Please send port reports to news@boatnerd.net.
Duluth, MN – Superior, WI – Joshua Hebeisen
After completing her fifth load at BNSF of the season, Burns Harbor departed Superior at 12:36 for the port of her own name. It is as sure a bet as any that she will be back in seven days for another 60,000 tons of Hibtac pellets, once again destined for Burns Harbor. At 13:19, Duluth saw an ASC footer of its own when American Century cleared the piers with coal for St. Clair following an overnight fog delay. Federal Weser arrived from anchorage to take the Century’s place at Midwest Energy less than an hour later where she will be taking on petroleum coke, likely for an overseas port. G-tugs Missouri and Arkansas assisted her arrival. The Texas-owned, Michigan-operated tug/barge Spartan/Spartan II were the next to bid farewell to the Zenith City as they departed light for Ludington. The pair had delivered calcium chloride to EnviroTech-Hallett 8 in Superior, and are currently headed for Ludington to reload the same cargo. 1,004-foot Mesabi Miner was outbound Duluth at 23:35 with another load of ore from the CN shiploader, this time destined for Toledo. Federal Seto remains at anchor just off the Duluth piers waiting to load wheat on Monday at CHS 1. Sitting at Fraser Shipyards, Lee A. Tregurtha is one day closer to her return to service this week.
Two Harbors, MN – Silver Bay, MN – Gary Putney
Algoma Equinox departed Two Harbors on Sunday, May 29 at 05:03 for Quebec City. Several minutes later, Arthur M. Anderson shifted to the shiploader and departed at 13:58 for Gary. Arriving at 14:25 for the shiploader was the Presque Isle. At 19:00 on Sunday night, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is approximately 20 miles ENE of Two Harbors for Two Harbors.
Thunder Bay, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Viking Octantis departed at 05:30 for her next stop in Duluth.
Marquette, MI – Joshua Hebeisen
Interlake Steamship Company’s Herbert C. Jackson arrived at 19:38 for the south side of the LS&I dock.
Muskegon, MI – Shipwatcher News
Algoma Intrepid arrived late on Friday, May 27 with a load of salt from Goderich, ON, for the Verplank’s Salt Dock.
Southern Lake Michigan Ports – Joshua Hebeisen
Calumet Harbor, IL: Arriving from Goderich with salt was Algoma Innovator; she tied up at Compass Minerals to unload.
Indiana Harbor, IN: Joseph L. Block remains at Indiana Harbor West loading more pellets for the shuttle runs.
Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Warner Petroleum Mistersky Fuel Dock had already serviced four vessels by noon on Sunday. American Courage departed shortly after midnight for Port Inland, and Olive L. Moore/Menominee tied up in her place after arriving at 01:13. H. Lee White was inbound to fuel at 04:02 as the Moore guided Menominee away from the dock and downbound for Erie. The White would depart for Buffington at 06:39, with Silver Bay-bound Clyde S. VanEnkevort in port from 08:10 to 11:52 as yet more Mistersky customers. Iver Bright was outbound from Marathon along the River Rouge at 10:27. The tanker sailed up through Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River to anchor off Sarnia in Lake Huron. Across from Detroit in Windsor, Whitefish Bay cast off from the Windsor Salt dock en route to South Chicago at about 12:45. In a perfect way to wrap up the day’s traffic, two of the best-looking classic lakers in Wilfred Sykes and Hon. James L. Oberstar arrived for Cleveland-Cliffs Dearborn on the Rouge at 17:54 and 19:31, respectively. Harvest Spirit is at ADM with Federal Bering close by at anchor after the two swapped places early Sunday morning.
Lake Erie Ports – Bill Kloss
Monroe, MI: James R. Barker arrived at 17:04 with coal for DTE. Paul R. Tregurtha is at anchor.
Toledo, OH: Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader departed for Silver Bay. Victory/Maumee were late night arrivals.
Cleveland, OH: Steamship Wilfred Sykes made a rare visit to Cleveland, arriving Friday evening and going to anchor due to strong river currents. Saturday morning arrived bright and clear, but the Sykes still had to wait until early afternoon to enter the river. With G-tug Pennsylvania following close behind and a river patrol boat ahead to keep the way clear, the Sykes arrived greeted by close to two dozen boatnerds to photograph the occasion. She delivered a cargo of stone to the Cliffs stone dock at the navigable end of the river. Her last visit to Cleveland was in 2019, and many are hoping it won’t be another three years before she returns. The Sykes departed for Detroit on Sunday, May 29 at 10:04.
Fairport Harbor, OH: Defiance/Ashtabula arrived at 00:46, unloaded stone at Osborne and left for Calcite at 13:45.
Nanticoke, ON: Edwin H. Gott departed for Two Harbors at 03:01.
Buffalo, NY – Brian Wroblewski
The USCG vessel Bristol Bay was working the markers off Buffalo on Sunday, May 29 with her buoy barge CGB 12001. They arrived from Erie, PA around 16:00 and spent the late afternoon changing out the Waverley Shoal and North Entrance Channel buoys. After finishing up around 20:00, they departed for Cleveland under a beautiful sunset on Lake Erie.
Hamilton, ON – Joshua Hebeisen
Hamilton’s Federal Marine Terminals saw two vessels arrive with steel for the facility, starting with McKeil Marine’s Blair McKeil at 05:10. Polsteam’s Narie made port later in the day at 15:59. The McKeil and Narie are unloading at 12 East and 14 West, respectively. In an Algoma evening trio, Algoma Strongfield departed at 17:20 empty for Thunder Bay after bringing ore to ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Algoma Conveyor was inbound at 19:43 for Berth 11, and G3 Marquis arrived with more ore for ArcelorMittal at 19:58. Tanker Iver Ambition made her way through the canal shortly after with coal tar for Ruetgers. Edenborg is at P&H for grain while Harbour Progress and Federal Hunter wait on the hook.