Unless where otherwise noted, port and vessel activity from December 4, 2022. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
A Block and Barker switcharoo took place early Sunday morning in West Duluth as the handsome striped laker and 1,004-foot supercarrier did some maneuvering at CN Dock 6. While James R. Barker pulled out from the shiploader with taconite for Indiana Harbor, Joseph L. Block cast off from her moorings on the unused east side of the dock and prepared to move over for a load of her own. The Barker departed Duluth at 00:54 but would be forced to set up shop in the anchorage due to gale-force weather conditions elsewhere on the lake. Captain Newland presumably went to bed to get some much-deserved rest. The same could not be said about Co-Captain Moosey Smith, however, as the little moose turned up the festive music and broke out the eggnog for a fun holiday party out at anchor with AAA-class Philip R. Clarke, who was also waiting on the hook. Like the Barker Bark? Try the Barker Bash!
Steamer Arthur M. Anderson left C. Reiss on the St. Louis River around 07:45 and began the long journey up to the Aerial Lift Bridge, not reaching her destination until 09:12. Due next in Two Harbors to load taconite pellets, the timeless classic would go to anchor and join in on Moosey’s festivities. Her sister Clarke would leave the party and proceed inbound about 30 minutes later to take up the Anderson’s former position at C. Reiss with limestone of her own.
Joseph L. Block completed her load at CN 6 early in the afternoon and headed outbound Duluth just after 14:00. Better late than never, she too would join in at anchor. Her cargo of taconite pellets will be delivered to Cleveland after the weather improves.
Clarke shifted from C. Reiss to CN 6 late in the evening with the help of Heritage Marine tug Helen H. With ice already forming in the harbor, tug escorts should be a common sight over the next few weeks.
Two Harbors, MN – Silver Bay, MN – Joshua Hebeisen
American Integrity departed the shiploader shortly before 10:00 with pellets for Conneaut. Edwin H. Gott would also visit the south side of CN 2 following a noon arrival.
No more traffic is expected at Silver Bay this season. It is hoped that Cleveland-Cliffs will bring Northshore Mining operations back online sometime in 2023.
Marquette, MI – Oggdo Bogdo
Following a few typical December days, including the Lee A. Tregurtha traveling north (the opposite direction) after loading to wait out winds, some atypical visitors are coming to Marquette. But of course, the Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived at 12:02 to add to her leading total number of visits. Later in the evening, at 22:30, the John J. Boland arrived after unloading at the Soo previously. The Boland is making her third journey to Marquette this year, though the first since early May. Three visits per year is a standard number for the Boland, so this could be the last time she makes an appearance. Even more rare is the Wilfred Sykes, making a second arrival just a few weeks after her first. That visit was her first since 2018, and this time it took just a tiny fraction of that time to do an encore.
St. Joseph – Benton Harbor, MI – Michael Moran
No arrivals were recorded last week. The dredge Buxton II remains staged in the harbor. The rest of the dredge equipment is waiting for a weather window to be brought down.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: New York/Double Skin 509A is still at the Port dock.
Toledo, OH: Arrivals were Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader to Ironville, Mark W. Barker to the ARMS dock, Sam Laud to CSX and the salties Verila and Federal St. Laurent. Other arrivals later in the day were Caroline McKee with the barge Commander and Leonard M/Huron Spirit. Cuyahoga was a late Sunday night arrival. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is anchored in Lake Erie. Departures were Mark W. Barker to Stoneport, Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader to the Twin Ports and Manitowoc to Manistee.
Sandusky, OH: CSL Niagara departed at 10:30, showing a destination of Buffalo..
Cleveland, OH: Calumet arrived at 09:29 to unload at Ontario Stone dock 4. American Courage continues on the shuttles.
Nanticoke, OH: Algoterra and Algoma Hansa have both moved to Imperial Oil to load. Algosea and Algonorth remain anchored.
While we do not currently have daily write-ups for the following ports, their respective port authority websites post schedules of vessel traffic that are embedded below. Each schedule takes the form of a miniature webpage within a box – scroll with your cursor within the box (or slide your finger within the box on a mobile device) to move through the schedule as you would a normal webpage. To move up or down the actual Port Reports page itself, make sure your cursor/finger is outside of the box.
Green Bay, WI – Port of Green Bay
Click on vessel image for voyage info.
Hamilton, ON – Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
Scroll past AIS map for arrival/departure schedule.
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- The sunrise silhouettes of Philip R. Clarke and James R. Barker lie still in the sea smoke off the Duluth Entry. David Schauer image, December 4
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- Off goes the Arthur M. Anderson into the sea smoke. Stephanie Irwin image, December 4
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- Philip R. Clarke passes the Grassy Point Swing Bridge on the St. Louis River. David Schauer image, December 4
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- The moon makes its last stand in the dark before disappearing beneath Lake Superior. John L. Tongusi Jr. image, December 4
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- Construction update on a ferry and LNG barges in Sturgeon Bay. Door County Drone image, December 4
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- Egbert Wagenborg passes through Detroit on her way out the Seaway. Andrew Russell image, December 2
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- Tecumseh and tug Invincible sit in Ashtabula with uncertain futures. Joseph DiBell image, December 4
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- Egbert heads down the Welland Canal. Brad Wood image, December 3