Wait ends for several upbound vessels, however ice causes more problems Tuesday

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – More favorable winds eased ice pressure in Whitefish Bay Tuesday morning, allowing Arthur M. Anderson, John G. Munson, Captain Henry Jackman, American Mariner, Michipcoten and Presque Isle to get underway. USCG cutter Mackinaw and the CCGS cutter Griffon assisted the vessels, which ran into more heavy ice at Whitefish Point.

Oakglen, Algoma Conveyor and John J Boland were upbound Tuesday, however Oakglen became stuck departing the lock in the late afternoon, which brought the other upbound traffic to a stop. CCGS Griffon got her moving in the evening, and she went to anchor for the night near Gros Cap. The Boland also indicated to Soo Traffic she planed to anchor just west of Gros Cap as well.

The downbound Burns Harbor and American Century were having difficulty near Whitefish Point Tuesday, and eventually stopped for the night.

USCG Spar, which was assisting upbound traffic Monday night, resumed her trip to Duluth Tuesday morning.

Another storm system moving in early Wednesday is expected to bring more strong winds and a mix of rain and snow.

Chestnut opens Toronto port for the season

Toronto, ON – Canfornav’s M/V Chestnut, in command of Captain Dorde Perovic and his crew, was awarded this year’s Beaver Hat while alongside Redpath Sugar, Toronto. The 161-year-old tradition celebrates the official opening of the commercial shipping season by ‘crowning’ the first ocean-going ship to arrive PortsToronto with the antique top hat.

Canfornav

Engineer’s Day 2022 will allow public across Soo Locks

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers announced Monday that for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors will be allowed across the Soo Locks for this year’s Engineer’s Day.

The Soo Locks have hosted Engineer’s Day since 1975. Engineer’s Day is traditionally held the last Friday in June to honor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ June 16, 1775 birthday.

Officials say visitors are welcome into the Soo Locks facility and across the locks from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 24.

“Visitors are welcome to cross the gates, but the buildings will remain closed,” said Area Engineer Kevin Sprague.

According to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, visitors will also be welcomed into the Soo Locks complex, the Soo Locks Canal Park, viewing platform and Visitors Center. All will open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is also closing a portion of Portage Avenue to focus on downtown city merchants and vendors. Officials say Downtown Portage Avenue will close to vehicle traffic and open for pedestrians and vendors on Ferris Street to Osborn Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 24.

Moreover, Engineer’s Day 2022 will bring back some traditional partner events such as the United States Coast Guard open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Craft Show at the City Hall grounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the new Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24.

“The Soo Locks are so important to our history and our community, this annual event helps us celebrate that,” said Linda Hoath, director of the Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Last year we closed the street and had great success, we look forward to combining the street closure with the locks being opened to the public.”

Icebound vessels on the move

UPDATE: With the USCG cutters Mackinaw and Spar and the CCGS cutter Griffon opening up the track in the ice, the six vessels that had been waiting to continue westbound were on the move at first light Tuesday. The strong northwest winds died down overnight and shifted to the south. They took advantage of a weather window, since another system moving in Wednesday is expected to bring more strong winds and a mix of rain and snow.

Ice, northwest winds stall upbound shipping at the Soo

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – It has been three days since the upbound vessels Arthur M. Anderson, John G. Munson, Captain Henry Jackman, American Mariner , Michipicoten and Presque Isle passed the Gros Cap Reef light, west of the Soo Locks. They didn’t get far. All of them continue to sit in the ice, thanks to Mother Nature.

NW winds have driven Lake Superior ice into Whitefish Bay and down into the Soo Locks approaches. The bad weather is expected to continue this week and there is no word on when the vessels will start to move.

“We have to lead them one by one,” said U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services Director Mark Gill. “Because (the ice) is so thick, we can only do one at a time.” Today’s northwest wind has not helped matters,” Gill explained when calling Whitefish Bay “The drain of Lake Superior.  The wind is pressing ice down,” he said, counting on tomorrow’s south wind to free things up a bit.

“This is a normal occurrence for this time of year,” Gill said. “The weather is untimely but normal.”

Meanwhile, USCG Spar, headed for her new home port of Duluth, was upbound late Monday.

Boatnerd Staff Report

Manistee released, tow resumes

By mid-afternoon Monday, the tug Beverly M 1 managed to release the Manistee from her strand and the tow resumed its voyage to Port Colborne, ON. They are showing an ETA for 6 AM Wednesday.

Sinking Lake Superior tugboat leaking oil into Duluth Harbor

Duluth, MN – The saga of the Lake Superior continues, with the U.S. Coast Guard discovering the tugboat is leaking oil.

The privately-owned retired U.S. Army Corps tugboat, named Lake Superior, began listing over the weekend while docked at its slip off Railroad Street near Pier B and the Compass Minerals dock, and by Monday morning, the stern of the vessel was underwater because ice around it had melted.

Federal certified contractors responded to the slip on Thursday morning and discovered at least one gallon of oil coming out of the vessel, Joseph McGinnis, the waterways management branch chief with the U.S. Coast Guard, told Bring Me The News on Friday.

“The contractors placed sorbent material around the vessel to absorb the oil and contain the pollution,” McGinnis said.

Meanwhile, the 7,500 gallons of fuel and oil on board the tugboat is believed to be secured but refloating the tug to drain the potential pollutants “is not possible at this time due to 6-8 feet of ice inside of the vessel,” he added.

The Coast Guard is working with the contractors to mitigate the situation and pollution responders will continue to conduct daily site visits to monitor the situation.

“Coast Guard’s focus is on protecting the environment. Once the environmental hazards are removed, the Coast Guard will have completed its mission. The fate of the vessel afterwards will be up to the owner,” McGinnis said.

It’s still not clear what caused the tugboat to start taking on water, with McGinnis telling Bring Me The News on Wednesday the hope is that question will be answered when the vessel is lifted out.

McGinnis encourages members of the public to call 218-725-3800 or 906-635-3233 if they see a vessel sinking or notice “any large sheens of oil” in the water.

BringMeTheNews.com

New Canada Steamship Line’s Nukumi arrives at Halifax

Halifax, NS – Canada Steamship Line’s newest ship, the Nukumi, arrived March 27 on its delivery trip from the Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China via the Pacific Ocean and Panama Canal.

Built to carry salt, the ship will operate from the Mines Seleine mine in the Magdalen Islands to ports around eastern Canada and into the Great Lakes. Salt is a notoriously hard cargo on ships, and this one has been purpose built, in cooperation with Windsor Salt, to withstand the rigors of that trade.

Measuring 22,715 gt, 25,800 dwt, the  ship was temporarily registered in the Bahamas for the delivery tripbut will be re-flagged Canadian and registered in Halifax before entering service.

The ship is named Nukumi, pronounced “noo-goo-mee”, for the legendary wise old grandmother figure of the Native American Mi’kmaq people, traditional occupants of the unceded lands of eastern Canada.

Shipfax / Mac Mackay

Steel stock prices soaring to highest level since 2013

The stock prices of American steelmakers, including Northwest Indiana’s largest steelmakers, have been soaring since Russia invaded Ukraine, reaching their highest level in nearly a decade.

Russia’s war is expected to hobble the country’s steel exports as the world swiftly responded with a flurry of economic sanctions. The World Steel Association estimated Russia made 76 million tons of steel last year, a 6% year-over-year increase.

Russia is the world’s fifth-biggest steel-producing country, trailing only China, India, Japan and the United States.

Steel exports from Russia almost immediately halted after the attack on Ukraine at a time when steel demand in North America is growing.

Investors have become bullish in the stock of U.S. steelmakers as Russia being sidelined from the world market is likely to restrict supply and drive up prices. Some industry analysts forecast hot-rolled steel prices could again exceed $1,500 a ton.

U.S. Steel stock rose from $23.37 a share on Feb. 23, the day before Russia invaded Ukraine, to more than $38 a share during trading Friday.

Cleveland-Cliffs’ stock rose from $18.74 a share on Feb. 23 to more than $32 a share during trading Friday. It reached a nine-year high of $32.67 on Thursday.

“Russia’s invasion a month ago nearly instantly set off a butterfly effect across the steel markets,” JP Morgan analyst Michael Glick said in a note. “If we don’t see a resumption in Black Sea exports in the coming quarters, which is our base case, it’s hard to see what is going to supply that demand.”

NW Indiana Times

Manistee released, tow resumes

By mid-afternoon Monday, the tug Beverly M 1 managed to release the Manistee from her strand and the tow resumed its voyage to Port Colborne, ON.

Manistee tow leaves Toledo; runs aground

UPDATE: The Manistee scrap tow departed Monday morning as planned. However social media reports from the area around noon reported that the Manistee had gone aground near Grassy island at the mouth of the river.

Manistee scrap tow expected on Monday

Original report: Toledo, OH – The tug Beverly M1 arrived around 3 p.m. Sunday for the Manistee’s tow to the scrap yard. American Valor (the Valo technically) will need to be moved aside to get the Manistee out.

Michigan Maritime Gateway: Port saw cargo increase, expects busy year

Monroe, MI – Port of Monroe officials are working to establish the local agency as the first maritime stop in Michigan, highlighting the importance of interlake trade. As the Port of Monroe sails into the next shipping season, recent data highlighting last year’s trends shows a significant increase of inter-lake trade.

In 2021, the local port handled nearly 2.8 million tons of cargo through its dock. That’s an increase from 2020’s figure of about 1.5 million tons. Port Director Paul LaMarre III said the port continues to be shaped by its resilience and adaptability.

“We have undoubtedly had what other ports or institutions would consider insurmountable obstacles to redefine ourselves as not only an active seaport, but a public agency that puts its community first,” he added. “We try to remain purely positive and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure as much cargo and as many people working across our docks as possible.”

LaMarre said 2020 was marked by components needed for wind energy. Fourteen consecutive ships from Europe delivered wind tower components to the area to supplement wind towers built at Ventower in Monroe.

Last year, trends shifted elsewhere as a result of the pandemic, regulations and consumer needs. LaMarre said the port was fortunate to see the return of steel coil cargo. “The steel coil market is one of our most important cargos,” he added.

Much of that steel is produced in Canada, which is the country’s largest trade partner, LaMarre said, adding that such trade relations are a testament to the cross-border trade market that exists on Lake Erie.

Much of that cargo was handled by McKeil Marine, a Canada-based company. LaMarre said the company was one of the most frequent visitors to the port last year and will likely retain that designation this shipping season.

The port’s largest cargo was coal and petroleum coke, which accounted for about 1.6 million tons of cargo. The material, which is handled through the port’s partnership with DTE Energy, was an increase from 2020’s metric of about 938,000 tons.

Limestone accounted for the second largest cargo type. Another partnership with DTE, approximately 285,000 tons were handled last year. That’s down from the previous year’s total of about 345,000 tons.

Both cargo types are used at the Monroe Power Plant, which sits near the port on the city’s Lake Erie shoreline. LaMarre said there was a definite increase in vessels calling on the port on behalf of cargo resulting from its partnership with DTE.

“On some days, you have two simultaneous cargo operations going on at two different docks that had previously sat dormant for decades,” he said. “It’s about all of the activity — not just what occurs when the cargo is moving across the docks, but also elsewhere in the various supply chains.”

Liquid asphalt had a negligible change year-over-year. A partnership with Michigan Paving and Materials, about 137,000 tons of the material moved through the port. Other gains came in the port’s bulk product and project cargo categories.

Bulk product climbed to about 117,000 tons, up from 64,000 in 2020. Similarly, project cargo — mainly steel coils — accounted for 132,000 tons. That’s up from a previous total of 43,000.

“(Those cargos) have allowed us to establish our identity of efficiency, economics and … working with our vessel one partners — those continue to be at heart of our operation,” LaMarre said. “… we always look at way to attract new cargo opportunities and enhance our infrastructure.”

LaMarre said there has been a significant increase in the need for more efficient and viable options for moving containerized cargo into the Midwest. “It’s never been a more prevalent issue,” he said. “Addressing it fits very well with the Port of Monroe’s mission to establish the first maritime container terminal in the State of Michigan.”

And that’s a goal LaMarre expects to accomplish in 2023. It will be known as the Michigan Maritime Gateway, he added. The port has worked for more than seven years to be able to handle containerized cargo.

A regulatory standoff between the port and Customs and Border Patrol persisted for several years as local officials sought to handle containerized cargo. Deals spearheaded by LaMarre and other port officials were scuttled as CBP barred the port from handling such cargo.

LaMarre had secured a deal with Ford Motor Co. to export Ford Mustangs to Europe via the St. Lawrence Seaway. As the pilot program launched, CBP intervened, saying it could not regularly dedicate the needed manpower from its Detroit field office for such an endeavor. The agency also told the port it needed to acquire additional security screening equipment.

Another deal with Arauco North America was halted. As the first of several ships approached the Port of Monroe, CBP officials in Detroit diverted the vessel to the Port of Cleveland, statin no port in the state would be permitted to handle the cargo.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that CBP’s policies had cost the Monroe region substantial revenue and jobs. The issue prompted a bipartisan coalition of federal lawmakers to take up the cause. Democrat Sen. Gary Peters and Republican Rep. Tim Walberg pushed CBP for answers and clarifications. State lawmakers passed a bipartisan resolution calling for changes, highlighting the impact such policies had on the state economy. State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, co-sponsored the resolution.

In August, LaMarre and Peters hosted a delegation of bureaucrats from the agency, touring the port and explaining its positions and desire to be able to engage in handling more cargo. Troy Miller, the acting commissioner of CBP, and other officials were in attendance.

The port received federal grant funding to increase its security and scanning equipment.

“It is very gratifying to say that (CBP) is now our partner as we aim to establish and open that terminal,” LaMarre said. “We have had amazing support from CBP, (Peters), (Walberg) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.

“We have had amazing support from the city and county that are assisting the port to ensure that we continue to be and grow as one of Monroe County’s most important economic drivers.”

The venture is possible through the combined efforts of Spliethoff, Big Lift and the port’s terminal operator, DRM Terminal Services, LaMarre said.  “We are strategically positioned for so many reasons, particularly because of our national cargo challenges, to really be that gateway port as the first maritime stop in Michigan.

“…While the port provides guidance, infrastructure and leadership, it is the efforts of each and every (stakeholders’) employees that keeps cargo moving across our docks with efficiency and pride.”

LaMarre, who came to the port 10 years ago, said the year ahead is a culmination of all the port team’s efforts. He expects the port will handle a record number of steel coil shipments, wind towers and bulk cargos.

The rest of the year will remain busy for the port, which is one of the busiest on the Great Lakes. Steel coils began arriving at the port earlier this month. The St. Lawrence Seaway, which has long been a strategic part of the port’s mission, and the Soo Locks opened last week. It marks the earliest opening of the seaway since 2008.

A Manitowoc Crawler Crane will set up at the port later this spring as well. The addition increases the port’s ability to handle cargo, a port official added.

The Army Corps of Engineers also will see significant dredging occur this year. It’s part of maintaining the navigability of the waterway.  “The port will continue to fight for every ton of cargo that we can handle because of all the people that cargo effects,” LaMarre added.

Toledo Blade

Manistee scrap tow imminent

Toledo, OH – The tug Beverly M1 left Port Maitland early Saturday afternoon on her way to Toledo to pick up Manistee and tow her to Port Colborne. ETA for the scrapyard is Tuesday but weather is the unknown factor at this point.

Bill Bird

Authors, photographers, artists and ship lovers alike gather at Soo Locks Visitor Center

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – To accompany the opening of the Soo Locks at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the Soo Locks Visitor Center from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for its annual open house, in which out-of-staters, community members and families got together to learn all about the locks and big boats.

In the mix were boat nerds, like “Know your 2022 Ships” author, Roger LeLievre, Great Lakes Fleet deckhand Jarrett Dodge, Soo Locks Visitors Association Board Member Andrea Guerriero of DRE Designs – Great Lakes Marine Products and local woodworking artist Pat Whitehead.

Meanwhile, kids interacted and played with much smaller Soo Locks gravity elevator replicas. This enabled them to open or close the MacArthur and Poe Lock valves, filling and emptying its chambers with the 22 million gallons of water needed for ships to pass smoothly along the 21-foot drop of the St. Marys River.

Families climbed up and down the stairs of the tri-level visitor’s deck to look out to the Soo Locks, where 1,004-foot Great Lakes Fleet sister ships Edgar B. Speer and Edwin H. Gott floated through the Poe just hours prior.

After a late night of ship watching, many awoke to travel straight to the visitor’s center. Much needed chocolate-chip cookies and coffee awaited them.

At the center of all of it was club “king” LeLievre, a title bestowed upon him by U.S. Army Corps Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs, who, in good fun, sought to recognize him for sharing his passion and knowledge of ships with the world.

“These are the ‘boat nerds,’ LeLievre grinned, softly extending his arms up and down. “These are my subjects.”

For nearly 30 years, LeLievre has taught people about water vessels of all shapes and sizes through means of multiple visual, verbal and written works.

While at the open house, he socialized with friends and signed books from noon to 2 p.m.

Read more and view images at this Soo Leader link: https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/authors-photographers-artists-and-ship-lovers-alike-gather-at-soo-locks-visitor-center-5201109?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email

Story behind the Top Hat at the Welland Canal opening

Port Colborne, ON – Ships’ captains do not usually wear top hats unless they’re on land at a fancy ball. So how exactly did the Top Hat Ceremony come to mark the annual opening of the Welland Canal – an event that happened March 24).

According to the City of Port Colborne, the Top Hat Ceremony was started in the early 1970s by then-Mayor John Buscarino so it’s been happening for about 50 years.

It is meant to bestow honor upon the captain of the first boat passing downbound (towards Lake Erie) through the canal each season, the nautical equivalent of the season opening game. This year, that was Captain Wilson Waters (representing Captain Jesse Vickers) of the CSL Tadoussac.

The ceremony wouldn’t exist for another 30-plus years after the Welland Canal was officially opened on August 6, 1932.

So, March 24, on the 90th Grand Opening of the canal, the captain of the first ship through was presented with the top hat.

The hat itself is the most colourful part of the ceremony as it is steeped in history. On loan from the Port Colborne & Historical Museum since 1999, it’s a beaver felt fur hat that was given to the Historical & Marine Museum by an anonymous donor.

It’s a 1900 top hat that was created by Tress and Co., a hat firm from London, England. The founder of the company was Cooper Tress Sr (1787-1869), who was joined at the company by his son Cooper Tress Jr. and later by Cooper Tress Jr.’s sons, Sidney Cooper Tress and Herbert Charles Tress.

The business was active in England for over 100 years, being established in 1846 and eventually selling to Christy’s in 1953 in the neighboring suburb of Bermondsdey. So that very specific top hat has come a long distance. After today’s ceremony, the hat was stored in an acid free box in the Captain John W. Sharpe Heritage Resource Centre, a climate-controlled building that was built in 1995 to house over 17,000 artifacts and archives.

But the captain presented with the hat isn’t left empty-handed. Every year, the first captain through is given a keepsake top hat to take with them on their downbound journey.

Inniagara.com

Scrapping progressing quickly on St. Clair

Images shared on social media by Wayne Elliott of Marine Recycling Corp. show the progress being made scrapping the fire-damaged laker St. Clair at Port Colborne, ON.  See the gallery below for the photos.

Soo Locks shipping season opens with passage of Edgar B. Speer

Sault Ste Marie, MI – The Soo Locks opened for the new shipping season at 12:01 a.m. Friday with the upbound passage of Great Lakes Fleet’s 1,004-foot long Edgar B. Speer. Fleetmate Edwin H. Gott followed her up.

The two arrived at the locks on Wednesday but had to wait at the locks for the official opening time, which is set by Congress.

Around 75 warm;y-dressed people showed up at the viewing platform late Thursday evening into Friday morning to witness the passage.

A party of local dignitaries headed out to the vessel Thursday afternoon to present Capt. Abe Grogan, Chief Engineer Isaiah Majetich and crew with plaques, hats and other gifts. Greeting the first ship is a long-standing tradition in Sault Ste. Marie highlighting the importance of shipping and the locks to the community. Representatives of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, including Mayor Don Gerrie and board members of the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association, presented plaques to Capt. Grogan. Roger LeLievre, publisher of the book Know Your Ships, brought copies of the 2022 edition for the crew.

As the group enjoyed a tour of the vessel, the CCGS icebreaker Griffon could be seen breaking ice in the upper locks approaches.

Both vessels are bound for Two Harbors, MN, to load taconite. After the Speer and Gott, the next vessels upbound were Dirk S. VanEnkevort/barge Michigan Trader and Arthur M. Anderson. No downbound vessels were enroute to the locks.

The Soo Locks have been closed since mid-January for the annual winter maintenance window. During this time, a big list of projects was tackled, largely on the Poe Lock, the Army Corps said. This included:
Hydraulic steel structure inspections
Miter gate bottom girder structural repair and seal replacement
Miter gate pintle concrete repairs
Valve machinery repairs
Dewatering system maintenance

“Crews also performed a wide range of other maintenance tasks including fender timber replacements on the piers, electrical and mechanical systems inspections and preventative maintenance on both Poe and MacArthur Locks and floating plant maintenance,” Maintenance Branch Chief LeighAnn Ryckeghem said.

“We worked hard to accelerate work up-front during our annual closure, with crews working against a very tight schedule to make repairs in a very short time,” Area Engineer Kevin Sprague said. “Due to the hard work of our maintenance crews during heavy snowfall and cold temperatures, we were able to accomplish all required work on schedule.”

The Soo’s smaller lock, the MacArthur, is not expected to open until late April. This means all the vessel traffic for now will be going through the Poe.

Top hat ceremonies launch St. Lawrence Seaway’s 64th navigation season

St. Catharines, ON – Grain is key to St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.’s success in 2022, says its president and chief executive officer. “We’re coming off 38.2 million tonnes of cargo moved last year,” Terrence Bowles. “That’s a pretty good number for the seaway. We’re starting to recover from the pandemic. If you look at all of our cargo other than wheat, we were up 13 per cent.”

Last year’s tonnage was up one percent overall compared to cargo moved through the 3,700-kilometre-long Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system in 2021. “I’m optimistic we’re going to have a good year,” said Bowles during the annual top hat ceremony at Lock 3 in St. Catharines Thursday.

The ceremony kicked off the 64th navigation season for the seaway and the opening of the 43-kilometre, eight-lock Welland Canal.

In St. Catharines, Canada Steamship Lines CSL Welland was the first upbound vessel — from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie — and it displayed a mural painted on its accommodation block for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games featuring four runners.

At the top hat ceremony in Port Colborne, Mayor Bill Steele welcomed CSL Tadoussac as the first downbound vessel at Lock 8 Gateway Park.

Both ceremonies were a return to in-person events and well-attended by residents of the respective municipalities.

In St. Catharines, Capt. Peter Lynch accepted the top hat on behalf of CSL Welland’s Master Capt. Jamie Thorne and chief engineer Nicolas Lavoie. In Port Colborne, Capt. Wilson Walter accepted a replica top hat on behalf of CSL Tadoussac’s Capt. Jesse Vickers and chief engineer Iqbal Moosa Nakhooda.

Bowles said the key to increased tonnage carried this year by vessels such as the CSL ships, is a strong return of Western grain crops. “There’s not much grain to be shipped right now. We’re waiting for the new crops. That should start around July and August.”

He said heat and drought last year led to poor crops, which had been strong the past five to six years. Bowles said with the gross domestic product expected to increase at least four per cent it could be a strong year for the seaway.

One unknown that could change how cargoes are sent across the world is the invasion of Ukraine, and sanctions imposed on Russia. Bowles said the two nations account for more than 20 per cent of grain exports, and Russia is a source of fertilizer.

“We think Canada could help fill that gap,” said Bowles, adding he’d rather see a quick end to the “sad events” than profit off the war. Western grain, and fertilizer from Saskatchewan, could be shipped through the seaway, he said.

At St. Catharines’ ceremony, Mayor Walter Sendzik thanked the seaway for its investments in the waterway in the city. “We value the seaway and what it contributes to the community. Shipping and the marine industry is in our history, it’s part of our DNA,” said Sendzik.

He spoke about the mural on CSL Welland and the company’s partnership with the Canada Games.

It was announced the vessel would be the Games’ torch bearer for its leg from Montreal to Niagara. The torch will first be lit in Ottawa in July before heading to Montreal on CSL Welland. Once on the Welland Canal, it will be taken ashore and make its way across the Niagara region before a lighting ceremony at the opening ceremony of the Games on Aug. 6.

Niagara Falls Review

Mural unveiled on CSL Welland captures spirit of Canada Summer Games

The unveiling of “The Runners” created by four Canadian artists marks a new milestone for CSL’s biofuel program and launches the countdown to Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Canada Steamship Lines marked the official opening Thursday of the St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal, by unveiling “The Runners,” a spectacular work of art painted on CSL Welland, a 36,364 DWT Trillium Class bulk carrier.

Inspired by Greek artistic traditions depicting sport, the colossal 16-by-14-meter mural painted on the ship’s accommodation block depicts four runners in motion, striving together towards a common goal.

CSL commissioned the mural, created by renowned Canadian artists Bryan Beyung, Emmanuel Jarus, Andrea Wan and K.C. Hall, to celebrate the spirit of the 2022 Canada Summer Games taking place throughout the Niagara Region from August 6th to the 21st.

Each artist painted a runner according to their distinct style, vision and tradition. Together, the four runners create a collective and harmonious work that reflects the broad mix of people, cultures, backgrounds and abilities in amateur sport today.

“As the primary sponsor of the Canada Games Torch Relay, we were very excited to work with these young artists,” says Louis Martel, CSL President and CEO. “They were able to capture the spirit of athleticism and the common values we share with the Games – collaboration, inclusion, diversity, integrity, responsibility and perseverance.”

“The original work of art will serve as a lasting legacy to the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games and the ideals they represent,” says Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Host Society. “We can’t wait to watch CSL Welland and this wonderful mural build energy and excitement for the Games – and we look forward to seeing a CSL ship carry the Canada Games torch for the first time in the event’s history.”

CSL selected the aptly named CSL Welland for this project to honor the communities of the Niagara Region with which the company has close ties, and because of the vessel’s distinction as a pioneer in supporting sustainable shipping in the Great Lakes.

CSL is committed to striving for a zero-carbon future. As an active participant in CSL’s biofuel program, CSL Welland has logged the most engine hours on B100 biodiesel of any vessel in the world. The success of using biofuel on CSL Welland and other CSL ships demonstrates the viability and practicality of this green alternative in supporting the decarbonization of marine transportation.

Since 2019, CSL ships have accumulated nearly 30,000 running hours on biodiesel, representing the world’s longest running biofuel trials. The result has seen lifecycle reductions of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 80 percent, compared with using marine gas oil.

“We are excited to announce we will be pursuing our B100 biofuel program on eight ships during the 2022-23 Great Lakes navigation season,” says Martel.

“Just like the runners depicted in the mural, CSL is committed to continuous improvement and to finding solutions to stay at the forefront of safer, greener and more responsible shipping,” he added. “We do it for these young athletes and artists, and we do it for the future of our customers, communities, environment and industry.”

CSL

2022 edition of “Know Your Ships” ready for new shipping season

The new shipping season is at hand, and so is the release of the 2022 edition of Know Your Ships, the popular annual field guide to boats and boatwatching on the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway.

This year’s 200-page book includes information on U.S., Canadian and international-flag cargo vessels, tugs, excursion boats and barges in regular Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway service, including owner and port of registry, year and shipyard where built, length, beam, depth, cargo capacity and former names, plus type of engine, horsepower and more.

In the Spotlight section, you can read stories about the 50^th anniversary of the Stewart J. Cort, check out some of the unique cargos carried on the lakes in 2021, get to know the ship-to-shore chef Catherine Schmuck and more.

Standard and spiral bindings are available. Order at this link: www.knowyourships.com

Season’s first vessels Speer and Gott arrive at Soo Locks

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – “They’re here . . .” Wednesday afternoon the first two ships of the 2022 navigation season arrived at the piers below the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Fleet mates Edgar B. Speer and Edwin H. Gott will wait below the locks until the March 25 midnight opening of the Poe Lock. The Speer arrived a few hours ahead of the Gott and will have the honors of opening the season with the first cargo lockage.

The park and viewing platform will be open March 24 from 11:30 p.m. to March 25 at 1:30 a.m. The Visitor Center will open March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an open house. Know Your Ships author Roger LeLievre will be selling/autographing the 2022 edition from noon-3 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds going to the Visitor Center.

If you cannot make it to the opening, there will be a Facebook Live starting slightly before midnight of the first ship.

The Speer made it to all the check-in points and the pier first so will have the honors of opening the navigation season. A party of local dignitaries will head out to the vessel Thursday afternoon to recognize the captain and crew with plaques, hats and other gifts. Greeting the first ship is a long-standing tradition in Sault Ste. Marie highlighting the importance of shipping and the locks to the community.

Earlier Wednesday, CCGS Griffon passed upbound. In the late morning, the Purvis Marine tugs Anglian Lady and Wilfred M. Cohen were upbound to the lower harbor with the barge Ironmaster, which had spent the winter at the Lime Island dock.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

St. Lawrence Seaway opens for 2022 navigation season

Massena, NY – A sign of spring hit the St. Lawrence Seaway Tuesday morning. As of 8 a.m. March 22, the Montreal and Lake Ontario sections of the Seaway had opened to vessels for the 2022 navigation season.

The Seaway had its first commercial vessel a day ahead of planned opening as Canada Steamship Lines’ CSL Welland made its way upbound escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard ice-breaking vessel Martha L. Black.

As of 8:30 a.m. on March 22, there were several ships in the opened portion of the Seaway. That included the vessel Atlantic Spirit approaching the St. Lambert Lock and CSL Welland at Beauharnois.

Prior to this portion of the waterway opening, ice clearing efforts were conducted by the Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Transportation and Great lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. This is the earliest recorded opening of the Seaway.

WWTI

Crews removing fuel, water from sinking Lake Superior tugboat

Duluth, MN  – The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work on a tugboat that’s partially underwater in the Duluth Harbor to remove fuel and water from the vessel.

The retired U.S. Army Corps tugboat, named Lake Superior, “was listing over the weekend but was supported by ice,” Joseph McGinnis, the waterways management branch chief with the Coast Guard, told Bring Me The News on Monday.

But by Monday morning, the stern of the vessel sunk because the ice started melting, McGinnis said. The U.S. Coast Guard learned of the issue at about 9 a.m. Monday and responded to the tugboat’s slip, off Railroad Street near Pier B and the Compass Minerals dock, to mitigate any potential environmental hazards.

It’s still not clear what caused the tugboat to start taking on water, with McGinnis telling Bring Me The News on Wednesday the hope is that question will be answered when the vessel is lifted out of the water.

Contractors were headed to the tugboat on Wednesday to “perform lightering and dewater operations,” McGinnis said, with the goal being to remove any fuel, lube oil and water in the vessel. Then, it will be up to the owner of the tugboat, Billington Contracting, to determine what to do from there.

The U.S. Coast Guard says it wants to ensure the tugboat will not pose a threat to the waterway or the environment.

“Being that the vessel is in a slip, there is no threat to the waterway and does not present a hazard to other vessels. As for safety of the environment, the Coast Guard is monitoring the vessel for any pollution. As soon as all potential pollutants, such as the diesel fuel, lube oil, etc., are removed from the vessel, the Coast Guard will not be involved with the vessel since there will be no threat to the environment,” McGinnis said.

The Coast Guard pollution responders continue to monitor the vessel and are staying in touch with the contractors at the scene.

Bring Me The News

Shipping season opens at Green Bay with tug-barge

Green Bay, WI – The 2022 shipping season is officially underway for the Port of Green Bay. The first shipment of cargo arrived on Friday. The Michigan – Great Lakes (tug and barge) kicked off the shipping season with a delivery of petroleum products to US Venture. This year’s winner in the First Ship Contest is Ellen Buhrmann of Merrill, WI, whose guess was right on target.

4 coast guard cutters make first passage through Soo Locks Monday evening

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Robins may be the traditional first sign of spring, but at the Soo Locks, the first lockage of Coast Guard icebreakers is the real sign that spring is here. Late Monday evening the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Samuel Risley made their way through the Poe Lock to start opening the upper river and Lake Superior ports for the start of the 2022 navigation season. They were followed by USCG Hollyhock and Neah Bay.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Coast Guard investigating sinking of tugboat Lake Superior in Duluth

Duluth, MN – The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating after the retired tugboat Lake Superior partially sunk in the Duluth Port Monday morning.

There were no reports of any pollution impacts to the environment, according to Lt. Joseph McGinnis, with the Coast Guard. McGinnis said the partial sinking was reported around 9 a.m. near the Compass Minerals dock off Railroad Street.

Crews were sent out to monitor the situation while a de-watering operation began. As of 3:45 p.m., the vessel’s stern remained under water while the icy water helped keep it stable, according to McGinnis.

The vessel, which was built in 1943, used to be owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until it was retired in 1995 and acquired by the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center as a floating museum, according to Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats.

A cause of the partial sinking is under investigation.

“The vessel was listing over the weekend but was supported by ice. Since the ice started melting, the stern of the vessel sunk,” McGinnis said.  The Coast Guard’s pollution responders examined the vessel and are “still working diligently on mitigating any potential environmental hazards.”

As of Monday afternoon, only the stern of the vessel was submerged and crews had dewatering pumps on the scene to remove water from the tugboat, McGinnis said, adding he “Can’t say for sure if the vessel will fully submerge.”

According to the website Great Lakes Tugs and Workboats, the Lake Superior was built in 1943 for the U.S. Army and named Major Emil H. Block before being transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950 and renamed Lake Superior

The tug was retired from service in about 1995 and was acquired by the City of Duluth, which used it as a floating museum, the website said. A private owner —Billington Contracting of Duluth — bought the vessel in 2007 and it has remained inactive.

Fox 21

Arthur M. Anderson displays 70^th anniversary badge 

Toledo, OH – The steamer Arthur M. Anderson, due to sail March 23 from Toledo, is sporting artwork marking the vessel’s 70^th season of service. See the image in today’s photo gallery.

USCG Spar headed for Duluth

Duluth, MN – USCG Spar (WLB-206), the replacement vessel for the USCG Alder, departed Portland, ME,  on March 17.  She is expected to arrive in Montreal March 22 headed for new station at Duluth, MN.

Great Lakes levels down 3 feet from 2020 peak

Grand Rapids, MI – Nearly two years after record highs on the Great Lakes, water levels are on the decline. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory shows Lake Michigan has dropped nearly 3 feet since setting its record high in the summer of 2020.

Water on the Great Lakes typically follows a pattern, with levels peaking in the late summer and bottoming out in the spring. But that pattern can be broken by consistent weather changes.

Lauren Fry, a physical scientist with NOAA, said lake levels typically rise over the spring as we accumulate more rain and then drop heading into the fall and winter as the warm surface water evaporates when it hits the cold air. She said a dry spring followed by a warm fall and a cold winter led to a larger drop.

While numbers are down, it doesn’t mean landowners along the lakeshore are out of the woods.

“I would anticipate periods of high water levels in the future,” Fry said. “There’s nothing to indicate that we are in a trajectory of downward water levels forever. I think the answer is really to be prepared for both and low water levels. It may seem like a reprieve, but I think to be ready for those changes is still important.”

Read more at this link: https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/great-lakes-levels-down-3-feet-from-2020-peak/

U.S. Coast Guard to open West Neebish Channel in the St. Marys River

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The Coast Guard will begin opening the West Neebish Channel in the St. Marys River Thursday morning, March 24.Ice throughout the St Marys River is deteriorating. To prevent a collapse of the ice field that would hinder Neebish Island ferry operations, Coast Guard icebreakers will carefully establish a track from Lake Nicolet to the ferry crossing then begin flushing the rotting ice down river. Prior to this effort, Coast Guard icebreakers flushed the lower half of the channel from the Rock Cut to Munuscong Lake, creating space for ice to move down river.Prior to announcing these plans, Coast Guard officials conferred with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) and the local ferry operator to collect their input. For up-to-date information on ferry operations call the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) delays, cancellation, and updates hotline at (906) 632-1516, check the local ferry Facebook pages, or the EUPTA website at EUPTA.net.

USCG

Help wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry seeks captain for S.S. Badger

Ludington, MI – Lake Michigan Carferry, a subsidiary of Interlake Maritime Services, Inc seeks qualified individual to serve as Master aboard the historic S.S. Badger.  Applicants must possess an Unlimited Great Lakes Master’s license for steam vessels any gross tons with appropriate pilotage as well as documented experience in the capacity of Master.   Year-round salary for the sailing seasons of mid-May to mid-Oct.  Excellent work schedule throughout the sailing season.  Benefits include medical, dental, vision and 401K.  Pre-employment physical, drug screen and background check are mandatory.  Go to www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew > Apply Now and click on the Captain position to apply or email resume and letter of interest to lbialochowski@interlakems.com

Neebish Island ferry canceling trips in March

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Due to weather concerns, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) has announced a shutdown of Neebish Island ferry trips for the next several weeks.

Following the authority’s announcement on March 1, ferry rides for Neebish Island were due to shut down on Friday, March 4. The decision was made due to ice conditions. The shutdown will continue for the foreseeable future until weather conditions improve and could last until the end of March.

Icebreaking operations around Neebish Island focusing on ferry and shipping routes began on March 7 in preparation of the 2022 Great Lakes shipping season.

During Thursday’s Chippewa County Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioner Erik Baron said the docks continue to be inactive. “The ferry was shut down due to ice buildup on the docks, this is a problem the EUPTA needs to address immediately,” said Baron. “They should have the proper equipment and capabilities for de-icing the ferry docks. This recent closure has nothing to do with ice in the channel. People are stranded on the island moving into spring break-up, the ice flow is going to get even worse, which could extend that shutdown.”

The United States Coast Guard is keeping two emergency airboats in proximity in case there is an emergency which requires transport from the island.

More information about the Neebish Island ferry can be found at www.eupta.net/ferry-system.

Sault News

Scrapping progressing on St. Clair

Workers are progressing quickly on scrapping the fire-damaged St. Clair at Port Colborne, ON. The stacks, pilothouse area and self-unloading boom have now been removed.

2021 final Seaway saltie statistics

The 2021 shipping season has long since concluded, and with the startup of the 2022 season just around the corner, here is a recap from the 2021 season with the final statistics at the Eisenhower Lock at Massena, N.Y.

During the 2021 shipping season, the Eisenhower Lock saw 218 salties made 457 westbound transits. These numbers reflect a drop from the 2020 season total.

For instance, the 218 vessels that transited the Eisenhower Lock during the 2021 season was down 40 vessels from the 2020 shipping season and down 15 vessels from the 5-year average from 2016 to 2020. Also, the 457 westbound transits were down 63 transits from the 2020 season.

The 457 westbound transits were also down 24 overall transits from the 5-year average period from 2016 to 2020. During August, there were 34 westbound transits. That number was down 28 transits from the 2020 shipping season during the same month. Also, in October 2021, there were 44 westbound transits at the Eisenhower Lock. That number was down 26 transits from the same month in 2020.

During June 2021 there were 54 westbound transits at the Eisenhower Lock. That number was up 10 transits from the same month in 2020. Also, in November 2021, there were 41 westbound transits. While that number was down 12 transits from the same month in 2020, the 41 transits in December 2021 were also the highest total during the month’s 5-year average from 2016 to 2020.

There were also 35 new visitors to the Seaway 2021. That number was down 12 vessels from the 2020 season.

Of the 35 new visitors to the Seaway in 2021, there were seven vessels built in 2021: Bogdan, Federal Franklin, Federal Fraser, Federal Freedom, Federal Frontier, Kom and the tanker Tarsus.

Also, there were three salties, all of which were built in 1994, that were the oldest vessels that transited in 2021. They were Aujaq, Qamutik and Sinaa.

Here are the final statistics for westbound transits made by saltwater vessels at the Eisenhower Lock during the 2021 shipping season.

March/April: 58
May: 59
June:  54
July: 49
August: 34
September: 51
October:  44
November: 68
December: 41

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened on March 22, 2021, and it’s expected to open once again on that same date.

Denny Dushane

2022 edition of “Know Your Ships” ready for new shipping season

The new shipping season is at hand, and so is the release of the 2022 edition of Know Your Ships, the popular annual field guide to boats and boatwatching on the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway.

This year’s 200-page book includes information on U.S., Canadian and international-flag cargo vessels, tugs, excursion boats and barges in regular Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway service, including owner and port of registry, year and shipyard where built, length, beam, depth, cargo capacity and former names, plus type of engine, horsepower and more.

In the Spotlight section, you can read stories about the 50^th anniversary of the Stewart J. Cort, check out some of the unique cargos carried on the lakes in 2021, get to know the ship-to-shore chef Catherine Schmuck and more.

Standard and spiral bindings are available. Order at this link: www.knowyourships.com

Soo Locks to open March 25 for 2022 shipping season

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Soo Area Office will open the Poe Lock at 12:01 a.m. March 25, marking the 2022 Great Lakes shipping season start. The operating season is fixed by federal regulation and driven in part by the feasibility of vessels operating in typical Great Lakes ice conditions.

The park and viewing platform will be open from 11:30 p.m. Thursday until 1:30 a.m. Friday to accommodate those who want to watch the first passage. It is too early to tell what vessel will be first to lock through.

The Poe Lock officially closed January 16 to undergo critical repairs and maintenance during the 10 week-long winter shutdown. Maintenance crews performed a variety of critical tasks on the Poe Lock, including hydraulic steel structure inspections, miter gate bottom girder structural repair and seal replacement, miter gate pintle concrete repairs, valve machinery repairs, and dewatering system maintenance.

The annual open house at The Soo Locks Visitor Center takes place on March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coffee and cookies will be served. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at the new model of the Soo Locks facility before it is installed in the Soo Locks Plaza. Know Your Ships book editor Roger LeLievre will be on hand to sell and sign the 2022 edition from noon-2 p.m.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Sarter Marine Towing joins with Great Lakes Towing at Sturgeon Bay

Sturgeon Bay, WI ­ –  Sarter Marine Towing Company Inc. has agreed upon definitive terms for the sale of Sarter to The Great Lakes Towing Company. The agreement includes the Towing Company’s purchase of the tugboats Donald J. Sarter and William C. Selvick, as well as all supporting machinery and equipment and most other shoreside assets.  The remaining five tugs in Sarter’s fleet will be chartered to the Towing Company under a long-term bareboat charter arrangement.  The Towing Company has retained all employees of Sarter Marine and will supplement the business with administrative and financial support to help support and enhance Sarter’s current book of towing business in the region.

Last fall, the Towing Company stationed two tugs in Sturgeon Bay, including one of its historic “G” tugs and a former Navy YTB.  With the Sarter Marine Towing fleet, the Towing Company will continue to provide timely ship assist services to Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS), the domestic fleet of U.S. and Canadian lakers, and visiting foreign flag salties. The combined companies will also continue to provide stout ice breaking assets for ice work in Sturgeon Bay and surrounding waters.

“The Sarter Marine Towing Team is so excited to partner with Great Lakes Towing. They have been a pleasure to work with,” said Julie Sarter, President and Owner of Sarter Marine Towing.

“The acquisition of Sarter Marine significantly enhances the Towing Company’s capabilities in Northern Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  We look forward to integrating Sarter’s marine transportation capabilities and reach into the Towing Company’s operation, while continuing to provide superior service to the customers we have been privileged to serve for years,” says Joe Starck, President, The Great Lakes Towing Company.  “This is really a win-win outcome for everyone involved!”

The acquisition will close on March 23, 2022.

The Great Lakes Towing Company

Coast Guard spring breakout activities to ramp up on Monday

Monday March 21, the icebreakers Samuel Risley, Mackinaw, Hollyhock and Neah Bay will pass through the Poe Lock then begin establishing tracks leading out to Lake Superior, along charted shipping routes. Mackinaw will remain in Whitefish Bay, the other three vessels travel west to conduct the break out of western Lake Superior. All of this work is being done in preparation for the March 25th opening of the Soo (Poe) Lock; the official start of the 2022 commercial navigation season.

Also on Monday, icebreakers will begin the fracture of ice separating Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, Michigan. At the request of Mackinac Island community leaders, Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie will open the waters between St Ignace and Mackinac Island, effective 0800 EST March 21. Breaking up the ice, advances deterioration and enables local ferries to resume service to Mackinac Island.

Finally, Coast Guard cutters Hollyhock and Neah Bay will commence spring break out operations in the Duluth-Superior area Tuesday March 22. Initially, icebreaking operations will occur inside the Duluth and Superior harbors, then expands to other regional waterways, including Thunder Bay, ON.

USCG

Shepler’s Ferry on Mackinac Island sells to billionaire after 77 years

Mackinaw City, MI – Shepler’s Ferry, which has shuttled millions of visitors to storied Mackinac Island since the 1940s, has sold.

Chris Shepler, whose parents raised their children in a blue and white rusted trailer near the end of a dock in Mackinaw City, informed employees, including some who have worked at the 77-year-old company for decades, at 8 a.m. Friday. The deal was scheduled to close immediately after the staff meeting for an undisclosed amount.

“They’re keeping everything the same, including the name. Nothing really is going to change from the guest perspective,” Shepler told the Free Press. “I’m guaranteed three years to work for the company in my current role as president. There are options to stay on, but when I do walk out the door, it’s my job to make it like I was never there. Seamless.”

Shepler, 59, of Harbor Springs said he looks forward to one day seeing his current employees eventually run the company. It’s all part of the sale, keeping the team in place because the new buyer is so impressed with how operations are run.

“I don’t have any kids. My brother has two boys but they’re 12 and 10. It would have been a shame for us to not discuss it and just keep working. Then, all of a sudden, wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m ready to retire and what are we going to do?’ I think that’s a recipe for failure,” he said.

Read the full story here: https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2022/03/18/sheplers-ferry-mackinac-island-sold-hoffman-family-companies/7077585001/?fbclid=IwAR0t9slM_18GRW9iW1aC-wgTMvYh9m6Q8MwCQHV60_kfS4msYJamcEqUpx0

Position update: Nukumi

The new Canada Steamship Lines’ vessel Nukumi transited the Panama Canal Friday. Her ETA for Halifax is March 26 at 02:00.