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Port Reports - April 30 Marquette - Rod Burdick Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Saturday at about 4:00 a.m., veteran steamer St. Mary's Challenger navigated the narrow Kinnickinnic River in darkness to deliver cement to its terminal on Kinnickinnic Avenue. Only an hour later Saturday morning, Inland Lakes' JAW Iglehart made an unusual turn where the river widens just inside the Hoan Bridge, to back into the inner harbor to deliver cement to the LaFarge facility on Jones Island. Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m., the Cross-Lake Ferry Lake Express left Milwaukee for Muskegon, commencing its third season of the three-a-day crossing between Wisconsin and Michigan. South Chicago - Tom Milton Sandusky - Jim Spencer Saginaw River - Gordy Garris Toledo - |
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Updates - April 30 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 30 On 30 April 1890, the wooden dredge MUNSON and two scow barges were being towed from Kingston, Ontario by the tug EMMA MUNSON to work on the new Bay of Quinte bridge at Rossmore, Ontario, 6 miles west of Kingston when the dredge started listing then suddenly tipped over and sank. No lives were lost. The IRVIN L CLYMER returned to service April 30, 1988, after a two season lay-up. HOWARD HINDMAN of 1910, grounded heavily when her steering cable parted at Little Rapids Cut in the St. Marys River, April 30, 1969. Due to the extensive damage, she was sold in May of that year to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne, Ontario for scrap and was scrapped at Bilbao, Spain in 1969. The RED WING tow arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan on April 30, 1987, for dismantling. On 30 April 1842, the side-wheeler COMMODORE BARRIE collided with the schooner CANADA about 10 miles off Long Point in Lake Ontario. The COMMODORE BARRIE became disabled and then sank about an hour and a half later. Her passengers and crew were rescued by the CANADA. On 30 April 1878, ST LAWRENCE (2-mast wooden schooner, 93 foot, 111 tons, built in 1842, at Clayton, New York) was carrying timber when she caught fire from the boiling over of a pot of pitch which was being melted on the galley stove. The vessel was well out on Lake Michigan off Milwaukee. The fire spread so rapidly that the crew had no time to haul in canvas, so when they abandoned her, she was sailing at full speed. The lifeboat capsized as soon as it hit the water, drowning the captain and a passenger. The ST LAWRENCE sailed off ablaze and was seen no more. The rest of the crew was later rescued by the schooner GRANADA. Data from: Jody Aho, 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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USCGC Mackinaw(s) Decommissioning/Commissioning Date Changed 4/29 - Cheboygan — Perhaps the most historic day in Cheboygan’s maritime history has had a change of date. The U.S. Coast Guard has moved the day of commissioning the new icebreaker Mackinaw and decommissioning the 61 year-old original Mackinaw from a Friday to a Saturday, establishing the official time and place as 1 p.m. on June 10 at Cheboygan’s Millard D. Olds Memorial Moorings. “The change will better accommodate everyone who wants to attend,” said Cmdr. Joe McGuiness of the ship to be retired. “Senators and representatives from all Great Lakes States have been invited to attend. They’ll be in session during the week, so the change to Saturday will allow for their travel and make the event more available to anyone who wants to be here.” McGuiness said that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, whose wife Jean
christened the new Mackinaw in 2005 as its sponsor, would attend as may Adm.
Thad Allen, new commandant of the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C. The festivities, expected to last approximately 90 minutes, will be accompanied by all the formalities and fanfare of a change-of-command ceremony, a ship’s commissioning and a subsequent decommissioning — all rolled into one grand event. The U.S. Coast Guard Band, from New London, Conn., will be here to play. “There will be three tents set up to handle all the people,” McGuiness said. “The main one will between the two ships to host the actual ceremony. Others will accommodate guests and serve as staging areas.” The ceremonial retirement of the old ship and official beginning of the new one will include a march of the officers and crew from the decks of the original Mackinaw to the ceremony site, where they will join the ship’s company of the new Mackinaw. The official party of officers will be attired in their full dress whites, while others will wear a summer version of the dress blues worn when the new Mackinaw arrived here Dec. 17, McGuiness said. Preparations are underway to arrange for off-site parking at locations on Cheboygan’s east side, with school buses potentially transporting passengers to the Coast Guard Station. McGuiness planned to meet Friday with Cmdr. John Little, skipper of the new Mac, to coordinate details as passed down from Washington with local logistics. “How do you hold a decommissioning ceremony and a commissioning ceremony together?” McGuiness pondered, repeating the question as asked of him. “It’ll be a first. None of us have ever been to one before. This is all being planned out as we speak.” Reported by Kevin S. Griffith |
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Lake Erie Ferry Plan Faces Wave of
Troubles 4/29 - Plans for a ferry shortcut from Lake County to Canada have all but sunk. "I think it has zero chance of happening," Lake County Commissioner Raymond E. Sines said of the proposal. After several meetings and hours of discussion, the proposal to create an international border crossing and ferry service in Painesville Township still lacks startup funding and political support, Sines said. Proposal architect Kent Kristensen of Seaport Management Corp. plans to create a Lake Erie ferry service between the township and Port Burwell, Ontario. The project could channel through Lake County a significant portion of the estimated $88 million in daily trade between Ohio and Ontario, Kristensen said. Kristensen estimated that the total project would cost around $225 million, including terminal, ferry and operational costs. Of that amount, $150 million would come from private investment, courtesy of involved communities and businesses on both sides of the lake, Kristensen said. The Seaport chairman hopes federal or state funding will cover the balance for infrastructure funding. However, those involved in the project have no tangible fund contributions to speak of, Sines said. "They're asking for a commitment from the government without a contract, agreement or anything solid going into this development," Sines said. "I've talked to the state and federal governments; there is no money available." Kristensen would not discuss any specific grants that he has applied for. "We're looking at significant amounts - in the millions - for both sides of the lake," Kristensen said. "We're very much relying on government decisions and funding. A lot of this is outside of our immediate abilities." Kristensen said the port terminal would be built on 34 acres in the township, between the U.S. Coast Guard station and Headlands Beach State Park. However, the agreement between Kristensen and the joint venture ownership of developers Jerome T. Osborne and Robert Sidley remains a verbal one. Attempts to contact Osborne and Sidley were unsuccessful. There has also been debate over how many jobs the service would create. Sines believes no more than 25 jobs would be created. Kristensen says the service could produce 300 jobs when accounting for ship crews and terminals on both sides of the lake. Despite the uncertainty, Kristensen will not shy away from his original operational timeline of spring 2007. He said he feels no pressure. A major problem facing the proposal is the competition of a possible ferry service between the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and Port Stanley, Ontario. U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, R-Concord Township, has publicly shown support for Cleveland's project. "It's not that I'm favoring one or the other," LaTourette said. "Quite frankly, Cleveland has done their homework and Grand River has not." LaTourette said that Cleveland's Port Authority has completed a feasibility study and has an operator in Royal Wagenborg, a Dutch company, that is willing to fund its project. Meanwhile, Grand River officials have not sent a written request for a feasibility study, LaTourette said. Such studies provide information regarding the project's cost and its viability. Unlike the situation in Lake County, Cleveland's plan has secured a $7 million federal grant for terminal infrastructure costs, said Rose Ann DeLeon, the Port Authority's vice president of strategic development. According to Canadian publication the St. Thomas Times-Journal, the council of Central Elgin, Ontario, this month renewed a commitment to negotiate the transfer of Port Stanley harbor ownership from the federal government to the municipality. DeLeon views Port Stanley citizen protesting as the normal opposition that comes with any change. Still, Kristensen and Grand River Mayor Chris Conley, whose community sits next to the terminal site, are determined to prove that their option is better than Cleveland's. The trip from the township to Port Burwell takes just more than an hour, Conley said. Larger commercial ferries could cross in less than three hours. The route from Painesville Township to Port Burwell is about 20 nautical miles shorter than Cleveland to Port Stanley, Kristensen said. "Think about how much it'll be saving companies in oil and gas intake," Conley said. "Think about a truck driver that now has to go eight hours deep into Canada and has to spend the night because you can only drive so many hours. "(Under our plan) he could go four times in an eight-hour shift from Twinsburg to Grand River and drop his load," Conley said. "We'll take it on the ferry, and he can have dinner with his family." Kristensen also sees an advantage in the township site's traffic condition. "We don't have major transportation issues," Kristensen said. "To put it in the Cleveland area would be an unreasonable load for an already stressed area." However DeLeon completely debunks such notions, pointing out that Interstate 90 and Route 2 offer direct access into Cleveland's Port Authority, avoiding Cleveland streets. "The access into the Port of Cleveland is probably among the best in the country," DeLeon said. Conley said he understands the attractive attributes of involving Cleveland in a ferry plan. While he believes Lake County's option is the better one, he said he's willing to work with the city for the betterment of both communities. "I've been soliciting to help with the Cleveland Port Authority, but no one has gotten back to me yet," Conley said. "(The ferry service) would make people's lives better. Who cares if it's in Cleveland or wherever." From the Willoughby News-Herald |
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Coast Guard Raises Weight Standards for Boats 4/29 - Lake Gorge, NY -The U.S. Coast Guard has recommended that operators of small boats raise weight estimates for passengers from 140 pounds to a single standard of 185 pounds. The Coast Guard was responding to recommendations made last month by the National Safety Transportation Board following its investigation of the Lady D, a pontoon water taxi that capsized in Baltimore Harbor in March 2004. The NTSB determined that insufficient intact stability and overloading had caused the small passenger pontoon-style vessel to capsize when it encountered strong winds and waves in Baltimore's Northwest Harbor. They said that the Coast Guard's regulatory stability test standards used an out-of-date passenger weight standards that contributed to the overloading. Mark Rosenker, acting NTSB chairman, said earlier this month that he expects that investigators probing the fatal boating accident on Lake George last October will conclude that the cause of the tragedy were modifications made to the vessel affecting the stability and the weight on board at the time the vessel capsized. The 38-foot glass enclosed tour boat Ethan Allen capsized and sank in 70 feet of water on Oct. 2, killing 20 of the 47 passengers on board who were on an hour-long fall foliage tour along the Lake George shoreline. According to Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland, the Ethan Allen would have been more than a ton over capacity with the Coast Guard's new weight recommendations. If the new guidelines of 185 pounds had been in place, the Ethan Allen would have been 12 passengers over capacity. Last fall, Gov. George Pataki sent a letter to Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, requesting that they expedite their decision regarding tour boat capacity. He also directed the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to raise the state weight standard from 140 pounds to 174 pounds. The 140 pound limit was set in 1942 when the average weight of Americans was significantly less. Wendy Gibson, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said New York's standard is mandatory and applies to state waters such as Lake George while the Coast Guard's federal recommendations haven't been passed into law yet and are applicable only to vessels operating on federal jurisdictional waters, which include Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. The NTSB's investigation of the Ethan Allen tragedy is ongoing. From the North Country Gazette |
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Pictured Rocks are Ever Changing, 4/29 - When part of a famed Michigan landmark fell into Lake Superior on April 13, it took with it a large chunk of Michigan history. Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore east of Munising is, well, now half a castle. Named during a 1771 prospecting expedition in the region, the castle was a must-see attraction and the scene of many a vacation photo. Experts think that the cycle of freezing and thawing caused the northeast turret of the natural rock formation to collapse. That's the nature of the rugged coastline there, and what has helped form the multi-colored cliffs. We'll miss Miners Castle. Just as a previous generation missed the huge arch at Grand Portal Point that collapsed in 1900. Shaped by the harsh weather and the water, the Pictured Rocks are ever-changing. It's one of the reasons to keep going back. You never know what you're going to get. As Mother Nature keeps changing her grand canvas that we call the Pictured Rocks. From the Bay City Times |
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“The Ship That Built Cleveland” 4/29 - Cleveland - On Saturday, May 6, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum will offer free admission to Clevelanders, to celebrate the Museum’s new location north of the Great Lakes Science Center, 305 Mather Way (formerly Old Erieside Avenue). By presenting proof, such as a driver’s license, student ID, business card, or utility bill (no proof needed for elementary and secondary students), anyone residing, employed, or enrolled as a student in the City of Cleveland will be admitted free of charge during regular public hours—10:00 AM to 5:15 PM. May 6th is also Opening Day of the Mather Museum’s 16th season as northeast Ohio’s only floating maritime museum. Visitors can look forward to several exciting changes onboard this year, namely: Bell from the Great Lakes passenger ship City of Cleveland III July will also feature the return of the Tall Ships – coming July 12 – 16 to North Coast Harbor. This four-day Huntington Cleveland Harborfest and Tall Ships Challenge® is being co-produced by the Mather and the Great Lakes Science Center. Mather Museum News Release |
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Marine Historical Society of Detroit 4/25 - Detroit - The Marine Historical Society of Detroit has announced that the Annual Dinner and Program has been opened to non-members and potential members. The dinner will be held at the Seaway Terminal in Port Huron, on Saturday, May 6. The featured speaker will be G. I. “Buck” Longhurst who will present the program on the life of Capt. Manzzutti and his Yankcanuck Steamship Company. The pre-dinner reception is at 6:00 p.m. (BYOB, mixers will be provided), followed by a buffet dinner at 6:45 pm including Roast Beef, Fish, Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Garden tossed salad with a variety of dressings, Corn, Green Beans, Potatoes, Rice and Dessert. Wait staff will be standing by for those who need assistance with their plates. The cost is $35.00 (U S Funds) per person. Reservations must be received by Monday, May 1. Send your check (U.S. Funds please), made payable to The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to Marine Historical Society of Detroit, Annual Dinner Meeting, P.O. Box 244, Troy, Michigan 48099-0244, by May 1, 2006. Sorry, refunds or cancellations cannot be made after May 1. You may also reserve Online at www.MHSD.org/Dinner |
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Port Reports - April 29 Detroit River - Ken Borg Grand Haven - Dick Fox Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey The tug Joyce L. Van Enkevort and barge Great Lakes trader were back again Friday evening arriving with a split load. She stopped at the Essroc Cement Dock in Essexville to lighter before continuing upriver to the Wirt dock in Saginaw to finish unloading. It should be a long unload in Saginaw with a lot of repositioning and different products to unload. The John J. Boland was outbound from Bay Aggregates once the Joyce L. and Trader passed the dock around 8:00 p.m. Sandusky - Chuck Reynolds & Jim Spencer The venerable Canadian MV Pelee Islander made her first trip of 2006 into Sandusky Bay Friday, sidling up to her dock at Jackson Street Pier. Following her annual U.S. Coast Guard inspection, the passenger-auto ferry began her regular weekend schedule to Leamington, Ontario, shortly before 9:00 P.M. The Pelee Islander will maintain a Friday night, Sunday night sailing schedule from Sandusky to Leamington until June 23, when the daily summer schedule begins. The last Sandusky-Leamington run normally occurs on Labor Day. Familiar to several generations of Lake Erie boaters and shoreline residents, the 140-foot Pelee Islander was launched in 1960. Owned by the Province of Ontario, she is managed by Owen Sound Transportation Co. On the web at www.ontarioferries.com Sturgeon Bay - Wendell Wilke Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer |
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Updates - April 29 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 29 On 29 April 1875, the wooden schooner CLARA BELL of Sandusky was wrecked in a gale off Leamington, Ontario. Captain William Robinson was drowned. On April 29, 1975, American Steamship’s SAM LAUD entered service. Launched this date in 1976, was the a.) SOODOC (Hull#210) by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. Renamed b.) AMELIA DESGAGNES in 1990. On April 29, 1977, while inbound at Lorain, the IRVING S OLDS hit a bridge on the Black River which extensively damaged her bow, tying up traffic for several hours. A fender boom fell on the pilot house of the steamer GEORGE M HUMPHREY in the Poe Lock at the Soo in 1971. On 29 April 1865, L D COWAN (wooden schooner, 165 tons, built in 1848, at Erie, Pennsylvania) was driven ashore near Pointe aux Barques, Michigan in a storm and wrecked. Data from: Jody Aho, 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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Windoc Reported to be Sold 4/28 - The former N.M. Paterson and Sons bulk carrier Windoc, which was heavily damaged when the Allanburg Bridge on the Welland Canal was lowered on her superstructure prematurely August 11, 2001, has been sold by her most recent owner, Le Groupe Ocean Inc. of Quebec, QC. The Canada Transport vessel registry Web site lists the new owners as Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. and Algoma Central Corporation. It is not known what the two firms have planned for the vessel. It would be a relatively simple matter to notch her stern and use her as a barge, however if she is to be operated as a powered vessel a new superstructure will have to be built to replace the one destroyed by the fire that ensued after the bridge hit it. Reports indicate her power plant is still operable. Launched as the ocean bulk carrier Rhine Ore on April 11, 1959; the vessel was built as hull #533 by Schlieker-Werft, Hamburg, West Germany for Navios Corp. (Transatlantic Bulk Carriers Inc.), Monrovia, Liberia. After 17 years of ocean trading carrying iron ore for U.S. Steel interests from Venezuela to Europe; Hall Corporation Shipping Ltd (Halco), Montreal, QC bought the vessel in late 1976 and had her renamed Steelcliffe Hall in April, 1977. Following the liquidation of the Halco fleet, the Steelcliffe Hall was acquired by N. M. Paterson & Sons Ltd., Thunder Bay, ON in 1988 when she was given the name Windoc. After the accident, the former owners of the Windoc remained in a legal battle with the St. Lawrence Seaway Corp. seeking damages for the loss of the Windoc. Ontario-based NM Paterson & Sons was seeking $16.9M (C) damages from the seaway operator. Paterson claimed that the accident effectively forced it out of the shipping business. Paterson's remaining four ships were sold in 2002 ending their long history of shipping on the lakes and Seaway. Reported by Kent Malo |
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Iron Ore Maker Reports Record First Quarter 4/28 - Records are falling fast for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. The Cleveland-based iron ore producer on Wednesday reported a record $37.9 million first-quarter net income, a 45 percent increase compared to the previous first-quarter record of $26.5 million set in 2005. "This year's opening quarter results reflect a strong start for Cliffs," said John Brinzo, Cleveland-Cliffs chairman and chief executive officer, in a news release. "North American steel pricing remains firm, demonstrating the benefit of supply discipline from industry consolidation. Solid steel prices aided our North American pellet pricing during the first quarter." In Northeastern Minnesota, Cliffs holds ownership and manages Hibbing Taconite, Northshore Mining Co. and United Taconite. Strong worldwide demand for iron ore pellets -- the company's only product -- has fueled steady growth. In 2005, Cliffs recorded a $365.5 million operating income, triple the company's 2004 results. During 2005, Cliffs set several quarterly earnings records. That trend continues in 2006. Operating income in the first quarter of 2006 was $46.2 million, a 35 percent increase compared with $34.1 million in last year's first quarter. Iron ore pellet production at its six North American operations was 8 million tons in the first quarter, up about 100,000 tons from 7.9 million tons in 2005's opening quarter. Production in the first quarter at Hibbing Taconite and Northshore Mining Co. were each up about 100,000 tons to 2 million and 1.3 million tons, respectively. Tilden Mine production reached 1.7 million tons compared to 1.4 million last year. United Taconite's production slipped to 1 million tons from 1.1 million in
2005, and Wabush Mine production fell to 800,000 tons from 1.1 million. The
Empire Mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan produced 1.2 million tons, the
same as 2005. Projections for the full year are for 34.8 million tons, down
from 35.9 million tons last year. Continued demand for iron units in China and economic growth in the United States, Japan and Europe are expected to help maintain global steel and iron ore pricing, Brinzo said. Iron ore production at Cliffs' Portman operation in Australia is forecast at 7.5 million tons for the year, compared to 5.2 million tons in 2005. Any increase in the international iron ore price would have a retroactive effect on a portion of Cliffs' first-quarter sales. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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National Marine Day Announced 4/28 – Canada’s Marine Industry Alliance (CMIA) today announced that Tuesday, May 30, 2006 will be celebrated as Canada’s National Marine Day. CMIA, along with representatives from amongst the more than 800 marine industry companies they represent – including shippers, marine carriers, ports, terminal operators, freight forwarders and other marine related companies – will look forward to joining federal ministers, Members of Parliament and senior federal officials to commemorate National Marine Day at the Chateau Laurier on May 30, 2006. In announcing this important date, Guy Dufresne, Chair of the Chamber of Maritime Commerce, noted, “With Canadian-international overseas trade expected to at least double by the year 2020, and with the marine sector currently responsible for transporting 97% of that trade, the marine transportation industry is vital to the economic prosperity of our great country.” “The economic opportunities for Canada achievable through maritime commerce, especially from new markets in Asia, is testament to the vision and strategic importance of the Pacific Gateway Strategy,” said Rick Bryant, President of the Chamber of Shipping of B.C. Gerry Carter , Chair of the Canadian Shipowners Association added, “It is important that we take time out to give credit to the important role maritime trade plays in the daily life of Canadians by creating a National Marine Day.” He went on to note that, “Many people do not understand that many of the products on the store shelves from shirts to fruits to automobiles come to us by ship.” Referring to the impact of the industry in quantitative terms, Michael Broad, President of the Shipping Federation of Canada explained, “Over 450 million tonnes of cargo is handled annually in the maritime sector, valued at over $150 billion. On top of that, over 250,000 people directly and indirectly make a living in some aspect of maritime business in Canada.” CMIA News Release |
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Port Reports - April 28 Goderich - Dale Baechler Owen Sound - Peter Bowers Sandusky - Jim Spencer Sarnia - Barry Hiscocks Detroit - Ken Borg Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Marquette - Rod Burdick |
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Updates - April 28 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 28 On 28 April 1891, the whaleback barge 110 (steel barge, 265 foot, 1,296 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. in W. Superior, Wisconsin. In 1907, she went to the Atlantic Coast and lasted until she suffered an explosion, then sank after burning, near the dock of Cities Service Export Oil Co., at St. Rose, Louisiana, on March 3, 1932. The 660 ft. forward section of Bethlehem Steel’s a.) LEWIS WILSON FOY (Hull#717) was launched April 28,1977, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Renamed b.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991. Nipigon Transport Ltd.’s straight deck motorship a.) LAKE WABUSH (Hull#223) by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., was christened and launched April 28, 1981. Renamed b.) CAPT HENRY JACKMAN in 1987, and converted to a self-unloader in 1996. On April 28, 1971, while up bound from Sorel, Quebec for Muskegon, Michigan with a load of pig iron, LACHINEDOC struck Rock Shoal off Little Round Island in the St. Lawrence River and was beached. On April 28, 1906, Pittsburgh Steamship Co.’s J PIERPONT MORGAN (Hull#68) by Chicago Ship Building Co., was launched. Renamed b.) HERON BAY in 1966. April 28, 1897 - The F&PM (Flint & Pere Marquette) Steamer NO 1, bound from Milwaukee for Chicago ran ashore just north of Evanston. She released herself after a few hours. The barge LITTLE JAKE was launched on 28 April 1875, at East Saginaw, Michigan. She was owned by William R. Burt & Co. Her dimensions were 132 feet x 29 feet x 9 feet. On 28 April 1877, the steam barge C S BALDWIN went ashore on the reef at North Point on Lake Huron during a blinding snow storm. The barge was heavily loaded with iron ore and sank in a short time. The crew was saved by the Lifesaving Service from Thunder Bay Station and by the efforts of the small tug FARRAR. Data from: Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II, the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University 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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Old Mackinaw Home to Stay 4/27 - Cheboygan - The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw returned to the secondary dock at the Millard D. Olds Memorial Moorings on Sunday after a “farewell tour” that encompassed 11 days, four cities and more than 725 nautical miles. Technically, the ship has completed its last mission and is now being prepared for decommissioning on June 9, the same day the new Mackinaw will receive its commission. “We could still respond if we had to, but in theory we're done,” explained Ensign Beth Newton, the cutter's public affairs officer. Newton said that no fuel or oil is being removed yet, but already newer equipment is being removed for service on other Coast Guard vessels. “Things like our newer hand-held radios, some other electronics and the newer full-body exposure suits and life jackets - those can be used by other vessels,” she explained, stressing that other basic equipment used on the icebreaker will remain to depict the ship as it operated in 2006 once it becomes a museum. Among the preparations the vessel will undergo will be a fresh, new coat of paint. “We'll have it all spiffed up for June 9,” Newton said. The tour took the ship back to its birthplace of Toledo, Ohio, where its keel was laid at the Toledo Shipyard March 20, 1943 and launched March 4, 1944. The ship's whistle was sounded in salute as it passed the yard, mooring just beyond at the LaFarge Dock in the Maumee River. “We had more than 1,100 people tour the ship in five hours at Toledo,” Newton recalled. “A lot of people there wanted to see the Mackinaw.” One visitor, 92 year-old Minerva Halbert, came from Florida to inspect the vessel she helped build. “She was a shipyard worker whose specialty was overhead welding,” Newton said. “She was great. Nothing was stopping her from seeing the ship. We walked her around, but she remembered a lot. She said her initials are welded into the ship somewhere.” According to Newton, the Mackinaw's crew enjoyed the festival atmosphere that surrounded the day. Some crewmembers attended a Toledo Storm professional hockey game. At Cleveland, home of the Coast Guard's 9th District offices, the Mac tied up at the 9th Street Pier and hosted more than 200 invited guests to the change of command ceremony for Rear Adm. Robert Papp, who will assume duties as Chief of Staff and Commanding Officer at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in May. In this role, he will oversee general management functions of the entire Coast Guard. The new 9th District commander is Rear Adm. John E. Crowley, Jr. At Cleveland crewmembers gave tours and visited the Rock ‘N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. The Mackinaw docked at Hart Plaza in Detroit and hosted another 1,100 visitors for tours there, Newton said. The Henry Ford Museum was a popular stop for crewmembers. Perhaps the biggest surprise, Newton said, was the reception the Mac received in Sarnia, Ontario. “We pulled in to the Government Dock and were greeted by the Canadian cutter Samuel Risley,” Newton explained. “They had two big water cannons going to salute us and their mayor was there with Canadian Coast Guard officials for a big reception. They even had a fife and drum band playing. It was overwhelming to see. Visitors could tour both ships, and we had 1,600 on board.” The Mackinaw departed the Canadian city Saturday evening and encountered fog through much of Northern Lake Huron approaching Cheboygan, but it cleared as the ship passed 14-Foot Shoal Light. The tugboat Champion helped the Mac to moor in the turning basin dock. “The crew really enjoyed it,” Newton said of the farewell tour. “We received a lot of salutes and radio calls from other ships along the way thanking us.” She added that most crewmembers with orders will not depart the ship until after June 9. |
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Feds Must Get Busy Mapping River Changes 4/27 - Thirteen months ago, Congresswoman Candice Miller called for a study to determine whether changes to the St. Clair River have resulted in a permanent lowering of Lake Huron. That study is overdue. Historically, Great Lakes water levels have fluctuated on a roughly 20-year cycle. Shoreline residents got used to the idea, as best they could, that water levels would peak approximately every 20 years to cause flooding and other damage. Ten years later, they'd deal with low levels and the problems that come with that. Along the way, a lot of people have learned to blame the federal government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in particular, for high levels and for low levels. The theory that popped up a year ago was the 1962 dredging of the shipping channel through lower Lake Huron, the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair had either directly or indirectly allowed too much water to pour out of Lake Huron. A year later, hydrologists have a different theory. They believe the record high water level set in 1986 is itself responsible for natural changes to the St. Clair River that have increased the amount of water flowing out of Lake Huron. Their thinking should be obvious to anyone who has wielded a garden hose. Flushing billions and billions of gallons of water down the St. Clair River erodes the its bottom and sides. Increasing the rate of flow, as would happen after record high levels, would accelerate that erosion. The result would be a deeper, wider St. Clair River. A bigger river, like a larger diameter hose, means water flows out of Lake Huron even faster in the future. There is some evidence to back up the theory. The cyclical rise and fall of lakes Huron and Erie have always matched each other. The cycles of the two lakes remain in synch today. What's different is Lake Huron always used to be about 30 inches higher than Lake Erie. In the past 15 or 20 years, that relationship has changed. Now, through the same highs and lows, Lake Huron is only about 20 inches higher than Lake Erie. So while Lake Huron flirts with record lows, Lake Erie is close to its average. The question remains why. If changes to the St. Clair River are responsible
for the continued low level of Lake Huron, and whether those changes are
natural or man-made, should be easy enough to measure. So why hasn't anyone
measured it yet? Miller was right last spring. The issue demands a
comprehensive study. Four and a half million dollars doesn't seem like much, as government projects go. But neither government has approved the money for the study. That approval, like the study, is long overdue. From the Port Huron Times-Herald |
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Taconite Taxes Appear Set to Increase 4/27 - While the outcome of bonding bills and stadium proposals at the state Legislature remains uncertain, at least one measure seems sure: Taconite taxes will increase. Iron Range lawmakers are preparing to allow a 6.5 cent-per-ton increase in the taconite-production tax. The tax -- which automatically goes up each year unless frozen by the Legislature -- is levied on each ton of taconite pellets produced at Northeastern Minnesota's six iron mining operations. The tax is paid in lieu of property taxes. Allowing an increase on taconite pellets produced in 2006 would raise the tax to about $2.20 per ton, said Robert Wagstrom, a Minnesota Department of Revenue Minerals Tax Office mining engineer. When the taconite industry performs well, the tax usually goes up. During slumps, Iron Range lawmakers have succeeded in freezing the tax. The DFL-controlled Senate, which has a tax bill assembled, hasn't shown any inclination to support a freeze. A House tax bill hasn't been formulated yet. Lacking a tax agreement between the two houses -- or without language that would freeze the tax -- the tax would go up. Iron Range taconite plants are projected to produce about 39.5 million tons in 2006, considered a robust year. "In general, most of us agree that these are boom years," said Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia. "In troubled times, we've kept it down. But they're all booming, and it's time to let it go up." Under the Senate bill,2 cents of the increase would be distributed to cities that have iron ore mining operations within their borders. One-tenth of a cent would help finance the Buhl-based Range Association of Municipalities and Schools. The remainder would go to an Iron Range Resources fund for restoring land affected by mining and to alternative energy economic-development projects. "What we've tried to do is direct that money at some new programs," Rukavina said. "Places like Virginia, Mountain Iron and Eveleth that get boomed every day (by taconite mine blasts) deserve to get a little bit of that money. "And we still want to pursue that dream of being able to do something with our mine dumps. In the old days, we just had dumps. Then, we had shaped dumps. Now, maybe it's time we had something more than shaped dumps -- maybe they're places where we can have ski hills, golf courses or quick-growth tree plantations." In 2005, $87.4 million in taconite production taxes went to Iron Range Resources, cities and townships, and school districts, and toward property tax relief. Based on 39.5 million tons, an increase would cost Iron Range taconite producers about $2.5 million. "It seems like business is going well," said Sen. Dave Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm. With annual production up from about 34.3 million tons in 2003, producers already are paying more taxes, said Frank Ongaro Jr., president of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota. For years, taconite producers have lobbied to eliminate the automatic tax increase. "The issue to the industry is that we're working with the (Iron Range political) delegation to make sure they understand the importance of the industry having stability and certainty going forward for the long term," Ongaro said. "These companies are pumping hundreds of millions back into these facilities, and it's important to recognize that investment." The automatic escalator clause was put into place during the 1997 legislative session as part of a larger taconite tax bill, said former state Sen. Doug Johnson of Tower. The Iron Range political delegation, Gov. Wendell Anderson, Lt. Gov. Rudy Perpich and Duluth frozen foods entrepreneur Jeno Paulucci supported the automatic increase, said Johnson, who sponsored the bill. "The thinking is that the production tax is paid in lieu of property taxes and, as most residents and business owners know, their property taxes increase each year," Johnson said. "I think most homeowners and businesses will say their taxes increase, and to just be fair, that was the reason." From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Mittal Steel Opens New Sheet-steel Line in Cleveland 4/27 - Cleveland - Mittal Steel USA's plant here began producing galvanized sheet steel yesterday for the auto industry and other customers. The $70 million investment in the sheet steel line will add 80 jobs at the plant which employs 1,500 workers. The plant will make 700,000 tons of sheet steel annually using a hot-dip galvanizing process, which passes steel through a bath of hot zinc. From the Columbus Dispatch |
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Port Reports - April 27 Grand Haven - Dick Fox It was announced (Boatnerd News 4/26) that the Harbor Steamer, a diesel powered paddle wheel tour boat, will not run this season. It had run for 22 years, giving narrated tours of the Grand River, Lake Michigan and Spring Lake. The high cost of insurance and fuel coupled with a decreasing number of passengers last season were cited. The craft has been put up for sale. Toledo - Welland Canal - Charlie Gibbons Owen Sound - Ed. Saliwonchyk Twin Ports - Al Miller Muskegon - Herm Phillips Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Updates - April 27 News Photo Gallery updated. More News Photo Gallery Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 27 The H A HAWGOOD (4-mast wooden schooner, 233 feet) was launched at 2:00 p.m. on 27 April 1886, at F. W. Wheeler’s shipyard in W. Bay City, Michigan. On April 27, 1993, the WOLVERINE ran aground on Surveyors Reef near Port Dolomite near Cedarville, Michigan and damaged her hull. The ASHCROFT, up bound on Lake Erie in fog, collided with Interlake's steamer JAMES H REED on April 27, 1944. The REED, fully loaded with ore, quickly sank off Port Burwell, Ontario with a loss of twelve lives. The ASHCROFT suffered extensive bow damage below the water line and was taken to Ashtabula, Ohio for repairs. On April 27, 1973, the bow section of the SIDNEY E SMITH JR was towed to Sarnia by the Malcolm tugs TABOGA and BARBARA ANN. The two sections of the hull were scuttled and land-filled to form a dock facing. Shenango Furnace's straight deck steamer WILLIAM P SNYDER JR left Ecorse, Michigan in ballast on her maiden voyage April 27, 1912, for Duluth, Minnesota to load iron ore. On April 27, 1978, the TROISDOC was down bound with corn for Cardinal, Ontario when she hit the upper end of the tie-up wall above Lock 2, in the Welland Ship Canal. On April 27, 1980, after loading pellets in Duluth, the ENDERS M VOORHEES stopped at the Seaway Dock to load a large wooden stairway (three sections) on deck which was taken to the AmShip yard at Lorain. It was used for an open house on the newly built EDWIN H GOTT in 1979. On April 27, 1953, the steamer RESERVE entered service. On April 27, 1984, the CHARLES M BEEGHLY struck the breakwall while departing Superior, Wisconsin on her first trip since the 1981, season. The vessel returned to Fraser Shipyards in Superior for repairs. On 27 April 1876, the Port Huron Times reported, "The steam barge MARY MILLS arrived up this morning and looks 'flaming'. Her owner said he did not care what color she was painted so long as it was bright red, and she has therefore come out in that color." On 27 April 1877, the 40 foot 2-mast wooden schooner VELOCIPEDE left Racine, Wisconsin for Muskegon, Michigan in fair weather, but a severe squall blew in and it developed into a big storm. The little schooner was found capsized and broken in two off Kenosha, Wisconsin with her crew of 2 or 3 lost. Data from: Jody Aho, 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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U.S. Steel Net Income More than Double Previous Quarter 4/26 - Duluth - U.S. Steel Corp. on Tuesday reported $256 million in first-quarter net income, a more-than-double increase from a net income of $109 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. "We had a strong first quarter with results significantly improved from the previous quarter, reflecting robust demand and continued firm prices across all business units," U.S. Steel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Surma said in a news release. U.S. Steel's tubular division reported a record $177 million operating income for the first quarter. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $459 million. In Northeastern Minnesota, U.S. Steel owns and operates two iron ore mines, Minntac Mine in Mountain Iron and Keewatin Taconite. Iron ore production for the first quarter was 5.4 million tons, about a 100,000-ton increase over the 5.3 million tons produced in fourth quarter of 2005. The two mines also produced about 5.3 million tons in the first quarter of 2005. Surma said a solid second quarter is projected as iron ore operations exit winter and move into summer taconite pellet production. "We are entering the quarter with good momentum, and we expect strong results as demand in key markets remains firm and our people and facilities are performing well," Surma said. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Harbor Steamer to Stay in Dry Dock 4/26 - Grand Haven, MI - The 65-foot Harbor Steamer, a tourist attraction that has carried thousands of riders up and down the Grand River channel, will not launch this summer, according to its owners. The excursion ship, which featured history lessons on Grand Haven's maritime heritage, is for sale and may head south to ply waters year-round. The steamer has been a summer tradition in Grand Haven since 1983, but rising costs and falling ticket sales have put the ship's owners in debt, according to Don Messinger, a spokesman for R&D Entertainment, the company that owns the diesel-powered vessel. Messinger said rising fuel and insurance costs made running the excursion boat a losing proposition. Among other problems, the business still owes the city of Grand Haven $3,409 for its 2005 license agreement, city officials said. With last year's debt still unpaid, the city council recently revoked the license agreement that allowed the steamer to dock near the Chinook Pier. Messinger speculates that rising gasoline costs have led to fewer tourists in Grand Haven with less money to spend. That, he said, led to lower ticket sales. The steamer, which has been for sale for two years for an undisclosed price, could head to the southern United States where it can be used year-round. "I don't know. I really don't," said Messinger on where the steamer might end up. "If someone had the time to devote to the marketing of it, that would help. This is a small business, so most of the work you have to do yourself." Messinger, a local attorney, said a potential buyer had plans to move the Harbor Steamer to Georgia, but the deal fell through. He said the interested party bought another vessel instead. That leaves the Harbor Steamer's owners without a solid prospect for a sale. It will remain in dry dock until a sale is completed. Meanwhile, the biggest financial hit has come via insurance, which has risen from $3,200 per year to $15,000. Messinger said Homeland Security concerns in the post-9/11 era have contributed to rising insurance costs. "All that stuff gets factored in," he said. "Boats are expensive to operate and you need volume to make it work. It's just a very short season. You need a lot of people in town, and you need a lot of people in the boat. "Towns like Grand Haven might not be able to support businesses like this in the future." The ship has a capacity of 90 passengers and includes open-air seats and a closed cabin on the lower deck for parties. Most trips were along the Grand River channel at a leisurely 5 to 8 knots, Messinger said. The Harbor Steamer was built in 1983 by Sashaguay Machine, a custom boat and barge manufacturer in Saugatuck. The steamer's original operators were Bonnie and Terry Kozanecki of Spring Lake, Messinger said. Marci Cisneros, executive director of the Grand Haven Area Visitor's Bureau, said she has been working to find a business to fill the niche of the Harbor Steamer. An out-of-town businessman had expressed interest, but the deal appears to have fallen through for this summer. "It's not coming through this year, but he looked really hard at Grand Haven," she said. "He was going to bring a Catamaran. ... He's hopeful that it's something that can happen for him in the next couple years." From the Muskegon Chronicle |
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Rochester Ferry Set to Sail but Next Port
Unknown 4/26 - The high-speed ferry received a clean bill of health Monday but not its travel plans. There was no official announcement on when the boat would be sold, yet it appears the city's ownership of the debt-laden ferry will be ending sooner rather than later. The ferry, which while in operation had traveled daily between Rochester and Toronto, passed a final inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday after a five-hour review. It also traversed Lake Ontario for four hours Monday as part of an international inspection process, said city spokesman Gary Walker. As far as the federal government is concerned, the boat is ready for its bon voyage. "They are set to sail," said Coast Guard Lt. David Webb. And Webb said the boat's crew indicated Monday that the ferry could be off to its new destination "maybe in a week." But city officials have been leery of putting a time schedule on the boat's pending sale, saying that negotiations are complex and could turn on a dime. "This sort of thing is touch-and-go," said City Councilman Benjamin Douglas, president of the city's ferry board. "At times it looks like it may be the next day." The city has not revealed its potential buyer, but the boat could be headed
for a new ferry service between England and France. Euroferries Limited, a
British-based company, expects to start a ferry service as early as next
month, according to its Web site. The company did not list a phone number on
its Web site and could not be reached. From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |
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Early Opening for NY Canal System 4/26 - New York state's canal system will be open for business on Friday, April 28, three days earlier than in 2005. The Friday opening represents the first time the entire system -- which includes the Erie Canal running from Waterford to Buffalo -- has been open in April in 33 years. The system opening had been set for May 1, but employees were able to finish maintenance projects early so it was decided to open early and allow boaters to take advantage of expected good weather, New York State Canal System director Carmella Mantello said Monday. Other canals run to Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario and between the major lakes in the Finger Lakes chain. "With one of the most ambitious seasons in recent history planned for the Canal System in 2006, it seemed only fitting to have the canals open ahead of schedule so that more people could come out to take advantage of this tremendous resource," Mantello said. The opening days for the various parts of the canal have depended on weather, but normally occurred during the first week of May. From Buffalo Business First |
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Port Reports - April 26 Sandusky - Jim Spencer The announced Thursday arrival of the Philip R. Clarke at the coal dock on Thursday may also be delayed. She was steaming in Lake Huron late Tuesday, bound for a lower lakes port prior to visiting Sandusky. Duluth-Superior - Al Miller Detroit - Ken Borg American Republic was up bound at 8:48 a.m. Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Welland Canal - Michel Gosselin |
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Marine Historical Society of Detroit 4/25 - Detroit - The Marine Historical Society of Detroit has announced that the Annual Dinner and Program has been opened to non-members and potential members. The dinner will be held at the Seaway Terminal in Port Huron, on Saturday, May 6. The featured speaker will be G. I. “Buck” Longhurst who will present the program on the life of Capt. Manzzutti and his Yankcanuck Steamship Company. The pre-dinner reception is at 6:00 p.m. (BYOB, mixers will be provided), followed by a buffet dinner at 6:45 pm including Roast Beef, Fish, Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Garden tossed salad with a variety of dressings, Corn, Green Beans, Potatoes, Rice and Dessert. Wait staff will be standing by for those who need assistance with their plates. The cost is $35.00 (U S Funds) per person. Reservations must be received by Monday, May 1. Send your check (U.S. Funds please), made payable to The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to Marine Historical Society of Detroit, Annual Dinner Meeting, P.O. Box 244, Troy, Michigan 48099-0244, by May 1, 2006. Sorry, refunds or cancellations cannot be made after May 1. You may also reserve Online at www.MHSD.org/Dinner |
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Updates - April 26 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 26 On 26 April 1859, the wooden schooner A SCOTT was carrying limestone blocks for a large Presbyterian church being built at Vermilion, Ohio. The vessel was driven ashore near Vermilion by a gale and was quickly pounded to pieces. Her insurance had expired about ten days earlier. No lives were lost. Algoma's new straight deck bulk freighter ALGOWEST (Hull#226) of Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., was launched April 26, 1982. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1998, and renamed b.) PETER R CRESSWELL in 2001. Sea trials were conducted April 26, 1984, on Lake Ontario for the CANADIAN RANGER. An unfortunate incident happened on the SEWELL AVERY as four crew members were injured, one critically, when a lifeboat winch housing exploded shortly after a lifeboat drill in 1978. Paterson’s CANADOC (Hull#627) by Davie Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., was launched April 26, 1961. The m/v BENSON FORD (Hull#245) of the Great Lakes Engineering Works was launched in 1924. In 1982, carferry service from Frankfort, Michigan ended forever when railroad service to that port was discontinued and the remaining boats (ARTHUR K ATKINSON, VIKING, and CITY OF MILWAUKEE) were laid up. CITY OF MILWAUKEE is preserved as a museum ship by the Society for the Preservation of the CITY OF MILWAUKEE. On 26 April 1902, M P BARKLOW (wooden schooner, 104 foot, 122 gross tons, built in 1871, at Perry, Ohio), loaded with salt, was anchored off South Bass Island in Lake Erie to ride out a gale. Nevertheless she foundered and four lives were lost, the skipper, his wife, their son and one crewman. On 26 April 1926, THOMAS GAWN (2-mast wooden schooner-barge, 171 foot, 550 gross tons, built in 1872, at Lorain, Ohio as a 3-mast schooner) sprang a leak and sank at River Rouge, Michigan in the Detroit River. The wreck was removed the following month and abandoned. She had a 54 year career. 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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Rt. Rev. Ingalls, Longtime Rector at Mariners' Church, Passes 4/25 - 1:00 p.m. -Tuesday's Detroit Free Press carried the death notice of the Rt. Rev. Richard W. Ingalls, 79, who died Monday. He was the rector of the Mariners’ Church of Detroit for 41 years before retiring this past February following the installation of his son Rev. Richard W. Ingalls, Jr., 58, as the new rector. The elder Ingalls was stalwart in his leadership of the Mariners' Church, and a loyal member of the Great Lakes maritime community. He remained Bishop-in-Residence and Rector Emeritus of Mariners' Church until his death. Bishop Ingalls had been a member of ISMA Detroit Lodge No. 7 for over 39 years. He had served as chaplain or co-chaplain during the years of his membership. A memorial gathering will be held Friday, May 12th, 2:00-8:00 p.m. at Chas Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack, Grosse Pointe. Requiem Eucharist Saturday, May 13th at 11:00 a.m. at Mariners' Church of Detroit, 170 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. Memorial contributions may be made to Mariners' Church of Detroit. A death notice and online guest book can be found at the following link: http://www.detroitnewspapers.com/deathnotices/viewnotice.cfm?id=109186 Reported by Dave Knight and Paul M. Jagenow, ISMA Detroit Lodge No.7 |
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Mathilda Desgagnes Sold for Off-Lake Use 4/25 - The long-time St. Lawrence fixture Mathilda Desgagne (ex. Eskimo built Davie 1959) was reported to be sold for off-lake use. The vessel used mainly in Arctic re-supplying missions every summer was reported sold for use in the Caribbeans. Laid-up at St-Joseph-de-la-Rive, the vessel is supposed to be taken to Quebec City later this week for inspection as well as renaming and handing over to the new owners and crews. It is suspected that this sale is a follow-up of the near sale of last fall when the vessel was to be used as a container feeder between shallow draught ports in the Caribbeans. |
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Marine Historical Society of Detroit 4/25 - Detroit - The Marine Historical Society of Detroit has announced that the Annual Dinner and Program has been opened to non-members and potential members. The dinner will be held at the Seaway Terminal in Port Huron, on Saturday, May 6. The featured speaker will be G. I. “Buck” Longhurst who will present the program on the life of Capt. Manzzutti and his Yankcanuck Steamship Company. The pre-dinner reception is at 6:00 p.m. (BYOB, mixers will be provided), followed by a buffet dinner at 6:45 pm including Roast Beef, Fish, Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Garden tossed salad with a variety of dressings, Corn, Green Beans, Potatoes, Rice and Dessert. Wait staff will be standing by for those who need assistance with their plates. The cost is $35.00 (U S Funds) per person. Reservations must be received by Monday, May 1. Send your check (U.S. Funds please), made payable to The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to Marine Historical Society of Detroit, Annual Dinner Meeting, P.O. Box 244, Troy, Michigan 48099-0244, by May 1, 2006. Sorry, refunds or cancellations cannot be made after May 1. You may also reserve Online at www.MHSD.org/Dinner |
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Port Reports - April 25 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Fairport Harbor - Herb Hubbel Duluth-Superior - Al Miller Hamilton - Eric Holmes Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer & John N. Vogel Holland - Bob VandeVusse Toledo - |
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Updates - April 25 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 25 On 25 April 1888, JESSIE MAGGIE (wooden schooner, 63 foot, 49 gross tons) was re-registered as a 2-masted schooner. She was built on a farm in Kilmanagh, Michigan in 1887, as a 3-masted schooner and she was launched near Sebewaing, Michigan. It took 16 spans of oxen to haul her over frozen ground to the launch site. She lasted until 1904. Interlake Steamship’s WILLIAM J DE LANCEY (Hull#909) of American Ship Building Co., was christened April 25, 1981. Renamed b.) PAUL R TREGURTHA in 1990. On April 25, 1973, the self-unloading boom on Canada Steamship Lines a.) TADOUSSAC of 1969, collapsed while she was at Sandusky, Ohio. She sails today as b.) CSL TADOUSSAC. In 1925, the ANN ARBOR 4 was back in service after running aground on February 13th off Kewaunee, Wisconsin. In 1973, it was announced that the CITY OF SAGINAW 31, would be scrapped after a fire which destroyed her cabin deck in 1971. Hall Corp. of Canada’s bulk canaller a.) ROCKCLIFFE HALL (Hull#615) by Davie Shipbuilding & Repair Ltd., was launched April 25, 1958. Converted to a tanker in 1972, renamed b.) ISLAND TRANSPORT, and c.) ENERCHEM LAKER in 1987. Pittsburgh Steamship Co.’s BENJAMIN F FAIRLESS (Hull#824) by American Ship Building Co., was launched April 25, 1942. Mutual Steamship Co.’s WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE (Hull#41) by Great Lakes Engineering Works, was launched April 25, 1908. Renamed b.) S B WAY in 1936 and c.) CRISPIN OGLEBAY in 1948. She was scrapped at Santander, Spain in 1974. The PERCIVAL ROBERTS JR sailed light on her maiden voyage April 25, 1913, from Lorain to load ore at Two Harbors, Minnesota. On April 25, 1954, CSL's, T R MC LAGAN entered service. At 714 feet 6 inches, she took the title for longest vessel on the Great Lakes from the JOSEPH H THOMPSON, beating the THOMPSON by three inches. The THOMPSON had held the honor since November 4, 1952. She was renamed b.) OAKGLEN in 1990, and was scrapped at Alang, India in 2004. Whaleback a.) FRANK ROCKEFELLER (Hull#136) by the American Steel Barge Co., was launched in 1896, for the American Steel barge Co., Pickands, Mather & Co., mgr. Converted to a sand dredge and renamed b.) SOUTH PARK in 1927, and converted to a tanker and renamed c.) METEOR in 1945. On April 25, 1949, CSL’s, GRAINMOTOR collided with the abutment of the railroad bridge above Lock 2 of the Lachine Canal. The wooden schooner OTTAWA was launched on 25 April 1874, at Grand Haven, Michigan. She was owned by Capt. William R. Loutill and could carry 180,000 feet of lumber. T S CHRISTIE (wooden propeller, 160 foot, 533 gross tons) was launched at F. W. Wheeler's yard (Hull #22) in W. Bay City, Michigan on 25 April 1885. She was built for the Bay City & Cleveland Transportation Company at a cost of $45,000. Originally built as a double deck vessel, she was cut down to a single decker at Chicago in 1902. 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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Car in Water Shuts Welland Canal for Five
Hours 4/24 - Port Colborne - The Welland Canal was shut down here for close to five hours Friday morning after a woman’s car went into the water. At about 7:25 a.m., police received a call that a woman was in the canal about 30 metres (100 yards) north of the Main Street bridge. The 40-year-old Port Colborne woman’s car went into the canal off the west wall and was found a short time later by a citizen near the east wall. “She started screaming and a citizen who was near the canal ran and got help. Then the police were able to pull her to the side of the canal,” said Niagara Regional Police Staff Sgt. Brian Richardson of 32 Division in Port Colborne. Daysi Finnegan was letting her dog into the house, which backs onto the canal, because of all the fuss the dog was making outside. “The dog was barking because of the screaming coming from the canal,” said Rob Finnegan, Daysi’s husband. “So my wife went outside and heard the screaming. It was difficult to distinguish where it was coming from because of the echo in the canal. “So she followed our dog, Mona, over and spotted the woman flailing for help in the middle of the canal.” Daysi then ran back to the house and told Rob to call 911. Once he had given the details to police, Rob hopped on his bike and went down to the canal to try to help the woman. “I grabbed the life ring and threw it to her just as the police arrived,” said Rob. The police kept the woman at the east wall of the canal until the fire department got there. They were then able to get her out of the water. The event shut down canal operations and the NRP dive unit was called to the site to find and retrieve the woman’s car from the canal. “This kind of incident closes the canal,” said Richardson. “And that’s not a good thing.” One NRP diver went into the canal searching for the car and found it about 30 metres (100 feet) off the west wall. “It took approximately 20 minutes to find the car,” said Darrin Forbes, acting sergeant of the dive unit. “We had tire tracks leading to the water and then we started close to the wall and continued fanning out from there until we found it. It was about halfway out into the canal.” Once the car was found, a crane, supplied by the seaway, dropped a cable into the canal. “The diver rigged the cable to the vehicle and then we pulled our diver out,” said Forbes. “Once our diver was safely out of the water, the crane lifted the car out of the water and onto the deck where it was towed away.” When it was pulled out of the canal, Forbes said the only visible damage to the vehicle was the broken back windshield. “A lot of times that’s from when the car fills up with water and the pressure will blow the window out,” he said. “Other than that, there was no damage that I could see.” Forbes said the doors to the vehicle weren’t open, but there were two ways the woman could have gotten out of the car. “The driver’s side window was down and the rear window was broken, so she could have gotten out through either window, “ he said. The woman was taken to Welland Hospital, said Richardson. The canal was reopened at about noon once the vehicle was out of the water. Reported by Bill Bird from the Welland Tribune |
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This Is Not an 'Old Ship's Funeral' 4/24 - Sarnia- Larry Sobczak was so impressed with the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw, he made a second trip to see the vessel. Sobczak, 49, of Berkley, an occasional Port Huron visitor, was snapping pictures aboard the Mackinaw's wide deck, as it sat at the Sarnia Government Dock for tours Saturday afternoon. He also visited the ship when it docked in Toledo on April 15. "It's a once, or twice, in a lifetime opportunity," he said. The 290-foot icebreaker, in service since 1944, made its final stop on its farewell tour in Sarnia, the hub of Great Lakes icebreaking activity. It left Saturday evening for its homeport in Cheboygan. The Mackinaw will be decommissioned June 9. Pending U.S. congressional approval, it will then become a floating museum in Cheboygan. Its crew of more than 70 will be dispersed on other assignments. On Saturday, a long line of people clamored to get aboard the Mackinaw as members of the Royal Canadian Legion played bagpipes. Minutes earlier, the ship's captain made a speech lauding the U.S. and Canadian coast guards relationship. "It is more than a ceremonial bond," Capt. Joe McGuiness said to loud applause. "Our bonds were built not on sunny days like today. They are built together at 3 a.m. in a gale ... In April or May breaking ice in the St. Clair River." The U.S. and Canadian coast guards depend on each other - neither of them have enough icebreakers of their own to keep the Great Lakes shipping channels open every winter, McGuiness said. Ed Bonn, 71, of Sarnia said he was impressed the ship made a Canadian port its last stop. "It was a great gesture on the part of the American Coast Guard," Bonn said. "We look at her as part of our own heritage." Bonn said he had worked in shipyards before and is interested in vessels. Lindsay Osborn, 28, of Port Huron said she didn't know a lot about ships, but was impressed by her tour. That this was the Mackinaw's last voyage touched her. "It's pretty sad," she said. Capt. McGuiness stressed this wasn't "an old ship's funeral." The Coast Guard is replacing the ship with a newer, more versatile Mackinaw, to be commissioned the same day the old ship retires. The tour is a testament to the ship's impact, he said. "In 62 years, she's made a lot of friends," he said, holding an envelope of original, black and white pictures of the Mackinaw given to him by a visitor. From the Port Huron Times-Herald |
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Port Reports - April 24 Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Burton still due the Monday at 0115hrs. Owen Sound - Ed. Saliwonchyk Marquette - Lee Rowe Straits of Mackinac - Ric Mixter Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Marquette - Rod Burdick Alpena & Stoneport - Ben & Chanda McClain |
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Updates - April 24 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 24 On 24 April 1872, the 3-mast wooden schooner JENNIE GRAHAM was sailing up Lake Huron to pick up a load of lumber. She was light and at full sail when a sudden squall caused her to capsize. Two crew members were trapped below decks and died. Captain Duncan Graham was washed away and drowned. The remaining seven crew members clung to the overturned hull for about an hour and then the vessel unexpectedly turned upwards and lay on one side. The crew was then able to cut away a lifeboat and get in it. They were later picked up by the schooner SWEEPSTAKES. The GRAHAM was salvaged and taken to Port Huron for repairs. The ONTADOC sailed from Collingwood, Ontario on her maiden voyage on April 24, 1975, for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to load steel for Duluth, Minnesota. She was renamed b) MELISSA DESGAGNES in 1990. Pittsburgh Steamship Co.’s D M CLEMSON (Hull#716) of the American Ship Building Co., departed Lorain on her maiden voyage April 24, 1917, to load iron ore at Duluth, Minnesota. The B F JONES left Quebec on April 24, 1973, in tandem with her former fleet mate EDWARD S KENDRICK towed by the Polish tug KORAL heading for scrapping in Spain. The wooden schooner WELLAND CANAL was launched at Russell Armington's shipyard at St. Catharines, Ontario. She was the first ship built at St. Catharines and the first to navigate the Welland Canal when it opened between St. Catharine's and Lake Ontario on 10 May 1828. 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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Judge Tosses Lawsuit over Saginaw Dredging Spoils Site * 4/23 - Bay City, MI - Within three weeks, bulldozers could begin building a basin overlapping the Zilwaukee-Frankenlust township line to harbor dredge spoils from the Saginaw River, a judge has ruled. Bay County Circuit Judge Lawrence M. Bielawski denied an injunction Wednesday that would have kept the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from building a 281-acre disposal site for river bottom silt. Without legal action to stop the project, Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner James A. Koski said construction could begin by the second week of May. Pressure for the project mounted this month when two ships ran aground in the turning basin just north of downtown Saginaw. The vessels escaped with from a tug boat, but not before warnings rippled through the shipping industry of shallow waters in the Upper Saginaw River. The Corps of Engineers has talked about dredging the turning basin, but said a full-scale scrape of the Saginaw River would have to wait until the agency can get a disposal site built. Barring another lawsuit, Koski said the Corps finally can start building that site. Frankenlust Township officials say any construction will roll right over their township's property rights, imperiling wildlife, wetlands and drainage and snubbing zoning laws that prohibit such facilities in their community. Officials argued that the disposal site, burrowed out of wetland within the 100-year flood plain of the Saginaw River, would disrupt flood patterns and forever destroy a wetland habitat that adjoins the Crow Island State Game Area. What rankles them most, however, is Saginaw County's refusal to seek any zoning changes or variances for the proposed dump site. They say Saginaw County, the property owner, has flatly ignored township law. ''Basically, what (the judge's ruling is) saying is, 'Go ahead and do whatever you want to do,''' said attorney James Hammond of Bay City, who is representing Frankenlust Township. ''Ignore the (zoning) ordinance. You don't have to comply and I don't care.'' Saginaw County officials argue that the project is under federal jurisdiction and exempt from any local zoning laws. They acknowledged openly that they never have tried to reconcile the township's zoning plan, which lists the property as a wetland conservation district, into line with the project. ''Federal law always trumps state law,'' Koski said. As for the environmental implications of construction, county officials relied on the testimony of Daniel H. Morgan, district supervisor for the state Department of Environmental Quality's land and water management division, who said the Corps of Engineers had properly mitigated for wetlands and flood storage area to avoid any environmental harm. Bielawski refused to stop the project Wednesday, but said he would reserve comment about his decision until the written opinion, which will come at an later date. From the Bay City Times * Note: The Boatnerd Legal Department reports that the headline on this article is not supported by the text. "The judge did not toss the lawsuit. The lawsuit is very much alive." "All the judge did was deny a preliminary injunction which would have stopped the dredging while the lawsuit was being heard before the judge &/or jury." |
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Mighty Mac lowers anchor 4/23 - Sarnia- The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw made its final voyage up the St. Clair River to Sarnia on Friday afternoon. The "Mighty Mac," used by the Coast Guard since 1944 to clear winter shipping channels on the Great Lakes, is making its last stop on its farewell tour. It will be decommissioned June 9 and replaced with a new, more versatile 240-foot Mackinaw, which is undergoing tests and is scheduled to be commissioned the same day. The Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley on Friday ushered the red-hulled, 290-foot Mackinaw into the Sarnia Government Dock. It will remain at the Canadian dock until Saturday night, when it leaves for Cheboygan, its home port, to prepare for its decommissioning, said Ensign Elizabeth Newton, Mackinaw public affairs officer. The ship was open for tours from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday. The welcoming by the Canadian Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's way of thanking the ship, said Carol Bond, communications officer for the Canadian Coast Guard in Sarnia, considered the "hub of ice-breaking operations." The two guards have worked together to keep the area waters clear of ice, she said. Many are aware of the Mackinaw's historic efforts and significance, Newton said. "It's been keeping the commerce open in the Great Lakes all the way through the 21st Century," Newton said. The ship is retiring because its aging parts have become difficult to replace, she said. Six train locomotive engines power the ship. "It's not that she can't do her job," Newton said. "She is running out of spare parts. The equipment is getting obsolete." From the Port Huron Times-Herald |
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Port Reports - April 23 Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Armco due Erie, PA on Sunday, then to load at Calcite for Buffalo. Courtney Burton due Buffalo on Monday about 1:15 a.m. Saginaw entered the harbour at 7:00 am Saturday and is discharging her cargo into the elevators. Saginaw River - Gordy Garris As for the unloading docks and terminals in Zilwaukee and Saginaw, the Sargent Saginaw dock and Terminal continues to receive products from their other location in Essexville, and the Saginaw Wirt Stone dock also continues to receive products from their other location in Bay City. The Lafarge dock and Terminal has empted out the E.M. Ford of all of her bulk cement and continues trucking bulk cement in daily. As for the rest of the docks in Saginaw, the Saginaw Rock Products dock, the Valley Asphalt dock, the International Materials dock and the Buena Vista Stone dock continue to receive supplies and products trucked in to the docks daily and hopefully at a cost of $5,000-$7,000 for businesses along the river will use the local tug Gregory J. Busch to assist the freighters in backing downriver to turn around in the Airport turning basin after they maneuver upriver to their dock in Saginaw to unload. Toledo - Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Also Saturday ocean vessel Carola was at terminal 2 in the outer harbor, unloading steel, and tug/barge cement carrier G.L. Ostrander/Integrity unloaded powdered cement at the LaFarge silo on Jones Island in the inner harbor. Holland - Bob VandeVusse Duluth - Detroit - Ken Borg Charles M. Beeghly was up the Rouge River at 9:00 a.m. going to Servstal N.A. Bluewing was at the Ojibway anchorage all day. Adam E. Cornelius was at Zug Island, Detroit River side unloading taconite most of Saturday. |
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Updates - April 23 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 23 On 23 April 1883, STEPHEN S BATES (wooden schooner, 97 foot, 139 tons, built in 1856, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) was bound from Horne’s Pier, Wisconsin with posts and hardware for Chicago when she was driven into the shallows just north of Grosse Point, Illinois by a storm and broke up. No lives were lost. In 1953, the PERE MARQUETTE 22 was cut in half, then pulled apart and lengthened by 40 feet, as part of a major refit at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Also during this refit, her triple expansion engines were replaced with Skinner Unaflows, and her double stacks were replaced with a single, tapered stack. The refit was completed August 28, 1953. On April 23, 1966, the b.) JOSEPH S WOOD, a.) RICHARD M MARSHALL of 1953, was towed to the Ford Rouge complex at Dearborn, Michigan by her new owners, the Ford Motor Company, she was renamed c.) JOHN DYKSTRA. Canada Steamship Lines FORT YORK was commissioned April 23, 1958. On April 23, 1980, the ARTHUR B HOMER's bow thruster failed while maneuvering through ice at Taconite Harbor, Minnesota, resulting in a grounding which damaged her bow and one ballast tank. The a.) GRIFFIN (Hull#12) of the Cleveland Ship Building Co. was launched April 23, 1891, for the Lake Superior Iron Mining Co. Renamed b.) JOSEPH S SCOBELL in 1938, she was scrapped at Rameys Bend, Ontario in 1971. On April 23, 1972, PAUL H CARNAHAN arrived at the Burlington Northern Docks at Superior, Wisconsin to load 22,402 gross tons of iron ore bound for Detroit, opening the 1972, shipping season at Superior. On 23 April 1859, at about midnight, the schooner S BUTTLES was fighting a severe gale. She was carrying staves from Port Burwell, Ontario to Clayton, New York and sprung a leak while battling the gale. While manning the pumps, one man was washed overboard, but his shipmates quickly rescued him. Capt. Alexander Pollock beached the vessel to save her about 10 miles east of the Genesee River. On 23 April 1882, GALLATIN (2-mast wooden schooner, 138 foot, 422 tons, built in 1863, at Oswego, New York) was carrying pig iron from St. Ignace, Michigan to Erie, Pennsylvania when she sprang a leak in a storm on Lake Erie. She struck bottom on Chickanolee Reef and foundered in shallow water at Point Pelee. Her crew was saved from the rigging by the fishing sloop LIZZIE. Data from: Max Hanley, 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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Boblo Boat Moved to New Home 4/22 - Detroit - One of the old Boblo boats, the Ste. Claire, was moved from its resting place in River Rouge to a new home in Ecorse Friday. The Ste. Claire and another boat – the Columbia – once shuttled countless visitors to and from Boblo Island. The Ste. Claire Foundation wants to restore the boat and put her back in service. Diane Evon, the Foundation’s president, explained, "The goal and the dream is, of course, to get her back under her own power, going up and down the river." "There are many steps to get her to that point," Evon said Friday. Tugboats moved into place around the Ste. Claire at about 8 a.m. Friday. River Rouge officials wanted the boat to be moved by the beginning of April and have said they would charge a fee of $500 each day that it remained moored at their Belanger Park. Estimates to restore the Ste. Clair are in the $5 million range. Work on the boat will be completed by a group of volunteers that is looking to expand. As of yet, there is no timeline for the massive restoration project. "As a child, I rode the Ste. Claire and the Columbia mostly with my grandparents," Evon said Friday. Her experience is similar to those of many in the area. From WXYZ TV Detroit |
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Port Reports - April 22 Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer & John Vogel Holland - Bob VandeVusse Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Updates - April 22 News Photo Gallery updated. Public Photo Gallery updated Calendar of Events has been updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 22 On 22 April 1872, Capt. L. R. Boynton brought the wooden propeller WENONA into Thunder Bay to unload passengers and freight at Alpena, Michigan. The 15 inch thick ice stopped him a mile from the harbor. The passengers got off and walked across the ice to town. Later, because of the novelty of it, a couple hundred people from Alpena walked out to see the steamer. In the evening, Capt. Boynton steamed back to Detroit without unloading any of the cargo. American Steamship Co.’s, ST CLAIR (Hull#714) was christened April 22, 1976, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Bay Shipbuilding Corp. The CHICAGO TRIBUNE of 1930, laid up for the last time at Toronto on April 22, 1986. CSL’s HOCHELAGA of 1949, lost her self-unloading boom during a windstorm at Windsor, Ontario. on April 22, 1980. As a consequence she made ten trips hauling grain as a "straight decker". CHARLES M WHITE was commissioned April 22, 1952, at South Chicago, Illinois. She was soon recognized as one of the fastest ships on the Great Lakes because of her ability to reach speeds in excess of 17 knots (19.6 mph). On 22 April 1871, the 210 foot, 4 mast wooden schooner JAMES COUCH was launched at Port Huron, Michigan. She was named for a prominent Chicago businessman of the times. On 22 April 1872, EVA M CONE (wooden schooner, 25 tons, built in 1859, at Oconto, Wisconsin) was carrying lumber from Port Washington to Milwaukee on an early-season run when she struck on ice floe, capsized and sank just outside of Milwaukee harbor. Her crew made it to safety in her lifeboat. 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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Rudder Sightings 4/21 - Saginaw - While not yet comparable to the fabled Loch Ness monster, a mysterious missing rudder is spurring sightings of its own along the Saginaw River. People are looking for a piece of steel that may have snapped off the 844-foot Great Lakes Trader during a voyage upriver this month. One caller claimed to have hit the rudder with a sailboat near the Liberty Bridge in Bay City. Another reported a white streak of water -- possibly a rudder beneath the surface -- near a fallen tree north of the Zilwaukee Bridge.Still, the rudder remains elusive in the weeks since the ship ran aground in a turning basin north of the Interstate 675 Henry Marsh Bridge in Saginaw. The shipping company discovered two of its four rudders missing upon reaching Saginaw Bay and speculated that at least one may have sunk in the river. The rudder is 15 feet long, 5 feet wide and 8 inches thick. Gregory Busch, owner of Busch Marine of Carrollton Township, has used a metal-detecting device to scour the navigable channel repeatedly from the turning basin to the bay. He's found buckets, barrels and even a steel beam, but no rudder. As far as Busch can tell, the rudder isn't in the river, but that doesn't keep rumors from swirling. Busch Marine and VanEnkevort Tug & Barge of Escanaba each received calls about a sailboat striking the rudder in Bay City. But with the channel measuring 24 feet deep and the sailboat skimming just 5 feet beneath the water, Busch said the claim is far-fetched. "It's like waking up in the morning and finding an airplane in your front yard," Busch said. "It's not impossible, but it's highly unlikely." Even if the rudder were standing on end near the Liberty Bridge, it still would have |