Port of Oswego increases tonnage by nearly 100% from 2021, leads in maritime commerce

OSWEGO, NY – Activity at the Port of Oswego (POA), is growing at a rapid pace and is seeing a brisk uptick in both activity, and economic impact, said William Scriber, POA executive director.

“As of May 31, the Port has increased tonnage by 107,701.73 tons delivered and loaded from our dock in the first quarter of the year,” Scriber said.  “Last year 53,954.68 tons were delivered and loaded in the same period. That’s an increase of nearly 100%. Since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to shipping traffic in March, The Port has had 45 working days on the dock for local labor, which yielded more than $745,000 in local payroll, pension and health benefits in April and May alone.

“In 2022, the Port is matching the tonnage and activity of the larger ports in the Great Lakes, and we in Oswego are seeing the results of a surge in maritime business that once was the hallmark of Oswego. Our continuing investments of over $26 million  include upgrades to the Port’s facilities.

“It’s important to note that the Port is self-sustaining and does not rely on tax dollars. All operations are funded by the Port’s revenue, so it depends upon itself to operate, grow, and thrive rather than tax dollars. The economic benefit from the Port has a positive impact on the local and regional economy when it purchases diesel, forklifts, gas, hardware, and other equipment. The Port’s revenue supports its operations, but also supports local jobs and local businesses.

“Anyone who lives in Oswego can see the increased economic activity this year. Ships are being unloaded and trucks are carrying product to local plants that support local jobs.  One day it’s Wind turbine components and aluminum ingots, while the next day it could be grain and potash. All are delivered, stored, and transported from the Port, which adds to the local economy and the expansion of commercial business. Just this month alone two new customers have called the Port home. 

At one time the Port of Oswego was one of the major ports in the Great Lakes creating a large number of jobs and supporting commercial growth for the City of Oswego and central New York.  As markets changed and other ports made substantial investments in their operations, the Port of Oswego declined in trade and business.

“The good news is the Port of Oswego is coming back strong with increases in business and investments that are designed to help the Port be more competitive in the new Great Lakes marketplace,” Scriber said. “All indications are that we will have a record year. In addition to our revival as a major grain exporter and local shipping source for hundreds of Central NY farmers, the Port stepped up shipments of aluminum ingots for Novelis, and it’s got three wind turbine generator component contracts to fill this year, which are good for our local economy and for the environment.”

As a result of the Port’s  growth, it recently received the 2021 Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation—for the third time in the past four years. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the pacesetter award, which was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities result in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison with the previous year.

“The Port of Oswego is accessible from any international port in the world,” Scriber said.  “The U.S. Department of Transportation has designated the Port—one of only 32 in the United States—as a Marine Highway. This designation makes the Port of Oswego a key logistics partner in the Great Lakes shipping industry.  We are the first deep draft harbor on the Great Lakes and the only New York State port on Lake Ontario that can unload international tonnage without passing through the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada (which connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie) or being delivered at an ocean coastal port. With the global supply chain issues we’re seeing right now; this could potentially provide an outlet for coastal harbor congestion in the future as navigation patterns change.”

The historical port is also home to the Oswego Marina, the H. Lee White Marine Museum, historic maritime district, and fourteen companies that call it home for its domestic and international operations. The Port of Oswego’s strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts them less than 350 miles from 60 million people. As a result of its productivity , the Port of Oswego supports 209 local jobs, $26.7 million in economic activity, and $13.8 million in personal income and local consumption expenditures, Scriber said.

Oswego County Today 

 

Vessels with Great Lakes – Seaway connections reported as a Casualty or Sold for Demolition taken from June 2022 issue of Marine News, Journal of the World Ship Society

CASUALTIES:

 Ayla (8407448) (Ranyus Sea-22, Basel S5-16, Cheget-14, T M Cheget-13, Kotkas-07. Edda-04, Torm Tema-98, Edda-96 – 1st trip into seaway 1995), 2,729 / 1985 – general cargo – ship owned by Lebanese owners, sank in heavy weather while anchored in waiting area off Alexandria, Egypt 11.03.2022

DEMOLITIONS:

 TIINA TOO (9031492; Panama) (Valor-17, Namisa-17, Diamond Park-11, Diamond Wave-09 – 1st trip into seaway 1992) 4,989 / 1992 – Chemical Products tanker – By Helios Maritime Inc. (Maru LLC), Marshall Islands to Agrasen Ship Breaking Pvt Ltd, India and arrived Alang 5.01.2022 – commenced demolition 8.01.2022

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

 

Video shows United States Coast Guard conducting hoist training onboard Kaye E. Barker

LAKE HURON – On Sunday afternoon, a video captured by an Interlake Steamship Co. crew member aboard the Kaye E. Barker showed a USCG MH-60T Jayhawk conducting a hoist training operation just east of the Mackinac Bridge.

Click on this link to view the full video: https://fb.watch/dt9OpXb33H/

 

Boatnerd survey

Please take a moment to complete our survey. It takes less than five minutes and will help us determine the future of Boatnerd. Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemHAgTPdt0quMS4WoJOVYHC7aPAExe_M_uQgGa1Kmea8bGcA/viewform

Please take a moment to complete our survey. It takes less than five minutes and will help us determine the future of Boatnerd. Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemHAgTPdt0quMS4WoJOVYHC7aPAExe_M_uQgGa1Kmea8bGcA/viewform

Fed up with supply chain delays, Wisconsin company turns to Twin Ports shipping service to move goods

In a word, Charles Wachsmuth describes ongoing supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic as a “cluster.”

The vice president of Menomonie-based Chippewa Valley Bean ticked off a list of challenges the family-owned company has been forced to navigate as the self-described largest processor and exporter of kidney beans nationwide. The company has struggled with a global shortage of shipping containers, inadequate rail service and congestion at the Port of Montreal. Seeking alternatives, Wachsmuth said they moved containers of kidney beans to Chicago, which were then loaded onto trains headed for East Coast ports. Even then, shipments that made it to ports overseas waited weeks for overbooked ships to move their product to its final destination.

Wachsmuth said that’s why company officials jumped at the opportunity when the Duluth-Superior port began shipping cargo containers over water for the first time in years. “We’ve been processing beans since ’73, and the whole supply chain issue was a fatal threat to us,” Wachsmuth said. “So, this is allowing us to move forward.”

On Saturday night, nearly 200 shipping containers holding almost 9 million pounds of kidney beans from Chippewa Valley Bean departed the Port of Duluth-Superior aboard the vessel Nunalik. The containers are bound for European ports, including Salerno and Antwerp.

The exports mark the first maritime container shipments from the Twin Ports in recent years. Until last fall, the port had been restricted to moving shipping containers over land by truck or rail. With the recent expansion of service, Duluth-Superior is the only U.S. port besides Cleveland, Ohio, that’s capable of handling maritime container shipments on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity and possibilities for the future,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Port officials announced in October that Duluth’s Clure Public Marine Terminal could begin handling larger volumes of international shipping containers. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing Co. have been partnering to provide seamless cargo handling through Duluth Cargo Connect. The latest expansion of container capabilities has been touted as a way to bypass bottlenecks at other coastal ports.

Jon Lamb, president of Lake Superior Warehousing, said supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 has created greater urgency for alternative options to move cargo. ”While our approach hasn’t changed in our goal to get the service, the marketplace is perhaps more conducive to having alternatives in place. It’s probably pointed more opportunities our way sooner than later in the current environment,” Lamb said.

A broader range of alternatives has become vital for companies like Chippewa Valley Bean. Wachsmuth noted they’re leasing more than 200 climate-controlled containers for the first time in a multi-million dollar agreement with Nexyst 360, which was recently acquired by Minneapolis-based company Realm5. He said that decision was driven by the lack of service elsewhere. “And, if we don’t get the service, we don’t survive,” Wachsmuth said.

He said the company had 100 to 200 loads of beans waiting to move for months that resulted in the company cutting back production. Wachsmuth hopes having more control of their supply chain will eventually allow their business to grow. He feels the capability to ship containers from Duluth-Superior to overseas ports allows the entire region to do more business.

DeLuca said serving the regional economy and providing flexible solutions for businesses were a driving force behind efforts to expand the port’s container capabilities. “We’re always seeking to grow cargo diversity through the port, and that’s another reason the Great Lakes ports as a whole have been seeking to develop container trade,” she said.

Other ports on the Great Lakes are looking to provide maritime container shipments, DeLuca said, although she declined to name any specific locations. She and Lamb voiced cautious optimism about the ability to grow more business through the new service. Other customers and shippers have expressed interest in utilizing maritime container shipments, including from the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Lamb noted farmers are having an especially difficult time finding containers to ship their products overseas. “There’s a lot of pent-up demand for the exports right now, and obviously that’s as hot as anything in terms of that sector and the level of interest to use the service,” Lamb said.

Agricultural and food products in Wisconsin accounted for almost $4 billion of the state’s exports last year to nearly 150 countries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

Wachsmuth said the company’s president, Cindy Brown, plans to meet with two shipping lines in Europe soon to inquire about possibly sending more ships to the Twin Ports to meet their needs for service. Looking ahead, he projects they’ll be able to export around 27,000 metric tons or roughly 59.5 million pounds of beans this year.

WPR

 

Shepler’s Ferry adds new adventure to 2022 Lighthouse Cruises lineup

MACKINAW CITY, MI – Thousands of vacationers hop on a Shepler’s ferry each summer for a quick trip to or from Mackinac Island. But then there are the adventure-seekers who step on board seeking a whole different kind of experience: They want to see some amazing Great Lakes lighthouses up close and hear snippets of their fascinating history. They want to be carried across the water while gazing up at the night sky, learning about star lore in such an enthralling way that they’ll never look at the constellations quite the same way again. Or maybe they want an exclusive waterfront tour of the Les Cheneaux Islands’ archipelago.

Shepler’s is kicking off its Lighthouse Cruises and Night Sky Cruises this month with one new kind of cruise and some other fresh sights added into an always-popular lineup.

“For the 2022 season, we will be offering 19 tours of our lighthouse cruises in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with your choice of five different cruise routes,” Shepler’s said. These include up-close views of 20 lights.

“New this season we will be offering one early morning Westbound lighthouse cruise to enjoy daybreak illuminating the lights on the peaceful waters of Lake Michigan. Our lighthouse cruise schedule starts the first week of June and will run until the middle of September. We end our season with our exclusive and popular Les Cheneaux lighthouse cruise on September 11th. While onboard, you will hear maritime history and stories from our narrator from the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association.”

Read the rest of this article at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/06/sheplers-ferry-adds-new-adventure-to-2022-lighthouse-cruises-lineup.html 

MLive

 

Obituary: Dave Falconer

David N. Falconer, age 66, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2021 at his home in East Lansing, Michigan. He worked as an engineer for various Great Lake, river, and international shipping companies for several years, serving on a variety of vessels including Great Lakes freighters, tugboats on the Mississippi river and saltwater ships in the Caribbean. He later was employed as an engineer at the Michigan State University T.B. Simon Power Plant, where he was active in his union, serving as steward and other advisory roles. He retired from MSU in 2015.

David grew up in Roscommon, Michigan, and graduated from Roscommon High school. He attended the University of Texas for his freshman year, playing in the Texas Longhorn Band. He transferred to Michigan State University where he completed his undergraduate degree and was a member of the Spartan Marching Band. He then attended the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, graduating in 1980 and subsequently obtaining his US Merchant Marine Engineers license. Dave’s classmates at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy remember him as a wonderful friend and a true shipmate (always to be counted on at any time).

David was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara (Reisdorf) Falconer and Ralph Falconer; and sister, Caroline. He is survived by his Reisdorf and Falconer cousins, many devoted friends and dear friend, Kim McKeon.

Throughout his adult life, Dave maintained his love of music and connections with the MSU Music Department and member of the MSU Alumni band. He also performed in the DeWitt Community Band, Grand Ledge Community Band and later with the Central Michigan Area Concert Band as a percussionist.

A celebration of Dave’s life will be held at a future date. Those wishing to honor his legacy may contribute to the Central Michigan Area Concert Band, MSU Softball or Field Hockey, or the charity of their choice (links provided below).

Read more or leave condolences and memories at www.greastlansing.com

Boatnerd Survey

Please take a moment to complete our survey. It takes less than five minutes and will help us determine the future of Boatnerd. Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemHAgTPdt0quMS4WoJOVYHC7aPAExe_M_uQgGa1Kmea8bGcA/viewform

 

Have a good weekend!

– Jack

Great Lakes cruises return, with stops in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH – Great Lakes cruising has returned to the Port of Cleveland with the first ships dropping anchor in Northeast Ohio last month.

Cleveland has seen a steady increase in cruise ships in recent years, particularly before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the industry. The Port expects as many as 50 stops this year as the industry sets sail on another season.

“Cleveland has been rated over the years and still continues to be the number two most popular destination for passengers on these ships,” said Jade Davis, Vice President of the Port of Cleveland. “Each ship that docks here for a single day, passengers get off. They go and visit everything from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cuyahoga Valley, Metroparks, Amish Country, downtown, our various casinos, restaurants.”

The Ocean Voyager made a stop in Cleveland this week, part of the American Queen Voyages line. The cruise ship is one of two operated by the line and offers luxury trips with newly renovated interiors and amenities. The ship is on the smaller side, at 285 feet and holds roughly 200 passengers.

“Our ships here in the Great Lakes are sort of confined by the locks that you have to take to get down the St Lawrence River and then get through the Welland Canal and so that necessitates some smaller ships.”

Ships that travel on the Great Lakes will typically have a capacity of 200-500 people, which is much smaller than the larger ocean liners. The Great Lakes cruises offer a more casual experience for anyone who may be thinking about exploring a cruise.

“It’s a high-end cruise is a boutique kind of experience. We go to places where a lot of the larger ships can and cannot go to. And you feel very personalized here with our guests to be we get to know them like almost like family,” said Captain Geir Lilleeng. “It is a more laid back. It’s leisure. And the weather here is we don’t have this season the waves that you will have in the ocean.”

Cruising season on the Great Lakes runs from May through October, coinciding with the St. Lawrence Seaway months of operation. The shipping season runs roughly from March through December. Larger cruise ships started docking in the port of Cleveland in 2017 and the City of Cleveland has made investments into attracting more vessels, including a new customs clearance facility.

“We’re investing a lot of infrastructures to help support this industry. We anticipate being a big part of the industry,” Davis said. “As it grows and looking at having possible origin and destination trips from Cleveland, the port will be here to help facilitate that.”

New this year on the Great Lakes Viking cruises is Cleveland, which has been added to the itinerary for the cruise line that started sailing the region this year. Viking is headquartered in Switzerland and announced its expansion into the Great Lakes in 2020, however, the first stop in Cleveland won’t come until 2023.

News 5 Cleveland

 

NOAA vessel Thomas Jefferson in Cleveland marking history, mapping Lake Erie

CLEVELAND, OH – For the first time in 35 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a ship operating in the Great Lakes. 

NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson is in port in Cleveland on a mapping mission to help mariners understand what’s beneath Lake Erie. “The ship is a hydrographic survey ship, which is typically ocean mapping, in this case it’s lake bed mapping,” NOAA Ship Commanding Officer Matthew Jaskoski said.

It’s the first time since the 1940s that hydrographic survey data has been collected by NOAA around the Cleveland area. “The information that we had in the 1940s, while it was accurate and good then, might not be the most accurate picture that it is now,” said Lt. Michell Levano, operations officer aboard the Thomas Jefferson.

The Thomas Jefferson, which is one of 15 vessels operated by the NOAA, traveled from Norfolk, Virginia to Cleveland. “It was such a wonderful experience,” Lt. Levano said. The crew of 35 left Virginia on the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Lawrence River, went through Quebec and Montreal, then had to pass eight locks along the St. Lawrence Seaway. The trip across Lake Ontario took the Thomas Jefferson 16 hours, and then a whole day of transit to get through the locks of the Welland Canal. 

The ship operates 24/7 for two to three weeks at a time, and then returns to port. “We’re collecting data to update the nautical charts or the maps ships use to get in and out of ports safely,” Lt. Levano said. The updated data is key for Lake Erie because the Port of Cleveland is one of the top 50 U.S. ports, according to Lt. Levano. “We’re out here using modern sonars, modern positioning techniques to do a full bottom coverage of high-resolution data gathering,” said Jaskoski.

The Thomas Jefferson is equipped with multiple sonar systems to map the bottom of the sea floor. The ship also has two 29-foot vessels on board that can drop into the water and be more maneuverable. “We use acoustics to find the depth of the sea floor,” said Lt. Levano. “We send out a signal from the bottom of the ship, it hits the bottom of the sea floor and we wait for that sound signal to return.”

The Thomas Jefferson typically covers the East Coast and the Gulf Coast, but is in the Great Lakes for the first time. Jaskoski told 3News that NOAA planned the mission at least two years in advance. “The bulk of our work is going to be in Lake Erie,” said Jaskoski. The crew will have a small project in the Detroit River that will take about a month, according to Jaskoski. “Our main goal is to find anything that may be dangerous to surface navigation,” says Jaskoski.

The NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is scheduled to map the areas surrounding Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island. For that mission, the water depth will dictate when their 29-foot vessels will have to operate. Luckily, the vessels that can detach from the ship contain the same equipment and are able to gather the same information. “Our most efficient method of running is if the ship is collecting data for 24 hours a day and both launches are going out for about 10 hours a day,” said Jaskoski. “So that gives us about 46 hours of data collected in one 24 hour span.”

The ship and its crew will be on Lake Erie until October, at which point it will travel back to Norfolk, Virginia for the winter.

WKYC 3 Studios

 

OBPA awaits decision from state on reallocating money from suspended harbor project

OGDENSBURG, NY – The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is waiting to hear if $5.8 million from New York state originally slated for the suspended harbor deepening project can instead be used to extend a Port of Ogdensburg dock.

In April, the OBPA board passed a resolution acknowledging that financial difficulties are preventing it from moving forward on the $29.5 million harbor deepening project that was initially estimated at $11.4 million. Between the federal funding and a portion contributed by the state Department of Transportation, there’s an $11.4 million gap that the OBPA would have to cover, which it can’t afford. The project would have modified a 300-by-500-foot section of the federal channel to an authorized depth from 19 feet to 27 feet.

Part of that money is $6.1 million from the state DOT that the OBPA in turn gave to the Army Corps of Engineers. OBPA Executive Director Steven J. Lawrence said about $300,000 of it was spent on bid work and design. The corps will return the remaining $5.8 million to the OBPA, which will either give the money back to the state or spend it on the dock expansion, depending on what the DOT decides. The dock expansion would extend a 1,200-foot dock by another 500 feet, which would make more space for ships to load and unload.

“When that money comes back to us … we’ll ask the state what they want to do with it,” Mr. Lawrence said. “The state’s been more than helpful on all our projects. They stepped in at the last minute with this (original amount of) $6.1 million and (the harbor deepening) didn’t happen.”

He says the OBPA is in the process of planning to move forward with the dock work. “We hope to get started on the dock expansion this year,” Mr. Lawrence said.

He said they’re now coming up with cost estimates to see if $13.2 million, most of which is committed grant funding, will cover the entire project.

NNY 360

 

Army Corps using harbor dredge materials to replenish eroded Lake Michigan beaches

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using harbor dredge material to shore up Lake Michigan beaches this summer.

Four harbors along Lake Michigan — Holland, Grand Haven, St. Joseph and South Haven — were approved for dredging this spring and summer. Materials gathered through the process will be used to “nourish and replenish” beaches that suffered erosion from recent high water levels.

To read about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers schedule and their plans for dredging, click on this link: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/environment/2022/05/28/lake-michigan-beaches-getting-replenished-through-harbor-dredging/9958216002/

Holland Sentinel 

 

Boatnerd Survey

Please take a moment to complete our survey. It takes less than five minutes and will help us determine the future of Boatnerd. Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemHAgTPdt0quMS4WoJOVYHC7aPAExe_M_uQgGa1Kmea8bGcA/viewform

High winds cancel Viking Octantis cruise ship’s first visit to U.P. town

HOUGHTON, MI – The largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes was expected to make its first stop in the Keweenaw Peninsula on Wednesday but safety concerns due to high winds have canceled the visit, officials announced Tuesday afternoon.

The 665-foot Viking Octantis was expected to anchor outside of Dollar Bay in Portage Lake and then take passengers ashore using tender boats, according to a news release from the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau. Officials are concerned about passengers’ safety while on the tenders. “It’s a bit disappointing, but safety is the top priority,” Brad Barnett, executive director of the visitors bureau, said in a statement. “I know the community was excited to see the Octantis in the Keweenaw Waterway, but we’ll have to wait a few more weeks until their next planned visit.”

The ship, which accommodates 378 passengers, has six more visits to Houghton planned this year with the next one on June 29.

Next, the ship will traverse the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. After that, there’s a stop at Mackinac Island. The route is part of the eight-day Undiscovered Great Lakes cruise, which begins in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and ends in Milwaukee.

The ship has itineraries throughout the Great Lakes with ports of call in Canada and the United States this spring, summer and fall. Next year, the Octantis will be joined by its identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris.

MLive

 

Chefs, cooks serve important roles aboard Great Lakes ships

The Great Lakes are filled with a variety of vessel traffic, ranging from Great Lakes and ocean freighters, tugboats, barges, American and Canadian coast guard boats, and passenger cruise ships.

Many of those boats and ships are in operation for weeks and months at a time — even, for some, year-round. That means the crew and passengers need to have access to nutritious, creative, and healthy meals and snacks.

With months and weeks on the lakes, food is a major and important aspect not to be skimped upon.

Imagine you are the chef, cook, or lead steward on a Great Lakes freighter, and are preparing for the upcoming shipping season. A major in-port fire engulfs the boat’s stern and upper decks, which includes the galley and dining area. That is what Dick LaLonde experienced in 2015 with the then-73-year-old S.S. Alpena.

To read more about the chefs and cooks on the Great Lake ships, click this link: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2022/05/chefs-cooks-serve-important-roles-aboard-great-lakes-ships/?fbclid=IwAR1j9YGbUkUkfC0NHI_asqFMSDJIVJ5ImWMDuF7L0YvfntRUpULjmccPE88

The Alpena News

 

The Navy might have a garage sale for the Littoral Combat Ships they just built but don’t want

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday has suggested that the Navy dispose of the Littoral Combat Ships. “We should consider offering these ships to other countries that would be able to use them effectively,” Gilday told lawmakers on Thursday.

Gilday’s suggestion came in response to questions from Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who had asked if the Navy could find other uses for the nine Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships that are slated for decommission next fiscal year. Moran noted that one of those ships, the USS Wichita, was just commissioned in January 2019, and it recently practiced interdicting drug smugglers with the Dominican Republic’s navy.

Most of the remaining Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships were built on the Great Lakes in Marinette, WI.

“There are countries in South America, as an example – as you pointed out – that would be able to use these ships, that have small crews,” Gilday told Moran. “And so, instead of just considering scrapping as the single option, I think that there are others that we can look at, sir.” It was not clear from Gilday’s comments whether he advocated selling the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships or giving them away for free, but at this point, the Navy is one step away from hauling the nine ships out to the curb, hoping that someone will take them overnight.

The Navy expects to save about $3.6 billion in upgrades, repairs and retrofits, by mothballing a total of 24 ships including the nine Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships, which are among the newest vessels in the Navy. All have been commissioned since 2012 and the USS St. Louis isn’t even two years old yet. And that’s to say nothing of the fact that the Navy expects to spend more than $60 billion over the lifespan of the Littoral Combat Ship program, only to turn around and begin decommissioning the vessels once they’re in service.

But these ships have been hobbled by a design flaw that limits their speed. The coup de grâce for the Freedom-variants came when the Navy determined that they were not suited for anti-submarine warfare.

The Navy’s plans to decommission the nine Littoral Combat along with 15 other vessels have drawn sharp rebukes from lawmakers and navalists, who argued the Navy cannot afford to get smaller.

During Thursday’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, Gilday said the Navy is focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of its ships. “We need a capable, lethal, ready Navy more than we need a larger Navy that’s less capable, less lethal, and less ready,” Gilday said.

Task & Purpose 

 

Sights and sounds on the St. Marys River: Great Lakes freighters cross paths

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Freighters on the Great Lakes vary in size and shape.

In today’s Sights and Sounds, photojournalist Jim LeHocky shows us the 1,000 foot by 104 foot “American Century” crossing paths with the much smaller 500 foot by 72 foot “Harvest Spirit” on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie.

Click on this link to view the drone video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Xp3VYwJls

9&10 News

 

Marine Mart in Port Huron to resume in June

PORT HURON, MI – A long-standing tradition, sidelined by COVID, will make a return this year in a new location. The Summer Marine Mart, formerly the St. Clair Marine Mart, will be held Saturday, June 11, at the American Legion Post #8, 1026 Sixth St., in Port Huron, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Mart features nautical items, artifacts, photos, books, artwork, models, postcards and more. See the poster in the image gallery below for more information.

Duluth welcomes first cruise ship in nearly a decade

DULUTH, MN – The City of Duluth welcomed a cruise ship and its passengers to the city’s docks Monday for the first time in nearly 10 years.

The Viking Octantis ship brought more than 600 people to port Monday morning – including nearly 400 passengers – who will be able to take the day and enjoy what the city has to offer. Hubbard-owned affiliate WDIO reports the ship arrived in the Duluth Harbor around 6:15 a.m.

“I think it was pretty amazing,” said Dan Hartman, executive director of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. “It wasn’t quite the view everyone was hoping for because of the fog, but I think it’s almost symbolic of the whole effort that went into this whole thing.”

The stop in Duluth is part of an eight-day tour through the Great Lakes. “We’re writing a new chapter with cruising,” said Tricia Hobbs, senior economic developer for the city of Duluth, adding, “we’re obviously looking ahead to be a turnaround port so [that] people can start and end their trips here.”

The Octantis won’t be alone — more than half a dozen cruise ships are expected to arrive in Duluth during the next four months. “To see those tourists from different areas of the country, maybe even the world, to see what great things we have in Duluth, we’re excited,” Dustin Heckman told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. Heckman is the executive director of the Glensheen Mansion.

Hartman concurred, noting, “I think that’s the most exciting for Duluthians, that there are a lot of people coming to Duluth today who would have never ever, thought of ever being in our city before.” Passengers are expected to come out of customs around 7:30 a.m., and shuttles for Duluth excursions are expected to leave around 8:30 a.m.

KSTP Eyewitness News

 

Kidney beans mark the start of container shipping from Port of Duluth

DULUTH, MN – Two hundred containers of kidney beans are being loaded on an ocean-going vessel and will leave the Port of Duluth-Superior this weekend, marking the return of container shipping at the United States’ westernmost inland port.

Until recently, container shipping on the Great Lakes was restricted to the Port of Cleveland, limiting importing and exporting opportunities for this region. Duluth Cargo Connect worked to reverse the Department of Homeland Security’s ruling and open Clure Public Marine Terminal to the popular way of transporting freight.

The Port of Duluth-Superior said last fall that it would open to containers, and be able to handle a larger volume from international vessels.

Twenty-foot containers of legumes from Menomonie, Wis.-based Chippewa Valley Bean, loaded onto the general cargo ship Nunalik, are bound for what’s expected to be a 14-day trip from the Clure Terminal to Europe, where the beans will be delivered to several countries.

It’s speedier than what the company has seen recently. “This last number of months we’ve fought our way through supply chain issues and have had extreme difficulty in trying to deliver product to our customers in Europe,” said Cindy Brown, president of Chippewa Valley Bean. “This is just really a saving grace for us.”

The company exports 70% of its product and had been shipping from Montreal — until it faced a strike at the port, shipping congestion and stalled railways. In February 2021, the company loaded a container that didn’t land on a vessel until June. “That’s a long time for a product to sit in the middle of the U.S. waiting to find its way someplace,” she said.

Clure Terminal has been limited to container shipping by rail and by truck. The addition of the maritime elements broadens capabilities for Duluth Cargo Connect — a partnership between the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, which owns Clure, and Lake Superior Warehousing, which operates the terminal. “We’re always seeking to enhance and increase cargo diversity that moves through this port,” port authority spokesman Jayson Hron said. “That makes it more vibrant and brings more vitality to the port.”

Before Nunalik could be loaded Friday, wind energy cargo was unloaded by crane. The ability to import and export at the same port is expected to be a draw for other businesses looking to bypass the coasts.

Claus Sorensen, vice president of Spliethoff, the ocean transport company that owns Nunalik, has been in the shipping business for the past eight years. Duluth is now the second U.S. port on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system able to handle container shipping — a welcome addition as a spot farther west than the company’s base in Cleveland, he said.

“There are truck issues around the country; there are rail issues around the country, and it really is easy to put containers on this ship and get them out of here,” Sorensen said. “And that’s what we do.”

Duluth Star Tribune

 

Cleaning up Cleveland’s waterways with Flotsam & Jestam

CLEVELAND, OH – The Port of Cleveland has two custom vessels that patrol the waters of the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor with the task of capturing and removing floating debris.

Dating back to 1868, the Cuyahoga River caught fire a total of 13 times, including a blaze in 1952, which caused over $1.3 million in damage.  The story garnered national attention when a photograph of the 1952 fire ran in Time Magazine just two months after the Cuyahoga River caught fire on June 22, 1969.

That image of the fire acted as a catalyst, calling for a major focus on environmental protection and sustainability. In 1972, the charge for environmental responsibility and protection was marked by the introduction of the Clean Water Act.

In an effort to sustain and support these efforts, the Port of Cleveland planned, designed, and built a pair of custom tandem vessels – Flotsam & Jetsam – with the purpose of collecting and removing plastic and organic floating debris from the Cuyahoga River along Cleveland Harbor.

Commissioned in 2012, Flotsam & Jetsam were predated by the vessel, Putzfrau — meaning ‘cleaning lady’ in German — that vacuumed up floating muck on the Cuyahoga River immediately after the 1969 fire.

The Port planned, designed, and built a pair of custom vessels – Flotsam and Jetsam – to capture and remove plastic and organic floating debris from Cleveland Harbor. Commissioned into service in late 2012, the Port operates both vessels from mid-May through mid-October.

The crew and vessels annually remove over 200,000 pounds of floating debris.

Click on this link to watch a Youtube to learn more about Flotsam & Jetsam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITHYMN7Ew_E

Fox 8 & Port of Cleveland

 

Boatnerd forum issues

As we work to update the Boatnerd forums, please bear with us if some posts display incorrectly. We are aware of the issue – some of which caused the recent Boatnerd outage – and we are working to fix things as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding.

Cruise ship to arrive in Duluth on Memorial Day

DULUTH, MN – A Viking cruise ship will be the first to arrive and use the new customs facility at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on Monday, according to a news release from the DECC.

The Viking Octantis, carrying 400 passengers and 250 crew members, will stop in Duluth for the day as part of an eight-day Great Lakes Tour. The ship is scheduled to arrive in the harbor between 6-7 a.m. The nearly 700-foot cruise ship will anchor in the harbor, just outside of the shipping lane.

Tender boats will transport guests off the ship to the new customs facility at the DECC, then head out to various excursions including Glensheen Mansion, the North Shore Scenic Railroad, Great Lakes Aquarium or a canoe trip down the St. Louis River.

This will be the first of nine cruise ships scheduled to dock in Duluth from May to mid-September. Most of the cruises will be from Viking Cruises, but two in June will be American Queen cruises. According to the DECC, the average age of cruise passengers is 70 and 95% are from the United States.

After passengers return from their excursions, the ship will depart around 4-6 p.m., heading toward its next destination, the Apostle Islands and Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Duluth News Tribune

 

Port of Oswego opens new USDA grain lab

OSWEGO, NY – The extremely active Port of Oswego cut the ribbon on a new value-added service they’re providing customers of their new granary: a grain analysis lab that establishes a grade for that grain and guarantees it according to USDA standards.

Port Executive Director William Scriber recently described the workings of the lab and the increase in business the Port has seen over the past few years and especially the past few months.

“I’m getting two shifts on the dock at times,” he said, “there’s business up my…and more people banging on my doors than I ever could expect. I probably will end up challenging the big ports for tonnage this year, if everything goes right. This is the third windmill ship we’ve had in. I’ve had two heavy-loaded aluminums, I put the first grain ship on the Great Lakes this year, my rail business is increasing over last year’s so far month-to-month 100-plus %. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but whatever I’m doing, I probably ought to get a pat on the back for it. Either that or it’s dumb luck.”

The grain lab is not only a fascinating addition in itself but also a great learning experience for the SUNY Oswego students who work it.

“It was a nice event,” Scriber said, “in the sense that we have a good relationship with SUNY Oswego, and we have, I think, a valuable experience here for students to get hands-on experience in real life, which, eventually, they’ll be going into, once they graduate. We didn’t really spare money on developing a grain lab that was, if not the best, one of the best you can find anywhere in New York, if not on the Great Lakes. You saw the automation and the cleanliness of stainless steel and computer systems. The probe was outside. It’s a remote probe. It was the same type of probing system you’d get at a facility like the ethanol plant used to have here in Oswego. Actually, the probe, what it does is, it’s an arm. It goes in. It’s pneumatic vacuuming. It goes in and takes samples out of the trucks, so you don’t actually have to leave the lab to do it. And then it brings it in via a hose, drops it into a containment area, and then it releases into a cyclone brass device, then dumps it into a sampling tray. They then take the sampling tray, and they do, depending on the grain, corn, soybeans, wheat, a whole system of testing for moisture, vomitox, particulate, it’s all tested right there. There’s a bunch of machines that’ll do it. And then, what happens is we, then, relay that information in real time to the scales office where they grade it. They enter the grades. That’s then transmitted immediately to the Scales Office. Then we’ll release it, weigh the truck, and release it to be put into the silo.

Read more at this link: https://www.nny360.com/communitynews/business/port-of-oswego-getting-it-all-and-some-they-didn-t-expect-as-they-officially/article_353b8d6b-ec63-529f-9bfb-81ab1c66688c.html

NNY360

 

U.S. Coast Guard closing seasonal Holland station

HOLLAND, MI – The United States Coast Guard is closing one of its Michigan stations on Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard announced Thursday that it will be consolidating crews and assets from its seasonal station in Holland into its station in Grand Haven. A seasonal Lake Superior station in Grand Marais, Minnesota is also being folded into the USCG’s Duluth station.

The decision will not affect the USCG’s ability to respond to emergencies on the Great Lakes or increase risk to the boating public, according to a news release.

“We would not consolidate these stations if we thought it would increase the risk to boaters or the maritime industry,” said Lt. Paul Rhynard, public affairs officer for the Ninth Coast Guard District. “This decision was made after careful research and with the safety of the public as our top priority. Modern boats, aircraft and strong partnerships with other search-and-rescue agencies allow us to eliminate redundancies and ensure the best use of limited resources.”

Both of the closing stations have been seasonally staffed between Memorial Day and Labor Day since 2018. In the past, personnel from the Grand Haven station would be temporarily shifted to Holland. Those crews will instead cover the area from the Grand Haven station this summer.

Holland averaged about 24 cases per year since 2010 while Lake Michigan averaged between 600 and 700 cases over that period.

The Great Lakes in total average around 2,000 cases each year, so cases handed by the Holland station represent a very small portion of the USCG’s total response.

The decision to shutter the seasonal stations was made after the Coast Guard conducted a study of its laydown and historical search-and-rescue trends. Annual Coast Guard search-and-rescue caseloads have decreased from approximately 33,000 cases per year in 2004 to approximately 15,000 in 2019, a reduction of over 50 percent, according to officials.

No other stations have been identified for consolidation at this time, according to the Coast Guard.

MLive

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Both Viking Expedition cruise ships to sail Great Lakes in 2023

Viking’s inaugural season in America’s Great Lakes is well underway. The line’s first expedition ship, Viking Octantis, recently wrapped up a roundtrip through the Welland Canal — a part of the St. Lawrence Seaway that connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. That makes it the largest passenger vessel to ever transit the canal. 

Octantis is set to remain in the Great Lakes until early October of this year, operating a variety of itineraries between Toronto, Ontario and Duluth, Minnesota.

Next year, Viking’s second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, will join Octantis for the Great Lakes season.

“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind. This region has been historically underserved by cruise lines, and we are delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from the local communities,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand among our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to these fantastic destinations in 2023.”

Viking’s arrival to the Great Lakes brings the newest and most modern vessels to the region, as well as an economic boost for the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio (starting in 2023), as well as Canada’s Ontario province.

To help develop the scientific enrichment program for its Great Lakes voyages, Viking has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, which conducts research on the environments and ecosystems of these lakes and their coastal regions.

These expedition ships have also been designated as official NOAA/U.S. National Weather Service weather balloon stations, and launches will be regularly undertaken from their decks.

The four itineraries Viking is operating in the Great Lakes this year are:

Undiscovered Great Lakes: 8 days, Thunder Bay to Milwaukee

Great Lakes Explorer: 8 days, Milwaukee to Thunder Bay

Niagara & The Great Lakes: 8 days, Toronto to Milwaukee

Canadian Discovery: 13 days, New York to Toronto

In 2023, Viking will add a new Great Lakes voyage:

Great Lakes Collection: 15 days, Toronto to Duluth

From now through May 31, 2022, Viking is offering special fares and reduced airfare on Great Lakes itineraries. Call Viking or contact your travel agent for information.

Cruiseradio.net

 

Laker’s innovative diesel electric solution delivers emissions savings

A Canadian laker with an advanced Berg diesel electric drive train is already showing significant emissions reductions. Built by China’s Chengxi Shipyard for Canada Steamship Line (CSL) the 26,000 dwt self-unloader, M/V Nukumi arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in time to take up duties for the 2022 Great Lakes season. As we reported earlier, the vessel is a single point loader developed in collaboration with Windsor Salt to deliver de-icing salt from Mines Seleine on the Magdalens Islands for use on roads across Quebec and Newfoundland.

It is the first bulk carrier to feature direct drive electric — an integrated solution developed by Berg Propulsion to make high efficiency electric propulsion easier to adopt.

“Conventional electric propulsion systems feed power from the generator to the power distribution system, then on to the frequency controller and the electric motor before they reach the main propeller shaft via the reduction gear,” said Jonas Nyberg, managing director, West, at Berg Propulsion. “This can be overly complex and hard to maintain, while energy is lost at every step. The direct drive electric solution features electric motors that are integrated to directly drive the propeller shaft.”

The removal of gears allows for shorter shaft lines, fewer bearings and a smaller engine room footprint, while very high torque meant the same power could drive larger propellers, according to Nyberg.

“For Nukumi, the use of direct drive electric propulsion shows the value available when a shipowner, an equipment maker and a system integrator work together in the early ship design phase on prioritizing performance and sustainability,” says Nyberg. “This is a key reference for direct drive electric as a fuel efficient and easy to install technology which broadens the appeal of greener electric propulsion.”

Frederic Jauvin, vice-president, global technical services, CSL said that, compared to its predecessor, the ship’s combination of optimized hull form, electric propulsion technology and Tier III diesel-electric engines would cut greenhouse gases by 25 percent and other pollutants by 80 percent. The propulsion solution will also enhance maneuverability in the shallow Magdalen Island channel, he said.

“Nukumi charts new waters when it comes to safe, sustainable and efficient shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region,” said Jauvin. “Its efficiency and sustainability are truly exciting and Berg Propulsion’s integrated solution and its engineering partnership with Chengxi Shipyard has been key to securing all of the available performance enhancements.”’

The performance and sustainability gains of electric propulsion are widely acknowledged, especially when ships demand variable load capabilities, but Berg believes the greater simplicity direct drive solutions bring to the marine market could prove decisive.

Berg says that energy savings compared to other electrical solutions can be in the excess of 5%, with equivalent fuel savings available. Additionally, direct drive electric is also “future-proofed” to accommodate alternative energy sources, using a DC hub — or “superdrive” — to draw on main engines or stored energy from zero emission batteries and fuel cells, as required.

MarineLog

 

Viking cruise ship to dock near Dollar Bay

HOUGHTON, MI – If people want to catch a glimpse of the cruise ship visiting the Keweenaw next week, the best vantage point on land might be the Nara Nature Park boardwalk.

Houghton City Manager Eric Waara provided an update on the cruise ship itinerary during Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting. The Viking Octantis cruise ship and research vessel will come to the Houghton area June 1 for the first of its seven trips to the area this summer. The Victory cruise line will also make two stops this summer.

Original plans had called for the ship to arrive via the North Entry and dock near the Kestner Waterfront Park. The 665-foot expedition ship, too big to fit under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, would have turned around to head back out to Lake Superior when leaving. The revised itinerary sent last Thursday now has the ship docking near the U.S. Coast Guard Station Portage in Dollar Bay. Passengers will be tendered 3 miles to Houghton, where they will disembark at Bridgeview Park.

Passengers will have a number of options, whether seaplane tours of the Keweenaw, walking brewery tours or visits to the Quincy Mine Hoist and Seaman Mineral Museum.“There’s going to be a lot of people visiting a lot of the things that we have,” Waara said. “That’s what’s really nice, is they’re going to be getting that little taste, and hopefully they’ll come back on their own sometime.”

The Daily Mining Gazette

 

U. S. Steel celebrates investment in America with strategic pig iron caster at Gary Works

GARY, IN – United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”) employees joined United Steelworkers (USW) leadership, key partners, and elected officials to celebrate the Company’s investment in a pig iron caster at its Gary Works facility. The installation of the pig iron caster is a key part of U. S. Steel’s metallics strategy, capitalizing on its iron ore advantage.

“Mined, melted and made in America has always been important to us, and recent world events have demonstrated how critical self-reliance is,” said U. S. Steel President & CEO David B. Burritt. “This investment at Gary Works, to create the necessary material for our lower-emissions electric arc furnaces, is the perfect example of combining the best of integrated and mini mill technologies. It’s also helping propel our transition to our ambitious Best for All® strategy. We’re committed to a future of driving profitable steel solutions for people and the planet.”

The pig machine will be fed with iron ore from the Company’s Minnesota Ore Operations, Minntac and Keetac. The produced pig iron is expected to supply up to 50% of the ore-based metallics needs for Big River Steel Works.

“Gary Works is U. S. Steel’s largest manufacturing plant and its role in the Company and in this community is significant,” said Daniel Killeen, Vice President, Gary Works. “Knowing that the nearly 4,000 employees at Gary Works are not just contributing here, but we now get to utilize our blast furnace efficiency to contribute to the company’s new, most environmentally friendly operations at Big River Steel Works, is something we’re excited about.”

Pre-construction for the caster began in the first quarter of 2022, and start-up is expected in early 2023. The $60 million investment will bring approximately 25 new jobs to the facility.

Gus Atsas, President, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1014, said, “The process of pigging iron will help secure our plant in an ever-changing global market. The future of Gary Works and the United Steelworkers go hand in hand. Our families and communities depend on our success, and we are proud of the work we do every day.”

“U. S. Steel and their incredible workforce, including members of the United Steelworkers, are the foundation of the Northwest Indiana economy. I am grateful they are making this investment in the steelmaking capabilities of our region and the ability of future workers to continue to make the most environmentally friendly and efficient steel in the world,” said Congressman Frank Mrvan.

Businesswire

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Soo Locks project no longer fully funded

After a big announcement in January celebrating $479 million directed to fully fund the construction of a new lock, the Army Corps of Engineers has had to walk it back, according to a report by The Detroit News.

The billion-dollar project, authorized by Congress at $922 million in 2018, is now estimated to be “somewhere between two times and three times” the cost, Sen. Debbie Stabenow told The Detroit News. The senator expressed disappointment because the money had been secured for the project upfront under the belief that the project would be completed two years ahead of schedule.

The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, allow 1,000-foot freighters to bypass the rapids of the St. Marys River and move between Lake Superior and the rest of the Great Lakes and beyond. For a long time the bulk of that was handled by the Poe Lock, and a new lock the same size and capacity as the Poe would prevent any disruptions to shipping should something happen with the Poe.

The first two phases of the project have already been started. The contract of the third phase was expected to be awarded in February with a 2030 completion date. The Army Corps learned of the problem after the bidding process for the third phase closed in January and industry estimates were significantly higher than their own, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman told The Detroit News. Bergman’s district includes the Soo Locks.

Carrie Fox, public affairs specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers, pointed to “market conditions” for the discrepancy in estimates and said the Corps is “accounting for those changing conditions.” Fox also said the Corps does not have accurate numbers for any estimates yet and cannot discuss those numbers but is “hopeful” they will have an estimate they can make public “this summer.”

Congress will likely have to reauthorize the project for a higher amount once a new official estimate is released. 

Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, has spoken in support of the project before. LCA represents the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet. He had been aware of some talk but “was surprised with the magnitude of the cost increase.” “It was not easy getting that money, and they also missed the opportunity, they could have gotten more,” Weakley said. “If Congress has known they needed more when the infrastructure bill was passed, they could have gotten more.”

Weakley expressed doubts that the 2030 completion is still likely but remains optimistic that the project will move forward. “The good news is no one’s talking about walking away from the project,” Weakley said. “Everyone’s talking about finishing the project, and everyone’s worried about time delays and getting additional money to finish the project.”

Great Lakes Now

 

The Great Lakes are now home to the most modern luxury cruise ship to date

The Great Lakes might not be top of mind for most cruisers, but that could be changing thanks to the launch of Viking’s latest expedition ship which officially kicked off their inaugural season today.

Designed specifically to sail The Great Lakes region, the 378-passenger expedition ship Viking Octantis just completed her roundtrip voyage through the Welland Canal—a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie—making it the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the canal, the cruise lines said in a statement Thursday.

“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind,’ Chairman of Viking Torstein Hagen said. “This region has been historically underserved by cruise lines, and we are delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from the local communities.”

Viking Octanis will remain in the Great Lakes until early October 2022, sailing a variety of itineraries between Toronto and Duluth. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, is slated to her make her Great Lakes debut later this year before joining Octantis for the 2023 season. Built for expeditions sailing, both Polar Class ships can hold a total of 378 passengers in 189 staterooms.

Among a few of the ship’s highlights are an outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed, heated seating and lava rock “firepits,” a Science Lab, Nordic Spa featuring a heated indoor pool and wood-sided hot tub open to the outside, and a Nordic Balcony in every stateroom.

During Viking’s inaugural 2022 season, the cruise line will be operating four new itineraries in the Great Lakes including:

Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; Thunder Bay to Milwaukee)

Great Lakes Explorer (8 days; Milwaukee to Thunder Bay)

Niagara & The Great Lakes (8 days; Toronto to Milwaukee)

Canadian Discovery (13 days; New York to Toronto)

In 2023, Viking will also be adding a new 15-day voyage called the Great Lakes Collection sailing from Toronto to Duluth.

“With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand among our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to these fantastic destinations in 2023,” Torstein said.

Forbes

 

Viking Octantis passengers will board submersibles at Silver Islet

THUNDER BAY, ON – When tourists sailing on Viking Octantis arrive at Silver Islet this Friday, they’ll have a unique opportunity to take an underwater tour.

The largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes – and the first to visit the Thunder Bay area in 10 years – carries two submersibles. Each takes six passengers at a time, who are placed in revolving seats that provide 270-degree views below the surface. “That’s a very unique experience, one that I think is going to generate a lot of media attention for them, and for us as a destination,” says Paul Pepe, manager of tourism for the City of Thunder Bay.

According to Pepe, the 378-passenger vessel operated by Viking Expeditions is one of the top 10 new cruise ships in the world. “It’s being followed very closely by all the international travel and cruise media, so it’s really put Thunder Bay in a global media spotlight in the tourism sector,” he said Wednesday.

This year the Viking Octantis is scheduled to make seven trips to Thunder Bay, which the company selected as a turnaround spot. That means a new group of passengers will board the ship here for its return voyage to Milwaukee after arriving passengers have toured the city before returning home by air.

Another cruise ship, American Cruise Lines’ Ocean Navigator, will dock at Thunder Bay twice this summer. Both vessels will return next year, when they will be joined by another Viking Expeditions ship, Viking Polaris.

Pepe said the economic impact on the city this year alone will be very significant.

“There’s a range of economic impacts that are broader than just day-stops. Some guests are flying in the day-of or flying out the day-of. Others are staying in the area for an extra day or two and exploring.” He said spinoff benefits for local businesses include resupplying the vessels  with food and other goods, and providing ground transportation services. Tourism Thunder Bay estimates the overall economic benefit to the city will range between $3.6 and 5.6 million.

Significant improvements have recently been made at the Pool 6 dock where passengers will board and disembark. Most of the concrete rubble left after the demolition of the grain elevator years ago has been removed, and the ground has been leveled.

Pepe said a new accessible pedestrian path and bus turnaround have been constructed, and additional security fencing has been erected. “A tent will be set up for luggage-handling on Friday, big planters with trees have been delivered to the site. We’ve got temporary fenders installed until the new ones arrived, we’ve got dock repairs and new bollards. So the site’s looking good. It’s been cleaned up quite a bit.” “It will be exciting to see a cruise vessel back in the community this weekend,” he said.

The Viking Octantis is expected to dock in Thunder Bay at 6 p.m. Friday. It is scheduled to leave the port at 5 a.m. Sunday.

The city has posted a notice on social media advising that access to the ship during the stopover will be limited to guests and authorized personnel, and that parking will not be allowed along the road to Pool 6

TBnewswatch

 

Kelleys Island ferry debuts new boat

MARBLEHEAD, OH – The Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line in Marblehead introduced the latest addition to its fleet on Tuesday.

The Carmen Lee is the largest in the boat line at 168 feet long with a capacity of 149 passengers and 36 vehicles. Service starts Memorial Day weekend. The vessel has been a dream for the company since before 2018 when the design began and construction started near New Orleans, Louisiana.

“Kelleys Island has got busier over the last five to 10 years for sure and traffic on Friday and Sundays is an hour, hour and a half wait sometime so we have alleviated some of the traffic problems with a larger vessel,” said Augie Palladino, whose father started the company in 1992. It’s named after Carmen Lee Palladino, the late wife of Kelleys Island Ferry owner Jim Palladino. She passed away in September 2019. The last time the ferry line added a new boat was the Shirley Irene in 1991. All of the company’s boats are names for family members. The Carmen Lee was given a blessing by local clergy and then christened by Palladino.

“I thought it was fantastic they put on a great show. The two ferries crossed and they were blowing the horns at each other,” said Liz Kendrick-Creech, a resident of Kelleys Island who was anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Fox 8 Cleveland

 

Historic Lake Michigan lighthouse open for tours

LAKE MICHIGAN, MI – The North Manitou Shoal Light, also known as ‘The Crib,’ is now open for tours. It’s a chance for people to learn about the history of the Lake Michigan lighthouse and the efforts to preserve it. The North Manitou Light Keepers organization is also in the process of raising money to eventually allow people to spend the night inside the lighthouse.

The journey to the Crib starts with a 25-minute boat ride from Leland in Leelanau County. The lighthouse sits one mile offshore of the North Manitou Island in Lake Michigan.

Daniel Oginsky is member of the North Manitou Light Keepers. He and the team are investing time, energy and money into the structure that has a lot of stories to tell, dating back nearly 90 years. “To be able to climb up 60 feet up to the top of the tower and look around at the lake and the islands and back at Sleeping Bear Dunes, it’s amazing,” said North Manitou Light Keepers President Daniel Oginsky.

The Crib is a functioning aid to navigation. It keeps boats away from shallow water. The lighthouse sits on a foundation made of a “crib” embedded into the lake floor. It’s filled with concrete and rock. ‘The Crib’ name is a nod to its construction design.

To read more about ‘The Crib’, click this link: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/historic-lake-michigan-lighthouse-open-for-tours?fbclid=IwAR3MhB38tHJBJsEmDU287rKiFvp274JSwXv0Q_GQM7XZOPoFxg3O2Rsi9gw

UpNorthLive 7/4

 

Know Your Ships book signing is Saturday in Port Huron

PORT HURON, MI – On Saturday May 28, the Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron will host its 2022 “Know Your Ships” Book Signing with editor and publisher Roger LeLievre from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Along with the book, Roger will have Great Lakes caps and Stack & Flag charts for sale.

Great Lakes cartoonist / illustrator artist Don Lee, whose freighter cartoons have often appeared on Facebook, will have his easel and will sketch your likeness, with or without freighter (tips appreciated).

Also on hand will be Roger Hulett, author of “A Lot More To Do – Frank Mays Survival of the Tragic Carl D Bradley Sinking.” Ken Niemi, a Great Lakes historian, will have used maritime books, art and some artifacts for sale. 

If you can’t make Saturday’s Know Your Ships signing, Roger will also be set up Sunday, May 29, at the Mariner Theater, 430 S. Water St., Marine City, between noon and 3 p.m.

Great Lakes Maritime Center

 

Help wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry

Lake Michigan Carferry is accepting applications for placement in the engine department aboard the historic S.S. Badger.  Candidates must possess a Merchant Mariner’s Credential with QMED (Fireman/Oiler/Watertender) endorsement, a current Medical Certificate and a valid TWIC card.  QMED will expect to live aboard and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season (as soon as possible to Oct 16th, 2022) QMED wage is $28.91p/hr ($43.37 for OT hours).   Visit our web site at http://www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew to fill out an online application or email lbialochowski@interlakems.com  for more information.

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Industry blames ice buildup for sluggish start to shipping season

DULUTH, MN – Last month’s first full month of seasonal shipping totals in the Twin Ports dipped considerably compared to the same month a season ago.

Iron ore through the Great Lakes was down 44.7%, totaling 3 million tons — a figure that was 41% worse than the five-year average. The Port of Duluth-Superior made up 2.43 million short tons of ore in April, after seeing only three ore boats to start the season in the last week of March. That total was 38% below the start of last season, and 27% off five-year averages. Similar dips in output were recorded at ports in Silver Bay and Two Harbors. Limestone shipments totaled 2 million tons, a decrease of 16.6% season over season, but above the five-year average by 5.5%.

Industry leaders blamed a difficult ice-out in March and April, specifically with ice buildup and delays in Whitefish Bay on the eastern end of Lake Superior. The industry used the dip in output to once again advocate for another heavy U.S. icebreaker to join the Mackinaw on the Great Lakes.“Inadequate ice-breaking resources in Lake Superior had a major impact on cargo shipments out of the Port of Duluth-Superior, which underlines how much we need new and improved capacity for the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking fleet,” said Bruce Burrows, president and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce based in Ottawa. The Port of Duluth-Superior was tended to by a series of smaller Coast Guard cutters as the season started in late March. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spar arrived to its new homeport in Duluth early last month.

On a more positive note, Burrows cited grain exports from U.S. ports being in strong demand along with shipments of salt, steel and containers. “We expect that the demand for different cargo segments will continue to be impacted by fluctuating prices and trade flows related to global supply chain issues and the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Burrows said. In April, the Twin Ports shipped 95,042 tons of grain, compared to 20,728 tons during the same month last season. Outbound grain shipments comprised of wheat and beet pulp pellets totaled 148,620 short tons through April, nearly doubling the 2021 pace and exceeding the five-season average by 24%. Almost two-thirds of the Duluth-Superior grain float sailed through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System as export commerce.

Inbound salt deliveries to Duluth-Superior topped 81,000 short tons in April, more than doubling the April 2021 total and the five-season average.

“Winter lingered a bit too long this year, which made March and most of April a tough slog for Coast Guard icebreakers and the freighters that depend on them for support to power through those conditions,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We started to see an uptick in vessel traffic later in the month, as the ice situation improved, but it’s still hard to predict the tenor of 2022.” Unusual factors continue to affect the world of cargo transportation, including ongoing global supply chain delays and the war in Ukraine, she added.

“That instability keeps everyone guessing, but there’s still reason for optimism that it’ll be a good season in the Port of Duluth-Superior,” DeLuca said.

Duluth News Tribune

 

Last coal-powered passenger steamship in U.S. to ditch coal

LUDINGTON, MI – The S.S. Badger, the last coal-fired passenger steamship in the United States – and the largest in the world – won’t always be powered by coal, officials said.

Lake Michigan Carferry, Inc. is in the early phases of looking for ways to ditch the coal that currently propels the 410-foot historic ship across Lake Michigan. “We are just in the early phases at looking at what other options could be viable for the Badger,” said Sara Spore, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry. “There are not any definite plans, but we know that coal isn’t the long-term solution. We really are starting from scratch and looking at all of our options”. There’s no timeline yet for when a conversion might happen, she said.

The 69-year-old Badger became a National Historic Landmark in 2016. While her coal-fired propulsion system is unique and was part of the historic designation, Spore said the company is not worried about losing the landmark status. “We are looking at how we keep the historic engines in the boat and potentially being able to open that area for people to see,” Spore said.

The Badger’s historical significance goes beyond the engines, according to the National Register of Historic Places. The ship, built in 1952 and 1953, was originally designed to transport railcars across Lake Michigan, serving as a “waterborne link in continent-wide rail and road transportation.” As a car ferry and passenger vessel, the Badger continues to serve in the latter capacity. She is the last Great Lake railcar ferry in operation.

“Badger also possesses a national level of significance in engineering as the final example of Great Lakes rail carferry design, a type which influenced design of such vessels in other regions and around the world,” the federal documents say.

The Badger went to work in 1953 transporting railcars across Lake Michigan for Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company. But by 1980, that was no longer profitable for C&O, and the ship was sold. It continued to transport railcars until 1990 and seemed destined for the scrapyard at that point. However, she was saved in 1992 by Ludington native Charles Conrad who converted the ship into a car ferry. The Badger has been transporting passengers and vehicles across Lake Michigan ever since.

MLive.com

 

Tugboat that was sinking in Duluth Harbor is afloat again

DULUTH, MN – The tugboat named “Lake Superior” that partially sunk in the Duluth Harbor back in March is now floating once again.

According to the Coast Guard, contractors are working on what’s called “lightering and dewatering operations,” which will remove any leftover water, fuel, and lube oil from the tugboat, so pollutants don’t leak into the waterway.

The Coast Guard is also looking for any signs of pollution now that the tugboat is floating again, as it had been leaking oil as it sunk. That oil was successfully contained by absorbing materials around the tugboat these past two months.

After this process is done, the tugboat  needs to be dealt with by its private owner.

Fox 21 News Duluth

 

New lakes study predicts Lakes Huron/Michigan will fall by 3.5 feet over record by 2030, then rise 1 foot over record by ’40

MANITOULIN, ON – New research on water levels projects an unprecedented drop of water levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron and Georgian Bay to 1.1 metres (3.5 feet) below the record low by 2030. By 2040, levels may rise to 0.3 metres (one foot) higher than the 1986 record high. The study by W.F. Baird & Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd. was commissioned by the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation (GBGLF) and was shared virtually by GBGLF on May 16/17. The Baird conclusions are essentially the same as those found in a recently completed five-year study by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), presented during a week-long Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands webinar series from April 4 to 8.

Bill Bialkowski is a director-at-large for GBGLF and a retired professional engineer with experience in the mathematical modeling of hydraulic systems. He spent 15 years analyzing and modeling Upper Great Lakes hydrology and the conveyance capacity of the St. Clair River. He presented his analysis of water levels and the impact of climate change as was presented by ECCC’s Dr. Frank Seglenieks, lead author for ECCC.

The ECCC study predicts that all Great Lake levels will generally trend upwards, with increasing variability. Lake Michigan-Huron currently has, by far, the widest range between high water and low water levels of all Great Lakes, at 6.3 feet. The study suggests that this may go to 13 feet. By 2040, Lake Michigan-Huron is likely to face water levels as high as 177.8 (one foot higher than the 1986 record high). Worst of all, Mr. Bialkowski said, by 2030, which is only eight years away, Lake Michigan-Huron is projected to drop to 174.5 (3.5 feet lower than 2000 lows). “It may become possible to walk to many islands,” he said.

Read the rest of this article at this link: https://www.manitoulin.com/new-lakes-study-predicts-lakes-huron-michigan-will-fall-by-3-5-feet-over-record-by-2030-then-rise-1-foot-over-record-by-40/

The Manitoulin Expositor

 

Know Your Ships book signing is Saturday at Port Huron

PORT HURON, MI – On Saturday May 28, the Great Lakes Maritime Center in Port Huron will host its 2022 “Know Your Ships” Book Signing with editor and publisher Roger LeLievre from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Along with the book, Roger will have Great Lakes caps and Stack & Flag charts for sale.

Great Lakes cartoonist / illustrator artist Don Lee, whose freighter cartoons have often appeared on Facebook, will have his easel and will sketch your likeness, with or without freighter (tips appreciated).

Also on hand will be Roger Hulett, author of “A Lot More To Do – Frank Mays Survival of the Tragic Carl D Bradley Sinking.” Ken Niemi, a Great Lakes historian, will have used maritime books, art and some artifacts for sale.

If you can’t make Saturday’s Know Your Ships signing, Roger will also be set up Sunday, May 29, at the Mariner Theater, 430 S. Water St., Marine City, between noon and 3 p.m.

Great Lakes Maritime Center

 

Help wanted: Lake Michigan Carferry

Lake Michigan Carferry is accepting applications for placement in the engine department aboard the historic S.S. Badger.  Candidates must possess a Merchant Mariner’s Credential with QMED (Fireman/Oiler/Watertender) endorsement, a current Medical Certificate and a valid TWIC card.  QMED will expect to live aboard and stand a 4 hour watch, twice a day, 7 days a week for the remainder of the 2022 sailing season (as soon as possible to Oct 16th, 2022) QMED wage is $28.91p/hr ($43.37 for OT hours).   Visit our web site at http://www.ssbadger.com > Join the Crew to fill out an online application or email lbialochowski@interlakems.com  for more information.

 

Time running out for Boatnerd freighter-chasing cruise early bird rate

After going on pandemic hiatus for the last two years, the Annual Boatnerd Soo Freighter Chasing Cruise is back in business!

•When: Friday – June 24, 6–9 pm, rain or shine

•Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)

•Limit: 100 passengers

•Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage

•General Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $30.00 each, $35.00 each from June 1-June 17

•Youth Admission (US funds): Early Bird rate $20.00 each, $25.00 each from June 1-June 17. Youth admission applies to those under 18.

This year’s St. Marys River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 24. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters. (NOTE: At this time, we can approach the Canadian Locks, but not transit through them. We can also approach Algoma Steel, but we cannot enter the slip.)

Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol).

Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Reservations (both online and mail-in) must be received no later than Friday, June 17. Buy tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p86wujf

If the cruise is not sold out, Angie Williams will take CASH ONLY reservations through the end of the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday, June 23, at the Procrastinator Price of $40.00 per General Admission ticket, and $30 per youth ticket.

Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or wish to reserve without using EventBrite,.

The Boatnerd  Picnic will be Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sherman Park, just west of the locks. Bring a dish to pass. Burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments will be provided by Boatnerd. Free.) Save the date and think early about your travel plans and lodging. The event will be held rain or shine, but lets hope for sunshine!

Events are in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers annual Engineer’s Day (Friday, June 24) open house at the Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.