Ship arrestor hit by Osogovo, halting Seaway traffic
The Maltese-registered bulk carrier Osogovo hit the ship arrestor in Cote Ste Catherine Lock near Montreal on Thursday morning. Ship traffic has been halted until repairs can be made. Drawsko, Algoma Niagara and Nukumi were stopped as of 7 p.m. Thursday.
Osogovo, built in 2011, is owned by Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar), and is a frequent visitor to the Great Lakes and Seaway system.
A ship arrester is an arm that extends across the lock to prevent a vessel from hitting the gates.
Marinette Marine lays off almost 100 workers a week after the Navy canceled ship orders
MARINETTE, WI – Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid off nearly 100 workers on Wednesday, about a week after the U.S. Navy announced it was canceling much of a multi-billion dollar order for ships that would have been built in Wisconsin.
Marinette Marine laid off 93 employees who were “primarily white collar positions,” according to a spokesperson for Marinette Marine’s parent company, Fincantieri Marine Group.
In an email, the spokesperson said the layoff was in response to the Navy’s decision to only move forward with construction of two frigates instead of the six that had previously been awarded to Marinette Marine.
“We must balance the size and composition of our workforce against the now-reduced demand from our government customer,” the email read. “We have a framework agreement with the Navy that promises opportunities to keep our workforce stabilized, in accordance with federal acquisition regulations.”
But even with that agreement, the spokesperson said additional “workforce adjustments” may be needed “without meaningful government-directed business coming into our Wisconsin system of shipyards.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has called on the Trump administration and the Navy to bring more work to Marinette to make up for the canceled contract. Earlier this week, she told WPR there could be a “really big negative impact on the workforce” at Marinette Marine if the Navy fails to “keep commitments made.”
According to Fincantieri, the company had 2,175 employees and contract workers at Marinette Marine as of last week. The shipbuilder is Marinette’s largest employer.
[Wisconsin Public Radio]
Lake Superior and Michigan-Huron water levels drop more than average in November
Water levels on both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron dropped significantly more than their seasonal averages during November, according to a new update from the International Lake Superior Board of Control.
The board expects the total St. Marys River flow in December to be 2,150 m³/s (75,900 ft³/s) as prescribed by Regulation Plan 2012.
The gate setting of the Compensating Works at the head of the St. Marys Rapids will remain at the typical winter gate setting of one-half gate open (Gates 1 and 7 through 10 open 20 cm, or 8 in, each). The St. Marys Rapids flow will remain at approximately 86 m³/s, or 3,000 ft³/s (equivalent to approximately one-half gate open).
Water supply conditions were much drier than average in both the Lake Superior basin and the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in November.
Lake Superior decreased by 10 cm (3.9 in) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Superior to decline by 5 cm (2.0 in) in November.
Lake Michigan-Huron declined by 11 cm (4.3 in) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Michigan-Huron to decline by 4 cm (1.6 in) in November.
At the beginning of December, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Superior was 13 cm (5.1 in) below the seasonal long-term average (1918–2024) and 3 cm (1.2 in) above the level of a year ago.
At the beginning of December, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Michigan-Huron was 30 cm (11.8 in) below the seasonal long-term average (1918–2024) and 20 cm (7.9 in) below the level of a year ago.
If weather and water supply conditions are near average in December, Lake Superior may decline by approximately 8 cm (3.1 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may decrease by approximately 5 cm (2.0 in).
If conditions are much wetter than average, Lake Superior may decrease by approximately 4 cm (1.6 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may rise by approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) in December.
If conditions are much drier than average in December, the water level of Lake Superior may fall by 13 cm (5.1 in), and Lake Michigan-Huron may decrease by about 10 cm (3.9 in).
[International Lake Superior Board of Control]
Post Your Christmas, Holiday cards on Boatnerd
Feel free to share your boat-themed Christmas and holiday cards by posting them in this thread. Attachments must be under 2 MB.
Christmas Tree Ship: Historically-inspired holiday
tradition returns to National Museum of the Great Lakes
TOLEDO, Ohio — The National Museum of the Great Lakes is holding its annual Christmas Tree Ship event, a tradition with historic roots and an emphasis on giving during the holiday season.
The event encourages the public to purchase a live 5 to 7 foot Christmas Tree for themselves or to donate one to a community member in need. The trees are sourced from Matthes Tree Farm in Ida, Michigan. They can be pre-purchased through Sunday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m., according to a press release from the museum. Trees are $80 each.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, the public can watch Santa Claus arrive on a tugboat filled with Christmas trees for families.
The event, which is centered around the giving season, also invited the public to purchase gift card donations for the museum to distribute to local organizations, including the East Toledo Family Center, Family House, Lucas County Children Services and Sylvania Area Family Services.
Also partnering with NMGL in the project are presenters UToledo Health and the Port of Museum. The former’s help will ensure every tree or gift card donation will include a health hygiene kit for families in need, NMGL said.
The event will coincide with free museum admission and include a variety of family holiday events, such as the East Toledo Holiday Parade and a Meet and Greet with Santa.
The event takes its inspiration from the historic schooner “Rouse Simmons,” which was known as the original Christmas Tree ship. Rouse Simmons sank on Nov. 23, 1912 while carrying a load of Christmas trees to Chicago. Its captain was well-known for giving trees to families in need, NMGL said on its website.
Those who are interested in learning more about receiving a donated tree should call United Way at 211.
For more information, or to purchase a Christmas tree, click here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship25/
