Twin Ports prepare for 2010 season, set to start on Saturday

3/18 - Duluth, Minn. - The 2010 commercial navigation season gets underway on the Great Lakes this weekend with the anticipated early opening of the Soo Locks at 7 a.m. on Sunday. With favorable spring ice conditions and to meet a critical need on the lower lakes for iron ore at steel plants and coal at power plants, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved up the date from March 25, and a number of operators are fitting out ships this week to take advantage of the early opening.

The commercial shipping season will commence in Duluth-Superior just after midnight on Saturday, with the departure of the Ports first outbound laker, Interlake Steamship Co.’s James R. Barker, from its winter berth at MERCs Superior Midwest Energy Terminal. Loaded with approximately 65,000 short tons of coal, the Barker will depart via the Superior Entry and actually make two stops, with split deliveries to power plants in St. Clair and Monroe, Mich. The James R. Barker had the honor of being the Ports first outbound laker of the 2009 season as well, having departed on March 30 last year, just an hour after the first inbound laker, the Alpena, arrived.

There will be at least six upbound vessels waiting in the St. Marys River for the locks at Sault Ste. Marie to open on Sunday, including four Great Lakes Fleet ships: the Presque Isle headed to Duluth to load iron ore at CN/DMIR Dock 6, and Roger Blough, Edwin H. Gott, and Edgar B. Speer headed to Two Harbors for pellets; plus two Interlake Steamship Company vessels; Charles M. Beeghly and Lee A. Tregurtha headed to Silver Bay and Marquette, respectively, also to load ore.

One last entry in the Duluth-Superior record books will be made early next week, when the port’s first inbound laker arrives which looks to be either March 22 or 23.

All commercial vessels will use the Superior Entry for arrivals/departures until painting of the north tower of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is complete. It is scheduled to open on March 31.

The Welland Canal section of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway are both scheduled to open to vessel traffic on March 25, which means the Port of Duluth- Superior will be watching for its first oceangoing vessel to arrive under the Aerial Lift Bridge in early to mid-April.

That first ship will be greeted by maritime officials with a welcoming ceremony, and will also qualify a winner for the annual First Ship Contest sponsored by the Port Authority and Visit Duluth. Prizes include a weekend getaway to Duluth with hotel accommodations, meals and passes to attractions. Last year’s first ship, the Medemborg, arrived on April 12; the Ports earliest recorded arrival of an oceangoing vessel was April 1, 1995 the Indian-flagged LT Argosy. Click here to enter in the first ship contest

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Bonnie Barnes
On Wednesday, the USCG Katmai Bay moved from the Coast Guard slip to the Carbide dock and the Mobile Bay moved to the USCG slip. Penobscot Bay arrived upbound at Mission Point around 11 a.m. As it moved up to the Soo Harbor, the Mobile Bay moved from the USCG slip to the Carbide dock - behind the Katmai Bay. The Great Lakes Towing tug Missouri assisted the Mobile Bay into position. Penobscot Bay then pulled into the Coast Guard station slip. The Missouri then backed in to its dock at Great Lakes Towing, next to the Coast Guard slip.
The Coast Guard cutters are expected to lock upbound to work Whitefish Bay about 8 a.m. Thursday morning.

Straits of Mackinac -
The USCG Hollyhock departed Station St. Ignace and waited off Mackinac Island to escort the Herbert C. Jackson westbound through Round Island Passage about 10 a.m. Hollyhock waited near the Mackinac Bridge and escorted the east bound Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation under the bridge before returning to St. Ignace. Champlain and barge continued on through Round Island Passage.

Sarnia, Ont. –
Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley departed Sarnia about 2 p.m. Wednesday upbound heading for the Soo and break out in preparation for the opening of the Soo Locks.

Lorain, Ohio -
Arthur M. Anderson returned to Lorain about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. She turned off the port and backed in to load taconite at the Jonick dock for Zug Island.

Another season of shipping to set sail

3/18 - Welland, Ont. – The opening of the Welland Canal is just more than a week away and top hat ceremonies are being planned for St. Catharines and Port Colborne.

This year's ceremony will be focused on the next generation of the marine industry, said Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey.

"This year we're going to do it a bit differently," he said, referring to the annual event that is usually held at Lock 8 Park to kick off another season of shipping through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, the event will instead be held at Lakeshore Catholic High School, to "highlight the tech and training programs available at both Lakeshore Catholic and Port Colborne High School."

The event, Badawey added, will "really introduce the students to marine-related trades -- right from the captain and first mate, to the engineering, as well as other disciplines that the industry is going to be in need of as time goes on."

Badawey said it's hoped the first downbound vessel arrives in Port Colborne by about 10 a.m., so the city's top hat can be presented to the captain. The more than a century-old top hat is brought out of storage at Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum each year for the ceremony.

The mayor said the event should include several dignitaries from St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. Marine industry folk will talk to the students and community about what it's like to work in the field.

The St. Catharines top hat ceremony celebrating the arrival of the first upbound vessel will begin at 10 a.m., featuring St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. president and CEO Richard Corfe, at the Welland Canals Centre at Lock 3.

The ceremony will be a celebration of 181 years of shipping that began on Nov. 27, 1829, when the Ann & Jane became the first ship to enter the first Welland Canal. The tiny vessel was greeted by throngs of enthusiastic supporters.

This historic first passage continues to be celebrated annually on the anniversary of the event as Merritt Day, after the founder of the canal, William Hamilton Merritt.

The pageantry of that trip was recreated 118 years later, when in 1947, Feasby Garment and Linen Rental sponsored an event to recognize the first upbound ship to enter the Welland Canal at the start of the navigation season. A symbolic top hat was presented to the captain and this presentation has carried on every year since.

Work Wear Corp. of Canada assumed sponsorship of the hat in 1985. Because the captains of each ship had signed the top hat, there were so many signatures that by 1989 that the original top hat had to be retired from service; it would no longer accommodate any more signatures. In 1991, G&K Workwear Corp. of Canada assumed sponsorship of the top hat for the St. Catharines ceremony.

The original 1947 top hat, and the history it represents, is now an important part of the canal ceremonies showcase in the St. Catharines Museum.

In addition to Corfe, U.S. Seaway administrator Collister Johnson Jr. will be on hand for the ceremony.

A representative from Upper Lakes Shipping will speak on behalf of the shipping industry.

Welland Tribune

Another Lake Michigan car ferry service explored

3/18 - Algoma, Wisc. - The marina in Algoma could soon be home to the newest Wisconsin to Michigan car ferry service.

City leaders in Algoma started exploring the idea several years ago. They now say a route to Frankfort, Michigan is becoming more and more likely.

"We're talking about a high speed catamaran that can cruise up to 54 miles-per-hour and carry 400 people and 46 vehicles," said Ken Taylor, chairman of Algoma's car ferry committee.

The ferry would be owned and operated by a private business.

Taylor said there are already a few interested parties.

Taylor said, that for plans to move forward, the city will have to receive a significant amount of federal funding. That's because Algoma needs to upgrade its harbor and pier. The estimated cost is $9 million.

City leaders believe they can come up with 100 percent of the money needed without raising taxes. They have applied for several grants, but are still waiting to hear back.

"I think the enthusiasm is growing with people saying this is a possibility, it's not just a dream," said Taylor

According to those working on the project, it would take about an hour and half to ride the ferry from Algoma to Frankfort. They told FOX 11 that same trip takes more than 8 hours in a car.

But, it would not be the only route available. There is already a service from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Mich. Also, the S.S. Badger has been transporting passengers between Manitowoc, Wis., and Ludington, Mich., for nearly two decades.

Those who operate the S.S. Badger say they would welcome another car ferry onto Lake Michigan.

"We're not threatened by other ferry operators. We're really confident in the experience and the value that we give to our passengers," said Lynda Matson, the spokesperson for the S.S. Badger.

The route from Algoma would feature a smaller, much quicker ferry boat. It would be similar to the Lake Express which operates from Milwaukee.

Those working to bring a ferry to Algoma believe ridership would exceed 100,000 people each season.

"This project is a long time coming. We'd hope to see it come to fruition sooner than later," said Jennifer Brown, the executive director of the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation.

Supporters say a new car ferry is still a few years away, but it would be a huge economic boost on both sides of the lake.

If the car ferry route does happen, Algoma and Frankfort have even discussed the possibility of trying to arrange athletic competition between their two high schools.

Fox 11

Welland Canal notices to shipping issued

3/18 - Welland Canal Notices to Shipping #1 - #6 have been issued. click here to view

Updates - March 18

Weekly Website Updates
News Photo Gallery
Public Gallery updated

Steel mill shipping taconite from Lorain

3/17 - Lorain, Ohio – Taconite, one of the basic ingredients for making steel, has been leaving Lorain's East 28th Street steel plant for months, according to a spokesman for Republic Engineered Products.

Ken Braun, of REP, said the company has been selling taconite to other steel makers since the market value of the material rose in recent months.

"We can sell the taconite for a profit," he said. "We have a whole lot of it, and it's just sitting there. There's no point to leaving money sitting on the ground."

Canton-based Republic Engineered Products announced in December 2008 it would shut down its Lorain blast furnace, and the company still has no plans to restart it, Braun said.

The company has been shipping the taconite out in rail cars for months, according to Braun.

The Arthur M. Anderson, a freighter that was built in Lorain in 1952, arrived Sunday to carry a load to Conneaut, Ohio. Anderson departed Lorain about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and sailed eastbound arriving off Conneaut about 10 a.m.

Anderson is expected to return to Lorain to take on a load for Zug Island in Detroit.

More than 500 workers in Republic Engineered Products' Lorain plant are laid off, Braun said.

About 40 workers have accepted transfers to work in Republic's facilities in Canton and Lackawana, N.Y., he said.

Lorain Morning Journal

Twin Ports – Al Miller
USCGC Alder began breaking ice in the Duluth-Superior harbor on Monday. Crewmembers reported the ice was only 8 to 10 inches thick, about half to a third its normal thickness at this time of year. Several weeks of mild weather have left much of the remaining ice rotted, with large areas of open water.

Soo Locks – Bonnie Barnes
The USCG Hollyhock departed downbound Tuesday morning and passed the upbound Mobile Bay above Detour about 1 p.m. Mobile Bay docked at the Carbide Dock. Hollyhock dock at the St. Ignace Coast Guard dock. Penobscot Bay is now expected on Wednesday.

Escanaba, Mich. - Lee Rowe
Joseph L. Block loaded ore at Escanaba on Tuesday. Herbert C. Jackson is expected to arrive late Wednesday for a load.

Alpena, Mich. - Ben & Chanda McClain
Alpena made its way into port on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, tying up a Lafarge around 5 p.m.

Detroit, Mich.
The Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley was upbound on Lake St. Clair Tuesday morning, followed by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bristol Bay. Risley continued upbound while the Bristol Bay broke ice in the North Channel. Herbert C. Jackson finished unloading in the Rouge River and departed upbound around noon. The Jackson is bound for Escanaba to load.
Tuesday afternoon Bristol Bay return to her Detroit moorings and was followed downbound by the tug Everlast and barge. Risley stopped in Sarnia and then continued upbound on Lake Huron until about 7 p.m. when she turned and headed back to Sarnia.  Boats also reported smoke visible from Lake St. Clair that appeared to be a controlled burn on Walpole Island.

Lake Huron ice no longer a concern

3/17 - Port Huron, Mich. – With warm temperature and sunshine dominating the forecast in recent days, the concern over an ice bridge in Lake Huron is melting away as quickly as the ice. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matt Merriman said ice is moving into the St. Clair River in large floes. But, he said, the ice is broken up and basically “melted.” Officials don’t expect the ice will cause navigation problems or flooding.

Port Huron Times Herald

On 17 March 1995, a fire started on the AMERICAN MARINER's self-unloading conveyor belt from welding being done on the vessel at the Toledo Ship & Repair Company in Toledo, Ohio. About $100,000 in damage was done. The Toledo fire department had the blaze out in half an hour.

The tanker LAKESHELL reportedly leaked over 21,000 gallons of Bunker C oil into the St. Lawrence River on March 17, 1982, after suffering a crack in her cargo compartment caused by striking an ice floe.

GEORGE R. FINK was launched March 17, 1923, as a.) WORRELL CLARKSON (Hull#174) at Toledo, Ohio, by Toledo Ship Building Co., for the Kinsman Transit Co.

The PATERSON suffered considerable stern damage during the weekend of March 17-18, 1973, during a gale when the MONDOC tore loose from her winter moorings at Goderich, Ontario, and struck her.

On 17 March 1916, CITY OF MIDLAND (wooden propeller passenger-package freighter, 176 foot, 974 tons, built in 1890, at Owen Sound, Ontario) burned at the Grand Trunk Railway dock at Collingwood, Ontario, while fitting out for the coming season. No lives were lost.

In 1945 Stadium Boat Works of Cleveland Ohio launched the SOUTH SHORE (US. 247657) for Miller Boat Line of Put-In-Bay, OH. She carried 6 autos and 120 passengers. In 1973, she was sold to Beaver Island Boat Company until retired at the end of the 1997 season. In April of 1999, sailed to Chicago where she was docked at the foot of Navy Pier as a storage vessel for Shoreline Cruises.

Data from: Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Whitefish Bay ice breaking operations set to start Thursday

3/16 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. ¬– Thursday morning the United States Coast Guard will start breaking ice in Whitefish Bay and the Upper St. Marys River in preparation for the 2010 shipping season.

Ice breaking operations will extend from Whitefish Bay to Detour.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutters initially involved will be the Mackinaw based out of Cheboygan; the Penobscot Bay, out of Bayonne, N.J.;the Mobile Bay out of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley based in Parry Sound, Ont.

On March 18, the four cutters will lock through to the upper St. Marys River and prepare tracks in Whitefish Bay and the upper St. Marys River.

Although not limited to a specific area, Mackinaw will focus its activities to the charted Lake Carriers Association (LCA) track lines.

Biscayne Bay arrived upbound at DeTour about 10 a.m. Monday, followed by the Mackinaw shortly after 11 a.m. Mackinaw headed to the Soo while the Biscayne Bay broke out the channels in the Mud Lake area before stopping at Lime Island about 5 p.m. Mackinaw joined the Hollyhock and Katmai Bay in the Soo. Penobscot Bay will be joining them Tuesday afternoon.

Monday afternoon, the tug W. J. Isaac Purvis moved the barge PML 9000 from the Carbide dock, where it had been all winter, across the river to the dock in Soo, Ont. The Hollyhock, which had been at the U.S. Coast Guard station dock, then moved down to the Carbide dock. The USCGC Penobscot Bay will be joining them Tuesday afternoon.

Soo Locks
On Monday, the Durocher Marine tug General and barge MOBRO 2001 locked up through the Davis Lock about 10 a.m. They are continuing work on the cofferdam for the new lock.

Port Huron
Herbert C. Jackson was downbound Monday evening in Lower Lake Huron for Severstahl’s Rouge River steel plant with a load of taconite from Escanaba, Mich. She was escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley. Heavy winds were blowing ice from Canadian side, though the ice bridge in lower Lake Huron that had caused so much concern last week has mostly rotted away in the warmer temperatures and rain.

South Chicago, Ill. - Lou Gerard
Alpena arrived at the LaFarge dock at the 130th Street Bridge early Sunday morning. She could be seen all day Sunday unloading. They were upbound on Lake Michigan Monday evening.

Coast Guard to open channel between Cheboygan, Bois Blanc

3/16 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - Captain of the Port Sault Ste. Marie will open the waters between Cheboygan, Mich., and Bois Blanc Island, Mich., also known as South Channel, at 12 p.m. on March 18.

Official opening ceremony for 2010 Seaway shipping season March 25

3/16 - Massena, N.Y. – The official “Top Hat” Opening Ceremony of the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 2010 navigation season will take place at the Welland Canal, St. Catharines, Ont., Canada, Thursday, March 25 at 10 a.m.

The event annually brings together many of the key players and stakeholders on both sides of the border.

Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, has been invited to be keynote speaker. St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation President and CEO Richard Corfe and U.S. Seaway Administrator Collister Johnson, Jr. will also make presentations.

Month-long Asian Carp hunt turns up nothing

3/16 - Chicago, Ill. - A month-long netting operation has turned up no Asian carp on Chicago’s main shipping canal near Lake Michigan. The search is part of the federal government’s $78.5 million plan to stop the invasive fish with the huge appetite from taking over the Great Lakes. The netting was ordered after DNA tests showed evidence of the bloated carp at several spots beyond the electronic barrier on Chicago’s main canal that’s meant to keep the fish at bay.

Charlie Wooley of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says they’d like to see actual Asian carp before acknowledging that any are there. But Duane Chapman of the U.S. Geological Survey says the fish are hard to catch when there are only a few on such a massive waterway. As a result, he says it means nothing that the first netting came up empty. Tom Marks of the Great Lakes Sport Council says the netting is a waste of time and money. He’s afraid the federal government will ease up on its promise to fight the carp, the longer an actual fish doesn’t show up.

The netting result was good news for Chicago business interests which are fighting proposals to close the canals to keep the fish out. It’s part of a lawsuit by Michigan to try and get Chicago to reverse its sewage flows, so Lake Michigan is no longer link to the carp-infested Mississippi River. The suit is backed by Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states outside of Illinois.

WTAQ

New Discussion Boards

3/16 - For several years we have been working on a replacement for our dated discussion boards. After many revisions and user comments we have launched an updated board.

Based on user feed back we have simplified the user interface and tried to make it intuitive. The new system will allow inline picture attachments and provides better privacy by not publically displaying the user's IP.

Use accounts are optional, you may still post by simply clicking the "Post New Topic" button. We suggest creating a user account, this will allow you to track new posts and post without entering the security codes every time. We plan to run both boards together until we get a larger pool of user feed back. If you are familiar with these types of boards from other sites please visit http://newsearch.boatnerd.com

We encourage all users to help test the new boards, we have added a "test" forum that will allow you to try the new system.

For instructions on use click here

Updates - March 16

Weekly Website Updates
News Photo Gallery
Public Gallery updated

Lorain, Ohio
Arthur M. Anderson arrived at the mouth of Lorain harbor at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Ice at the entrance of the river caused the Anderson to back and ram its way into port. The Anderson will load ore for Zug Island, in Detroit.

Straits of Mackinac - Jon Paul Michaels
After a weekend of mild temperatures and breezy east winds, the shipping channel in the Straits of Mackinac is mainly free of ice after being completely ice covered only a few days ago. The Round Island Passage is also mainly ice-free. The South Passage has large portions of ice-free area off of Cheboygan, but is still mostly rotten-ice covered from the traffic buoy west to Zela Shoal.

Mackinac Island - Robert McGreevy
The Arnold Transit ferry Huron will resume service to Mackinac Island today. This is welcome relief to the residents of Mackinac Island. Boat service ended on January 7 due to ice conditions. The ice bridge between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island did not form this year because of the mild weather.

Escanaba, Mich. – Lee Rowe
Herbert C. Jackson departed winter lay-up at Bay Shipbuilding Saturday and headed to load in Escanaba, sporting a new coat of paint. She loaded ore at and departed on a sunny Sunday. Tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort and barge Great Lakes Trader were inbound for the Escanaba ore dock Sunday night.

Alpena, Mich. – Ben & Chanda McClain
The tug Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation opened the season at Lafarge when they arrived in the early morning Saturday.

Cleveland, Ohio – Bill Kloss
The tug Dorothy Ann and barge Pathfinder continue the shuttle run from Cleveland Bulk Terminal up the Cuyahoga River to the Arcelor/Mittal steel mill.

Marinette Marine breaks ground on large ship facility

3/15 - Marinette, Wis. – Marinette Marine Corp. broke ground Friday for the expansion of its large ship erection building.

Company leaders say this is part of a $100 million investment in Marinette Marine and other area operations aimed at securing contracts that will help stabilize the work force at the shipyard — such as the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship.

(The expansion) "is to improve our production efficiency and make us more productive and more competitive in the marketplace," said Fred Moosally, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, which includes Bay Shipbuilding Co. in Sturgeon Bay and ACE Marine in Green Bay. "When we win the fiscal year 2010 ships for LCS, that's a winner take all with 10 ships … and it will really stabilize the work force."

Marinette Marine is owned by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A.

The building upgrade is expected to nearly double production square footage in two large construction bays and will give the company the option of having two complete hulls and parts for two other ships under construction indoors at one time.

It also is expected to allow larger sections of a vessel to be built prior to launch.

This improvement will allow Fincantieri to build the Littoral Combat Ship more cost effectively, according to a news release.

Marinette Marine built the first-in-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom and is working on another ship in that class. The ship Marinette Marine is building is designed by Lockheed Martin.

Austal USA is moving forward with a competing design after partnering with General Dynamics.

The Navy is expected to choose a design this summer.

Marinette Marine has also installed overhead cranes with a higher lift capacity and new pipe bending machines, and the yard is expected to improve its panel line production facility and build a new blasting and paint building.

Moosally said the expansion is something customers wanted to see.

"It's going to allow them to have a lot of confidence in our ability to produce ships at the prices they want," he said. "This is all about cost. The new word in town … is affordability and we have to be able to show our customers we can build affordable, quality, ships that meet the requirements they have."

Joyce Allgeyer, an outfitter at the yard and recording secretary for Boilermakers Local 696, said workers are being recalled, and the Littoral Combat Ship contract is important.

"We're hopeful," she said.

Marinette Marine recently secured a contract to build a new Alaska Region Research Vessel for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Late last year Fincantieri said Marinette Marine and Bay Shipbuilding Co. in Sturgeon Bay could see investments worth about $40 million made in the two facilities in the near term and as much as $100 million in investment over the next five years.

"We're going to win (the LCS contract) on cost," Moosally said. "This is basically a price shootout."

Green Bay Press Gazette

Updates - March 15

Weekly Website Updates
News Photo Gallery
Public Gallery updated

In 1880, the harbor tug GEORGE LAMONT sank with her crew of three off Pentwater, Michigan after being overcome by weather during a race with her rival, the harbor tug GEM. The LAMONT was the only steamer to disappear with all hands during the many races that took place among steamers during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

On 14 March 1873, The new railroad carferry SAGINAW went into the Port Huron Dry Dock Company's dry dock where her engine was installed along with her shaft and propeller. Workmen had to break up the ice in the dry dock to release the schooner MARY E PEREW so that work could begin on the SAGINAW. The work was done quickly since SAGINAW was needed to fill in for a disabled ferry in Detroit.

Mr. Francois Baby was granted a "ferry lease" between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan on 14 March 1843. He built the steamer ALLIANCE for this ferry service and Capt. Tom Chilvers was the skipper. In 1851, Capt. Chilvers leased the steamer from Mr. Baby and ran it on the same route until the late 1850s.

On 14 March 1878, the first vessel of the navigation season passed through the Straits of Mackinac. This was the earliest opening of the navigation season at the Straits since 1854.

Data from: Max Hanley, Shawn B-K, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.

Arthur M. Anderson resumes trip downbound

3/13 - Port Huron, Mich. – Friday morning started with the CCGS Samuel Risley upbound on Lake St. Clair escorting the Samuel de Champlain and barge Innovation. By 10:15 a.m., they had passed Algonac with no delays. The CCGS Griffon was downbound from Sarnia and the Arthur M. Anderson had turned and started downbound. Griffon escorted Anderson downbound across Lake St. Clair; Anderson stopped at Sterling Fuel in Windsor Friday afternoon before resuming her trip to Lorain, Ohio. About 11:15 a.m., Risley tuned above Marine City to escort Algocanada downbound.

Coast Guard keeps tabs on ice bridge

3/13 - Port Huron, Mich. – Port Huron’s Vantage Point Maritime Center has been providing a good view of the sizable chunks of ice that flowed downriver from the ice bridge that has been melting and breaking apart since Tuesday.

The 30- to 35-square-mile ice bridge in southern Lake Huron had some officials worried about a repeat of 1984, when an ice bridge broke up and blocked the St. Clair River for 24 days, dropping water levels in Lake St. Clair and flooding the southern part of the county. The break cost the shipping industry $1.7 million that year, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A statement issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit on Thursday night said the agency was keeping an eye on the river and warned of hazards to small vessels from the pieces of ice.

As of 9:45 p.m., Bluewater Ferry from Marine City to Sombra, Ontario, reported no delays. Neither did Champion's Auto Ferry from Clay Township to Harsens Island, nor the Walpole-Algonac Ferry Line from Walpole Island to Algonac.

So instead of a hazard to the county's residents and economy, the broken-up ice bridge appeared to be a source of enjoyment for river watchers.

Port Huron Times Herald

Buffalo, N.Y. - Brian Wroblewski
The fire tug Edward M. Cotter's ice breaking mission on March 5 has proven a success. All of the ice in the navigation section of the Buffalo River has flushed itself out and the water is now running mud brown. The lake ice off Buffalo seems to be shifting around somewhat, since there were open areas of clear water to be seen outside the breakwall.

The New York state Power Authority tug Breaker was out in the ice of the City Ship Canal on the 11th. They may be getting ready to start working the Niagara River Ice Boom. There is a nice shot of her in today's picture page of the Buffalo News.

The tug Kurt Luedtke was rafted to the derrick barge #16 with her engine running at the Cargill Pier around noon today. The small tender tug Gretchen was tied up on the outside of the Luedtke. They are either getting ready to begin dredging again and finish the job they started in the fall, or they may be getting ready to depart.

Muskegon, Mich. - Mark Taylor
The Alpena departed winter lay-up the Mart Dock in Muskegon Friday heading for Milwaukee and Chicago.

Coast Guard suspects hoax after lake search

3/13 - Marblehead, Ohio – After a fruitless 2½-hour search by air and land yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard will launch a hoax investigation into a report of a capsized boat and a missing person in western Lake Erie.

The cell phone call was made about 6:40 a.m. from an unlisted number.

The caller said he got safely to shore but did not give a better location or provide any other details and was uncooperative before the call was dropped in midsentence, authorities said.

The Coast Guard searched the lake by helicopter. Coast Guard personnel also drove to boat ramps in search of unattended vehicles and empty boat trailers.

The search was called off about 9:30 a.m.

Toledo Blade

Updates - March 13

News Photo Gallery
Public Gallery updated

The keel for the tanker IMPERIAL REDWATER (Hull#106) was laid March 13, 1950, at Port Arthur, Ontario by Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. She was converted to a bulk freighter at Collingwood, Ontario and renamed b.) R. BRUCE ANGUS in 1954. The ANGUS operated for Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., until she was scrapped at Setubal, Portugal in 1985.

On March 13, 1989, the Rouge Steel Co. announced the sale of its marine operations to Lakes Shipping, Cleveland (Interlake Steamship, mgr.).

Data from: Joe Barr, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.