Port Reports – January 6, 2023

Unless where otherwise noted, port and vessel activity from January 5, 2022. Please send future port reports to news@boatnerd.net.

Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
12/29
At 01:00, Algoma Discovery settled in off the piers while in line to load at Superior’s BNSF Dock 5. She would be waiting at anchor for a couple of days… We’ll get back to her later. John J. Boland kicked off the day in Duluth with a 07:02 departure from SMET. As she has been on several occasions this season, the recent addition to Grand River Navigation’s fleet was loaded up with petroleum coke for Alpena. Now-ex-fleetmate (but still corporate cousin) Walter J. McCarthy Jr. was outbound the Superior Entry less than two hours later after a layover at Enbridge. The footer was due to load up the lake at Two Harbors. ASC would continue to be represented in the harbor by American Spirit, arriving Superior at 17:35 to take a nap at — where else? — Enbridge. Seriously, they should probably just build her her own little ore dock there. A viewing platform for boatnerds would also be a nice touch. Another former member of the ASC fleet in American Mariner was also on hand, departing at 20:20 for Cleveland.

12/30
The Mariner’s previous berth at CN Dock 6 would be occupied by Michipicoten following a 02:46 Duluth arrival. The Lower Lakes laker has been a rare visitor to the Minnesota side of the harbor this season after being a fixture beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge in recent years. In classic Michip’ fashion, she sailed out for the Soo just after noon following a quintessential quick load. Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader’s departure for Toledo at 23:37 following a looong delay at BNSF wrapped up the workweek like a post-Christmas present.

12/31
The real treat, however, was yet to come, with Philip R. Clarke inbound the Superior piers at 00:27 on a rare trip. Great Lakes Fleet vessels are generally a more uncommon sight at BNSF these days, but an appearance by a AAA is an especially noteworthy occasion. The dock would get back on track with a short load, sending the Clarke back on her way to Gary at 14:15. Algoma Discovery arrived from anchor to take her place 54 minutes later and officially mark just her third visit to the Twin Ports this season. Duluth was business as usual on New Year’s Eve, with Paul R. Tregurtha arriving at 14:25 for SMET as the last vessel passage of 2022. American Century went to anchor later in the evening while waiting for the Queen to finish.

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Some atypical traffic continued to line up for Superior just minutes after midnight, with Algoma Guardian letting loose the windlass chain out in the lake to “ring” in 2023. This is just her second trip to the region of the season. Status quo Stewart J. Cort joined the saltie-turned-laker off the piers at 03:00. Big PRT departed Duluth for St. Clair/Monroe at 04:33 with the usual 68,000 tons of coal, picking up the new year right where she had left off the night before. Here’s a fun footer fact: Technically speaking, she was at the dock loading for two years. Her exit cleared the way for American Century to haul up the anchor chain and head inbound to SMET herself just minutes later. A streak of three footers in the span of roughly an hour would end with a 05:40 CN arrival for Indiana Harbor. Noon saw a spirited switch over in Superior (in more ways than one), with Algoma Discovery departing BNSF with a hearty master’s salute and American Spirit shifting to Allouez Bay from Enbridge shortly thereafter. The Discovery is en route to ArcelorMittal’s Dofasco plant in Hamilton. Some movement at Fraser Shipyards (alas, not the Ryerson) took place later in the afternoon as tug G.L. Ostrander coupled up to barge Integrity in the dry dock. The pair, in port for the past few months receiving a five-year survey and a spiffy new coat of paint, were floated out and moved to the adjacent dock facing for further fit-out. American Century hauled 68,000 tons of coal outbound the Duluth Ship Canal at 18:25, bound for St. Clair. Three hours later, James R. Barker made an unexpected journey beneath the bridge to pick up some of the black stuff herself. JRB was originally on the schedule for BNSF but diverted to SMET to avoid the backup.  

1/2
Requiring the help of two tugs to move through the ice, American Spirit pulled away from BNSF and headed out the Superior Entry at 00:52, bound for another late-season run to the Soo. Algoma Guardian left the anchorage and proceeded to the dock 30 minutes later. In Duluth, Indiana Harbor and James R. Barker departed at 01:36 and 08:01, respectively, for Cleveland and St. Clair. More surprises were in store for boatwatchers not long after noon with an arrival by fan-favorite steamer Arthur M. Anderson. Her original destination of CN Two Harbors was switched at the last minute to CN Duluth, again due to backups farther up the North Shore. Algoma Guardian and Stewart J. Cort swapped positions around 20:00 with the Guardian headed for Hamilton.

1/3
Defiance/Ashtabula made for two more uncommon faces in the harbor following their 00:34 Duluth arrival. Defying the ice, the pair made it to CN Dock 6 about 2 hours later and took over for the departing Anderson. AMA cleared the Duluth piers at 04:47 for Nanticoke but took a northerly route along the North Shore to seek shelter from an impending winter storm. Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader were lined up for the Superior Entry early in the afternoon before slamming on the brakes, making a big loop across the width of the lake, and finally entering via the Duluth Ship Canal instead at 13:10. The ATB tied up at the CN gravity dock while waiting for anatomical cousins Defiance/Ashtabula to finish loading at the shiploader. Joseph L. Block was less indecisive about her Superior destination by anchoring squarely off the piers, though moved a little farther east late in the afternoon to get more shelter from the storm. Stewart J. Cort set a northerly course for Burns Harbor at 15:50, and Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader slipped inbound at 20:32 after leaving their hiding place in the Apostle Islands.

1/4
No vessel passages were recorded due to weather. Within the safe confines of the harbor, Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader and Defiance/Ashtabula swapped places at CN Dock 6 in the wee hours of the morning.

1/5
Flashing her tugboat muscles, Joyce L. VanEnkevort detached from Great Lakes Trader overnight to break her own ice in the harbor. The Little Tugboat that Could soon returned to her barge and departed Duluth at 04:16 with ore for Cleveland. Defiance/Ashtabula followed the pair out at 07:52 destined for Conneaut. More solo tugboat adventures were on tap later in the morning courtesy of G.L. Ostrander. The tug once again uncoupled from barge Integrity, sailing out of Fraser and up to Superior Refining to fuel for an impending return to service. Her tank full, the O’ headed back to Howard’s Pocket late afternoon to pick up her barge and subsequently depart Duluth at sunset. Mesabi Miner had since arrived around 13:00 and backed beneath the Blatnik Bridge for taconite at CN. In an unusual move over in Allouez Bay, a fully-loaded Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader backed out from BNSF but didn’t immediately exit the canal, instead allowing Joseph L. Block to arrive at 19:46 and proceed to the dock. It is likely that ice had something to do with the maneuver. The tug/barge combo eventually cleared for Toledo at 20:41.

Two Harbors, MN – Joshua Hebeisen
12/29
Presque Isle departed around 09:00 for Nanticoke, with Walter J. McCarthy Jr. taking her place at CN Dock 2 two hours later. 

12/30
At the dock for roughly 24 hours, McCarthy cleared for Conneaut with ore shortly after noon.

12/31
Becoming a more familiar sight in Agate Bay, Burns Harbor arrived at 08:38 to load up for Indiana Harbor.

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Burns left at 11:46, clearing the way for a 15:00 Edgar B. Speer.

1/2
The 1,004-foot Speer began her weekly trip to Gary before 11:00. Fleetmate Great Republic was inbound for a Minntac load of her own at 14:59.

1/3
A busy day at the dock bid farewell to Great Republic at 00:41, only to continue the Great Lakes Fleet streak just hours later with a 03:49 John G. Munson arrival. The classic laker was loaded up and out by 13:22. Both her and the Republic took a northerly route around Isle Royale on their way to Gary. American Integrity waited out the Munson with a loop in the lake and later arrived at 14:23.

1/4
No vessel passages were recorded due to weather.

1/5
The Integrity was on her way to Conneaut shortly after 05:00. Canadian veteran CSL Assiniboine was next beneath the shiploader following her 09:04 arrival.

Marquette, MI – Oggdo Bogdo
Uncommon visitor Manitowoc arrived at 09:09, and the Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson stopped outside the port a few hours later at 13:42, waiting for a spot to open. The latter had an unpleasant experience out on the lake, dealing with some significant rocking. The next day would prove to be extremely busy, starting with the departure of the Manitowoc for Cleveland at 05:51. Kaye E. Barker departed for Dearborn at 08:05 after a lengthy time in port, and the waiting tug/barge combo eagerly took her place in the subsequent minutes. The next traffic would come in the afternoon, with the now regular visitor Herbert C. Jackson sailing in at 14:33. As if the two classic Interlake vessels wasn’t enough, the Wilfred Sykes made an appearance at 18:50, waiting for the tug/barge combo to clear out. Just before midnight on Thursday, the Laura L. VanEnkevort indeed departed for Toledo at 23:24, and the Sykes took her place next to the Jackson for a stunning duo (no offense to the tug/barge community). The fun shows no signs of stopping in the coming days, with upcoming arrivals of the newly frequent sailer Olive L. Moore/Menominee, Lee A. Tregurtha, Hon. James L. Oberstar, and Victory/Maumee.

Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
Alpena arrived from Calumet Harbor Tuesday evening with cement for Lafarge. She was the first vessel to call at Milwaukee in 2023. She departed Wednesday morning. Monday the tug Michigan sank in the mooring basin. She is paired with the barge Great Lakes as part of an integrated unit. The tug remained connected to the barge, which kept the bow section afloat. The tug was refloated Thursday. It appeared that little of any oil or fuel onboard leaked. Fleetmate Albert/Margaret arrived from Cheboygan, Michigan, Thursday morning. It will spend winter in the mooring basin opposite the Michigan/Great Lakes.

Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: Finished unloading, Paul R. Tregurtha departed for Superior, WI. Tanker Iver Bright arrived to unload at the Port dock.
Cleveland, OH: Victory/Maumee arrived early in the morning, proceeding to the Bulk Terminal to unload ore. She left for Marquette once empty. Next to arrive was the NACC Alicudi going to Holcim Cement to unload. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder unloaded at RiverDock then left for Marblehead. American Courage is still shuttling ore to Cliffs.
Buffalo, NY: Algoma Mariner is at WS Services and Sam Laud is at CSI Sands.
Nanticoke, OH: Algocanada departed with petroleum products for Sarnia, ON and Algosea is loading at Imperial Oil.

Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
Canada Steamship Line’s Rt. Hon. PAUL J MARTIN welcomed in the new year in Lackawanna while loading coal at the Gateway Metroport Main Dock. She was all topped off and departed for Nanticoke at 1:30AM through light brash ice in the Outer Harbor Southern Channel.

The 635-foot self-unloader SAM LAUD came in the South Entrance at 3PM on the 5th with a split-load of sand for Gateway Metroport and CSI. She winded with the thrusters in the Outer Harbor Southern Channel and backed into the Lackawanna canal. They unloaded a very small portion of cargo at the North end of the pier in and then shifted to CSI via the lake at 5:35PM. The LAUD then met the inbound ALGOMA MARINER off the South Entrance Channel that was headed for Gateway to load coal at 5PM. The MARINER slowed to let them out, then came in, winded in the harbor just like the LAUD had done three hours earlier. She then backed into the Lackawanna Canal to the bulk loading apron as the LAUD went back in the North Entrance for the CSI landing on the Buffalo Ship Canal.

Trois-Rivières, QC – René Beauchamp
The tanker RF STELLA was the first arrival at the port of Trois-Rivières this year, on January 2. She is the former Adfines Sun.

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
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Hamilton, ON – Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
Scroll past AIS map for arrival/departure schedule.