Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive

11/30 - Chicago - The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30) will arrive in Chicago on Friday with a delivery of 1,000 Christmas trees that will be provided to needy families at the Navy Pier in downtown during a public ceremony Dec. 1 at 10 a.m.

USCGC Mackinaw is in her second year as the Christmas Tree Ship, continuing the tradition of its predecessor (WAGB-83), which resurrected the Christmas Tree Ship in 2000. The crew of the Mackinaw hauls a load of trees from the woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin for distribution to more than a thousand disadvantaged Chicago-area families.

On behalf of the Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc., volunteers from the Sea Cadets, Young Marines and the Sea Explorer Scouts assist the Mackinaw crew with the offloading ceremony.

The Chicago Christmas Ship Committee, which purchased the trees, represents diverse aspects of the Chicago boating community such as the Coast Guard Auxiliary, International Shipmaster's Association and the Chicago Yachting Association, for instance.

The original Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons, started the tradition in 1896, when Captain Scheunemann docked his tree-laden schooner on the riverbank near the Clark Street Bridge.

The Christmas Tree Ship festivities will commence on Friday with a Welcoming Ceremony at 8 a.m., followed by the Mackinaw hosting School children for tours and nautical history lessons. The Tree presentation will take place on Saturday, at 10 a.m. Following the ceremony, Mackinaw will be available for tours from 1-5 p.m.

Mackinaw will continue her aids-to-navigation mission on her return transit to Northern Lake Michigan.

Port Reports - November 30

Thunder Bay - Alan Kay
Gale warnings, freezing spray and seas forecast 12 -17 feet on Lake Superior have sent many vessels to anchor in Thunder Bay. Thursday evening the American Valor, American Courage, John J. Boland, Cedarglen, Algosar and Sam Laud were anchored in Thunder Bay.

Cleveland
On Wednesday afternoon the Manistee was docked at the G&W dock, just upriver from the Carter Road bridge, in the Cuyahoga River. She was pumped out with bow anchors down as crews repair her hull.  Crews were working on the side of the ship, working from a plank stuck into a hole. The Coast Guard reports the vessel scraped the west side of the entrance break wall causing a  2-foot diameter hole above the water line in a cargo hold.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
John G. Munson’s stay at Fraser Shipyards was brief. The vessel departed overnight Wednesday bound for Two Harbors, where it was to load taconite pellets destined for Gary.
Elsewhere Thursday, Adam E. Cornelius continued to load at General Mills S in Superior and Ypermachos continued loading at Cargill in Duluth.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
John B. Aird, which anchored offshore Tuesday, backed into Milwaukee's inner harbor overnight and unloaded salt at the bulk cargo dock. Aird departed onto Lake Michigan just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Lights of a laker anchored and sheltering in the bay in gale northwest winds were visible off Milwaukee's south shore Wednesday evening.

Owen Sound - Peter Bowers
Saginaw arrived Thursday at the Great Lakes Elevator with a load of 13,151.495 MT of wheat at about 2:15 and began unloading shortly after. She is expected to leave Friday weather permitting.

Not only that, but if the restorers have their way, it will be a ship fit for a queen -- literally.

Paul Woolley, president of a group that plans to restore the Duc d'Orleans cruise ship to its former appearance as the Q105, a Royal Canadian Navy sub chaser, said the 112-foot craft will be lifted from the St. Clair River and during the next two years will be restored -- at a cost of $200,000 to $500,000 -- to its original appearance as a combat vessel.

"This is going to be an amazing project," said Woolley, who added a crew of volunteers, most of them ironworkers, will help with the restoration.

Canada had the world's third-largest navy when the war ended in 1945, but only four of its 400 ships still exist. The other three, all made of steel, are no longer seaworthy.

The Duc is made of wood, but is in surprisingly good condition, Woolley said. He doesn't think restoration will be a major problem, provided financing can be found. "The Duc actually hasn't been altered that much," he said, though "the passenger cabin is on top of the original deck." Once it's removed and the wheelhouse restored, volunteers will outfit it with gun turrets and depth charge launchers. It will also be painted the colours of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Federal officials have been contacted about making the restoration an official project to help mark the 100th anniversary of the Canadian navy, which takes place in 2010. If that happens, it's expected Ottawa will help foot the restoration bill.  Local fundraising events will also be held.

The Q105, built at the Sarnia docks in 1943, was used to escort convoys between Newfoundland and the mainland, perform rescue operations and clear enemy mines from Canadian waters. After the war, McGill University used it to conduct experiments on the St. Lawrence River. After that, it became a cruise ship operating out of Quebec City. Because it cruised the Isle of Orleans, it was dubbed the Duc d'Orleans.

If all goes well, the restored ship will be rechristened in 2010 before going on a tour of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Plans call for Queen Elizabeth to be in Halifax for the navy centennial and Woolley hopes the restored vessel will be used by the monarch when she inspects the Canadian fleet.

11/29 - Cleveland — U.S.-Flag Great Lakes vessels hauled 11.2 million net tons of dry-bulk cargo in October, a virtual tie with a year ago. The October float was, however, slightly below the month’s 5-year average. The dredging crisis and low water levels account for the stagnant total.

In the coal trade, not one cargo even approached 65,000 tons, even thought the largest U.S.-Flag Lakers can carry nearly 71,000 tons in a single trip. As a result of low water levels, comparisons to a year ago show vessels trimming another thousand tons or more from already dredging-deflated payloads.

The iron ore trade suffered as well. The top loads were not only more than 8,000 tons below the record cargo carried when high water levels offset the lack of dredging (72,300 tons), but 1,200 tons short of what was loaded just a year ago.

Through October, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 85 million tons, a decrease of 4.7 percent from the same point in 2006, but only marginally below the 5-year average for the January-October timeframe.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 29

On 29 November 1965, the KEEWATIN (steel propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 336’, 3856 gt, built in 1907 at Govan, Scotland) was officially retired by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In 1953, the BENJAMIN F FAIRLESS, Captain H. C. Buckley, transported the last iron ore of the season through the Soo locks. The ore originated at Two Harbors and was unloaded at Conneaut. After unloading, the FAIRLESS headed for Monroe, Michigan for layup.

On 29 November 1886, ALFRED P WRIGHT (wooden propeller tug, 56 gross tons, built in 1877, at Buffalo, New York) was towing the schooner A J DEWEY in a blizzard and gale in the harbor at Manistee, Michigan. The tow line parted and fouled the WRIGHT's propeller. Disabled, she capsized and her crew clung to the overturned hull. One crewman swam 1,000 feet to shore and summoned the U.S. Lifesaving Service. The WRIGHT's and DEWEY's crews were both rescued but three lifesavers were lost in this effort.

On November 29, 1966, the DANIEL J MORRELL sank approximately 20 miles north of Harbor Beach in Lake Huron. Her nearly identical sistership, the EDWARD Y TOWNSEND, was traveling about 20 miles behind the MORRELL and made it to the Lime Island Fuel Dock in the St. Mary's River where cracks were found in her deck; the TOWNSEND proceeded to Sault Ste. Marie where she was taken out of service. The TOWNSEND sank in the Atlantic on October 7, 1968, while being towed overseas for scrap.

E B BARBER was laid up for the last time at Toronto, Ontario on 29 Nov 1984.

On November 29, 1903, snow and stormy seas drove the two-and-a-half year old J T HUTCHINSON onto an uncharted rock (now known as Eagle River Reef) one-half mile off shore and 10 miles west of Eagle Harbor, Michigan near the northwestern coast of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

On November 29, 1974, the PERE MARQUETTE 21 was loaded with remnants of Port Huron's Peerless Cement Dock, which reportedly were bound for Saudi Arabia, and cleared there in tow of the Great Lakes Towing Co., tugs AMERICA and OHIO.

The SYLVANIA was in a collision with the DIAMOND ALKALI in the Fighting Island Channel of the Detroit River on 29 Nov 1968, during a snow squall. SYLVANIA's bow was severely damaged.

The propeller BURLINGTON had barges in tow up bound on Lake Erie when she was damaged by the ice and sank in the Pelee Passage.

On 29 November 1856, ARABIAN (3-mast wooden bark, 116 foot, 350 tons, built in 1853, at Niagara, Ontario) had stranded on Goose Island Shoal, 10 miles ENE of Mackinac Island ten days earlier. She was relieved of her cargo and was being towed to Chicago by the propeller OGONTZ when a gale blew in and the towline parted. ARABIAN made for shore, her pumps working full force and OGONTZ following. During the night they were separated and ARABIAN sank off Point Betsey in Lake Michigan. Her crew escaped in her yawl.

In 1903, the PERE MARQUETTE 19 arrived Ludington on her maiden voyage. Captain John J. Doyle in command.

On 29 November 1881, the 149 foot wooden propeller NORTHERN QUEEN, which had been involved in a collision with the 136 foot wooden propeller canaller LAKE ERIE just five days before, struck the pier at Manistique so hard that she was wrecked. Besides her own crew, she also had LAKE ERIE's crew on board.

On 29 Nov 1902, BAY CITY (1-mast wood schooner-barge, 140 foot, 306 gross tons, built in 1857, at Saginaw, Michigan as a brig) was left at anchor in Thunder Bay by the steamer HURON CITY during a storm. BAY CITY's anchor chain parted and the vessel was driven against the Gilchrist dock at Alpena, Michigan and wrecked. Her crew managed to escape with much difficulty.

South Chicago and Indiana Harbor - Matt M.
Several classic lakers were on the Calumet Tuesday. In at the Carmeuse terminal on 106th st. was the Arthur M. Anderson around 10 a.m. unloading what looked like stone.
Waiting just inside the breakwater, still on the lake, was the Alpena. The the salt laden Algomarine was waiting farther out. The Joe Thompson called on Indiana Harbor around 10 a.m. and the Lee A. Tregurtha was making her way down the lake with a load of taconite for KCBX later on Tuesday.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Orna, a saltwater bulk carrier from Greece, unloaded steel at terminal #2 in Milwaukee's outer harbor Tuesday.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw was on Lake Michigan off Milwaukee's south shore Tuesday, working aids to navigation.
Cement barge Integrity and its tug G. L. Ostrander were at the LaFarge dock on Jones Island in the inner harbor, offloading dry cement Tuesday.
Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. one northbound and two southbound lakers were seen on Lake Michigan off Milwaukee, passing close along the Wisconsin shore and avoiding northwest winds of up to thirty knots.
John B. Aird appeared to anchor in strong winds just outside Milwaukee's main breakwater gap about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Aird is expected to deliver salt in Milwaukee.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
The Sam Laud finally arrived at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City on Monday. After unloading, she exited the slip and was outbound for the lake.
The Maumee was inbound early Tuesday morning going upriver to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee. She completed her unload and was downbound Tuesday evening.

11/28 - Welland Canal - John Dewar wants to correct Canadiana.

Turns out, if anything is coursing through the veins of Canadians, it's not beer or our other national elixir. "In Canada, some may think maple syrup runs in our blood, but let's think about that a minute," Dewar said. The chief strategist for Upper Lakes Shipping is certain it's water flowing through us.

After all, Canada is a maritime nation, Dewar told the crowd of local dignitaries and curious onlookers gathered at Lock 7 in Thorold Monday to celebrate William Hamilton Merritt Day and the opening of the first Welland Canal 178 years ago. Merritt, dubbed the Father of Transportation, founded the original canal to bypass Niagara Falls and link lakes Erie with Ontario to form "one unbroken highway of commerce."

To keep traffic on that highway of commerce flowing and, ultimately, Canada's shipping industry afloat, Dewar rhymed off a wish list to the crowd.

Encouraging investment in the industry through tax incentives is one wish. Enabling shipping companies to tap into a program that both provides financial assistance to buyers of Canadian built ships and allows manufacturers to write off equipment investments with ease was also among Dewar's wants.

Providing training and education to increase worker productivity for those in the industry and including research and development funding for the marine industry in the strategic aerospace and defense initiative would help, too, Dewar noted.

That money was available to the industry through Technology Partnerships Canada until four years ago, he said. "(Our) prosperity depends on a vibrant marine industry," Dewar said. "With the exception of Canada, every other maritime nation subsidizes its shipbuilding industry."

The need to propel the shipping industry's fortunes isn't lost on the newly appointed provincial transportation minister Jim Bradley. The St. Catharines MPP pointed out the Welland Canal is only operating at 50 per cent capacity. People would get annoyed at how often they would have to stop at lift bridges raised over the channel to let ships pass, but really, they should have been relishing it, he explained. "Of course, that ... meant prosperity for this part of the province and, of course, the whole country," Bradley said.

The province is studying the economic significance of the shipping industry. The province will lobby the federal government for changes that will benefit Canadian shipping companies, he said. There's also another benefit to having more ships ply our waterways, he said. "With Ontario's roads getting busier and more congested, marine transportation can offer a way to ease that congestion and improve the environment," Bradley said

On 28 November 1876, the STEVEN F. GALE (2-mast wooden schooner, 122’, 266 gt, built in 1847 at Chicago, IL) was carrying stone from Kelley’s Island to Erie, Pennsylvania when she encountered a sudden violent storm and sank 17.8 miles northwest of Cleveland, Ohio. All hands were lost.

In 1949, sea trials for the largest freighter built on the Great Lakes, the WILFRED SYKES, were held off Lorain, Ohio. SYKES was converted to a self-unloader in 1975.

In 1942, the Canadian grain carrier JUDGE HART grounded and then sank in Ashburton Bay, Lake Superior. The entire crew of the JUDGE HART was rescued by the JAMES B EADS, Captain Stanley J. Tischart, and the whaleback JOHN ERICSSON, Captain Wilfred E. Ogg.

On 28 November 1867, MARQUETTE (wooden bark, 139 foot, 426 tons, built in 1856, at Newport [Marine City], Michigan) was carrying corn from Chicago to Collingwood, Ontario when she sprang a leak during a storm on Lake Huron. She was run ashore on Hope Island on Georgian Bay.

On November 28, 1905, the Pittsburgh Steamship Company vessel MATAAFA was wrecked as it tried to re-enter the Duluth Ship Canal in a severe storm. The MATAAFA had departed Duluth earlier but had decided to return to safety. After dropping her barge in the lake, the vessel was picked up by waves, was slammed against the north pier and was swung around to rest just hundreds of feet offshore north of the north pier, where it broke in two. Much of the crew froze to death in the cold snap that followed the storm, as there was no quick way to get out to the broken vessel for rescue. The MATAAFA was repaired prior to the 1906, season; she ultimately ended her career as an automobile carrier for the T.J. McCarthy Steamship Company and was sold for scrap in 1965.

The CANADIAN OLYMPIC's maiden voyage was 28 Nov 1976, to load coal at Conneaut, Ohio for Nanticoke, Ontario, Her name honors the Olympic Games that were held at Montreal that year.

On November 28, 1983, while up bound after leaving the Poe Lock the INDIANA HARBOR was in a collision, caused by high winds, with the down bound Greek salty ANANGEL SPIRIT resulting in a 10 foot gash in the laker's port bow.

LANCASHIRE (Hull#827) was launched at Lorain, Ohio on November 28, 1942, she would be renamed b) SEWELL AVERY.

The CATHY B towed the GOVERNOR MILLER to Vigo, Spain on November 28, 1980, where she was broken up.

The BENSON FORD was renamed e) US265808 and departed River Rouge on November 28, 1986, towed by the Sandrin tugs TUSKER and GLENADA bound for Ramey's Bend in the Welland Canal.

FRONTENAC arrived at the Fraser Shipyard, Superior, Wisconsin on November 28, 1979. Her keel, which had hogged four feet, was declared a constructive total loss.

The BRANSFORD stranded on a reef off Isle Royale in Lake Superior during a major storm on 28 Nov 1905, (the same storm that claimed the steamer MATAAFA). She was recovered.

On her third trip in 1892, the ANN ARBOR NO 1 again ran aground, this time three miles north of Ahnapee (now called Algoma). There was $15,000 damage to her cargo.

In 1906, the ANN ARBOR NO 4 left Cleveland bound for Frankfort on her maiden voyage.

The ANN ARBOR NO 4 ran aground off Kewaunee in 1924.

On 28 November 1905, AMBOY (2-mast wooden schooner-barge, 209 foot, 894 gross tons, formerly HELENA) was carrying coal in tow of the wooden propeller GEORGE SPENCER in a gale on Lake Superior. In an effort to save both vessels, AMBOY was cut loose. The SPENCER was disabled quickly and was driven ashore near Little Marais, Minnesota. AMBOY struggled against the gale for a full day before finally going ashore near Thomasville, Ontario on 29 November. No lives were lost from either vessel.

On 28 November 1872, W O BROWN (wooden schooner, 140 foot, 306 tons, built in 1862, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying wheat in a storm on Lake Superior when she was driven ashore near Point Maimanse, Ontario and pounded to pieces. Six lives were lost. Three survivors struggled through a terrible cold spell and finally made it to the Soo on Christmas Day.

On 28 Nov 1874, the propeller JOHN PRIDGEON JR was launched at Clark's shipyard in Detroit, Michigan. She was built for Capt. John Pridgeon. Her dimensions were 235 X 36 X 17 feet. The engines of the B F WADE were installed in her.

On 28 Nov 1923, the Detroit & Windsor Ferry Company and Bob-Lo docks were destroyed by a fire cause by an overheated stove in the ferry dock waiting room. The blaze started at 3:00 a.m.

CANADIAN TRANSFER underwent repairs most of Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000, at the Algoma Steel dock at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She had run aground the previous night in the Canadian channel approaching Algoma Steel. CANADIAN TRANSFER was freed by two Purvis Marine tugs. The vessel suffered a crack or hole in the hull plating about 10 feet from the bottom along its port side.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 27

On 27 November 1860, the wooden bark TORNADO (wooden bark, 333 t, built in 1850 at Kingston, ON as a barge, formerly MARY & INKERMAN) ran ashore in a storm on Lake Ontario near Kingston. All hands were lost. She was recovered and rebuilt as the bark STORK. She was renamed GARROWEN in 1865 and lasted until 1869.

In 1934, the package freighter EDWARD L LOOMIS, Captain Alex McKenzie collided with the W C FRANZ, Captain Alex McIntyre, about 30 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron. Four crewmen on the FRANZ drowned when the lifeboat turned over while being lowered.

At 4:00 a.m. on 27 November 1872, the wooden schooner MIDDLESEX was struck by a terrible winter storm on Lake Superior. The winds caught the vessel with such force that she listed at a 45 degree angle and her cargo shifted. In danger of sinking, the crew jettisoned much of the cargo and the ship righted herself. Her lifeboat and much of her rigging and sails were washed away. She limped into Walska Bay and anchored to ride out the storm. However, she had developed a leak and it was so cold that her pumps had frozen. To save the vessel, she was run ashore and sank in shallow water. The crew climbed into her rigging until the tug W D CUSHING rescued them.

The ALGOSEA entered Lake service as a self-unloader for the first time with salt loaded at Goderich, Ontario and passed down bound in the Welland Canal November 27, 1976, for Quebec City. She operates today as SAUNIERE.

The AVONDALE was condemned and was not allowed to carry cargo after she arrived at Toledo, Ohio on November 27, 1975, to load soybeans.

The steam barge CHAUNCY HURLBUT was launched at the shipyard of Simon Langell at St. Clair, Michigan on Thanksgiving Day, 27 November 1873. She was built for Chandler Bros. of Detroit.

On 27 November 1886, COMANCHE (wooden schooner, 137 foot, 322 tons, built in 1867, at Oswego, New York) was carrying corn in a storm on Lake Ontario when she ran on a shoal and sank near Point Peninsula, New York. A local farmer died while trying to rescue her crew of 8. His was the only death. She was later recovered and rebuilt as THOMAS DOBBIE.

The PERE MARQUETTE 22 collided with the WABASH in heavy fog in 1937.

In 1966, the CITY OF MIDLAND 41 ran aground at Ludington, Michigan in a storm. Stranded on board were a number of passengers and 56 crewman. Ballast tanks were flooded to hold the steamer on until the storm subsided. She was pulled off four days later by the Roen tug JOHN PURVES.

The propeller MONTGOMERY, which burned in June 1878, was raised on 27 November 1878. Her engine and boiler were removed and she was converted to a barge. She was rebuilt at Algonac, Michigan in the summer of 1879.

On 27 November 1866, the Oswego Advertiser & Times reported that the schooner HENRY FITZHUGH arrived at Oswego, New York with 17,700 bushels of wheat from Milwaukee. Her skipper was Captain Cal Becker. The round trip took 23 days which was considered "pretty fast sailing".

The CITY OF FLINT 32 was launched in Manitowoc on 27 Nov 1929. Cut down to a rail barge at Nicholson's, Ecorse in 1970, renamed b.) ROANOKE. She is currently in the Toledo Frog Pond.

On Monday, 27 Nov 1996, the Cyprus flag MALLARD of 1977, up bound apparently bounced off the wall in the Welland canal below Lock 1 and into the path of the CANADIAN ENTERPRISE. It was a sideswipe rather than a head on collision. The ENTERPRISE was repaired at Port Weller Dry Docks. The repairs to the gangway and ballast vent pipes took six hours. The MALLARD proceeded to Port Colborne to be repaired there.

At 10:20 p.m. on Monday, 27 NOV 2000, the CANADIAN TRANSFER radioed Soo Traffic to report that the vessel was aground off Algoma Steel and "taking on water but in no danger." The crew reported that they had two anchors down and one line on the dock. Purvis Marine was contacted.

Port Reports - November 26

Menominee - Dick Lund & Scott Best
It was a busy Sunday for the Selvick tug Jimmy L. Around 11 a.m. they departed Menominee and headed out to the Dongeborg to remove the Great Lakes Pilot, who had been aboard for the better part of a week.
They then headed back to Menominee, where later on that afternoon they assisted the Magdalena Green out of Menominee. But, their day wasn't done yet.
After they turned the Magdalena Green around out in the bay of Green Bay, they immediately went to assist the BBC Ontario, which had been anchored in the bay since the night before with a load of windmill blades, into Menominee.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Griffon arrived late Friday night and remained in port for the weekend Grey Cup festivities.
Canadian Olympic was in with salt early in the morning and departed around 4 p.m.

Buffalo - Brain Wroblewski
The Manistee was in port on Saturday with sand for the Buffalo Ship Canal. The Lansdowne has been moved from the Bidco Shipyard out to the Cargill Pool Terminal Elevator, taking the place of the Aquarama.

South Chicago/Indiana Harbor - Matt
The Adam E. Cornelius arrived at Indiana Harbor around 3 p.m. Saturday.
At 2:30 p.m. the Algorail finished unloading what looked to be a Salt Cargo at the Chicago Export Dock, near 116th St. and the LTV Steel Coke Ovens Complex. By around 4, it had backed down the Calumet and out into Lake Michigan.

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Today in Great Lakes History - November 26

On 26 November 1888, the ANNIE P. DORR (wooden propeller tug, 76’, 44 gt, built in 1870 at E. Saginaw, MI) and the JAMES ADAMS (wooden propeller tug, 65’, 40 gt, built in 1882 at Buffalo, NY) went to Dunkirk, New York to release the stranded tug EDWARD MAYTHAM. However a severe gale and snow storm blew in and prevented the two tugs from entering the harbor. The DORR sprang a leak and foundered in about 30 minutes. With great difficulty, her crew were taken aboard the ADAMS.

In 1952, the PHILIP R CLARKE was launched at the American Ship Building yard at Lorain, Ohio. The 647 foot freighter became the flagship of the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. She was lengthened by 120 feet in 1974 and converted to a self-unloader in 1982.

On 26 November 1856, CHEROKEE (2-mast wooden schooner, 103 foot, 204 tons, built in 1849, at Racine, Wisconsin) foundered in a gale 7 miles south of Manistee, Michigan on Lake Michigan. All aboard (estimates range from ten to fourteen persons) were lost.

The U.S.C.G.C. MESQUITE departed Charlevoix and locked through the Soo on November 26, 1989, to begin SUNDEW's normal buoy tending duties on Lake Superior.

The ELIZABETH HINDMAN was launched November 26, 1920, as a.) GLENCLOVA (Hull#9) at Midland, Ontario by Midland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

On 26 November 1872, the steamer GEO W REYNOLDS burned at 1 o'clock in the morning at the dock in Bay City. The fire supposedly originated in the engine room. She was owned by A. English of East Saginaw.

On 26 November 1853, ALBANY (wooden side wheel passenger/package freight, 202 foot, 669 tons, built in 1846, at Detroit, Michigan) was carrying passengers and miscellaneous cargo in a storm on Lake Huron.. She was making for the shelter of Presque Isle harbor when the gale drove her over a bar. Her crew and 200 passengers came ashore in her boats. Plans were made to haul her back across the bar when another storm wrecked her. Her boiler and most of her machinery were recovered the following year.

LAKE BREEZE (wooden propeller, 122 foot, 301 gross tons, built in 1868, at Toledo, Ohio) burned at her dock in Leamington, Ontario on 26 November 1878. One man perished in the flames. She was raised in 1880, but the hull was deemed worthless. Her machinery and metal gear were removed in 1881, and sold to an American company.

The ANN ARBOR NO 5 (steel carferry, 359 foot, 2,988 gross tons) was launched by the Toledo Ship Building Company (Hull #118) on 26 Nov 1910. She was the first carferry to be built with a sea gate, as a result of the sinking of the PERE MARQUETTE 18 in September of 1910.

On 26 Nov 1881, JANE MILLER (wooden propeller passenger-package freight "coaster", 78 foot, 210 gross tons, built in 1878, at Little Current, Ontario) departed Meaford, Ontario for Wiarton-- sailing out into the teeth of a gale and was never seen again. All 30 aboard were lost. She probably sank near the mouth of Colpoy's Bay in Georgian Bay. She had serviced the many small ports on the inside coast of the Bruce Peninsula.

HIRAM W SIBLEY (wooden propeller freighter, 221 foot, 1,419 gross tons, built in 1890, at E. Saginaw, Michigan) was carrying 70,000 bushels of corn from Chicago for Detroit. On 26 Nov 1898, she stranded on the northwest corner of South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan during blizzard. (Some sources say this occurred on 27 November.) The tugs PROTECTOR and SWEEPSTAKES were dispatched for assistance but the SIBLEY re-floated herself during the following night and then began to sink again. She was put ashore on South Fox Island to save her but she broke in half; then completely broke up during a gale on 7 December 1898.

During the early afternoon of 26 Nov 1999, the LOUIS R DESMARAIS suffered an engine room fire while sailing in the western section of Lake Ontario. Crews onboard the DESMARAIS put out the fire and restarted her engines. The DESMARAIS proceeded to the Welland canal where she was inspected by both U.S. and Canadian investigators. No significant damage was noted and the vessel was allowed to proceed.

Port Reports - November 25

Jiimaan Caught by fishermen

11/24 - Kingsville, Ont. - The Jiimaan ferry to Pelee Island is out of service after one of its propellers got caught in a fishing net in Lake Erie, causing an engine shut down Wednesday afternoon as the vessel attempted to dock in Kingsville with 21 passengers on board.

The Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), which runs the ferry service, sent divers to examine the damage Thursday. They determined that a fishing net became entangled in a propeller, causing the shafts to seize. As a result, the port engine shut down and the ferry ran aground as the captain attempted to manoeuvre it, said OSTC general manager Susan Schrempf.

"(The fishing nets) are a huge problem," she said Thursday. "Sometimes the local fishermen leave the nets where they're not supposed to be, or they drift into the channel in the wind."

It was windy when the Jiimaan left Pelee Island at 4 p.m. Wednesday with 14 vehicles and 21 passengers on board, including Township of Pelee Mayor Rick Masse. The ferry was scheduled to dock in Kingsville at 5:30 p.m., but got into trouble around 5:25 p.m., Schrempf said. "When the port engine shut down, the captain had to back out, but while trying to back away, he went into the ground," she said.

Because of the way the dock is configured in Kingsville, it was impossible to dock without use of the port engine. The captain had to decide whether he would request a tugboat or attempt to dock in Leamington, where he could dock using only the starboard engine.

Eventually, the decision was made to steer the vessel toward Leamington, using the working propeller and the starboard engine. The wind was also blowing the ferry in that direction. By 8:30 p.m. the Jiimaan docked in Leamington and all the passengers were on the ground.

"We're very happy that no one was injured," Schrempf said, adding that the cost of repairing Jiimaan will be "significant." "There was never any risk (to the passengers)," the Pelee mayor said. "Just the inconvenience of waiting a couple of hours."

A local commercial fisherman, who did not want to give his name, said most fishermen follow the charts outlining the ferry's path and never put their nets in the channel. "It's not in our interest to do that. It's a loss to us when the nets get cut up," he said, adding that it's possible the Jiimaan steered from its usual path because of the gusting winds.

Schrempf said the Pelee Islander, a smaller ferry, will now transport passengers to and from the island. She said the Jiimaan was supposed to be out of service for the season a week ago, but it kept running because of a late harvest season on Pelee Island. The Jiimaan was needed to transport crop-carrying trucks which cannot fit on the smaller ferry.

One truck remains on the island and Schrempf said alternative plans are being made to bring it and its load to the mainland.

Eatery in same boat as taxpayers.

11/24 - Toronto - You can't escape Toronto's property taxes by running away to sea, the owners of Captain John's waterfront restaurant have discovered.

The floating restaurant appealed to the courts, saying it shouldn't be assessed for property taxes because of its unusual situation. But Justice Laurence Arthur Pattillo scuppered the application, saying the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. has the right to assess the eatery so the city can levy taxes.

Captain John's lawyer, Jeff G. Cowan, argued the Jadran is not a "structure" under the act. He pointed to a ruling by British jurist Lord Denning in 1925 that "a structure is something which is constructed, but not everything which is constructed is a structure. A ship, for instance, is constructed, but it is not a structure." Some objects that are constructed are merely "in the nature of a structure" without actually being one, Denning ruled. A structure, he said, is built from component parts and "intended to remain permanently on a permanent foundation."

Since the Jadran doesn't rest on a foundation, it remains a ship and not a structure, Cowan argued. That means it's not real property and can't be assessed. But Denning's definition doesn't apply in this case, Pattillo ruled.

The crucial question is whether the ship is intended to remain permanently where it is. The Jadran has been moored since 1975, he noted; it has water, sewer and electricity connections. "Although it still has engines, they have not been operated since November 1975. It cannot leave its location to cruise or travel without assistance."

Pattillo also rejected the argument that, because the Jadran sits on water, it doesn't occupy the land beneath it. That's not the case, he ruled. Moreover, the ship occupies almost the entire slip it holds under licence from the port authority: "There is no way anyone or anything could occupy the property in addition to the Jadran."

No decision has been made whether to appeal the judgment. John Letnik, who owns Captain John's, couldn't be reached for comment.

Port Reports - November 23

Toronto - Clive Reddin and Charlie Gibbons
Algosteel was in Toronto Harbour to off load sugar at the Redpath sugar refinery Wednesday night, and continues into Thursday.
The tug M. R. Kane returned to port at 11:30 p.m. Thursday from Whitby. The Kane will pick up the ex-Coast Guard buoy tender Verendrye, which has been idle at Toronto since 1995, on Friday, and tow it to the drydock at Ramey's Bend.

Cheboygan - Jon Paul
The tug Michigan and barge Great Lakes arriving from Whiting, IN spent Thanksgiving Day unloading their cargo of gasoline at the BP Tank Facility.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 23

At 2350 hours on 23 November 1923, the JOHN A. DONALDSON (steel propeller bulk freighter, 400’, 4315 gt, built in 1908 at Lorain, OH) was being towed through the Louisiana Street Bridge in Buffalo, New York. However, when the captain saw that the DONALDSON was not going to make the draw, he ordered full back and fetched up against the abutment of the bridge, doing considerable damage. Repairs cost $5,959.64.

In 1940, the CONSUMERS POWER, a.) HARRY YATES of 1910, collided with the MARITANA on the Detroit River. The MARITANA sustained $11,089.91 in damage. MARITANA was scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario in 1947.

On 23 November 1863, BAY OF QUINTE (wooden schooner, 250 tons, built in 1853, at Bath, Ontario) was carrying 7,500 bushels of wheat to Toronto when she was driven ashore on Salmon Point on Lake Ontario and wrecked. No lives were lost.

On 23 November 1882, the schooner MORNING LIGHT (wooden schooner, 256 tons, built in 1857, at Cleveland, Ohio) was sailing from Manistee for Chicago with a load of lumber when a storm drove her aground off Claybanks, south of Stony Lake, Michigan. One crewman swam to shore, the rest were saved by a lifesaving crew, local fishermen and the tug B W ALDRICH. Earlier that same year, she sank near St. Helen Island in the Straits of Mackinac. She was salvaged and put back in service, but she only lasted a few months.

After discharging her cargo, the SAMUEL MATHER, launched as a.) PILOT KNOB b.) FRANK ARMSTRONG (1943-73), proceeded to De Tour, Michigan laying up for the last time at the Pickands Mather Coal Dock on November 23, 1981. She was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey in 1988.

In 1987, the self-unloader ROGERS CITY was towed out of Menominee, Michigan for scrapping in Brazil.

STADACONA's sea trials were completed on November 23, 1952, and was delivered to Canada Steamship Lines the next day.

On 23 November 1872, Capt. W. B. Morley launched the propeller JARVIS LORD at Marine City, Michigan. Her dimensions were 193 feet X 33 feet X 18 feet, 1,000 tons. She was the first double decker built at Marine City. Her engine was from Wm. Cowie of Detroit.

On 23 November 1867, S A CLARK (wooden propeller tug, 12 tons, built in 1863, at Buffalo, New York) was in Buffalo's harbor when her boiler exploded and she sank.

November 23, 1930 - The Ann Arbor carferry WABASH grounded in Betsie Lake. She bent her rudder stock and her steering engine was broken up.

On 23 November 1853, the wooden schooner PALESTINE was bound from Kingston to Cleveland with railroad iron at about the same time as the like-laden schooner ONTONAGON. Eight miles west of Rochester, New York, both vessels ran ashore, were pounded heavily by the waves and sank. Both vessels reported erratic variations in their compasses. The cargoes were removed and ONTONAGON was pulled free on 7 December, but PALESTINE was abandoned. A similar event happened with two other iron-laden vessels a few years previously at the same place.

On 23 November 1853, the Ward Line's wooden side-wheeler HURON struck an unseen obstruction in the Saginaw River and sank. She was raised on 12 December 1853, towed to Detroit and repaired at a cost of $12,000. She was then transferred to Lake Michigan to handle the cross-lake traffic given the Ward Line by the Michigan Central Railroad. The carferry GRAND HAVEN was sold to the West India Fruit & Steamship Co., Norfolk, Virginia in 1946, and was brought down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, Louisiana for reconditioning before reaching Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach, Florida. She was brought back to the Lakes and locked up bound through the Welland Canal on 23 Nov 1964. She was intended for roll on/roll off carrier service to haul truck trailers laden with steel coils from Stelco's plant at Hamilton, Ont.

The CSL NIAGARA a.) J W McGIFFIN, passed Port Huron, Michigan on 23 Nov 1999, on her way to Thunder Bay to load grain. This was her first trip to the upper lakes since the vessel was re-launched as a SeawayMax carrier in June 1999.

Port Reports - November 22

Menominee - Dick Lund
The Dongeborg ran aground near Chambers Island in the bay of Green Bay as it headed for Menominee with a load of wood pulp on Tuesday. It was still aground on Wednesday.
The Magdalena Green arrived in the bay of Green Bay off Menominee and went to anchor because of weather. The ship is carrying a load of windmill parts.

Crew member passes away aboard freighter near Marblehead

11/22 - Port Clinton, OH - A freighter crewman went into cardiac arrest and died Wednesday aboard his vessel that was docking near the U.S. Coast Guard, Marblehead Station, an official said.

The 54-year-old man, who was not identifed, stopped breathing while aboard the freighter, David Z, said Petty Officer Bryan Kaseman of the Marblehead station.

Workers aboard the vessel unsuccessfully performed CPR, and the Coast Guard sent two boats to carry the man to the shore, where Marblehead Emergency Medical Service workers were waiting, Kaseman said. They were unable to revive him, Kaseman said.

The freighter had been docking at the LaFarge North America stone quarry, he said.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 22

On 22 November 1906, the CHARLES B. HILL (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 252’, 1731 gt, built in 1878 at Cleveland, OH, formerly DELAWARE) was sailing from Buffalo, New York to Fairport, Ohio with the barge COMMODORE in tow, both carrying hard coal. She dropped the barge in a gale then she stranded off North Madison, Ohio. By the following Spring, the HILL had broken up. No lives were lost.

In 1947, the Canadian tanker BRUCE HUDSON broke down shortly after departing Port Stanley. The U.S. tanker ROCKET, Captain R. B. Robbins, managed to get a line on the HUDSON and tow her 50 miles through high seas and a snow storm to shelter behind Point Pelee. Later, the tug ATOMIC arrived on scene and towed the Hudson to Toledo for repairs.

On 22 November 1860, WABASH VALLEY (wooden propeller, 592 tons, built in 1856, at Buffalo, New York) was caught in a blizzard and gale off Muskegon, Michigan on Lake Michigan. Her skipper thought they were off Grand Haven and as he steamed to the harbor, visibility dropped to near zero. The vessel ran onto the beach. Her momentum and the large storm waves carried her well up onto the beach where she broke in two. Her machinery was salvaged and went into the new steamer SUNBEAM.

Scrapping of the SPRUCEGLEN, a.) WILLIAM K FIELD was completed on November 22, 1986, by Lakehead Scrap Metal Co. at Thunder Bay Ontario. The SPRUCEGLEN was the last Canadian coal-fired bulker.

Cleveland Cliffs steamer FRONTENAC while in ballast sustained major structural damage from grounding on Pellet Reef attempting to enter Silver Bay, Minnesota at 2140 hours on November 22, 1979.

On 22 November 1869, CREAM CITY (3-mast wooden bark, 629 tons, built in 1862, at Sheboygan, Wisconsin) was carrying wheat in a gale when she lost her way and went ashore on Drummond Island. She appeared to be only slightly damaged, but several large pumps were unable to lower the water in her hull. She was finally abandoned as a total wreck on 8 December. She was built as a "steam bark" with an engine capable of pushing her at 5 or 6 mph. After two months of constant minor disasters, this was considered an unsuccessful experiment and the engine was removed.

The CITY OF MILWAUKEE was chartered to the Ann Arbor Railroad Co. and started the Frankfort, Michigan-Kewaunee, Wisconsin service for them on November 22, 1978.

November 22, 1929 - The CITY OF SAGINAW 31 went out on her sea trials.

On 22 November 1860, CIRCASSIAN (wooden schooner, 135 foot, 366 tons, built in 1856, at Irving, New York) was carrying grain in a gale and blizzard on Lake Michigan when she stranded on White Shoals near Beaver Island. She sank to her decks and then broke in two. Her crew was presumed lost, but actually made it to Hog Island in the blizzard and they were not rescued from there for two weeks.

A final note from the Big Gale of 1879. On 22 November 1879, The Port Huron Times reported, "The barge DALTON is still high and dry on the beach at Point Edward."

Buffalo - Dan Sweeley
John J. Boland was unloading stone at the Gateway terminal in Lackawanna, NY on Tuesday.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
The tug Karen Andrie and her tank barge departed the SEM Materials dock in Essexville on Monday after arriving there to unload early Sunday morning.
Inbound on Monday was the tug Undaunted and barge Pere Marquette 41. The pair traveled upriver to the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw to unload before coming back downriver for the lake Tuesday morning.
The American Mariner was inbound Tuesday night, calling on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal. She was expected to be outbound late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Goderich - Jacob Smith
On Tuesday the salty BBC Ems was into port, loading at the elevators on a damp, warm day.

U.S. steel shipments down in September

11/21 - Duluth - Steel shipments from U.S. steel mills in September were 8.4 million net tons, a 7.7 percent decline compared to a year ago, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Shipments in September 2006 were 9.1 million net tons.

September 2007 shipments were also down 7.8 percent compared to 9.2 million net tons shipped in August 2007, according to the institute.

On a year-to-date comparison, shipments to steel service centers and distributors are down 11.6 percent, automobile manufacturers down one percent, construction and contractors down 2.9 percent and oil and gas producers down 8.5 percent.

Iron Range Steelworkers prepare for contract talks

11/21 - Duluth - Iron Range Steelworkers, whose labor contracts expire in nine months, already are bracing for the worst.

“A lot of people shot an extra deer this year, just in case,” said Mike Maleska, president of United Steelworkers Local 6860 at United Taconite in Eveleth and Forbes. Labor agreements covering about 4,000 Iron Range Steelworkers expire Sept. 1, 2008. With iron ore and steel companies reporting record revenues and demand for iron ore pellets remaining strong, negotiations are likely to be intense.

Steelworkers presidents and labor contract negotiating committees from Minnesota and Michigan will meet today at an iron ore conference in Duluth to begin discussing issues and strategies. “They [iron ore and steel companies] will certainly have a bargaining position on the issues, and so will we,” said Bob Bratulich, USW District 11 director. “We think with the industry being as financially well-off as they are should make bargaining easier. But we’ll see.”

Northeastern Minnesota’s six taconite plants are running at capacity. Together, they are projected to produce nearly 40 million tons of iron ore pellets this year. The pellets, containing about 65 percent iron, are shipped to domestic steelmakers and turned into steel. High demand, especially in China, is fueling a worldwide thirst for iron. As a result, iron ore and steel companies are enjoying some of their best times.

In addition to continued strong demand, analysts are saying that world iron ore pellet prices could increase by 25 to 50 percent in 2008, said Peter Kakela, a Michigan State University professor. A 2008 increase, on top of significant pellet price hikes in recent years, would mean more revenue for iron ore producers that sell pellets on the open market.

Cleveland-Cliffs, which manages and holds ownership in three Iron Range taconite plants, reported an $81.9 million net income in the third quarter, after a second-quarter net income of $86.9 million.

U.S. Steel, which owns and operates two Iron Range taconite facilities, had a net income of $269 million in the third quarter after $302 million in the second quarter. ArcelorMittal, the parent company of the Minorca Mine near Virginia, reported a third-quarter net income of $3 billion and second-quarter net income of $2.7 billion.

Good times should make for smoother contract talks, said Tony Barrett, a College of St. Scholastica economics professor. “I would expect the negotiations to not be friendly,” Barrett said. “There hasn’t been a labor negotiation anywhere in the last three or four years that isn’t focused on health care. But I don’t think they will be hostile. It’s a good time for the industry and I think both sides realize that. I would not expect a strike.”

Boatnerd Logos for sale

Just in time for Christmas, a new order of BoatNerd logos has arrived. They make great stocking stuffers for your favorite Boatnerd.

For your vehicle we have 4" x 4" bumper stickers or interior window clingers. For your jacket, cap or shirt we have 3.25" x 3' sew-on cloth patches.

Let your Boatnerd show his/her colors and meet other people of similar interest. All proceeds go to support this site and help keep us online.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 21

On 21 November 1880, the DICTATOR (wooden schooner-barge, 500 t, built in 1865 at Buffalo as a propeller) was carrying 21,000 bushels of wheat in tow of steamer MORELY or JARVIS LORD (newspapers disagree). When she began to labor in a gale her skipper ordered her crew to abandon her to the MORLEY which was herself disabled by the towline. Shortly after, DICTATOR lurched to starboard and went down. No lives were lost.

On 21 November 1861, ENTERPRISE (2-mast wooden scow-schooner, 64 foot, 56 tons, built in 1854, at Port Huron, Michigan) was driven ashore near Bark Shanty at the tip of Michigan's "thumb" on Lake Huron. The storm waves pounded her to pieces. Her outfit was salvaged a few days later.

On the evening of 21 November 1890, the scow MOLLIE (wooden scow-schooner, 83 foot, 83 gross tons, built in 1867, at Fairport, Ohio) left Ludington, Michigan with a load of lumber. About 8:00 p.m., when she was just 25 miles off Ludington, she started to leak in heavy seas, quickly becoming waterlogged. Capt. Anderson and his two-man crew had just abandoned the vessel in the yawl when the steamer F & P M NO 4 showed up, shortly after midnight. The rough weather washed Capt. Anderson out of the yawl, but he made it back in. At last a line from the F & P M NO 4 was caught and made fast to the yawl and the crew made it to the steamer. The men had a narrow escape, for the MOLLIE was going to pieces rapidly, and there was little likelihood of the yawl surviving in the gale.

The PATERSON (Hull#113) was launched November 21, 1953, at Port Arthur, Ontario by Port Arthur Ship Building Co. Ltd..

In 1924, the MERTON E FARR slammed into the Interstate Bridge that linked Superior, Wisconsin with Duluth, Minnesota. causing extensive damage to the bridge. The bridge span fell into the water but the FARR received only minor damage to her bow.

On 21 November 1869, the ALLIANCE (wooden passenger sidewheeler, 87 foot, 197 gross tons, built in 1857, at Buffalo, New York) slipped her moorings at Lower Black Rock in the Niagara River and went over the falls. She had been laid up since the spring of 1869.

November 21, 1906 - The PERE MARQUETTE 17 encountered one of the worst storms in many years while westbound for the Wisconsin Central slip in Manitowoc. Wisconsin. She made port safely, but the wind was so high that she could not hold her course up the river without assistance. The tug ARCTIC assisted, and as they were proceeding through the 10th Street Bridge, a gust of wind from the south drove the ferry and tug against the north pilings of the 10th Street Bridge. The ARCTIC, pinned between the ferry and the bridge, was not damaged, but she crushed the hull of a fishing tug moored there, sinking her, and inflicted damage of a few hundred dollars to the bridge.

November 21, 1923 - Arthur Stoops, the lookout on the ANN ARBOR NO 6 was drowned while stepping from the apron onto the knuckle to cast off the headline.

On the night of 21 November 1870, C W ARMSTRONG (wooden propeller steam tug, 57 foot, 33 tons, built in 1856, at Albany, New York) burned at her dock at Bay City, Michigan. No lives were lost.

More incidents from the Big Gale of 1879. On 21 November 1879, The Port Huron Times reported, "The schooner MERCURY is ashore at Pentwater. The schooner LUCKY is high and dry at Manistee; the schooner WAUBASHENE is on the beach east of Port Colborne. The schooner SUMATRA is on the beach at Cleveland; the large river tug J P Clark capsized and sunk at Belle Isle in the Detroit River on Wednesday [19 Nov.] and sank in 15 minutes. One drowned. The schooner PINTO of Oakville, Ontario, stone laden, went down in 30 feet of water about one mile down from Oakville. At Sand beach the barge PRAIRIE STATE is rapidly going to pieces.

Sand bar may signal end to Holland's shipping season

A sand bar about 200 feet wide has developed 100 to 150 feet off shore. Six weeks ago, vessels were reporting 20.5 feet of depth in that area. The autumn storms have pushed a lot of sand around the bottom of the lake.

That may well mean that the shipping is done for the year in Holland. That is not good news for local shippers. We will have an update on the situation next week.

Activity has been continuing at Grand Haven and Muskegon, but vessels are having to load lighter to get into those ports as well. Last Tuesday a vessel grounded outside Muskegon for the third time this year. The Earl W. was able to back off on its own, but high winds forced it to seek shelter and it wound up going all the way to Manitowoc, Wis., to find it. From there it went to Ludington to off-load some material before it was able to get in at Muskegon on Friday.

Fairport Harbor - Herb Hubbel
Saturday the McKee Sons was unloading aggregates. Maumee was loading salt at Morton Salt on Monday morning.

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The Mississagi came in about 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. It unloaded at Meekhof's D & M Dock on Harbor Island and was gone shortly after midnight.
The Earl W. came in very early Monday morning with a load for Verplank's Dock in Ferrysburg. It was just pulling away from the dock at 8:30 a.m.

Welland Canal Anniversary to be celebrated

11/20 - Thorold, Ont. - William Hamilton Merritt Day will take place at the Lock 7 Viewing Centre in Thorold on November 26 at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend this year's ceremony.

Jack Leitch, Chairman of Upper Lakes Shipping and the Hon. Jim Bradley, Ontario's Transportation Minister will be this year's key note speakers.

11/20 - Kingston, Ont. - The current lease for the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes will expire at the end of the month, but the museum won't be left without a home. The federal government has agreed to keep the museum as a tenant on the property and says it will look to build a permanent home for the museum along Ontario Street.

The chairman of the museum said the latest development is a major swing from where things stood 12 months ago when the museum looked like it would lose its home. "We're going to see a lot of great things happen at that site," said Mark Siemons. "There's a lot of potential on the site for more buildings."

Siemons said the museum can now begin planning for expansion, something that has been explored for more than a decade and had been put on hold during lease negotiations. "This is an important step," he said. "The Marine Museum has to grow or it will die. When we get that site developed, you won't believe it," Siemons said later. "Once we get something signed, we'll go public with the rest of the plan."

At the council meeting tomorrow, city councillors will be asked to allow the current 30-year lease to die at the end of the month. That will allow the federal government to sign a new lease with the Marine Museum and take it on as a tenant. The federal government owns the site, but leased it to the city, which in turn leased it to the museum.

The proposed lease is for 10 years, mainly a technicality to allow the museum to access grants. Many grant programs require an organization to show it is financially stable, which includes having a 10-year lease. However, there has been nothing finalized and there is no deal in writing. Siemons said that wasn't a cause for concern because of the verbal agreements from the federal government to keep the museum at its current home on Ontario Street.

With a more secure future, the museum is now considering future expansion. Siemons said among the plans would be to drain the dry dock that currently holds the museum's largest artifact, the Alexander Henry ship. The ship and dry dock would be dry and become more accessible to tours, Siemons said.

A deep water port would be added to allow ships to dock and a new building would be built at the foot of the dry dock, he said. The museum would still receive operational funding from the city under the new deal.

The federal government will have to find funding to bring the site up to health and safety standards. Work needs to be done on the east and west wharfs, the caisson gates and wall, the limestone dry dock and extension, according to a city hall staff report. "It is anticipated that large areas of the property will have [to] be fenced off from the public use until a method of stabilization is undertaken," staff write.

Who would fix up the site was the main issue that hampered negotiations. The federal government said it was the city's responsibility, while the city said it was Ottawa's. "Although we have divergent opinions regarding the covenants in the current lease to upkeep the property ... we can agree that the property now requires rehabilitation," wrote Tim McGrath, an assistant deputy minister with Public Works and Government Services Canada.

His letter, dated Nov. 15 to chief administrative officer Glen Laubenstein, says that his department is trying to secure funding for the repairs. "We will continue to work toward a long-term solution for this National Historic Site, including a permanent home for the Marine Museum at its existing location, that is in the best interests of the taxpayers of Kingston and the nation," McGrath wrote.

Eventually, Siemons said, Ottawa, city hall and the museum will have to figure out who will own the site when the lease expires. Siemons said it would probably work out better if the city owned the property in the future.

Art Museum Exhibitions

11/20 -  The Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, has two exhibitions on view through January 20, 2008, that will interest boaters.

"Sailing Wisconsin's Blue Jewel" features 40 images of boating on Lake Geneva by Fontana, Wisconsin, photographer Bruce Thompson. Handsome classic boats, large-sailed racing scows, and three-bladed iceboats capture the beauty, thrill, speed, and grace of Lake Geneva's boats and boaters. In all seasons, Lake Geneva is a jewel.

"Rivers, Sea and Shore: Reflections on Water" features 50 historic paintings that present majestic ship portraits and the smaller steamboats, ferries, and sailboats used to explore America's waterways. Also included are serene mountain lakes, the mighty Mississippi, folks having fun on the shore, and industrial waterfronts.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 20

On 20 November 1873, the CITY OF BOSTON (wooden propeller, 136’, 392 gt, built in 1863 at Cleveland, OH) stranded and was wrecked in a blizzard about four miles south of Frankfort, Michigan on Lake Michigan. In 1887, her boiler was removed during a failed effort to raise her and it was used by an area saw mill.

In 1948, the ROBERT HOBSON was blown against the Duluth-Superior breakwall as she tried to enter the harbor during a 68 mph gale. Damage to the vessel was kept to a minimum when Captain John Mc Nellis ordered the seacocks open to settle the HOBSON on a sandbar. Renamed b.) OUTARDE in 1975, she was scrapped at Port Colborne, Ontario in 1985.

On 20 November 1854, BURLINGTON (2-mast wooden brig, 80 foot, 117 tons, built in 1842, at Cleveland, Ohio) was driven hard aground near Port Bruce, Ontario on Lake Huron while trying to assist the stranded Canadian bark GLOBE.

The SAGINAW was christened at the Government Dock in Sarnia, Ontario in 1999. Bonnie Bravener and Wendy Siddall broke the traditional bottle of champagne adding the second vessel to Lower Lakes Towing's fleet. The company then generously opened the vessel for tours to all those in the large crowd that had gathered to witness the event. She was built in 1953 as a.) JOHN J BOLAND.

Hall Corporation of Canada's EAGLESCLIFFE HALL was launched in 1956, at Grangemouth, Scotland. Sold off the lakes, renamed b.) EAGLESCLIFFE in 1974. She sank two miles east of Galveston, Texas on February 9, 1983.

The ferry WOLFE ISLANDER was christened on November 20, 1946, at Marysville, Wolfe Island. The new ferry was the unfinished OTTAWA MAYBROOK which was built to serve the war effort in the south Pacific Ocean. She replaced two landing barges which were pressed quickly into service following the condemned steamer WOLFE ISLANDER, a.) TOM FAWCETT of 1904, which had served the community for 42 years. Officially christened WOLFE ISLANDER by Mrs. Sarah Russell, it took five tries before the champagne bottle finally broke on her port side.

At 2240 hours on November 20, 1974, the ROY A JODREY ran aground on Pullman Shoal, located at Wellesley Island in the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay, New York. All of the crew was rescued. Early the next morning at 0305 hours she slid off the shoal, rolled on her side and sank in 150 feet of water.

Pittsburgh Steamship's steamer RALPH H WATSON (Hull#285) was launched in 1937, at River Rouge, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works.

On 20 November 1872, the side wheel steamer W J SPICER was finally laid up and the crew dismissed. She had served for many years as the Grand Trunk ferry at Fort Gratiot on the St. Clair River.

On 20 November 1880, BAY CITY (wooden barge, 199 foot, 480 tons, built in 1852, at Trenton, Michigan as the sidewheeler FOREST CITY) was carrying coal when she was cast adrift east of Erie, Pennsylvania by the steamer JAMES P DONALDSON in a storm. She was driven ashore and wrecked. Her crew was saved by the U.S. Lifesaving Service using breeches' buoy.

November 20, 1898. ANN ARBOR #3 left Cleveland, Ohio for Frankfort, Michigan on her maiden voyage.

November 20, 1924 - Pere Marquette fleet engineer Finlay MacLaren died after 42 years with the railroad. He was succeeded by his brother Robert until Leland H. Kent was named fleet engineer in 1925.

On 20 Nov 1871, the schooner E B ALLEN was sailing from Chicago to Buffalo with a load of corn when she crossed the bow of the bark NEWSBOY about six miles off the Thunder Bay Light on Lake Huron. The NEWSBOY slammed her bow deep into the schooner's hull amidships and the ALLEN sank in about 30 minutes. The crew escaped in the yawl. The NEWSBOY was badly damaged but did not sink.

On 20 Nov 1999, the Bermuda-flag container ship CANMAR TRIUMPH went aground on the St. Lawrence River, off Varennes about 15 kilometers downstream from Montreal. She was the third vessel to run aground in the St. Lawrence River that Autumn. The Canadian Coast Guard reported that she was having engine problems and the CBC News reported that the vessel's rudder was damaged in the grounding.

On Saturday morning. 20 Nov 1999, Marinette Marine Corporation of Marinette, Wisconsin, launched the 175-foot Coast Guard Cutter HENRY BLAKE. The BLAKE was one of the "Keeper" Class Coastal Class Buoy Tenders. Each ship in the "Keeper" class is named after a famous American lighthouse keeper.

Port Reports - November 19

Green Bay - Wendell Wilke
On Sunday the John G. Munson was outbound into Green Bay at 10 a.m. after unloading coal.
The tug Victory and barge Lewis J. Kuber was unloading stone at Western Lime and was outbound at 1 p.m.

Gary - Brian Z.
Upper Lakes' John D. Leitch was loading a cargo of coke breeze at the east vessel dock of U.S. Steel Sunday morning. The Leitch is expected to finish loading late Monday morning destined for Quebec.

Drummond Island - Jon Paul
The tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort and barge Great Lakes Trader arrived Sunday morning at the Drummond Island Stone Dock. They had finished loading by early evening and departed upbound for a delivery to Marquette.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 19

On this day in 1939, in a 24 hour period, there were 132 transits of the Soo Locks. There were 71 upbound passages and 61 downbound passages.

On this day in 1952, Mrs. Ernest T. Weir smashed a bottle of champagne against the hull of the largest freighter built on the Great Lakes and the 690 foot ERNEST T WEIR slid down the ways at the Lorain yard of American Ship Building Company. The new vessel had a crew of 38 under the command of Captain W. Ross Maitland and Chief Engineer C. F. Hoffman.

On 19 November 1897, NAHANT (wooden propeller freighter, 213 foot, 1,204 gross tons, built in 1873, at Detroit, Michigan) caught fire while docked near Escanaba, Michigan. Firefighters were hampered by sub-zero temperatures and she burned to a total loss. The fire jumped to the dock and did $300,000 worth of damage. Two of the crew were burned to death. The wreckage of the vessel was still visible from the Escanaba lighthouse 100 years later.

American Steamship's SAM LAUD (Hull#712) was launched on this date in 1974, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

The keel for the JOHN T HUTCHINSON (Hull#1010) was laid November 19, 1942, at Cleveland, Ohio for the U.S. Maritime Commission.

The Kinsman Transit Co.'s steamer MERLE M MC CURDY was laid up for the last time at Buffalo, New York on November 19, 1985. She was scrapped at Port Colborne, Ontario in 1988.

On 19 November 1842, the wooden schooner BRANDYWINE was carrying flour in a storm on Lake Erie when she capsized and then drifted to the beach near Barcelona, New York. One passenger's body was found in the cabin, but the entire crew of 6 was lost.

More incidents from the terrible storm swept the Lakes in mid-November 1886. On 18-19 November of that year, The Port Huron Times listed the vessels that were known to have foundered in that storm. Here is the list of vessels that foundered as it appeared on 19 November 1886. "The barge EMERALD near Kewaunee, 5 lost. The barge F M DICKINSON near Kewaunee, 3 lost. Two unknown schooners (one supposed to be the HELEN) near Port Sherman. One unknown schooner near Hog Island Reef. The barge NORTH STAR near East Tawas, the fate of the crew is unknown." The list then continues with vessels ashore. "The barge WALLACE and consort on Choclay Beach, east of Marquette. The schooner SOUTH HAVEN near Pt. Sherman. The schooner MARY near Blenheim, Ontario. The schooner PATHFINDER near Two Rivers, the cargo and vessel are a total loss. The schooner CUYAHOGA and two scows in North Bay. The schooner P S MARSH and an unknown schooner at St. Ignace. The schooner HARVEY BISSELL near Alpena. The propeller CITY OF NEW YORK near Cheboygan. The schooner KOLFAGE near Goderich, Ontario has broken up. The propeller NASHUA on Grass Island, Green Bay. The barge BISSELL near Kewaunee. The schooner GOLDEN below China Beach. The propeller BELLE CROSS and barges across from China Beach. The schooner FLORIDA on Marquette Beach is a total loss. And the barges BUCKOUT, MC DOUGALL, BAKER, GOLDEN HARVEST near East Tawas.

The schooner HATTIE JOHNSTON sailed from Milwaukee loaded with 26,000 bushels of wheat on the night of 19 November 1879, and then a severe gale swept Lake Michigan. After two weeks, she was presumed lost with all hands. Aboard were Capt. D. D. Prouty, his wife and 8 crewmen.

On 19 Nov 1886, the steamer MANISTIQUE was towing the schooner-barges MARINETTE and MENEKAUNEE, all loaded with lumber, in a NW gale on Lake Michigan. The gale lasted three days. The barges broke loose after a long fight against the elements and both were wrecked near Frankfort, Michigan. 6 of the 7 aboard the MARINETTE were lost including the woman cook and her 13-year old daughter. The MENEKAUNEE broke up before the Lifesaving Service could get to her and all seven aboard died. When the Lifesaving Service arrived on the beach, they found a jumbled mass of lumber and gear and the ship's dog keeping watch over the dead bodies. The dog also died soon after the Lifesaving crew arrived.

EMPIRE MALDON (steel tanker, 343 foot, 3,734 gross tons) was launched on 19 November 1945, by Sir James Laing & Sons, Ltd., at Sunderland, United Kingdom for the British Ministry of War Transport She was sold to Imperial Oil Co. of Canada in 1946, and renamed IMPERIAL HALIFAX and served on the Maritime Provinces-East Coast trade. In 1969, she was purchased by Johnstone Shipping, Ltd., of Toronto and served on the Great Lakes. She lasted until 1977, when she was scrapped by United Metals, Ltd. in Hamilton, Ontario.

On Friday morning, 19 Nov 1999, shortly after leaving the ADM dock in Windsor, the salty AVDEEVKA lost power in the Fighting Island Channel of the Detroit River. The main engine on the vessel quit while she was abreast of Grassy Island and she began drifting downstream. The stern anchor was dropped and then the port side bow anchor. She began swinging towards the middle of the channel with her stern outside the channel when the main engine was restarted and she headed back upstream for the Belle Isle anchorage. Once in the anchorage a team from the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the vessel to investigate. She was released the next day. It is reported that the vessel lost power due to main fuel valve being left closed after routine maintenance during her stay at the ADM dock.

Assisting the BBC Ems departing was the G Tug Indiana. After having difficulty getting through the Ogden Street Bridge, the tow made its way out through the piers in a strong North to Northeast wind.

After being released by the tug, Ems lost her main engine.

The BBC Ems ran over the green buoy just outside the piers and got it tangled in its prop or rudder. At 7:30 p.m. the Tug Indiana returned to its dock in Menominee and the BBC Ems was stopped crosswise just outside the Marinette Menominee breakwall.

By 10 p.m. Saturday night, divers were being shuttled by the Indiana out to the Ems.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 18

On 18 November 1869, EQUATOR (wooden propeller package freighter, 184 foot, 621 tons, built in 1857, at Buffalo, New York) was trying to pull the schooner SOUTHWEST off a reef near North Manitou Island on Lake Michigan. A storm swept in and EQUATOR foundered in the relatively shallow water. She was thought to be unsalvageable but was re-floated in 1870. Her hull was extensively rebuilt and became the barge ELDORADO in 1871, while her engine was used in the tug BISMARCK.

The CARL D BRADLEY was lost in a violent storm on Lake Michigan on November 18, 1958.

The CANADIAN OLYMPIC's sea trials were conducted on 18 November 1976. Her maiden voyage was on 28 November 1976, to load coal at Conneaut, Ohio for Nanticoke, Ontario. Her name honors the Olympic Games that were held at Montreal that year.

The bow and stern sections of the vessel that was to become the STEWART J CORT were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Systems, Inc., Pascagoula, MS, as hull 1173. That 182 foot vessel, known as "STUBBY" was launched on 18 Nov 1969. "STUBBY" sailed under its own power from the Gulf of Mexico through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal to Erie, Pennsylvania where the sections were cut apart by Erie Marine, Inc. and the 818 foot mid section was added -- making the Lakes first thousand footer.

On 18 November 1872, 30 miles out from Chicago, Illinois, the schooner NEW HAMPSHIRE (wooden schooner, 87’, 94 gt, built in 1846 at Saugatuck, MI) was struck broadside by the schooner MAGGIE THOMPSON in the early morning hours. The crew of the NEW HAMPSHIRE scrambled onto the THOMPSON before their vessel capsized and sank. The NEW HAMPSHIRE was later raised and repaired and she lasted until 1885 when she sank in Lake Huron.

The ASHCROFT was launched November 18, 1924, as a) GLENIFFER.

On 18 November 1873, the tug CRUSADER was launched at 1:20 p.m. at the Leighton & Dunford yard in Port Huron, Michigan. Her dimensions were 138 foot overall, 125 foot keel, 23 foot beam, and 12 foot depth. She was built for Mr. G. E. Brockway of Port Huron.

On 18 November 1842, CHICAGO (wooden passenger & package freight sidewheeler, 105 foot, 166 tons, built in 1837, at St. Joseph, Michigan) was struck by a gale between Ashtabula and Conneaut in Lake Erie. She lost both of her stacks and became unmanageable when her fires went out. She was driven ashore about 3 miles east of Silver Creek, New York and was wrecked. About 60 persons were on board and amazingly no lives were lost.

On 18 November 1882, DROMEDARY (wooden propeller, 120 foot, 255 gross tons, built in 1868, at Port Dalhousie, Ontario) burned to a total loss at the dock at Hamilton, Ontario when her banked fires overheated. She was owned by Burroughs & Co. No lives were lost.

A terrible storm swept the Lakes in mid-November 1886. On 18-19 November of that year, The Port Huron Times listed the vessels that were known to have foundered in that storm. Here is the list as it appeared on 18 November 1886. "The barge CHARLES HINCKLEY is ashore near Alpena. The schooner P S MARCH is ashore at St. Ignace. She will probably go to pieces. The schooner THOMAS P SHELDON is ashore about 10 miles north of Alpena. The crew were rescued by the tug HAND. The schooner NELLIE REDINGTON is reported going to pieces at Two Rivers. Three of her crew reached harbor all right, but the other 7 men on board are in danger of their lives. The coal barges F M DICKINSON and EMERALD were driven ashore at Kewaunee, Wisconsin Wednesday morning [17 Nov]. Three of the DICKINSON's crew were drowned, the other four floated ashore on a plank. The EMERALD's crew started ashore in the yawl, but 5 were drowned.

On 18 November 1881, the schooner JAMES PLATT left Bay City with a cargo of lumber for Chicago. However, she was wrecked on Lake Michigan during a terrible snow storm during the first week of December and never made it to Chicago. The storm lasted two full days and six of the crew survived but the rest were lost.

The ANN ARBOR NO 4 ran aground on Green Isle, the island in Green Bay to the north of her course between Sturgeon Bay and Menominee on 18 Nov 1913. ANN ARBOR NO 3 pulled her off undamaged after about 2 hours work.

Calumet Strikes Wall
May be finished

The Calumet stopped at the Ontario Stone Corp. dock and the damage on the starboard side was repaired. The extent of damage was not reported. Calumet had offloaded stone at the Ontario Stone Corp. After unloading the stone, the ship proceeded to pick up a load of salt at the International Salt Company, when the ship struck the wall.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

USCG News Release

Low water notice issued by Welland Canal

11/17 - Due to the lower water levels being experienced on Lake Ontario and the silting which has occurred in Port Weller Harbour, high spots are developing below Lock 1.

Rather than reducing draft, the following procedure has been put in place: Lock 1 – To North End of Wharf 2 - Vessels whose drafts are greater than 7.77 metres (25’6”) are to proceed at the slowest safe possible speed through the affected area.

The trees will be loaded by the Mackinaw crew, crewmembers families, and the Ogemaw Heights High School Navy JROTC Cadets. Two hundred trees will be presented to the local Salvation Army in Cheboygan. The Salvation Army, along with the local police and fire departments, will accept them for distribution to deserving resident families.

The trees were purchased from Cheboygan-area tree growers by Chicago's Christmas Tree Ship committee. This annual event is a culmination of efforts by the Chicago Christmas Tree Ship Committee, working together with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Sea Partners Program, Chicago Navy Pier, and the generous boaters of the marine community to help make Christmas special for deserving Chicago families.

Upon arrival to Navy Pier the trees will be distributed through Ada S. McKinley Community Services to deserving families.

The sailing vessel Rouse Simmons was the original Christmas Tree Ship in the early 1900's. Her annual arrival on the Chicago waterfront with freshly cut trees from the Michigan Upper Peninsula was a highlight and, to many Chicago-area residents, a sign of the arrival of the Christmas season. The USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB 83) began the re-enactment event in 2000 and her legacy is being carried on by USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB 30) for the second year.

During the transit to Chicago, the 1,000 Christmas trees will share the deck space of Mackinaw with navigational buoys, some weighing as much as 12,000 lbs. Mackinaw will continue to conduct seasonal Aids to Navigation operations in Southern Lake Michigan along the approaches to Gary, IN and Calumet Harbor, IL.

11/16 -  At 8 p.m. Thursday the fire trucks were no longer on scene and the fire boat Curtis Randolph had returned to its dock. The Reliance was at the dock with no activity seen. It is unknown how much damage was done.

About 5:20 p.m. Thursday, the crew of the Purvis Marine tug Reliance evacuated the tug and sealed up the vessel reporting an electrical fire in the engine room. Tug Reliance and barge PML 9000 had arrived at the Nicholson’s Detroit (Detroit Marine Terminals) dock at 3:50.

All 10 crewmembers safely evacuated the tug and waited dock side for the Detroit Fire Department. A fire department truck arrived on scene a short time later and was joined by a boat from U.S. Coast Guard Station Belle Isle. The Detroit fire boat Curtis Randolph was also on scene. There were no visible signs of smoke or fire coming from the tug.

11/16 - Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. - The Algoma Central Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement to construct two 25,000 DWT double-hulled, IMO II, petroleum product tankers at the Nantong Mindge Heavy Industry Stock Co., Ltd. shipyard in Jiangsu, China. Deliveries of the two vessels are scheduled for August 2010 and April 2011 at an expected cost of approximately $90 million U.S. in total.

These vessels are in addition to the acquisition of three 16,500 DWT double-hulled IMO II petroleum product tankers announced September 11, 2007. All five of these vessels will be employed and operated as part of Hanseatic Tankers, a new venture being established with Bernhard Schulte Group, Sloman Neptun, Intrepid Shipping LLC and the Corporation.

Hanseatic Tankers plans to employ and operate 18 – 16,500 DWT and up to 8 – 25,000 DWT tankers. Trading areas for the ships are expected to be focused in Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. These opportunities allow for further diversification of the Corporation within the global shipping industry.

The Corporation owns and manages four Canadian-flagged product tankers with delivery of an additional two tankers scheduled for the first half of 2008. The Corporation also owns a foreign-flag product tanker through a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary. It is expected this foreign-flag product tanker will also be operated and employed as part of the Hanseatic Tankers commencing in late 2008.

In addition to product tankers the Corporation owns 19 Canadian flagged dry-bulk vessels that operate on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Waterway as part of a 35 vessel fleet that is managed by Seaway Marine Transport, a partnership with an unrelated party.

As announced November 7, 2007, the partners entered into agreements to construct two maximum seaway size forebodies and to attach these new forebodies to the aft-ends of the Algobay and Algoport.

The Corporation owns two ocean-going self-unloaders through a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary and an interest in five ocean-going self unloaders through a joint venture. These seven vessels are part of a 28 vessel, ocean-going, self-unloader fleet that is commercially managed by a third party.

The Corporation also owns a diversified fabrication, ship and engine repair operation and commercial real estate.

11/16 - Muskegon - A Great Lakes freighter was forced to turn back because of shallow water in the Muskegon harbor Tuesday afternoon, the third such shipping incident since midsummer.

But this time, it wasn't one of the 1,000-foot super-freighters that have had trouble negotiating Muskegon's outer harbor in recent months. It was the 630-foot Earl W, an aggregate hauler headed for the Mart Dock. Low water and shifting sand also has again plugged up the Mona Lake channel.

The Earl W was bringing in about 19,000 tons of limestone for Verplank Dock Co., said Nathan Gates, the company's sales and logistics manager. The ship's captain, forewarned about the "shoaling" -- or buildup of sand on the lake bottom -- that has occurred between Muskegon's outer pierheads, proceeded slowly and backed off at the first contact with the bottom, Gates said.

The ship proceeded across the lake to Manitowoc, Wis., and is expected to off-load several thousand tons before returning to Muskegon for a second try. "It's still passable, but because of the weather patterns we've been having it has gotten a little bit worse. The water level is ... tremendously low," Gates said.

The 1,000-foot Indiana Harbor ran aground outside Muskegon's outer pierheads Aug. 22, just a day after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a shoaling advisory to Great Lakes shippers. It was stuck for about four hours before the captain was able to rock it free. The 1,000-foot American Integrity became stuck in nearly the same location Sept. 10.

Muskegon's harbor is scheduled for dredging next April, but Gates said Verplank is expecting several more aggregate shipments before winter hits. "It's not getting any better," he said.

Low water levels have affected harbors around the Great Lakes, according to the Lake Carriers' Association, a shippers' industry group. That and lack of adequate dredging are among the largest issues facing shippers today, forcing them to lighten loads and increase costs, according to Glen Nekvasil, vice president of corporate communications for the association.

The Mona Lake channel is large enough for recreational craft only, so its problems don't affect commercial traffic. A large sand bank has re-formed at the Mona Lake channel mouth -- blocking hundreds of gizzard shad from migrating to Lake Michigan, likely for feeding.

Low water levels and shifting currents formed the sand bank this week where the channel meets Lake Michigan. The sand is 3 feet above the water's surface and stretches from breakwall to breakwall. Beachgoers used the sand bank to cross the channel Tuesday afternoon. It's the second time a sand bank has formed there since September.

Since the recreational boating season is over, officials do not plan to excavate the bank. They'll wait for nature to take its course -- specifically rain and wind to clear the channel's path.

The shad, an algae eater, likely were headed to Lake Michigan in search of food or warmer water. They were circling the channel in a racetrack pattern up to the sand bank. "It looks like they want to get out of here for a mass feeding frenzy," said Annoesjka Steinman, a city council member and director of the Mona Lake Watershed Council. "It doesn't make any sense." The shad, which are a popular food source for larger species, can get back to Mona Lake, so there is not a threat of mass deaths, officials said.

Meanwhile, Steinman said the watershed council and a neighborhood association are looking to create an organization that would be able to assess fees to lakefront property owners for dredging. Right now, the Mona Lake Improvement Association uses voluntary fees for dredging. The association paid to have a sand bank cleared in September. It also receives 50-percent matches from the city for algae and weed removal.

The city also gave the group $5,000 this year for improvement projects, even though the city does not have jurisdiction over the channel. Steinman said more needs to be done to correct the problem. "The biggest issue is the low water level," she said. "It's clearly going to get worse."

Today in Great Lakes History - November 16

On 16 November 1870, BADGER STATE (3-mast wooden bark, 150 foot, 302 tons, built in 1853, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin) stranded and wrecked at Sleeping Bear Dune on Lake Michigan during a storm.

The tug portion of the PRESQUE ISLE (Hull#322) built by Halter Marine Services, New Orleans, Louisiana, was up bound in the Welland Canal on November 16,1973, en route to Erie, Pennsylvania to join with the barge.

FRED R WHITE JR (Hull#722) was launched in 1978, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

On 16 Nov 1909, the JAMES S DUNHAM (steel propeller bulk freighter, 420 foot, 4,795 gross tons, built in 1906, at W. Bay City, Michigan) encountered heavy seas and began hitting bottom where charts indicated 35 feet of water, even though she was in ballast and only drawing 17 feet of water. Rather than risk tearing the bottom out of her, the captain decided to beach her at Marble Point, just east of the Bad River outlet. After the heavy snow showers cleared, a message in a bottle was floated ashore to an observer.

On 16 November 1903, the WILLIAM L. BROWN (steel propeller bulk freighter, 430’, 4998 gt, built in 1901 at Chicago, IL) was downbound with a load of iron ore when she struck the east bank of the channel and went on the rocks at Lime Kiln Crossing where the Detroit River empties into Lake Erie. The vessel was freed on 18 November 1903.

The steel bulk freighters SIR JAMES DUNN and GEORGIAN BAY in tow of the Panamanian tug MC THUNDER arrived at Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping on 16 Nov 1989, 129 days after departing Thunder Bay.

On 16 November 1887, PACIFIC (wooden propeller freighter, 187 foot, 766 gross tons, built in 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio) was loaded with lumber bound from Deer Park, Michigan for Michigan City, Indiana. After leaving the dock, she grounded on a shoal due to low water levels. The nearby Lifesaving Service took her crew off and then returned for the captain's dog. She was broken up by a gale on 19 November.

In 1892, the ANN ARBOR NO 1 arrived at Frankfort, Michigan on her maiden trip.

November 16, 1990 - MWT ceased operations, ending more than a century of carferry service. The last run was made by the BADGER, with Capt. Bruce Masse in command.

In 1981, Interlake's JOHN SHERWIN entered lay-up in Superior, Wisconsin and has not seen service since.

On 16 November 1869, ADELL (2-mast wooden schooner, 48 foot, 25 gross tons, built in 1860, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was driven ashore during a storm about a half mile below Bay View Pier near Milwaukee. Her skipper had every penny he owned sunk into that vessel. He was able to salvage her rigging and spars and left them on the beach overnight. The next day he returned and found that all had been stolen during the night.

On 16 Nov 1883, MANISTEE (wooden side-wheeler, 184 foot, 677 tons, built in 1867, at Cleveland, Ohio) broke up in a gale west of the Keweenaw Peninsula off of Eagle Harbor, Michigan. This is one of Lake Superior's worst disasters. Estimates of the number who died range from 23 to 37.

11/15 - Cleveland - Lower demand for limestone from the construction industry again slowed shipments on the Great Lakes in October.

Loadings at U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports totaled 3.6 million net tons, a decrease of 11.6 percent compared to a year ago, and a drop of nearly 20 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. The trade was also impacted by some vessels having to tie up for repairs, but if the active fleet could have carried full loads, the idled carrying capacity would have been more than offset.

The dredging crisis continued to reduce payloads. A vessel that has carried nearly 35,000 tons of stone in a single trip left a Michigan quarry with only 29,176 tons in its holds. Another vessel that has the capacity to carry 54,000 tons of stone each trip twice left Michigan ports with less than 49,000 tons onboard.

Through October, limestone shipments stand at 28.2 million tons, a decrease of 10.5 percent compared to both a year ago and the 5-year average for the January-October timeframe.

Port Reports - November 15

Owen Sound - Peter Bowers
Frontenac cleared light from the Great Lakes Elevator at 11 a.m. on a beautiful sunny Tuesday morning.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Alpena was in Fraser Shipyards on Tuesday morning, apparently for repairs. The Alpena has been LaFarge’s primary hauler to the Twin Ports this season and apparently now is calling only at the company’s Superior terminal. Dredges have been at work off the mouth of the slip at LaFarge’s Duluth terminal, so there may be draft issues at that dock.
Canadian Progress was loading at Midwest Energy Terminal.
St. Clair was at BNSF ore dock.
Presque Isle was loading at CN/DMIR.

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
The Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin backing into the Lackawanna slip for the Gateway Terminal at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The Marlene Green was also unloading windmill turbine bases. The ship has been here since Sunday morning.

Great Lakes Maritime Center changes schedule

11/14 - The Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point in Port Huron will be changing to winter hours next Monday.

Seaway - René Beauchamp
Expected to transit the Seaway later this month will be the Jamaican flag Miltiades bound for Toronto. It is believed to be the first freighter flying the flag of Jamaica to transit the St. Lawrence Seaway. She transited under all of her five former names except one. Her previous name is Toro. One ship registered in Jamaica transited once on her delivery voyage but it was an inter island passenger ship, the Federal Palm built in 1961 at Port Weller. However, she had some space to carry a small amount of cargo.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Twin Ports grain elevators were busy Monday morning and, for once, CHS wasn’t one of them. In Duluth, Vlistborg was loading beet pulp pellets at General Mills, Isa was at AGP and Seneca was at Cargill B1. The only vessel at an elevator in Superior was Adam E. Cornelius making one of its periodic calls at General Mills S. Elsewhere, Paul R. Tregurtha was pulling away from the Midwest Energy Terminal about 7:20 a.m. bound for Taconite Harbor. It’s due back Wednesday to load coal for St. Clair. American Integrity was at the Murphy Oil fuel depot waiting for Midwest Energy Terminal. Out on the lake, Canadian Progress and John B. Aird were at anchor waiting to load at Midwest Energy Terminal.

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The St. Mary's Challenger came in at 10:30 a.m. Monday with a full load for the St. Mary's Terminal in Ferrysburg. It should be in port until sometime on Tuesday.

Memorial Service and free program in Bay City

11/13 - Bay City, MI - On November 17 the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society will present their Annual Memorial Service for Bay City area sailors lost on Great Lakes ship wrecks starting at 4 p.m. The service will be held at Water Fall Park at the foot of 3rd Street, Bay City.

At 7 p.m. the program "The Edmund Fitzgerald and Stories of The Eighth Sea" by historian and educator Mike Snyder, will be presented at the First Presbyterian Church.

11/13 - Toledo - The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has issued Request for Proposals for:

1) Request for Proposal to Operate Marine Passenger Terminal Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
2) Request for Proposal to Operate Cross-Lake Passenger Ferry Service Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority

Please Click on the links above to download the Microsoft Word format Documents.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 13

In 1952, the 626 foot SPARROWS POINT successfully completed her sea trials and departed Chicago on her maiden trip. The new Bethlehem boat, the largest boat to enter the lakes via the Mississippi River Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, was under the command of Captain Wilfred Couture and Chief Engineer James Meinke. She was lengthened to 682 feet in 1958, converted to a self-unloader in 1980, renamed b.) BUCKEYE in 1991, converted to a barge in 2006, renamed c.) LEWIS J KUBER.

ARAB (2-mast wooden schooner, 100 foot, 158 tons, built in 1854, at Buffalo, New York) had beached on 01 November 1883, near St. Joseph, Michigan during a storm, but quick work by salvagers got her free. However on 13 November 1883, while being towed to Racine, Wisconsin, she capsized and sank well off of Arcadia, Michigan. One man lost his life, an engineer who was desperately trying to start her pumps when she rolled.

On November 13, 1976, the TEMPLE BAR (currently Algoma's ALGONORTH) arrived at Singapore where she was lengthened 202 feet.

CONDARRELL was laid up for the last time on November 13, 1981. Built in 1953 as a.) D C EVEREST, she was renamed b.) CONDARRELL in 1982. After serving as a barge in Montreal she was towed to Port Colborne, Ontario in June, 2006, for possible scrap.

The GEORGE HINDMAN was in collision with the British salty MANCHESTER EXPLORER on Lake St. Louis, above the Lachine Lock in 1956. Built in 1921, as a.) GLENCLOVA, renamed b.) ANTICOSTI in 1927, c.) RISACUA in 1946, d.) GEORGE HINDMAN in 1955, and e.) ELIZABETH HINDMAN in 1962. Scrapped at Duluth, Minnesota in 1971.

J P MORGAN JR (Hull#373) was launched November 13, 1909, at Lorain, Ohio for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

The HOMER D WILLIAMS was involved in a collision with the steamer OTTO M REISS at Duluth November 13, 1917.

In 1984, the HOMER D WILLIAMS was towed to Thunder Bay, Ontario by the TUG MALCOLM for dismantling.

On 13 November 1854, the BUCEPHALUS (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 169’, 493 t, built in 1852 at Perrysburg, OH) was carrying passengers, corn, barrels of flour, and a deck load of merchandise from Chicago to Buffalo when she lost her rudder in a gale on Saginaw Bay, north of Pointe aux Barques. She was overwhelmed by heavy seas, filled with water and sank. Of the 24 onboard, 10 lost their lives. The survivors made it ashore in her boats.

On 13 November 1870, the schooner E FITZGERALD left Port Huron on her maiden voyage to load lumber at Au Sable, Michigan for Chicago. She was commanded by Capt. A. McTavish.

On 13 November 1883, H C AKELEY (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 240 foot, 1,187 tons, built in 1881, at Grand Haven, Michigan) was carrying corn from Chicago to Buffalo when she encountered a heavy storm off Holland, Michigan. She took the disabled tug PROTECTOR in tow but let her go when her own rudder broke off. AKELEY anchored but started to sink when she fell into the troughs of the waves. The disabled schooner DRIVER managed to save 12 of the crew who had taken to AKELEY's yawl before she went down. 6 lives were lost.

Captain W. H. Van Dyke was born at Escanaba, Michigan on November 13, 1871, and spent most of his life on the Great Lakes (he joined the crew of a schooner at the age of 15). He first captained the Pere Marquette Line Steamer PERE MARQUETTE 8, then in 1916, he joined the Pere Marquette carferry fleet. His first command was the str. PERE MARQUETTE 15. Then for 10 years he served as master of the PERE MARQUETTE 17, and after the launch of the CITY OF FLINT 32 in 1929, he served as master of the PERE MARQUETTE 22.

On 13 November 1865, CLARA PARKER (3-mast wooden schooner, 175 foot, 425 gross tons, built in 1865, at Detroit, Michigan) was fighting a losing battle with storm induced leaks, so she was beached 400 yards off shore near the mouth of the Pigeon River, south of Grand Haven, Michigan. The local Lifesaving Service plucked all 9 of the crew from the rigging by breeches buoy after the vessel had gone down to her decks and was breaking up.

On 13 November 1888, LELAND (wooden steam barge, 148 foot, 366 gross tons, built in 1873, at New Jerusalem, Ohio) burned at Huron, Ohio. She was valued at $20,000 and insured for $15,000. She was rebuilt and lasted until 1910.

The JAMES DAVIDSON (steel propeller bulk freighter, 587 foot, 8,349 gross tons, built at Wyandotte, Michigan in 1920) entered service on 13 Nov 1920, for the Globe Steamship Co. (G. A. Tomlinson, mgr.) when she loaded 439,000 bushels of wheat at Duluth, Minnesota for delivery to Buffalo, New York. She was the last ship built at Wyandotte, Michigan.

The unnamed salty (formerly RANGUINI) arrived at Milwaukee's heavy lift dock on Saturday night, 13 Nov 1999, to load a large desalinization filtration system built in Milwaukee for Korea. The vessel entered the Seaway in ballast for Milwaukee on 09 Nov 1999. The following day, the crew rigged scaffolding over the side so the new name BBC GERMANY could be painted on the ship.

The Toledo Blade published the following vessel passages for Detroit on his date in 1903:

-Up- VOLUNTEER, AMAZON, HARLOW, 12:30 Friday morning; ROCKEFELLER, 4:20; MARISKA, 4:40; FRENCH, 5:20; CONEMAUGH, 6; S M STEPHENSON, FAUSTIN, barges, 7:30; OLIVER, MITCHELL, (sailed), 7:50; AVERILL, 8.

Port Reports - November 12

Sturgeon Bay - Jeff Birch
The Charles M. Beeghly stopped briefly at Bayship Sunday and had departed by 12:30 p.m.

Goderich - Wayne Brown
Algosoo arrived in Goderich Sunday morning and started loading at 8:50 a.m. at Sifto.

South Chicago - Steve B.
The Calumet River was a busy place Sunday afternoon with four vessels on the River. The Aachen was unloading at Iroquois Landing near 92nd St. The Agawa Canyon held up just outside of Calumet Harbor until the G tug Colorado arrived to give an assist, then backed in stern first to the salt dock on the west side of 92nd St. Shortly after the Agawa Canyon tied up, the Calumet departed KCBX loaded.
The David Z. was heard talking to both the Calumet and Agawa Canyon at times, but was not sighted.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Sunday had the Atlantic Huron arrive at 7 a.m. The Montrealais arrived at 1 p.m. with iron ore for Dofasco. Her next port is to be Superior.
The Vega Desgagnes departed at 3:15 p.m. and the saltie Zenia arrived at 4:15 p.m. going to Pier 12.

Doug Fairchild/Boatnerd Memorial Fund

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Friday afternoon had the Algontario departing at 2 p.m. for Thunder Bay in ballast. Captain Henry Jackman arrived at 2:30 p.m. with iron ore.
The bunkering ship Hamilton Energy arrived from Port Weller at 6:30 p.m. to load more fuel and was on the move again back to Port Weller at 8 p.m. to bunker the Jumbo Spirit and Halifax.
Saturday saw the tug Bay Ridge Service and oil barge arrive off the Burlington Piers at 6:30 a.m. but decided not to transit the Burlington Ship Canal due to the wave conditions. They were seen going up and down the lake waiting for the conditions to improve. They finally transited the canal at 6:30 pm.
The Hamilton Energy arrived back from bunkering in Port Weller at 8 a.m. and then at noon was on her way to Oshawa.
Captain Henry Jackman departed Pier 26 at 11:30 am. with slag for Serpent Harbor. Canadian Olympic arrived at 5:30 p.m.

Lorain - Paul L. Csizmadia
On Friday, the Edward L. Ryerson left the Port of Lorain navigating the Black River stern first and then turning out into the lake after passing the Lorain Light around 12:30 p.m.

Lakes Hail Authorization Of Second Poe-Sized Lock

11/10 - Toledo, Oh -The efficiency and reliability of Great Lakes shipping took a giant step forward on November 8 when Congress authorized construction of a second Poe-sized Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at full Federal expense.

The lock, included in the recently-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2007, will ensure that vital cargos will continue to move uninterrupted on the Great Lakes.

"A second Poe-sized Lock to connect Lake Superior to the lower four Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway has been one of the greatest needs on the Lakes for decades," said John D. Baker, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF), the largest coalition of shipping interests on the Great Lakes.

"If there had been a lengthy failure of the Poe Lock, the iron ore, coal, and export grain trades on the Great Lakes would have slowed to a trickle and threatened the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of American workers."

Baker, who is also President if the ILA's Great Lakes District Council, noted the second Poe-sized Lock was first authorized in 1986, but was stalled by a requirement that a local sponsor fund a portion of the project. "By authorizing full Federal funding, Congress has recognized that a second Poe-sized Lock is an infrastructure improvement that benefits not just the Great Lakes region, but the entire nation."

The locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, typically handle more than 80 million tons of cargo a year. Iron ore for steel production, coal for power generation, and grain for export overseas, are the primary cargos that transit the locks.

Authorization is the first step in building the second Poe-sized Lock, a project that could take 10 years to complete. Congress must next appropriate the $341 million needed to construct the lock.

The Lakes will benefit from the Water Resources Development Act in other ways. "The bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accelerate its dredging program on the Great Lakes," said James H.I. Weakley, 3rd Vice President of GLMTF and President of Lake Carriers' Association. "Decades of inadequate funding for dredging have forced vessels to leave millions of tons of cargo behind each year. Restoring the Great Lakes Navigation System to project dimensions will finally allow Great Lakes shipping to achieve the efficiencies for which it was designed.

Oglebay Norton Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Merger with Carmeuse

11/10 - Cleveland - Oglebay Norton Company announced Friday that Oglebay Norton shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the company's merger with Carmeuse North America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carmeuse Group, at a special meeting of shareholders held today.

"We are extremely pleased with the outcome of today's vote," said Michael Lundin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oglebay. "On behalf of Oglebay Norton's Board of Directors and management team, I want to thank our shareholders, customers and dedicated employees for their support throughout this process. We look forward to completing the merger and we anticipate a smooth integration of the two companies."

In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, at the closing, each outstanding share of common stock of Oglebay Norton will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $36.00 in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes. The transaction remains subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 10

On this day in 1892, whaleback barge 102 loaded 2,073 tons of iron ore at Superior consigned to Cleveland. This was the first shipment of Mesabi Range iron ore carried by Oglebay Norton.

On 10 November 1901, the ROBERT A PACKER (wooden freighter, 209 foot, 921 tons, built in 1882, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was found by the wrecking tug RUMBLE eleven miles north of off De Tour, Michigan ablaze and abandoned by her crew. Captain Isaac Zess of the RUMBLE fought the flames for four hours and then was helped by the THOMAS W PALMER. The fire was speedily extinguished with both vessels pouring water on the flames and the PACKER was tied up at the dock in DeTour, Michigan.

On 10 November 1887, A BOODY (wooden schooner, 137 foot, 287 gross tons, built in 1863, at Toledo, Ohio) struck the Port Austin reef on Lake Huron and was declared a total loss. However, after ten days of hard work, the BOODY was finally pulled off the reef.

On 10 November 1900, the CARTEGENA (wooden propeller, 241’, 1532 gt) was launched by James Davidson (hull #94) at W. Bay City, Michigan for the Davidson Steamship Co. She only lasted until 1907, when she stranded near Cape Negro, Nova Scotia.

The EDMUND FITZGERALD foundered on Lake Superior during a severe storm November 10, 1975, at approximately 7:10 p.m. about 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan at position 47 0'N by 85 7'W in Canadian waters.

IMPERIAL ST CLAIR (Hull#57) was launched November 10, 1973 , by Port Weller Drydocks at St. Catharines, Ontario. Renamed b.) ALGOSAR in 1998, sold off the lakes, renamed c.) GENESIS EXPLORER in 2005.

The STEELTON sailed on her maiden voyage for Bethlehem Steel Corp. on November 10, 1943.

The ROBERT C STANLEY, in her first season of operation on November 10, 1943, during a Lake Superior storm, she developed a significant crack across her spar deck and 12 to 14 feet down both sides of her hull. As the hull worked in the heavy seas, the crack widened to as much as three to four inches. The crew ran cables between the fore and aft winches that maintained a force sufficient to hold the hull together.

November 10, 1972, in the vicinity of the entrance to the East Outer Channel near Amherstburg, Ontario the UNITED STATES GYPSUM collided with her towing tug MAINE and as a result her bow was punctured. The GYPSUM was beached to prevent sinking.

Pittsburgh Steamships WILLIAM A IRVIN (Hull#811) was launched November 10, 1937, at Lorain, Ohio. The IRVIN serves as a museum ship in Duluth, Minnesota since 1986.

November 10, 1892, the carferry ANN ARBOR NO 1 left the shipyard in Toledo, Ohio, bound for Frankfort on her maiden voyage.

In 1895, the first major accident caused by cars coming free on the car deck of a rail ferry happened when the ANN ARBOR NO 1, was on an eastbound voyage. Approaching Frankfort in a northwest gale, she rolled so violently that many of the car fastenings broke and the cargo began to move about on the car deck. None of the early rear-loading car ferries were equipped with a sea gate to protect the stern from the seas, and seven cars of flour and butter went off the deck of the NO 1 into the lake. Captain Charles Moody resigned from the Ann Arbor as a result of this incident and returned to the Pere Marquette and Goodrich lines.

ATLANTIC (formerly MANITOULIN, wooden propeller passenger/package freight, 147 foot, 683 gross tons, built in 1880, at Owen Sound, Ontario) was bound for Byng Inlet with lumber camp supplies when she was caught in a storm and grounded in the lee of Pancake Island in Georgian Bay. Her cargo and aft cabin were thrown overboard to lighten her, but she caught fire and was destroyed. Her passengers and crew took to her boats and survived.

On 10 November 1856, ST JOSEPH (wooden propeller steam barge, 170 foot, 460 tons, built in 1846, at Buffalo, New York) stranded and was wrecked near Fairport, Ohio. No lives were lost.

November 10, 1911 - The ANN ARBOR NO 4 was back in service after damaging several plates in October.

The tanker MARIA DESGAGNES struck bottom in the St. Lawrence Seaway on 10 Nov 1999. After temporary repairs were made, the vessel was cleared to proceed to Hamilton, Ontario to discharge its cargo of jet fuel. A survey of the seaway was completed with no indications as to what caused the vessel to ground.

On 10 November 1887, BLAZING STAR (wooden schooner, 137 foot, 265 tons, built in 1873, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) was sailing on Lake Michigan in fine weather with a load of lumber. However, she grounded on Fisherman Shoal near Washington Island, Wisconsin even though the wreck of the steamer I N FOSTER was in full view on that reef. The captain was unable to locate a tug to pull the BLAZING STAR off and later she broke up in heavy weather. No lives were lost.

Below is a first hand account of the Storm of 1913, from the journal of John Mc Laughlin transcribed by his great grandson Hugh Mc Nichol. John was working on an unknown vessel during the Storm of 1913. The boat was captained by John Mc Alpine and Harry Roberts as Chief Engineer. The boat was loading iron ore in Escanaba when the storm started on November 8th.

Monday, November 10, 1913
I got up at 12 a.m. and went on watch. We were laying at anchor. It was blowing a living gale and kept it up. They hove up the anchor near 10 o'clock but monkeyed around until after dinner. We got under way. We passed the Light Ship about 3, and White Shoal at 5:15.

More entries from the Storm of 1913 tomorrow.

11/9 - DeTour Village - Some time during the night Wednesday, the lines between the tug Nicole and her barge parted and both were adrift near the Drummond Island Ferry. The tow lines parted between the tug and the barge, and then the lines wrapped around the tug's props, causing her to go dead in the water.

At 9:16 a.m. Thursday, Soo Control advised the Pilot boat and the Federal Katsura to be advised of the two vessels still disabled and adrift in the river. A hazard to navigation warning has been issued to all boats transiting the area. The Coast Guard had a vehicle with CG members in it, parked down by the Ferry dock, watching the entire situation.

The Drummond Islander IV had the two vessels lashed to its starboard side and was assisting both boats out towards the Drummond Island side of the Passage.

The Coast Guard sent down a small boat to check on the safety of the crew on board, while deciding just what to do and where to take the boats for safety. It was decided the Harbor of Refuge, while deep enough, would not allow for turning the two around in. Then the DeTour Coal Dock was mentioned as a destination.

Two additional tugs arrived to take the disabled tug to the DeTour Coal dock. The barge was still adrift in the St. Marys River. It is expected that the tugs will then go after the barge and tow her to the Coal Dock also.

Goderich - Jerry Mueller
Saginaw was unloading at the elevator on Tuesday.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
St. Marys Conquest and tug Susan W. Hannah delivered dry cement at their terminal up the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee on Thursday.

This is a big event for the museum. It is something a lot of people look forward to. Some people even come in from out of state Museum President and Director David M. Erickson said. The bell-tolling service is done every year by the museum on the Saturday closest to the day the ship sunk. It is done in honor of the men and women who lost their lives on these vessels.

The first of these services will be November 10th at 2 p.m. It will be in honor of the Edmund Fitzgerald which sank in Lake Superior 32 years ago.

The next will be held November 17th at 2 p.m., in honor of the Carl D. Bradley, which sank in Lake Michigan 49 years ago.

The final service will be December 1st at 2 p.m. This service will be for the Daniel J. Morrell which sank in Lake Huron 41 years ago. Dennis Hale, the lone survivor from the Daniel J. Morrell, will be present for this year's ceremony for the ship. Hale recently was inducted into the museum's hall of fame.

For each of the events, Erickson will give a brief history of the ships, including what happened to them, and a little information about the time period in which they sank. Following Erickson's presentation, the names of those who lost their lives will be read and the bell will be tolled once for each of them.

There will be volunteers present to ring the bells, but people from the audience also will be able to participate in the tolling of the bells if they desire.

"We are the only museum on the Great Lakes that honors the sailors. Most museums have artifacts and models and do not tell you anything about the people who sailed the lakes," Erickson said.

The museum will be open to the public following each bell tolling service. For more information, interested parties can contact the museum at 734-0706.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 08

The NIMROD (3-mast wooden schooner, 184 foot, 559 tons, built in 1873, at Toledo, Ohio) was carrying 37,000 bushels of corn from Chicago to Buffalo. On 08 November 1874, she encountered thick fog on Lake Erie and the large double decked schooner MICHIGAN collided with her. The MICHIGAN continued on her course while the NIMROD filled with water and sank in 70 feet of water off Port Burwell-Port Stanley, Ontario. The crew escaped in the yawl and were picked up by the schooner GRANTHAM. The wreck was discovered in 1978, when Capt. Robert Hamilton, a commercial fisherman, snagged his nets on it.

On 08 November 1997, the MELISSA DESGAGNES (steel propeller freighter, 342’, 4488 gt, built in 1975 at Collingwood, ON, formerly ONTADOC) grounded in the Detroit River just north of Grassy Island. She was finally freed on 13 November 1997, after 4000 tons of corn were removed into a hopper barge. The McKeil tugs EVANS MCKEIL and GLENSIDE and the Gaelic tugs SHANNON and PATRICIA HOEY assisted in freeing the stricken freighter. After being freed, the MELISSA DESGAGNES proceeded back to Windsor, Ontario for inspection and the re-loading of her cargo.

The COLUMBIA STAR (steel propeller bulk freighter, 1000 foot, 35,923 gross tons) was launched November 8, 1980, at Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (Hull#726) . She was part of the Oglebay Norton fleet. Renamed b.) AMERICAN CENTURY in 2006.

The BENJAMIN F FAIRLESS and IRVING S OLDS arrived on November 8, 1988, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping by Sing Cheng Yung Iron & Steel Co. Ltd.

The Great Lakes Engineering Works built steamer STADACONA of 1909, renamed b.) W H McGEAN in 1920, was renamed c.) ROBERT S McNAMARA by its new owner Ford Motor Company's Marine Division on November 8, 1962. The MC NAMARA was rescued from potential scrapping when Ford purchased her for $80,000 and spent $15,000 for renovation at AmShip's Toledo yard.

The J P MORGAN JR arrived at AvilŽs, Spain on November 8, 1980, for scrapping.

PETER A B WIDENER passed down the Welland Canal November 8, 1986, towed by the tugs TUSKER and GLENADA en route to Lauzon, Quebec. From there she was towed overseas for scrapping. When built, the PETER A B WIDENER and fleet mates J PIERPONT MORGAN, NORMAN B REAM and HENRY H ROGERS were the first 600-footers built for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.; "The Class of 1906."

On 08 Nov 1986, the B F AFFLECK (steel propeller freighter, 588 foot, 7,964 gross tons, built in 1927, at Toledo, Ohio), under tow of the tug THUNDER CAPE, went adrift on Lake Superior in a storm after the tug lost power. The tug AVENGER IV was dispatched to pick up the AFFLECK, which was headed for scrap, and the tanker EASTERN SHELL towed the THUNDER CAPE to Thunder Bay for repairs.

BEN HUR, a wooden schooner-barge wrecker, 314 tons, built in 1874, at Dunville, Ontario, had been purchased for the job of salvaging the schooner M E TREMBLE. On 8 November 1890, she was at the job near Port Huron in the St. Clair River when she was rammed and sunk by the schooner-barge SUPERIOR which was being towed by the steamer PASSAIC. BEN HUR settled on top of the schooner she was attempting to salvage and a lighter-scow she was using also went down with her.

On 8 November 1877, the bark GREAT WEST was carrying 262,000 feet of lumber from Caseville to Chicago. Much of it was piled topside. In a big storm on Lake Michigan, she lost her deck load. She then became waterlogged and finally went ashore near Hyde Park, Illinois on 10 November. The crew were all saved.

On 8 November 1877, KATE L BRUCE (3-mast wooden schooner, 307 tons, built in 1872, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) was carrying wheat in tow of the tug JOHNSON when she was let go in heavy weather. She disappeared with all eight of her crew off Alpena, Michigan. A bureau containing her papers washed ashore in August 1878. The sunken wreck was discovered in 6 fathoms of water in Thunder Bay during the Autumn of 1879.

The forebody of the former CANADIAN EXPLORER arrived in Prescott on 05 Nov 2000, under tow of the Trois Rivieres tug DUGA. It remained there for three days. The previous March, it was reported that the hull was undergoing conversion to a 498-foot grain storage barge for Les Elevateurs des Trois Rivieres, Quebec. (The engine room portion of the former CANADIAN EXPLORER was mated to the forward section of the HAMILTON TRANSFER in 1998, and now sails as the CANADIAN TRANSFER.)

11/7 - Late Tuesday evening, many lake freighters were remaining at anchor seeking shelter from the gale force winds blowing across the Great Lakes.

In Lake Erie, the water level at Gibraltar was at -24". Adam E. Cornelius, Canadian Transfer and McKee Sons were on the hook behind the Marblehead Peninsula off Sandusky, while John J. Boland was anchored on the east side of Kelley' Island. Further east, as many as nine vessels were seeking shelter behind Long Point off Nanticoke.

Five boats, including Roger Blough and Edward L. Ryerson, were anchored just north off Port Huron in Lake Huron, and another group were waiting in the St. Clair River around Port Huron.

The 192-foot catamaran ferry was pulled out of the water after cruising to the Bay Shipbuilding yard Oct. 24, a day after the Milwaukee-to-Muskegon service ended for the year. The Lake Express has operated until Nov. 1 in past years.

The dry-docking of The Lake Express will allow the Milwaukee-based ferry operator to clean and repaint the hull and rebuild the boat's four Rolls Royce water jets. The time out of the water also will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to inspect the vessel. "We have a new and sophisticated vessel," said Lake Express President Ken Szallai. "Our customers rely on us to be available, so we take time each off-season to ensure that reliability."

The Lake Express crosses Lake Michigan about 1,000 times each summer sailing season, operating almost 19 hours a day. Just last summer, the ship traveled 68,500 miles, making the crossing in two-and-a-half hours at about 40 mph.

Lake Express officials have never provided specific passenger numbers for competitive reasons. Szallai has said that 2007 operations were similar to the preceding three years. It is believed that the ferry service carries more than 110,000 passengers each year.

The ferry carries 250 passengers and 46 vehicles. It was the first auto/passenger high-speed ferry to be built in the United States and operate on a domestic route. During the summer season, it operates a three-trip-a-day schedule with two trips a day in earlier spring and later in the fall.

The ferry will be in Sturgeon Bay until about Nov. 15, when it will return to Milwaukee for berthing over the winter. Service is scheduled to begin its fifth season May 2.

November Storms Explored at Macomb Cultural Center

11/7 - Clinton Township, MI - Ric Mixter will explore November storms that have ravaged the Great Lakes since 1905. His presentation blends storytelling with archive film and interviews will be a highlight this Friday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. and again Saturday November 10 at 2p.m.

Special attention will be given to the anniversaries of the 1913 Storm and the Fitzgerald disaster in 1975. The program will also share footage of the rescue of the Novadoc crew from the 1940 Armistice Day Storm and talk about exploration of the shipwrecks lost during these killer storms.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 07

On 07 November 1871, M COURTRIGHT (wooden schooner, 276 tons, built in 1856, at Erie, Pennsylvania) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan. She struck bottom after her anchor dragged. She then became waterlogged. The crew abandoned in the yawl. The vessel went ashore several miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The revenue cutter ANDREW JOHNSON tried in vain to pull her free but couldn't. The COURTRIGHT broke up a few days later.

On 07 November 1917, while moving from the Dellwood Elevator to the Wheeler Elevator at Buffalo, New York, the G. J. GRAMMER (steel propeller bulk freighter, 326’, 3914 gt, built in 1902 at Superior, WI) struck a submerged obstruction with her propeller, causing $1,176.50 worth of damage.

On 7 November 1852, ST LOUIS (wooden side-wheeler, 190 foot, 618 tons, built in 1844, at Perrysburg, Ohio) was carrying railroad cars when she capsized and sank in a gale off Kelley's Island on Lake Erie. She was owned by Beer & Samuel Ward.

On 07 Nov 1906, the Grand Trunk carferry GRAND HAVEN (steel carferry, 306 foot, 2,320 gross tons built in 1903, at Toledo, Ohio) was put up for sale at a receiver's auction when the Grand Trunk Car Ferry Line defaulted on it's bonds. It was purchased by a new Grand Trunk subsidiary, the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company. This vessel had a long career both on the Lakes and in the Caribbean. She was finally scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario in 1970.

The T-2 converted laker HILDA MARJANNE's 1961, German-built hull forward of the engine room, minus her pilot house, was towed by the tugs G W ROGERS and BAGOTVILLE to Port Weller Dry Docks arriving there on November 7, 1983. This section was to become part of the CANADIAN RANGER.

On November 7, 1989, the SAMUEL MATHER, a.) HENRY FORD II, was moved to Toledo's C & O Frog Pond on her way to the cutter's torch.

The ARTHUR B HOMER (Hull#303), was launched November 7, 1959, for the Bethlehem Steel Corp., Cleveland, Ohio. She was the last ship built by Great Lakes Engineering at River Rouge, Michigan.

In 1902, the BRANSFORD rammed and sank the tug RECORD with a loss of a tug crewman in the Portage Lake Ship Canal in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. Renamed b.) JOHN H MC GEAN in 1916, and c.) CLIFFORD F HOOD in 1943. The HOOD was scrapped in Bilbao, Spain in 1974.

On November 7, 1913, the storm responsible for sinking or damaging more vessels than any other began a six-day assault on the Great Lakes. The "Big Blow" of 1913, struck Lake Superior on November 7 and reached Lake Michigan by November 8, where the Pittsburgh Steamship Company vessel CLARENCE A BLACK was severely damaged by the waves at the dock in Gary, Indiana.

On 7 November 1893, ALBANY (steel propeller package freighter, 267 foot, 1,918 gross tons, built in 1884, at Wyandotte, Michigan) collided with the iron freighter PHILADELPHIA in a thick fog. PHILADELPHIA took ALBANY in tow to try to save her, but she sank a few miles off Pointe aux Barques, Michigan. Her crew transferred to PHILADELPHIA, but they soon had to abandon her too since she also sank. 8 lives were lost, presumably when one of the lifeboats was run down by the still running, but abandoned, PHILADELPHIA.

On 7 November 1865, LILY DANCEY (2-mast wooden schooner, 92 foot, 132 gross tons built in 1856, at Goderich, Ontario) was carrying grain in a gale on Lake Huron when she was driven ashore near Port Elgin or Kincardine, Ontario. Her cargo was later recovered, but the schooner broke up by 27 November of that year.

The CITY OF FLINT 32 ran aground at Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1947.

Monday night the Canadian Navigator, Roger Blough, St. Clair and CSL Laurentien were anchored above Port Huron. They were joined after midnight by the downbound Edward L. Ryerson. Canadian Transfer, McKee Sons and Adam E. Cornelius were off Sandusky and Huron, Ohio with the John J. Boland near by, east of Kelley's Island. Mesabi Miner was in Thunder Bay, Ont. and the Quebecois arrived in port from Duluth later that evening.

Halifax, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, William J. Moore and Petite Forte were hunkered down behind Long Point in Lake Erie. Maritime Trader was tied up at Wharf 16 in Port Colborne and Sea Eagle II was tied at the Ramey's Bend Stone Dock.

Weather predicted for Lake Superior - Monday night, northwest gales to 40 knots, with scattered snow showers. Waves 9 to 12 feet building to 10 to 14 feet. On Tuesday north gales to 35 knots diminishing to 15 to 25 knots. Waves subsiding to 7 to 10 feet.

For Lake Michigan - Monday night northwest gales to 40 knots increasing to gales to 45 knots with rain or snow showers changing to scattered snow showers overnight. Waves 8 to 12 feet building to 14 to 18 feet. The northwest gales to 45 knots are forecast to diminish to gales to 35 knots on Tuesday with waves 14 to 18 feet. Tuesday night waves 12 to 16 feet subsiding to 5 to 8 feet overnight.

Lake Huron - West winds to 30 knots with gusts to 40 knot gales, waves 6 to 10 feet building to 8 to 12 feet. Tuesday northwest winds to 30 knots with gusts to 40 knot gales. Waves 8 to 12 feet building to 10 to 14 feet late.

Lake Erie is forecast for southwest winds to 30 knots becoming west and increasing to 35 knot gales Monday night. Waves are forecast 5 to 8 feet building to 10 to 14 feet. On Tuesday west gales to 35 knots increasing to 45 knots with waves 12 to 16 feet. Subsiding to 5 to 8 feet on Wednesday.

Lake Ontario forecast - Overnight south winds 20 to 25 knots becoming west gales to 35 knots. Waves 4 to 6 feet building to 9 to 12 feet. Tuesday southwest gales to 40 knots waves 10 to 13 feet. Tuesday night southwest gales to 40 knots becoming northwest 35 knots waves 10 to 14 feet.

From Greg Jackson

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Although a gale warning was in effect for western Lake Superior on Monday morning, the weather was mild at 7:30 a.m. and vessels were going about their business. Quebecois was outbound from Duluth bound for Thunder Bay after spending the weekend unloading cement at St. Lawrence Cement. The vessel passed the James R. Barker, which was fueling at the Murphy terminal before proceeding to the CN/DMIR ore docks. Elsewhere in port, Jumbo Spirit was at the port terminal while Kapitonas Stulpinas and Victoria were ready to load grain at CHS in Superior. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. and Paul R. Tregurtha both were due in later in the day at Midwest Energy Terminal.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
BBC Finland, which delivered windmill blades to this port and then proceeded to Duluth, returned with one tug assisting on Friday morning to the heavy lift dock in Milwaukee's inner harbor, the same dock it left on Oct. 26. After unloading cargo, BBC Finland departed Saturday.

Algonorth entered the inner harbor with the help of two G-tugs on Sunday, docking at Nidera to load grain. Sunday evening Peter R. Cresswell backed into Milwaukee's inner harbor at about 8:30 p.m., bringing salt to Milwaukee's bulk cargo dock.

Algorail arrived shortly after, with another load of salt, waiting at the Heavy Lift dock for the Cresswell to finish its unload and leave. After Cresswell departed around 1:00 a.m., Algorail berthed at the bulk cargo dock and unloaded salt. Algorail departed onto Lake Michigan at about 7 a.m. Monday.
Also Monday, cement carrier Integrity and its tug G.L. Ostrander came into Milwaukee's inner harbor from a very windy Lake Michigan, pivoting in the turning basin and unloading powdered cement at LaFarge on Jones Island.

Port Colborne -
Canadian Progress arrived early Saturday morning and backed in to unload salt at Wharf 18-1. Progress left by mid-day and was replaced by the saltie Yamaska which is unloading another imported cargo of coke for Stelco Nanticoke. Crews are just completing the demolition of the former Shell fuel dock which closed July 31, 2007. City officials report the Shell lease expires November 14 and a new operator of the fuel dock has been proposed.
Anglian Lady and PML 2501 are tied up at Wharf 16 likely for weather.

Task Force Calls for Override of Vetoed Water Bill

11/6 - Toledo, OH -The Great Lakes shipping industry is calling on Congress to override President Bush's veto of legislation that will accelerate dredging and authorize construction of a second Poe-sized Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. These provisions and others benefiting the Lakes are included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 vetoed by the President on Friday.

"The nation has not passed a Water Resources Development Act in seven years," said John D. Baker, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest coalition ever to represent Great Lakes shipping. "It is high time America started reinvesting in our port and waterway infrastructure. On the Lakes, the dredging crisis is forcing vessels to leave cargo behind virtually every time they leave port. Our reliance on a single Poe-sized Lock to connect Lake Superior to the lower four Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway jeopardizes our ability to maintain industrial production."

Baker, who is also President of the ILA's Great Lakes District. Council, further stressed a failure of the Poe Lock would cripple overseas exports from the Great Lakes.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 1495) was passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate. "Great Lakes shipping is one of the backbones of the American economy," said James H.I. Weakley, 3rd Vice President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF). "Hundreds of thousands of family-sustaining jobs depend on the 200-plus million tons of iron ore, coal, limestone, grain and other cargos that move on the Lakes each year.

Congress must override the President's veto or the efficiency of Great Lakes shipping will continue to erode." Weakley, who is also President of Lake Carriers' Association, noted that lack of adequate dredging is forcing the largest U.S.-Flag vessels on the Lakes to lose 6,000 tons of cargo each trip.

A second Poe-sized Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is one of the most important infrastructure improvements on the Great Lakes in decades. "Approximately 70 percent of U.S.-Flag carrying capacity is restricted to the Poe Lock," said Daniel L. Smith, 2nd Vice President of GLMTF. "If that lock was incapacitated by a structural failure or terrorist attack, the U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet could not meet the needs of commerce. Trying to funnel Canadian and ocean-going vessels through the one remaining lock will produce a horrendous traffic jam." Smith, who is also National Executive Vice President of American Maritime Officers, noted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers the Soo Locks the single point of failure that could cripple Great Lakes shipping.

"Waterborne commerce, on the Lakes, Rivers, and Coasts, is key to our nation's economic wellbeing and national defense capabilities," said Patrick J. O'Hern, 1st Vice President of GLMTF, and Vice President -Contact Services for Bay Shipbuilding Company. "Congress must override this veto so America can begin rebuilding its ports and waterways."

Great Lakes Maritime Task Force was founded in Toledo, Ohio, in 1992 to promote domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes. With 73 members, it is the largest coalition to ever speak for the Great Lakes shipping community and draws its membership from both labor and management representing U.S.-Flag vessel operators, shipboard and longshore unions, port authorities, cargo shippers, terminal operators, shipyards and other Great Lakes interests. Its goals include restoring adequate funding for dredging of Great Lakes deep-draft ports and waterways, construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; protecting the nation's cabotage laws; maximizing the Lakes overseas trade; and opposing exports and increased diversions of Great Lakes water.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 06

On 06 November 1880, the W R HANNA (2-mast scow-schooner, 86 foot, 103 gross tons, built in 1857) was carrying 1,600 tamarac railroad ties to Toledo on Lake Huron in a snow storm. She sprang a leak off Pointe aux Barques and filled so fast that the pump was of no use. She broached to and rolled over when about 5 miles north of Sand Beach, Michigan (now Harbor Beach), as the sun set and the snow storm turned into a blizzard. The icy waves swept over the hull while the crew clung on as best they could. Four hours later, they drifted past Sand Beach, not 500 feet from the breakwater. They shouted for help, saw lights moving here and there on the breakwater, but no help came. When the wind shifted and started to blow the vessel out into the Lake, the skipper cut away the weather lanyards and the vessel righted herself and they dropped the anchor. The weather was freezing cold; and there was no dry place left. The cabin was gone and the only spot out of water was on one side forward - a space about four feet wide by ten feet long. The waves kept washing over the waterlogged vessel, drenching the crew. The crew survived through the night. Heavy snow kept falling, cutting visibility to almost zero. Finally, at 10:00 a.m., the following morning, the storm broke and the propeller H LUELLA WORTHINGTON (wooden propeller freighter, 148 foot, 375 gross tons, built in 1880, at Lorain, Ohio), which was in the harbor, saw the wreck and rescued the crew. The skipper of the WORTHINGTON stated that he had heard the cries of the crew throughout the night, but couldn't navigate in the blinding snow storm. He was awake all night waiting for the storm to break so he could rescue the crew.

On 06 November 1867, ALBEMARLE (3-mast wooden schooner, 154 foot, 413 gross tons, built in 1867, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan to Cleveland, Ohio in a storm when she stranded and wrecked near Point Nipigon in the Straits of Mackinac. This was her first year of operation. She had been put into service just the previous July.

The US266029, a.) WILLIAM CLAY FORD was towed from Nicholson's River Rouge dock November 6, 1986, by tugs TUSKER and GLENADA to Port Maitland, Ontario for scrapping.

On November 6, 1913, the J H SHEADLE left Fort William, Ontario bound for Erie, Pennsylvania with grain and encountered fog, gale winds and a snow blizzard in one of the fiercest storms of the century.

On November 6, 1925, the Northern Navigation passenger steamer HAMONIC lost her propeller 20 miles west of Caribou Island in Lake Superior and was wallowing in gale force winds with gusts to 80 m.p.h. She was later towed to safety Pittsburgh SteamshipsÕ RICHARD TRIMBLE.

On 06 Nov 1985, Desguaces Heme began scrapping the LEON FALK JR in Gijon, Spain. This vessel was built in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1945, as the tanker a.) WINTER HILL, (504 foot, 10,534 gross tons) and then was converted to a 710 foot, 12,501 gross ton bulk freighter in Baltimore, Maryland in 1960-61.

On 6 November 1872, the wooden propeller tug MILDRED, while towing a vessel out of Alpena, Michigan, had her engine fail. Soon she was in trouble and sank. The crew was saved.

On 6 November 1827, ANN (wooden schooner, 53 foot, 58 tons, built in 1819, or 1821, at Black River, Ohio) was carrying salt, general merchandise and passengers when she was driven ashore on Long Point almost opposite Erie, Pennsylvania. 7 Lives were lost, including 5 passengers. 6 survived.

In 1912, the Pere Marquette Railroad announced plans to build a new roundhouse at Ludington, Michigan, it still stands today.

On 6 November 1874, The Port Huron Times listed the following vessels lost in the month of October and in the first week of November of that year: Propellers - BROOKLYN, FRANKFORT, NEW YORK; tug DOUGLAS; schooners - CITY OF PAINSVILLE, WANDERER, PREBLE, THOS S MOTT; and barges - CLIFTON and SHERMAN.

On 06 November 1892, the CHARLES J. KERSHAW (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 223’, 1323 gt, built in 1874 at Bay City [Bangor], Michigan) delivered the first cargo of iron ore to Conneaut, Ohio.

On November 6, 1897, The package freighter 'Idaho' (wooden propeller package freighter, 220 foot, 1,110 gross tons, built in 1863, at Cleveland, Ohio) sank in a violent storm off Long Point, Ontario, Lake Erie, taking with her Captain Alexander Gillis & nineteen crew members. What followed in this storm is still called by some, "The greatest example of seamanship and rescue performed by a maximum size vessel on the Great Lakes." Captain Frank Root and crew of the steel steamer 'Mariposa' (348 foot, 2898 gross tons, built in 1892 at Globe Iron Works, Cleveland) made three passes by the sunken Idaho's 100' spar in order to save two remaining 'Idaho' crew members. Captain Root's First mate, Myron K. Chamberlain, had sighted the wrecked Idaho survivors clinging frozen to the spar while he was on watch during the Mariposa's down bound trip across stormy Lake Erie. "Half dead and frozen" the Idaho crew members; Second mate Louis LaForce & Deckhand William Gill, were returned to the thankful city of Buffalo, New York. They soon recovered from their awful experience on the storm swept lake, ever thankful for Captain Frank Root and the 'Mariposa' crew for their courage and persistence in rescuing them in the teeth of a November gale estimated at 58mph.

On 6 November 1883, GUIDING STAR (3-mast wooden schooner, 139 foot, 324 tons, built in 1869, at Oswego, New York) was carrying coal to Milwaukee in fog when she went ashore 12 miles north of Milwaukee. Four of the crew made it to shore in the yawl, but it was wrecked in the process. The rest of the crew was finally rescued by the Milwaukee Lifesavers.

Crews began painting the hull of the SAGINAW (formerly JOHN J BOLAND) in the colors of Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. (gray) on 06 Nov 1999, at Sarnia, Ontario. The vessel had recently been purchased from American Steamship Co. Inside the vessel, crews were gutting the living quarters to remove asbestos and add fire proof walls and new flooring. The engine room equipment and the unloading gear were also refurbished.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Saturday had the tug Anglian Lady and barge PML 2501 arrived at 5:30 a.m. Tug Tradewind Service and barge Energy 5501 departed for Toledo at 6:30 a.m. The CCGC Griffon arrived in Burlington at 8 a.m. going to the Canada Centre for Inland Waters.
Hamilton Energy departed at 2:30 p.m. to the Port Weller anchorage for bunkering services.The tug John Spence and barge McAsphalt 401 departed at 3 p.m. for the canal. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin departed Stelco at 3:30 p.m. for the Welland Canal.

Doug Fairchild/Boatnerd Memorial Fund

Today in Great Lakes History - November 05

While towing the SS Amoco Wisconsin, on November 5, 1980, the Lauren Castle tripped on the tow wire and capsized and sank with the loss of the engineer, William Stephan Sr., 58 of Sturgeon Bay/Elmhurst, Il, in West Traverse Bay approximately five miles south of Suttons Bay, Mi. in 400 feet of water.

At 2:00 a.m. on 05 November 1884, the steamer GRACE GRUMMOND (iron side-wheel excursion steamer, 138 foot, 250 tons, built in 1856, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the survey steamer JEFFERSON DAVIS, specifically for the survey of the Great Lakes) burned at Grand Haven, Michigan. Her cargo of apples, pears and potatoes was also destroyed. No lives were lost. After the fire she was towed to Chicago to lay up until it was decided what to do with her. It is not known if she ever operated as a steamer again, but in 1887, she was rebuilt as a schooner at Milwaukee. She was one of the only sizable iron-hulled schooners ever used on the lakes. In 1904, as a tow-barge, she was sold Canadian and renamed BALTIC (C.116760). She was later used as a breakwater at Clear Creek, Ontario and was finally scrapped in 1939.

On 05 November 1852, BUCKEYE STATE (3-mast wooden bark, 132 foot, 310 tons, built in 1852, at Black River, Ohio) stranded off S. Milwaukee Point on Lake Michigan in a storm and was then broken up by waves. This was her first year of operation and she had been in service less than three months.

On 05 November 1890, the first fog signal building at Old Mackinac Point was put into operation for the first time. The 20’ x 40’ frame building was covered with corrugated iron on the outside and smooth iron on the inside. It had two steam boilers and two steam whistles – a duplication just in case one failed. This building was used until the new fog signal building was competed in 1907.

The LOUIS R DESMARAIS cleared Owen Sound, Ontario on her maiden voyage November 5, 1977, bound for Thunder Bay, Ontario. to load 27,117 gross tons of iron ore for Stelco at Hamilton, Ontario. Her forward end was replaced at Port Weller in 2001, and renamed b.) CSL LAURENTIEN.

On her final trip, the IRVIN L CLYMER passed up bound at the Soo on November 5, 1990, and arrived at Duluth two days later to unload limestone at the Hallet Dock #5 after which she moved to her final lay-up berth at Fraser's shipyard and tied up blowing one last three long and two short salute from her whistle. In 1993, she was sold to Azcon Corp. of Duluth, Minnesota for scrapping.

The GRAND HAVEN was raised on November 5, 1969, from the Old River Bed where she sank on September 19, 1969. She was raised for scrapping.

Mr. J. W. Isherwood visited the Great Lakes Engineering Works ship yard on November 5, 1910, and personally inspected the hull which was being built according to his patented design. This vessel, the WILLIAM P PALMER was the first vessel on the Great Lakes built to the Isherwood system of longitudinal framing.

On 05 Nov 1917, a foggy and rainy day, the JAMES S DUNHAM (steel propeller bulk freighter, 420 foot, 4,795 gross tons, built in 1906, at W. Bay City, Michigan) sank in a collision with the steamer ROBERT FULTON (steel propeller bulk freighter, 424 foot, 4,219 gross tons, built 1896, at Wyandotte, Michigan) just below Grassy Island on the Detroit River. Repairs for both vessels totaled $125,000.

On 5 November 1896, ACADIA (iron-framed wooden propeller, 176 foot, built in 1867, at Hamilton, Ontario) was driven ashore and broke up in a gale near the mouth of the Michipicoten River in Lake Superior. her crew made it to shore and five of them spent more than a week trying to make it to the Soo.

The Port Huron Times of 5 November 1878: "The schooner J P MARCH is reported lost with all on board. She was lost at Little Traverse Bay on the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The MARCH was a three masted schooner and was owned by Benton & Pierce of Chicago."

On 5 November 1838, TOLEDO (2-mast wooden schooner, 98 foot, 215 tons, built in 1836, at Buffalo) was carrying dry goods valued at more than $100,000 up-bound on Lake Erie when she was driven ashore by a gale a half mile east of the mouth of the Grand River. She broke in two. No lives were lost.

On 5 November 1869, TITAN (wooden schooner, 132 foot, 361 gross tons, built in 1856, at Oswego, New York) was carrying 17,500 bushels of wheat on Lake Michigan in a terrific gale. She was driven toward shore. Her anchors were dropped as she came close in and they held for about an hour. However, the ship finally dragged ashore, losing both of her masts and breaking up as she struck. Of the nine on board, only one survived and that one was found crawling along the beach in a dazed state. When she was new, TITAN broke the record by completing the trip from Chicago to Oswego in only 8 days and 4 hours. Her record only lasted one day since the schooner SURPRISE broke it by 6 hours the following day.

In the summer of 1875, the propeller EAST ran down and sank the tug JOE MAC, not even pausing to save her crew from drowning. The following winter Messrs. Seymour & Co., owners of the JOE MAC, obtained a judgment in a U.S. Court against the owners of the EAST. Since the EAST was a Canadian vessel, they were unable to seize her because the judgment could only be effected in American waters. On Sunday morning, 05 Nov 1876, the steam tug SEYMOUR, with a United States Marshal and posse on board, proceeded up to Allen's (presumably at Ogdensburg, New York), and there lay in wait for the EAST, which went up by the Crossover light channel into American waters. The SEYMOUR ran out and captured the vessel and brought her to Averell's wharf in U.S. waters to await justice.

CALCITE II arrived in Sarnia at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, 05 Nov. 2000, for lay-up. After leaving Cleveland the previous day, she anchored in Western Lake Erie, so she could arrive at the North Slip in Sarnia when shore side personnel would be on-hand to assist. A chartered bus from Rogers City left about noon to take many of the crew home. Around 4:10 p.m., the down bound MYRON C TAYLOR passed her fleetmate CALCITE II, perhaps for the last time in USS Great Lakes Fleet colors, and she blew her sister an extended 3 long and 2 short master salute. The TAYLOR was bound for Cleveland with a load of stone.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 04

The Great Lakes Steamship Company steamer NORWAY passed downbound through the Soo Locks with 6,609 tons of rye. This cargo increased the total tonnage transiting the locks in 1953 to 120,206,088 tons - a new one season tonnage record. Renamed b.) RUTH HINDMAN in 1964, she was scrapped at Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1978.

On 04 November 1883, MAYFLOWER (wooden propeller freighter "steam barge", 185 foot, 623 gross tons, built in 1852, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying lumber when she stranded in a gale off Point Albino near Buffalo, New York where the waves pounded her to pieces. The crew made it to shore in the yawl. She was built as a very fine passenger steamer for the Western Transportation Line then in 1868, she was rebuilt as a Òsteam bargeÓ.

On 4 November 1875, SWAN (wooden propeller tug, 11 gross tons, built in 1862, at Buffalo, New York) caught fire while lying out in the Saginaw River near East Saginaw. She was abandoned by the crew and burned to the waterÕs edge.

The JOSEPH G BUTLER JR (steel bulk freighter, 525 foot, 6,588 gross tons) was launched on 04 Nov 1905, at Lorain, Ohio for the Tonopah Steamship Co. (Hutchinson & Co., mgr.). She lasted until 1971, when she was stripped of her cabins and scuttled, along with HENRY R PLATT JR, at Steel Co. of Canada plant, Burlington Bay, Hamilton, Ontario, as breakwater and fill.

The CARTIERCLIFFE HALL was registered at Toronto, Ontario on 04 Nov 1977, but didn't enter service until the spring of 1978, because of mechanical difficulties during her sea trials.

On 04 Nov, 1986, the TEXACO CHIEF was renamed A G FARQUHARSON. She was renamed c.) ALGONOVA in 1998.

CALCITE II departed Cleveland at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, 04 Nov 2000, on her last trip for USS Great Lakes Fleet. She sailed up bound for Sarnia, Ontario where she spent the winter in lay-up. Grand River Transportation had entered into a sale agreement with USS Great Lakes Fleet, Inc. for the purchase of the CALCITE II, GEORGE A SLOAN and MYRON C TAYLOR. Built as the WILLIAM G CLYDE in 1929, CALCITE II sails today as the c.) MAUMEE.

HERON BAY proceeded under her own power to Lauzon, Quebec for her final lay-up on November 4, 1978.

CSL's, NIPIGON BAY was launched November 4, 1950.

The CHARLES L HUTCHINSON developed a sizable leak and almost sank November 4, 1925, during her tow to Superior after she struck a reef a few nights before.

The ROBERT C STANLEY's keel was laid November 4, 1942.

UNITED STATES GYPSUM of 1910, grounded at Toledo, Ohio on November 4, 1972, resulting in damage totaling $125,000. Her propeller was removed and the rudder shaft was locked in position to finish the season as a manned barge on the coal run from Toledo to Detroit, Michigan.

The JOSEPH H THOMPSON became not only the largest vessel on the Great Lakes but also the longest dry bulk cargo vessel in the world when it entered service on November 4, 1952, departing Chicago on its first trip.

Setting the stage for the fateful storm which followed less than a week later which sank the EDMUND FITZGERALD, many locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin were setting all-time record high temperatures for the month of November during the period of November 4-6, 1975. Grand Marais, Minnesota reached 67 degrees on November 5 and Superior reached 74 degrees on November 6, both all-time records for the month. Many other notable Great Lakes storms, including the Armistice Day storm of 1940, and the storm that sank the HENRY STEINBRENNER in 1953, were proceeded by record-setting warm weather.

On 4 November 1877, MARY BOOTH (wooden scow-schooner, 132 tons, built in 1857, at Buffalo, New York) was carrying maple lumber in a storm in Lake Michigan. She became waterlogged but her crew doggedly clung to her until she appeared ready to turn turtle. Then her crew abandoned her and she rolled over. She drifted in the lake for several days. The crew landed at White Lake, Michigan and they were near death.

The Port Huron Times of 4 November 1878: "The propeller CITY OF MONTREAL is believed to have gone down on Lake Michigan on Friday [1 NOV 1878]. The schooner LIVELY, laden with coal for Bay City, is reported ashore 6 miles above Sand Beach, having gone on at 12 o'clock Sunday night [3 NOV 1878]. The schooner WOODRUFF, ashore at Whitehall, is a total loss. Two men were drowned, one died from injuries received, and Capt. Lingham was saved. The tugs E M PECK and MYSTIC, which went from the Sault to the assistance of the propeller QUEBEC, were wrecked near where she lies, one being on the beach and the other sunk below her decks. Both crews were rescued and were taken to St. Joseph Island."

On 4 November 1856, J W BROOKS (wooden propeller, 136 foot, 322 tons, built in 1851, at Detroit) was carrying provisions and copper ingots to Ogdensburg, New York in a storm when she foundered on Lake Ontario, 8 miles northeast of False Ducks Light. Estimates of the loss of lives range from 22 to 50. In July 1857, she was partially raised and some of her cargo was recovered. She only had a five year career, but besides this final incident, she had her share of disasters. In July 1855, she had a boiler explosion and in May of that same year, she sank in Canadian waters.

On 04 November 1886, the SEA STAR (wooden scow-schooner, 91’, 95 gt, built in 1855 at Irving, NY) was loading wood at Ahnapee when she slipped her moorings during a storm and was driven out onto Lake Michigan where she sank nine miles from the east entrance to the Sturgeon Bay canal. The crew was rescued by the Sturgeon Bay Lifesaving Service crew.

This past month the level of Lake Superior rose 14 cm (6 inches), while on average the level falls by 4 cm (2 inches) in October.

The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron declined by 5 cm (2 inches) this October, while on average these lakes decline by 7 cm (3 inches) in October. The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 57 cm (22 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-November level, and is 11 cm (4 inches) lower than it was a year ago.

The Board continues to monitor conditions both on Lake Superior and downstream and will advise the International Joint Commission accordingly on those conditions.

Brigadier General Bruce A. Berwick, Commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the United States Board Member. Mr. David Fay is the Board Member for Canada.

Harper will travel to Nipigon, Ont., on the northern shore of the lake to announce the creation of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. The protected area includes 10,000 square kilometres of water.

Along with Environment Minister John Baird and Thunder Bay MP Joe Comuzzi, Harper will make the announcement on the edge of the new conservation area. It will extend roughly 140 kilometres east of Thunder Bay, taking in the zone's rocky coastline and islands.

It will also extend in a triangular shape down into the lake, encompassing about 10,000 square kilometres of water. "It will become the largest freshwater conservation area in the world," said CBC reporter Margo McDiarmid.

The area includes endangered trout species and their spawning grounds, as well as caribou, which is unusual for that part of Ontario.

Planning for the new protected area has been going on for more than 10 years, beginning under the former Liberal government. The north shore is known for its rocky shoreline.

It will protect the area from things like mining and oil and gas development — anything that could damage the water or delicate landscape. "It's globally significant in this age of fresh water shortages and pollution," said Joannie McGuffin, of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy. "Fresh water all over the world is the gold of today."

Environmentalists are delighted with the announcement, but point out Canada is a big country with many other areas also in need of protection. "We have about eight per cent protected land across the country and in water, we have less than one per cent, so we have a way to move forward," said Sabine Jesson, of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Today in Great Lakes History - November 03

On 03 November 1907, tug ESCORT (wooden propeller, 45 foot, 40 gross tons, built in 1894, at Port Colborne, Ontario) tried to pass the barge BENJ HARRISON at the mouth of the Niagara River. In a navigational error, the tug sheared under the barge's bow, was run over and sank. Three lives were lost.

The B A PEERLESS sailed on her maiden voyage November 3, 1952, bound for Superior, Wisconsin where 110,291 barrels of crude oil were loaded destined for British-American's refinery at Clarkson, Ontario. The PEERLESS was built for the express purpose of transporting crude oil from the Interprovincial/Lakehead Pipeline terminus at Superior to B/A's Clarkson refinery. The vessel lasted until 1991, when she was broken up.

On 3 November 1898, PACIFIC (wooden propeller passenger/package freighter, 179 foot, 918 gross tons, built in 1883, at Owen Sound, Ontario) caught fire at the Grand Trunk dock at Collingwood, Ontario. She burned to a shell despite a concerted effort to save her. She was later towed out into Georgian Bay and scuttled.

On 3 November 1855, DELAWARE (wooden propeller, 173 foot, 368 tons, built in 1846, at Black River, Ohio) was carrying general merchandise from Chicago to Buffalo with a stop at Milwaukee. She was driven ashore by a gale 8 miles south of Sheboygan, Wisconsin and sank. 10 or 11 of the 18 on board lost their lives. Within a few days, only her arches were visible above the water.

Dismantling of the H C HEIMBECKER began on 03 Nov 1981, by Triad Salvage Company at Ashtabula, Ohio and was completed the following year. This vessel was originally named GEORGE W PERKINS (steel bulk freighter, 556 foot, 6,553 gross tons, built in 1905, at Superior, Wisconsin.)

On November 3, 1910, ATHABASCA (steel propeller passenger steamer, 263 foot, 1,774 gross tons, built in 1883, in Scotland) collided with the tug GENERAL near Lime Island in the St. Mary's River. As a result of the collision, the GENERAL sank. She was later recovered and rebuilt as a bulk freighter and lasted until she was broken up in 1948.

On 03 November 1923, the Becker Steamship Company’s FRANCIS L. ROBBINS (Steel propeller bulk freighter, 401’, 4222 gt, built in 1905 at Cleveland, OH) was sailing in rough weather on Lake Michigan when she stranded on Fisherman’s Shoal. Her bottom and side shell plates were damaged. Repairs cost $29,838.28.

11/1 - Duluth - United States Steel Corporation has closed a $1.2 billion deal to acquire Canadian steelmaker Stelco Inc., officials of U.S. Steel announced today.

The new company is being renamed U.S. Steel Canada Inc.

With the acquisition, U.S. Steel will have flat-rolled steelmaking operations on both sides of the Great Lakes, said John Surma, U.S. Steel chairman and chief executive officer.

Stelco Inc., with an annual steelmaking capacity of about 4.8 million tons, is based in Hamilton, Ontario.

11/1 - Port McNicoll - Steve Duncan is on the south shore of the slip in Port McNicoll digging up a marine mystery.

Several years ago, Scott Garrett was walking his dog along the abandoned CP property when he stumbled across a large iron shackle protruding out of the weedy shoreline. “I was walking the dog and saw the links. I actually forgot about it until I saw the anchor on the town dock in Midland.”

The half-forgotten memory leapt to life when Garrett was strolling Midland’s waterfront and spied the large ‘unknown anchor’ that sits by the town docks, inviting the young and the young-at-heart to clamber on and contemplate the heyday of the town’s shipping past.

Garrett, a local history buff passionate about Port McNicoll, recalled his discovery and contacted Skyline International Development – the company that is transforming the former CP lands into a new world-class residential development. Don Mitchell, who serves as an advisor to the Skyline development in Port McNicoll, arranged to dig up whatever lay beneath the soil.

Duncan, whose company Steve’s Bobcat is installing 3,000 feet of steel breakwall on the north shore of the slip in preparation for the first phase of development, brought the equipment around to the south shore. Using the bucket to first dig away the dirt and then attaching a chain to lift it, Duncan was able to gradually wrestle the heavy anchor from the ground.

When finally cleared from its resting place, the massive anchor tipped the scales at 7,842 pounds. That’s a hefty weight, considering the tip of one giant fluke was sheared off, the damage done long before Duncan’s excavation work began.

Looking at the anchor suspended from the chain, Garrett said, “I’m excited. I’m a little disappointed one tip was broken off one of the flukes.” However, that damage may be one of the reasons the anchor was left behind.

Once the layers of years of accumulated soil are washed from its surface, Garrett hopes they’ll be able to find some identifying features to help give a clue to this touchstone to the past. His theory is the anchor is likely off a grain boat, one that lay at rest in the mile long slip during the 1980s after the grain elevator ceased operation.

After the stern of one ship broke free and did damage, the ships were more securely fastened to shore.

“When the ships were laid up, they buried the anchors in the ground to stabilize them,” Garrett said. Since the ships were destined for scrap, they had no power to free the anchor and probably cut the chains. As the anchor was most likely already missing the tip of the fluke, Garrett guesses it wasn’t worth salvaging and lay where it was left, forgotten, waiting to be uncovered decades later.

As the excavator did its work, a small group looked on. “This is exciting,” Mitchell said. “We’ll clean it up and see if we can do something with it.”

He said Skyline is respectful of the proud history of the area and said future plans call to establish a railway and marine museum on site to help the town attract tourists who would already be visiting other nearby attractions such as the Martyrs’ Shrine, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, and the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre.

The AMERICAN EAGLE (wooden scow-schooner, 142 gt, built in 1863 at Dover, OH) arrived at Cleveland, Ohio with a load of limestone in the night and anchored outside of the breakwater, planning to enter the harbor in daylight. However, a full force gale struck at 0500 hours on 01 November 1871 and the vessel had to weigh her anchor to try to get into the harbor. The gale blew the vessel into the west pier, smashing its stern. The crew escaped in the lifeboat, but the AMERICAN EAGLE broke up and foundered.