National Museum of the Great Lakes Partners with Victory Cruise
Lines for LakeLorian Program, Announces Shore Excursions in Toledo

Toledo, OH –  The National Museum of the Great Lakes has announced a new partnership with Victory Cruise Lines – the LakeLorian program and Toledo shore excursions ­– set to debut in the 2025 cruise season.

The program features museum-trained LakeLorians who will guide Victory’s guests through the history, science, and significance of the Great Lakes. As these storytellers lead discussions, give lectures, and host one-on-one sessions across Victory I and Victory II vessels, passengers will gain unique insight into each port visited and experience the region’s distinctive past through engaging discussions.

“The Victory Cruise Lines team has long been a valued supporter of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, and we are thrilled to reignite this partnership,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “Victory’s fleet will serve as floating extensions of our museum, delivering dynamic programming to travelers and creating a unique learning experience both on the waters of the Great Lakes and at the museum in Toledo. We look forward to sharing the science and stories of these extraordinary lakes.”

Additionally, in partnership with Destination Toledo, every sailing will feature an excursion to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Guests will enjoy unique, behind-the-scenes access to Great Lakes experiences, content, and artifacts.

“We are excited to be a part of the launch of a new industry in Toledo through our partnership with the museum and Victory Cruise Lines,” said Lance Woodworth, President & CEO of Destination Toledo. “With the unique experiences offered by Victory Cruise Lines and the National Museum of the Great Lakes, cruise passengers will have a brand new and exclusive opportunity to take a deep dive into Great Lakes stories here in Toledo.”

Victory Cruise Lines is dedicated to offering exclusive, all-inclusive, small ship cruising experiences throughout the Great Lakes and Canadian coasts. This partnership solidifies Victory Cruise Lines’ commitment to not only showcasing the beautiful landscapes of the Great Lakes but also enriching its passengers’ understanding of the region. As John Waggoner, chairman and founder of Victory Cruise Lines, noted, “Our guests seek more than just a visit to ports – they crave an in-depth understanding of the Great Lakes. Working with the National Museum of the Great Lakes adds depth to the guest experience and allows us to celebrate this extraordinary region.”

Victory Cruise Lines’ 2025 season kicks off with a special New England & Canada Reunion Cruise, setting sail from Portland to Toronto on April 16, 2025, and offering guests a unique journey through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Canadian Maritimes. With a lineup of 36 Great Lakes voyages and a commitment to all-inclusive coastal cruising, Victory Cruise Lines hopes to deliver unforgettable experiences that touch all five Great Lakes. You can find out more at VictoryCruiseLines.com.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

St. Lawrence Seaway Closing Dates Announced

See the press release in the photo gallery.

SS Badger, the last operating coal-fired passenger steamship in the US, is an icon of Lake Michigan car ferries.

SS Badger is a historic vessel that encapsulates the relationship between Lake Michigan’s communities and the economic, cultural and historical landscape of the region.

Serena Stuettgen Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

When you think of travel on Lake Michigan, you likely think of the S.S. Badger. It has been an iconic mode of transportation connecting communities and enhancing travel experiences for decades.

As the last operating coal-fired passenger steamship in the United States, the S.S. Badger carries a rich history that reflects the evolution of car ferries in the Great Lakes region.

This history began in 1875 when the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway launched the 175-foot steamer John Sherman to transport grain, freight and passengers between Ludington, Michigan, and Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

By 1892, the Ann Arbor Railroad expanded to create cross-lake services with the 260-foot wooden hull Ann Arbor 1, proving the viability of shipping cargo-filled railroad cars across Lake Michigan.

This success inspired the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway to develop its own fleet, resulting in the launch of the steel-hulled Pere Marquette in 1896. This vessel set design standards for many subsequent ferries because of its impressive performance.

More maritime history:Great Lakes freighter, launched in Manitowoc in 1953, transports enough barley in each load to make 40 million bottles of beer

The Lake Michigan fleet of car ferries expanded and adapted to economic conditions, thriving particularly during World War I when traffic increased. In 1918, the U.S. Railroad Administration formed the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Association to enhance efficiency by managing 11 vessels from the Ann Arbor, GrandTrunk and Pere Marquette railroads. This collaboration lasted until 1920, when the management of these ferries was returned to private ownership.

The 1920s brought prosperity to the car ferry industry, with new vessels ordered, though the Great Depression led to a decline in traffic and the retirement of older ships. In 1931, the City of Flint 32 set a world record at that time by completing 1,010 crossings of Lake Michigan.

In the early 1950s, the Ludington-based fleet received its final major additions with the S.S. Spartan and S.S. Badger, both hailed as the largest and most luxurious Great Lakes car ferries at that time. The S.S. Badger was constructed in 1952 by the Christy Corporation in Sturgeon Bay. Its inaugural voyage took place March 21, 1953, marking the beginning of a new era in regional transportation. The peak year for the service was 1955, with the ferries carrying more than 205,000 passengers and 204,460 freight cars in nearly 7,000 crossings.

However, by 1975, economic pressures led the C&O Railroad, which had acquired the Pere Marquette Railway, to abandon the car ferry business. The last operational voyage of the S.S. Badger occurred on Nov. 16, 1990.

However, that was not the end for S.S. Badger. In 1991, Charles Conrad from Ludington purchased the S.S. Badger and its sister ships, aiming to revive the ferry service. Conrad, whose father had worked for the Pere Marquette Railway, had a lifelong passion for the ferries and was dedicated to preserving their legacy.

What’s it like to ride the Badger? Ride aboard SS Badger is a throwback to a bygone era. Here’s the experience.

The S.S. Badger made its return debut in Ludington in May 1992, marking the revival of a long-standing tradition of car ferry service on Lake Michigan.

The S.S. Badger is more than just a mode of transportation; it is a historic vessel that encapsulates the relationship between Lake Michigan’s communities and the economic, cultural and historical landscape of the region. As it continues to operate, the S.S. Badger serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of maritime travel.

Serena Stuettgen is collections and archives manager at Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

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

 

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

Sturgeon Bay firm wins $5.2 million Coast Guard contract to build its largest boat hoist

STURGEON BAY, WI – The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $5.2 million contract to a Sturgeon Bay-based business to build a new boat hoist for the federal agency.

Marine Travelift, which specializes in manufacturing boat hoists and other boat handling equipment, won the competitive bid to build a 620-ton mobile boat hoist for the Coast Guard. It would have the largest lift capacity of any such unit any U.S. federal agency ever has acquired and will be used to support maintenance and repairs of the Coast Guard fleet.

The announcement of the contract came in a press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, who said in the announcement the Coast Guard followed regulations in the federal Build America, Buy America Act, which requires all iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects are produced in the U.S., when awarding the contract to Marine Travelift.

The release said the hoist will support an estimated 50 to 60 jobs. A spokesperson from Baldwin’s office said those jobs are at Marine Travelift, its sister metal fabrication company ExactTech and 19 other firms across Northeast and Central Wisconsin that will fabricate or supply parts for the hoist, ranging from the engine and pumps to pins and tires. Other Sturgeon Bay companies involved with the project are Hi Tec Fabrication for fabricated parts (along with Olson Fabrication in Algoma), the local Fastenal center for hardware, Key Industrial for tube blocks and Maple Street Sign Co. for decals.

Green Bay Press Gazette

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

Iron, steel, petroleum continues to drive tonnage through St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway announced its September performance figures, with 23.6 million mt (metric tons) of cargo shipped since the beginning of the navigation season.

While overall tonnage is slightly down compared to last year, iron, steel, petroleum and potash demonstrate positive trends that underscore the seaway’s role in North American supply chains, with indications of a strong finish for grain this season also expected.

“As we enter the fall, a busy time for grain harvests, we are ready to support our partners with the immediate capacity to accommodate increased traffic,” said Jim Athanasiou, president and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “The St. Lawrence Seaway is committed to providing a reliable and sustainable link in the supply chain, ensuring the movement of diverse commodities that contribute to the growth of our economies.”

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System serves as a key transportation corridor, facilitating the flow of essential commodities, such as grain and potash, critical for North American and global economies. This robust system supports over 241,000 jobs and numerous industries while prioritizing sustainability and efficiency in marine shipping.

“September’s tonnage report re-affirms that the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system is a dependable shipping corridor enabling U.S. growers, producers and manufacturers to reach the world economy and keep costs low,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “With a busy few months remaining in the 2024 season, we’re confident that Great Lakes ports are ready to finish the year strong.”

Cargos that showed increases compared to the same period in 2023 include:

Grain: 6.2 million mt of Canadian and U.S. grain, up by 251,000 mt or 4.2 per cent

Potash: 1.1 million mt up by 200,000 mt or 21 per cent (used primarily as an agricultural fertilizer)

Petroleum products: 2.2 million mt, up by 487,000 mt or 28.8 per cent

Iron and steel: 1.5 million mt up by 313,000 mt or 26 per cent

Inside Logistics

1921 Duluth-built Canal vessel Day Peckinpaugh for sale

Day Peckinpaugh, the last working freighter on the Erie Canal when she was retired in 1994, she has been offered for sale by the State of New York after several years of failed preservation attempts.

Built narrow and low to clear bridges and canal locks, she saw service on the Great Lakes and in World War II before ending her career as q self-unloading dry cement hauler.

The 259-foot-long Day Peckinpaugh was built by the McDougall-Duluth Shipyard in Duluth, MN, the first boat specially designed and built for New York State Barge Canal, the successor to the famed Erie Canal. The ship was originally named ILI 101 after the ship’s first owner, the Interwaterways Lines Inc. of New York City. The ship was the first specifically designed to ply the open waters of the Great Lakes as well as the narrow locks and shallow waterways of the barge canal. Day Peckinpaugh is also the last surviving ship from a fleet of more than 100 of her type that once carried freight from the upper Midwest to the port of New York City.

During World War II, by then named Richard J. Barnes, was drafted into the US Merchant Marine to carry coal and refuel cargo ships along the east coast of the United States. During her Merchant Marine service Richard J. Barnes was attacked by a German U-boat which fired a torpedo at her; the torpedo was thought to have passed under the ship due to her shallow seven-foot draft.

In 1958, the ship was sold to Erie Navigation and retrofitted to carry sand and gravel. The ship was again renamed, becoming Day Peckinpaugh, in honor of the man of the same name, brother of the New York Yankees player and manager, Roger Peckinpaugh.

The ship was converted to a self-unloading dry cement hauler in 1961 and used to carry cement from Oswego to Rome, New York. until her retirement in 1994. Day Peckinpaugh was the last self-propelled regularly scheduled commercial hauler on the barge canal.

In 2005, Day Peckinpaugh was saved from the scrap yard by a partnership of museums and canal preservation societies with a goat to restore and convert her into a floating classroom and museum to highlight the history and heritage of the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. In late 2011 the New York State Department of Education received a $191,000 grant to outfit the vessel for that purpose with restoration scheduled for completion in 2012.

On March 8, 2010, Guy J. Pucci, a 35-year-old ex-state employee was arrested after almost completely sinking the ship while she was docked at Lock 2 of the Barge Canal undergoing restoration. The ship sustained extensive damage due to the flooding, and repairs were estimated to be in excess of $10,000. As of 2018, it was considered a possible candidate for sinking as a reef due to maintenance costs.

For information on the sale, go here: https://www.govdeals.com/asset/3335/23762

Read more about the vessel here: http://www.tug44.org/canal.corp.boats/day-peckinpaugh/

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

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

 

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

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

National Museum of the Great Lakes Announces
Winners of the 2024 Luck of the Lakes Raffle

 

The National Museum of the Great Lakes has announced the winners of its 2024 Luck of the Lakes Raffle, which raised over $122,000 to support the museum’s mission to preserve and share the history of the Great Lakes. The fundraiser’s grand prize offers a once-in-a-lifetime Great Lakes experience: a multi-day trip for two aboard a working Interlake Steamship Co. freighter.

“Our community’s tremendous support this year is inspiring, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the Luck of the Lakes Raffle,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “This raffle is not only our biggest fundraiser, but also a reminder of how deeply people care about preserving and sharing Great Lakes history. Every ticket sold helps bring our mission to life and makes a lasting impact.”

2024 Raffle Winners:

Grand Prize (Great Lakes Freighter Trip of a Lifetime): Paula K. from Waterville, OH. She will embark on an exclusive journey aboard a classic Interlake freighter, with scenic views of the Great Lakes, unique meals, and a glimpse into the life of professional mariners.

Second Prize (Ultimate Put-in-Bay Experience): Charles and Mary Alice A. from Elma, NY. Charles and Mary Alice A. won a fun-filled getaway to Put-in-Bay, including round-trip transportation, dining vouchers, attraction tickets, and a stay on the Benson Ford Shiphouse.

Third Prize (10 tickets for the 2025 Raffle): Cindy and John K. from Monclova, OH. Tey will receive ten entries for the 2025 Luck of the Lakes Raffle drawing.

For those interested in supporting the National Museum of the Great Lakes, please visit nmgl.org/donate to learn how to contribute. Details for the 2025 Luck of the Lakes Raffle will be announced in the spring of 2025.

Mayor moves to shore up trust in Toronto’s aging island ferry service

Toronto ON – Mayor Olivia Chow says Toronto’s aging island ferry fleet is safe, despite a number of problems with the boats in recent months.

Chow said Friday that she has taken a more active role in managing the file and is concerned that a number of high-profile safety incidents and maintenance issues “risk shaking people’s faith in the ferries.” Those comments come days after the head of the department that oversees the fleet appeared before a city committee, at the mayor’s request, to publicly explain safety enhancements made to the fleet.

“I want to assure the public that the ferries are safe,” Chow said. “As soon as I saw the situation I said, ‘Hang on, we need to have better support. We need more people. We need new ferries. I’m glad that the electric ferries have been ordered.”

The city’s ferry fleet serves 1.4 million passengers annually and has been under increasing scrutiny after several safety incidents. The four aging vessel’s reliability has also been questioned after lengthy outages have taken some of the boats out of service earlier this year.

Last month, the crew of the William Inglis ferry had to perform an emergency stop after what the city describes as a “mechanical issue,” resulting in the ferry hitting the dock. No one was injured, but the ferry was taken out of service. The city said Friday the vessel remains offline as it continues to investigate the incident.

In June, two of the ferries, the Thomas Rennie and the Trillium, were out of service because they were in need of repairs, resulting in the city warning travelers to expect delays and advising them to make alternate arrangements or postpone trips to the island.

The most high-profile incident occurred in August 2022, when the Sam McBride collided with the dock, injuring 20 people and sending six to hospital. A Transportation Safety Board (TSB) inquiry found that “several safety deficiencies” contributed to the incident.

The acting general manager of the city’s parks, forestry and recreation department told the city’s executive committee this week that staff have worked to address concerns raised after the 2022 incident and responded to the TSB’s recommendations. That includes hiring 63 more staff to crew the vessels, adding more life jackets on the boats and increasing lighting and safety signage.

“The city’s priorities remain operating a safe and reliable service, which includes meeting Transport Canada’s regulatory requirements around safety,” Howie Dayton told the committee.

CBC

This is what 12,000 metric tons of road salt looks like

Crew of the ‘Calumet’ spent part of Sunday unloading salt
Jim Lehocky
about 16 hours ago

It’s a sign that winter is not too far away.

A batch of road salt was unloaded off the Calumet onto the old Carbide Dock on Portage Avenue on Sunday.

Around 12,000 metric tons (13,228 U.S. tons) was unloaded in a matter of hours before the Calumet departed to Muskegon.

According the Rand Logisitics website, the Calumet is a 630-foot self-unloading bulk freighter designed to carry a variety of cargo types including grain, iron ore, coal, aggregates, salt and other bulk commodities. The River Class vessel has a 260 foot unloading boom and has an unloading rate of 5,000 tons per hour.

The salt will be distributed to area road commissions.

New EPA standards exempt most Great Lakes ships from installing new treatment systems

New standards adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exempt the existing fleet of ships on the Great Lakes — including in the Duluth-Superior harbor — from installing new ballast water treatment systems to control the spread of invasive species.

The standards require ocean-going vessels, known as “salties,” as well as new ships built that travel only within the Great Lakes, known as “lakers,” to install new onboard treatment systems.

But they don’t apply to the current fleet of lakers.

Federal regulators agreed with industry representatives who argued there are technological constraints, as well as economic challenges, in adding the systems to treat ballast water.

Ballast is used to balance the giant ships, up to 1,000 feet long, when they load and unload cargo. However the ballast water scooped up in one place may contain plants, shellfish and other life forms which cause problems when they are dumped in a distant post.

A host of environmental groups, along with some officials from Great Lakes states, argued for a stricter standard.

“It’s woefully inadequate,” said Steve Morse, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. “It really doesn’t do anything to regulate the ballast water in the current fleet of lakers, many of which will be with us for half a century or more yet, in that these ships last for a long time.”

But Jeff Udd, director of government and environmental affairs at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said the port is supportive of how the EPA approached the new rulemaking.

“We think it’s a reasonable conclusion that they came to,” said Udd.

A significant number of the nonnative aquatic species that have invaded the Great Lakes, critters such as zebra and quagga mussels, hitched rides from Europe and Asia, hidden in ballast water tanks deep in the bowels of ocean-going freighters.

When those ships flushed their ballast tanks in Great Lakes ports, they inadvertently dumped those organisms into the lakes.

Without natural predators, many of those species have wreaked havoc in the Great Lakes, where they can outcompete native species, degrade habitat and alter the food web, in addition to causing tens of millions of dollars in economic damages.

Starting in 2006, U.S. and Canadian officials began to require salties to flush their ballast tanks with saltwater before entering the Great Lakes — a process known as “swish and spit.” The saltwater kills the freshwater organisms left in the tanks.

Since then, there have been no new documented introductions of invasive species in the Great Lakes.

But environmental groups say lakers can still move invasive species around within the Great Lakes — especially to the Duluth Superior Harbor, where 85 percent of all the ballast water dumping in the Great Lakes occurs, said Morse.

A 2018 study found lakers had transported several species of nonnative zooplankton in their ballast tanks, including a species called the Bloody Red Shrimp, to western Lake Superior.

Minnesota and Wisconsin officials had asked the EPA for stricter requirements in comments leading up to the development of the new standards.

In 2022, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency commissioner Katrina Kessler wrote to the EPA that its proposed rule, as it applies to lakers, “is a significant step back backward in controlling AIS [aquatic invasive species].”

Minnesota Public Radio

U-M team selected to lead maritime strategy development for Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI – The state of Michigan has picked a team from the University of Michigan’s Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering department for nearly $200,000, yearlong project to develop a maritime strategy for the state.

The project awarded by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is part of moving toward Michigan’s goal of being 100% carbon neutral by 2050 under the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

The university’s team will produce a strategy document at the end of a year, along with a proposed implementation plan targeted at stakeholder groups who will be involved in the process.

Transportation accounts for 28% of carbon emissions in the U.S., with 3% coming from boats and ships, according to Gregory Keoleian, co-director of UM’s Center for Sustainable Systems. Keoleian is a professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability, which is partnering with the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department for the maritime strategy development.

“The Healthy Climate Plan focuses a lot on ground-based transportation. This effort is really to also address opportunities in with ships and boats. So it’s really exciting that way,” he said.

Thomas McKenney, a UM associate engineering professor leading the project, said decarbonization is a key way to reduce damage done to the planet by climate change, but while sustainability is rooted in environmental stewardship, it has social and economic impacts as its other main pillars of consideration.

“You can’t have sustainability if there’s not economic viability, right?” McKenney said. “So we can’t decarbonize the Michigan maritime industry at the cost of … losing jobs and and tanking the industry.”

He said one goal of the strategy is to bring together initiatives into a holistic approach to decarbonization in Michigan’s maritime industry.

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, an intergovernmental organization of Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces, has looked at the possibility of electric battery-powered ferries as a way to reduce pollution from the region’s maritime industry. A leader for the group has said ferries are good candidates for electric power because of their short, predictable routes and frequent stops.

Use of biodiesel to power ships and trucks in the shipping industry has been suggested by the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority and Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, which aim to get the port’s carbon emissions to zero by 2040. Proponents say it can be used in existing engines, an advantage over other renewable energy sources. But plant-based fuel comes with its own divisions, because of the environmental footprint of the field crops needed to produce it.

The Detroit News

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

 

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.