New McAsphalt Tanker Arrives in Canada
The new asphalt tanker McAsphalt Advantage, (IMO 9940057), sailed from China, where she was built, September 15, bound for her new home on the Great Lakes. She arrived at Montreal on her maiden voyage November 1. The self-propelled, 459-foot-long vessel is owned by McAsphalt Marine Transportation Ltd., Hamilton, Ontario.
Options Explored for Removal of Tugboat Mired in Baileys Harbor
By Eleanor Corbin , Peninsula Pulse – October 31st, 2024
The “Donny S.” tugboat, shown in May of this year, is mired in shallow water – and the owner’s unresponsiveness. File photo by Chuck Germain.
The Donny S., an abandoned tugboat, will remain mired in the waters of Baileys Harbor as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) explores options for its removal.
The boat has been at its current location for over three years, during which its owner has been hit with over $20,000 in fines, according to DNR conservation warden Mike Neal. Despite these fines, the owner has taken no action to remove the vessel.
As a result of this inaction, the DNR has explored options to facilitate the boat’s removal, but those options are costly or unfeasible according to Neal.
“Unfortunately, right now, we’re just stuck because we don’t have the means to do it, both physical and financial,” he said.
The boat can no longer be towed, as was previously planned in 2022, as it no longer sits in the required 6-7 feet of water, according to Neal. When he stopped by the boat this week, it sat in a mere 2-4 feet of water.
The DNR has also considered dredging the boat, but would need to barge the materials back to Sturgeon Bay, which would be costly. They have considered building a road out to the site to cut up and remove the ship, but would need access from a property owner on the shoreline and are concerned about Ridges Road’s ability to handle heavy equipment, Neal said.
The biggest barrier to exploring any of these solutions is the cost, he explained. One towing quote that Neal received was a couple million dollars.
The DNR and other relevant groups – like law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office – are in the process of planning a meeting to discuss next steps and possible funding sources, according to Neal.
During this meeting, they also plan to work out the legality of their intervention with this vessel. They need to ensure the DNR has the legal right to remove the boat, he explained, since the owner is known.
One option to cover the cost comes in the form of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine debris removal grants, which support the removal of large marine debris throughout the United States. Neal said he has sent information about these grants to both the owner of the Donny S. and the Town of Baileys Harbor, which would need to apply for the funding on behalf of the tugboat.
The boat poses no current environmental danger, according to a survey of the site provided to the DNR by Fincantieri Marine Group. All hazardous material had previously been scrapped.
Additionally, the vessel is not in a navigable channel, according to Commander Brett Belanger of the United State Coast Guard. Because of this, the Coast Guard has no hand in working to move the boat.
They sent a boat to check on the site early in the summer to ensure the site is being illuminated at night, a requirement for the boat. At that point, the boat was properly lit up, Belanger reported, though they have not been back since.
The removal process so far has been a matter of assessing possible solutions and weighing their costs and outcomes, Neal said. Any course of action decided in the upcoming meeting will likely need court approval if they do not have the approval of the owner.
“There’s going to be a lot going on in that meeting, just trying to figure out, ‘How do we get this thing out of here?’” Neal said. “There’s a lot of variables to this one. It’s pretty frustrating.”
Shipwreck Society makes 49th Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony closed to the public
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society’s Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony is always a solemn event, but again this year, it will be closed to the public. Due to the museum’s small size and inability to accommodate the many people who typically want to attend, the decision has been made to keep the event private. This memorial service has always been primarily intended for the families of those lost on the Fitzgerald when it sank 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point on November 10th, 1975.
However, recognizing the wider community’s interest, the Shipwreck Society has upgraded its technology to ensure the memorial can still be experienced by many. The event will be live-streamed, with a link to follow, allowing the public to participate virtually while maintaining an intimate atmosphere for the families attending in person. This combination of preserving the event’s personal nature while expanding access is a thoughtful way to honor the memory of those lost and to include those who wish to pay their respects from afar.
This event will be live-streaming from Whitefish Point starting before 7pm on Sunday, 11-10-2024 and ending after 8pm. Please stay tuned for more information.
There will also be an opportunity to see this event at the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, MI where they will host a simulcast of the broadcast of our stream in real time. If you’re in that area call the MMM at (269) 637-8078 for more information. There has been a flood of questions about the 50th anniversary Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony. We do have plans for a public event that we will release in 2025. Any questions about the 49th event please reach out to:
Media Contact, Corey Adkins: Content/Communications Director GLSHS
corey@shipwreckmuseum.com
Gales of November 8-9
A great slate of presentations this year. Also a form to order a raffle ticket for a ride on the Edwin H. Gott. Help support Duluth’s Maritime Museum
See flyer below.
National Museum offers “Fitzgerald Experience 2024”
Toledo, OH – In honor of the 49th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering a weekend of special tours. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories about the sinking and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost. This tour is approximately 75 minutes long.
Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Each tour will be limited to 8 people. Guests also receive a museum store discount of 10% (non-members) / 20% (members) off in-store purchases. Tours are offered every half hour from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 and from noon – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.
Your tour purchase includes admission to the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Due to its historical accuracy, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship is not ADA accessible. Narrow, steep staircases are common throughout the Schoonmaker and may provide difficulties in accessibility for some.
The Schoonmaker is also not heated and much of the tour is on uncovered decks. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather. If we determine that the weather has made these tours impossible, we will provide a refund of the ticket price (minus fees). If the program is cancelled, we are not planning a make-up date.
You can process a refund (minus fees) and cancel your ticket up to 7 days before the event. Go here to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fitzgerald-experience-2024-tickets-1043046027747?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite
