NMGL promotes hands-on learning with ‘Capt. Scupper’s Kids Club’ activity

The program is scheduled for each Saturday in July.
Author: Karmann Ludwig

TOLEDO, Ohio — The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) is connecting young people to engineering and education through a summertime program.

Each Saturday in July, NMGL will host an event called “Capt. Scupper’s Kids Club: Recycled Regatta,” a hands-on engineering activity made with recycled materials. The program is designed for children ages 13 and under, but all families are welcome, NMGL said in a press release.

The program will teach participants how to design, build and race mini-boats. All of the boats will be made from recycled material. The intention of the program is to teach about buoyancy, balance and sustainability.

The program is included with museum admission, and free for NMGL members and Museums for All participants.

The museum is also hosting the University of Toledo’s Mobile Health Unit on select days this summer. It will park at NMGL and provide free blood-pressure, glucose, A1C and cholesterol screenings. Additional health and social service referrals will also be provided. No insurance or appointments are required.

The health unit will be at NMGL on the following days, each from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday, July 11

Friday, Aug. 15

Friday, Sept. 12

‘We put a man on the moon faster:’

Money for Great Lakes icebreaker omitted from Trump’s big bill

Great Lakes groups, like the Lake Carriers Association, have spent the better part of two decades advocating for funding a new icebreaking ship.

The advocates say a new Coast Guard vessel, which could help open up commerce on the Great Lakes during the winter, would stop billions of dollars lost due to shipping delays.

An early version of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” included federal money to build it, but those dollars were removed without warning.

With a 10 year timeline to build the icebreaker after funds are received, some groups are concerned about the continued economic impact of operating without.

“We put a man on the moon faster than they could build an icebreaker,” said Eric Peace, vice president of the Lake Carriers’ Association.

His group represents the interests of commercial shipping vessels operating on the Great Lakes, which mainly transport bulk cargo, like iron ore and coal, that is used in industry and infrastructure.

According to one Great Lakes advocacy group, the lakes fuel a $6 trillion regional economy, with more than 1.5 million U.S. jobs generating $62 billion in annual wages. Approximately 55% of the Great Lakes’ regional economy is dependent on key shipping channels, according to an April 21 report from the Congressional Research Service.

In the winter months, it’s often necessary to break apart Great Lakes ice to ensure ships carrying cargo can move throughout the lakes.

The U.S. Coast Guard is required by law to assist in keeping channels and harbors open using nine ships in its fleet – six icebreaking tugboats, two buoy tenders and the 240-foot heavy Great Lakes Icebreaker Mackinaw, which can break out stuck vessels and crush ice more than three feet thick.

With only one ship of the Mackinaw’s size and a great deal of need during the winter months, advocacy groups have said the Coast Guard’s existing heavy icebreaker isn’t keeping up.

These groups have continued to advocate for a second Great Lakes icebreaker. The funding was briefly included in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, a sprawling reconciliation package that among other things, included a nearly $25 billion investment to the Coast Guard.

The Great Lakes icebreaker was specifically mentioned in the U.S. House-passed version of the legislation, but appears to have been removed from the Senate’s version and what was ultimately signed by Trump.

Peace said with only one heavy icebreaker on the Great Lakes, “it impacts our ability to move commerce. “She can only be at one place at one time, and it’s often difficult to get her to where she needs to be.”

Economic analysis done on behalf of the association found that inadequate icebreaking during the winters of 2014, 2015 and 2019 combined cost the region $2 billion in economic activity and 11,000 jobs.

In the winter of 2018 alone, the economy took a $1 billion hit, and 5,000 jobs were lost.

In 2020, the association said the first commercial vessel to transit the Soo Locks became stuck in the ice because the Mackinaw could not cover the 500 square miles in Whitefish Bay, located on Lake Superior.

Peace, a former U.S. Coast Guard commander with over 20 years’ experience specializing in icebreaking operations, said the Coast Guard’s own analysis has determined a second Great Lakes icebreaker is necessary, “but we’ve struggled to get funding for it.”

The Coast Guard has estimated the total cost of the ship would be about $350 million. Legislation adopted in 2023 authorized the funds for the vessel “at least as capable” as the cutter Mackinaw, but lawmakers have yet to appropriate the full funds.

Peace said at this point, the service has received $60 million in funding from Congress to jumpstart the acquisition and design process for the icebreaker. A program management office has been set up.

“We still need a significant amount of money in order to get this thing built,” he said.

The U.S. House’s version of the latest Trump reconciliation bill included specific language to fund the heavy Great Lakes icebreaker, part of a nearly $5 billion line item for “Arctic security cutters and domestic icebreakers.”

The enrolled version of the bill, however, includes only $816 million for domestic “light and medium icebreaking cutters.”

Peace said as the Mackinac is considered a heavy domestic icebreaker by Great Lakes standards, it likely wouldn’t be included under the line item, though he said it could be up to Coast Guard interpretation.

Coast Guard Chief of Media Relations Steve Roth confirmed that the bill as approved by Congress and signed by Trump “does not include funding for production of an additional Great Lakes icebreaker” because of its designation by the Coast Guard as heavy.

“The Coast Guard is proceeding with previously appropriated funding to support pre-acquisition activities and analysis of future ship design and requirements,” Roth said. “Pending receipt of funding through the annual appropriations process, the program remains on track to acquire a Great Lakes icebreaker to bolster domestic icebreaking capabilities.”

In a June 27 letter, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, wrote that Great Lakes legislators were not aware of any reason why “the Great Lakes icebreaker, among all icebreakers requested by the Coast Guard, should go unfunded in this bill.”

He and eight other members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, Lisa McClain, R-Romeo, Tim Walberg, R-Tipton and Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, called for a return of the funds in the letter, sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

A Rep. Huizenga spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment.

Read more at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2025/07/we-put-a-man-on-the-moon-faster-money-for-great-lakes-icebreaker-omitted-from-trumps-big-bill.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawLfSNxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgp_yhdU7JeBZGml9oigX4EboBSDbqbOgSLkrQynWhVg55G7n_9SK_WscFow_aem_h2GAxZoNgPBgc9m07-7kSg

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim to honor memory of lost laker

GRAND HAVEN, MI – To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald , 68 open water swimmers will participate in a 17-stage, 411-mile relay swim, starting from above the shipwreck in Lake Superior, and finishing in Detroit, the ship’s intended destination. The swimmers aim to symbolically complete the Edmund Fitzgerald’s final journey as a tribute to the 29 crew members who perished.

The Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim, is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2025, and will be the subject of a documentary film, entitled The Legend Lives On.

The 729-foot S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was bound for Detroit carrying over 26,000 long tons of iron ore when the ship went down in a violent Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, taking the lives of all 29 crew members aboard. The ship lies in Canadian waters, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan.

Over the course of more than a month, 17 teams of 4 relay swimmers endeavor to cover the distance of 411 miles to deliver iron ore pellets to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. The pellets are from the same dock in Superior, Wisconsin, where the ship was loaded for the last time.

The event is being organized by Jim Dreyer, who has himself swam across all five Great Lakes.

“This special group of swimmers are dedicated to meeting the physical challenge of making it to Detroit for the 29 souls lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald while they were en route to Detroit 50 years ago,” Dreyer said. “This team is driven by a dual mission to preserve the memory of those who died while also preserving the Whitefish Point Light Station to safeguard mariners of today and tomorrow. To date, we have raised over $187,000 toward our mission.”

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is the event’s official beneficiary and is charged with preserving the civil war era lighthouse, a most important beacon to all ships entering and exiting Lake Superior.

Brian VanderHoff, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is swimming stage 10 from Sturgeon Point to Au Sable in Lake Huron, and was the event’s top fundraiser, raising nearly $9,000.

“The Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim is important to me because it commemorates the 29 lives lost in 1975 in Lake Superior, VanderHoff said. “Although I was young at the time, I learned about the wreck listening to Gordon Lightfoot’s song ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ throughout my life. I thought raising funds for the Whitefish Point Lighthouse as part of the swim was a great way to give back to the community as well as Michigan history.”

Tammy Lenarz-Carruth, a swimmer from Montevideo, Minnesota, has developed a special bond with family members of Paul M. Riippa, an Edmund Fitzgerald deck hand from Ashtabula, Ohio, who was a college football player and just 22 when the ship went down.

“I feel very honored to swim in memory of Paul Riippa who was just starting his life when he died on the Edmund Fitzgerald,” said Lenarz-Carruth.

“Being able to communicate with the Riippa family has been very meaningful and real to me. It has been heartwarming to learn about what kind of person Paul was and what his life was like in 1975. Paul’s older sister, Elaine Sespico, describes him as a ‘fine, young, athletic, Christian man. He was honest, dependable, loving and intelligent.’

“Being able to swim in Paul’s memory has brought the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim even more to life than it already is … and there are 28 more lives with their own stories. Paul’s life was cut short but not forgotten. I will think of Paul, his 28 crewmates and the Riippa family as I swim with my team, in stage 2, crossing Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.”

The first 4 relay swimmers starting at the wreck site are Joe Barr of Manistique, Michigan, Daniel Chaffin of Moorpark, California, and a father-daughter duo of Dennis Crumpler from Union Hall Virginia, and Cat Murdock, of Marquette, Michigan. This foursome will participate in a memorial ceremony above the wreck while a memorial service is held simultaneously for family members of the crew at Whitefish Point.

The 4 relay swimmers finishing the swim at the Detroit Yacht Club, include Michigan residents Maddie Diedo of Dearborn Heights and Melissa DeLuka of Westland. Tracie Baker of Newberry, Florida, and Barry Alper of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, complete the foursome that will deliver the iron ore carried by the team from Lake Superior.

The iron ore is planned to be presented to the Detroit Mayor during the Mariners’ Memorial Service at the Mariners’ Church of Detroit on August 28th, the day after the swim is completed. In the service, the church bell will be rung 29 times for each crew member of the Edmund Fitzgerald, just as it was 50 years ago and as described in Gordon Lightfoot’s Grammy-nominated song.

The Reverend Todd Meyer, Pastor of the Mariners Church, will officiate both memorial services.

“The history of Mariners’ Church is forever intertwined with the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” said Rev. Meyer. “We are honored to offer a spiritual perspective at both the start and finish of this endurance swim. These memorial services will serve as meaningful bookends to an epic tribute—honoring not only the Fitzgerald’s crew, but all sailors lost throughout the maritime history of the Great Lakes.”

Dreyer says there may still be opportunities for others to join in the swim.

“I am truly honored to be directing this historic and meaningful event, Dreyer said. “I would like to invite others who would be honored to swim to join our waitlist. You never know what might happen and we could call on you.”

To learn more about the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim and to donate in support of the lighthouse preservation, please visit https://www.edmundfitzgeraldswim.org/

Algoma produces first steel from new electric arc furnace

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Algoma Steel Group Inc., a Canadian producer of hot and cold rolled steel sheet and plate products, on Friday announced that it has achieved its first steel production at Unit One of its new, state-of-the-art electric arc furnace (EAF) project. The milestone follows over 10 days of successful electric arc testing and tuning, including individual and tandem tests of all nine Q-One transformer modules.

The first arc and steel production marks a pivotal milestone in Algoma’s transformation and positions the Company to better meet the evolving needs of its customers through the production of green steel – with the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 70 percent.

“We are proud to have reached this critical milestone in what is the largest industrial decarbonization project in Canada,” said Michael Garcia, President and CEO of Algoma. “This moment reflects years of careful planning, disciplined execution, and extraordinary effort since we broke ground in November 2021. Bringing the first EAF online during a period of trade uncertainty underscores our determination to innovate and lead, opening new opportunities as we begin to realize the full potential of EAF steel production.”

Algoma Steel Group Inc.

Neebish Island Historical Society among winners of history grant program

Barbeau, Michigan, June 11,2025 – The America250MI Committee has awarded Neebish Island Historical Society $5,000 as a part of the first round of the America250MI History Grant Program for Shipmates of Lookout #4 Restoration Project.

Lookout #4 is the last of seven lookouts used in the late 1800s and 1900s to track ships in the Lower St Marys River system and is located in Barbeau, Michigan. The project goal is to restore the lookout before nature takes what remains and to educate vacationers and residents about its history and role in the navigation of the shipping industry.

The America250MI History Grant Program is funding projects that will help preserve Michigan’s history for future generations. The grant program represents a key element of the state’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 2020, Governor Whitmer directed the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan History Center to coordinate the state’s commemoration of the anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The two organizations created the America250MI Committee to aid and advise this effort.

Neebish Island Historical Society

Port Authority: Closure Of CHS Superior Terminal Is ‘Disappointing Blow’

SUPERIOR, Wis. – “Disappointing blow.”  Those are the words from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority about the shutdown of one of the Twin Ports oldest and largest grain shippers.

Employees at the CHS Superior Terminal told FOX 21 they learned they will be out of a job on Sept. 8 in a letter dated July 10.

The grain facility has been operating at 41 Dock since 1936.

CHS describes itself as a “leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States.”   CHS exports grain from Superior primarily to customers in Algeria, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, the UK and Venezuela through vessels.  The terminal has also loaded and unloaded rail cars year-round for grain shipments in the U.S.

The facility is one of the most visible terminals in the Twin Ports, especially for drivers who cross the Blatnik Bridge.

The facility’s grain capacity is around 18 million bushels, according to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

A current employee told FOX 21 around 25 people are being terminated.

CHS released the following statement to FOX 21:

   “CHS is focused on driving growth and efficiency for the future and is committed to farmers in northern Minnesota. We remain committed to serving our farmers in the region providing access to global markets. Given shifts in how grain flows through our supply chain, we will be closing our Superior grain terminal by August 31 and reducing our workforce at that location.” — CHS

The director of the Superior Port Division was out of the office Thursday.  But the Duluth Seaway Port Authority released the following statement to FOX 21:

    “From the Duluth Seaway Port Authority: The CHS decision to cease operations at its Superior terminal is a disappointing blow to the Port of Duluth-Superior and the community as a whole. Most immediately, our thoughts are with the employees who will be affected by this decision.” — DSPA

As for what’s next, the Port Authority will be working with the city of Superior to seek solutions that could lead to a “more positive outcome, and hopefully, continued use of this grain terminal.”

FOX 21

Coast Guard no longer needs this historic U.P. lighthouse

Published: Jul. 09, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
By Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com

HOUGHTON COUNTY, MI – This historic lighthouse on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is available for free.

The lighthouse is approximately 110 feet tall from its base to the top of its octagonal tower. It includes a steel sheet pile caisson foundation with concrete deck, one-story concrete fog signal building, and a 50-foot-tall, steel tower topped with an open-air beacon.

Built in 1920, it continues to be an active navigational aid, guiding ships into the Portage Canal. The USCG will have an easement to maintain the beacon. There has been a lighthouse in this area since 1868.

Visible from both Breaker’s Beach and McLain State Park, the light sits on its own concrete crib, detached from the nearby breakwater pier.

Under the federal disposal program authorized by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000, the lighthouse is available for park, recreational, educational, cultural or historic preservation purposes. Eligible entities – government agencies, nonprofits, and educational and community organizations – can apply for ownership transfer.

The light is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Sheboygan Breakwater Light, located at the north end of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) breakwater at the mouth of the Sheboygan River, in Sheboygan, Wis., is also available for ownership transfer. It is a 55-foot tall, red-painted steel cylindrical tower.Find property details, information on how to apply for ownership, and other details here.
https://disposal.gsa.gov/s/noticetypedetail?type=Lighthouse%20Screening

Since the passing of the Lighthouse Preservation Act, the GSA has transferred ownership of more than 150 lighthouses, with around 80 being given away and another 70 auctioned off, raising more than $10 million.
In 2023, the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, which stands sentinel at the other end of the Portage Canal, was sold at auction.

Seaway Monthly Traffic Results  June 2025

                                                         See Chart in Gallery below.

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Davie Acquires Finnish Steel Firm to Boost Icebreaker Production

Mike Schuler
July 9, 2025

Canada-based shipbuilder Davie has announced today an agreement to acquire Enersense Offshore Oy, a specialized steel and fabrication operation based in Pori, Finland. The acquisition will make Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard Finland’s only specialized shipbuilder with fully integrated capabilities from design to delivery.

The strategic move significantly enhances Helsinki Shipyard’s ability to build multiple special-purpose vessels simultaneously with market-leading delivery times. The steel production facilities in Mäntyluoto will support shipbuilding projects for both Davie and Helsinki Shipyard in Finland and North America.

“This deal will reinforce our own competitiveness and Finnish shipbuilding as a whole by securing the supply of steel for many critical projects. Most importantly, we’re securing the future of a highly skilled workforce and delivering more stability for customers and partners,” said James Davies, CEO of Davie.

The acquisition is expected to boost employment in both Pori and Helsinki while benefiting the entire Finnish maritime cluster. The transaction remains subject to closing conditions and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2025.

“The Enersense Marine and Offshore Unit possesses unique expertise in steel production for the Arctic marine industry, making Helsinki Shipyard an integrated shipbuilder,” said Kim Salmi, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard. “The block production for the first vessel under our Polar Max concept begins as soon as possible.”

Enersense’s team will remain in place under the new ownership.

“We are delighted that, after patiently conducting the strategic assessment over the past year, we have found the best possible home for the Marine and Offshore Unit,” commented Enersense’s CEO Kari Sundbäck. “The unique expertise of our personnel in Mäntyluoto can further flourish with Davie, a significant shipbuilder.”

The acquisition follows Helsinki Shipyard’s March 2025 agreement with the Canadian government to construct the hull of a heavy icebreaker based on the shipyard’s build-ready Polar Max concept. Steel production for the project will begin in Pori as soon as possible, with construction work commencing at Helsinki Shipyard in August.

The move comes amid Davie’s broader expansion, including plans to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. This expansion aligns with the ICE Pact, a trilateral agreement between the United States, Canada, and Finland established in July 2024, aimed at enhancing polar icebreaker production. The company will be competing in the expansion of the Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker fleet. President Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which he signed on July 4th, provides nearly $9 billion for the expansion of the Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker fleet—including $4.3 billion for Polar Security Cutters and $3.5 billion for medium-sized polar icebreakers, also known as Arctic Security Cutters.

Davie acquired Helsinki Shipyard in 2023, gaining significant expertise in icebreaker construction. The Finnish facility has contributed to more than half of the global icebreaker fleet, complementing Davie’s Canadian operations, which have produced over 720 specialized vessels since 1825.

Davie was named the third official partner to Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy in April 2023, joining Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Nova Scotia and Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, British Columbia. Davie’s initial CAD $8.5 billion package of work includes seven heavy icebreakers and two large hybrid-powered ferries.

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in June

CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.9 million tons in June, a decrease of 9.6 percent from 2024.  Shipments were 1.2 percent below the month’s 5-year average.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 16.6 million tons, a decrease of 16.1 percent compared to the previous year’s total.  Iron shipments are below their 5-year average by 8.9 percent for the first half of the year.

Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  More information is available at www.lcaships.com.

Michigan Maritime Museum to hold film showcase this month

Coming soon to the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven will be a film series featuring stories from around the Great Lakes.

The museum’s Ashley Deming tells us the first ever Sweetwater Film Showcase will be Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25 at the museum. They’ll show short and feature-length documentaries that tell stories about underrepresented communities connected to the Great Lakes.

“We’re going to tell stories of women, of Black Americans, of indigenous nations, of military veterans,” Deming said. “So lots of different groups are going to be represented through this two-day showcase and 10 separate documentaries.”

Deming says the films range in length from seven minutes to 91 minutes and cover a broad range of stories.

“We have a documentary about Boblo boats. We have a documentary about military veterans doing scientific research and exploration in Lake Huron.”

There are also documentaries about a Tuskegee Airman who was lost in Lake Huron and the Native American perspective on the Great Lakes.

Deming says it will be $20 to attend each day of screenings, and they’ll have drinks and popcorn available. Since this is the Maritime Museum’s first film showcase, they’re starting out small, but she hopes the event can be brought back next year.

You can learn more about the film series right here.  https://michiganmaritimemuseum.org/sweetwater-film-showcase/

Plan to reopen a commercial port on Lake Superior gets a financial boost

Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corp. is investing $1M in the Peninsula Harbour port project at Marathon

MARATHON — The dream of turning Peninsula Harbour into a strategic shipping and receiving port on the north shore of Lake Superior is a big step closer to reality.

The Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation, the Sustainable Forest Licence-holder for the Pic and White River forest management units, is making a $1 million contribution to the ongoing development of the Peninsula Harbour Port.

In a joint announcement Monday, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation and the Town of Marathon said the funding will support foundational work as the two communities continue their joint effort to re-establish the harbour as a modern, functional transportation hub.

“We feel the port can be a critical asset for the forest industry, giving access to worldwide customers,” said NFMC board chair Laird Van Damme. “Partnering with the communities of Marathon and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg on this project is a great way to showcase how NFMC can assist the forest sector to prosper while providing economic development opportunities for our local communities.”

Organizers have said the facility, to be constructed on the site Marathon Pulp’s former mill, will be the only commercial port between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. However, there is also a plan to develop a port facility at Red Rock.

The Peninsula Harbour operation would be governed by a four-member port authority comprised of two representatives each from the town and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.

The port would be able to handle cargo vessels as well as cruise ships.

In a prepared statement, the leadership of the First Nation noted the project is part of a broader vision to re-engage with the waterfront in a way that’s economically viable, environmentally conscious, and reflective of the community’s ancient and ongoing connection to the land.

Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas said the support from the forest management corporation reinforces the high level of cooperation between the two communities.

“Our partnership is built on mutual respect and long-term thinking, and this projects reflects a deliberate and strategic approach to land use and infrastructure development,” he said.

Dumas told Newswatch the harbour requires dredging before it can accommodate large vessels because a lot of silt has accumulated since the last ship was in port about two decades ago.

He hopes that can happen next year, and that the port can be operational by 2027.

The project still requires investments from the federal and provincial governments, possibly through FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

“We, obviously, as a municipality and as a First Nation can’t afford to go and spend $3 million to $5 million. And as we’ve heard from both the governments, these are very important assets…So here we are with this great deep-sea port availability. We just need to get through the process of permitting and dredging. Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth, but hopefully everything will fall in place in a timely manner.” 

GLMA cadets to begin training on

school’s newest vessel, Robinson Bay

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — NMC Great Lakes Maritime Academy cadets will begin training this week aboard the donated tugboat Robinson Bay, the first vessel the Academy has acquired in more than 20 years, expanding job opportunities for graduates of the nation’s only freshwater maritime academy as well as reducing operating costs.

By the end of the summer, up to 36 cadets will have completed a 30-day training program aboard the Robinson Bay, earning their mate of tow vessel license endorsement (TOAR). Most of the training in ship handling, watch standing and tow vessel operation will be conducted in West Bay, with additional trips to Mackinac Island. GLMA’s shoreside simulator, located at NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, will also be tapped so cadets can meet requirements.

“The acquisition of the vessel enables GLMA cadets to gain instruction in tow vessel ship handling and operations, and earn tow vessel license endorsements, in addition to unlimited third mate or unlimited third assistant engineer. This will substantially increase their employment opportunities,” said GLMA Superintendent Jerry Achenbach. There are more than 5,000 tow vessels in the U.S. fleet, compared to 350 deep draft vessels where cadets traditionally have sought employment, he said.

Donated by the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the acquisition of the Robinson Bay will save GLMA tow vessel leasing costs that have exceeded $50,000 per year. The Academy has leased a tugboat every summer since 2020.

Having the vessel available year round also means GLMA can offer additional credentials.  Plans for later this year include working with the U.S. Coast Guard on approval for engine cadets to earn Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) license endorsement.

The goal is to eventually develop this into a two-year associate degree program. GLMA currently offers a bachelor’s degree in maritime technology.  Also in development is a plan for a one-day event for professional mariners who have the 30 days sea time but need to complete the Tow Officer Assessment Record, which GLMA faculty can assess.

The Robinson Bay was constructed in 1958 and substantially rebuilt, including a new engine, in the early 1990s, Achenbach said. Valued at $300,000, it was formally acquired by GLMA in October 2024 and handed off in November.

In December 2024 it arrived at a Toledo, Ohio shipyard to undergo the work necessary to use it as a training vessel. The $500,000 cost of that work was covered by federal and donor funds.

In June, GLMA staff traveled to Ohio to sail the ship to Traverse City. On July 2 it passed U.S. Coast Guard inspection and became available for cadet training, the first new vessel to join the Academy’s fleet since the T/S State of Michigan in 2002.

GLMA

Cruising Differently: What Makes a Great Lakes Expedition Cruise so Unique

While Antarctica might get all the buzz as an expedition cruise destination, the Great Lakes is an underrated gem—and Viking’s Great Lakes expedition cruises offer a cruising experience unlike any other along the most extensive freshwater lake system in the world.

I recently went on Viking’s Niagara & The Great Lakes expedition itinerary (you can read the lessons I learned cruising this fascinating region in my column on the subject).

The itinerary began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and visited three destinations in Michigan: Mackinac Island, Alpena and Detroit, before heading to Canada, where we visited Point Pelee National Park and Port Colbourne (for Niagara Falls) before sailing the Welland Canal and ending the trip in Toronto.

So, what’s an expedition cruise really like? And why cruise the Great Lakes? What can you see, do and experience?

Let’s dive into it.
What’s an Expedition Cruise Really Like?

Expedition cruises with Viking will offer similar creature comforts, great food and the same excellent service that Viking is known for, but with a few very different features.

The first significant difference is the ships: Viking offers two identical Polar Class 6 expedition ships, the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris. With space for just over 300 guests, these smaller ships were designed to pass through the tight Welland Canal and traverse some of the most treacherous waters on Planet Earth, making sailing on them relatively smooth.

During my cruise, I was fortunate that there was only one evening when I felt the ship rock as I walked down the halls.

There are a few special places onboard the expedition ships that you won’t find on ocean or river ships: Expedition Central and The Hangar.

Expedition Central is the place to go to report any wildlife you might see during your cruise, to ask the expedition team any questions you might have about the region and to watch the data from the ship’s weather balloon come in following its launch (did I mention the ships are the only ships in the world that are also weather balloon stations?).

The Hangar, meanwhile, is where all the fun toys live. There is at least one Expedition Day during each sailing when the expedition team offers Zodiac tours, rides on the Special Operations Boats, double kayaking excursions or other expedition experiences. The Hangar is where these machines and fun toys live when not in the water.

Because of the fun toys—and the expedition style of cruising—travelers can enjoy more lectures in the evenings instead of musical or theatrical entertainment, at least one weather balloon launch each sailing and some unique excursion activities that aren’t available on any other Viking cruise.

Overall, a Great Lakes expedition cruise is a lot like a regular cruise, with a smaller ship experience, an increased focus on learning about the region through history and science and some cool excursion opportunities.

Why Cruise the Great Lakes (From a Midwesterner’s Perspective)?
I’m a Midwesterner, so the Great Lakes will always have a special place in my heart, but sailing them on a cruise ship was an experience unlike any other.

So why cruise the Great Lakes?

Well, it’s a great way to see this fascinating region of the world. Water defines the area, impacting industry, trade, immigration and even warfare for centuries. We sailed under several bridges—Mackinac Bridge, the Ambassador Bridge, Bridge 21—and traversed the historic Welland Canal, which dates back to the 1820s and raises or lowers ships some 300 feet between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. 

Specific destinations offer experiences travelers can’t have anywhere else in the world.

In Milwaukee, travelers can visit the only Harley-Davidson museum in the world and the world-class Milwaukee Art Museum, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Mackinac Island is an engine-free haven: one of the only places left on Earth without cars, the island’s historic streets are filled with bicycling travelers and clip-clopping horses, making it truly special.

Alpena and Detroit are enjoying new revitalizations. Alpena, a small town known for its shipwrecks, is undergoing a new rebirth, with new tourism offerings including shipwreck tours.

Detroit is booming following the city’s economic collapse decades ago. Detroit was also the first city in the United States to be listed as a UNESCO “City of Design” in 2015.

Travelers can enjoy visiting the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center on a walking tour of Alpena and getting a glimpse of Detroit’s illustrious past during a musical heritage tour, a tour of Ford’s Rouge plant or the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

Those heading to Point Pelee on an expedition cruise can enjoy participating in fun expedition activities and immerse themselves in the vital ecology of the Great Lakes. Protected by the international Ramsar Convention, the national park boasts 350 species of birds alone.

Last but certainly not least is one of the world’s natural wonders: Niagara Falls. Travelers can marvel at the 42 million gallons of water that fall over the waterfall’s edge every minute, take boat rides into the mist of the falls, or even enjoy a helicopter tour above the falls. I enjoyed a tour behind the falls, which takes people to the closest viewing location possible on land.

Should You Choose a Great Lakes Expedition Cruise?
If you or your clients are considering a Great Lakes expedition cruise, there are a few things to know.

First, expedition cruises with Viking provide the same comfort, good food and onboard experiences as ocean and river cruises, with more scientific offerings, like the weather balloon launch, so those who already enjoy the Viking experience will also enjoy the expedition cruises.

Second, some expedition excursions might not be well-suited for those with mobility challenges. For my kayak excursion, for example, we were required to pass a test by getting in and out of a kayak from a Zodiac; if I had failed, I would not have been able to kayak.

It’s a great safety measure, and since there are so many other excursion opportunities available, those with more mobility issues could still enjoy Expedition Day, but it is something to consider.

Another note: many destinations required us to take tenders to reach the port. The tenders are very stable, and the crew was there to help those with mobility issues get in and out of the tenders.

Viking expedition cruises are a great option for travelers who’d like to experience the Midwest in a completely different way.

[Travel Pulse Canada]

Wisconsin Maritime Museum raises $1.5 million needed to dry dock USS Cobia submarine

The dry docking of the World War II relic is slated for September.

MANITOWOC – The Wisconsin Maritime Museum has reached its $1.5 million fundraising goal to preserve the USS Cobia submarine, thanks to a boost from the state.

A $500,000 grant from the state of Wisconsin — included in the state’s biennial budget approved early July 3 — gives the Maritime Museum the final funding piece to move forward with the project.

Since 1970, the museum has worked to preserve the World War II submarine so its history remains accessible for future generations. According to a news release, a critical milestone will occur in September when the sub is towed to Sturgeon Bay for a six-week dry dock restoration at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.

“We are so grateful to our staff, stakeholders and elected officials on both sides of the aisle who recognize the importance of preserving USS Cobia as a national WWII historic landmark,” said Kevin Cullen, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in the release.

Patti Zarling
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

Happy 4th!

Michigan judge lets Mackinac Island ferry rates stand for now

A federal judge has ruled in favor of businesses that provide ferry rides to and from Mackinac Island, denying, at least temporarily, at the height of the summer tourism season, the northern Michigan destination’s bid to intervene in increased prices for fares and parking.

On Monday, four days before the Fourth of July, U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker granted a request from Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Mackinac Island Ferry Company to preliminarily block a local ordinance that sought to expand Mackinac Island’s oversight of a variety of fees charged by the businesses for services, like parking and baggage.

Jonker also rejected a request from Mackinac Island’s lawyers to stop the businesses from imposing additional fee hikes — like jumps in parking fees that went to effect Tuesday — without the city’s approval.

As the legal fight continues to play out, the outcome, for now, ensures “uninterrupted ferry service” to the island, Jonker wrote in his decision.

“In the interim, some consumers may pay more for ferry service than the city believes they should be paying,” added Jonker, an appointee of President George W. Bush. “But that harm is far eclipsed by the risk of a mid-season ferry disruption with potentially ruinous consequences for residents, guests, and businesses that have planned their trips and operations on rates and schedules published last fall.”

Third generation Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry president Chris Shepler walks amongst the dry docked ferries for the winter off season in Mackinaw City, Michigan on March 12, 2021.

The dispute between the businesses and Mackinac Island was spurred by fee increases that came after an out-of-state company took control of both ferry businesses that offer regularly scheduled trips to Mackinac Island.

In 2022, the Hoffmann Family of Companies purchased Shepler’s ferry service. Two years later, in June 2024, Hoffmann Marine announced it had acquired the Mackinac Island Ferry Company, formerly known as the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company.

The Detroit News

Crew member falls overboard from cargo ship

THUNDER BAY – An investigation is being launched after a person fell overboard from a cargo ship.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) stated that a team of investigators is being sent to the Port of Thunder Bay to investigate the incident in which a crew member fell overboard from the cargo vessel Kathy McKeil. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

In an email to the TSB, they were only able to confirm that the incident occurred on Thursday.

An official with the Port Authority of Thunder Bay confirmed the crew member did not sustain any serious injury.

TB Newswatch

Coast Guard District Nine renamed to Great Lakes District

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the renaming of its

operational districts from numerical to geographic designations, a key initiative under

Force Design 2028 (FD2028). Within this Service-wide renaming initiative, Coast Guard

District Nine will now be known as Great Lakes District.

This strategic change, directed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May

21, 2025, aims to indicate more accurately the regions they serve and represent.

Renaming operational districts revises a numbered system established during World

War II, when the Coast Guard operated as part of the Navy to ensure alignment

between the services. In the 80 years since the Coast Guard separated from the Navy,

the Service has maintained the numbered districts. However, the Navy stopped using

numbered districts over 25 years ago. Updating operational districts to regional names

will more clearly align districts with their areas of responsibility, facilitate collaboration

with interagency partners, and ensure the American public and maritime stakeholders

can easily find and understand the districts in which they live, recreate, and operate.

This change is a direct action within FD2028’s Organization campaign, which focuses

on adapting the Coast Guard’s structure to remain effective and responsive.

The new geographic names, approved by the Department of Homeland Security, are as

follows:

District 1: USCG Northeast District

District 5: USCG East District

District 7: USCG Southeast District

District 8: USCG Heartland District

District 9: USCG Great Lakes District

District 11: USCG Southwest District

District 13: USCG Northwest District

District 14: USCG Oceania District

District 17: USCG Arctic District

“This renaming is more than just a change in labels; it’s a critical step in our journey to

become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force,” said Acting Commandant

Kevin E. Lunday.

“Under Force Design 2028, we are driving fundamental changes to

speed decision-making, improve strategic alignment, and ultimately best serve the

American people for decades to come. This initiative underscores our commitment to

ensuring that change is lasting and has an enduring impact on the Service and the

Nation, as directed by the President and the Secretary.”

This change will not impact operations or change existing geographical district

boundaries in the Ninth District. To memorialize the updated names for operational

districts, the Coast Guard is undertaking the process of formally changing district names

in the Code of Federal Regulations. Through this process, the Coast Guard will continue

to communicate with stakeholders and provide updated resources and information as

appropriate.

USCG

$20 million for Port of Green Bay expansion included in state budget proposal

Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers’ tentative budget will include $20 million for expansion of the Port of Green Bay that will help clear the way for C. Reiss to move the coal piles from downtown Green Bay.

State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, announced July 1 the money is included in the proposed budget. In early June, Wimberger and state Rep. Benjamin Franklin, R-De Pere, introduced a budget motion to secure funding for port development.

The money would go toward key improvements to the port including construction of a new 800-foot dock wall, dredging part of the Fox River to allow ships to access the new Pulliam site, a new stormwater detention basin, and installing mooring features.

The improvements would prepare the Pulliam site for C. Reiss to transfer its salt there. On June 5, the city, county, and C. Reiss agreed to a deal to lease 16 acres of the county-owned Pulliam site to store salt and so the coal piles could be stored at the nearby Fox River Terminal.

“Brown County and northeast Wisconsin will finally be able to expand its port and take major shipping for generations,” Wimberger said in a news release.

The money in the proposed state budget brings the funds for port development up to over $50 million. A $15 million state grant was secured for relocation of the coal piles through the Neighborhood Investment Fund Program. Other funds come from:

$10.1 million Port Infrastructure Development Program grant

$500,000 Idle Sites Grant from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to help buy the property

$3.2 million in Brown County American Rescue Plan Act dollars

$2.1 million in WisDOT Harbor Assistance Grants

“The Joint Finance Committee’s action today will complete the Port’s development, and set northeast Wisconsin up to accept major shipping for generations, creating new opportunities for the industries and businesses that make up the backbone of our communities,” Franklin said.

The Joint Finance Committee will take votes on the remainder of the budget July 1, and the full Legislature will discuss a vote on the budget July 2.

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said the additional state dollars could render the city’s commitment to fund up to $2.2 million in project costs moot or unnecessary, which would be a positive for local taxpayers. In general, though, he said the state funding was good news.

“Any time we see investment in the City of Green Bay by the State of Wisconsin, we’re encouraged,” Genrich said.

Genrich said the city remains focused on its role in the effort to relocate coal storage from the central city: Working with C. Reiss to redevelop the existing coal piles site south of West Mason Street. He said the community may, years from now, seek additional state funds to help with that redevelopment effort, too.

Fincantieri Taps New U.S. CEO Amid American Shipbuilding Revival

7/3/2025
By Alberto Brambilla, Antonio Vanuzzo and Laura Curtis (Bloomberg) —

Fincantieri SpA is set to appoint George Moutafis as head of its US unit, according to people familiar with the matter, betting on an American shipbuilding revival under President Donald Trump.

As chief executive officer of Fincantieri Marine Group, Moutafis will oversee an expansion set to include hundreds of hires, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing private information. He previously held senior strategy and program roles at the US unit, and is returning after a stint as chief operating officer of Beretta US.

A representative for Fincantieri declined to comment.

The Italian state-controlled shipbuilder employs more than 3,000 people in the US, where it owns four shipyards and holds contracts with the US Navy. Fincantieri has invested $800 million in US activities since 2009; half of that sum was allocated to its Marinette Marine location in Wisconsin. The company has tentative plans to hire hundreds at the site, the people said, where it manufactures a range of naval vessels including frigates, littoral combat ships and tug boats.

Fincantieri plans to resume building icebreaker ships at Marinette, aligning its interests with the Trump administration’s plans for a greater Arctic presence and counter Russian influence. The region has attracted growing attention as melting ice opens up shipping channels and the potential for energy and mineral resource exploration. The president has called for adding dozens of icebreakers to the American fleet.

The US hasn’t produced ocean-going vessels in large numbers since the 1970s. But interest in maritime security has grown in Washington under former President Joe Biden and Trump, who has called for the return of US shipbuilding as part of a wider effort to boost American manufacturing and jobs.

Fincantieri joins a handful of other foreign shipbuilders seeking to capitalize on that push.

Hanwha Shipping vowed to turn out the first US-built LNG tanker at its Hanwha Philly Shipyard, purchased last year by the South Korean conglomerate. HD Hyundai recently announced plans to build medium-sized container ships at Edison Chouest Offshore’s Tampa Ship facility. And Chantier Davie Canada Inc. is in talks to buy assets in Galveston and Port Arthur.

In Italy, Fincantieri is making plans to devote more of its production capacity to making warships, while moving some civil shipbuilding to other locations, Bloomberg reported this week.

Shares of Trieste-based Fincantieri have more than doubled this year, amid a rally in European defense stocks.

© 2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Capt. Paul LaMarre III of the Port of Monroe

Don’t Give Up the Ship

As a third-generation mariner and proud tugboat captain, Paul LaMarre III is leading the Port of Monroe to become Michigan’s gateway to the world.

Since becoming the director of the Port of Monroe in 2012, Capt. Paul LaMarre III has built Michigan’s only port on Lake Erie from an overgrown “pile of dirt” to the “biggest little port” in Michigan. Along the way, he’s earned the support of the state across several administrations, from the 2015 investment by the Michigan Strategic Fund in a major dredging and construction project, to a bipartisan port infrastructure grant program in 2022 and a 2023 partnership with Newlab that led to a pilot survey project with an autonomous vessel operated by Mythos AI.

Today, thanks in significant part to Paul’s leadership, the Port of Monroe serves as the gateway to the State of Michigan’s multimodal transportation network. Located on the deep-draft frontage of the River Raisin, with direct Class 1 rail access and immediate proximity to major freeways, the Port of Monroe represents an unmatched convergence of major freight assets. Its director has built a life he loves: a life on and around the Great Lakes.

As we started to handle cargo and put the port back on the map, I coined the phrase ‘the biggest little port.’ It was like when people talk about the biggest little town in the West – I would say that we’re the biggest little port on the Great Lakes, and one day, when we grow up, we’ll be a real port that evolved into Michigan’s gateway port. We’re the first stop in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system in the state of Michigan, and we are doing the most proactive things to develop international trade in the maritime industry in the state.

Return on Investment

The Port of Monroe would not be where it is today without the MEDC, and there are two people in particular whose roles really can’t be overstated: former MEDC director Steve Arwood, and one of its current leaders, Stacy Bowerman. Steve Arwood initiated the first maritime investment into public port infrastructure in our state’s history, which led to the creation of the Governor’s Port Advisory Committee, which I chaired for Governor Snyder and still chair for Governor Whitmer. It became the pilot project for a larger port infrastructure grant program and enhanced the familiarity of our state legislators and agencies with the value of the Great Lakes maritime industry.

The MEDC funded the construction of our riverfront dock through the Michigan Strategic Fund in concert with brownfield redevelopment funds. It was roughly a $4 million project in 2018. To give you an example of how it paid dividends, the regional economic impact per foreign flag vessel with high value cargo is roughly $1 million. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the Port of Monroe had its busiest season in the port’s history, going all the way back to 1932. We had 14 consecutive European vessels carrying wind components that were complementing wind towers being manufactured right here at the port by Ventower Industries, which also received support from the MEDC. Those ships alone represented $14 million in regional economic impact, in one season alone and kept hundreds of people working at the height of the pandemic.

Gaining the state’s support and having the support of Governor Snyder and Governor Whitmer has been priceless. Just a couple of years ago, Governor Whitmer made the first visit of its kind to the Port of Monroe, in which she spent nearly half a day at the port, immersing herself in our port operation and learning about what we do. I always tell her, when I see her, that she’s a badass. The first time I said that my lobbyist and her staffers looked at me like, ‘Oh my God.’ But you know what? She really is. She’s been awesome, and she stands firm for what she believes in and what is best for Michigan. She has made, I think, every state agency, including the MEDC, stronger.

Quentin Messer, CEO of the MEDC, has been to the port as well to experience the development and the groundswell of support that we’ve created. I believe that we will be the first mile by which Michigan manufactured goods begin their voyage to global destinations, as well as the front door for imported goods to reach Michigan shores.

A Level of Credibility

I have been very fortunate to have a lot of different opportunities at a relatively young age. I’m 44 years old, and at this point, every aspect of my life touches the Great Lakes maritime industry in some way.

I’m the port director for the Port of Monroe, but I am also the president of the American Great Lakes Ports Association, representing all of the US ports within the system, as well as the vice chairman of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, and still very involved in the museum’s continued development. I am a very active tugboat captain for the Great Lakes Towing Company, towing vessels in Detroit, Toledo, Saginaw, and Sault Ste Marie.

All of these complement the port development. It gives us a level of credibility. Many ports have become pseudo-private economic and real estate development entities, whereas we focus strictly on maritime and cargo, with a very profound economic impact. We’ve been able to achieve our success because we are on the deck plates, and it’s a lifelong calling. Everything I’ve tried to achieve, whether at the port, the museum, aboard the tugs or otherwise, is to preserve the Great Lakes’ past, present and future.

At the Port of Monroe, we fly Oliver Perry’s famous flag, which says, ‘Don’t give up the ship,’ in front of our building. Every day we fly it on the vessels at the port, and it’s symbolic of our motto to be unrelenting and passionate about our work. If we’re truly achieving our success, we are contributing to the Michigan economy in a way that provides meaningful work to Michiganders and hopefully improves quality of life. We’re working for our community’s and our own family’s survival, to take care of the people that we love.

The Tugboat America

The America is a living history. We’ve given her a second lease on life. She’s 128 years old and still doing the same job that she was built for in 1897.

Since I was a kid, my dad always revered the America and her history. When we would go out in the boat in the Detroit River – I would have been roughly nine or 10 years old – we would go see her and my dad would revel in it: ‘That’s the tugboat America right there,’ and share her history.

As the port grew and we needed tug service, I approached the Great Lakes Towing Company about bringing her to Monroe. She had been sitting in Milwaukee, not operating for about a three-year period. In 2023 we had a large event at the Port, Heritage Days. The one that poured the bottle of champagne over the bow of the tug was my father.

The tug has become my living restoration project. She embodies everything that I love about our industry, about its history, about its potential, about its resilience, and the greatest privilege of my career has been being her captain.

The Best-Kept Secret in Michigan

As someone whose life revolves around the Great Lakes, I would say that Monroe County is representative of our state’s broader identity, what it says on the license plate – the Water Wonderland.

I live in Newport, Michigan, just north of the Port of Monroe, on Stony Point Peninsula out at the very end of the point, which is the furthest point of Michigan out into Lake Erie. When I return home every day to my wife Julie and our two golden retrievers, I am going home to a view of Lake Erie, where I’m fortunate to experience all the things that I love about Michigan in one spot: a Lake Erie sunrise, a bald eagle in a tree in our backyard, a Great Lakes freighter on the horizon, the smell of the lake air, and a community where you’re surrounded by good people.

I think that Monroe County is unique in that we have so many of the treasured parts of Michigan’s recreational or tourism assets. It’s almost like the best-kept secret in Michigan.”

More Photos and complete Story can be found at :  https://www.michiganbusiness.org/voices/capt-paul-lamarre-of-the-port-of-monroe/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLUGD1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF1OWVzRmxXQTNQTjh5SGFEAR4oCUU8CJoT6QS2f4Wi9FLU8ohwbVnIuz2NlzgIBUifFIAiEOBS7q_qvJok8A_aem_mFUw9i7z1EKojsBktb-Ekg