The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Coast Guard ice-breaking cutters limited in operations in Sault Ste. Marie

   SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The Coast Guard ice-breaking fleet is limited in its operational capacity following engineering casualties onboard two of its cutters this week in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, March 4, 2026. An additional Coast Guard cutter is expected to be available to transit to the area for ice-breaking
operations by Monday.
   Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay (WTGB 104) and Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay (WTGB 101) are two Coast Guard ice-breaking assets assigned to the northern portions of the Great Lakes in support of the Coast Guard’s efforts to ensure the safe and efficient flow of people and goods through the maritime transportation system.
   The Biscayne Bay experienced an engineering casualty Monday that restricts their scope of safe operations to track maintenance alone. The Biscayne Bay is unable to safely make the tight turns required to eliminate the ice from the Sugar Island Ferry route because of the casualty. The Biscayne Bay is actively troubleshooting to restore full capabilities while continuing underway operations for waterway track maintenance in the St. Marys River.
   The Katmai Bay is currently in port working to address and repair an ongoing engineering casualty. There is no estimated time for their return to operations.
   The Coast Guard carefully monitors ice conditions across the waterways and impacts to best allocate Coast Guard ice-breaking assets to limit disruptions to industry and our local communities.

[USCG]

Memories of sailing for the Ford fleet featured at GLMI dinner April 12

   The Great Lakes Maritime Institute presents its annual dinner at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Featured speaker will be Greg Rudnick, who will talk about his time sailing on the Ford Motor Co. vessels Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. See the flyer posted in the gallery for details. Reservations required by March 31.
[You can see the billing for this in the gallery below]

Chance to win a trip on a lakes freighter

Port and vessel activity for Wednesday March 4.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 3/5/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
3/4/2026  Harbour Progress-ARRIVES-9:09 AM
DUE:
Bulk Endurance-3/7/2026-7:21 PM
Albanyborg-DUE-3/6/2026-2:06 PM
Berniana-DUE-3/8/2026-9:45 PM
Strategic Harmony-DUE-3/18/2026-2:05 AM
Federal Biscay-DUE-3/18/2026-9:43 PM
Rudolf-DUE-3/17/2026-4:41 PM
Federal Nakagawa-DUE-3/20/2026-6:22 PM
Bulk Destiny-DUE-3/6/2026-3:03 AM

PORT COLBORNE,CANADA                    [CAPCO]-Bill Kloss
DUE:
Algoma Niagara-DUE-3/6/2026-10:31 AM

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Mark W Barker running Shuttles

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
3/4/2026  Frontenac-ARRIVES-12:47 PM
3/4/2026  Frontenac-DEPARTS-4:53 PM-For-Windsor, Canada

WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
3-4-2026  Frontenac-ARRIVES-4:54 PM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
3/4/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-ARRIVES-4:00 AM
3/4/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-DEPARTS-4:24 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/4/2026  Algoma Intrerpid-DEPARTS-4:28 AM-For-Milwaukee, Wisconsin

ALGONAC, MICHIGAN                               [USALG]
3/4/2026  USCG Neah Bay-ARRIVES-2:50 PM              

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
DUE:
Algoterra-DUE-3/4/2026-7:00 AM
Algocanada-DUE-3/4/2026-10:00 AM
Baltic-DUE-3/4/2026-3:00 PM

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
3/4/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-DEPARTS-12:40 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

CHARLEVOIX, MICHIGAN                        [USCSX]
DUE:
Bradshaw McKee-DUE-3/5/2026-12:23 AM

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
3/3/2026  Algoma Niagara-DEPARTS-10:14 PM-For-Port Colborne, Canada
3/4/2026  Neeskay-DEPARTS-5:58 AM-For-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3/4/2026  Neeskay-ARRIVES-5:31 PM
DUE:
Algoma Intrepid-DUE-3-5-2026-11:00 AM

1889
1889:   LITTLE MAC [Built-1886 US-140861 by William Hinston & Son at Buffalo, New York] First enrollment issued at Buffalo, NY, March 5, 1889, and Yacht License #1, issued at Dunkirk, NY, March 5, 1889, surrendered. Abandoned in 1930.

1898
1898:  On 05 March 1898, the WILLIAM R. LINN (Hull#32) (steel propeller freighter, 400 foot, 4,328 gross tons) was launched at the Chicago Ship Building Company in South Chicago, Illinois. In 1940, she was sold, renamed b.) L.S. WESCOAT and converted to a tanker. She was scrapped in Germany in 1965.

1910
1910:  HARRY L. ALLEN was launched March 5, 1910, as a.) JOHN B. COWLE (Hull#379) at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. She was declared a constructive total loss after a fire on January 21, 1978. The vessel was in winter lay-up at the Capitol elevator in Duluth when part of the elevator complex burned. Debris from the elevator fell on the boat, badly damaging it. The owners decided to scrap it rather than repair it. The ALLEN was scrapped at Duluth in 1978.

1910:  LEADALE was launched March 5, 1910, as a.) HARRY YATES (Hull#77) at St. Clair, Michigan, by Great Lakes Engineering Works. Scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia in 1979.

1913
1913:   ANNABELL WILSON  [Built-1887 US-106475 by William Dulac at Mount Clemens, Michigan. Renamed: ANNABELL WILSON 1913 -Canada]  First enrollment issued at Detroit, MI, May 20, 1887.Final U.S. enrollment surrendered at Buffalo, NY, March 5, 1913, and endorsed \”sold foreign.\”. Foundered off Dunkirk, NY, Lake Erie, on July 12, 1913; two lives lost. Vessel completely broke up on December 8, 1913, while still on the bottom

1932
1932:  March 5, 1932 – In distress with a broken steering gear off the Ludington harbor, S.S. VIRGINIA entered port under her own power

1943
1943:   FORT MINGAN  [Built-1943 UK-168468 by George T. Davie Shipbuilding & Repair LTD at Lauzon, Canada. Renamed: HALIGONIAN KING 1948 C-168468 and STREATHAM HILL 1950 UK-168468] Vessel built as \”North Sands\” type dry cargo vessel; delivered on March 5, 1943. Transferred from Canadian to British registry, as STREATHAM HILL, on June 12, 1950. Sold to Spanish shipbreakers; arrived at Santander, Spain, on October 8, 1966, for scrapping.

1951
1951:   ASHBEL HUBBARD  [Built-1943 UK-169556 by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co. at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Renamed: SOLIDARITY 1949 UK-169556] Built as N3-S-A1 class cargo vessel for U.S. Maritime Commission. Sent under Lend-Lease Program to Great Britain. As SOLIDARITY reported foundered at sea, March 5, 1951.

1997
1997:  On 05 March 1997, the Canadian Coast Guard cutter GRIFFON pulled the smashed remains of a 1996 Ford Bronco from the icy depths of the Straits of Mackinac. The vehicle flipped off the Mackinac Bridge on 02 March 1997, and the driver was killed. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter BISCAYNE BAY served as a platform for the M-Rover submersible craft used to locate the Bronco in 190 feet of water.

1997:  The former Greek bulk carrier ANTONIS P. LEMOS Built-1961 IMO-5038727 had been built at Osaka, Japan, in 1976, and visited the Great Lakes that year. As c) ALBION TWO, the ship departed Gdynia, Poland, for Kingston, Jamaica, with a cargo of steel products and was reported as missing on March 5. Wreckage was later found off the coast of France and identified as from the missing vessel. All 25 crewmembers were lost. The ship had also been through the Seaway as b) MACFRIENDSHIP in November 1993 with a cargo of steel for Hamilton.

2025
2025:   ALGOMA ENDEAVOUR built-2025 IMO-9790141 left the 3.maj shipyard, Rijeka, Croatia, enroute to Canada. She’ll make a stop in Garrucha, Spain, for cargo (to cross the Atlantic it must take on a load, it cannot sail empty on the open sea for stability).

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Eric Holst, Mike Nicholls, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Manitowoc to Seattle Tow Completed

   Dann Ocean Towing, based out of Tampa, Florida, recently completed an epic long-distance tow from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Seattle, Washington. The purpose of the tow was to transport a large portal crane built in Wisconsin to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
    The tow took about 84 days, including several delays likely due to weather, and covered a distance estimated to be between 10,000 and 11,000 miles.
   The 175 ton capacity, rail-mounted portal-jib crane was built by a partnership between
Konecranes of New Berlin, WI and Broadwind (now Wisconsin Heavy Fabrication) of
Manitowoc, WI. Actual assembly of the roughly 150 foot tall crane took place at Broadwind’s
facilities in Manitowoc, and the crane was substantially completed in 2023. The initial Navy
contract valued the crane at $46 million. Numbered as crane #70, the machine has been
nicknamed “Big Blue” due to its primary paint color.
   The primary tugboat for the voyage was Dann Ocean Towing’s Ocean Tower, a 115 foot long, twin screw, 4080 HP ocean-going tug. The deck barge OC 723 carried the crane.
   The tow left Manitowoc on November 18, 2025 and arrived in Seattle on March 1, 2026.
   Waypoints included arriving at New York City on December 14 th , transiting the Panama Canal on January 9th and 10th , a brief stop in San Diego on February 3, and a delay, probably due to weather or sea conditions, at San Francisco February 9th through 24th . The tow was met off Seattle in Elliot Bay by the Western Towboat tugs, Westrac and Mariner, which assisted the tow up the Duwamish Waterway to a dock owned by Alaska Marine Lines but leased by Konecranes.
   There the crane will be unloaded for final set-up work, testing and final inspection. Once that work is complete, the crane will be barged across Puget Sound to its final destination at the shipyard at Bremerton.
   Crane #70 is the first of six portal cranes that have approved under the 2019 U.S. Navy contract, which is valued at roughly $330 million. It is believed that the Navy has the option to order one more portal crane under the 2019 contract. The second crane that was approved (#P-82) was also completed in 2023 and is currently stored in Manitowoc, awaiting transport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. That tow is estimated to take four months.

[Boatnerd staff]

Memories of sailing for the Ford fleet featured at GLMI dinner April 12

   The Great Lakes Maritime Institute presents its annual dinner at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Featured speaker will be Greg Rudnick, who will talk about his time sailing on the Ford Motor Co. vessels Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. See the flyer posted in the gallery for details. Reservations required by March 31.
[You can see the billing for this in the gallery below]

Make your reservation for a stay on the City of Milwaukee today

It’s time to plan your summer getaway aboard the S.S. City of Milwaukee!
   Book a room and spend the night on a floating National Historic Landmark, then explore all six decks of this 95 year old railroad car ferry.
   Step back in time, experience Great Lakes history up close, and make it a stay you won’t forget.

See you aboard! Link to site;  https://www.carferry.com/boatel?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJgrxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJUOWJ6bVljek5zVE8wbVRrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp09bZhg2J1_QTU2qcbLcdS7M2ZwXeUqQneAsczgLqjpCmkQQBe_O6-SGKDp_aem_wHFOXWoMgm4wqI_FHzJTSw

Chance to win a trip on a lakes freighter

Port and vessel activity for Tuesday March 3.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 3/4/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
DUE:
Harbour Progress-DUE-3/3/2026-10:35 PM
Bulk Endurance-DUE-3/7/2026-9:44 AM
Albanyborg-DUE-3/6/2026-8:13 PM
Bernina-DUE-3/8/2026-9:45 PM
Strategic Harmony-DUE-3/18/2026-2:05 AM
Rudolf-DUE-3/16/2026-11:46 PM
Federal Nakagawa-DUE-3/21/2026-7:21 PM
Bulk Destiny-DUE-3/6/2026-10:59 AM

PORT COLBORNE,CANADA                    [CAPCO]-Bill Kloss
DUE:
Algoma Niagara-DUE-3/6/2026-1:33 AM

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Mark W Barker is still on shuttles

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
3/3/2026  Algoma Innovator-DEPARTS-8:47 AM-For-Goderich, Canada
3/3/2026  Iver Bright-ARRIVES-4:55 PM
DUE:
Frontyenac-DUE-3/4/2026-3:30 AM

WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
3/3/2026  USCG Neah Bay-DEPARTS-8:31 AM-For-[ICE OPS]

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
3/3/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-ARRIVES-6:25 PM
3/3/2026  Algoma Innovator-ARRIVES-6:54 PM
3/3/2026  CCGS Vincent Massey-DEPARTS-7:15 PM-For-Goderich, Canada-[Anchor]

ALGONAC, MICHIGAN                               [USALG]
3/3/2026  USCG Neah Bay-ARRIVES-11:29 AM
3/3/2026  USCG Neah Bay-DEPARTS-1:32 PM-For-[ICE OPS]             

AMHERSTBURG, CANADA                       [CAAMH]
3/3/2026  CCGS Judy LaMarsh-ARRIVES-10:33 AM

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
3/3/2026  Iver Bright-DEPARTS-12:05 PM-For-Detroit, Michigan
3/3/2026  Algoberta-ARRIVES-2:10 PM
DUE:
Algocanada-DUE-3/4/2026-8:00 AM
Baltic-DUE-3/4/2026-6:50 AM

CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN                        [USCHG]
3/3/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-12:00 PM

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
3/3/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-ARRIVES-7:58 AM
3/3/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-DEPARTS-10:32 AM-For-Sault Ste Marie, Canada
3/3/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-11:12 AM-For-St Ignace, Michigan
3/3/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-ARRIVES-1:42 PM

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
3/3/2026  Neeskay-DEPARTS-6:07 AM-For-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3/3/2026  Algoma Niagara-ARRIVES-10:34 AM
3/3/2026  Neeskay-ARRIVES-2:45 PM

1858
1858:  TRENTON (wooden propeller, 134 foot, 240 gross tons, built in 1854, at Montreal, Quebec) burned to a total loss while tied to the mill wharf at Picton, Ontario, in Lake Ontario. The fire was probably caused by carpenters that were renovating her..

1871
1871:   FLORENCE (iron steamer, 42.5 foot, built in 1869, at Baltimore, Maryland) burned while docked at Amherstburg, Ontario at about 12:00 p.m. The fire was hot enough to destroy all the cabins and melt the surrounding ice in the Detroit River, but the vessel remained afloat and her engines were intact. She was rebuilt and remained in service until 1922 when she was scrapped.

1889
1889:  On 4 March 1889, TRANSIT (wooden 10-car propeller carferry, 168 foot, 1,058 gross tons, built in 1872, at Walkerville, Ontario) burned at the Grand Trunk Railroad dock at Windsor, Ontario on the Detroit River. She had been laid up since 1884, and the Grand Trunk Railroad had been trying to sell her for some time.

1891
1891:   W.H. SAWYER  [Built-1890 US-81253 by F.W. Wheeler & Co. at West Bay City, Michigan] First enrollment issued at Suspension Bridge, NY, April 16, 1890.Enrollment transferred to Boston, MA, March 4, 1891. Returned to lakes, enrolled at Chicago, IL, October 27, 1905. Stranded 1,240 feet off Harbor Beach, MI, lighthouse, Lake Huron, August 11, 1928, and sank; one life lost

1891
1891:   A.C. Tuxbury [Built-1890 US-106706 by F.W. Wheeler & Co at Bay City, Michigan] First enrollment issued at Suspension Bridge, New York, April 16, 1890. Enrollment transferred to Boston, MA, March 4, 1891. Returned to lakes and enrolled at Chicago, IL, October 27, 1905. Final enrollment surrendered at Milwaukee, WI, in 1923, as “exempt”. Used as a coal barge there while undocumented. Scuttled in 1932 northeast of Milwaukee.

1904
1904:  March 4, 1904 – William H. Le Fleur of the Pere Marquette car ferries was promoted to captain at the age of 34. He was the youngest carferry captain on the Great Lakes.

1910
1910:   WALTON B [Built-1891 US-81323 at Duluth, Minnesota] First enrollment issued at Duluth, MN, May 4, 1891.Inland Lloyds says built at Bay City, MI, in 1874, and rebuilt at Duluth in 1891; no prior name given. Final enrollment surrendered at Duluth, MN, March 4, 1910, and endorsed \”abandoned.\”

1944
1944:   The U.S.C.G.C. MACKINAW (WAGB-83) was launched by the Toledo Ship Building Company (Hull #188) at Toledo, Ohio. Her name was originally planned to be MANITOWOC. MACKINAW was retired in 2006.

1965
1965:   E.L. WALLACE  [Built-1906 US-203540 by Great Lakes Engineering Works at Ecorse, Michigan. Renamed: MARQUETTE 1915 US-203540, and POWERAUX ROGER 1963 US-203540] 1962 sale to Acme Scrap Co., Ashtabula, OH, attempted but did not go through. Passed downbound, Welland Canal, on September 28, 1964, in tow of tugs FOUNDATION VALIANT and FOUNDATION VIBERT, bound for Bremen shipbreakers. Arrived Hamburg, March 4, 1965

1969
1969:   WILLIAM HOWLAND  [Built-1943 UK-168493 by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Renamed: MALIN HEAD 1949 UK-168493, OCEAN SWELL 1951-Norway and COCAL 1953-Brazil] Built as N3-S-A1 class cargo vessel for U.S. Maritime Commission. Sent under Lend-Lease Program to Great Britain. Tonnage change, 1951 (1832 gross – 1032 net. Stranded on coast of Uruguay, north of Cape Polonie, March 4, 1969, and became total loss. Was on voyage Buenos Aires for Brazil when lost.

1976
1976:  The former British freighter GRETAFIELD of 1952 IMO-5135991, a Great Lakes visitor for the first time in 1962, hit the breakwall entering Cape Town, South Africa, as c) SIROCCO I and received extensive bow damage. It was sold to Taiwanese shipbreakers and departed May 15,1976, arriving at Kaohsiung July 5 for dismantling.

1983
1983:  The former Danish freighter MARIE SKOU of 1962 IMO-5406895, inland for the first time in 1966, caught fire in the engine room and was abandoned by the crew south of Sicily as b) CLEO C. The vessel was towed to Malta on March 9 and scrapped there beginning in April.

1985
1985:  CECILIA DESGAGNES, a.) CARL GORTHON, departed Sorel, Quebec, on March 4, 1985, bound for Baie Comeau, Quebec, on her first trip in Desgagnes colors.

1986
1986:  The onetime Greek freighter YEMELOS, built in 1962 as MIGOLINA IMO-5234618 and renamed in 1972, first came inland in 1973. It was abandoned as e) TANFORY off Trincomolee, Sri Lanka, en route from Kandla, India, to Chittagong, Bangladesh, with salt and bentonite. The ship was presumed to have sunk.

1995
1995:  The tug ERIE NO. 1, a) DUNKIRK, b) PEGGY M., c) RENE PURVIS sank at the dock in Toronto. It was raised by a crane June 18, 1995, but the cable snapped, dropping the hull on the dock breaking the tug’s back. The vessel was broken up at that location in late 1995.

2011
2011:  LOUIS JOLLIET caught fire at Montreal during winter work. The ex-St. Lawrence ferry was being used as an excursion vessel.

2022
2022:   The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society says the ATLANTA was found 35 miles off Deer Park, Michigan, in 650 feet of water in Lake Superior. The ATLANTA sank on May 4, 1891. It was upbound with a load of coal in tow with the steamer WILHELM when both vessels got caught in a northwest gale. The towline snapped, and the sail-less ATLANTA was at the mercy of the lake. Crew took to the lifeboat and, after several hours, eventually came within sight of the Crisp Point Life-Saving Station. Unfortunately, while attempting to land their lifeboat near the station, it overturned, and only two crewmembers made it to the beach.

2023
2023:     SS KEEWATIN a 116-year-old steamship that ferried passengers and goods in the upper Great Lakes is bound for the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston. The museum announced Friday that it had acquired the SS Keewatin from a development group in Port McNicoll, east of Midland, where it has been a museum ship since 2012.

2023:   LOGISTEC Stevedoring Inc. a leading North American marine and environmental services provider, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Canadian and U.S. marine terminal business of Fednav, including Federal Marine Terminals, Inc. and the logistics division, Fednav Direct for a purchase price of US$105 million, subject to customary adjustments. This transaction will allow LOGISTEC to strengthen its presence in Canada and the United States and add specialized expertise to its service offering.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

Industrial accident reported aboard tugboat in Ludington

    LUDINGTON, MI — A worker was hospitalized Monday after an industrial accident aboard a tugboat docked in Ludington for the winter.
   The Ludington Police Department reported that officers, along with the Ludington Fire Department and LIFE EMS, responded at approximately 11:27 a.m. March 2 to a medical emergency aboard the tugboat Undaunted, owned by Interlake Logistics Solutions Inc., according to a department press release.
   Responders determined that a third-party vendor was performing maintenance on the vessel’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system when it unexpectedly discharged, police said.
   One of the vendor’s employees experienced a medical emergency as a result of the discharge, according to the release.
   Employees of Interlake Logistics Solutions provided first aid and initiated potentially life-saving measures before emergency personnel arrived, police said.
   The individual was transported by LIFE EMS, with assistance from the Ludington Fire Department, to Corewell Health Ludington Hospital for evaluation and treatment. The person’s condition has not been released.
   The Ludington Police Department is working with Interlake Logistics Solutions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
   Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Jake Miller at 231-843-2435 or miller209@ci.ludington.mi.us

Ferry service to Sugar Island suspended until further notice

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Due to thick, dense ice collecting on the Sugar Island ferry route across the St. Marys River, Capt. Greg Gorsuch made the decision Tuesday morning to shut down ferry service until further notice.

“We have made the decision to shut down until further notice,” he posted on social media. “This was a hard decision to make, but if we keep running through this, it’s not a matter of if something will break, but when. After the cutter starts working the ice this morning, it may create opportunities to attempt a run or 2. We will try keeping you all informed the best we can as for when we may make runs.”

USCG cutter Biscayne Bay is expected to work the ice downstream Tuesday to try and get it moving. The tanker Algonova is unloading at the Purvis Dock.

Soo Leader

The ice cover on Lake Erie is declining

    ERIE, PA – On Feb. 25, data from the U.S. National Ice Center, the provider of global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the United States government, shows that the ice on Lake Erie has decreased to 70%.
   In January, National Ice Center data showed that the majority of Lake Erie was completely frozen with nine-tenths (90-100%) in total ice concentration. See graphic in the gallery below.
   This decrease has resulted in open water along the western and southern shores of the western basin of Lake Erie as well as the eastern end of the Lake Erie islands.
   Jonathan Edwards-Opperman, scientist with the National Ice Center, says that westerly winds have pushed the ice pack on the lake more east, compressing ice into the eastern basin of Lake Erie.
   “Approximately the eastern two thirds of the lake is still nearly fully covered,” Edwards-Opperman said. “The thickest ice is in this main ice pack especially in areas where the ice has been compressing into the shore, in the easternmost portion of the lake and south of Long Point.”
   Expect visible changes in ice on Lake Erie
   In the short term, Edwards-Opperman expects to see some visible changes in the total ice coverage on Lake Erie.
   “The upcoming cold temperatures overnight on Feb. 26 and March 1 will allow the open water areas to quickly freeze with new and very thin ice,” Edwards-Opperman said.
   Edwards-Opperman predicts the newly formed ice over the week and next week will be very thin, thus it will melt quicker on relatively warmer days. The new ice could also be destroyed if conditions become windy.
   Out of all the Great Lakes, a graphic provided by the U.S. National Ice Center shows that Lake Erie remains the most ice concentrated Great Lake.
   A majority of Lake Erie according to the graphic is nine to ten tenths covered. The graphic shows that a large percentage of the lake has fallen to one to three tenths of ice concentration. Lake Erie is shown as having little open water, unlike the other Great Lakes which show large ice-free areas. A majority of Lake Michigan has open water.

[Erie Times-News]

Door County Maritime Museum Speaker Series-March 5

The next presentation of the Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series will be held both in person and online on Thursday, March 5 at 7pm, featuring Christy Corp’s Last Stand, by presenter Brennan Christianson, Collections Manager at the Door County Maritime Museum.
   Christy Corporation is well known in Door County for the construction of magnificent ships such as the Spartan and Badger. They saw great financial success from the founding in the late 1940s through the 1950s. By the 1960s, however, they faced a difficult decision. The shipyard started to lose money, requiring Christy Corp. to either change its business strategy or risk going bankrupt. Over the next decade, several large contracts were taken on, yet all was not well.
   The construction of one of these vessels, the USCGC Active, resulted in delays, miscommunication, and disputes, which resulted in the United States Coast Guard being sued and the selling of Christy Corp. Join Brennan Christianson, DCMM Collections Coordinator, as he discusses the last stand of Christy Corp.​​​​​​​
   The Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series programs are held the first Thursday of each month, October through April, beginning at 7pm, on the second floor of the Museum in Sturgeon Bay, as well as online. There is no cost to attend; we suggest bringing a donation of a non-perishable food item, or if watching online, we ask you to donate to your local food pantry.

Memories of sailing for the Ford fleet featured at GLMI dinner April 12

   The Great Lakes Maritime Institute presents its annual dinner at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Featured speaker will be Greg Rudnick, who will talk about his time sailing on the Ford Motor Co. vessels Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. See the flyer posted in the gallery for details. Reservations required by March 31.
[You can see the billing for this in the gallery below]

Make your reservation for a stay on the City of Milwaukee today

It’s time to plan your summer getaway aboard the S.S. City of Milwaukee!
   Book a room and spend the night on a floating National Historic Landmark, then explore all six decks of this 95 year old railroad car ferry.
   Step back in time, experience Great Lakes history up close, and make it a stay you won’t forget.

See you aboard! Link to site;  https://www.carferry.com/boatel?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJgrxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJUOWJ6bVljek5zVE8wbVRrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp09bZhg2J1_QTU2qcbLcdS7M2ZwXeUqQneAsczgLqjpCmkQQBe_O6-SGKDp_aem_wHFOXWoMgm4wqI_FHzJTSw

Chance to win a trip on a lakes freighter

Port and vessel activity for Monday March 2.  Port reports done by Tom Geiger unless otherwise noted. Please send future port reports and pictures to news@boatnerd.net
You can Now visit Matt Miner’s Saltie page at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/foreign-vessels-on-the-lakes-2024
The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026/

PORT REPORT 3/3/2026

BECANCOUR, CANADA                             [CABEC]
DUE:
Harbour Express-DUE-3/4/2026-3:28 AM
Bulk Endurance-DUE-3/7/2026-9:44 AM
Albanyborg-DUE-3/6/2026-8:13 PM
Bernina-DUE-3/8/2026-10:37 AM
Strategic Harmony-DUE-3/14/2026-11:43 AM
Rudulf-DUE-3/16/2026-11:46 PM
Federal Nakagawa-DUE-3/22/2026-3:18 AM
Bulk Destiny-DUE-3/7/2026-6:00 PM

NANTICOKE, ONTARIO                             [CANAN]-Bill Kloss
Algoberta departed for Sarnia, escorted by icebreaker Judy Lamarsh.

CLEVELAND, OHIO                                      [USCLE]-Bill Kloss
Mark W. Barker is running the shuttles.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN                                  [USDET]
3/2/2026  Iver Bright-DEPARTS-8:31 AM-For-Sarnia, Canada
3/2/2026  Algoma Innovator-ARRIVES-1:33 PM
DUE:
Frontenac-DUE-3/4/2026-11:48 AM

WINDSOR, CANADA                                   [CAWND]
3/2/2026  Algocanada-DEPARTS-7:30 AM-For-Sarnia, Canada
3/2/2026  USCG Neah Bay-ARRIVES-1:02 PM

GODERICH, CANADA                                 [CAGOH]
DUE:
Algoma Innovator-DUE-3/3/2026-4:35 AM

SARNIA,CANADA                                          [CASNI]
3/2/2026  Iver Bright-ARRIVES-1:17 PM
3/2/2026  Algoterra-ARRIVES-1:18 PM
3/2/2026  Algocanada-ARRIVES-1:25 PM
DUE:
Algoberta-DUE-3/3/2026-10:44 AM

CALCITE, MICHIGAN                                  [USMI3]
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-6:17 AM-For-Cacite, Michigan
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-6:23 AM
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-9:59 AM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan
3/2/2026  Baltic-DEPARTS-10:03 AM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan

CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN                        [USCHG]
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-1:38 PM
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-2:12 PM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan
3/2/2026  Kimberly Joy-ARRIVES-4:18 PM
3/2/2026  Baltic-ARRIVES-4:31 PM
Kimberly Joy-DEPARTS-4:35 PM-For-Cheboygan, Michigan

SAULT STE. MARIE                                        [CASSM]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-7:39 AM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-9:14 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-9:23 AM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-10:04 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-10:12 AM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-10:51 AM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-10:58 AM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-12:03 PM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-12:40 PM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-1:26 PM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-1:43 PM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-2:26 PM
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-DEPARTS-2:43 PM-For-[ICE OPS]
3/2/2026  USCG Mobile Bay-ARRIVES-6:11 PM
3/2/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-ARRIVES-7:29 PM
3/2/2026  Algonova-ARRIVES-7:42 PM
3/2/2026  USCG Biscayne Bay-DEPARTS-8:20 PM-For-[ICE OPS]

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                      [USMKE]
DUE:
Algoma Niagara-DUE-3/3/2026-10:55 AM

SOUTH CHICAGO-CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS       [USOUS]
3/2/2026  Karen Andrie-ARRIVES-1:33 AM
3/2/2026  Karen Andrie-DEPARTS-1:18 PM-For-Indiana Harbor, Indiana

INDIANA HARBOR-INDIANA                  [USECH]
3/2/2026  Karen Andrie-DEPARTS-1:08 AM-For-Calumet Harbor, Illinois
3/2/2026  Karen Andrie-ARRIVES-1:45 PM

1879
1879:   GENEVA  [Built-1875 C-72558 by J.W. Pierce at Portsmouth, Canada Renamed: GENEVA 1887 US-86005] Rebuilt in 1885. Enrolled at Cape Vincent, NY, May 10, 1887, under Act of March 3, 1879 (93 x 20 x 5; 91.45 gross – 45.73 net. Apparently broken up in 1891. Final enrollment indicates a property change in Oswego, NY, September 23, 1891, but no entry made on that date

1880
1880:  At midnight on 3 March 1880, DAVID SCOVILLE (wooden propeller steam tug/ferry, 42 foot, 37 gross tons, built in 1875, at Marine City, Mich.) burned at the Grand Trunk Railway wharf at Sarnia, Ontario. Arson was suspected. No lives were lost.

1909
1909:   R.T. LAMBERT  [Built-1873 US-110106 by R.T. Lambert at Bayport, Michigan] First enrollment issued at Port Huron, MI, August 22, 1873. Final enrollment surrendered at Marquette, MI, March 3, 1909, and endorsed \”abandoned.\”

1932
1932:   PURE LUBWELL [Built-1891 US-53266 as 0110 by American Steel Barge Co. at Superior, Wisconsin. Renamed: BADGER-1905 US-53266 and PURE LUBWELL-1927 US-53266] As PURE LUBWELL suffered an explosion, then sank after burning, near dock of Cities Service Export Oil Co., at St. Rose, LA, on March 3, 1932; one life lost. Final document surrendered on March 23, 1932.

1947
1947:   NORTHTON  [Built-1924 C-148077 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Ricardson LTD at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Great Britain. Renamed: NOVADOC 1946 C-148077] As NOVADOC of the Paterson fleet  foundered off New England coast, March 2-3, 1947, with all hands; twenty-four lives lost. On voyage Digby, Nova Scotia, for New York, with cargo of gypsum. Last heard from by radio twenty-five miles off Portland, ME, with one hatch cover torn off by severe gale, and in trouble.

1948
1948:   PC-1563  [Built-1944 US-Navy by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co. at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Renamed: NEGROS ORIENTAL [C-26] 1948 Philippines] Rig – Patrol Craft. Placed on loan with Philippine Islands, March 3, 1948. As NEGROS ORIENTAL [C-26] Sunk by typhoon at Guam in November, 1962. Raised but stricken from naval list January 24, 1963.

1948:   SC-1034  [Built-1943 US-Navy by Peterson Boat Works at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin] Rig – Submarine Chaser Commissioned on April 15, 1943. Transferred to U.S. Maritime Commission, March 3, 1948, for disposal. Ultimate disposition unknown

1958
1958:  The tanker DON JOSE, formerly the ITORORO that operated on the Great Lakes for Transit Tankers & Terminals in the early 1940s, was destroyed by a fire, likely in a loading mishap, at Talara, Peru.

1970
1970:   ROBAND HITCH [Built-1945 US-247269 as FRANK PETRARCA when launched by Walter Butler Shipbuilders Inc. at Duluth, Minnesota. Renamed: JUTAHAY 1946 Panama-1845, SARGENT 1954 UK-179703, PAMIT 1962 Greece-2021 and BAMBERO 1965-Liberia] Launched as PETRARCA, FRANK J.Built as C1-M-AV1 class cargo vessel for U.S. Maritime Commission. Tonnage change, 1954 (3929 gross – 2296 net). Tonnage change, 1966 (3834 gross – 2264 net. Sold to I.M. Varela, of Davalillo, Spain. Arrived at Castellon, Spain, for scrapping, on March 3, 1970.

1980
1980:  The keel was laid on March 3, 1980, for the COLUMBIA STAR (Hull#726) at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by Bay Shipbuilding Corp. She now sails as AMERICAN CENTURY.

2025
2025:   Mark W. Barker of the Interlake Steamship Co. left Detroit Sunday morning headed to Cleveland to do shuttle runs of iron ore from the Cleveland Bulk Terminal out at the lake, up the Cuyahoga River and then to the steel mills of Cleveland. On Sunday afternoon, USCG Neah Bay was running ahead of the Barker breaking ice for her passage

Data from: Skip Gillham, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Steve Haverty, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026

USCG cutter Mobile Bay breaks out Sugar Island ferry channel

    SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Thanks to the USCG cutter Mobile Bay, the ferry Sugar Islander II was able to resume regular runs from the mainland to the island on Sunday. Ice had clogged the ferry channel at Mission Point for several days, causing schedule disruptions.
   The thickness of the ice chunks in the ferry’s path ranged from six inches to two feet, and the Sugar Islander II is not made to cut through ice that thick as it risks severe damage to the vessel.
   On Sunday evening the tanker Algonova ws northbound on Lake Huron with destination Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Her passage through Soo Harbor ice could send more broken ice into the ferry channel.

Obituary: Richard W. Jenkins, friend to many,
tried to save steamers E.M. Ford and S.T. Crapo

    Richard W. Jenkins, beloved husband, brother, son, uncle, friend, colleague, and steamship enthusiast without peer, passed away suddenly at his home in Lawrence, MA, on February 19, 2026. He was 53 years of age. When one thinks of how Richard had few equals, it is his kindness, humor, knowledge, infectious enthusiasm, and all-around good nature that first spring to mind.
   Richard was born in Oxford, England in April 1972, the son of Anthony P Jenkins and the late Pamela D (Robinson) Jenkins of Sterling, VA. The family moved from England to White Bear Lake, Minnesota in 1976, and Richard graduated with lifelong friends from White Bear Lake Area High School in 1990. He loved steam trains and ships from a young age, even “publishing” his own steamship magazine for his club of family members and stuffed animals. He volunteered at the Minnesota Transportation Museum with his father. Once he discovered that steam-powered freighters were still operating on the Great Lakes, documenting and preserving them became his lifelong passion.
   Richard earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1994. Between lectures, he worked as a tour guide on the William A. Irvin museum ship, befriended the crews of the many freighters in the harbor (and checked out their engine rooms, of course), and helped a local artist catalog an extensive photograph collection of Great Lakes ships. He drew and photographed many historically significant ships that have since been scrapped.
   A compulsory unit on graphic design in his final semester awakened Richard to the world of computers, and he enrolled in further graphics classes at the St. Martin Art School in London. To pay for this he worked as a barman for a couple of years on the Tattershall Castle, a steamship-turned-bar moored on the Thames, working on restoring the engine room when not serving drinks.
   Returning to the U.S., Richard moved to the Boston area to be near his sister Kate and launch his career. He first turned his artistic talents towards web design at Groove Networks and then designed web-based applications for non-profits. In 2012 Richard joined Fidelity Investments, where he was lauded as a quiet leader, a mentor, a subject matter expert, and the steady heart of his teams. Richard worked at Fidelity until the time of his passing, most recently as Director of Architecture.
   In 2008, Richard met Lisa Hollis, and there followed an 18-year relationship filled with love and adventure. And also procrastination and marriage, in that order. They built a life based on a shared love of travel, friends, and dorky pursuits including Dr. Who and Star Trek, and lest you think this somehow derogatory, the word “dork” appeared prominently in their self-written wedding vows.
   Richard’s enthusiasm, breadth of knowledge, and irrepressible friendliness made him a towering figure (and a world-renowned expert) in steam preservation circles. He valiantly attempted to save the Great Lakes steam freighters the J. B. Ford and the S.T. Crapo through the Great Lakes Steamship Society, as well as the Henry Steinbrenner. Richard helped spearhead the successful effort to rehome the four “Lost Engines of Roanoke” steam trains. He was active in the New Hampshire Garden Railway society and built a large live steam garden railway in his rather small backyard. Not to be outdone, his driveway acquired a 1957 Chevy and an antique wooden boat “Maggie” which Richard planned to convert to steam power.
   Richard also enjoyed sharing his musical talents. He loved to belt out ‘80s power ballads and other songs at karaoke with friends. He taught his two enthusiastic nieces, at ages perhaps 4 and 6, to sing the backup vocals to Bon Jovi’s “Wanted” when he was babysitting and they didn’t want to go to bed. He was a beloved member of the handbell and vocal choirs at Old South United Methodist Church in Reading, MA.
   In recent years, Richard was also a cancer survivor. He underwent treatment for multiple myeloma that included a full bone marrow transplant and fought through months of discomfort and weakness to come out victorious in the end. He remained hopeful and steadfast through it all. He had been nearly two full years in remission at the time of his passing.
   Despite a lifetime of achievements and artistic creations that would make anyone proud, Richard will be most remembered by friends and family for his beautiful goofball spirit, a smile that instantly said you were in good company, and an ability to connect to anyone instantly with humor and sincerity. We will all miss him terribly but also be forever thankful for the time we had together.
   In addition to his father Anthony, Richard is survived by his beloved wife Lisa D (Hollis) Jenkins; his sister Katharine M (“little Kate”) Jenkins and her husband Dorian R Hart; his adoring nieces Elanor Hart and Kira Hart; his father’s wife Constance W Jenkins and her daughter Ramona M Goff; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends around the world.
   A memorial service celebrating Richard’s life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Old South United Methodist Church 6 Salem St. Reading, MA at 11:00am EST.  The service will be streamed via Facebook Live, showing up as a post on the church’s Facebook page a few minutes before the service begins, and remaining available for a month afterwards: https://www.facebook.com/oldsouthumc
   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to The Michigan Maritime Museum https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/  or The Great Lakes Museum (The S.S. Keewatin) https://greatlakesmuseum.ca/  For directions and online guest book, see Richard’s obituary page at www.johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com

Door County Maritime Museum Speaker Series-March 5

The next presentation of the Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series will be held both in person and online on Thursday, March 5 at 7pm, featuring Christy Corp’s Last Stand, by presenter Brennan Christianson, Collections Manager at the Door County Maritime Museum.
   Christy Corporation is well known in Door County for the construction of magnificent ships such as the Spartan and Badger. They saw great financial success from the founding in the late 1940s through the 1950s. By the 1960s, however, they faced a difficult decision. The shipyard started to lose money, requiring Christy Corp. to either change its business strategy or risk going bankrupt. Over the next decade, several large contracts were taken on, yet all was not well.
   The construction of one of these vessels, the USCGC Active, resulted in delays, miscommunication, and disputes, which resulted in the United States Coast Guard being sued and the selling of Christy Corp. Join Brennan Christianson, DCMM Collections Coordinator, as he discusses the last stand of Christy Corp.​​​​​​​
   The Door County Medical Center Maritime Speaker Series programs are held the first Thursday of each month, October through April, beginning at 7pm, on the second floor of the Museum in Sturgeon Bay, as well as online. There is no cost to attend; we suggest bringing a donation of a non-perishable food item, or if watching online, we ask you to donate to your local food pantry.

Memories of sailing for the Ford fleet featured at GLMI dinner April 12

   The Great Lakes Maritime Institute presents its annual dinner at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Featured speaker will be Greg Rudnick, who will talk about his time sailing on the Ford Motor Co. vessels Henry Ford II and Benson Ford. See the flyer posted in the gallery for details. Reservations required by March 31.
[You can see the billing for this in the gallery below]

Make your reservation for a stay on the City of Milwaukee today

It’s time to plan your summer getaway aboard the S.S. City of Milwaukee!
   Book a room and spend the night on a floating National Historic Landmark, then explore all six decks of this 95 year old railroad car ferry.
   Step back in time, experience Great Lakes history up close, and make it a stay you won’t forget.

See you aboard! Link to site;  https://www.carferry.com/boatel?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJgrxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJUOWJ6bVljek5zVE8wbVRrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp09bZhg2J1_QTU2qcbLcdS7M2ZwXeUqQneAsczgLqjpCmkQQBe_O6-SGKDp_aem_wHFOXWoMgm4wqI_FHzJTSw

Chance to win a trip on a lakes freighter