Dark Waters Exhibit Plunges Visitors Into

True-Crime Mysteries of the Great Lakes

The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) recently announced the opening of Dark Waters: True Crime and Mystery on the Great Lakes, the first exhibition to debut in the museum’s new Temporary Exhibit Gallery. Presented by Buckeye Broadband and The Blade, the exhibit invites visitors ages 13 and up to explore some of the region’s most gripping tales of deception, disaster, and unresolved intrigue. Dark Waters opened Saturday, June 28, and will remain on view through October 31, 2025.

The 4-month exhibition dives into the Great Lakes’ shadowy past—from blazing shipboard tragedies to Prohibition-era violence—revealing how moments of darkness helped shape the communities that line these Inland Seas.

Among the featured stories:

• SS Noronic Inferno (1949): A late-night fire aboard the passenger steamer while docked in Toronto claimed 118 lives and raised enduring questions about safety and accountability.
• Bootlegging & the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre (1920s): The Lakes served as America’s busiest smuggling corridor during Prohibition, fueling organized crime that culminated in Chicago’s still-unsolved gangland massacre.
• H. H. Holmes’ “Murder Castle” (1893): Just steps from the World’s Columbian Exposition on Lake Michigan, one of the nation’s first known serial killers preyed on visitors, cementing a sinister legacy amid a celebration of progress.

“Dark Waters exposes the hidden currents beneath our region’s maritime story,” said Chris Gillcrist, NMGL Emeritus Director and curator of the exhibit. “By examining these darker chapters, we gain a fuller understanding of the people, places, and forces that have shaped the Great Lakes.”

The exhibit is included with regular museum admission and is free for NMGL members. Due to graphic content and mature themes, it is recommended for guests 13 and older.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Shipping industry, boaters fear risks of cuts to federal Great Lakes programs

By Carol Thompson, The Detroit News

Whitefish Point at the Upper Peninsula’s northeastern tip is a notoriously challenging area for ship captains navigating Lake Superior.

It’s where they decide whether conditions are a “go” or “no go” for safe entrance into the open lake, said Hayden Henderson, a senior research engineer at Michigan Technological University’s Great Lakes Research Center.

That’s why Michigan Tech placed a buoy there to track wave height, a metric that captains and weather forecasters use to determine whether to cross the inland sea. Henderson consulted with the Lake Carriers Association, the trade group representing American Great Lakes commercial shipping companies, to decide where the buoy should go.

Federal dollars made it happen. The buoy was funded by federal money funneled through a nonprofit that maps real-time Great Lakes weather and water conditions.

“It’s kind of full circle,” Henderson said. “They fund me to deploy (the buoy) and maintain it to provide the data. They host the data, and commercial shippers make use of it.”

The federal funding that pays for much of the Great Lakes water, weather and ice cover monitoring is at risk in the Trump administration’s proposed National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration budget for 2026. The agency’s budget request calls for ending some of the programs that ship captains and other boaters rely on, while the Senate has proposed keeping the funding largely in place.

Meanwhile, people who work in data collection and commercial shipping grapple with the uncertainty and said sweeping budget and staffing cuts could inadvertently put ship captains and other boaters at risk.

On the chopping block at NOAA is an Ann Arbor lab where scientists research and model ice cover, an important issue for ship captains trying to move cargo during the winter, as well as a nonprofit that displays real-time water and weather data collected by buoys throughout the Great Lakes.

“Without the data, it’s sort of like squinting one eye and hoping you’re doing a good job of navigating,” said Shelby Brunner, science and observations manager for the nonprofit, the Great Lakes Observing System. “You’re missing key points that you’ve become reliant on in a lot of ways.”

NOAA declined to grant interviews about the agency’s budget request or its Great Lakes programs.

“Per long-standing practice, NOAA does not discuss matters relating to the budget or internal management issues,” Director of Public Affairs for NOAA Research Monica Allen said in an email. “NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience.”

Buoy network supports forecasters, captains
NOAA’s budget justification calls for cuts that would shrink the agency by over a quarter from roughly $6.3 billion to just over $4.5 billion. In the budget document submitted to Congress, agency officials said the goal is to create a “leaner NOAA” that prioritizes the economy, innovation in space and weather forecasting and the maritime shipping industry but terminates climate programs.

The Senate Appropriation Committee’s proposed spending plan is more generous. It calls for a much smaller reduction in NOAA spending, down to $6.1 billion, said Alex Eastman, Great Lakes program manager for the Northeast-Midwest Institute, an advocacy group for the regions.

The Republican-led Senate committee called for continuing the spending for the program that funds the Great Lakes buoy network and the Ann Arbor NOAA lab, which conducts research on ice cover, harmful algae blooms and other issues. The committee also voiced concern over staffing losses that could affect NOAA’s ability to forecast weather and protect public safety.

In its budget justification that includes widespread cuts to many programs, NOAA leaders committed to continuing two programs used by commercial ship captains, the National Water Level Observation Network and the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System.

But among the agency’s requested cuts is the entire budget for its Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Associations, including the one in the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Observing System.

That system, known as GLOS, collects data on wave height, wave intervals, air pressure, water temperature and other metrics from buoys throughout the lakes. The buoys are owned by many different organizations, such as NOAA, universities and private companies.

GLOS releases the buoy data on a free online map known as Seagull.

There are about 200 buoys or other data collection stations in the GLOS network, Brunner said. Only about half of those are owned by the federal government.

That means GLOS effectively doubles the data collection stations that National Weather Service meteorologists use to create Great Lakes forecasts, she said. Sailors, charter captains, commercial ship captains and others also use the Seagull map, she said.

“The only data that gets into the Weather Service without GLOS are things that have a federal footprint,” Brunner said. “The Weather Service knows they can come to Seagull and find this missing information and use it to paint a fuller picture of what’s happening.”

GLOS is a nonprofit funded almost exclusively by NOAA, although Brunner said the nonprofit’s leaders are trying to diversify the program’s financing sources. She is optimistic about the program’s continuation because it is popular with anglers, charter fishing captains, boaters, commercial ship captains, drinking water managers and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

But she acknowledged its future is uncertain.

“I think there’s an unprecedented level of not knowing what it could look like,” Brunner said. “There’s a chance NOAA gets reorganized, and we maybe fall under a different program or we get combined with other programs. … We just don’t know.”

Losing NOAA funding would mean the buoy network disappears, said Michigan Tech’s Henderson, who manages 19 buoys that feed data into GLOS.

Although it’s not as vital as NOAA’s National Water Level Observation Network and Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System tools, commercial ship captains use GLOS’ Seagull map as they voyage across the Great Lakes, said Eric Peace, Lake Carriers Association director of operations and communications. Mariners are “data hounds,” Peace said.

That’s particularly important on the Great Lakes, where dangerous weather can erupt quickly compared with oceans, he said.

“I’m a retired Coast Guard, and I served in Alaska,” Peace said. “I can tell you I would take 30-foot seas in Alaska over 10-foot seas on Lake Superior.”

That’s because ocean swells are driven by tides and gravity, Henderson said. Those forces are more predictable than the winds that drive the Great Lakes’ waves.

“There’s a much closer tie between real-time data and the potential hazard, like a wave measurement, because it’s not as easily predicted,” Henderson said. “We know how the Earth is spinning. We can predict tides and swells to most degrees, but the wind is much more stochastic.”

Ice forecasting hangs in balance

If the agency leaders get the lean budget they seek, another major NOAA program on the chopping block is the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, an Ann Arbor lab that conducts a wide array of Great Lakes research on invasive species, weather forecasting, climate change, harmful algae blooms and more.

Scientists stationed there research the Great Lakes’ ice cover as well as disseminate ice cover maps generated by Canadian and U.S. ice programs. NOAA declined to make one of the lab’s data scientists available for an interview.

Ice is an important challenge to Great Lakes shipping, the Lake Carriers Association’s Peace said. It slows down commercial ships and can damage them. Understanding Great Lakes ice is not simple, he said, since it varies in thickness and can move in large sheets.

“We’ve had vessels sliced open before if plates move, ice sheets move, and there’s no Coast Guard icebreakers out there,” Peace said.

The Great Lakes Observing System recently embarked on a new project to provide forecasters with information about ice thickness, Brunner said. Satellites can track the area covered with ice, but they aren’t good at measuring ice thickness, which means captains can’t be sure whether their ships are strong enough to bust through or whether they need the Coast Guard to go first.

Brunner has been working with ice fishers to encourage them to report the thickness of ice when they auger through. GLOS could send those reports to meteorologists who could use them to develop better ice thickness models.

Michigan Tech’s Henderson argued the Great Lakes need more spending, not less.

“That level of funding is probably still inadequate to keep up with the rate of change in the Great Lakes,” he said. “We’re growing, we’re building more things. If we want to rebuild industry, reindustrialize the Great Lakes, it’s going to require careful monitoring to make sure we can support that without damaging drinking water resources for millions of people.”

The Detroit riverfront will soon be filled with numerous Tall Ships

DETROIT – Numerous Tall Ships are coming to the Detroit riverfront for multiple days this summer.

The Alliance, Empire Sandy, Pride of Baltimore, and Ernestina-Morrissey will be at the Sail Detroit Festival.

The event takes place along the Detroit riverfront between Hart Plaza and the Renaissance Center, from Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10. Tickets can be purchased here.
https://saildetroit.com/tickets/

“There are so many lessons that can be taught with these ships,” said Mark Schrupp, Executive Director, Port Authority. “Our guests will learn about maritime careers, history, sustainability and Detroit as an important port when they come down to see the Ships.”

The Tall Ships will arrive on August 7, traveling along the Riverfront, before docking for three days of public access.

Ticket holders will be able to board the Tall Ships, meet the crews and learn about the rich sailing history of the Great Lakes.

There is also a special ticket available for purchase which allows guests to set sail aboard the Alliance for a 90-minute cruise.

Along with Detroit, the Tall Ships will make stops at Duluth, MN and Erie, PA, among other ports this summer.

 

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

 

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Seaspan signs MoU with Ontario-based Stigterstaal Canada & Algoma Steel

The Wreck of the Eber Ward – Straits of Mackinac

The waters of the Great Lakes have long served as vital transportation routes for the movement of raw materials, manufactured goods, and people. But they have also been treacherous, claiming thousands of ships throughout history. One of the most haunting of these tragedies is the wreck of the Eber Ward, a steel-hulled freighter that met its end in the icy waters of the Straits of Mackinac in the early spring of 1909.
A Ship Built for Industry

The Eber Ward was a steel freighter built in 1888 by F.W. Wheeler & Co. in West Bay City, Michigan. The vessel, named after Eber Brock Ward (one of the original owners of the Detroit-based Ward Line), was designed to haul iron ore, coal, and other heavy bulk materials across the upper Great Lakes. Measuring 213 feet long and 37 feet wide, the Eber Ward was among the more modern vessels of its day, with a robust steam engine and steel construction that allowed for better endurance in rugged lake conditions.

Despite her sturdy build, the Eber Ward would eventually fall victim to the very environment she was designed to withstand.

A Fateful Voyage

On April 20, 1909, the Eber Ward departed from Duluth, Minnesota, carrying a cargo of corn bound for Port Huron, Michigan. The voyage was early in the shipping season, and the crew of 14, led by Captain Tim Kelley, knew they would likely encounter lingering ice in the upper lakes, especially in the Straits of Mackinac—a notorious bottleneck between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

As the freighter neared the Straits, the crew encountered increasingly dense ice fields. Rather than wait or reroute, Captain Kelley made the decision to push ahead. The ship had steel hull reinforcements, and he believed it could handle the conditions. However, this confidence would prove fatal

The Wreck

Around 9:00 a.m., just northwest of Mackinac Island, disaster struck. As the Eber Ward plowed into the ice, the pressure crushed the bow of the ship. Steel plates buckled under the strain, and water rushed into the forward compartments. The impact was so severe that the ship began sinking within minutes.

With the ship doomed, the crew scrambled for lifeboats. The icy water and shifting ice floes made launching them difficult. Only one lifeboat made it to safety. Of the 14 men aboard, five perished in the frigid waters, including the ship’s first mate and several deckhands. A passing vessel, the George Stephenson, which heard their cries for help eventually rescued the survivors.
Controversy and Investigation

An official investigation by the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service followed the sinking of the Eber Ward. The findings concluded that Captain Kelley had acted with poor judgment in attempting to force the ship through dangerous ice conditions. They found him negligent and suspended his captain’s license for a period. This decision underscored a broader concern about the pressures placed on captains to maintain tight shipping schedules, even at the risk of their crews and cargo.

Rediscovery and Diving the Wreck

Today, the Eber Ward rests upright on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac in 147 feet of water with her decking at 120 feet, remarkably well-preserved due to the cold freshwater of Lake Michigan. The wreck is located within the boundaries of the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, an underwater park established to protect and promote the historical legacy of these lost vessels.

Experienced technical divers consider the wreck of the Eber Ward a premier dive site because of its depth and condition. Much of the ship’s structure remains intact, including its bow, stern, and a large section of the deckhouse. The ice crushed the bow, and divers can see the twisted metal, a silent reminder of the ship’s violent encounter.

Cold water has also preserved many artifacts, including the ship’s anchor windlass, its boiler, and even parts of the cargo. In some accounts, corn kernels can still be found scattered in the holds. The lifeboat davits remain visible, giving divers an eerie glimpse into the last desperate moments of the crew.
Legacy

The story of the Eber Ward serves as a cautionary tale in the annals of Great Lakes shipping history. It highlights the dangers of spring navigation, the limits of early steel ship design, and the human cost of poor decision-making under pressure. It also exemplifies the resilience of those who made their living on these waters, battling not only the elements but also economic demands and the unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes.

The wreck continues to captivate historians, divers, and maritime enthusiasts alike. As one of the more accessible and visually striking shipwrecks in the Straits of Mackinac, the Eber Ward offers a rare underwater window into the past, where the story of industry, risk, and loss is etched forever in steel and wood beneath the surface.

Text and graphics by Curt Bowen
Photography by Chris Roxburgh

To see complete story and all photos go to this link:  https://advanceddivermagazine.com/eberward.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawLo8IRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFERXZ6U2d0MGh2UFNzbGNxAR6fjeYXMBPqn1F5J7k3f5DxKpRJndOkMtxHLzlw8nAHNVMhwaeKPHzmtiWH1w_aem_0dXzroAGkwyNgvXCDbGBmA

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Michigan shipwreck offers lessons from the depths

July 17, 2025
Jennifer Champagne

The Western Reserve sank on Aug. 30, 1892 in Lake Superior

The wreck’s discovery was announced in March

The wreck continues to provide researchers with valuable lessons

For more than 130 years, the Western Reserve lay silent beneath Lake Superior — a vanished steel freighter, lost in 1892 along with nearly everyone aboard.

But when researchers with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found it this spring, they didn’t just locate a wreck. They cracked open new questions about steel’s hidden weaknesses, explored new frontiers in underwater imaging, and reconnected families still carrying the weight of its loss.

This wasn’t just a discovery — it was validation.

Found in 600 feet of water with its bow collapsed atop its stern, the wreck matched lone survivor Harry Stewart’s century-old account with eerie precision. For researchers and families alike, it’s become a case study in early steel, deepwater forensics, and the staying power of lived memory.

With another dive planned and sharper tools in hand, the Western Reserve is still offering lessons.

The Western Reserve was one of the first all-steel freighters on the Great Lakes. Built in 1890, the 301-foot cargo ship was a sleek emblem of industrial optimism — hauling ore, carrying coal, and embodying the transition from wood to steel. Owned by shipping magnate Capt. Peter G. Minch, she was dubbed the “inland greyhound” for her speed.

“It was coal up and ore down,” said maritime historian Fred Stonehouse, recalling the shipping flow through Marquette Harbor in the 1890s. “America was building her industrial might, and steel ships like the Western Reserve made it possible.”

But steel didn’t mean indestructible. On Aug. 30, 1892, during a routine crossing, the Western Reserve split apart and sank within minutes. Among the 27 lost were Minch and his family. The sole survivor was Stewart, a 23-year-old wheelsman from Harsens Island.

“He woke up to what sounded like gunfire — probably the rivets popping,” said Stewart’s great-great-granddaughter, Annie Dennis. “He had to jump over a visible crack in the deck to reach the lifeboats.”

Thrown into the lake when one lifeboat capsized, Stewart swam to another and eventually reached shore. From there, he crawled 12 miles to the Deer Park Life-Saving Station. Days later, he traveled to Ohio to attend the Minch family funerals, then returned to work.

“Harry wasn’t the only Stewart aboard,” Dennis said. “His cousin Skyler was lost that night. So it was a deeply personal loss for our family.”

Stewart went on to captain ships of his own. His grandson, Frank Baxter, now 90, still lives near Harsens Island.

“The shipwreck was often talked about among family,” he said. “It shaped who we are.”

The wreckage revealed

In March, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the Western Reserve using side-scan sonar aboard the research vessel David Boyd. The wreck lay roughly 60 miles northwest of Whitefish Point.

First Mate Dan Ertel and Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel discovered the site. A remotely operated vehicle confirmed it: the bow resting atop the stern, just as Stewart had described more than a century before.

“The bell was incredible to see,” said Corey Adkins, communications director for the society. “The wreck matched the survivor’s story exactly.”

The team follows a methodical search process.

“We call it ‘mowing the lawn,’” Adkins said. “We sweep the lakebed in grids, and, if something looks promising, we rescan it from different angles.”

Using marine sonic technology, the sonar system can scan up to a mile on either side of the vessel. Darryl Ertel, Adkins said, has an uncanny eye for spotting faint anomalies like collapsed hatches or spars — and narrowing them down to shipwrecks.

The ROV’s high-definition cameras offered the first clear visuals of the wreck.

“It’s dark and eerie down there,” Adkins said. “But what we saw was stunning.”

Steel dreams, brittle truths

Though the Western Reserve was cutting-edge for its time, some believe its steel may have contributed to its sudden failure.

“People believed steel was the future — faster, stronger, more efficient,” said Stonehouse. “But early steel could be brittle, especially in cold water.”

Josh Mueller, an assistant professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Michigan Technological University, said that, while the steel likely wouldn’t meet modern standards, the real question is whether it met the expectations of the 1890s.

“Even if the steel was found to exhibit poor mechanical performance, that doesn’t mean it caused the sinking outright,” Mueller said. “Failures of this magnitude are rarely caused by a single issue.”

One complication is that impact testing — the ability to predict how materials behave under sudden force — didn’t exist at the time. That science came shortly after, with the Charpy V-notch test, which measures how much energy a material can absorb before breaking. That test also helps identify what’s known as the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, or DBTT: the point at which steel stops bending and starts breaking.

“Before DBTT was well understood, the consequences could be disastrous,” Mueller said. “Steel can behave normally at room temperature but snap like glass in colder conditions.”

He noted that while Lake Superior’s August water temperatures (typically 54 degrees to 68 degrees) aren’t extremely cold, it’s possible the Western Reserve’s steel was operating in what engineers call the “lower shelf” — the temperature range at which steel absorbs the least energy before breaking.

“It may have been within spec for its time,” Mueller said. “But it was likely near the edge.”

A second dive, a closer look

The historical society plans to revisit the site with a more advanced ROV system, currently on order. The upgrade includes 4K cameras for ultra-high-definition imaging, a significant improvement over the society’s current standard-definition setup.

“Some of our gear was damaged in the California wildfires, so we’ve had delays,” Adkins said. “But, once we get the new system, we’ll be able to document construction features and fracture points in much greater detail.”

While 4K imaging is already common in underwater archaeology, the new equipment will allow the team to match the quality of current deepwater research standards and capture the wreck with far greater clarity.

History honored

Since the discovery, Dennis, the descendant of the Western Reserve survivor Stewart, has connected with descendants of others aboard.

“It’s brought us together across generations,” she said. “I dressed up as Harry Stewart in second grade. Now his story is being told around the world.”

“When I saw the wreck photos, I got goosebumps,” said Baxter, Stewart’s grandson. “It feels like a missing piece of our story is back where it belongs.”

Adkins, of the historical society, said the public response has been deeply moving.

“We’ve had people reach out from all over,” he said. “Some donated after hearing about it on a podcast.”

He added that many in the Minch family have come forward, as well.

“We’re planning a trip to Lake Placid to interview more of them as we produce the Western Reserve documentary,” he said.

Funding for shipwreck-hunting projects like the one that found the Western Reserve — including research, exploration, and documentation — comes from museum ticket sales, grants, and small private donations. A full-length documentary is in the works. Adkins is also documenting the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and said both projects are equally important.

“We don’t remove artifacts,” Adkins said. “It’s sacred ground. Think of it like Gettysburg — you don’t take something home. You honor it.”

Dennis agreed: “They’re not just studying a wreck. They’re honoring the lives that were lost.”

The team is now focusing on other targets — including two long-lost French minesweepers from World War I that sank with 78 sailors aboard.

“We’ve been looking for them for years,” Adkins said. “They could be much deeper than expected — or closer to the Canadian shore.”

The historical society holds annual permits and maintains legal clearance to operate near international waters.

“We’re allowed to search, we just can’t touch the lakebed,” Adkins said. “And everyone on board has to carry a Nexus card — an ID that allows for faster border clearance between the U.S. and Canada.”

For more details, visit shipwreckmuseum.com.  Link to Site;  https://shipwreckmuseum.com/

Fincantieri Rallies Washington for ‘Shipbuilding Renaissance’ as Industry Reaches Critical Crossroads

Mike Schuler
July 17, 2025

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding giant behind the U.S. Navy’s Constellation-class frigates, hosted a high-profile event in Washington, D.C. this week, calling for a renewed focus on rebuilding America’s maritime industrial base.

The event, titled “FULL SPEED AHEAD: The U.S. Shipbuilding Renaissance,” brought together senior government officials, defense experts, and industry leaders to discuss the future of American shipbuilding.

“This is a defining moment for American shipbuilding—and Fincantieri is here to stay,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri. “We are not just investing in infrastructure; we are investing in the future of maritime security, industrial innovation, and the skilled workforce that powers it.”

Fincantieri operates a “System of Shipyards” across Wisconsin and Florida, employing more than 3,000 workers and partnering with over 900 U.S. suppliers across 43 states. The company has invested more than $800 million into its U.S. operations, with plans to further integrate artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and digitalization into its shipyards to boost productivity.

The D.C. event comes amid a broader realignment of the U.S. shipbuilding landscape, as both domestic and international players accelerate investments in U.S. yards. Recent developments include the formation of the United Shipbuilding Alliance between Bollinger Shipyards and Edison Chouest Offshore, Davie Shipbuilding’s $1 billion investment in Texas shipyards, and HD Hyundai’s partnership with Edison Chouest for LNG-fueled containership construction.

Fincantieri’s event also highlighted workforce development as a national security priority. Vice Admiral Rick Hunt (ret.), President of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, moderated a panel featuring experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Atlantic Council, and Center for a New American Security (CNAS), focusing on strategies to rebuild a resilient industrial base.

The company’s U.S. operations are currently at the center of Navy modernization, building the lead ships of the Constellation-class frigates, seen as a crucial platform for distributed maritime operations. However, the program has faced its challenges. The first ship, USS Constellation (FFG-62), was originally slated for April 2026 delivery, but it’s now forecast for April 2029, representing a 36-month delay. A 2024 Government Accountability Office report criticized the Navy for awarding the initial construction contract despite an incomplete design, resulting in weight issues and crucial subsystems that could fail at sea.

With mounting geopolitical pressures and increasing Arctic activity, policymakers have been sounding alarms over the fragile state of U.S. shipbuilding. President Trump signed an executive order in April aimed at reviving domestic shipbuilding and reducing China’s grip on the global shipping industry.

“The message from D.C. this week is clear,” said one industry attendee. “Rebuilding American shipbuilding isn’t optional—it’s a national security imperative.”

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Red Herring sinks off Sheboygan Wisconsin

Last night was an example of no matter the time of year, the Great Lakes can be violent. The Toronto-based, 40′ racing boat Red Herring was lost early this morning off Sheboygan, Wi when her rudder snapped off in a storm causing her to rapidly take on water while transiting from Mackinac to Chicago for this weekends CYC Race to Mackinac. Her crew of 7, which includes Olympians and America’s Cup racers, were rescued by USCG station Sheboygan. Several other boats making the southbound passage also suffered damage and have withdrawn from this weekends race.

[John Tokarz]

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Cuyahoga scrap tow set for July 28

The final voyage of the M/V Cuyahoga is scheduled for July 28, 2025 (weather permitting). She will depart the shipyard in Ashtabula under tow, bound for Marine Recycling Corp. in Port Colborne, Ontario, where she will be dismantled.

The tow will be handled by McKeil Marine tugs Molly M1 and Wyatt M.

The information was posted on the Ship Junkies – Lakes, Locks & Rivers (LL&R) Facebook page Wednesday and confirmed by MRC owner Wayne Elliott in the comments section.

Cuyahoga is a self-unloading vessel built in 1943. She was one of the oldest Canadian registered ships still in active service on the Great Lakes until a fire broke out March 15, 2024, while off-season work was underway during winter layup at the shipyard in Ashtabula. Previous to this, on May 24, 2023, she had an engine room fire, also in Lake Erie, while the ship was near Pelee Island.

Janey Anderson

Canada to Curb Steel Imports to Soften Blow From US Tariffs

Bloomberg
July 16, 2025
By Jacob Lorinc, Randy Thanthong-Knight and Mathieu Dion

Canada will reduce the amount of foreign steel importers can bring into the country tariff-free, a move to help domestic producers suffering from US President Donald Trump’s levies on the sector.

The government will tighten “tariff rate quota” levels for steel products made in countries that don’t have a free-trade agreement with Canada. Producers from those nations will be able to ship half of last year’s volumes — above that level, a 50% tariff will apply.

Steel-producing countries that have existing trade deals with Canada, such as South Korea, will have more flexibility. They’ll be allowed to ship steel up to 2024 levels before tariffs kick in.

But there won’t be any change right now to tariffs on US steel, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday. His government is trying to strike a trade deal with the Trump administration ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline.

“The current trade situation with the United States, and unfair trade practices from other countries — that combination guts our steel industry,” Carney said at a press conference at a steel manufacturing plant in Hamilton, Ontario. “For Canada to build big things again, we need our steel industry to advance, not retreat.” 

Shares of Algoma Steel Group Inc. jumped 4.5% in Toronto, the biggest gain in a month.

Canada’s steel producers have warned of dramatic job cuts after Trump hiked import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum to 50%. Already, the industry says it has significantly reduced shipments and faced close to 1,000 job losses.

Canada has so far decided not to match those tariffs, keeping its retaliatory tax on US steel products at 25%.

Carney said the US trade deals with other countries are going to include “very high tariffs” and that may push steel products into Canada’s comparatively open market. “It’s important that we protect our market from those secondary effects,” he said.

Catherine Cobden, chief executive officer of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, told BNN Bloomberg Television that the government measures are “a big move forward.”

She applauded Carney’s decision to apply a 25% surtax on steel imports from all countries — except the US — that contain steel melted and poured in China. “It is huge,” she said about China’s production, with “hundreds of millions of tons of steel that they produce, that they do not need, that they then dump in markets like Canada’s.”

The federal government will also change its procurement rules to require companies that have contracts with the federal government to buy steel from Canadian producers.

On Wednesday, the government also laid out efforts to help workers that have faced job cuts since tariffs were imposed. Canada will deploy C$70 million ($51 million) to provide training and income support for as many as 10,000 affected steel workers. It’s also providing C$1 billion to a fund designed to help steel firms advance new projects.

“We have the potential to become our own best customer for steel, but we will lose that ability if we don’t manage the profound transformation now underway in the industry,” said Carney.

Milwaukee Clupper to become 48-room ‘boatel’ on Muskegon Lake

MUSKEGON, MI – The preservation association of the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper is raising money to help transform the Queen of the Great Lakes into a 48-room floating hotel, or “boatel.”

Among the 48 rooms are 36 staterooms for which the preservation association has opened sponsorship opportunities to finance the restoration. A $1,500 sponsorship covers the cost of restoring one room but also allows the sponsor to have their name, or the name of a loved one engraved on a custom plaque.

The extent of the work includes repairing floor damage and sanding down and repainting the walls, Brock Johnson, director of operations for the Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Association, said.

“With a little bit of hard work, that $1,500 covers the entire restoration of the room,” he said.

The remainder of the nearly $100,000 renovation, which includes repainting hallways and common spaces, will be financed by dollars raised from events, Johnson said. The association has about 30 volunteers working on the restoration.

Greg Borgman, who sits on the Milwaukee Clipper events committee, sold five staterooms within the past week and has been recruiting friends to join the preservation effort.

“My goal is to be one of the conduits to get every one of the rooms done,” he said. “This stuff really gets done at ground level, so what I want to do is find people who are doers.”

Layouts of the staterooms include two bunk beds, three bunk beds or two bunk beds and one double bed. State guests will use the main restrooms and showers located at the grand staircase, but each room will have a sink with running water, plus electricity and ventilation.

“It’s kind of a fancy way of camping,” Johnson said. “You have your own room with beds all set up, but we have shared bathrooms and shared showers.”

Guests who want to pay the middle-tier price, however, can book one of six rooms with their own private bathrooms. The largest suite available will be the Tionesta suite, named after one of the Clipper’s sister ships, the S.S. Tionesta of 1902. It will have a queen bed, a full bathroom, a pullout couch, table and TV.

Staterooms are expected to cost $75-$80 per night. Mid-range rooms will be about $125 per night. The captain’s and chief engineer’s rooms will offer more space and go for about $150 per night. Two luxury suites will run from $175-$200 per night.

The 120-plus-year-old ship has numerous amenities for hotel guests to enjoy a whole weekend of food and activities without ever having to leave the vessel, including three bars, two restaurants and a dance floor that hosts concerts.

Toward the bow of the ship is a private lounge exclusively for guests with a bar area and seating inside and out on the deck.

The historic soda bowl will remain open on weekends for hotel guests and the general public to buy ice cream, floats, sundaes and more. When the hotel opens, the soda bowl will serve breakfast for guests and the 185-seat cafeteria will serve lunch and dinner.

“We’re going to have Muskegon’s only restaurant on the water. Not next to the water. On the water,” Johnson said.

The boatel is expected to begin operation in about two years. Renovating the ship into a hotel resort is easy enough, but the preservation association is faced with the larger task of finding a new permanent home for the vessel. Where it is docked currently along a narrow strip of shoreline at 2098 Lakeshore Drive isn’t ideal to have multiple guests.

Launched in 1904 as the S.S. Juniata, the 361-foot passenger and package freight steamer serviced the Great Lakes from Buffalo, N.Y. to Duluth, Minn. It was retired in 1937 after new safety requirements for passenger vessels made its wooden superstructure obsolete, according to the Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Association.

At the time of publishing, there are about 16 staterooms left in need of a sponsor, Johnson said. People who want to donate can visit milwaukeeclipper.com/stateroom-sponsorship.

Read more and view photos at the MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2025/07/historic-great-lakes-ship-to-become-48-room-boatel-on-muskegon-lake.html

National Museum of the Great Lakes Unveils

New Exhibit “Every Boat Tells Our Story”

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes recently opened Every Boat Tells Our Story, a permanent exhibit that invites visitors to step inside the battles, triumphs, and everyday labors that have defined the Inland Seas for centuries.

Housed in the museum’s newly completed World Group Foundation Gallery, the exhibit combines artifacts with hands-on experiences:

• 16 meticulously crafted model boats — 12 from the Bob Sellers Collection — trace the evolution of Great Lakes shipbuilding, from schooners and modern freighters to a canoe and fish tug.
• A full-scale pilothouse from the St. Marys Challenger—considered the world’s longest continuously operating vessel—offers a year-round accessible glimpse into life on the Lakes.
• Interactive profiles spotlight the people who changed the lakes’ history, including civil-rights pioneer Sarah Elizabeth Ray, who fought—and won—a landmark Supreme Court case after being denied passage aboard the Boblo Boat Columbia in 1945.

Funded in part by the World Group Foundation and the Schoonmaker Foundation, the gallery pairs model boats, archival photos, oral histories, and interactive displays to illuminate both well-known and overlooked stories of innovation, immigration, and perseverance.

“Every artifact here—whether a hand-built model or a copper ingot—carries a human story,” added Carrie Sowden, NMGL director of archaeology and research. “Our goal is to honor those stories and inspire the next generation to invest in the future of our region and find their own Great Lakes story.”

Every Boat Tells Our Story is included with regular museum admission and is open daily (10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday–Saturday; noon – 5 p.m. Sunday). Tickets and membership information are available at nmgl.org or by calling 419-214-5000.

NMGL

Exhibit explores true-crime mysteries of the Great Lakes

BLADE STAFF
Jul 16, 2025 11:09 AM

The Dark Waters exhibition at the National Museum of the Great Lakes affords visitors a glimpse into the murky depths of true-crime mysteries of the Great Lakes.

“Dark Waters exposes the hidden currents beneath our region’s maritime story,” said Chris Gillcrist, NMGL emeritus director and curator of the exhibit.

The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 31, explores the Great Lakes’ shadowy past — from blazing shipboard tragedies to Prohibition-era violence — revealing how events helped shape the communities that line the shore.

Among other tales, the exhibit explores the stories of:

• SS Noronic Inferno: In 1949, a late-night fire aboard the passenger steamer while docked in Toronto claimed 118 lives and raised enduring questions about safety and accountability.
• Bootlegging and the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre: In the 1920s the Great Lakes served as America’s busiest smuggling corridor during Prohibition, fueling organized crime that culminated in Chicago’s still-unsolved gangland massacre.

Presented by Buckeye Broadband and The Blade, the exhibit is included with regular museum admission and is free for NMGL members.

First Published July 16, 2025, 11:09 a.m.

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Crew Members Removed From Two Cruise Ships Sailing the Great Lakes

Several international crew members working aboard two ships operated by Victory Cruise Lines were recently removed from the vessels by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.

As many as 13 crew from the cruise line’s Victory I and Victory II, both small ships with a capacity for 180 guests, were detained and apparently deported by CBP officials during port calls at US destinations. 

The ships are currently sailing summer season Great Lakes voyages between Chicago and Toronto. The removal of the crew members occurred during port calls to Detroit and perhaps in another port call as well. The removal of crew from Victory l at Detroit, where they were handcuffed and placed into vans, was witnessed by crew and passengers.

CBP has not confirmed any arrests or detainment of cruise ship crew members. The action apparently took place on July 9 and 11, 2025, according to the trade publication Travel Weekly.

“We are actively cooperating with federal authorities to clarify the circumstances, and my priority is always our crew and the experience for our guests,” John Waggoner, chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, told the media outlet.

The reasons behind the crew members’ removal are unclear but the arrests were not the work of the controversial US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE. However, both ICE and CBP are part of the US Department of Homeland Security.

According to various unconfirmed reports, the crew members were handcuffed and removed from the two ships. Some reports indicate that at least one crew member was charged with possession of child pornography.

In fact, CBP posted on its Facebook page that nine cruise ship crew members were removed from a cruise ship in Detroit for alleged possession of child pornography, but those arrests happened on June 20, 2025, not in July 2025, adding another puzzling aspect to the report.

The removal of a cruise line’s foreign crew members at any US port would throw a wrench into cruise ship operations. Foreign workers typically obtain required documents and authority, such as a C1/D Seaman Visa, to work on cruise ships across the globe.

It would be highly problematic for a cruise line to find additional crew members to replace those arrested during a port call.

The removal and presumed deportation of the Victory Cruise Line employees has rattled international crew members across the industry, with fears rising that immigration sweeps could impact cruising on a widespread basis, although there is no indication that is happening now.

There have also been reports that federal agents have carried out similar removals of foreign staff working on other vessels operating in the Great Lakes, but these are unconfirmed.

It is uncommon for cruise ship crew members to be arrested but it does happen from time to time. One recent case that sparked headlines was the case of the male stateroom attendant aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas who was charged with hiding cameras inside guest cabins.

In that case, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, a Filipino national, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale when Symphony of the Seas returned from an 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing in March 2024.

Mirasol had placed hidden cameras in a number of staterooms and hid under the beds in staterooms while guests were reportedly in the shower. In August 2024, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

In another case, a crew member working onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore was arrested in May 2024 after allegedly attacking a ship’s security guard and a member of the medical staff.

Cruise Hive

SS Badger to Offer Another Chance at Stunning Shoreland Views

Jul 14, 2025 
Local News, Steven Devine

SS Badger to Offer Another Chance at Stunning Shoreland Views
The second of four shoreland cruises on the SS Badger will take place this Saturday (July 19th).

The 2-hour sailing experience along the Lake Michigan coast allows patrons to sail on the Badger without the 4-hour trip to Ludington, Michigan.

It costs $60 a person and will include appetizers and desserts along with a cash bar and musical entertainment from Bobby Gleason.

Passengers are asked to board the ship at 1:30 p.m. before the shoreland cruise gets underway from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

More information about the shoreland cruises can be found at ssbadger.com/shoreline-cruises.  Link:  https://ssbadger.com/shoreline-cruises/

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

Tall ships returning to Detroit this summer for Sail Detroit Festival

Tall ships are returning to Detroit this summer for the Sail Detroit Festival, taking place Aug. 8-10 along the Detroit River.

The Sail Detroit Festival will showcase tall ships of various sizes and styles. They will arrive to Detroit on Aug. 7 and tie up on the Detroit River for three days of public access.

They will sail through the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and then up the Detroit River. Detroit is part of the 2025 Tall Ships Challenge, and they will also stop in Erie, Pennsylvania and Duluth, Minnesota.

Most of the activities will be centered around the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority along the river.

“The return of the ships to Detroit is the vision of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. “Sail Detroit 2001 was a monumental moment for our city, and we’re so excited to bring tall ships back to Detroit,” Port Authority Director of Operations John Jamian said in a statement. “As we saw, there is something about the majesty of tall ships that unites us all. And there’s nothing quite like seeing these vessels from on board. We can’t wait to welcome these ships and crew to our city.”

Tall Ships visited Detroit in 2001 to celebrate the city’s tricentennial and more than a million visitors gathered to board and experience the ships.

“There are so many lessons that can be taught with these ships,” Port Authority Executive Director Mark Schrupp added in a statement. “Our guests will learn about maritime careers, history, sustainability and Detroit as an important pSail Detroit websiteort when they come down to see the Ships. The Port Authority footprint on Atwater will be transformed into an amazing hub of fun during this special celebration of Detroit’s greatest asset, its water.”

Tickets can board the ships, meet the crews and learn about sailing history. They are $20 for adults, $12 for children, seniors and military. There are family passes available for two adults and two children/seniors/military for $50.

There is also a special $75 ticket available for people to board and sail on the Alliance, a 105-foot three-masted schooner.

More information is available at the Sail Detroit website.   https://saildetroit.com/

Want to be a sailor on the Great Lakes? Here’s what it takes to have career on the water

Jalen WilliamsJalen Williams
Detroit Free Press

Always wanted to be a sailor on the Great Lakes? According to the Great Lakes Maritime careers webpage, your opportunity is now.

That’s because the entire U.S. shipboard maritime workforce is projected to turn over in the coming decades.

Overall, the U.S. maritime workforce is projected to have more than 35,000 job openings for sailors and marine oilers; 29,000 captains, mates, and pilots; and 9,500 ship engineers.

Sailors, also called mariners, are people who navigate or assist in navigating ships.

And while shipping season started in March, jobs are still available in Michigan, according to the organization’s website.

“Working as a mariner on a vessel is a challenging but rewarding job for adventurous people who like to travel, spend time outdoors on the open waters of the Great Lakes, and have ample free time when home on shore,” the website says.

Here’s what to know about working as a mariner on the Great Lakes:

What is the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Maritime Transportation System?

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Maritime Transportation System is vital to the economies of the United States and Canada, the website says.

The system moves 160 million tons of freight each year, generating 227,000 jobs and $35 billion in business revenue.

The industry supports industries such as manufacturing, steel production, agriculture and power generation.

How much do sailors get paid?

Compensation for mariners varies depending on experience, employer, union affiliation, job location, nature of the job (rank), and the number of months worked in a year, the Great Lakes Maritime careers page says.

However, according to the The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median water transportation workers annual wages were $66,490 last year.

The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,270.

What is a sailor’s schedule?

In the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, shipping season starts in March and ends in early January. Mariners often work a “60-30” schedule, which is 60 days of work followed by 30-day break. This may vary based on a host of factors.

What are the entry level roles for people with no shipping experience?

Entry level candidates can join the deck, engine or steward’s department in an entry-level position by contacting a company or a union hall or training at a maritime academy, college, school or training establishment.

For complete information on requirements for different positions, contact the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center.

How to find jobs as a sailor

Prospective sailors can look for jobs in Michigan on the Great Lakes Maritime careers page, located on their website.   https://greatlakesmaritimejobs.org/job-postings/

What’s that ship out on the lake and why’s it been there for two weeks?

The red-hulled Federal Katsura, a 190.44-meter-long bulk carrier ship flying a Marshall Islands flag, has been sitting out beyond the breakwater in Lake Michigan since shortly after it arrived on July 1. Here’s why.
You can see it best from the Hoan Bridge, but it’s also been extremely visible from Summerfest, from Bradford Beach, from the Harley Homecoming in Veterans Park, from South Shore Park.

It is the red-hulled Federal Katsura, a 190.44-meter-long bulk carrier ship flying a Marshall Islands flag, and it has been sitting out beyond the breakwater in Lake Michigan since shortly after it arrived on July 1.
The 23.6-meter-wide Class A cargo ship – built in 2005 in Japan – is no stranger to Port Milwaukee, but it has been floating out there just outside of the port for such a long time that folks are beginning to ask.

Five days ago already there was a Reddit thread about it, asking why it’s there.

Some have suggested it’s waiting for space at the dock, waiting for a crew change, awaiting instructions for its next move or even vying to become the next vessel that Milwaukee will obsess over.

Port spokesperson Madison Goldbeck says, “it was a last minute booking for DeLong (on Jones Island) and then it needed to clean its cargo before it could load any grain products.”

The Federal Katsura is often in port to collect grain, but it also carries other cargo, including cement and salt.

Once cleaned, the ship has been waiting for its cargo and in fact it is expected to dock around noon today.

“Then it’ll begin loading tomorrow morning,” says Goldbeck. “The destination port for the offload has still not been determined.”

The crew remains on the vessel while at anchor, Goldbeck says.

The reason that the ship bides its time out in the open water instead of at a vacant dock is that it’s free to sit out there and it costs money to occupy dock space.

Enjoy the view of the Federal Katsura today – and especially tonight as it looks best with its lights glittering out in the darkness – before she departs tomorrow.

In case you’re wondering Federal Katsura really gets around. Since May 1, she’s called at Montreal, Quebec, Belfast, Waterford (Ireland), Ijmuiden (Netherlands), back to Montreal, Port Weller (Canada), Cleveland, Burns Harbor (Indiana) and finally Milwaukee.

In some of those ports the vessel spent as many as five days, but also as little as 48 minutes.

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

 

 

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit