Onaway Contractor to build new DNR Fisheries Vessel

By  Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.com

ONAWAY, MI — A Presque Isle County steel fabricator has won a contract to build a new fisheries research boat for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Moran Iron Works of Onaway will build the R/V Steelhead II at a cost of $5.85 million, the DNR announced Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The 66-foot, steel-hulled vessel will replace the venerable S/V Steelhead, a 56-year-old survey vessel the agency uses to gather Great Lakes fishery management data.

The Legislature approved funding for the new DNR vessel in its fiscal 2023 and 2025 budgets.

The boat will conduct surveys to quantify the abundance of prey fish that sustain Lake Michigan trout and salmon fisheries.

The R/V Steelhead II should be on the water in 2026, the DNR said. Like its predecessor, it will be home-ported at the agency’s Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station.

The new vessel has a 50-year lifespan and will be powered by two EPA Tier 3 emissions-controlled diesel engines coupled with rooftop solar panels.

The boat will feature modern navigational systems, a watertight compartmental hull design and gyro stabilizer to minimize roll in rough seas. A mechanical platform will facilitate diving and equipment maintenance by lowering to water level.

Crew safety features and accommodations are being upgraded.

“Advanced, modern hydroacoustic technology will be adopted on the R/V Steelhead II — technology that will support improved data collection from a more reliable, modernized platform,” said Ben Turschak, DNR research biologist in Charlevoix.

The boat was designed by Boksa Marine Design of Lithia, Fla.

The original Steelhead will likely be sold at auction.

Other Michigan vessels built by Moran Iron Works include the Shepler’s “Miss Margy” and “William Richard” Mackinac Island ferries, the “Kayak Express” Pictured Rocks tour boat and the sixth Lowell Showboat.

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Federal Thunder Bay visits namesake port

The newly-built Fednav saltie Federal Thunder Bay (2023 Marshall Islands) made her first visit to Thunder Bay Terminals in the Port of Thunder Bay, ON,  on August 27, 2024. Tugs Glenada (1943) and Point Valour (1958) provided assistance.

Gene Onchulenko

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Canada rail unions call off strike, appeal to federal courts

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) had served a strike notice for 10am on 26 August for union workers at Canadian National (CN). The move followed a lockout by CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on 22 August that lasted 18 hours before the government intervened with a direction to the CIRB to settle the dispute between employers and unions through binding arbitration.

TCRC members at CPKC went out on strike immediately the lockout started on 22 August and continued to picket after the government intervened.

While CN moved to get operations back up and running ahead of an official order of binding arbitration from the CIRB on 23 August unions issued a strike notice calling action from 10am on 26 August by workers at CN.

With the CIRB issuing an official order of binding arbitration on 24 August it ordered that no further lockout or strike could take place during the arbitration. The TCRC said it would lawfully comply with the order from CIRB but also appeal it at the federal court level.

“This decision by the CIRB sets a dangerous precedent. It signals to Corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short-term economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a union. The rights of Canadian workers have been significantly diminished today,” said Paul Boucher, President of the TCRC.

“CN will comply with the order which also extends the current collective agreement until a new agreement is signed between the parties,” CN said.

It was feared that a prolonged dispute could cost North American shippers millions of dollars bringing to halt rail freight movements from Canadian ports and across the border with the US.

Seatrade Maritime

 AIRPLANE LOST FOR 17 YEARS FOUND IN THE STRAIGHTS OF MACKINAC BY GREAT LAKES SEARCH AND RECOVERY

Now that the families have been notified by the Michigan State Police and they have released the following information, we can share the story and the work we have been doing behind the scenes since last October.

In August 0f 2007, a SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad airplane crashed into Lake Huron while in route to Bad Axe from Mackinac Island. The plane was flown by a 52-year-old woman from Washington DC and had one passenger, a 56-year-old man also from Washington, DC. A large-scale search for the plane wreckage or survivors was conducted, but the plane was never found.

On October 8, 2007, human remains were found in the Straits of Mackinac, east of the Mackinac Bridge. Those remains were recovered and later identified as the missing pilot. The search for the passenger and the plane wreckage continued and eventually was called off without finding the wreckage.

In October 2023, Great Lakes Search & Recovery, a private company, resumed the search efforts at the request of family members. In August of 2024, members of the search team discovered plane wreckage near Bois Blanc Island. This discovery was reported to MSP.

Members of the MSP Marine Services Team were able to collect evidence from the crash site that led investigators to believe that this plane wreck was that of the missing plane from 2007. As state police divers searched the wreckage, a set of skeletal remains was found at the crash site. The remains were provided to the Center for Forensic Anthropology at Northern Michigan University for identification. Through dental records they were positively identified as being the skeletal remains of the 56-year-old passenger.

The Michigan State Police credits the amazing work done by Great Lakes Search and Recovery to help bring closure to the victims’ families.

The support and donations we receive from our followers allows us to purchase the equipment we need and help pay the expenses for a search like this. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to our work, our address is:

Great Lakes Search and Recovery
50525 Pleasant St.
Dowagiac MI. 49047

 Exclusive: Site of Lake Erie’s Deadliest Shipwreck, the Griffith, Discovered

Local diver Mark Lasmanis tells Lake Erie Living how he found the ship’s debris field — and what it tells us about the hundreds of immigrants who perished there.

Mark Lasmanis was on his first dive of the year off the shore of his home in Willowick, Ohio, when he saw what appeared to be an expansive debris field. About 18 feet down, the lake floor was covered with worn and rusted nails, rods and bolts. He grabbed his underwater tablet, quickly scrawled his suspicion, and turned to show his dive buddy.

“Wreck??”

The first thing Lasmanis picked up was a key that, although broken, looked untarnished. Could it be, he wondered, from the shipwreck he grew up hearing about, said to have happened in this same location, the SS G.P. Griffith? His thoughts quickly took off.

What did that lock? Was it a big trunk? Was it someone’s cabin? Whose key was it? Was it an immigrant’s journey? What were they locking up and hoping to bring with them to their new life?

“There was just something about it,” says Lasmanis, who grew up snorkeling Lake Erie and was scuba-certified last year. “It just seemed unique — a key in Lake Erie — among all of this rusted metal and then to find a shiny brass key down there.”

Built in Maumee, Ohio, in 1847, the Griffith was a steamship carrying more than 300, mostly European, immigrants westward on Lake Erie in the predawn hours of June 17, 1850, when it caught on fire and got stuck on a sandbar off the coast. Passengers panicked and threw their trunks, filled with clothing and valuables, overboard and jumped in.

Because most didn’t know how to swim, and many were believed to have been weighed down by coins sewn into their clothing, hundreds of immigrants died and were buried in a mass grave near the shore. Only several dozen passengers survived. It’s the deadliest shipwreck on Lake Erie and the third worst on the Great Lakes.

Still, Lasmanis was far from certain he’d found the shipwreck — until he returned the next day and came across more evidence.

“I started finding some other pieces of interesting cast iron stuff when I glanced over and I saw a coin sticking out,” he says. “I don’t even know how to say it, kind of a thing of joy and I just ‘hurrahed’ underwater with the scuba equipment on with the regulator and blew bubbles out — like, Wow, I can’t believe this! Is this real?”

Knowing how quickly the lake changes, Lasmanis took the coin to prevent it from being covered by shifting sediment. Before picking it up, he documented where he found it by recording video. Once on land, he saw it was an 1815 Brazilian silver coin, which is significant because, until now, most immigrants aboard the ship were believed to have come from Europe.

Since then, Lasmanis has found more items that seem to be from the mid-19th century, including irons, tools and decorative cast iron. The artifacts with the most obvious ties to the Griffith are those that appear damaged from high heat, including several pieces of flatware melded together.

Alan Hitchcox, the vice president of the Willoughby Historical Society in Ohio, believes Lasmanis has found items from the Griffith. “I’d say I’m 90% sure. Most of what we find in retracing history is circumstantial evidence that leads us to conclude a high probability of proof.”

Lasmanis has also shared artifacts and photos with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office. There is enough evidence to warrant adding the discovery to official state records, according to an email from archaeology survey and data manager Brent Eberhard.

Because the state has no plans to conduct an official archaeological survey of the debris field, Lasmanis is the only person working to document the site and preserve its artifacts. (Ohio law requires a permit to remove or disturb items from a shipwreck but does not specifically address items not located near the sunken watercraft.) Lasmanis says he’s already contacted several maritime museums and plans to donate artifacts of interest.

And there may be more to come. Lasmanis is still diving to the site. Each time, he returns with more photos and video documenting the debris field — and more certainty.

“I am a technical and analytical person,” he says. “Considering the location, variety of items, some with dates and or heat damage … it all points with almost certainty to the events of the Griffith in 1850.”

So What Happened to the Ship?

If the debris field of the Griffith has been found, it raises a few more questions. What’s left of the ship? Where is it located? And has anyone tried to find it? According to Cleveland newspaper reports from the time, the ship burned nearly to the water’s edge.

In the morning following the disaster, several ships brought survivors from the wreckage to downtown Cleveland, including the steamer Delaware that also hitched itself to the remains of the Griffith’s hull and tugged it closer to shore.

According to the Cleveland Herald on June 20, 1850, “The fire was of tremendous heat, and apparently burned every thing [sic] combustible down into the hull. The outside planks and timbers and portions of the wheel alone remain. The water is now just over the boilers, and a diver in search of the safe yesterday, brought up the ruins of the clock in the Clerk’s office, a mass of melted glass, wheels, etc. It told the last moment of time for many on that fatal morn.”

It went on to say, “It is understood efforts will soon be made to raise the wreck. The smoke pipes are still standing.”

For several weeks after the fire, the blackened Griffith peeked out of the waters of Lake Erie just offshore of Willoughby (now Willowick, Ohio) as a somber reminder of the hundreds of lives lost. During that time, attempts were repeatedly made to bring back bodies to be buried and retrieve personal belongings.

Then, on July 1, two scows were sent out to raise the Griffith. However, a treacherous squall churned up the water near the shipwreck and capsized the scows. A man, named Wallace Ames, from Fairport, Ohio, died — another tragic victim of the Griffith. “There were nine men and [sic] boy saved by clinging to the rigging of the wreck,” according to a July 3, 1850, article in The Evening Post.

Once weather conditions calmed, the scows were sent out again to move the ship out of the 10-foot-deep waters where its remains were lodged and to attempt to bring it to shore for possible salvage of large mechanical parts.

This is where newspaper reports thin out, along with the exact date the Griffith remains were moved, and the exact location they were moved to. However, based on accounts from local divers searching for the wreck over the years, it appears part of the Griffith made it a few miles eastward. Because of the burned and destroyed condition of the hull, and the several attempts to move it, it’s believed pieces of the ship are scattered across the bottom of Lake Erie along this route, with the largest portion of the ship having been dragged into deeper water near the mouth of the Chagrin River. Some have said timbers and machinery are still visible.

If there is any wood left, it is likely heavily decayed and covered in sediment — and no part of the actual wooden ship has been officially recovered.

The Story Continues

“Lost Lake Erie” author Jennifer Boresz Engelking grew up near the shipwreck in Willowick and has written about the Griffith in several of her books, including “Hidden History of Lake County, Ohio” and “Lost Lake County, Ohio.” When Mark Lasmanis contacted her to ask if she was interested in hearing about his discovery, her immediate response was, “I am absolutely interested!”

After seeing the artifacts and learning where they were found, Engelking says, she was certain from her research that Lasmanis had discovered the site of the Griffith shipwreck — she also knew she had the idea for her next book. “I have to continue telling the story of the immigrants who were aboard that day,” she says.

Aside from the discovery of the Griffith bell in the 1970s (on display at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio) Engelking believes the new finds are the first artifacts anyone has seen since the tragedy happened 174 years ago — and many come directly from the immigrants who perished.

“These remnants give us glimpses of the people who were aboard the ship … in a sense giving them a voice and letting us know where they came from, what they carried, and what was important to them as their journey to start a new life in America was tragically cut short,” she says. “It’s that connection to our past, believed to have been lost, that is perhaps the greatest treasure.”

Read full Story here:  https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flakeerieliving.com%2Fgriffith%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2VLbtyLT9iD57N_A26Z5snXfXJbytXfDMBm4BjVWUcZrK_8K8IcRyBXTM_aem_P50GmYhg9If_hkOyO2TlLA&h=AT3iTgT0i8iG_d9UJ1IzgRW6aJ6TGT-JCZ2KVe7EsQclY09SkE_E05chHthAB6Wk3gkYWlB7xOJdAzXnABez8Ll327IK_Sw2RRx7vNktkI9cPPN954bm1PVl0_Xl1Shzl0ON&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT3LdMLcQUcxvVF1DRou4BqMhh7VONSpjquHfXld4gM-fIYR4pUTCuhu5cfalY6062J5cbj4r1nL-kJ7BYrIiFQ1ISO0A_J-zzXpcq4UScCWGyRj85z1E5QXQYL_MP0v2pi2pIzrro9tUqPkOz1_oLuk6J6OhasHaqA57XD0AnzXpTzowocn2Zox-93tRK5q5-onij7E35xjZOE-2lsEnh-IznFNoFGAUngLOANT2rfbFdSegF_USNIE6zzIj1GBezBr1YcYq12UKvqMNdFqwOJ4FwmwZiic_D1DEbY89RCH7Rq0Vz3yeg

Jennifer Boresz Engelking is writing a book that will include the story of the Griffith and Lasmanis’ underwater findings. For more information go to jenniferboresz.com. To connect with Lasmanis, go to greatlakesvista.com.

Story: Jennifer Boresz Engelking
2024 Best of Lake Erie

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Sheldon “Shelly” Guren Passes Away

Today we are saddened to announce the passing of Sheldon (“Shelly”) Guren, principal owner of the Towing Company since 1973.

Shelly was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 25, 1924, and passed away peacefully in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 16, 2024.

His life is a quintessential American story – the 100-year journey of a boy from a poor but proud upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio to a successful and diverse legal and business career, with a strong commitment to human rights, intellectual thought, and a love of art and culture.

Shelly had hundreds of close friends and personal relationships that ranged from deckhands on the tugs to presidents of the United States.

The “Towing Company,” as it is well-known, spurred many other marine-related businesses, including Admiral Towing and Barge Company, a government tug contractor; Soo Linehandling Services, which handles dock lines ashore for ships transiting through the locks at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan; Runyan Shipyard, Inc., a Pensacola, FL ship repair facility; Tugz International LLC, a tugboat chartering business; Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co., a harbor towing operation in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and several others.

Shelly graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1942 and Western Reserve University 2-years later. Upon graduation from WRU, he was admitted to Harvard Law School. He became editor of the Harvard Law Review. During his second year at Harvard, Shelly was drafted by the US Army and, after training, was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Shelly returned to Harvard in 1947 and graduated in 1948. He then returned to Cleveland and joined the law practice of his uncle, Henry S. Gottfried, and that fall, at age 23, he became a partner in the firm Gottfried, Ginsberg, and Guren. The firm grew, and by 1983 included 68 lawyers and 70 non-lawyers, with offices in Cleveland, Columbus, and Miami.

Shelly’s other business ownership interests included Thistledown Raceway, NY Yankees, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bulls. In addition, he also had ownership in Cleveland Stadium and a horse breeding farm in Ocala, Florida.

But Shelly was most proud of the Towing Company and, when Towing Company celebrated its 125th year in business earlier this summer, Shelly traveled to Cleveland to participate in the festivities. He enjoyed every minute.

 The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Divers Can Now Explore Historic Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan More Easily

Crews installed buoys and mooring lines to mark the locations of 19 wreck sites in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Sarah Kuta
Daily Correspondent

August 23, 2024

A white buoy attached to a yellow circular-shaped object next to water

The buoys and mooring lines help divers easily identify the wrecks while also giving boaters somewhere to tie up. Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Dozens of historic shipwrecks are submerged in Lake Michigan within the bounds of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. For interested divers and snorkelers, exploring some of these wreck sites just got easier.

This month, crews installed buoys and mooring lines near 19 of the most popular shipwrecks at the protected site. The buoys mark the locations of the wrecks, allowing scuba divers to find them faster, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Caitlin Looby.

The buoys also help protect the wrecks from damage caused by anchors, since they give boaters a place to tie up while divers head down to explore, reports the Ozaukee Press’ Kristyn Halbig Ziehm.

“It’s an important thing to do,” Bill Moren, a member of the shipwreck advisory council, tells the Ozaukee Press. “It’s one little step to make the sanctuary more of a treasure and ensure the shipwrecks are preserved.”

The installation process began several weeks ago. On August 14, the sanctuary announced that crews had placed buoys at the last of the 19 sites.

The wrecks now marked with buoys are located between 50 and 300 feet below the surface. Four buoys were installed near shipwrecks situated in shallower waters, which makes them more accessible to kayakers and snorkelers. (Those who aren’t interested in diving can explore several of the wrecks virtually via 3D models.)

Latitude and longitude coordinates, as well as a map of all the buoys, are available on the sanctuary’s website. Most of the wrecks have surface buoys, but a few have subsurface buoys submerged at depths of 40 feet.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in nearby Lake Huron, has similar buoys positioned near some of its 100 known shipwrecks.

Designated in 2021, the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is one of the newest marine sanctuaries in the country. (In June, the Biden administration created the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary in New York, bringing the total number to 16.)

The Wisconsin sanctuary encompasses 962 square miles of Lake Michigan and touches the counties of Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Ozaukee. The state of Wisconsin co-manages the site with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The sanctuary protects 36 known shipwrecks that sank between 1830 and 1930. But an estimated 60 additional shipwrecks may also be hiding at the bottom of the lake within its boundaries—and researchers are actively searching for them.

Scientists have also mapped the lakebed of the entire sanctuary, and they’re holding educational outreach events with local teachers and students.

Within the Great Lakes more broadly, an estimated 6,000 shipwrecks are resting at the bottom of Lake Michigan, Superior, Erie, Huron and Ontario. Historians and underwater archaeologists continue to search for and identify previously undiscovered wrecks.

Just last month, researchers announced that they had located the Margaret A. Muir, a 130-foot schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in September 1893 with the captain’s dog onboard.

 

EasyMax 4 ‘Alexia’ launched successfully at shipyard Niestern Sander

Today, the m.v. Alexia was launched successfully at shipyard Royal Niestern Sander. This new building is the successor of the award-winning Egbert Wagenborg and her sisters Máxima and Amalia. The m.v. Alexia type is the fourth vessel in the EasyMax series in our fleet according to our new energy efficiency targets.

The m.v. Alexia was christened during Delfsail by Her Majesty Queen Máxima in presence of 2.000 employees and guests. For this ceremony, Queen Máxima performed the world’s first name giving and christening ceremony by drone. By pushing a button this drone flew to shipyard Niestern Sander a mile ahead, where this EasyMax vessel was nearing completion and christened yard number 853 ‘Alexia’.

Launching a new vessel is always a special moment. And special moments you share with your loved ones. That is why we invited many colleagues, family, friends, customers, suppliers and others to the launch of the EasyMax 4. Via a live stream many visitors from over the world witnessed this spectacular event.

Greenest multipurpose vessel

With a cargo capacity of more than 14.000 tonnes and a hold capacity of 625.000 cbft, Wagenborg was able to build a relatively large vessel without a major increase in overall dimensions. With an installed power of less than 3.000 kW, this ship has extremely low fuel consumption and due to her design, she has an excellent sea keeping performance. Our focus on Energy Efficiency resulted in over 60% savings in CO2- emissions compared to her peer group. We are proud the EasyMax is by far the greenest multipurpose vessel in her class, resulting in an undisputed CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) A-rating. The CII is a measure for a ship’s energy efficiency and is given in grams of CO2 emitted per cargo-carrying capacity and nautical mile.

In the upcoming weeks the EasyMax 4 will be commissioned followed by sea trials by the end of this year. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Wagenborg by the end of Q3 2024.

 

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Will try to refloat grounded Seaway ship Saturday

UPDATE – SATURDAY 8 A.M. – Two Groupe Ocean tugs freed the Heemskerkgracht Saturday morning. There is no word yet as to when traffic will begin to move.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Kahnawake, QC – A cargo ship that ran aground near Kahnawake, QC, causing no injuries but blocking traffic in the busy St. Lawrence Seaway, will probably be refloated Saturday morning, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. said Friday.

The Heemskerkgracht, a 138-metre Dutch cargo ship bound for Spain with a load of scrap steel, lost power as it entered the South Shore Canal on Thursday evening after turning around in Lake St-Louis, said Jean Aubrey-Morin, vice-president of external relations at the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The loss of its engine caused the ship to run aground, he said. There were no injuries and no pollution caused by the incident. The ship has not taken on water.

“I have to praise the crew and the captain because they did everything they could to lose speed and minimize the situation,” Aubrey-Morin said. “The fact that they’re aground is not good, but they did a good manoeuvre.” However, the ship is blocking traffic in the seaway.

As of Friday afternoon, six ships were at anchor waiting for the Heemskerkgracht to be moved. Aubrey-Morin said he expects that number to rise to 14 by the time the vessel is refloated.

A salvage master was expected to arrive on the scene Friday afternoon to develop a plan, and two tugboats were being dispatched from Montreal, he said. He said he expects that plan to be executed Saturday at first light.

Aubrey-Morin said the seaway is working with the Coast Guard, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority and authorities in Kahnawake to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Myriam Plante, a spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which oversees the Coast Guard, said there are no hazardous materials on board the ship and the hold is being checked regularly to make sure it remains dry.

The Gazette

Uncertainty Reigns as Union Vows to Fight
Canada’s Move to End Rail Shutdown

MONTREAL/OTTAWA – The union representing over 9,000 Canadian rail workers vowed on Friday to challenge the federal government’s effort to mandate binding arbitration that would end an unprecedented rail stoppage at both of the country’s main freight rail carriers.

The Teamsters union also filed notice to strike on Monday at Canadian National Railway, Canada’s largest railway.

The shutdown is expected to impact trade between the U.S. and Canada, and would have a major effect on Great Lakes and Seaway shipping.

The union’s moves are the latest twist in labor disputes at CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, which locked out Teamsters members on Thursday, triggering a simultaneous rail stoppage that business groups said could inflict hundreds of millions of dollars in economic damage.

They further complicate the task of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which was meeting for hours on Friday with union and railway representatives, after the government asked it to end the impasse.

The Teamsters union on Friday night said the parties had concluded a day-long meeting, in which it argued that the government did not have absolute power to end the labor action. “The union will lawfully abide by any decision from the CIRB, and is prepared to file challenges in federal court if necessary,” it said.

Railroad CN in a statement said it would move forward with a recovery plan until a CIRB decision was issued.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, citing the risk to the economy, also asked the board to impose binding arbitration on talks between the union and companies, and for operations at both railways to resume immediately.

Canada, the world’s second-largest country by area, relies heavily on trains to transport a wide range of commodities and goods.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said it was disappointed with the Teamsters’ decision to challenge the government’s directive.

“This action will prolong the damage to our economy and jeopardize the wellbeing and livelihoods of Canadians, including union and non-union workers across multiple industries,” the group said

 

Corps of Engineers removes WWII era gates
hidden in St. Marys River

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, removed a spare set of miter gates, constructed for the Davis and Sabin Locks, from the St. Marys River this summer. The miter gates were hidden in the river for over 80 years and weighed about 350,000 pounds each.

The gates were strategically stored downriver of the Soo Locks facility and out of the federal navigation channel in the 1940s during World War II. The purpose of storing the gates downriver was to have a spare set of replacement gates for either lock if the installed gates were damaged.

“The Davis and Sabin locks were built in 1914 and 1919 and at the time were the largest locks in the world,” said Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs.

As part of the national defense strategy during World War II, the MacArthur Lock was built, thousands of Soldiers were stationed in Sault Ste. Marie to protect the Soo Locks and spare miter gates were built and stored off-site. Torpedo nets were installed at the Soo Locks and sandbagging of critical areas was completed.

The protection of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and the St. Marys River waterway was the only activity in the Central Defense Command during World War II that involved the use, stationing, deployment or assignment of Army combat units.

“The Soo Locks were critical to the wartime effort and ensured the passage of taconite (iron ore) from the active mines near Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes for steel production,” said Soo Project Office Operations Manager LeighAnn Ryckeghem.

Physical defense of the Soo Locks and St. Marys River included: 702nd Battalion, Military Police Battalion; 39th Barrage Balloon Battalion; 100th Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment; Canadian 40th Antiaircraft Battery (Heavy); 131st Infantry Regiment; 266 Aircraft observation post in Northern Ontario; Construction of RACO and Kinross Army Airfields; Construction of six Early Warning Radar Stations at Grand Marais, Mich., and Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Hearst, Armstrong and Nakina, Ontario; establishment of the Central Air Defense Zone extending up to 150 miles from the waterway; establishment of the Sault Ste. Marie Military District; and a U.S. Coast Guard member was placed on every lake freighter.

“The spare gates have reached their end of life with the Sabin Lock being demolished to make way for the New Lock at the Soo and the Davis Lock being filled in, said Ryckeghem. “The Corps of Engineers environmental mission focuses on good stewardship and restoration of natural resources across our nation. The spare Davis and Sabin Lock gates were removed and recycled to restore the river bottom to a natural state.”

Funding in the amount of $975,000 was received in fiscal year 2024 to remove the Davis and Sabin Lock gates.

“The Soo Project Office, SPO, is actively working on design and procurement of a new heavy lift crane barge to replace the Gatelifter Paul Bunyan,” said St. Marys River Section Chief Justin Proulx. “Without a crane barge large enough to lift the gates from the river bottom, other methods had to be explored to execute the work requirement. The process of removing the gates was not an easy task and required some extraordinary measures.”

Several barges and vessels from the SPO’s St. Marys River Section were used to remove the gates including a dive barge, the Harvey crane barge, the Nicolet derrick barge, a custom assembled jack-up barge, an empty deck barge for receiving the gates, the Owen M. Fredrick tug and several small work boats.

To remove the gates, divers and a survey team were used to find the exact locations of each gate. Divers, using a small dredge pump, and the Nicolet derrick barge with a clamshell bucket were used to remove the clay, silt and overburden, material that settles on the bottom of the river, from the gates. Divers went back down to cut access holes in the four corners of each gate big enough to fit large metal chains through for lift points and rigging.

Once all rigging was in place, the jack-up barge, used as a self-elevated platform with strand jacks located on the deck and made up of 12 modular pontoons with 80-foot jacking spuds, was positioned over the gate. The four-strand jack cables were lowered down to the gates through moonpools on the jack-up barge. Divers then proceeded to hook up the rigging on the gate corners to the strand jack cables. The four stand jacks combined have a lifting capacity of 616,000 pounds. Together, they lifted the gate from the bottom of the river, breaking the suction from the clay each gate was embedded in.

When the gate was jacked up to the bottom of the jack-up barge, it had to move with assistance from the Nicolet derrick barge to a location in the river nearby with a hard bottom. Once in place and the Nicolet and Harvey positioned, the jack-up barge began jacking itself and the gate, in two-feet increments, into the air high enough to position the receiving barge under the gate. The gate was then lowered and positioned on the receiving barge and brought back to the SPO boat basin east of the Soo Locks.

“The mission went better than expected with no major surprises thanks to the continuous input from our experienced employees and support from SPO’s excellent equipment manufacturers and rental supply base, said St. Marys River Section Engineering Technician Theodore Clark.

The gates were both cut up into small enough sections to be lifted by a crane and disposed at a local metal recycling facility.

The first gate was removed from the St. Marys River the week of June 10 and the second gate the week of July 8, 2024. A Notice to Navigation Interest went out on June 3 detailing the work boundaries and U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules and Regulations for lighting the area during dark.

About 40 SPO employees worked on the project from beginning to end.

“The work completed by the great team at the SPO really continues to demonstrate the outstanding skills and talents that keep the Soo Locks running every day. We had participation from every work group at the facility to make this happen. The creativity in engineering a solution to meet the need and the safe and flawless execution of a very complex plan really exemplified the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment’s motto, ‘Essayons!’ The team did more than try, they delivered,” said Proulx.

Due to the gates being stored on the bottom of a freshwater river for nearly 80 years, they were in fair condition.

Source: U.S.Army

Autonomous surface vessel deployment in Lake Superior aims to unravel 1968 plane crash mystery

 Olivia Fellows

08-22-2024 at 10:51:28 AM EDT| Updated 08-22-2024 at 02:43:45 PM EDT

HOUGHTON — The Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University and members of the Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition will gather to deploy an autonomous surface vessel in hopes of finding the wreckage of a 1968 plane crash.

According to an Aug. 6 news release, from 9-11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 the vehicle will begin conducting large-scale mapping and archaeological exploration in Lake Superior.

The crash occurred in late October of 1968, when a National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) plane carrying two pilots and a graduate student disappeared over Lake Superior, sparking a decades-long mystery.

On a routine mission to collect water radiation and temperature data, the plane vanished without a trace after its last contact with the Houghton County Memorial Airport in Michigan.

Despite extensive search efforts, only a few pieces of debris have washed ashore between 1969 and 2014, baffling investigators.

The plane vanished in a region known for mysterious disappearances of airplanes and ships named the “Great Lakes Triangle.” The NCAR case remains open today.

Using Ocean Infinity’s Armada 8, an 8-meter state-of-the-art autonomous surface vessel (ASV) outfitted with an ultra-high-resolution 3D bathymetric sonar system, crews will map and explore Lake Superior in search of the wreckage.

The project is the first of a series of planned tests showcasing the diverse applications of autonomous technology in the Great Lakes.

Beyond solving specific challenges and enhancing existing techniques, these tests will contribute to developing the next generation of maritime professionals and solidifying the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region’s status as a hub for freshwater marine autonomy research and development.

“By demonstrating the benefits of autonomy in large-scale lakebed surveying, the Coalition aims to foster broad stakeholder support for future missions and ignite an interest in high-tech exploration and preservation of the Great Lakes,” the release said.

Guests and media will watch a live stream from the Great Lakes Research Center facility at 100 Phoenix Drive in Houghton and hear remarks from Coalition members, MTU leaders and other dignitaries.

Details of the event are as follows:

9-10 a.m. – Open house, display of ASV technology

10-10:30 a.m. – News conference with remarks from:
Dr. Tim Havens, Director, Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Technological University

Mr. David Naftzger, Executive Director, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers

10:30-11 a.m. – Launch of autonomous ship and support vessels; MTU remarks and photos.

The Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition unites more than 60 universities, state and federal agencies, private and nonprofit companies, and international organizations that share a common interest in advancing and applying autonomous technologies operated in marine environments.

The Coalition is working closely with Great Lakes maritime archaeologists as they seek to unearth historical and cultural artifacts. Aligned with the objectives of Lakebed 2030, organizers will share data with the public, allowing uses beyond mapping and archaeology.

For more information on the Great Lakes Coalition and its initiatives click here:  https://smartshipscoalition.org/

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Trudeau Calls on Railways, Union to Reach Deal to Avoid Strike

August 21, 2024

By Laura Dhillon Kane (Bloomberg) —

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Canada’s two largest railways and unionized workers to reach an agreement to avert a strike or lockout that businesses warn will cause significant harm to the Canadian and US economies.

Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. plan to lock out more than 9,000 workers from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference on Thursday at 12:01 a.m. New York time. The union issued a strike notice to Canadian Pacific for the same time. Trudeau said Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon is meeting with the parties in Calgary, following a meeting in Montreal on Tuesday.

“My message has been straightforward: It is in the best interest of both sides to continue doing the hard work at the table to find a negotiated resolution,” Trudeau told reporters Wednesday in Buckingham, Quebec. “Millions of Canadians — workers, farmers, businesses — right across the country are counting on both sides to do the work and get to a resolution.”

MacKinnon declined a request from Canadian National to impose binding arbitration last week, but it remains an option as the hours tick down to the midnight deadline.

The strike would be the first in nearly six decades involving both railway companies, which account for 80% of the Canadian rail network. Business groups have said C$1 billion ($736 million) in goods are transported by rail each day in Canada. A rail stoppage would also thwart some commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Brendan LaCerda, an economist with Moody’s Corp., estimates that the direct economic damage of a rail strike would be C$341 million per day. That estimate excludes indirect impacts, such as a hit to consumer and business confidence or an increase in the rate of inflation.

“The industries hit hardest by a rail strike would be paper and wood products, agriculture and farming, exporters, motor vehicles, metals, and quarrying,” he wrote in a report to investors on Wednesday.

The dispute has already begun to impact the movement of products including wheat, chemicals and fertilizers throughout Canada and the US. The two rail operators started a phased shutdown of the network last week and AP Moller-Maersk told customers it was no longer accepting shipments for Canada that need to travel by train — though a spokesperson later said that was a miscommunication.

Multiple industry and business associations, including the US Chamber of Commerce and its Canadian counterpart, have urged Trudeau’s government to step in to stop a “devastating” rail stoppage from happening. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said his department is closely monitoring the negotiations, engaging with Canadian officials and tracking the flow of vital goods to US consumers and businesses.

The union is seeking stronger provisions around rest time, while the companies say their offers meet regulatory requirements and in no way endanger safety.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also urged the companies and union to swiftly resolve their dispute, telling reporters in Edmonton that she has “no patience with dilly dallying” given the “serious” consequences. Freeland, who’s also finance minister, declined to comment on what it would take for the federal government to intervene, adding that she thinks the best deals are reached at the bargaining table.

“I want them to roll up their sleeves to recognize Canadians need them to get this done, to reach a deal so we can keep on moving forward,” she said.

© 2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Canada Transportation Safety Board Investigation Unveils Critical Flaws in Toronto Ferry Operations

Mike Schuler
August 21, 2024

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation report into a 2022 incident involving the passenger ferry Sam McBride in Toronto, Ontario. The ferry struck the dock at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, resulting in injuries to approximately 20 passengers.

The incident occurred on August 20, 2022, when the ferry, carrying about 910 passengers and six crew members, approached the dock faster than usual. Only one of the vessel’s two propellers was operational during the approach, which proved insufficient to stop the ferry.

The TSB investigation revealed several critical safety deficiencies in passenger safety management. These include the lack of written procedures for safe docking practices by the City of Toronto, insufficient crew training in emergency passenger management, unrealistic evacuation procedures, and inadequate passenger counting methods, particularly for children and infants.

“The investigation found that the City of Toronto did not have written procedures addressing issues like safe approach speed for docking,” the report stated. “Instead, masters were left to operate in the way that they deemed appropriate. Without written procedures that defined safe practices for docking, decisions around travel or docking speed may have been influenced by operational pressures.”

In response, the TSB has issued three recommendations to Transport Canada aiming to address critical safety deficiencies in passenger ferry operations. The recommendations include implementing mandatory passenger safety management training for all crew members, establishing a formal validation process for evacuation procedures, and ensuring accurate passenger counts, including separate tallies for children and infants.

Since the incident, the City of Toronto has taken steps to improve safety, including increasing the Sam McBride‘s crew size to 13 and enhancing passenger safety measures.

You can find the TSB investigation report here.   https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2022/m22c0231/m22c0231.html

Heemskerkgracht grounds in Seaway

The saltwater vessel Heemskerkgracht ran aground at Kahnawake, QC, sometime Thursday after it lost power. Traffic in the area has come to a halt. There was no injuries or pollution reported. The Netherlands-flagged vessel departed Duluth Aug. 12 for Spain.

Numerous close calls with S.S. Badger in Ludington Harbor
leads to temporary fishing boat ban during set times

LUDINGTON, Mich – A number of close calls between fishing boats and the S.S. Badger led authorities in Ludington to restrict when anglers can drop their lines in the channel.

The Ludington Police Department said since last week, numerous fishing boats failed to give way to the S.S. Badger. In some cases, authorities said, the Badger’s captain had to take action to avoid a collision.

The harbor is proven to be a great fishing spot for anglers targeting salmon and other species. But area law enforcement said the channel is a navigation space first and a fishing location second.

The S.S. Badger can’t easily maneuver around the many smaller boats that have anchored up in the harbor, authorities said.

Chief of Police and Harbormaster Christopher Jones issued Harbormaster Order 24-01 Thursday afternoon. The order temporarily prohibits fishing and other non-transitory activities within the City of Ludington Harbor for a few hours at a time in the morning and evening hours, matching up with when the S.S. Badger departs and arrives at her port.

The United States Coast Guard, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, and Ludington Police are working together to enforce Harbormaster Order 24-10. There’s a similar USCG order.

“The order was not created in haste, but rather out of caution and as a result of the failure of boaters and those fishing to give way to a much larger vessel, creating a hazardous environment,” the Ludington Police Department said.

“We would like to thank the fishing and boating communities for their anticipated cooperation. We will revisit this order on a regular basis, to determine its effectiveness and need.”

The order goes into effect on Thursday, Aug. 22 and runs through Sept. 1, 2024, based on the day of the week:

    Monday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.

    Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.

    Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.

    Thursday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.

    Friday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.

    Saturday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

    Sunday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Additionally, the order goes into effect on Sept. 2 through Sept. 15, from 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m., and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.

Ontario invests $10 million to train shipyard workers

St. Catharines, ON. – The Ontario government has announced it is investing $10 million to train workers for careers in the shipbuilding and repair sector, including at St. Catharines, ON.

Premier Doug Ford was in St. Catharines today to make the announcement, saying he is proud to support the shipbuilding industry in St. Catharines and other areas which build and repair ships.

“We’re proud to invest in the workers who are powering Ontario’s world-class shipbuilding industry here in St. Catharines and in communities across the province,” said Ford. “We need all levels of government to step up and recognize the extraordinary potential of this industry and its workers by ensuring that much-needed Canadian vessels are built in Ontario, by Ontario shipbuilders.”

Ontario Shipyards Inc., which is based in St. Catharines, will deliver the training, re-skilling and up-skilling programs for careers in the millwright, welding, electrical and painting trades in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay.

Courses will include ship building and ship repair, shipyard orientation and health and safety procedures, along with professional development, leadership training and mentoring to recruit and retain the next generation of leaders and workers.

Mayor of St. Catharines Mat Siscoe says the investment is a welcome step for the workers of the community.

“Niagara has a strong marine legacy of building ships with remarkable workmanship and skill. This investment from the Skills Development Fund in Ontario Shipyards will provide strong opportunities for good jobs and careers with bigger pay checks for many Niagara workers, as we build world-class ships. This is what getting it done for economic growth looks like in our region.” Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries and MPP for Niagara West

CKTB

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

 Are wildfires out west a boon for shipping on the Great Lakes?

Canada exports plenty of maple syrup and poutine, eh?

And our neighbors to the north are also the world’s biggest producers of potash, a type of fertilizer that’s mined in the heart of the continent and used by farmers across the globe.

These salmon-colored potash pebbles are mainly transported west by train to ports in British Columbia and Portland, Oregon. But as climate change causes more wildfires in western North America, it can screw up train routes.

“More potash is being shipped through Thunder Bay and into the St. Lawrence Seaway than we’ve seen in the past,” said Karen Proud, CEO of Fertilizer Canada.

In fact, potash traffic on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is nearly double what it was last year. It gets loaded onto boats at Thunder Bay in Lake Superior then floats out to the Atlantic.

With climate change contributing to more wildfires out west, supply chains may increasingly rely on the Great Lakes in the years to come.

So the next freighter you see on the horizon might have a bounty of potash on board.

Interlochen Public Radio

Cruise stops in Cleveland will double in 2025 with return of Victory ships

CLEVELAND, OH – The number of cruise stops in Cleveland is set to double next year with the return of Victory Cruise Lines to the Great Lakes. The small cruise line’s two ships will relaunch in 2025 after a dormant 2024.

David S. Gutheil, chief commercial officer for the Port of Cleveland, said he expects more than 50 cruise ship calls in Cleveland in 2025, up from 23 in 2024. The Victory ships will account for approximately 30 of those stops, he said.

“This is very good news for Cleveland and the Great Lakes and shows that interest in cruising on Great Lakes is strong,” Gutheil said. “Cleveland is one of the most popular stops on the itineraries.”

The two Victory ships – Victory I and Victory II – have been regulars in Great Lakes cruising for nearly a decade. In 2019, the two ships were purchased by American Queen Steamboat Co., which changed its name to American Queen Voyages in 2021. Earlier this year, American Queen Voyages declared bankruptcy and shut down, putting numerous vessels up for sale at auction.

John Waggoner – a previous owner of American Queen Steamboat Co. – bought the two former Victory ships (which had been renamed) with plans to relaunch them in spring 2025. Sailings are available starting in mid-April.

The two ships, which hold up to 190 passengers each, feature 95 staterooms, several restaurants, lounges and other features.

Stops in Cleveland will be included on several different Great Lakes itineraries, which typically travel between Chicago and Toronto and vice versa. The ships dock at the Port of Cleveland, just west of Cleveland Browns Stadium.

 Other ports of call include Niagara Falls, Detroit, Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie.

Other cruise ships expected in Cleveland next year include the Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis, Pearl Mist, Le Champlain and Hamburg.

Cleveland.com

Sailor, cookbook author Catherine Schmuck to offer lecture at Toledo

Join the National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH, for the first presentation of the 2024 Fall Lecture Series presented by Larry & Karen Bettcher. Offered as a hybrid event, participants can choose when registering to take part in-person at the National Museum of the Great Lakes or online via Zoom.

We welcome Catherine Schmuck as she presents on her experience as a freighter chef with “A Glimpse into the Life of a Great Lakes Ship’s Cook” on Wednesday, September 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

Schmuck will share her unique experiences cooking for the crews aboard the ships of the Great Lakes. Through her storytelling, gain insight into the day-to-day life on a Great Lakes ship. The event will also include a Q&A session, where Catherine will answer your questions about life and work on a ship.

This lecture is free, but registration is required. Donations are always happily accepted.

About the Speaker: Catherine Schmuck

Catherine Schmuck is a multifaceted talent—sailor, restaurateur, blogger, photographer, cookbook, and children’s book author. Born to German immigrant parents, she embraced a life of travel and adventure, beginning her shipping career at the age of 19 on the CSL fleet’s Frontenac. After 13 years at sea, she co-founded a restaurant in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, with her sister Lorraine.

In 2019, after 24 years away from sailing, Catherine returned to the sea and began blogging about her culinary adventures on board. Her storytelling and photography quickly gained a following, leading to the publication of her cookbooks, “Recipes and Stories as I Sail Through My Day” and “More Recipes and Stories as We Navigate Healthier Eating.” She also fulfilled a lifelong dream by writing the children’s book, “The Stowaway Adventures of Mitchell Mouse.” When she’s not sailing or writing, Catherine enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and events. Follow her journey at www.shiptoshorechef.com and @shiptoshorechef.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Sailor, cookbook author Catherine Schmuck to offer lecture at Toledo

Join the National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, OH, for the first presentation of the 2024 Fall Lecture Series presented by Larry & Karen Bettcher. Offered as a hybrid event, participants can choose when registering to take part in-person at the National Museum of the Great Lakes or online via Zoom.

We welcome Catherine Schmuck as she presents on her experience as a freighter chef with “A Glimpse into the Life of a Great Lakes Ship’s Cook” on Wednesday, September 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

Schmuck will share her unique experiences cooking for the crews aboard the ships of the Great Lakes. Through her storytelling, gain insight into the day-to-day life on a Great Lakes ship. The event will also include a Q&A session, where Catherine will answer your questions about life and work on a ship.

This lecture is free, but registration is required. Donations are always happily accepted.

About the Speaker: Catherine Schmuck

Catherine Schmuck is a multifaceted talent—sailor, restaurateur, blogger, photographer, cookbook, and children’s book author. Born to German immigrant parents, she embraced a life of travel and adventure, beginning her shipping career at the age of 19 on the CSL fleet’s Frontenac. After 13 years at sea, she co-founded a restaurant in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, with her sister Lorraine.

In 2019, after 24 years away from sailing, Catherine returned to the sea and began blogging about her culinary adventures on board. Her storytelling and photography quickly gained a following, leading to the publication of her cookbooks, “Recipes and Stories as I Sail Through My Day” and “More Recipes and Stories as We Navigate Healthier Eating.” She also fulfilled a lifelong dream by writing the children’s book, “The Stowaway Adventures of Mitchell Mouse.” When she’s not sailing or writing, Catherine enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and events. Follow her journey at www.shiptoshorechef.com and @shiptoshorechef.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit