Soo Locks to open early for new season

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI. – The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will open the Poe Lock to all marine traffic at 6 p.m. on March 22, marking the start of the 2024 Great Lakes shipping season. The shipping industry requested an early season opening due the urging of major steel producers.

“The St. Lawrence Seaway has announced that it will open this spring on March 22. We would like to match that early opening at the Soo,” President of the Lake Carriers’ Association James Weakley said. “We also note that the Seaway strike in 2023 and extreme wind events toward the end of the last operating season left the fleet with undelivered cargo.”

“Our winter maintenance period is a critical time for us to invest in our aging locks,” Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle said. “This year, a number of factors worked in our favor that allowed us to safely deliver this critical maintenance and also open to navigation traffic a few days early, with the St. Lawrence Seaway.”

Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions.

The locks officially closed after the last vessel of the 2023 season on January 16, to undergo critical repairs and maintenance during the 10 week-long winter shutdown. Maintenance crews performed a variety of critical tasks on the Poe Lock, including structural inspections, maintenance, and installation of lifting lugs on the upstream miter gate. On the downstream miter gates crews installed anchorage components and completed critical structural repairs. Major rehabilitation continued on the Poe Lock’s upstream and downstream ship arrestor systems.

“We worked hard to accelerate work up-front during our annual closure, with crews working extended days and hours to optimize the short time available for critical maintenance and repairs,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. “Due to the hard work of our maintenance crews and some mild weather, we’ve been able to accomplish all required work ahead of schedule.”

“We welcome visitors into the park for the 2024 Soo Locks season opening,” Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs said. “The park and viewing platform will stay open until 8 p.m. to allow visitors to watch the first ship from the viewing platform.”

All persons entering are subject to a security search at the Soo Locks entry checkpoint. Firearms, weapons, drugs, pets (except service animals) and bicycles are not permitted.

For those unable to attend in person, the Detroit District will host a Facebook Live of the event at https://www.facebook.com/USACEDetroitDistrict starting at 5:55 p.m.

The MacArthur Lock, located south of the Poe, will remain closed for maintenance until April 24. Great Lakes cruising expected to bring $200M, 20,000 passengers to region in 2024.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Coast Guard opening Pipe Island Passage

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI. — Due to the absence of ice formation and unseasonably warm

Forecasted temperatures VTS St. Mary’s River plans to open Pipe Island Passage (East of Pipe Island Shoal and North of Pipe Island Twins from Watson Reef Light to Sweets Point) in accordance with 33 CFR 161.117. The channel will close effective 0900 EST on 07 March 2024. The Pipe Island Course will return to one-way traffic.

The Coast Guard recommends that members of the public who recreate on the ice, particularly those who fish, or operate snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles on ice-covered waters, plan their activities carefully, use caution on the ice, and stay away from charted shipping channels.

USCG

Raffle offers trip on steamer Alpena

Have you ever wanted to take a trip on a classic Great Lakes freighter? Alpena Lodge 19 is raffling off a trip for four aboard the steamer Alpena. More information and tickets available at:

https://northeastmichiganlodge19.com

International Ship Masters’ Association

S.S. Badger Licensed Deck Officer 

Responsible to manage, oversee and direct the Deck Department for the daily operations of the vessel:  Knowledge of the fire and lifeboat stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency in order to properly carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, on-scene commander in emergency situations and drills, supervises the Deck Department assuring that work is accomplished in a safe and efficient manner, supervises the general management of loading and off-loading passengers and cargo, maintenance of all cargo gear, deck gear, hold, decks, hatches and hull, management of all emergency station bill assignments, posting of lists, and search parties, manages the cleanliness of exterior, car deck and holds of the vessel, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct, room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, eligible for AMO medical, LMC dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day probationary period.

APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION MUST HOLD A MATE’S LICENSE WITH UNLIMITED TONNAGE

 Qualifications/Certifications required:

• Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Valid Merchant Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard
• Current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate
• Legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be required upon employment.

 

Raffle offers trip on steamer Alpena

Have you ever wanted to take a trip on a classic Great Lakes freighter? Alpena Lodge 19 is
raffling off a trip for four aboard the steamer Alpena. More information and tickets available at:

https://northeastmichiganlodge19.com

International Ship Masters Association

Ice-clearing to start near Eisenhower and Snell Locks

Ice-clearing activities will begin on or about March 4, 2024 and continue throughout the St.
Lawrence River, including the area between the Eisenhower and Snell Locks in preparation for
the Seaway’s upcoming navigation season.

All ice fishermen, snowmobile operators, and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) operators should refrain
from using the areas where ice has been cleared to avoid numerous open water leads and
unstable ice cover caused by the clearing.

All persons, including ice fishermen, snowmobile and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) operators, are to
refrain from using the canal in the area between the Eisenhower and Snell Locks due to the
possibility of unstable ice cover.

The Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the St. Lawrence Seaway is scheduled to open at 8 a.m.,
March 22.

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

Lake Superior College to offer opportunities
with new maritime designation

DULUTH, MN – The designation from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime
Administration will now give the school more support to provide opportunities for students
who want to work in the maritime industry.

Lake Superior College, along with Saint Paul College and Minnesota State College Southeast, is
one of 50 maritime training locations nationwide to earn the designation. The college currently
trains students in skills like firefighting, welding, repairs, and machining.

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority celebrated the new designation, including that it could help
an aging workforce. “To have an opportunity to create more educational opportunities for
people to enter that field, or accelerate their development within that field is definitely a good
thing,” Jayson Hron, the Director of Communication and Marketing, said. “When you’re looking
at a maritime workforce that is largely retiring before it can be replaced.” According to Hron,
the port contributes about 7,000 jobs to the region, both on land and water.

The designation can both train new students and ones currently in the maritime industry,
according to Lake Superior College.

Northern News Now

Harboring Growth: How the first Black Port Milwaukee Director is breaking records

MILWAUKEE, WI – You might think of Port Milwaukee as salt piles and cruise ships, but the
person in charge wants you to know it has a lot more to offer. Jackie Q. Carter is the first
woman and Black person to hold the position of Municipal Port Director. She now has one year
of service as administrator in Foreign Trade Zone No. 41.

It’s a relatively mild February morning, but Lake Michigan still has that cold look to it. Jackie Q.
Carter doesn’t see the cold. She sees an opportunity. Opportunity drives Carter as she oversees
the Port’s $6.7 million budget and nearly 500 acres.

It’s a big piece of land, stretching from the steps of the Milwaukee Art Museum, south past the
Lake Express Ferry building, and west underneath I-794 to Jones Island. The Port operates as a
landlord with tenants that include Cargill Salt and Kinder Morgan. Carter says, It’s daunting,
but that’s where it’s important to remember there’s a team.

And Carter is all about teamwork. She listens and brainstorms with staff and community leaders
to improve and attract more ships, more trucks, and more trains with the backdrop of her
historic appointment.

It’s encouraging but also somewhat discouraging, right? Because in 2023 we shouldn’t still be
having that conversation. But the encouraging part is it allows other young people who look like
me who come from the same community that I come from to know that it’s possible.

One of the biggest surprises and challenges is getting the word out that Milwaukee has a port,
even though the first commercial vessel called on the west shore of Lake Michigan in 1835.

Carter started at the Port in 2017 overseeing finances and became Port Director six years later.

Carter says When I was appointed, when people saw it, they were like, congratulations, this is
great, but they had no idea we had a Port.

And now, Carter is on a mission to change that by getting the word out about what the Port
does and can offer businesses. Cruising has increased the port’s profile by breaking records in
2022 with nearly 14,000 visitors. She also wants to expose young people to the career
opportunities available at the Port without a college education. She envisions Port Days for
students to learn about careers working on ships, rails, and maybe even tourism, because after
all, not everyone wants to be a doctor or an athlete.

Not only is Carter the first woman and Black person to be the Port Director, but she is also the
first person of color to head up a port authority in Wisconsin.

Carter was appointed to the municipal role by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the
Milwaukee Common Council confirmed her appointment in 2023. Jackie Q. Carter took her
Oath of Office on February 23, 2023.

Read the full story here: https://www.tmj4.com/lifestyle/black-history-month/harboring-growth-how-the-first-black-port-milwaukee-director-is-breaking-records

 

Great Lakes cruise business, Cleveland, take a hit with American Queen shutdown

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The nascent cruise industry in Cleveland will take a hit this summer as one
of the major players in Great Lakes cruising is going out of business.

American Queen Voyages announced recently that it was shutting down. The company, based
in Fort Lauderdale, operated both the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager, sister ships carrying
202 passengers each, which spent their summers in recent years crisscrossing the Great Lakes.

Last year, the two ships made as many as 30 stops in Cleveland – far more than any other cruise
line.

Dave Gutheil, chief commercial officer with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, said
that while the two American Queen ships will be missed in the region, Great Lakes cruising –
and Cleveland’s port of call – are still strong. “The number of calls will be down,” he said. “But
we’re hoping that the number of passengers per call will be up.”

In 2023, eight ships made a total of 48 stops in Cleveland, bringing 8,100 visitors to town,
primarily for daytime tours of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and other Northeast Ohio
attractions. It was the port’s busiest year for cruise ships since the resurgence of Great Lakes
cruising a decade or so ago.

This year, the port is expecting 26 cruise ship calls in Cleveland, starting May 26. Because
several of the ships coming are larger than the Navigator and Voyager, the number of overall
passengers shouldn’t drop too much, Gutheil said.

Among those with planned stops in Cleveland: Both the Viking Polaris and the Viking Octantis,
with room for 378 passengers each, ships with the well-known Viking Cruises brand, best
known for its upscale European river cruises.

Viking made its first stop in Cleveland last year and plans 10 stops in the summer of 2024. Also
on the schedule for Cleveland’s port, which sits just west of Cleveland Browns Stadium in
downtown:

• The Pearl Mist, an all-balcony small ship that accommodates a maximum of 210 passengers.
• Ponant’s luxurious Le Bellot, with an underwater lounge and room for 184 passengers, sailing
  a Toronto-Chicago itinerary that’s part of several late-summer Tauck tours.
• MS Hamburg, operated by German-based Plantours, which was built in 1997 and is the oldest
  and largest ship in the Great Lakes, with room for 420 passengers.

Gutheil added that he and others who promote Great Lakes cruising are pursuing other cruise
lines to come to the region, as well.

“I’m still optimistic for the future of cruising in the Great Lakes,” he said. “There are still lines
out there looking for new places to go. The Great Lakes is still virgin territory.” Many Great
Lakes passengers, Gutheil noted, have never been to the Midwest, haven’t seen Niagara Falls or
toured the Rock Hall. “They’re excited and have a good time when they come through,” he said.

The two Voyager ships were among the first to buy into this new era of Great Lakes cruising.

The two were formerly part of Victory Cruise Lines, which started sailing in the Great Lakes in
2016.

Victory Cruise Lines was purchased by American Queen Steamboat Company in 2019, which
changed its name to American Queen Voyages in 2021.

American Queen Voyages was perhaps best known for its domestic river cruises on the
Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and other inland waterways. American Queen owns numerous
other ships, including the American Queen, built in 1995 as a replica of a classic Mississippi
River paddle-wheeler.

Last year, American Queen said it planned to discontinue its Great Lakes sailings in 2024, to
concentrate on its river cruise business. Then, in late February, American Queen’s parent
company, Hornblower Group, announced that it was shutting down the entire cruise line and
putting it up for sale, as part of a bankruptcy filing.

“Despite our best efforts, demand for overnight cruises has not recovered following the
pandemic, and AQV has become financially unsustainable,” the company said on its website.

“We thank you for your support and deeply regret any inconvenience this causes you.”

Booked passengers are directed to aqvrefunds.com for refund information.

Cleveland.com

S.S. Badger Licensed Deck Officer 

Responsible to manage, oversee and direct the Deck Department for the daily operations of the vessel:  Knowledge of the fire and lifeboat stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency in order to properly carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, on-scene commander in emergency situations and drills, supervises the Deck Department assuring that work is accomplished in a safe and efficient manner, supervises the general management of loading and off-loading passengers and cargo, maintenance of all cargo gear, deck gear, hold, decks, hatches and hull, management of all emergency station bill assignments, posting of lists, and search parties, manages the cleanliness of exterior, car deck and holds of the vessel, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct, room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, eligible for AMO medical, LMC dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day probationary period.

APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION MUST HOLD A MATE’S LICENSE WITH UNLIMITED TONNAGE

 Qualifications/Certifications required:

• Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Valid Merchant Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard
• Current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate
• Legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be required upon employment.

 

S.S. Badger Licensed Deck Officer 

Responsible to manage, oversee and direct the Deck Department for the daily operations of the vessel:  Knowledge of the fire and lifeboat stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency in order to properly carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, on-scene commander in emergency situations and drills, supervises the Deck Department assuring that work is accomplished in a safe and efficient manner, supervises the general management of loading and off-loading passengers and cargo, maintenance of all cargo gear, deck gear, hold, decks, hatches and hull, management of all emergency station bill assignments, posting of lists, and search parties, manages the cleanliness of exterior, car deck and holds of the vessel, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct, room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, eligible for AMO medical, LMC dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day probationary period.

APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION MUST HOLD A MATE’S LICENSE WITH UNLIMITED TONNAGE

 Qualifications/Certifications required:

• Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
• Valid Merchant Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard
• Current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate
• Legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be required upon employment.

 

Mark W. Barker starts season with Cleveland ore shuttles

The Mark W. Barker’s 2024-25 shipping season is underway with early-season Cleveland iron
ore shuttles up the Cuyahoga River. She departed her winter lay-up berth in Detroit on Sunday.

In other Lake Erie news, the USCGC Neah Bay was off Cleveland Monday, making her way to
Sault Ste Marie, MI. Northern Venture is now in Ashtabula loading coke for Thessalon, ON.

CCGS Samuel Risley has been tasked with icebreaking at Thessalon in preparation for her
arrival.

Interlake Steamship Co., DRE Designs

 

Warm winter keeps Great Lakes ice coverage very low

Thunder Bay, ON – An icebreaker may be an unlikely sight in the Port of Thunder Bay this year,
as ice coverage across the Great Lakes remains low. We are having a historically low ice year
and that’s due basically entirely to the fact that we’ve had a really warm winter so far, said Jay
Austin of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Large Lakes Observatory.

Ice cover is a very, very strong function of average winter air temperatures, he said. We’ve
just really had no conditions that have been conducive to the formation of ice. We had some
cooler air earlier [last] week and there was a bit of an uptick in coastal lake ice, but really very
little, if any, on the open lake.

Austin said that prior to 1998, 50 to 60 per cent of Lake Superior would be covered in ice at this
time of year; in the years after 1998, the normal ice coverage for the lake would be 25 or 30 per
cent.

According to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, total ice cover across all the
Great Lakes was 6.1 per cent as of Feb. 22, 2024.

Why the air temperature this winter is as warm as it is can be due to a number of different
factors, Austin said. This is a strong El Niño year, and so that plays a significant role in upper
midwest air temperatures. And of course there are the effects of long-term trends toward
warmer air because of us changing the chemistry of the atmosphere, he said. We pump
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and we trap more heat.

There are several factors that are contributing to the fact that we’re having this very warm
winter, and it’s going to take some time before we really understand exactly what was
responsible for the anomalous conditions we’re having.

Austin said there are clear ecological impacts when there’s not much ice.The coastal ice
serves as a refuge for spawning fish, he said. Coastal ice can also act as armor against coastal
erosion, and so we will expect there to be enhanced coastal erosion from spring storms this
year.

There are going to be cultural and commercial effects. You don’t have people going over to the
Wisconsin south shore to visit the ice caves. Sitting here in Duluth, we don’t see people ice
fishing off the shore.

The lack of ice could mean an extended shipping season, however, and Austin said ice cover is a
good predictor of conditions coming later in the year.

What we should expect in a year like this, with very little ice cover, is that the the start of the
summer season, where the lake starts forming a warm layer on top, will be considerably earlier
this year, he said. So I predict that instead of the early July onset of those conditions, we
might see that in mid-to-late May this year. That typically leads to warmer water temperatures
through the summer.

It also means there may not be a need for an ice breaker to visit the Port of Thunder Bay in
advance of the 2024 shipping season.

This year, the ice is well-below the normal for this region, said Guillaume Paradis, ice-breaking
superintendent for the central region with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). At the approach
of the opening of the Soo Locks, if there is a need, an ice breaker will go [to] Thunder Bay to
help. But at this point, there is not a lot of ice in the bay.

In an email, a CCG spokesperson said that during periods of low ice coverage, coast guard
vessels remain on standby for any ice breaking requests,to keep waterways clear and open to
prevent potential flooding caused by ice jams, as well as respond to any search and rescue
operations or marine pollution incidents.

Ice breaking is getting underway in other places, however, with the CCGS Samuel Risley
scheduled to start breaking ice in the Thessalon, Ont., area on or around Feb. 25.

The purpose of this operation is to break up the ice to allow commercial vessels safe and
efficient movement, the CCG said in a media release.

CBC

 

Lawmaker to host hearing on expanding icebreaking capacity

Green Bay, WI – A congressional lawmaker is coming to Wisconsin later this week to talk about
an important resource that keeps the Great Lakes region’s economy afloat: icebreaking.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is set to host a field hearing in Green Bay on March 1 with
Admiral Linda L. Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, several other U.S. Coast Guard
officials, and business leaders to testify on the need to expand icebreaking capacity on the
Great Lakes.

Baldwin, who is the chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change
and Manufacturing, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, helped negotiate a
measure called the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act in the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2022. The bipartisan measure authorized $350 million for a new heavy icebreaker for the
lakes.

If the Great Lakes region were a country, it would be the third largest economy in the world
after the U.S. and China, according to the Council for the Great Lakes Region. Shipping is the
backbone of this economy with more than 90 million tons of cargo moving throughout the
Great Lakes each year. Keeping shipping lanes open by icebreaking is an integral part of
commerce in the winter months.

In 1979, the U.S. and Canadian coast guards had 20 icebreakers stationed throughout the Great
Lakes. Now, there are only 11, which must cover more than 2,300 miles from Duluth,
Minnesota, to the Atlantic Ocean and the 94,000 square miles of ice-covered lakes in between.

The U.S. Coast Guard owns nine of these icebreakers.
The Mackinaw is the only icebreaker in the U.S. fleet capable of leaving a wide enough path for
large freighters to pass through. The new heavy icebreaker that was authorized will be similar
in size to the Mackinaw.

While ice may not be on the top of everyone’s mind this winter, the lack of icebreaking capacity
has had costly consequences in some years. For instance, during the 2018-19 ice season, the
Great Lakes maritime industry lost more than a billion dollars and roughly 5,800 jobs.

“If we can’t break the ice on the Great Lakes, our Made in Wisconsin economy suffers,
consumers might not see the goods they need on the shelf, and thousands of jobs are on the
chopping block, Baldwin said.

I’m proud to have secured funding to support a new icebreaker for the Great Lakes, and now
I’m excited to be bringing Washington, D.C., to Wisconsin to show the real impact of the Great
Lakes on Wisconsin’s economy, way of life, and future, she said.

Baldwin and Fagan will be joined by Master Petty Chief Heath Jones, Master Petty Chief of the
U.S. Coast Guard; Rear Admiral Jon Hickey, Ninth District Coast Guard Commander; Master
Chief Mathew Buckman, Ninth District Coast Guard Command Master Chief; Dean Haen,
director of the Brown County Port and Resource Recovery department; Ken Przybyla, vice
president of operations of GLC Minerals; and James Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’
Association.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

 

Reduced Great Lakes ice could threaten coastal infrastructure

The Great Lakes have seen record low levels of ice cover this winter. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration says the percentage of the lakes covered with ice was in the single
digits for much of February, although it rose to 12% by the 19th.

What does the low ice cover mean for the shoreline? U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coastal
engineer Jim Selegean tells us the shoreline is usually protected from erosion in the winter by
the ice cover.

“A complex of ice builds out into the lake as the winter goes on and basically it armors the
shoreline,” Selegean said. “So, it’s like all the shore protection that we see on the Great Lakes
stopping the energy of the waves from hitting the bluffs, which is what we care about because
we built our infrastructure on top. Shore ice has the same effect.”

With less ice cover, Selegean says the coast faces a risk of more erosion. He tells us climate
forecasts anticipate continued dwindling of ice coverage each winter, so ongoing maintenance
along the shoreline to prevent erosion may be needed moving forward.

Selegean adds because of the way sand moves, marinas and harbors may be looking at a need
for more frequent dredging in the future. “For three months out of the year, there’s pretty
much no sediment being deposited in our navigation channels on Lake Michigan. But with less
ice, that’s more months of the year when sand moves around.

Selegean doesn’t know if this winter has seen significant coastal erosion because that’s
measured by aerial photos that haven’t been analyzed yet. He says another drawback of
reduced Great Lakes ice could be related to fish that rely on it for protection.

WSJM

 

U.S., Canada coast guards sign agreement, collaborating on Great Lakes icebreaking

U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard sectors are teaming up to work on buoy tending and
icebreaking operations throughout shared waters in the Great Lakes.

Coast Guard representatives from both countries came together to sign a new memorandum of
understanding (MOU) earlier this month. This memorandum is a new agreement which includes
some elements of previous agreements to coordinate efforts between the two groups.

The agreement will allow the two organizations will come together for efforts in ice breaking
throughout the main waterways of the lakes, as well as connecting waters like the Georgian
Bay, which connects to Lake Huron, and St. Lawrence River, which connects to Lake Ontario.

The agreement will also allow for collaboration on buoy tending operations.

The agencies will now be able to tend to each others’ floating aids and share buoy tending
resources, improving response times for aid outages or defects, reduce vessel transit times and
cost, and decrease man hours.

With the MOU in place, the agencies will better be able to collect data and help travelers from
both countries.

The shared icebreaking operations will include exchange of personnel, reporting on the
availability of icebreaking facilities, establishing constant means of communication, allocation
of areas of operational mandate and other matters relevant to their cooperation and the
coordination of their icebreaking operations.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to finalize this plan between the Canadian Coast Guard
Central Region and the Ninth Coast Guard District to improve our efficiency with ice breaking
and aids to navigation in the Great Lakes,” said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jon Hickey. “A lot
of time and hard work went into putting this MOU in place, and I look forward to seeing the
Marine Transportation System in the Great Lakes region thrive as a result. I’m thankful for this
partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard and can’t wait to see what more we can accomplish
in the future.”

Sault News

 

Stay at historic DeTour Reef lighthouse in Lake Huron for $50 a night

If you’re planning a spring or summer trip and are looking for an affordable place to stay on the
Great Lakes, you’re in luck. The DeTour Reef Light in northern Lake Huron has expanded its
lighthouse keeper program, previously only available on weekends, to include weeknight stays
for $50 per person per night, the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society said.

According to the preservation society’s website, the 83-foot lighthouse, built in 1931, is a
strategic and historic landmark that marks a dangerous reef to help guide ship traffic to and
from Lake Huron and Lake Superior via the St. Marys River.

The DRLPS said it completed a major restoration of the structure in 2004 and began the
overnight keeper program and public tours in 2005. The overnight keeper program helps raise
funds for the continued maintenance and restoration of the light and offers the opportunity to
experience life as a lighthouse keeper.

The DRLPS said a minimum of two keepers is required at all times, with a maximum of six
keepers allowed at one time. While the light cannot be rented by one person for $50 a night, it
can be rented by two people for $100 a night. Two people can also choose to pay $200 a night
to have guaranteed private use of the lighthouse all to themselves for five nights, Sunday-
Thursday, according to the DRLPS website.

The DRLPS says guests must be in good physical condition, capable of making multiple trips up
and down the vertical 20-foot pier ladders and to the top of the lighthouse.

Detroit Free Press

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

 

FREQUENT FLIERS: Top 10 cargo ships that
went through the Soo Locks the most in 2023

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – An engineering marvel, the Soo Locks in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula is one of the busiest maritime locking systems in the world. Each year, more
than 4,500 vessels use the locks. And they carry through up to 80 million tons of cargo.

But some ships and cargo vessels become a little more familiar to the locks crews than
others during the course of the year. They go upbound and downbound quite a bit.

Think of these big vessels as the “frequent flyers” of the cargo shipping business on the
Great Lakes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit, which oversees the Soo Locks, just
released a video counting down which ships – and tugboats – went through the locks the
most in 2023.

“The 2023 season was another busy one for crews at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan,” Army Corps staff said. “After running all the numbers and counting every
lockage we compiled a list of the top ten cargo ships that made the most trips through
the locks last year.”

You can check out the video at the below. Here is the list:

10th place: This was a four-way tie, with three of the Great Lakes’ thousand-foot
freighters and a smaller ship each locking through 70 times. The three “footers” are
longer than three football fields. They are:

American Integrity
Stewart J. Cort
Edgar B. Speer

The smallest spot in that four-way tie goes to the 730-foot American Mariner, which
could fit neatly on the deck of one of those thousand-footers.

9th place: This spot is also a tie. Passing through 72 times were the James R. Barker –
the first thousand-footer built entirely on the Great Lakes – and the much smaller tug
Victory. The Victory is typically paired with the barge Maumee. Ship-watching fans love
the James R. Barker’s unique two-tone horn. They call it the “Barker Bark.”

8th place: It’s the Mesabi Miner with 74 trips through the locks. This thousand-footer is
named after the Mesabi Range, an iron ore mining area in northern Minnesota. It is one
of only two areas iron ore is mined in the U.S., according to the Army Corps. The other
is in Marquette, Michigan.

7th place: John G. Munson. This classic “Laker-style” ship has its forward pilothouse
with its engines at the stern. It locked through the Soo 75 times last year.

6th place: This spot belongs to the American Century, which visited the locks 76 times
last year. It can carry up to 80,000 tons in a single load.

5th place: The tug W.I. Scott Purvis, built in 1938, gets the midway point honors on this
list. The consort tug went through the locks 77 times in 2023. It’s homeported in Ontario,
Canada.

4th place: The Paul R. Tregurtha – the longest ship on the Great Lakes – when through
the Soo on 81 trips last year. With her length at an impressive 1,013 feet, she is the
reigning “Queen of the Great Lakes.”

3rd place: Locking through 86 times was the Edwin H. Gott, which the Army Corps gives
the nod to as the “most powerful ship on the Great Lakes.” It can haul at a steady 17
mph and can be loaded with more than 70 tons of cargo per trip.

2nd place: The Honorable James L. Oberstar made 88 trips. This classic Laker
launched in 1959. Its current name is a hat-tip to a former congressman from Minnesota
who was known as a champion of transportation issues.

1st place: Celebrating 92 trips through the Soo Locks is the Lee A. Tregurtha. This 82-
year-old Laker is one of the oldest ships on the Great lakes. It launched in 1942 and
was first used as a Naval tanker during WWII. Several structural alterations later, this
ship now makes runs between Detroit and Marquette hauling iron ore pellets.

Read the full story at MLive: https://www.mlive.com/life/2024/02/top-10-cargo-ships-
that-went-through-the-soo-locks-the-most-in-2023.html

 

Coast Guard replacing Merchant Mariner Credential

The Coast Guard is replacing the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) passport style
booklet (“Red Book”) with a new credential. The new credential is effective March 1,
2024, and will be issued to mariners after that date.

The age of the Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) printers for the passport
style credential combined with their significant use has necessitated a need to issue a
new MMC. To move to a more reliable and modern printing process, the new credential
is formatted on 8.5” x 11” water resistant synthetic paper containing several security
features including anti-copy, micro-printing, foiling, and intricate patterns. The new
credential is produced on readily available commercial printers significantly reducing
printing times.

The new MMC will be issued to mariners during their next application, while the existing
passport style credentials will remail valid until expiration. (valid for 5 years after
issuance date) The Coast Guard is planning for a long-term credentialing solution in the
form of an electronic credential, or E-credential. The medical certificate will not change.

If mariners have any questions regarding the new credential, please contact the NMC
Customer Service Center by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC
(427-5662).

For more information on this notice or policy related questions, please contact the Office
or Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG-MMC) at MMCpolicy@uscg.mil.

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

 

American Queen Voyages shuts down operations.

American Queen Voyages, an operator of U.S. river cruises, ceased operations on Feb.
20, according to a statement the company sent to employees and a voice message
when calling the company’s phone number.

The voice message says, American Queen Voyages has made the difficult decision to
shut down and all future cruises have been canceled. Guests and customers should
expect to be fully refunded for canceled cruises.

Employees received an email from the company saying that their positions would be
terminated at 5 p.m. local time on Feb. 20 at all locations, including Fort Lauderdale,
New Orleans and Vancouver. The action is expected to be permanent, the letter stated.

The timing of this notice is necessitated by both the unforeseen business
circumstances and an inability to obtain sufficient capital at a commercially reasonable
rate to continue operations, the letter says.

The news comes weeks after Travel Weekly reported that several major trade
organizations and companies, including Signature Travel Network, Pleasant Holidays,
AAA Travel and Virtuoso, had all suspended sales of American Queen Voyages over
service issues, among which included late commission payments.

The line also had canceled sailings this month due to what it said were layup schedule
delays.

American Queen has operated two vessels on the Great Lakes the past few seasons,
but the company announced in 2023 they would be withdrawn from the market and
sold. Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager remain laid up and for sale at Portland,
Maine.

Travel Weekly

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

 

Time running out to enter first ship drawing at Soo Locks

There is still time to become a member and be entered in the drawing to represent the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association to greet the first ship of the 2024 season. Memberships start at $30 and you can join right now from our new website: https://www.soolocks.org

One lucky SLVCA member will help present the captain and crew with the traditional plaque and first ship baseball caps March 24 at the Soo Locks. The drawing will be held on Facebook live at 2 p.m. February 23.

In addition to greeting the ship and meeting the captain, the winner will also receive overnight accommodations for themselves and one guest in the Airbnb. The winner and two alternates will also receive gift baskets. Following the reception, the space will be professionally cleaned, at which point the winner and guest can expect to enjoy the space in complete privacy until checkout time on Monday, March 25.

Please note that greeting ship may require walking a quarter of a mile outdoors and could involve climbing stairs or a ladder if invited on board the ship. The precise time of the greeting depends on when the ship arrives and could take place in the afternoon of the March 24, right up until midnight when the locks open. The Corps typically provides an hour or two of notice when the greeting will take place. The winner must also wear safety gear provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

There is no additional charge to be entered – just be sure to contact the membership coordinator to have your name added to the drawing, (solomonemily@yahoo.com). For more details about the drawing and prize, go to https://fb.me/e/4T75ptNrX

Soo Locks Visitors Center Association

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.

 

ooAlgoma Bear is on her way west

The new Algoma Central self-unloader Algoma Bear left Yamic Shipyard Feb 18 under
the flag of Tuvalu for Canada. She’ll have one stop at Batangus Philippines for fuel
before heading across the Pacific. Travelling time is approximately 28 days to the
Panama Canal, where she will then wait as a transit slot was not yet been secured.

Janey Anderson

 

Algoma Endeavour launched in Croatia

A 225-metre-long ship for the transport of bulk cargo, commissioned by Canada’s
Algoma Central Corporation, was launched Feb. 17 at Rijeka’s 3.maj shipyard, with
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and numerous citizens attending the event.

The Algoma Endeavour, the longest ship launched at the Rijeka shipyard, is 23.8
meters wide and has a carrying capacity of 29,300 tons and it will sail in the
Canadian Great Lakes. After the disintegration of the Uljanik Group, this is the second
vessel built by the Rijeka shipyard for the Canadian client (the first one was the Algoma
Intrepid).

Read the full story and view images here: https://vlada.gov.hr/news/ship-for-canadian-company-launched-at-rijeka-shipyard/40958

View a video here: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1082570166416567

HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger

Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.

Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.

Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.

QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).

APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –

Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED

Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.

LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).

Interlake Steamship Co.