There is barely any ice in the Great Lakes due to warm winter temperatures.

Record warm winter weather is having severe ramifications on the ice cover that typically
engulfs the Great Lakes at this time of year. Just 5.9% of the Great Lakes are currently covered
with ice compared to an average of about 40% for this time of year, according to the latest
Great Lakes ice analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Warmer winters increase the likelihood of ice-free lakes, and the upper Midwest has
experienced some of the nation’s strongest winter warming trends, according to James Kessler,
a physical scientist for NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, and Alisa Young, a
climate scientist for the lab.

When comparing the average wintertime temperatures of 2002 to 2021 with the first half of
the century, it is clear that the upper Midwest has experienced some of the nation’s strongest
warming trends, Kessler and Young told ABC News.

Read more at this ABC link: https://abcnews.go.com/US/barely-ice-great-lakes-due-warm-
winter-temperatures/story?id=107065523

Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club’s Shipyard Tours are no more. What will replace them?

STURGEON BAY, WI – The long history of the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay’s annual Shipyard
Tours has come to an end, but the club has a new cruising tour lined up to replace it as a major
fundraiser.

The local club announced Friday, Feb. 9, it will no longer hold the guided walking tours that for
more than 30 years gave thousands of guests an inside look at Sturgeon Bay shipyards on the
first Saturday of May while also highlighting how the shipyards and the maritime industry
impacted the city. The Sturgeon Bay Rotary directed all proceeds toward scholarships for youth
and continuing education of adults, affordable housing projects and child care in Door County.

In earlier years, several shipyards on the waterfront took part, but the past couple of years have
focused on Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Now, a news release from the Rotary said Bay Ship’s
growth and changes in recent years mean if a tour was to take place, it wouldn’t provide the
same access to the facility’s inner workings nor the quality guests have experienced in the past.

For 33 years, the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay has worked with the community ship builders
and other maritime partners to highlight the importance of our maritime history, the news
release said. The Rotary Club has used the funds raised from the event to help with various
community projects and youth scholarships in Door County. The cornerstone to the event was
the tour of the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard and we would like to thank Fincantieri for their
past and continued commitment to our community.

To replace the Shipyard Tours, the Sturgeon Bay Rotary is working with Shoreline Boat Tours
and the Door County Maritime Museum to sponsor narrated cruises created especially for the
event over a June weekend that feature the working history of the harbor.

“Sturgeon Bay Working Waterfront Tours, Past and Present” will focus on educating guests on
the community’s ties to the Great Lakes. Along with featuring the history of what the harbor
meant and continues to mean to Sturgeon Bay, the 90-minute tours will highlight seven unique
working waterfront points of interest and provide an up-close look at the waterside of the
harbor. Tickets will also include access to the Door County Maritime Museum and new Kress
Viewing Tower.

Tours are scheduled to take place June 21 to 23; start times are 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:45
and 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $75 and go on sale April 1. The boats have a capacity of 25, so a
maximum of 300 tickets will be sold for the entire event.

For tickets or details, visit doorcountytickets.com. For updates on the tours or more
information on the local club, visit sturgeonbayrotaryclub.org or the Rotary Club of Sturgeon
Bay Facebook page.

Green Bay Press-Gazette

Seaway Monthly Tonnage Data

An increase in all tonnage on the Seaway except for general cargo.
See Chart of data below.

Bill Kloss

Raffle winner could help greet first boat at Soo – and that’s just one of the prizes

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Wouldn’t you like a chance to join the official welcoming party greeting the
first boat at the Soo Locks this year? That’s the unique opportunity being presented to the winner of a
raffle sponsored by the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association. In addition to going aboard the ship and
meeting the captain and crew as they are presented with the traditional plaque and first ship baseball
caps, the winner will also receive overnight accommodations for themselves and one guest in a
beautifully-renovated church/Airbnb in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. The winner and two alternates will
also receive gift baskets full of Great Lakes and Soo-themed goodies.

The raffle is open to current, paid Soo Locks Visitor Center Association members. To check your membership
status and to enter, email solomonemily@yahoo.com before February 19, 2024. To renew or
join, membership starts at $30 and can be sent by check or money order to Treasurer, SLVCA, PO
Box 666, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783. The drawing will take place February 23 at the Visitors
Center and be live-streamed via the SLVCA Facebook page. The winner will be notified via email
following the drawing.

In addition, paid SLVC members, plus one guest, are invited to a reception on Sunday, March 24,
2024 from 7 to 9 p.m., before the midnight lock opening, at the Airbnb for light refreshments,
conversation with fellow Boatnerds, and a chance to buy a limited-edition 1st ship knit cap. As part of
the event, members can chat with Roger LeLievre (Know Your Ships publisher), Andrea Guerriero
(DRE Designs), Mick Awbrey (chief, New Lock at the Soo), former Chief Lockmaster and current
Assistant Operations Manager Jason Wojnaroski and other special guests.

The Soo Locks Visitor Center Association is the non-profit group responsible for the displays in the Visitor Center and Soo Locks Park. It receives no financial help from the Corps of Engineers other than use of the
building.

Please note that greeting the first ship may require walking a quarter of a mile outdoors and could
involve climbing stairs or a ladder if invited on board the ship. The precise time of the greeting
depends on when the ship arrives and could take place in the afternoon of the 24th, right up until
midnight when the locks open. The Corps typically provides an hour or two of notice when the
greeting will take place. The winner must also wear safety gear provided by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.

This drawing grants the winner the opportunity to attend the first ship greeting but doesn’t guarantee
the time of the greeting. Boarding the first ship is at the discretion of the captain and likewise cannot
be guaranteed. However, in the event that the captain permits the boarding of the ship, the winner
must be able to meet the following conditions:

• The winner must be physically capable of climbing ladders and/or stairs both inside and outside of
  the ship.

• The winner must be able to independently walk a moderate distance to reach
  the ship.

• The winner must wear any personal protective equipment (hard hat, life vest, etc.) required by the
  USACE.

• The winner assumes any inherent risks associated with the event and agrees to hold harmless the
  SLVCA and the USCAE from any liabilities arising from the event.

The March 25 opening of the Soo Locks for the new navigation season has been growing in
popularity as a fun, family-friendly event. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opens the park from

11:30 p.m. March 24 through 1:30 a.m. March 25 for visitors to welcome the first ship passing through
at midnight. On the 25th the SLVCA hosts an open house at the Visitor Center from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.,
with Know Your Ships publisher Roger LeLievre on hand to sell and sign copies of the new edition.

SLVCA

WisDOT grants $10 million for harbor projects, four in Northeast Wisconsin

by Ashley Kaster, FOX 11 NewsTue, February 6th 2024

(WLUK) — Four harbor maintenance projects in Northeast Wisconsin are receiving grants.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced grants totaling $10 million for eight harbor maintenance and improvement projects to promote waterborne freight and economic development.

“The Mississippi River, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan all provide Wisconsin communities with maritime routes for international commerce, and the investments we make this year build on strategic efforts to connect transportation modes and maximize opportunities for economic development,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson.

Projects supported by the $10 million in Harbor Assistance Program grants include:

Briess Malt Inc., Manitowoc – $1 million to dredge the bed of the Manitowoc River and refurbish a ship unloading system used by Briess Malt to import and export agricultural commodities

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay – $382,400 to dredge the bed of Sturgeon Bay to maintain navigation for vessels using the Fincantieri facility

City of Manitowoc – $562,000 to dredge the bed of the Manitowoc River to restore navigation depth to support shipping at the St. Mary’s Cement facility

City Centre LLC, Manitowoc – $1.34 million to construct a load-out pad for assembling, testing, and shipping new cranes designed by Konecranes Inc.

Perch Point LLC, Port Milwaukee – $720,000 to construct a loading dock and fixed crane to support the sale, movement, and delivery of shoreline protection materials along the Lake Michigan shoreline

City of Superior – $813,800 to stabilize the existing shoreline and remove a failing dock wall on General Mills property located on the St. Louis River

Hanke Terminals, La Crosse – $2.2 million to rebuild a failing dock wall used to export agricultural commodities and import bulk goods

City of Superior – $3 million to rebuild a dock wall along property owned by Elkhorn Industries and dredge the bed of Superior Bay to establish an intermodal facility

Created in 1979, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce.

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

Kathy McKeil arrives in China for conversion to bulk carrier

McKeil Marie’s latest, Kathy McKeil, arrived at Jingjiang Ship Industry in Jingjiang, Monday. She will be converted from a tanker to a bulk carrier over the next several months. The vessel is the from Algosea of Algoma Central Corp.

Capitol [AGP] Elevator to be leveled

Get your shots of the old unused Capitol (AGP) elevator as the port was awarded money to level it and turn it into more storage space.

“Duluth Seaway Port Authority ($7.57 million) – Hazardous materials abatement; demolition of existing buildings, including dilapidated grain elevators; recycle concrete from demolition for reuse on-site; deck and access road restoration; installation of utilities to create four-acre laydown area. The total project cost is $9.5 million.”

David Schauer

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

St. Lawrence Seaway sees nearly 38 million tons pass through waterway in 2023

CORNWALL, ON – The St. Lawrence Seaway had a busy year during its longest
shipping season ever. On Wednesday, January 31, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway
Management Corporation and U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation jointly announced that nearly 38 million tons of cargo transited the
binational system in 2023, which was an overall increase of more than 3.4 percent.

Here are some of the highlights from the shipping season:

• Grain: Despite challenges posed by climate change, producers successfully mitigated
  global issues, resulting in an overall increase of nearly 5% compared to 2022 figures,
  reaching 10.4 million tons. Notably, Canadian grain experienced a significant year-
  overyear growth of more than 11%.
• Dry Bulk: Agricultural and construction supply chain materials, including potash,
  gypsum, cement and stone, exceeded 12 million tonnes, representing 5% growth
  compared to 2022.
• Liquid bulk: 3.6 million tonnes of liquid bulk transited the Seaway in 2023, representing
  a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Petroleum products were the primary
  contributors with 2.6 million tonnes, followed by liquid chemicals, which increased 11%.
• Cargo fluidity: The Seaway system’s efficiency contributed to economic development
  on both sides of the border, with fewer transits in ballast and an additional 1.2 million
  tons of cargo.

Marking the longest scheduled shipping season in history, the Montreal-Lake Ontario
section of the Seaway, including the U.S. locks (not the ones in Sault Ste. Marie) closed
on Friday, January 5, with the Welland Canal closing on Sunday, January 7. Both the
SLSMC and GLS are now engaged in annual multi-million-dollar winter maintenance
and infrastructure renewal programs, which are strategic to maintaining the binational
system’s record of reliability and availability.

“Again in 2023, the St. Lawrence Seaway demonstrated its resilience and reliability, as
well as emphasizing its role as an essential component of the Green Shipping Corridor,”
said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC.” Compared to the previous
year, the season ended with goods shipped through the waterway increasing by 3.4%,
which helped drive the North American economy.

According to a press release, both Canadian and U.S. Seaway Corporations will focus
on further developing the Green Shipping Corridor to leverage the environmental and
economic benefits of marine shipping to regional and global communities in 2024.

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

U.S.-Flag Great Lakes shipping up 6.5 percent in 2023

Cleveland, OH – U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 81.4 million tons of cargo in 2023, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to 2022.  The 2023 float was 1.2 percent above the fleet’s 5-year average.

Iron ore cargos totaled 42.4 million tons, an increase of 13.4 percent compared to a year earlier.  Coal cargos were down 9.7 percent to 8.4 million tons.  Limestone shipments increased by 3.9 percent to 24.6 million tons, while cement shipments were a near match to 2022 at 3.7 million tons.  Salt and grain cargos were down by 5.8 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively. Sand shipments increased by 12.4 percent.

One sent to hospital after crashing
into Soo Museum Ship Valley Camp

Port of Cleveland seeks to remove, recycle, dismantled historic Hulett ore unloaders

Cleveland, Ohio – The dream of reassembling one of the giant Hulett ore unloaders that
once served Cleveland’s steel industry appears to be over.

Will Friedman, president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland, told cleveland.com and The
Plain Dealer Friday afternoon that the agency is seeking bids for the removal of two
dismantled Huletts that have been stacked in a pile since 2000 at the Port’s Cleveland
Bulk Terminal, just west of Wendy Park on Whiskey Island.

The Hulett was an ore unloader that was widely used on the Great Lakes.

The Hulett was invented by George Hulett of Conneaut, Ohio, in the late 19th century.
The Hulett machine revolutionized iron ore shipment on the Great Lakes. Previous
methods of unloading lake freighters, involving hoists and buckets and much hand
labor, cost approximately 18¢/ton. Unloading with Huletts cost only 6¢/ton. (in 1901
dollars) Unloading only took 5 to 10 hours, as opposed to days for previous methods.

Lake boat designs changed to accommodate the Hulett unloader, and became much
larger, doubling in length and quadrupling in capacity.

By 1913, 54 Hulett machines were in service. Two were built at Lake Superior
(unloading coal) and five at Gary, Indiana, but the vast majority were along the shores
of Lake Erie. The additional unloading capacity they brought helped permit a greater
than doubling of the ore traffic in the 1900–1912 period. A total of approximately 75
Huletts were built.

The lake’s Huletts were used until about 1992, when self-unloading boats were standard
on the American side of the lake. All have since been dismantled. In 1999, only six
remained, the group of four at Whiskey Island in Cleveland, the oldest. Another set was
used unloading barges of coal in South Chicago until 2002 and were demolished in the
spring of 2010.

In spite of the Cleveland machines being on the National Register of Historic Places and
designated as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, they were demolished in
2000 by the Cleveland Port Authority to enable development of the underlying land. The
Port Authority disassembled and retained two Huletts, to enable their reconstruction at
another site, but the reconstruction never happened.

View a video of the Huletts in operation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGQGh1X0MuA

The warm, dry winter continues.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON – It will be no surprise to anyone that the month of January will be
one of the warmest on record. The daytime highs were only a degree or two warmer
than normal when averaged out over the entire month, but the overnight lows were
about six degrees warmer than normal. Overnight lows dropped below minus twenty
only once during the whole month.

This past month, we counted about half of the snowfall we would typically see in
January. The lack of snow for this month and December, combined with a drier-than-
normal Fall, leaves little snow in the bush, low lake levels and minimal recovery from the
dry conditions last summer.

We might see some brief sun Monday morning before clouds move during the afternoon
as daytime highs reach +2°C. Wet snow arrives in the evening, bringing 2-5cm of
accumulation overnight. A few flurries are possible Tuesday morning, with the rest of
the day being cloudy as temperatures reach +2°C again.

Wednesday and Thursday bring a mix of sun and cloud as daytime highs climb to +3°C.
A northwest wind brings slightly cooler air on Friday under mostly sunny skies.

Soo Today

Happy 125 th anniversary to Algoma Central Corp.

Watch a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Mfp_ooOZ0

Biden delivers grant for Twin Ports infrastructure

SUPERIOR, WI – A presidential announcement may be the worst-kept secret in the
Twin Ports after a Minnesota congressman who voted against the funding bill let the
secret out. That doesn’t make it any less historic.

After all, the federal government would pay more than $1.32 billion to bridge the Twin
Port cities of Duluth and Superior. It’s the single largest grant the federal government
has ever awarded, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

President Joe Biden announced the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation
during a nearly four-hour trip to Superior on Thursday, Jan. 25, that took him to Connors
Point, Earth Rider Brewery, Cedar Lounge and the Superior Fire Department
headquarters.

Biden says his Investing in America agenda is mobilizing private sector investment in
the United States, bringing back American manufacturing after decades of off-shoring,
and creating new, good-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.

In Wisconsin, private companies have announced more than $2 billion in investments,
including clean energy manufacturing in New Berlin, biomanufacturing in Madison and
Verona, and clean power across the state. Another $6.3 billion in public infrastructure
and clean energy investments have been allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Minnesota has seen similar public and private
investments.

The infrastructure law allocated $110 billion to roads and bridges nationwide. The Twin
Ports would receive less than 1% of that and still receive the nation’s largest grant ever
awarded to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge.

During the White House press briefing Wednesday, Jan. 24, press secretary Karine
Jean-Pierre declined to get ahead of the president’s announcement in Superior. She
wouldn’t say if the president would call out U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., after he
took credit for advocating for Blatnik Bridge funding made possible by the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law, a bill he opposed.

On Nov. 5, 2021, Stauber announced his vote in a news release because it was
part of the Democrats; multi-trillion-dollar tax-and-spend package; that is not about
real infrastructure. … I will not be complicit in paving a destructive and irreversible path
towards socialism.”

Biden didn’t call out Stauber, but he noted the many infrastructure of the
Donald Trump administration that didn’t deliver.

In 2023, each state committed $400 million to pay for the estimated $1.8 billion Blatnik
Bridge replacement project. Minnesota has a Democratic legislature and Wisconsin has
a near-Republican super-majority. The president said the state funding is vital to
ensuring the bridge project happens.

The story we’re writing is much bigger than that, Biden said.When you see the
shovels in the ground and the cranes in the sky and people hard at work on these
projects, I hope you feel a sense of pride, pride in your community, pride in what we can
still accomplish in America. … We’re the only country in the world that comes out
stronger after every crisis we’ve been in.

The High Bridge, renamed the Blatnik Bridge in 1971, was built between 1958 and
1961, after decades of efforts to replace the old Interstate Bridge, which carried most
vehicle traffic between Duluth and Superior. The new 7,975-foot bridge opened to traffic
in December 1961 at a cost of $15 million.

Then, the federal government paid 90% of the cost, leaving Minnesota and Wisconsin to
share the remaining 10%.

The bridge was built with the expectation of peak traffic of about 14,000 vehicles a day
but by the early 1990s, the bridge was averaging about 26,000 vehicles a day. Most
recently, daily traffic peaked at 33,000 vehicles per day with more than $4 billion in
goods transiting the bridge.

An early 1990s rehabilitation of the Blatnik Bridge widened its approaches but added a
heavier deck and concrete railings to replace the curb between the northbound and
southbound lanes, increasing the deck load.

The estimated $1.8 billion project calls for the demolition of the existing bridge to
construct the new bridge over a nearly five-year period.

Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said Thursday that
the Blatnik is essential to the efficient, safe flow of critical cargoes through our world
port, both on the road and on the water.

It’s a vital artery within the Upper Midwest supply chain, linking North America’s
furthest-inland seaport and helping move the raw materials of everyday life, she said.
We’re grateful for this significant U.S. DOT investment in such an important piece of
infrastructure. This is a bi-state project and it took organized advocacy from both sides
of the bridge to ensure a successful outcome. We greatly appreciate Wisconsin and
Minnesota legislators’ support of the project throughout the process.”

Superior Telegram

 Winter lay-up list is now active

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The page will be updated throughout the winter. Please send lay-up reports to news@boatnerd.net.

Great Lakes fleet prepares for 2024 shipping season

STURGEON BAY, WI – Large freighters were on the move in Door County Monday
morning as vessels gathered for the Winter Fleet lay up at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding
in Sturgeon Bay.

A few miles northwest of Sturgeon Bay, a team of tug boats helped the area’s latest
maritime arrival, the 727-foot long freighter American Mariner. Paul Klapatch and LuAnn
Ferron of Sturgeon Bay say Bullhead Point across the channel from Fincantieri Bay
Shipbuilding is a popular spot to watch ships.

“My wife and I come down here twice a day, and she belongs to a site called Ship
Watchers. And anytime these ships are coming in, we like to come down here and
check them out, and watch them come up the bay,” said Klapatch.

“The American Mariner is coming in. She’s been kind of fun to watch on Ship Watchers,
because she was trolling up and down the other coast in Lake Michigan for several
days. And then she finally went over the top, and came back down,” said Ferron.

“All the Great Lakes ships need to find somewhere to go during what we call hard water
season,” said Sam Perlman, Door County Maritime Museum deputy director.

Perlman says the Mariner is part of Sturgeon Bay’s Winter Fleet. “We’ll have anywhere
between 12 and 16 vessels parked at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. They kind of Jenga
them in, and it will be probably anywhere between two and three miles of boat,” he said.

Perlman says the repair and maintenance schedule makes it a busy time at the
shipyard, and around town too. “There are folks who come in, want to spend time, want
to see the vessels. They’ll come into the museum, they’ll eat at local restaurants,” he
said.

Back at Bullhead Point, the American Mariner continues to creep. “The ships have
always been fascinating. I thought everybody knew about ships growing up, and it’s like
no, it’s very unique to us,” Ferron said.

The Winter Fleet will remain in port typically until the Soo Locks on Lake Superior open
again for the season. This year, that’s scheduled for April 24.

WTAQ

Tug Manitou changes hands

Reports from the northeast lower Michigan area indicate the Malcom Marine Inc. tug
Manitou has been sold to Ryba Marine Construction of Cheboygan, MI.

The Port Huron-based tug, which is usually stationed in Alpena during the winter for ice-breaking, tied
up at the Ryba dock on Monday.

Malcolm Marine has been in the marine construction, towing and salvage business for
over 60 years, with the Manitou being captained by Dave Malcom, son of the founders.

Saginaw River – Commercial
Shipping Season Report – 2023

By Todd A. Shorkey

The 2023 shipping season for the Saginaw River is now complete, and while the overall
number of commercial vessel passages declined from the previous year, it still ended
up being a very interesting season with a few exciting firsts along the way.

The downturn in the number of vessel passages can be attributed to two things: The
elimination of the use of coal at the Consumers Energy, Dan E. Karn power plant in
Essexville and no new deliveries of wind turbine components for wind farm projects.

After 16 coal deliveries to the Consumers Energy power plant in 2022, that number was
zero in 2023. Also in 2022, there were 11 deliveries of wind turbine components such as
blades, tower segments, hubs, and nacelles. Again, that number dropped to zero in
2023. If you factor in the resulting 27 lost loads from these segments, the number of
deliveries in 2023 would have been ahead of last season by a small number, so it is
encouraging to see the other markets remaining stable and even increasing as in the
case of the cement market.

Even though the number of passages declined in 2023, the season was still fourth
busiest on the Saginaw River over the past 15 years. I don’t think we will ever see the
big 300 plus vessel passage seasons that we did when I first started keeping track of
these vessel passages during the early to mid-2000s, but there are areas in which we
could see increased traffic in the future.

I have to mention this every season, because the recognition is definitely warranted: A
lot of hard work continues to be put in by the industry leaders, not just here on the
Saginaw River locally, but across the entire Great Lakes region.

These leaders continue to actively pursue improvements in infrastructure and to
diversify the type of products that are transported by water. The resulting victories,
when they happen, allow more opportunities to utilize maritime assets to move
products, moving it more economically and more efficiently than other modes of
transportation. More than ever, this continues to be crucial as traditional high-volume
cargo such as coal and taconite are seeing changes.

Coal fired, electric power generating plants continue to be taken off-line. Many changes
are also happening in the steel industry, with changes in company ownership,
production and steel-making methods.

On the Saginaw River, there are no longer any
coal fired electrical generating units. Consumers Energy’s Dan E. Karn plant has only
has two remaining electrical generating units, powered by natural gas and oil. The plant
is currently scheduled to be retired completely in 2031. As it does each year, it
continues to be my hope that the work being put in now by these leaders in Great Lakes
Shipping will continue to lead to more opportunities for commercial shipping and better
things to come going forward into the future.

The following report is a look back on the 2023 commercial shipping season on the
Saginaw River, using data that I have collected over this period.

The 2023 season officially started on March 12th with the arrival of the tug Samuel de
Champlain and cement barge Innovation, delivering a cargo of powdered cement to the
Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville. The season then ended the same way it began, with
a cement delivery to Holcim, this time by the steamer Alpena, arriving January 4th,
2024, during a string of unseasonably warm weather and no ice in sight on the Saginaw
River. The 2023 season on the Saginaw River lasted for a total of 299 days, 34 days
longer than in 2022. The start of the 2023 season was 32 days earlier than in 2022, with
the end of the season two days later than in 2022.

For the 2023 commercial shipping season, there were a grand total of 171 commercial
vessel passages on the Saginaw River, representing a decrease of 21 passages
compared to the 2022 season. These passages were made by 33 different vessels,
three fewer than the previous year, representing 14 different vessel management
companies, also three fewer than last year.

Looking at other numbers from the 2023 season, deliveries were made to a total of 14
individual docking locations along the banks of the Saginaw River. Some of these dock
locations serve more than one product or type of customer. One of these is the Wirt
Dock in Essexville, where in addition to sand and stone cargo, fertilizer is also delivered
and placed in domed storage buildings. The second would be the Port Fisher slip,
where aggregate cargo is delivered for Bay Aggregates, and liquid asphalt is offloaded
for Bit-Mat Products of Michigan and placed in their liquid storage tanks. A third would
be the Port Fisher Terminals Dock, where foreign saltwater vessels can offload various
cargos such as wind turbine components, industrial machinery, or other bulk cargo, and
tug/barge units or tankers can deliver liquid cargo such as calcium chloride or liquid
fertilizer.

With this in mind, there were 16 facilities that received cargo in 2023, one fewer than in
2022 due to the elimination of coal deliveries at Consumers Energy in Essexville. The
individual dock seeing the most vessel traffic in 2023 was the Port Fisher Terminals/Bay
Aggregates Dock in Bay City, with 42 vessel deliveries. This is one less than recorded
during the previous season. The second most deliveries went to the Wirt Stone Dock in
Saginaw with 33, followed by the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City with 32 deliveries and the
Holcim Cement dock in Essexville with 31 deliveries.

These top docks accounted for 57% of the total commercial vessel deliveries in 2023.
The two largest companies, Fisher Companies and Wirt, each with multiple docks along
the Saginaw River, accounted for a total of 55% of all commercial vessel deliveries. Wirt
Family Docks had a total of 84 deliveries, with Port Fisher docks accounting for 49
deliveries. In all, accounting for split cargos by some vessels, which unloaded at two or
more different docks during the same visit, there were 244 deliveries to the various
docks along the Saginaw River. This is 19 more actual dock deliveries than during the
2022 season. These numbers show that over 70 vessels arrived with split loads,
unloading at more than one dock.

The following table outlines the docks delivered to along with the number of vessels
stopping there:

2023 – Saginaw River Dock Deliveries

Port Fisher/Bay Aggregates Dock – Bay City 42
Wirt Stone Dock – Saginaw 33
Wirt Stone Dock – Bay City 32
Holcim Cement Dock – Essexville 31
GM Dock – Saginaw 23
Saginaw Rock Products/Burroughs Saginaw Dock 20
Wirt Sand and Stone Dock – Essexville 16
Saginaw Asphalt/Buena Vista Dock – Saginaw 15
Burroughs Materials/Levy Dock – Zilwaukee 11
Burroughs North Dock – Essexville 6
Port Fisher/Occidental Chemical Dock – Bay City 5
Wirt Sand & Stone Fertilizer Dock – Essexville 3
U.S. Paving & Stone Materials Dock – Carrollton 3
Sargent Dock – Zilwaukee 2
Port Fisher/Bit-Mat Products Dock – Bay City 1
Port Fisher Terminals Dock – Bay City 1

Total Deliveries 244

This year, I also broke down the number of visits to the lower river docks, or docks
between the mouth of the Saginaw River and Liberty Bridge, of which there are nine,
and the upper river docks, or docks near the Zilwaukee Bridge to the Sixth Street
Turning Basin, of which there were seven. There were a total of 133 deliveries to lower
river docks and a total of 85 deliveries where the vessel had to pass through the Bay
City draw bridges on their way to the upper river to unload at Saginaw-area docks.

The following table outlines this and will be a good comparison for the future;
The tug-barge units were busy on the Saginaw River during 2023, with four of the top
five spots for total number of visits taken by tug-barge combos. Again for 2023, as has
become the norm on the Saginaw River, the Rand Logistics, Inc./Grand River
Navigation tug Olive L. Moore, paired with the self-unloading barge Menominee, once
again defended their title of “Workhorse of the Saginaw River,” making more trips to the
river in 2023 than any other vessel. The pair logged 39 visits this season, one more
than in 2022. Olive L. Moore/Menominee has held this title 17 out of the past 18 years,
logging an incredible 654 visits to the Saginaw River during this tim. In second place
was Interlake Steamship Co.’s tug Dorothy Ann, paired with the self-unloading barge
Pathfinder. which had 15. Rounding out the top five most frequent vessels were
Samuel de Champlain/Innovation with 14 visits, G.L. Ostrander/Integrity with 9, and
Sam Laud, the only non-tug/barge combo in the top five with 8 visits.

The fleet leading the way with the most cargo deliveries to the Saginaw River during the
2023 season was far and away Rand Logistics Inc. Their subsidiaries Lower Lakes
Towing and Grand River Navigation tallied 83 vessel passages, an increase of two
deliveries over 2022 and accounted for almost half of all deliveries in 2023 at 49%. They
have now been leading the way on the Saginaw River for 16 of the past 17 years. The
Interlake Steamship Co./Interlake Logistics Solutions logged the second most visits with
27 trips, a decrease of 10 visits from 2022. Coming in third place was Holcim
Cement/Andrie, Inc. with 23 deliveries to the Saginaw River, up nine trips from the 2022
season. These three companies accounted for 78% of all deliveries on the Saginaw
River in 2023. Rounding out the top five companies were Algoma Central Corp. with 15
visits and Inland Lakes Management with seven.

There were a number of vessels that visited the Saginaw River in 2022 that did not
make a return visit here in 2023. These vessels included local favorite Paul R.
Tregurtha and the tug Leonard M. There were also the following saltwater vessels
which had been here during the 2022 season but not making a return visit: Sloman
Discoverer, Charlie, Sophia, Nunalik, BBC Song, BBC Kwiatkowski, BBC Eagle, Happy
River and Happy Rover.

Vessels back on the river in 2023 which did not have a visit in 2022 were Algoma
Compass, Robert S. Pierson, tug Meredith Ashton, and the saltwater vessel
Minervagracht. The tug Sharon M I was also back, pushing the barge Huron Spirit in
place of Leonard M. There were also a number of first-ever visits in 2023. Interlake
Steamship Co.’s new Mark W. Barker made five trips here, McKeil Marine Ltd.’s recent
acquisition Northern Venture made her first trip here and the Nova-Algoma Cement
Carrier NACC Antigua also had her first trip to the Saginaw River.

Other vessels on the Saginaw River during the 2023 season were the tug Manitou, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife vessel Spencer F. Baird, U.S.E.P.A. vessel Mudpuppy II, and NOAA
vessel 5033. Government vessels included the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spar, U.S,
Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay, and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey vessel.

Some notable stories from the 2023 season:

• In February 2020, it was announced that Wilkinson Minerals would be opening a
  facility on the Saginaw River, just east of the Independence Bridge in Bay City, and
  begin pumping salt brine from a large deposit known as the Sylvania Sandstone
  Formation. In April 2021, they an-nounced they would be “tripling their investment” of
  $50 million to $150 million in Bay City. Wilkinson Minerals has stated that “the company
  will produce both liquid and dry salt products, with the liquid products primarily shipped
  out on the river.” In the April 2021 report, plans were to have the plant up and running
  late 2023 or early 2024. In 2023, some site clearing was completed, but no other visible
  work is underway and it is unknown when the company will begin operation.
• On June 22nd, the Great Lakes Towing tug North Dakota arrived on the Saginaw
  River to begin her stay, stationed here for the immediate future. Docking at the old
  Lafarge Cement Dock in Carrollton, North Dakota assisted at least eight vessels during
  the 2023 season, including Algoma Buffalo, Iver Bright, Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, Samuel
  de Champlain/Innovation, NACC Antigua, Algoma Intrepid, and Minervagracht. It is
  unknown how long the North Dakota will remain stationed on the Saginaw River, but the
  word is that it will be as long as there is a need and work for her to do.
• The NACC Antigua was a surprise visitor during the 2023 season, delivering a cargo
  of powdered cement to the Holcim Cement dock in Essexville. Her cargo originated in
  Algeria in North Africa. The demand for cement was up this season and local suppliers
  could not keep up, so in an effort to keep customers happy and have product available
  to them, the NACC Antigua cargo was ordered. The Holcim dock received 31 deliveries
  in 2023, up from 26 last season.
• The self-unloading barge Joseph H. Thompson, pushed by the tug Laura L.
  VanEnkevort made her last-ever visit to the Saginaw River on June 24th, before
  heading to the Marine Recycling Corporation in Port Colborne, ON to be scrapped. The
  Thompson was a frequent visitor to the Saginaw River over the years, pushed by the
  tug Joseph H. Thompson, Jr. and then later the Laura L. Vanenkevort. So long old
  friend.
• Minervagracht was the only saltwater vessel to make a delivery from overseas to the
  Saginaw River in 2023. She called on the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City on
  November 17th, carrying process equipment for the Hemlock Semiconductor Plant in
  Hemlock, Michigan.
• Interlake Steamship Company’s new vessel, Mark W. Barker, made five visits to the
  Saginaw River in 2023, between May 27th and July 4th. This was the first season in
  operation on the Great Lakes for the Barker. Built at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in
  Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, she is the first new laker to be built on the Great Lakes in
  more than 35 years. Mark W. Barker is a very versatile vessel, capable of carrying a
  wide range of cargo to virtually any dock on the Great Lakes.

As the shipping industry continues to evolve, it is the hope that commercial traffic on the
Saginaw River will at least remain stable and hopefully grow as the products and
materials handled here continue to evolve and expand. Hopefully 2024 continues to
expand on the success of the 2023 season and will be a safe and profitable one for
everyone.

Disclaimer: Please know that information contained in this report is 99.9% accurate. I
work extremely hard striving to make this information as accurate as possible, but
please remember, there is always the possibility there may have been a vessel passage
or dock delivery that I missed, as tracking vessels on the Saginaw River for the entire
season is not an easy or an exact science. Thank you for taking the time to read my
year-end report. I hope you find it informative and enjoyable. I will see everyone again
in 2024 for my 20th season of logging commercial vessel movements on the Saginaw
River.

Todd A. Shorkey, Saginaw River Images

 Winter lay-up list is now active

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Algoma Central acquires two more product tankers

ST. CATHARINES, ON – Algoma Central Corporation has acquired two 2009 built, 16,600 dwt product tankers from Norway’s Knutsen OAS Shipping.

“We identified an opportunity to secure high-quality ice-class product tankers suitable for trading in Canada and in Northern Europe. These additions will strengthen our capacity to deliver reliable service to our valued customers,” said Gregg Ruhl, President and CEO of Algoma.

The vessels will initially be on bareboat charters back to the sellers. Following completion of their bareboat charters later this year, Algoma plans to begin trading one vessel in the company’s Canadian fleet and one in Europe.

Drone video shows historic lighthouse encased in ice

Footage shot on Monday captures images of the St. Joseph North Pier Outer
Lighthouse that turned into a frozen wonderland. (Courtesy: Nates Dronography via
Storyful)

ST. JOSEPH, MI – Footage shot on Monday captures images of the St. Joseph North
Pier Inner and Outer Lighthouses in southwest Michigan that turned into a frozen
wonderland.

On Sunday, waves from Lake Michigan pummeled the Outer Lighthouse. As the water
on the lighthouse began to freeze, a haunting winter scene began to take shape.

Drone video of this scene shows the Outer Lighthouse coated in frost and jagged ice
formations. A 360-degree shot shows how much of the structure is encased in ice.

View the images here: https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/drone-video-lighthouse-michigan-ice-winter.amp?fbclid=IwAR1K7c_vIqofRMC5boLcpd3s88NBGmcW-g6QBqftZUh-OJaHxD35IPalIW8

 Winter lay-up list is now active

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Museum’s Waving Through Time: Flags of the Sweetwater Seas
Nautical Flag Collection Exhibit Expands Online with Part Two

Tuesday, February 16, 2024 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL)
has released the first series in part two of its Waving Through Time: Flags of the Sweetwater
Seas online exhibit. Every two weeks through March 26, the museum will introduce a series of
flags online that have helped recreational sailors to showcase their identity as well as
communicate on the Great Lakes. From yachting association celebratory flags to flags alerting
boaters of weather or distress—their history and significance will be explored.

“The National Museum of the Great Lakes’ extensive collection of navigational symbols and
house flags is steeped in such rich history. These flags represent the demanding travel and
industrious effort that has taken place on the Great Lakes for centuries,” explains Carrie
Sowden, the museum’s Archaeological and Research Director. “Our Sweetwater Seas have
played an essential role in building all that we enjoy on our shores and beyond.”

Part two of the museum’s flag exhibit will be featured exclusively online. More than 95,000
square miles of navigable water has allowed a large marine recreation industry to anchor itself
within our Great Lakes, and its history is captured in these symbols. Centuries of
communication in recreational sailing on the Sweetwater Seas will be showcased for anyone
to explore on the National Museum of the Great Lakes’s website. To access the exhibit,
including part one highlighting commercial flags, visit nmgl.org/wavingthroughtime.

The museum encourages individuals to follow @NMGLToledo on social media and sign-up to
receive emails for new series launch notifications. The click-and-learn interactive Waving
Through Time exhibit is one of many online museum learning opportunities. During the cold
winter months and beyond, online visitors can also take a virtual tour of the museum and its
ships, see the Port of Toledo Then & Now online exhibit, read through back issues of the
award-winning Inland Seas Journal, and even shop the museum’s store. A special Captain
Scupper’s Kids Club section of the website offers fun learning activities for children of all ages.

About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: Founded in 1944, the Great Lakes Historical
Society has been preserving our shared cultural history by publishing a quarterly journal
Inland Seas® since 1945; by operating a maritime museum since 1952; by offering educational
programs to the general public since 1956; by conducting underwater archaeological research
across the Great Lakes since 2001; and by managing the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum

Ship since 2014 and Museum Tug Ohio since 2019. The opening of the National Museum of
the Great Lakes enables the Great Lakes Historical Society to continue its mission to preserve
and make known the important history of the Great Lakes.

WHAT: Waving through Time: Flags of the Sweetwater Seas,

PART – 2 Online Exhibit
WHEN: Part 2 will release new content every 2-weeks through 6 Series:
Series 1: January 16; Series 2: January 30; Series 3: February 13; Series 4:
February 27; Series 5: March 12; Series 6: March 26

WHERE: Online: nmgl.org/wavingthroughtime
ADMISSION: FREE Interactive Online Exhibit
MEDIA CONTACT: Ellen Kennedy; 330.957.0371

ADM expansion turning Windsor-Essex into ‘powerhouse’

Bob Bellacicco
CTV Windsor News Reporter

Published Jan. 11, 2024

Archer Daniels Midlands (ADM) is the recipient of the largest ever federal government investment into the Port of Windsor.

“This is a really important facility in terms of food security, in terms of grain operation, grain management,” said Steve Salmons, president and CEO of Port Windsor.

He was at ADM along with Windsor Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmieczyk for Thursday’s funding announcement.

Kusmierczyk said the federal government is adding another piece to the puzzle along Windsor’s Port by investing $26.3 million toward a $76-million expansion at ADM.

“It’s going to solidify our region as an agricultural and trade powerhouse and Port Windsor, ADM is huge piece of that puzzle,” said Kusmierczyk.

150 employees work at ADM in Windsor. It is one of the world’s largest nutrition companies, serving both people and animals.

“We take soy beans and canola seed and we process them into vegetable oil and livestock feed,” explained Kevin Wright, the company’s GM for the Great Lakes region.

According to Salmon, ADM’s reach is felt every day.
“If you go to McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s you’re eating French fries made in oil from this facility,” he said.
Wright added that the company also handles corn and whole wheat for export to different countries around the world.

“All that grain is coming right here to ADM plus ship loads and ship loads of grain from the prairies. Grain coming from across the Ohio Valley is coming here,” said Salmons who has been in discussions with Wright on developing strategies to help move grain more efficiently.

Wright said this expansion will help the company improve truck loading capacity by introducing a new roadway and kiosk system.

“We’re going add new grain dryers that are going be efficient to allow us to receive grain from the farmer, and dry it and condition it,” he explained.

With increased storage, Wright said ADM will be able to buy more grain from producers in our region and the rest of southwestern Ontario to satisfy demand around the world.

“The producers continue to grow more grain on their land every day, so adding this capacity will allow to keep up with the farmers who are doing a good job of producing more and more grain every day,” Wright said.

 Winter lay-up list is now active

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The page will be updated throughout the winter. Please send lay-up reports to news@boatnerd.net.