Please send port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Coming soon: Interactive port facilities map!
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
At 08:19 on Sunday, July 24, Mesabi Miner departed Duluth for Indiana Harbor after a quick load of pellets at the CN Dock 6 shiploader. The only other vessel traffic of the day would be a Superior twofer, with Algoma Strongfield departing for Quebec at 12:24 and CSL Tadoussac heading inbound from anchor less than 30 minutes later. Next in line to load at BNSF Dock 5 was Atlantic Huron; she went on the hook along the shoreline during the afternoon action.
The Tad would find herself outbound for Nanticoke early Monday morning at 00:24, allowing fleetmate Huron to make her way to the dock just over an hour later. The latter would spend the better part of the day taking on roughly 27,000 tons of Hibtac pellets that will eventually make their way overseas. Over in Duluth, John G. Munson approached the piers as the sun lit up the cool morning sky, making her arrival at 04:55 under the Aerial Lift Bridge. The classic laker was loaded with dolomite from Port Dolomite, which she would put aside at CN-Hallett Dock 5 in West Duluth. Sunrise colors remained in full effect at 05:36 when the inbound Viking Octantis made her third Twin Ports visit of the year. As usual, the Octantis took up a stationary position in the inner harbor while her twin tenders ferried passengers to and from shore throughout the day. Traffic continued at 15:53 Monday afternoon when American Century arrived riding high in front of a large Canal Park crowd. She backed under the Blatnik Bridge for coal at SMET just before the Munson shifted to load taconite at CN Dock 6. Meanwhile, Atlantic Huron cleared the Superior piers at 16:48 bound for Quebec. The Octantis would round out the day at 18:30, right on schedule, when she bid Duluth farewell for a continued tour of Lake Superior. Four Twin Ports visits remain on the docket for the cruise ship this year, with two scheduled in both August and September.
John G. Munson departed Duluth early Tuesday morning with ore and a late-night salute for the Aerial Lift Bridge, sailing off into the darkness shortly after 04:00 on her way to the familiar confines of U.S. Steel’s Gary Works. American Century was outbound in daylight at 06:04 with coal for St. Clair and Monroe, trading places with the anchored Paul R. Tregurtha when the Queen arrived at 06:50 for SMET. Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader were inbound Superior at 08:01 for another 35,000 tons of Hibtac pellets under the BNSF conveyors. Making a 17:34 appearance in Duluth with calcium chloride was fellow tug/barge combo Candace Elise/Robert F. Deegan; the pair headed over to Superior’s EnviroTech-Hallett Dock 8 to unload. VanEnkevort departed pushing Trader outbound for Toledo at 19:08, the Tregurtha left Duluth at 19:32 with a split load for St. Clair and Essexville, and American Mariner arrived from Calcite with limestone for CN-Hallett Dock 5 at 23:39.
Two Harbors, MN – Silver Bay, MN – Gary Putney
The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. arrived Two Harbors on 07/26 at 18:02 for South of #2. Due Two Harbors on 07/27 is the Edwin H. Gott. At 20:00 she is abeam Eagle Harbor.
Port Inland, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Wilfred Sykes departed at 05:38 for Indiana Harbor; Saginaw arrived at 10:49, loaded, and slithered out at 21:05 for Serpent Harbour.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Joshua Hebeisen
Calumet Harbor, IN: Algoma Compass arrived from Goderich at 02:40. With the help of tug Illinois, she traveled down the Calumet River to tie up at Middle River Marine. Frequent visitors Caroline McKee/Commander were inbound at 11:58 for St. Marys with a load of cement from Charlevoix. Saltie Máxima remains at Iroquois, where Federal Bering has since joined her at the dock.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Indiana Harbor departed her namesake port at 02:11 for another load of ore at Superior. Joseph L. Block was inbound from Duluth at 02:57, tying up at Dock 7H to unload before a 13:06 departure for Burns Harbor.
Gary, IN: Arriving from Two Harbors at 20:14 was American Integrity, her holds filled with another load of Minntac pellets for the Gary Works.
Burns Harbor, IN: James R. Barker departed the Cleveland-Cliffs dock in the early evening, making her way outbound the harbor for the lake at 18:45. She is due next in Two Harbors for ore. With the dock clear, Joseph L. Block arrived from anchorage at 19:19. Federal Yukon was a 21:39 departure for Milwaukee following a two-day stay at FMT Burns Harbor.
Northern Lake Huron Ports – Joshua Hebeisen
Port Dolomite, MI: Michipicoten arrived at 13:15.
Meldrum Bay, ON: The anchored Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived to load at 04:35 after Algoma Intrepid departed downbound for Windsor. Interlake’s classic beauty was back underway at 11:30, headed for Duluth on what has become a common route for her this year.
Calcite, MI: Great Republic arrived at 04:54 and departed for Duluth at 17:39. Ashtabula/Defiance departed for Fairport at 05:11, Herbert C. Jackson made her way inbound at 15:15, and fleetmate Lee A. Tregurtha was in port to load alongside her fleetmate at 23:16.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Upbound from Toledo to Lake Superior, this time for Marquette, Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader stopped in port from 04:35 to 07:15 to refuel at Mistersky. Clearing the dock for the pair was Lee A. Tregurtha, who continued upbound, also for Marquette, at 05:10. Florence Spirit was heading downbound at the same time with a load of coke from Zug Island; she is due next in Hamilton to discharge her cargo. Beatrix arrived ADM Windsor at 06:00, Ocean Voyager tied up at the port authority dock around 07:00, and Frontenac was inbound at 09:34 for Mistersky. The classic Canadian laker departed for Superior at 12:19. In the meantime, Iver Bright arrived at 09:50 and went to Shell. On the other side of the Detroit River, Thunder Bay was inbound at 12:50 for Windsor Salt, while her sister Baie Comeau made port three hours later for fuel at Sterling. Finished, the Comeau cast off from the dock at 19:20 and backed down the river to anchor near her fleetmate. Ocean Voyager and her passengers departed upbound for Little Current at 18:06, and Algoma Intrepid wrapped up the evening when she pulled into Miller Aggregates Southwest from Meldrum Bay at 23:25.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: Sam Laud arrived at 13:12 to unload coal at DTE.
Toledo, OH: Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader departed for Marquette, MI at 01:39. Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader departed for Calcite at 15:26. Arrivals were Evans Spirit and Meredith Ashton.
Kingsville, ON: Cuyahoga arrived at Southwestern Sales at
Sandusky, OH: Manitowoc left late Monday night for Algoma Steel at the Soo. Sam Laud departed for Monroe at 07:17. Manitoulin arrived at 17:01 to load at Norfolk Southern.
Cleveland, OH: Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement arrived at 14:26 and proceeded to the St. Marys Jefferson St. terminal to unload. Heerengracht is at the Port.
Conneaut, OH: Edgar B. Speer arrived at 01:27 and went to the P&C dock to unload. Once empty, she departed for Two Harbors, MN at 17:40.
Erie, PA: Happy Rover departed for Montreal at 10:32. Kaye E. Barker arrived at 19:55. She unloaded stone at Carmeuse.
Nanticoke, ON: CSL Niagara departed with a destination of Hamilton, ON at 02:36. Federal Nagara departed for Montreal at 19:21 and Algosea left at 19:43 with petroleum products for Oakville, ON.