Future USS Beloit christened in Marinette
Marinette, WI – A celebration was held on Saturday at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard to honor a huge milestone.
The newest littoral combat ship was christened, and it means a lot for some people in one Wisconsin city.
“They had bus loads of individuals from Beloit coming up here,” said Steve Allen, vice president of Lockheed Martin. “It’s absolutely amazing for a smaller city to have the type of representation for the terms of the name sake for the ship.”
Veterans and people from Beloit made the 3-and-a-half hour trip to Marinette to see something never done before, a combat ship named for their city.
The Future USS Beloit is the 29th Littoral Combat Ship.
“I had the honor of making a few calls before the announcement was public just to give people a heads up and it was unbelievable,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This is a long time coming with people and veterans from Beloit.”
The christening ceremony marks the transition of the ship from new construction, to the test and trials phase.
It’s celebrated by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow of the boat, which was done by Beloit native and retired army major general, Marcia Anderson.
Building of the warship began in July 2020.
But the city’s relationship with the Navy began in 1938, when Fairbanks Morse in Beloit sold its first engine to the Navy.
Engines for the freedom-variant LCSs, like the USS Beloit, are built in the city still to this day.
CEO George Whitter of Fairbanks Morse, says it’s an honor.
“To finally have a shipped named after the town, it’s very emotional for not just the folks at Fairbanks Morse Defense, but the entire city of Beloit,” said Whitter. “We’ve been in the community for 150 years, and you really can’t take Beloit and Fairbanks Morse, they go together like peanut butter and jelly.”
The christening of the future USS Beloit comes after the Navy announced in April they may retire nine ships in the freedom-class of littoral combat ships.
All of the Freedom class ships were built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
The last ship named after a Wisconsin city was the USS Marinette, which was christened back in November of 2021.
The USS Beloit is one of the last ships to be side launched.
The USS Cleveland will be the final side launch, which is predicted to be later this fall.
After that final launch, all ships will then be lifted by a Syncrolift, a piece of equipment that uses synchronized hoists to lift it out of the water.
Fox 11 News – Green Bay
Viking Octantis cruise ship to stop in Houghton
Houghton, MI – The arrival of a unique cruise ship in Houghton will bring fresh faces to the Keweenaw.
“It’s certainly one of the longest cruise ships to come through the Keweenaw waterways in quite some time,” Keweenaw Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brad Barnett said.
The ship will soon be en route from Thunder Bay, Canada to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On its journey, the Viking Octantis is scheduled to make a stop in Houghton on June 1.
“It’s about 665 feet long, it’s going to be carrying up to 370 passengers, plus crew, so that’s probably going to around be around almost 500 individuals on the ship,” noted Houghton City Manager Eric Waara. Some are on board for leisure, others are scientists conducting research on the Great Lakes.
The Keweenaw Visitors Bureau said this isn’t your average cruise. “It’s a great opportunity for cruise passengers to learn about the Great Lakes ecosystem, and in some cases even participate in some of the research,” Barnett added.
Its current plan is to enter from the north side of the canal unless inclement weather changes its route to a longer journey from the south. Waara said the ship won’t fit under the portage lift bridge. “It’s going to essentially anchor in the Portage. A tender boat is going to bring the cruise passengers to shore.”
From there, those passengers will get the opportunity to see all the copper country has to offer.
“These folks are here for genuine experiences, so they’ll be going on excursions to lighthouses, waterfalls, Estivant Pines, things like that,” Waara said.
The Visitors Bureau added it hopes Houghton’s charm brings people back for more. “We want them to see just a little bit of the beauty, a little bit of the history, and then to whet their appetite to maybe come back and stay for a longer experience,” said Barnett.
According to the Keweenaw Visitors Bureau, several other ships are expected to pass through the canal this summer, including another cruise ship, which would bring with it even more tourists to the Copper Country.
WLUC – Upper Peninsula News
Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act passes House
Petroleum, steel and grain are just a few of the main exports that ravel by water in Northeast Wisconsin. Its’ why local commerce leaders are fighting for the US Senate to pass the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act. It’s a rare show of bipartisan support that starts with a conversation about cereal.
“In the winter of 19 we almost had a Cheerio shortage.” James Weakley says on transporting goods like grain through the Great Lakes.
President of the Lake Carriers’ Association, he’s been advocating for the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act for years.
The piece of economic legislation made one step closer to becoming law: passing the US House, and heading to the Senate.
“Lets build ice breakers, let’s break ice more efficiently and let’s have northeast Wisconsin thrive economically as a result.” said U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI) at a Friday roundtable.
Adding on to the ten icebreakers listed by the US Coast Guard, the bill would add one additional icebreaker on the Great Lakes, and the $350 million to build it.
But money isn’t the only hold up.
Both Weakley and Gallagher say the US Coast Guard set a ten year timeline for the project.
They argue the work can be done in just three.
Miscommunication with the Coast Guard isn’t a partisan issue either.
Senator Tammy Baldiwn and Gallagher have noted the economic impact that could come to their constituents across the state.
As for Northeast Wisconsin, here’s Dean Haen, director for the Port of Green Bay: “Our economic impact is about $20 million a month that we’re open. So if we can work in that thin ice two weeks longer in the fall or the winter, or get open two weeks earlier, that’s about a $20 million economic impact to Northeast Wisconsin,” he explained.
The bill isn’t just about money: supporters say this enhances safety on the ice as well.
The legislation would also clarify icebreaking expectations, and update an executive order dating back to the 1930s.
It just has to make it to the Presidents desk first.
Fox 11 News – Green Bay
Boatnerd seeking help from volunteers familiar with WordPress
We are in need of someone who has experience with website design and maintenance of our WordPress-based website. Our present volunteer staff does not have the expertise to keep up with it. If you are interested, please email Boatnerd board president Nathan Leindecker to talk about the opportunities.
Nathan Leindecker
nleindecker@gmail.com
