Please send port reports to news@boatnerd.net.

Coming soon: Interactive port facilities map!

Cover photo credit: Roger LeLievre

Editor’s NoteOur daily photo galleries are currently down due to technical issues.

Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
In a change of pace for regular visitor Hon. James L. Oberstar, the vessel’s holds were filled with ore on her departure from Duluth at 23:48 Thursday night. After unloading stone in the Twin Ports, she almost always departs light to pick up Tilden pellets in Marquette; this trip would see her load at CN Dock 6 for Toledo instead. The next traffic would not take place until late Friday morning when Indiana Harbor cleared Superior with Hibtac pellets courtesy of BNSF Dock 5. The 63,000-ton load will soon be tossed into the blast furnace at Burns Harbor. Fellow footer fleetmate American Integrity was inbound the piers at 18:49 to take on an identical load for the same destination. At the same time to the north, John G. Munson arrived Duluth in ballast as the first in a nice trio of evening vessel passages for the Minnesota side. The classic laker will eventually be taking on a load of taconite pellets in West Duluth, but pulled in to take a delay at Clure Public Marine Terminal Berth 8 upon arrival. Her fleetmate Arthur M. Anderson, just leaving CN Dock 6 herself after a load at the gravity feeders, passed by on her way outbound for the lake. She cleared for Gary in the rain at 20:09. James R. Barker pulled up the hook as the Anderson approached the canal and was soon inbound at 20:22 to set up shop at the shiploader. The footer spent just over 24 hours at anchor while waiting to load behind classic lakers Oberstar and Anderson.

Marquette, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Both sides of the LS&I dock were busy at 11:00 Friday morning with the arrival and departure of Kaye E. Barker and American Spirit, respectively. The Barker made her way inbound, presumably with stone, to unload at the south berth. ASC’s 1,004-foot Spirit headed outbound for Toledo.

Port Inland, MI – Andrew Meyer
Great Republic is due at 1700 on Saturday evening.

Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Andrew Meyer
Chicago, IL:
Patagonman is still hanging around. Algoma Intrepid departed Chicago for Brevort around 1500 local time. Caroline McKee rolled into port early this morning and sailed up the Calumet River. Southern Lake Michigan is looking pretty quiet right now, so it’s doubtful the Chicago area is due for anything in the next day or so.
Indiana Harbor, IN: With both vessels on shuttle duty, fleetmates Wilfred Sykes and Joseph L. Block are moored in port together. The Sykes has been in town since the 11th, The Block arrived this morning. Great Republic is unloading her stone before heading back up to Port Inland for another load. 
Gary, IN: Edwin H. Gott is in town, but already posting a Two Harbors destination. She should be out before the end of the day on the 12th.
Burns Harbor, IN: Wilfred Sykes arrived on Tuesday evening. That was the only traffic for Burns until Thursday, with the Sykes outbound at 0218, followed by the Ebroborg at 1225. Inbound traffic was Joseph L. Block at 0187 and Pere Marquette 41/Undaunted at 1547. The Block is due next for Indiana Harbor, so is likely doing some shuttle duty like her fleetmate.

Drummond Island, MI – Andrew Meyer
With the exception of the Drummond Islander, Drummond Island hasn’t seen traffic since the Manitowoc earlier this week, and nothing is scheduled for the time being.

Bruce Mines, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Bruce greeted old pal Manny on Friday morning when GRN’s Manitowoc arrived to load in the 03:00 darkness. The occasional visitor departed at 11:20 to make the trek out North Channel, across Lake Huron, and down Lake Michigan for Grand Haven.

Thessalon, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Baie Comeau was in town for the dock in Smelter Bay.

Spragge, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
John D. Leitch arrived from Indiana Harbor at 09:12.

Calcite, MI – Andrew Meyer
After letting the limestone loaders cool off Friday after a bevy of activity Thursday, Calcite should see the WWII veteran Lee A. Tregurtha arrive Friday evening. The next traffic is the Ashtabula and consort tug Defiance, currently making the commute from Buffalo and due sometime Sunday.

Stoneport, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
AIS coverage strikes again… Olive L. Moore/Menominee apparently arrived sometime on Thursday before departing early Friday morning for Marine City.

Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Following the activity for Thursday covered in yesterday’s report, CSL Tadoussac and Florence Spirit slipped in right before the clock struck midnight. The Tad weighed anchor in the Detroit River and headed up the Rouge for St. Marys, while the Spirit went on the hook herself to wait for a berth at Zug Island.

Friday morning began with the departure of Interlake’s Lee A. Tregurtha following the unloading of her coal cargo at EES Coke. Departing light, the 80-year-old veteran sailed upbound at 01:49 for a load of limestone in Calcite. Mesabi Miner was in port for Mistersky from 04:58 to 10:29, and cruise ship Pearl Mist paid a visit farther up the Detroit waterfront from 06:38 to 13:04. Parry Sound is the next stop on the itenirary as the vessel and her passengers head upbound onto Lake Huron. The Miner’s orders are for ore in Two Harbors. Victory/Maumee were next at the fuel dock from late morning to early afternoon, followed later in the evening by Stoneport-bound Philip R. Clarke while the steamer was in town from 16:47 to 19:34. Going to anchor near the Windsor Salt mine around 20:30 was Federal Freedom; Florence Spirit remains on the hook nearby. Coming up from Toledo, John J. Boland made it in shortly before the bell at 23:54 and tied up at Mistersky.

Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: Mesabi Miner departed at 10:29 and is headed to Two Harbors. New York/Double Skin 509A arrived at 20:56 to unload petroleum products.
Toledo, OH: Departures were Floretgracht for Burns Harbor. Saginaw at 11:36 for and John J. Boland at 19:31, both for the Soo. Evans Spirit arrived at 16:31.
Marblehead, OH: Sam Laud left for Cleveland at 16:33. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder docked at Holcim at 16:46.
Sandusky, OH: Miss Lis is at the Gradel dock. Michipicoten arrived at 16:39 to load coal.
Lorain, OH: Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson arrived at 19:44.
Cleveland, OH: Container ship Peyton Lynn C arrived at 06:53 and is at her usual berth at Dock 22E at the Port. Mark W. Barker  ran one shuttle to Cliffs and then went to Cargill for a load of salt. New York/Double Skin 509A left for Monroe at 11:22. Arrivals were American Courage to load a shuttle, Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader for the Bulk Terminal, saltie Fuldaborg for the Port and Sea Eagle II/St. Marys Cement II for the Jefferson St. St. Marys terminal and Sam Laud for Osborne.  NACC Capri departed for Loyalist Cove at 16:07.Cruise ships Pearl Mist departed Thursday evening and Ocean Voyager arrived at 07:33, the passengers toured the city and then departed at 18:17.
Fairport Harbor, OH: Frontenac arrived at 07:17 to load at Morton Salt.
Ashtabula, OH: Tug John Francis left for Sandusky at 09:46. American Courage departed for Cleveland at 13:12.
Conneaut, OH: Philip R. Clarke left at 02:13 and headed to Stoneport.
Erie, PA: Ronnie departed at 07:19 for Buffalo, arriving there at 11:57.
Nanticoke, ON: Algoma Conveyor arrived at Stelco at 08:06. Algonorth is at Imperial Oil.

Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
The Defiance – Ashtabula departed with the Vermont at 10:00 bound for Calcite, MI.