HMCS Margaret Brooke on her way to Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY – It’s been over a decade since the Canadian navy brought a large vessel to Thunder Bay. From Sept. 18-22, community members can expect to see HMCS Margaret Brooke docked at the Pool Six cruise ship terminal, alongside a showcase of Thunder Bay’s HMCS Griffon’s own vessels, with public tours on the Saturday and Sunday.
   “This is a once-in-a-decade kind of thing,” said Antonio Redfern Pucci, training and operations officer with HMCS Griffon.
   Once the ship arrives, a welcoming ceremony with local leaders will take place, he said. “And then on the Friday, we’ve invited all the local high schools and regional high schools to come down and attend the marine career fair as well as tour the ship,” he said.
   The career fair is open to residents alongside the docked ship on Sept. 18 and 19, he said.
   “Various industries and partners in Thunder Bay that work in the marine industries will have booths on display,” said Farley Farn, commanding officer with HMCS Griffon.
   The ship is visiting the city as the first stop on her Great Lakes deployment, Farn said. “Her main mission is to get out there, show Canadians what we do in the navy, and what we have,” Farn said. “So, we’re happy to be here and excited to be the first port that she gets to come to, and we’re going to show her a great time,” he said.
   Prior to HMCS Margaret Brooke, the last vessel to visit the city over a decade ago was HMCS Ville de Quebec, he said.
   “Normally, we get a ship about once every 10 years,” he said. “They try to get up here. However, I heard now they’re going to try to do it on a more regular basis, so we may see more ships up here every couple of years going forward in the future.”
   Focusing on the career fair, Farn said people are needed to man the new equipment. “The navy needs a lot of technically skilled people in order to man all the new ships that we’re getting, not just ships but new submarines as well,” he said.
   Due to the increased amount of electronic equipment, Farn said skilled personnel are a must.
   “We’re partnering with colleges and universities locally, seeing what programs are available that would tie into the jobs that we offer in the navy, and showing people what sort of careers they can have,” he said.
   Community members are encouraged to park at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and catch a bus to the marina from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 20 and 21.

TB Newswatch

Salvage Master on Way to Cargo Ship Grounded in Canadian Arctic

Nearly a week after the Dutch cargo ship Thamesborg grounded in a remote part of the Canadian Arctic during a trip on the Northwest Passage, a salvage master and naval architect were due to reach the vessel. They are working on a plan for the ship, which is reportedly stable but has taken on water in multiple ballast tanks.
   The operator Royal Wagenborg, said the salvage team would reach the vessel by the end of the week. In addition, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier is being used to transport personnel and equipment to the remote site.
   The Canadian Coast Guard reported that an underwater survey was completed on September 8 using ROVs two days after the vessel went aground. The 21,359 dwt vessel was sailing from China to Baie-Comeau, Quebec, and is carrying a load of carbon blocks used for manufacturing in heavy industry. The ship went aground in the Franklin Strait in Nunavut.
   A crew of 15 people is aboard the vessel along with a Canadian ice pilot. There were no injuries, but they are stranded in a remote part of Canada, away from any large settlements. The survey of the hull confirmed the damage to the ballast tanks, but the fuel tanks do not appear to be damaged, and there was no flooding in the cargo holds. A second Canadian Coast Guard vessel, CCGS Jean Goodwill, has remained on scene.
  The Canadian Coast Guard reports the vessel’s owner and the salvage master have organized additional equipment and personnel. Currently, the damage is being analyzed to develop the salvage plan.
   The Thamesborg, built in 2013, is 564 feet (174 meters) in length. The ship, which is registered in the Netherlands, was inspected in Canada in March 2024 and 2025 with no issues reported. It has an ice class.
   Media reports from Canada highlight that only 18 percent of Canada’s Arctic waters have been mapped with modern technology. Much of the Northwest Passage, they note, lacks modern charts.
   The Transportation Safety Board of Canada revealed in an announcement yesterday that this is the second grounding of the season in the same general eastern area of the Northwest Passage. It reported that an investigation team is on its way to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to interview the crew of another cargo ship, the Rosaire A. Desgagnés (12,776 dwt). The vessel, which is registered in Canada, went aground on August 23 in Pelly Bay, Nunavut. The location is to the south of where the Thamesborg is stranded, and unlike the current situation, the vessel was refloated with the tide. It was conducting a supply mission to the region and was inspected for damage after it was refloated. It is expected to reach St. John’s over the weekend.

Maritime Executive

Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking

By: Max White

   (WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
   According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
   On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
   Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
   Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
   During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
   Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
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