Tim S. Dool remains aground
The Algoma Central Corp. bulker Tim S. Door remains aground on Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, ON, after she ran aground on Saturday. Early efforts to free her by raising the water level in the area by two feet were unsuccessful. She is loaded with grain for Quebec City.
There is no information on what caused the incident or on the extent of damages. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation says there were no injuries and there is no reported pollution or ingress of material into the water. The ship is currently stable and remains outside the navigation channel, the corporation said in a statement.
Possible solutions include lightering some of her grain cargo so tugs can pull her free. A salvage plan is being developed and must be approved by Transport Canada.
The fixed channel marker is on the south side of the channel, and she is south of it. She is up by the bow and listing slightly to port. The wreck of the Eastcliffe Hall, which sank there on July 14, 1970, is very close to her stern.
Tug Robinson Bay Transferred to
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Massena, N.Y. – Last week the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) proudly completed the formal transfer of the Robinson Bay tugboat to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy during a ceremony at Eisenhower Lock. This vessel, built in 1958, will now serve as a training platform for the Academy’s maritime students, fostering the education of future mariners. At the ceremony, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent Jerry Achenbach, and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jon Hickey made remarks.
Tindall-Schlicht highlighted the importance of this donation, stating, “By placing this iconic tugboat in the hands of an institution dedicated to maritime excellence, we are ensuring that the Robinson Bay remains an active part of the Great Lakes maritime community, contributing to both its legacy and its future. We look forward to witnessing how the Academy utilizes this vessel to promote stewardship and education on the Great Lakes.”
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, based in Traverse City, Michigan, is committed to using the Robinson Bay to provide hands-on training that prepares students for real-world careers in maritime. Superintendent Jerry Achenbach expressed the Academy’s excitement: “This generous contribution from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation provides our students with an invaluable tool for real-world learning. The Robinson Bay will be a cornerstone of our training program, and we are honored to uphold its legacy.”
Rear Admiral Jon P. Hickey, U.S. Coast Guard added, “Today’s transfer of the Robinson Bay tugboat represents a remarkable investment in the future of our maritime workforce and the legacy of the Great Lakes. This vessel has served with distinction for over six decades, and now, in the hands of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, it will continue to shape and inspire the next generation of mariners. The Coast Guard is proud to support initiatives like these that strengthen our maritime heritage, bolster workforce readiness, and foster a deep respect for the unique waterways we are all dedicated to preserving.”
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
