New research boat being built to help gather fish data in Great Lakes

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MI – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gathers fish population data across the Great Lakes. Soon, the research center in Charlevoix will have a new and improved boat to help get that information.

 For more than 55 years, the DNR has used the S/V Steelhead to get researchers, technicians and biologists where they needed to go to collect data on the Great Lakes.

 “Our data is used to inform stocking decisions for chinook, coho, sometimes lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, possibly regulations like a size limit or a possession limit, and those have changed throughout the years for certain species like lake trout to try to stay within harvest limits,” said Patrick Hanchin from the Charlevoix Research Fisheries Station.

 To help get this information, the vessel is equipped with electronics and other resources.

 After more than five decades of service, the boat is outdated and parts are often hard to come by.

 “The hull itself is now, through aging, is slowly being compromised,” said Patrick O’Neill, S/V Steelhead boat captain. “We’re having trouble finding replacement parts for these. Not only are the engine types never, they’re not being made, but the parts to maintain them are no longer available.”

 With the help of Moran Ironworks and Boksa Marine Design, a new vessel, Steelhead II, with standardized equipment and a few notable upgrades will be built.

 “We’re planning on putting in a sea keeper, which is an instrument that’s used to counter the effects of the wave energy so the boat won’t be as tippy. So hopefully it’ll be a safer, steadier platform,” said O’Neill.

 UpNorthLive

Foreign Shipping Companies Reach $102 Million Settlement With DOJ Over Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Mike Schuler
October 24, 2024

Singapore-based companies Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the owner and operator of the M/V DALI, have agreed to a $101,980,000 settlement with the U.S. government to resolve claims related to the catastrophic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

 The collapse, which occurred on March 26, 2024, claimed six lives and brought shipping in and out of the Port of Baltimore to a standstill.

 “Nearly seven months after one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory, we have reached an important milestone with today’s settlement,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy, not the American taxpayer.”

 The incident occurred in the early hours of March 26, when the containership DALI lost power while navigating the Fort McHenry Channel, causing it to strike the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The collapse killed six people and left the wreckage of the bridge and the vessel obstructing the channel, forcing a halt to shipping traffic and severing a critical highway link in the region.

 Federal, state, and local agencies led an intensive response, working to remove approximately 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and debris from the channel in the months following the incident. Temporary shipping lanes were established to alleviate the port’s bottleneck until the Fort McHenry Channel was cleared and reopened on June 10.

 The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit in September, seeking over $100 million in damages from the companies for their failure to address known risks with the vessel’s power systems, which contributed to the disaster. According to the lawsuit, the companies neglected to resolve known vibration issues that could lead to power outages and configured the ship’s systems in a way that prevented rapid restoration of propulsion and steering during the incident.

 “This was an entirely avoidable catastrophe,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. “The owner and operator of the DALI failed to prevent a series of foreseeable errors, leading to this tragic outcome.”

 The settlement addresses the United States’ claims under the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Oil Pollution Act, and general maritime law, totaling $103 million in damages. The funds will be allocated to the U.S. Treasury and various federal agencies involved in the response to the disaster.

 The settlement does not cover the costs of reconstructing the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which the State of Maryland, as the bridge’s owner and operator, is pursuing through a separate legal claim. Funds recovered by Maryland will be used to reduce the project costs borne by federal taxpayers. This settlement is in addition to $97,294 already paid by Grace Ocean to the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center for oil pollution abatement costs arising from the incident.

 “This accident happened because of the careless and grossly negligent decisions made by Grace Ocean and Synergy, who recklessly chose to send an unseaworthy vessel to navigate a critical waterway and ignored the risks to American lives and the nation’s infrastructure,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Chetan Patil of the Civil Division.

 The Department’s claim came after the two companies filed a legal action shortly after the accident, seeking to either be exonerated or have their liability limited to approximately $44 million.

 The case was handled by the Civil Division’s Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Behind the Scenes at the New Soo Locks

View a video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZoipueb5U

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

See flyer below.

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Pierson rudder recovered and is on the way to Superior

The Purvis Marine tug W.I. Scott Purvis and barge recovered the rudder from the Robert S. Pierson on Thursday in the upper St. Marys River near Gros Cap. It is on its way to Superior, WI, to be reunited with the Pierson, which is on the Fraser Shipyards drydock.

Joseph L. Block, repairs to her damaged boom complete, departed Duluth on Thursday.

Behind the Scenes at the New Soo Locks

View a video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZoipueb5U

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

See flyer below.

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Great Lakes Now Offers Program About J.W. Westcott mailboat

Climb aboard while the J.W. Westcott company delivers mail and crew to passing freighters. Learn about what goes into piloting oceangoing cargo ships passing through the Great Lakes. And join us as we board one of the biggest freighters on the Great Lakes to see what’s cooking in the ship’s galley. It all airs on Detroit PBS Monday, October 28 at 7:30 PM ET.

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/freighters-on-the-move/

2 ships that collided, sank 170 years ago rest intact
on the bottom of Lake Huron

PRESQUE ISLE, MI – On a foggy night 170 years ago, two ships sailing on Lake Huron collided, causing fatal damage to both, records say.

On Oct. 20, 1854, the John J. Audubon was sailing north, headed for Chicago, with a load of iron railroad tracks, according to the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Defiance, carrying a load of corn and wheat, was sailing southbound. It was around 1:30 a.m. when Defiance emerged from the fog and darkness and struck Audubon’s midsection.

The collision cut a hole deep in Audubon’s hull, and it sank quickly, records say. Defiance was fatally damaged but struggled on before sinking a few miles away. Both crews survived.

Today, the wooden two-masted schooners rest intact and upright at the bottom of the Great Lake, records say. Audubon is under 170 feet of water at GPS coordinates N45°17.331′ W83°20.351′. Defiance is under 185 feet of water at GPS coordinates N45° 14.058′ W83° 16.707′.

Going down in 1854, the wrecks were part of the costliest season on the Great Lakes to date: 119 lives and 70 ships lost, plus $2 million in property losses, records say.

Find out more at this link: https://thunderbay.noaa.gov/shipwrecks/defiance.html

Behind the Scenes at the New Soo Locks

View a video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZoipueb5U

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

See flyer below.

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Rudderless Robert S. Pierson arrives at Fraser Shipyards

The Robert S. Pierson arrived at Fraser Shipyards early Tuesday and went right into the drydock after being towed from Goulais Bay, near Sault Ste. Marie, ON, by the tug Avenger IV. Although nothing official has been released, waterfront reports indicate the Pierson lost her rudder in the vicinity of Gros Cap more than a week ago. Photos of her in the drydock show her without a rudder. It is not known if the rudder has been located. She had departed Algoma Steel for Two Harbors on October 13 when the incident occurred. The tugs Missouri, North Carolina and Helen H assisted in the arrival

Behind the Scene at the New Soo Locks

View a video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZoipueb5U

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Robert S. Pierson arrives at Fraser Shipyards

The Robert S. Pierson arrived at Fraser Shipyards early Tuesday and went right into the drydock after being towed from Goulais Bay, near Sault Ste. Marie, ON, by the tug Avenger IV. Although nothing official has been released, waterfront reports indicate the Pierson lost her rudder in the vicinity of Gros Cap more than a week ago. It is not known if the rudder has been located. She had departed Algoma Steel for Two Harbors on October 13 when the incident occurred. The tugs Missouri, North Carolina and Helen H assisted in the arrival.

U.S. Coast Guard hosting ghost ship 2024 in Sturgeon Bay

STURGEON BAY — The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay will host their annual ghost ship event at Sawyer Park Pier in Sturgeon Bay from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Guests will be able to board the vessel at Sawyer Park Pier in Sturgeon Bay, on the south side of the canal adjacent to the Maple-Oregon Bridge.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. for young guests and become spookier with more frights and scares at 6 p.m. Parental guidance is required for sailors under the age of 12 to board the cutter. Hot chocolate and candy will be available at the pier.

The event is free, but a nonperishable food donation is recommended. All nonperishable items received will be donated to a local food bank.

“This is always a great event for folks of all ages,” said Cmdr. Dan O’Brien, commanding officer, Mobile Bay.

“Mobile Bay has hosted the ghost ship event in Sturgeon bay for decades. We are excited to continue this fun tradition in support of the local community,” O’Brien said.

The Mobile Bay is a 140-foot icebreaking tug based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Since its commissioning in 1979, it has helped maintain open shipping lanes throughout the Great Lakes by breaking ice during the winter months.

With the addition of its 120-foot barge in 1992, Mobile Bay has also served as a buoy tender responsible for the maintenance and setting of more than 110 aids to navigation in Green Bay and northwestern Lake Michigan.

 Chi-Cheemaun Arrives at Owen Sound for winter

Another season of sailing between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island is over for the MS Chi-Cheemaun. The passenger ferry made its final scheduled run of the year Sunday evening and arrived at its winter quarters at Owen Sound Monday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the ship’s marine evacuation system will be deployed for training and recertification purposes.

“This exercise is part of Owen Sound Transportation Company’s ongoing commitment to safety and emergency preparedness. The purpose of the exercise is to practice deploying evacuation equipment and response tactics,” the company explained in a statement. “Marine Navigation and Engineering cadets from Georgian College will be participating as passengers as the marine evacuation system slide is deployed and the zodiac tows the raft to shore.”

Bayshore Broadcasting

Sturgeon Bay shipwreck is named a national historic place

STURGEON BAY – The wreck of a ship that sank in a tornado off of Egg Harbor 126 years ago but ended up in shallow water off the West Side of Sturgeon Bay now has joined 30 other Door County shipwrecks on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wisconsin Historical Society announced this past week that the wreck of the Pride is now listed on the national register. It was placed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places on May 24 and now is the 31st shipwreck in Door County waters on the state and national registers.

The Pride’s remains can been seen in about 8 feet of water in the Sturgeon Bay channel, partially embedded in the channel bottom almost exactly due north of the intersection of West Juniper Street and North Lansing Avenue, about 250 feet from that intersection or 200 feet off shore.

A press release from the historical society said that while its hull is broken, it remains intact up to the turn of the bilge and all of its components except the masts remain on site. The hull sides, deck shelf and bulwarks have fallen outward, the centerboard trunk has been displaced and the deck, deck planking and beams have lifted and now sit perpendicular to the hull off the port side.

“The vessel provides historians and archaeologists with the opportunity to study construction techniques of schooners used in the Great Lakes shipping and lumber trades,” its listing on the register says. “The Pride site has produced archaeological knowledge about early wooden schooner construction and has the potential to yield a wealth of information about early schooner construction on the Great Lakes.”

But although the Pride now rests in the Sturgeon Bay channel, its last voyage ended off Egg Harbor.

The Pride was built in Black River, Ohio, in 1866, and used by its owners mainly to ship bulk general goods on Lake Erie, according to the Wisconsin Shipwrecks website. By 1868 the schooner had a new owner and was homeported in Chicago, and eight subsequent ownership changes saw it hauling loads of lumber, building materials and other goods on the Great Lakes from home ports in Kenosha and Racine, including smaller loads of building stone between Kenosha and Sturgeon Bay for a time.

Capt. Jacob Wilson bought the ship in 1893 from the Hervig brothers of Racine, after it had been for sale for six years, and used it to move lumber and bulk goods from its new home port of Milwaukee.

The Pride’s final voyage departed from Milwaukee on Aug. 20, 1898. On Aug. 22, it dropped anchor in Egg Harbor to get a contract to haul a load of wood.

But at dinner time, the Pride was struck by a squall that caught it broadside, then by a tornado that whipped the ship around and capsized it “with such force that its two masts became imbedded to the lake bottom,” the Wisconsin Shipwrecks website says.

Capt. Wilson survived by clinging to the side of the hull before being rescued, but his son and first mate, Thomas Wilson, was lost in the sinking; his body was found in the water more than a week later. Wilson’s Newfoundland dog survived the wreck, but was trapped inside the cabin until being rescued.

Aug. 24, two days after the sinking, the schooner was righted and towed to Sturgeon Bay to be moored at the Leathem & Smith Towing & Wrecking Co., which took ownership of the vessel in exchange for the costs. However, while tied up at the dock, the wreck sprung a leak, broke loose and drifted away, landing on Dunlap Reef in the middle of the channel (across from what is now Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding), where it posed an obstacle to other ships trying to navigate the channel.

In 1900, the Pride was moved and run ashore with consideration for restoring it, but no further work was performed on it and it was abandoned and fell apart where it lies today.

This isn’t the only wreck of a ship named Pride in the waters of Door County. According to Wisconsin Shipwrecks, a three-masted, 87-foot schooner Pride sank just off the north shore of Washington Island in 1901 after 52 years of service, having been built in Ohio in 1849. That vessel’s remains are broken up and scattered under 40 to 50 feet of water. It currently is not on the state historic register.

State and federal laws protect the wreck of the Pride in Sturgeon Bay. Divers may not remove artifacts or structure when visiting this site. Removing, defacing, displacing or destroying artifacts or sites is a crime. For more information on the Pride, visit wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2803 or wisconsinshipwrecks.org.

Green Bay Press Gazette

Behind the Scene at the New Soo Locks

View a video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZoipueb5U

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

McAsphalt Advantage Clears Panama Canal for Halifax

The McAsphalt Advantage cleared the Panama Canal this morning and her
AIS shows Halifax for her next destination.

Matt Miner

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Rudderless Robert S. Pierson heads to Superior

After sitting at anchor in Goulais Bay, above the Soo Locks on the Canadian side, for several days, the Robert S. Pierson hove anchor Saturday headed for Superior, WI, and most likely to Fraser Shipyards. According to AIS, the Purvis Marine tug Avenger IV accompanied her, or may have her in tow.

Owner Rand Logistics/Lower Lakes Towing has not released any official information, although waterfront reports in the Soo indicated Pierson’s rudder fell off. She had departed Algoma Steel for Two Harbors on October 13 when the incident occurred near Gros Cap.

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

Great Lakes’ water levels dropping, but still just about average

Autumn in Michigan not only means falling leaves; it also marks the start of the seasonal drop in water levels on the Great Lakes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in a report issued late last week, said that by the second week in November, it expects water levels to drop 5-6 inches on lakes Erie and Ontario and 2-3 inches on lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron. New estimates are due to be released in the coming days.

According to the agency, water levels tend to drop in fall and early winter “due to an increase in evaporation as temperatures decline and cold air moves over the relatively warm lake waters.”

Low water levels can create access issues for certain boats.  Recreational boating, for example, may be difficult because some vessels are not suited for lower water levels.

According to Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments — a joint project of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University — high or low water levels can impact fisheries, commercial shipping, hydropower generation, recreational boating, shoreline flooding and coastal erosion.

“The variability of Great Lakes water levels is necessary for the continued health of the Lakes but can create challenges for waterfront communities and homeowners,” the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy explains on its website.

Historical perspective

Water levels in the Great Lakes have declined in recent years, but experts say it’s not as bad as it seems. Precipitation is the main determinant of water levels in the Great Lakes. This year, the state experienced drier-than-normal conditions due to a lack of rainfall, causing abnormally dry and even drought conditions in some parts of the state.

But lake levels don’t just depend on rainfall totals in a specific area. Many of the rivers and streams across the state that feed into the lakes also impact lake levels.

“The more areas that have drainage channels into the lakes, the more those areas are below average or in drought conditions, generally, the greater tendency for those lake levels to slowly decline over long periods of time,” said Kevin Kacan, meteorologist of the National Weather Service’s Detroit office.

While low precipitation has had a slight impact on water levels in the Great Lakes, long-term data show that the current lake levels are just about average.

“While the levels have dropped significantly in the last four or five years, they’re not quite to a place where we would call them low yet,” said Keith Kompoltowicz chief of hydraulics for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit district. “They’re near average, and that’s just simply because it’s been so dry, especially recently.”

The water levels in the Great Lakes are just about the same as they were this time last year, except for Lake Superior, where the average water level is down compared to last year.

As of Oct. 11, the average water level was about:

    601 feet for Lake Superior

    579 feet for lakes Michigan and Huron

    572 feet for Lake Erie

    245 feet for Lake Ontario.

Water levels in the Great Lakes dropped to record lows beginning in 2012 and 2013. However, the levels began to quickly increase in 2022 and are now starting to average out.

“This stretch of weather that we’ve had across the Great Lakes, with the exception of a couple of rainy days here and there, has been just remarkable with tons of sun,” Kompoltowicz said. “Very dry conditions have allowed the lakes to decline because of the lack of water being put into the system and that’s a natural thing.”

Typically, the lakes reach low levels during the winter but will rise again once the snow melts and spring rain occurs. But when there are consecutive dry seasons, water levels will decline to below-average levels.

“If we see a very healthy snowpack on the ground in the Great Lakes followed by a very wet spring that would lead us to believe that levels might increase from where they were a year ago,” Kompoltowicz said. “But if we continue these very dry conditions with very minimal snow, very minimal spring rains next year, then levels would continue to maybe even dip a little bit further and fall below average.”

Bridge Michigan

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite

End of an Era: Historic SS United States Transferred to New Owners

Mike Schuler

The iconic SS United States is set to embark on its final journey – not across the Atlantic, but towards a new life as the world’s largest artificial reef.

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the SS United States Conservancy formally transferred the title of the historic ocean liner to Okaloosa County, Florida, marking a significant turning point in the ship’s storied legacy.

This $10.1 million project represents a innovative solution for preserving the vessel, which has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996.

The transfer of ownership comes after a protracted legal dispute with the pier operator and offers a “more dignified option” compared to the alternative of scrapping. A court-ordered mediation between the SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing resulted in a settlement agreement, ending over two years of litigation. The confidential settlement, awaiting final court disposition, led to limited financial liability for the Conservancy. Despite the judge rejecting Penn Warehousing’s claims for doubled rent, the settlement maintains the court’s original ruling that the SS United States must promptly vacate its pier.

The SS United States Conservancy evaluated numerous proposals to purchase and relocate the ship, but none met its due diligence requirements or timing constraints. A promising five-year collaboration with a New York developer for a mixed-use destination fell through due to difficulties securing a pier location and lack of government support.

With no viable options to preserve the SS United States and facing the binding court order, the Conservancy had to make a difficult decision: scrap America’s Flagship or transform her into an artificial reef with an accompanying land-based museum. It chose the latter as the “most dignified path.”

“Converting the world’s fastest ship into the world’s largest artificial reef will write a new chapter for the SS United States as a world-class destination,” said Susan Gibbs, President of the SS United States Conservancy.

The SS United States, launched in 1951, holds a special place in maritime history. It still holds the transatlantic speed record and has a rich history of transporting presidents, celebrities, and immigrants. During the Cold War, it was designed as a convertible troop carrier capable of transporting 14,000 troops 10,000 miles without refueling.

“This accomplishment confirms our commitment to remain good stewards of the environment, while also enhancing our community’s status as a premier diving and fishing destination,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission projects an impressive 13,800% return on investment for artificial reefs in the Florida Panhandle, underscoring the project’s economic potential.

The process will involve extensive environmental remediation, expected to take over a year, followed by six months to a year for deployment. While the exact location off Destin-Fort Walton Beach is yet to be determined, it will be accessible to divers of various skill levels.

As part of the project, a state-of-the-art land-based museum will be constructed to honor and recognize the history of “America’s Flagship” and ensure that the ship continues to inspire and educate future generations about its significant role in American maritime history.

The next steps involve moving the ship to Norfolk, Virginia, in the coming weeks for necessary preparations before its final deployment as an artificial reef.

Once submerged, the nearly 1,000-foot-long vessel will become a thriving habitat for marine life and a world-class attraction for divers and anglers.

Gales of November  8-9

A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum 

Bottom of Form

[David Schauer]

National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”

Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.

Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.

The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.

You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite