Soo Locks Money, New Great Lakes Icebreaker Authorized in Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – An $858 billion national defense bill that President Joe Biden is expected to sign this week contains funding authorizations for a new Great Lakes icebreaker and increased spending on the Soo Locks shipping complex.
The U.S. Senate passed the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Dec. 15, sending the defense funding and policy bill to Biden’s desk.
As part of expanded U.S. Coast Guard authorizations, the bill allows for $350 million to build new heavy Great Lakes icebreaker like the cutter Mackinaw which is stationed in Cheboygan. It also requires new reporting on the economic impact of vessel delays on the lakes caused by ice.
Great Lakes shipping interests have long advocated for another heavy icebreaker despite historical data showing that total ice cover is on the long-term decline. Icebreaking began on Lake Superior last week.
The NDAA also authorizes $3.2 billion toward ongoing reconstruction at the Soo Locks shipping complex. That roughly triples the amount previously authorized for the infrastructure project after inflation and increasing costs of labor and materials ballooned cost estimates this year.
Over the next six years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reconfiguring the inactive Davis and Sabin locks into a single large chamber similar to the existing Poe Lock, which is the only lock big enough to move the largest Great Lakes ships.
Read more at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/12/soo-locks-money-new-great-lakes-icebreaker-authorized-in-defense-bill.html
Obituary: Charles J. Geiger
Charles J. Geiger, age 85, a Manitowoc resident, died on Thursday afternoon December 22, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his loving wife and family.
Charlie was born on August 29, 1937, in Manitowoc, son of the late Lawrence J. and Germaine A. (Mueller) Geiger. He was a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School with the class of 1955. On February 27, 1965, he married the former Joanne Neuser at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Manitowoc. After graduating from high school, Charlie was employed with D. Sullivan & Co. of Chicago, IL. as a mate and pilot on the great lakes for 14 years. He was then employed in the trucking and construction business. Charlie was later employed with C. Harvey Co. of Manitowoc until his retirement. He was a member of the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology, Bay Area Bird Club, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Detroit Marine Historical Society for over 50 years, Great Lakes Marine Historical Society, Friends of Branch River and a former member of the Bluebird Restoration Association.
Survivors include his wife: Joanne, Manitowoc; two brothers and two sisters-in-law: John and Carol Geiger, Trego, WI, Thomas and Connie Geiger, Picayune, MS; two sisters-in-law: Kathleen Miller, Elizabeth Neuser both of Manitowoc; two brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Norbert and Carol Neuser, Kewaskum, WI, Walter Aumann, Menominee Falls, WI, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Norbert and Blanche Neuser; sister: Ellen Aumann; brother-in-law: David Miller; one niece: Angela Geiger; one nephew: Bryan Aumann; and one great nephew: Elijah David Miller.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Kellnersville. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Santigo Turiano Jr. & Rev. Paul Demuth, with entombment to follow at Calvary Mausoleum, Manitowoc.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Kellnersville, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM. The Lakeshore Family Funeral Home, Pfeffer location is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.lakeshorefuneralhomes.com
2022 list of new saltwater visitors to the Seaway
As the St. Lawrence Seaway and its locks are scheduled to close for the season on December 31, 2022, a look back at the season shows that there were 43 new saltwater visitors that made westbound transits through the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, NY. during the 2022 Great Lakes/Seaway shipping season. The 43 new visitors are up eight vessels from the 2021 season, in which there were 35 new visitors.
A breakdown from 2017-2021 shows the following number of new visitors in each year.
2021: 35
2020: 47
2019: 49
2018: 39
2017: 42
A list of the 43 new visitors in 2022 is as follows: ABB Vanessa, Ale, Barbro G, BBC Arkhangelsk, Bogdan, Brattingsborg, Bruce, Celine C, Charlie, Chem Tiger, Eagle, Egbert Wagenborg, FWN Splendide, Gwen, Harbour Express, Houtmangracht, Industrial Color, Janis, Jessica B, Lea Atk, Marguerita, Maxima, Nordic Aqua, Nordic Kylie, Nordika Desgagnes, Onego Duero, Onego Maas, Owl 2, Patagonman, Perelik, Pichon, Scot Bremen, Scot Leipzig, SFL Weser, Shipka, Sider London, Sloman Discoverer, Sophia, Sten Frigg, Sveva, Unisea, Verila and Vezhen.
Of note, the Malta-flagged tanker Scot Bremen was the last new visitor for the 2022 season to make an upbound transit of the Seaway. It arrived in Montreal on December 22, then departed December 23 for Hamilton.
Denny Dushane
