First look at Algoma Bear!

Per Janey Anderson, Algoma Central’s new Equinox-class Algoma Bear was launched in late September by China’s Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding Company. The vessel will be undergoing further construction and sea trials before setting sail for Canada. Algoma Bear is expected to join the fleet next season to replace the 1979-built Algoma Transport.

Boatnerd

Strike closes St. Lawrence Seaway

As the clock struck midnight on Sunday, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) workers represented by the Canada-based union, Unifor, walked off the job at 13 Canadian locks.

The more than 350 workers representing less than 1% of the marine commerce industry in North America now hold the key to when ship traffic will again be able to navigate between the Atlantic Ocean and the upper Great Lakes.

A similar situation played out in the summer of 1968, just 9 years after the waterway opened, when more than 1,200 workers walked off the job also leading to layoffs of longshoremen and other marine-affiliated workers at various ports and shipping companies across the Great Lakes. Back then, former Executive Director Andrew W. Fleming of the Detroit-Wayne County Port Commission estimated that roughly $500,000 a day, a modern-day value of over $4 million, was being lost by Michigan business.

Both parties state they are “at an impasse” as Unifor continues to seek wage increases, while SLSMC works to find what it deems to be a fair and competitive labor agreement that balances wage demands and market realities. As a result, the system will remain shutdown until an agreement can be reached, whether it be temporary or tentative, in an effort to minimize disruption for all stakeholders.

“The stakes are high, and we are fully dedicated to finding a resolution that serves the interests of the Corporation and its employees. We remain committed to continuing discussions and reaching a fair labor agreement,” stated Terence Bowles, SLSMC President and CEO. “In these economically and geopolitically critical times, it is important that the Seaway remains a reliable transportation route for the efficient movement of essential cargoes between North America and the remainder of the world.”

Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed her disappointment in the failure of the employer to make serious movement in the past two days, saying: “This impasse is extremely unfortunate, but our members remain committed to getting a fair agreement.”

SLSMC asserts the union continues to seek wage increases patterned after the recent automotive industry negotiations.

SLSMC believes the current situation at the Seaway is vastly different than the automotive industry. In spite of the recent increases in inflation, Seaway workers over the past 20 years have negotiated salaries that the SLSMC identifies as being almost 10% ahead of inflation.

“We, at the Seaway, are very concerned with the current situation and the effect it is having on our users, stakeholders, and the people awaiting these essential cargoes”, stated Bowles on Saturday.

Currently, SLSMC is awaiting a response to its Canada Industrial Relations Board application, seeking a ruling under the Canada Labor Code for the union to provide employees during a strike, to ensure vessels engaged in the movement of grain continue transiting the system. This ruling, however, is expected to be challenged as there would be potential loopholes that would gain passage for non-grain-related movements.

Negotiations began back in June after the contract expired on March 31, 2023. A second round of discussions took place in September before parties returned to the table earlier this week.

“It’s really up to the employer at this point to seal this deal,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director. “These are jobs that require intense training, a high level of understanding of the health and safety risks, and that carry enormous responsibility for the wellbeing of seafarers and their cargo. They are irreplaceable.”

As of Sunday morning, there were approximately 100 vessels affected by the shutdown and awaiting system access, according to SLSMC. Several ships are anchored off the west and east ends of the Welland Canal, as well as the upper portions of the St. Lawrence River.

Aside from the 13 affected Canadian locks, the United States operates 2 locks on the Seaway, both in Massena, NY, which also have had to shutdown since no ship traffic is able to reach that point on the waterway. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), part of the US Department of Transportation, posted to social media overnight “the St. Lawrence Seaway is closed due to a Canadian worker strike. Our team worked to ensure a safe close of Eisenhower and Snell Locks in Massena, N.Y. and notified cargo operators of impacts. Updates will be provided when more information is available.”

There have been no formal comments from representatives of either county’s transportation department.

The bi-national St. Lawrence Seaway’s 15 locks (13 Canadian and 2 American) serve as the linchpin within the broader waterway, connecting the lower St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes, enabling ships to transit between Montreal and Lake Erie, a difference in elevation of more than 550 feet (168 meters). Over 200 million tons of cargo travel on the waterway on an annual basis, generating upwards of $50 billion in economic activity.

gCaptain

‘The stakes are high’: St. Lawrence Seaway to remain closed as workers strike

St. Lawrence Seaway will remain closed until an agreement can be reached with striking workers, says the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

Currently, there are no vessels waiting to exit the system, but there are more than 100 vessels outside the system, said the SLSMC Sunday morning.

The strike deadline was a minute after midnight Sunday morning. The SLSMC said an “orderly shutdown of the system” took place during the 72-hour notice period before the strike began, allowing for vessels to safely clear the seaway system.

According to a previous statement, a strike would curtail vessels’ ability to transit through the locks at Montreal, Beauharnois, Iroquois, and the eight locks along the Welland Canal.

The 361 workers ensure the transport of ships through the seaway, particularly the locks. About 4,000 ships travel through the seaway each year, transporting a variety of goods.

As of Saturday morning, there had been 36 vessels waiting to exit the system, 22 upbound and 14 downbound, and 70 vessels outside the system.

“The stakes are high, and we are fully dedicated to finding a resolution that serves the interests of the Corporation and its employees. We remain committed to continuing discussions and reaching a fair labour agreement,” said SLSMC president and CEO Terence Bowles in a statement released just after midnight.

“In these economically and geopolitically critical times, it is important that the seaway remains a reliable transportation route for the efficient movement of essential cargoes between North America and the remainder of the world.”

The SLSMC was awaiting a response to its Canada Industrial Relations Board application, seeking a ruling under the Canada Labour Code for the union to provide employees during a strike, to ensure vessels engaged in the movement of grain continue transiting the system.

In a statement, the national president of Unifor, the union that represents the workers, said SLSMC failed make serious movement in the past two days. A 72-hour strike notice was officially filed on Oct. 18 and no resolution was reached by the 11:59 p.m. Saturday deadline.

“This impasse is extremely unfortunate, but our members remain committed to getting a fair agreement,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne.

According to SLSMC, Unifor had moved minimally from its initial position and the two parties were were unable to reach an agreement before the strike deadline.

The locals on strike include Unifor 4211, 4319, 4212, 4323 and 4320.

Locals 4212, 4323 and 4320 represent workers whose contracts expired on March 31. The three locals represent employees at the SLSMC headquarters in Cornwall, along with operational and maintenance staff members based along the seaway in Ontario and Quebec.

These contracts are not in play for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. employees who work at the seaway’s two locks near Massena, N.Y.

The union and management met for bargaining dates on June 19-20, and Sept. 25-29, with the assistance of a conciliator. There were three more days of bargaining scheduled for next week, but Unifor announced the results of the strike votes on Oct. 12, saying 99 per cent of those who cast ballots voted to strike on Oct. 21 if a deal wasn’t reached.

A 72-hour strike notice was officially filed on Oct. 18, and despite sustained negotiating efforts, no resolution was reached by the Saturday, Oct. 21 at 11:59 p.m. deadline, according to Unifor.

The parties are at an impasse as Unifor continues to insist on wage increases inspired by “automotive-type negotiations,” said the SLSMC in its statement Sunday.

“As a result, the system will remain shut down until an agreement can be reached, whether it be temporary or tentative, as we work diligently to minimize disruption for all stakeholders.”

Ottawa Citizen

Obituary: Christopher J. Thompson

Christopher J. Thompson, 55 years old, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, October 17, 2023. Chris was born on November 7, 1967 in South Bend to the late Fred Cody Henry Thompson and Barbara Rae Anderson. He has remained a lifelong resident. On July 25, 2023 in South Bend, Chris and Rose M. Borntrager were united in marriage. Along with Rose, his loving wife, Chris is survived by his son, Nicholas Thompson of Mishawaka; step-daughter, Riley Martin of Oregon; mother of his son, Laurie Thompson of South Bend; step mother, Virginia Thompson of Georgia; and brother, Wayne Thompson of South Bend. Along with his parents, Chris was preceded in death by his brother, Scott Thompson.

Chris has been a lifelong railroad model builder. He has given several presentations and clinics on his building and weathering methods at NMRA conventions amongst other places. Chris has never had his own layout, but he has always enjoyed contributing to several of his friends’ layouts including his late friend, Jack Ozanich’s Atlantic Great Eastern Railway. Chris worked in the retail hobby industry for 15 years before hiring out with Conrail, now Norfolk Southern, in 1997 so he could play with the real big trains.

Chris loved photography as a hobby and making videos of trains and ships. Within the last two years, he was able to set aside his camera and pick up his drone which added to his already incredible eye-capturing perfect shots. Chris not only had a love for trains but anything that moved including ships, planes and cars. The most memorable traits that Chris had was his great sense of humor and quick wit that made him so special. He made all interactions with him memorable. Chris has definitely left his mark behind for all to remember.

A service celebrating the life of Chris will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Chris Thompson may be donated to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, 507 Mulberry Street, North Judson, IN 46366. Online condolences may be offered to Chris’s family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Palmer Funeral Homes

St. Lawrence Seaway shut down as workers go on strike

St. Lawrence Seaway workers begin strike action

MONTREAL, Oct. 22, 2023 /CNW/ – On Saturday night just before midnight, St. Lawrence Seaway workers made the difficult decision to go on strike after negotiations failed to reach a satisfactory agreement.

Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed her disappointment in the failure of the employer to make serious movement in the past two days, saying: “This impasse is extremely unfortunate but our members remain committed to getting a fair agreement.”

A 72-hour strike notice was officially filed on October 18, and despite sustained negotiating efforts, no resolution was reached by the Saturday, October 21 at 11:59 p.m. deadline.

Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier emphasized the negotiating committee’s ongoing commitment to constructive dialogue and said, “We negotiated in good faith right up to the last moment, but we cannot allow workers’ rights to be compromised. We remain open to discussion and hope that the employer will reconsider its position for the good of all.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

Canadian Seaway Workers on Brink of Strike

The Canada-based union, Unifor, representing more than 350 St. Lawrence Seaway workers, returned to the bargaining table on Friday, a day after formal talks were slated to conclude, and remains committed to negotiating.

The union’s Locals 4211, 4212 and 4323 in Ontario and Locals 4319 and 4320 in Quebec, had given notice of a strike on Wednesday and plans are in place to now walk-off the job just after midnight on Sunday, October 22 should the extended talks fail.

On Thursday evening, union lead negotiator, John Hockey, said that talks remained “1000 nautical miles apart on wages.”

The union workers of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) play a major role in the operations of 13 locks along the St. Lawrence Seaway, a vital throughfare from the Atlantic Ocean to the upper Great Lakes and have been on the job this shipping season despite an expired contract on March 31.
“Unifor is committed to getting a collective agreement but at this moment the employer is not,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We are staring down a strike deadline and it’s time for St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to get serious.”

Negotiations with the employer began back in June with additional dates in September. The parties decided to use a conciliator to facilitate discussions from the onset of bargaining. All parties returned to the negotiation table earlier this week and, under agreement of 72-hour notice, the union informed SLSMC on Wednesday of the impending strike.

“It’s really up to the employer at this point to seal this deal and avoid any transit disruption,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director. “These are jobs that require intense training, a high level of understanding of the health and safety risks, and that carry enormous responsibility for the wellbeing of seafarers and their cargo. They are irreplaceable.”

Despite the strong push from the union, SLSMC has remained confident that a satisfactory resolution can be reached and remains committed to obtaining a fair settlement.

Earlier in the day Thursday, SLSMC sent notice to shipping companies outlining a shutdown of the Seaway with cutoff times in which vessel must clear various sections to avoid being stuck in the system. One cruise ship that remains in the Seaway system on Thursday afternoon west of the Welland Canal has since altered its travel plans in an effort to reach the Welland Canal and Montreal ahead of any shutdown.

Aside from the 13 Canadian locks, the United States operates 2 locks on the Seaway, both in Massena, NY, which would also be forced to shutdown since no ship traffic would be able to reach that point on the waterway. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), part of the US Department of Transportation, has not formally commented. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared on social media, “our team is monitoring the potential of a Canadian worker strike in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway and has notified cargo operators about potential impacts to shipments along the Seaway.”

This week, leaders and delegates from shipping companies, ports, and the Seaway system, converged for the annual Highway H2o Conference in Toronto. According to one participant, talk of the strike was minimal from the podium, however scuttlebutt amongst attendees was rampant. There was some talk of potential for the Canadian government to intervene to prevent a walk-off, though unconfirmed.

The strike potential comes at the most inopportune time from the agriculture industry. The
John Taylor of Collwest Grain in Collingwood, Ontario said the impact of a strike “could be huge, we are in the middle of harvest and ship a lot of grain through the Port of Hamilton.”

The binational St. Lawrence Seaway’s 15 locks (13 Canadian and 2 American) serve as the linchpin within the broader waterway, connecting the lower St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes, enabling ships to transit between Montreal and Lake Erie, a difference in elevation of more than 550 feet (168 meters). Over 200 million tons of cargo travel on the waterway on an annual basis.

Michael Folsom, GCaptain

Keewatin Tow to Kingston Delayed Again

Due to unforeseen circumstances at the shipyard, the departure and arrival of S.S. Keewatin has been delayed. No new date has been announced.

“There are a number of moving pieces as we prepare for this historic voyage, and we appreciate your patience, understanding and support during this time. Please help us by sharing these updates to your community so everyone has the latest information,” read a post on Facebook from Keewatin News.
The vessel has been at Heddle Marine in Hamilton, ON, where it has been undergoing renovations during the summer.

“The arrival of SS Keewatin in Kingston will mark the start of the next chapter of her life, one in which we hope she will make many new friends and admirers,” Chris West, the chair of the board for the Great Lakes Museum, said in a news release.

“We encourage anyone with an interest in ships like the Titanic, in Canadian history, and in maritime heritage to visit us in Kingston starting next spring to enjoy the Keewatin and all our museum has to offer,” West added.

The Keewatin was docked in Port McNicholl until earlier this year when it was donated to the museum, the only organization that showed the willingness and the financial resources to preserve it.
“We are pleased to steward the Keewatin through the next phase of its life here in Kingston and ensure she is adequately preserved for current and future generations,” West said. “We are extremely thankful to our many supportive members, donors, volunteers, staff, and board members for their help in preserving this important artifact.”

The Keewatin was built in Scotland in 1907 and sailed between Port McNicholl and Thunder Bay until it was retired from service in 1965. The ship was sold to an American and operated as a tourist attraction in Michigan before being returned to Port McNicholl in 2012 It was last open for public tours in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the museum, of the 3,800 similar ships built in the U.K. between 1900 and 1920, the Keewatin is one of only three to survive and it is the last of its kind on the Great Lakes.
Keewatin News

Ocean Navigator Voyage Canceled after Portland Fire

A cruise ship that caught fire following a possible explosion on Wednesday in Portland will not complete its voyage. American Queen Voyages, the company that owns the 286-foot Ocean Navigator, announced Thursday that the vessel will not be departing Portland to travel to St. John, New Brunswick, as planned.

“We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause our passengers, and we want to emphasize that this decision was not made lightly,” the company wrote in a statement.

Firefighters responded to the vessel docked at the Ocean Gateway Pier at 7:25 a.m. on Wednesday. Smoke was reported in the engine room, and that there had been a possible explosion related to a generator there, according to the Portland Fire Department.

The situation was brought under control in less than 15 minutes, Sean Donaghue, the department’s spokesperson, said. “The ship’s crew was well-trained, and they had made a pretty good attack by the time we arrived,” Donaghue said.

Despite the quick resolution, the company said it was canceling the rest of the trip out of concern for damage from the fire and “adverse weather conditions” forecast for the weekend.

The vessel, which recently completed its Great Lakes cruising season, was carrying 128 passengers and 82 crew at the time of the fire. One crew member was reported taken to a local hospital Wednesday for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. There was no update on the crewperson’s condition Thursday. No one else was hurt.

A company spokesperson said Thursday that American Queen is making alternative travel arrangements for the vessel’s passengers.

Spectrum News

Seaway gives strike notice

See the gallery at the bottom of this post for more details and an official press release.

Great Lakes’ water levels are starting to fall, enjoying a rare normal moment

The Great Lakes are in their seasonal decline in water levels. Over the next few months, the lakes may come close to all being near normal on water levels.

Lake Superior’s water level declined 4 inches in the past month, is 2 inches lower than this time last year and is only one inch above the long-term average. Water levels are expected to decline another 3 inches in the next month.

Lake Michigan and Huron’s water level also declined 4 inches in the past month and is 2 inches lower than this time last year. The two lakes are one water level and are 4 inches above the long-term average. Water levels are expected to decline another 3 inches in the next month.

Lake Erie’s water level isn’t running in tandem with the Upper Lakes of Superior, Michigan and Huron. Lake Erie’s water level declined 6 inches in the past month, but is still 3 inches higher than this time last year and is only 12 inches above the long-term average. Water levels are expected to decline 5 inches in the next month.

Lake Ontario’s water level often does its own thing due to the ability to regulate the water levels through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Lake Ontario’s water level declined 8inches in the past month, but is still 12 inches lower than this time last year and 4 inches above the long-term average. Water levels are expected to decline another 5 inches in the next month.

MLive

Cruise ship explosion in Maine burns employee, prompts passenger evacuations

A cruise ship employee was burned in a generator fire that broke out following an explosion on board early Wednesday morning, officials said. The ship — American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Navigator — was docked at a pier in Portland, Maine, when the incident happened, leaving the crew member with serious injuries and launching an investigation into the cause.

Firefighters with the Portland Fire Department responded before 7:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday to reports of smoke in the engine room of the Ocean Navigator, a visiting cruise ship, the city of Portland said in a news release. The fire department received additional reports indicating that an explosion may have broken out inside the engine room and suggesting it could be related to a generator on board the ship.

Fire officials also received word before arriving at the scene that one member of the Navigator crew had been burned. They treated the crew member who had been burned before arranging transport to a nearby hospital, Portland officials said. The crew member was seriously injured, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The ship was carrying 128 passengers, most of whom were sightseeing on land Wednesday, in addition to 82 crew members, according to Portland officials and the U.S. Coast Guard. Both said the crew member who suffered burns was the only person injured in the fire.

All passengers and remaining members of the Ocean Navigator crew were accounted for. Guests are currently being housed at a local hotel, according to the city.

“The Coast Guard prevention and response team reported to the site as well as the ATF, Maine State Fire Marshall, Maine State Fire Investigator, Portland Fire Department and Customs and Border Patrol,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News on Wednesday afternoon.

The statement went on to note that the the fire happened “in the engine room on a generator” and added that the exact cause of the fire was still under investigation. The Coast Guard was working to determine if the Ocean Navigator could continue to be “seaworthy” as crews ventilated it after the fact, CBS affiliate WGME reported.

“Additional crews were simultaneously able to stabilize the engine room issue and remained on scene to assist with extensive ventilation efforts and complete overhaul to prevent any further issues,” the city of Portland said Wednesday.

CBS News

SS Keewatin on the move this Sunday

Keewatin will be towed out of Heddle Shipyard in Hamilton this Sunday, October 22, by the same tug that brought her there – McKeil Marine’s Molly M1, with a sail through the Eastern passage into the Toronto inner harbour for a short visit and then to her forever home – the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.

Janey Anderson

Museum offering Fitzgerald Experience, unique tour discussing one of the most notable shipwrecks in Great Lakes history

Toledo, OH – The weekend of Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12, the National Museum of the Great Lakes will honor the 48th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald by offering special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories surrounding the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost.

“The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald was a momentous moment in Great Lakes history,” explained Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s Education and Visitor Experience Director. “Guests will come away from these tours with a deeper understanding of the impact of that loss.”

Tickets for the 75-minute tour are $20 for members and $25 for non-members, which includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests will also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Advance registration is recommended.

Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not handicap or wheelchair accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some. The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. If it is determined that the tours are impossible due to the weather, a refund of the ticket price (minus fees) will be provided. No make-up date is planned. You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Fraser Industries eyes expansion in Superior

SUPERIOR — Fraser Industries is working to expand opportunity at the 135-year-old shipyard.

After all, the 60-acre facility offers plenty of room for growth around Howard’s Bay.

Fraser Industries has been owned by Infrastructure Acquisition Partners, a joint venture of Cleaves Invest of Norway and Chicago-based Foundry Mountain Infrastructure Partners, since June 2021.

Since then, company officials have been working to turn the Fraser Industries around.

“We basically have 15 acres of operation on a 60-acre facility, so there’s lots of potential and lots of opportunities,” said Fraser CEO Patrick Kelly. “We have specific plans to roll out over the next three years. And the way growth usually takes place, one stage of growth will usually lead to the next … we think that will lead to other opportunities beyond that.”

The three-year plan wouldn’t use the entire 45 acres available for growth, Kelly said.

Fraser Industries includes Fraser Shipyards, the only full-service ship repair and maintenance yard west of Soo Locks; Lake Assault Boats, a manufacturer of aluminum vessels; Northern Engineering, to provide machining services for repair and renewal of power transmissions, propulsion systems and gear drives; and now Fraser Terminal.

The company has obtained a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Maritime Security and Safety Plan.

The size of the facility has allowed the company to recently add a terminal operation, Kelly said. He said if the port of Duluth is unable to handle the volume, Fraser is able to take it.

“It’s just a nice expansion of what we bring,” Kelly said.

The plan could invest up to $100 million now that Fraser Industries is an international public port entryway into Wisconsin, said John Jacobson, director of public affairs with Ruder Ware, which represents Fraser Industries. However, the terminal is not the only opportunity for growth.

“We’ve got several rail opportunities that are coming to us,” Kelly said. “The major rail operators in the region indicate they don’t have adequate repair capability — paint lining opportunities are a big deal — and just fleeting.”

The straight-away Fraser owns across the bay from the shipyard operation could provide sufficient space to store up to 250 rail cars, Kelly said.

Kelly said they are talking with rail groups about extending the rail spurs that currently run to the yard, which would make the shipyard a tri-modal facility serving freight movement by rail, truck and ship. The facility would include rail repair, liner coatings and fleeting services, he said.

“A lot of our customers tell us that’s exactly what they are looking for on the Superior side of the harbor complex,” Kelly said. “It’s a nice opportunity there. We’re building our customer interest now before we put the investment in the yard, but it’s coming.”

But Fraser Industries isn’t moving away from its roots.

Both the shipyard and Lake Assault Boats are building new vessels. Fraser is building vessels for the U.S. Navy and a ferry for the Beausoleil First Nations Tribe. Lake Assault Boats delivered its 200th aluminum vessel this year and has a five-year contract with the U.S. Navy and NATO members to supply up to 130 patrol boats.

“Basically, when the U.S.S. Cole was bombed in Yemen, the Department of Defense and the Navy put out a request saying basically that all of these big ships we have around the globe don’t have any protection, so any small boat can come up and blow up the side of our ships,” Jacobson said. “Fraser was one of the businesses that won the bids. They’ve built these really neat boats, these really versatile, tactical patrol and assault boats to protect the Navy fleet.”

And the shipyard is still focused on repairs. With more than a mile of dock wall and two of the four dry docks on the Great Lakes, repairs and inspections remain an important part of the business.

In addition to structural work, the shipyard does engine repair, vibration analysis and anything that has rotating equipment, Fraser has experts that will fix it, Kelly said. He said ship owners often take advantage of their Jones Act inspections, required every five years, to open things up and get them fixed before they go back out in the spring.

“We pride ourselves in getting every boat that’s in for winter work out by March 15,” Kelly said. “That’s the start of the spring season, and it’s really important to owners that that boat be back in service. Everything takes on urgency in the wintertime.”

Superior Telegram

St. Lawrence Seaway workers vote in favour of strike

The St. Lawrence Seaway’s unionized workers in Canada have voted in favour of a strike as renegotiation of their contracts continues with an Oct. 21 strike deadline approaching.

Unifor locals 4212, 4323, and 4320 represent St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. employees whose contracts expired on March 31. The union and management met for bargaining dates on June 19-20, and Sept. 25-29, with the assistance of a conciliator. There are three more days of bargaining scheduled for next week, Oct. 17-19, but Unifor announced the results of the locals’ strike votes Thursday, saying 99 per cent of those who cast ballots voted to strike on Oct. 21 if a deal isn’t reached.

The three locals represent employees at the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.’s headquarters in Cornwall, along with operational and maintenance staff members based along the seaway in Ontario and Quebec. These contracts are not in play for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. employees who work at the seaway’s two locks near Massena, N.Y.

A statement from Unifor quoting national president Lana Payne suggested wages were one of the issues yet to be resolved, as she called on the seaway and federal government to meet the unions’ wage expectations. The statement didn’t indicate what the union is seeking in the next contract.

The wage scales included in the locals’ contracts that expired in 2021 covered a range from $56,700 to $86,590 a year.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. issued a joint notification on Thursday regarding bargaining with the Canadian unionized employees, indicating the SLSMC remains confident a deal can be reached. If not, contingency planning is underway and the notification also included a warning to mariners.

Click here for full article

Montreal Gazette

Fraser CEO shares details on plans to expand, add jobs in Superior

Fraser Industries CEO Patrick Kelly projects his company will more than double its gross revenue and add 100 employees by 2025 as the Superior commercial and military shipbuilder expands operations.

Kelly tells WisBusiness.com he’s using his past experience at companies such as Amoco and BP raising capital and then working for private equity firms turning dwindling companies into more profitable ventures. He expects to finalize all the remaining formalities to secure investments needed to expand the shipyard and other operations before the end of the year.

Fraser also projects its headcount in Superior will grow up to 375 from a little more than 200 in 2022 in order to meet demands, according to documents exclusively provided to WisBusiness.com.

“Today, we have over a three-year — up to a four-year — backlog of boats to be built,” Kelly said, using boats to define everything from commercial ships to 30 foot Lake Assault Boats. “And so this [expansion] recognizes that and says, as we build additional floor space, I fill it immediately.”

The 133-year-old private company has a 600-foot drydock and another 800-foot drdock in Superior, facilitating major repairs and shipbuilding projects that might otherwise need to take place on the West Coast or East Coast.

Fraser projects gross revenue to grow to $102.4 million by 2025 from $42.5 million reported in 2022.

Expanding train and rail operations while making Fraser a public port — opening up 7,500 square feet of dock space — are some of the ways Kelly and his partners are bringing in more business.

The company’s Superior shipyard previously only used about 15 acres of the 60-acre property. But that extra land is now generating revenue since Fraser opened up a cargo terminal, looked to add railroad spur lines and started doing rail repair and paint services.

Click here for full article

WisBusiness

Historic Marblehead Lighthouse Fresnel lens nearly turned to scrap

Thanks to Bob Boytim and other village employees, people attending the Marblehead Lighthouse Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14 will have the opportunity to view an historic piece of local history that was nearly lost to the scrap heap. Boytim was responsible for preserving the Paris-made Marblehead Lighthouse Fresnel lens, which is on permanent display in the Keeper’s House Museum located at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park.

The Fresnel lens, which featured 128 prisms, guided ships to safety from the time it was installed in the Marblehead Lighthouse in 1903 until it was removed in 1969, according to Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society President Tom Hartman.

“When they took the lens out, I went to the top of the light and begged them not to take it, but they said they had to,” Boytim said. “They put it on a truck and took it to a warehouse in Detroit. They were going to put it in a dumpster. I wrote to my congressmen asking if I could bring it back to Marblehead.”

Robert Bird, who was mayor of Marblehead at that time, also sent an official request for the lens. Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society Historian, Lorrie Halblaub, said Robert received a letter from the U.S. Coast Guard giving permission for the village to retrieve the lens.

K.A. Long, who was then the Commander and U.S. Coast Guard Chief of the Comptroller Division of the Ninth Coast Guard District, wrote the letter. Robert’s daughter, current Marblehead Mayor Jacqueline Bird, still owns a copy of the letter which was dated April 6, 1970.

The letter granted permission for “Mr. Robert Boytim and Mr. Franklin Merrill, village employees, to pick up the 3½ Order Lens that is being donated to the Village of Marblehead.”

The letter noted that the lens was located at the Coast Guard base in Detroit, and Long suggested the men bring “sufficient packing material.”

At the time, Boytim was serving on the Board of Public Affairs and Merrill was Waterworks Superintendent. The two men, along with Village Councilman Jim Meiner, drove a water plant truck to Detroit to retrieve the 300-pound lens.

“We packed it with straw, rugs, blankets – anything to protect the prisms,” Boytim said. “It wasn’t a difficult journey, but it was a slow one.”

The lens was first displayed at the Marblehead Town Hall and then at the Coast Guard station before being moved to the Keeper’s House Museum. Boytim has lifelong ties to the light. He grew up down the road from the lighthouse and built a house within sight of the light in 1955. He still lives there.

“When I was a kid, they kept the lighthouse open, and I could go up anytime,” he said. Now, thanks to Boytim, the public can view the historic Fresnel lens anytime the museum is open.

The Keeper’s House Museum will be open during the Saturday, Oct. 14 Lighthouse Festival and then will close for the winter season.

The Beacon

End-of-season “Authors & Artists” show this weekend at Great Lakes Maritime Center

The Great Lakes Maritime Center is hosting its end-of-season “Authors & Artists” show this Saturday, October 14, in Port Huron, MI. See the gallery at the end of this post for a flyer with more information.

Boatnerd

Cleveland-Cliffs building multimillion-dollar hydrogen pipeline to East Chicago blast furnace

Integrated steelmakers like those along Northwest Indiana’s lakeshore in Northwest Indiana have faced mounting international pressure to curb carbon emissions as the world reckons with climate change.

Now a new technological breakthrough might help the Region’s steel mills clean up their act.

Cleveland-Cliffs is building a multimillion-dollar pipeline to pump hydrogen to Blast Furnace No. 7 at Indiana Harbor Works in East Chicago, said Traci Forrester, executive vice president of environmental and sustainability for Cleveland-Cliffs.

The steelmaker is looking to cut back its carbon footprint.

“We’re an industry leader in clean hydrogen as a foundation of advanced steelmaking,” Forrester said at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond. “We’re proud of the progress we have made, achieving a 32% reduction in emissions compared to a 2017 baseline.”

For centuries, blast furnaces have been fed with coke, a purified form of coal that’s burned to make the liquid iron that’s turned into steel for cars, appliances, buildings, bridges and many other end products. But now Cleveland-Cliffs is looking at burning carbon-free hydrogen as an alternative to coke.

Construction is already underway on the pipeline, Forrester said.

Click here for full article

NWI