Cargo diversity helps offset lower grain shipments

Thunder Bay, ON – Increased diversity in cargo shipments handled at the Port of Thunder Bay is helping to offset the decrease in overall shipments resulting from lower volumes of Prairie grain this season.  While overall shipments are 6% lower than the 5-year average and 17% lower than last year, the outlook is strong for several emerging commodities and for the remainder of the shipping season.

The Port’s general cargo facility, Keefer Terminal, is experiencing a 25-year high in cargo shipments.  Built 60 years ago to serve the domestic package-freight industry, Keefer Terminal has been re-established by the Port as a hub for general and breakbulk cargo inbound to Western Canada.

In October, nearly 8,000 metric tonnes of European steel pipe were discharged at Keefer, where the cargo is stored in expansive laydown areas and then trucked to Alberta.  Keefer will receive its third shipment of phosphate fertilizer, also destined for Western Canada, late in the season.  Import steel and phosphate fertilizer are growing opportunities for the port.

Export shipments of Canadian-mined potash are also on the rise.  October was the strongest month so far this year for potash shipments, which sit 67% above last year’s tally and 34% above the 5-year average.  Most of the potash is directly exported via saltie to Europe.

All three operating Western Canadian Grain Ports have experienced reductions in grain throughput this harvest season.  According to the Quorum Corporation Grain Monitor, the year-over-year decrease of grain railcar unloads in Thunder Bay is 29%, compared with decreases of 28% in Vancouver, and 64% in Prince Rupert.  Grain shipments are expected to be closer to average in Thunder Bay for the remainder of the shipping season.

Lake Superior News

Badger reservations now being taken for 2022

The S.S. Badger is now taking reservations for the 2022 sailing season and the return of the overnight sailings. The 2022 sailing season will be May 12th to October 16th, with  overnight sailings from June 10th to September 5th. Reservations can be made at (800) 841 – 4243, Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm Eastern  or book online here: https://www.ssbadger.com/shop/book-online.html

Lake Michigan Carferry

Oaktree, American Industrial exploring sale of Rand Logistics

Oaktree Capital Management LP and American Industrial Partners are exploring a sale of marine transportation company Rand Logistics, which could fetch more than $1 billion, including debt, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Oaktree and AIP are working with advisers on a sale of the Williamsville, New York-based company, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. No final decision has been made and they could opt to hold onto Rand.

An Oaktree spokeswoman declined to comment. Representatives for AIP and Rand didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rand describes itself as a leading marine infrastructure provider on the Great Lakes that delivers over 45 million tons annually of bulk cargo including iron ore, grain and stone across the U.S. and Canada. It operates 24 vessels across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

AIP agreed in February to sell a minority stake in the company to Oaktree’s transportation group, according to a statement at the time. “With connectivity to ports across the Great Lakes, we hope to drive connectivity with Watco, one of the largest short-line rail providers in the country, and another anchor investment in our portfolio,” Oaktree Managing Director Emmett McCann said in that statement.

Bloomberg

Bunkering tanker Algoma Dartmouth sold to Greek owners

The bunkering tanker Algoma Dartmouth has been sold and has taken up its new career as a pollution cleanup vessel in Piraueus, Greece. Its Canadian registration was closed on September 14 and it was re-registered in Greece as Aktea II OSRV.

The small tanker was initially ordered by the Clipper Wonsild Group from the Tukter Shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey. Construction began in 2005, but the ship was not delivered until 2007 after Yardimci Shipyard took over the build and completed the ship as Clipper Bardolino. Classed as a chemical and product tanker it measured 2999 gt, 3569 dwt.

In 2008 it was sold and renamed Samistal Due (possibly repossessed) and under Turkish flag, carried that name only briefly until acquired by Algoma Tankers. The ship was stationed in Halifax harbor for bunkering work and renamed Algoma Dartmouth.

Imperial Oil provided the bunkering service with fuel from their Dartmouth refinery, and had previously operated their own tanker Imperial Dartmouth. When Imperial Oil sold their tanker fleet to Algoma Tankers, they kept the bunkering service and the Imperial Dartmouth for a time, but sold it in 2006. It still operated in Halifax, but was owned by Northern Transportation, renamed NT Dartmouth under charter to Imperial Oil. However that contract ended in 2009. The ship was eventaully sold south.

In 2009, when Algoma Tankers brought the Algoma Dartmouth into service it was also on charter to Imperial Oil, but in 2013 Imperial closed the Dartmouth refinery, thus reducing the ready availability of heavy fuel and marine diesel oil. In 2014 Sterling Fuels, a subsidiary of the Miller/ McAsphalt companies took over as charterer. Sterling operates bunkering services on the Great Lakes from its base in Windsor, ON. However it is a long supply line to Halifax harbor, so they accessed fuel from a variety of sources in Canada and the US.

At the end of the cruise season in November 2018, Algoma Dartmouth was transferred to Saint John, NB, with the charter being transferred to Irving Oil. Cruise ships were a major source of business for bunkers, and most of the ships that called in Halifax also called in Saint John. With a refinery at hand there was also a ready supply of fuels. However the off season (that is between November and May) saw very little business, and the operation was marginal. However when COVID 19 struck the cruise business dried up completely and the Algoma Dartmouth was moved Sydport in Sydney, NS and laid up.

Mac Mackay via Shipfax

Gales of November announces virtual program Nov. 11-13, 2021

Duluth, MN – We are going virtual again his year! Due to the increasing numbers of COVID infections and hospitalizations in our region, the board of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association has opted to cancel its in-person Gales of November. In addition to our virtual program, we also plan a online silent auction and raffle. Visit https://www.lsmma.com/ to see raffle items.

⚓Virtual programs and links:
Thursday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Lee Radzak,
The View from Split Rock. Hosts: Elissa Husby & Renée Mattson
Lee Radzak spent nearly 40 years as the “keeper” of Split Rock Lighthouse, living at the remote site with his family and working as site manager there for the Minnesota Historical Society. Lee talks about his and his family’s live at the lighthouse and about his new memoir, The View from Split Rock: A Lighthouse Keeper’s Life Please click here to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82457351935?pwd=ZGZobmVBOGFjdWZEQmlHRWxPeUl KQT09
Passcode: 292704

Friday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Dan Rau, Netting the Heritage & History of Commercial Fishing Hosts: Joe Lapp & Jay Walker Lake Superior Marine Museum Association board member Dan Rau has mainly spent his adult life on the waters of Lake Superior, either as a boat captain, a fisherman or research. Working with the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association board member and videographer Fred Dudderar Jr., he is helping to capture the oral stories of commercial fishing, a vital part of the Big Lake’s history and, one hopes, its future. Please click here to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81327812586?pwd=N1FoZmVVTWtYd2FyQTVhWnhMcm Q0UT09
Passcode: 967256

Saturday, Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m. Bruce Lynn, Preserving & Discovering History Above & Below the Waves Hosts: Sara Blanck & Konnie LeMay Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point and of the Great Lakes Shipwreck History Society, reviews 2021 with its new, exciting developments at the museum and a spectacular season of underwater shipwreck discoveries in Lake Superior. Please click here to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87540432301?pwd=bkxwb0pBZHd3cjJtbTNvRnVJbUNEZz0 9
Passcode: 828247

Saturday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Roger LeLievre,
Because of the Boats: How I Became the Luckiest Boatnerd in the World! Hosts: Konnie LeMay & Sara Blanck In retrospect, Roger’s path was inevitable. Born just blocks from the Soo Locks, summers spent with his grandparents at their cottage on the St. Marys River gave him a firm foundation for the years to follow. A chance meeting with boat photographer and Know Your Ships book publisher Tom Manse – who taught a young Roger to take pictures and work in the darkroom – was a turning point in his life. For the past four decades, Roger has been living his childhood passion watching and recording the freighters that ply the Great Lakes waters and, after taking over from Tom, publishing Know Your Ships, a go-to classic for Boatnerds. Please click the link here to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87182232369?pwd=QWJjdGRCalppYmZObktERitMTldydz0 9
Passcode: 580560

ISMA Cleveland Lodge holding Great Lakes freighter trip raffle 

International Ship Masters’ Association is having a freighter trip raffle to benefits the International Ship Masters’ Grand Lodge convention being hosted by ISMA Cleveland Lodge 4. Tickets are $10 and by buying 5 tickets you’ll receive 6.  Drawing is Friday January 28, 2022 during the conventions’ Grand Ball. Find out more at this link: https://www.greatlakesshiptripraffle.com

CSL and Viterra set grain load record at Port of Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay, ON – Canada Steamship Lines reached a historic milestone at the Viterra terminal in the Port of Thunder Bay Thursday, when it loaded a record-setting 31,362 metric tonnes of grain on CSL Welland, breaking the previous record of 31,143 metric tonnes set earlier this year by the new Captain Henry Jackman. The cargo of wheat will be discharged in Montreal, destined for international markets.

The 36,364 DWT Trillium Class bulk carrier is currently running on second generation biodiesel made from non-food biomass, adding to the significance of this remarkable accomplishment.

“I commend Captain Rowe and his crew, the Viterra team, the Port of Thunder Bay, as well as our CSL teams on the ground who contributed to this achievement,” said Louis Martel, CSL President and CEO.

“Safely maximizing cargo load on a ship depends on many factors such as load sequencing and distribution, draft restrictions, vessel weight, water level and weather. In collaboration with the Viterra team, we were able to plan for and make the most of favorable conditions.”

CSL Welland is part of CSL’s biodiesel testing program – the longest ongoing trials of pure B100 biodiesel on vessels in Canada. Over the course of the tests this year, which were conducted on half of CSL’s Great Lakes fleet, CSL Welland was able to achieve a lifecycle reduction of 6,800 tonnes of CO2 compared to marine gasoil (MGO).

Across the entire Canada Steamship Lines fleet, the CSL biodiesel program has to date resulted in a 22% lifecyle reduction of CO2 compared to MGO.

Introduced in 2018, CSL’s biodiesel program has accumulated the most running hours on B100 with marine engines worldwide. Replacing fossil fuel with biodiesel on vessels requires no modification of existing equipment and provides a viable carbon neutral fuel source over its lifecycle.

CSL

$1.5B Soo Locks project set to be done in 2030, officials say

Toledo, OH – The decades-overdue overhaul of the Soo Locks is moving swiftly as the nearly $1.5 billion infrastructure project is on schedule to be completed by 2030 and will bolster commerce in Michigan and the Midwest, maritime industry leaders said Thursday.

A news conference held at the National Museum of the Great Lakes here showcased the project, which will construct a 1,200-foot-long lock to handle thousand-foot vessels as they pass through the Sault Ste. Marie area in the Upper Peninsula.

Improving the locks is “an efficiency issue, a resiliency issue” and is long overdue, said James Weakley, the president of the Lake Carriers Association based in Ohio. Built in 1855, the locks haven’t received a major upgrade in more than 50 years.

“It’s about ensuring the reliability of our supply chain, and it’s ensuring the capability of American manufacturing which includes steel manufacturing and all the industries it supports,” Weakley said.

The event featured the commander of the Detroit District Army Corps office, two port authority leaders from Toledo and Monroe as well as the head of a steamship company that used the locks.

The Detroit News

Read the full story here: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/11/04/1-5-b-soo-locks-project-set-done-2030-officials-say/6284798001/

Sale of Soo Locks posters will benefit National Museum of the Great Lakes

Toledo, OH – Three posters depicting the future era of enhanced Great Lakes shipping through the Soo Locks were unveiled during an industry roundtable at Toledo Thursday.

They are available for purchase at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in large format for $25 apiece, or $70 for all three. Smaller posters can be purchased for $20 apiece or $55 for all three. They may also be bought online from the museum, nmgl.org, or from the Soo Locks Visitors Center when it reopens in May 2022.

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership, greatlakesseaway.org/soo-locks, which was formed in 2014 by Great Lakes ports, Great Lakes carriers, and others in the maritime industry, said proceeds will go to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and the Soo Locks Visitors Center.

Purchase the posters here: https://nmglstore.org/products/the-soo-locks-commemorative-posters

Detroit’s Mariners Church Memorial will be Nov. 14

Detroit, MI – The annual Mariners Church Great Lakes Memorial Service will be held Sunday November 14 at 3 p.m. in Detroit. There will be no limit on the number of persons being able to attend. Parking is free in the Ford underground parking structure.  For those who are unable to be present, this service will also be live streamed via YouTube channel, which can be accessed with this link: https://bit.ly/3ngpE4h

Carferry Badger arrives at Sturgeon Bay for drydocking

The 410-foot SS Badger arrived at BayShip, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Thursday morning after a tow across Lake Michigan

Mark W. Barker, president of Lake Michigan Carferry,  said the Badger left Ludington Wednesday evening.  “She will go into the ship yard on or around Nov. 15,” he said.

Barker said the Coast Guard regulations call for inspections every five years. But because the ship operates in freshwater and there is seasonality to the operation, the Coast Guard may grant a waiver or extension for a year. The Badger was granted the extension, and this will be the sixth year since it has been in dry dock.

“It is technically called a five-year dry dock by regulatory,’ he said. “In the Great Lakes, almost all of the ships are eligible to apply for an extension.”

This year the ship will undergo her regular inspection and get a new paint job, Lake Michigan Carferry General Manager Sara Spore told the Daily News last month. She said during the painting process at the dry dock the Badger will retain its traditional black and white with red and white stripes.

Spore did say the inspection itself is expected to last 10 days, and preparations include removing the ship’s propellers among other items. The repainting of the ship is expected to take a good amount of time, too.

Barker said year one went well with Lake Michigan Carferry as a part of the Interlake Steamship family. “It definitely had its challenges,” he said. “We just bought Lake Michigan Carferry in December of 2020. By the time we took ownership of it, we should have already been off to the races preparing for the next season.”

Barker said anytime you buy a company there is transition, and the company was still dealing with COVID-19. Dealing with those two things, though, the ownership was happy with how things turned out.

Now, the company is setting its sights on next sailing season. “Next year’s sailing season begins on May 12 and ends on Oct. 16,” he said. “We are planning on doing two trips a day beginning on June 10 through Sept. 5. We will have the typical cruises during the season.”

Barker said the outpouring of support from day one has been just amazing. “We knew we were walking into something special,” he said. “I do not think we fully appreciated how special it has been. It has just been amazing the support from the city officials on both sides and the communities.”

Ludington Daily News

Sugar Islander II drydocking to take longer than planned

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The dry-docking project for the Sugar Islander II ferry has experienced a setback.  The USCG has made their initial inspection and they have identified significant corrosion on structural steel members and hull plating that will need to be cut out and replaced.  This was not anticipated or known while estimating the amount of time needed for the dry-docking project until the vessel was lifted.

This new development will significantly lengthen the time needed for the vessel to be in the shipyard for repair.  It is not known at this time exactly how much longer the repair will take.

BayShip to build another LNG bunker barge

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding has agreed to partner with PNE Marine Holdings to build a second 5,500 cubic meter (CBM) LNG bunker barge. This new barge will be a sister vessel to the LNG bunker barge Clean Canaveral, which will deliver to Polaris in mid-November.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is the main commercial business unit of Fincantieri Marine Group in the United States. FMG’s president and CEO, Dario Deste, offered the following on the contract announcement: “Our team at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is once-again showing why they are the U.S. market reference point for LNG bunkering vessels.”

Demand for economical supply of LNG fueling the maritime sector is growing rapidly. Over the next several years 400 new vessels utilizing LNG are expected in service. LNG is the leading solution to fuel the maritime sector as the industry advances its sustainability goals through a transition to lower carbon fuels. The new articulated tug and barge adds to Northstar’s growing fleet delivering LNG to cruise ships, container vessels, bulk carriers, car carriers, and tankers that are in service or on order today.

The 5,500 cubic meter ATB will be fitted with four 1,375 CBM IMO Type C tanks. It will utilize a cargo handling system designed and developed by Wartsila. Upon completion, the vessel will be 340’ overall length, 66’ beam, and 32’-10” deep. The ATB will be an Oceans Classed ABS barge.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding

World Ship Society report

Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connection – reported as a casualty or sold for demolition taken from November 2021 issue of Marine News – Journal of the World Ship Society:

Sold for Demolition: Sea Jade (9053220; Sierra Leone) (Alsterstern-17 – 1st seaway trip 1998) 11,426 / 1994 – chemical / products tanker – By Full Victory Enterprises Co. Ltd (Special Wealth Ltd), Anguilla, to Bangladesh breakers and arrived Chattogram 24.05.2021 – commenced demolition 31.05.2021

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

Interlake buys U.S. Army tug, will bring it to lakes from East Coast

During a radio interview Wednesday with a Ludington radio station, Mark W. Barker, president of the Interlake Steamship Co., said its affiliated company Interlake Logistics Solutions, has purchased the U.S. Army tug MG Winfield Scott (LT 805). Now in Virginia, the tug will be sailed to Ludington this fall

“We have no idea what we will do with it, but it will be rafted alongside the Spartan,” he said. Spartan is the long-idle sister ferry to the Badger, which Interlake also owns.

The 128-foot-long Winfield Scott (LT-805) was built by Moss Point Marine and delivered to the U.S. Army in 1993. She is named for Major General Winfield Scott.

In a 2015 statement, Lt Col Kim Nash, 10th Transportation Battalion Terminal battalion commander, had high praise for the tug.  “This boat has the capability and the horsepower to pull an aircraft carrier. It can tow anything in the Army fleet, if given the opportunity,” she said.

Caring for Our Sailors program enters second year

A successful effort called Caring for our Sailors, started last year during the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak, will continue this year.

“It is with great gratitude towards these hard-working men and women that I announce the 2021 SN Caring for our Sailors program,” said teenaged coordinators Brendan Falkowski and Brock Johnson in joint statement online.

“With the project being a huge success last year and an ongoing pandemic, we have decided to run the project once more during our senior year of high school. The goal of this program is to send care packages to the sailors on Great Lakes ships to provide extra support for this challenging season. Even though it might not be much for the sailors, we want to show them that they are appreciated for their sacrifices and work. These men and women spend over a month at a time out at sea, with limited interaction with family and friends at home. The crews on the ships are their families on the water, and they work together as a team to overcome these challenges.”

The two have gained approval from several shipping operators to send out care packages to their vessels and are aiming to provide gifts to almost 800 sailors on over 40 ships. They have also partnered with J.W. Westcott Co. of Detroit and Soo Marine Supply of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for delivery of the packages to the ships.

The deadline for monetary donations by November 29, 2021.

Read more or donate at this link: https://shipwatcher-news.com/caring-for-our-sailors/?fbclid=IwAR0Xn_yN0KN9qVMEyYFk4xn2v5jtkZwYCHWT0F9YUlNdTOVCZ3P-lacqbd8

Update on Lake Superior outflows and expected conditions

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron have both continued their seasonal declines in October. As a result of the continued drier than average weather and water supply conditions, water levels on Lake Superior remain slightly below the seasonal long-term average. Weather and water supply conditions were wetter than average in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in October, and as a result, 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 1,890 m3/s (66.7 tcfs) in November, 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.

Weather and water supply conditions were drier than average in the Lake Superior basin and wetter than average in the Lake Michigan-Huron basin in October. As a result, Lake Superior declined 5 cm (2.0 in), while on average the lake declines 3 cm (1.2 in) in October. Lake Michigan-Huron declined 4 cm (1.6 in) last month, while the average historical decline is 7 cm (2.8 in) in October. At the beginning of November, Lake Superior is 6 cm (2.4 in) below the long-term average water level (1918 – 2020) and 29 cm (11.4 in) below the level of a year ago. Lake Michigan-Huron is 42 cm (16.5 in) above average 38 cm (15 in) below the level from last year, and 63 cm (24.8 in) below the record level set in 1986.

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels typically decline in November. Depending on the weather and water supply conditions during the next month, Lake Superior may rise slightly or decline by as much as 10 cm (4 in) in November. Lake Michigan-Huron water levels could decline by as much as 13 cm (5.1 in).

International Lake Superior Board of Control

Canada’s marine sector onboard to protect workers with mandatory vaccination policies

Canadian marine shipping organizations welcomed new federal mandatory vaccination rules released this week by Transport Canada, and said that marine company policies would be ready to protect the safety and welfare of both their employees and the public.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce, which represents marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian ship operators, shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers that operate in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence, East Coast and Arctic, had already been working for some time with its partners to develop a model policy that strongly encourages use by members for their own specific operations.

The CMC’s Canadian ship operator members, which operate more than 150 Canadian-flag freighters, tugs and barges, contributed tothe development of the policy.  Many of the Chamber’s members and partners, from ship operators to Canadian ports to the St. Lawrence Seaway to pilotage authorities, are federally-regulated and will be impacted by Transport Canada’s new rules. All of CMC’s Canadian ship operator members have already, or will be adopting mandatory vaccination policies for all employees, including onboard crews and shoreside personnel.

Bruce Burrows. President and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, said: “Marine workers are on the frontlines delivering essential goods for Canada’s economy. They are often working in close quarters and interacting with multiple people at different points and parts of the supply chain. Despite putting in place extensive protective measures during the pandemic, the marine sector experienced a few COVID outbreaks, which in some cases led to hospitalization and, tragically, even the death of one of our seafarers. Mandatory vaccinations are a necessary next step to help protect our employees and to reassure their families and communities that they are working in the safest possible environment.”

Burrows added that he looks forward to working with federal and provincial partners to develop improved ways to deliver booster vaccines to Canadian seafarers.  Onboard crews come from all over Canada, are on ships that are continuously operating for weeks/months at a time and need mobile vaccine clinics in ports. Canadian seafarers struggled to get their first and second vaccine shots previously due to bureaucratic roadblocks, and some were forced to get them at U.S. ports.

Chamber of Marine Commerce

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding celebrates expansion completion

Sturgeon Bay, WI – Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay celebrated the completion of remodeling and expanding buildings at the south end of the shipyard on Tuesday with a dedication and ribbon cutting.  The impetus behind the was in conjunction with the $795 million contract that Fincantieri Marinette Marine received from the U.S. Navy to build a first-in-class frigate in April of 2020.

Vice President and General Manager Todd Thayse says the state-of-the-art fabrication buildings will help keep Bay Shipbuilding strong in the maritime industry for many years.

Other speakers at the event were Kurt Wolfgram, Project Executive from Miron Construction, Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward, and Mike Galecki, the Program Manager’s Representative – Bath U.S. Navy.

After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, guests were allowed to take guided tours of the 84,000-square-foot building at the south end of North 3rd Avenue. Campus, and the 68,000-square-foot addition to an existing building off of North 1st Avenue.

You can watch a video from the dedication below.

https://doorcountydailynews.com/news/602173?fbclid=IwAR1WjRtsQHZDn2SI0_4Ya7uNIhBYJEl3jkPdZ1UvxMGjWb0CWtrTX-5K6Yg

Toledo museum hosts S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald-themed tours

WHAT: The Fitzgerald Experience
WHEN: Saturday, November 6 – Sunday, November 7, 2021
WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605

In recognition of the 46th Anniversary of the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) is offering a weekend of special tours on November 6 and 7. The Fitzgerald Experience is a guided tour of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, using the lake freighter and its similarities to the Edmund Fitzgerald to discuss the events of November 10, 1975, theories surrounding the vessel’s sinking, and stories about the 29 crew members who were lost.

Although closed for the season beginning November 1, The Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship will reopen one last time this season exclusively to tour guests for the unique experience. Each tour will be limited to a small group of no more than 8 people and lasts approximately 75 minutes. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Due to tour popularity and size limitations, it is strongly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance. Guests can also take advantage of an additional 10-15% discount on museum store purchases. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit nmgl.org or call 419-214-5000.

ADMISSION: $20.00 (Museum Members), $25.00 (Non Members). Museum and Ship Admission is included in the price.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Virtual Visitor Center Today: ‘Sailing into Legend – the Most Baffling Shipwreck(s)’

A number of ships have “gone missing” on Lake Superior. The Griffon, Bannockburn, Henry Steinbrenner, and Merchant are only some of the lost fleet still lying in the Big Lake’s dark depths. Among these mysteries are the French Navy minesweepers Inkerman and Cerisoles. Built in Port Arthur, Ontario, the pair departed on November 23, 1918 bound for Montreal, before final delivery to France. Somewhere in Lake Superior they disappeared. Searches failed to find the missing warships. No confirmed human remains were ever recovered and the sparse flotsam gave no clues. Accusations of poor construction, shoddy seamanship and collision followed but real evidence was illusionary. French Navy investigations were equally lacking in answers. Join us November 4 when author Fred Stonehouse will share his research into one of Lake Superior’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

This free program begins today at 12:30 EDT (11:30 CDT) at https://www.gotomeet.me/VirtualVisitorCenter/sailing-into-legend. The Virtual Visitor Center is a cooperative endeavor between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association and the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association.

OBITUARY:  James (Jay) Crissey

James (Jay) Crissey, who was active in the maritime industry at the Port of Chicago and Port of Indiana and throughout the Great Lakes with Total Marine Safety, Parker Sales and Chicago Steamship, passed away October 21.

He was a founding member of the Coast Guard Sea Veterans of America, and very active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Chicago. He served on the Klamath WPG/HEC 66 as a 3rd class Machinist Mate and was in the ready lifeboat crew for boardings while serving with Squadron 3, Operation Market Time in Vietnam 1968.

Tributes on his Facebook page included this one, from his friend Bob Lund: “Jay” James Crissey was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. A giant in the Great Lakes marine community, he was a brilliant man with insights on a plethora of subjects in addition to his vast knowledge of all things maritime. He was also diligent, kind, caring and selfless.”

His funeral will be at Lincoln National Cemetery (20953 W. Huff Road, Elwood, IL) at 11:00 on December 10.

Abandoned ship near QEW listed on Canada’s buy and sell website

If you have made the drive along the Niagara stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) you have undoubtedly seen the rustic, 141-foot ship that is nestled in the Jordan Harbour. “La Grande Hermine” (The Big Weasel) is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the region but it may soon look a little different.

According to a public document on the federal government’s buy and sell website, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently accepting bids on the old ship. A technical assessment of the vessel was completed back in March by the Canadian Coast Guard Central Region Vessel of Concern (VOC) program.

The assessment determined the wreck posed a “significant level of danger to the environment, as well as to the health, safety and well-being of the public.”

It was deemed necessary to proceed with the removal of the main mast and restrict access to the wreck to mitigate the hazards present. The assessment by the VOC describes the ship as “stranded, dilapidated” and “burnt.” It lists the owner of the boat as “not determined.”

The ship was built in 1965 and is a life-sized replica of the three-masted sailing vessel that famous explorer Jacques Cartier traveled on in the 1500s. It was later converted into a restaurant and was refurbished with a wooden facade built over the steel hull. The boat was featured at the Montreal Expo in 1967. The vessel was then purchased by a businessman man who wanted to convert it into an interim casino in Chippewa. He docked the vessel while awaiting approval, however, the man passed away and the boat was left abandoned.

In 2003, the ship was destroyed by a suspicious fire. The burned-out hull still sits in the harbour roughly 25 metres from shore and continues to attract tourists from all over the world.

Over the years, many people have shown interest in taking ownership of the boat, including a man from the United States who wanted to sink the vessel so it could be used by divers to explore underwater. A group from Hamilton also expressed interest in restoring the ship and moving it to Pier 4 so it could be used for observation and recreational purposes.

Companies looking to place a bid on the vessel will have to meet specific criteria to be awarded the contract, including the successful completion of a minimum of two vessel recovery projects in the last five years.

The winning contractor will also be responsible for the removal and disposal of the masts as a whole or in pieces, provide proof of disposal and secure dangerous accesses within four weeks of the contract being awarded. The winning contractor must ensure access points to the vessel are closed.

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority no later than five days before the bid closing date on Nov. 9.

https://www.chch.com/abandoned-ship-on-the-side-of-the-qew-is-up-for-sale/?fbclid=IwAR0DQEy18aaszqNTT4cmTxw3DYYQVp–nBiSB739wPMoWwwls-EVvZ2m6TQ

Port Huron Maritime Center now closed for winter

The Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron is now closed for the season.

US Steel to build pig iron capacity at Indiana steel operations

US Steel is finalizing an agreement with an unnamed strategic partner to build 500,000 mt/year of pig iron capacity at its Gary Works integrated steel operations in Indiana by 2023, CEO David Burritt said Oct. 29.

“Under the contemplated deal, our potential partner would fund, install and operate pig iron production assets, which we would supply with excess liquid iron production,” Burritt said during a call with analysts. “This is an efficient and quick way to expand our iron ore advantage to our mini mills, and we continue to evaluate other opportunities to extract additional value from iron ore.”

Burritt said the pig iron output would supply US Steel’s Big River Steel electric arc furnace in Arkansas and drive “blast furnace efficiencies at Gary Works.”

Richard Fruehauf, US Steel’s Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, said the new pig iron capacity will be able to supply Big River with nearly 50% of its ore-based metallics needs and eventually support supply to the company’s proposed second EAF mini-mill.

However, the pig iron capacity is viewed as an “interim solution” for the steelmaker’s growing EAF footprint as it eyes future direct-reduced iron production opportunities in the US to meet its sustainability goals by 2050, Fruehauf added.

The proposed pig iron joint venture in Indiana will process iron ore from US Steel’s mining operations in Minnesota.

S&P Global

Interlake’s new U.S.-built Mark W. Barker launched at Sturgeon Bay

Sturgeon Bay, WI –  Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Company hosted a launch ceremony Thursday, marking the latest milestone for the new 639-foot M/V Mark W. Barker.

The first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighter to be built on the Great Lakes in nearly 40 years, the M/V Mark W. Barker – while still under construction – was “launched” or otherwise floated in the water in the large drydock at the Sturgeon Bay shipyard.

A formal maritime tradition, a launching ceremony honors the first time a boat is transferred from land to water. The public event is a way of celebrating and blessing the new ship and its crew to bring it good fortune on its future voyages.

“Today is truly gratifying for our company to commemorate the first time the completed hull of our new ship has touched water,” said Mark W. Barker, President of The Interlake Steamship Company and namesake of the new vessel, which is the first new ship constructed for the maritime company since 1981.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s Vice President and General Manager Todd Thayse invited all the shipyard crews to attend the short ceremony.

“It is a proud day for the men and women of our shipyard to celebrate the progress made on the M/V Mark W. Barker,” Thayse said. “Sharing this launch ceremony with the Interlake Steamship team along with Helen and Ian Sharp makes this day even more special.”

Interlake’s office staff was in Sturgeon Bay to be a part of the launch celebration. For many, it was their first time in a shipyard.

“We are dedicating this historic launch of our new ship to the men and women who have been building these Great Lakes vessels on our freshwater shores for more than 100 years,” said James R. Barker, Chairman of The Interlake Steamship Company. “We honor all of the skilled professionals who have worked countless hours, day in and day out, year after year, behind the scenes constructing these tremendous bulk carriers. Their workmanship and talent are welded into every seam of these vessels that go to sail long productive lives on the Lakes, safely carrying mariners and the raw materials that are the building blocks of America.”

In particular, James R. Barker pointed to the contribution of Ian Sharp, Interlake’s Director of Fleet Projects, who spearheaded the design of the new build in-house from its conceptual phase to today. Sharp, a native of Scotland, has contributed his talents in ship design and shipbuilding to create a legacy that includes dozens of vessels throughout his more than five-decade career.

His wife and chief supporter of 56 years, Helen Sharp, was selected as the honorary launch sponsor.

“Motor Vessel Mark W. Barker, your family name is strong, you are built strong by hard-working men and women and you will work strong. May God bless you and all who sail with you,” said Helen Sharp as she broke the ceremonial bottle of champagne against the bow of the ship just above the vessel’s nameplate.

Tugs in the shipyard blew congratulatory salutes, and then shipyard workers opened the valves in the dry dock to let water flow in. The process of floating the boat took about six hours.

President and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group Dario Deste offered his congratulations to the teams at Bay Shipbuilding and Interlake. “Well done,” said Deste. “May this vessel demonstrate not only the importance of commerce on the Great Lakes but also the power of partnerships between two tremendous companies.”

The ship is expected to be complete and underway in Spring 2022. In the meantime, interior work on the vessel’s accommodations and mechanical and engineering systems continues.

The new River-class, self-unloading bulk carrier is believed to be the first ship for U.S. Great Lakes service built on the Great Lakes since 1983. Measuring 639 feet in length (78 feet W, 45 feet H, 28,000 DWT), the ship will transport raw materials such as salt, iron ore, and stone to support manufacturing throughout the Great Lakes region.

The Interlake Steamship Company, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and Bay Engineering jointly designed the bulk carrier, complete with advanced vessel and unloading systems automation. The carrier is being built by FBS’s nearly 700 skilled trade workers and will generate business for partnering contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Major partners for the project include American Bureau of Shipping (ABS);ArcelorMittal, Bay Engineering (BEI); EMD Engines; Caterpillar; EMS-Tech, Inc., Lufkin (a G.E. Company), Kongsberg and MacGregor.

Interlake Steamship Co.

View images in the photo gallery
View a news report and video of the Barker launch at this link: https://fox11online.com/news/local/launch-ceremony-held-for-new-great-lakes-carrier-ship-in-sturgeon-bay?fbclid=IwAR1JqKA3b4Zj5QqRcPsIliqdAxEjaULrAsobzVSpAq9fKO03QdcCLgz0ZCw

New Simcoe Island ferry to be built at Hamilton shipyard

Kingston, ON – The government of Ontario announced a big investment in a small island near Kingston on Thursday. The Ministry of Transportation will be giving Frontenac County $3.3. million for a new ferry for Simcoe Island.

The ferry will be built at Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton, and will bring with it 24 local jobs during construction, according to a news release from the MTO.

The ferry is expected to be in service by late 2022 and will allow for up to three times more vehicles than the current ferry. The vessel will also be able to carry larger service vehicles, such as fire trucks and vehicles required for maintaining roads and infrastructure.

The current Simcoe Island ferry was first launched in 1963 and is cable operated. It runs from Simcoe Island to Wolfe Island in the spring, summer and autumn.

Ports around Great Lakes on sidelines during shipping crisis

Green Bay, WI – With hundreds of ships stacked up off ports along the east and west coasts, ports around the Great Lakes can’t help alleviate the current supply chain crisis. According to the Port of Green Bay’s director, Dean Haen, it’s due in part to a federal taxation policy on ships sailing the Great Lakes.

“There’s a 1,000 ports in the United States, including 25 fairly decent size ones in the Great Lakes that can’t help in this situation without some changes in legislative policy,” says Haen.

The policy Haen is referring to is the Harbor Maintenance Tax established in the early 1980′s.

“And that was a way to facilitate and pay for dredging and that’s happened, and now we’re fully dredged, but it needs to be tweaked because it’s stopping ways to alleviate congestion and commerce, it’s stopping commerce,” says Haen.

Haen says the tax essentially limits Great Lakes shipping to raw materials destined to one port.

“The way the federal taxation works on these vessels, you get charged on the value of goods at each stop, so if your goods don’t get off until the third stop you’re taxed three times,” explains Haen.

While many of the massive container ships require 50 feet of water, and the Great Lakes’ locks system only provides just over 26 feet, Haen believes adjusting the tax policy and other federal incentives would make it cost effective for smaller container ships to sail into the heart of the Midwest.

“The Great Lakes is the 3rd largest economy if we were our own country around the Great Lakes, so there’s a lot of manufacturing, there’s a lot of consumption that’s happening around the Great Lakes and yet all those goods that are being produced are moving to a coastal port, and other goods coming in to be consumed are also moving into coastal ports and then moved by truck or train to the region. You think about the cost of building a highway, adding another lane, millions and millions of dollars per mile, this water is already here, there’s no infrastructure costs, the docks are there,” says Haen.

As ports around the Great Lakes continue advocating to become a commercial waterborne transport route, known as Short Sea Shipping, the current shipping crisis could be the tipping point to it becoming a reality.

“Truthfully what drives change is a crisis situation like this, legislators start looking for solutions and industries telling them that and now they actually have the desire to push that legislation through,” says Haen.

WBAY

View video at this link: https://www.wbay.com/2021/10/25/ports-around-great-lakes-sidelines-during-shipping-crisis/

Port of Toledo leaders looking into the feasibility of handling container cargo

Toledo, OH – Container ships continue to be held up on the West Coast as the global supply chain crisis continues. Many of the vessels are having to anchor offshore, unable to get into port for weeks at a time.

According to Joe Cappel, the Vice President of Business Development for the Port of Toledo, any issues elsewhere haven’t affected business at the port.

“We are the largest landmass port on the Great Lakes, and also one of the most cargo diverse ports on the Great Lakes,” Cappel said.

And this has been a very good year for the Port of Toledo.

“The 2021 season is one of the best we’ve had in recent years,” he said. “Our cargo tonnage is up over 26% over 2020, which was also a very good year for the port.”

A diverse portfolio has been a big part of Toledo’s ongoing success. That portfolio includes things like grain, iron ore, coal, aluminum, and salt. But as delays continue for container ships on the West Coast, some are asking about the possibility of adding that kind of cargo to the Port of Toledo’s roster.

“It’s really a business case analysis that needs to be done and we are in the process of that,” says Cappel. “We are working with our terminal operator to see if it even makes sense for Toledo.”

Cappel says ports specialize in certain cargo for a reason. “Some other Great Lakes ports see this as an opportunity for them, but every port is different in terms of cargo they handle and what their specialties are.”

According to Cappel, Cleveland is the only American port on the Great Lakes that handles container cargo right now.

“The last time we had a study done, there were well over 7,000 jobs tied to the port and a $1 billion annual economic impact,” says Cappel. “That was before the Cleveland Cliffs project and other improvements we’ve been making, so I am excited to see the new numbers.”

Cappel adds that in order for the Port of Toledo to be able to consider handling cargo containers, there would have to be a multi-million dollar investment to create a specific space at the port. There would have to be enough interest from shippers and local importers to use the service. There would also need to be a U.S. Customs facility.

“Could it be an opportunity for Toledo and the Great Lakes?” asks Cappel. “Moving containers is not something we typically do but it could be an opportunity in the future. But if the Port of Toledo had an ability to do this, it is not likely to impact the West Coast situation.”

In the meantime, the focus will continue to be moving products in and out of Toledo that provides jobs and economic stability for the region.

13ABC. Read the full story here: https://www.13abc.com/2021/10/25/port-toledo-leaders-looking-into-feasibility-handling-container-cargo/

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting Nov. 10 at Split Rock

Two Harbors, MN – This annual event commemorates the sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald and the loss of her 29 crew members on November 10, 1975. It is also a time to reflect on the memory of all lives lost in Great Lakes shipwrecks. The lighthouse, fog signal building, and visitor center will be open. Costumed interpreters will greet visitors and provide historic site and shipwreck information. Throughout the afternoon, visitors can view a film about the Edmund Fitzgerald in the visitor center.

At 4:30 pm, the lighthouse will close temporarily while the names of the crew members are read to the tolling of a ship’s bell. Following the ceremony, the beacon will be lit, and the tower will be open again to tour.

Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp as the grounds and trails are unlit. The weather is unpredictable, please dress accordingly. A portion of the program will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Learn more, pre-purchase admission, or RSVP to receive a reminder of the livestream: https://www.mnhs.org/event/8826

Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship,  Museum Tug Ohio host Boo on the Boat

Bring your ghouls and goblins for Halloween fun aboard two of Toledo’s most historic Haunts – the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio. Trick-or-treat in costume from the pilot houses to the galleys and everywhere in between while on a scavenger hunt for goodies. Treats will be distributed using pre-portioned, sealed bags at stations to help youth explore Great Lakes history in a fun, age-appropriate way. Additionally, on Saturday, October 30, NMGL will welcome back artist Don Lee to draw free caricatures. Children with food allergies will have access to non-food treats in alignment with the Teal Pumpkin Project. Boo on the Boat activities are included with the price of general museum and ship admission. The event is free for members. Guests may consider additional savings and access to the museum year-round by purchasing a membership. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more and reserve your tickets visit nmgl.org

ADMISSION: $17.00 Adults (18-64); $16.00 Seniors (65+); $14.00 Youth (6-17) FREE – Children 5 and under; GLHS/NMGL Members Family Memberships are only $54 *Admission price includes trick-or-treating and entrance to the museum and boats
WHEN: Friday, October 29 – Sunday, October 31, 2021, 10am-4pm (Friday – Saturday) and 12am-4pm (Sunday)
WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lake,s 1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605

Three 1800s-era shipwrecks discovered in Lake Superior

Whitefish Point, MI  – Experts have announced the discovery of three 1800s-era shipwrecks in Lake Superior.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced Monday that three different schooners, Dot, Frank W. Wheeler and Michigan were discovered near Grand Marais in the Upper Peninsula. Several additional shipwrecks have also been located and await positive identification, according to a news release.

“This has been a great year for us at the Shipwreck Museum, and we have never located so many new wrecks in one season,” Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Executive Director, Bruce Lynn, said. “Each shipwreck has its own story…and the drama of the Drake and the Michigan, and the rescue of both crews…these are fantastic, true stories that we can tell in the museum someday.”

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society uses a combination of historical research, technology, and teamwork to map where ships were reported lost. The areas are then searched using its research vessel, the David Boyd, and Marine Sonic technology to analyze the lake bottom and identify submerged wrecks.

Here is a closer look at each of the discovered shipwrecks courtesy of the GLSHS.

The schooner Dot
On Aug. 25, 1883, the steamship M.M. Drake was towing the schooner Dot, from Marquette with a load of iron ore, when the Dot started taking on water. The captain hailed the M.M. Drake, which came alongside his sinking ship and took his crew off before it dove for the bottom. All crew were rescued. The Dot, formerly the Canadian schooner, Mary Merritt, was built in St. Catharines, Ontario in 1865. Her remains rest in more than 350 feet of water, according to the GLSHS.

The schooner-barge Frank W. Wheeler
On Sept. 29, 1885, the relatively new schooner-barge, Frank W. Wheeler, was being towed by the steamer Kittie M. Forbes, when a gale swept across the lake. The ships struggled in the worsening conditions for hours and soon the Wheeler’s crew realized that their ship was sinking.

The pair of vessels then tried to reach the safety of Grand Island, near present day Munising, but the Wheeler eventually sunk bow first after the crew escaped in lifeboats. Several explosions were heard as the ship slipped beneath the waves, according to the GLSHS. The Frank W. Wheeler was built in Bay City by the West Bay City Shipbuilding Co. and today her wreckage lies in more than 600 feet of water.

The schooner-barge Michigan
On Oct. 2, 1901, the steamer M.M. Drake was towing the schooner-barge Michigan in the vicinity of Vermilion Point, 12 miles west of Whitefish Point. Both vessels were struggling in rough weather, when suddenly the Michigan’s hold begins filling with water.

The Michigan’s crew eventually jumped from their sinking ship onto the Drake. Within minutes, a massive wave smashes the two vessels together, destroying the M.M. Drake’s smokestack, leaving the ship without steam-pressure.

Without power, the Drake soon lost headway and waves swept over her decks. Both ship’s crews were now in danger, but two large steel steamers, the Crescent City and Northern Wave, were close by and maneuvered-in to rescue the combined crews.

Harry Brown, the Michigan’s cook, was the only casualty in the unusual double sinking. The remains of the M.M. Drake were discovered in 1978 by the Shipwreck Society, and her rudder is on exhibit at Whitefish Point. The Michigan’s hull is in 650 feet of water.

“We have well over 2500 miles of searching this year alone,” said GLSHS Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel. “We’re searching 100 miles a day. We’re traveling at over 9 miles an hour as we’re searching and we’re seeing great detail on the bottom, it’s amazing.”

The GLSHS was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers, and educators to commence exploration of historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Shipwreck Museum is open to the public seasonally from May 1 to Oct. 31.

https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/10/three-1800s-era-shipwrecks-discovered-in-lake-superior.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=aanews_sf&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3_FD-HO1V45l5_WN6yTeCLKPdD3I7YZOZOObcbYFbsVMGRbP_GkASen3o

Toledo’s Glass City River Wall mural gains national attention

Toledo, OH – A massive mural on the Maumee River received attention on the national stage with a profile on CBS Sunday Morning, featuring the Glass City River Wall from conception to current day in a four-minute segment. The stretch of 28 grain silos, owned by a company called ADM, is being spruced up with a 160,000 sq. ft. mural, featuring sunflowers and swirls of blue.

ADM’s mission is to feed the world – a goal that the art project’s operation manager, Nicole Leboutillier, aligns perfectly with the installation’s theme of the first farmers, Native Americans and economic development. The theme was developed after the Glass City River Wall team, filled with community members of all backgrounds, found a stone monument along the river, commemorating the area as a Native American fortification.

The artwork is being painted by Gabe Gault, a creator out of California. He said he believes he can use his art to tell a powerful story for the Glass City.

“I want to tell a story that is colorful, bold, simple and readable,” he said. “My objective is to offer both an origin story, which honors the original farmers of the region, as well as providing an inspirational image for the future: a cornucopia of abundance and prosperity which speaks to ADM’s corporate governance and philanthropic contributions.”

Leboutillier says this ties into the theme of the mural perfectly.

“Their mission is feeding the world and it tied in really nicely with the fact that this is a project about the first farmers and Native Americans and economic development,” said Leboutillier.

Project manager Christina Kasper said they came up with the theme of the mural after their team found a stone monument along the Maumee River, commemorating the area as a Native American fortification. Kasper said the team knew this was the perfect way to honor Toledo’s Native Americans.

“They were the first farmers in this region. They were the first people to recognize what really makes us prosperous to this day and that is the value of the Maumee River,” Kasper said.

View the CBS segment here: https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/toledos-glass-city-river-wall-mural-gains-national-attention-cbs-sunday-morning/512-c52670d4-41aa-41ea-b69b-4633575bca8d?fbclid=IwAR0rmVrUkQoYtTl0_S-rLvErr2XjgG4JUpWcquDLqb9FsunWlSP1p7Jzs-o

Dossin Great Lakes Museum to host annual Lost Mariners Remembrance Nov. 10

Detroit, MI – On Nov. 10, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit will host its 22nd annual “Lost Mariners Remembrance” in memory of all mariners who have lost their lives on the waters of the Great Lakes.

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald anchor on the grounds of the museum will begin the night. That will be followed by the live Honor Guard escort of a memorial wreath to the Detroit River for receipt by an Honor Flotilla of Great Lakes vessels. A performance by Lee Murdock, Great Lakes balladeer, will follow the wreath ceremony.

In this year’s historical presentation, Detroit Historical Society curator emeritus Joel Stone will give remarks recognizing the many vessels and crew impacted by tragic storms in the year 1871. There will also be a remembrance of Mac McAdam, a long time supporter of the event and the museum, who passed away earlier this year.

While the live-stream is free, there is an admission fee for the in-person event of $5 for Detroit Historical Society members and $10 for non-members. For more details, see https://detroithistorical.org/things-do/events-calendar/events-listing/22nd-annual-lost-mariners-remembrance

Mandatory vaccination required to access Seaway structures – revised

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is adopting a mandatory vaccination policy as mandated for the federally regulated marine transportation sector in alignment with Transport Canada guidelines.

As part of that policy, all agencies, administrations, vendors, suppliers, visitors and contractors are expected to be fully vaccinated to have access to our infrastructures, sites and premises starting November 15. To be considered fully vaccinated, an individual must have received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine or a full series of a combination of accepted vaccines at least 14 full days prior to the visit.

You will be asked to attest to being fully vaccinated prior to entry onto our infrastructures, sites and premises. All current posted sanitary measures like screening, physical distancing and masking remain in effect at all times.

Visitors governed by the Canada Shipping Act and wishing to access the lock’s infrastructures are to follow applicable requirements and timelines as set out by their employers, agencies and administrations.

By following our vaccination policy, you will be doing your part to preserve the health and safety of the marine industry. If you are not vaccinated, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation