THURSDAY UPDATE: As December 29 at 09:30, were 9 ships left to transit. Since Wednesday, the following vessels exited the Seaway: Federal Alster, Federal Dart, Federal Dee and Taagborg
.Salties scramble to meet Seaway closing date
Montreal, QC – As of Wednesday morning, there were at least 13 ocean-going vessels left to pass through the St-Lambert Lock by January 1, the new official date of the closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They are Federal Alster, Federal Bering, Federal Dart, Federal Dee, Federal Hudson, Federal Kushiro, Federal Seto, Isadora, Jamno, Scot Bremen, Strandja, Taagborg and Tufty.
It seems (though unconfirmed) that the Thunder Bay, which arrived Tuesday night at Côte Ste-Catherine, will spend the winter there.
Rene Beauchamp
Coast Guard’s Operation Coal Shovel aims to keep vessels moving on lower lakes
On December 26, the U.S. Coast Guard commenced its annual Operation Coal Shovel, a domestic ice-breaking operation with an area of responsibility spanning from southern Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair, to the St. Clair/Detroit River system, and into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario including the St. Lawrence Seaway.
USCG
What’s it like being on an icebreaker? ‘It will shake your fillings loose’
365 days a year, the Great Lakes are a gateway for commerce and travel, a feat that wouldn’t be possible without the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of icebreakers.
That work is accomplished through Operation Taconite, the only domestic icebreaking mission in the United States. Set forth by an executive order issued in 1936, the operation encompasses all the Great Lakes, St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac and Georgian Bay. The goal is to protect the environment, safeguard island communities and meet the reasonable demands of commerce.
Assisting ships, rescue missions and track-making are all in the job description for icebreakers. The crew and vessels put in roughly 5,000 employment hours from December to April.
Ride along on a coast guard icebreaker in this 9 & 10 News report: https://www.9and10news.com/
Obituary: Nicholas Zilincik
Nicholas T. Zilincik “Nick” of Livonia, Michigan passed away December 23, 2022 at the age of 25. Beloved son of Todd and Christa Zilincik. Loving brother of Katherine “Katie” Zilincik. Cherished grandson of Marie & Abraham Keisoglou and Jerry & Sandy Zilincik. Dear great-grandson of Shirley Palmer and Eleanor Scott. Dearest nephew of Nicole Allen, Laura Blair, Scott (Janar) Zilincik, and Jerome (Javier) Zilincik. Nick is also survived by many cousins and friends.
Nick was a 2015 graduate of Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Maritime Technology at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy located at Traverse City, Michigan in May 2020. He successfully passed the U.S. Coast Guard examinations and was licensed as a 3rd Mate of unlimited tonnage upon oceans and as a first class pilot of unlimited tonnage vessels upon Great Lakes waterways. He was employed as a 2nd mate on the Great Lakes with Van Enkevort Tug and Barge, Inc. (VTB) on the ship Laura L. VanEnkevort.
Visitation will be Monday, January 2, 2022 from 3-8 pm at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154. Instate 10 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2022 until time of service 11 am at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 14175 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154. Interment will take place at Parkview Memorial Cemetery, Livonia, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA Program) in honor of his memory or the Livonia Save Our Youth Coalition.
