Authorities say they are reviewing a draft plan to salvage a commercial freighter that ran aground in the Northwest Passage earlier this month.
   The Thamesborg, owned by Dutch shipping firm Wagenborg, which has traded on the Great Lakes, is stranded in the Franklin Strait off the Tasmania Islands between the Nunavut mainland and Prince of Wales Island.
   The ship, which was carrying industrial carbon blocks from China to Quebec, has been aground for more than 10 days with damage to its ballast tanks. Officials say no pollution has escaped and the crew of 16 were unhurt.
   In its latest update, published on Tuesday, the Canadian Coast Guard said its representatives and Transport Canada officials are reviewing a draft salvage plan submitted by Wagenborg.
   The vessel remains stable,” the coast guard added.
   Wagenborg, in a separate statement earlier this week, said it is working on “a plan for the safe and effective refloating of the ship” but bad weather had introduced a delay.
   “All salvage efforts are dependent on the weather and some operations have had to be delayed due to inclement weather over the weekend,” Wagenborg stated on Monday.
   “Meanwhile, a salvage master and naval architect joined Thamesborg and the first salvage equipment and additional staff have arrived on site. Remaining salvage equipment and staff is under way to the site and expected to arrive within seven days.”
   The coast guard says its CCGS Des Groseilliers icebreaker is now at the scene, relieving CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and CCGS Jean Goodwill. Earlier, coast guard ships had helped bring personnel and equipment from nearby Taloyoak to the south.
   “Canada follows the ‘polluter pay principle.’ Vessel owners are responsible for taking the appropriate measures to address any risks or hazards posed their vessel, as well as the associated costs,” the coast guard stated.
   “This includes any hazard-related costs like cleanup or repairs and any remediation action taken by the Canadian Coast Guard.”

Source: Cabin Radio – Ollie Williams
Via Ship Junkies

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

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

Seventy-six years ago this week, a routine overnight stop in Toronto turned into one of the Great Lakes’ most haunting tragedies. In the late hours of September 17 and early hours of September 18, 1949, the SS Noronic caught fire while docked with more than 500 passengers on board, leaving devastation that would be remembered for decades.
   The Noronic, operated by the Canada Steamship Lines, had departed from Detroit and Cleveland across Lake Erie on a late-summer cruise. After arriving in Toronto, while most passengers slept, flames erupted from a linen closet on Deck C and spread with terrifying speed through the ship’s polished wooden interiors. Within minutes, corridors and stairways became impassable.
   When the fire was finally extinguished at dawn, 118 lives had been lost—making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Canadian history. Investigations pointed to crew failures, poor safety design, and possibly even arson. Yet despite the findings, unanswered questions lingered, leaving the story of the Noronic both tragic and mysterious.

NMGL

Price tag for Soo Lock mega project drops to $2.6B

   The latest cost estimate for the 10-year mega project in Sault Ste. Marie to build a new shipping lock has taken the price tag from $2.9 billion down to about $2.62 billion ― a nearly 10% reduction.
   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the update Thursday during a stakeholder presentation about how construction is proceeding on the new lock, which officials said remains on track to be completed on time in the summer of 2030.
   The downward revision to the Army Corps’ certified cost estimate is due to eliminating contingency costs associated with different sub-phases of the project’s contracts that have now all been awarded, said Kevin McDaniels, the Corps’ deputy district engineer for planning programs and project management in the Detroit District.
   “Being able to award all nine options on time meant that we were able to eliminate essentially $250 million worth of risk to the project,” McDaniels said lastThursday.
   The project has received $2.321 billion in funding to date, with another $176 million in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The Army Corps anticipates needing about $103 million to continue construction during the 2027 fiscal year, McDaniels said.

The Detroit News

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

Historic Toronto ferry Trillium has been
towed away, and its fate is up in the air

TORONTO, ON – A piece of Toronto’s history was towed away by tugboat to Hamilton last Tuesday, after a century spent ferrying millions of people, including, it is said, baseball legend Babe Ruth, to and from the islands.
   The long-term future of the Trillium is under review, according to the city, and it has been temporarily relocated to a shipyard while construction takes place at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to prepare for new electric ferries.
   The life jackets remain on board. The ship’s bell, signage and small museum pieces have been moved to a secure location.
   “The long-term future of the vessel is still under review,” according to a statement from the media department, in response to questions from the Star. “City staff are currently analyzing options, and we are committed to keeping the public informed as decisions are made.”
   The public wasn’t informed in advance that the vessel would be moved on Sept. 9. It’s not clear what exactly the options are. “It’s really tough to read between the lines of their statement,” said Chris Bateman, of Heritage Toronto.
   The Trillium was launched with little fanfare in June 1910, earning one paragraph in the Toronto Star, on an inside page filled with ads for silver tea sets, talcum powder and dentifrice.
   The last time the Trillium was towed away, in 1957, when passenger traffic to the islands hit a lull, it was decommissioned and left to rot in a Toronto island lagoon. It was picked clean for parts and it sank — by the 1970s canoeists could paddle through it. A group of concerned citizens drove a campaign to get it restored.
   The Trillium was repaired, its coal-fired boiler replaced with a diesel-powered one, for $1 million. It returned to service in 1976. Its sister, the Bluebell, became a garbage scow and later sank as part of the Leslie Spit, where it lies today, said Bateman. Both the Trillium and the Bluebell were manufactured in Toronto.
   Until it stopped operating in August 2023, the Trillium was the last side-paddle ferry still plying the Great Lakes.
   Tall, white and blue, on its last trips, it moved cautiously — even regally — through the water. Passengers marveled at the brass machinery that drove the paddles, loud and effortful, distinctly like the age of the Industrial Revolution that spawned the steam engine that originally powered the Trillium, and so unlike this whisper-quiet age of technology, where all is muted and effort concealed.
   In her dotage, the Trillium could not be rushed. 
   In operation it had an energy beyond the liquid fuel that powered it. The paddlewheels in motion spun back time to the mustachioed men and corseted women passengers of the 1910s, escaping the oppressive heat of the city before residential air conditioning; poorer families with packets of children riding on free tickets from philanthropists; and professional baseball players in flannel pullover jerseys heading to Hanlan’s Point Stadium. Babe Ruth played there.
   “Everybody loved it,” said retired Capt. Brian Smith, who was a first mate on the vessel. There are photos in his family of his great-grandparents on the Trillium.
   He said when the Trillium was put back into service in the 1970s, people would get out of line for the other ferries and line up for the Trillium.
   The crew loved working on it, too. “It was such an ungainly vessel because it was like a bowl, there was no keel,” said Smith. “The way you had to manoeuvre it, the way you had to drive it — it was different, and it was a real challenge. And I loved it.
   “We used to scrape it and paint it every year, every spring, and lovingly, compared to the other ones. The guys really, really took care of it.
   “But the brass, oh Lord, I never polished so much brass in my whole life. Everything was brass. And it was a lot of work, but it was worth it, because it was such a lovely old boat.”
   If the boat can’t be repaired, Smith would like to see it become a maritime museum, at the foot of Yonge Street. Ideally, though, it can be brought back to serve its original purpose, if only occasionally.
   “It’s always preferable to keep something like that in use, doing its purpose, the thing it’s designed to do, rather than making it a museum piece,” said Bateman.
   The new ferries, being fabricated in Romania, will operate on electricity, quietly.

Toronto Star

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

HMCS Margaret Brooke on her way to Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY – It’s been over a decade since the Canadian navy brought a large vessel to Thunder Bay. From Sept. 18-22, community members can expect to see HMCS Margaret Brooke docked at the Pool Six cruise ship terminal, alongside a showcase of Thunder Bay’s HMCS Griffon’s own vessels, with public tours on the Saturday and Sunday.
   “This is a once-in-a-decade kind of thing,” said Antonio Redfern Pucci, training and operations officer with HMCS Griffon.
   Once the ship arrives, a welcoming ceremony with local leaders will take place, he said. “And then on the Friday, we’ve invited all the local high schools and regional high schools to come down and attend the marine career fair as well as tour the ship,” he said.
   The career fair is open to residents alongside the docked ship on Sept. 18 and 19, he said.
   “Various industries and partners in Thunder Bay that work in the marine industries will have booths on display,” said Farley Farn, commanding officer with HMCS Griffon.
   The ship is visiting the city as the first stop on her Great Lakes deployment, Farn said. “Her main mission is to get out there, show Canadians what we do in the navy, and what we have,” Farn said. “So, we’re happy to be here and excited to be the first port that she gets to come to, and we’re going to show her a great time,” he said.
   Prior to HMCS Margaret Brooke, the last vessel to visit the city over a decade ago was HMCS Ville de Quebec, he said.
   “Normally, we get a ship about once every 10 years,” he said. “They try to get up here. However, I heard now they’re going to try to do it on a more regular basis, so we may see more ships up here every couple of years going forward in the future.”
   Focusing on the career fair, Farn said people are needed to man the new equipment. “The navy needs a lot of technically skilled people in order to man all the new ships that we’re getting, not just ships but new submarines as well,” he said.
   Due to the increased amount of electronic equipment, Farn said skilled personnel are a must.
   “We’re partnering with colleges and universities locally, seeing what programs are available that would tie into the jobs that we offer in the navy, and showing people what sort of careers they can have,” he said.
   Community members are encouraged to park at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and catch a bus to the marina from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 20 and 21.

TB Newswatch

Salvage Master on Way to Cargo Ship Grounded in Canadian Arctic

Nearly a week after the Dutch cargo ship Thamesborg grounded in a remote part of the Canadian Arctic during a trip on the Northwest Passage, a salvage master and naval architect were due to reach the vessel. They are working on a plan for the ship, which is reportedly stable but has taken on water in multiple ballast tanks.
   The operator Royal Wagenborg, said the salvage team would reach the vessel by the end of the week. In addition, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier is being used to transport personnel and equipment to the remote site.
   The Canadian Coast Guard reported that an underwater survey was completed on September 8 using ROVs two days after the vessel went aground. The 21,359 dwt vessel was sailing from China to Baie-Comeau, Quebec, and is carrying a load of carbon blocks used for manufacturing in heavy industry. The ship went aground in the Franklin Strait in Nunavut.
   A crew of 15 people is aboard the vessel along with a Canadian ice pilot. There were no injuries, but they are stranded in a remote part of Canada, away from any large settlements. The survey of the hull confirmed the damage to the ballast tanks, but the fuel tanks do not appear to be damaged, and there was no flooding in the cargo holds. A second Canadian Coast Guard vessel, CCGS Jean Goodwill, has remained on scene.
  The Canadian Coast Guard reports the vessel’s owner and the salvage master have organized additional equipment and personnel. Currently, the damage is being analyzed to develop the salvage plan.
   The Thamesborg, built in 2013, is 564 feet (174 meters) in length. The ship, which is registered in the Netherlands, was inspected in Canada in March 2024 and 2025 with no issues reported. It has an ice class.
   Media reports from Canada highlight that only 18 percent of Canada’s Arctic waters have been mapped with modern technology. Much of the Northwest Passage, they note, lacks modern charts.
   The Transportation Safety Board of Canada revealed in an announcement yesterday that this is the second grounding of the season in the same general eastern area of the Northwest Passage. It reported that an investigation team is on its way to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to interview the crew of another cargo ship, the Rosaire A. Desgagnés (12,776 dwt). The vessel, which is registered in Canada, went aground on August 23 in Pelly Bay, Nunavut. The location is to the south of where the Thamesborg is stranded, and unlike the current situation, the vessel was refloated with the tide. It was conducting a supply mission to the region and was inspected for damage after it was refloated. It is expected to reach St. John’s over the weekend.

Maritime Executive

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

John U. Bacon Explores Personal Stories in “The Gales of November”

Author John U. Bacon has written extensively about sports and history, but his newest project takes him onto the waters of the Great Lakes. His upcoming book, The Gales of November, is set for release on October 7, 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking in Lake Superior. Bacon’s book focuses not just on the tragedy, but on the people whose lives were tied to the ship.
   Bacon sat down with the Sun Times news to discuss his new book, beginning with what made him decide to revisit the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy.
   “I’m an Ann Arbor kid. Grew up on the Great Lakes, Traverse City and so on. If you grew up in this area, of course, you’ve been on Lake Michigan. You’ve been on Lake Huron, Lake Erie, probably Lake Superior at some point or other. We’re surrounded by [the Great Lakes],” Bacon said. “I realized how little I actually knew about the Great Lakes. That was stunning by itself. I know even less about Great Lakes shipping and how important it is and how we depend on it. And that brings us, of course, to the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
   Bacon was 11 years old when the Fitzgerald went down in 1975. What has driven his work now, nearly 50 years later, is not simply the storm itself, but the people lost. “I was more curious about the 29 men that the bell rings for, and we know almost nothing about them. Who were they? What were their lives like? How are their families doing now, all these questions, that’s what really drew me to it. And of course, the 50th anniversary is this coming fall.”
   Building Trust with Families
   In researching the book, Bacon connected with relatives of the crew members. “It was very gentle at first, a very careful coaxing process to make sure you didn’t scare anybody off. They’ve been approached by a lot of people. They’ve talked to no authors, to my knowledge, so they’ve never talked before. But once we built the trust, once we got it going, the stories were fascinating. Just what their dads and uncles and cousins and boyfriends, in some cases, were like, that was really gratifying,” he said.
   Bacon added that the conversations underscored how raw the grief still feels. “If you lost your dad when you’re 12 years old and now you’re 62 it still hurts. It doesn’t change very much. You get used to it, perhaps, but you don’t get over it.”
   Learning the Lakes
   Despite growing up in Michigan, Bacon admits he was surprised by what he learned. “The [Great Lakes] are bigger than all of New England plus the state of New York. I didn’t realize just how big they really are,” he said.
   Commercial sailors told him the Great Lakes can actually be more treacherous than the ocean. “It turns out that with a 700-foot iron ore carrier like the Edmund Fitzgerald, you can have your bow stuck in a 30-foot wave and then nothing for eight seconds, and then your stern is stuck in a 30-foot wave, also with nothing between. So that’s where some of these ships, like the Morrell and Bradley, would actually crack with 26,000 tons of iron in them. There’s a real danger in the Great Lakes.”
   Navigation, he learned, is also far more demanding than on the open ocean. “On the Great Lakes, if there are 300 ships at a time plying these waters, you have traffic jams in Detroit and Port Huron and the Soo Locks. It’s very tricky, and the captain has to know and do all of it. Whereas in the oceans, of course, the Harbor Master takes over your ship when you get near port or you’re leaving port, and a tugboat guides you in so you can go smoke a cigarette and read a book, and no one cares. So it is much, much harder to be a captain on the Great Lakes than it is to be a captain on the oceans.”
   Sailing the Fitzgerald’s Route
   To better understand the crew’s experience, Bacon retraced the Fitzgerald’s path. “I got on two ships. It’s very lucky. I got on the Wilford Sykes and the Arthur M Anderson. And those are the ships with the Fitzgerald out that night. So these three are running in a pack, basically, and communicating with each other throughout this trip. And I imagine getting two of those ships is all I could do, of course.”
   He sailed from Marquette to Zug Island on the Sykes and from Duluth to Toledo on the Anderson. “Man, I got lucky at a lot of levels. One is that the weather was perfect, and the waves were nothing. So it was a pleasure cruise compared to what these guys were going through. But I also had the chance to thank God I did this, because I would never have felt the scale of this whole operation. How gigantic these engines are, 7000 horsepower. These ships are 700 feet just to walk to breakfast. It takes a few minutes just to get there…What these guys do. The scale of it all. And it was a wonderful trip for me. Amazing.”
   A Personal Impact
   For Bacon, the project became more than research. It reshaped how he sees sailors’ lives and sacrifices. “Sure, it changed me. I’d be about the same age as the captain, as some of the crew. Most of them are in their 50s and 60s, and I just turned 61, which I still can’t believe, but that’s how that one goes,” he said.
   He recalled finishing his trip on the Anderson in Toledo, then being reunited with his son. “He runs full blast, and he’s about eight at the time, and gives me a hug I could never got before, and how Hold on for a minute. And then I thought, ‘This is what it was like to be one of these sailors. And this must be what it’s like to lose your dad. This is how close you were, how much you miss your dad already.’ And that can’t help but affect you.”
   Bacon said the experience left him with a deepened appreciation: “You’ve got to think how much we owe these sailors on a regular basis. Without these guys, our economy doesn’t work. We don’t even know this. The cement in your basement, the steel in your car, the foot of your table, it all comes from Great Lakes ships. And I had no sense of this before this, but then again, the personal connection as well.”
   What’s Next
   While The Gales of November will keep him busy on a 30-stop, 15-state book tour this fall, Bacon has other projects in motion. “In the meantime, we’re turning the great Halifax explosion, a previous book, into a play. So that’d be pretty cool. I’m working on my third draft of the screenplay for Let Them Lead about coaching hockey here. So we have interests in Hollywood about that as well.”
   The Gales of November is set to be released on October 7 and can be found on Amazon.com.

By Doug Marrin, The Sun Times News

Golden opportunity: Kingston’s Great Lakes Museum celebrates 50 years

The Great Lakes Museum was founded in 1975 by a group of divers conducting underwater archaeology in Lake Ontario.

Author of the article:Bill Hall
Published Sep 08, 2025

The Great Lakes Museum threw a party to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday.
   The facility opened its doors to the public and hosted children’s activities and community and heritage organization booths hosted by the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, Museum of Health Care, Parks Canada and others.
   Live music was provided by the local band Brass Over Tea Kettle — a brass band that plays unique renditions of popular tunes.
   Behind-the-scenes guided tours of the museum were in demand as local food vendors fed the visitors with domestic and exotic dishes. There was even birthday cake.
   For one day only, at a discounted rate, the museum offered exclusive 20-minute “Sneak Peek” tours of thBep Schippers, executive director of the museum, said the celebration was a testament to the enduring connection between the community and its maritime heritage.
   “For half a century, we’ve been preserving these important stories, and with the addition of the S.S. Keewatin to our collection, we will continue this legacy for generations to come,” Schippers said.
   The Great Lakes Museum was founded in 1975 by a group of divers conducting underwater archaeology in Lake Ontario. Since then, the museum has grown significantly, now located at its historic waterfront property at 55 Ontario St.
   The visitor experience manager, Claire Notman, drew attention to the museum’s historical significance.
   “Many Kingstonians aren’t aware that we are a National Historic Site, with much of the original features and machinery still intact from the original 1890s construction,” Notman said.e S.S. Keewatin –the world’s last surviving Edwardian-era passenger steamship.
   The museum sits on the location of the first dry dock in Canada on the Great Lakes and its accompanying pump house. It still has the original steam engines and pumps that were used to empty the dry dock, what Notman calls “engineering marvels.”
   Visitors were allowed to get up close to the pumps and engines — 15 feet below lake level.
   Kingston and the 1000 Islands Cruises coincidentally also celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. According to the Great Lakes Museum board chair Kelly Pope-Wiley, the two attractions teamed up for special historical cruises.
   “The Shipwreck Tours have been running all summer and will continue into October,” Wiley said. “A tour guide uses digital photography of the shipwrecks to explain what happened to the vessel as the tourists cruise right over the actual site of the sunken ships.”
   Find out more about the GLM at greatlakesmuseum.ca.
   [Full story and pictures can be found at the link below]

https://www.thewhig.com/news/golden-opportunity-kingstons-great-lakes-museum-celebrates-50-years?fbclid=IwY2xjawMxGSZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHozEPDQwefSCPhjnVnPtVJ9BKaoeIoImiSD7T6XXsNiOEmWbQiZXy2boJi3N_aem_JxAP8x30nx3FSf3GZ7ZO5A

National Museum of the Great Lakes Announces Exclusive Curator
Tours for Dark Waters: True Crime & Mystery on the Great Lakes

Toledo, Ohio – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) isoffering visitors a rare opportunity to go beyond the exhibit walls with Dark Waters: Curator Tours, guided by the exhibit’s curator and the museum’s Director Emeritus, Chris Gillcrist. Step into the shadows of Great Lakes history during these exclusive tours, where Gillcrist shares untold stories, chilling details, and insider insights into how Dark Waters: True Crime & Mystery on the Great Lakes came together.

Tour Dates & Times

• Saturday, Sept. 20 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. (Final opportunity to see the exhibit.)

Tickets: $20 NMGL Members | $40 Non-Members Museum admission included. Registration required. Find out more at nmgl.org/events.

All tours take place in the temporary exhibit gallery at the National Museum of the Great
Lakes. Dark Waters is recommended for ages 13 and up.
   “These tours let me share what didn’t fit on the labels—the research, the curatorial choices, and the questions that still keep me curious,” said Chris Gillcrist, Director Emeritus and curator of Dark Waters. “We’ll look closely at the artifacts, connect them to the people and decisions behind each case, and talk about where the mysteries remain.”
   Participants will explore all seven stories featured in the gallery while discovering additional accounts, hidden details, and deeper context behind the artifacts on display. The exhibit is scheduled to close at the end of October 2025; the Nov. 1 tour offers a final, limited-access viewing before deinstallation.
   Tickets are available now at nmgl.org/events. Space is limited.

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

National Museum of the Great Lakes Announces Exclusive Curator
Tours for Dark Waters: True Crime & Mystery on the Great Lakes

Toledo, Ohio – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) isoffering visitors a rare opportunity to go beyond the exhibit walls with Dark Waters: Curator Tours, guided by the exhibit’s curator and the museum’s Director Emeritus, Chris Gillcrist. Step into the shadows of Great Lakes history during these exclusive tours, where Gillcrist shares untold stories, chilling details, and insider insights into how Dark Waters: True Crime & Mystery on the Great Lakes came together.

Tour Dates & Times

• Saturday, Sept. 20 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – 10:15–11:15 a.m. (Final opportunity to see the exhibit.)

Tickets: $20 NMGL Members | $40 Non-Members Museum admission included. Registration required. Find out more at nmgl.org/events.

All tours take place in the temporary exhibit gallery at the National Museum of the Great
Lakes. Dark Waters is recommended for ages 13 and up.
   “These tours let me share what didn’t fit on the labels—the research, the curatorial choices, and the questions that still keep me curious,” said Chris Gillcrist, Director Emeritus and curator of Dark Waters. “We’ll look closely at the artifacts, connect them to the people and decisions behind each case, and talk about where the mysteries remain.”
   Participants will explore all seven stories featured in the gallery while discovering additional accounts, hidden details, and deeper context behind the artifacts on display. The exhibit is scheduled to close at the end of October 2025; the Nov. 1 tour offers a final, limited-access viewing before deinstallation.
   Tickets are available now at nmgl.org/events. Space is limited.

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

Service on lakes over, Sunnanvik heads back overseas

On September 10, shortly before sunset, the cement carrier Sunnanvik left Section 96 of the Port of Montreal for Section 72. From there, it will depart overseas Thursday morning. It will probably not be seen again; it has been replaced by the Tamarack in the Great Lakes.

René Beauchamp

USS Silversides Submarine Museum Announces
Dismantling of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter McLane

MUSKEGON, MI — After thoughtful deliberation by the staff and Board of Directors, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum made the difficult decision to de-accession the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter McLane from the museum’s permanent collection.
   The vessel, which had been closed to the public since spring 2025 due to ongoing maintenance concerns, was towed away with the support of dedicated community partners. After nearly a century of service in both salt and fresh water, the McLane’s condition had deteriorated to the point of being inaccessible for public touring and beyond the scope of feasible preservation.
   Despite efforts to explore alternative preservation options, the museum ultimately determined that continued stewardship of the McLane was no longer sustainable. With the cold season approaching, the combination of time, weather, and structural decline made timely action necessary to ensure the safety of the vessel and the surrounding environment.
   While saddened to see the USCGC McLane depart, museum staff remained committed to honoring its legacy. All historical artifacts and interpretive materials housed aboard the McLane were carefully removed and preserved to ensure their continued educational and historical value. These artifacts will now be part of the broader collection at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum and shared with partner organizations who answered the call to help safeguard this legacy: the USS Slater WWII Destroyer Escort (Albany, NY), the USS Croaker WWII US Submarine and USS The Sullivan’s WWII Destroyer (Buffalo Naval Park, Buffalo, NY), and the Buckley Old Engine Club (Buckley, MI).
   “The McLane had been a symbol of service and strength for decades,” said Veronica Campbell, Executive Director of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum. “Though it was difficult to say goodbye, we were incredibly grateful to our community partners—King Towing, who ensured the vessel’s safe transport, and Pitsch Companies, who handled the dismantling with care and professionalism. Their support helped us navigate this transition with dignity and respect.”
   Commissioned in 1927, the USCGC McLane served with distinction through multiple eras of Coast Guard history. Its presence at the museum since 1993 offered visitors a rare glimpse into life aboard a patrol vessel and played a vital role in advancing the museum’s mission to honor military service and educate future generations through immersive, hands-on experiences.
   The USS Silversides Submarine Museum remains committed to preserving maritime history and honoring the legacy of those who served. The departure of the McLane marked the end of an era, but also opened the door for new opportunities to expand and enhance the museum’s exhibits and educational programming, and to focus on the major preservation and fundraising.

Press Release – USS Silversides Submarine Museum

Davie Unveils $1B ‘American Icebreaker Factory’ in Texas to Build Arctic Security Cutters

Mike Schuler

Davie Defense Inc., the newest entrant to the American shipbuilding sector, has revealed detailed plans for a $1 billion overhaul of the historic Gulf Copper shipyard in Galveston, Texas, aiming to create the “American Icebreaker Factory”—a purpose-built facility for constructing U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutters.
   The project plans, announced Wednesday, marks what the company describes as the largest single increase in U.S. shipbuilding capacity in decades.
   The American Icebreaker Factory is being developed in collaboration with Pearlson, a Florida-based leader in shipyard design and program management, whose portfolio includes work for BAE Systems, Austal USA, and Fincantieri Marinette. The initiative aligns with current U.S. administration priorities, including the executive order on Restoring American Maritime Dominance and the recently-reintroduced SHIPS for America Act.
   “Recapitalization of the nation’s icebreaker fleet and closing the shipbuilding gap with China are now clear national priorities,” said Kai Skvarla, CEO of Davie Defense. “Our skills and capability are perfectly matched to address these imperatives and deliver the ships America needs to protect our vital interests in the polar regions.”
   The facility will draw on the expertise of Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard—Davie Defense’s sister company and the builder of complex polar icebreakers in Finland over the past 25 years. Helsinki Shipyard, which Davie acquired in 2023, is currently constructing the Canadian Coast Guard’s Polar Max, which, upon delivery to Canada by 2030, is expected to rank among the world’s most advanced and powerful icebreakers.
   “America doesn’t need more promises, it needs ships on the water fast,” added Skvarla. “Davie Defense will achieve this by working closely with our Finnish colleagues on a proven, fourth-generation Arctic Security Cutter design and by creating a purpose-built facility in Texas. We’ll recruit and train a Texas workforce, buy from American suppliers, and deliver mission-ready ships on time and on budget.”
   Once contracts are secured, Davie Defense anticipates supporting over 2,000 direct jobs at Gulf Copper and more than 7,000 statewide, with a total projected economic impact exceeding $9 billion, according to an independent study by Impact Data Source.
   The urgency of the project is underscored by the current shortfall in U.S. polar icebreaking capacity compared to adversaries like Russia and China. The U.S. currently operates just three polar icebreakers, with the flagship Polar Security Cutter still undelivered. In contrast, Russia has a fleet of over 40 polar icebreakers, and China is rapidly expanding its own fleet.
   In April, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Request for Information for up to three Arctic Security Cutter medium-sized icebreakers, seeking shipyards capable of launching vessels within three years of contract award. The Coast Guard’s longer-term vision includes building eight to nine polar icebreakers, supporting the goal of acquiring at least 40 new icebreakers.
   Davie Defense asserts it can deliver the first Arctic Security Cutter in 26 months, utilizing a fourth-generation design already proven in seven vessels in service and fully aligned with Coast Guard mission requirements.
   “Our purpose is about investing to create new, efficient capacity in the U.S. and rapidly delivering the ships America needs. We have already built the ASC hull seven times over. This means we can build new American ASCs quickly and transfer Finland’s unrivalled icebreaker know-how to Texas. This will help the U.S. find a better way to field new naval capabilities via proven shipbuilding solutions based on enduring business models and flexible designs that evolve as the needs of the nation change,” Skvarla said.
   A formal ceremony is scheduled in Texas this fall to mark the start of construction on the new shipbuilding facility.
   The move is part of a broader strategic acquisition by Canadian-based Davie, which announced in June its intention to purchase shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation. The deal, which is expected to close shortly, is aimed at addressing the acute shortage of American Arctic-ready vessels and comes as both Russia and China have stepped up their activity in the region.
   James Davies, President and CEO of Davie, commented: “We share a vision with Gulf Copper to make Texas a world-class hub for American icebreaker and complex ship production. Texas is ready to lead a new Golden Age of American shipbuilding—backed by our commitment to delivering ships on time, on budget, and in service of national security priorities.”
   This expansion builds on the ICE Pact, a trilateral agreement between the United States, Canada, and Finland announced in July 2024 to enhance polar icebreaker production and strengthen security in contested polar regions. Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard has produced more than half the world’s icebreaker fleet; its Canadian operations have delivered over 720 specialized vessels since 1825.
   The $1 billion investment is expected to create around 4,000 U.S. jobs—half directly at Gulf Copper, half throughout the supply chain. The acquisition supports President Trump’s April 9 executive order, “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” which seeks to revive U.S. shipbuilding, bolster the workforce, and expand the nation’s presence in global shipping to compete more effectively with China.
   Meanwhile, the Coast Guard’s existing Polar Security Cutter program has faced significant delays and cost overruns at Bollinger Shipyards, with the first heavy icebreaker now scheduled for delivery in 2030—more than six years behind the original target.
   Davie Defense is part of Inocea, a privately-owned British marine industrial group with operations in the United States, Finland and Canada.
   Support for the transaction has come from stakeholders in both Texas and Washington, D.C., as Davie accelerates efforts to close the deal and begin construction.

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

CLEVELAND – Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in August totaled 5 million tons, a 9.1 percent decrease compared to last year. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 2 percent.
    Year-to-date, the iron ore trade totals 26.7 million tons, a decrease of 13.9 percent compared to the same point in 2024.
   Through August, iron shipments are 6.4 percent below their 5-year average for eight months 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.

[See charts in gallery below]

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

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