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Port Reports - December 31 Port Colborne - Alex Howard Port Weller - Eric Holmes Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Saturday should see the last of the yacht club workboats go into winter lay-up. The Royal Canadian Yacht Club's Elsie D. has been shuttling welders from the city to the island, where the venerable yacht club tender Hiawatha is having some of it's original 110-year old bottom plates replaced. The work was scheduled to be finished today. The tug W. B. Indock has been hauled out at the Atlas crane for some repairs before it returns to work on the Humber Bay breakwall project. Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 31 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 31 At 4:00 p.m., 31 December 1895, the PURITON (wooden propeller passenger/package freight steamer, 172 foot, 289 gross tons, built in 1887, at Benton Harbor, Michigan) burned at the dock in Oak Hill (Manistee), Michigan. She was a total loss. Upon suggestion from the U.S. Maritime Commission, surplus World War II cargo vessels, many of which had laid up on the James River, were made available for sale under the Great Lakes Vessel Sales Act of 1950 (enacted September 28, 1950) to be converted for Great Lakes use. The Act allowed Great Lakes fleets to purchase up to 10 surplus ships by December 31, 1951, and receive a 90% cost subsidy to convert and refurbish them for Lakes use. The first such conversion occurred when the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. of Cleveland, Ohio bought the NOTRE DAME VICTORY on December 10, 1950. The GEORGE M HUMPHREY of 1953, was laid up for the last time at the old Great Lakes Engineering Works slip at River Rouge, Michigan beginning December 31, 1983. The QUEDOC, a.) NEW QUEDOC, was laid up for the last time on December 31, 1984, at Toronto, Ontario along side the SENATOR OF CANADA. On 31 December 1884, ADMIRAL (wooden propeller steam tug, 49 gross tons, built in 1883, at Chicago, Illinois) had her boiler explode in Chicago harbor. All four of the crew was killed. In 1884, the PERE MARQUETTE NO 1 ran aground at Ludington, Michigan. December 31, 1919 - The entire Ann Arbor carferry fleet was tied up in Frankfort, Michigan due to bad weather. On 31 December 1889, H. M. Loud of Oscoda, Michigan sold the 551 ton wooden schooner ANGUS SMITH to Mitchell Brothers of Marine City, Michigan for $16,000. The vessel was built in 1871. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Oglebay Norton Continues to Consider Sale of Fleet 12/30 - On Wednesday Oglebay Norton announced the sale of O-N Minerals (St. Clair) Company to United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. In the press release the company confirmed that it has received numerous offers for its Great Lakes self-unloading vessels, but has not entered into an agreement for completion of a sale transaction at this time. Michael D. Lundin, President and CEO of Oglebay Norton Company, noted, "We are committed to serving our customers by providing quality chemical limestone, lime and industrial sands; however, in order to do so, it is not necessary for the Company to own and operate Great Lakes vessels. If the Company is able to enter into a transaction which ensures a long-term contract for carrying our stone and provides value to our shareholders, we will likely complete a transaction with respect to our vessels." |
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Boblo Boat Ste. Claire Not abandoned Contrary to past information, the steamer Ste. Claire has not been stranded in River Rouge. As one of the volunteers, we have been working to get it ready, the is owner making arrangements for insurance and towing, and waiting for the Columbia to be shrink wrapped. After all that is complete, it will be placed next to the Columbia for the winter. Reported by Mike Benedict, Ste. Claire volunteer. |
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Port Reports - December 30 Goderich - Dale Baechler Hamilton - Eric Holmes Milwaukee - John N. Vogel & Bill Bedell Sturgeon Bay - Wendell Wilke Montreal - Sylvia Masson Saginaw River 2005 - Todd Shorkey In all, 346 passages were logged in 2005. The first being the tug Donald C Hannah on January 12th, and the last, the CSL Tadoussac on December 20th. Fifty two different vessels plied the water of the Saginaw River. The most frequent visitor was the tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort and barge Great Lakes Trader logging 34 trips up the river. Other frequent visitors were the tug Invincible and barge McKee Sons (22 trips), tug Rebecca Lynn (25 trips), and the CSL Tadoussac (19 trips). Twenty different shipping companies were represented with Lower Lakes Towing/Grand River Navigation leading the way with 59 visits. They were followed by American Steamship Company at 50 visits, and Andrie Inc. with 42. Twenty three docks saw deliveries with the busiest docks being the Wirt Stone docks in Bay City and Saginaw seeing 51 and 39 deliveries respectfully. Bay Aggregates in Bay City at 48 cargos, the Sargent dock in Essexville at 29 and the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City at 27 were the other top docks along the river. There were a few unusual visitors in 2005 such as the tug William J. Moore & barge McCleary's Spirit, the tug Anglian Lady with barge PML 2105, and the University of Michigan research vessel Laurentian. Infrequent visitors such as the John J. Boland (1 visit), H. Lee White (1 visit), Frontenac (1 visit), and up to a few years ago Saginaw River workhorses the David Z. Norton and the Wolverine with 1 visit each. Absent from the Saginaw River in 2005 was the vessel named after the river itself, the Saginaw. Other vessels who usually make an appearance, but who were no shows in 2005 were the Herbert C. Jackson and American Mariner. I would like to give a big thank you to fellow boatnerds Steve Hause, Gordy Garris and Lon Morgan with helping me to fill in the gaps in my shipping log when I missed something along the river. Without them, this information would not be as accurate or even available to share. |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 30 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 30 On December 30, 1987, the THOMAS WILSON under tow in the North Atlantic heading to be scrapped, parted her towline and sunk near position 34.08'N by 61.35'12"W (approximately in line with Cape Hatteras, North Carolina) early the next day. GEORGE M HUMPHREY (Hull#796) was launched December 30, 1926, for Kinsman Transit Co. at Lorain, Ohio by the American Ship Building Co. Renamed b.) CAPT JOHN ROEN in 1945, c.) ADAM E CORNELIUS in 1948 and d.) CONSUMERS POWER in 1958, scrapped at Taiwan in 1988. The first steel carferry PERE MARQUETTE was launched in nearly completed form on December 30, 1896. The ship was built for the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad (predecessor to the Pere Marquette) and entered service just a few weeks later. Data from: Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Port Reports - December 29 Goderich - Dale Baechler Hamilton - Eric Holmes Algocape is at Pier 25 North for winter lay up as of Tuesday night. Thunder Bay - Tom Stewart Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Marquette - Lee Rowe Prescott - Ron Beaupre |
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Public Photo Gallery updated |
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B F JONES was launched December 29, 1906, as a.) GENERAL GARRETSON. KINSMAN INDEPENDENT was launched in 1906, as a.) WILLIAM B KERR (Hull#72) at Chicago, Illinois by Chicago Ship Building Co. for the Weston Transit Co. Kinsman's new GEORGE M HUMPHREY was christened on December 29, 1926. The GOLDEN HIND was laid up for the last time on December 29, 1985, at Toronto, Ontario. On 29 December 1813, ARIEL (4-gun armed schooner, 112 tons, built in 1813, at Erie, Pennsylvania as part of Perry's fleet) ran aground in a squall at Black River (now Buffalo) and was burned by the British. CAROLINE (wooden sidewheeler, 71 foot, 46 tons, built in 1822, at New York City, New York) was chartered to transport arms and munitions to Navy Island near Buffalo. On 29 December 1837, she was commandeered by about 60 Canadian rebels under the command of a Royal Navy officer at Schlosser on the Niagara River. In the fight that followed, she was set afire, abandoned and allowed to drift down the river. Some sources say that she went over the Falls. This incident caused hostile feelings along the U.S. northeastern frontier for many months. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the
Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books
includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Lansdowne takes on water, rests on bay floor 12/28 - Plans to make the Lansdowne into a floating restaurant sank months ago. Now the rusting railroad barge at the foot of the Sassafras Street Pier in Erie, Pennsylvania has sunk too. The 324-foot barge started to take on water Sunday afternoon, and now the entire hull and deck of the barge are underwater, partially resting in about 12 feet of water in Presque Isle Bay, said Eric Guerrein, Lakeshore Towing Services president. Lakeshore had been hired by the barge's owner, Specialty Restaurants Corp. of Anaheim, Calif., to periodically inspect the barge. Lakeshore will send scuba divers to inspect the barge today to determine what caused it to sink. The crew will try to repair the vessel. But if it's damaged too extensively, the barge will have to be removed. "We don't know when we bring it up whether it will be seaworthy," Guerrein said. U.S. Coast Guard crewmen have already investigated the Lansdowne to see if any pollutants were on board, such as oil or gas, Petty Officer Dustin Wells said. They found none, he said. "We're monitoring the situation," Wells said. "But for now, we're staying out of any salvage operation." Specialty Restaurants had planned to turn the vessel -- in Erie since 1999 and docked at the pier since 2003 -- into a 22,000-square-foot restaurant that would have included an outdoor patio and two banquet rooms. But those plans fell through when Specialty did not secure funding. Even so, the barge didn't leave. Specialty officials told the Erie Times-News in September 2004 that the Lansdowne would depart in spring 2005 for Toronto, where it would become a restaurant. That never happened. As a result, Specialty still pays the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority $1,000 a month rent to dock the barge at the Sassafras Street Pier. Specialty is current on its payments, Port Authority Executive Director Ray Schreckengost said. Specialty has been notified of the 121-year-old barge's condition and is making plans to remove it, Schreckengost said. Even before the sinking, Specialty had been told it must move the barge out of Presque Isle Bay by March 1 because of the ongoing construction of the bayfront convention center. "We wrote them a letter,"Schreckengost said. "They know they have to have it out of there in March. But I don't know exactly what their plans are or how soon they plan to move. I assume they'll hire somebody to tow it away." Guerrein said several different reasons are possible for the barge's sinking. When the bay froze earlier this month, the hull or another part of the vessel could have cracked and started leaking with the recent warmer temperatures, he said. Or the boat could have tipped to the north because of a strong southern wind this weekend, which causes the level of the bay to drop. That could have caused some of the openings below the deck to take on water. "Once it starts, there's no way to stop it," Guerrein said. "Whatever happened to it must have been catastrophic." The heavy chains, which were placed on the barge to keep it docked at the pier, are now acting as a stabilizer, Guerrein said. Officials from Specialty Restaurants could not be reached for comment Monday. Guerrein said he talked to an owner of the company Sunday and was given the go-ahead to proceed with the salvage operation. "While we've got a little break in the weather here, we want to get that thing up," Guerrein said.
November 1999: The Lansdowne arrives in Erie. Picture in Today's News Photo Gallery Reported by the Erie Times-News |
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Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering Annual General Meeting CIME has scheduled their annual meeting for Thursday, January 19, 2006, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Front Street, Toronto, ON. The feature presentation will be made by Peter Cairns, President, Canadian Shipbuilding and Repair Assoc. entitled "Current Status of Shipbuilding and Repair in Canada". Additional information and tickets are available from Albert Davies at Seaway Marine Transport, (905) 988-4344 phone or adavies@seawaymarinetransport.com |
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Boatnerd Calendar of Events The Boatnerd Calendar of Events has been started for 2006. If your organization would like to be listed, please use the handy form available on the Calendar of Events page. Click on the icon in the upper right corner, or send the information to news@boatnerd.net. |
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Port Reports - December 28 Duluth-Superior - Al Miller John B. Aird and John D. Leitch were both expected to arrive late in the evening for Midwest Energy Terminal. The coal dock has at least 15 more loads scheduled after the Aird and Leitch, with the last one currently the Paul R. Tregurtha on Jan. 11. Goderich - Dale Baechler Toronto - Charlie Gibbons |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 28 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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The HENRY FORD II was laid up in the Rouge Steel slip at Dearborn, Michigan on December 28, 1988. On 28 December 1907, the CALDERA (steel propeller freighter, 504 foot, 6,328 gross tons) was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan. On 28 December 1881, the steamer R J GORDON arrived in Port Huron from Marine City on her maiden voyage with a large number of passengers. She was powered with a steam engine with an 18" cylinder and 20" stroke. Her dimensions were 116 feet long with a 26 foot beam. She cost nearly $20,000 and was built to run between Algonac and Lexington. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Port Reports - December 27 Marquette - Lee Rowe Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain At Lafarge on Christmas Eve the McKee Sons/ tug Invincible made an unusual visit, being tied up at the coal dock and unloading product into the storage hopper. The McKee Sons departed sometime on Christmas morning. Around noon the G. L Ostrander/Integrity arrived in port to load cement. Later in the afternoon the Steamer Alpena came in and parked at the coal dock to wait for the departure of the Integrity. The Alpena is decorated nicely for the holidays with many Christmas lights. Around 10:15 p.m. while the Alpena was under the silos, the Cuyahoga came into Lafarge and tied up at the coal dock. The Cuyahoga ( also sporting Christmas lights) swung its boom out and proceeded to unload cargo into the storage hopper. Calcite also finished its 2005 season over the weekend with the Canadian Transfer, John G. Munson, and the Adam E. Cornelius being the last 3 vessels loaded. Milwaukee - Bill Bedell Goderich - Dale Baechler |
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Coast Guard Christmas T'was the night before Christmas and all through each state,
Coast Guard families were starting to celebrate. In fact the State Department was in such a frantic, For
Santa Claus had just Landed in the Atlantic! Though the stockings were hung by the chimneys with care,
Poor Santa was gurgling, "I'll never get there." The officers and crew were so lively and quick; Sure was a
lucky break for Good ole Saint Nick. Author Unknown |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 27 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 27 The SAVIC, b.) CLIFFS VICTORY cleared the Welland Canal on Christmas night 1985, and finally anchored at Pointe aux Trembles near Montreal, Quebec on December 27, awaiting another load of scrap. The SAVIC remained there the entire winter, because the underwriters ordered that her hull be re-enforced by welding straps to her stress points for her overseas journey. The THOMAS W LAMONT as a single tow arrived at Aliaga, Turkey on December 27, 1987, where she was scrapped. The LAMONT was one of the last bulkers that retained her telescoping hatch covers to the very end. Data from: Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Lansdowne Sunk at her Mooring 12/26 - Erie, PA - The barge Lansdowne located at the foot of Sassafrass Street, appears sunk. It is locked in the ice and the superstructure is above water. The two railroad cars located on the stern are partially submerged. The mooring chains appear to be intact. Evidently she is resting on the bottom. It is rumored to be the oldest barge (or steamer hull) located anywhere on the Great Lakes. |
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Why Shipping Matters 12/26 - During the 2004 shipping season, the Twin Ports (Duluth-Superior) handled more than 41 million metric tons of water-borne cargo. Most of that freight was carried by lakers to U.S. and Canadian destinations. In all, 17.5 million tons of taconite and 17.1 million tons of coal moved out of Duluth and Superior last shipping season. The port handled just 2.6 million tons of grain during the 2004 season, much of it destined for markets abroad. It was the weakest year for grain shipments since the Seaway opened in 1959. Although final figures aren't available, 2005 grain shipments appear to be stronger. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority last conducted an economic impact study following the 2001 shipping season. That report indicated the port generated $210 million in business and 1,227 direct jobs. The study also found that another 766 people were indirectly employed because of port activities. In 2001, overseas shipments accounted for about 7 percent of the cargo handled by the port, according to the Port Authority. The majority of that business was with customers in Europe and the Mediterranean. Reported by the Duluth News Tribune |
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Welland Canal Still Moving Slowly 12/26 - 10:00 a.m. Update - Only seven vessels are presently in the Welland Canal. No one is waiting in the Port Colborne Anchorage. The only two vessels in the Port Weller Anchorage are down bounds waiting for pilots. The tug Glevevis continues to stationed in the canal to assist with any ice problems. 12/26 - Warmer temperatures over the Christmas weekend are allowing the canal to increase traffic flow but not without precautions and lots of work by the tugs contracted to assist with ice control. The 3 tugs are working 24 hours per day to move ice away from lock gates and to help move the ice into the locks to flush it. The canal also has a number of air compressors working to create bubblers to prevent ice from jamming between the lock gates and the walls when the gates open. There are 9 ships anchored at both ends of the canal and another 9 transiting today. Over 20 ships are listed on the Seaway site as in or expected at the canal before closing. Yesterday the ships were brought as close to a lock as possible. Ice was then allowed into the lock and the gates closed. The ice was flushed down and the lock turned back. The ships also used their bow thrusters to keep ice from getting between the ship and the wall. Then the ship was allowed to enter the lock and be lowered. In this way the amount of ice in the lock with each ship was minimized. This is time consuming but minimized problems. It's fascinating to watch and listen as the various parties work together to get traffic flowing again. The temperature is expected to dip below freezing again by mid-week. With luck the ship backlog will be diminished and most of the ice currently in the canal will have been flushed through or melted by then. The canal is scheduled to close for the season on December 30. Reported by Paul Beesley |
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Toronto - Charlie Gibbons The tug M. R. Kane bound for Toronto was delayed by weather and had to put into Cobourg, Ont. It was expected to arrive late Saturday night. Toledo Seaway Sodus - Ron Walsh Soo - Goderich - Dale Baechler Sault Ste. Marie - |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 26 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 26 In 1981, the steamer ENDERS M VOORHEES laid up for the last time at the Hallett Dock #5 in Duluth, Minnesota. On 26 December 1916, the wreck of the wooden self-unloading freighter TOPEKA was leveled by dynamiting. She sank just off Windsor/Sandwich, Ontario in the Detroit River on 15 April 1916, in a collision with the small steamer CHRISTOPHER. Her machinery was removed prior to dynamiting. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Welland Traffic Continues to be Slow 12/25 - 9:00 a.m. Update - Seventeen boats are in the Welland Canal or waiting their turn at either end. In the last 10 hours, five vessels have cleared the system and four new ones have taken a place in line. Seven down bounders are anchored off Port Colborne and three off Port Weller. 12/24 - 9:00 a.m. Update - The number of boats in the canal or waiting to enter the canal has grown to 23 overnight. Several vessels have cleared the system, but addition ships have gotten in line. The current "last in line" is down bound BBC California. She is in the Port Colborne Anchorage with an estimated arrival at Lock 8 of December 31. 12/23 - 10:00 p.m. Update - Traffic is moving slowly in the canal. Twenty-One vessels are still in the canal system or waiting their turn in the anchorages off Port Colborne or Port Weller. The very last in line is apparently Michipicoten, anchored off Port Colborne, who has an estimated time of arrival for Lock 8 on December 30th. |
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Port Reports - December 25 Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski The situation in the Welland Canal seems to be wearing on the ship crews. I overheard a vessel captain on the radio chewing on one of the Seaway dispatchers Saturday morning regarding vessel traffic movement (or lack there of ) through the Welland Canal for the last 2 days. He sounded like he was being jerked around about where, when, who, and how they would be allowed to move through the canal and the tension was showing. The Seaway people stayed professional on the radio and I bet they must be under a lot of pressure to get things going. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 25 The E G GRACE carried 14,797 tons of taconite ore on her last trip out of Taconite Harbor, Minnesota bound for South Chicago, Illinois and then was laid up at Ashtabula, Ohio on December 25, 1976, with engine trouble which often plagued the six "Al" ships powered with Lentz-Poppet engines. The lay-up of the E G GRACE lasted until April, 1984, when she became the first Maritimer to be sold for scrap. Data from: Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history |
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St. Marys River Traffic Stopped 12/24 - 9:00 a.m. - As of 9:00 a.m. the St. Marys River was closed due to dense fog. Two down bound vessels were tied below the locks |
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Welland Traffic Very Slow 12/24 - 9:00 a.m. Update - The number of boats in the canal or waiting to enter the canal has grown to 23 overnight. Several vessels have cleared the system, but addition ships have gotten in line. The current "last in line" is down bound BBC California. She is in the Port Colborne Anchorage with an estimated arrival at Lock 8 of December 31. 12/23 - 10:00 p.m. Update - Traffic is moving slowly in the canal. Twenty-One vessels are still in the canal system or waiting their turn in the anchorages off Port Colborne or Port Weller. The very last in line is apparently Michipicoten, anchored off Port Colborne, who has an estimated time of arrival for Lock 8 on December 30th. |
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Ice-Rescue Draft Policy Emphasizes
Education 12/24 - Port Clinton - Seeking public and official input, Ottawa County Sheriff Robert Bratton presented a draft policy on ice rescue Wednesday night during a public session for emergency responders at the Ottawa County Courthouse here. "This is not a money maker," Sheriff Bratton said. "[And] we are not discouraging ice fishing. We are just trying to get it more organized. "What happened last [winter] with those guys going back on the ice was a disaster." He was referring to the mass rescue Feb. 24 of ice fishermen
from a floe in Lake Erie off Crane Creek State Park. Firefighters were hurt as
they tried to rescue the fishermen, who were told to stay on shore but went
back out in a boat to retrieve their belongings from the ice. The draft of the
policy, tentatively scheduled to take effect Jan. 6, includes the following
provisions: The plan also focuses on the problem of rescue subjects
attempting to return to the ice to salvage their equipment, risking their and
their rescuers' lives again. According to the plan, recovery of equipment would be done
by private contractors, with local law enforcement monitoring the area after
the ice rescue. About 50 people attended the 90-minute meeting, mostly law enforcement and other first responders, and about 10 ice fishermen and area residents, who made remarks and asked questions as the sheriff delivered his presentation. Several of the fishermen and more than one law enforcement officer suggested that Sheriff Bratton count second or more rescues only if they occur within the same ice season, rather than keep a permanent tally. "I don't think that's right, to present me with a bill," said Ted Kaznoch, 72, of Marblehead, a retired factory worker who said he does not ice fish. "That's what I pay my taxes for. It's my tax dollars." But other residents, including fishermen, were more supportive, at least of parts of the plan. "I think it's a good thing that they should have some educational course for ice fishermen," said Richard Galatocky, 62, a retired worker at the Sunoco Refinery in Oregon, who has ice-fished Lake Erie for 50 years. "Instead of arguing about who should be paying for rescue, a better solution would be education," Mr. Galatocky said. "Safety classes for ice fishermen would be beneficial - optional for anyone who buys an Ohio fishing license; mandatory for anyone rescued from the ice." From the Toledo Blade |
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Port Reports - December 24 Sturgeon Bay - Karin Hankwitz Kingston - Ron Walsh Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer The Barker finished unloading and proceeded downriver and northbound on Lake Michigan at about 6:30 p.m. Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Radium Yellowknife came in around 1 p.m. and tied up at Pier 28 just west of the tug Salvage Monarch. The tugs/workboats involved in the Humber Bay breakwall project all came in in mid-afternoon and tied up. Work on the project has been suspended until January 3, 2006. |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 24 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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December 24, 1969 - The CITY OF FLINT 32 made her last trip out of Ludington, Michigan pulled by 2 tugs. She was sold to Norfolk and Western Railway Company to be converted into a river ferry barge and renamed b.) ROANOKE by Nicholson’s Terminal & Dock Co. at Ecorse, Michigan. She is currently in the Frog Pond in Toledo, Ohio. On 24 December 1910, ALSAKA (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 165 foot, 348 tons, built in 1878, at Detroit, Michigan as a.) ACORN) was sheltering from a storm a few miles from Tobermory, Ontario, when she caught fire from an overheated boiler and burned to a total loss. She was originally built as a side-wheel passenger vessel and when rebuilt in 1889, her engine went into the steamer FRANK E KIRBY. On 24 December 1875, the Port Huron Times listed the following vessels at winter lay-up at St. Clair, Michigan -- Scows: ANNA H MOORE, A MONROE, MYRTLE, CLIPPER VISION, J SNADERS and B MONROE; Steamers: BERTIE DAHLKE and HELEN; Schooners: JOHN RICE and M R GOFFE; Barges: MILLIN and JUSTIN R WHITING; Tug: C M FARRAR; and Dredge: H LIFIAN. On Christmas Eve of 1979, while at her temporary dock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the steamer E M FORD sank when gale force winds forced her from her moorings and repeatedly slammed her bow into the dock facing. By Christmas morning her stern was settled on the bottom, her engine room flooded. Her storage cargo of powdered cement was partially flooded also. By afternoon, the proud steamer lay sunken at her dock. She stayed on the bottom for several weeks as crews had to remove a solid 3 feet of hardened cement and patch her holed bow. On January 20th, 1980, she was refloated and towed to Bay Shipbuilding where work began on rebuilding her. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection,
Max Hanley, Todd Davidson, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We
Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels
with a much more detailed history. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 23 The IMPERIAL ST CLAIR was selected to participate in the three-year winter navigation experiment during which the Soo Locks remained open all year. On December 23, 1976, at the very onset, she ran aground entering ice-jammed Parry Sound on Georgian Bay in a blinding snow squall. One of her cargo tanks ruptured spilling 1,800 barrels of diesel oil. The SAVIC, c.) CLIFFS VICTORY was down bound past Detroit, Michigan December 23, 1985, by-passing a 15,000 ton load of scrap because of the lack of time to clear the Seaway. CHARLES DICK was sold for scrap to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne, Ontario on December 23, 1976. The SIR TREVOR DAWSON was laid up after the Great War until December 23, 1920, when she was sold to Pioneer Steamship Co. and renamed c) CHARLES L HUTCHINSON. On 23 December 1905, JAMES B WOOD (steel propeller freighter, 514 foot, 7,159 gross tons) was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan. In 1913, she was renamed b.) ARCTURUS. On 23 December 1885, MARY MARTINI (wooden propeller passenger-package freight vessel, 85 foot, 91 gross tons, built in 1877, at W. Bay City, Michigan) stranded on Brule Point, 13 miles east of Grand Marais, Minnesota on Lake Superior in fair weather. A navigational error was blamed. She became a total loss but her passengers and crew were taken off by the Duluth tug T H CAMP. In 1903, the PERE MARQUETTE 20 arrived Ludington on her maiden voyage. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Lower Detroit River Ice 12/23 - 12:20 p.m. Update - The Algosoo complete their trip up the Livingstone but the Calumet became stuck in the ice. The American Republic, Manistee and McKee Sons stopped in the channel south of the Risley and Calumet. The Risley worked to free the Calumet and was clear of the channel at 11:55 a.m. The Risley moved to the side of the channel allowing the Calumet to pass. The Neah Bay worked with the American Republic who cleared the channel about 12:15 p.m. The Risley then backed down the channel to assist the Manistee and McKee Sons. Adding to the list of downbound vessels that will be waiting for the next convoy are the Joyce L. VanEnkevort, Agawa Canyon and Armco. They will follow the David Z. Norton, Maumee and BBC California downbound after 1:20 p.m. Between ship's captains and the Coast Guard the convoy has agreed on the order of of transit. First will be the David Z. Norton, followed by the Joyce L. VanEnkevort, Maumee, BBC California, Agawa Canyon and Armco. 8:30 a.m. Update -Work continued over night with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley pulling an all-nighter. The Columbia Star was able to transit up bound through the heavy ice in the Livingstone Channel early Friday morning. It appears the Algonorth was then allowed to transit down bound. Temperatures have remained above freezing in the area preventing the refreezing of the ice. About 8:30 a.m. the convoy of ships waiting on western Lake Erie in the East Outer Channel got underway. Slowly moving up bound through the Livingstone are the Algosoo, Calumet, American Republic and Manistee. The efforts of the Risley combined with the passage of the Columbia Star and moderate temperatures appears to have improved conditions in the channel. The Risley was working below the Livingstone in the East Outer Channel escorting the barge McKee Sons and tug Invincible up bound. Waiting to transit down bound are the David Z. Norton at the Ojibway Anchorage, the Maumee docked in Windsor and the BBC California in the Belle Isle Anchorage. Down bound Friday morning to assist in the ice breaking was the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay. |
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Welland Canal Traffic Resumes 12/23 - 5:00 p.m. Update - Traffic in the Welland Canal remains congested. Ten vessels are moving in the canal at various locations. Five more down bound boats are anchored outside Port Colborne, and another five off Port Weller. Some of them have been waiting since early Wednesday. 12/23 - Traffic has resumed in the Welland Canal, but the ice is proving a worthy adversary for the canal and its operators. The wind is also causing problems for ships trying to maneuver slowly in the canal. Wind chill factors are affecting the crews on deck and handling lines ashore. The Captain of the Jackman has been told to wait on the wall for 15 minutes or so and he has ordered his line handlers on board and inside to avoid the wind chill. Pilot boats at both ends of the canal are not going out onto the lakes because of wind and sea conditions. In the flight locks all up bound traffic is now using the east side and all up bound traffic is using the west side. This is the reverse of normal operations but has been in effect for several weeks as the east side has problems with the restraints. As of 10:00 a.m. Friday there were twelve up bounders in the canal or waiting to enter, and another nine vessels waiting to make the down bound passage. |
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Coast Guard Medivacs Crew member from Algorail The Coast Guard medivaced a 53-year-old male from the Algorail
about ten miles north of Marblehead at approximately 12:40 p.m. Monday. A Coast
Guard rescue helicopter from Air Station Detroit hoisted the man who was
suffering from chest pains. They transported him to Burke Lakefront Airport to
awaiting Emergency Medical Services. |
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Hollyhock heads to Erie The Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock is scheduled to work on aids to navigation in the vicinity of Erie, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. The Coast Guard warns with the Hollyhock's arrival it will cause the ice, normally used for recreational fishing, to become unstable and dangerous. The Coast Guard urges all fishermen to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. |
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G-Tugs Move Cleveland's West 3rd Street Bridge Span 12/23 - Thursday morning, three G-Tugs, the Iowa, the Mississippi, and the Rhode Island moved the Barge U-803 carrying the partially re-constructed West 3rd Street Bridge span from the Walsh Construction Dock located in the Old River Bed of the Cuyahoga River to the Lafarge Dock located further upriver on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. The ocean-barge U-803, upon which the new bridge span, rode was shipped from New Orleans, La. last year. As if it was routine the three tugs spun the Bridge Span at the N&S Drawbridge and maneuvered the Barge through the winding Cuyahoga. Lead by the Tug Mississippi, the Bridge topped with an American flag arrived at its destination at 1:45 p.m. The bridge is scheduled to reopen in June replacing a span that bridge tenders called "Old Shaky." West 3rd street has been without a bridge since May 2004, since the old span was floated out. Reported by Edward C. Hertz |
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BobLo Boat Ste. Claire now Apparently Stuck in River Rouge 12/23 - River Rouge, MI - The Ste. Claire, the vintage steamship that once was docked at the Lorain Port Authority's Black River Landing for about two years, is apparently in troubled water. The Ste. Claire is stuck in Michigan and is up for sale, said Al Poe of Lincoln Park, Mich., who said he is a member of the steamship's restoration team. The vintage steamship was built in 1910 and was used to transport passengers to the Boblo Island Amusement Park near Detroit until 1991. It is now stranded in the Detroit River at River Rouge, Mich., five miles south of downtown Detroit, where it has been since Nov. 1, Poe said. It needs to travel five miles down the river so it can docked at the Nicholson Dock next to its sister ship, the Columbia, said Poe. But its owners apparently don't have the money to pay a tugboat to take it there and are facing legal action in River Rouge, Poe said. Poe said he is among several workers who are taking the Ste. Claire's owner, Diane Evon of Lakewood, to small claims court in River Rouge, seeking $3,000 they say Evon owes them for work they did on the boat. The number at the Westpark Gardens and Gifts shop on Warren Road in Fairview Park, which Evon owned, was disconnected when called by The Morning Journal. ''It's quite a predicament,'' Poe said. ''None of the tugboat captains will touch it to move it until they are paid. My concern is to get it off the river. A lot of people did work for the boat and were never paid for it, and we're trying to recoup some of our losses. The same thing happened in Lorain, but nobody stepped up to the plate.'' Evon paid $20,000 for the Ste. Claire in 2001, with hopes of restoring it
to its original grandeur. She brought it to Lorain in the fall of 2003 and
operated the haunted house ''Nautical Nightmare'' during the Halloween
seasons. ''It came a long way when it was in Lorain,'' Poe said. ''The first
year it was here, they raised $180,000 on it, and in 2004, they raised
$210,000, but they didn't put any of that money back into restoring it.'' When
Evon and her husband, John Belko, were moving the boat out of Lorain to take
it to Windsor and the Detroit area for festivals, its departure was delayed by
U.S. Customs because of a newly implemented law by U.S. Customs. Novak said yesterday that the Port Authority is not considering bringing the Ste. Claire back to the Port of Lorain and that he last spoke to the boat's owners on Aug. 1. ''It's unfortunate,'' Novak said of the Ste. Claire's situation. ''The owner's concept was very good of what they wanted to do with it, but it looks like they're not going to be able to complete it. But bring it back here? No, never". From the Lorain Morning Journal |
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Steamship William G. Mather Museum at the Cleveland 12/22 – Cleveland - The Steamship William G. Mather Museum will once again entertain and educate visitors January 13-22 at the 2006 Cleveland Mid-America Sail and Power Boat Show at the I-X Center. Visitors of all ages can try their hand at “Logos of the Lakes”, a memory game which educates visitors about the many companies that sail the Great Lakes delivering goods and cargo. Winners can choose a small prize from the Treasure Chest, and all players receive a discounted admission coupon to the Mather Museum. The highlight of this year’s display will be “A Move in Pictures,” photographs of the Steamship William G. Mather Museum’s historic voyage last September to its new location just north of its programmatic partner, the Great Lakes Science Center. The “Lifeboat Theater” will show videos of the move, featuring spectacular views of the Mather, North Coast Harbor and Lake Erie. In addition, Mather volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the ship, provide first-hand accounts of life on the Lakes, and orient visitors to the Museum and its mission. Visitors to the Mather Museum booth will also be able to pick up advance information about the upcoming Huntington Cleveland Harborfest Tall Ships Challenge® returning to Cleveland’s north coast July 12-16, 2006. See photos of the Tall Ships, learn about volunteer opportunities, and obtain information about Tall Ships ticket and merchandise sales. |
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Port Reports - December 23 Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Quebecois arrived in port with a storage load of raw sugar around 3:00 p.m. Algoville is expected in tonight. Friday should see the first time arrivals of two tugs. Toronto Drydock Co.'s new tug M. R. Kane is currently nearing Kingston, and the tug Radium Yellowknife is down bound in the Welland Canal. Algosteel continues unloading at Redpath Sugar dock. Goderich - Dale Baechler |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 23 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 23 The IMPERIAL ST CLAIR was selected to participate in the three-year winter navigation experiment during which the Soo Locks remained open all year. On December 23, 1976, at the very onset, she ran aground entering ice-jammed Parry Sound on Georgian Bay in a blinding snow squall. One of her cargo tanks ruptured spilling 1,800 barrels of diesel oil. The SAVIC, c.) CLIFFS VICTORY was down bound past Detroit, Michigan December 23, 1985, by-passing a 15,000 ton load of scrap because of the lack of time to clear the Seaway. CHARLES DICK was sold for scrap to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne, Ontario on December 23, 1976. The SIR TREVOR DAWSON was laid up after the Great War until December 23, 1920, when she was sold to Pioneer Steamship Co. and renamed c) CHARLES L HUTCHINSON. On 23 December 1905, JAMES B WOOD (steel propeller freighter, 514 foot, 7,159 gross tons) was launched at W. Bay City, Michigan. In 1913, she was renamed b.) ARCTURUS. On 23 December 1885, MARY MARTINI (wooden propeller passenger-package freight vessel, 85 foot, 91 gross tons, built in 1877, at W. Bay City, Michigan) stranded on Brule Point, 13 miles east of Grand Marais, Minnesota on Lake Superior in fair weather. A navigational error was blamed. She became a total loss but her passengers and crew were taken off by the Duluth tug T H CAMP. In 1903, the PERE MARQUETTE 20 arrived Ludington on her maiden voyage. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history. |
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Spruceglen Grounds in St. Lawrence 12/23 - Update - Spruceglen has been inspected and cleared to continue up the Seaway. At 10:00 a.m. Friday morning, she was near Crossover Island in the St. Lawrence River. 12/22 - 7:45 p.m. Update - Spruceglen has been freed with assistance from the tugs Robinson bay and Performance. She is in the Wilson Hill Anchorage awaiting inspection. There is no word on if there was any damage from the incident. 12/22 - 1 p.m. - Spruceglen was reported aground above the Eisenhower lock at 10:00 a.m. Thursday. The latest word is that Spruceglen lost power causing the grounding. Spruceglen will unballast the forward section and try to back off. The tug Performance and Robinson Bay are sailing to the aid of the grounded Spruceglen above Eisenhower lock, |
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Lower Detroit River Jammed with Ice, Traffic Stopped on Western Lake Erie 12/22 - 10 p.m. - Detroit Update - Thursday evening the Samuel Risley was working to free the upbound Adam E. Cornelius from a position below the Livingstone Channel in the lower Detroit River. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock and Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley have been assisting the Cornelius since early Thursday afternoon. The Risley appears to be the only ice breaker working the area Thursday night. The area causing the most trouble is referred to as the "dikes" and is at and below the end of the channel. The Livingstone Channel is a man made channel blasted from solid rock with stone dikes piled on each side of the channel. Each winter this area below the southern end of the channel can be problematic for ships transiting to or from the Livingstone Channel as all the ice cleared from the Livingstone flows south and fills the shallow areas surrounding the shipping channel below the dikes. With each ships transit the ice is chopped up and can take on the consistency of slush called "brash ice" filling the channel to the bottom. At 9:15 p.m. the Risley was making good progress escorting the Cornelius upbound and requested other vessels waiting to transit downbound get underway. The Risley and Cornelius cleared the channel by 9:50 and the Cornelius continued upbound while the Risley turned downbound and held position above the Livingstone in preparation for the convoy of downbound ships. This delay had closed the lower Detroit River to downbound traffic and anchorages in the Detroit River have filled as ships wait to transit downbound. Vessels will typically transit in the order that they went to anchor, however the Coast Guard will often request a specific order based on a ship's size and horsepower. The ships with higher horse power have an easier time getting through the ice and leave a wider track for the lower powered vessels. In some cases captains will allow other ships to move ahead in line because they know their ship will have an easier time in the ice following another. The downbound convoy will be led by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley followed in order by the Spar Ruby, Fred R. White Jr., Sam Laud and the Wolverine.
Canadian Transport downbound in the Livingstone in January, 2001
(the "dikes" area can be seen at and below where the sides of
the channel end. Western Lake Erie 10 p.m. update- Traffic on Western Lake Erie is also suffering from delays caused by ice. The Algosoo and Columbia Star are stopped off the East Outer Channel, it is unclear if they are waiting for the downbound traffic to clear or if they are stuck in ice. The Calumet and American Republic are stopped south west of the Colchester Reef light, the Calumet reports they are beset in ice. 4:00 p.m. - Update - Ice jams are reported in the Livingston Channel of the Detroit River. The Livingstone Channel is normally used for downbound traffic, but is used for two-way traffic during the winter months. Down bounders Wolverine and Spar Ruby have gone to anchor to wait for clearance to proceed. The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley and U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Hollyhock and Neah Bay are working to clear the problem. Maumee was involved earlier, according to visual reports, but is now up past Grassy Island. |
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Welland Traffic Resumes 12/22 - 6 p.m. Update - The Welland is now up and running. The Kivalina is secured on the far south end of the west wall above Lock 7. The Radium Yellowknife was allowed to pass the Algolake between 6 and 7 to allow the lock to flush some ice down bound with the tug. Since then the Algolake has moved down into the Flight Locks. The tugs Bonnie B, Vac, and James McGrath are spread out along the canal to move ice as required. The temperature is now at or above freezing. Unfortunately there are now gale warnings on Lake Erie and the wind is blowing about 35 knots on western Lake Ontario. 4 p.m. Update - Some traffic is starting to move in the canal. Sarah Spencer has cleared Lock 3 down bound, and CSL Niagara is in the Flight Locks (4-5-6). Radium Yellowknife has cleared Lock 7, headed for Lock 6. 1 p.m. Update - It does not appear that traffic has yet resumed in the Welland Canal Thursday, but traffic may be starting to move shortly. Federal Kivaline has been backed out of Lock 7 and the John Spence has proceeded down bound. The Stephan B. Roman, which had been tied up in Port Colborne is approaching Lock 7. It may be that Roman's 56-foot beam could be a better candidate to make the next passage. A total of 16 vessels are now delayed by the problems with Lock 7. For the original article concerning the traffic jam that began on Tuesday, scroll down to 12/21. Pictures in the News Photo Gallery 7:30 a.m. Update - It does not appear that traffic has yet resumed in the Welland Canal Thursday morning. The Seaway system is showing the tug Bonnie B III in Lock Seven. The tug was up bound last night to break ice in the canal below Lock Seven. Up bound vessels being delayed include CSL Niagara below Lock 3, Capt. Henry Jackman below Lock 2, Algomarine, John D. Leitch and Cuyahoga below Lock 1. Down bounders caught in the jam are Federal Kivaland and Algolake above Lock 7, and Algowood, Algoisle. Stephen B. Roman, Algoway and Petite Forte around Lock 8. In the Port Colborne anchorage are Federal Welland, Federal Rhine, Federal St. Laurent, Pineglen and Canadian Transport. For the original article concerning the traffic jam that began on Tuesday, scroll down to 12/21. Pictures in the News Photo Gallery |
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Bay Ship Makes Ready for Winter Fleet 12/22 - As 2005 draws to a close, Great Lakes freighters are hurrying to make the last runs of the season. Their vast cargo holds brimming with iron ore, coal, cement and grain, most lakers will work until winter forces the closing Jan. 15 of the locks at Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Cargo demand will then shift to Escanaba, Mich., allowing a few boats to ply the lower lakes a bit longer. By February, however, all the lake ships will be in annual winter lay up until March 25 when the Soo will reopen for the new season. The onset of winter brings an extra bustle to Bay Shipbuilding Co., where the Sturgeon Bay shipyard is preparing to receive its share of the winter fleet. Most of the big ships will arrive by mid-January: In all, 16 lakers, a barge and a tug. The workload for the full-service shipyard, a subsidiary of the 103-year-old Manitowoc Company Inc., will be substantial during the lakers’ stay. “It will be controlled chaos,” said Todd Thayse, director of contract services at Bay Ship. When the lakers arrive, their forward-end crews – the captains and mates – will spend a day or two on board, while engineers will spend roughly a week shutting the boats down for the winter. Then the entire crew will be off for 60 to 90 days, and the Bay Ship production teams will begin the vessels’ scheduled maintenance. “Most of the work is routine to some degree,” Thayse said. “We’ll do pipe repairs and certify fire systems, refurnish or fully remodel quarters, and overhaul hydraulic components. We also regularly do gearbox repairs, steel renewal, electronics retrofits, automation upgrades, painting, cleaning and yearly inspections throughout the winter.” The lakers that need work come to Bay Ship because it is the largest shipyard on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes, Thayse said, and it is the last shipyard to offer a full range of services. “We can handle all the jobs in-house,” he said. “The boats can’t come out of service during the sailing season unless there’s an emergency, so the work has to get done quickly during the winter.” The close attention to scheduling is due to the size of the U.S. fleet, which at about 60 vessels is roughly half what it was 30 years ago, and the shortened winter layup, which used to run from October or November until April or May. Rather than having a hiatus of 120 to 160 days, the lakers are now out of service for just 70 to 75 days, roughly January to March. With fewer boats working to deliver product and less time to complete shipyard work, the pressure on everyone involved is significant to get the boats into top running order for the upcoming shipping season. In addition to routine maintenance, this year’s winter workload will also include several unique projects. Bay Ship will be re-powering the steam-driven, 826-foot Lee A. Tregurtha with a diesel plant; the 1,013-foot Paul A. Tregurtha is scheduled to receive a new fuel purifications system, and several vessels need slow-plate renewals in their cargo holds. Bay Ship also will oversee six dry dockings in the 1,200-foot long graving dock to conduct mandated U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) surveys, which are scheduled every six years. With more than 15 freighters ranging from 630 to 1,000 feet in length, and admittedly tight parking space, Thayse said the process can be somewhat stressful. “When we move boats around for dry docking, we usually have six or seven tugs working each vessel,” he said. “We also have people breaking, clearing and flushing ice.” With a smile, he added, “They’re long days when moves are taking place.” The arrival of the 2005-2006 winter fleet is great news for Sturgeon Bay. First of all, Bay Ship has announced that it needs to add approximately 150 employees to its work force. “Due to some recently awarded contracts, our backload construction and repair jobs will last through spring 2008,” Thayse said. “We have a need for people – steel fitters, welders, pipefitters, marine electricians, machinists, men and women, all trades.” In addition to the winter fleet, Bay Ship’s work force is busy with three new construction projects: vessel No. R760, a 14,000-ton, self-unloading cement barge for Southfield, Mich.-based American Transport Leasing; No. R761, a 140,000-barrel, double-hulled tank barge for Baltimore-based Vane Bunkering Line Inc.; and No. R762, an 80,000-barrel, double-hulled tank barge for Seattle-based Hartco Marine Inc. All three vessels will be delivered in 2006. “We offer on-site training to our new employees,” Thayse said. “For the most part the work is not seasonal, and our starting pay ranges from $11.39 to $18.04 per hour.” The other good news brought to the community by the winter fleet is, as Thayse puts it, the lakers’ supporting cast. “For starters, each boat has a crew of 18 to 25 people who spend anywhere from a few days to a month in the area,” he said. “They book hotel rooms at the Holiday Motel, eat at restaurants and see movies. They go to the Nightingale, My Sister’s Café and Van’s. They keep Evenson Laundry & Dry Cleaners busy.” Other businesses support the boats themselves. “Culligan Water Service is always down here, and trucks come from Econo Foods in the spring with groceries for provisioning,” he said. “Research has been done that shows dollars from shipyards turn over in the community four to five times, and it happens even more here because Door County is geographically isolated by Lake Michigan and Green Bay.” The dollars that ripple through the community also touch the hands of Bay Ship’s customers as well, who patronize local hotels and restaurants and travel with Babler’s Bus Service, based in Maplewood. Then there is the lakers freighter fan club. A Web site dedicated to Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway shipping, located at www.boatnerd.com, lists winter layup locations for all the lakers and allows enthusiasts to share photos and information. “It’s hard to document, but a lot of people who love the lakers do come to Sturgeon Bay to see the winter fleet in port,” Thayse said. “We see them standing in Sunset Park, at the duck pond or on Third Avenue. They hang on the fences. They take pictures. “There’s such a deep maritime heritage here,” he continued. “The fleet’s been coming here for years, and five lakers (of the 16 scheduled this winter) were built here - St. Clair, Buffalo, American Republic, Joseph L. Block and Edward L. Ryerson. A lot of people had fathers or grandfathers who worked on these boats.” While some visitors may come to Door County with the specific hopes of seeing the fleet, others discover the lakers as wintertime tourists. “We point it out to visitors that the winter fleet is in, and we let people know if a ship is going through the bridge,” said Brian Kelsey, executive director of the Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society. “They get really excited, especially since we can give them a warm view from our observation area.” “The economic impact of the fleet to Sturgeon Bay is enormous,” Thayse concluded. “It’s a bridge to spring.” Courtesy of the Door County Advocate |
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Last Saltwater Ships Outbound from Lake Superior 12/22 - Sault Ste. Marie - With the first of two season-ending deadlines rapidly approaching, saltwater shipping that filled the St. Marys River a few weeks ago was down to a trickle by early today. The Norwegian-registered Spar Opal was downbound for the Soo Locks on her last trip of the shipping season early today, leaving just the BBC California among saltwater ships on Lake Superior. The two ships are the last of a fleet of so-called ³salties² making deliberate haste to depart the St. Lawrence Seaway before it and the Welland Canal close off access to the Atlantic on Christmas Eve. Don Willeke, president of the Western Great Lakes Pilots' Association, said the year-old BBC California will likely be the last of the saltwater ships to clear Lake Superior ports this season. BBC California was last reported alongside the McLean Export Dock in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Willeke said some confusion about Seaway shutdown dates occurred late in the saltwater season, when officials waived late passage fees for Dec. 21-24, then said outbound ships had until Dec. 29 to clear the system without the substantial late passage fee. The closing date is still midnight on the 24th,² he said, acknowledging that the last day has grown somewhat spongy with the fee waiver offer. However that may be, he said he knows of no other saltwater ships bound for Lake Superior ports to take on a quick last load in time to make it out of the Seaway before Dec. 29. Meanwhile, at the Soo Locks, acting Area Engineer Kevin Sprague said the MacArthur Lock will close for the shipping season early Christmas Day. The adjacent Poe Lock will remain open until its mandatory shutdown date on January 15. Great Lakes vessels are expected to call at Lake Superior ports through early January. Normally the last few loads of iron ore of the season are moved out of Escanaba after the Locks close. A Coast Guard ice survey of the lower St. Marys River
indicated moderate to low ice formation on channels as of Dec. 19. The latest
available report indicates a stretch of fully-covered channel between Pt. Aux
Frenes and Lime Island with 2-4 inches of broken plate ice and up to six
inches of brash, or refrozen broken ice. From the Soo Evening News |
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Port Reports - December 22 Milwaukee - Jim Zeirke It appears that the J.A.W. Iglehart will be making the port of Milwaukee her winter home. She was docked in Milwaukee some distance back from the silo where the ILM boats normally unload. There was no activity around her on Wednesday. Toronto - Charlie Gibbons The inner harbor saw it's first coating of ice this morning, with about 80% of the harbor in a half inch thick sheet. Wind and waves had it broken up before noon and most of it pushed out of the harbor by the wind. The ferry Ongiara broke a path to Ward's Island and the fire tug Wm. Lyon Mackenzie broke the rest. Algosteel arrived early this morning with a load of raw sugar for Redpath, this is not a storage cargo, as they began unloading it into the hopper at Redpath in mid-afternoon. The Nadro tug Vigilant 1 came in the East Gap around 9:30 a.m. with the barge OC 181 in tow. It went out the West Gap and dropped the barge off at the Humber Bay breakwall construction site, then the tug returned through the harbor solo and departed by way of the East Gap around 11 a.m. Marquette - Lee Rowe Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Atlantic Erie completed coal loading operations in Lackawanna around 2:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon but did not depart for Nanticoke until the evening due to weather. The ship cleared the Buffalo Piers around 5:00 p.m. The US Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock departed Buffalo for Erie, PA Wednesday morning around 10:00 a.m. |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 22 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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Today in Great Lakes History - December 22 The SAVIC, b.) CLIFFS VICTORY finally arrived at Masan, South Korea December 22, 1986, for dismantling there which was completed in 1987. DETROIT EDISON grounded on Gray's Reef in northern Lake Michigan, December 22, 1980, inflicting heavy damage to 350 feet of her bottom. The GORDON C LEITCH was laid up on December 22, 1981, no longer economically able to compete and was used for grain storage at Toronto. RAYMOND H REISS arrived at Ramey's Bend, Port Colborne, Ontario on December 22, 1980, for scrapping there. LIGHTSHIP 103 was commissioned December 22, 1920. On 22 December 1922, CORNELL (wooden propeller tug, 72 foot, 66 gross tons, built in 1888, at Buffalo, New York) foundered somewhere between Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania while enroute to new owners in Syracuse, New York. She had a crew of 8. The weather was clear and mild with almost no wind. She had just been put back into service and inspected after several years of idleness. Her ice-encrusted lifeboat was found on 26 December, 25 miles east of Long Point, containing the frozen body of the fireman. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Wally Moroziuk, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history |
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12/21 - 9:00 p.m. Update - Late Tuesday afternoon, the saltie Federal Kivalina was approaching Lock 7 of the Welland Canal down bound. Because of a prolonged cold spell there has been considerable ice growth in the canal. The tug Seahound was sent into Lock 7 ahead of the Kivalina to break up the ice in the lock ahead of the ship. The Seahound was to lock down with the ship. The Kivalina made her approach and became stuck about half way into the lock. Many attempts were made to move the Kivalina without success. The Seahound, still in Lock 7 also continued to work ahead of the ship. Because Lock 7 is not twinned other traffic was brought to a standstill throughout the system. The tug Vac was sent down the canal from Port Colborne to assist the Federal Kivalina to move from Lock 7. She spent many hours breaking the ice above the lock and trying to flush it upstream to clear the way for the Kivalina. The St Lawrence Seaway brought in all kinds of heavy equipment to try and loosen the grip of the ice on the Federal Kivalina. On the west side access by equipment is difficult but a back hoe with a jack-hammer attached worked at the ice. On the east side of the canal a variety of heavy equipment was utilized. As the night progressed this broken ice would consolidate (freeze together) and it would also freeze to the side of the ship thus preventing any motion. The ship does not have a coating of special "ice" paint that would allow it to slide easier through ice. Ice, especially with some snow on it, sticks like glue to the steel on a ship's side. Kivalina had her engine going astern anAeAerialnches pulling aft on mooring lines. This failed to budge the ship. The cavalry arrives in the guise of the John Spence. The Spence was down bound with her barge and the Seaway arranged for her to help. She secured her barge astern of the Algolake, turned in the Canal below the Algolake and backed down toward the Kivalina to hook up a tow line. The crew of the Spence reached out with a boathook to grab the lines lowered from the stern of the Kivalina. Two lines were passed and both were used during the various attempts to free the ship. While this work was going on the heavy equipment on the east side of the lock continued to work on the ice. The John Spence paid out some tow line and took up the slack. Once all is ready they increased power. The John Spence pulled ahead while the Kivalina had her engine astern. Despite a number of efforts over several hours the Kivalina did not move. Meanwhile, the pilots that were to take the Kivalina from Port Weller across Lake Ontario and down the Seaway arrived to see what was happening. They have been waiting for the best part of 20 hours by now. After several attempts to pull the Kivalina out of the lock the Spence shortened the tow. This did not work either. However, something eventually worked as about 6:15 p.m. Seaway Welland announced that the Federal Kivalina had been freed from the ice and removed from Lock 7. The Vac and Seahound were grooming the ice in and around the lock. Additionally a small tug is up bound from Port Weller to break a track up to the foot of Lock 7. Traffic is expected to start moving again somewhere between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Thursday. A picture story of the days events is posted in the News Photo Gallery . In addition, the tug Bonnie B is up bound from Port Weller to break a track in the ice that has formed from Lock 1 to the bottom of Lock 7. CSL Niagara is one of the ships waiting for an up bound passage. With her wider and longer forebody she might have some difficulty. Of course, with the ice and cold temperatures all the ships in the canal may encounter some difficulty throughout their lock transits. An unnamed Seaway source stated that down bound traffic would be given priority once shipping moves again. It is also rumored that both sides of the flight locks will be used for down bound traffic. 12/21 - 4:00 p.m. Update -The traffic backup has extended into Lake Erie. Pineglen went to anchor in the Long Point Anchorage around 2:30 p.m. and will be joined shortly by Canadian Olympic. Original Article - 12/21 - Noon - The Federal Kivalina attempted to get into Lock 7 Tuesday afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., and was unable to because of ice. The tug Seahound was assisting to no avail. This morning the Kivalina is reported as still being above the escarpment. CSL Niagara cleared Lock 1 up bound about 1700 yesterday and is still reported below Lock 3. There are 11 ships scheduled to transit today and at least 3 more tomorrow. As of 1:00 p.m., the down bound Algowood, Algoisle, Stephan B. Roman and Petite Forte were stopped at Port Colborne. Federal Welland has been anchored in the Port Colborne anchorage since 10:30 Wednesday morning. Algolake was stopped above Lock Seven. Federal Kivalina was still above Lock 7. The up bound Capt. Henry Jackman was below Lock Two. Algomarine and John D. Leitch were both tied up below Lock One. Reported by Paul Beesley and the Boatnerd staff
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Weather Delays Costly For U.S.-Flag Lakes
Fleet In November 12/21 - Cleveland - A stormy November took its toll on the movement of dry-bulk cargos on the Great Lakes in U.S.-Flag vessels. With 60 vessels idled more than 5,000 hours during the month, the major U.S.-Flag carriers moved only 9.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in November, a drop of 16 percent compared to a year ago. Even when weighed against the month’s 5-year average, the November 2005 float was more than 11 percent off the pace. The iron ore trade suffered the greatest decline in November. Loadings fell more than 21 percent compared to both a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. While weather delays were the primary cause for the slump, the trade was further impacted by a lengthy repair on a 1,000-foot long U.S.-Flag Laker dedicated to moving iron ore. Limestone shipments did not fare much better, slipping 18 and 14 percent respectively compared to a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. Only coal loadings even approached last November’s level. For the year, U.S.-Flag carriage on the Great Lakes stands at 98.4 million tons, a decrease of 3.3 percent compared to the same point in 2004, but slightly ahead of the 5-year average for the January-November timeframe. Reported by the Lake Carriers Association |
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12/21 - Cheboygan - Officially, Capt. Donald Triner is a captain without a ship. His command temporarily suspended Thursday by U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Robert Papp Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, Triner departed the vessel Sunday after celebrating the arrival of the new icebreaker at ceremonies and a gala reception in Cheboygan. His whereabouts, for now, are unknown. “There has to be an investigation, and I can't be here when it's going on,” Triner said before departing. “There's really nothing else about the issue that I can say.” However, he is not a captain without a crew. Triner's crew said plenty at the reception, greeting their captain's introduction - formally worded as “representing the new Mackinaw” versus calling him the commanding officer, which he technically is not at the moment - with resounding applause. It is apparent that the new Mac's crew is fiercely loyal to the man who hand-picked nearly all of them for duty aboard the 240-foot ship that will take over June 9 as the new “Queen of the Great Lakes” following he decommissioning of the original Mackinaw, scheduled for the same day. Most of the crewmembers have served under Triner's command at other assignments or knew him from training at Cape May, N.J., where he served in addition to piloting other ships. The prevalent opinion among local Coast Guard retirees, sailors and other dignitaries present at Saturday's festivities is that it would be highly unusual for a commanding officer to return to his same ship following an incident such as the one in Grand Haven, even if he were to be cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the same wisdom also points to the huge investment the Coast Guard has made in Triner, sending him to nearly two years of schooling specifically to operate this particular vessel, including training in Europe and other far-reaching situations for study of icebreaking with the Mackinaw's power plant, computer systems and revolutionary azipod propeller-pods. He is obviously married to his ship, and a positive outcome could reverse conventional protocol in this case. The damage to the Mackinaw was hurriedly cleaned, scraped and repainted in Grand Haven and when the ship arrived in Cheboygan, the dent was barely noticeable. Ninth Coast Guard District spokesman Chief Petty Officer Jeff Hall told the Grand Haven Tribune that Coast Guard officials from Cleveland are investigating the incident that caused a 10-foot hole in the southern breakwall at Grand Haven. The impact damaged part of its interlock system, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the pier. The impact also caused substantial damage to the ship's bow, and possibly other areas, Hall said. “We have naval engineers still looking at the ship. They'll be looking at how far back energy was dispersed through the vessel,” Hall said, explaining that engineers will be investigating every confined space throughout the vessel that could have been affected by the crash. “Our primary concern is getting a good look at the structuring,” Hall noted. In the interim, Executive Officer Nathan Podoll is in charge as the Mackinaw enters a “Charley” period for maintenance. No movement of the ship is scheduled until early January. Captain Michael Hudson, who was officially the Mac's commanding officer during the trip to Cheboygan, has returned to his duties and has left Cheboygan. From the Cheboygan Daily Tribune |
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Port Reports - December 21 Duluth-Superior - Al Miller Algonorth continued to load at the CHS elevator on Tuesday morning. It was expected to depart later in the day, making it the last grain ship of the season. The latest trips scheduled for Midwest Energy Terminal are Jan. 1 for the Oglebay Norton to load for St. Clair, Mich., and Kaye E. Barker to load Jan. 2 for Marquette, Mich. Marquette - Lee Rowe Escanaba is seeing both the Joseph L. Block and Wilfred Sykes coming regularly for ore after a relatively quiet summer and fall. Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Work on the Humber Bay breakwall project has been suspended until after holidays. The first of the winter lay-up sugar storage vessel arrived in port Monday when Canadian Miner went to the wall at Pier 51 north. Quebecois is expected to arrive today. Petite Forte and her cement barge were in port under the Atlas crane at Pier 35 south yesterday. English River arrived on Monday and departed around 9 a.m. Tuesday. Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey The Gregory J. Busch was waiting at the Bay Aggregates dock for the Tadoussac to unload and was then to assist her in turning around off the Essroc dock to head for the lake. The departure was to be shortly after midnight.
Belleville, Ontario - Carl Roy |
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 21 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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On 21 December 1901, the MUSKEGON (composite propeller carferry, 282 foot, 1,938 gross tons, built in 1895, at Toledo, Ohio as SHENANGO NO 2) sank at Ludington, Michigan with a 10 foot crack on her starboard side. She was raised a week later and repaired. The 437-foot bow section of the ROGER BLOUGH was float launched December 21, 1968, at Lorain, Ohio, less ballast tanks because the existing dry dock wasn’t wide enough to accommodate her 105-foot width. The WILLIAM G MATHER was laid up for the last time December 21, 1980, at the Hocking Valley coal dock at Toledo, Ohio. AMOCO ILLINOIS was laid up for the last time at Bay City, Michigan on December 21, 1980. CSL's HOCHELAGA was laid up on December 21, 1981, for the last time at Cardinal, Ontario. The OUTARDE of 1906, operated until December 21, 1983, when she was laid up for the last time at Toronto. On 21 December 1891, the whaleback steamer CHARLES W WETMORE tied up at the dock at Everett, Washington, ending a voyage of 93 days that started in Philadelphia and went around the tip of South America. On 21 December 1879, CITY OF TOLEDO (wooden propeller package freighter, 413 gross tons, built in 1865, at Ogdensburg, New York) was carrying winter provisions from Milwaukee to Ludington. In a white squall, she struck a reef and was stranded 7 miles north of Ludington, a few hundred yards from shore. Some of the crew made it to shore and sought help. The local Lifesaving Station was only in the planning stages, but a crew captain was on hand. He hastily assembled a volunteer lifesaving crew and over a five hour period, rescued all on board. None of the 24 person crew was lost. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history.
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12/20 - Monday evening over 8,000,000 visits had been recorded to the main page of the Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping home page. The counter was started as the page was launched in 1995. The eight millionth visitor was Daniel Kostrubiec. It is interesting to note that the first month the page was live in 1995, 590 visits were recorded. Today the main page (not counting individual pages or users that enter by book mark) receives an average of 167,000 user sessions each month. The site represents a huge time commitment by the staff of volunteers and we would like to thank to all the viewers and contributors for making the web site what it is today.
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12/20 - Oswego Port Authority administrators are a little surprised that to find themselves defending their work during what they're calling the best business they've had in five years. Port director Thomas McAuslan and manager James Cloonan responded this weekend to a recently published report on their operations with a year-end review. The purpose of the port, a not-for-profit public authority begun by New York State, is not to make money, they said, but to compliment the local economy. “We're not in the business of competing with the private sector,” Cloonan said. “In fact, we defer to the private sector.” Last year, there were 129 cargo ships that entered the Oswego port district, said McAuslan, not one. That number includes ships from the U.S. and Canada, which aren't called “international” in port records because they're part of the Great Lakes region. Canadian ships typically come from Thunder Bay on Lake Superior and Picton, Ontario. Right now they don't get ships from either Toronto or Hamilton, which are home to the two biggest Canadian ports on Lake Ontario. Last year, just one ship out of 129 came from outside the U.S. and Canada, they said. This year the port had 17 international ships due to incoming windmill parts for the Tug Hill wind farm, which came from locations in Europe and Vietnam, in addition to normal trade bringing thousands of tons of soy beans, salt and cement through Oswego. The port currently carries roughly $4 million in debt that was $5 million when the port authority was created in the late 1950s, McAuslan said. That debt is owed to New York State, which willingly began the debt when it took the port out of city hands and made it a state authority almost 60 years ago. McAuslan said the debt doesn't hurt the port at all. The current agreement he said, calls for the $4 million debt to be paid off in small increments that won't be finished for about 80 years. “We can't pay it off and the state doesn't expect it to be paid off,” said McAuslan. “Our repayment agreement calls for $50,000 a year to be paid off.” The port sustains itself each year without operating on a deficit or benefiting from a yearly state subsidy, they said. What the state occasionally provides, he said, are state grants from infrastructure improvements. “We pay our own way with the exception of some of the infrastructure,” said McAuslan, “and we've done a lot of the infrastructure on our own funds.” “Sometimes you don't get anything. It depends on what's available,” Cloonan said. “The grants that are available we do pursue.” This is year was the best they've had since 1999-2000, McAuslan said, when they had “so much salt, we didn't know what to do with it.” The port expects to receive 8,000 tons of salt today, McAuslan said, and 12,000 tons of asphalt tomorrow. But, he said, world markets change, and the port is always competing with truck and railroad transportation. In the meantime, the port also has to provide support for the H. Lee White Marine Museum and Oswego Maritime Foundation. “We'd like to make enough money if we could to do all the things we'd like to,” said McAuslan. “But, in fact, I don't know of any ports that make enough money so that they don't have to have some help.” From the Palladium Times
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Port Reports Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Atlantic Erie called Seaway Long point at 8:00 p.m. Monday night and told the dispatcher that he was pulling up the hook and departing the Port Colborne Anchorage and that it would take him 3 hours to reach the anchorage inside Long Point Bay. It is suspected that he is hiding from the wind before heading into Lackawanna. The Hollyhock in the Buffalo River near the Naval Park around 10:00 a.m. Monday morning. She is moving all around throughout the day to pick up bouys. Milwaukee - John N. Vogel
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Photo Gallery Updates - December 20 News Photo Gallery updatedPublic Photo Gallery updated Christmas Card Gallery updated |
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On 20 December 1944, the ice breaker MACKINAW (WAGB-83) was commissioned in the U. S. Coast Guard. The b.) SAMUEL MATHER, a.) WILLIAM MC LAUGHLIN was towed from Ashtabula, Ohio on December 20, 1975, to Port Colborne, Ontario where her boilers were converted to oil-fired burners by Herb Fraser & Associates and renamed c.) JOAN M MC CULLOUGH (C.370162), renamed d.) BIRCHGLEN in 1982 and scrapped at Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1988. Cleveland Cliffs steamer FRONTENAC's scrapping process was completed in Superior, Wisconsin on December 20, 1985. The CRISPIN OGLEBAY of 1908, hauled her last cargo, a load of salt, into Rochester, New York on December 20, 1973, and then was laid up at Kingston, Ontario for the winter. The keel was laid for the PERE MARQUETTE 22 on December 20, 1923. In 1910, the PERE MARQUETTE 18 was launched at South Chicago. She was the only Great Lakes carferry to be built in Chicago. December 20, 1979 - The Interstate Commerce Commission approved the termination of the C&O's Milwaukee run. C&O terminated the run the following year. On 20 December 1867, ALIDA (wooden propeller packet/tug, 81foot, 58 gross tons, built in 1856, at Saginaw, Michigan) had her boiler explode in the Saginaw River. She caught fire and burned to a total loss. This little packet/tug was the only steamer to regularly venture up the Saginaw River beyond the mouth of the Flint River. On 20 December 1873, the Great Western ferry MICHIGAN was finally launched at the Jenkins yard in Walkerville, Ontario. Her launching was originally scheduled for 18 December, but she stuck on the ways. She was built for use on the Detroit River and her dimensions were 282 feet x 72 foot 6 inch beam. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books includes many other vessels with a much more detailed history.
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12/19 - The new Mackinaw (WLBB-30) arrived at Cheboygan on Saturday, as scheduled, passing the old Mackinaw (WAGB-83) in the Cheboygan River at 11:45 a.m. On the west side of the river hundreds of residents greeted the new vessel with cheers and waved American flags. Additional onlookers, dignitaries, and the Cheboygan High School band greeted from the decks of Mackinaw 83. After a brief ceremony, a parade was held to the city park where a key to the city was given to the crew. An open house of both Mackinaws was held in the afternoon followed by a reception similar to the one held 61 years ago when Mackinaw 83 came to town. First hand report by Fred and Kathleen Stone
New Mac Arrives in Cheboygan 12/19 - Cheboygan - In a historic day that brought goose bumps to many - if the 27-degree temperatures plus wind chill hadn't already - the new U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw arrived in the Cheboygan River to the delight of crowds that gathered along the shoreline and on the original icebreaker Mackinaw's decks. Sirens blared from fire-engines parked on the west side of the channel, motorists watching from their vehicles honked horns and throngs who lined the route along the river waved American flags and cheered the city's newest residents and their families. As the ship approached the dock, the Cheboygan Area High School Marching Band repeatedly played the Coast Guard's theme song “Semper Paratus” with a zeal th |