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Seaway Navigation remains on course in
Welland Canal 4/30 - St. Catharines, Ontario – The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced that navigation remains on course in the Welland Canal after an incident at Lock 6. At 5:16 PM Sunday, while raising a vessel, a valve malfunction at Lock 6 resulted in extra water being released into Lock 5. Subsequently, the surplus water spilled onto the Welland
Canal Parkway adjacent to the canal, resulting in the roadway being closed
between Glendale Avenue and Lock 7 to all traffic. No injuries were reported
as a result of the incident. |
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Port Reports - April 30 Rochester - Tom Brewer Milwaukee - John N. Vogel Quebec - Bruno Boissonneault Hamilton - Eric Holmes Twin Ports - Al Miller & Chris Mazzella Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Alpena & Stoneport -
Ben & Chanda McClain Benton Harbor - Greg Barber Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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More prizes added to BoatNerd Freighter Raffle Five new prizes have been added to the list of things you can win in the First Annual BoatNerd Freighter Trip Raffle. Three (3) Prizes of a 1-1/2 hour sightseeing cruise of Duluth-Superior for two (2) aboard the Vista Fleet. Five (5) prizes of Two (2) tickets for Diamond Jack's River Tours on the Detroit River, departing from downtown Detroit or Wyandotte. cruise for five (5) people on a two-hour tour of the St. Clair River aboard the Huron Lady II departing from their dock in Port Huron. A weekend for two (2) at the Prize: A weekend stay for two at the Inn at Lock 7 on the Welland Canal. Two (2) prizes of a DeTour Reef Lighthouse Tour Click here for all the details and to buy your raffle tickets now. Drawing will be held June 2, at 2 p.m. at the BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron. |
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Updates - April 30 News Photo Gallery updated, and more News Photo Gallery Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. Make reservations for one of the BoatNerd Gatherings |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 30 The COASTAL DELEGATE, originally built in 1945, as a.) HICKORY COLL, was
converted from a cargo vessel to a cement carrier at Hoboken, New Jersey in
1945. The rebuilt vessel entered the Great Lakes via the Mississippi River and
Illinois River. Renamed c.) PAUL H TOWNSEND in 1951. Final assembly was
completed at Chicago in 1952, for the Huron Transportation Company. |
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Port Reports - April 29 Marinette - Dick Lund
Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Updates - April 29 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. Make reservations for one of the BoatNerd Gatherings |
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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. |
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Sichem Aneline Underway 4/28 - Montreal - The Sichem Aneline got underway late Wednesday from Montreal, Quebec. No damage was found to her hull after running aground two weeks ago in the St Lawrence river opposite Montreal, where she had loaded Benzene for delivery to Philadelphia Pa. before her mishap. The grounding was caused by faulty steering gear. Her steering was repaired and found fit to continue her voyage to Philadelphia, Pa., Sichem Aneline was off the Gaspe coast on Thursday evening near Les
Mechins, Quebec. |
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Mark W. Barker named President of Interlake Steamship Co. 4/28 - Richfield, OH - The Board of Directors of The Interlake
Steamship Company announced today that Mark W. Barker has been elected
President, effective immediately. He succeeds James R. Barker, who will remain
as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Interlake news release |
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Port Reports - April 28 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Goderich - Jacob Smith |
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How low will it go? 4/28 - Duluth - When a lake is more than 1,300 feet deep in spots, losing 18 inches of water doesn’t seem like much of a problem. But close to shore, especially in harbors and back bays, the lowest water levels in more than 80 years are causing headaches and hardship for boaters. And low water is causing concern for some natural resources. Low water levels are restricting access to Lake Superior for big recreational boats, especially sailboats that have 6- to 8-foot keels. It’s happening around the lake, from the Grand Marais city harbor through the Twin Ports and on to Ashland and Bayfield. “We’re getting them into the water, but I’m not sure they can all get into their slips,’’ said Joel Johnson, co-owner of Lakehead Boat Basin marina in Duluth. “It’s low. I’d say its 5 inches lower than last fall when we were taking them out.’’ Officially, the lake is about 18 inches below normal, and more than a foot below the level at this time last spring. In March, the lake came within a few inches of reaching the all-time record low set in 1926. As it does every April, the lake level is moving up. But it’s not going up as much as usual. It’s possible the lake could set monthly low records this summer if rainfall across the lake’s watershed doesn’t increase. Johnson said he’s got 6 to 7 feet of clearance, enough for most sailboats. He said the marina may be forced to dredge some spots, but has to wait until June because of regulations aimed at protecting spawning fish. The problem is worse for Park Point residents and others accustomed to tying up their boats at private docks on the bay side. There, as the water drops, it also moves farther away from shore, leaving some docks with just a few inches of water below them. On the lake side of Park Point, the low water has exposed wider sand beaches. On the bay side, in the Twin Ports harbor, sand bars and mud flats have been exposed for the first time in recent memory. It’s so shallow where the Duluth Rowing Club holds its races that their oars may hit bottom. “It’s the lowest I’ve seen it, and I’ve been here since we opened in 1980,’’ said Joe Radtke, general manager of Barker’s Island Marina in Superior. The largest marina on Lake Superior with 420 slips, Barker’s Island has a naturally deep harbor and floating docks that adjust to changing water levels. Even then, Radtke said, it may be a close call for bigger boats. “We usually say we guarantee 8 feet throughout the [marina]. But there are places where it’s shallower than that now,’’ he said. The lakers and salties are leaving the Twin Ports with lighter loads as well. That means more trips, more fuel and more boats to haul the same loads. For every inch below full draft that the lake drops, the boats lose between 50 tons and 270 tons of capacity, depending on the size of the vessel. Fred Shusterich, president of Midwest Energy in Superior, this week said 1,000-footers are leaving his dock with about 59,000 tons of coal, down even from last year’s low average of 62,000 tons and way down from high-water loads of 68,000 tons. Dredging channels would help, but those programs have diminished with funding cuts. Meanwhile, near Ashland, low water in the Kakagon Sloughs backwater connected to Lake Superior is causing concern over wild rice beds. While low water on inland lakes usually means good wild rice crops, low water in the sloughs has Bad River Ojibwe authorities concerned. Dry rice beds during the growing season could reduce this year’s crop over large portions of the sloughs, said Matt O’Claire, a game warden with Bad River’s Natural Resources Department. “I’ve talked to a lot of elders, and none of them can remember when it looked like this,” O’Claire said. “Some of them, they won’t even come out here because they don’t want to see it. It’s just too painful.” Tom Doolittle, a fish and wildlife biologist, calls the changes “catastrophic.” “A lot of the sample sites for wild rice are bone dry,” he said. Because wild rice seeds can lay dormant in the lake bottom for a decade or more, the problem probably will be solved when higher water returns. But the low water also could allow more non-native plants and weeds to take root, Doolittle said. Low water isn’t just a Lake Superior issue. Precipitation over the past 12 months remains below normal, and most lakes and streams from Duluth north in Northeastern Minnesota are very low, especially near the Ontario border. That area remains locked in an extreme drought, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Preservation group gets Toledo Harbor lighthouse deed 4/28 - Toledo - A nonprofit preservation group that wants to turn the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse into a tourist attraction has been granted the deed to the historic structure. Lucas County Recorder Jeanine Perry presented the deed to the Toledo Lighthouse Preservation Society last night during its meeting in the Maumee Bay State Park Lodge. The nonprofit organization’s application for ownership of the lighthouse, located about seven miles out on Lake Erie, was approved in October by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. After all the paperwork has been completed, the society’s fund-raising campaign to restore and preserve the 102-year-old lighthouse can move forward, said Sandy Bihn, president of the preservation society. She said the next step would be to build an access dock and a ramp for the lighthouse using grant money from the Lake Erie Protection Fund. The preservation society’s mission is to preserve, restore, maintain, and provide public access to the lighthouse. The process to acquire it took about a year. From the Toledo Blade |
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Buffalo Ethanol Plant update 4/28 - Buffalo - The RiverWright Ethanol Plant Project took a major step forward on Wednesday. The City of Buffalo Planning Board determined that no further environmental impact studies were required since developers supplied enough information in their initial review. The next day the Zoning Board OK'd a variance to allow for storage of up to 2.8 million gallons of flamable material on the site. The project will now go before the City Council on May 1st. Reported by Brian Wroblewski |
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Port board to consider taking over SS
Boyer 4/28 - Toledo - An ad hoc committee of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's board of directors will review a proposal for the agency to take over the city-owned SS Willis B. Boyer museum ship, which city officials say they can no longer afford to maintain. "As of June 30, I am done. And without a director, the Boyer is done," Paul LaMarre III, executive director of the floating freighter museum in International Park, told the port board during its monthly meeting yesterday morning. Mr. LaMarre manages the ship under contract with the city and said it was "a serious, serious fight" just to keep the city job through June. Mr. LaMarre proposed a $100,000 budget for the ship, including $50,000 for his salary and other administrative costs, along with basic operational and maintenance expenses. An application for a $300,000 federal grant to pay for a hull survey, repairs, and painting awaits a pending Boyer designation as a National Historic Landmark, he said. William Carroll, the president of the port board, said the directors' action on the Boyer proposal will be "a very visible decision" before recommending that a special committee study the matter. After the board approved that idea, Mr. Carroll and board members A. Bailey Stanbery, Bruce Baumhower, Daniel Smith, Michael Frank, and Brian Bucher volunteered for the committee. Mr. Stanbery suggested that future meetings concerning the Boyer be held aboard the museum ship, which is docked at a Maumee River wharf where Mr. LaMarre said the ship took on its first cargo, a then-record shipment of coal, after being built in 1911. Launched as the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, the ship was the world's largest freighter at that time. Mr. LaMarre said the freighter, decommissioned in 1980, is a vital part of Toledo's heritage and, with some aggressive marketing, could become a valuable tourism draw. Asked why the city, which acquired it in 1986, can't preserve such a resource itself, Mr. LaMarre described the Boyer as a fiscal stepchild, a situation that has reached the breaking point with Toledo's current budget crisis. "The Boyer is an extra," said Don Moline, a city utilities commissioner who now oversees the Boyer, told the board. "It's a wonderful extra, but it's an extra. … Right now we're trying to keep police and fire." And Mark Sobczak, a Toledo councilman, said that while he's willing to join a campaign to rally charitable support from maritime-oriented businesses in Toledo, city money isn't there for the Boyer any more. "We're committed to it; we just don't have the resources," he said. Mr. Carroll encouraged Mr. Moline, Mr. Sobczak, and others interested in the Boyer's future to attend the ad hoc committee's meetings. No date for the first such meeting was announced. From the Toledo Blade |
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Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering announces round table discussion 4/28 - The Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering who are hosting the Mari-Tech 2007 Conference and Trade show May 30th - June 1st at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls Ontario are please to announce the participants of the round table to take place on the afternoon May 31st at 13:00. Short Sea Shipping as a key component of a successful transportation network will be discussed by Mr. Lysander Lantain, Senior Policy Adviser Unit Maritime Shipping, Ministry of Transport, The Netherlands. The presentation will be followed by a Round Table on the Short Sea Shipping in the Great Lakes. For more information please visit http://www.cimare.org/
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Updates - April 28 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. Make reservations for one of the BoatNerd Gatherings |
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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. |
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Nindawayma and Windoc to be barges? 4/27 - Unconfirmed reports indicate that the former car ferry Nindawayma and the fire damaged bulker Windoc, could both become barges. It is alleged that the engines from Nindawayma will be removed, sent to China for rehabilitation, and installed in a new tug that is under construction for a Canadian company. The new tug will be mated with a new petroleum products barge similar to the Norman McLeod. Windoc is presently at IMS in Port Colborne and Nindawayma arrived at the Port Weller Drydock on Thursday. Reported by Kent Malo |
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Port Reports - April 27 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Milwaukee - John N. Vogel South Chicago - Brian Z. Soo - Jerry Masson |
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Low Inventories = Slow March for Limestone 4/27 - Cleveland - The mild weather that prevailed in November and December of 2006 enabled Great Lakes limestone quarries to ship most of their current production and stockpiles. As a result, when the stone trade resumed in late March, there was little product to ship from inventories. Therefore, stone cargos totaled only 200,000 net tons, a significant decrease from a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. Year-to-date, the gap with 2006 is much smaller and the 445,000 tons loaded through March are essentially on par with the 5-year average for the first quarter. Source - Lake Carriers Association |
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Cliffs’ iron ore shipments dip in first quarter 4/27 - Duluth - Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. on Wednesday reported first-quarter iron ore shipments were down compared to 2006. However, company officials expect steel and iron ore demand to remain strong this year. In the first quarter this year, the Cleveland-based iron ore supplier shipped 2.6 million tons of iron ore from its North American mines, compared to 2.9 million tons during the same period last year. Iron ore pellet production at Hibbing Taconite slipped from 2 million tons in the first quarter of 2006 to 1.2 million tons in 2007 because its water supply froze, which forced the plant to shut down from mid-February to mid-March. Production at the Tilden Mine in Upper Michigan declined to 1.4 million tons from 1.7 million tons due to unscheduled equipment repairs. United Taconite production was up about 200,000 tons, to 1.2 million tons, compared to 2006, and Northshore Mining Co. produced 1.3 million tons, the same as in 2006. Total pellet production at the six mines was 7.4 million tons, compared to
8 million tons in the first quarter of 2006. Cliffs’ six mines are projected to produce more than 35 million tons of iron ore pellets in 2007, with Cliffs’ share of that at 22 million tons. Production at its Portman iron ore operation in Australia is expected to be 8.4 million tons. A settlement in world pellet prices for 2007 is projected to increase Cliffs’ average pellet sales by 63 cents a ton compared to 2006. As of March 31, Cliffs had $118.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $351.7 million on Dec. 31, 2006. In March, Cliffs acquired 30 percent interest in a Brazilian ore operation for an initial investment of $133 million. In 2007, Cliffs plans to spend $240 million on the project. Reported by Al Miller from the Duluth News-Tribune |
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Twin Ports coal shipping lags behind ’06 4/27 - Duluth - Twin Ports coal shipments are off to a slower start this year compared to 2006. During March 2007, the Midwest Energy Resources Co. terminal in Superior loaded 12 vessels with nearly 578,000 tons of coal, about nine percent less than the 635,000 tons of coal the same facility poured into 13 freighters during the same month last year. Fred Shusterich, Midwest’s president, said the market for coal remains strong but is slightly softer than last year, as most power plants are entering the spring with a decent inventory of coal on hand. He credited improved rail service and a relatively mild winter for the stronger coal supplies. But Shusterich said more coal would be moving on the lakes were it not for low water levels. Lake Superior is down about 18 inches from its historical average. Midwest is loading vessels about 3 percent to 5 percent lighter than last year due to low water levels, Shusterich said. He said shallow points in the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron — namely, the Rock and Mud cuts — are forcing lakers to reduce their loads. “The lack of adequate dredging has made the effects of the drought that much more pronounced,” Shusterich said. He said the average 1,000-footer now is taking about 59,000 tons of coal, as compared with about 62,000 tons last year. Given sufficient water depths, the same vessels could carry about 68,000 tons of coal. Midwest’s facility in Superior remains the busiest coal terminal on the Great Lakes. Other coal operations on the St. Lawrence Seaway have had an even weaker start to the shipping season. System-wide, coal shipments totaled 1.2 million tons in March — 28 percent less than during the same month in 2006. While Shusterich said Midwest may be hard pressed to match its performance in 2006, which was a record year for shipments, he remains confident this will be another solid year for the terminal. Reported by Al Miller from the Duluth News-Tribune |
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Zenith Tug sinks two Tugboats in the North Atlantic 4/27 - During the past two months, the Duluth-based Zenith Tugboat Company has scuttled a series of vessels in the waters off South Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. The sinkings are part of an on-going contract Zenith has had, to construct artificial reefs for fish habitat and sport diving along the East Coast. On March 19th, the 110-foot railroad tug Dalzell 3 took the final plunge to her grave, at the Betsy Ross reef site, 12 nautical miles southeast of Port Royal sound. The gigantic tug stood 3-stories tall above the waterline and had to be cut down to meet the height requirements for the reef. Crews from Zenith Tug cut and removed the two upper levels including the wheelhouse and set them on the aft deck to sink with the rest of the boat. Her 8400-pound smoke-stack, which stood two-stories tall, was cut off and sent down the road to a local scrap yard. On April 23rd, the 101-foot former Navy YTB-391, was put to rest on the Greenville reef 18 nautical miles southeast of Winyah Bay, near Georgetown, SC. This classic WW-II era Naval vessel is an exact twin to Gaelic Tug's Shannon, based in Detroit. After her military career, she was sold at auction and worked in civilian ownership as the Joey, and most recently the Eagle, before being arrested for crew wages and tied up in Charleston. Zenith Tug purchased the vessel as a parts source for Cleveland diesel parts and DC electrical components. She now serves as a giant condominium for multiple species of fish. All of the vessels sunk by Zenith are stripped of all useable parts for reuse on the company's operating tugs or re-sold to other tugboat companies. Most collectable items hit the eBay market and disappear quickly. Fuel is also filtered and sold into the local markets where the reef preparations are being made. Stripped to a hulk and cleaned spotless, these beautiful tugboats, now
simply referred to as "reef material" are towed out to the specified
coordinates by Zenith's ocean-going tug Victor J. Altman. After the vessel is
put on anchor, crews begin flooding the bow tanks with pumps on board the
Victor. After the bow is sinking nicely, two guys will enter the engine room,
bust the piping, open the sea chests, then quickly vacate the dark
dungeon-like space while water gushes in. Over the years, Zenith Tug has scuttled 12 vessels purposely as Underwater Preserve dive attractions or artificial reef construction. Sad as it is to see these old tugboats meet their demise, it is the opinion of many that vessels can be preserved underwater just as well as above. The reef material will be there for another 50 to 100 years for divers to enjoy, in roughly 80 to 90 feet of water. On the Great Lakes, intentional sinkings would last virtually forever, without the corrosive saltwater taking its toll. Zenith's contract will be completed successfully by mid-May with the sinking of two barges near the North Carolina boarder. Once complete, the Victor J. Altman will return to the Great Lakes, awaiting yet another round of reefing her former fleet-mates. |
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MSRA Resumes Search for Lost Airliner 4/27 - South Haven, MI - The search for Northwest Airlines flight
2501, which crashed into Lake Michigan in 1950, resumes this week in South
Haven. Holland-based Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates (MSRA) again will
be joined by a three man team from author Clive Cussler’s NUMA organization to
comb the big lake using side scan sonar equipment and a highly sensitive
marine magnetometer in an attempt to locate the wreckage. |
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Father-son team almost ready to return tugboat to service on the Saginaw River 4/27 - Bay City - The tugboat Capama-S has slept in its wooden cradle for 17 years, on dry ground, on Bay City's Middlegrounds island. But Scott Causley and his son, Chad, plan to put her back in the water in May - with a new purpose, new paint and a new name. ''It'll be called the Jill Marie, after my wife,'' Scott Causley said. ''She works hard. I'm hoping the boat will do the same.'' If the 40-ton vessel goes back on the water, the Jill Marie would become the oldest working tugboat on the Great Lakes, according to area marine historians. Workers built the boat as a fishing tug in 1891 in Cleveland. ''This tugboat is 21 years older than the Titanic, but don't use the word 'Titanic' because it makes people nervous,'' said Scott Causley, 51, of Bay City, owner of Causley Contracting, a marine-contracting business. The 62-foot-long Jill Marie, repainted in the Causley Contracting colors of red and black, will frequent the Saginaw River around Bay City, for now. ''We'll restrict the boat's travel to the Saginaw River for a year, just to get all the bugs worked out,'' Scott Causley said. While the boat originally came with a steam engine, workers updated it with a diesel engine decades later. ''That motor is a Cleveland Diesel engine out of a U.S. Navy World War II minesweeper,'' Scott Causley said. ''The engine probably weighs 10 tons, but it's real quiet and smooth, with low rpm.'' Bob Stender, 69, of Bay City, would agree. ''When that big engine runs, it purrs like a kitten. Even now,'' said Stender, who worked on the Capama-S in the 1960s when his uncle, the late William Stender, owned the tugboat. The tug still sits at William W. Stender Inc., a marine-contracting business owned by William W. Stender Jr. of Monitor Township. Both Bob Stender and William Stender Jr., his cousin, spent nights on the tug in decades past, sleeping in one of four beds in the boat's galley. ''I also spent a lot of days, and some nights, in the engine room,'' Bob Stender said. ''We went to Oscoda and Grand Haven, and other places, on jobs. My dad (the late Floyd Stender Sr.) and I were the engineers.'' William Stender Jr., 67, said the tugboat, originally named the Cisco and built for Booth Fisheries in Chicago, has done work on all five Great Lakes. A check of more than 200 tugboats listed in Greenwood's and Dills' Lake Boats 2002 - a guide to commercial vessels on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway - shows no tugboats as old as the one owned by the Causleys. After William Stender bought the tug in the early 1950s, he changed its name to Capama-S, according to his son. ''We had to come up with a name that would mention my three sisters, so the 'CA' stood for Claire Ann, the 'PA' stood for Patricia and the 'MA' was for Marilyn, my twin sister,'' William Stender Jr. said. ''The 'S' stood for Stender.'' William Stender Jr. pulled the boat out of the water in 1990, resting it on a wooden cradle so prospective buyers could view the vessel's hull. After a few years, a buyer purchased it, but never returned it to the water. William Stender Jr., though, let the boat remain at his family business on the Middlegrounds. Scott Causley bought the tug last year, sandblasting and painting the hull, and firming up the hull with new metal panels. The Causleys plan to leave the tugboat's 4-foot-high wood-and-brass wheel in place. A ''Weather Bulletin'' chalkboard in the boat's pilothouse - allowing captains to list storm warnings and lake conditions - may have come with the original boat, according to Scott Causley. Chad Causley, 27, of Bay City, said he plans to obtain his captain's license this summer to pilot the vessel, but his father will guide the tug until then. The Causleys plan to show off their vessel to large crowds along the Saginaw River this summer. ''We'll try to get her downtown for Bay City's fireworks so people can see her,'' Scott Causley said. The Stender clan - Bill Stender Jr., his son, William Stender III, and
grandson, William Stender IV - will keep their eyes on the tug's return. ''I
knew she'd probably go back on the lakes, but I didn't think it would be
around here,'' William Stender Jr. said. ''Now I can tell my grandson 'Hey,
your great-grandfather had that tug.''' |
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More prizes added to BoatNerd Freighter Raffle 4/25 - Four new prizes have been added to the list of things you can
win in the First Annual BoatNerd Freighter Trip Raffle. |
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Still Time to make your Badger BoatNerd Gathering
Reservations May 25-26 - Boatnerd Badger Gathering - A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 26, 2007, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry SS Badger. Stay aboard the Badger on Friday night. Some rooms still available. Optional Wisconsin Shoreline Cruise on Saturday. April 30 is the extended deadline for reservations Go to the Boatnerd Gatherings page for all the details and reservation forms. |
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Updates - April 27 News Photo Gallery updated and more News Photo Gallery Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. Make reservations for one of the BoatNerd Gatherings |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 27 In 1912, the CHARLES S PRICE became the first boat to deliver a cargo of
iron ore at the new Pennsylvania ore dock in the Cleveland outer harbor. The
504-foot PRICE was lost on Lake Huron during the Big Storm of November 9 Ð 13,
1913. |
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Nindawayma tow continues 4/26 - 10:00am Update - The tow is in Lock One at this time. 4/26 - The tow of the Nindawayma is off Port Weller at 6:30 am Thursday. The tow is schedule to arrive at Lock One at 8:15am. |
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Fire damages combat ship 4/26 - MARINETTE -- A fire Wednesday morning damaged the mess hall on Littoral Combat Ship 1, Freedom, which is under construction for the U.S. Navy at Marinette Marine Corp. A spokesperson for Lockheed-Martin, the company that heads the construction team building the first-in-class, 377- foot, coastal water combat ship, said the cause of the fire is under investigation and the extent of the damage is being assessed. The fire was discovered by Marinette Marine employees shortly before 5:30 a.m. They immediately called the Marinette Fire Department. Two workers, who initially responded to the fire, suffered smoke inhalation. They were taken to Bay Area Medical Center where they were treated and released later in the morning. Firefighters from Marinette and Menominee encountered moderate smoke coming from one of the ship's hatchways, Interim Fire Chief Gary Guenette reported. The smoke was present throughout the ship's second and lower decks. The fire was located in the ship's 30-by-30 foot mess hall, about mid-ship on the first floor below the ship's deck. Firefighters entered the ship and attacked the fire with a hose line. "The interior of the mess hall (was burning)," Guenette said. "Everything -- the wall lining, plastics, wiring -- everything that could possibly light, lit." It took about an hour for firefighters to take control of the fire and extinguish it totally. Fire damage was confined to the mess hall. Guenette said the fire did not appear to warp the ship's steel structure. Smoke damage was moderate to heavy in the area of the fire. "There are multiple compartments on the port side of the ship that have been affected," said Dean Nolden, the vice president of finance for Manitowoc Company, the parent company of Marinette Marine. "It's still too early to determine the dollar amount of the damage or (construction) schedule impact." The cause of the fire is under investigation. Guenette said it was probably ignited by "hot work" -- a worker welding, grinding or using some other heat producing tool. Except for the two smoke inhalation victims, there were no other injuries. "All people were accounted for early in the morning," Nolden said. Firefighters were on board the ship until just before noon. All off-duty Marinette firefighters were called in and the Peshtigo Fire Department was called to provide additional manpower and cover any other fire calls that might have come in. Local rescue squads were also asked to respond to the scene. The construction of LCS 1, Freedom, has been plagued by a cost overrun estimated at anywhere from $130 to $155 million above its original $220 million price tag. It was the primary reason why the Navy this month canceled construction of an identical ship, LCS 3, at the Bollinger shipyards in Louisiana. LCS 1 Freedom is about 80 percent complete. From the Marinette Eagle-Herald |
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Port Reports - April 26 Lorain - C. Mackin Goderich - Dale Baechler Saginaw River - Todd
Shorkey |
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Leader floats plan to assist Boyer; 4/26 - Toledo - The SS Willis B. Boyer museum ship is looking for safe harbor, and it has until June 30 to get there. Paul LaMarre III, the executive director of the floating freighter museum at International Park, will make a pitch Thursday to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board of directors to take over ownership from the cash-strapped city of Toledo. Mr. LaMarre's goal is to have the ship placed under the port authority's control and then leased, for $1 a year, to a nonprofit board of maritime enthusiasts and historians who would raise money and provide volunteer labor. "We are building a board of maritime professionals, marine historians, as well as people who have a direct interest in Toledo's history and future," Mr. LaMarre said. Until 2004, the ship was run by a nonprofit group, International Park of Greater Toledo Inc., the successor of the nonprofit Toledo-A-Float, which was formed to run the ship after it was acquired by the city in 1986. Former Mayor Jack Ford had a falling out with the nonprofit board and took the ship under city control. Since then, it has been through a succession of directors. Mr. LaMarre said instability under the city's ownership and the lack of coordination with a base of volunteers who would be willing to help maintain the ship are threatening its future. His contract as a seasonal city employee to maintain and operate the floating museum ends June 30. "If the Boyer loses a director or permanent direction, we will lose the Boyer," Mr. LaMarre said. "It will be transformed from a museum ship to a derelict ship sitting on Toledo's waterfront," he said. He contends that the port authority, with its interest in the maritime industry, is the logical owner of the Boyer. Mr. LaMarre tried last fall to steer the ship's finances into calmer waters. He held a meeting to try to launch a fund-raising drive to provide an operating budget of $100,000 a year, and $261,000 in capital improvements. City officials have credited Mr. LaMarre with making needed repairs to the ship. Some of those repairs included pumping out its hull and re-floating the ship after it had sunk into the muck below the Maumee. James Hartung, president of the port authority, said he is sympathetic to Mr. LaMarre, but whether the port authority can take over ownership is up to the board, not him. "I'm a very passionate supporter of preserving the Boyer and the legacy of what that ship symbolizes. But this is the port authority. We operate on board affirmation of any proposal," he said. He said the big question for the board, which could be referred to a committee or for him to investigate, is how much of a financial liability the museum would become. Don Moline, a city utilities commissioner who is overseeing the Boyer project, said he hopes the port authority agrees to take over the ship. He said the city can't afford it anymore. "The Boyer has never been adequately funded to keep it going," he said. "It's time to be taken over by someone who can take better care of it than us." Mr. LaMarre said the Boyer is the most historic ship floating on the Great Lakes. When launched in 1911, under the name Col. James M. Schoonmaker, it was the largest bulk freighter in the world. The former freighter is tied up in International Park and is open for tours. From the Toledo Blade |
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First Coal Cargo Comes Up Way Short 4/26 - Cleveland - If the first coal cargo of the 2007 shipping season
is any indication of the months ahead, the dredging crisis and low water
levels will take a major toll on the trade. |
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S.S. Badger Adds Themed Cruises, 4/26 - Ludington, Mich. –As the 2007 sailing season gets underway on May 11, passengers on the S.S. Badger car ferry will discover new activities and amenities that reflect Lake Michigan Carferry’s “Big Ship, More Fun!” philosophy. Improvements to the ship itself will also be apparent as the Badger begins its’ fifty-fourth year of reliable service. During summer sailings (June 8-September 3), the Badger will be featuring themed cruises, with an emphasis on family entertainment. The special themes will include “Pirate Ship”, “Christmas in July”, and “Badger Beach Party”. Activities coordinators will be present during day sailings to guide theme-related children’s activities in designated areas. “Parents will be able to relax with confidence, knowing their children are having a unique and fun-filled experience aboard the Badger” stated Magee Johnson, Director of Media Relations. “Badger Buddies meals for kids are also new this season.” “We have learned from our customer comment cards that passengers of all ages would enjoy a greater variety of both food and entertainment options, and we are happy to oblige,” said Johnson. An expanded menu will be available this year as well as new games and music. The Badger’s upper aft-end lounge has undergone a complete transformation and has a fresh new look and name. The Cabana Room features a revamped color scheme, new flooring and furniture and a casual “beach” feel. “The laid-back and tranquil ambiance makes the Cabana Room the perfect place to unwind, read a book, or have coffee and conversation all while enjoying the beautiful view of Lake Michigan,” said Johnson. The Badger can accommodate 620 passengers and 180 vehicles including RV’s, motorcycles, group tour coaches and trucks. Special discounts for groups of 25 or more are available. The 410-foot S.S. Badger, the largest car ferry on Lake Michigan, continues to offer a wide range of amenities for passengers of all ages, including spacious outside deck areas for strolling, relaxing in the fresh air, or walking laps for fitness (six laps equals one mile). It also boasts four main lounges with a variety of seating and table space, two restaurants, two bar areas, a children’s play room, video arcade, private staterooms, free movies, bingo and satellite television. Free Wi-Fi is available at both terminals. For sailing schedule and fare information visit www.ssbadger.com. S/S Badger news release |
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Canadian seal hunters trapped by ice 4/26 - St. John's, Newfoundland - Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers smashed through a massive expanse of ice off Newfoundland's northeast coast Wednesday in a bid to free about 100 seal hunt vessels. About 15 vessels were in danger of having the Atlantic ice pierce their hulls, said Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesman Phil Jenkins. The thick, moving ice poses the danger of sandwiching and cracking the boats. "There's an onshore wind that is compacting the ice," Jenkins said. "These boats are on their way back from sealing and then got stuck in the ice. One crew had to abandon their vessel and got picked up by the coast guard." The Newfoundland part of Canada's controversial seal hunt is the third and largest stage of the hunt. The total quota for all three phases is 270,000 animals. Fishermen sell seal pelts mostly for the fashion industry in Norway, Russia and China, as well as blubber for oil, earning about $78 per seal. The hunt has drawn widespread criticism, including from celebrities such as Paul McCartney and French actress Brigitte Bardot. The United States has banned Canadian seal products since 1972 and the European Union banned the white pelts of baby seals in 1983. Brian Penney, a superintendent with the Coast Guard in Newfoundland and Labrador, said helicopters could be called in to rescue stranded crews as a northeast wind continues to jam the ice floes together. Fishermen say it's rare when ice conditions are this bad. "Ice conditions are some of the most severe we've seen in 25 to 30 years," said Frank Pinhorn, executive director of the Canadian Sealers Association. "I've talked to a lot of sealers and they've got holes punched in their new boats and they're taking on water." The coast guard is trying to get supplies to those vessels that are "in most dire straits," said Penney, who added that fuel and supplies are running low. Penney said many of the crews are reluctant to abandon their vessels as most sealers consider that option a last resort. From MSNBC |
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Updates - April 26 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. Make reservations for one of the BoatNerd Gatherings |
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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. |
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Port Reports - April 25 Twin Ports - Al Miller Soo - Bonnee Srigley |
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Nindawayma tow 9:30am - 4/25 Update - The tow is on the move again at 9:30 am. They have an ETA of 1:00pm Wednesday for C.I.P. Cross Over Island.
It remains there at 8:00am Wednesday morning with no ETA for the next check-in point. |
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Updates - April 25 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 25 On a cold, overcast morning in 1959, 25 vessels were lined up below the St.
Lambert lock waiting for the Seaway to open. At 8:50am, the Canadian
icebreaker DÕIBERVILLE entered the lock followed by the Canadian icebreaker
MONTCALM. These two boats were followed by the Canadian canaller SIMCOE, the
PRESCODOC, and the PRINS WILLEM GEORGE FREDERIK (the first salty). The
HUMBERDOC became the first vessel to completely transit the new Seaway in the
downbound direction. |
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Nindawayma tow underway 4/24 - 9 a.m. Update - Tuesday morning the tow is moving again. There was a lull in the traffic and the weather is very calm so they have good conditions in which to travel. Reported by Kent Malo 4/23 - 11 p.m. Update - The tow remains secured at the Port of Valleyfield, Quebec, with no ETA for the next CIP listed. No other information is available. 4/23 - Montreal - The Nindawayma tow stopped at Beauharnois after leaving Cote Ste Catherines early Sunday morning. A tug position change was made. The Commodore Straights moved to the front as the lead tug, and Radium Yellowknife took her new position at the rear behind Nindawayma. This arrangement apparently did not work out. At the St. Louis bridge, the Nindawayma started to swing violently on the approach. They were about to turn back when the Isolda, who was checking her speed, was close to the bridge and went through the bridge first, as would be the norm here with the East bound current, and met the tow in the canal. The tow stopped on Sunday, at Valleyfield, Quebec, to make the tow more stable. The tow was still stopped at 11 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier reports had the work boat Ours Polaire (Radium
Yellowknife towed to Montreal) was reported with the upbound tow, was not seen. |
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Port Reports - April 24 Lorain - C. Mackin Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain Milwaukee -
Paul Erspamer St. Clair
River - Stewart R. Mac Donald Ryerson
Watch |
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Coast Guard cutter needs fix 4/24 - Duluth - The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alder could soon be leaving its dock, hopefully under its own power. The federal government Friday awarded a contract to a Chesapeake, Va., diving company to repair the cutter in the water at its dock. The craft is an important part of Duluth’s fleet, responsible for icebreaking, search and rescue and aids to navigation duties. “They are supposed to be up here around Thursday to start taking a look at us,” said Lt. J.G. Kenny Pepper, the Alder’s spokesman. The Alder has remained at its dock since March with a boom floating behind its stern to contain any hydraulic fluid leaking though a bad seal in the ship's controllable pitch propeller system. The problem with the Alder was discovered during machinery trials on March 8. An examination determined that a seal at the base of one of the propeller's four blades was leaking. Initial efforts to repair the leak were unsuccessful. “I haven’t heard of any of the other cutters having this problem,” said Chief Robert Lanier, spokesmen with the Coast Guard’s district offices in Cleveland. Operating the Alder with the leak could result in a release of oil and damage to the propeller. To avoid that, icebreaking duties in the harbor fell upon the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay, based in St. Ignace, Mich. Repairing the problem will require workers to loosen blade, replacing the seal and retightening the bolts that hold the blade in place. If divers are unable to accomplish the task, the Alder will have to go into dry dock. The Coast Guard considered putting the Alder in dry dock before deciding to try divers first. In deciding how to repair the Alder, Coast Guard officials had to consider what qualified shipyards wanted the job, how soon they could do the job and how much it would cost. “Those three factors played into where we were looking to get the repairs done, in answering ‘Are we are going to go to a dry dock or can we get it done by divers?’” said Lanier said. “Our main goal is to get the ship repaired, back to 100 percent, and get it out on the water,” Lanier said. “But we have to be stewards of the public’s money. So we want to make sure that it’s done properly but no money is wasted.” Officials with Fraser Shipyards talked to the Coast Guard, but did not put in a bid to repair the Alder, Gene Walroos, Fraser's general superintendent, said. The Coast Guard’s Aids to Navigation Team has begun placing navigational buoys in the Twin Ports using their 49–foot boat. The Alder isn’t responsible for buoys in the harbor, although it will help place and remove them, Pepper said. “Our buoys are out on the lake and in Lake Michigan,” he said. The 225–foot, 2,000–ton Alder was launched in 2004 in Marinette, Wis. It was stationed in Duluth to replace the World War II–era Sundew. According to the Alder’s Web site, the Juniper Class Seagoing Buoy Tender is capable of performing icebreaking, search and rescue, aids to navigation, security and law enforcement duties. It is also equipped with an oil–skimming system to help clean up oil spills. Reported by Al Miller from the Duluth News Tribune |
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Officials see container cargo as boon to port 4/24 - Cleveland - The relentless growth of ship-borne container cargo on the East and West coasts could be a boon to Cleveland's port, officials say. Within five years, Cleveland could capture a chunk of the container-cargo traffic that threatens to overwhelm roads and rail lines at ports like New York and Los Angeles, says Stephen Pfeiffer, head of maritime operations for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Cleveland's underused port handles iron ore, stone and steel but none of the containerized goods -- from auto parts and clothing to patio furniture and beer -- that pours around the clock from Europe and Asia into North America's big coastal ports. Pfeiffer and others who yearn for more shipping on the Great Lakes believe containers are coming. The Port Authority's plans should include investments in land and machinery to handle containers, they say. It's one reason new Port Authority Director Adam Wasserman has put the brakes on an $850,000 study to relocate the port, originally due in February. The city's lakefront master plan shows the port moving its operations east of the river to the west, freeing up prime real estate north and west of Cleveland Browns Stadium for development. The port's move west would be accommodated by using Cuyahoga River dredgings to build an island outside the breakwall, the master plan shows. The costly move, decades in the making, is not written in stone. The port's consultant is reviewing seven sites, including land near Burke Lakefront Airport. As part of the relocation study, Wasserman wants expert opinion on Cleveland's prospects for increased trade within the Great Lakes, called short-sea shipping. "The question is, do we want to be a significant maritime port or not," Wasserman said. Some critics have accused the Port Authority of letting maritime business slip while focusing on financial development. The port has signed dozens of business-development deals since the mid-1990s. A potential boon to the port's maritime fortunes has been in the works for years. The port spent some $1 million to study and pursue a Cleveland-to-Canada ferry that would move trucks and tourists. That project still awaits approval and funding on the Canadian side. A growing crisis at North America's big ports could work in Cleveland's favor, too. Container cargo - borne by massive, ocean-going freighters - is increasing at 8 percent a year and has been doubling every nine years. Moving containers to the country's interior could soon outstrip the capacity of roads and rails leading out of the big ports, officials say. To relieve the congestion, smaller freighters could shuttle containers
bound for the heartland by steaming down the St. Lawrence Seaway and into
Great Lakes ports, like Cleveland. "It's going to happen," says Terry
Johnston, administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. Short-sea merchants face hurdles in competing with trucks and trains,
including the federal harbor-maintenance tax, assessed on cargo transported
between U.S. ports and other countries. Locally, the Cleveland port would need 60 more acres and specialized cranes to handle a steady stream of container cargo, the port's Pfeiffer said. It could be among myriad future ventures the Port Authority board considers while sizing up its next tax request. The current 0.13-mill levy, generating some $3 million a year, expires in 2008. The port has the ability to ask voters for up to 1 mill, or about $32 million a year. Container cargo at the Cleveland port would be another link to the global market and a competitive advantage, Pfeiffer said. "Cleveland is searching for a way to separate itself from other cities its size," he said. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer |
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Ban ocean vessels in lakes? Some are
floating the idea 4/24 - Milwaukee - The idea of banning oceangoing vessels from the Great Lakes to halt the onslaught of invasive species would have been universally dismissed as nonsense just a few years ago. Not anymore. Frustrated with ocean freighters dumping invasive species that are ravaging native fisheries, despoiling prized beaches and costing water-dependent industries billions of dollars, the conservation group Great Lakes United proposed an overseas-freighter ban in late March, the day before the St. Lawrence Seaway was rousted from its winter slumber for its 49th season. The group argues that the idea of slamming shut the Seaway to oceangoing "salties" has become an environmental and economic no-brainer, like padlocking a struggling little factory that is ruining life for everyone in town because it won't fix its oversize smokestack. The concept is fraught with legal issues, not the least of which is the fact that the United States must coordinate any such decision with Canada, co-owner of the Seaway. But it is also picking up steam - on both sides of the political aisle. "Three years ago, I'd have said, 'That's a little radical.' Now it's probably more realistic," says Patty Birkholz, a Michigan Republican state senator who has pushed for greater ballast regulation. The overseas shipping industry acknowledges there is a problem and says it's time to pass a new federal law to phase in ballast treatment systems. But the industry is burning much of the lingering sympathy it has enjoyed by suing the State of Michigan over its efforts to address the ballast problem on its own with a new law restricting contaminated discharges. Great Lakes United isn't proposing a permanent ban on oceangoing vessels. But it has taken the extreme position that the ships should be blocked from the Great Lakes until they are equipped with sterilization systems for their ballast tanks, something the shipping industry says will take time to develop. "I'd personally be very much for outlawing the salties," says Racine Mayor Gary Becker, vice chairman of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. Becker says he'd welcome the boats back once they figure out how to stop polluting the lakes. He makes it clear he is not speaking for the binational coalition of Great Lakes mayors, but says many colleagues agree that continuing to allow oceangoing traffic at this point "just doesn't make a lot of sense." More than shipping Recreational boating, in fact, might well be the most important industry floating on the big lakes, according to a draft study by the Army Corps of Engineers. Following a directive from Congress in 1999, the Army Corps has finally come up with a figure that recreational boat owners have been wondering about for more than a decade. The agency known for its focus on big engineering projects for commercial navigation says those little boats are a $5.5 billion business in the Great Lakes. The report says the eight Great Lakes states are home to 4.3 million private boats, about a third of the U.S. total. Nearly a quarter of them are owned by individuals who live in counties along the Great Lakes shoreline. The average owner spends about $3,600 per year on boating. Yet commercial navigation clearly remains the Army Corps' priority. Just a few years ago, the corps suggested looking at a $10 billion expansion of the Seaway to accommodate bigger vessels. The agency backed off after a public outcry. Costly proposition Yet, because of invasive species, some see these navigation projects as being at cross purposes with the interests of the recreational boating industry. "The federal government is putting all the resources and emphasis on the wrong industry," says Ned Dikmen, chairman of Great Lakes Boating Federation, a recreational boating group. Dikmen contends that the recreational industry is likely worth much more than the estimates in the draft report. Commercial navigation on the Great Lakes generates about $3.4 billion in business revenue a year in the U.S., according to the Army Corps. Often lost in that big number is the fact that the vast majority of Great Lakes shipping is just that - ships sailing solely within the Great Lakes, moving low-value bulk cargoes such as iron ore and coal from one regional port to another. These "lakers" never leave the Great Lakes. They are not responsible for introducing unwanted species from foreign ports. Salties are the problem. Yet those ships - which have been able to access the Great Lakes only since the St. Lawrence Seaway builders punched a deep-draft shipping channel into the heart of the continent in 1959 - account for less than 7% of the total cargo moved on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, according to the Army Corps. And their cargo is not high-value goods such as flat-screen televisions, basketball shoes and imported cars. The ships typically arrive with loads of foreign steel and depart with Midwest grain. It is a relatively small amount of both, largely because of the Seaway's outdated, undersized locks and the fact that they shut down each winter because of ice. One widely cited estimate of the annual transportation savings associated with overseas traffic in the Great Lakes is a skimpy $55 million. The estimated price to date just for dealing with zebra and quagga mussels since they were first discovered in the lakes: $2 billion. Steaming into court The new rules, passed in 2005, kick in this year, but Michigan has provided a grace period by allowing ships to discharge untreated ballast during this shipping season, provided ship operators provide samples of what they are dumping to the state. The shippers balked, suing last month to block the new law. Bill author Birkholz says she was flabbergasted. If anything, she says, it should be the State of Michigan suing the shippers for bringing in so many unwanted organisms. Steve Fisher, executive director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association, says the shipping industry embraces the idea of new laws to regulate ballast discharges, but he says it should be done at the federal level so ship operators are not stuck trying to navigate a patchwork of state laws. At the same time, he says the Michigan law will do no environmental good because the few freighters that do discharge ballast in state water will simply take their cargoes to nearby out-of-state ports on the same waterways that Michigan is trying to protect. Is plan unconstitutional? "We tried to do ballast legislation last session, and it didn't get through," says Scott Hassett, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "But I'll take another run at it, and I'm confident something will happen this time." Some environmental groups, including the National Wildlife Federation and the Alliance for the Great Lakes, have joined the State of Michigan as defendants in the shipping industry's lawsuit. "In some ways I feel like the environmental community is doing the shippers a huge favor," says Cameron Davis, executive director of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. "By delaying solutions to this enormous economic and ecological problem, the oceangoing shipping industry is its own worst enemy. It's innovate or die." 'Not anti-shipping' New U.S. Seaway boss Terry Johnson calls Nalbone's pitch to kick the ships off the lakes "a nice political statement but ... completely impractical and impossible" and points to the two countries' joint ownership of the Seaway and their treaty governing its operation as a big reason why. Federal ballast law supporter and U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) isn't so dismissive. "It's certainly a serious proposal," he says. "It's stimulating some thought among large groups . . . and if they get a lot of support, people are going to start looking at it." Nalbone says she too prefers a federal law that will make the ships operate in a manner that protects the lakes, but she says she's done waiting. "It's all talk. People talk a good talk. But nothing is happening," Nalbone says. "You can talk about it for another five or six years. Fine. As long as you don't bring in the ships." U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is also pushing for a federal ballast law. Similar federal bills have gone nowhere for the past several years, but he is confident a Democrat-controlled Congress can get something done. Oberstar is in a tough spot trying to balance the needs of the
shipping-dependent city of Duluth that he represents against an industry he
has said is "destroying" the Great Lakes. He stops short of endorsing an
outright prohibition on oceangoing vessels until treatment systems are onboard
the ships. But he harbors sympathy for those who do. "I welcome . . . their
impatience, and their zeal," he says. "I think it's terrific." |
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Updates - April 24 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery 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. |
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Nindawayma not an easy tow 4/23 - 9:00am Update - The tow remains secured at Valleyfield with no ETA for the next CIP listed. 4/23 - Montreal - The Nindawayma tow stopped at Beauharnois after leaving Cote Ste Catherines early Sunday morning. A tug position change was made. The Commodore Straights moved to the front as the lead tug, and Radium Yellowknife took her new position at the rear behind Nindawayma. This arrangement apparently did not work out. At the St. Louis bridge, the Nindawayma started to swing violently on the approach. They were about to turn back when the Isolda, who was checking her speed, was close to the bridge and went through the bridge first, as would be the norm here with the East bound current, and met the tow in the canal. The tow stopped on Sunday, at Valleyfield, Quebec, to make the tow more stable. The tow was still stopped at 11 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier reports had the work boat Ours Polaire (Radium
Yellowknife towed to Montreal) was reported with the upbound tow, was not seen. |
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Port Reports - April 23 Toronto - Charlie Gibbons |
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Updates - April 23 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 23 The first radar equipment for commercial marine service on the Great Lakes
was installed on a freighter at Buffalo in 1946. The first boat to be equipped
was the JOHN T HUTCHINSON of the Buckeye Steamship fleet. |
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Nindawayma tow underway 4/22 - Sunday Morning Update - At 7:30am Sunday the tow was at the upper wall of the Beauharnois Lock. Her next destination was the St. Louis Bridge. 4/22 - As of 11:30am, Saturday, the Nindawayma tow is approaching the St. Lambert Lock upbound into the Seaway. Radium Yellowknife is lead tug with Commodore Straits trailing at the stern. The tug Ours Polaire is with this group to assist as required. The Nindawayma tow had to secure at the Cote Ste Catherine wharf around 6:00pm on Saturday to accommodate down bound vessel, the wait was supposed to last 4-6 hours. Reported by Ron Beaupre & Kent Malo |
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Port Reports - April 22 Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey Sturgeon Bay - Jeff Birch South Chicago - Brian Z. Sandusky - Jim Spencer Soo - Bonnee Srigley Marquette - Lee Rowe |
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Updates - April 22 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Trip Raffle to Benefit BoatNerd Through the generosity of the Interlake Steamship Co., BoatNerd is offering the chance to win a four-six-day trip for four to take place during the 2007 sailing season (between the months of June and September) on the winner's choice of the classic Lee. A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. The trip is the Grand Prize of BoatNerd¹s first ever raffle and fundraising event. Other prizes will also be given away. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, the non-profit support organization for the BoatNerd.Com Web site. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade our equipment, expand our services and pay monthly Internet connection charges. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. on June 2, 2007 at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron, Mich. Donation: $10 per ticket, 3 for $25, 6 for $50 or 12 for $100. Click here to order, or for more information. Tickets are also available by mail, or in person at BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron, MI. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 22 The new Bethlehem 1000-foot self-unloader was christened during ceremonies
at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin in 1978. The b.) LEWIS WILSON FOY, launched as a.)
BURNS HARBOR, became the second thousand footer and seventh vessel in the
Bethlehem fleet. Renamed c.) OGLEBAY NORTON in 1991, and d.) AMERICAN
INTEGRITY in 2006. |
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U.S. House OKs new lock at the Soo 4/21 - Washington - The U.S. House has voted to end a two-decade
delay in building a new Great Lakes shipping lock, although it's still
uncertain whether Congress will come up with the money. |
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Port Reports - April 21 Marquette - Rod Burdick Alpena &
Stoneport - Ben & Chanda McClain Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Fox River channel depth will remain same
under House plan 4/21 - Washington — The House voted 394 to 25 Thursday to approve
legislation to maintain the navigable channel in the Fox River at its current
depth of 18 feet and authorize the dredging of Manitowoc Harbor. |
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Green light for major waterfront plan in Thunder Bay 4/21 - Thunder Bay - Thunder Bay City Council approved a $100 million Master Plan for Prince Arthur’s Landing at Marina Park — a plan that promises to transform Thunder Bay’s waterfront and realize the potential of its location on the shores of Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake. The Master Plan sets out a mixed use of the land including recreational, residential, commercial and retail. Approval of the plan paves the way for development to start, along with work to secure the necessary approvals and secure investment. The City of Thunder Bay retained a consultant team led by Brook McIlroy Inc. Planning and Urban Design/Pace Architects to develop the Master Plan and urban design guidelines for Prince Arthur’s Landing at Marina Park. BMI has received ten awards for urban waterfront revitalization projects in the past five years alone and engaged the Thunder Bay public in the design process. “Over the past year, we have improved access to the waterfront and have begun infrastructure projects to demonstrate that we are serious,” said Councillor Mark Bentz, chair of the Waterfront Development Committee. “The approval of our Master Plan is the first concrete step toward making our waterfront a year-round destination for all to enjoy. “With Council’s approval in hand, we can actively begin to engage the private sector and other funding agencies to make this development a reality.” From Markham Daily Commercial News |
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Buffalo ethanol plant backers woo
investors 4/21 - Buffalo, NY - The backers of an ethyl alcohol plant on the
Buffalo River are putting a new twist on an old product. “We can truly become a leader in alternative energy in Buffalo,” said Rick Smith III, chairman of River- Wright Energy. The developer of the proposed plant said that the idea would generate $288 million a year in sales, producing a homegrown fuel — and a healthy profit — while recycling the city’s unused grain elevators. Investors posed questions about the proposal’s economics on Wednesday, adding to community questions about its odor and safety. “There have been a lot of saviors for energy that have kind of come and gone,” said Pete Grum, president of Rand Capital Corp. in Buffalo. He and Smith were both at the downtown Buffalo Club on Wednesday for a meeting of the Western New York Venture Forum, where River- Wright pitched its plan.
Ethanol is getting a lot of attention as an alternate fuel. President Bush has proposed cutting gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years, mainly by switching to domestic ethanol. The goal has set off a spate of ethanol plant development — and global debate about food versus fuel. RiverWright argues that ethanol is the business that the waterfront has been waiting for. The city’s vacant grain elevators and lake shipping facilities are the perfect infrastructure for a corn-to-energy plant, which will bring in supplies from the Midwest. “You would need to spend billions of dollars to replicate the waterways, buildings and grain storage” available in Buffalo, said Smith, who founded RiverWright with partner Kevin Townsell. The plant envisioned on Childs Street would consume 40 million bushels of corn annually and yield 110 million gallons of ethanol. The annual projected sales of $288 million, which includes byproducts for animal feed, would put the venture well into the black, Smith said. Current prices for ethanol are about $2.10 a gallon, he said. KL Design Process Group, designer and builder of ethanol plants in the Midwest, is RiverWright’s partner for constructing the plant. Buffalo’s planning board is scheduled to meet next week to determine if the company’s impact study is sufficient, or whether more analysis will be needed. While most ethanol production is in the nation’s corn belt, Buffalo benefits from its proximity to big fuel markets of the Northeast, Smith said. Because it is corrosive, ethanol can’t be piped to fuel sellers, making distance to markets critical. The company’s profits assume the current, near-record prices of more than $3 a bushel for corn will stick, he said. However, if corn prices continue to rise they will impact the plant’s economics. Corn has surged this year largely because of demand from ethanol producers. RiverWright has ties with a cellulosic energy developer and would work to convert its plant if new technology became available, Smith said. From the Buffalo News |
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"Know Your Ships" Book Signing In Port Huron Today Roger LeLievre, editor and publisher of "Know Your Ships," will be at the
BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday to sign copies of the 2007 edition. |
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Updates - April 21 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 21 On this day in 1955, the J S ASHLEY delivered its 1,000th cargo since
Captain H. P. Murphy assumed command of the vessel in 1944. During that
period, the 504-foot self unloader consumed 71,268 tons of coal, 4,262,000
gallons of oil, traveled 602,768 miles, and delivered 8,772,837 tons of cargo. |
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ASI strikes sales deal with Essar of
India; 4/20 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Algoma Steel Inc. and Essar Global
Ltd. have come to an agreement that would see a subsidiary of the India-based
conglomerate acquire the Sault Ste. Marie steelmaker in a deal worth $1.85
billion. |
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Essar not stopping with ASI, announces purchase in Minnesota 4/20 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - A North American buying spree by
India's cash-rich essar Global Ltd., an acquisition-hungry international
conglomerate, may hit in excess of US $3 billion. |
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Port Reports - April 20 Sandusky & Huron - Jim Spencer Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer Lorain - C. Mackin Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Hamilton - Eric Holmes Edward L. Ryerson - various reports |
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Updates - April 20 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 20 On 20 April 1851, the COMET (wooden side-wheel steamer, 174 foot, 337 gross
tons, built in 1848, at Portsmouth [Kingston], Ontario) had her boiler explode
as she was departing Oswego, New York. Eight crew members were killed. The
vessel was later raised, rebuilt in Montreal, and put back in service as the
MAYFLOWER. She last until 1861, when she sank in Lake Ontario when she
collided with the schooner EXCHANGE. |
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McKeil reportedly sells some Sorel assets to Mc Nally International 4/19 - It has been reported that McKeil Marine has sold the grounds
and buildings as well as the site of the large marine dock which it has in
Tracy, Quebec to McNally
International The sale does not include the
quays. |
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Port Reports - April 19 Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Updates - April 19 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 19 April 19, 1922, the lighthouse tender C.G.S. Lambton, built 1909, was lost on Lake Superior in or near Whitefish Bay while taking crews out to lighthouses. Total loss of 22 persons. The HOWARD M HANNA JR departed Buffalo on this date in 1919, with her course laid out by a gyro compass. The HANNA JR was the first boat on the lakes to use a gyro compass for this purpose rather than the traditional magnetic compass. Scrapped at Cartagena, Spain in 1969. The POWELL STACKHOUSE, Captain Martin Johnston, was the first boat to pass through the Soo Locks and open the 1943, shipping season. On 19 April 1956, the newly converted cement carrier E M FORD had her steering equipment break when she was abeam of Harsens Island on the St. Clair River. She plowed head-on into the down bound freighter A M BYERS which was loaded with dolomite for Buffalo, New York. The BYERS sank in just 17 minutes and the FORD anchored. No lives were lost. Sea trials were completed for Upper Lakes Shipping’s CANADIAN TRANSPORT on April 19, 1979, and she departed Port Weller Dry Docks Ltd., on her maiden voyage the next morning. The GEORGE A STINSON's self-unloading boom collapsed onto her deck due to a mechanical failure on the night of April 19, 1983, at Detroit, Michigan. No injuries were reported. She continued hauling cargoes without a boom most of the year until it was replaced on September 20th of that year. She sails today as b.) AMERICAN SPIRIT. On April 19, 1951, the CLIFFS VICTORY began her much publicized 1,000 mile journey up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers through the Illinois Waterway pushed by a towboat to Lockport, Illinois where two Great Lakes Towing Co., tugs took up the tow through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Hall Corp. of Canada’s a.) HUTCHCLIFFE HALL (Hull#261) by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, was launched April 19, 1954. Pittsburgh Steamship’s steamer RICHARD TRIMBLE (Hull#707) of the American Ship Building Co., Lorain, Ohio, was launched April 19, 1913. She was scrapped at Duluth, Minnesota between 1978 and 1981. On April 19, 1950, the WILFRED SYKES entered service, departing Lorain, Ohio for Toledo to load coal on her maiden voyage. The SYKES also became the largest vessel on the Great Lakes, taking the honor from Pittsburgh Steamship Company's LEON FRASER class (the "Supers") which had held it since June 21, 1942. April 19, 1917 - The ANN ARBOR NO 5 broke off her starboard shaft and bent the rudder stock on the rocky corner of the old Goodrich dock in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. On 19 April 1880, The Port Huron Times reported the results of a severe gale: "The schooner CHRIS GROVER, ashore near Oscoda, Michigan, is reported going to pieces. The crew is aboard. The schooner ATHENIAN, lumber laden, is reported to have gone ashore off Au Sable and to be a complete wreck. The schooner HATTIE JOHNSON is abandoned on Goose Island shoal. The cabin and part of her deck are gone. The stern is gone from her mizzen and the gale probably broke her up completely and her outfit and cargo may prove a total loss." The GROVE and the JOHNSON were later recovered and put back in service. On 19 April 1884, EUROPE (wooden propeller, passenger/package freight vessel, 136 foot, 628 gross tons, built in 1870 at St. Catharines, Ontario) was almost totally destroyed by fire at St. Catharines. The remains of her hull were later rebuilt as the barge REGINA. Data from: Randy Johnson, Jody Aho, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Russ Plumb, 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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No 'super' lock planned for Sault canal 4/18 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Boosters of a new ‘super lock’ for
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan may have to wait two years for a change in the
White House. The current administration will not fund the construction of a
long-awaited new shipping lock on the St. Marys River for Great Lakes marine
commerce. |
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Cutter sets sail on buoy run 4/18 - Cheboygan - Waiting out strong northwest winds, the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw delayed its scheduled departure with a deck full of buoys until Tuesday. The Mackinaw planned to depart the dock at the Millard D. Olds Memorial Moorings early Tuesday for its first trip to replace buoys picked up in the fall. One of those marks to be commissioned will be a buoy familiar to area boaters transiting the Cheboygan River, said the ship's captain. Monday's strong winds could have made the job dangerous for new personnel onboard in the open waters of the South Channel. “We'll put the Cheboygan Traffic Buoy back in service,” said Cmdr. John Little, “and then continue to work some locations in the Straits of Mackinac all the way out to Gray's Reef Passage. From there, we'll still have a long way to go.” Little said the cutter's initial buoy-tending trip of the 2007 season will include a journey down Lake Michigan to waters off Chicago, where winter marks will be collected and replaced with summer buoys, sinkers and chain serviced at the Cheboygan base. “From there we will head up to Milwaukee, and make a stop there to pick up some buoys and gear,” Little said. “We'll have some to place and others to bring back with us.” The Mackinaw skipper said he expects to be gone about a week for the current trip. “We'll be back for a short time and then head out again,” Little explained. “Once we have finished commissioning buoys on the Lake Michigan side we'll go down the Lake Huron side and do the same thing.” By Mike Fornes for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune |
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Port Reports - April 18 Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer |
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Book Signing this weekend Editor and Publisher Roger LeLievre, as well as members of the Know Your Ships
crew, will also be on hand at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port
Huron from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21 to sign copies of
"Know Your Ships." Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the
book signing. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 18 The SPARROWS POINT (Hull#4505) was launched at the Sparrows Point
Shipbuilding Yard, Sparrows Point, Maryland in 1953. The 626-foot freighter
was towed down the east coast and up the Mississippi River to join the
Bethlehem Fleet on the Great Lakes. Lengthened in 1958, converted to a
self-unloader in 1980, renamed b.) BUCKEYE in 1991. Converted to a barge and
renamed c.) LEWIS J KUBER in 2006. Johnstown Steamship’s a) MIDVALE (Hull#167) of
Great Lakes Engineering Works was launched April 18, 1917. Renamed b.)
BETHLEHEM in 1925 she was and scrapped at Santander, Spain in 1974. |
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Port Reports - April 17 Milwaukee - John N. Vogel & Paul Erspamer Toronto - Clive Reddin Indiana Harbor - Brian Z. Saginaw
River - Todd Shorkey Lorain - C. Mackin |
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Updates - April 17 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 17 The first vessels through the Straits of Mackinac for the 1870, season were
the CITY OF BOSTON and the CITY OF NEW YORK, both owned by the Northern
Transportation Company. They passed through the Straits on 17 April 1870. The
following day they passed Port Huron but could only go as far as Algonac,
Michigan since the St. Clair River had an ice jam which raised the water level
by two feet and was causing flooding. |
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Sichem Aneline Freed 4/16 - Montreal - The benzene laden tanker Sichem Aneline was pulled free Sunday afternoon by the Ocean tugs. Ocean Bravo, Intrepide and Jupiter. Sichem Aneline went to sec 56 North, where inspections will likely be carried out before setting sail for Philadelphia, where her cargo is consigned. Sichem Aneline went aground Wednesday afternoon after pulling away from the dock. There was no confirmation on what caused the ship to ground. Reported by Kent Malo and Rene Beauchamp |
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Big conglomerate buys Algoma Steel 4/16 - Mumbai, India and Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Essar Global Ltd.,
through its wholly owned subsidiary Essar Steel Holdings Limited, ("Essar")
and Algoma Steel Inc. ("Algoma") today announced that they have signed a
definitive arrangement agreement providing for the acquisition by Essar of all
of the common shares of Algoma for Cdn$56.00 per share, or an aggregate equity
value of $1.85 billion, payable in cash. |
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Port Reports - April 16 Grand Haven - Dick Fox
Saginaw River - Gordy Garris |
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17th Annual Memorial Day Cruise to Port Huron The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, and BoatNerd.com, are sponsoring the 17th Annual Memorial Day Lake St. Clair and River Cruise aboard the Diamond Belle . The cruise departs from Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit, on Sunday, May 27, and cruises across Lake St. Clair, up the St. Clair River, and out into Lake Huron for a short distance, weather permitting. There is a Continental breakfast and a buffet luncheon on board, and the trip includes a buffet dinner at the St. Clair Inn. The cruise will follow the shipping channel upbound to meet all downbound ships, and only divert from the shipping channel down bound to visit the old St. Clair Flats area to see the Old Club and other interesting buildings and sites there. Tickets are $85 by reservation only. Departs Hart Plaza at 8:00 am and returns at 9:15 pm. Call 313-843-9376 for information. |
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Time to make your BoatNerd Gathering Reservations The annual series of BoatNerd Gatherings is rapidly approaching. Many of these events have limited space. Don't wait to make your reservation until it is too late. May 25-26 - Boatnerd Badger Gathering - A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 26, 2007, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry SS Badger. Saturday, June 2 - Special Boatnerd Cruise - A special 2-hour tour of the St. Clair River aboard the Huron Lady II, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 - Boatnerd Detroit Up River Cruise - A 3-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Friday, June 29 - Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise at the Soo - The annual trip aboard the Chief Shingwauk for a full three (3) hours leaving from Roberta Bondar Pavilion in Soo, Ontario. Saturday, July 14 - Annual St. Clair River Gathering aboard the Hammond Bay - The Hammond Bay will depart their dock 2 miles south of Sombra, Ontario at 11:00am for a 3-hour narrated cruise passing Fawn Island, Sombra, Courtright, St. Clair, and Marine City. Saturday, August 11 - Boatnerd Detroit Down River Cruise - A 4-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Go to the Gatherings page for all the details and reservation forms. |
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Updates - April 16 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 16 In 1955, the CALCITE loaded a cargo of stone at Port Dolomite for delivery
to Cleveland. This was the first cargo of high grade dolomite limestone
shipped from this new Great Lakes port. |
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Nindawayma to be scrapped 4/15 - Owen Sound - It is an inglorious end for a once proud vessel
that was the sister ship of the Chi Cheemaun. J. B. Johnson is the Vice President of Marine Projects for the Upper Lakes Group and confirms they have purchased the old vessel, which has been sitting idle in Montreal Harbour since 2002. Johnson says the ferry will be dismantled for parts. He says the destiny of the balance of the vessel has yet to be determined but it will be either scraped or possibly cut down to a deck barge. The Nindawayma was brought to the Great Lakes by Ontario Northland to operate peak services between the ports of Tobermory and South Baymouth in 1989. The ship, which was named little sister, assisted the Chi-Cheemaun in transporting vehicles, however, a downturn in traffic resulted in the Nindawayma being taken out of service in 1992. The vessel then sat rusting away in Owen Sound Harbour until 2002 when it was sold to a group interested in converting her to a cable laying ship. The Upper Lakes Group, in conjunction with the Port of Erie has been the
driving force behind developing a freight ferry service between Erie to
Nanticoke. |
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Port Reports - April 15 Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Sandusky - Jim Spencer Milwaukee - John N. Vogel Marquette - Rod Burdick & Lee Rowe Hamilton - Eric Holmes Muskegon - Marinette - Dick Lund Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski |
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Updates - April 15 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 15 The HENRY H ROGERS, Captain R. E. Bressette, opened the 1960, season at
Cleveland with the delivery of 9,832 tons of taconite pellets to Upper Central
Furnace. |
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Sichem Aneline remains aground in St. Lawrence River 4/14 Update - Montreal - The grounded vessel Sichem Aneline remains stranded at Montreal's East end Pointe aux Trembles. The vessel grounded Wednesday evening after leaving her dock. There was talk Friday about unloading the vessel of her cargo which is Benzene destined for Philadelphia but there is not a tanker available at present. The tug Ocean Jupiter, which was placed alongside Sichem Aneline, left Friday morning when replaced by the Ocean Bravo which was called up from Quebec, City. According to officials there is no danger of any leakage from the stranded Sichem Aneline. Reported by Kent Malo Original Article - 4/13 - Montreal - Emergency crews are working to find a way to dislodge a
ship carrying a toxic chemical that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River
Wednesday evening. |
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Voyageur Independent secured at Kahnawake 4/14 - 9 a.m. Update - Voyageur Independent is underway again. 4/14 - St. Lawrence River - The Voyageur Independent was secured at the emergency wharf above the CPR bridges at Kahnawake, Mohawk Territorial Lands, St Lawrence Seaway. Independent was downbound at the time and was slated to unload in Montreal, Quebec. Voyageur Independent was still moored at the emergency wharf Friday evening. The Seaway shows her as having arrived at the emergency dock at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and shows no ETA for a "next location". Last Year Voyageur Independent struck the St Louis Bridge in the St Lawrence Seaway' South shore canal above Beauharnois, as a result of the mishap the bridge was closed to vehicle traffic for months, a steering malfunction caused the Independent to strike the bridge. |
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Port Reports - April 14 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer & John N. Vogel Soo - Jerry Masson Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Indiana Harbor - Brian Z. Marinette - Dick Lund |
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Lower Water Means Headaches On Great Lakes 4/14 - When Fred Shusterich looks around the harbor on Lake
Superior, he sees things he hasn't seen in years -- little islands poking out
of the water. From WCCO-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul |
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Updates - April 14 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 14 At 8:41 a.m., the O S MC FARLAND, Captain James Jost, was the first boat to
transit the Soo Locks in 1959. This was the first time a Columbia boat opened
the Soo Locks. |
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Sichem Aneline aground in St. Lawrence River 4/13 - Montreal - Emergency crews are working to find a way to dislodge a
ship carrying a toxic chemical that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River
Wednesday evening. |
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Port of Indiana welcomes first ships of the season 4/13 - Portage, Indiana - The first two ships of the 2007 international
shipping season have arrived at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor/Portage. The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor/Portage is a 600-acre port and maritime
industrial park located on Lake Michigan just 20 miles from Chicago. The port
has 12 ship berths and 25 tenant companies within its boundaries. |
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Port Reports - April 13 Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Kingston - Brian Johnson Goderich - Dale Baechler |
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Acacia replacement unlikely 4/13 - Petoskey - Charlevoix citizens in limbo over the possibility of a replacement ship for the decommissioned Acacia might not want to start holding their breath now. According to Greg Fondran, United States Coast Guard (USCG) public information officer at the Cleveland office of public affairs, this part of Northern Michigan won't likely see any additional Coast Guard assets. “Right now there is not a plan for a specific cutter to go to Charlevoix,” Fondran said. “This is actually the first season we've had with the new cutter Mackinaw and not having the Acacia, so we'll have to reevaluate and see if there is a pressing need to replace Acacia. But right now, there are no plans.” He added, “But, we're always looking to ensure we are staffed and manned to do the job whether ice-breaking or homeland security.” So far, a paid lobbyist, a mayor, Charlevoix citizens and state and federal representatives to name a few have toiled with no avail for a replacement of the cutter Acacia which was decommissioned on June 7, 2006 after more than 60 years of service. Fondran said the Coast Guard is sympathetic to the concerns of Charlevoix citizens and appreciative that Charlevoix has been such a good host for so many years. “Absolutely we still have the (rescue) station there to provide all the other Coast Guard services,” he said. “This winter we've had pretty good ice conditions to test our capability, and if it looks like something we need to look at further (as far as) a replacement cutter, that is something we would do.” Results on the Mackinaw's ability to maintain ice-breaking capabilities in the waters off Northern Michigan were not available by press time. “We're still doing ice breaking up in St. Mary's area, once we wind down from the season we'll get a better handle on that,” Fondran said. When asked if Charlevoix could ever be expected to receive a replacement ship, U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak's press secretary, Alex Haurek said, “The Congressman will continue to press the Coast Guard to ensure it complies with Congress' clearly expressed intent of maintaining the same level of vessel capacity on the Great Lakes.” When asked how long the process may take, Haurek said, “As to the Coast Guard's timetable, I would need to refer you to the Coast Guard's public affairs office.” In a September 2006 interview referring to bill H.R. 889 Stupak had argued, “The congressional intent is a vessel. It wasn't service, it was a vessel - assets, things like that.” Nearly nine months ago, H.R. 889, the $8.1 billion bill passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 413-0 was signed into law by President George W. Bush and is now known as Public Law 109-241. While it is true that section 210(b) of H.R. 889 states, “The secretary shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the Coast Guard maintains, at a minimum, its current vessel capacity for carrying out ice-breaking in the Arctic and Antarctic, Great Lakes, and New England regions, including the necessary funding for operation and maintenance of such vessels, until it has implemented the long-term re-capitalization of the Coast Guard polar icebreakers Polar Star, Polar Sea, and Healy,” it doesn't specifically mention a ship going to Charlevoix. Stupak had previously argued that Public Law 109-241 requires the Coast Guard to maintain current vessel capacity and that there was a notable difference between maintaining a level of service and maintaining vessel capacity. Coast Guard officials have consistently expressed confidence in their ability to maintain the Great Lakes with the assets currently under their direction. From the Petoskey News-Review |
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Free Saturday program at Great Lakes Maritime Center 4/13 - Port Huron - Satruday night, April 14, 2007, Great Lakes marine artist Robert McGreevy will present his program, "Lost Legends of the Lakes," at the Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point, 51 Water St., Port Huron, Michigan. This program starts at 7:00 pm, and is free and open to the public. The program is presented by the Lake Huron Lore Marine Society. Reported by Dick Wicklund |
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Great Lakes lighthouses to become available 4/13 - The General Services Administration will soon issue Notices of Availability for 17 historic lighthouses through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The following five Great Lakes lighthouses are included in this list: Michigan City East Pierhead, Duluth Harbor Breakwater Inner, Cleveland East Pierhead, and Conneaut West Breakwater. The complete list of projected Notices of Availability as well as information on the NHLPA process is here. Lighthouses scheduled for public sale will be listed in local newspapers and on GSA's public Web site. Interested parties with questions on how the NOA or the public sale process operates may contact GSA's Office of Property Disposal at (202) 501-2287. Reported by Terry Pepper |
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Trip Raffle to Benefit BoatNerd Through the generosity of the Interlake Steamship Co., BoatNerd is offering the chance to win a four-six-day trip for four to take place during the 2007 sailing season (between the months of June and September) on the winner's choice of the classic Lee. A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. The trip is the Grand Prize of BoatNerd¹s first ever raffle and fundraising event. Other prizes will also be given away. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, the non-profit support organization for the BoatNerd.Com Web site. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade our equipment, expand our services and pay monthly Internet connection charges. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. on June 2, 2007 at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron, Mich. Donation: $10 per ticket, 3 for $25, 6 for $50 or 12 for $100. Click here to order, or for more information. Tickets are also available by mail, or in person at BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron, MI. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 13 The RICHARD REISS lost her boom April 13, 1994 when it collapsed at
Fairport, OH. |
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Port Reports - April 12 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski |
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Employment Opportunities 4/12 - Hannah Marine Corp is now seeking qualified applicants for Captains and Mates. Must possess a valid MSTV. Experience with chemical and petroleum barges plus a valid tankerman's endorsement is desired. Competitive pay and excellent benefits, disability, 401K, travel, and Employee Training Programs. Please submit resumes and credentials to: Chris Hudson chudson@hannahmarine.com Telephone 630-257-5457 Fax 630-257-1268. |
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Updates - April 12 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 12 On 12 April 1874, the tug D N RUNNELS was launched Runnel's yard at the
north end of the 7th Street Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan. As the tug
splashed into the Black River, the flag at her bow was unfurled with her name
on it. Commodore Runnels distributed oranges to the crowd of onlookers. |
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Icebreaking season closes 4/11 - Duluth - The icebreaking season on the western Great Lakes has come to a close, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday. Dubbed Operation Taconite, it is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic icebreaking operation. Operating under the command of officials in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the Coast Guard cutters Mackinaw, Alder, Hollyhock, Mobile Bay, Neah Bay, Katmai Bay and Biscayne Bay broke ice on Lake Superior, the Straits of Mackinac, northern Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The cutters assisted 119 commercial vessels and spent more than 1,700 hours establishing and maintaining tracks for the safe navigation of barges carrying fuel oil or heating products, breaking lakers free from their icy moorings and moving ice from ferry routes. During the season’s peak, icebreakers operated in 36 inches of snow- covered ice and encountered waterways blocked by as much as 12 feet of ice. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Chief Shingwauk Vandalized 4/11 - The Sault Ste. Marie police blotter indicated that the Lock Tours Canada cruise vessel Chief Shingwauk was damaged by vandalism on Monday. No further information was available. Chief Shingwauk is the official BoatNerd Soo Locks tour boat and the scene of the Annual Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise. Reported by Ed Schipper |
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Port Reports - April 11 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Owen Sound - Ed. Saliwonchyk Hamilton - Eric Holmes Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Twin
Ports - Al Miller |
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Updates - April 11 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 11 The Cleveland Cliffs freighter JOLIET, Captain J. M. Campbell, opened the
1947 season at the Soo with an upbound passage at 3:25 p.m. |
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Port Reports - April 10 Soo - Jerry Masson Sandusky - Jim Spencer Grand Haven - Dick Fox Marquette - Lee Rowe & Rod Burdick Lorain - C. Mackin Green Bay - Wendell Wilke Goderich Dale Baechler Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Stoneport - Ben & Chanda McClain |
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Updates - April 10 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 10 On 10 April 1861, UNION (wooden propeller, 170 foot, 465 tons) was launched
and christened at the Bates yard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin for the Goodrich
Line. She cost $19,000. The engines, machinery and many of the fittings were
from the OGONTZ of 1858. This was the first steamer built by the Bates yard. |
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Port Reports - April 9 Marquette - Rod Burdick Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski Calumet River - Tom Milton Toronto - Charlie Gibbons |
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Updates - April 9 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 09 The AUGUSTUS B WOLVIN, first boat on the Great Lakes with arch construction, was launched in 1904, with a bright coat of yellow paint. The 560-foot WOLVIN, nicknamed Yellow Kid, was the first laker to carry a cargo of more than 10,000 in a single trip. On 09 April 1868, SEABIRD (wooden side-wheel steamer, 638 tons, built in
1859, at Newport [Marine City], Michigan) was sailing on her first trip of the
season from Manitowoc to Chicago. At 6:00 a.m. off Waukegan, Illinois, the
porter cleaned out the ashes in the cabin stove and threw the hot coals
overboard into the wind. The coals were blown back aboard and a blaze quickly
engulfed the vessel. Only two survived. They were picked up by the schooner
CORNELIA. 102 were lost. The vessel was uninsured and this was a severe
financial blow to the new Goodrich Transportation Company.
Great Lakes shipping news from the past - 1985 4/9 - Buffalo - The American Steamship freighter Sam Laud departed her winter lay up berth under the escort of the Canadian Ice Breaker Desgroseilliers from the General Mills Frontier Elevator on April 10, 1985 at 6:30am and promptly got stuck in heavy pack ice off Buffalo Harbor. The breaker stayed with her all day in an effort to get the ship moving towards the open water that lay approximately 25 miles to the West. The original plan was to get the Laud out within the daylight hours and then the Desgroseilliers was going to bring in the J.A.W. Iglehart with a load of product for the Huron Cement Dock. When it was realized that the Laud was not moving fast enough to make it out by nightfall the Iglehart was sent back to Alpena, Michigan from Detroit instead of going to Buffalo. The Desgroseilliers retired for the night and was back at it again on the foggy and rainy morning of the 11th making slow and steady progress throughout the day until the two ships were clear of the ice fields by the 12th of April. The Iglehart came back to Buffalo on the 14th and was escorted in by the Desgroseilliers without major problems due to the track she had cut a few days earlier while working the Laud out to open water. A cold winter with heavy snow combined with early Springtime high winds caused a massive amount of lake ice to become windrowed and pack itself into the Eastern basin of Lake Erie making for some difficult navigation at the start of the 1985 shipping season. Common practice at the time was to have the larger Desgroseilliers escort ships across the tough spots out on the lake while the smaller US breaker Neah Bay was mostly working inside the Harbor in Port Colborne and even into the confines of the Welland Canal. During the same week that the Laud was stuck off Buffalo, heavy Southerly winds on the Canadian side of the lake had shoved a large amount of ice inside the piers at the Welland Canal's Lake Erie Entrance. Pack ice piled up so high inside the canal itself that the lift bridges needed to be raised to allow the flows to pass under without damaging the draw spans. The Neah Bay worked ship assist and also ice flushing operations during that time period to help keep traffic moving. Definitely a rough start to the season and one to remember.
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Port Reports - April 8 Sandusky - Jim Spencer Soo - Jerry Masson Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey Milwaukee - John N. Vogel Porte des Mortes - Hamilton - Eric Holmes |
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Time to make your BoatNerd Gathering Reservations The annual series of BoatNerd Gatherings is rapidly approaching. Many of these events have limited space. Don't wait to make your reservation until it is too late. May 25-26 - Boatnerd Badger Gathering - A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 26, 2007, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry SS BADGER. April 20 is the deadline for reservations. Saturday, June 2 - Special Boatnerd Cruise - A special 2-hour tour of the St. Clair River aboard the Huron Lady II, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 - Boatnerd Detroit Up River Cruise - A 3-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. June 2 is the deadline for reservations. Friday, June 29 - Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise at the Soo - The annual trip aboard the Chief Shingwauk for a full three (3) hours leaving from Roberta Bondar Pavilion in Soo, Ontario. Saturday, July 14 - Annual St. Clair River Gathering aboard the Hammond Bay - The Hammond Bay will depart their dock 2 miles south of Sombra, Ontario at 11:00am for a 3-hour narrated cruise passing Fawn Island, Sombra, Courtright, St. Clair, and Marine City. Saturday, August 11 - Boatnerd Detroit Down River Cruise - A 4-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. August 1 is the deadline for reservations. Go to the Boatnerd Gatherings page for all the details and reservation forms. |
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Trip Raffle to Benefit BoatNerd Through the generosity of the Interlake Steamship Co., BoatNerd is offering the chance to win a four-six-day trip for four to take place during the 2007 sailing season (between the months of June and September) on the winner's choice of the classic Lee. A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. The trip is the Grand Prize of BoatNerd¹s first ever raffle and fundraising event. Other prizes will also be given away. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, the non-profit support organization for the BoatNerd.Com Web site. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade our equipment, expand our services and pay monthly Internet connection charges. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. on June 2, 2007 at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron, Mich. Donation: $10 per ticket, 3 for $25, 6 for $50 or 12 for $100. Click here to order, or for more information. Tickets are also available by mail, or in person at BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron, MI. |
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River's depth is decreasing 4/8 - Rochester, NY - Water depths in the Genesee River where it
empties into Lake Ontario have decreased as much as 3 feet in the past year,
the Army Corps of Engineers has found. |
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News Photo Submission Guidelines Reminder 14/8 - We will not longer accept photos for inclusion in the News Photo Galleries that do not meet the Photo Submission Guidelines. For guide lines on submitting images click here Photos that are received that do not meet the guidelines will be ignored. The three most frequent mistakes are (1) not changing the file name of each photo to meet the guidelines, or making the file name more than 20 characters long: (2) not including a caption for each photo in the text part or your email, and (3) sending too many pictures of the same scene or same boat at the same time. Please help us to provide complete coverage of the Great Lakes shipping scene. Sending reports in this format ensures that your pictures are processed as quickly as possible. It saves hours of editing time over a typical week and makes it possible to easily identify who took a picture allowing proper credit to be given. |
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Updates - April 8 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 08 The BAY CITY (wooden propeller stem barge, 152 foot, 262 gross tons, built
in 1867, at Newport [Marine City], Michigan had just been rebuilt at Bay City
and then refitted at Fitzgerald & Leighton’s yard in Port Huron, Michigan. On
08 April 1871, (some sources give the date as 10 April 1871), on her first
trip out from the shipyard, she caught fire and burned to the water line. She
was rebuilt again and lasted until 1891, when she burned again. Data from: Joe Barr, 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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Thunder Bay Tug issues distress call 4/7 - Thunder Bay - Emergency crews along the waterfront were
scrambling Thursday afternoon following a report that a vessel might be
sinking. |
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Port Reports - April 7 Sturgeon Bay - Eric Treece Escanaba - Lee Rowe Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey |
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Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering to meet in Niagara Falls 4/7 - The Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering: Great Lakes
Branch is hosting Mari-Tech 2007 to be held in Niagara Falls, Ontario May 30th
to June 1st. Mari-Tech features the Annual General Meeting of the Institute
followed by a day and a half of technical presentations. A trade exhibition
will run concurrently with the presentations. |
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Lighthouse to undergo renovation 4/7 - Cheboygan — Terry Pepper climbed several sets of winding
stairs, his hand dragging along a dusty banister. He's executive director of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association in Mackinaw City, which took over the Cheboygan lighthouse in June 2004 under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The site is ready for $250,000 worth of renovations, which will begin this month and continue into next year. Lighthouses play a key role in the history of the Great Lakes and it's a shame to let these beautiful old buildings fall into disrepair,” Pepper said. Cheboygan historian Quincy Leslie said he's long wanted to see the lighthouse built along the Cheboygan River in 1880 restored to its historic condition. "The history of the lighthouses in Cheboygan is pretty important because Cheboygan's beginning was with shipping,” Leslie said. He also said there's no question the lighthouse will become a tourist attraction once the work is finished. Modern windows, carpet, vinyl wall panels, ceiling tiles and many other things were added to the building over the years, which must be stripped out to return the lighthouse to a historic appearance. There's also a leaky basement and a leaky roof, plus several support beams need attention. A professional engineering study completed last year set the estimated cost of work at more than $250,000 for exterior and interior renovations, Pepper said. The nonprofit organization intends to seek grant funding and donations, as
well as raise money through membership dues and planned lighthouse cruises on
the Great Lakes. Eight guided boat cruises are scheduled between June and
September, departing from Leland, Mackinaw City, Port Huron and Buffalo, N.Y. |
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Lake Superior warming rapidly 4/7 - Duluth - Lake Superior has been warming even faster
than the climate around it since the late 1970s because of reduced ice cover,
according to a study by professors at the University of Minnesota Duluth. |
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Updates - April 7 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 07 On 07 April 1906, the Goodrich Transportation Company which was incorporated under the laws of the State of Wisconsin in 1868, was dissolved and a new company, the Goodrich Transit Company, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Maine. This was just for financial reasons and other than the name and the port of registry of the vessels, everything else remained the same. The vessels in the company at the time were CHICAGO, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, CITY OF RACINE, GEORGIA, INDIANA, IOWA, SHEBOYGAN, VIRGINIA, and tug ARCTIC. Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.'s new CANADIAN TRANSPORT was christened April 7, 1979. The tanker ROBERT W STEWART, b.) AMOCO MICHIGAN was delivered to Standard Oil Co. on April 7, 1928, as the second largest tanker in service at the time of her launch. JAMES LAUGHLIN (Hull#16) of the Great Lakes Engineering Works was launched April 7, 1906, for the Interstate Steamship Co., Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. Later renamed b.) HELEN EVANS, she was scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia in 1983. The EMORY L FORD was sold on April 7, 1965, to the Reiss Steamship Co., and renamed b) RAYMOND H REISS, the last vessel purchased by Reiss. TEXACO BRAVE of 1929, arrived at Ramey's Bend from Toronto on April 7, 1975, in tow of tugs G W ROGERS and BAGOTVILLE for scrapping. In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.'s steamer THOMAS W LAMONT loaded the initial shipment of ore for the season at the D.M. & I.R. ore docks in Duluth. On 7 April 1871, the tug S V R WATSON was towing the schooner S G SIMMONS out of Chicago harbor at noon when the WATSON stalled. The schooner plowed into her broadside, causing the tug to tip on her beam ends, take on water and sink. Four men were trapped below decks and drowned; two survived. The WATSON was later raised and returned to service. On 7 April 1873, the contract for the building of a new carferry, MICHIGAN, for the Great Western Railway was awarded to the Jenkins Brothers of Windsor, Ontario. The new vessel was planned for service on the Detroit River. Her engines were built at Montreal by Canada Engine Works for a cost of $100,000. The hull alone cost $600,000. Although the locks are not scheduled to open until Thursday, 12 April 1962, the Canadian Sault harbor was officially opened Saturday, 7 April 1962, when the tanker IMPERIAL LONDON pulled into the Imperial dock between the two hospitals. Captain Russel Knight accepted the traditional silk top hat. The IMPERIAL LONDON, carrying almost 1,000,000 gallons of gasoline, led the IMPERIAL SIMCOE, loaded with 19,000 barrels of fuel oil for household heating, up the St. Marys River to the Sault. Data from: Max Hanley, 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 - April 6 Soo - Jerry Masson Indiana Harbor - Brian Z. Marquette - Lee Rowe Grand Haven - Dick Fox |
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Nindawayma future looking brighter 4/6 - Usually reliable sources report the former Ontario Northland auto ferry Nindawayma, built in Spain in 1976, has been sold to the Upper Lakes Group. Canadian interest, the Upper Lakes Group, in conjunction with the Port of Erie has been the driving force behind developing a freight ferry service between Erie to Nanticoke. The Upper Lakes Group will be the operator of the freight ferry and will have the responsibility of developing the port facilities at Nanticoke to support ferry operations. The Port of Erie will be responsible for developing its facilities on the U.S. side of ferry operations. The vessel rusted away quietly in Owen Sound harbour after being removed from service following the 1992 season. She left Owen Sound in October 2002 under tow to Les Mechins, PQ and later to Montreal Harbour after a plan to convert her into a cable laying ship, The Nindawayma was brought to the Great Lakes as Ontario No. 1 by Ontario Northland to operate peak services between the ports of Tobermory and South Baymouth in 1989 assisting the regular ferry, Chi-Cheemaun. Unfortunately, a downturn in traffic saw the need for a second ship eliminated. Reported by Peter Bowers |
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Trip Raffle to Benefit BoatNerd Through the generosity of the Interlake Steamship Co., BoatNerd is offering the chance to win a four-six-day trip for four to take place during the 2007 sailing season (between the months of June and September) on the winner's choice of the classic Lee. A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. The trip is the Grand Prize of BoatNerd¹s first ever raffle and fundraising event. Other prizes will also be given away. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, the non-profit support organization for the BoatNerd.Com Web site. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade our equipment, expand our services and pay monthly Internet connection charges. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. on June 2, 2007 at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron, Mich. Donation: $10 per ticket, 3 for $25, 6 for $50 or 12 for $100. Click here to order, or for more information. Tickets are also available by mail, or in person at BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron, MI. |
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Time to make your BoatNerd Gathering Reservations The annual series of BoatNerd Gatherings is rapidly approaching. Many of these events have limited space. Don't wait to make your reservation until it is too late. May 25-26 - Boatnerd Badger Gathering - A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 26, 2007, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry SS BADGER. Saturday, June 2 - St. Clair River Boatnerd Cruise - A special 2-hour tour of the St. Clair River aboard the Huron Lady II, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 - Boatnerd Detroit Up River Cruise - A 3-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Friday, June 29 - Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise at the Soo - The annual trip aboard the Chief Shingwauk for a full three (3) hours leaving from Roberta Bondar Pavilion in Soo, Ontario. Saturday, July 14 - Annual St. Clair River Gathering aboard the Hammond Bay - The Hammond Bay will depart their dock 2 miles south of Sombra, Ontario at 11:00am for a 3-hour narrated cruise passing Fawn Island, Sombra, Courtright, St. Clair, and Marine City. Saturday, August 11 - Boatnerd Detroit Down River Cruise - A 4-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Go to the Boatnerd Gatherings page for all the details and reservation forms. |
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“Know Your Ships” 2007 Now Available The 2007 edition of “Know Your Ships,” the boat watchers’ annual field guide to the vessels sailing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, is off the press. The 152-page book, now in its 48th edition, contains detailed information about nearly 2,000 vessels and includes many color photographs taken from around the lakes and Seaway. This year’s Vessel of the Year is the classic steamer Edward L. Ryerson,
which unexpectedly returned to service in 2006, much to the delight of boat
watchers around the lakes. Order “Know Your Ships” from www.knowyourships.com
for immediate shipment; the book will also be available at many retail outlets
around the Great Lakes as spring approaches. |
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Updates - April 6 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 06 The BENSON FORD grounded on a clay bank in the lower St. Marys River in
1949. The grounded freighter completely blocked the river and delayed 80
downbound boats until she was freed on April 8. |
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Gales Send Ships to Anchor 4/5 - Northerly gales to 40 knots have forecasters calling for waves
20-25 feet on Lake Superior Wednesday. Many ships have sought refuge in
Thunder Bay, Ontario. On Wednesday morning the Sam Laud, St. Clair, Canadian
Miner, Michipicoten and Montrealais were all anchored in the protection of
Thunder Bay. The American Victory docked at DMT waiting for the levels to raise. The Canadian Progress was reported to be delayed unloading at Zug Island as
the drop in water level made her unable to shift on the dock. |
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Port Reports - April 5 Twin Ports - Al Miller |
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Nindawayma sold to Upper Lakes Group 4/5 - Montreal - The auto ferry Nindawayma, which is presently laid up in Montreal Harbour, has reportedly been sold to Upper Lakes Group. The Nindawayma was brought to the Great Lakes as Ontario No. 1 by Ontario
Northland to operate between the ports of Tobermory and South Baymouth in
1989. The future of the vessel is unknown. |
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Port of Milwaukee's Outgoing, incoming cargo doubled in 2006 4/5 - Milwaukee - When the first oceangoing ship of the year steams into the Port of Milwaukee from Europe next week, it could be the start of another robust international shipping season for cargo ranging from grain to wind turbines. In 2006, the port handled more than 710,000 metric tons of imports and exports through the St. Lawrence Seaway - up 99% from the year before. Including domestic shipping, it handled 3.8 million tons of cargo from about 300 ships, the highest tonnage in 36 years. Grain was a big part of the increase in international shipping in 2006, since Milwaukee was one of a few Great Lakes ports to have exported grain under the United Nations' world food program. One ship, the Federal Margaree, unloaded steel here and then left with more than 11,000 tons of bagged corn, soybeans, cornmeal, green peas and yellow peas. After arriving in Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 24.2 million pounds of grain was enough to provide meals for nearly 5 million people. That one grain shipment required 44 workers to unload the railroad cars carrying 55- and 110-pound bags. In the 32 days it took to palletize the grain for shipment to Africa, workers received more than $97,000 in wages and benefits. "The demand for grain is unprecedented now. We are shipping a lot of it overseas," said Eric Reinelt, port director. Grain, utilities gear helped The port recorded the second-highest increase in international tonnage of any U.S. location on the St. Lawrence Seaway system, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. "We hope it will be repeated this year," Reinelt said. "If the grain crop is good, that will help us. And we are still getting a lot of business from the wind generators and power plants. Those have been gold mines for us." Wisconsin's 15 commercial ports, including two on the Mississippi River, transport more than 44 million metric tons of cargo a year and support more than 11,000 jobs. At least 16 million tons of coal per year are loaded onto ships at Superior for delivery to eastern Great Lakes cities. Breakwater needs work Sections of the Lake Michigan breakwater in Milwaukee have deteriorated, raising concerns about its ability to protect the docks and lakefront developments. The breakwater isn't in danger of collapsing, but some sections are in poor shape, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. Other breakwaters on Lake Michigan have collapsed, resulting in emergencies. The Army Corps estimates it would cost $12 million to rebuild Milwaukee's breakwater over an eight-year period. It would cost about $800,000 for minimal repairs. Underwater photographs show rocks that have fallen out of place and rusted steel sheeting. The worst sections are in the areas that protect the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Discovery World center and Summerfest. "The breakwater needs some care soon," Reinelt said. "Certainly if not this year, we need some work done in 2008." From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
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Updates - April 5 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 05 In 1948, the CHARLES M SCHWAB, Captain Frank Van Dusen, opened the Port of
Duluth at 4:50 p.m. after being the first upbound vessel to transit the Soo
Locks the previous day. The SCHWAB loaded 11,205 tons of ore at the Great
Northern docks in Allouez for delivery to a lower lakes port. |
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Port Reports - April 4 Twin Ports - Al Miller Sandusky - Jim Spencer Indiana Harbor - Brian Z. |
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St. Marys Challenger getting ready 4/4 - The St. Marys Challenger will begin her 101st season when the Engine Room crew reports back to duty on April 16. The Challenger is expected to take up her usual trade routes on Lake Michigan after inspections with a projected sailing date of May 1. Reported by Wade P. Streeter |
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Updates - April 4 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 04 On this day in 1953, the J L MAUTHE loaded her first cargo 16,638 tons of ore at Duluth. On 04 April 1908, ALEXIS W THOMPSON (steel propeller bulk freighter, 504 foot, 6,437 gross tons) was launched by West Bay City Shipbuilding Co. (Hull #625) at W. Bay City, Michigan for Valley Steamship Co. (W.H. Becker, Mgr.). Renamed b.) W H BECKER in 1921, c.) EDWARD N SAUNDERS JR in 1933, d.) ERNEST R JOHNSON in 1955. In 1962, she was towed to Hamilton, Ontario for scrapping by Steel Co. of Canada, Ltd. The keel was laid at Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on April 4, 1978, for the Columbia Transportation Div., Oglebay Norton Co.'s, FRED R WHITE JR (Hull#722). Renamed b.) AMERICAN COURAGE in 2006. Sea trials of the tanker ROBERT W STEWART (Hull#802) of American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio were run on April 4, 1928. Renamed b.) AMOCO MICHIGAN in 1962. She was sold off the lakes in 1969, renamed c.) SHUKHEIR. Scrapped in Egypt in 1989. WILLIAM C ATWATER (Hull#249) was launched on April 4, 1925, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, for the Wilson Transit Co. Renamed b.) E J KULAS in 1936, c.) BEN MOREELL in 1953, d.) THOMAS E MILLSOP in 1955. Sold Canadian in 1976, renamed e.) E J NEWBERRY and f.) CEDARGLEN 1981. Scrapped at Port Maitland, Ontario in 1994. FRED G HARTWELL (Hull#112) was launched April 4, 1908, by the Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the Mutual Steamship Co., G.A. Tomlinson, mgr. Renamed b.) HARRY W CROFT in 1917. Scrapped at Santander, Spain in 1969. Interlake Steamship's E. G. GRACE became the first Maritimer to be sold for scrap when she was acquired by Marine Salvage on April 4, 1984. On April 4, 1936, the FRANQUELIN (Hull#1517) was launched by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. for the Quebec and Ontario Transportation Co. Ltd. Renamed b.) PRINCE UNGAVA in 1936, c.) JEAN TALON in 1967. Sold off the lakes in 1974, renamed d.) SOVEREIGN OPAL, and e.) FALCON III in 1976. She was scrapped in 1982. The harbor tug and fire boat EDNA G was launched April 4, 1896, by the Cleveland Ship Building Co., as (Hull#25), for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railroad Co. On April 4, 1983, and on April 4, 1984, the WILLIAM CLAY FORD, opened the inter-lake shipping season at Duluth, Minnesota. While the WILLIAM CLAY FORD was traditionally among the first vessels to visit Duluth-Superior, it was coincidence that she opened the port on the same day during her last two seasons in service. On 4 April 1872, the schooner JOHN WESLEY was launched from Bailey's yard at Toledo, Ohio. She was built for Skidmore & Abairs. She was classed as a full sized canaller and cost $22,000. On 4 April 1881, the last two vessels of the Northern Transit Company, CHAMPLAIN and LAWRENCE, were sold to D. H. Day & Company of Grand Haven, Michigan. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze , Jody Aho, Russ Plumb, 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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Reserve has bearing problem 4/3 - Duluth - Reports have been received that the steamer Reserve experienced an overheated bearing on Monday, while in the area of the Apostle Island. She had problems with a bearing on the steam turbine and could not turn more than 50-RPM or it would over-heat. Once past the Apostle Islands they cut over to the North Shore and limped down to Duluth, escorted by the tug Susan Hoey. The Reserve arrived at Fraser Shipyard at 6:30pm for repairs. |
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The fast ferry has been sold 4/3 - Rochester, NY - The new sale price for the ferry is $30 million and there's already a down payment in the bank. The buyer is FRS, based in Germany. It's a company that we first told you about months ago. “The ferry is sold,” said Mayor Bob Duffy. That's exactly what Mayor Duffy said 11 months ago, but this time he says it's true. “We believe that this has started a chain of events where we will have a final closing by the end of the month,” said Duffy. Chief Ferry Negotiator Tom Richards is still cautious. “Sailors are superstitious and I didn't use to be but I've gotten superstitious in this process,” said Richards. Richards says closing the deal took longer and was tougher than he ever expected. Richards adds, “But in the long run that's what it takes to get through situations like this and keep your eye on the long term ball which is the interest of the tax payers of the city.” FRS says it will run the ferry across the Straight of Gilraltar from Spain
to Moroco. Their initial offer was 28 million. “We'll get the $30 million in cash and they'll get the boat. They'll take the boat in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. We don’t have to deliver it anywhere. We'll probably close the financial transaction in New York City,” said Richards. The offer was made last Thursday. There were other offers out there, including a company that wanted to charter the ferry for a year. This deal allows the city make a clean cut. The city's debt with this boat is still significant. We are told that when the 30 million is paid, the city will still owe 20 million, to be paid over 14 years. That money goes to EFIC, the Australian lenders. Tom Richards says he's going to have specific numbers when he presents to city council April 17. From WHEC-TV Rochester |
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Port Reports - April 3 Toronto - Charlie Gibbons Silver Bay - Fairport Harbor - Herb Hubbel Marquette - Rod Burdick Lorain - C. Mackin Twin Ports - Al Miller Menominee - Dick Lund Alpena & Stoneport - Ben & Chanda McClain Sturgeon Bay - Karin Hahnwitz Sandusky - Jim Spencer |
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Lake Superior Outflow set for April 4/3 - Detroit - The International Lake Superior Board of Control,
under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set
the Lake Superior outflow to 1,380 cubic metres per second (m3/s) (48.7
thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of April. This is the
outflow recommended by the regulation plan for the month of April and is an
increase from the March outflow which was 1,290 m3/s (45.6 tcfs). Currently, the Lake Superior level is about 45 cm (18 inches) below its
long-term average beginning-of-April level, and is 33 cm (13 inches) below the
level recorded a year ago. This past month the level of Lake Superior remained
nearly constant, while on average it falls by 2 cm (1 inch) in March. The last
time Lake |
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Steel imports slip 4/3 - Duluth - Total steel imports into the United States in February were down 10 percent compared to January, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. February imports were 2.6 million net tons compared to 2.9 million net tons in January. Included in total imports, finished steel imports declined 11 percent to 2.1 million net tons in February from 2.4 million net tons in January. China in February was the largest volume importer of finished steel into the United States with 329,000 net tons. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Taconite tax plans draw industry’s ire 4/3 - Duluth - Taconite tax policy changes proposed by Iron Range legislators are drawing fire from industry officials and analysts. Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said Thursday that the Senate’s Omnibus Tax Bill restructures an existing rebate program and places a new tax on the use of taconite tailings as aggregate. Bakk said the measures are aimed at stimulating Iron Range iron ore pellet production and a growing need for aggregate. But economists and industry officials say some tax changes are targeted at one company, might be unconstitutional and send the wrong signal to one of the state’s largest industries. “In a perfect world, a tax code is going to have a neutral effect on companies making business decisions,” said Tony Barrett, a College of St. Scholastica economics professor who tracks the iron ore industry. “But to use the tax code in a manipulative way is clearly not desirable in any economic sense.” The bill was expected to pass out of the Senate Tax Committee Thursday and be heard on the Senate floor today. The bill would restructure the Investment Tax Credit, a 30.1-cent-per-ton rebate that all taconite plants are eligible to receive on a $2.20-per-ton production tax. Producers would instead get a 30.1-cent-per-ton rebate on their first 3 million tons of annual production; no rebate for production from 3 million tons to 8 million tons; and 60.2 cents per ton on production over 8 million tons. Craig Pagel, president of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, said the measure would result in a loss of about $7 million in rebate money, funds that would otherwise be reinvested in the plants. “The Iron Mining Association is an advocate for fair and equitable tax policy,” Pagel said. “Fair for the individual mining companies, fair for the state and fair for communities and local governments. Because this tax proposal applies different tax treatment to the six different mining companies, it does not meet the IMA’s goal.’’ U.S. Steel’s Minntac Mine in Mountain Iron would benefit from the bill. Most negatively affected would be Hibbing Taconite, Northshore Mining Co., Keewatin Taconite and United Taconite. Cleveland-Cliffs is involved in the ownership and management of three of those four medium-sized plants. “It’s clearly meant to hurt the moderate-sized plants,” Barrett said of the bill. With Cliffs’ Empire Mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near closure, Bakk said the ITC changes are aimed at encouraging Cliffs to boost production at Northshore or United. “It’s an incentive to add production,” Bakk said. “As we see the potential for a Michigan mine to shut down, we want to provide an opportunity for expansion here.” The bill also includes language that would place a property tax on power plants and docks owned by mining companies. Cleveland-Cliffs owns a Silver Bay power plant and dock. Cleveland-Cliffs says the proposals are targeted at the company. In November, when a proposal to build the world’s first commercial iron nugget plant near Aurora fell apart and when Cleveland-Cliffs later announced plans to open a new Duluth office, Iron Range lawmakers expressed anger with the company’s decisions. In a statement presented to the Senate Thursday, Cleveland-Cliffs said the ITC and property tax measures “are clearly designed to single out and raise the tax burden on Cleveland-Cliffs operations.” New jobs in Minnesota, planned investments and increased costs for iron ore concentrate could put other Range projects at risk, the statement said. Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, wouldn’t comment. Reps. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, and Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, and Sen. Dave Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm, didn’t return phone calls for comment. From the Duluth News Tribune |
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Updates - April 3 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 03 In 1924, the NORMAN P CLEMENT departed Liverpool, England on her maiden
voyage with a cargo of manganese ore for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The
CLEMENT joined Eastern Steamship Co., Ltd (Boland & Cornelius, Mgr). |
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Port Reports - April - 2 Sturgeon Bay - Jeff Birch Detroit River - Ken Borg Green Bay - Wendell Wilke |
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Trip Raffle to Benefit BoatNerd Through the generosity of the Interlake Steamship Co., BoatNerd is offering the chance to win a four-six-day trip for four to take place during the 2007 sailing season (between the months of June and September) on the winner's choice of the classic Lee. A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. The trip is the Grand Prize of BoatNerd¹s first ever raffle and fundraising event. Other prizes will also be given away. All proceeds from this raffle will benefit Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, the non-profit support organization for the BoatNerd.Com Web site. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation. Funds raised will be used to upgrade our equipment, expand our services and pay monthly Internet connection charges. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. on June 2, 2007 at the BoatNerd.Com World Headquarters in Port Huron, Mich. Donation: $10 per ticket, 3 for $25, 6 for $50 or 12 for $100. Click here to order, or for more information. Tickets are also available by mail, or in person at BoatNerd World Headquarters in Port Huron, MI. |
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Time to make your BoatNerd Gathering Reservations The annual series of BoatNerd Gatherings is rapidly approaching. Many of these events have limited space. Don't wait to make your reservation until it is too late. May 25-26 - Boatnerd Badger Gathering - A round-trip crossing of Lake Michigan from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 26, 2007, aboard the Lake Michigan Carferry SS BADGER. Saturday, June 2 - Special Boatnerd Cruise - A special 2-hour tour of the St. Clair River aboard the Huron Lady II, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16 - Boatnerd Detroit Up River Cruise - A 3-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Friday, June 29 - Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise at the Soo - The annual trip aboard the Chief Shingwauk for a full three (3) hours leaving from Roberta Bondar Pavilion in Soo, Ontario. Saturday, July 14 - Annual St. Clair River Gathering aboard the Hammond Bay - The Hammond Bay will depart their dock 2 miles south of Sombra, Ontario at 11:00am for a 3-hour narrated cruise passing Fawn Island, Sombra, Courtright, St. Clair, and Marine City. Saturday, August 11 - Boatnerd Detroit Down River Cruise - A 4-hour freighter chasing cruise on the lower Detroit River aboard the luxurious Friendship, driven by Capt. Sam Buchanan. Go to the Boatnerd Gatherings page for all the details and reservation forms. |
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Updates - April 2 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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Today in Great Lakes History - April 02 A total of 60 ore boats departed Cleveland between March 31 and April 2 to start the 1948 shipping season. On 02 April 1900, the JOHN MINER (wooden 3-mast schooner, 134 foot, 273 gross tons, built in 1866, at Detroit, Michigan as a bark) was purchased by S. R. Chamberlain from Frank Higgie for $800. She only lasted until 19 October 1902, when she was lost in a storm on Lake Huron. On April 2, 1951, the CLIFFS VICTORY was towed, bound for New Orleans, Louisiana, with her deck houses, stack, propeller, rudder and above deck fittings stored on or below her spar deck for bridge clearance. She was outfitted with two 120 foot pontoons, which were built at the Baltimore yard, that were attached to her hull at the stern to reduce her draft to eight feet for passage in the shallow sections of the river/canal system. The LEON FALK JR was launched April 2, 1945, as a.) WINTER HILL, a T2-SE-Al, World War II, single screw fuel tanker for U.S. Maritime Commission. The CLIFFORD F HOOD was launched April 2, 1902, as the straight deck bulk freighter a.) BRANSFORD for the Bransford Transit Co., (W. A. Hawgood, mgr.). The SENATOR OF CANADA sailed under her own power on April 2, 1985, to Toronto, Ontario where she was put into ordinary next to her fleet mate the QUEDOC. She was scrapped in Venezuela in 1986. The WHEAT KING was lengthened by an addition of a 172 foot 6 inch mid-section (Hull #61) and received a 1,000 h.p. bow thruster. This work reportedly cost $3.8 million Canadian and was completed on April 2, 1976. On April 2, 1953, the straight deck bulk freighter, J L MAUTHE (Hull#298) of the Great Lakes Engineering Works entered service for Interlake Steamship Co. She operates currently for Interlake as the self-unloading barge PATHFINDER. April 2, 1975 - The State of Michigan filed a Federal Court suit to stop the Grand Trunk Railway from selling the GRAND RAPIDS. It was felt that selling the ferry would build a stronger case for abandonment of the entire ferry service. On 2 April 1874, A H HUNTER (wooden propeller tug, 58 foot, 28 gross tons) was launched at Saginaw, Michigan. She was built for Donnelly & Clark of Saginaw by Wheeler. The engine was built by Bartlett & Co. of Saginaw. Her boiler and some other equipment were from the almost new tug KATY REID that burned at Salzburg, Michigan in October 1873. Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Jody Aho, Russ Plumb, Ahoy & Farewell II, Father Dowling Collection 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 - April 01 On 01 April 1887, W. T. Botsford & Company of Port Huron, Michigan bought the COLORADO (wooden propeller package freighter, 254 foot, 1,470 gross tons, built in 1867, at Buffalo, New York). She was added to their two other vessels: DEAN RICHMOND and ROANOKE. The STEWART J CORT was commissioned on April 1, 1972. In April 1965, Interlake's steamer J A CAMPBELL was renamed c.) BUCKEYE MONITOR after being purchased by the Buckeye Steamship Co. Built as the ALTON C DUSTIN in 1913, the BUCKEYE MONITOR was scrapped as Santander, Spain in 1974. Realizing that the bulk trades were too competitive, Captain John Roen's Roen Transportation Co. sold the CAPTAIN JOHN ROEN to the American Steamship Co. (Boland & Cornelius, mgr.) on April 1, 1947, for $915,000. Built as the GEORGE M HUMPHREY in 1927. The ROEN was renamed c.) ADAM E CORNELIUS in 1948, d.) CONSUMERS POWER in 1958, she was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1988. The ROY A JODREY started her first full season opening navigation at the Soo Locks April 1, 1966, with a load of stone for Algoma Steel. Dismantling of the G A TOMLINSON, a.) D O MILLS, began in Ashtabula, Ohio, on April 1, 1980, and was completed eight months later. April 1, 1903 - Gus Kitzinger of the Pere Marquette Line Steamers, acquired the PERE MARQUETTE 3 & 4 from the Pere Marquette Railway Co. Sailors at Chicago went on strike on 1 April 1871, for an increase in pay. They were getting $1.50 a day. Some ship owners offered $1.75 but when word came that the Straits of Mackinac were clear of ice, the sailors demanded the unheard of daily wage of $3.25. Although some ships stayed in port, the $1.75 wage was accepted and the barks MARY PEREW, J G MASTEN and C J WELLS, along with the schooners DONALDSON, PATHFINDER and CHAMPION set sail on 1 April 1871. On 1 April 1904, CONDOR (2-mast wooden schooner, 58 foot, 22 gross tons, built in 1871, at Sheboygan, Wisconsin), while lying at anchor in the Kalamazoo River at Singapore, Michigan, was crushed by ice moving out in the Spring breakup. Data from: Joe Barr, Ahoy & Farewell II, Father Dowling Collection 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. Hon. Paul J. Martin opens Goderich season 4/1 - Goderich - As the first ship of the season sailed into port,
Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt had a message: “We’re open for business.”
According to Shewfelt, the Port of Goderich has a significant impact on the
town’s economic development. |
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Port Reports - April 1 Grand Haven - Dick Fox Cheboygan - Brent Michaels Green Bay - Wendell Wilke Goderich - Dale Baechler Sturgeon Bay - Craig Weis |
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Festival aims to bring some Russel Brothers tugs back home 4/1 - Owen Sound - When people come down to the Owen Sound harbor on
homecoming weekend, it will be full of tugboats for the first-ever. Like tugboat festivals in Sault Ste. Marie and Parry Sound, Owen Sound's will include tugboat races and a nighttime parade of tugs strung with Christmas lights. Some 100 or so sailboats and powerboats will join the floating parade. Some will be in a regatta the next day. Briggs' website,
www.russelbrothers.com contains colorful pictures of tugs chugging
full bore through churning water and of tugboats lit up while plying tranquil
waters at dusk. Parade prizes will be awarded at a banquet at the Rusty Gull
restaurant on the Saturday night. A dockside breakfast will be prepared for
captains and crews Sunday morning. Public tours of the 65' Coast Guard ship Cove Isle will be offered. |
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17th Annual Memorial Day Cruise to Port Huron 4/1 - Detroit – The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, and BoatNerd.com, are co-sponsoring the 17th Annual Memorial Day Lake St. Clair and River Cruise aboard the Diamond Belle . The cruise departs from Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit, on May 28, and cruises across Lake St. Clair, up the St. Clair River, and out into Lake Huron for a short distance, weather permitting. There is a Continental breakfast and a buffet luncheon on board, and the trip includes a buffet dinner at the St. Clair Inn. The cruise will follow the shipping channel upbound to meet all downbound ships, and only divert from the shipping channel down bound to visit the old St. Clair Flats area to see the Old Club and other interesting buildings and sites there. Tickets are $85 by reservation only. The trip departs Hart Plaza at 8:00 am and returns at 9:15 pm. Call 313-843-9376 for information and reservations. |
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Updates - April 1 News Photo Gallery updated Win a Trip on a Great Lakes Freighter - Help keep this site on line. Gatherings Page updated. Public Photo Gallery updated. |
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