Icebreakers bound for Lake Superior, will head through Soo Locks on Monday

Duluth, MN –  The Soo Locks will open sooner than expected this month, allowing a team of mostly U.S. Coast Guard vessels to establish a commercial shipping track on Lake Superior in time for the March 25 season opener.

The ice situation is formidable on Lake Superior, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority said in a news release Wednesday, citing internal Coast Guard reports.

The lake is presently 80% ice-covered, or “above-normal ice concentration” by Coast Guard officials, who note that some of this ice plate is up to 5 feet in thickness. In and near the Port of Duluth-Superior, ice thickness is reported to be 24-30 inches.

Ice is deteriorating rapidly on the lower Great Lakes and through the St. Lawrence Seaway, freeing ice-breaking assets to return to Lake Superior, which has gone without a Coast Guard ice breaker this winter since the recommissioning of the cutter Alder from Duluth to the West Coast Bay Area last summer.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will allow early passage through the Soo Locks to several Coast Guard vessels on Monday to begin spring breakout preparations.

The Coast Guard is planning to dispatch the Canadian cutter Samuel Risley, and its own heavy ice breaker Mackinaw through the Soo Locks, followed by the 225-foot Hollyhock and one of the Coast Guard’s 140-foot cutters, either Neah Bay or Morro Bay, to begin ice-breaking operations in Lake Superior.

“Led by Mackinaw, these vessels will establish a shipping track through Whitefish Bay and eastern Lake Superior,” the Port Authority said.

Hollyhock and the other 140-foot cutter will proceed to the Port of Duluth-Superior to begin ice-breaking operations in and around the port. Hollyhock will remain in Duluth-Superior to maintain a track and facilitate initial shipping movements.

The other cutter will sail up the North Shore to break ice in Two Harbors and Silver Bay, possibly proceeding to Thunder Bay, Ontario, and then east to support track maintenance in Whitefish Bay. The Risley will tackle initial ice-breaking duties in Thunder Bay, and then return to the eastern end of Lake Superior.

“Coast Guard officials expect the warmer weather to aid in ice deterioration,” the Port Authority said, “but they predict initially challenging ice and navigation conditions particularly in eastern Lake Superior, where deteriorating ice tends to stack upon itself.”

Duluth News Tribune

Welland Canal opening ceremony set for March 24

The 64th navigation season of the St. Lawrence Seaway will be officially launched at 10 a.m. on March 24. To mark the passage of the first ship of the year through the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation will hold an event that will bring together dignitaries from the Canadian government, as well as representatives from both the Canadian and American corporations.

This will be an opportunity for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to share its views for 2022 and explain the Seaway’s role in Canada’s economic recovery and in the global supply chain. An impressive artwork will be unveiled on the Trillium Class bulk carrier CSL Welland, the first ship to transit through the Welland Canal.

Among those on hand will be Terence Bowles, President and Chief Executive Officer, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation; Craig Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator, The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (United States) and Louis Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, CSL Group.

Thunder Bay shipyard kept busy during winter

Thunder Bay, ON – The long winter is slowly coming to an end and so is the work being done on many ships that are wintering in the Thunder Bay port.

At Heddle Shipyard, the Algoma Central Corporation Tim S. Dool is undergoing maintenance and structural work while the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun, which is operated by Owen Sound Corporation, has been undergoing its five-year maintenance protocol.

The Chi-Cheemaun is the operation’s largest passenger and vehicle ferry that sails from Tobermory, Ont., to the Manitou Islands. Heddle welcomed the contract.

“It was due for its five-year regularly scheduled drydocking and when it came up on an open tender, we out-bid it and we were fortunate enough to win it, and shortly thereafter it made its way up to the Thunder Bay shipyard,” said Ted Kirkpatrick, Heddle’s director of business. “There’s lots of things that need to be done. They check the shafts and the props and they check the valves and things like that and they go through all the regular survey to keep it going for the next five years.”

In the early morning Sunday, a fire broke out in the boiler room on the ship. Heddle staff used fire extinguishers to knock down the blaze and Thunder Bay fire crews arrived to extinguish it. The ship’s boiler room, the boiler and its electrical system suffered damage. Light smoke was quickly cleared by the ship’s ventilator system.

Robert MacDonald, the Chi-Cheemaun’s third engineer, says everything is “OK. It’s just some light damage but we’ll have everything ready to go for May 6,” he said, of the anticipated departure date for the ship.

“There’s no sustainable damage. Inside everything is going well and there’s just a few more things to be touched up. When the ice leaves we’ll be able to make it back home for a startup date.”

He called the Chi-Cheemaun “quite charismatic” and said people like to see it because of its pretty colors. “People come back year after year, and they’ll be glad to get it back in Tobermory for the 2022 season.”

MacDonald, who has been a worker on the ship for 35 years, is on his third visit to the Heddle shipyard and says they have been accommodating.

Long-term plans to fabricate ship components at Heddle’s Thunder Bay plant, particularly for the Sea-Span Polar icebreaker build taking place in Victoria, B.C., is a work in progress.

During the summer of 2021, Heddle Shipyards purchased Fabmar Metals and has been working to move their equipment onto the shipyard campus as part of their plan. At the same time, the federal government moved forward with construction plans for two Canadian Coast Guard Polar icebreakers under the National Shipping Strategy. One of these vessels is being built in Victoria.

“The plan was to start fairly soon after we purchased (Fabmar) but then we won the Chi-Cheemaun contract and we kind of went through all our resources,” he said. “Now we’re into winter works, so moving of the major machinery pieces hasn’t happened yet, but some things are slowly migrating their way down to the shipyard but we haven’t done the full move yet.”

Kirkpatrick said Fabmar Metals has operated in Thunder Bay for more than 30 years, and called the merger “very timely. “Almost every time we’ve had a project in Thunder Bay, we would bring Fabmar in to support us,” he said.

“So we’ve worked with them for as long as we’ve had the shipyard there since 2016. We talked about doing this and we were finally able to make it happen. So it was actually really great for us.”

Meanwhile, some ship modules for the Sea Span icebreaker have been built at Heddle’s Hamilton base and at their Newfoundland base and shipped via truck to Sea Span in Victoria.

Kirkpatrick says the COVID-19 pandemic “played games” with them all in this whole process and a disruption in the supply chain made it difficult at times to get the parts that they needed. “And the price of some things has gone up drastically,” he added. “Those have probably been the biggest challenges.”

Heddle doesn’t anticipate material shortages or costs having any impact on the schedule or projects, but it just makes things a little more challenging to manage.

Chronicle-Journal

USCG to open St. Marys RIver Pipe Island channel

Coast Guard icebreakers will open the Pipe Island Channel, north and east of Pipe Island, on the St. Marys River, starting at 1200 local time on Sunday, March 20. The icebreakers will fracture and flush the existing field of ice to open the up bound channel of the St. Marys River, to the north and east of Pipe Island. Conducting this and other preparatory icebreaking is done to facilitate the opening of the Sault Locks. The midnight March 25th opening of the locks signals the start of the Great Lakes commercial shipping season.

Issues between Keewatin owner and investment company to keep museum ship closed in 2022

Editor’s Note: The following information was released by Friends of Keewatin.

Port McNicoll, ON – Skyline Investments Inc., owner of the 114-year-old S.S. Keewatin, has refused to discuss re-opening the ship for a 2022 season with Friends of Keewatin – the volunteer organization which restored and has operated her as an historical attraction since 2012 – according to the president of the charity, Wayne Coombes.

“This means Keewatin will be closed for a third season in a row,” said Coombes. “After struggling to self-fund and execute repairs over seven long years to bring her to near fully restored condition, having to stand outside and watch her deteriorate is hard to take. And we know she has been deteriorating since Skyline assumed direct custody: the repair to the top deck at the bow was interrupted when Skyline locked us out 18 months ago.”

“The word ‘disappointed’ doesn’t come anywhere near describing how we feel,” said Coombes. “For me ‘betrayed’ is more accurate. Skyline returned Keewatin to Port McNicoll promising to donate her to the community. Based on that promise volunteers contributed an estimated 100,000 hours to restore her and operate her to pay for that restoration. But now Skyline has changed its management, reneged on its promises, locked us out, and intends to gift her to a different recipient.”

Coombes bristles at the suggestion that it was the charity’s failure to secure Category B designation that led to this situation. “The offer to donate Keewatin to the community wasn’t presented as ‘conditional’ and the volunteer contribution couldn’t be,” said Coombes. “Skyline created the charity, controlled its board through the 2018 season, and controlled its management through the summer of 2020. Skyline’s lawyers handled the application and Skyline refused to provide the financial backing it knew would be required for the charity to attain designation for the ship, despite seeking a multimillion-dollar windfall. Any ‘failure’ was Skyline’s.”

The Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston has announced they’ve been conditionally awarded Category B designation for Keewatin by Canadian Heritage back in December,” said Coombes. “That’s no surprise: they’re a fine organization and Keewatin is an amazing artifact. I understand they still have several hurdles to cross. Ultimately both organizations want the best for Keewatin. She sure isn’t getting that now!”

Manistee scrap tow March 26

McKeil Marine tug Beverly M will tow the long-idle Manistee from Toledo on March 26, with expected arrival 27/28 at Marine Recycling Corp. in Port Colborne. An as yet unknown American-flagged tug will assist.

More beach this summer: Lake Michigan water level down 27″ in last two years

We’ll have more beach this summer at Lake Michigan. The water level of Lake Michigan is now 17″ lower than it was one year ago. With a lower volume of water coming down from Lake Superior into Lake Michigan/Huron (one big lake for lake-level purposes), it’s likely that the water level will see a significant drop this year.

Read the story and view charts here: https://www.woodtv.com/weather/well-have-more-beach-this-summer-lake-michigan-water-level-down-27-in-the-last-two-years/?fbclid=IwAR0KvbEE7xCPxSDNcllOKQK4rUykQEH_WTkkd_pbn9UyFKM7Jyx-yr0eZBQ

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 now entering its 63rd year.

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 cargoes carried on the lakes in 2021, get to know the ship-to-shore chef Catherine Schmuck and more.

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

Coast Guard cutter Spar heading to work on Great Lakes

Lake Superior – More than a year after it arrived at the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore for a scheduled maintenance overhaul to prep it for its Great Lakes assignment, the 225-foot cutter Spar is on its way to its new home port in Lake Superior.

The refurbished Spar is motoring to its new home in Duluth with its Great Lakes crew who previously worked on the cutter Alder, which for years crisscrossed Superior known as “The King of the Waters.” Last summer, the Alder’s crew drove that cutter from Duluth to Baltimore so it could undergo its own maintenance. When finished, the Alder will be assigned to the San Francisco area.

The Spar’s journey kicked off a few days ago, and the crew posted a timelapse video on its Facebook page to mark the occasion. Once it reaches the St. Lawrence Seaway, it will make its way through the Great Lakes until it reaches Duluth.

“Upon arriving in Duluth, Spar’s crew will assume Coast Guard Cutter Alder’s area of responsibility and continue maintaining aids to navigation, domestic icebreaking, search and rescue and law enforcement,” the Coast Guard said.

The Spar, originally commissioned in 2001, hails from Kodiak, Alaska. While there, the cutter’s former crew worked in the area of the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea until the fall of 2020.

Read more at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/03/new-us-coast-guard-cutter-heading-here-to-work-great-lakes.html

One heating boiler damaged in MS Chi-Cheemaun fire

Owen Sound, ON –The Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) is confirming one of the two heating boilers was damaged by the fire on the MS Chi-Cheemaun. On March 12 at 2:20 a.m., the Thunder Bay Firefighters were called to 201 Shipyard Road for a fire inside the ship. No injuries were reported and no other machinery was negatively affected by the fire.

The OSTC says the cause of the fire remains under investigation and the vessel will undergo further examination and equipment testing, at which point the OSTC will provide additional details.

The Chi-Cheemaun’s regular sailing season is set to begin May 6th. Manager of Customer and Media Relations at OSTC Kaleena Sanford said, as of Monday there has been no move to cancel the start of the season, and in fact, reservations are being taken.

Bayshore Broadcasting

Capt. Roger Hewlett receives Lewis Ludington Award

Detroit, MI – On Sunday, Capt. Roger Hewlett received the Capt. Lewis Ludington Award for his distinguished career as a Great Lakes mariner. The presentation was at Mariners’ Church of Detroit during the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony, and was done by Rev. Jeffrey Hubbard (Rector), Capt. Scott Reynolds (International Ship Masters Association, Detroit Lodge), and Jeremiah Ludington III, great -great-grandson of Lewis Ludington).

Harvest Spirit arrives at Soo, ON, to load steel coils

The McKeil Marine cargo vessel Harvest Spirit arrived Sunday evening to load steel coils at the Purvis dock, where the tankers usually moor. USCG Katmai Bay and Neah Bay assisted her up the river, a process that took most of the day. After loading, she will head for WIndsor.

Scrapping underway on fire-damaged St. Clair

Port Colborne, ON – Photos on social media show scrappers at Marine Recycling Corp. have removed the stacks and top of the St. Clair’s superstructure. The vessel was damaged beyond repair during a Feb. 2019 fire while in winter layup at Toledo.

Manitoulin Island ferry Chi-Cheemaun damaged in Thunder Bay shipyard fire

Owen Sound, ON – Firefighters helped ship staff put out a boiler room fire early Saturday morning on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, which is dry docked in Thunder Bay. The fire was contained to the boiler room deep within the ship but damage to the boiler room and the electrical system was extensive, a news release from Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Manistee scrap tow to depart Toledo on March 28

A Facebook post by Marin Recycling Corp. owner Wayne Elliot reads as follows: Tow of vessel Manistee estimated to depart Toledo for Marine Recycling Corp., Port Colborne, ON,  March 28, secure at wharf 17, then shift St Clair to the south slip. Then Manistee from 17 to MRC north slip where St Clair  is now. We will be using one of Mckeil Marines Z drive tugs, approx 4,000 shp. Hope all complete by April 2. Manistee has been in long-term layup at Toledo since 13 Dec 2017.

Want to see how Great Lakes ships are built? Annual Sturgeon Bay tour set for May

Sturgeon Bay, WI – For one day each year, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay opens its doors to the public for tours of the shipbuilding industry. This year the tour will focus on Bay Shipbuilding only. The Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay presents the 29th Annual Shipyard Tours on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

The Fincanieri Bay Shipbuilding site is 63 acres dedicated to construction, inspection and maintenance of the Great Lakes fleet. The 1-1/2 hour guided walking tour is focused on multiple informational sites moderated by shipbuilding professionals. The walk is over irregular surfaces and consideration should be given to personal activity level.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 cash the day of. $10 in advance for those ages 7-17. There is a limit of 1,000 tickets total available for the event. Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay is selling tickets in one hour time slots, Parking will be available on the street, Bay Shipbuilding parking lots or any of the public parking lots that are a short walk away in Downtown Sturgeon Bay.

All proceeds from ticket purchases are directed toward Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay and the Rotary Youth Interact charitable projects, including support for human and community development, vocational and academic ‘Service Above Self” scholarships, and the international exchange student program.

Buy tickets at this link: https://doorcountytickets.com/events/28th-annual-sturgeon-bay-shipyard-tours-9-11-2021

Popular Toronto party boat is moving permanently to Soo, ON

Sault Ste Marie, ON – A major new addition to Sault Ste. Marie’s waterfront is expected this summer. Two Sault businesspeople have signed an agreement to buy Miss Toronto, a popular party yacht that has served Toronto Harbourfront, Toronto Island and Lake Ontario for more than three decades.

When the deal closes on April 16, the new owners of the 100-passenger boat will be Sheila Purvis (known locally for her involvement with Purvis Marine and Beavertails) and Jeff Dicorpo (from Northern Powertrain and Northern Superior Brewing).

Subject to getting the necessary approvals from Transport Canada, Dicorpo expects to bring Miss Toronto to the Sault in late May, with charters and lock tours starting a rather late season sometime in late summer.

The 70-foot boat will be based beside the Beavertails kiosk, where the Canadian lock tour boat Chief Shingwauk used to dock. Purvis and Dicorpo have retained Capt. John Chomniak, former skipper of the Chief Shingwauk, to provide staff training.

It’s expected Miss Toronto will follow essentially the same route as Chief Shingwauk, but Dicorpo tells SooToday he wants to get more into charters for things like birthday parties, weddings and corporate events. He may also take Miss Toronto farther away to places like Bell’s Point.

Tourism Sault Ste. Marie agreed on Thursday to provide $200,000 to support acquisition of Miss Toronto. Purchase price of the boat wasn’t disclosed but it has been offered online recently for $500,000.

SooToday: https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/popular-toronto-party-boat-is-moving-permanently-to-the-sault-5147647?fbclid=IwAR13Zae94UwzSsgV28XQv-38kXysMckNRtpw_E2gcT2yMNheLyELT4HN8sI

Neebish Islanders upset with ferry not operating since last week

Neebish Island, MI – Those living on Neebish Island have been without a ferry service since last Friday. Islanders are upset and worried about not having a ferry service for the foreseeable future as the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority claims ice conditions are what’s prohibiting the ferry from operating.

One Islander, Lori Miller, said the route it takes is a bit icy but it’s nothing the ferry shouldn’t be able to handle. “Shutting the ferry down right now, if it doesn’t need to be, the transportation says it’s going to be shut down until mid to late march, that takes us right up to spring break up so we really could be shut down without a ferry for six to seven weeks,” said Miller.

To cross the river for supplies and to talk to 9&10 News, Miller had to cross the ice bridge that connects Neebish Island and the town of Barbeau, something she’s uncomfortable with. “I just keep hearing the DNR in my mind ‘no ice is safe ice, no ice is safe ice’ and yet this is our only way off at this point,” she said.

Thick ice blocking the ferry has happened before, but the islanders think the transportation authority should be ready for when it happens. “This is an ongoing problem since the beginning of time. Why haven’t they come up with a solution for the problem so that this doesn’t happen,” said Marian Miller, another resident of Neebish Island.

Chippewa County Commissioner Erik Baron agrees. According to Baron, “EUPTA is a public service transportation authority and they need to have the equipment necessary to keep those ferries running.”

The ferry is expected to return to service by mid to late March.

Watch the 9&10 News report here: https://www.9and10news.com/2022/03/10/neebish-islanders-upset-with-ferry-not-operating-since-last-week/

AlgoCanada returns to Soo, expanded icebreaking starts Monday

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The tanker AlgoCanada made another trip upriver Thursday, docking at the Purvis Dock in the lower harbor, Canadian side, in late afternoon to discharge petroleum products. She was assisted through heavy ice in the vicinity of Johnson and Stribling points by the USCG Katmai Bay. Meanwhile, USCG Neah Bay departed Cleveland Thursday with an AIS destination of St. Marys River.

Monday, March 14, the U.S> Coast Guard is expected to expand icebreaking in the St Marys River’s West Neebish Channel. To date, icebreaking in the West Neebish Channel was limited to Munuscong (Mud) Lake, south of Moon Island. Monday, the Coast Guard will extend icebreaking into the southern half of the West Neebish Channel, working from Mud Lake Junction Light north to the Rock Cut at West Neebish Channel Light 29.

The Coast Guard will not disturb the ice north of the Neebish Island ferry crossing or break ice south of West Neebish Channel Light 45. However the Neebish Island ferry has not run since March 4, and is expected to be shut down for an extended period of time due to ice conditions.

View a video of the AlgoCanada here: https://youtu.be/eUPyGBuXxrs

Multiple cruise ships heading to Keweenaw this summer

Houghton, MI – Houghton and the Keweenaw, Michigan will welcome thousands of people seeing the area for the first time this summer as part of a series of summer cruises.

Between June 1 and Sept. 21, seven cruises from Viking Cruises and two from American Queen Voyages (formerly Victory Cruise Lines) will dock in Houghton.

Viking Cruises will use its new 672-foot expedition ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris – smaller than an ocean liner, but the largest such ship that could get through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Because the ships cannot fit under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, they will have to turn 180 degrees and head back out to Lake Superior.

One of the Viking ships is currently in Antarctica, where it spends half the year. In addition to a cruise ship, it also serves as a research vessel. The cruises are geared more at learning, including scientific equipment and an auditorium for lectures.

The ships will dock somewhere near the Kestner Waterfront park. Visitors will be carried to the shore by tender boats, which Nemetz said would carry about 40 to 70 people at a time. They will disembark near Bridgeview Park. Plans call for the ship to arrive at 8 a.m. and leave at 5:30 p.m.

There will be two sets of excursions during the day, each lasting about two-and-a-half hours. About 90% to 95% of guests will do at least one, Nemetz said. They will eat lunch on the ship.

Among the excursions are visits to the Quincy Mine, a hike at Hungarian falls and a seaplane flight over Copper Harbor and Estivant Pines. One still being developed would bring people to Finlandia for a class on how to play harp. A walking tour of Houghton will be centered around historic bars and breweries.

About 630 people will be getting off the Viking boat, including 300 or so guests, said Brad Barnett, executive director of the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau. Victory’s total will be smaller, about 240 guests and 70 crew. The Viking visitors will generally be between 60 to 80 years old, Barnett said. With ticket prices starting around $7,000, they will also generally be well-off.

There are also opportunities for volunteers to serve as ambassadors for the area during the visits, Barnett said.

Mining Journal

Algoma Central, Nova Marine add five vessels

St. Catharines, ON – Algoma Central Corporation and Nova Marine announced Thursday an increased investment in their global short sea shipping joint ventures, NovaAlgoma, by acquiring three cement carriers from KGJ Cement in Northern Europe and two handy-size bulk carriers from Swire Bulk Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. The vessels will be strong additions to NovaAlgoma’s already diversified vessel portfolio, which includes cement carriers, mini-bulkers and handy-size bulk carriers.

“We carefully consider each opportunity for growth and these vessel purchases fit perfectly into our long-term plan for sustaining a profitable business alongside our partners at Nova Marine,“ said Gregg Ruhl, President and CEO of Algoma Central Corporation. “The three cement carriers will support increasing cement requirements and significant global infrastructure investments. The two handy-size vessels will be part of our active international sales and purchase vessel platform, which has delivered strong returns since 2018,” concluded Mr. Ruhl.

“The cement carriers will supply additional capacity for NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (“NACC”) and provide tailored and flexible short sea logistics solutions for our customers in this market,” said Vincenzo Romeo, Chief Executive Officer at Nova Marine. “Working together with our partners at Algoma, we continually review market conditions and add incremental investments so we can strategically evolve with fluctuations in industry demand,” added Mr. Romeo.

The first of the three cement vessels, the NACC Providence, previously named the Glory Atlantic, was delivered in early February. At 446 feet in length, 83 feet in width, she will be too large for service west of Montreal. The second vessel will follow in early March and the third is expected to be delivered in late June. All three vessels will join the NACC fleet serving a growing list of clients around the world.

The two handy-size bulk carriers, to be named the Sider Athena and the Sider Bear will join the NovaAlgoma Bulk Holdings fleet in late April and will be commercially managed by Nova Marine.

Algoma Central Corporation

Oil, gas industry groups try to block rules to better protect the Great Lakes

Long after an Enbridge oil pipeline broke, an oil sheen could be seen along the Kalamazoo River. Crews then worked to clean up the oil that sank to the bottom. A new rule went into effect last month, requiring oil and gas companies to better monitor their pipelines if they are in sensitive coastal areas such as the Great Lakes.

Two industry groups, the American Petroleum Institute and GPA Midstream have petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals to review the rule and, until that’s done, stop the rule from being enforced.

Congress passed laws in 2016 and 2020 requiring the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to amend its rules to help prevent catastrophic oil spills that damage shorelines and beaches, and lawmakers specifically named the Great Lakes as an area to be protected.

The “Pipeline Safety: Unusually Sensitive Areas for the Great Lakes, Coastal Beaches, and Certain Coastal Waters” interim final rule went into effect in late February.

“Unusually Sensitive Areas fall under stricter regulations as to how an operator has to maintain the integrity of the pipe, which would lower the possibility of a failure,” explained Bill Caram, executive director of the watchdog group Pipeline Safety Trust.

Caram said the filing by the industry groups came as a surprise for many because it was clear that the Great Lakes should have been better protected all along.

“I certainly didn’t expect it. This [the previous rule] was an obvious shortfall of the definition. Senator [Gary] Peters and other lawmakers mandated the federal agency that that this loophole be fixed. PHMSA, the regulator, did that in a relatively straightforward manner, and so this definitely took us by surprise.”

The rule specifically cited events involving Enbridge pipelines in its introduction of the rule.

It stated the rule “will provide enhanced protections for hazardous liquid pipeline accidents similar to the 2010 Marshall, MI and the 2015 Refugio Beach, CA oil spills and ensure that events like the anchor strict that damaged Enbridge’s Line

The two industry groups requesting a stay and review of the rule argued that they had not been given adequate opportunity to comment. The petition to the court said the agency issued the rule without first publishing the proposal, providing the public a chance to comment and the agency a chance to amend the Unusually Sensitive Areas definition.

This could delay implementation of the rule for months or longer, because if the petition is denied, then the two industry groups can file suit.

“We certainly hope this is just a matter of months and the agency can sort it out. We certainly hope that the agency denies this request, and the rule stays in place,” said Caram.

Attempts to reach GPA Midstream were unsuccessful. In an email, the American Petroleum Institute responded, “Unfortunately, our subject matter expert on this is out of the office today,” and no one could offer comment for this story.

Michigan Radio

U.S. Coast Guard rescues person on ice floe

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Members of U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Sainte Marie and Air Station Traverse City rescued a man stranded on an ice floe on Lake Superior March 8. A 55-year-old man called the Coast Guard to report that he was stranded on an ice floe approximately threemiles east of Point Abbaye off the Keweenaw Peninsula.U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie coordinated with Negaunee Dispatch to locate the GPS position produced from the man’s 911 call. The Coast Guard Ninth District launched an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Traverse City. The crew of the MH-60 immediately located the man and hoisted him safely into the helicopter where the rescue swimmer conducted a health assessment. The man was taken to Houghton County Memorial Airport for evaluation by awaiting Emergency Medical Service personnel. No injuries were reported.

USCG

Great Lakes ice cover has peaked, here’s how it measured up

The ice cover on the Great Lakes has reached its peak coverage for the winter. You might be a little surprised at how much ice we had on the Great Lakes. All of the Great Lakes spent some time with more ice than the long-term average for individual dates.

Lake Superior peaked around 15 percent higher than the typical high-ice amount. Lake Superior also spent the least amount of time with ice coverage more than the normal curve. Only about eight days had ice cover above average. At Lake Superior’s peak ice, it was 64.2 percent covered on March 3. You’ll also notice the peak ice was right on schedule with historical norms.

Read more and view the data at this M Live link: https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/03/great-lakes-ice-cover-has-peaked-heres-how-it-measured-up.html?utm_campaign=aanews_sf&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0iTvNuKGp0jOjeXtjDBi1amauj0rUDmMz47W-tSG5Ap2yPnLOdxnUVovM

Ottawa announces COVID-19 rules for return of cruise ships to Canadian ports

Halifax, NS – Strict COVID-19 measures will be enforced when cruise ships return to Canada’s ports next month after a nearly two-year hiatus, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced on Monday.

Ottawa lifted its pandemic-induced prohibition on cruise ships in Canadian waters on Nov. 1, on condition that operators fully comply with public health requirements. “The industry will have to follow a robust protocol,” Alghabra told reporters in Halifax.

Under a framework developed with federal, local and provincial public health agencies, the United States government and the cruise industry, all cruise ship employees and passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be allowed into Canada, Alghabra said.

Passengers, he added, will need to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before they board or take an antigen test within one day of boarding. They will also need a negative molecular test result within 72 hours before their return to Canada or an antigen test result within one day of their arrival, he said.

Cruise ship operators will be required to inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report test results, Alghabra said, adding that no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the testing and vaccine requirements.

The cruise ship industry is worth about $4 billion annually to the Canadian economy and is directly and indirectly responsible for about 30,000 jobs in the domestic tourism sector, the federal government says.

Allan Gray, president and CEO of the Port of Halifax, said Monday’s announcement gives a clear signal to ports and to tourism operators that ships are returning in a safe manner. Gray said that while the revival of Canada’s cruise ship industry is certainly welcomed, the biggest economic benefit from the sector goes toward tourism operators in the cities in which passengers debark.

“Cruises in most cases (are) never a large revenue earner for a port … it’s about the economic benefit that goes into the community and it’s about the support industries,” he said.

Gray said he expects the 2022 season, which runs from April to November, will help re-establish an industry that is expected to rebound vigorously in the years to come. He said Halifax is scheduled to see 152 cruise ships this season. “The uncertain part is the actual numbers (of passengers) on board,” Gray said. “It’s been varying up and down … so it’s difficult for us at this point to get firm numbers.”

Alghabra, meanwhile, announced $7 million in federal funding to help build a new $15-million marine container examination facility within the Port of Halifax. The remaining $8 million will come from the port, he said.

The aim is to reduce inspection turnaround times along with container congestion at the port, as well as truck traffic in downtown Halifax. Gray said plans are for the new facility to be in use by sometime next year.

Annual Freighter Frenzy tournament begins

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – In preparation of the seasonal opening of the Soo Locks on March 25, Sault locals are participating in a tournament to decide the most popular shipping freighter on the Great Lakes.

The tournament begins March 8 with a series of Twitter polls that last for 48 hours each. The winners of each poll will move on in the March Madness style bracket until the final poll ends on April 2, which will see one ship remaining as the winner.

Thirty-two ships from America, Canada and other countries of origin are participating in the 16 matchups where voters will be given facts about the history of and fun facts for each ship.

“Each ship has its own story, maybe you know the crew or where the ship was made or where it goes for destinations,” said Nick Nolan, digital media specialist for the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau. “For one reason or another, these ships resonate with people.”

The tournament began in 2020 as a way to make up for the lack of March Madness betting during the non-existent basketball season due to COVID-19. Since then, the Freighter Frenzy has become a popular pastime and regularly receives 100 or more votes on each poll from fans of the ships.

The freighter The Wilfred Sykes, which won the first two Freighter Frenzy events, will also be participating again this year competing against many returning freighters but also new competition.

The Mandarin from Cyprus and Happy River from the Netherlands will both be making their first appearances in the tournament this year. This matchup also marks the first competition between two 1,000 foot ships against each other in the tournament.

“Follow along on our Twitter and have a good time and we like to banter back and forth with our followers,” said Nolan. “We just look forward to having a great tournament.”

Last year, participation from locals was huge with over 100 votes for each poll and over 5,000 votes in the overall competition. This year, the visitors bureau expects even more votes for each poll.

The Sault News. Find more information at the visitors bureau’s website: https://www.saultstemarie.com/freighter-frenzy-3-thrice-the-frenzy/

NTSB releases interview transcripts, drawings of Roger Blough fire

The National Transportation Safety Board’s public docket has released some information on the Roger Blough fire. It’s not a report, but some drawings and interviews as part of the investigation into the fire that occurred last year at Sturgeon Bay. Download PDFs here: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102586

Interlake Steamship Co. fit-out schedule released

A posting on the Interlake Steamship Co. web site shows the fit-out schedule for the fleet. Notable is a late-May date for Stewart J. Cort and no crew report dates for Lee A. Tregurtha. View the schedule in the photo gallery.

Russian-owned Palmer Johnson-built yacht seized in Italy

Sturgeon Bay, WI – A $27 million dollar yacht built in 2013 at Palmer Johnson is making news. The “Lady M” is owned by Alexey Mordasov, Russia’s richest man, who was sanctioned by the European Union this past week following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was seized last week by Italian police in the port of Imperia, in northern Italy.

Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society Inc.

Army Corps issues water level report

Ice concentrations on the Great Lakes undulated with colder than average temperatures in February. Concentrations on the Great Lakes basin ranged from 23% to 56% and ended the month at 41%.An ice jam at the beginning of February on the St. Clair River contributed to the 10-inch water level decrease on Lake St. Clair; though the ice has loosened, and levels are recovering.See the incredible drop in our 6-month Great Lakes Water Levels Forecast here: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/Water-Level-Forecast/Monthly-Bulletin-of-Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/fbclid/IwAR3qLveva5mt6q5aZOJR-z55RiTnwtQFCI5au4WnC6blzfDt4FoBhtcYk6o/

Interlake releases video celebrating the work of fleet’s mariners

We’re ready for the 2022-2023 shipping season! But first, here’s a look at what our proud U.S. flag fleet accomplished last year. We couldn’t do any of it without the dedication and hard work of the best mariners and shoreside employees on the Great Lakes. View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5F79d4qsDE

OBITUARY: Marine writer Jack Storey

Jack King Storey, 77, of Sault Ste. Marie and Drummond Island, Michigan, passed away at War Memorial Hospital on March 4 after a short illness. In 1979 Mr. Storey joined The (Sault Ste. Marie) Evening News, starting a 29-year journalistic career marked by stellar, clear, and concise writing that earned numerous awards. Those include Associated Press awards for sports, feature, investigative and straight news reporting in 1982, 1984, 1985 and 1987.

At the newspaper, he was able to realize his dream of working and living close to the Great Lakes and the majestic freighters that fascinated him from an early age. His column, Marine Beat, reflected that passion.

During a shooting incident at the newspaper, Mr. Storey is credited with gathering fellow staffers into an inconspicuous, locked room to shelter them from the shooter. He kept on his desk a motto that inspired his journalistic career: “It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell,” attributed to Wilbur Storey, the 1861 editor of the Chicago Times.

Throughout his adult life, Mr. Storey developed a passion for building and rebuilding wooden boats and vintage outboard motors. He and his wife Jane spent many summers sailing the waters around Drummond Island on Estelle, a Beetle Cat which they rescued from Massachusetts and he lovingly restored.

Mr. Storey was born on November 7, 1944, at St. John’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. When the family moved to Saginaw, MI, Mr. Storey attended St. Mary’s Cathedral elementary and high school, where he lettered in football, graduating in 1963. Matriculating at the University of Michigan, Mr. Storey earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. He continued his education after graduation completing many courses in Native American studies. Throughout his post-graduate life, Mr. Storey was a proud alum of Michigan and ardent follower of the university’s athletic teams.

Embarking upon his professional career, Mr. Storey was a health educator for Saginaw County. He and a partner founded a sporting goods equipment and clothing store, True North, that operated for a number of years on Saginaw’s near west side.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jane Mason Storey, brothers, and sisters-in-law Thomas P. Storey (Sandy) of Colonial Heights, VA; Alfred J. Storey (Linda) of Drummond Island, MI; James M. Storey (Diane) of Holland, MI. and brother-in-law Joseph G. Mason (Donna) of Mooresville, N.C.

In addition to his spouse and siblings, Mr. Storey is survived by stepchildren Michael Romant (Jackie), Jeannie Romant-Richey (Calvin), Carrie Romant (Karl Nibbelink) and nieces and nephews Leslie Pitcher, Susan Storey, A. Patrick Storey, Amy Storey, Annika Storey, Dan Storey, and nine step-grandchildren. No services are planned at his request.

Hey, Jack: three long and two short.

“Submitted Post Denied” e-mails from Boatnerd

Please don’t take offense (or worry about spam) if you receive e-mails from Boatnerd stating that your submitted post has been denied. We are merely purging old, outdated user-submitted posts from our system. And when we do so, an automatic e-mail is generated back to the original submitter.

As mentioned in the news a few days ago, users provided some 130 submissions via our Upload form over the past 8 months that we were unaware of until recently. Unfortunately these submissions were mostly time sensitive, so we cannot post them as submitted.  As we work through the backlog, each submitted post is individually reviewed and as much information (including photos) is retained as possible.  We then delete the post, which automatically generates the “Submitted Post Deleted” reply.

Our issue regarding notification of user- submitted posts is now resolved, so once we work through the backlog, we should be prompt with future reviews of submitted material.

Algocanada departs Soo, ON, after 12-day stay

The Algoma Central Corp. tanker Algocanada was downbound from the Purvis Dock in the lower harbor Friday after a 12-day stay. Although the vessel has been empty for several days, she remained tied up in the Soo until her next cargo was available. USCG cutter Katmai Bay ran two passes down Algocanada’s port side, allowing the tanker to swing away from the dock. By 10 p.m., she anchored for the night just past Lime Island. Watch a video of the day’s ice ops here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/74265040605/posts/10160326529660606/?comment_id=10160326570850606&notif_id=1646442452130632&notif_t=group_comment&ref=notif

Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron water levels are near their seasonal low point

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels are near their seasonal low point and depending on weather and water supply conditions could begin their seasonal spring rise over the coming weeks. Lake Superior water levels remain below the seasonal long-term average while Lake Michigan-Huron water levels remain above the seasonal long-term average. Lake Superior outflows continue to be set in consideration of water levels upstream and downstream.

The Board expects the total outflow to be 1,570 m3 /s (55.4 tcfs) in March, which is as prescribed by Lake Superior Regulation Plan 2012. The gate setting at the Compensating Works will be maintained at the setting equivalent to one-half gate open (Gates #7 through #10 partially open 20 cm (7.9 in)). There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1, which supplies a flow of about 15 m3 /s to the channel north of the Fishery Remedial Dike.

Water levels of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron continued to decline in February. Lake Superior declined 2 cm (0.8 in), while on average the lake declines 5 cm (2 in) in February. Lake Michigan-Huron declined 3 cm (1.2 in) last month, while on average the lake remains stable in February.

At the beginning of March, Lake Superior is 9 cm (3.5 in) below the long-term average water level (1918 – 2021) and 28 cm (11 in) below the level of a year ago. Lake Michigan-Huron is 23 cm (9 in) above average, 43 cm (17 in) below the level from last year, and 69 cm (27 in) below the record-high level set at this time in 2020.

Depending on the weather and water supply conditions during the next month, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels may continue to decline by as much as 10 cm (3.9 in.) in March. Conversely, it is possible that water levels will begin their seasonal rise and could rise by as much as 10 cm (3.9 in.) over the next month.

U.S. Brig Niagara to set sail in 2022

Erie, PA – Months of negotiations have come to an end as the U.S. Brig Niagara will set sail for the 2022 season and take part in the Tall Ships Festival this summer. Niagara hasn’t set sail for the past two years due to COVID-19.

After several months of negotiations between the Flagship Niagara League and the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), both have agreed to sailing the Niagara. The PHMC approved the U.S. Brig Niagara to have a sailing season and be part of the Tall Ships Erie this summer.

“We want the Niagara to be the ship leading the parade. We want the Parade of Sails coming in just like it was in 2019 with the Niagara in the front with all the tall ships behind her,” said Captain William Sabatini, Executive Director of the Flagship Niagara League.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission released the following statement: “The discussion was positive with the FNL and PHMC committing to sailing the Flagship Niagara this season and presenting a successful Tall Ships Erie.”

With its rich history, it is important to the community that the Niagara is set to sail this upcoming summer. “As you go through Erie’s revitalization, the Bayfront is part of that revitalization and this ship was one of the first parts of that Bayfront revitalization back in ’88 when the ship was launched, and back in 1991 when the ship first started sailing,” said Sabatini.

Both organizations are coming together next week to finalize the agreement.

Your Erie