New Ship for CSL

We’re excited to welcome MV CSL FLEXVIK to our fleet – a hybrid self-loading/unloading vessel purpose-built to support coastal and offshore construction as well as aggregate logistics across Europe.
    Converted from a bulk carrier, CSL FLEXVIK is engineered for maximum versatility, capable of handling a wide range of materials – from fine sand to 3-tonne armour rock.
    With two gantry-mounted electric excavators and a 45-metre discharge boom, the vessel offers flexible unloading options, including single-point discharge, transhipment to other vessels, and direct handling of larger rock gradings.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/mvbnpz3n

U.S. Representative Lisa McClain Recognized as a Great Lakes Champion

 Port Huron, MI (August 18, 2025) – On Monday, August 18, 2025, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) recognized Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain for her efforts advocating for the Great Lakes Navigation System and those who live and work on or near the Fourth Sea Coast.
    “It is an incredible honor to be recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force. The Great Lakes are not only a vital economic engine for our region, but a national treasure that demands strong, informed policy,” Chairwoman McClain said. “I am proud to advance legislation in Congress that strengthens maritime commerce, modernizes our water infrastructure, and protects the long-term sustainability of the Great Lakes. I will always fight to ensure our Michigan ports, waterways, and maritime workers have the support they need to thrive.”
    “Representative McClain has been a relentless advocate for the Great Lakes Navigation System.  Whether she is supporting the new heavy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaker, funding for arguably the most important infrastructure project ever at the Soo Locks, or ensuring our lakes are mapped to the highest modern standards, Representative McClain leads the way for Michigan and the entire Great Lakes,” stated John Clemons American Maritime Officers National Vice President of the Great Lakes and President of GLMTF.
    Representative McClain’s district falls squarely in the crosshairs of annual ice jam flooding that occurs on the St Clair River and causes hundreds of thousands of dollars to impacted residents.  The new heavy Great Lakes icebreaker is a critical tool needed to alleviate those jams to prevent flooding and Congresswoman McClain has aggressively sought construction funding for the vital asset.
    The construction of the new large navigational lock in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan remains on track for completion in 2030, thanks in large part to Representative McClain’s tenacious pursuit of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding which has kept costs under control and workers on the job.  The progress at the Soo Locks has been phenomenal and serves as an ideal example for how a major infrastructure project can be completed when Congress provides bipartisan support.
    In addition, Congresswoman McClain has taken a leadership role with the reintroduction of the Great Lakes Mapping Act which would ensure future economic development, resource management, and environmental sustainability in the Great Lakes Region.  With only 13 percent of the Great Lakes mapped to modern hydrographic standards, the legislation directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct high resolution mapping of the Great Lakes to further understand the underwater environment.
    “It is a privilege to be here today to award Representative McClain a well-deserved “thank you” on behalf of the entire U.S. Great Lakes maritime industry.  Legislators like Congresswoman McClain get things done and the Great Lakes are fortunate to have such a powerful voice on Capitol Hill moving our region forward,” stated Jim Weakley President of the Lake Carriers’ Association and Vice President of GLMTF.
    The ceremony was hosted at the Lakes Pilots Association facility on the banks of the St. Clair River in Port Huron, Michigan.  Established in 1960 following the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Lakes Pilots has provided pilotage services for Lake Erie and the St. Clair and Detroit river systems. Their jurisdiction covers almost 270 nautical miles of waterways, spanning four U.S. states and one Canadian province, containing a combined 12 ports.
About Great Lakes Maritime Task Force
    The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, with nearly 80 members, is the largest coalition to speak for the Great Lakes Navigation System.  Advocating for domestic and international shipping, its members represent labor and management from U.S.-flag vessel operators, shipboard and longshore unions, port authorities, cargo shippers, terminal operators, shipyards, and other Great Lakes interests. The Great Lakes commercial maritime industry supports more than 147,000 American jobs in eight Great Lakes states and generates more than $36 billion in economic activity.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Now Accepting New Members, Renewals

DETROIT, MI – You don’t have to live in the Motor City to join the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Its focus includes all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the ships and sailors keeping the economies of two countries moving.
    The 81-year-old non-profit group is now accepting new memberships and membership renewals. 
    “The MHSD has plenty to offer anyone interested in and concerned with the history of the Great Lakes and its vibrant maritime heritage,” says long-time group President Roger LeLievre. “We have members across the U.S. and Canada and even overseas.”
    Membership includes the monthly publication The Detroit Marine Historian, which offers a variety of articles exploring Great Lakes shipping past and present. It also includes an annual, full-color calendar featuring superb, often rare, photos of Great Lakes ships of the past.
    Last year the group published the 300-page, hardcover book Ahoy & Farewell III, documenting the vessels built and those that left the lakes during the past 30 years. The book recently won an award for excellence from the Historical Society of Michigan.
    In keeping with society’s goal of preserving historical images, the MHSD’s image portal, featuring photos and details of many historic vessels, is now online at www.marinehistorydetroit.historyit.com

    The Society has named an annual Historian of the Year since 1969. The award is voted on by past winners and honors those who have contributed significantly to the research, presentation or publication of Great Lakes ships and the shipping history.
    Membership is $40 (U.S. and Canada). Join online at www.mhsd.org. To join or renew by mail, please print out the form in the gallery below.
MHSD

Donations sought to restore historic Muskegon lighthouse

BY Brian Farber Michigan
PUBLISHED 10:52 AM ET Aug. 18, 2025

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Muskegon South Breakwater Lighthouse, a maritime landmark that has guided ships into Muskegon’s harbor for nearly a century, is in desperate need of community support to fund critical restoration work.
    “Muskegon South Breakwater Light has been subjected to the storms and brutality of the winters of the Midwest. It was built in 1930 and has had these damages ever since. Not fully restored ever before,” said Kim Lange, volunteer manager for Muskegon Lights.
    The damage is extensive and affects both the exterior and internal structure of the lighthouse.
    “The entire light has been subject to rust and erosion of the structural pieces. The exterior sheets are very bad condition, you can see. But internally, the inner structure, kind of like an erector set, needs to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb, pieces replaced, pieces fixed,” Lange explained.
    The state has provided $800,000 in initial funding for the restoration project, but Muskegon Lights has to raise the rest of the money.
    “We need to raise an additional $800,000 through the community donations,” Lange said.
    According to Michigan Lights, The Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy has owned both Muskegon lighthouses since 2010, when they were donated by the United States government for historic preservation, education and public use through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, administered by the National Park Service.
    Lange says for many residents, the lighthouse represents more than just a navigational aid.
    “The light is an iconic treasure of the city of Muskegon. For most people, it has been in their sight here at the beach all of their lives. It has great importance for maritime safety, and it has historic presence,” Lange noted. “The community loves our lights. They’re very important to us both emotionally and physically. To save these lights is vital for the continuation of their historical presence for generations to come,” she added.
     Beyond financial support, the conservancy is also looking for volunteers to help with preservation efforts, give tours and perform routine maintenance on the lighthouses.
    According to Michigan Lights, both lighthouses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and while the structures are owned by the conservancy, the US Coast Guard continues to maintain the blinking lights and fog signals that serve as aids to navigation for Lake Michigan boaters.

Click on link for complete story and photos:  https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2025/08/18/donations-sought-to-restore-historic-muskegon-lighthouse-?fbclid=IwY2xjawMRaTZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnmH4EgNqCKySLtbCMFoKT3OoHuN2sKE4TV-ySFhuGREKeZQplKy5FIrAfTw_aem_bWGSBbETnjs8fYeZlWWu6A

For more information on how to donate to the restoration project, visit the Muskegon Lights website.  https://muskegonlights.org/

Historic Sheboygan lighthouse faces uncertain future as ownership changes

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Along with Blue Harbor and the twin smoke stacks, the big red lighthouse stands as a pillar of the Sheboygan skyline. The 110-year-old structure has been a popular spot for walkers and fishermen for generations, but now faces an uncertain future as it changes ownership.
    Brett Koller, a regular fisherman at the lighthouse, has deep personal connections to the landmark. “Since I was little, a kid, I’ve spent a lot of time down here. Perch fished when I was 8, 9 years old, with cane poles and crab tails,” Koller said. “Coming to the pier is just almost like a daily thing for me,” Koller said.
    The federal government is now looking to transfer ownership of the lighthouse, according to Sheboygan officials. “[It’s] opening it up, trying to get rid of the building maintenance and owning and operating the lighthouse,” Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson said.
    Before any transfer happens, the structure needs significant repairs. The lighthouse is rusting from the inside out, with visible deterioration allowing specks of sunlight to penetrate through the metal. “I think the thing that’s really holding this lighthouse together is the layers of red paint,” Sorenson said.
    “Fraying from the inside, really coming apart here,” Sorenson added while pieces of the wall flaked to the ground.
    The city is currently assessing repair costs. If Sheboygan can’t afford the repairs, ownership opportunities will open to nonprofits. If no nonprofits express interest, private buyers will have a chance to purchase the landmark.
    If no buyers come forward, “Is it going to be an iconic-looking lighthouse like we have today?” Sorenson asked. Or will it be replaced with a more utilitarian structure similar to one on Sheboygan’s southern sister pier — solar-powered lights and a foghorn attached to metal poles.
    “Me personally, being born and raised in Sheboygan, I want the lighthouse. We need a lighthouse,” Sorenson added.
    For locals like Koller, the prospect of losing the historic lighthouse is difficult to imagine: “I would hate to see it go.”
WTMJ