Soo Locks project no longer fully funded
After a big announcement in January celebrating $479 million directed to fully fund the construction of a new lock, the Army Corps of Engineers has had to walk it back, according to a report by The Detroit News.
The billion-dollar project, authorized by Congress at $922 million in 2018, is now estimated to be “somewhere between two times and three times” the cost, Sen. Debbie Stabenow told The Detroit News. The senator expressed disappointment because the money had been secured for the project upfront under the belief that the project would be completed two years ahead of schedule.
The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, allow 1,000-foot freighters to bypass the rapids of the St. Marys River and move between Lake Superior and the rest of the Great Lakes and beyond. For a long time the bulk of that was handled by the Poe Lock, and a new lock the same size and capacity as the Poe would prevent any disruptions to shipping should something happen with the Poe.
The first two phases of the project have already been started. The contract of the third phase was expected to be awarded in February with a 2030 completion date. The Army Corps learned of the problem after the bidding process for the third phase closed in January and industry estimates were significantly higher than their own, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman told The Detroit News. Bergman’s district includes the Soo Locks.
Carrie Fox, public affairs specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers, pointed to “market conditions” for the discrepancy in estimates and said the Corps is “accounting for those changing conditions.” Fox also said the Corps does not have accurate numbers for any estimates yet and cannot discuss those numbers but is “hopeful” they will have an estimate they can make public “this summer.”
Congress will likely have to reauthorize the project for a higher amount once a new official estimate is released.
Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, has spoken in support of the project before. LCA represents the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet. He had been aware of some talk but “was surprised with the magnitude of the cost increase.” “It was not easy getting that money, and they also missed the opportunity, they could have gotten more,” Weakley said. “If Congress has known they needed more when the infrastructure bill was passed, they could have gotten more.”
Weakley expressed doubts that the 2030 completion is still likely but remains optimistic that the project will move forward. “The good news is no one’s talking about walking away from the project,” Weakley said. “Everyone’s talking about finishing the project, and everyone’s worried about time delays and getting additional money to finish the project.”
Great Lakes Now
The Great Lakes are now home to the most modern luxury cruise ship to date
The Great Lakes might not be top of mind for most cruisers, but that could be changing thanks to the launch of Viking’s latest expedition ship which officially kicked off their inaugural season today.
Designed specifically to sail The Great Lakes region, the 378-passenger expedition ship Viking Octantis just completed her roundtrip voyage through the Welland Canal—a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie—making it the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the canal, the cruise lines said in a statement Thursday.
“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind,’ Chairman of Viking Torstein Hagen said. “This region has been historically underserved by cruise lines, and we are delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from the local communities.”
Viking Octanis will remain in the Great Lakes until early October 2022, sailing a variety of itineraries between Toronto and Duluth. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, is slated to her make her Great Lakes debut later this year before joining Octantis for the 2023 season. Built for expeditions sailing, both Polar Class ships can hold a total of 378 passengers in 189 staterooms.
Among a few of the ship’s highlights are an outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed, heated seating and lava rock “firepits,” a Science Lab, Nordic Spa featuring a heated indoor pool and wood-sided hot tub open to the outside, and a Nordic Balcony in every stateroom.
During Viking’s inaugural 2022 season, the cruise line will be operating four new itineraries in the Great Lakes including:
Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; Thunder Bay to Milwaukee)
Great Lakes Explorer (8 days; Milwaukee to Thunder Bay)
Niagara & The Great Lakes (8 days; Toronto to Milwaukee)
Canadian Discovery (13 days; New York to Toronto)
In 2023, Viking will also be adding a new 15-day voyage called the Great Lakes Collection sailing from Toronto to Duluth.
“With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand among our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to these fantastic destinations in 2023,” Torstein said.
Forbes
Viking Octantis passengers will board submersibles at Silver Islet
THUNDER BAY, ON – When tourists sailing on Viking Octantis arrive at Silver Islet this Friday, they’ll have a unique opportunity to take an underwater tour.
The largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes – and the first to visit the Thunder Bay area in 10 years – carries two submersibles. Each takes six passengers at a time, who are placed in revolving seats that provide 270-degree views below the surface. “That’s a very unique experience, one that I think is going to generate a lot of media attention for them, and for us as a destination,” says Paul Pepe, manager of tourism for the City of Thunder Bay.
According to Pepe, the 378-passenger vessel operated by Viking Expeditions is one of the top 10 new cruise ships in the world. “It’s being followed very closely by all the international travel and cruise media, so it’s really put Thunder Bay in a global media spotlight in the tourism sector,” he said Wednesday.
This year the Viking Octantis is scheduled to make seven trips to Thunder Bay, which the company selected as a turnaround spot. That means a new group of passengers will board the ship here for its return voyage to Milwaukee after arriving passengers have toured the city before returning home by air.
Another cruise ship, American Cruise Lines’ Ocean Navigator, will dock at Thunder Bay twice this summer. Both vessels will return next year, when they will be joined by another Viking Expeditions ship, Viking Polaris.
Pepe said the economic impact on the city this year alone will be very significant.
“There’s a range of economic impacts that are broader than just day-stops. Some guests are flying in the day-of or flying out the day-of. Others are staying in the area for an extra day or two and exploring.” He said spinoff benefits for local businesses include resupplying the vessels with food and other goods, and providing ground transportation services. Tourism Thunder Bay estimates the overall economic benefit to the city will range between $3.6 and 5.6 million.
Significant improvements have recently been made at the Pool 6 dock where passengers will board and disembark. Most of the concrete rubble left after the demolition of the grain elevator years ago has been removed, and the ground has been leveled.
Pepe said a new accessible pedestrian path and bus turnaround have been constructed, and additional security fencing has been erected. “A tent will be set up for luggage-handling on Friday, big planters with trees have been delivered to the site. We’ve got temporary fenders installed until the new ones arrived, we’ve got dock repairs and new bollards. So the site’s looking good. It’s been cleaned up quite a bit.” “It will be exciting to see a cruise vessel back in the community this weekend,” he said.
The Viking Octantis is expected to dock in Thunder Bay at 6 p.m. Friday. It is scheduled to leave the port at 5 a.m. Sunday.
The city has posted a notice on social media advising that access to the ship during the stopover will be limited to guests and authorized personnel, and that parking will not be allowed along the road to Pool 6
TBnewswatch
Kelleys Island ferry debuts new boat
MARBLEHEAD, OH – The Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line in Marblehead introduced the latest addition to its fleet on Tuesday.
The Carmen Lee is the largest in the boat line at 168 feet long with a capacity of 149 passengers and 36 vehicles. Service starts Memorial Day weekend. The vessel has been a dream for the company since before 2018 when the design began and construction started near New Orleans, Louisiana.
“Kelleys Island has got busier over the last five to 10 years for sure and traffic on Friday and Sundays is an hour, hour and a half wait sometime so we have alleviated some of the traffic problems with a larger vessel,” said Augie Palladino, whose father started the company in 1992. It’s named after Carmen Lee Palladino, the late wife of Kelleys Island Ferry owner Jim Palladino. She passed away in September 2019. The last time the ferry line added a new boat was the Shirley Irene in 1991. All of the company’s boats are names for family members. The Carmen Lee was given a blessing by local clergy and then christened by Palladino.
“I thought it was fantastic they put on a great show. The two ferries crossed and they were blowing the horns at each other,” said Liz Kendrick-Creech, a resident of Kelleys Island who was anxiously awaiting its arrival.
Fox 8 Cleveland
Historic Lake Michigan lighthouse open for tours
LAKE MICHIGAN, MI – The North Manitou Shoal Light, also known as ‘The Crib,’ is now open for tours. It’s a chance for people to learn about the history of the Lake Michigan lighthouse and the efforts to preserve it. The North Manitou Light Keepers organization is also in the process of raising money to eventually allow people to spend the night inside the lighthouse.
The journey to the Crib starts with a 25-minute boat ride from Leland in Leelanau County. The lighthouse sits one mile offshore of the North Manitou Island in Lake Michigan.
Daniel Oginsky is member of the North Manitou Light Keepers. He and the team are investing time, energy and money into the structure that has a lot of stories to tell, dating back nearly 90 years. “To be able to climb up 60 feet up to the top of the tower and look around at the lake and the islands and back at Sleeping Bear Dunes, it’s amazing,” said North Manitou Light Keepers President Daniel Oginsky.
The Crib is a functioning aid to navigation. It keeps boats away from shallow water. The lighthouse sits on a foundation made of a “crib” embedded into the lake floor. It’s filled with concrete and rock. ‘The Crib’ name is a nod to its construction design.
To read more about ‘The Crib’, click this link: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/historic-lake-michigan-lighthouse-open-for-tours?fbclid=IwAR3MhB38tHJBJsEmDU287rKiFvp274JSwXv0Q_GQM7XZOPoFxg3O2Rsi9gw
UpNorthLive 7/4
Know Your Ships book signing is Saturday in Port Huron
PORT HURON, MI – On Saturday May 28, the Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron will host its 2022 “Know Your Ships” Book Signing with editor and publisher Roger LeLievre from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Along with the book, Roger will have Great Lakes caps and Stack & Flag charts for sale.
Great Lakes cartoonist / illustrator artist Don Lee, whose freighter cartoons have often appeared on Facebook, will have his easel and will sketch your likeness, with or without freighter (tips appreciated).
Also on hand will be Roger Hulett, author of “A Lot More To Do – Frank Mays Survival of the Tragic Carl D Bradley Sinking.” Ken Niemi, a Great Lakes historian, will have used maritime books, art and some artifacts for sale.
If you can’t make Saturday’s Know Your Ships signing, Roger will also be set up Sunday, May 29, at the Mariner Theater, 430 S. Water St., Marine City, between noon and 3 p.m.
Great Lakes Maritime Center
Help wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry
Lake Michigan Carferry is accepting applications for placement in the engine department aboard the historic S.S. Badger. Candidates must possess a Merchant Mariner’s Credential with QMED (Fireman/Oiler/Watertender) endorsement, a current Medical Certificate and a valid TWIC card. QMED will expect to live aboard and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season (as soon as possible to Oct 16th, 2022) QMED wage is $28.91p/hr ($43.37 for OT hours). Visit our web site at http://www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew to fill out an online application or email lbialochowski@interlakems.com for more information.
Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate
After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!
•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine
•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
•Limit: 100 passengers
•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17
•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.
This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf
If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.
The Boatnerd Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!
Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
