Alpena leaves shipyard, heads for namesake port
Sturgeon Bay, WI –The cement carrier Alpena left Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI, Friday evening. She is headed to Alpena, MI, to load and then Cleveland to layup. She was at BayShip for her five-year inspection and refit.
Canadian Coast Guard takes delivery of light icebreaker Mangystau-2
The Canadian Coast Guard has announced the arrival of its newly-purchased light icebreaker from New Brunswick-based Atlantic Towing Ltd. The vessel, the 217-foot-long Mangystau-2,
travelled almost 6,000 nautical miles from Turkmenistan (Central Asia) to the Coast Guard’s Sorel, Quebec, base.
The additional light icebreaker, built in Romania in 2010, will help ensure service is maintained during planned maintenance periods for the existing fleet. A public tender for the refit of the light icebreaker will be issued by Public Services and Procurement Canada. This vessel will complete conversion work in Canada so it can deliver programs in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence and Atlantic sectors.
Canadian Coast Guard
City set to sell M.S. Norgoma for the price of a second-hand trombone
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Pride of the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront until the Trans-Canada Highway was completed in 1962, M.S. Norgoma is about to be sold for just $2,500 to a retired ship salvager.
City Council will be asked Monday to approve sale of the 188-foot former package freighter/passenger ferry/museum ship to Jeff Dwor, former owner of the Dwor Metal Co. Ltd. of Port Colborne, Ont.
“He has sold this business but is looking at the M.S. Norgoma as a personal project and renovating for private use,” says Tom Vair, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer for community development and enterprise services.
“Recently, Mr. Jeff Dwor came forward with interest in acquiring the vessel. He flew to Sault Ste. Marie, toured the vessel and is interested in proceeding to acquire the M.S. Norgoma,” Vair says in a report prepared for Monday’s City Council meeting.
$2,500 isn’t much. There was a used trombone selling yesterday for that sum in SooToday Classifieds, but getting rid of the controversial 72-year-old ship will save the city $40 a day in dockage fees it’s been paying since 2019 for a spot at the Algoma Steel docks that’s inaccessible to the public.
The city had planned to sell the relic to The Sweet Shop in Tobermory but that deal sank like a baby fed on starch when the confectioner couldn’t find a berth in the municipal marina there. m”Since that time, staff has been trying to find a new location for the M.S. Norgoma while also obtaining estimates to decommission the vessel,” says Vair.
“Since The Sweet Shop terminated their agreement, staff have had a number of conversations with different organizations and groups interested in the vessel. Three groups came forward but all backed off for various reasons.
“While it may be preferable to have a public use of the vessel, the option of selling the vessel to Mr. Dwor provides a solution for the M.S. Norgoma that can save the city significant costs. A recently updated budget for decommissioning the vessel is $275,000-$325,000.”
“Since the time of entering negotiations with Mr. Dwor, other parties have come forward to express interest in the vessel. Staff let them know that should the agreement with Mr. Dwor not proceed, they will follow up for further discussions.”
“Mr. Dwor has significant experience in the marine industry and understands how to relocate and manage the vessel responsibly,” Vair said. Five years ago, Dwor made headlines when he tried, unsuccessfully, to sell bollards to the City of Port Colborne.
If City Council approves the sale, Dwor says he’ll take possession of the Norgoma sometime in May.
Soo Today
Former Polsteam laker-sized vessels renamed
The Polish Steamship Co. (Polsteam) has renamed several of its former laker-sized vessels with each having made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system during their careers. Each of the renamed vessels are 149.96 meters in length and 23.6 meters in width. Among the renamed vessels are:
Narew IMO 9521813 built in 2012 is now the Universe of Antigua and Barbuda registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2015 and last visited as such most recently in 2021.
Olza IMO 9521837 built in 2012 is now the Pichon of Singapore registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2014 and last visited as such in 2020.
Prosna IMO 9521849 built in 2012 is now the Univenture of Antigua and Barbuda registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2014 and last visited as such in 2020.
Raba IMO 9521825 built in 2012 is now the Ale of Singapore registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2013 and last visited as such in 2020.
Regalica IMO 9521758 built in 2011 is now the Adamoon of Liberia registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2013 and last visited as such in 2018.
Three other Polsteam vessels in the series have yet to be renamed. The three vessels are the Skawa IMO 9521863, San IMO 9521851 and Ina IMO 9521875.
Denny Dushane
Updated list of new saltwater visitors for 2021
There were 35 new saltwater vessels making their first inland voyages and trips into the Great Lakes/Seaway system at the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, NY, during the 2021 shipping season. Threy include: Alangova, Ali Ka, BBC St Petersburg, BBC Texas, Bogdan, Celina, Chantaco, Chem Lyra, Chem Wolverine, Federal Franklin, Federal Fraser, Federal Freedom, Federal Frontier, Henda, Ijzerborg, Iver Ambition, Kom, Lillo Swan, Marietje Andrea, Melissa, Monax, Nike, Octonaut, Onego Elbe, Peyton Lynn C, Potentia, Portola, Ramelia, RF Marina, Ronnie, Sloman Hestia, Symphony Star, Tarsus, Trent Navigator and VS Salome.
Denny Dushane
