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Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
American Steamship Company’s American Integrity cast off from Canadian National Dock 6 in West Duluth and proceeded outbound for the lake at 02:08 Friday, May 20. The 1,000-foot vessel had spent just over 21 hours in port loading UTAC pellets destined for the Cleveland-Cliffs facility at Indiana Harbor. Her former fleetmate H. Lee White, now operated by Grand River Navigation, followed the Integrity outbound Duluth just over an hour later after discharging limestone at EnviroTech-Hallett Dock 8 in Superior. The White had originally been scheduled to load petroleum coke at neighboring Midwest Energy, but set sail for a load of taconite pellets at Two Harbors instead following a change of orders. This was likely due in part to James R. Barker loading coal at Midwest Energy at the time. The Barker would later depart at 07:45 with 58,000 tons for DTE’s power plant on the St. Clair River, giving a massive “Barker Bark” wakeup call to Duluth as she passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge. 15 minutes later, Burns Harbor arrived via the Superior Entry to load taconite pellets at BNSF 5. Mesabi Miner arrived to anchor off the Duluth piers mid-afternoon waiting for Arthur M. Anderson to finish loading at the CN 6. The latter, arriving Duluth the night before to unload limestone at CN-Hallett Dock 5, had shifted over to the shiploader mid-morning to take on a load of Minntac pellets for her trip back down the lakes. The Miner spent less than 30 minutes at anchor before pulling up the hook and proceeding inbound the Duluth Entry at 17:26 to wait at the east side of CN 6 instead. She was able to take her place at the shiploader after the Anderson departed for Gary at 21:10.
On Saturday morning, Burns Harbor departed Superior at 06:09 with Hibtac pellets for her namesake port, while Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived the Duluth side of the harbor at 06:35 with limestone for CN-Hallett Dock 5. Exeborg made her way inbound the Superior piers at 08:24 to load beet pulp pellets at Gavilon. At 10:00, USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was officially commissioned as the active United States Navy warship LCS-21 at Berth 9 of the Duluth Port Terminal. She remains in port as of Sunday night with an unknown departure time. The Oberstar departed empty for Marquette at 15:46, and Presque Isle was inbound Superior at 17:08 to load at BNSF 5.
After loading at CN 6 for over 24 hours, Mesabi Miner was outbound Duluth at 01:32 on Sunday, May 22 with a cargo of UTAC pellets for Indiana Harbor. Presque Isle departed Superior later in the morning at 08:57 with 56,000 tons of Hibtac product destined for Nanticoke, and Paul R. Tregurtha arrived Duluth at 10:52 to load coal at Midwest Energy. Classic Canadian laker Frontenac was inbound the Superior piers 17:41 to take her turn at BNSF. At 19:08, U.S. Geological Survey vessel Kiyi arrived Duluth and tied up at the DECC. This is her annual trip to the western half of Lake Superior to survey fish populations in the lake. American Century paid her weekly visit to Duluth for coal at 21:07, trading places with the outbound Paul R. Tregurtha two hours later. The Queen of the Lakes is laden with her typical load of 68,000 tons of low-sulfur western coal, this time a split cargo for St. Clair and Monroe. H. Lee White went to anchor shortly before midnight to wait for the Century to finish loading at Midwest Energy. Once she does, the White will finally be able to pick up her load of petroleum coke originally scheduled for Friday night. Federal Ruhr remains discharging cement at Ash Grove Cement, previously Holcim.
Two Harbors, MN – Silver Bay, MN – Gary Putney
Edgar B. Speer departed Two Harbors on Saturday, May 21 at 02:56 for the Gary Works. After being anchored out in the lake, Michipicoten arrived at 03:16 and departed at 08:30 for Algoma at the Soo. Arriving and departing the dock she used Heritage Marine’s tug Nels J. Arriving Two Harbors at 09:29 was John J. Boland. Cliffs Northshore Mining saw Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader arrive on Friday, May 20 at 21:30 and depart on Saturday, May 21 at 06:38 for Toledo. The Boland departed Two Harbors on Saturday at 19:49 for Algoma Soo.
CSL Laurentien arrived Two Harbors on Sunday, May 22 at 01:07 ster- first from the lake before turning in the bay and going bow-first into south of #2. She departed at 12:33 for Quebec City. Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader are due at Graymont in Superior on the morning of May 23. When light, there’s a possibility they could go to Silver Bay, but they’ll probably stay in the Twin Ports.
Marquette, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
On Thursday, May 19, Victory/Maumee were inbound for the south side of the LS&I dock to load and departed at 12:59 with Tilden pellets for Toledo. Interlake’s Herbert C. Jackson arrived the next morning at 02:52 for the north side and was outbound at 13:39 for Cliffs Dearborn Works in Detroit. After no traffic on Saturday, Kaye E. Barker and Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived for the north and south sides of the dock at 06:29 and 10:10, respectively. The Barker left port for Dearborn at 12:42, and the Oberstar followed her out at 18:50 with the same destination.
Milwaukee, WI – MKE Marine Reports
Tug John Marshall arrived from Calumet Harbor at 17:52 Thursday, May 19 with three barges to be loaded at the COFCO grain elevator. Cruise ship Ocean Explorer arrived at 06:52 Friday and docked at the South Shore Cruise Terminal (just east of Lake Express Ferry ramp). Cruise ship Viking Octantis arrived at 11:05 and tied up at the heavy lift dock. Prentiss Brown/St. Marys Challenger and Ocean Voyager are expected Saturday.
Muskegon, MI – Shipwatcher News
American Mariner arrived early on Sunday with a load of limestone for Verplank’s Lakeside Dock. She loaded in Meldrum Bay, ON, and departed early afternoon for Port Inland to load. Joseph L. Block came in late evening with limestone from Port Inland for the Verplank’s Port Terminal.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Joshua Hebeisen
Calumet Harbor, IL: Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 departed from Middle River at 02:33 Thursday, May 19 en route to Marinette. Polsteam’s Juno was inbound at 12:40 for the Iroquois Lakehead Terminal just inside the breakwater. On Friday, G.L. Ostrander/Integrity were outbound for Green Bay at 08:20 after servicing both Ozinga and Lafarge on the Calumet River. Fellow cement-carrying tug/barge Caroline McKee/Commander departed at 22:55 for Charlevoix after discharging their cargo at St. Marys Cement in Lake Calumet. Baie Comeau was a May 22 arrival for Morton Salt at 17:17, while Samuel de Champlain/Innovation arrived at 22:33 to begin the long trip down the river. They will likely be proceeding to the Lafarge terminal near Turning Basin Number 5.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Wilfred Sykes departed from the old Mittal West at 01:10 Friday for Burns Harbor, and was inbound again at 15:49 for the same dock. It appears she is shuttling excess pellets from Cliffs’ idling blast furnace on the west side of the harbor to their active No. 7 facility at Burns Harbor. The Sykes was outbound at 13:26 on Sunday, and American Integrity arrived at 22:28 that evening with UTAC pellets for Dock 7H.
Gary, IN: 1,000-foot integrated tug-barge Presque Isle was upbound for Superior at 04:40 Thursday morning after unloading Minntac pellets at the north end of the dock at United States Steel Gary Works. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. was inbound Friday at 18:55 to unload pellets at the hopper and north end of the dock; she departed at 19:27 for Two Harbors the following evening. Fleetmate Indiana Harbor arrived 24 hours later for the hopper.
Burns Harbor, IN: Wilfred Sykes arrived at 03:27 Friday for Cleveland-Cliffs, and was outbound again for Indiana Harbor just over ten hours later. Federal Seto was next inbound at 17:36 to join her fleetmate Federal Columbia at Federal Marine Terminals; the Columbia would depart for Thunder Bay at 00:31 Saturday morning. On Sunday, Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 tied up outside Frick Services just after midnight and departed for Holland at 14:49. Wilfred Sykes was inbound once more for Cliffs at 15:38, and Federal Seto departed for Duluth at 20:19.
Saginaw River, MI – Todd Shorkey
Nunalik was inbound on the Saginaw River late Sunday morning, headed for the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City. She was assisted by the G-tug Michigan. Nunalik was carrying a deck cargo of two motor yachts, one from Turkey and one from England. Michigan then traveled upriver to Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City to tie up for the night.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Calumet departed for Toledo at 02:47 Thursday, May 19 after servicing Carmeuse and Morton Salt on the River Rouge. Her fleetmates John J. Boland and American Mariner were the only other traffic of the day, both making stops at Mistersky for fuel on their way upbound. The former was in port from 03:01 to 06:19 on her way to Two Harbors, while the latter was right behind her at 07:00 to 9:16 before setting sail for Muskegon.
On Friday, John J. Munson arrived in the early-morning hours and tied up north of the Ambassador Bridge to unload stone. Frontenac was inbound at 04:56 for Mistersky before departing at 08:22 for Superior, and Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder made their way up the Rouge to Motor City Materials in the meantime. John G. Munson departed her berth for Calcite at 10:15. Calumet was back in town from 16:34 to 19:27 to refuel at Mistersky before proceeding upbound for Holland.
Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder kicked off the day Saturday by departing for Cleveland after making her way down the River Rouge at 05:44. Algoma Niagara arrived at 08:49 for Mistersky before shifting downriver to Zug Island Dock 1 early in the afternoon. Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson were the next customers for fuel, making port at 16:34 and heading downbound for Fairport Harbor at 20:24.
Early Sunday afternoon, tug/barge Spartan/Spartan II made a stop at Mistersky while upbound for another load of calcium chloride at Ludington. The pair departed at 16:19, passing the inbound Herbert C. Jackson about to head up the Rouge for Dearborn. Edwin H. Gott arrived at 22:06 for Mistersky.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: New York/Double Skin 509A arrived at 06:06 Sunday, May 22 to unload petroleum products. Harvest Spirit arrived at 14:03 to unload steel coils.
Toledo, OH: Saturday arrivals were Victory/Maumee for the Torco dock and Florence Spirit. Departures included Celina, John D. Leitch and Evans Spirit. On Sunday, Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader arrived at Ironville at 08:46 and Florence Spirit departed for Windsor at 17:10. Others in port are Algoma Transport at Torco, Gardno, and Federal Bering at Midwest.
Sandusky, OH: American Courage departed for Fairport Harbor at 02:59 Sunday.
Marblehead, OH: American Courage arrived at 12:10 Saturday to load at Holcim.
Cleveland, OH: Saturday departures were American Courage, Federal Beaufort, Federal St. Laurent, Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement, Leonard M/Huron Spirit, and New York/Double Skin 509A. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder was the only arrival, going to Cargill at 17:15 to load salt. The pair departed with salt for Detroit on Sunday, and were followed in by NACC Argonaut as a late-night arrival to the Holcim terminal.
Fairport Harbor, OH: Laura L. VanEnkevort/Joseph H. Thompson arrived at 07:56 on May 22 to unload stone at Osborne. American Courage had difficulties getting to the Sidley dock and had to be assisted by G-tugs Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Ashtabula, OH: Manitowoc arrived at 13:41 Sunday. She unloaded stone from Port Inland.
Nanticoke, ON: Harvest Spirit departed with steel coils at 18:19 Saturday, and at 18:57, Edwin H. Gott weighed anchor and docked at Stelco to unload ore. Departing at 03:05 the following morning were Algoterra for Halifax and the Gott at 08:11 for Two Harbors. Algocanada is still at Imperial Oil.
Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
Grand River Navigation’s tug/barge combo Defiance/Ashtabula arrived with more sand for Canadian Silica via Gateway Metroport around 03:00 on Sunday, May 22. They came in through the south entrance, winded around at the CRH plant, and backed into the Lackawanna Canal. After stopping about a boat length away from the salty Josef at the north end of the pier, the barge was secured for unloading. Josef was still in the process of unloading her windmill parts and will be in Lackawanna another day or two. Massive piles of cut stone blocks for the coming breakwater repairs in Buffalo Harbor are being set up for loading onto barges over at the Union Ship Canal in Lackawanna. It looks like they have three different sizes on the dock.
Hamilton, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Thursday, May 19 saw Harvest Spirit depart for Nanticoke at 01:30 after unloading coke at ArcelorMittal Dofasco. Algoma Transport was outbound at 06:17 upon discharging slag at Lafarge; she is due next in Toledo. Tanker Harbour Progress arrived at 10:46 and proceeded to anchor. After a long load at P&H, Bogdan finally cast off and departed for Ravenna, Italy at 16:10. Shoveler, waiting at anchor, immediately took her place at the dock to load grain. Algoma Strongfield left port at 18:03 after unloading ore at ArcelorMittal, and fleetmate Algoma Conveyor was also outbound at 23:50 after both unloading at ArcelorMittal and spending time at Pier 26. The two Algoma Central vessels are due next in Superior and Goderich, respectively.
Traffic was light in Hamilton on Friday, with Maria G the only vessel to transit the Burlington Canal when she arrived at 21:48 to anchor in the inner harbor. MTM Singapore left anchorage just two hours earlier and proceeded to Ruetgers to load tallow.
Saturday morning saw a two-fer of Fednav vessels in the canal, with Federal Kumano outbound for the Soo at 06:48 after unloading sugar and Federal Alster inbound at 06:59 to load grain at Richardson. A third Fednav fleetmate, Federal Hunter, finished unloading UAN at Agrico and made her way to anchor shortly after 09:00. Ruby-T took the Hunter’s place at the dock to discharge the same cargo. MTM Singapore departed from Ruetgers with tallow for Harris Island, Canada at 15:02, and CSL Niagara made her way into port 30 minutes later with coal for Stelco. Shoveler departed at 21:28 after loading grain for Ireland at P&H.
After finishing her unload at Stelco, the Niagara sailed under the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge just before 05:00 headed for Sandusky. Canadian Coast Guard cutter Griffon tied up at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters around 08:00. At 12:45, Everlast/Norman McLeod arrived and proceeded to IKO to discharge asphalt. John D. Leitch arrived at 16:19 for ArcelorMittal, and Ruby-T departed for Montreal at 20:47. Both Edenborg and Lyulin remain at anchor waiting to load since last week.