Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping News Archive

Rand Logistics Acquires Two Voyageur Vessels

8/31 - On Tuesday Rand Logistics announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lower Lakes Towing, Ltd., acquired two conventional bulk carriers from the Voyageur group of companies for 25 million CAD (approximately U.S. $23.7 million). Additionally, the Company entered into a contract of affreightment with Voyageur for the exclusive use of a third vessel, and secured an option to acquire this vessel for 5 million CAD.

Lower Lakes management has negotiated or assumed long-term contracts with premier grain and other companies that are both current and new customers for these vessels. The majority of the cargo to be carried on the vessels will be grain. Voyageur will continue to provide all crew manning on the three vessels.

The acquisition was financed through an 18 million CAD (approximately U.S. $17.1 million) term loan increase from GE Canada Finance Holding Company. The balance of the purchase price was paid with Rand cash on hand, including cash raised as a result of recent exercises of Rand warrants.

Scott Bravener, President and CEO of Lower Lakes Towing, commented, “These vessels further diversify our revenue and customer base, and substantially expand our capacity in a market where demand exceeds supply. The customer contracts we have signed cover the full capacity of the two acquired vessels, and the majority of the third vessel. We are transferring a portion of our self-unloading business to these vessels, enabling us to pursue additional self-unloading cargo opportunities and maximize the utilization rates on the newly added vessels. The vessels also enable further penetration of our existing grain customers. Additionally, we are fortunate to be purchasing these vessels as they enter the most profitable months of the grain shipping season due to the seasonality of harvesting.”

Laurence S. Levy, Chairman and CEO of Rand Logistics, stated, “We are very enthusiastic about this acquisition and the benefits it brings to Rand. In addition to diversifying the Company’s customer base, this acquisition leverages our existing infrastructure and should be immediately accretive to earnings. This investment further validates our strategy of building our platform through opportunistic, in-market, ‘tuck-in’ acquisitions.”

The vessels are Canadian flagged, and operate in the conventional dry bulk trades on the Great Lakes. The two acquired vessels are 642 feet and 730 feet in length and were built in 1952 and 1983, respectively. The third vessel measures 609 feet in length and was built in 1967. The Company believes that the vessels have been well maintained and have long remaining economic life spans.

Rand Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates a fleet of eleven self-unloading bulk carriers, including nine River Class vessels and one River Class self-unloading tug/barge unit, and three conventional bulk carriers. The Company is the only carrier able to offer significant domestic port-to-port services in both Canada and the U.S. on the Great Lakes. The Company's vessels operate under the U.S. Jones Act - which dictates that only ships that are built, crewed and owned by U.S. citizens can operate between U.S. ports - and the Canada Marine Act - which requires Canadian commissioned ships to operate between Canadian ports.

From Business Wire

Ed Note: The Voyageur Independent is 642', the Voyageur Pioneer is 730', and the Maritime Trader is 607-feet

Port Reports - August 31

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Vessel action in the Twin Ports early Thursday centered on salties visiting grain elevators that haven’t seen much action this season. Federal Kivalina was loading at AGP in Duluth while Federal Shimanto was loading at Peavey in Superior.
Upriver at Hallett 5, Federal Mattawa was loading bentonite.
Later in the day, Beluga Constitution was expected to call at the port terminal to unload wind turbines, and John D. Leitch and Mesabi Miner were expected at Midwest Energy Terminal. Presque Isle was due at CN/DMIR ore dock to unload limestone and load taconite pellets.

Goderich - Dale Baechler
Algorail arrived Wednesday night and after an all night power outage is now loading at Sifto Salt.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The passenger vessel Spirit of Nantucket arrived early this morning and tied up at Pier 51 South - the old fast ferry terminal.

Hamilton/Bronte - Eric Holmes
Thursday afternoon saw the Canadian Miner arrive, in Hamilton, at 2 p.m. going to Dofasco with iron ore pellets.
Atlantic Huron arrived at 2:30 p.m. going to Stelco with iron ore pellets. The Dean Construction tug Annie M Dean and a work barge arrived at 5 p.m. from the Bronte worksite.
Vega Desgagnes arrived at the Petro Canada Pier in Bronte at 5 p.m. Frontenac arrived at 6 p.m. going to Stelco with iron ore pellets.

Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain
The last few days all the cement carriers have been in and out of port. Early Wednesday morning the Samuel de Champlain/barge Innovation was at Lafarge.
Arriving next around 9 a.m. was the Steamer Alpena. It tied up under the silos to load for Green Bay, WI.
The G. L. Ostrander/barge Integrity came in on Thursday afternoon.

Kingsville - Erich Zuschlag
The Saginaw paid a visit to Kingsville Harbour Thursday morning and had some company in the harbour as the Jiimaan was loading for her morning trip to Pelee Island.

Neighbors fear amount of dust new limestone mill may create

8/31 - Lorain - Neighbors near a potential site for a limestone grinding mill and processing facility in Lorain say they are concerned about potential dust that could impact the area. Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton wants to build a limestone grinding mill and processing facility in Lorain on vacant land at 2001 Henderson Drive on the east side of the Black River.
The company said it will do everything it needs to do to comply with all laws and environmental regulations regarding dust emissions. That's no consolation to some neighbors. ''I would hate it (the facility),'' said Rose Jones, who lives nearby at 930 H St.

Residences at the intersection of Idaho Avenue and H Street, near Jones' home, would be some of the closest houses to the potential facility, about 1,200 feet away, said Chris Bauer, a planner in the city's Community Development Department. The facility would be about 1,500 feet from the homes on the southern part of Lehigh Avenue, Bauer said.

Jones said she's concerned about dust that could be created, especially because she and her 17-year-old daughter have asthma. She said she's also concerned about increased truck traffic. ''We have way too many trucks already,'' Jones said.

John Volak, 60, a Lorain firefighter who lives nearby at 904 H St., said he's also concerned about dust. ''That's quite a ways away,'' Volak said. ''But on a windy day, that (dust) could go all over the city.''

Limestone processing facilities can create dust said Marti Sinclair, air committee chair for environmental group The Sierra Club, and program director for the Environmental Community Organization in Cincinnati. Sinclair said dust could be a serious problem ''when you live with that dust and have it on your car, in your kiddy pool, in the summer time if you open your windows on a nice day, it gets all over your furniture.''

Michael Minkel, senior vice president of operations for Oglebay Norton said the company will meet all environmental standards it is legally required to. ''We would never operate any of our facilities anywhere, including Lorain, that did not comply with the EPA guidelines,'' Minkel said.

Oglebay Norton has received a permit for dust from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Spokesman Mike Settles said potential dust could come from piles of limestone. The permit the company received allows no more than three minutes of ''visible emissions'' -- essentially dust blowing off the piles -- per 60-minute period.

Ways to cut down on dust include watering the piles down, enclosing the piles or creating a barrier against the wind or lowering the height of the piles, Settles said.
''Yes, there are things we can do if required. We can put a spray system on or things like that,'' Minkel said, however, he noted the company is not required to install a spray system.

When asked whether the company would go beyond the legal requirements to cut down on dust, Minkel was noncommittal. ''We will do everything that we need to do, everything we need to comply with our air quality permit,'' he said. He added that the firm would be willing to meet with interested citizens to explain more about the project. ''We are going to do what we need to have the facility be allowed to be built in the city of Lorain,'' he said. ''We'll address whatever issues we are required to do legally or environmentally required to do.''

Oglebay Norton operates many limestone quarries and lime and limestone processing plants. The company mines about 28 million tons of limestone a year and industrial sand, according to Minkel. The facility in Lorain would have the limestone brought in from Michigan via ships.

The city's zoning board of appeals meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday to consider the company's application. City Council would also have to approve that the facility is consistent with the city's Colorado Avenue Urban Renewal Plan.

From the Lorain Morning Journal

Lake Superior outflow set for September
New record low level for August

8/31 - Detroit - The International Lake Superior Board of Control, under authority granted to it by the International Joint Commission, has set the Lake Superior outflow to 1,560 cubic metres per second (m3/s) (55.1 thousand cubic feet per second (tcfs)) for the month of September. This is the outflow recommended by the regulation plan for the month of September and is the same as the August outflow.

The September outflow will be released by discharging about 1,446 m3/s (51.1 tcfs) through the three hydropower plants and passing most of the remaining flow through the control structure at the head of the St. Marys rapids. The gate setting of the control structure will be maintained at the existing setting equivalent to one-half gate open (four gates open 20 cm, or about 8 inches each). There will be no change to the setting of Gate #1 that supplies the Fishery Remedial Works.

This past month the water supplies to both the Lake Superior and Lakes Michigan-Huron basins were below their long-term averages for August. The level of Lake Superior remains below its chart datum level. It is estimated that a new record low monthly mean level will be set for August at 183.01 m (600.43 feet)(the previous record low August level was 183.02 m (600.46 feet) set in 1926).

Note that this is NOT an all-time record low (which is 182.72 m set in April 1926; approximately 28 cm (11 inches) almost a foot lower than the current level). Also, the estimated beginning-of-September level of 183.00 m (600.39 feet) is also a new record (the previous record was 183.06 m (600.59 feet), also set in 1926).

The level of Lake Superior is expected to fall slightly in September, and Lakes Michigan-Huron is also expected to decline. Currently, the Lake Superior
level is about 55 cm (22 inches) below its long-term average beginning-of-September level, and is 24 cm (9 inches) below the level recorded a year ago.

This past month the level of Lake Superior fell 2 cm (1 inch), while on average the level of this lake rises by 1 cm (1/2 inch) in August. The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron declined 4 cm (1 inch) this August, its usual decline in August. The level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is now about 55 cm (22 inches) below its long-term average
beginning-of-August level and is 8 cm (3 inches) lower than it was a year ago.

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

USACE News Release

USCG reminds boaters to be safe this Labor Day weekend

8/31 - Cleveland - Labor Day weekend always Comes with two things: increase in boater traffic on the Great Lakes and the annual reminder by Coast Guard for all boaters to be safe and responsible when on the water.
The Ninth Coast Guard District, who will be working with other federal, state and local agencies this weekend, reminds all boaters to:

• Get a vessel safety check or take a boating safety course. Both are conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and/or the U.S. Power Squadron, and will prepare your vessel for the boating season and educate the boat operator.
• File a "float plan" with a family member or friend who is not boating with you; and stick to the plan. The world's only lifesaving device on paper can assist the Coast Guard with a search if you are in distress.
• Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or personal floatation device at "all" times. The law requires you to have them on board; but the Coast Guard recommends you wear them at all times. The worst time to look for a life jacket is when you are already in distress.
• Have a marine-band radio. If you are in distress, the Coast Guard can be reached on marine band radio channel 16: the distress channel. Use of a cell phone could provide rescuers with a false location of your distressed vessel.
• Have a sound-producing or visual signal device on board your vessel. A horn, whistle, signal mirror or flare can signal rescuers that you are in distress.
• Be vigilant and keep an eye out for (1) your fellow mariners and (2) anything that looks unusual on the water. "If you see something...say something."
• Have a sober operator - don't boat under the influence. Alcohol affects judgment, vision, balance and coordination. The marine environment - motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray - accelerates a drinker's impairment; and decreases coordination, judgment and reaction time.
• Additionally, to those that will not be on vessels but in the water, the Coast Guard reminds the public to:
  swim in designated areas, use the "buddy system" when swimming - never swim alone, watch for boating traffic when swimming, do not consume alcohol before swimming

The public is asked to take these simple precautions to continue to make this a safe boating season.

For information on vessel safety checks, boating safety courses or safe boating practices, contact your local Coast Guard station or the Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (216) 902-6020.

USCG News Release

Lake Huron Lore Society announces public programs at Great Lakes Maritime Center

8/31 - Port Huron - On Saturday, September 22, the Lake Huron Lore Marine Society & the Algonac/Clay Historical Society will present the program "The 75th Anniversary of The of Building of Gar Wood's Miss America X,".

On Saturday, October 13, the program will be "Aboard The Charles C. West, 1940," with Ken Niemi.

Both programs will be presented at the Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point, 51 Water St., Port Huron, Michigan, beginning at 7 pm. The programs are free and open to the public.

Transportation Memorabilia Flea Market announced

8/31 - Port Huron - The annual fall Transportation Memorabilia Flea Market will be held at the Port Huron Seaway Terminal, 2336 Military St., Port Huron, Michigan, beginning at 9 am, on Saturday, October 20.

This flea market will feature Great Lakes marine items, as well as items from other forms of transportation.

This event is sponsored by the Port Huron Museum, Acheson Ventures, and the Lake Huron Lore Marine Society.

phone 810 982-0891

Updates - August 31

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 31

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.

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

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.

Activists board ship in Lake Erie

A police boat arrived shortly after two activists chained themselves to the discharge boom and a third activist suspended herself from the vessel's stern, where they dangled precariously close to the rudder and made movement of the ship impossible. The trio was eventually cut down and hauled away by police to Cayuga, Ontario.

Ontario police Constable Paula Wright confirmed there was a large police presence at the scene and that three people were arrested, although she said the charges were still being sorted out. The Arctic Sunrise later attempted to block the ship's entry into Nanticoke. The captain of the Arctic Sunrise was issued an order under the federal Marine Transportation Security Act shortly after 4 p.m. to leave the area and dock elsewhere.

The dispute was ongoing late Thursday, with about 30 activist crew members and Greenpeace staffers on board the ship, Ms. Higginson said. Allister Paterson of Seaway Marine Transport, which manages the Algomarine for Algoma Central Corp., said the actions of the protesters put them all in serious danger. “You'd have to have a death wish, I think, to do something like that,” Mr. Paterson said of the stunt. Mr. Paterson said he can't understand how the protesters even managed to board the Algomarine. “The ship is 700-plus feet long and they're very high. It's an athletic feat to climb, there's no set of stairs. It's exceptionally dangerous, because if you fall and you go under, you're dead.” Ontario Power Generation spokesman John Earl said the plant notified police, increased security and warned the community in anticipation of the protest. “Of course our concern is that we want to ensure the safe reliable operation of our station — safe for our staff, safe for the community around the station and safe for Ontario consumers so that electricity supply isn't threatened.”

Once the stunt was over the Algomarine proceeded into port to unload its cargo of coal. The Nanticoke station is one four coal-fired electrical plants in Ontario that the government promised to shut down by 2007 ­ a deadline that was later extended to 2014.

Reported by: Philip Nash and Bill Bird

Port Reports - August 30

Lorain - Jim Reagan
The Michipicoten departed Lorain at 8 p.m. August 28 upbound passing the sun setting on Lake Erie. The Edward L. Ryerson departed the Port of Lorain at 7:45 a.m. August 29 backing out through the bascule bridge on the Black River.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
The painting of Canadian Ranger continued August 29. She is expected to depart Toronto on Saturday for Port Weller Dry Dock, where the unloading gantry will be removed in pieces.
Canadian Transport was in with salt this morning and departed this afternoon for the Canal.
Stephen B. Roman remains in port. There was a work raft at her stern and she is ballasted down forward, suggesting propeller repairs.
Olympic Miracle continues unloading at Redpath Sugar dock.

Waukegan holds fast to harbor plan

8/30 - Waukegan -- The City Council ignored the advice of U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk Monday and declined to re-work an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would clear the way for $24 million in federal funds to clean up Waukegan Harbor. The council met in executive session for one hour and 40 minutes to discuss the matter and emerged without comment or taking any action. In a statement released Tuesday, city officials showed no sign of changing course.

The provisions called for the city to withdraw its backing if the state did not provide around $4 million in funding, or if Congress fails to pass a bill that would eliminate industrial use of the harbor by 2012.

"The City Council met in special session last night to discuss the harbor remediation agreement," the statement reads. "Mayor (Richard) Hyde said that no action was necessary because the City Council stands firm in its position. The City cannot understand why the U.S. EPA has refused to sign the remediation agreement as modified by the city."

Last week, the EPA announced it was killing a deal to provide its share of a $36 million harbor clean-up due to the City Council's inclusion of two contingencies in Waukegan's end of the agreement.

Great Lakes National Program Director Gary Gulezian said last week that the contingencies "are not only unnecessary, but they have nothing to do with restoration." He added that the EPA "will not sign a project agreement that contains contingencies other than those that are included in our standard project agreements." The day after the EPA stance was made public, Kirk attempted to broker a deal by calling Waukegan officials and EPA Regional Administrator Mary Gade, setting up a scenario in which the deal would proceed if the city removed its provisions.

In the wake of Monday's inaction by the council, Kirk expressed his disappointment. "I am disappointed that Waukegan's City Council chose to back away from an agreement with the U.S. EPA to clean up Waukegan Harbor," the Highland Park Republican said in a statement released Tuesday. "It is unfortunate that a project paid for with $23.4 million in federal money -- as well as state and county funding -- will not be realized."

But Waukegan officials maintain that a clean-up of PCBs from the inner harbor has to be matched with a plan to ban industrial uses and open up the shoreline for residential development. "The city wants a non-industrial harbor, which is consistent with the Waukegan Downtown and Lakefront Master Plan. The community wants a clean harbor." therefore the City Council expects the federal government to take whatever means are necessary to start the final cleaned-up process."

From the Lake County News-Sun

Full Loads for U.S.-Flag Lakes Fleet in July
Would Have Easily Offset Idled Vessel Capacity

8/30 - Cleveland—The U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet saw its shipments slip 3 percent in July to 11,984,044 net tons.

The decrease can be attributed to three vessels being idled by a labor dispute. However, had the active fleet been able to carry full loads, the 365,000-ton shortfall could have been easily erased. Instead, lack of adequate dredging throughout the system again limited the amount of cargo that was carried.

The dredging crisis and its impacts are perhaps best illustrated by shipments of western coal from Superior, Wisconsin. While the July total – 1,959,003 tons – is one of the better months on record, shipments would have topped 2.2 million tons if the vessels had been able to carry full
loads.

The iron ore trade was similarly impacted. A 1,000-foot-long vessel was able to use only 89 percent of its carrying capacity in July, so the four loads it hauled came up short by 30,000 tons. Through July, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 51.4 million tons, a decrease of 5.6 percent from the
same point in 2006, and only 1.7 percent ahead of the 5-year average for the first half.

Source: Lake Carriers’ Association

Efforts mount to open Buffalo lighthouse to the public
Landmark would be centerpiece of waterfront park

8/30 - Buffalo - The Buffalo lighthouse sits on 31 waterfront acres along Fuhrmann Boulevard that have been off-limits to the public since 9/11.

Still, visitors show up every day at the security gate, hoping for a chance to step into the 174-year-old landmark and enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the city. “They get upset when we won’t let them in,” said a U.S. Coast Guard sentry who asked not to be named. “Their next question is, ‘How do we find our way back to the city?’ We now [hand out] maps.”

While most public attention on developing Buffalo’s waterfront has focused on the historic canal wharf, momentum quietly has been building to allow the public into the difficult-to-access limestone lighthouse and turn the surrounding site into a public waterfront park. The site “provides a magnificent view of the lake and of the Niagara River and the city skyline,” said Julie O’Neill, president of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. “It’s a real regional treasure that’s been isolated and kept from the people.”

O’Neill said she can envision canoes and kayaks being launched from the site, which is across the mouth of the Buffalo River from Erie Basin Marina. The land could also support a range of activities, from recreational sports to a children’s playground and picnic tables. “It’s a gorgeous day, and less than 50 people will be going up this thing this year. It’s ridiculous, really,” said Thomas Johnston, president of the all-volunteer Buffalo Lighthouse Association.

Rep. Brian Higgins and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton have introduced legislation to turn the lighthouse site and adjacent Coast Guard facility into a park. And the Coast Guard, now under the Department of Homeland Security, has indicated its willingness to oblige, claiming the site is too large for its present needs and difficult to maintain.

The area around the lighthouse is another important part of the greenway being developed along the water’s edge, Higgins said. The southern border bumps up against Times Beach Nature Preserve, where 240 species of birds have been recorded since the wetlands opened to the public in August 2004. “I understand this period of heightened security, but this is one of the oldest standing structures in Buffalo. You can’t get to it, and you’re greeted by a fence that says ‘keep out,’ ” Higgins said.

The 1833 lighthouse — one of Buffalo’s oldest structures and one of the lake’s two oldest beacons — was entered onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and designated a city landmark two years later. It’s owned by the Coast Guard, but the Buffalo Lighthouse Association was granted temporary control of the landmark 23 years ago and has spent about $300,000 on restoration and maintenance, including extensive re-grouting. The City of Buffalo spent about $100,000 on a brick path that leads to the lighthouse.

Johnston is eager for the public to have access again. He made that point on a recent day while showing off the expansive views of the city’s skyline and the vast lake — first from the ground and then from the lighthouse. Reaching the top of the octagonal- shaped tower requires climbing 50 winding steps, followed by an additional 24 steps up three successive levels. An opening on the third level allows visitors to step outside the 4-foot-thick walls, while the lantern room, above, contains the lens that is no longer active but is lit, symbolically, at a low level.

At night, the tower is highlighted using light technology developed for the Statue of Liberty centennial restoration. “We’re the Queen City of the Great Lakes. We’re the terminus of the Erie Canal. This is where Buffalo started. So why not have it so the people can go out and learn about it?” Johnston said.

The potential park is now dominated by a series of mostly temporary buildings used by the Coast Guard for maintenance and storage sheds, temporary sleeping quarters and offices, plus parking spaces. About 150 Coast Guard members work there.

Legislation sponsored by Higgins that passed the House Transportation Committee would turn over 20 acres of the site to public use. Clinton’s bill in the Senate would similarly require the Coast Guard to evaluate consolidating and relocating its Buffalo facilities and to present a proposal within a year. “This legislation is a win-win for the City of Buffalo and for the Coast Guard and a vital piece in continuing the momentum towards the waterfront’s economic resurgence,” Clinton said in a statement.

Last year, Coast Guard Rear Adm. John E. Crowley and Capt. Scott J. Ferguson, Buffalo Sector commander, wrote a letter to Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard, recommending consolidation to free up 20 acres for public green space. They cited the Coast Guard’s “timely opportunity” to contribute to the city’s waterfront development.

Other waterfront developments continue to reshape the future of the outer harbor. The nearby Pier restaurant is expected to be demolished within a month. And bids for construction will begin in the fall for a $48 million project designed to transform the disjointed and confusing Fuhrmann Boulevard into a four-lane parkway. A lot of questions will need to be answered, such as whether construction of a lift bridge to link the inner and outer harbors will be pursued. Money to convert the lighthouse site into a park also will have to be identified, as well as a decision made on what entity would have authority over the land.

But looking up at the lighthouse, not far from assorted artifacts and a row of large, red and green navigation buoys that the Coast Guard puts into the water, Johnston said he was encouraged by the political headway. “If you ever wanted to do something symbolically for Buffalo, this would be it,” he said. “That’s our history right there, that baby."

From the Buffalo News

Cottagers ask for help with lake levels

8/30 - Owen Sound - An American couple with a cottage at Red Bay appeared before South Bruce Peninsula council this week with an urgent appeal for the municipality to do whatever it can to help "fix the hole in the bucket" that's draining Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and the other upper Great Lakes.

The "hole in the bucket" Mike Bolo and his wife Mary Jane were referring to is the St. Clair River. It was last dredged in 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But the dredging went too far and exposed easily eroded layers of rock. Now the river is up to 10 feet deeper in places than it should be. And as a result "an extra flow of 2.5 billion gallons a day" of water is being drained from Lake Huron, said Mike Bolo. That's equivalent to a two-mile wide, 12 foot high river of water on its own, he told council, adding, "that's a huge, huge, huge amount of water."

Water levels in the Great Lakes normally go through high and low cycles. Currently the lakes should be in an upward, not downward trend, Bolo said. "What's going to happen when we start a downward cycle?" he wondered with a visible shudder. The impact of low water levels in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are dramatic in this area, especially along the Bruce Peninsula's low-lying Lake Huron shore. Docks along the shore are high and dry. In the Oliphant area large expanses of lakebed have been exposed. Islands are now part of the expanded mainland.

The amount of Great Lakes' water flowing from Lake Michigan into the Mississippi River basin through a sewage canal at Chicago is a "drop in the bucket" compared to the extra flow going down the St. Clair River, Bolo said, in response to a question from Coun. Art King. The St. Clair problem can be fixed, he said, speaking of "excessive flow devices" that could be installed in the river to regulate the flow. Stone could also be put in the river where it's eroding.

"What can we do?" asked King. "Work together to help raise awareness to get both governments to fix the hole in the bucket," Bolo said.

He said he and his wife spent a day at the Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular fishing derby and circulated petitions calling on the U.S. and Canadian governments to take action. They gathered nearly 700 signatures there in one day, Bolo said. He added he hopes to soon have "hundreds" of copies of the petition in the hands of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller for presentation to Parliament. He asked for council's support to help do "all you can to get your government and ours in high gear to do something about it."

Mayor Gwen Gilbert asked the Bolos to leave blank copies of the petition at the municipal office for signing.

The St. Clair River was last dredged in 1962. Water levels in the upper Great Lakes soon fell to an all-time low in 1964. In 1970 the International Joint Commission started to study ways to slow down the flow in the St. Clair River. But that went "off track" when water levels rose to all-time high levels in 1986, said Mary Jane Bolo.

It was hard to keep people focused on the plan under those conditions. The IJC needs to start taking action again; "but this can't be another 16-year study," she warned.

From the Owen Sound Sun Times

Welland Gathering scheduled for September 14-16

The annual Boatnerd Welland Gathering has been planned for September 14-16 this year. The dates are earlier than prior years in an effort to enjoy better weather.

There will be slide shows on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 7:30. Vendor tables will be open at 6:00 p.m. both nights. Bring a tray of your best slides to share with the Gathering. Vendors who desire a table either/both night(s) - Please send an e-mail to DJWobser@aol.com

Evening events will be held at the Canadian Corps Assoc. #22, 7 Clairmont St., Thorold, which is located 3 blocks West of The Inn at Lock Seven.

Saturday morning at 10 a.m., there will be a walking tour of International Marine Salvage in Port Colborne. A great photo opportunity.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Visitors Centre, located at Lock Three, is offering free admission Saturday and Sunday, and the gift shop is offering 10% discount on selected items.

Plan now to attend this final event of the 2007 season. Additional details are available on the Boatnerd Gatherings Page.

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 Wheeler's 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.

Limestone Cargos Down 7.4 Percent in July

8/29 - Cleveland - Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4.4 million net tons in July, a decrease of 7.4 percent compared to a year ago, and 5.2 percent off the month’s 5-year average.

While demand is sluggish in some key markets, the trade continues to be hampered by lack of dredging throughout the Great Lakes navigation system. July limestone shipments also were impacted by a labor dispute that continued to idle three vessels that regularly haul the product.

Through July, limestone shipments stand at 16.7 million net tons, a decrease of 11 percent compared to a year ago, and 8 percent behind the 5-year average for the January-July timeframe. The comparison to a year ago does in part reflect low inventories at several quarries when shipping resumed in late March.

Source - Lake Carrier's Association

Port Reports - August 29

Stoneport - Ben & Chanda McClain
On Monday evening, the Arthur M. Anderson was loading at Stoneport. It was a nice evening with a breeze blowing and the full moon rising.
The John J. Boland loaded next, early on Tuesday morning.

Lorain - Jim Reagan
The Edward L. Ryerson entered the Port of Lorain at 3:10 am Tuesday with another load of iron ore pellets arriving to unload at the Jonick Dock.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Joe Block departed Fraser Shipyards in Superior sometime Monday night or early Tuesday.
Beluga Experience spent a very dusty afternoon Monday loading bentonite at Hallett 5 dock.
Early Monday, with low clouds and fog hanging over the lake and harbor, American Victory was proceeding slowly toward Duluth entry. It was expected to unload stone at Hallett 5 and then load at the CN/DMIR ore dock.
American Century was loading at Midwest Energy Terminal and Spruceglen was loading at Cargill B1 grain terminal in Duluth

Buffalo - Brain Wroblewski
Gregory J. Busch arrived with windmill parts at 7 a.m. on her way up to Republic Steel followed by the Grande Mariner heading for the Visiting Ship's Dock.

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The Manistee came in light mid-morning and took a load of sand out of the Construction Aggregates Dock in Ferrysburg.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
Canadian Ranger was being bunkered by Hamilton Energy early Monday, a sure sign that she will be back in service soon. After the Energy departed at 12:30 a.m. a crew was busy repainting the bow from a barge and scaffolding combo. Stephen B. Roman was also in port and the saltie Olympic Miracle remains at Redpath unloading.
The tug Patricia D. I went out this afternoon with "Keep Out" buoys which it placed in preparation for the upcoming weekend air show at the Canadian National Exhibition off Ontario Place.
A bit of excitement Monday afternoon as the 30-foot powerboat, Surface Interval, began taking on water in Humber Bay and had to be abandoned. The eight passengers who took to the water were rescued by a tender from the tall ship Empire Sandy, other pleasure craft which responded to the Mayday call, and Marine Unit 22. The powerboat did not fully sink and was recovered, towed into port and refloated by the Toronto Drydock Co.'s tug M. R. Kane.

Alder conducts oil spill drill outside Duluth

8/29 - Duluth - That isn’t a large orange whale on a stringer the Coast Guard Cutter Alder is pulling around on Lake Superior this afternoon. Instead, it’s part of a system used to clean up oil spills.

The Alder crew is conducting annual training with the Spilled Oil Recovery System, about 2? miles out from the Aerial Lift Bridge. The SORS allows the Alder to quickly begin mopping up oil spills in or near the Twin Ports. The system includes a floating boom attached to an outrigger. In a real spill, the Alder would cruise slowly -- at a maximum speed of two knots -- through the slick. Its movement would force oil to the back of the U-shaped, 42-foot-wide boom. There, a floating skimmer pump would suck up to 440 gallons of oil and water a minute.

“You can’t get 100 percent oil,” Lt. J.G. Kenny Pepper said today. “The desired ratio is 20 percent water, 80 percent oil. That’s the best you can hope for.”

The pump is fitted with cutting knives to chop up such possible obstructions as vegetation, garbage, plastics, aluminum cans, bottles, driftwood and dead fish, birds and small mammals. The pump’s operator can reverse the pump if necessary to spit out any blockage.

The pump sends oil and water into Sea Slugs — large orange, floating bladders. The Alder carries two — one with a capacity of 13,000 gallons, the other capable of holding 26,600. In a real spill, the Alder would likely work with other vessels.“ Once we had one Sea Slug filled, someone would probably come and take it away from us and we would deploy the other,” Pepper said.

Today’s drill consisted of pulling the SORS out of its cargo hold and deploying it on the Alder’s port side. While SORS can be deployed on both sides of the ship, doing so limits the Alder’s maneuverability. With SORS deployed and the skimmer pump in place, the crew slung one of the Sea Slugs along the Alder’s starboard side and began pumping lake water from the skimmer into the bladder.

Helping conduct today’s training are members of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area Strike Team and Ninth District Response Advisory Team. “They came onboard to help familiarize us with the equipment and to help us with the deployment of it,” Pepper said.

From the Duluth News-Tribune

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 they 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.

U.S. Steel to buy Stelco for $1.1 billion

8/28 - U.S. Steel Corp. said Monday it has agreed to acquire Stelco Inc. for $36.61 a share, or $1.1 billion, a move that will both strengthen U.S. Steel’s business with the automotive industry and benefit the company’s Great Lakes Works plant in Ecorse and River Rouge.

U.S. Steel said it expects the acquisition of Stelco to strengthen its position as a premier supplier of flat-rolled steel products to the North American market. Stelco’s Lake Erie Works is among the most modern integrated steel plant in North America.

“With major facilities located on both sides of the Great Lakes, this acquisition will significantly increase our ability to respond to market demands and our customers’ needs,” John Surma, U.S. Steel chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

Hamilton, Ontario-based Stelco emerged from bankruptcy in March, 2006 but lost $187 million for the year ending Dec. 31, due in part to lower demand from its automotive customers.

Charles Bradford, a steel analyst with Bradford Research-Soleil Inc. in New York City, said the acquisition of Stelco benefits U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Works plant. “The major plant of Stelco is just a couple hours away, and that is the newest integrated plant in North America,” Bradford said. “There is actually some excess capacity for rolling at Great Lakes Works, and Stelco has excess slabs — about 900,000 per year. Some of that will go to Great Lakes for rolling and some will go to Granite City.”

"The Stelco acquisition will help Great Lakes Works," said Dawn Dayton, manager of communications and media relations for U.S. Steel's Great Lakes Works plant said in a statement sent to Crain's. "The acquisition, when completed, will become part of our supply chain and will strengthen our competitive position in the steel industry."

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel also operates a steel plant in Granite City, Ill.

In 2006, Stelco produced 2.6 billion tons of steel for the nine-month period ending Dec. 31. After the acquisition, U.S. Steel will have annual raw steel capability of approximately 33 million tons.

The deal is expected to close by the end of this year

From Crain's Detroit Business

Port reports - August 28

Grand Haven - Dick Fox
The St. Mary's Challenger came in to their terminal in Ferrysburg with a short load at 4 a.m. Monday and left at 10:30 a.m.
The ATB Lewis Kuber/Olive Moore came in for Verplank's Dock about 8 a.m.

Lorain - Jim Reagan
The Wolverine was observed departing the Port of Lorain at around 4 p.m. Monday, passing through the Bascule after discharging its cargo. At 4:40 p.m., the Michipicoten entered port light, drawing 12 feet, passing upbound through the bascule bridge.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Alpena was at the LaFarge silo in Milwaukee's inner harbor on Monday, unloading powdered cement.
At about 4 p.m. Monday, ocean vessel BBC Finland (reg. Naples, Italy) entered the Milwaukee harbor with the assistance of one Great Lakes Towing tug, then proceeded upriver to pivot in the inner harbor turning basin before berthing at the Heavy Lift dock to deliver windmill blades.

Niagara Falls - Robert
The unloading of the chilling towers, from the tug Herbert P. Brake and barge, has been delayed until Tuesday. The towers will be moved about 5 miles on land to a Praxair plant on Royal Avenue. The plant has a 600-crane with a 320-foot boom to set the towers.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
Sunday saw the arrival of two vessels on the Saginaw River. The CSL Tadoussac was first in, calling on the Essroc dock in Essexville. She was followed later in the evening by the Lee A. Tregurtha who called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville. The CSL Tadoussac completed her unload and backed from the dock and out of the river to Light 12 in the Saginaw Bay to turn. The Lee A. Tregurtha followed a short time later, also backing out to Light 12 to turn. Both were bound for the lake early Monday morning.

Difficult conditions blamed for freighter's grounding

8/28 - Muskegon - Wind and "tricky" currents are being blamed for causing the lake freighter Indiana Harbor to run aground Wednesday afternoon.

The 1,000-foot vessel was stuck on the sandy bottom of Lake Michigan outside Muskegon's outer pier heads for about four hours before the captain was able to wiggle it free. The vessel was delivering a load of coal to the B.C. Cobb plant.

Joel Blanchard, marine science technician at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Grand Haven, spent three hours on board the Indiana Harbor after it got stuck. He said it is standard procedure in marine incidents such as this for a Coast Guard official to assess any damage and learn of the captain's intentions for remedying the situation. "The captain did everything a reasonable person would do to avoid the situation," Blanchard said. "The wind and the current pushed him away from the entrance."

The incident is still being investigated internally by American Steamship Co., the company that operates the Indiana Harbor. The vessel was not damaged. "It's kind of a tricky approach into that port, tricky currents," said Rhonda Johnson, director of communications at GATX, parent company of American Steamship Co.

Low water levels and a need for additional dredging in Great Lakes ports are being called factors in the incident. Muskegon's commercial harbor is typically dredged every three years by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and it is scheduled for dredging next year. The Corps and the Great Lakes shipping industry are pushing for additional funding from Congress to help alleviate the problems. Companies have had to lighten the loads on their freighters because of low water levels.

"It really is a crisis on the lakes," Johnson said.

Depths are shown to be as shallow as 24 feet in the area the ship went aground, somewhat south of the center of the inlet, indicating the ship was slightly off course. The ship's bow markings showed a draft of 26 feet. According to the Corps harbor survey map, the depth at the center of the harbor entrance is 26.5 feet.

From the Muskegon Chronicle

One of two Great Lakes cruise ships pulling out in 2008
Departure of MS Columbus leaves just Grande Mariner on inland waters

8/28 - Cleveland - Efforts to revive the once-thriving cruise industry on the Great Lakes have stalled, due in part to low water levels and a short sailing season.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German company, has pulled its popular ship, the MS Columbus, from the Great Lakes for next year and possibly beyond. That leaves just one ship, the 100-passenger Grande Mariner, sailing in the region in 2008.

Though disappointed, travel agent Chris Conlin said he remains convinced that the region will ultimately succeed as a cruising destination. "It's a temporary blip in the rebirth of cruising on the Great Lakes," said Conlin, owner of Michigan-based Great Lakes Cruise Co. "By next summer, I hope we'll be able to announce more capacity in the Great Lakes."

The Columbus, a luxury ship with room for 423, has been a mainstay in the region since the late 1990s. Built to cruise the Great Lakes, the ship is narrow and shallow enough to maneuver through the region's locks and tight waterways. But those waterways have gotten too tight in recent years. The water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, for example, are down 3 to 4 feet since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cindy Tanenbaum, a spokeswoman for Hapag-Lloyd, said declining water levels in the Great Lakes contributed to the company's decision to remove the ship, at least temporarily. Just this year, Hapag-Lloyd dropped Sault Ste. Marie, on the St. Mary's River in central Ontario, from the Columbus' ports of call because of low water levels.

Three Great Lakes cruises on the Columbus remain this fall: a 10-day Toronto-to-Chicago sailing, starting Monday, Sept. 17; a 10-day Chicago-to-Chicago itinerary, beginning Thursday, Sept. 27; and a 10-day Chicago-to-Toronto cruise beginning Monday, Oct. 8. Ports of call include Mackinac Island and Traverse City, Mich.; Milwaukee; and Windsor, Ontario. All three trips are sold out.

The popularity of both the ship and its itineraries have never been an issue, said Conlin. "It constantly exceeds our customers' expectations." A majority of passengers are German, though Americans like it, too, said Conlin. Great Lakes cruisers tend to be older, experienced travelers who like the safe, accessible ports of call in the United States and Canada.

From Toronto, the Columbus will head to Miami, South America, Africa and eventually to the Mediterranean, where the Martin Randall Travel company has chartered it for a series of cultural cruises next fall. After that, it is headed for dry dock and interior renovations, according to Tanenbaum. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will decide next year whether and when the Columbus will return to the Great Lakes.

Meanwhile, the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition, a group of cities and other organizations lobbying to bring additional ships to the area, will continue to try to boost the fledgling industry.

A hundred years ago, the lakes were teeming with passenger ships, a luxurious way to travel that fell out of favor by mid-century with the growth of the interstate highway system and the discovery of more exotic vacation destinations. Before 1997, the last passenger ship to call on the Great Lakes was the World Discoverer in 1975. This recent effort to revive cruising peaked in 2002, when seven ships offered overnight sailings throughout the lakes.

The remaining ship in the Great Lakes, the Grande Mariner, offers six-night Lake Michigan getaways, as well as a two-week Great American Waterways cruise, which travels from Chicago to Warren, R.I. The ship is owned by the American Canadian Caribbean Line.

Steven Olinek, deputy director of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority and chairman of the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition, is disappointed that 2008 won't offer more choices for travelers. "There's a limited number of vessels that can come here," he said. "We've fought long and hard to build up the inventory."

Still, the coalition will continue to push the region, said Olinek, whose city is building a new pier and terminal, in part to attract cruise ships and other boats that would benefit Detroit's tourist industry. He compares the nascent cruise industry on the Great Lakes to Alaska in the 1960s, a once-remote location that is now a major cruising destination. "Unless people have been on the waters of the Great Lakes, they have no idea what's out there," said Olinek. "It's going to take a change in mind-set."

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Gun training method sought for Coast Guard

8/28 - Syracuse - The U.S. Coast Guard is still looking for a way to train crews on using machine guns on the Great Lakes.

A proposal to temporarily restrict access to areas of the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario, so crews could fire live ammunition was withdrawn last year under public pressure. Since then, Coast Guard crews have trained with machine guns off the East Coast and at Fort Knox, Ky., said Chief Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, spokesman for the Coast Guard.

If they have the machine gun aboard, they have been trained," Lanier said of crews on the Great Lakes. Last week, Coast Guard personnel on Lake Erie demonstrated alternative training equipment that uses lasers and sensors, Lanier said. There are no plans to try out the lasers on Lake Ontario, he said.

The Coast Guard added belt-fed machine guns to its Great Lakes fleet in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

From the Syracuse Post-Standard

Coal Surge Still Comes Up Short Because of Dredging Crisis

8/28 - Cleveland —Even though coal shipments on the Great Lakes increased 18.5 percent in July compared to a year ago, the dredging crisis effectively trimmed hundreds of thousands of tons from the month-end total.

Shipments from Superior Midwest Energy Terminal (SMET) in Superior, Wisconsin, are a case in point. Although the dock recorded its second-best month ever since starting operations in 1976 – 2,542,659 net tons – it would have shipped nearly 2.8 million net tons if each of the 53 vessels that loaded at SMET in July had been able to carry full loads.

The dredging crisis and falling water levels negated 10 percent of vessels’ carrying capacity over the course of July. Light loads were commonplace at other coal loading docks in July. It is possible that the dredging crisis reduced the coal trade Lakes-wide in July by 400,000 tons.

For the year, the Lakes coal trade stands at 19 million net tons, a decrease of 7 percent compared to the same point in 2006. Compared to the 5-year average, shipments are nearly 1 million tons off the pace.

More information is available at www.lcaships.com

Source: Lake Carriers’ Association

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

Bath, Ontario - Eric Gagnon
KCL Barracuda arrived Sunday morning at 10 a.m. to load cement at Bath Lafarge, assisted by the Ocean tug Jerry G. This is her second load at Bath this summer.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Cement carrier Innovation and tug Samuel de Champlain were at the LaFarge silo on Jones Island in Milwaukee's inner harbor Sunday, unloading.
Federal Mattawa, which was still unloading at terminal #2 in the outer harbor Saturday, departed overnight.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Sunday morning the Hamilton Energy departed at 8:15 a.m. to bunker one of the Desgagnes ships outside of the Burlington Piers.
Maritime Trader arrived at 9:15 a.m. Atlantic Erie departed at 11:30 a.m. from the Stelco ore dock.
The saltie Clipper Kiera departed Pier 23 at 12 noon for Montreal. Voyageur Pioneer departed Pier 14W at 5:30 p.m. for the canal.
Algoisle then arrived at 7 p.m. going to Dofasco with iron ore pellets.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Joe Block was in Fraser Shipyards late Sunday afternoon. No indication of what sort of repairs it was undergoing.
Indiana Harbor was loading at Midwest Energy Terminal and Frontenac was anchored off Superior Entry waiting for Atlantic Huron to finish at BNSF.

Buffalo - Brian Wroblewski
The push tug Herbert C. Brake arrived off Buffalo Harbor with a barge load of industrial equipment on Sunday morning. They had just come in from the Welland Canal at 11 a.m. The tug brought her barge through the North Entrance on a wire and then switched around to push gear once they were inside the breakwall. With the barge on the nose, they proceeded downbound on the Black Rock Canal to the Niagara Mohawk dock near the North Grand Island Bridge. The barge was carrying two large chiller units for delivery to the new Praxair plant in Niagara Falls. The pair came up the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario, and then through the Welland Canal to reach Buffalo. Herbert C. Brake is owned by the West Albany Shippers company and has an unusual configuration not normally seen on the lakes. She has a set of push knees on her bow and a retractable pilothouse.

Owen Sound - Peter Bowers
Saginaw arrived with a load of wheat Sunday evening just before midnight at the Gt Lakes Elevator from the Lakehead. Unloading is expected to begin Monday morning.

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.

Port Reports - August 26

Soo - Brent Michaels
The Wolverine was loading at the Algoma Export Dock and the Lake Guardian is at the Carbide Dock.

Niagara Falls - Robert
The tug Herbert P. Brake delivery parts for a new Praxair plant in Niagara Falls NY. has been delayed until Monday due to weather. Two 100-foot towers will be unloaded at the oxy dock in the upper Niagara River by North Grand Island Bridge.

Hamilton - Eric Holmes
Friday evening saw the Algosoo arrive in Hamilton at 6:30 p.m., going to Dofasco with coal.
The Ocean Group tugs Omni Richelieu and LaPrairie arrived at 8:30 p.m. The saltie Jo Spirit arrived at 9 p.m. and went to Pier 26 with its cargo of rum from Nassau in the Bahamas. Her next port is Hamburg Germany.
Saturday tug Anglian Lady and barge PML 2501 arrived at 1 p.m. The tanker Diamond Star arrived at 8 pm.

Goderich - Dale Baechler
Algoway was a 9 a.m. arrival in the harbour on Saturday morning. Another load out from the Sifto Salt mine.

Toronto - Charlie Gibbons
There were five arrivals on Friday. Canadian Transport was in with salt, English River in with cement, and the salty Olympic Miracle came in with raw sugar; assisted into the Redpath slip by Omni Richelieu and LaPrairie, which came over from Hamilton for the job. The tugs departed shortly afterwards.
Canadian Transport departed late Friday for the canal, and English River left early Saturday morning for Bath.

Port Huron -
The Gregory Busch and its barge, loaded with windmill parts, were tied up at the Malcolm Marine dock in Port Huron Saturday.

Menominee/Marinette - Dick Lund
Menominee and Marinette were busy early Saturday morning. The activity began when the Selvick tugs Cameron O and Jacquelyn Nicole arrived in port around 4 a.m. to haul the new Marinette Marine-built tug, Christiana, from Marinette to Sturgeon Bay, WI.
Then, around 9 a.m. two vessels arrived off Menominee. The BBC Elbe with more windmill parts and the tug/barge Michaela McAllister/Atlantic Trader returning to pick up the remaining INLS Navy craft from Marinette Marine. Both craft were making their second trip to the twin ports this year.

Welland Gathering scheduled for September 14-16

The annual Boatnerd Welland Gathering has been planned for September 14-16 this year. The dates are earlier than prior years in an effort to enjoy better weather.

There will be slide shows on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 7:30. Vendor tables will be open at 6:00 p.m. both nights. Bring a tray of your best slides to share with the Gathering. Vendors who desire a table either/both night(s) - Please send an e-mail to DJWobser@aol.com

Evening events will be held at the Canadian Corps Assoc. #22, 7 Clairmont St., Thorold, which is located 3 blocks West of The Inn at Lock Seven.

Saturday morning at 10 a.m., there will be a walking tour of International Marine Salvage in Port Colborne. A great photo opportunity.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Visitors Centre, located at Lock Three, is offering free admission Saturday and Sunday, and the gift shop is offering 10% discount on selected items.

Plan now to attend this final event of the 2007 season. Additional details are available on the Boatnerd Gatherings Page.

Updates - August 26

News Photo Gallery updated

Public Photo Gallery updated

Today in Great Lakes History - August 26

In 1791, John Fitch was granted a United States patent for the steamboat.

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 Ramey's Bend in 1980.

The GLENEAGLES (Hull#14) was launched August 26, 1925, at Midland, Ontario by Midland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the Great Lakes Transportation 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, Reference.com, 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.

Freighters renew call for more dredging

8/25 - Muskegon - The sight of the lake freighter Indiana Harbor stuck just outside Muskegon's outer pierheads Wednesday may become the "poster child" in the push to increase funding for dredging in Great Lakes harbors.

Industry leaders and federal officials are touting the need for more money for dredging of commercial ports to offset the significantly low water levels on the Great Lakes and shoaling in harbor openings. Large vessels are leaving tons of cargo on the loading dock and their customers are being forced to survive on less material.

The 1,000-foot Indiana Harbor, which was stuck for about four hours Wednesday before wiggling free, was forced to unload a portion of its coal cargo to another ship so it could ride high enough to clear the channel. The depth at the harbor entrance is 26.5 feet and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently issued a notice to mariners to use extreme caution in the area because of shoaling -- the buildup of sand and silt on the lake bottom.

"Obviously, it's having an impact, but the freighters expect it," Tom O'Bryan, chief of operations and maintenance for the Corps' office in Grand Haven, said of the low water levels. "I think they're used to it." The shipping industry is getting accustomed to the low water levels, but that issue and lack of dredging are hurting the companies that operate the ships and their customers. According to the Corps, each inch of water level translates into 120 tons of cargo on 1,000-foot vessels.

Glen Nekvasil, vice president of corporate communications for the Lake Carriers' Association, said the low water levels and lack of adequate dredging in the ports are the largest issues facing the shipping industry. The association represents 18 American corporations that operate 63 U.S.-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes, including the American Steamship Company's Indiana Harbor. "When we're not loading our boats as full as possible, that's impacting our ability to meet the needs of our customers," Nekvasil said. "This is an industry where inches count. If the entire fleet encountered a loss of only 1 inch, that would result in a loss of 8,000 tons of cargo."

In most areas on the Great Lakes, water levels have dropped by much more than 1 inch. Lake Michigan has dropped 3 inches since this time last year and the lake level is 21 inches below its long-term average.

Muskegon's harbor is typically dredged every three years and is scheduled for dredging next year. O'Bryan said the Corps tries to maintain a depth of 29 feet in the outer harbor. "I'd like to say we could do it every two years, but we don't have funding for that anymore," O'Bryan said.

The Corps and shipping industry leaders are hopeful more funding for dredging will be available next year. O'Bryan and Nekvasil said lawmakers in Washington from Great Lakes states are aware of the issue and are working to increase funding. "Our proposed 2008 budget looks better than in recent years," O'Bryan said.

From the Muskegon Chronicle

Port Reports - August 25

Alpena - Ben & Chanda McClain
Maumee was docked at Lafarge on Thursday. It unloaded taconite tailings throughout the day into the storage hopper.
The tug Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation were seen on the gray horizon Friday evening making its way into port.
Tug G. L Ostrander and barge Integrity are expected to return Saturday morning along with the Alpena by early afternoon.

Goderich - Dale Baechler
Canadian Transfer backed in the channel Friday afternoon and tied up at the Sifto Salt dock to load. She had started to load at 4:15 p.m.

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Manistee made an unusual but welcome call in the Twin Ports on Friday. Early in the morning it was unloading salt at Hallett Dock 8 in Superior.
CN/DMIR ore dock was busy with Manistee and Great Lakes Trader scheduled to load and Cason J. Callaway unloading stone.

Niagara Falls - Robert
The tug Herbert P. Brake is expected to deliver parts for a new Praxair plant in Niagara Falls NY. Two 100-foot towers will be unloaded at the oxy dock in the upper Niagara River by North Grand Island bridge on Saturday.

Saginaw River - Todd Shorkey
The Agawa Canyon was outbound the Saginaw River late Wednesday night after unloading at the Buena Vista dock.
Thursday morning saw the tug John Spence and her tank barge outbound from the SEM Materials dock in Essexville.
Inbound Thursday morning was the tug Olive L. Moore & barge Lewis J. Kuber, who called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. The pair were outbound later that evening.
On Friday, the Calumet was inbound calling on the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee. They were expected to be outbound late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Minor Seiche On Lake Michigan Wednesday

8/25 - Chicago - A minor seiche was observed on southern Lake Michigan Wednesday morning. A seiche can best be explained as a large slosh on a lake where water from one side of the lake is forced or pushed to the other side of the lake then returns to the other side of the lake resulting in a rise in the water levels. This oscillation of lake water levels will often continue with peaks and lows in water levels for some time before the lake stabilizes again.

Most commonly seiches on Lake Michigan occur as a result of a fast moving line of high wind producing thunderstorms and this was the case Wednesday morning. As the line of thunderstorms raced across southern Lake Michigan Wednesday morning producing winds of 40 to 60 mph it caused water to pile up on the east side of the lake, followed by the slosh back to the western shores of Lake Michigan.

Lake water level data obtained from Calumet harbor that morning indicate that the amplitude of this seiche was about a foot and a half with lake levels peaking about slightly less than a foot above normal and falling to less just under a foot below normal.

Below are the observed maximum and minimum water levels measured Wednesday morning at Calumet harbor during the seiche.

5:36 am cdt  - 9.6 inches above normal
7:30 am cdt  - 9.0 inches below normal
9:30 am cdt  - 7.3 inches above normal
11:36 am cdt - 5.7 inches below normal
1:42 pm cdt  - 3.8 inches above normal

Some very minor, likely unnoticeable fluctuations in lake levels continued that afternoon as the lake stabilizes again in the wake of the Wednesday mornings seiche.

From the National Weather Service - Chicago

Old life-saving station resurfaces
Sailor's curiosity leads to beach in Fort Gratiot

8/25 - Fort Gratiot - It required the historian's equivalent of a search-and-rescue mission, but the site of the original Coast Guard station in the Port Huron area has been pinpointed. "The location had been lost to time," said Dave Bennis, a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and leader of the search.

Last month, the foundation of the 109-year-old Lakeview Beach Life-Saving Station was uncovered near the beach between Brace and Metcalf roads in northeast Fort Gratiot Township. An announcement of the discovery was made this week as Port Huron prepares to celebrate its annual Coast Guard Days.

In 1932, the Coast Guard left Lakeview Beach and moved into a new station beside the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron. Over the next 75 years, memories of the Lakeview Beach location became the faintest of whispers. Bennis said he became curious about Lakeview Beach two years ago when the Coast Guard opened a new station, its third in the Port Huron area. "I noticed a discrepancy in the (media coverage)," he said. "They were confusing the Lakeview Beach Station with the first Station Port Huron."

Bennis set out to pinpoint the site. He interviewed 30 to 40 local history buffs and examined historical documents. His inquiries eventually led him to the Lakeview Beach subdivision, located on the lakeshore north of the mouth of Doe Creek (also known as Brace Road Ditch). Dr. Michael Basha, a prominent Port Huron physician, owns the property and is building a lakefront home. He gave searchers access to the site and his contractor, Rick Mills, had his workers use shovels and trowels to carefully uncover the foundation.

Bennis and Coast Guard representatives, including Senior Chief Jeffery Egleston of Station Port Huron, were able to spend a day photographing and measuring the ruins. "It's an important part of our heritage in the community," said Egleston, the latest in a long line of local Coast Guard station keepers.

Tragedy leads to station
The first in that line was Capt. George W. Plough, who took command of the Lakeview Beach Station on April 10, 1898.
The U.S. Life-Saving Service, which merged with the Revenue Cutter Service in 1915 to form the Coast Guard, built the original station. It did so four years after the tragic sinking of the William Shupe, a schooner that ran aground on Corsica Shoals during a gale in May 1894.

Four Port Huron volunteers drowned in the frigid waters of Lake Huron after their small boat capsized while they tried to rescue the Shupe's crew of eight men and a woman. Ironically, it was Plough and a team from the Sand Beach (Harbor Beach) Life-Saving Station who finally succeeded in saving the crew just minutes before the schooner broke apart.

The Lakeview Beach Station was located between Brace and Metcalf roads because of the proximity to Corsica Shoals, a notoriously dangerous sand reef. In 1931, the Coast Guard decided to move to Port Huron and bought property at the lighthouse. The move was prompted because the St. Clair River had become more dangerous than Corsica Shoals, where the U.S. Lighthouse Service stationed a series of lightships.


Tower dominates station
Bennis, who moved to Port Huron from Oakland County four years ago after retiring from Chrysler, said the Lakeview Beach Station served as a model for nine later Coast Guard stations. "It became known as the Port Huron design," he said of the structure, which was dominated by a lookout tower. A large porch fronted the crew's quarters, while a smaller porch served an apartment for the station keeper and his family.

In his search for his site, Bennis obtained blueprints for the station from the National Archives. He also received a site plan, but it proved to be the plan for the 1932 Station Port Huron. "They had the information confused in the Archives," he said, "but then I had a bit of good luck." The Coast Guard has a tentative agreement to transfer ownership of the 1932 station and the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse to the city of Port Huron as a museum and tourist attraction. Before the transfer can take place, environmental and structural reviews of the property are required.

As part of a survey of the property, an Ann Arbor company requested blueprints and site plans of the 1932 station from the National Archives. One of the documents it received was a site plan for the Lakeview Beach Station. "It wasn't labeled or anything, but they still made a copy of it when they were in Washington," Bennis said. "They were kind enough to share it with me."

He said the Coast Guard plans to use materials salvaged from the original foundation to create a small monument to the Lakeview Beach Station. It will be placed on the lighthouse grounds. He said there also have been discussions of placing a marker on the beach at the Basha property in Fort Gratiot Township.

From the Port Huron Tmes Herald

Updates - August 25

News 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 McLouth 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.

Indiana Harbor Grounding update

8/24 - Muskegon, MI - Muskegon did not extend its usual Port City welcome to the lake freighter Indiana Harbor Wednesday afternoon. What it offered instead was a silted-in outer harbor, which caused the 1,000-foot vessel to run aground just outside the outer pierheads at about 3 p.m.

The Indiana Harbor wiggled itself free at about 7:15 p.m. The ship's captain first tried "fishtailing" the ship back and forth, gunning the engines forward and back. But that didn't work. He then started swinging the 250-foot self-unloader boom to and fro, according to observers. That actually rocked the ship side to side to break the suction of the bow in the sand and silt.

It worked.

The ship then backed into Lake Michigan and moved south to anchor for the night off Pere Marquette Park beach.

Thursday morning, Indiana Harbor's crew was transferring coal to a smaller ship, the 680-foot American Valor. The "lightering" operation will make the ship ride high enough to clear the obstruction and make it through the harbor to the B.C. Cobb electrical generating plant at the far eastern end of Muskegon Lake.

The stuck freighter was the top tourist attraction in Muskegon Wednesday.

It ran aground on a glorious late-summer afternoon at the city's Pere Marquette Beach, where hundreds of visitors watched the ship sit yards from the outer Muskegon lighthouse. Dozens of curious onlookers made it out to the end of the south breakwater arm to find themselves looking at a half-dozen deck hands in the bow of the Indiana Harbor helplessly staring back.

Consumers Energy spokesman Dennis McKee said the delay would not affect operations at the Cobb plant. "Our inventory is more than a 100-day supply of coal," he said. The plant has been receiving shipments of about one per week for the past several weeks, he said, and one was delivered several days ago.

A day earlier, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had issued a "Notice to Navigation Interests" urging mariners to use "extreme caution" in the harbor mouth area. Lt. Col. William J. Leady, district commander of the Corps' Detroit office, said soundings taken Aug. 6-10 indicated shoaling has taken place outside the breakwater arms.

Depths are shown to be as shallow as 24 feet in the area the ship went aground, somewhat south of the center of the inlet, indicating the ship was slightly off course. Before it came unstuck, the ship's bow markings showed a draft of 26 feet. According to the Corps harbor survey map, the depth at the center of the harbor entrance is 26.5 feet.

The grounding of the freighter didn't interrupt Lake Express high-speed ferry's traffic through the Muskegon Channel because the Muskegon-Milwaukee ferry wasn't operating Wednesday, company officials said. The 192-foot high-speed ferry had a fuel pump repaired Wednesday. Operations continued today with two round trips while this evening's trip was canceled to complete the repairs, officials said. Full ferry operations were planned for Friday.

Tom O'Brien, chief of operations and maintenance for the Corps' office in Grand Haven, said Muskegon's harbor is typically dredged every three years. Its last dredging was completed in the spring of 2005 and is scheduled for dredging next year. The Corps of Engineers tries to maintain a depth of 29 feet in the outer harbor, he said.

Reported by Bob VandeVusse from the Muskegon Chronicle

Port Reports - August 24

Twin Ports - Al Miller
Presque Isle was loading Thursday at the CN/DMIR ore docks. Federal Hunter was loading at CHS 1 grain berth in Superior, continuing that elevator’s busy pace. Earlier in the week, a tug and crane barge were working on the other side of the terminal in Berth 2, apparently dredging a portion of the slip. Also in Superior, Adam E. Cornelius was loading at General Mills Elevator S. In late morning, American Spirit arrived. It fueled at the Murphy dock and then proceeded down Superior Front Channel toward the BNSF ore dock. Beluga Elegance was at the port terminal to unload wind turbine components. As has become typical on these vessels, its deck was stacked high with wind turbine towers.

Goderich - Dale Baechler
Agawa Canyon entered the channel on a hazy Thursday morning. She headed into the inner harbour to do the turn, then went to the Sifto Salt dock to load.


Sarnia - Frank Frisk
Wolverine departed Sarnia at 7:30 p.m. heading out into Lake Huron.

Soo - Dave Wobser
Lee A. Tregurtha stopped at the Carbide Dock Thursday afternoon on her way down bound. A 650-foot roll of conveyor belt had been previous loaded onto an MCM Marine barge with a crane. After the Lee A. was tied at the Carbide, the Drummond Island II brought the barge along side the Lee A. and the barge crane set the roll on deck. Also set on deck was an empty powered take-up reel for the old belt and a portable welder. The barge was then pushed back near the engine room and a wooden crate was lifted off the barge and dropped into the engine room thru a hatch in front of the stack.

Marquette - Lee Rowe
Marquette received two loads of stone on Thursday. The H Lee White delivered stone to the Shiras Dock in the lower harbor while the Great Lakes Trader/Joyce VanEnkevort delivered stone to the coal hopper in the upper harbor.

Milwaukee - Paul Erspamer
Federal Mattawa was berthed bow-in at terminal #2 in Milwaukee's outer harbor on Thursday, unloading.
Earlier this week, cement barge Integrity and its tug G. L. Ostrander left Tuesday after unloading at the LaFarge silo on Jones Island.
Also Tuesday, ocean vessel Beluga Recognition loaded corn at the Nidera elevator in the inner harbor (after having left port for a time Monday evening).

Lake Superior water level drops to all-time August low

8/24 - Duluth - Lake Superior has plunged to a new record low for the month of August, this week surpassing the previous August low-water mark set in 1926.

Following a long decline that has mirrored the Northland’s worst drought in a half-century, the mean level of the lake dropped to 600.4 feet above sea level, surpassing the previous August low mark of 600.5, said Carl Woodruff, hydraulic engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

The lake likely will stay in or near record-low territory heading through autumn and into winter. But it remains uncertain if the lake’s cyclical water level will remain low enough by springtime to set the all-time low-water mark set in April 1926. Accurate records go back to about 1860. “It all depends on precipitation, especially winter snow,’’ he said.

The lake level rises every year from May through October and then declines into April, as precipitation remains locked in snow. Low-water marks almost always are set in April before the lake begins to rise from the runoff of spring snow melt and spring rains.

A new record low for late summer and early fall wasn’t unexpected. Much of the lake’s watershed is locked in a severe drought. Duluth, for example, is a foot short of normal precipitation since June 1, 2006, and has received less than a quarter-inch of rain in all of August.

The lake now sits nearly 22 inches below its long-term average for August and about 10 inches below the level at this time last year, Woodruff said.

The most significant impact of the low water so far has been on shipping, with some harbors and channels now too shallow to handle lakes freighters carrying full loads. That has cost industry more for transportation, with boats moving at less-than-full capacity.

The low water also has made for wider beaches and less erosion, but also has left some boat landings high and dry and has caused a major drop in coastal wasteland water levels — so steep in some areas that wild rice has deteriorated.

Low water levels are not expected to affect Lake Superior’s marine life, but the ongoing drought is affecting the ability of fish to enter the lake’s tributaries, some of which are nearly dry.

Reported by Al Miller from the Duluth News Tribune

Updates - August 24

News Photo Gallery updated

And more News Photo Gallery updates

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.

Sand Bar Delays Indiana Harbor

8/23 - Muskegon - A sand bar caused the Indiana Harbor to become stuck in the sandy Lake Michigan bottom off Muskegon, Michigan Wednesday afternoon.

The thousand footer was headed for the B.C. Cobb plant in Muskegon with a load of coal about 3 p.m. when it became stuck just outside the breakwall. It was stuck less than 100 yards outside the outer pierhead of Muskegon harbor, with a U.S. Coast Guard vessel circling it.

By swinging the unloading boom side to side crews were able to back free of the sand bar and went to anchor around 7:30 p.m.

Reported by Bob VandeVusse and Brian Hayes from the Muskegon Chronicle

Coast Guard trains with lasers on Thursday

8/23 - Cleveland - The U.S. Coast Guard will test a multi-integrated laser engagement system, known as MILES, Thursday on Lake Erie.

Ninth Coast Guard District personnel will be witness to the demonstration, one of several methods that Coast Guard leadership is evaluating to better prepare its personnel in providing security for the critical infrastructure of the Great Lakes and its ports, waterways and coastal areas. MILES technology will allow Coast Guard units to train boat crews without using live ammunition and expending projectiles. MILES provides tactical engagement simulation for direct fire, force-on-force exercises using eye-safe lasers that has been used world-wide for many years.

“The demonstration will educate Coast Guard leadership on the capabilities of MILES gear,” said Rear Admiral John E. Crowley Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District. “This is one of several alternatives I am considering as a way of training our Coast Guard men and women on the Great Lakes for enhanced security of this national treasure.”

In 2006, the Coast Guard held a number of public meetings throughout the Great Lakes region with plans to establish permanent water training areas to conduct live-fire training exercises. Many citizens expressed concern about the impact that the exercises may have on the environment and public safety. The Coast Guard heard those comments and responded with a number of training alternatives that include:

The use of Department of Defense-certified weapons ranges to conduct live-fire training outside of the Great Lakes. This required Ninth District boat crews to conduct weapons training while outside the Great Lakes in areas such as Fort Knox, Ky.

The departure of Coast Guard crews to East Coast cutters for training to ensure an adequate level of proficiency on the weapons.

These temporary solutions increase the economic impact on the Coast Guard and impact Coast Guard readiness on the Great Lakes while the crews are away from their normal duties. MILES may offer a solution to lessen the impact, Coast Guard officials say.

The closest areas to the Straits of Mackinac area considered for live-fire testing during the 2006 exercises were in Lake Huron, south of Detour, and a point in northern Lake Michigan well off the coast of Charlevoix.

By Mike Fornes for the Cheboygan News Tribune

Port of Rochester to Welcome New Cruise Line

8/23 - Rochester, NY - Month's after Rochester's infamous fast ferry left town for good, the city announced the Port of Rochester would become a port of call for a regional cruise line. City officials will officially welcome the Grande Mariner, one of the fleet of ships in the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition, into the port at 10 a.m. on Aug. 30.

The ship is one in a fleet belonging to The American Canadian Caribbean Line, or ACCL. According to the company's website, the Mariner was built in 1998 and can also perform "bow landings," where the ship glides up onto a beach. The ship is 183 feet long with fifty cabins of twin beds capable of carrying 100 passengers. The Great Lakes Cruising Coalition helped broker the deal to bring the Grande Mariner to the Port of Rochester.

"You have a wonderful entry at the Genesee River, I've been up there many times with my own boat, a great spot to moor a small cruise ship," explained Stephen Burnett, executive director of GLCC. "And then surrounded by great scenery, the loverly gorge that you have to drive through. The city itself has some wonderful historic districts."

The port has been boatless since the sale of the Spirit of Ontario in April. "We basically have four ships a year right now coming in, tour boats," said Rochester City Councilman Bob Stevenson. "They're built kind of low because sometimes they have to clear the whole top deck off to get them in the canal. They're very long, they barely clear the locks."

Capt. Desh Retires after 36 years of USCG Service

8/23 - Sturgeon Bay, Wi - Capt. Robert L. Desh retired Wednesday at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club at 10 a.m.

The Palmyra, Neb. native will retire after 36 years of Coast Guard service to the United States. His last position was Chief of the Ninth District Planning and Force Readiness Division, responsible for the leadership, administration and management of strategic, operational and contingency planning for the Coast Guard operations on the Great Lakes; and the Ninth District Civil Rights Officer.

Capt. Desh began his Coast Guard enlistment in Omaha, Neb. in October 1971; and completed Coast Guard basic training in Alameda, Calif. Rising through the enlisted ranks, as a damage controlman, to the grade of chief petty officer, he received a direct commission to Chief Warrant Officer in 1981. Capt. Desh was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade after completing Coast Guard Officer Indoctrination School in 1984. He was promoted to his present rank in July 2004.

Capt. Desh earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science from the University of New York State, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from the University of West Florida. He also completed post-graduate study in Management at Florida Institute of Technology and Central Michigan University; and is a graduate of the Command and Staff Program at the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Capt. Desh's awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbons, the Armed Forces Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, two Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Medals, three National Defense Service Medals, the Expert Pistol Medal, the Expert Riffle Medal, and numerous other personal, unit, and service awards. He is also entitled to permanently wear the Command Chief Petty Officer, Cutterman, and Aviation Mission Specialist (Ice Observer) devices.

Capt. Desh is married to the former Barbara Schlise of Forestville, WI. They have two children: Mrs. Kerry Lathrop of Auburn, Maine, and Christopher who resides in Marblehead, Ohio. Christopher is a petty officer in the Coast Guard reserve, assigned to Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 309 based at Camp Perry, Ohio.

USCG News Release

Updates - August 23

News 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 Det