grateful to our shoreside engineering team, whose tireless problem-solving and commitment during the extended outage ensured a safe and efficient return to service.
   This was a highly complex operation, and its successful outcome is a testament to the resilience, professionalism, and teamwork of our people and partners across the Great Lakes.
   We’re thankful to have the Oberstar back as a vital part of our U.S.-flag fleet, delivering the essential cargoes that are the building blocks of America.
   Editor’s Note: The Oberstar has been at Fraser since June 17 undergoing repairs to its hull after grounding on the St. Marys River.

Interlake Steamship Co.

Radcliffe R Latimer leaves Thunder Bay Shipyard after repairs

 Radcliffe R Latimer departed the shipyard at Thunder Bay at 9:05 PM Local Time after receiving repairs from an engine room fire on an earlier date.
   Destination is showing Port Weller as of this writing.
   Best wishes and glad to have her back sailing again.

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 6, 2025

Oct 6, 2025

Hon James L Oberstar is now out of drydock in Superior

The Hon James L Oberstar was refloated and removed from the drydock after repairs from a grounding on the St Marys River earlier in the season. 
   Word is she will load at CN #6 in the near future.
   [Photos in the Gallery below]

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 4, 2025

Oct 4, 2025

Manitoulin still moored near Iroquois Lock after touching bottom

Manitoulin, damaged when it touched bottom near Cardinal, ON, Thursday, remained tied up at the south lower wall of Iroquois Lock on Friday. Waterfront reports indicate she veered out of the channel slightly above Cardinal at the turn, with the heavy current pushing her into the shallow area (as per her track line), and took on water (likely only the one tank, but nothing confirmed). At this point, she is likely waiting for Seaway clearance to continue her trip from Hamilton to Quebec.

[#shipjunkies-Janey Anderson]

Thamesborg Remains Aground

   Thamesborg is still aground in the Franklin Strait of the Northwest Passage. The cargo (carbon blocks) from the forward hold, are being transshipped to the attending salvage vessel Silver Copenhagen, a Norwegian-flagged ice-class reefer cargo ship
   After unloading in Resolute, Nunalik (a NEAS vessel) has now arrived to help with the cargo offloading using her heavy-lift cranes. Tug Beverly M1 is on standby to assist when/where needed. The Estonian-flagged Botanicais is also enroute.
   Coast Guard officials approved the company’s plan for the safe refloating of the ship last week. The CCGS icebreaker Des Groseilliers remains on standby in the vicinity as well. Continuous inspection of Thamesborg through ROV surveys confirms that fuel tanks and cargo holds remain intact.
   High winds are expected Saturday.

[#shipjunkies]

Ernest McSorley: The Last Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald

As the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking approaches, John U. Bacon’s new book revisits Captain Ernest McSorley and the tragedy that claimed 29 lives.

By Doug Marrin

   On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior in a powerful storm, taking with it 29 men and cementing its place in Great Lakes history. At the helm was Captain Ernest McSorley, a man whose reputation and career are at the center of John U. Bacon’s new book, The Gales of November, released on October 7.
   Bacon portrays McSorley as a complicated but admired figure. “Very positive,” Bacon said when asked his opinion of the captain in a recent interview with the Sun Times News. “Now, I know he made some crucial mistakes that night. There’s no question. But he was, without question, the best captain on the Great Lakes. Even his rivals told me this.”

Read complete interview and about his book at following link:   https://thesuntimesnews.com/edmund-fitzgerald-50th-anniversary-john-bacon/

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 3, 2025

Oct 3, 2025

Manitoulin damaged in grounding near Cardinal, ON

Multiple sources have confirmed that the bulk carrier Manitoulin grounded earlier today above Cardinal, ON, and suffered damage to the hull which has resulted in the vessel taking on water. The ship proceeded to Iroquois Lock where it was able to be safely moored along the upper approach wall for further assessment. Vessel traffic was continuing Thursday evening without delay.

St. Lawrence Seaway Ship Watchers Network, Ron Beaupre

Burger Boat makes a leadership team transition

Written by Marine Log Staff

   Manitowoc, Wis.-based shipbuilder Burger Boat Company has made a leadership team transition that sees Nick Siler become president and CEO, succeeding Jim Rufulo, who becomes chairman of the company after over three decades of hands-on leadership and will now focus on long-term strategic oversight and governance. 
   Siler comes to his new role with extensive leadership experience from senior and executive roles at Modine Manufacturing Company, Bradley Corporation, and, most recently, Enercon Industries Corporation. In his new role, he will report directly to the board and lead the executive team. His focus will be on strengthening company strategy, enhancing organizational culture, driving performance, and advancing continuous improvement and sustainable growth across the business.
   In other moves, Rich Thompson assumes the new role of chief sales and marketing officer. In this role, he leads business development across all segments—including yachts, commercial vessels, military vessels, and repair/refit services. He will also lead brand development, marketing, and product management. Together, he and Nick will co-lead strategic planning for the organization. Thompson has held senior and executive roles at Illinois Tool Works, DuPont, and Newell Rubbermaid.
   David Villar, as the company’s chief operating officer, is responsible for the company’s shipyard and joinery operations, including engineering, construction, supply chain, program management, and quality/continuous improvement teams. He will focus on expanding operational capability and capacity, and comes to Burger with operational expertise from senior and executive roles at GE Healthcare, GE Power & Water, Bradley Corporation, and most recently, Perlick Corporation.
   Tom Connor, a more than twenty-year Burger Boat veteran, will continue in his current role of chief financial officer in this new team structure, with leadership responsibilities for the finance, human resource, information technology, and legal functional areas of the company.
   Founded in 1863, Burger Boat Company, specializes in fully custom yachts, commercial vessels, military craft, and comprehensive refit and repair services.

Lakes Limestone Trade Down in September

CLEVELAND — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in September, a decrease of 11.5 percent compared to 2024.  Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 6 percent.
   Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 13.5 percent from last year to 2.7 million tons.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 663,144 tons, a decrease of 2.3 percent.
   Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 19.6 million tons, a decrease of 5.8 percent compared to 2024.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 4.2 percent to 16 million tons; while shipments from Ontario quarries decreased by 12.3 percent to 3.6 million tons.
   U.S. ports: Calcite, MI; Cedarville, MI; Drummond Island, MI; Marblehead, OH; Port Inland, MI; and

Presque Isle, MI.  Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne (from August 2017 on), and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).

[Charts in gallery below]

[Lake Carriers Association]

American Cruise lis Trip Includes Sheboygan Wisconsin in 2026

Hey folks! Looks like our neighbor port to the south, Sheboygan will be a commercial port again next season as American Cruise Lines is bringing cruise ships to the Great Lakes, and Sheboygan will be a port of Call! This is the 1st and only solely USA Based and Operated Cruise company (going from port to port) to operate on the Lakes since Blount Small Ship Adventure Left in 2020 due to Pandemic.

[See Chart of trip in Galery below]

Link to American Cruise Lines;    https://www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/great-lakes-cruises/lake-michigan-and-upper-peninsula-cruise?fbclid=IwY2xjawNL3WhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuJjCijqggJyHgm5MxIHj7OwaJ5N1EgjsuL28qTTuZYvjYV4cUpkKKedVQ2D_aem_UcspMvF–yrkNaG5TL7g3Q

[Connor Siemers]

Ernest McSorley: The Last Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald

As the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking approaches, John U. Bacon’s new book revisits Captain Ernest McSorley and the tragedy that claimed 29 lives.

By Doug Marrin

   On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior in a powerful storm, taking with it 29 men and cementing its place in Great Lakes history. At the helm was Captain Ernest McSorley, a man whose reputation and career are at the center of John U. Bacon’s new book, The Gales of November, released on October 7.
   Bacon portrays McSorley as a complicated but admired figure. “Very positive,” Bacon said when asked his opinion of the captain in a recent interview with the Sun Times News. “Now, I know he made some crucial mistakes that night. There’s no question. But he was, without question, the best captain on the Great Lakes. Even his rivals told me this.”

Read complete interview and about his book at following link:   https://thesuntimesnews.com/edmund-fitzgerald-50th-anniversary-john-bacon/

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Boatnerd News – October 2, 2025

Oct 2, 2025

Finland’s Aker Arctic Unveils Next-Generation Medium-Class Icebreaker as Global Demand Heats Up

Malte Humpert
September 30, 2025

Finnish icebreaker engineering firm Aker Arctic on Monday released the first renderings of its new B+ class vessel for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, unveiling a next-generation design as global demand for ice-capable ships accelerates.
The vessel, part of Finland’s long-term renewal of its state-owned icebreaking fleet, is designed to meet tougher environmental standards while ensuring reliable year-round access to Baltic Sea ports.
The new B+ type promises enhanced efficiency, lower emissions, and greater icebreaking power compared to existing medium-class models. It will be significantly cheaper to operate than the largest A-class icebreakers.
Aker Arctic, the world’s leading developers of icebreaking technology, has previously contributed designs for vessels operating all around the world. The company said the medium-class icebreaker design is tailored to Finland’s operational needs, but could also serve as a model for international customers eyeing the rapidly changing Arctic environment.
Both the U.S. and Canada are in the process of expanding their icebreaker fleet, with design and contract decisions by the U.S. Coast Guard on the horizon.
Aker recently joined a trilateral consortium aimed at delivering the next generation of U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers. The partnership includes American Bollinger Shipyards, Finnish Rauma Shipyards, and Canadian Seaspan Shipyards, with Aker spearheading design and engineering work.
Another group led by Canada’s builder Davie and its Helsinki Shipyard is similarly vying to secure future contracts. Davie recently announced plans for a $1 billion “icebreaker factory” in Texas.
As for Aker, after concluding the initial design process on the B+ class icebreaker before summer, the firm has now moved on to phase two; model tests in both open water and ice.
“Even in this day and age, model-scale testing in an ice tank is still the most reliable method to find out how a new icebreaker — particularly one not quite like anything that has been built before — will perform once it is commissioned,” says Aker’s chief designer Tuomas Romu.
While one can use established criteria to calculate straight-line performance, more complex maneuvers such a breaking out from an ice channel or freeing a beset vessel are much more challenging.
“That’s when you call in the test engineers with their little red ships,” remarks Romu.
Aker’s ice basin is directly integrated with the company’s design office fostering close cooperation between naval architects and test engineers. “We have a fairly low threshold to use our in-house ice model testing laboratory to try out new ideas and novel icebreaker designs,” confirms Romu.
In the case of the new B+ icebreaker for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency some of the testing was open to visitors – a rare occurrence as most projects are confidential – who could observe first-hand how the model breaks ice and chunks move along the side of the vessel.
With the new medium-class icebreaker Aker has set itself a high goal of designing a “no compromise vessel.” The idea is not to design the biggest or most powerful icebreaker that can tackle even the worst ice conditions the Baltic Sea can throw at it. But instead a versatile and cost-efficient vessel that can adapt to changing sea ice conditions over its 50-year design life.
“That’s why we are paying more attention to seakeeping performance and ability to operate in heavily-deformed icepack rather than maximizing the level ice thickness the new icebreaker can break without stopping,” explains Romu.
Aker aims to finalize the tender material before the end of the year with shipyard selection and procurement scheduled for 2026. Keeping with Finland’s rapid pace when it comes to building icebreakers, the B+ class icebreaker is expected to be delivered in late 2029.

Read full story and more photos here:    https://gcaptain.com/finlands-aker-arctic-unveils-next-generation-medium-class-icebreaker-as-global-demand-heats-up/?subscriber=true&goal=0_f50174ef03-c53d730a7f-170750560&mc_cid=c53d730a7f&mc_eid=90791b531f

Seaspan Shipyards contracts Genoa for polar icebreaker tech design services

Written by Marine Log Staff
   North Vancouver, B.C.-based Seaspan Shipyards has inked a contract with Newfoundland-based Genoa Design International (Genoa) to continue providing design expertise on the Canadian Coast Guard’s new heavy polar icebreaker.
   Under the contract, Geona will provide design guidance, growing its local workforce in Vancouver to more than 100 naval architecture and marine systems designers. Work will continue into the vessel’s build phase, which is already underway at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards. Additionally, Genoa will provide its technical leadership and program support to advance the first built-in-Canada heavy icebreaker in more than 60 years.
   Measuring 158 meters long and 28 meters wide, Seaspan’s polar icebreaker will be incredibly complex, designed to operate self-sufficiently in the high-Arctic year-round. It will play a critical role in enabling the Canadian Coast Guard to transit and operate on more than 162,000 kilometers of Arctic coastline. The capabilities of this Polar Class 2 icebreaker will help sustain a 12-month presence in Canada’s North in support of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, high-Arctic science (including climate change research), indigenous peoples and other northern communities, and the ability to respond to major maritime emergencies including search and rescue.
   It will be able to accommodate up to 100 personnel, and, as one of the only Polar Class 2 vessels in the world, will be able to operate farther north, in more difficult ice conditions and for longer periods, than any icebreaker in Canada to date.
   The ship will be the seventh vessel designed and built by Seaspan under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). It will also be the fifth Polar Class vessel to be built for the CCG, and one of up to 21 icebreaking vessels overall that Seaspan is constructing.
   “Genoa’s signing of the Polar Icebreaker Build Contract with Vancouver Shipyards is the latest milestone in an enduring partnership that began and continues under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. Together, we are strengthening our nation’s ability to support national fleet requirements, from ship construction to vessel lifecycle support. Now more than ever, Canadian companies like Genoa are vitally important to the nation’s sovereignty and security.” said Gina Pecore, CEO, Genoa Design International
   “Seaspan’s new heavy polar icebreaker is more than a ship — it represents a national capability for generations,” said Kate Morton, vice president – supply chain, Seaspan Shipyards. “Genoa continue to be an important Canadian design partner, helping us deliver this flagship vessel to the Coast Guard. Together, we’re continuing to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of Canada’s revitalized shipbuilding industry.” 

Ernest McSorley: The Last Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald

As the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking approaches, John U. Bacon’s new book revisits Captain Ernest McSorley and the tragedy that claimed 29 lives.

By Doug Marrin

   On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior in a powerful storm, taking with it 29 men and cementing its place in Great Lakes history. At the helm was Captain Ernest McSorley, a man whose reputation and career are at the center of John U. Bacon’s new book, The Gales of November, released on October 7.
   Bacon portrays McSorley as a complicated but admired figure. “Very positive,” Bacon said when asked his opinion of the captain in a recent interview with the Sun Times News. “Now, I know he made some crucial mistakes that night. There’s no question. But he was, without question, the best captain on the Great Lakes. Even his rivals told me this.”

Read complete interview and about his book at following link:   https://thesuntimesnews.com/edmund-fitzgerald-50th-anniversary-john-bacon/

Underwater robot makes amazing scans of deep Lake Michigan shipwrecks before time runs out

See story in full and videos of the underwater scans by clicking link below:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/09/30/underwater-robot-makes-stunning-scans-of-deep-lake-michigan-shipwrecks/85559239007/

AHOY & FAREWELL III Wins
Historical Society of Michigan Award

     The book Ahoy & Farewell III, released last fall to mark the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s 80th anniversary, has won an award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan.
   MHSD president and book co-author Roger LeLievre accepted the award recently at the HSOM’s annual conference. The book’s other two authors are Viktor Kaczkowski and William T. Moran.
   Ahoy & Farewell III, the third installment of the MHSD’s long-running series marks the MHSD’s 80th anniversary. The book documents the vessels we welcomed, and those to which we had to bid farewell during the last 30 years. The nearly 300-page, high-quality volume features a wealth of color photos, with multiple images of every vessel referenced, plus a complete history of every vessel listed.
The book may be ordered at MHSD.org
To order by mail,
US orders $48 (includes postage)
Canadian orders $63 (includes postage) Must write US Funds after the numerical dollar amount.
Send payment to
Vinny Cioletti – MHSD
10 Port Ave.
Monrore, MI 48161

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying

   DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
   The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
   Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
   “It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
   Friday Nov. 7
   The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
   Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked

  Detroit Free Press

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos:  https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw

 

 

Load More

Jump to a Date:

Archives