Boatnerd News

Boatnerd News – May 31, 2025

May 31, 2025

American Integrity undergoing repairs at Duluth

American Steamship Co.’s 1,000-footer American Century pulled in next to her sistership American Integrity Friday at the Ash Grove cement dock in Duluth. The loaded Integrity will discharge some of her cargo into the Century so repairs can be made to the American Integrity’s propulsion system.

After the Integrity loaded iron ore pellets at CN, an issue with its propulsion system was discovered while attempting to depart. With a deep draft of 28 feet, the ship required the help of tugs Missouri and North Carolina to be safely moved and secured at this dock, which is rarely used for lakers.

The Integrity recently spent more than three weeks at the pipeline dock in Superior having propeller shaft work done.

Vibe With Mike, David Schauer

Neebish Island residents voice concerns to restore evening ferry service to mainland

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A letter is on its way to state and local elected officials from Neebish Island residents voicing concerns about the lack of ferry service on the island to the mainland after certain hours.

There are more than 250 supporters of this letter, and they are all in favor of gaining access back to the ferry service.

Residents said the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) stopped the ferry service on the mainland to the island after 6 p.m. on weekdays and after 8 p.m. on weekends, in May 2024.

“This is causing tremendous hardship for island residents and limiting the viability of the island’s economic future,” the letter states.

The signed letter was sent Thursday and was mailed to state and local elected officials that include the Luce and Chippewa County Boards of Commissioners, Soo Township Board of Trustees, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), State Rep. Parker Fairbairn, and State Sen. John Damoose, according to residents.

“I stand with Neebish Island residents who deserve better ferry service to ensure they can access employment, education, healthcare, worship, military, community activities, local businesses and family on the mainland,” the letter notes.

While residents also highlighted why they feel ferry service should be restored to the island:

  • All three islands (Drummond, Sugar and Neebish) should have access to ferry services in the evening hours, even if it means cross-subsidization of the costs related to operating the three services.
  • The absence of evening hours and non-emergency “Specials” (trips on demand for a fee of $150.) leaves islanders without service for 12.5-15 hours per day.
  • The 6 p.m. curfew prevents island residents from participating in the community and limits their access to basic services and activities on the mainland, including health care, local events and educational opportunities.
  • The limited ferry schedule is already having a negative impact on the economic viability of Neebish Island. It is discouraging younger, working families and prospective retirees from buying property. The schedule is negatively affecting businesses and discouraging future business growth.

UpNorth Live

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Rough day on the St. Marys River for Wilfred Sykes

While downbound at the Soo Locks around 1 p.m. Thursday, headed for the MacArthur Lock, the steamer Wilfred Sykes went crosswise above the MacArthur and Poe locks. There are no reports of damage and there has been no official reason given, although waterfront report indicate currents may have been to blame.

After getting squared away, the Sykes continued her trip to Indiana Harbor, but later radioed Soo Traffic that they may have rolled a boulder in the Rock Cut further down river. The downbound CSL St-Laurent and Edgar B. Speer were halted at the locks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ survey vessel Bufe was dispatched to the scene to look for any obstructions. None were found, and downbound traffic resumed just after 8 p.m.

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

American Spirit  has close call Tuesday at Port Huron

On Tuesday afternoon, the upbound American Spirit veered unusually close to the U.S. side of the St. Clair River under the Blue Water Bridge. SteamtimeLive cameras caught the moment – see the gallery for screen captures. After passing under the bridge, the vessel straightened out and continued her way upbound. The current is very strong in that area, which could have played a factor. The American Steamship Co. 1,000-footer is operated by Rand Logistics.

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 26, 2025

May 26, 2025

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 25, 2025

May 25, 2025

Algoma Central, Irving Oil welcome two new tankers

SAINT JOHN, NB – Irving Oil and Algoma Central Corp. recently welcomed the first of two new product tankers into Saint John Harbour. The vessels will service Canada’s largest refinery with deliveries to ports in Atlantic Canada and the U.S. East Coast. The vessels represent a total investment of $127 million by Algoma in partnership with Irving Oil.

The Algoma East Coast and the Algoma Acadian – the latter of which will arrive later this year – are 37,000 DWT ice class product tanker vessels ordered by Algoma and constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Shipyard in South Korea. Both vessels will be on long-term time charter to Irving Oil under Canadian flag.

“Algoma is excited to welcome the Algoma East Coast, and soon, the Algoma Acadian, to our product tanker fleet,” says Algoma’s President & CEO Gregg Ruhl. “These additions introduce a new asset class to the segment, enhancing our operational capabilities and expanding the markets we serve. This milestone in our newbuild journey has been incredible to witness, made possible through our collaboration with Irving and the dedication and expertise of our operations team. Both vessels will be deployed immediately upon arrival in Saint John.”

The vessels will support Irving Oil’s unique operational requirements and will support the distribution of high-quality energy products to its valued customers in Canada and the U.S. The tweo tankers are too large to trade on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

“This investment underscores our company’s commitment to providing energy security in the regions where we operate,” says Irving Oil President & CEO Jeff Matthews. “We remain focused on providing a safe and secure supply of energy products to our customers, both today and tomorrow.”

Vessel highlights:

   Volume: 260,000 to 265,000 barrels (bbls)

    Products: Petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel)

    Where: Vessel will primarily trade in Eastern Canada, with voyages to U.S. Atlantic Coast

    Construction timeline: Completion in approximately 10 months

    Boston Beam width of 27.4 metres

    Methanol ready as per ABS Notations – Methanol Fuel Ready Level 3(S), Methanol Fuel Ready Level 2D (TA, ME)

    High voltage and shore power (cold-ironing) ready – ABS Notation HVSC-Ready

    Enhanced ballasting capabilities to optimize operations in the Bay of Fundy

Scrapping begins on vintage tug James Whalen

THUNDER BAY, ON – On May 23, 2025, the iconic James Whalen tugboat, which has stood as a symbol of the city’s rich shipping heritage, began the process of being dismantled and scrapped after decades of faithful service and years of retirement.

Built in 1905, the James Whalen was a powerhouse of its time, constructed to navigate and manage the bustling waters of the Great Lakes. For much of its operational life, the James Whalen tugboat served as a steadfast workhorse in the Port of Thunder Bay, assisting ships in docking, navigating challenging weather, and ensuring the smooth flow of goods through one of Canada’s busiest inland ports.

Though retired from active service, the James Whalen found a new role as a beloved artifact of local history, sitting as a landmark and photo favorite for residents and visitors alike. However, years of exposure to the elements took their toll, and despite efforts to preserve her, scrapping the Whalen has become the final chapter.

Michael Hull

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 24, 2025

May 24, 2025

Interlake’s Mark Barker supports Jones Act

At National Maritime Day observance

Interlake President Mark W. Barker had the honor of speaking at the National Maritime Day observance in Washington, D. C. on Thursday.

“The Jones Act is critical for our national and economic security. We are not the lowest cost provider, nor should we be. We build our ships under the highest safety and environmental standards, and we pay good wages and benefits to the incredible women and men who build and operate these ships. We cannot compete, nor should we try to compete, against ships that are built with foreign government subsidies that do not hold safety, people, the environment, or good wages as a priority,” he said.

“As we look to the future, we need to level the playing field and ensure that we are supporting shipyards and the workforce that builds and operates them.”

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. Transportation Command Deputy Commander LTG Jered P. Helwig also spoke at the national event that recognizes maritime as one of our country’s most important industries.

In 1933, Congress declared National Maritime Day to commemorate the American steamship Savannah’s voyage from the United States to England, marking the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean with steam propulsion.

During World War II more than 250,000 members of the American Merchant Marine served their country, with more than 6,700 giving their lives, hundreds being detained as prisoners of war and more than 800 U.S. merchant ships being sunk or damaged.

Each year, ceremonies and celebrations throughout the country recognize Maritime Day and the hard-working and dedicated people our maritime nation depends on.

The Interlake Steamship Co.

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

American Integrity back in business after repairs

SUPERIOR, WI – After spending over 2 weeks having repairs to her propellor and shaft done at the Enbridge pipeline dock in Superior, the American Integrity shifted to Midwest Energy early Wednesday morning to load coal. Standing by to assist was tug Missouri.

David Schauer

National Museum Offers Free for Maritime Industry Employees

Toledo, OH – In honor of National Maritime Day on Thursday, May 22, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering free admission to maritime industry employees. Enjoy free, one-day admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ galleries, the 617-foot Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, and the Museum Tug Ohio. Valid maritime credentials or proof of employment are required.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Brig Niagara is headed to Maine for
what’s expected to be a year’s worth of repairs

ERIE, PA – The U.S. Brig Niagara has left Erie and is on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. Repairs to Pennsylvania’s Flagship, which have been in the planning stages for years, will begin this summer at a shipyard in Maine.

The ship, led by Capt. Gregory Bailey and a crew of about 18, left Erie at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

By car, Maine can be reached in 12 hours or so. Aboard a wooden replica of an 1812 warship — even one powered by a pair of diesel engines — the trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway is longer and slower.

Traveling at no more than 7 knots — about 8 mph — the trip will take the better part of a month, said Jim Hall, site administrator for the Erie Maritime Museum, which oversees the ship as part of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

And that’s traveling 24 hours a day and barring unexpected weather delays or other problems, Hall said.

A number of repairs already have been made, including the replacement of two propellers, at a shipyard in Cleveland.

This round of repairs, which will take place at a ship repair facility in Maine, will be more expensive and are expected to take most of a year. Repairs and upgrades will include new engines and generators, improvements to navigational systems and extensive carpentry work, Hall said.

“It’s a ton of work,” he said. “It’s years’ worth of work. It’s a wooden ship and it’s 35 years old. It needs to get refitted.”

The price will ultimately depend on the work that needs to be done, Hall said.

“I don’t know what the end number is going to be,” he said. “State government has provided us with the funding that we are confident will take care of it.”

Hall said he believes strongly that the Niagara, an historic recreation of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s relief flagship in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, is worth the effort.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” he said. “The ship is a gem. It’s the public’s gem and I personally take professional pride in doing right by the ship and making sure that the investment is well taken care of.”

The Niagara, which typically leads the parade of sail at Tall Ships Erie festivals, every three years, won’t return in time for this year’s festival, which begins Aug. 21. Hall is hoping the Niagara will be back by next summer in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Erie Times-News, Jim Martin

Sault Ste. Marie local recognized as enlisted Coast Guardsman of the year

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Benette Swanson, a machinery technician, was recognized as the Coast Guard’s Enlisted Person of the Year in Washington, D.C., on April 30th.

Swanson, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2021 and was assigned to Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Sault Ste. Marie in 2024. He was recognized for his commendable technical proficiency, his ability to lead others, and his embodiment of the Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. Notably, he achieved his required qualifications in record time, led the ANT to remove 109 pieces of aid to navigation in advance of the ice season, and spent 100 hours volunteering in his community, including coaching youth sports and promoting boating safety and conservation as president of the Saint Marys River Walleye Club.

Swanson was presented with the award at Coast Guard Headquarters by Vice Adm. Peter W. Gautier, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, and Master Chief Petty Officer Heath B. Jones, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. His father, mother, sisters, grandparents and girlfriend were also in attendance.

U.S. Coast Guard

National Museum Offers Free for Maritime Industry Employees

Toledo, OH – In honor of National Maritime Day on Thursday, May 22, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering free admission to maritime industry employees. Enjoy free, one-day admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ galleries, the 617-foot Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, and the Museum Tug Ohio. Valid maritime credentials or proof of employment are required.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Boatnerd News – May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Trump budget would cut Great Lakes, ocean data
and leave forecasters and military scrambling for info

Capt. Ed Enos makes his living as a harbor pilot in Hawaii, clambering aboard arriving ships in the predawn hours and guiding them into port.

His world revolves around wind speeds, current strength and wave swells. When Enos is bobbing in dangerous waters in the dark, his cellphone is his lifeline: with a few taps he can access the Integrated Ocean Observing System and pull up the data needed to guide what are essentially floating warehouses safely to the dock.

But maybe not for much longer. President Donald Trump wants to eliminate all federal funding for the observing system’s regional operations. Scientists say the cuts could mean the end of efforts to gather real-time data crucial to navigating treacherous harbors, plotting tsunami escape routes and predicting hurricane intensity.

It’s the last thing you should be shutting down,” Enos said. “There’s no money wasted. Right at a time when we should be getting more money to do more work to benefit the public, they want to turn things off. That’s the wrong strategy at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.”

Monitoring system tracks all things ocean

The IOOS system launched about 20 years ago. It’s made up of 11 regional associations in multiple states and territories, including the Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington state, Michigan, South Carolina and Southern California.

The regional groups are networks of university researchers, conservation groups, businesses and anyone else gathering or using maritime data. The associations are the Swiss army knife of oceanography, using buoys, submersible drones and radar installations to track water temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, wave speeds, swell heights and current strength.

TODD RICHMOND – Associated Press

Read the full story here: https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/05/trump-budget-would-cut-great-lakes-ocean-data-and-leave-forecasters-and-military-scrambling-for-info.html

Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise

Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!

  • When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
  • Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
  • Limit: 100 passengers
  • Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
  • General Adult Admission:

-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)

-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)

-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)

  • Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
  • Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
  • Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.

This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.

If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.

Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1778398666043742/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Load More

Jump to a Date:

Archives