Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive

Port Buys Land for Cross-lake Truck Ferry

8/31 - Hamilton, ON - Forget those congested highways. Hamilton is poised to become the better, faster and more efficient way to bring truckloads of goods from Europe and China into southern Ontario.

The Hamilton Port Authority announced yesterday it bought up the last vacant property on the harbour front to push forward plans for a long-awaited cross-lake truck ferry to sail between Hamilton and Oswego, N.Y. "We're fairly confident that this is a matter of when, not if we're going to do it," Port Authority chief executive officer Keith Robson said. "We're getting a lot of support for this from trucking companies who see it as a way of relieving their driver shortage."

The $17.5-million deal will buy 42 hectares (103 acres) of land at Pier 22, including Stelco's now-closed rod mill. Robson said the port authority's immediate plan is to use the new parcel for storage of slag and salt that's currently stashed at Pier 26, directly across the harbour on Eastport Drive. That pier, with ready access to the QEW, will then become the terminal for the cross-lake truck ferry.

A company for that project has been formed and backers are currently studying whether they will buy an appropriate ferry or will have to have one specially built. The ship is expected to hold up to 100 trailers. The containers will come into the Port of New York and then will be shipped up the Hudson River to Albany, then to Oswego and across the lake to Hamilton.

Neil Everson, the city's executive director of economic development, said efforts to bring new jobs to Hamilton have been repeatedly stymied by a lack of available land, a problem the port authority has solved for the short term. "They're getting their solution faster than we are, and it's going to pay big dividends for the city. "This will allow them to go after some big users," he added. "This is a big parcel so I think this is a really significant development."

Chamber of Commerce president Len Falco agreed the deal clears the way for key transportation plans. "This is going to open up a lot of opportunity, it's a major development," Falco said. "It ties right in with the whole concept of Hamilton being a transportation hub."

Hamilton Port Authority currently owns 195 hectares (482 acres) of bay front land, with about 96 per cent of it under industrial uses. When the new parcel is fully developed, Robson estimated it could support up to 200 jobs. Robson said the purchase finishes a project started before Stelco filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004. Then the authority was seeking only the 26 hectares (65 acres) behind the rod mill -- the rest of the parcel became available as Stelco began shedding operations. Stelco will use the proceeds of the sale to reduce its debt. Yesterday's deal includes the closed rod mill and all of its equipment. The machinery will likely be sold for scrap and the building torn down, Robson said.

By 2008, Robson said the port authority plans to transform the brown field into a spot where ships can unload truck trailers full of containers to be driven to locations across Southern Ontario and the northern U.S. Having the trailers transported by ship to the port means avoiding the traffic on the roadways surrounding the Great Lakes and the lengthy wait at the border crossing at Buffalo and Fort Erie, Robson said.

In a press release, the port authority said "significant capital investment will be made on the property" including construction of a new wharf and expanded cargo handling facilities.

From the Hamilton Spectator

Mackinac Bridge Walk in 49th Year

8/31 - Mackinaw City, MI - More than 40,000 people are expected to make the five-mile trek across the Mackinac Bridge Monday during the 49th annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk. The event began in 1958 as a dedication to the bridge and continues still, bringing people from around the country to make the hike from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City. This is the only day that pedestrian traffic is allowed on the bridge.

The first walkers will begin crossing the Mighty Mac at 7:00 a.m. as the sun rises over Lake Huron. Just before pedestrian foot traffic is allowed on the bridge, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and 300 pre-selected runners will depart in a jog across the bridge. This is the only time that jogging or running is permitted during the bridge walk. Once pedestrian traffic begins at 7:00 a.m., all participants will be required to walk.

Bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, wagons and similar types of devices are also prohibited during the bridge walk, but baby strollers, wheel chairs and seeing-eye dogs will be permitted. Buses to transport participants to the start of the event from Mackinaw City will begin loading walkers as early as 5:30 a.m. in Conkling Heritage Park and at the State Dock, but some walkers will show up even earlier than this. “We have droves of people in line, ready for the walk at 4:30 a.m.,” said Dawn Edwards, director of the Mackinaw Area Chamber of Commerce. “People really get into this.”

Buses will also be available to take people back and forth between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace through the duration of the walk. No walkers will be permitted on the bridge after 11 a.m., requiring last-minute walkers to be on the bus by 10:30 a.m. en route to St. Ignace.

This event gives people the chance to do something that is only allowed once a year, the opportunity to step foot on the Mackinac Bridge. The rarity of the opportunity has made this one of the signature events in Mackinaw City, and annually draws one of the largest crowds of the tourism season.

“As far as bringing in crowds of people in one fell swoop, this is the biggest event of the summer,” Edwards said. “It's not only the large crowds that make this event so special though, it's the family tradition, people pass this down from generation to generation.”

No fee is required to participate in the walk, but bus riders will be charged $2 per person. Additional information, including that on restrictions, guidelines and statistics, is available at www.mackinawcity.com or www.mackinacbridge.org

From the Cheboygan Daily Tribune
 

Port Reports - August 31

Cleveland - Bill Kloss
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has confirmed that Great Lakes Towing will be moving from their offices in the Terminal Tower (since 1929) to a new location on the Cuyahoga River. Actually, this is where their drydock is located, as well as where they dock the tugs. Planned opening is for 2006, with the creation of 25 new jobs.

Menominee/Marinette - Scott Best & Stephen P. Neal
The Calumet paid a visit to Menominee this evening with a load of coal from Sandusky Ohio for the Menominee Paper Co. The Calumet was delayed by about 10 hours because of weather. This is the first load of coal all season in Menominee. Earlier this morning the tug Jimmy L assisted the Catherine Desgagnes departing, and early Thursday morning the Chios Pride is due in Marinette with pig iron from Brazil.

Toledo -
Mississagi left Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. after loading at ADM Elevators. She unloaded sand just across the turning basin at Kuhlman Corp. prior to loading. Federal Asahi came in Thursday morning to ADM Elevators to load.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The USCG buoy tender Katmai Bay came into port Tuesday for a visit.
The salty Scoter, which arrived late Sunday night with Groupe Ocean tug assistance, remains in port unloading at Redpath Sugar.
The tall ship Picton Castle, which arrived late Saturday, departed early Tuesday morning.
Stephen B. Roman was in Sunday morning for Essroc and departed early Monday.
Toronto Drydock Co.'s tug M. R. Kane, which went on the drydock for a refit in early June, was refloated Friday to make way for the tour boat Ste. Marie 1, which went on Toronto Drydock for inspection. Ste. Marie 1 was refloated Tuesday afternoon.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Tug/barge G. L. Ostrander and Integrity were docked at the LaFarge facility on Jones Island in Milwaukee's inner harbor on Wednesday, unloading powdered cement.

Marquette - Rod Burdick
On Wednesday evening, American Mariner unloaded limestone at the Upper Harbor hopper. Most limestone is delivered to the Lower Harbor Shiras Dock.

Updates - August 31

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 31

On August 31, 1977, the BELLE RIVER entered service, departing Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for Superior, Wisconsin. Renamed b.) WALTER J MC CARTHY JR in 1977.

In mid-August 1987, a peregrine falcon that had disappeared from Regina, Saskatchewan two weeks earlier landed on the deck of a lake freighter on Lake Huron. The bird was captured and taken to a bird sanctuary in Vineland, Ontario. The vessel name is unknown.

In mid-August 1985, the Belgium salty FEDERAL THAMES loaded 25,400 tons of low-concentrate chrome ore at Duluth's Hallett Dock and was bound for Sweden. This ore dates back to World War II when it was mined in Montana. Other shipments were to have been made later as well.

On 31 August 1906, CAVALIER (3-mast wooden schooner, 134 foot 268 gross tons, built in 1867, at Quebec City as a bark) was carrying cedar lumber when she struck a reef off Chantry Island in Lake Huron and sank. Her crew was rescued by the Chantry Island Lightkeeper. She was bound from Tobermory for Sarnia, Ontario.

On 31 August 1869, the schooner W G KEITH was launched at the Muir & Stewart yard in Port Huron, Michigan. She was named after her skipper/owner. Her dimensions were 126 foot X 26 foot X 8 foot 6 inches. She was built for the Lake Michigan lumber trade.

On 31 August 1900, efforts to free the newly launched steel steamer CAPTAIN THOMAS WILSON from the mud in the Black River at Port Huron, Michigan continued throughout the day. The launch had been watched by thousands the previous day and the vessel's stern stuck in the mud. On this date, the tugs BOYNTON and HAYNES tried to pull her free but were unable to do so. Finally 14 hydraulic jacks were used to lift the vessel and at 6:00 p.m. she was ready to be pulled by tugs. After a 15 inch hawser was broken in the first attempt, the tug PROTECTOR finally pulled the vessel free.

In 1982, The sandsucker NIAGARA, made its last trip through the I-75 Bridge with a cargo of sand for the Chevrolet Saginaw Metal Castings plant.

On August 31, 1852, The U. S. Congress passed an act requiring the president to appoint three officers from the Navy, three engineers from the Army and two civilian scientists to constitute the new Lighthouse Board. The Bureau of Lighthouses succeeded the Lighthouse Board in 1910.


Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Al Miller, James Neumiller, Jody Aho, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Port Reports - August 30

Marinette - Stephen Neal
The Catherine Desgagnes arrived at Marinette Fuel and Dock with a load of iron around noon Tuesday.

Milwaukee - John N. Vogel
The Samuel de Champlain and its barge Innovation were discharging cement at the LaFarge silo about 5:00pm on Tuesday.

Pigeon Bay - Erich Zuschlag
The Pere Marquette 41 had anchored herself in Pigeon Bay just off Point Pelee Monday night as a massive storm had blow through the area causing power outages ashore and 2 meter (6-foot) waves on Lake Erie.

Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain
On Sunday the J.A.W Iglehart was in port taking on cargo. By early afternoon the Iglehart departed to make another delivery to Green Bay, WI.
Monday night the G. L. Ostrander/barge Integrity made its way into Lafarge to tie up under the silos.
The American Republic brought a load of coal to Lafarge on Tuesday morning. It had backed into the slip and unloaded throughout the day. By 3:00pm the Republic finished and headed out into the bay.
At Stoneport, on a beautiful Tuesday evening, the John G. Munson was loading. The American Republic is expected on Wednesday morning.

Owen Sound - Peter Bowers
The Voyager Enterprise arrived in Owen Sound for grain loading at 6:00pm on Monday and left at 10:45 on Tuesday. This is first of the Voyager ships to make a visit here.

Updates - August 30

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 30

On this day in 1964, the retired Bradley Transportation steamer CALCITE was awarded the National Safety Council Award of Merit. The CALCITE accumulated a total of 1,394,613 man-hours of continuous operation over 17 years with out a disabling, lost time injury. The CALCITE was the first Great Lakes vessel to ever receive this honor.

On 30 August 1893, CENTURION (steel propeller freighter, 350 foot, 3,401 gross tons) was launched by F. W. Wheeler (Hull#100) at W. Bay City, Michigan. The name was a pun to celebrate the ship as Frank WheelerÕs 100th hull.

The CHARLES E WILSON was christened August 30, 1973, at Bay Shipbuilding Co., for the American Steamship Co., and completed her sea trials on September 6th. She was renamed b.) JOHN J BOLAND in 2000.

On August 30, 1942, the A H FERBERT ran aground in the St. Mary's River, just a day old. The vessel returned to the builder's yard in River Rouge, Michigan for repairs.

On August 30, 1988, the WILLOWGLEN, a.) MESABI, made its first visit to Duluth-Superior under that name. She loaded grain at Harvest States in Superior, Wisconsin, arriving early in the morning and departing in the ,early evening the same day. Her last visit to Duluth before this was in 1981 under the name c.) JOSEPH X ROBERT.

The H G DALTON entered service on August 30, 1903, for Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Later b.) COURSEULLES in 1916, c.) GLENDOCHART in 1922, d.) CHATSWORTH in 1927, e.) BAYLEAF in 1942 and f.) MANCOX in 1951.

On August 30, 1985, the tug CAPTAIN IOANNIS S departed Quebec City with MENIHEK LAKE and LEON FALK JR in tow, bound for Spain to be scrapped.

On 30 August 1873, CAMBRIDGE (3-mast, wooden schooner, 162 foot, 445 tons, built in 1868, at Detroit, Michigan) was bound from Marquette, Michigan for Cleveland, Ohio with a load of iron ore. In rough seas, she was thrown onto the rocky shore near Marquette where she broke up. No lives were lost.

On 30 August 1900, thousands of people gathered at the Jenks Shipbuilding Company near the Grand Trunk Bridge on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan to watch the launching of the large steel steamer CAPTAIN THOMAS WILSON. Superintendent Andrews gave the word and the blows were struck simultaneously at the bow and stern. Slowly the vessel started quivering slightly from deck to keel and then with a mighty rush, slid sideways into the river. Her stern stuck in the mud. Mrs. Thomas Wilson christened the ship.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, James Neumiller, Jody L. Aho, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Family Survives Vicious Storm

8/29 - St. Catharines, ON - An American family survived one of Lake Eries notorious storms after their luxury yacht started taking on water early Saturday. The familys refusal to follow coast guard instructions set off some concern but may have saved their lives, said officials.

The Sassy, a 97-foot pleasure cruiser sailing out of Detroit, was about 24 miles southwest of Long Point at about 4 a.m. Saturday when howling 25-knot winds and three-metre waves helped blast off the vessels deck hatches at the bow. The ship started taking on water and issued a mayday call, said a spokesperson for the Niagara Regional Police. The cruiser had 11 people on board, including three children, and was intending to travel through the Welland Canal system on its way to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The U.S. Coast Guard was unable to reach the vessel,and it was ordered to head into port at Erie, Pa. The Sassys skipper refused, fearing a turn would result in the boat being overwhelmed by the waves and wind, said family spokesman Mark Bolle, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., who spoke to Osprey News Network Sunday.

We would have been fine if the hatches hadnt blown off, said Bolle. But we couldnt trim to go to Erie, not with those 10-foot waves, he said.

The vessels refusal to follow instructions set off some alarms. The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Cape Lambton was dispatched from Port Dover and kept a visual watch over the Sassy. The American skipper was correct when he decided it would be safer to follow the sea and head for Port Colborne, said Rob Rittner of the Niagara Regional Police marine unit.

"If you don't do that, you've got waves hitting you abreast and that could have turned out very badly", said Rittner. "The skipper made a really good decision. You can drop pretty quickly on the downside of waves that size, and that could result in you keeling over, especially when you're taking on water. The craft was bound for Port Colborne anyway, and it was a closer destination", said Rittner.

The Sassy, traveling in excess of 16 knots, was kept under visual surveillance by the Cape Lambton, which couldnt catch up with the quicker cruiser, said Rittner. The coast guard thought we were running away from them, said Bolle. The Sassy pulled into Port Colborne at 8:13 a.m. after a harrowing four hours and tied up by the harbour masters house on West Street. The boat was met by officials from Canada Customs, Transport Canada and police.

Bolle said the family returned safely home to the U.S. Saturday afternoon to rest and await repairs to the boat, which he estimated could take as long as two weeks. Once the repairs are completed, the family will resume its voyage to Florida, said Bolle.

Reported by Bill Bird from the St. Catharines Standard

Port Reports - August 29

Sandusky - Jim Spencer
The Calumet was under the loading chute at the NS coal dock Monday.
Calumet was preceded to the dock late Sunday by the Herbert C. Jackson, which loaded for Detroit and Monday was reported enroute to Stoneport.
Also visiting Sandusky Sunday was the Adam E. Cornelius, which loaded for Ontonagon.
Scheduled for a late afternoon arrival at the NS dock on Monday was the CSL Assiniboine, whose last port of call was Hamilton.

Hamilton & Bonte - Eric Holmes
Monday afternoon had the Hamilton Energy refueling the Emerald Star just off the Petro Canada Pier in Oakville (Bronte) at 3:30 pm. The Hamilton Energy arrived back in Hamilton at 6:00 pm. going to its home base at Pier 24 (Provmar Terminals). The Jade Star had departed Hamilton at 5:00 pm. and replaced the Emerald Star at the Petro Canada Pier at 6:30 pm.
The Algolake departed Hamilton at 3:30 pm. heading to the Welland Canal. The CCGC Simmons arrived in Burlington at 4:30 pm. heading to The Canada Centre for Inland Waters.
The Maritime Trader departed Pier 25 ( JRI Elevators ) at 7:30 pm. with grain for Sorel Quebec.

Gary -
The Philip R. Clarke unloaded a cargo of roll scale early Sunday at USX Steel and departed the Gary piers at 6:50 a.m.
American Spirit arrived with a cargo of flux pellets at 10:00am. Algowood was also loading a cargo of coke breeze on Sunday.
Next in line was the Capt. Henry Jackman with a split cargo of ore.
The parade continued with the arrival of the David Z. Norton early Monday to unload iron ore pellet fines. After unloading, the Norton held the dock for weather conditions. High winds and large swells also held the Algowood at the dock. Both vessels should depart late Monday or early Tuesday.

Holland - Bob VandeVusse
The Maumee arrived at Holland Monday morning and delivered a cargo of coal to the DeYoung power plant.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The Manistee was inbound the Saginaw River early Monday morning with a split load for the Sargent dock in Essexville and the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee. The Manistee was in the process of repairing pins on the boom cable and told the tug Robin Lynn that the repair was expected to be an "all nighter". The Manistee's last trip to the Saginaw River also saw her repairing her unloading equipment, where she was docked at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee for more than a week.
The Buffalo was inbound the Saginaw River passing the Front Range Light shortly after 2:00pm Monday afternoon headed for the Bay Aggregates dock in Essexville to unload. The Buffalo was expected to be outbound the Saginaw River late Monday night.

Updates - August 29

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 29

August 29, 1996 - The NICOLET, which had been sold for scrap, left Toledo under tow of the McKeil tug OTIS WACK, arriving in Port Maitland, Ontario during the early hours of the 30th. Last operated in 1990, the NICOLET was built in 1905 by Great Lakes Engineering Work at Ecorse, Michigan as the a.) WILLIAM G MATHER (25), b) J. H. SHEADLE (55), c) H. L. GOBEILLE. The vessel spent the first 60 years of her life in service for the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company. After 1965, her ownership was transferred to the Gartland Steamship Company and eventually American Steamship Company.

On this day in 1974, unsuccessful negotiations on a major shipbuilding contract resulting in Litton Industries terminating operations at its Erie yard. The Litton yard had built the first thousand foot boat on the lakes, the STEWART J CORT, and the thousand foot tug-barge PRESQUE ISLE.

It is not often that a schooner tows a tug, but on 29 August 1882, the tug J A CRAWFORD was towing the big schooner JAMES COUCH to Chicago when the wind picked up and the schooner passed the tug. Captain Gorman of the CRAWFORD cut the engine and allowed the COUCH to tow him until the got close to the harbor. Then the schooner shortened sail and the tug finished the job of towing her into port.

On August 29, 1942, the A H FERBERT entered service for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co..

On her maiden voyage August 29, 1979, the INDIANA HARBOR sailed for Two Harbors, Minnesota to load iron ore pellets for Indiana Harbor, Indiana. In August, 1982, INDIANA HARBOR became the first U.S. flag laker to receive satellite communication.

On August 29, 1972 the lightship HURON was placed in an earth embankment at Port Huron's Pine Grove Park along the St. Clair River and was opened to visitors on July 13, 1974.

Canada Steamship Lines' ATLANTIC SUPERIOR returned from Europe on August 29, 1985, with a cargo of gypsum for Picton, Ontario.

On 29 August 1871, GEORGE M ABEL (2-mast wooden schooner) broke up on a reef near Port Burwell, Ontario.

On 29 August 1858, CANADA (3-mast wooden bark, 199 foot, 758 tons) was carrying a half million board feet of lumber to Chicago in bad weather when she settled just north of downtown Chicago. The next day during a salvage attempt, she blew southward, struck a bar off the old waterworks, broke her back, then broke up. She had been built in Canada in 1846, as a sidewheeler and was seized by the U.S. in 1849, and rebuilt as a bark in 1852.

August 29, 1998 - The BADGER was designated a spur route on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Al Miller, James Neumiller, Jody Aho, Russ Plumb, Lake Huron Lore Society, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Salt Demand Leads to Sifto Expansion

8/28 - Goderich - In response to increasing demand for highway de-icing salt in the Great Lakes region of North America, Compass Minerals has announced a two-phased plan to increase its rock salt production capacity.
8/28 - Goderich - In response to increasing demand for highway de-icing salt in the Great Lakes region of North America, Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) has announced a two-phased plan to increase its rock salt production capacity.

In the initial phase of the expansion, which will commence immediately, the company will open a new mining panel at its Goderich, Ontario mine. This will increase the annual capacity of the mine by approximately 750,000 tons, resulting in total mine capacity of 7.25 million tons by 2008. This phase of the expansion is expected to cost approximately $11 million, primarily for new equipment. Approximately $3 million of the capital expenditures are expected to occur in 2006.

“We are redeploying a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our general trade evaporated-salt plant in the U.K. into a higher-return, internal-growth opportunity,” explained Angelo Brisimitzakis, president and CEO of Compass Minerals. “This strategic expansion will allow us to better meet the needs of communities in the Great Lakes region.” Compass Minerals expects to add an additional 1,000,000 tons of capacity in the Great Lakes region upon completion of the first phase and as market conditions warrant. The company is continuing to evaluate several strategies for this expansion.

Compass Minerals currently has the capacity to produce more 6.5 million tons of rock salt at the Goderich, Ontario mine, 2.8 million tons of rock salt at its Cote Blanche, Louisiana mine and 2 million tons at its mine in Cheshire, U.K. Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Compass Minerals is the second-leading salt producer in North America and the largest in the United Kingdom. The company operates 10 production and packaging facilities, including the largest rock salt mine in the world in Goderich, Ontario.

The company’s product lines include salt for highway deicing, consumer deicing, water conditioning, consumer and industrial food preparation. In addition, Compass Minerals is North America’s leading producer of sulfate of potash, which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for high-value crops and turf, and magnesium chloride, which is a premium deicing and dust control agent.

From the Goderich Signal-Star

New Ethanol Plant proposed at the Former ConAgra Mill on the Buffalo River

8/28 - Buffalo - Some facts, and some rumors, surround the proposed new ethanol plant to be built on the site of the former ConAgra Mill on the Buffalo River.

The known facts are that the conveyors inside the Lake & Rail elevator have been restored to operational status, and the the basement has been pumped out of flood water from the river.

Most of the Burrow's Lot rail yard has been cleared of overgrown brush except the switches. CSX has inspected the yard and performed some light repair work to get it ready to go. It's in mostly decent condition. The center cab switcher formerly used at the site is almost back to running status. The railcar unloading facilities are nearly operational.

Other rumored events are that the Lake & Rail elevator will start storing corn as soon as September, and that ADM may contract with the new owners for storage of wheat at the former ConAgra facilities.

The Ethanol Plant may be located in the open fields off Childs Street to the West of the Burrow's Lot rail yards. It is thought that the Marine "A" Elevator was also purchased in the deal, but is completely stripped inside of any useful materials and is only along for the ride as part of possible future storage needs pending a steady business cranking up at the plant.

Any self unloader lake boat hopper facilities would be located somewhere on the river dock face across from the ADM Standard Elevator so ships would not have to make the turn around the Lake & Rail. Time will tell if the proposed plant proves to provide a need for more freighter shipments or grain.

Reported by Brian Wroblewski

Vessel Idled For 8 Years Put Back In Service
Mills Hungry For Ore, So Lakes Float Soars

8/28 - Cleveland---With the nation’s steel mills operating at more than 87 percent of capacity, demand for iron ore was strong in July. As a result, shipments on the Great Lakes in July reached their highest level yet this year: 6.8 million tons.

So strong is demand for iron ore that the steamer Edward L. Ryerson returned to service on July 22. The ship had been idle since the end of 1998, primarily because it is a straight-decker that requires shoreside equipment to be unloaded. However, with no excess capacity in the fleet, the 730-foot long Ryerson was fit-out at Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

The vessel’s first iron ore cargo was loaded at Escanaba, Michigan, and delivered to Indiana Harbor, Indiana. The Ryerson is under the command of Captain Eric Treece and Chief Engineer Peter Ilacqua.

For the year, the Lakes/Seaway iron ore trade stands at 30.6 million tons, an increase of 5.6 percent compared to both the same point in 2005 and the 5-year average for the January-July timeframe.

Lake Carriers’ Association represents 18 American corporations that operate 62 U.S.-Flag vessels on the Great Lakes. These vessels carry the raw materials that drive the nation’s economy: Iron ore and fluxstone for the steel industry, limestone and cement for the construction industry, coal for power generation....

Collectively, these vessels can transport as much as 125 million tons of cargo a year when high water levels offset the lack of adequate dredging of Great Lakes ports and waterways. More information is available at www.lcaships.com

Source: Lake Carriers’ Association

Port Reports - August 28

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
The Alpena came in for LaFarge Saturday night around 10:00pm, quickly followed by the American Fortitude for General Mills Frontier Elevator at 11:00pm. The Alpena was due to depart around 5:00am Sunday morning.

Marquette - Lee Rowe
The Charles M. Beeghly arrived on a sunny Sunday in Marquette for a load of ore. She seems to be making regular runs from Marquette to the Rouge plant and back again.

Milwaukee - John N. Vogel
About noon on Sunday, Polish Steamship's Isolda remained in the outer harbor at Terminal 2. Otherwise, all was quiet.

Sandusky - Jim Spencer
CSL Algolake loaded early Saturday at the NS coal dock. She is bound for Hamilton, Ont.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
The American Republic was outbound the Saginaw River on Thursday after unloading at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. This was the first trip of 2006 to the Saginaw River for the Republic.
Inbound Thursday afternoon was the tug Cleveland and barge Cleveland Rocks. The pair went up to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to unload. This is their second consecutive trip to this dock.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The Algoway was inbound the Saginaw River late Sunday afternoon headed for the Buena Vista Stone dock in Zilwaukee to unload. The Algoway passed under the I-75 bridge at Zilwaukee at 7:00pm and continued a short distance upriver to unload at the Buena Vista Stone dock. She is expected to be outbound for the lake early Monday morning.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Sunday turned out to be a foggy day. The Canadian Provider arrived at 10:00 am heading to Dofasco with iron ore pellets from Port Cartier and after unloading will head to Thunder Bay.
The CSL Assiniboine departed at 10:00 am after the Provider entered the harbor.
The Emerald Star arrived at the Petro Canada Pier in Oakville (Bronte) at 2:00 pm.
The Canadian Transport arrived at 7:00 pm going to Dofasco and the Maritime Trader arrived at 9:00 pm going to Pier 25 ( JRI Elevators ).

Updates - August 28

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 28

On this day in 1939, the RICHARD J REISS collided with the YOSEMITE on the St. Clair River. There were no casualties but damage to the Reiss amounted to $26,593.80 and damage to the YOSEMITE amounted to $23,443.09. The REISS was built in 1901, as the a.) GEORGE W PEAVEY. Renamed b.) RICHARD J REISS in 1917, c.) SUPERIOR in 1943. She was scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario in 1947. The YOSEMITE carried her name throughout her career, built in 1901, and scrapped at Buffalo, New York in 1954.

Capt. Frank R. West took his 8 year old son Robert and the boy's friend 8 year old Edward Erickson aboard the new schooner LOUIS MEEKER as guests on a trip carrying 27,000 bushels of oats from Chicago to Buffalo. There was hardly any wind and it took them four days to creep north as far as Pentwater, Michigan. On 28 August 1872, Captain West saw a storm coming and he had the sails taken in as a precaution. The winds came so suddenly and they hit the vessel so hard that the schooner was knocked over on her beam ends. Little Robert West, his dad and three sailors were lost when the vessel sank 15 minutes later near Big Sable Point. Peter Danielson dove and tried to cut away the lifeboat as the schooner was sinking and he almost drowned in that unsuccessful attempt. The mizzen gaff broke free and seven sailors plus little Edward Erickson clung to it until they were picked up by the schooner WILLIAM O BROWN six hours later.

Mr. Edwin H. Gott, 78, of Pittsburgh, died on August 28, 1986. The namesake of the 1,000 footer, he retired as Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Steel in 1973.

On August 28, 1962, the EDWARD L RYERSON set a Great Lakes cargo record for iron ore. The RYERSON loaded 25,018 gross tons of iron ore in Superior, Wisconsin, breaking by 14 tons the record held by the Canadian bulk freighter RED WING which was set in the 1961, season. The RYERSON held this record well into 1965.

The PERE MARQUETTE 22 was repowered with two 2,850 ihp four cylinder Skinner Uniflow steeple compound steam engines, 19 1/2", 43" dia. X 26" stroke, built in 1953, by the Skinner Engine Co., Erie, Pennsylvania and four coal-fired Foster-Wheeler water tube boilers with a total heating surface of 25,032 sq. ft. built in 1953. The repowering work was completed on August 28, 1954. Her 1954, tonnage was 3551 gross tons, 1925 net tons, 2450 deadweight tons. A new starboard tail shaft was installed at this time. Her service speed increased to 18 knots (20.7 mph).

The JOHN ANDERSON, a.) LUZON of 1902, was outbound through the Duluth Ship Canal on August 28, 1928, the ANDERSON struck the north pier suffering $18,000 in damage. Renamed c.) G G POST in 1935. The POST was scrapped at Istanbul, Turkey in 1972.

Gulf Oil Corp., tanker REGENT entered service on August 28, 1934. She was built for low clearances on the New York State Barge Canal and was equipped with five cargo tanks and one dry cargo hold.

The WILLIAM A REISS, a.) JOHN A TOPPING, was laid up for the last time on August 28, 1981, at Toledo, Ohio and remained idle there until July 15, 1994, when she was towed to be scrapped.

On 28 August 1870, CHASKA (wooden scow-schooner, 72 foot, 50 tons, built in 1869, at Duluth, Minnesota originally as a scow-brig) was wrecked in a northwesterly storm near Duluth. Reportedly she's the first vessel built at Duluth.

On 28 August 1763, BEAVER, an armed wooden British sloop built the previous year, was carrying provisions to Detroit to relieve the fort there which was under siege by the Indians led by Pontiac, however the vessel foundered in a storm at Cat Fish Creek, 14 miles from the site of Buffalo. 185 barrels of her cargo were salvaged and went on to Detroit on the schooner GLADWIN.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Al Miller, James Neumiller, Jody Aho, Russ Plumb, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Port Reports - August 27

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Thursday night ocean bulker Ypermachos (reg. Nassau, Bahamas) arrived in Milwaukee's inner harbor and docked at the Nidera grain elevator, awaiting a cargo of yellow corn. Ypermachos remained at Nidera Saturday afternoon.
Saturday, saltie Toro (reg. Piraeus, Greece) was docked and unloading at the south side of terminal 2 in the outer harbor.
Also Saturday, saltwater bulker Isolda from the Polsteam line (reg. Limassol, Cyprus) unloaded steel products at the north side of terminal 2.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Saturday had the tug Michigan and barge departing at 8:00 am. On the way out into Lake Ontario they passed the tug Salvor and barge Lambert's Spirit arriving at 10:00 am. The Halifax arrived in port at 3:00 pm going to Stelco Dock 2. The CSL Assiniboine then arrived at 6:00pm also going to Stelco with coal.

Marquette - Rod Burdick
Saturday afternoon and evening, H. Lee White unloaded limestone at the Lower Harbor Shiras Dock and moved to the Upper Harbor ore dock at sunset.

Updates - August 27

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 27

The new Poe Lock at the Soo was first flooded on 27 August 1968.

On 27 August 1886, The Detroit Evening News reported that a fireman on the tug J H HACKLEY of 1874, was sent to watch for a leak in the boiler, which was being filled with cold water at a dock in Chicago. He fell asleep and the boiler overflowed, very nearly sinking the vessel before another tug could pump her dry.

The AGAWA CANYON (Hull#195) was launched in 1971, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Algoma Central Railway Ltd.

The C.C.G.S. SAMUEL RISLEY arrived at Toronto, Ontario on August 27, 1985, on her way to Thunder Bay, Ontario where she replaced the retired C.C.G.C. ALEXANDER HENRY.

JOHN O MC KELLAR (Hull#12) was launched August 27, 1952, at St. Catharines, Ontario by Port Weller Drydocks Ltd.for the Colonial Steamship Co. Ltd. (Scott Misener, mgr.), Port Colborne, Ontario. Renamed b.) ELMGLEN in 1984.

The WILLIAM CLAY FORD then renamed b.) US266029 departed her lay-up berth at the Rouge slip on August 20, 1986, in tow of Gaelic tugs and she was taken to Detroit Marine Terminals on the Rouge River, where her pilothouse was removed to be displayed at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Detroit's Belle Isle. The hull was moved to Nicholson's River Rouge dock on August 27th.

The WILLIAM B DICKSON (Hull#75) was launched August 27, 1910, at Ecorse, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) MERLE M MC CURDY in 1969. She was scrapped at Port Colborne, Ontario in 1989.

The U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender MESQUITE (WAGL-305) was commissioned on August 27, 1943, and served on the Pacific Ocean in the 7th Fleet in 1944 and 1945.

On August 27, 1940, the WILLIAM A IRVIN set the Great Lakes record for the fastest unloading of an iron ore cargo using shore side equipment. The IRVIN unloaded 13,856 gross tons of iron ore in 2 hours, 55 minutes (including the time to arrive and depart the dock) in Conneaut, Ohio. This record still stands, and consequently the IRVIN is one of the few Great Lakes vessels to be retired while still holding a Great Lakes cargo record.

On August 27, 1929, the MYRON C TAYLOR entered service. On 27 August 1924, CITY QUEEN (wooden propeller steam tug, 71 foot, 69 gross tons, built in 1900, at Midland, Ontario) burned to a total loss 1Ú4 mile east of the Manitou Dock in Georgian Bay.

The keel for the tug CRUSADER was laid on 27 August 1873, at the Leighton & Dunford yard in Port Huron, Michigan. The tug's dimensions were 100 foot keel, 132 foot overall, and 23 foot beam. She was built for George E. Brockway.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Al Miller, Jody Aho, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Company with Muskegon Ties Buys Three Freighters

8/26 - Muskegon - The company that once operated such locally well-known vessels as the SS Milwaukee Clipper, the SS Aquarama and the carferry Highway 16 has purchased three large Great Lakes freighters that also visit Muskegon from time to time.

The Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co. bought the three virtually identical 630-foot ships from Oglebay Norton Marine Services Co. LLC in an $18.7 million sale completed Aug. 1.

The Muskegon connection comes through West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. on Muskegon Lake. The Mart Dock and Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co. have the same parent company -- Sand Products Corp. of Detroit.

The David Z. Norton, the Earl W. Oglebay and the Wolverine are self-unloading "River Class" freighters designed to maneuver in large rivers and Great Lakes ports too small to handle the largest ships operating on the lakes. They will be operated by Lower Lakes Transportation Co., though under what names and stack logos is not known.

Richard Snyder, a local photographer and ship-watcher, said the three ships have stopped in Muskegon to deliver aggregate materials in the past.

Oglebay Norton has divested itself of two 1,000-foot ships, the Oglebay Norton and the Columbia Star, which have made regular stops to deliver coal to the B.C. Cobb electrical generating plant. The ships have been renamed American Integrity and American Century, respectively, by their new owner, American Steamship Co. of Williamsville, N.Y.

The sale of those and other vessels totaled $148.9 million, and will enable Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton to refinance bank debt, while developing current and new shipping markets, primarily in sand and limestone. The company emerged from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization early this year.

A spokesman for Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Co., based near Cleveland in Lakewood, Ohio, said the ships would continue to fulfill their current shipping contracts.

From the Muskegon Chronicle

Shipbuilder CSE to Seek Funding, Cut Labour Costs
Key contract at stake in talks
Monitor delays sales decision

8/26 - St. Catharines - Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd. will seek government money, cut labour costs and restructure before resorting to a sales process if necessary, the monitor overseeing its bankruptcy protection said in court documents.

CSE was formed 20 years ago by the merger of the shipbuilding and repair divisions of two of Canada's biggest private shipping companies, Canada Steamship Lines and what is now called Upper Lakes Group Inc. The CSL Group — owned by former Prime Minister Paul Martin until 2003 — sold its remaining interest in Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering in November. Upper Lakes Group Inc. now owns more than two-thirds of CSE, which had 420 employees when all its operations were running.

Peter Cairns, president of the Shipbuilding Association of Canada, said CSE illustrates the struggles of a Canadian industry that is competing with low wages and government subsidies abroad. "We have a tremendous amount of work that we know is coming down the pipeline," he said, adding that without better policies or tax treatment there will soon be no shipbuilding industry in Canada.

CSE sought bankruptcy protection earlier this month and is asking an Ontario judge to extend it until Oct. 13. It suspended operations at its shipbuilding and repair facility, known as Port Weller Dry Docks, in St. Catharines. CSE also has a division called Canal Marine in St. Catharines and a plant in Thunder Bay.

In recent weeks, CSE — which has a history of receiving government funding — has been seeking financing from the federal and Ontario governments, and has been in discussions with Export Development Canada, which is likely to be the shipbuilder's biggest creditor in its restructuring.

According to documents filed by RSM Richter, the court monitor in the case, CSE's real troubles began in early 2005 when it signed contracts to build two vessel hulls for Hoekman Cargoships BV — for 4 million euros each — and five short sea ships for Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd., for $10.4 million euros each.

The problem was that CSE "did not have experience building short sea ships and hulls of this nature," according to the documents. CSE realized it would lose money on the first few projects, but hoped it would pay off once it learned how to profitably build the ships. But it "substantially" underestimated the costs of the first hull, which it delivered last month. It took more labour than expected and CSE decided it likely wouldn't make any money on the remaining projects. Management estimated that CSE would need new funding of about $16 million to finish the rest of the ships.

Now Carisbrooke wants to make claims and cancel three of its shipbuilding contracts. CSE officials flew to London earlier this month to meet with Carisbrooke and the two sides are still trying to reach an agreement. CSE is "concerned that the relief sought by Carisbrooke may adversely impact certain critical stakeholders, including (Export Development Canada), and possibly several hundred employees," court documents state.

Meanwhile, CSE has asked the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers union for changes to its contract, and warned "there will also be a material downsizing of the (Port Weller Dry Docks) hourly workforce," according to court documents.

The court monitor has not yet started to market the company because it is still trying to restructure. "If these efforts are successful, there may not be a need for a marketing process," the monitor said.

There was controversy over $9 million in government funds given to CSE in 1992, when CSL owned a quarter of the company and Martin was president of CSL and an Opposition MP.

From the Toronto Star

Trio Survives Lake Ontario Plane Crash
Men suffer minor injuries; police credit pilot's skill with averting tragedy

8/26 - Toronto - The pilot of a small plane saved the lives of his father and a family friend yesterday afternoon, police said, when he put down his stricken plane in Lake Ontario off Toronto. "He did an excellent job," Staff Sergeant John Badowski of the Toronto police marine unit said of the unidentified pilot. "There are three people here because of his skills."

Staff Sgt. Badowski said his colleagues pulled the passengers out of the water less than seven minutes after his unit received a distress call from the island airport. He refused to disclose further information about the three men, whose single-engine Cessna 172 went down two kilometres southwest of City Centre Airport and about two km south of Ontario Place.

The men suffered minor injuries, police said. The pilot accompanied his 53-year-old father to St. Michael's Hospital where he underwent a routine check. The third man was seen walking outside the marine station unit about two hours after the plane ditched in the lake, but he refused to answer any questions from reporters. He climbed into the front passenger seat of a black SUV and was driven away.

The plane was flying from London, Ont., to the airport in Buttonville, north of Toronto, police said. The men were in no hurry to reach their destination, so they decided to spend some time over Lake Ontario to observe downtown Toronto. "They were doing a coastal run -- sweeping over Toronto to see the sights," Staff Sgt. Badowski said. It was not known last night what happened aboard the plane, but the aircraft went down shortly after 3:30 p.m., police said.

The City Centre Airport control tower sent a distress call to the marine unit, which responded immediately. A witness at the island airport said one police boat went barrelling through the nearby channel at top speed, catching everyone's attention and sparking speculation as to what could have happened. About a half-dozen boats from the marine unit and lifeguards from nearby Sunnyside Beach were dispatched to the scene, police said.

"There were three people bobbing in the water, no wreckage," Staff Sgt. Badowski said. "The plane had decided to sink." The men were not wearing life jackets. Head lifeguard Caitlin Kirby said by the time she arrived at the scene, the survivors were already on their way to the hospital.

The plane is believed to have sunk in more than 75 feet of water and may be difficult to find because of a lack of debris on the surface. The incident had no effect on flights departing from or arriving at the island airport, said an employee at the airport fire hall. But harbour master Angus Armstrong said that the airport is able to continue functioning through such an emergency. Transport Canada is investigating the crash, while the Toronto Port Authority is keeping watch for any residual environmental damage.

The Cessna 172 aircraft, also dubbed Skyhawk, is one of the most popular planes for flight training. More than 35,000 of this model have been manufactured since the late 1950s.

Reported by Bill Bird from the Toronto Globe & Mail

Port Report - August 26

Marquette - Rod Burdick
On a rainy Friday evening, Herbert C. Jackson unloaded western coal at the Lower Harbor Shiras Dock.

Ryerson Update

8/25 - Noon - Update - The Ryerson tied up at the Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie for repairs to her septic system. The repairs were estimated to take two hours.

The vessel was back under way and cleared the MacArthur Lock up bound around 5:00p.

Pictures in the Special Ryerson Gallery.

Updates - August 26

News Photo Gallery updated

Ryerson Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 26

On 26 August 1872, wooden propeller steamer LAKE BREEZE of 1868, was steaming from Saginaw to Mackinaw City with freight and about 40 passengers when fire broke out in the kitchen while off Au Sable Michigan. Captain M. S. Lathrop ordered the engines shut down and the steam pumps activated. The crew battled the blaze with fire hoses and put the flames out. When the LAKE BREEZE pulled into Mackinaw City that night, the partially burned vessel was still smoking.

The EDGAR B SPEER's sea trials were successfully completed on August 26, 1980.

The BEECHGLEN was towed out of Owen Sound by the McKeil tug KAY COLE on August 26, 1994, in route to Port Maitland, Ontario for scrapping.

The HENRY C FRICK (Hull#615) was launched August 26, 1905, at West Bay City, Michigan by West Bay City Ship Building Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. Renamed b.) MICHIPICOTEN in 1964, she foundered off Anticosti Island on November 17, 1972, while being towed overseas for scrapping..

EMORY L FORD entered service on August 26, 1916, to load iron ore at Marquette, Michigan. Renamed b.) RAYMOND H REISS in 1965. She was scrapped at RameyÕs Bend in 1980.

The GLENEAGLES (Hull#14) was launched August 26, 1925, at Midland, Ontario by Midland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the Great Lakes Tramsportation Co. Ltd. (James Playfair, mgr.). Converted to a self-unloader in 1963. Renamed b.) SILVERDALE in 1978. She was scrapped at Windsor, Ontario in 1984.

The CHIEF WAWATAM (Hull#119) was launched on August 26, 1911, at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Ship Building Co. for the Mackinaw Transportation Co.. She was built with three large propellers, two in the stern for propulsion and one in the bow for icebreaking. She was sold to Purvis Marine Ltd., of Sault Ste, Marie, Ontario in 1988, and cut down to a barge.

The Port Weller Drydocks Ltd., built, passenger-cargo ship FEDERAL PALM (Hull#29) was christened August 26, 1961, for the West Indies Shipping Corp., Ltd. She was built on the Great Lakes, but never served their ports. Renamed b.) CENPAC ROUNDER in 1975, she was scrapped in 1979.

On August 26, 1934, while on a Sunday sightseeing cruise, MIDLAND CITY of 1871, a.) MAUD 153.2 foot, 521 gross tons, damaged her bottom on a shoal near Present Island in Georgian Bay. She settled with her stern under water and her bow high in the air.

On 26 August 1875, COMET (propeller passenger/package freight, 181 foot, 744 tons, built in 1857, at Cleveland, Ohio) was carrying ore and pig iron in Lake Superior on a foggy night. While trying to pass the Beatty Line steamer MANITOBA, 7 miles SE of Whitefish Point, signals were misunderstood and COMET veered into the path of MANITOBA. COMET was rammed amidships and sank in ten minutes. 11 of the 21 aboard lost their lives. This wasn't the first such accident for COMET. In October 1869, she suffered a similar mishap with the propeller HUNTER and that time both vessels sank.

The schooner MATTHEW MC NAIR was launched at the Lee & Lamoree shipyard in Oswego, New York on 26 August 1857. Her dimensions were 103 foot keel, 24 foot 6 inch beam and 9 foot 6 inch depth.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Ryerson Update

8/25 - Noon - Update - The Ryerson was tied up at the Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie for repairs to her septic system. The repairs were estimated to take two hours. Pictures in the Special Ryerson Gallery.

8/24 - The Edward L. Ryerson passed Marine City around 1:00 pm on Thursday, with 43 on lookers, and went to Shell for fuel. She departed up bound at 4:30 pm.

Ryerson cleared buoys 11 & 12 before 5:30 and estimated Harbor Beach in four hours. That should put her in the Soo before dark on Friday.

Man Injured in Fall From Ladder on Ship

8/24 - A Milwaukee man suffered injuries after falling anywhere between 20 and 80 feet from a ladder into a ship's hold on the city's lakefront, where he was rescued by a special team of firefighters.

The nine members of the Milwaukee Fire Department's Heavy Urban Rescue Team responded to the scene about 9:00 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of S. Lincoln Memorial Drive.

The team helped to remove the man from the hold and onto dry land for paramedic care. He was taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa with pain to his shoulders and neck and possible broken ribs, according to fire and police officials.

The fire department's HURT team deals with specialized situations, such as rope rescues, high angle rescues, building collapses and construction sites, as a few examples, according to fire Lt. Brian O'Connor.

Reported by Jim Zeirke from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Port Reports - August 25

Holland - Bob VandeVusse
Holland has seen a flurry of activity in the past few days. On Sunday the Sam Laud brought a load of stone to the Brewer dock. Tuesday afternoon Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 delivered mill scale to Padnos Iron & Metal, then took on a load of scrap and departed Wednesday morning. Thursday morning the Manistee arrived with coal for the James DeYoung power plant.

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
Recent news reports indicate that the wind turbine project for the Lackawanna lake front has been cleared by the EPA and will move towards the construction phase shortly. The new wind turbines are planned to replace the highly visible Coke Works. The eight turbines will be nearly 400 foot tall windmills if plans work out.
The Grand Mariner came in around 6:30am Thursday and berthed on the wall in the basin just down from the gas dock.
At 3:00pm, Thursday, the Cuyahoga entered the north entrance, and came stern first into the crick without assistance.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
On it's first visit to Toronto, the naval cadet training vessel Greyfox came in Wednesday night and is scheduled for departure Friday morning.
Stephen B. Roman departed late Wednesday night, and Algosteel departed Redpath in the wee hours of Thursday morning, bound for the Welland Canal and Goderich for a load of salt.
CCG Griffon is still conducting exercises off Toronto Island. It was out for a few hours Thursday afternoon and returned to Pier 29.

Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain
After a lull in activity, all the cement carriers were in port on Thursday. First in to was the J.A.W Iglehart, which had left temporary lay-up in Muskegon yesterday. The Iglehart took on cargo for Green Bay, WI and was seen heading out into the lake after 3:00pm. The Alpena was tied up at the coal dock, but orders were for her to wait until after the G. L. Ostrander/barge Integrity loaded, which came in after the Iglehart. Also due late Thursday night was the Samuel de Champlain/barge Innovation.
Stoneport has been quiet lately, the Great Lakes Trader and Cleveland Rocks are on the schedule for Friday.

Marquette - Lee Rowe
The Kaye E. Barker arrived in Marquette Thursday morning for ore, followed by the Michipicoten.

Updates - August 25

News Photo Gallery updated

Ryerson Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 25

On 25 August 1892, H D COFFINBERRY (wooden propeller freighter, 191 foot, 649 gross tons, built in 1874, at East Saginaw, Michigan) was carrying iron ore from Escanaba to Ashtabula in a fierce NW gale when she grounded on the rocks near Port Hope on Lake Huron. The crew was rescued by the San Beach Lifesaving crew and the tug ANAPING. The COFFINBERRY was released five days later and put back in service.

On Aug. 25, 1923, the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Ore Dock in Duluth loaded 208,212 tons of ore into 23 ships.

On August 25, 1984, the hard luck ROGER M KYES grounded off Mc Louth Steel and ended crosswise in the Detroit River's Trenton Channel. It required lightering into the RICHARD REISS a.) ADIRONDACK and the assistance of nine tugs to refloat her. Renamed b.) ADAM E CORNELIUS in 1989.

The GEORGE M STEINBRENNER, a.) ARTHUR H HAWGOOD arrived at Port Colborne, Ontario on August 25, 1978, in tow of the tug WILFRED M COHEN for scrapping.

On 25 August 1919, CABOTIA (formerly HIAWATHA, wooden propeller freighter, 235 foot, 1,299 gross tons, built 1880, at Gibraltar, Michigan) went ashore on Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario and split her hull, becoming a constructive loss.

August 25, 1981 - The first of the famous "Love Boat" cruises was made. The BADGER carried 520 passengers, the largest number of passengers for a carferry up to that time. It was sponsored by the Ludington Area Ambassadors.

On 25 August 1873, JOURNEYMAN (wooden schooner, 129 foot, 235 gross tons, built in 1873, at Wenona, Michigan) was put in service. Her first cargo was 225,770 feet of lumber. She was built for Whitehead & Webster of Bay City and lasted until 1896.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Perry Memorial to Reopen
Studies give green light for visits starting Saturday

8/24 - Put-In-Bay, Ohio - Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, closed since late June when a 500-pound chunk of granite fell 317 feet, will reopen Saturday, the park superintendent said yesterday. The National Park Service has conducted two engineering studies that determined the 13 fascia stones on the observation deck above the north entrance are secure, Superintendent Andy Ferguson said. The reopening is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The cause of the June 22 failure is attributed to water seeping into cracks, coupled with the freeze-thaw cycles and the affects on earlier repairs to the southwest corner. The upper plaza is cordoned off with a chain-link security fence, and a protected walkway was built to the column.

The fence will remain and sandbags will be placed on the upper plaza to "catch" any other pieces that might fall, Mr. Ferguson said. This measure should protect the upper plaza from additional damage. A comprehensive study of the entire monument is planned and the results will be used to determine the costs and best way to repoint and repair the Perry memorial.

Although events around the monument have been well attended, visitation is down 44 percent for July. In addition, Perry's Victory lost $500 to $1,500 a day, mostly from the $3-a-person fee for visitors to go to the top, he said.

The memorial is billed as the tallest monument with an open-air observation deck in the United States. On a clear day, visitors can see mainland Canada and Cleveland as well as the surrounding islands and coastline of Lake Erie's western basin. The monument commemorates Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's naval victory in 1813 against a superior British fleet.

From the Toledo Blade

Edward L. Ryerson Headed Back to Superior

8/24 - 9:00 am Update - Ryerson is due at the St. Clair Crib Light at 10:00 am. This would put her at the Salt Dock at Noon, and Stag Island Upper at 1:20. Plans are to stop at Shell for fuel.

8/24 - Lorain - The Edward L. Ryerson departed Lorain a little after midnight Wednesday. She backed down the river and out to the lake.

This would put her in Port Huron around noon-1:00 pm Thursday.

Her ETA for DeTour looks to be very early Friday morning, meaning a dawn transit of the Soo Locks.

Her next cargo of taconite is consigned to Indiana Harbor.

Port Reports - August 24

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Wednesday noon ocean bulker Daviken (reg. Nassau, Bahamas) from Viken Shipping, Ltd. entered the Milwaukee breakwater and, with the assistance of two tugs, backed into the northern slip at terminal 2 (usually used for steel deliveries).
Cross-lake ferry Lake Express was back to its usual schedule of three crossings per day.
Yacht Blue Moon remains at the wall, just outboard of the ferry.
Cruise Nantucket Clipper remains at the heavy lift dock in the inner harbor.

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The Mississagi came in to port Wednesday morning about 10:30am with a light load for Meekhof's upper dock by the railroad swing bridge. It unloaded and backed out about 2:00pm heading north in the Lake.

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
The Karen Andrie was due to depart the Noco dock in Tonawanda around 4:00pm Wednesday evening.
The CSL Assiniboine departed Lackawanna on the coal shuttle to Nanticoke Wednesday morning.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The CSL Tadoussac backed from the Essroc Cement Terminal in Essexville at 12:45pm Wednesday afternoon out of the Saginaw River and onto the bay, turned around at Light 12 and was headed outbound for the lake. Radio Traffic indicated that the Tadoussac is bound for Superior to load.
The tug Rebecca Lynn and the tank barge A-410 were inbound the Saginaw River passing the Front Range Light at midnight Thursday morning headed for the Bit-Mat dock in Essexville to unload. The pair are expected to be outbound the Saginaw River late Thursday night.

Toledo - Bob Vincent
H. Lee White finished loading coal at 6:00pm Wednesday. The next coal vessel will be the CSL Assiniboine from Nanticoke due Thursday around 11:00pm.
Canadian Transport is schedule to arrive Friday in the morning and the Kaye E. Barker due Saturday early evening.
The King's Company dredge Buxton ll is dredging around the coal slip entrance.
Torco Dock has the Nanticoke unloading ore early Wednesday evening follow by the Atlantic Erie. Both vessels are from Seven Islands.
The next ore boat will the Atlantic Huron on Saturday.
The tug barge combination Michigan and Great Laker was seen heading out of Toledo around 8:00pm.

Updates - August 24

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 24

At 2:00 a.m. on 24 August 1892, the GEORGE N BRADY (wooden propeller tug, 102 foot, 165 gross tons, built in 1865, at Detroit or Marine City, Michigan) was engaged in pulling a raft of logs across Lake St. Clair along with the tug SUMNER. Fire was discovered around the BRADY's smokestack and he flames quickly spread. The crew was taken off of the stricken vessel by the SUMNER and the BRADY was cut free of the raft. The blazing vessel drifted to the American shore where she sank about three miles north of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. No lives were lost.

LEON SIMARD (Hull#413) was launched August 24, 1974, at Sorel, Quebec by Marine Industries Ltd. for Branch Lines Ltd. Renamed b.) L'ORME NO 1 in 1982. Sold off the lakes in 1997, renamed c.) TRADEWIND OCEAN and d.) AMARA in 2001.

On August 24, 1910, the THOMAS F COLE ran aground on a shoal in the St. Marys River severely damaging her hull plates.

The WARD AMES (Hull#518) was launched on August 24, 1907, at West Superior, Wisconsin by Superior Ship Building Co. for the Acme Steamship Co. (Augustus B. Wolvin, mgr.). Renamed b.) C H MC CULLOUGH JR in 1916. She was scrapped at Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1980.

On August 24, 1985, PAUL H CARNAHAN arrived for her final lay up at Nicholson's in Ecorse, Michigan. Ironically, only a few hours later, her near sister LEON FALK JR departed the same slip on her final trip bound for Quebec City and overseas scrapping.

The steam barge BURLINGTON of 1857, 137 foot, 276 gross tons ex-package freighter, burned to the water's edge in the Straits of Mackinac on August 24, 1895.

On 24 August 1885, IOSCO (wooden schooner-barge, 124 foot, 230 gross tons, built at Alabaster, Michigan in 1873) was heavily damaged by fire. She was rebuilt as an unrigged barge and lasted until 1912.

On 24 August 1882, The Port Huron Times reported that "the long looked for launch of the Stave Company's new river steamer MARY took place this afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock and was witnessed by hundreds of spectators. The last support being knocked away, she slid very gracefully as far as the ways reached and then landed anything but gracefully in the mud where she now lies." She remained stuck in the mud until she was pulled free five days later.

Data from: Father Dowling Collection, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Captain Hurt in Ship Mishap
Port rescue requires several steps

8/23 - Port Washington - A ship's captain whose ocean freighter brought equipment from Indonesia to Port Washington for the We Energies power plant conversion was seriously injured in a shipboard accident Tuesday afternoon.

A broken cable swung and knocked down the captain, Helmut Muller, 59, on the freighter's deck at about 12:15 p.m., Port Washington Fire Chief Mark Mitchell said. The accident badly fractured the captain's left ankle and possibly left him in shock. "He was hurt bad, but it was not life-threatening," the chief said.

The firefighters had to find a way to get the captain to a Flight for Life helicopter, which landed near the old coal dock, Mitchell said. The rescue required a crane to lift the captain from one end of his 450-foot-long ship, the Recognition, onto a barge docked next to the ship. "These ships aren't designed to get people off on stretchers," the chief said.

Three emergency medical technicians put a splint on the fracture, secured the captain's leg and his neck and then strapped him to a backboard. He was given oxygen and hooked to an IV. The captain was then placed in a rescue basket with a special harness. A crane was used to lift him up and set him down on the barge.

From the barge, Mitchell said it took six firefighters to carry the captain on a stretcher down a gangplank to the ambulance. The captain arrived at the helicopter at about 1:20 p.m.

Muller was reported in satisfactory condition at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa late Tuesday.

Original Report - Tuesday, 8/22 - 1:08 pm. - Port Washington Fire Department crews are on the scene of a shipboard rescue in the city's harbor.

According to emergency radio traffic, a worker on a large ship anchored in the Port Washington harbor was struck and injured by a 3-inch cable. The injured worker is in a rescue basket and now must be lowered from the vessel to a barge and then carried across a gang plank to shore.

Paramedics from Thiensville are at the scene and a Flight for Life helicopter from McHenry, Ill., is about 4 minutes away from landing at the scene. The extent of the worker's injuries wasn't immediately available.

Special MSRA Shipwreck Show in Holland Thursday

8/23 - Holland - Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates will present the results of their 2006 search season to the public in a show in Holland, Michigan on Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Winants Auditorium in Graves Hall, on the campus of Hope College. Graves Hall is located at 263 College Avenue, just south of downtown Holland.

The 2006 season was extremely productive for MSRA, as they discovered three previously undocumented wreck sites. One is a modern construction barge located off Port Sheldon. The second is an as yet unidentified 19th Century sailing vessel off Saugatuck. The third and final find is the Hennepin, of great historical significance because it was the first vessel equipped with self unloading equipment. Built in 1888 as the George H. Dyer, it sank on August 18, 1927, while being towed from Chicago to Grand Haven. It is currently located in 230 feet of water, off of South Haven.

Photos and video footage of all of the wrecks will be shown and members of the search and dive teams of MSRA will describe their experiences and answer questions.

Admission will be $10.00, with all proceeds going to support the documentation of the wrecks.

Reported by Bob VandeVusse

140-Year-Old Bell Recovered From Lake Erie

8/23 - Lorain, Ohio -- Divers have recovered a bell that failed to prevent a ship from a fateful Lake Erie collision almost 140 years ago.

The bell from the Cortland was brought up Tuesday at the shipwreck site off Lorain. A crewman had rung it in 1868 to try to warn an approaching ship to change course. But he was not successful, and the Cortland went down. Thirty-eight people died.

The wreck of the Cortland was found last summer, and divers decided to retrieve the bell to preserve it and keep it from being stolen.

The bell, which weighs less than 100 pounds, will be cleaned and then put on display at a museum (Great Lakes Historical Society) in Vermilion, west of Lorain along the lake.

From NewsNet5.com

Tall Ships in Lorain

8/23 - Lorain - The Lorain Morning Journal reports today that two tall ships will be entering the Port of Lorain Wednesday between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

The tall ships, Pride of Baltimore II and the U.S. Brig Niagara will be moored at the Black River Landing upstream of the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge on the Black River.

The ships will be open for tours this Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 pm each day.

For additional information contact the Lorain Port Authority at 440-244-2269.

Reported by James F. Reagan

Port Huron Coast Guard Days This Weekend

8/23 - Port Huron - Port Huron will be the place to be this weekend as the town celebrates Coast Guard Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The event is a way to pay tribute to current and former Coast Guard members, and recognize those serving locally. Many interactive family-oriented events will happen throughout the weekend, giving the public a glimpse at life as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

A list of the events planned includes on Friday - At 6:30 p.m. a memorial ceremony at the International Flag Plaza near the Blue Water Bridge. At 8:00 p.m., Coast Guard personnel will perform a live river rescue demonstration in the St. Clair River.

On Saturday, an opening flag ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the Great Lakes Maritime Center in downtown Port Huron. Open houses and tours will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. of the cutters Hollyhock and Bramble, the Coast Guard Station, and many other Port Huron maritime locations. The day also includes live U.S. Coast Guard rescue demonstrations, a boat parade, music, and a dinner for active duty Coast Guard personnel and families.

On Sunday, all churches in the Port Huron area have been asked to dedicate their worship services to the U.S. Coast Guard. Between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. are charity softball games between the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Huron police and firefighters at Pine Grove Park.

Events are free except for public tickets to the Saturday dinner. Cost is $20 per adult and $5 for children up to age 10.

For full details, times and locations, visit www.porthuron.org

Port Reports - August 23

Milwaukee - John N. Vogel
The Samuel de Champlain and its barge Innovation were discharging cement at the LaFarge silo about 10:00am on Tuesday. Otherwise, the harbor was quiet.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
The Earl W. Oglebay arrived on the Saginaw River Tuesday morning carrying a split load. She stopped to lighter at the Wirt Sand & Stone dock in Essexville before continuing upriver to finish at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw. A frequent visitor in the past under Oglebay Norton ownership, this is the Earl W. Oglebay's first visit to the Saginaw River under the ownership of the Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Company.

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The Wilfred Sykes came thru the pier heads about 4:30 pm headed for Verplank's dock. Also in the river and on Lake Michigan today was the Grand Valley State University, Annis Water Research Institute vessel D. J. Angus. Sponsored by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation it took 26 members of the public on a short water quality testing cruise out on Lake Michigan. Four of these trips were scheduled and they are booked to capacity.

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
The Karen Andrie is on her way in with a split load for Noco & Marathon - Tonawanda at 9:00pm Tuesday. No ETD since boat will be shifting docks half way through the day Wednesday.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The tug Cleveland & the barge Cleveland Rocks turned around off the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee at 9:00pm Monday night and began unloading at the Sargent dock facing outbound. The pair were outbound the Saginaw River around 4:00am Wednesday morning. Radio Traffic indicated that the Cleveland will be headed up to Stoneport to load stone for Zilwaukee.
Earl W. Oglebay was inbound the Saginaw River Tuesday morning with a split load for the Wirt Stone dock in Essexville and the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw. She passed under the I-75 bridge at Zilwaukee at 3:00pm and gave two salutes to the assembled group of boatnerds photographing the ship. The Oglebay arrived at the Saginaw Wirt dock and began unloading at 3:30pm. They finished unloading at the Saginaw Wirt dock at 8:15pm Tuesday evening and headed upstream to the Sixth Street turning basin to turn around with assistance from the tug Robin Lynn. While outbound, the Oglebay kept in contact with the inbound tug Duluth and her scows and planned to meet just above the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee around 10:00pm Tuesday night. This was the Earl W. Oglebay's first trip to the Saginaw River to unload in as many as three years and her first trip upriver to Saginaw to unload since 2002. This marks the second time that a Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship vessel came up the river to Saginaw to unload in the past 4 days.
The CSL Tadoussac was inbound the Saginaw River early Wednesday morning passing the Front Range Light around 2:45am, headed for the Essroc Cement terminal in Essexville to unload. Tadoussac is expected to finish unloading and be outbound for the lake late Wednesday afternoon.

Toronto -Charlie Gibbons
Cuyahoga was in port with a load of salt, departing early Tuesday morning. CCG Griffon departed in mid-afternoon and returned to Pier 29 later Tuesday evening. Algosteel continues unloading operations at Redpath. The tug Konisberg is still anchored off Toronto Island.

Fairport Harbor - Herb Hubbel
Tuesday morning the barge McKee Sons was in unloading at the Osborne - Fairport Dock. Wednesday morning found the Canadian Olympic loading salt at the Morton Salt mine.

Updates - August 23

News Photo Gallery updated

Ryerson Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 23

On this day in 1818, the first steamer above Niagara Falls, the WALK-IN-THE-WATER, Captain Job Fish, departed Buffalo on her maiden voyage. The 29 passengers paid a fare of $24 and arrived at Detroit in 44 hours and 10 minutes.

On August 23, 1955, as part of the year-long centennial celebration of the opening of the Soo locks in 1855, an open house was held aboard the Pittsburgh steamer JOHN G MUNSON. A total of 10,563 individuals toured the MUNSON while she was tied up at Detroit.

On 23 August 1887, GESINE (wooden schooner, 99 gross tons, built in 1853, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin) was carrying lumber in a storm on Lake Michigan. She was shoved up against the breakwater at Michigan City, Indiana and pounded to pieces. The crew and Capt. C. Anderson jumped overboard and clung to the breakwater pilings until rescued.

The GEMINI sailed on her maiden voyage August 23, 1978, from the shipyard to load fuel oil at Baytown, Texas, for delivery at Detroit, Michigan. Sold Canadian and renamed b.) ALGOSAR in 2005.

The wooden-hulled steamer AURORA was launched on August 23, 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio by Murphy & Miller Shipyard for J. J. Corrigan of Cleveland, Ohio.

On August 23, 1979, KINSMAN ENTERPRISE, a.) NORMAN B REAM was towed out of the Frog Pond in Toledo, Ohio, having escaped the scrapper's torch, and sold to the Port Huron Seaway Terminal to be used as a storage barge.

On 23 August 1887, CLARA (2-mast, wooden scow-schooner) was carrying a load of hardwood lumber bound from Manistee, Michigan for Chicago, Ilinois when she was caught in a storm and capsized. Her hull later washed ashore upside-down near Miller's Station, Indiana.

August 23, 1901 - The PERE MARQUETTE 17 arrived Ludington, Michigan on her maiden voyage with Captain Peter Kilty in command.

On 23 August 1875, PERSIAN (wooden propeller freighter, 1,630 tons, built in 1874, at Cleveland, Ohio) caught fire off Long Point on Lake Erie. The propeller EMPIRE STATE came alongside and tried to put out the fire with streams of water from her hose, but when this failed, she took PERSIAN in tow in an attempt to get her to shore. This too failed when the tow line burned through. PERSIAN burned to the waterline and sank 10 miles from land in about 30 fathoms of water. No lives were lost.

On 23 August 1900, ARGONAUT (wooden propeller freighter, 213 foot, 1,119 gross tons, built in 1873, at Detroit, Michigan) was raised by an expensive salvage operation at the Escanaba ore dock where she had previously sunk. She lasted another six years.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember seriesThis is a small sample, the books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

2nd Annual Port Huron Transportation memorabilia Show Announced

8/22 - The Port Huron Museum will host this annual event, in conjunction with Acheson Ventures and the Lake Huron Lore Society. The show will take place at the Port Huron Seaway Terminal on Saturday, October 21, 2006, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The show will feature artifacts, pictures, books, postcards, art, timetables, lanterns and license plates. There will be no toys, model trains or diecast cars.

Persons interested in exhibition space, or additional information, should contact T. J. Gaffney at the Port Huron Museum 810-982-0891, ext. 16, or by email at tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

Port Reports - August 22

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The Wisconsin and Michigan Steamship Company owned, Lower Lakes Towing operated, David Z. Norton came in bow first mid-afternoon Monday with a load of coal for the BLP Sims #3 plant on Harbor Island. It was still unloading at 5:30pm.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The tug Cleveland & the barge Cleveland Rocks were inbound the Saginaw River early Monday evening, headed upriver to unload at the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee. The pair are expected to turn around off the Sargent dock and be outbound for the lake around 4:00am Tuesday morning. The pair told the tug Duluth that they will be making runs from Stoneport to Zilwaukee for the next 3 weeks.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The tug Kenteau and spud barge Pitts Carillon, which have been in port for some time, departed early Monday morning. English River departed around 3:00 pm. Algosteel continues unloading at Redpath. CCG Griffon remained at Pier 28 Monday.

Updates - August 22

News Photo Gallery updated

Ryerson Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 22

On 22 August 1898, the schooner FANNY CAMPBELL (wooden schooner, 404 tons, built in 1868, at St. Catharines, Ontario) ran ashore near Johnston's harbor in Georgian Bay. She was sailing light on her way for a load of cordwood.

The ALGOPORT left Collingwood Ontario, August 22, 1979, on her maiden voyage for Calcite, Michigan to load limestone bound for Spragge, Ontario.

The R L IRELAND (Hull#62) was launched August 22, 1903, at Chicago, Illinois by Chicago Ship Building Co. for the Gilchrist Transportation Co. Renamed b.) SIRIUS in 1913, and c.) ONTADOC in 1926.

The ENDERS M VOORHEES was towed out of Duluth, Minnesota on August 22, 1987, by the tugs AVENGER IV and CHIPPEWA, and was the first of the 'Supers' towed off the Lakes for scrap.

The ROGER M KYES sailed on her maiden voyage on August 22,1973, from Toledo, Ohio to load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan. She was built under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. This program allowed U.S. shipping companies to construct new vessels or to modernize their existing fleet by government guaranteed financing and tax deferred benefits. The KYES was the second of ten ships launched for American Steamship but the first to enter service under this arrangement. The total cost of the ten ships was more than $250 million. Renamed b.) ADAM E CORNELIUS in 1989.

On 22 August 1863, WILLIAM S BULL (wooden propeller steam tug, 16 tons, built in 1861, at Buffalo, New York) waterlogged and went down in a storm 40 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania. She was in company of the tug G W GARDNER and the canal boat M E PAINE, who saved her crew.

On 22 August 1876, the Canadian schooner LAUREL sank off Big Sandy Creek on Lake Ontario. The crew made it to shore in the yawl. The LAUREL was bound from Kingston, Ontario to Charlotte, New York with iron ore.

On 22 August 1900, SPECULAR (wooden propeller freighter, 264 foot, 1,742 gross tons, built in 1882, at Cleveland, Ohio) was carrying iron ore when she was a "hit & run" victim by the steamer DENVER at 2:00 a.m. and sank in 6 minutes in the Pelee Passage on Lake Erie. Fifteen of her crew abandoned in her yawl and were saved. The remaining five scrambled up into the rigging and clung there until they were rescued four hours later by the steamer MARITANA and brought to Detroit. Salvagers worked on the wreck continuously until they gave up on 28 September. Wreck lies 3.16 miles SE from Pelee Passage light. She was owned by Republic Iron Co. of Cleveland.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample. The books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Port Reports - August 21

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Friday afternoon had the Federal Kushiro departing at 2:30 pm. followed by the Halifax at 4:00 pm.
Saturday, the CSL Tadoussac departed Stelco at 7:00 am bound for Picton Ontario in ballast. The Spruceglen arrived at 2:00 pm with gypsum from Point Tupper Nova Scotia.
The saltie BBC England departed from Pier 26 at 4:00 pm.and the CSL Niagara arrived at 6:00 pm.
Sunday had the Canadian Miner arriving at 10:00 am with iron ore pellets for Dofasco from Port Cartier. The CSL Niagara departed at 10:00 am. The tug Avenger IV and barge PML 9000 arrived at 11:00am.The tug Salvor and barge Lambert's Spirit arrived at 7:30 pm.

Lorain - Dave Wobser
Edward L. Ryerson arrived at the Lorain piers at 11:15 am Sunday and moved up the Black River to the Jonick Dock. She was safely secured and unloading was beginning by 2:00 pm. Three Manitowoc track cranes are doing the unloading with clamshell buckets. Unloading is estimated to take 50 hours.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The Wolverine was outbound the Saginaw River late Friday night.
The tug Rebecca Lynn and the tank barge A-410 were also outbound late Friday night, departing from the Bit-Mat dock in Essexville, bound for Indiana Harbor
The Calumet was inbound the Saginaw River early Sunday morning calling on the Saginaw Wirt dock to unload. This was the Calumet's second trip to the Saginaw River in the past two days. The Calumet finished unloading at the Saginaw Wirt dock at 12:45pm Sunday afternoon and headed upriver to turn at the Sixth Street turning basin. With assistance from the tug Robin Lynn, the Calumet made the turn around in the Sixth Street turning basin and was outbound for the lake by 2:00pm Sunday afternoon.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
On Sunday ocean bulker Federal Sakura was at anchor in Milwaukee's outer harbor, on the hook not far from the municipal docks on Jones Island.
American Mariner delivered coal to the Greenfield Avenue dock run by WE Energies, departing about 9:30 PM.
Cruise vessel Nantucket Clipper continued at the heavy lift dock in the inner harbor, apparently remaining until the conclusion of Irish Fest.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The Coast Guard buoy tender Griffon arrived in port Sunday, followed shortly thereafter by Algosteel arriving with a cargo of sugar for Redpath.
English River arrived in port later in the afternoon.
The vessel Konisberg has been anchored off Toronto since last Friday.

Updates - August 21

News Photo Gallery updated

New Ryerson Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 21

August 21, 1996 - The former U. S. Corps of Engineers tug MARQUETTE was down bound past Detroit on her delivery trip to her new owners based in Key West, Florida. Renamed MONA LARUE in 1997, she is no longer in documentation.

At 7:10 p.m. on 21 August 1901, the whaleback steamer ALEXANDER MC DOUGALL (steel propeller modified whaleback freighter, 413 foot, 3,686 gross tons, built in 1898, at W. Superior, Wisconsin) ran into and cut in two the tug GEORGE STAUBER (wooden propeller tug, 55 foot, 43 gross tons, built in 1883, at Buffalo, New York) in the rapids at the mouth of the St. Clair River. The STAUBER sank immediately in about 60 feet of water. No lives were lost. The steam barge IDA assisted in retrieving people in the water. The MC DOUGALL did not stop.

The BUFFALO's sea trials were conducted from August 21 through August 24, 1978.

The GEORGE A STINSON was christened at Detroit, Michigan on August 21, 1978.

The CEDARGLEN, a.) WILLIAM C ATWATER arrived under tow at Port Maitland, Ontario on August 21, 1994, where she was scrapped.

THE HARVESTER cleared Lorain, Ohio, August 21, 1911, on her maiden voyage loaded with coal for Duluth, Minnesota.

IMPERIAL QUEBEC (Hull#161) was launched August 21, 1957, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Imperial Oil Ltd.

The KINSMAN INDEPENDENT a.) WILLIAM B KERR, encountered steering problems downbound at the Rock Cut in the St. Marys River on August 21, 1973. She avoided hitting the stone embankments but ran aground after clearing the cut. The damage sustained in this grounding ended her career.

Cleveland Tanlers VENUS was sold to Acme Metals Inc. and was towed to Ashtabula, Ohio on August 21, 1975, where she was broken up in 1976.

On August 21, 1971, the CHARLES DICK severed two underwater cables in the Maumee River, cutting off power to east Toledo and the Cherry Street Bridge. Massive traffic jams developed on Toledo's streets.

The graceful schooner HUNTER SAVIDGE was launched on August 21, 1879, by the Grand Haven Ship Building Company.

On 21 August 1856, CHARTER (wooden, propeller vessel, 132 foot, 197 tons, built in 1849, at Huron, Ohio as a sidewheeler), was bound from Cleveland for Buffalo with flour, oats and rye. She swamped and sank in a storm 6 miles above Fairport, Ohio. By the end of August, she had been damaged beyond repair but her machinery was recovered as she lay in relatively shallow water.

On 21 August 1861, BANSHEE (wooden propeller freighter, 119 foot, 166 tons, built in 1852, at Portsmouth, Ontario, named HERO in 1860-61) was carrying wheat, flour and butter to Montreal when her engine failed (broken shaft) and she was helpless in a storm on Lake Ontario. She foundered near Timber Island on Lake Ontario. One passenger died, but the crew of 10 made it to Timber Island. She was owned by Howard & Rowe of Quebec.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Lake Huron Lore Society, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample. The books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Edward L. Ryerson Heads for Lorain

8/20 - Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday night the Edward L. Ryerson entered the St. Clair River downbound. This trip marks the first time the Ryerson has visited the lower lakes since 1998.

The Ryerson is downbound loaded with Taconite from Superior, WI. for Lorain, Oh. It is expected to arrive in Lorain shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday morning and reach the dock around noon.

Michigan Shipwreck Group Says It Has Found the Hennepin

8/20 - Holland, Mich. - A group dedicated to finding and documenting shipwrecks in Michigan's waters said Friday it found the well-preserved remains of the historic vessel Hennepin and two other ships at the bottom of Lake Michigan. The 208-foot-long Hennepin was a steamer built in Milwaukee in 1888. It was later transformed into the Great Lakes' first self-unloader, a transport ship with an A-shaped crane and a series of conveyors that make it faster and easier to unload cargo.

"This is the prototype for about all of the Great Lakes freighters in use today," said Bob Vande Vusse, a member of Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates.

After being in service for nearly 40 years, the Hennepin was in poor condition and being used as a tow barge when, during a voyage from Chicago to Grand Haven, it sank during a storm on Aug. 18, 1927. The captain and his 13-member crew worked for about four hours to save the vessel but ended up having to abandon ship and board the tugboat that had been towing it. Everyone safely escaped the Hennepin.

Members of the Holland-based shipwreck group said they located the ship upright in 230 feet of water off South Haven earlier this year. Before it was found, the vessel had been on the group's "most wanted" list of its six most-sought-after shipwrecks. The group also found a modern barge in 200 feet of water off Port Sheldon in Ottawa County and an unidentified, intact, wooden schooner in more than 250 feet of water off Saugatuck.

Co-founder Valerie van Heest said her group will try to get the Hennepin shipwreck added to the National Register of Historic Places. Only 10 of the many known wrecks in Michigan waters now have that distinction, she said during a news conference at City Hall. Even though it has a wooden hull, the Hennepin is in "pristine condition," said group member Craig Rich. The cold, fresh water of the Great Lakes helps preserve shipwrecks much longer than wrecks found in warm and salty ocean water.

The all-volunteer group uses research materials to select the most likely locations for wrecks, then employs sonar equipment to scan the lake bottoms. Divers confirm the finds. When wrecks are located, members promote the locations to divers who might be interested in checking them out. They say the state's west coast is becoming increasingly popular with divers because of the growing number of wrecks just off the coast. "West Michigan is beginning to become a burgeoning sport diving and technical (deep-water) diving area," van Heest said.

To date, the organization, which was founded in 2001, has covered about 230 square miles of Lake Michigan looking for evidence of wrecks. Other discoveries include the luxury passenger steamer H.C. Akeley, the passenger steamer SS Michigan and the car ferry Ann Arbor No. 5.

From the Michigan Newspaper Network

Port Reports - August 20

Milwaukee - John N. Vogel
On Saturday, the Federal Sakura was just docking at one of the municipal piers in the outer harbor. The Sakura is a 624-foot bulk carrier that is a new addition to the FedNav fleet. It was "on order" in 2005.

Owen Sound - Ed. Saliwonchyk
Canadian Leader arrived shortly after noon, on Saturday, in Owen Sound from Hamilton. She is currently moored on the east wall waiting for the Saginaw to finish unloading at the Great Lakes Grain Elevators. Canadian Leader will then move over to load grain for Quebec City. This is Canadian Leader's first trip into Owen Sound. Also in the harbour today is the Canadian Coast Guard's Providence Bay.

Updates - August 20

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 20

On 20 August 1881, MICHIGAN (Hull#48), (iron propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 215 foot, 1,183 tons) was launched by the Detroit Dry Dock Company at Wyandotte, Michigan for the Goodrich Transportation Company. She was then taken to Milwaukee for fitting out and completion. She cost $159,212. She was designed by Frank E. Kirby especially for cross-lake winter service.

The INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORT arrived at Toronto, Ontario, August 20, 1969, on her maiden voyage with fuel oil.

The R BRUCE ANGUS in tandem tow with the ULS steamer GORDON C LEITCH behind the tug IRVING CEDAR arrived at Setœbal, Portugal August 20, 1985, where they were broken up. The a.) IRVING CEDAR is now Purvis MarineÕs c.) RELIANCE.

August 20, 1920, the WILLIS L KING, up bound light in Whitefish Bay, was in collision with and sank the down bound Steel Trust steamer SUPERIOR CITY. The SUPERIOR CITY was struck nearly amidships and when the cold water reached her engine room, her boilers exploded. She sank immediately with 29 of her 33 crew members aboard.

The US266029, a.) WILLIAM CLAY FORD departed her lay-up berth at the Rouge slip on August 20, 1986, in tow of Gaelic tugs and she was taken to Detroit Marine Terminals on the Rouge River, where her pilothouse was removed to be displayed at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Detroit's Belle Isle.

The TEXACO WARRIOR of 1930, punctured her tank in a grounding accident in the Welland Canal near Bridge 10 on August 20, 1964.

On 20 August 1899, the HUNTER SAVIDGE (2-mast, wooden schooner, 117 foot, 152 gross tons, built in 1879, at Grand Haven, Michigan) capsized in a squall or tornado in Lake Huron. 5 survivors, including Capt. Fred Sharpstein, were rescued from the overturned schooner by the steamer ALEX MC VITTIE. However, 5 lost their lives, including the captain's wife and their son, the ship's owner's wife and daughter, and the Mate. Capt. Sharpstein patrolled the beaches looking for the bodies of his wife and son for months but they were never found. The wreck was found in 1987, near Grindstone City, Michigan.

On 20 August 1852, ATLANTIC (wooden sidewheeler, 267 foot, 1,155 tons, built in 1849, at Detroit, Michigan) was loaded with immigrants when she collided with the propeller freighter OGDENSBURG and quickly sank south of Long Point on Lake Erie at about 2:30 a.m. Of the 600 on board, estimates of death range from 150 to 250. Numerous salvage attempts have been made through the years up through 1989, since there were supposed to be valuables on board when she went down.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Randy Johnson, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample. The books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Roger Blough Update

8/19 - GLF is reporting that the Roger Blough is scheduled to leave Sturgeon Bay late Sunday or early Monday, and will head for Duluth to load.

Port Reports - August 19

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
CSL Niagara was unloading coal at the Gateway Terminal on Friday morning.
Karen Andrie was headed for the Black Rock Canal at 9:00 pm Friday
American Fortitude arrived about 7:45 pm headed for General Mills.

Goderich - Dale Baechler
After a short visit to unload into the elevators, Saginaw departed early Friday afternoon for Owen Sound. Algorail backed into the Sifto Salt dock at 3:00 pm to load.

Detroit - Angie Williams
The tug Olive L. Moore passed Detroit headed for Erie PA on Friday. Radio traffic inidicated that she will be bringing out the barge (Lewis J. Kuber, Ex-Buckeye) and loading at Marblehead for Marine City.


Marquette - Rod Burdick
On a humid Friday, Tug/Barge Joyce L. VanEnkevort/Great Lakes Trader unloaded limestone at the Lower Harbor Shiras Dock.

Saginaw River - Gordy Garris
The Wolverine departed from the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City at 1:00am Thursday morning, turned around off the dock and was outbound to Lake Huron. Radio Traffic indicated that the she was bound for Stoneport to load for Saginaw. She loaded at Stoneport on Thursday and was headed back up to the Saginaw Bay by Thursday night.
The Calumet was inbound the Saginaw River late Thursday night with a split load for the Burroughs dock and the Buena Vista Stone dock in Zilwaukee. The Calumet finished unloading at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee at 10:30am Friday morning and continued upriver to finish unloading her cargo. The Calumet finished unloading at the Buena Vista Stone dock in Zilwaukee around 12:30pm Friday afternoon and headed upstream to the Sixth Street turning basin to turn around with assistance from the tug Robin Lynn. She was headed outbound for the lake by 2:15pm. The Calumet found a high spot in the channel just past the Sixth Street turning basin and was assisted off of the high spot by the tug Robin Lynn and was able to continue outbound by 2:30pm. The Calumet was held above the Veteran's Memorial bridge for Bay City "Bridge Hours" and was allowed to continue outbound at 5:30pm Friday afternoon. Radio Traffic indicated that the Calumet is bound for Stoneport to load for Saginaw.
The Wolverine was back again Friday morning, inbound passing the Airport turning basin around 10:45am headed for the Saginaw Wirt dock to unload. This was the Wolverine's third straight trip to the Saginaw River in the past 5 days. The Wolverine arrived at the Saginaw Wirt dock just before noon on Friday and began unloading a few hundred yards ahead of the Calumet which was unloading at the Buena Vista Stone dock. The Wolverine finished unloading at the Saginaw Wirt dock around 5:30pm Friday afternoon and headed upstream to turn around in the Sixth Street turning basin. With assistance from the tug Robin Lynn, the Wolverine made the turn around in the Sixth Street turning basin and was outbound for the lake by 7:45pm Friday evening. The Wolverine kept in contact with the inbound tug Duluth and her barges and they decided to pass each other at the Airport turning basin, Friday night. This was the Wolverine's first trip up to Saginaw since 2002.
The tug Duluth was inbound the Saginaw River early Friday afternoon with the barges 120 & 121 bound for the Sixth Street turning basin in Saginaw. She dropped off the barges 120 & 121 with the Dredge Sue and headed back outbound to the Pump-Out Island (Light Tug) around 3:00pm Friday afternoon. The tug Duluth was back inbound from the Pump-Out Island Friday night with two scows bound for Saginaw. The Duluth stopped at the Airport turning basin for about an hour to let the outbound Wolverine clear before continuing upriver, at 9:30pm Friday night.

Updates - August 19

News Photo Gallery updated

and more News Photo Gallery updates

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 19

On this day in 1865, the PEWABIC, Captain George P. Mc Kay, was down bound on Lake Huron when she was rammed by her sister ship, METEOR. The PEWABIC sank with an estimated loss of 125 lives and a cargo of copper ingots, ore and hides valued at $500,000.

On 19 August 1902, OMAR D CONGER (wooden propeller ferry, 92 foot, 200 gross tons, built in 1887, at Port Huron, Michigan) burned at Port Huron, Michigan. The entire upper works burned and the lower deck was also badly burned. She had burned on 20 June 1901, and had been rebuilt over the winter. She was again rebuilt and lasted until 1922.

The JOHN E F MISENER of 1951, grounded near Hard Island on the St. Lawrence River August 19, 1966, suffering bow damage.

The ROBERT S PIERSON was sold to P & H. Shipping Ltd. on August 19, 1982, and renamed e) SPRUCEGLEN.

The package freighter ARIZONA was launched on August 19, 1868, at Cleveland, Ohio by Quayle & Martin for E.T. & J.C. Evans of Buffalo, New York.

On August 19, 1915, the HENRY PEDWELL burned at Wiarton, Ontario.

The CARDINAL, a.) WINDSOLITE, was towed to the Strathearne Terminal in Hamilton, Ontario on August 19, 1974, for scrapping.

On 19 August 1909, CITY OF GREEN BAY (wooden propeller passenger/package freight, 134 foot, 257 gross tons, built in 1880, at Fort Howard, Wisconsin as the sidewheeler M C HAWLEY) caught fire while crossing Saginaw Bay, burned to the waterline and sank.. This wasn't her first experience with this type of accident since on 17 November 1887, she had burned to a "total loss" in Lake Michigan.

August 19, 1930 - The ANN ARBOR NO 7 towed the disabled tug FRED C GREILING from Frankfort, Michigan to Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co.

The propeller QUEBEC was launched at the Chisholm & Simpson yard at Chatham, Ontario on 19 August 1874. She was built for the Beatty Line and designed to run between Sarnia and Duluth.

Data from: Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Max Hanley, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series. This is a small sample. The books include many other vessels with a much more detailed history.

Reward Offered in Theft of Bell from the City of Detroit

8/18 - Lansing - Michigan Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officials today announced a $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the removal of the ship's bell from the City of Detroit shipwreck located in Lake Huron.

On July 30, local divers informed Conservation Officer Scott Brown that they had returned from diving on the shipwreck City of Detroit and wanted to report the bell missing.

Built in 1866, the wooden steamship worked the Great Lakes for only seven years, hauling mostly flour and wheat from Wisconsin to Ontario. In December 1873, a late-season storm sent the City of Detroit to the bottom of Lake Huron near Saginaw Bay.

After resting on the bottom unknown for 125 years, the shipwreck was discovered in June 1999 by David Trotter and his crew aboard the Obsession II. Since then, the City of Detroit has been a popular recreational dive site. Clearly visible on one side of her bell is the name, "NOVELTY WORKS," and the other side states "NEW YORK 1844."

Taking of artifacts from the bottomlands of the state without permit is a violation of state law. Under the Aboriginal Records and Antiquities Part 761, punishment of up to $2,000 or imprisonment of one year can be ordered by the courts.

The bell has enormous historical value and shipwreck antiquity thefts are difficult criminal cases to develop and prosecute, and most begin with tips from the public. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the DNR's Report All Poaching hotline at (800) 292-7800 or Sgt. Jann E. Gallagher at the Law Enforcement Bay City District Office at (989) 684-9141.

From Michigan DNR Newswire

A Floating Museum:
Milwaukee Clipper's makeover project adds big ship models

8/18 - Muskegon - The volunteers toiling long hours restoring the former car ferry Milwaukee Clipper have always looked upon their effort as more than preserving a historic ship. What they have envisioned from the beginning is creating a Muskegon-based Great Lakes shipping museum aboard a historic ship that would be financially supported by events, receptions and conventions held on board.

While the days the Clipper can be used as a floating banquet hall and convention center are probably still years off, the SS Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Inc. has made progress in establishing a maritime museum within the 102-year-old hull. While the Clipper always has had a small museum on board, volunteers this year have created a new exhibition hall now being used to display eight detailed Great Lakes ship models that are on loan. And plans are progressing to create a resource center filled with Great Lakes shipping artifacts and documents.

"We're now getting into the areas we've always wanted to do," said Clipper President Ray Hilt. "Our long-term goal always has been to have a museum ship, but a museum ship that can support itself. The first opportunity we get, we would like to host wedding receptions, class reunions, group meetings. That way the Clipper can support itself while the rest of the ship can focus on history."

The newly created exhibition hall inside the ship, located adjacent to the current museum, opened this spring and can be viewed for free by the general public. Volunteers painted the hall in the colors of the 678-foot-long Wilfred Sykes, a freighter that makes frequent visits to Muskegon and is one of Hilt's favorites. The hall's display features eight ship models created by Ken Jilbert of Manistee, including famed Great Lakes freighters, a 19th century warship and two ships involved in lake tragedies, the Eastland and the Edmund Fitzger