Boatnerd News

June 1997

Jun 1, 1997

Montreal Activity

06/30

The American two masted auxillary sailing vessel PRIDE OF BALTIMORE looked very graceful as she arrived in Montreal this evening. After an overnight stay she will enter the Seaway in transit to Detroit, Michigan.

The Canadian Laker MONTREALAIS is out of her lay-up in Montreal and departed this evening for a St Lawrence Gulf port to load back for the Lakes

The rusty looking ex Socanav tanker Le Saule No 1 has been in-active in Sorel QC since January 07.97. Today she is being given a much needed coat of paint and now bears the name AL JOUL -Panamanian registry

The French sailing ship BELLE ESPOIR 11 is enjoying a visit to Montreal

Rumour has it that HMCS OKANAGAN, a submarine which has recently been undergoing a refit in Halifax Nova Scotia, will be entering the Seaway later in July

The 1979 built 30000ton bulker ELLIE is in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland and is bound for the Port of Windsor ONT

Reported by: John Whitehead

U.S.S. Fahrion arrives at Port Weller

06/30

At 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 29th, the Oliver Hazard Perry class, Guided Missile Frigate, U.S.S. Fahrion entered the Welland Canal and shortly thereafter tied up below lock one. It was a very calm evening so docking the 445 foot ship was no trouble however the McKeil tugs Argue Martin and Lac Erie were on hand just in case. The 15 year old ship is on the annual Great Lakes tour and will be visiting numerous ports throughout the lakes during July.

Reported by: Jeff Cameron

American Mariner visits Marinette

06/30

The AMERICAN MARINER arrived on Saturday at the Marinette Fuel and Dock Co. in Marinette, WI. She off loaded an unknown amount of coal at the dock and departed at 6:00 PM.

Reported by: Wood

Anderson to depart Bay Shipbuilding today

06/29

Arthur M. Anderson is scheduled to depart Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay during late afternoon today.

Reported by: Al Miller

Port Stanley receives asphalt

06/29

The first vessel carrying asphalt arrived in Port Stanley yesterday. The tanker Saturn delivered 7,000 metric tonnes of hot ashpalt cement to the McAsphalt Industries Marine Terminal.

Reported by: Richard Hill

Seaway Agencies Amend Tariff of Tolls

06/28

Seaway Agencies Amend Tariff of Tolls with a 2.5 percent cargo toll increase and the elimination of Welland Canal lockage fees.

(OTTAWA, June 25, 1997)– The leaders of the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation today announced that the two Seaway entities have agreed to amend the Seaway Tariff of Tolls, with a 2.5 percent cargo toll increase, which goes into effect on August 1, 1997, and the elimination of Welland Canal vessel lockage fees beginning in 1998.

St. Lawrence Seaway Authority President Glendon R. Stewart and Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Deputy Administrator David G. Sanders noted that the 2.5 percent increase on both the Montreal/Lake Ontario and Welland Canal sections of The St. Lawrence Seaway System is the first rise in Seaway tolls since 1993. At the beginning of the 1998 navigation season, the Welland Canal lockage charge will be replaced with an increase in the Welland Canal cargo tolls and vessel charge per Gross Registered Ton (GRT).

“The Seaway toll agreement will help provide the Canadian Seaway Authority with the revenues necessary to continue offering commercial users with safe, efficient, and reliable transits through the Great Lakes Seaway System,” Stewart said. “We believe that this modest increase will help us maintain our lock facilities and navigation channels to acceptable standards of safety and reliability.”

Sanders hailed the new agreement and the elimination of the Welland Canal lockage charges beginning in 1998. “The elimination of this additional cost burden to our users achieves two important goals for our system. First, the elimination of the lockage fee will simplify the tolls process and make it easier to understand. Second, it will bring fairness to the Seaway System by placing all vessels on an even playing field.”

Both leaders acknowledged this important U.S./Canadian binational agreement as a testimony to the strong working relationship of the two Seaway agencies, their long-term commitment to improve the cost competitiveness of the waterway, and to the current Seaway toll negotiation process.

Seaway tolls are collected by the Canadian Seaway Authority for the operations and maintenance of its locks and channels along the Montreal-Lake Ontario and the Welland Canal sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway System. The U.S. Seaway Corporation no longer collects tolls and is funded through annual appropriations from the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Bluenose II

06/28

Bluenose II the Queen of the North Atlantic entered the Welland Canal the morning of June 27 enroute for Windsor Ont.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

News from the Twin Ports

06/27

The normally quiet C. Reiss coal dock on the St. Louis River is scheduled to receive its second caller in three days June 27 when H. Lee White is to call. Armco was there to unload coal June 25. After unloading at Reiss, the White will go to the BNSF ore dock to load. Even though the White will be “shifting in the harbor,” the trip from Reiss to BN is about 6 to 8 miles.

Reported by: Al Miller

Canadian Mariner to enter dry docks today

06/26

The Canadian Mariner is due to arrive at Port Weller Dry Docks at 1500 hrs today to effect repairs to the damage from grounding in the St. Lawrence River. No Estimate of how long this will take as yet.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

News from the Twin Ports

06/26

Armco made a two-way coal run to Duluth-Superior on June 25. The vessel unloaded coal up the St. Louis River at the C. Reiss Coal Dock in Duluth during the morning, then came back down the river in the afternoon to load coal at Midwest Energy Terminal.

Once a common sight in the Twin Ports, the St. Clair now comes here only occasionally. On June 25 the vessel paid a rare call to the DMIR ore dock.

Reported by: Al Miller

Great Lakes Delegation Lining Up Behind Jones Act

06/26

As of June 25, 173 members of the House of Representatives have signed House Continuing Resolution 65, a statement of full support for the Jones Act. Joining the list of Great Lakes legislators are Dingell (Michigan), Strickland (Ohio) and LaFalce (New York).

The Jones Act is one of several U.S. “Cabotage” laws and reserves the movement of cargo between U.S. ports to ships which are U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed. Although the Jones Act dates from 1920, the United States has had Cabotage laws since 1789 and these laws have fostered a domestic fleet second to none. The U.S.-Flag Great Lakes is the largest assemblage of self-unloading vessels in the world. For information on how the Jones Act benefits other regions of the country, please visit the homepage of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, the national organization promoting the U.S. Cabotage laws.

Legislation to largely repeal the Jones Act was introduced in the House by Michigan Congressman Nick Smith, but the bill (H. R. 1991) has a mere 11 co-sponsors.

News from the Twin Ports

06/25

While the rest of the Midwest sweltered, the Duluth-Superior harbor was blanketed by a chilly fog. The fog prompted Philip R. Clarke to slow to a crawl as it entered Duluth about 7 a.m. June 24.

Arthur M. Anderson is due into Sturgeon Bay today, apparently bound for the shipyard. No word was given on how long it may be there.

Reported by: Al Miller

Great Lakes Ports Share In Rising Tonnages

06/25

Shipments of iron ore, stone and coal from U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports totaled 16.6 million tons in May, an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Iron ore cargos totaled 7,850,317 net tons, a decrease of 2.7 percent. The decline resulted from reduced shipments in Canadian lakers from St. Lawrence River ports.

A record-setting month for Canadian stone docks pushed the Lakes limestone and gypsum trade up 14.7 percent to 4.8 million tons. Coal cargos on the Lakes in May approached 4 million tons, an increase of 5.5 percent.

For the season, loadings of iron ore, stone and coal stand at 32.5 million tons, an increase of 13.7 percent. Iron ore cargos are up 6.3 percent. Stone loadings have increased 18.7 percent. The Lakes coal trade is nearly 27 percent ahead of last year’s pace.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Tankers first Seaway Transit

06/25

The 1994 built 17080 DWT tanker HAVELSTERN was in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland at 0624/0025 and reported bound for Sarnia ONT. Part of a fleet of tankers owned by Rigel Schiffarts, the Havelstern’s registry was recently revised from Germany to “Isle of Man”. The good looking ice-reinforced blue hulled vessel will be making it’s first Seaway transit, and the first IOM vessel to do so. She has been a regular year round visitor to Montreal since 1994. Rigel Schiffarfts is related to Rigel Shipping-Canada who operate the 6000 DWT chemical tankers DIAMOND STAR, JADE STAR, and EMERALD STAR year round in the Great Lakes and Canadian coastal trades

Reported by: John Whitehead

News from the Seaway

06/25

The Bluenose will be in Toronto until Friday June 27. The HMS Bounty arrived in Toronto on June 23 and will be there until Tuesday July 1.

Germaster (spelling ?)(E) 1145 Cape Vincent stopped at 1140 due to engine problems. She had no engines for five minutes and then got underway and headed back toward the lake for repairs. She was anchored 1.5 miles SW of Tibbetts Point (44 04.29N , 76 23.97W) making repairs to a cracked #1 cylinder head. Repairs were completed and the ship got under way, at 1810 she was at Cape Vincent, 2116 for the Crossover.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

Canadian Mariner aground more details

06/25

Updates and corrections to the vessels that aided in the refloating of the Mariner. The tug Wyatt McKeil was not spelled correctly. The lighter was the D.C. Everest a.k.a. Condarrel (a former canaler/package freighter) and the spud barge Henry T was utilized with a crawler crane aboard to do the clamming. The Henry T was pulled from dredging at Burlington Piers to assist in the operation and will resume dredging in Hamilton today.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Hamilton Transfer Available for Hire in 1998

06/24

An advertisement in the June 16th edition of “Canadian Sailings” report that ULS’ Hamilton Transferwill be available for hire in 1998. The Hamilton Transfer is the ex- Crispin Oglebay, which was purchased by ULS in 1995 and converted to a cargo transfer ship, stationed at Dofasco Steel in Hamilton, Ontario. The vessel was employed at Dofasco after a shore side unloader collapsed and killed its operator. A transversing gantry crane was installed on the vessel at Port Weller Dry Docks. Dofasco receives most of their raw materials from straight deck bulk carriers, where shore side unloading equipment is necessary. It has been reported in the past that while the Hamilton Transfer has been adequate in her new role, she has not lived up to expectations. Dofasco has announced that they will replace the shore based unloader, apparently by 1998.

Reported by: Mark Jackson

Dredge Columbus to the rescue

06/24

The dredge Columbus assisted (actually did all the work) the Marblehead Coast Guard in putting out a boat fire Sunday. The 20′ boat was totally engulfed. The Columbus used one of its big deck guns to put the fire out.

Reported by: Brian McCune

News from the Twin Ports

06/23

Coast Guard Cutter Sundew departed Duluth over the weekend for Sturgeon Bay. No word on the reason for the trip. Meanwhile, Cutter Buckthorn is paying a rare call to the Twin Ports, docking at the Coast Guard dock until June 26.

Vessel lineups continue at Midwest Energy Terminal. Columbia Star was into the dock June 22 to load. It was just departing Monday morning while Mesabi Miner began loading coal and Oglebay Norton waited at the port terminal.

Reported by: Al Miller

Full Speed Ahead For Jones Act Lakers

06/23

U.S.-Flag carriers hauled 13.9 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargo on the Lakes in May, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Iron ore cargos for the steel industry totaled 7,045,225 tons, an increase of 6.5 percent. Stone loadings in U.S. bottoms rose 8.4 percent to 3.6 million tons. Coal cargos increased slightly to 2,452,422 tons.

For the season, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 28.5 million tons, an increase of 16.4 percent. While the increase reflects continued strong demand for cargo, the industry benefitted from more normal ice conditions in March and April which allowed vessels to resume operations without the excessive delays encountered at the start of the 1996 navigation season.

With the June 13 sailing of the CALCITE II (USS Great Lakes Fleet, Inc.), all boom-type self-unloaders are in service. The only U.S.-Flag ships yet to sail this year are the small cement carriers E. M. FORD and S. T. CRAPO and the straight-decker KINSMAN ENTERPRISE.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Don’t Be “Buffaloed”

06/23

On June 18, Michigan Congressman Nick Smithintroduced legislation to “reform” the Jones Act. Joining Congressman Smith were nine other members of the House and a Representative from Guam. Although the list of co-sponsors is a slight increase over those who backed Smith’s failed HR 4006, it is surely a disappointment for Jones Act Reform Coaltion President Rob Quartel, seeing as he purports to represent “nearly 900,000 American … economic interests” opposed to the Jones Act. In contrast, 167 members of the House have signed House Continuing Resolution 65 in support of the Jones Act and the list continues to grow.

Lake Carriers’ Association intends to refute each and every criticism leveled at the Jones Act, and to begin with, will address Congressman Smith’s May 19, 1997 “Dear Colleague” letter in which he contends that the Jones Act forces the city of Buffalo, N.Y. “to buy Canadian salt when a domestic supply is only 60 miles away.” The letter states that “a salt mine employing (sic) 200 people with a capacity of 4 million tons a year operates (sic) only sixty miles away from Buffalo in Retsof, New York. This mine, and another mine nearby, could provide more than enough road salt to meet regional demand given access to efficient, cost-effective transportation options. Because they cannot obtain efficient waterborne transportation, Canadian salt is imported into port cities such as Buffalo, New York….”

Congressman Smith’s letter further states “no Jones Act-qualified vessels are available to carry salt from one U.S. Great Lakes port to another.”

Congressman Smith’s information on the Lakes salt trade is so wrong it’s embarrassing. First, on April 26 of this year, a U.S.-Flag laker, the PHILIP R. CLARKE, set a new record for the Lakes Jones Act salt trade by delivering 27,621 net tons of salt TO BUFFALO! Where was this cargo loaded? Fairport Harbor, Ohio, a short 146 miles away!

During the past few navigation seasons, no less than 9 U.S.-Flag lakers operated by four different carriers have hauled salt. These self-propelled vessels and tug/barge units have a combined per-trip capacity of 178,000 gross tons (200,000 net tons). U.S-Flag lakers have hauled roughly 11 million net tons of salt since 1985 (the year LCA began its survey of U.S.-Flag cargo carriage on the Great Lakes).

Concerning the Retsof Mine, it has been closed since March 1994 when a cave-in caused it to flood. Its closing had nothing to do with transportation issues. And, given that it lies 60 miles east of Buffalo, it was inaccessible to ships.

Canadian Mariner aground more details

06/22

(See original story dated 6/19) After partial unloading to barges on Thursday (6/19) night [except during passing rain/thunder storms] and Friday (6/20) all day and into the night. The CANADIAN MARINER was pulled off the shoal adjacent to Crossover Island, NY at 1015 EDT today 6/21/1997.

Tugs pressed into service for the effort were:
ROBINSON BAY S.L.S.D.C. Massena NY
CAROLYN JO McKeil Marine Ltd Hamilton Ont
EVANS MCKEIL McKeil Marine Ltd Hamilton Ont
GLENBROOK McKeil Marine Ltd Hamilton Ont
JOHN SPENCE McKeil Marine Ltd Hamilton Ont
WYATT MCKEIL McKeil Marine Ltd Hamilton Ont

Also assisting with the unloading efforts was the crane barge DC EVEREST.

Although several lines of 2.5 – 3 inches in diameter were snapped (broken) in the process of pulling the CANADIAN MARINER off the shoal there were no reported casualties or injuries.

CANADIAN MARINER was assisted to the Prescott Ont. anchorage area for inspection. She was subsiquently approved for Seaway transit provided that a SLSDC Pilot remained aboard and in command. She departed from an anchorage 1728 yesterday to continue passage eastward to Quebec City.

Reported by: David Aitcheson and John Whitehead

Ryerson loads in record time

06/22

First Mate Steve Vandercook had everything going his way Thursday June 12 when he loaded the Edward L. Ryerson with 27,067 tons of Taconite in a record time of 2 hours and 51 minutes. The load was on the dock upon arrival, the engineers were able to pump out the ballast without delay and it was a beautiful late afternoon in Marquette at the LS&Iore dock.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Oglebay Norton buys vessels

06/22

Oglebay Norton Co. said it bought the vessels DAVID Z. NORTON and WOLVERINE from GATX Capital Corp., according to a news service report in the June 21 Duluth News-Tribune. Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton has leased the ships since the 1970s, said Stuart Theis, ON vice president of marine transport. Low interest rates and expiration of the leases in 1998 and 1999, respectively, made the purchases in the company’s best interest, he said.

Reported by: Al Miller

Seaway Queen undergoing repairs

06/22

SEAWAY QUEEN will be at Port Weller for several weeks while workers there replace metal inside the ship’s cargo hold. According to sources the port and starboard side tanks in holds #1,2 and 5 will receive the most attention while lesser repairs will be made throughout the vessel’s cargo hold. Although specifics were not provided, a series of general repairs will be put in on machinery in the engine room as well. Externally, SEAWAY QUEEN will be entirely sandblasted and repainted.

Reported by:Jeff Cameron

Provmar Terminal II is now officially a barge

06/22

Although PROVMAR TERMINAL II has served Provmar Fuels for the last decade as a fuel storage facility, the ship has remained entirely intact in the condition she was left following her retirement. There had been hope and speculation through past years that she may once again set sail under her own power and return to active service. With her visit to Port Weller Drydocks any hope anyone may have had of seeing the former IMPERIAL SARNIA running again was put to rest. The vessel’s propeller and shaft were removed and the remaining hole was welded up. In addition all of the through hull fittings, water intakes and discharges, other than those required by the bilge pumps, were also welded shut. Any future movements will be handled by tugs.

At 9:00 a.m. on June 21st, the tugs GLENSIDE and ARGUE MARTIN pulled the PROVMAR TERMINAL II from Port Weller Drydocks and headed downbound through lock one of the Welland Canal. The tow was enroute back to Hamilton where the former tanker will resume her storage and transfer duties.

Reported by:Jeff Cameron

Other news from the Seaway

06/22

The cdn tugs Glenbrook and Wyatt Mckeil were at Iroquois lock eastbound for Montreal at 1718. The cdn tug Evans Mckeil was west bound at Cape Vincent for Oshawa ONT at 1600. The Cdn tug Carolyn Jo was also at Iroquois at 1718 east bound for Valleyfield QC. The laker Cuyahoga, after an overnight discharge in Montreal left quickly for the Seaway. She departed Prescott Ont for Hamilton at 1851.

The USS FARHION is in Quebec City and expected in Montreal on June24 for a one day visit before entering the Seaway for the Great Lakes

Reported by: John Whitehead

Canadian Mariner aground in St. Lawrence River – update

06/21

Samuel Risley in dry dock

06/20

The Canadian Coast Guard ship “Samuel Risley” entered drydock at PASCOL Engineering in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Wednesday. PASCOL was awarded the $250,000 contract to conduct the vessels mandatory 5-year inspection and refit. The work is expected to take at least three weeks to complete. It’s the first government contract for PASCOL since taking over the former Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company.

Reported by: Richard Boon

Beauharnois Canal Section of the St Lawrence Seaway closed

06/20

Traffic on the canal was terminated at 9:15 am EDT yesterday to permit re-alignment of the pathways of the St Louis lifting bridge 180ft long road and rail span. Ship traffic was light and the Canadian Empress was the only vessel affected by the closing. Reports are that traffic resumed early afternoon

Reported by: John Whitehead

Hannah tug visits Manistee

06/20

The Mary Page Hannah/Hannah 2901 recently arrived in manistee. What is odd about this is that the Mary Hannah is only 60 feet long, the previous tugs pushing the 2901 in were 150 feet. This is the 4th Hannah barge in to Manistee. The barge switched tugs in Chicago.

Reported by: Chris Franckowiak

Canadian Mariner aground in St. Lawrence River

06/19

The Canadian Mariner ran aground at about 1030 EDT yesterday after losing steerage. Reports are the vessel was hard aground in the St. Lawrence River at light 162 taking on water. She was fully loaded with wheat and some of the cargo was reported as wet. At noon yesterday the area was beset with fog limiting visibility to one half mile or less, traffic was suspended in the area due to the grounding.

About 2130 EDT, a SLSDC 20 ft Boston Whaler had taken 3 *company* inspectors (all Captians) from a temporary shore base at Blind Bay Marina to the Canadian Mariner. Visibility in the area was at or below 1 mile due to fog

Reported by: David Aitcheson

Companies win prestigious awards for technologial innovation and best management practices.

06/19

In May, Seaway Self Unloaders of St. Catharines, Ontario, received the “Best Transportation Solution” Award at the COMMON Conference Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts, for two new telecommunications applications. SSU’s new communications system modernizes and streamlines the scheduling process for SSU’s 18 vessel fleet. The “Best Transportation Solution” Award is presented to organizations throughout Canada and the United States that have shown “exceptional creativity in building leading-edge, cost-effective systems.”

Groupe Desgagnes of Quebec City was ranked among Canada’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies. The competition highlighed the company’s best practices, in areas such as strategic planning, use of innovative and efficient management tools, and employee morale. Groupe Desgagnes was chosen from almost 1,000 companies in this contest sponsored by The Financial Post, Canadian Airlines, Bell Canada, Arthur Andersen, and Le Groupe Mallette Maheu.

“The awards are a reflection of our members’ commitment to be attractive and efficient transportation providers,” said Capt. Rejean Lanteigne. “They show that the industry is doing its part.”

Seaway Self Unloader is responsible for the traffic and marketing functions of the combined fleet of the Upper Lakes Group and Algoma Central Corporation. Groupe Desgagnes provides shipping and passenger services.

Cartierdoc loses power in the Welland Canal

06/18

At roughly 1:30 p.m., Sunday, June 15 the Cartierdoc lost power while upbound in ballast in the Welland Canal. The vessel came to rest on the mud bank between lock 2 and the Homer Street Bridge on the west side of the canal approximately 2,500 feet from the bridge. After inspection, McKiel’s tug Argue Martin was called from Port Weller to assist the vessel back to lock 2 approach wall. The vessel was towed stern first and secured above lock 2 at 7:30 p.m. After repairs the vessel departed at 0030 hours June 17 bound Thunder Bay. Canal traffic was stopped from 1400 to 2000 hours.

The Lake Superior, Regina Oldendorff and Dixie Commander were delayed for 6 hours during the incident.

Reported by: Mark Shumaker

Legendary boatbuilder

06/18

Reuben Hill, a legendary North Shore boatbuilder, who along with his father and brothers crafted more than 120 wooden fishing and sailboats, died Sunday at 92. Boats built by the Hill family formed the backbone of the commercial fishing industry along Minnesota’s North Shore and on Isle Royale. They built row boats, fish boats, freight boats, sloops, sailboats and even five 120-foot antisubmarine boats during World War II.

Reported by: Al Miller

Seaway Queen to enter dry dock today

06/18

The SEAWAY QUEEN will be moved from the fitout berth into the shelf dock about 0800 hours today.

Reported by: Jeff Cameron

06/17

At approximately 1900 hours 6/16/97 contact was made on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in the Saginaw River at Bay City, Michigan. The vessel Joseph H Frantz was outbound from the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw when the incident occurred.

The bridge tender attempted to make contact with the Frantz when it was realized the bridge was not responding to the tenders attempt. A radio problem in the bridge, made it impossible for the bridge to notify the Frantz. The master of the Frantz [Capt. Gary Meilke] realized the bridge was malfunctioning and dropped the stern anchor, and reversed the engine.

The Frantz blew the whistle at least 3 times for an opening and there was broken radio communication from the bridge. The Frantz’s master informed the bridge tender that engines were reversed and that they should try to open at least one side of the span, and he’d try to go through that way.

The Frantz grazed the east span in a down position as the west span had been raised. With the stern anchor chain still in the water, she proceeded through the Liberty Bridge and tied up at Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City for inspection. According to the dock crew at Wirt, there was damage sustained to the forward starboard railings, as well as the deck boat launch. Frantz was to proceed outbound for the lake after at 30 minute stop, at which time the Saginaw River Coast Guard came alongside to assist in the visual inspection. It appears that there was no contact below the water line.

Reported by: Lon Morganand and Dan Maus

English River out of Dry Dock

06/17

English River was pulled out of Port Weller Friday Afternoon and was downbound later that night.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

High winds cause problems

06/17

Seaway East is having problems with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour which are causing minor delays and inconvenience.
At 11.48am Seaway Beauharnois (Control) advised that smoke was coming from the wooden baulks on the Cote St Catherine Lock stopping walls. The approaching west bound laker Gordon C Leitch advised she would stand by with fire hoses on passing the wall. At 12.03pm Montreal Coastguard Radio issued a “securitie-securitie” notice that a small craft warning is in effect The American sailing vessel Bounty west bound at Eisenhower Lock at 0924 this morning reports a change of destination from Rochester NY to Kingston ONT. The sailing vessel Fair Jeanne -CDN arrived at Kingston at 0610 this am after an overnight passage. Kingston is a last viable port for westbound vessels before the open waters of Lake Ontario.

Reported by: John Whitehead

Preview of May U.S.-Flag Float – 1996 Cement Total Revised

06/17

Preview of May U.S.-Flag Float

Although returns are not quite complete, U.S.-Flag carriage on the Lakes approached, if not topped, 14 million tons in May. Iron ore cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 7,045,225 net tons, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to a year earlier. The U.S.-Flag stone float topped 3.6 million tons, an increase of 8.4 percent

1996 Cement Total Revised Upward

With publication of Canadian Shipowners Association’s 1996 Annual Report, LCA can finalize the 1996 Cement Trade totals. Shipments of cement on the Great Lakes totaled 5,155,573 net tons in 1996, an increase of 11.6 percent. LCA’s 1996 Annual Report (released in May) estimated the 1996 cement trade at 4.6 million tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

CSL TARANTAU & SAGUENAY, Self Unloaders

06/16

In TORONTO harbour the ships SAGUENAY & TARANTAU are laid up. The SAGUENAY has all ports welded up & appears ready for the tow to the scrappers.

The TARANTAU has been sitting in the “turning basin” since December of ’96 and is need of substantial metal work with a price tag of Cdn.$8,000,000. Normally this work would be commenced at her current location as this is significantly cheaper than repairs being performed at Port Weller, for example. But no work is proceeding. Therefore it is rumored that she also is for the scrap heap.

06/14

At 7:00 p.m. Friday, the cement barge Integrity and tug Jacklyn M. made its first trip to Duluth-Superior. The tug-barge combination went to the Superior’s Lafarge cement terminal to start the unload and will complete the unload at Duluth. The duo is expected to depart sometime Saturday afternoon.

Other unusual visitors here now include the Calcite II loading at D.M. and I.R., West side of dock #6 and the Canadian Explorer unloading cement at St. Lawrence Cement.

Reported by: Jody L. Aho

Port of Montreal Daily Ship Count

06/14

PORT OF MONTREAL – DAILY SHIP COUNT – 0611/0834

	In the Harbour	Expected
Ocean Going	10	13
Inland **	6	2
Coastal	8	1
Total	24	16

Some “Inland** ” details :- Comeaudoc, Montrealais, Algogulf and Algoriver are inactive. Algowest and Manitoulin are due at Elevator No 4 to discharge. The Iranian salty IRAN AFZAL -22,023 GRT is loading as wheat becomes available

The above counts do not include vessels in transit through Montreal Harbour, to and from the St Lawrence Seaway

Reported by: John Whitehead

Calcite II departs Fraser Shipyards

06/13

About noon today, tugs began assisting Calcite II in leaving Fraser Shipyards. The vessel is scheduled to load at the DMIR ore docks with cargo for Lorain.

Reported by: Al Miller

06/12

The laid-up Canadian tanker Enerchem Asphalt was towed from Halifax to Les Mechins QC last winter . She was sold a few days ago, re-named AFRICAN ASPHALT, -port of registry St Vincent and Grenadines, and has since left for Sea, destination unknown

The American registered HMS BOUNTY, held back by srong north- westerly head winds of the last few days reported her position at 0610/2304 as only 49.18 North and 64.17 West . This is in the Gaspe Passage south of Anticosti, prior to entering the St Lawrence River

The Cdn Schooner BLUENOSE 2 arrived Montreal 0611/1747, She has a 10 port itinerary for her visit to Great Lakes US and Cdn Ports

Reported by: John Whitehead

Containers on the Great Lakes

06/12

Christensen Canadian African Lines operate 3 versatile ships on a year round direct service from Africa to Montreal and to Lake Ontario ports in Season. The blue hulled THORSCAPE, THOR 1 and THORSWAVE are frequently seen in The St Lawrence Seaway and Lake Ontario with a full deck load of containers loaded 3 high. The ships sport Stulchen type heavy lift gear and have bulk and refrigerated capacity. The vessels run a regular service to Capetown, Durban and other African ports on inducement. This company deck loaded the well known Lakes pusher tugs MARGARET and PHYLLIS YORK for shipment to Nigeria recently. The Singapore registered THORSCAPE, 20005 dwt passed Grondines QC at 1700 on June08 westbound for Montreal and Lake Ontario

Reported by: John Whitehead

International Board Holds Open House for People Interested in Lake Superior Regulation

06/12

The International Lake Superior Board of Control will hold an open house to encourage dialogue with people interested in Lake Superior outflows and Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron water levels.

This open house will be held on Tuesday, June 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It will be at the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Office, 130 Conservation Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public of the Board’s current activities and to hear public comments and suggestions regarding the Board’s work. Discussion will focus on the responsibilities of the Board in matters which affect the levels and outflows of Lake Superior.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control is a binational committee reporting to and advising the International Joint Commission on matters relating to the regulation of Lake Superior outflows.

For further information, please contact Mr. Peter Yee or Mr. David Fay at Environment Canada’s office in Cornwall, Ontario, at (613) 938-5725.

Reported by: John Whitehead

May Coal Trade Up 5.6 Percent

06/12

Shipments of coal from U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports totaled 3,961,930 net tons in May, an increase of 5.6 percent compared to a year ago. For the season, the Lakes coal trade stands at 8 million tons, an increase of 27 percent. While demand is strong, the increase partially reflects the more normal ice conditions which prevailed at the resumption of the coal trade in late March.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Great Lakes Delegation Lining Up Behind Jones Act Update

06/11

The latest count for the pro-Jones Act resolution being circulated among the House of Representatives is 157. Joining the list of Great Lakes legislators who have signed House Continuing Resolution 65 are: Rick Lazio (NY)Susan Molinari (NY)Amo Houghton (NY)and Joseph McDade (PA)

Enerchem Trader departs on maiden voyage under new name

06/11

Enerchem Traderdeparted the North Slip in Point Edward, Ont. some time Monday. She was downbound past Detroit on Monday afternoon about 3:30 P.M. The former Le Chene No.1 was purchased from the bankrupt Socanav by Enerchem Transport Inc. She has been repainted from the red hull to dark green, and named Enerchem Trader. In addition to the new color sceme, she has an interesting new stack markingthat appears to be some type of whale.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

USS Fleet update

06/11

Roger Blough apparently spent a few days in Erie, Pa, undergoing repairs. The vessel was listed as undergoing repairs in port earlier this week. On June 10, GLF listed it as being in Erie and due out June 11.

Myron C. Taylor is scheduled to make another call in Milwaukee. She’s due there June 13 at 0300, although that’s certain to change over the next couple days.

Reported by: Al Miller

Where is the barge?

06/11

The Stephen Reinauer was spotted at 11AM on the 10th tied up pier side at the Port of Buffalo Terminal “B” without her barge section. This is very unusual since they are always seen together in one form or another. I do not know where the barge is. The world wonders……..

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Miss Libby visits Port Stanley

06/11

Miss Libby (drilling platform for PEMBINA) entered Port Stanley harbour at 24:00 hours Saturday night, escorted by the towing tug JANETTE M (Dan Minor Marine out of Port Colborne.) She docked on the east side bottle neck of the harbour, unloaded piping and equipment on the dock and left Sunday morning at 07:00 hours. She is now situated 22 miles offshore. The pilot boat INTREPED III (Nadro Marine) has been back and forth transporting people & gear twice a day.

Reported by: Richard Hill

Correction – Elton Hoyt 2nd to LTV

06/11

Last month (see story dated 05/12) it was reported that Interlake’s Elton Hoyt 2nd was 60 feet longer than any vessel to transit that far up the Cuyahoga River. New information shows that the ELTON HOYT 2nd is 38 feet longer than any other ship that has worked the Cuyahoga. We have since learned that American Steamship’s old ADAM E. CORNELIUS made the run, She was 660 feet long.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

06/10

As June 9, more than 150 members of the House of Representatives have signed House Continuing Resolution 65, a statement of full support for the Jones Act. The Jones Act is one of several U.S. “Cabotage” laws and reserves the movement of cargo between U.S. ports to ships which are U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed. Although the Jones Act dates from 1920, the United States has had Cabotage laws since 1789 and these laws have fostered a domestic fleet second to none.

Many Great Lakes legislators have signed H. Con. Res. 65.

Lakes Jones Act Fleet Off To Fast Start

06/10

The U.S.-Flag fleet on the Great Lakes moved 11.5 million net tons of cargo in April, an increase of 26 percent compared to a year ago. Less severe ice conditions, coupled with strong demand for cargo, enabled Jones Act carriers to quickly resume “summer sailing” schedules in April, where in 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard continued breaking ice well into May.

The U.S.-Flag iron ore float in April totaled 6.1 million tons, an increase of 11 percent compared to a year earlier. However, the most significant increases came in the coal trade. Western coal cargos loaded in Superior, Wisconsin, topped 1.2 million tons, an increase of 57 percent. Loadings of eastern coal at Lake Erie and Lake Michigan ports neared 1 million tons, or essentially twice that of a year ago.

The U.S.-Flag stone float totaled 2.4 million tons, an increase of 45 percent.

The 1997 U.S.-Flag dry-bulk shipping season began with the sailing of the DAVID Z. NORTON (Oglebay Norton Company), and through April, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 14.5 million tons, an increase of 30.8 percent compared to 1996.

Reported by: John Whitehead

Two missing despite tireless efforts

06/09

At 2345, Friday 06 June, two pleasure craft collided at buoy 45 in the Maumee River, adjacent to Coast Guard Station Toledo and the CSX Coal Docks. 9 persons were involved, as a 21′ boat with 6 people on board broad sided a 25′ vessel carrying three passengers. Rumors speculate that alcohol may have been a contributing factor. Due to the close proximity to the Station, response time to the scene was under three minutes. Nevertheless, the operator and one passenger on the 21 footer failed to remain on the surface after the collision. The Coast Guard, with the assistance of the Lucas County Sheriff Department, ODNR and volunteer boaters, scoured the area,without results, for nearly 16 hours. The search was suspended due to exhaustion and water conditions. The two young men remain missing and are presumed dead. All seven survivors were injured and were taken to local hospitals. The 21′ vessel was estimated to be traveling at nearly 40 knots at the point of collision. The Coast Guard can release no further information at this time. All parties involved are to be commended for their superior efforts and perseverance.

Reported by: Ryan Barone

Federal River class freighters

06/07

The new Federal freighter -FEDERAL MAAS, 34,500 tons DWMT, 200 meters long, Shanghai built, arrived in Montreal early this morning after an overnight passage up the St Lawrence.The first departure date and time for the St Lawrence Seaway is not yet known. Other new vessels in the class FEDERAL ST LAURENT, CALUMET, AND SAGUENAY visited Great Lakes ports in 1996. The FEDERAL RHINE visited earlier this year. A new FEDERAL SCHELDE is expected later this year

Reported by: John Whitehead

Record Month for Canadian Stone Docks

06/07

Stone shipments from Canadian stone ports totaled 880,563 net tons in May, the highest level recorded since LCA began its monthly survey of the stone trade.

For the season, stone shipments from Canadian docks total 1,138,655 net tons, an increase of 732,309 tons compared to last year.

Canadian stone docks surveyed are Manitoulin Island, Smelter Bay, Bruce Mines and Port Colbourne.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

June 1 Vessel Report

06/07

On June 1, U.S.-Flag Great Lakes carriers had 63 of their 70 ships and tug/barge units in service. This total represents a decrease of one self-propelled tanker and one tug/barge tanker unit compared to a year earlier. The inactive tankers are expected to return to service in June. The Lakes Jones Act fleet is expected to grow further during the month with the activation of a small self-unloader. [Calcite II]

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

St. Lawrence River Weekly Data

06/06

INTERNATIONAL ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BOARD OF CONTROL PROVISIONAL WEEKLY DATA
Week ending Wed June 4/97 Average for this time of year (c)

Lake Ontario:
Actual end of Week Level 75.33 (247.15) 75.04 (246.19)
Computed Plan 1958-D Level (a) 75.88 (248.95)

Computed Preproject Level (b) 75.94 (249.15)

Lake Ontario Weekly Mean Outflow 9570 (338000) 7860 (277600)
Lake Ontario Weekly Total Supply 8580 (303000) 7900 (279000)
Lake St. Lawrence at Long Sault Dam Weekly Mean Level 73.14 (239.96) 73.64 (241.60)
Lac St. Louis at Pointe Claire Weekly Mean Level 22.08 (72.44) 21.45 (70.37)
Montreal Harbour at Jetty #1
Weekly Mean Level 7.64 (25.07) 6.84 (22.44)
Ottawa River at Carillon
Weekly Mean Outflow 2850 (100600) 2330 (82300)
Preliminary Lake Ontario Outflow for Week Ending Friday June. 13/97 * see below 9500 (335500) 7890 (278600)

* While Lake Ontario’s level appears to have reached its peak for the year last month, the subsequent decline has been very slow. This is due mainly to the continued extremely high inflows from Lake Erie, where the levels are near record high. A Lake Ontario outflow of 8780 cubic metres per second is specified by the Lake Ontario regulation plan for the coming week. However, the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control has directed that maximum possible outflows be continued in light of the water level conditions on Lake Ontario. Hence, a flow of 9500 cubic metres per second is expected for the coming week, with some very slight reductions during the week only if Lake Ontario’s level continues to decline. This flow is the maximum possible without causing excessive velocities in the St. Lawrence River which will stop seaway navigation.

(a) Levels that would have occured with strict adherence to Regulation Plan 1958-D.
(b) Levels that would have occured had there been no Lake Ontario regulation.
(c) For comparison purposes, Lake Ontario water level data since 1918 are used to be consistent with those published in the US. and Canadian Great Lakes bulletins (http://chswww.bur.dfo.ca/danp/wlgraphs. html). Other averages here are for the period since 1960 as Lake Ontario regulation began that year.

Note: Levels are in metres and (feet) IGLD 1985.Supply and flows are in m3/s and (ft3/s). Lake Ontario Regulation began in 1960.

Information in this report is compiled by the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control from provisional data provided by Ontario Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, Hydro Quebec, the New York Power Authority, and the U.S. National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information contact the Canadian Regulation Representative of the Board PETER_YEE@PCH.GC.CA

Reported by: John Whitehead

Navigator busy, Algobay in for repairs

06/05

Port Colborne, Ontario Warf 18-2 just above the fuel dock Upper Lakes newly converted Self Unloader Canadian Navigator (x St. Lawrence avigotor) unloaded 300 tonnes of Salt at Port Colborne yesterday June 3rd at 1700 hours—it then resumed to Hamilton to unload the rest of her cargo. She has been out 5 weeks and this load marks her 7 cargo.

Algoma’s Algobay at warf 16 the old R and P Coal Dock has been in since Sat. May 30—having repairs to the unloading equiptment by Fraser Ship Repair Co.

Reported by: Joe Van Volkenburg

Twin Ports round up

06/05

Sarah Spencer and Atlantic Hickory backed into the General Mills elevator in Duluth on June 4 to discharge grain.

After loading at the Peavey elevator in Superior, Kinsman Independent docked at the Duluth port terminal June 3 and 4 for repairs. The vessel departed Duluth about 3 p.m. June 4.

Since being taken off the coal run a few years back, St. Clair has become something of a vagabond. Last week it was loading at the BN ore dock in Superior. Later this week it’s due into Taconite Harbor.

Edwin H. Gott departed Duluth June 3 on another ore run to Nanticoke. It’s due there June 6 at 2100.

Reported by: Al Miller

Paterson sets another record – Press release

06/04

N.M. Paterson & Sons Limited, Marine Division, is pleased to announce that the flag ship of the fleet, MV PATERSON, has set another record load in the Port of Thunder Bay. On May 24, 1997, MV PATERSON sailed for the Port of Windsor with a load of Number 1 Canola which totalled 26,881.588 metric tonnes.

Mr. Robert J. Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, Paterson Marine Division, commented “The PATERSON has added to her record of achievements. This vessel has set records for the carriage of wheat, barley, soybeans, and iron ore on the St. Lawrence Seaway System. Our ability to offer customers efficient transportation of all bulk commodities is consistently enhanced by this ship. By extending the overall length of the ship when we built her, additional cargo can be carried which ensures the economic viability and competitiveness of the vessel in a tough marketplace.”

The Paterson company is a recognized leader in the carriage of bulk cargoes on the Great Lakes and innovative grain elevator design and construction on the prairies. The company currently operates seven modern bulk carriers in its Marine Division and 50 grain elevators across western Canada in its Grain Division.

Other records set by the vessel are as follows:

MV PATERSON set a record load for wheat loaded at Thunder Bay, Ontario, May 18, 1994. The amount was 29,016.427 metric tonnes and was delivered to the lower St. Lawrence River for eventual export.

MV PATERSON set a record load for barley loaded at Thunder Bay, Ontario, August 17, 1987. The amount loaded was 27,960.765 metric tonnes and was delivered to the lower St. Lawrence River for eventual export.

MV PATERSON set a record load for soybeans loaded at the Port of Duluth, Minnesota, May 5th, 1996. The amount loaded was 28,941.613 metric tonnes (1,063,471.20/60 bushels). The supplier was Harvest States Cooperatives, Superior Terminal, and the destination port was Three Rivers, PQ.

MV PATERSON set a St. Lawrence Seaway record for iron ore pellets loaded at Sept Isles, Quebec, November 20, 1995 and delivered to Burns Harbour, Indiana. The amount loaded was 29,651 metric tonnes.

06/03

U.S. Coast Guard station Toledo reports water level at +80 inches over low water datum. The station was awash Sunday, as well as the adjacent marinas. As of monday night, it was back down to +65 inches, but falling slowly. The flood conditions in Toledo were caused by three days of steady rain and brisk easterly winds, which pushed lake water into the Western Lake Erie basin. no word on restrictions to commercial traffic.

Reported by: Ryan Barone

Great Lakes Maritime Academy openings

06/03

The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, located in Traverse City, Michigan, has a few openings remaining for its new class which begins in mid-August. The Great Lakes Maritime Academy offers a 3 year program to train officers for either the deck or engine departments of the large Great Lakes vessels we all know so well. Cadets of the Academy spend 270 days sailing on Great Lakes vessels as well as intensive classroom training in preparation for writing their Coast Guard licensing exam. Graduates are qualified as either 3rd assistant engineers, steam or diesel unlimited horsepower or unlimited tonnage near-coastal mates with Great Lakes pilotage. Anyone interested in finding out more should call Judi at 1-800-748-0566 extension 1200 immediately.

News on tug to push Mauthe/Pathfinder

06/02

Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering of Bellingham, MA has been contracted to design a unique and innovative tug for pushing the converted “J.L. Mauthe” (possible new name: Pathfinder). The 7,200 BHP tug is a variant of the OT&BE”Seaway” Class tug series designed specifically for Great Lakes operations. Equipped with an articulated connection system and twin Z-drives, the 126 foot long tug will have a beam of 44 feet. The pilothouse will be single one set 70 feet over the waterline of the tug. The tug will be designed such that it can push the barge or take it alongside on the hip. Reports are that a rendering of the tug will be posted soon on OT&BE;’s web site

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Reckless boater flips vessel in ship’s wake

06/02

A reckless boater flipped their vessel in the Lee A. Tregurtha’s wake yesterday evening in the St Clair River. The incident happened as the Tregurtha passed the Recour Point power station in St. Clair, where the Columbia Star was unloading. The crew on the Star first reported the vessel in trouble, summoning assistance for the people that were aboard the overturned pleasure craft. The captian of the Tregurtha reports the boater was operating in a reckless manner, traveling at a high rate of speed 6-10 FEET off the Tregurtha. It sounds like they were jumping the ship’s wake, what ever the case all persons on the small boat were rescued from the river.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Help Wanted

06/02

Isle Royale National Park is seeking an AB Seaman to fill a position on board the USNPS RANGER III. The position typically works May thru October at forty hours per week. For further information and an application contact Debbie Francis at 906-487-7144 or William Hanrahanat 906-487-7163.

Adam E. Cornelius enters Fraser Shipyards

06/02

Adam E. Cornelius was in Superior’s Fraser Shipyards on June 1. There was no sign of any work being done outside the vessel, and the employee parking lot was empty, so it didn’t appear to be an emergency.

Reported by: Al Miller

Sunken Logs

06/02

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting written comments on 33 sites in northern Wisconsin where it is believed sunken logs are located. Several firms are seeking permits to recover the logs, just as a current business has been doing near Ashland and Bayfield, Wis., since last year.

Last week, the corps held a hearing to solicit comments on the expanding retrival operations. At the hearing, several people said the corps should not let more logs be salvaged, as they provide support for organisms that fish feed upon. As a result, studies should be conducted, they say, before more are removed, thereby potentially threatening the environment of the area. In addition, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa opposes the recovery operations. Citing treaties with the federal government in 1837, 1852 and 1854, the tribe is considering recovery of the logs to be theft until a review is completed. The first business salvaging the logs, Lake Superior Water-Logged Lumber in Ashland, Wis., has offered to pay the same fee to the tribe that it pays the state. In addition, they will suspend recovery if asked.

Permits to recover the logs must be granted by the corps, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Historical Society. As owner of the logs, Wisconsin gets 30 percent of the market value of the wood. A maple log of 100 board feet of lumber is worth about U.S.$115, so the state gets about U.S.$35. Millions of birch, cherry, elm hemlock, maple and red oak logs sank when being floated to mills in the area in the late 1800s. Low oxygen levels and cold waters preserved the logs, which are now prized for industries using old-growth wood that in some cases is unavailable.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Tug taking on water in the St. Clair River

06/01

The tug Adanac has holed her bow and is taking on water. She was downbound with a barge in the St. Clair River passing Seaway Island (11:10 A.M. EST) when the current pushed her aground and tore a hole in the tug’s bow. The crew then ran the tug aground when the bow compartment began flooding. She now rests aground in the South Channel on the starboard side. The crew reports no injuries or danger to the vessel at this point.

Sorry , no update. Sarnia Traffic Center will no longer release information. The radio warnings have ended so the vessel was removed.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Myron C. Taylor makes rare trip

06/01

The Myron C. Taylor made what is now a rare trip up Milwaukee’s Menomonee river early Friday morning, May 30. The Taylor delivered stone to the one remaining storage dock on the river and was assisted by the G-tug California, both in and out. There are now very few boats left that are small enough to navigate up the Menomonee river valley. At one time this area was filled with coal docks. They have now been replaced with soccer fields and an indian casino.

According to the September 1952 issue of ‘Ships and the Sea’, “Milwaukee is the largest coal receiving port on Lake Michigan and the second largest on the Great lakes. An average of 3 1/2 to 4 million tons arrives yearly in from 450 to 600 lake vessels. (!) The valley docks standing storage of more than a million tons is the world’s largest open-air concentration of coal.” In the early 50’s the average was one lake vessel per hour arriving at the port of Milwaukee. This also included the many carferries that called on Milwaukee.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Fred White makes unusual trip

06/01

The Fred R. White Jr. was upbound 5\31 for Calcite, to partially load, and then to Cedarville to finish. She will be loading for the Duluth D.M.I.R. stone dock. This trip is usually made by USS vessels, recently the John G. Munson, and the Presque Isle. Another Oglebay Norton vessel, the Armco is loading coal for St. Clair Detroit Edison. The plant usually uses western coal, but have already received 2 southern coal shipments.

Reported by: Chris Franckowiak

Memorial Day Parade of sorts

06/01

The Memorial Day Parade past the Mud Lake (Munuscong) Junction buoy included the CORT, the KAYE E BARKER, the Canadian research vessel LIMNOS, MAPLEGLEN, ALGOWAY, the tug AVENGER IV and the barge CHIEF WAWATAM, the ST. CLAIR, the grand EDWARD L. RYERSON, ROGER BLOUGH, GEORGE A. STINSON, JOHN B. AIRD, ARTHUR M. ANDERSON, and the CANADIAN TRADER . Ships passing during the Red Wings game may not have been counted.

Reported by: Liz G Calhoun

May 1997

May 1, 1997

Grain trade picking up

05/31

The Canadian Explorer and Canadian Mariner are due out of winter layup next week. The Mariner is at Port Weller DD and the Explorer at pier 35 in Toronto.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Unusual calls by the USS fleet

05/31

Two vessels from Great Lakes Fleet will be making unusual port calls this week. Arthur M. Anderson will call in Gladstone in the first few days of June while Myron C. Taylor is due in Milwaukee May 30.

Meanwhile, Edwin H. Gott is becoming a semi-regular in Duluth. The vessel is due at the DMIR ore docks June 3, for at least its third call of the season.

Reported by: Al Miller

Kinsman Enterprise moved

05/31

The Kinsman Enterprise has been moved from the Bethlehem Ship Canal to the Old Port of Buffalo terminal “A”. She is tied up to the peir on her starbord side and is facing out to the lake. This may have been in preperation for the Aird’s arrival since Kinsman Enterprise was taking up dock space normaly used for salt or stone.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Siscowet docks in Thunder Bay

05/31

The U.S. Geological Survey research vessel Siscowet docked in Thunder Bay on Thursday night. It’s participating in a joint research project with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. On Friday, the boat will spend the day working around the bay and the Sibley Penninsula. The crew is surveying the population of forage fish like smelt and herring. Research from last year indicates both populations are in decline but not enough to be worried about yet.

Reported by: Richard Boon

Clipper group offers to buy ship for $1

05/31

A group dedicated to saving the Milwaukee Clipper and bringing it back to Muskegon has offered to purchase the former car ferry for $1. But the ship’s rapidly deteriorating condition may halt the effort.

A Muskegon-based group calling itself The Great Lakes Clipper Preservation Association Inc. appeared this week before the Hammond, Ind., Port Authority in the hopes of saving the ship and bringing it back to its former home port. Under the plan presented, the group wants to purchase the ship for $1 from the authority and have it towed back to Muskegon as a maritime museum and convention center.

The port authority, which has owned the answer financial and logistical questions surrounding the plan. Port authority officials are anxious to find a new owner for the ship, which is at a temporary berth in the Calumet River south of Chicago.

Jim Plant, who heads the group that has been labeled “Clipper Huggers” by Hammond-area media, said the Muskegon offer appears to be the only one on the table designed to save the ship, which operated year-round out of Muskegon from 1941 through 1970. The only other interest is from scrap dealers.

Organizers, he said, hope to have a Hammond-based casino finance the estimated $20,000 towing fee as a contribution to help Hammond clean up its waterfront.

The group, he said, also has a verbal commitment that would allow the ship to be berthed at the West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. The proposal presented to the port authority estimates it would cost $100,000 to partially restore the vessel.

But Plant said the six-person delegation that toured the ship Tuesday was shocked by the deterioration and vandalism that has occurred since the ship was removed from the Hammond Marina 14 months ago. The 500-pound ship’s bell, dating back to the ship’s earlier career as the passenger ship Juniata, recently was stolen. Rust is attacking the hull, and interior paint is pealing badly because the ship was not heated during the past winter. Plant said the group is so concerned by the ship’s condition it may reconsider its effort to bring the ship back to Muskegon.

The group will meet Tuesday to decide whether to continue its effort to save the Clipper. “We were very disappointed when we toured the ship,” Plan said. “There has been a lot of vandalism and deterioration. As it sits today, we cannot bring it back into Muskegon’s harbor without a lot of people questioning what we are doing.”

Robert J. Nelson, director of the Hammond Marina and a staff member for the port authority, said among their concerns is the apparent lack of financial backing, a specific site to berth the ship and the absence of endorsements by local government and business leaders.

Nelson said after trying to find a new home for the Clipper for more than two years, the port authority may have no choice but to sell the ship for scrap.

“The last thing the Hammond Port Authority would like to see is the boat go up for auction and sold for scrap,” he said.

Reported by: Chuck Vincent. Edited from a story by TERRY JUDD appearing in Friday’s Muskegon Chronicle

Sea Maid

05/30

05/29

The fuel saving and shorter route through the Strait of Belle Isle (North of Newfoundland), for vessels destined to the Heart of North America is now open. The issue of ice maps for the area is being discontinued.

The American passenger vessel NANTUCKET CLIPPER, is expected inbound at Escoumains Pilot 5/29 at 4am. en route to the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway for another series of summer cruises

Reported by: John Whitehead

Cable TV on the lakes

05/29

Reports are that a few boats in the Great Lakes fleet have now been fitted with DSS marine satellite TV systems. These system are similar to the home roof top units but can track the satellite while under way. Looks like the crews wont have to be in port to catch the hockey game.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Ryerson’s always a crowd pleaser

05/28

Relief Captain Eric Treece gave the Memorial Day boat watchers at the Soo a day to remember as he brought the Edward L. Ryerson down at Mission Point Monday afternoon. The banks were lined with people waiting to see and hear the Queen of the lakes. The Ryerson let out with 2 long Masters salutes that were captured on scores of video cameras. Later most of the crowd ventured down to the Rock Cut where another salute was given to the “Ryerson fan club.”

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Unusual callers in the Twin Ports

05/28

Two vessels are scheduled to make unusual calls in the Twin Ports. American Mariner is expected to make a rare call May 27 at Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior. On May 28, Oglebay Norton is scheduled to load at Midwest Energy Terminal with a coal cargo bound for Silver Bay. From there it goes to Taconite Harbor to load a downbound cargo.

Reported by: Al Miller

Charles E. Wilson has close call in the Saginaw River

05/27

The CHARLES E. WILSON had a close call in the Saginaw River yesterday in what the skipper desribed as ” being dangerously close to an unopened bridge”. The Wilson had to reverse her engines and drop the stern anchor when the Lafayette Bridge (across the Saginaw River at Bay City) failed to open for the vessel.

The bridge tender reported having radio difficulty and claimed he didn’t hear the 4 radio calls, and 4 blasts of the whistle. After some waiting the bridge opened, and the WILSON proceeded to the airport turn basin, and left the system.

Reported by: Lon Morgan

Tug Venture Removed from Soo Compensating Works

05/27

The tug Venture and its barge were cleared from the compensating works at the Soo on Saturday. The vessel had rolled after becoming pinned against the gates last week (see story dated 5/21). The work accomplished by the tug Rochelle Kay from Ryba Construction of Cheboygan Mi., the Venture’s owner.

Reported by: Jeffrey Smeed

Port Weller Lands C$300,000 job on MV TZINI Correction

05/27

TZINI is Greek for JEANNIE. The Greeks put the English spelling on the bow, and Greek on the stern. That’s why there is often confusion with the port of registry also.

Reported by: John Whitehead and Anil Soni

EDWIN H. GOTT arrives at Nanticoke, Ontario

05/26

The EDWIN H. GOTT arrived at Nanticoke on May 25, 1997, and unloaded her cargo of taconite pellets into Stelco’s receiving dock which juts into Lake Erie. The Taconite upon being unloaded into a hopper, is then carried up into Stelco’s storage yard, by conveyor belts. As of 4PM May 25, 1997 she was still unloading.

Reported by: Ray Bawal, Jr.

Port Weller Lands C$300,000 job on MV TZINI

05/26

The MV TZINI (Greek flag) entered Port Weller Dry Dock on Thursday, May 22, for repairs caused by a grounding recently in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The vessel proceeded to Detroit to unload a cargo of ferro manganese before coming to Port Weller. Local news reports named the ship JEANNIE with Liberian registry but this is incorrect. Port Weller recently achieved ISO 9000 certification. They credit this achievement as part of the reason for securing this contract which will take approximately 10 days and cost C$300,000. ISO certification puts the company in an excellent competitive situation. It is demanded by many governments and business, particularly in Europe.

Reported by: David Bull

Port Weller Dry Docks activity

05/24

The Canadian Mariner is in Port Weller Dry Docks and all her black paint is off the ship’s starboard side. I do not know the story on the work.

The Seaway Queen is at the wall along the canal and is pumped out completely. She is at Port Weller Dry Docks for her 5 year inspection.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

HMCS CORMORANT on Lake Ontario

05/24

The HMCS CORMORANT passed Cape Vincent ,westbound, on Tuesday, May 20, at 1830. She was bound for OSWEGO NY and is a navy ship, with deep diving submarines. The CORMORANT was part of the dive on the Edmund Fitzgerald etc.

Reported by: Ron Walsh and John Whitehead

Superior News

05/23

Algonorth is loading May 23 at Harvest States grain elevator in Superior. The ship’s agent brought by visitors interested in seeing the vessel’s ballast filtration system.

Joseph L. Block was maneuvering early May 23 in the mouth of the channel leading to Fraser Shipyards in Superior. It wasn’t clear whether the vessel was backing out of the channel after a quick overnight visit to the yard or simply making an awkward turn to back into the DMIR ore dock.

Reported by: Al Miller

Wisconsin calls for a U.S.S. Manitowoc

05/23

The Wisconsin Senate on 20 May approved a measure calling on the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to name the third Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine the U.S.S. Manitowoc. SSN 23 would thereby honor the Wisconsin city in which 28 attack submarines were built during World War II. The proposal has been forwarded to Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the state’s congressional delegates and the Secretary of the Navy.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Outflows from Lake Ontario

05/23

SEAWAY NOTICE No. 7 — 1997

The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation have been advised by the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control, that flows higher than normal for this time of the year, will be run in the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section for an indefinite period of time.

These flows will create current velocities higher than normal in the navigation channels and variations in the normal current patterns may occur.

Mariners are advised to take these conditions into account when transiting the Montreal- Lake Ontario Section.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Aquarama moved

05/22

The Aquarama has been moved from the Union Ship Canal in Lackawanna to the old Cargil Pool Elevator pier in Buffalo Harbor. She was spun around and now has her bow toward the city instead of out to the lake. No vessel has tied up there since the elevator closed many years ago.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship COLUMBUS plans 5 lakes cruises for 1998

05/22

The 1997 Great Lakes cruising season of the new 13,950-ton Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship COLUMBUS sold out within weeks of their announcement in Germany in November 1996. As a result, Hapag-Lloyd plan to offer five Great Lakes cruises in 1998, when the COLUMBUS will arrive in early August, as opposed to late September this year. The new 420-passenger German-built cruise ship delivers to Hapag-Lloyd next month. This year also marks the 150th Anniversary of Hapag-Lloyd, a company first incorporated in Hamburg in May 1847. All of Hapag-Lloyd’s passenger and cruise activities have now been consolidated in the famous Ballindamm headquarters in Hamburg. Tickets are still available for this year’s September 10 COLUMBUS overnight mini-cruise from Port Colborne to Toledo, from The Mariport Group Ltd, in Cambridge, Ontario, on (519) 624-5513 or 1-800-319 9997. In Europe, contact Griffin Maritime Limited in London, England, on +44 (171) 723-2450.

Reported by: Kevin Griffin

Marinette Marine part of MARITECH project

05/22

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected nine projects for negotiation from the fiscal year 1997 MARITECH competition. Combined, the nine are expected to receive a total of $36 million in government funding matched by $39.2 of industry money. MARITECH, part of the National Shipbuilding Initiative, is an effort to develop and apply advanced technology to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

Among the nine is “Transitioning to a 21st Century Advanced Manufacturing Facility, Phase II.” The project will develop and deploy a design,manufacturing and information system, with concentration on engineering and material control. Design and manufacturing practices from the automotive and aerospace industries will be evaluated and adapted to a small shipyard. Software for materials tracking, prediction of material and resource requirements and anticipation and resolution of emerging problems will be developed and implemented. The project will also develop procedures for extended work with suppliers via electronic communication, purchasing marine equipment using “just-in-time” methods and a vendor rating system. The project involes Marinette Marine Corp. of Marinette, Wis., and Grant Thornton L.L.P. of Appleton, Wis.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Tug rolls over at Soo Locks

05/21

The tug Venture rolled over yesterday while working in the area of the compensating works at the Soo Locks. The tug and barge became pinned against the gates by strong water pressure and was unable to free her self. Commercial assistance was called, but in their efforts to pull her free the tug rolled. All crew members escaped and there were no reports of injuries.

Reported by: Ron Konkol

Manitoulin has trouble in the Rouge

05/21

This past Sunday the Manitoulin was inbound the Rouge River (Detroit, MI) heading for Rouge Steel escorted by the tug Pennsylvania at the bow and the Wyoming at the stern. As the Manitoulin cleared the Conrail railroad bridge the current caught it and she was heading right for the river bank. The tugs were trying their best to keep her from hitting and it nearly missed the bank by about 7 to 10 feet! She was then stuck for about 10 minutes and finally they broke free and proceeded up the river to Ford Rouge.

Reported by: Dave Marcoux, Robert Cioletti, and John Belliveau

Twin Ports round up

05/21

After laying off Duluth for about a week, the Oakglen finally entered port May 19. It’s docked at the Harvest States elevator layby berth waiting for Federal Rhine to finish loading May 20. Once again this year, Harvest States appears to be using only one of its two loading berths.

After delivering cement and then anchoring on Lake Superior for several days, Quebecois returned to Duluth May 19th to begin loading at Cargill B1 elevator.

A couple of interesting vessels – American Mariner and Joseph H. Thompson – were due in Taconite Harbor May 20 to load.

Tug Evans McKeil and barge Salty Dog paid a rare visit to Duluth over the weekend to load at Hallett 6.

Reported by: Al Miller

Busy day in Goderich

05/21

On Sunday, May 18th the AGAWA CANYON completed loading a cargo of salt and departed Goderich at 7:30 a.m. The ALGORAIL arrived off Goderich as the AGAWA CANYON departed. The ATLANTIC HICKORY with barge SARAH SPENCER was also heading to Goderich. The ALGORAIL let the ATLANTIC HICKORY proceed in first and she tied up at the elevators. The ALGORAIL tied up at the salt dock and began loading. The MANTADOC was due Goderich at 12:30 p.m. (5/20) for the elevators.

Reported by: Philip Nash

Carferry news

05/21

The carferry S. S. BADGER began the 1997 season one day late due to a broken boiler tube. She was scheduled to begin service on Friday, May 16, but the boiler tube broke during the night and delayed the Friday sailing. Passengers were offered a 20% discount to make the trip on Saturday or later. On Monday, May 19 her starboard engine blew a piece of piston ring which stuck in her exhaust valve. This caused a 2 hour and 10 minute delay in leaving Manitowoc for her return trip. The return trip was slower than usual due to only partial power being applied to the starbord engine to avoid additional problems. The trip took nearly 4-1/2 hours compared to the usual 4-hours. Docking at Ludington was a bit of a trick due to using only the port engine. Plans were to work all night Monday to pull the starboard piston and replace the broken ring.

The canvas side curtains on BADGER’s upper aft deck have been replace with steel panels and windows, making a nicer area on cold May days. This is the area where vehicles were carried when she still carried railroad cars on the main deck.

Oglebay Norton’s MIDDLETOWN was unloading coal from Ashtabula in Manitowoc when BADGER departed on Monday. The MIDDLETOWN’s skipper, Capt. Winslow Anderson, was on board the BADGER heading for vacation at his home in Michigan. The occasion called for whistle salutes between the vessels as BADGER left Maintowoc. MIDDLETOWN was due to leave Manitowoc late Monday afternoon to head for Two Harbor to load taconite.

Reported by: Dave Wobser and Max S. Hanley

Door County WI Lighthouse Tour

05/21

The Door County Wisconsin Martime Museum sponsored their 4th annual Lighthouse Walk the weekend of May 17-18. A highlight of this years tour was the availability of a landing on Plum Island. No civilians have been allowed on the island for many years. Plum Island was formerly a Lighthouse and Life Saving station. It served as a summer USCG station until about 5 years ago when the Coasties moved to Washington Island. The island houses the Plum Island Range Lights which guide boats into Green Bay and Escanaba, thru the Death’s Door Passage, from Lake Michigan. There is also the original brick duplex light keeper’s dwelling and fog signal building, on the south side of the island. On the NW side is the former U. S. Life Saving Service station. The main building is a large 2-story wooden structure with a lookout tower.

There is also a fairly current 3-stall boathouse. Local rumor is that the Wisconsin DNR has obtained control of the island and will turn it into a daytime only park. This means they would tear down the historic buildings, as is their want. The range lights will remain as an active USCG navigation aid.

Reported by: Dave Wobser

Gott going to Nanticoke

05/20

The Edwin H. Gott is due the Duluth DMIR ore dock at 2130 on the 21st. She will be loading for Nanticoke Ontario, this is the second USS ship to load for the steel plant. She will arrive in Nanticoke at 0700 on the 25th.

Reported by: Chris Franckowiak

News from Port Colborne and the Welland Canal

05/20

The Mapleglen in slated for her 5 year inspection and will require drydocking. The survey should take several weeks because there is quite a list of things that need to be done. They are unsure if they will go to Port Weller or not.

The Seaway Queen has been at the fitout wall at Port Weller above Lock 1 for several weeks—as is the Canadian Mariner in the drydock.

Unconfirmed reports are that Paterson’s Comeaudoc x Murray Bay may never sail again.

Reported by: Joe Van Volkenburg

Algolake visits Port Stanley

05/20

The Algolake entered Port Stanley harbour on Tuesday May 13, at 0600 hours with a shipment of under 9000 tons of Potash for Lakes Terminals & Warehousing. This was the first shipment of Potash Lakes Terminals has received this year. The crew did a great delivery job and where in and out of the harbour within 3 hours.

Reported by: Richard Hill

U.S. Coast Guard contract

05/20

J.F. Brennan Co. of La Crosse, Wis., has received U.S.$56,678 from the U.S. Coast Guard in Cleveland for fender pile replacement.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Herbert C. Jackson Visits Manistee

05/19

A rare first time visit to Manistee was enjoyed by Manistee boat watchers Sunday afternoon, May 18th, when Interlakes Herbert C. Jackson came to Manistee with a load of stone for Sengs Dock. No problems were encountered by the Jackson and it was nice to see a different ship. The crew was unfamiliar with the Manistee River and compared as worse than the Cuyahoga river. Interlake now has the Slag contract along with stone so more ships will be coming.

A busy day was also enjoyed in Ludington where the Wilfred Sykes and the David Z. Norton were both unloading at the same time on Saturday, May 17th. If all is well the Wolverine will be into Manistee at 19:00 hrs to unload coal.

Reported by: Kevin Gray and Chris Franckowiak

U.S.S. Fahrion to make Great Lakes cruise

05/19

The U.S. Naval Reserve’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class Guided-Missile Frigate U.S.S. Fahrion (FFG 22) will be making the Navy’s Canadian/U.S. Great Lakes cruise this summer. The ship will depart for the cruise on 13 June. The U.S.S. Fahrion will be in Milwaukee on 1 and 2 Aug. with a ceremony at noon 1 Aug. and public tours both days from 1300 to 1900. After Milwaukee, the frigate will sail to Chicago. Other dates and locations will be announced.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Grain traffic in the Twin Ports

05/18

Twin Ports grain traffic remains strong this spring. On May 17, Canadian Leader was loading at Harvest States (unusual for a weekend) while Halifax was unloading at Cargill B2 and American Mariner was unloading at General Mills. Grain boats due in May 17 or 18 include Federal Rhine, Pomorze Zachodnie, Oak, Grant Carrier and possibly Oakglen.

St. Clair is becoming a regular this season at Silver Bay. She’s due there again May 18.

Reported by: Al Miller

S.S. Badger embarkes on her maiden voyage for 1997

05/17

05/15

The tug Atlantic Hickory & barge Sarah Spencer departed the Cargill elevator in Thunder Bay yesterday. An Injured crewman had to be taken off the ship when they were approximately 66 miles out into Lake Superior. The crewman was transported by a Coast Guard vessel to Silver Islet and then by ambulance to the hospital. No word on type of injuries or the condition of the crewman.

Reported by: Ron Konkol

Update on the Algolake

05/15

New details on the Algolake running aground last month (see story dated 4/18) in the St. Mary’s River have been reported. The vessel was originally thought to have grounded because of a buoy anchor that was pushed into the Algoma Steel harbor channel by ice. Reports now indicate that a large unmarked bolder was the cause of the accident and the vessel never left the channel. What ever the cause, damage was extensive. A roughly 200 foot long hole was torn in the hull. It took Pascol Engineering in Thunder Bay three weeks to repair the damage and the ship is now back in service

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Twin Ports host Canadian vessels

05/15

The Twin Ports on May 14 were the destination for a wave of Canadian vessels. Canadian Ranger was loading at Harvest States elevator in Superior while Canadian Leader and Oakglen lay at anchor on Lake Superior waiting for elevator berths. Halifax was arriving for taconite pellets at BNSF in Superior while Quebecois was due in with cement for St. Lawrence Cement in Duluth. Tadoussac was loading bentonite at Hallett 6 – the westernmost dock on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The vessel reportedly is bound for Point Noire, one of the easternmost points on the Seaway.

Reported by: Al Miller

Grand Haven studies how to repair Boardwalk

05/15

Grand Haven is studying plans to fix their boardwalk, to fix damage caused by the WILFRED SYKES. Asphalt and wood boardwalks are being considered, although the entire cost of a wooden boardwalk wouldn’t be paid by the ship’s insurer.

Reported by: George Micka

S.S Badger ready for another season

05/14

With the strike of a match on May 12, the fires were lit in the boilers and the S.S. Badger car ferry is preparing for her sixth season as a passenger and auto vessel.

The Badger, which sports a new exterior paint scheme this year, will be open for public tours on the evening of May 15. Following a dockside breakfast and flag dedication ceremony the next morning, the ship will leave her home port of Ludington, Michigan bound for Manitowoc, Wisconsin on the first of more than 400 such round trips she will make between the two ports in 1997.

Upon returning to Ludington Friday evening, there will be a ceremony at the dock to unveil a marker commemorating the listing of the S.S. Badger and the Ludington dock facilities on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites. Passengers will then embark for a sold-out Shoreline Party Cruise and fireworks display. The fun will continue on the west side of Lake Michigan Saturday afternoon, with a second Shoreline Cruise (which is also sold out) scheduled from Manitowoc. On Sunday, the Badger will resume her normal spring sailing schedule of one daily round triptwice-daily trips will run from June 20 – August 24.

The 410′ S.S. Badger was built in 1952, and accommodates over 600 passengers and 180 automobiles. This year, in addition to the new paint job, visitors will discover improvements to the ship’s interior that include video viewing areas with recliner airline-style seats and an expanded outdoor deck. 1997 marks 100 years of car ferry service between Ludington and Manitowoc.

Reported by: Kari Karr

Mauthe conversion news

05/14

Name choices are still anyone’s guess but Interlake is reported as considering PATHFINDER for a rename. The system to mate tug to barge is still under debate, the two would connect by either an Intercon or Blundworth articulation system.

With the conversion to a barge slowly making progress, the question of how she will be pushed remains. Possibilities include: the former Richmond Bay, a 5,800-hp tug purchased recently from Amoco Corp., the 128 foot tug Richmond Bay which is owned by Moran Towing (Moran and Interlake are owned by a partnership headed by James Barker and Paul Tregurtha), or a new tug built for that purpose. Interlake expects the barge to be ready for service by the end of summer, althought it may be well into 1998 before the tug and barge are finally working as a complete unit.
Speculation in the boatwatchers circles is that Sunday’s trip by the Hoyt up the Cuyahoga to LTV may have been a test to demonstrate that a vessel this size could negotiate the river.

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Idling of tanker fleet

05/14

With the idling of the fuel tanker Reiss Marine (see story dated 05/08), vessels calling at the Twin Ports no longer can fuel while they load. James R. Barker elected to fuel at the Duluth port terminal May 13 before proceeding to its loading berth.

Reported by: Al Miller

Infrequent visitors arrive

05/14

Two mid-afternoon arrivals on Tuesday to the Twin Ports are also two boats that are infrequent visitors to the harbor. Anchored in the inner anchorage is the CANADIAN RANGER and anchored in the lake is the OAKGLEN. Both boats, along with the CANADIAN LEADER, await Harvest States gallery. The RANGER and the OAKGLEN are seen in the Twin Ports on the average of once or twice a year.

Reported by: Gary A. Putney

Elton Hoyt 2nd leaves Cleveland

05/13

The Elton Hoyt 2nd left the upper LTV dock around noon on 12 May and began making her way down the river assisted by the Great Lakes tug Idaho.

So now we know that a 698 foot long vessel can make it all the way up the Cuyahoga River. Perhaps we’ll begin to see other vessels that normally do not call on Cleveland.

Reported by: Robert Martel

Oak loads in Thunder Bay

05/13

The “Oak” is docked at Thunder Bay’s Keefer Terminal. It arrived Saturday and will spend the rest of the week being loaded with 7-million board feet of timber from Buchanan Forest Products. The ship will then head to Britain. At least three more similar loads of timber are expected to be shipped from Thunder Bay this season.

Reported by: Richard Boon

Twin Ports Report

05/13

Adam E. Cornelius seemed destined to battle the wind over the weekend in Duluth. In the face of stiff winds May 11, the boat made its way up the St. Louis River and into the DMIR ore docks while light. It left early May 12 in the face of gale warnings on Lake Superior.

Canadian Leader anchored off Duluth on May 12. The straightdecker is scheduled to remain there until May 15 before coming in to load.

Clary told the Alpena News that the vessel appears to have little structural damage, other than at the break.

The only survivor of the accident still alive accompanied the explorers on the expedition. Frank Mays, who is retired and lives in Florida, said the Bradley split in two before it sank.

J.A.W. Iglehart heads out

05/11

J.A.W.Iglehart’s stay at Fraser Shipyards was a short one. It departed Duluth shortly after sunrise May 10.

Reported by: Al Miller

Update on the Mauthe Conversion

05/10

It appears that a delay in the signing of the contract for the conversion of the Mauthe has pushed the completion date back to some time in November at the earliest. The only work completed over the winter was the removal of asbestos by Robinson Environmental Inc. from Green Bay, Wi.

As far as progress on the project, as of May 9th all uneeded wiring has been removed (about 65 cubic yards of waste), work has begun on the extraction of piping, the stack has been removed, boiler 50% removed, aft spar deck 50% removed, I have seen 1 to 2 semi trailers of scrap steel leave each day, the notch is scheduled to take 30 days to cut beginning on July 1st.

Reported by: Dan Ocean

Repairs in the Twin Ports

05/10

Lots of coal, few boats

05/08

As the MESABI MINER docked in Port Washington, WI at 10:00 last night it was the second time this big boat has visited the dock this year. Port is getting lots of coal, nearly 150,000 tons already, but in only four dockings so far.

It looks like a banner year for coal, but not so good for boat watchers. With the expected electricity shortage this summer, the coal dock is being filled quickly. It has a storage capacity of about 400,000 tons.

Reported by: Paul Wiening

Twin Ports News

05/08

Duluth’s port terminal hosted back-to-back salties this week. Med Viareggio arrive May 5 to unload steel coils. The vessel left May 6 and, within a couple of hours, the saltie Menomonee was in the warehouse berth to unload. The Menomonee’s deck is dominated by two rather odd-looking unloading rigs that appear capable of handling containers as well as opening and closing hatches.

J.W. McGiffin was in Duluth on May 6 to unload grain at the Cargill elevator. The vessel is scheduled to shift to the BNSF ore dock in Superior for outbound cargo.

Reported by: Al Miller

Killing the Canadiana

05/08

The beautiful Canadiana is about to be lost. This very historic, 215 foot, three decked, turn-of-the-century, passenger steamship could be gone forever, by the end of summer. This would be a tragedy beyond words.

It is something that does *not* have to happen!

The S. S. Canadiana Preservation Society is ready and able, right now, to proceed with the restoration of her hull and to bring her back to Buffalo. She can sail again, for many decades to come.

The society was awarded $400,000 two years ago with the stipulation that it raise $118,000 as its portion of the total cost. When that was done, the group was to go forward with the restoration. The Money was rasied by the society.

Now, the New York State D.O.T. says it will not give the $400,000.00. It is unclear exactly why the money is not being released, but this will destroy the entire project. The D.O.T. appears to be complying with those who oppose the Canadiana.

It is explained in great detail on the Canadiana web page

Please write the Governor of New York to save this vessel:

Governor George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capital
Albany, NY 12224

Thanks very much for your help.

Floyd Baker
President of The S. S. Canadiana Preservation Society, Inc.

Seaway Queen arrives

05/07

The Seaway Queen arrived at Port Weller yesterday about 4:00 P.M. EST. She was towed across Lake Ontario and is to go to the fit-out berth. Apparently her future is still in doubt.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Elton Hoyt 2nd to Cleveland?

05/06

The Elton Hoyt 2nd is scheduled to depart Superior, WI, Thursday, May 8. The current orders have them making their first trip from Taconite Harbor to LTV Steel in Cleveland. If this does happen, she would be the largest boat to make that trip up the Cuyahoga. It should be interesting to watch! After that the plan is to resume the normal Marquette, MI, to Rouge Steel runs, plus whatever may come along.

Reported by: Jim Mihalek

News on the tug Cheteck

05/06

The ex US Navy harbor tug Cheteck was spotted at the old Port of Buffalo pier on the outer harbor on 5-6-97. She was sitting in the notch of the crane barge Mcaully. The Cheteck has been repainted from Navy grey to Army Corps colors. She will be doing some maintanace work around Buffalo Harbor for the next few weeks and will be using the port pier as a home base of sorts. This makes it easier to get her out to the harbor area than having her at the Army Corp yard down the Black Rock Canal.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

McCarthy in for repairs – Port Terminal received 1st cargo

05/06

The 37-year-old tank farm at the Duluth Port Terminal is in the final stages of dismantling. Although it saw occasional use through the years, the tank farm never lived up to the expectations set after the Seaway opened. The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth reports that the tank farm site may be redeveloped as a maritime fueling facility.

Reported by: Al Miller

Grampa Woo crew member to speak in Duluth

05/05

On May 14 at 7:00 P.M. Dana Kollars, one of two men plucked from the excursion boat Grampa Woo when it went adrift in a storm on Lake Superior last fall, will talk about his experiences at the next entertainment meeting of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association. The meeting will be held at the Canal Park Marine Museum in Duluth.

Reported by: Lake Superior Marine Museum Association

Boland aground in Sandusky

05/03

05/02

Water lines, time, river depth and the United States Navy are all hurdles in the efforts to bring the guided missile destroyer USS Charles F. Adams to a final berth in Bay City.

The Saginaw Valley Naval ship Museum committee, in its quest to bring the ship to Bay City in 1998, Thursday discussed the proposed site for the ship. If it come to Bay City, the 437-foot ship would be the only guided missile destroyer on display in the nation.

The major concern is that a water line that crosses the Saginaw River south of Veterans Memorial Bridge would lay beneath the ship, if it’s docked at the ship committee’s first choice for a berth. The site is just south of the bridge on the east bank of the river.

The water line, owned by Consumers Energy, is buried 10 feet under the river bed. Company and city officials worry that the pipe might burst if the ship ever rests on the river bottom.

Reported by: Dan Maus. Edited from a story appearing in the Thursday Bay City times

Clarke Breaks Own Record for Jones Act Salt Trade

05/01

The PHILIP R. CLARKE has again set a new U.S.-Flag record for the Lakes salt trade. The 767-foot-long self-unloader took on 27,621 net tons of salt at Fairport Harbor, Ohio, on April 26. The Clarke broke the record she set just one month ago when she loaded 25,325 net tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers’ Association

Taylor to depart lay-up berth

05/01

Myron C. Taylor departed its winter layup berth in Sturgeon Bay on April 30 and proceed to Stoneport, where it will load on May 1 with a cargo for Saginaw. The only vessel from Great Lakes Fleet that is not active so far this season is Calcite II, which remains in the Fraser Shipyards in Superior.

Edgar B. Speer’s brief stop at the Duluth port terminal April 30 appeared to involve work on its bowthruster.

Reported by: Al Miller

Bomb threat closes Seaway update

05/01

Yesterday’s bomb threat caused major road traffic jams. Road bridges were not opened until the afternoon.Shipping was not affected much. The eastbound laker Quebecois was held at Beauharnois Lock for a couple of hours

Reported by: John Whitehead

News from Buffalo

05/01

Work has begun by New York State Power Authority tug-barges on removing the Niagara River Ice Boom in Buffalo Harbor. Now that the boom has been breeched Buffalo Harbor is clear of all remaining ice except for in some of the smaller slips. The two tug-derrick barge units are moored at the old Connecting Terminal Elevator on the Buffalo River when not in use.

Cleveland’s passenger vessel Nautica Qeen is also in town this week to promote tourism between the two cities. She is tied up just ahead of the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Little Rock in the Buffalo River entrance channel at the Visiting Ship’s dock.

04/28

Saturday’s Detroit News reports that Rouge Steel of Dearborn reported first-quarter earnings up 39 percent, boosted by improved blast furnace production and a bigger share of the automotive sheet steel market.
Net Income was $9.3 million, or 42 cents a share – up from $6.7 million, or 31 cents a share, for the first quarter of 1996

Reported by: The Detroit News

News from the Twin Ports

04/28

Two Harbors is seeing some unusual callers this year. Both Adam E. Cornelius and Joseph L. Block have made trips there in the past few weeks.

First boat of the season into Ashland, Wis., may be Arthur M. Anderson, which is due May 1 with a partial load of coal from Toledo. The first part of the cargo is due to be unloaded at the Soo.

Reported by: Al Miller

International St Lawrence River Board of Control’s Waters Report

04/28

As of April 23, 1997: The flow of the Ottawa River into the St Lawrence River near Montreal remained very high this last week. Conditions on Lake St Louis in the Montreal Area were being monitored closely, and the Lake Ontario flows adjusted accordingly, to ensure maximun Lake Ontario outflows without causing flooding.The present Lake Ontario outflow is at the maximum possible considering conditions downstream. With the Ottawa River outflow expected to increase in the next several days, the Lake Ontario outflow may need to be reduced, to prevent flooding downstream.

Reported by: John Whitehead

New Ports in the Vessel Passage section

Reported by: Mark Shumaker

Reported by: Steve Vanden Bosch

More on the Coal Orders for Port Washington WEPCO plant

04/21

It was originally reported on 4/19 that the Wisconsin Electric Power Co. generating plant has already placed orders for 600,000 tons of coal, setting them on a record pace.

Paul G. Wiening adds this historical perspective:

Until the local power plant was rebuilt in the 1980s, the average season total was over 800,000 tons of coal. That was when the facility had five generating units. Now it only has four, so overall coal usage will be less.

However, when the plant was expanded to five units in 1949 and for the next two decades while it was operating at peak efficiency, Port Washington would quite often receive in excess of one million tons per year. The last time that happened was in 1970. Even into the mid 1980s tonnage would reach 800,000 on a regular basis.

04/19

Look for lots of boatwatching in Port Washington, WI this summer. The Wisconsin Electric Power Co. generating plant there has already placed orders for 600,000 tons of coal, setting them on a record pace. The previous coal record there is 700,000 tons for an entire season.

Reports are that the effort to stockpile large quantities of coal is due to an expected shortfall of generating and distribution capacity in the Upper Great lakes Region this coming summer.

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Algolake Refloated

04/19

Sault Ste. Marie radio station CHAS and the Sault Star are reporting through Broadcast News that the Algoma Central Freighter, Algolake, has been refloated. The giant laker ran agroung Thursday on Vidal Shoal as it was approaching a dock at Algoma Steel. Officials say they believe the grounding was caused by a buoy anchor that was pushed into the Algoma Steel harbor channel by ice.

Reported by: Richard Boon and Bill Kenwood

Agawa Canyon visits Twin Ports

04/18

Agawa Canyon, an occasional but welcome visitor to the Twin Ports, was in port April 18 unloading salt at the Cutler-Magner dock in Duluth.

Reported by: Al Miller

Algolake aground

04/18

Algoma Central’s ALGOLAKE has run aground in the St. Mary’s River. She was downbound with taconite for Algoma Steel and ran aground in the Canadian Channel heading into Algoma Steel. There is damage to number 1 and 2 ballast tanks, the ship is taking on water but is is no danger. A portion of the cargo is being off loaded into a Purvis Marine barge.

Reported by: Scott McLellan and Bill Kenwood

News round up

04/18

The M/V Burns Harbor was stuck hard directly under the Mackinac Bridge on Tuesday, April 8. High winds in excess of 60 mph the previous day had blown windrows of ice 15 feet high in the area. The tug Malcom finally freed the downboundBurns Harbor.

The upbound Indiana Harbor was forced to backdown at Round Island Passage due to thick ice on April 7 and use the South Channel passage south of Round Island.

The J.A.W Iglehart is in the process of fitting out, she entered a short term lay-up in Milwaukee on March 29 .

Reported by: Johnny Duchario

Update on name change

04/18

The Melvin H. Baker II will be renamed Atlantic Huron on April 23. The hull has been painted red, the new Canadian Steamship lines hull colour.

Reported by: Jim Bearman

New Ports in the Vessel Passage section

04/18

Two new ports added to the Vessel Passage section: Kingston and Thunder Bay.

Amherst Islander under tow

04/18

The Tug Atomic left Kingston on Wed. April 16, towing the disabled ferry Amherst Islander. The Amherst Islander suffered ice damage to its propeller last winter. The ship is being taken for repairs. I do not know the destination at this time but Oshawa is likely.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

U.S.-Flag Iron Ore and Coal Trades Off to Fast Start

04/17

With ice conditions much more normal, U.S.-Flag Great Lakes carriers got off to a fast start in the iron ore and coal trades. Iron ore cargos loaded in U.S. bottoms in March totaled 2,012,484 net tons, an increase of 44 percent compared to the corresponding period in 1996. A year ago massive ice formations slowed the resumption of the dry-bulk trades.

Coal cargos in U.S.-Flag lakers in March tripled to 450,000 net tons.

U.S.-Flag carriers in the Jones Act trades also moved quantities of cement, salt and liquid-bulk products in March. A complete report on March U.S.-Flag carriage will be ready next week.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Toledo’s grain future?

04/17

The silos that line the banks of the Maumee River at the Port of Toledo are filled with tons of grain-all waiting to be shipped out by land or sea. But officials said Wednesday (4/16) the port’s future as a major grain terminal is in trouble because of a proposed Chicago Board of Trade rule change that eliminates Toledo as a delivery point for corn and soybean futures contracts.

Seven grain elevators operate in the area, employing 120 full-time workers and dozens of extra people during the grain season. Grain shipments through the port last year, via ship or train, totaled 62 million bushels, down from the 98 million bushels in 1995, but slightly above the yearly average of 59 million.

04/14

The Canadian Shipowners Association presents: Mariner’s Workshop on Navigation and Electronic Charts ’97, an event held in collaboration with the Port of Montreal on May 14 and 15, 1997. The purpose of the workshop is

1.To demonstrate the latest technology in electronic charting and navigation
2.To discuss the implications of implementing shipboard electronic navigation-related technologies with a particular emphasis on time, cost, and benefits.

Duluth-Superior News

04/12

04/11

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Ryerson underway

04/06

The Edward L. Ryerson left Bay Shipbuilding around 1400 Saturday – under the cover of rain and fog. She had been in long term lay-up since January 24,1994

Reported by:R.K. Thompson

04/06

Duluth received its first grain boat of the season April 5 when Halifax arrived to unload at Cargill and General Mills before shifting to the BNSF ore dock in Superior.

Reported by: Al Miller

Holland MI harbor to be dredged

04/05

Working under a U S Army corps of Engineers contract, Andrie, Inc, a Muskegon MI marine dredging firm, plans to dredge an average of two feet from the bottom of Lake Macatawa along the 110 foot wide channel and the 400 foot wide turning basin at the Holland pier. The work is expected to continue through the month of April.

Reported by: John Noonan

Seaway Radio Message No. 4 – 1997

04/05

This is the final Radio Message for the 1997 opening period.

MONTREAL-LAKE ONTARIO SECTION

The Montreal-Lake Ontario section is generally open water except for a deteriorating ice cover with a broken ships track on eastern part of Lake St. Francis . A broken ice cover exists on the South Shore Canal, and from Snell to one mile above Eisenhower Lock.

Navigation will be restricted to daylight hours in some areas. The commissioning of lighted aids is underway. Details will be issued by the appropriate Traffic Control Centres. Mariners are warned to exercise extreme caution in the use of winter markers as the position of the markers may have been affected by ice. Ice breaker assistance will be available on Lake St. Francis if required.

It is extremely important that vessels transiting through all ice covered areas proceed at the slowest safe speed in order not to disturb the ice fields.

Progress on the removal of the Prescott-Ogdensburg and Galop booms will be provided by the Traffic Control Centre as required.

WELLAND CANAL

Both sides of the flight locks are in operation.

Ice conditions are moderate in the eastern half of Lake Erie.

Vessels intending to transit the eastern end of Lake Erie are advised to contact Seaway Long Point or Seaway Welland for current information on ice conditions. Ice breaker assistance will be available if required.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Port of Cleveland

04/04

Today at 1523 hours the Cuyahoga was leaving the Port and the American Republic was waiting to enter. The Wolverine had her engines on because the diesel fumes were exiting her funnels.

Wednesday of this week the Niagara (historic sailing vessel) was in dry dock at the slip south of Akozo Salt Co.

Reported by: CeiBob1

Holland MI harbor to be dredged

04/04

Reported by: John Noonan

First cruise ship to Duluth

04/04

The first cruise ship to visit Duluth in about 30 years is scheduled to arrive in port Oct. 3, the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth announced April 3.

The new cruise ship Columbus, owned by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd Tours, will dock for about 12 hours at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Two Great Lakes cruises, each with 420 passengers, are sold out. Both cruises were marketed in Europe.

Twin Ports officials are hoping to persuade Hapag-Lloyd to use Duluth as the starting point for cruises starting in 1998.

Reported by: Al Miller

SMET Off To Fast Start

04/03

The “Wilfred Sykes” , the first ship of the year to enter the Grand Haven Mi harbor, collided with a sea wall near the foot of Franklin Street shortly before 7:00 AM April 2, 1997. The collision damaged some 60 feet of sea wall, and shattered its concrete cap. There was no apparent damage to the “Sykes” which continued on up the channel to a dock in Ferrysburg MI.

In April 1995, the “Elton Hoyt II” damaged the same sea wall – in approximately the same area – when wind caught it’s stern as the ship was turning at the rivers bend.

Reported by: John Noonan and William & Barbara Shetterly

March 1997

Mar 1, 1997

Alpena unloading

03/31

As of 3:15 p.m. the Alpena was tied up alongside the E.M. Ford at the Lafarge dock in Carrollton MI. The unloading process was underway with the hoses going from the Alpena across the Ford and to the silos. Other activity at the dock included three fuel trucks loading the bunkers of the Alpena.

Reported by: Greg Brass

More sailing dates

03/31

HERBERT C. JACKSON – March 30 departed River Rouge for Toledo
PRESQUE ISLE – March 29 departed Sturgeon Bay for Two Harbors

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

S/S Alpena opens Saginaw River

03/31

9:50 A.M. EST the Steamer Alpena is upbound to Carrolton to the LaFarge facility which makes her the first vessel into the Saginaw River system.

Reported by: Dan Maus

Cleanup following the LTV train derailment

03/31

The effects of LTV Steel Mining Co.’s train wreck, which in January spilled 7,500 tons of taconite pellets, demolished 93 railroad cars, four locomotives and injured two trainmen, are still being felt.

While the gigantic derailment near Schroeder didn’t slow production at LTV Steel Mining Co.’s taconite plant in Hoyt Lakes, it’s still having an impact on the way LTV is doing business.

All 93 railroad cars have been sold as scrap and have been transported from the derailment site to a scrap yard. The four locomotives pulling the train toward Taconite Harbor when the derailment occurred have also been determined to be scrap. The locomotives have been dragged down an embankment near the derailment site and will soon also be sold to a scrap yard.

The pellets spilled in the accident are still at the site. The pellets will be rescreened at Taconite Harbor and loaded into an ore boat sometime this shipping season. Railroad ties and rail that were torn loose as the train raced out-of-control toward Lake Superior have been replaced and LTV last week resumed transporting pellets along the 74-mile long rail line.

The derailment left LTV with 296 rail cars. LTV will continue to transport its taconite pellets by rail to Taconite Harbor, but because of the shortage of rail cars and locomotives, LTV has contracted with the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railway for the use of one locomotive. Additional DM&IRlocomotives may be contracted. And LTV has signed a contract with the DM&IRunder which the DM&IRwill haul LTV’s taconite chips to Two Harbors until LTV’s rolling railroad stock is replaced.

Cuyahoga out for the 1997 season

03/28

Soo Locks open for the 1997 season

03/26

According to the Duluth News-Tribune, the first downbound vessels at the Soo were Lee A. Tregurtha, Edgar B. Speer, Philip R. Clarke and Roger Blough. Upbound vessels were John G. Munson and Adam E. Cornelius.

Reported by: Al Miller

Paul R. Tregurtha visits Port Washington – update

03/26

The PAUL R. TREGURTHA finally docked about 11 am yesterday. She spent most of the day unloading.

Reported by: Wiening Great Lakes Page

03/24

A report in Saturday’s (3/22) Chicago Tribune has the 93-year old JB Ford possibly for sale. In a feature article on the ship, Lafarge Cement personnel are quoted as saying the vessel’s ~4000 ton cement capacity is inadequate for their needs and they are considering acquiring a larger vessel or building a new shore-based facility in Chicago. If so, the Ford could be declared surplus and put up for sale or scrap. Also discussed in the Tribune report was the possibility of the Ford going for sale as a museum shipno further details were provided.

Reported by: Vern Sondak

Twin Ports Monday update

03/24

Monday morning update

Mesabi Miner plans to depart Duluth late on March 24 after loading at DMIR ore dock. Across the bay, Walter J. McCarthy is fitting out and now plans to depart Midwest Energy Terminal with a cargo of coal early March 26. Plans apparently still call for Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw to escort a group of vessels from the Head of the Lakes to the Soo.

The only layup vessels that show no signs of activity right now are Calcite II, which generally fits out later than most vessels, and Elton Hoyt II.

Vessel masters report that ice in the Twin Ports is pretty loose. The situation on Lake Superior could change, however, as northeast winds from 15 to 25 knots are forecast for tomorrow.

St. Clair is undergoing Coast Guard inspection March 24 and tentatively plans to depart Fraser Shipyards tomorrow and proceed to BN, possibly becoming the first vessel to load there. The Mackinaw was in Superior on Saturday to break out the harbor and cut a 200-foot-wide track out the entry.

Sunday updates

Twin Ports vessel movements continue with little trouble thanks to mild temperatures and calm winds. The only delay reported in the past few days was at the DMIR ore dock in Duluth, where frozen taconite pellets delayed Lee A. Tregurtha. Since the boat was loading at the gravity chutes, it’s not clear whether to troublesome pellets were coming in by train or being reclaimed from the storage pile at the dock. Meanwhile, ice in the channels is broken up and a few small areas of open water are visible where there’s been some traffic. Snow, possibly heavy, is predicted for Monday, so that may change schedules again.

Reported by: Al Miller

Dennis Hale Sole Survivor presentation

03/24

See and hear Dennis Hale, the only survivor of the wreck of the S/S Daniel J. Morrell which sank in Lake Huron in November 1966 . Tickets are $8.00 in advance or $10.00, at the door. The Event is sponsored by the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society

Send to:
SRMHS
707 Sibley St.
Bay City, MI 48706

Program is being held April 19, 1997 at Bay City Central High School auditorium, 1624 Columbus St. (east Side of Bay City), All Proceeds go to the Building of a Museum by the Society.

Reported by: Dan Maus

William A. Irvin 1997 Season Opener

03/24

The official open day for the 610′ retired bulk carrier William A. Irvin and the former US Army Corps of Engineers tug Lake Superior has now been set for May 3rd. The Irvin just recieved a new coat of pain and she is looking as good as ever.

Reported by: William A. Irvin Home Page

More vessels head out for the 1997 season

03/22

Vessel movements continue in the Twin Ports. Edgar B. Speer left port Friday for Two Harbors and Roger Blough slipped out later that day or early Saturday. Lee A. Tregurtha was loading under the gravity chutes at the DMIR ore dock at midday Saturday. As of 5 p.m., Philip R. Clarke was preparing to back out of Fraser Shipyards with help from two tugs. Kaye E. Barker has steam up at midday and appeared ready to get under way.

Reported by: Al Miller

Paul R. Tregurtha under way

03/22

The Paul R. Tregurtha is under way through the Detroit River system. She departed the Sterling fuel dock in Windsor, ON upbound at 3:35 P.M. EST. Should be a good line up waiting for the Soo Locks on Monday

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Ex Soconav Fleet for sale

03/22

To correct a previous posting, the fleet is for sale as detailed below. L’Orme No.1, Le Chene No.1 and Le Saule No.1 are all subject of a Judicial Sale order and was posted this week in the major marine press. W.M. Vacy Ash is under arrest in the port of Brest in France. She is also for sale but on private terms.

Please contact the writer for any further information.

Ocean Marine Charter Inc.
PO Box 1360
Shediac,NB E0A 3G0
Canada
Tel: 514 532 1260
Fax: 506 532 6300
Telex 409201865

Reported by: Kieran J. Shanahan

Lorain-Cleveland Shuttle run

03/22

The David Z. Norton has started its shuttles from earlier this week. Oglebay Norton’s next ship out will be the Fred R. White Jr. on March 25th. The White will also start the Lorain-Cleveland shuttles.

Reported by: C Franckowiak

Winter Maintenance at the Seaway Locks

03/22

Winter maintenance work at the U.S. St. Lawrence Seaway Locks in Massena, NY. included this year a paint job for gates on the Snell Lock. The $350,000 project involved draining the lock in preparation for sand blasting and painting the 300 ton locks. Also included in the winter work was repair and maintenance to a hydraulic gate at the Eisenhower Lock.

Reported by: Johnny Duchario

Cleveland Port Authority Purchases C & P Ore Docks Oglebay Norton To Operate New Facility

03/22

CLEVELAND–(March 19, 1997)– The Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority today announced that it has completed the purchase of the C & P Ore Docks from ConRail for $6.15 million

The Port Authority also entered into a 10-year lease agreement with Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton Company to manage the facility, which will operate under a new name — Cleveland Bulk Terminals. The agreement gives Oglebay Norton the option to renew the lease for an additional 10-year period.

More vessels start the 1997 season

03/20

J. A. W. IGLEHART – March 20 departed Detroit for Alpena
WILFRED SYKES – March 20 departed Sturgeon Bay for Escanaba

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Spring has arrived

03/20

The J.A.W. IGLEHART past upbound in Lake St. Clair today (3-20)

Reported by: Andrew Severson

Twin Ports and North Shore vessel traffic

03/20

Vessel movement in the Twin Ports began about 9 a.m. March 20 when the James R. Barker backed away from its layup berth at the Duluth port terminal and got under way for Taconite Harbor. Barker is maneuvering with assistance of two tugs from Great Lakes Towing.

Meanwhile, Sundew is working ice at the Superior entry, where several vessels are expected to call in the coming week.

More Vessel Traffic:

All dates and movements are estimates and may vary according to weather and ice conditions. Ice coverage is extensive off Duluth-Superior, but mild temperatures and possibly rain are predicted for the next day or two.

March 20 — The first departures may come March 20 with departure of Mesabi Miner and James R. Barker for Taconite Harbor in late morning or afternoon. As of 8 a.m., Miner did not appear to have yet ballasted down.

March 22 — Kaye E. Barker shifting from Hallett 5 to DMIR. Edgar B. Speer departing Duluth port terminal and arriving Two Harbors

March 23 — Lee A. Tregurtha shifting from shipyard to DMIR. Roger Blough departing port terminal for Two Harbors. Philip R. Clarke departing shipyard for Two Harbors. Cason J. Callaway departing shipyard for Two Harbors

March 25 — St. Clair shifting from shipyard to BN ore dock. Walter J. McCarthy loads at Midwest Energy Terminal, where it spent the winter.

March 26 — Indiana Harbor departs port terminal for BN ore dock. Edwin H. Gott may arrive Two Harbors depending on ice conditions

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Integrity visits Muskegon

03/19

The cement barge Integrity made her first visit to Muskegon this weekend (her first trip was March 15 when she departed Chicago for Waukegan) . I haven’t seen Integrity dock at LaFarge’s terminal yet-she is sitting behind the West Michigan Dock and Market Corp (Mart). She was there Tuesday A.M. and P.M., and was still there at 10:30 P.M. (3/18) There was an article in the March 18th Muskegon Chronicle mentioning the arrivals. The article mentioned that Integrity came from Waukegon IL, and is expected to leave for Alpena Wednesday morning. The article also stated her Muskegon destination as the West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. LaFarges terminal is approximately 1000 foot West of the Mart.

Also an Amoco barge (probably the barge Great Lakes pushed by the tug Michigan) on the way to Traverse City had entered the harbor first, waiting on weather before continuing to Traverse City.

Reported by: George Micka

Cutter Sundew Working ice fields

03/19

Coast Guard Cutter Sundew made its first foray of the season into the ice field off Duluth. The vessel was about 3 miles off the ship canal late this afternoon, proceeding slowly or stopped in the ice. The ice field is larger than in recent weeks, with some windrows visible from shore.

Reported by: Al Miller

Simco working aids to navigation

03/19

Reports are that the CCGS Simcoe went past Cape Vincent, west bound, on Wednesday, March 12 at approx. 1100. The purpose was to start on the Lake Ontario aids to navigation.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

May 2 is 1997 Season Opening for Steamship William G. Mather Museum

03/19

(Cleveland, OH) Friday, May 2, 1997 is opening day for the Steamship William G. Mather Museum’s seventh season as northeast Ohio’s only floating maritime museum. The historic Mather, a restored 1925 Great Lakes ore carrier, is permanently moored in Downtown Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor, just north of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Great Lakes Science Center.

Algomarine ready to sail

03/17

The Algomarine completed fit-out yesterday at Sarnia, North Slip. They will be leaving for Goderich today (3/17) to load salt for Milwaukee.

Reported by: Peter Schultz

Elton Hoyt 2nd due out late

03/17

Interlake’s 698′ self unloader, the Elton Hoyt the 2nd will not fit out until late April-Early May. Reports are that the company lost whatever contract she was working on.

Reported by: Mark Hammond

Date for Seaway opening

03/17

Seaway Notice No. 1 — 1997 Opening of the 1997 Navigation Season

For the purposes of planning transits through the Seaway, the opening of the 1997 navigation season is scheduled to take place on the dates and times indicated below:

Montreal-Lake Ontario
April 2, 1997 – 0800 hours (E.S.T.)
Welland Canal
April 2, 1997 – 0800 hours (E.S.T.)

Vessel transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Navigation may be restricted to daylight hours in some areas until lighted navigation aids have been installed.

Mariners are advised that due to the high water levels existing on Lake Ontario, the International Joint Commission on January 17, 1997, authorized the implementation of criteria (K). This criteria allows flows to be increased to levels which may affect navigation during the opening period.

The Seaway entities also announce that, for the 1997 navigation season, the clearance date for the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section has been designated as December 20, 1997, 2400 hours.

The channel in the American Narrows ( Thousand Island Bridge ) area appeared open as of yesterday.

Reported by: Ron Walsh

Name Change

03/17

The tanker Le Brave has been renamed Imperial St. Lawrence. The 1977 built tanker operated by Imperial Oil LTD, was repainted in Imperial colors while in lay-up at Halifax.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

More tanker news

03/17

The remaining three tankers owned by the now bankrupt Socanav, have been taken over by a company called Petro-Nav-Inc., a firm related to Group Desgagnes.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

Alpena begins 1997 season

03/15

Inland Lakes Management’s cement carrier ALPENA left Cleveland on 3/13. She is currently (12:00 A.M. EST.) at anchor in the St. Clair River waiting on weather.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Four More Legislators Oppose Icebreaking User Charges

03/15

Four more members of the Great Lakes delegation have signed Congressman Oberstar’s letter opposing Coast Guard user charges for icebreaking on the Great Lakes. Members of the House signing on were Lynn Rivers (MI)James Barcia (MI)and Jerry Weller (IL). Senator Paul Wellstone (MN) became the second senator to endorse the effort.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Cort and Burns Harbor set sailing dates

03/14

The Bethlehem Steel ships have set the following dates for beginning the season

STEWART J. CORT 3/25/97
BURNS HARBOR 3/26/97

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Latest sailing dates

03/13

JOSEPH L. BLOCK – March 12 departed Sturgeon Bay for Escanaba

PAUL R. TREGURTHA – March 12 departed Cleveland for Lorain

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Report from the Cutter Sundew

03/12

Report from Mr. Joe Walters, by way of Ken Newhams
“We’ve already accomplished more in two days that we did last year in a week. The thickest ice we’ve found was about two feet near the DM&IRore docks in St. Louis Bay. We got down Superior Front Channel today as far as where they had the snowmobile races last week. While we had to back and ram to get there, once we turned around, we were able to run right back, cutting the track double wide at about 5-7 knots.

We’ll be out every day this week for sure, and probably most of next week.”

Reported by: Ken Newhams, Duluth Shipping News

Domestic Maritime Fleet Experiences Explosive Growth

03/12

03/11

Joseph L Block, 3-11-97

Wilfred Sykes,3-17-97

Reported by: Richard Jenkins

U.S.-Flag Great Lakes Fleet Back to Work after Short Break

03/04

The 1997 dry-bulk shipping season on the Great Lakes began on March 3 with the sailing of the DAVID Z. NORTON. The 635-foot-long self-unloader will spend the next few weeks moving iron ore on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. The NORTON is one of 12 U.S.-Flag lakers operated by Cleveland-based Oglebay Norton Company.

The 1997 shipping season began just 30 days after the 1996 season concluded.

The iron ore trade out of Escanaba, Michigan, is expected to resume on March 8 or 9 with the loading of the tug/barge unit JOSEPH H. THOMPSON. The cement trade is scheduled to resume on March 15 with the sailing of the J.A.W. IGLEHART from her winter berth in Detroit. The ship will load cement in Alpena, Michigan.

The locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will open on March 25 and a number of U.S.-Flag lakers will begin loading at Lake Superior ports shortly thereafter. Some ships which wintered in Duluth/Superior will be downbound loaded on March 25.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

February 1997

Feb 1, 1997

Escanaba ready to load

02/28

the Escanaba Ore Dock is expecting to load the Barge Joseph H.Thompson on March 9, the bubble system around the ore docks has been activited, and fisherman have been warned.

Reported by: Jim Grill

Great Lakes Maritime Industry And Customers Oppose Icebreaking User Charges

02/27

Lake Carriers’ Association, the American Iron and Steel Institute, American Great Lakes Ports and the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force have sent a joint letter to Great Lakes Senators and members of the House opposing the Clinton Administration’s proposal to implement a user charge for icebreaking starting in FY1999. The proposed fee would generate $25 million a year. The letter, dated February 25, follows:

Dear Senator/Dear Representative:

We are writing to express our firm opposition to a provision in President Clinton’s FY1998 Budget to develop and implement a “fee-for-service” for icebreaking performed by the U.S. Coast Guard on the Great Lakes by FY1999. This ill-conceived proposal must be immediately rejected as both bad for the Great Lakes and national economies and a major reversal of long-standing U.S. government policy.

Without Coast Guard icebreaking, the Great Lakes shipping industry would be so reduced in scope that it would become a “used to be” in the nation’s transportation system. The ice season can begin in early December and generally lasts until early or mid-April. (In 1996, the Coast Guard continued “ice ops” on Lake Superior until May 17.) Every facet of Great Lakes shipping is affected by Coast Guard icebreaking – the domestic trades, imports and exports to and from Canada, and overseas cargos via the St. Lawrence Seaway. In recent years, these trades have approached 200 million tons.

In the past three years, U.S.-Flag vessels have carried approximately 46 million tons of cargo during the ice season. Iron ore for the steel industry predominates that total. Had these cargos gone undelivered, Great Lakes basin steel mills would have faced shutdowns and lay-offs when their stockpiles were exhausted. Millions of tons of coal, stone, cement, grain and general cargo also moved to and from Canada and overseas during periods of ice.

Government-funded icebreaking is not “corporate welfare.” The American steel industry, the iron ore mining industry in Minnesota and Michigan, and U.S.-Flag Great Lakes carriers collectively pay more than $1 billion a year in corporate taxes to the Federal Treasury. Their employees (140,000 strong) are likewise major contributors to the Federal Treasury. It is blatantly unfair for these industries and citizens to be asked to bear an even greater share of the Federal budget.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard provides a variety of services to commercial navigation, recreational boaters and the fishing industry throughout the United States. However, the Administration’s budget singles out domestic icebreaking – a service provided almost entirely on the Great Lakes – for user fees. In fact, there are no other user fee proposals contained in the Coast Guard budget. The proposal is blatantly unfair in that it asks our region and its industries to pay for Coast Guard services, while no effort is made to recover costs for services provided on the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf of Mexico or other regions.

We urge you to communicate your strong opposition to user charges for Coast Guard icebreaking to Secretary of Transportation Slater and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kramek by contacting Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar and signing the attachedletter.

Sincerely,

American Great Lakes Ports
American Iron and Steel Institute
Great Lakes Maritime Task Force
Lake Carriers’ Association

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Salt Trade Tops 8 Million Tons In 1996

02/27

Shipments of salt from U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports totaled 8.1 million tons in 1996, an increase of 20.6 percent compared to 1995. Given the very limited number of salt producers, further analysis is not possible without divulging confidential information.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Public meeting on pilotage in Cleveland Update

02/26

St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. will hold a public meeting in Cleveland at 10:00 A.M. March 11, 1997 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel. The purpose of the meeting is to seek ideas on how to improve U.S. Great Lakes pilotage. In particular, comments will be sought in the areas of efficiency, reliability and safety.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

St. Lawrence Seaway opening

02/25

Canada and the United States plan to open the St. Lawrence Seaway to vessels on 2 April. However, there may be restrictions. If water levels in Lake Ontario remain high on that date, vessel transits will be restricted to daylight only. Heavy precipitation since October has caused higher than usual levels.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

“Big 3” Trades Up in 1996

02/25

Shipments of iron ore, coal and stone on the Great Lakes in 1996 totaled 141,168,971 net tons, an increase of more than 3 million tons compared to 1995. These three cargos represent the major commodities moving on the Great Lakes in the domestic and cross-Lakes trades.

Iron ore shipments topped 71 million tons for the first time since the recession of the early- and mid-1980s. Compared to 1995, the ore trade increased roughly one percent.

Thanks in large part to increased demand from utilities in Canada and the United States, coal shipments rose 1.9 million tons to 34.8 million net tons.

The Lakes stone trade increased 1.5 percent to 35.1 million tons.

In assessing the 1996 shipping season, credit must again be given to the icebreaking crews of the Ninth District Coast Guard. The USCG Cutter MACKINAW and other Coast Guard icebreakers played an instrumental role in getting commerce moving in March and April of last year. Without the Coast Guard’s assistance, the season-end totals would much lower.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Grain elevators to be dismantled

02/24

The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth has awarded a $1 million contract to a Duluth firm to dismantle two grain elevators on the city’s waterfront.

Isle Engineering Inc. will dismantle the former Cargill C and D elevators, which have been idle for many years. Cargill D was built in 1900 and C in 1923. The port authority acquired the structures in 1989.

Both elevators occupy land that is separated from the port authority’s terminal by a loading slip. Once the structures are razed, the port authority plans to prepare the site for use as a bulk cargo facility by June 1999.

The waterfront on Duluth’s inner harbor was once packed with grain elevators and coal docks. Three elevators remain – General Mills, Cargil and AGP. One vacant dock – dubbed Dakota Pier – was obtained several years ago by the port authority and eventually turned into the Northland Constructors Dock. This site is now an asphalt recycling facility that receives roughly a dozen stone cargoes a year.

Reported by: Al Miller

U.S. Coast Guard orders more buoy tenders

02/24

The U.S. Coast Guard announced 20 Feb. that Marinette Marine Corp. has been awarded a contract for six Ida Lewis-class Coastal Buoy Tenders at a cost of about U.S.$73 million. Construction will begin this year with delivery in 1999 and 2000. With this order, a total of 10 such vessels have been or will be built. Another four are planned.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Ryerson in the rumor mill

02/19

Rumor mill has Inland Steel’s Edward L. Ryerson coming out of long term lay-up this spring. They plan to use her as is for a year or two then convert it to a self-unloader next year or the year after.

The Ryerson has been in long term lay-up since January 24,1994 at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.
This is a RUMOR that has not been confirmed

Reported by:

Tug/barge combo damaged

02/19

The tanker barge Great Lakes, pushed by the tug Michigan was damaged when the combination “nudged” the EJ&E and Canal Street Bridge In Indiana Harbor. Minor hull fractures on the startboard side ballast tanks were discovered as the unit was approaching Grand Traverse Bay. These cracks caused the barge to take on water which was handled by the on board tanks.The unit will have permanet repairs made in Chicago.

Reported by: Rken

Port of Goderich re-cap

02/18

The CANADIAN OLYMPIC departed February 1st ending the 1996-1997 shipping season at the Port of Goderich. The first ship to arrive was the JOHN B. AIRD, he loaded salt on March 27, 1996. Since then, 171 ships have loaded salt, 32 grain boats visited the elevators, 4 barges delivered liquid calcium and 2 visits by the passenger ship NANTUCKET CLIPPER. Numerous visits were made by the Canadian Coast Guard ships, SAMUEL RISLEY AND GRIFFON.

The first ship for the 1997 season is expected mid to late March.

Reported by: Philip Nash

New pilot rates update

02/17

As of 1 March, new pilotage rates will take effect on the U.S. Great Lakes. Rate increases of eight percent to 19 percent will be implemented in the three districts, affecting 38 pilots. The new rates are lower than those proposed by the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., and were calculated using a new method of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To calculate pilot rates, Great Lakes masters were assumed to earn an average of U.S.$131,213 annually, comprised on U.S.$116,767 in wages and U.S.$14,446 in benefits. First mates were assumed to receive an average wage of U.S.$92,290. Using these figures, the average weighted increase on District 1 is eight percent, including nine percent on the St. Lawrence River and six percent on Lake Ontario. District 2 will increase an average of 19 percent, with no increase on Lake Erie but 31 percent on the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. District 3 will see a six percent increase overall, with seven percent on Lake Huron, six percent on Lake Michigan and four percent each on Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. The new rates stemmed from the first full Great Lakes pilotage review since 1987. In addition to the new rates, it will also be mandated that pilotage rates be reviewed at least once a year.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

More on the Halcyon

02/17

The Muskegon Cronical implied in a story published 2/9/97 stated that the Halcyon had sea water in her after she was raised. They also implied that the core of engineers knew about the many problems and that one marine engineer told them it was a wonder the boat didn’t sink before she did. The boat was not built to original specifications and sat some 3 feet lower in the water than original specs called for, makeing it unstable in heavy seas.

Reported by: Bob Wheelock

Tanker Gemini running

02/13

The tanker GEMINI was spotted upbound in Lake St. Clair yesterday Feb. 12 with the Canadain Coast Guard icebreaker SAMUEL RISELY for an escort.

Reported by: Andrew Severson

Canadian Olympic in lay-up

02/12

The Canadian Olympic arrived at Nanticoke at 0800 hours on Friday February 7, 1997 under escort of the Samuel Risley. The Olympic is tied up at the west dock at Ontario Hydro Nanticoke Generating Station.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Ore boat wanted

02/11

The Marquette Underwater Preserve is looking for an ore boat or other Great Lakes vessel (should be linked to the iron mining industry) to clean and sink within Preserve boundries. The Vessel will become a historic diving attraction, drawing attention for our community. Vessel can be recieved as a non-profit donation, allowing donator to write off value of ship. For more information, please contact Kurt Fosburg @ 906-475-5101 or Rob Schmitt @ Diver Down Scuba, 906-225-1699. Any assistance, including possible leads, would be greatly appreciated.

Reported by: Kurt Fosburg

Record Lay-Up at Bay Ship

02/10

According to Great Lakes/Seaway Log, Bay Shipbuilding Co. in Sturgeon Bay,Wisconsin has its largest winter lay-up fleet ever. Eighteen vessels are tied up in Sturgeon Bay. So many are there at the PRESQUE ISLE is being tied up in the inactive Peterson Shipbuilders yard. The large number of ships means up to 300 jobs.

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Socanav formally bankrupt

02/08

Socanav Inc. has been formally declared bankrupt, after its bankruptcy trustee, KPMG, announced that a buyer had not been found. In addition, Socanav failed to present a restructuring proposal by 31 Jan. The date was the end of a third extension granted to Socanav by the Quebec (Canada) Superior Court. Socanav has debts of C$15 million to C$17 million. Its four remaining vessels will be sold, but how and when it will be accomplished is at the discretion of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The bank is owed C$10 million, with the rest of the debts owed to 700 creditors, ranging from crews to ports on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Unsecured creditors will meet 6 March. The four remaining ships, owned and/or operated by Socanav, are the Le Chene No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,065-gt, 7,809-dwt, 3,451-nt tanker built in 1961 at Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel, Quebec); the L’Orme No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,890-gt, 9,178-dwt, 4,109-nt tanker built in 1974 at Marine Industries); the Le Saule No. 1 (Canadian-registry 5,114-gt, 7,175-dwt, 3,382-nt tanker built in 1970 at Marine Industries); and the W.M. Vacy Ash (Canadian-registry 5,725-gt, 8,697-dwt, 4,342-nt tanker built in 1969 at Marine Industries). All are iced in at Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the estimated value of all four is C$8.5 million. The four were to be sold to Gorse Down Canada, but that deal collapsed in October under questions from regulators. Socanav and Gorse Down Canada shared offices and for six months had the same president.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Ada Gorthon aground in Seaway

02/07

The Ada Gorthon (Swedish-registry 13,525-gt, 10,565-dwt ro/ro built in 1984, operated by Gorthon Lines) ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway on 5 Feb. near Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada. Heavy ice was reported in the area. The ship was sailing to Pointe-au-Pic with paper, and suffered damage to a tank. The Ada Gorthon was later escorted to Quebec.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

CANADIAN OYLMPIC calls it a season

02/06

The CANADIAN OYLMPIC departed the Atwater dock in Detriot this morning (2-6) bound for Nanticoke Ont. for winter lay-up.

Reported by: Andrew Severson and Dave Marcoux

Repairs to the Aerial Lift bridge

02/05

Repairs will be started on the Aerial Bridge in Duluth this week. On Wednesday or Thursday, the bridge will be jacked up about a foot in order to relieve the tension on the cables around the pulleys. Makeshift asphalt ramps will be placed to allow traffic to cross without having to hit the one-foot difference in height. This same procedure was done last winter when the northeast pulley was moved back into place (it had started to slide and would likely have become stuck sometime last year had the repair not been made). This winter’s work includes more pulley and shaft work. The bridge will be closed to any vessel traffic until sometime early in March.

Reported by: Jody Aho

Float on Lakes Reaches New Post-Recession Peak in 1996

02/05

U.S.-Flag carriers moved more than 117 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargo during the recently completed 1996 Great Lakes shipping season, a new record for the post-recession era. The previous peak was 115 million tons in 1994.

Iron ore cargos moved in Jones Act lakers totaled 60.6 million tons in 1996, the highest level since 1988. The Lorain/Cleveland iron ore shuttle reached it highest ever – 6.7 million tons. The Lorain/Cleveland shuttle dates from the early 1980s.

Stone cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 27 million tons, the most since LCA begain its survey of U.S.-Flag carriage in 1985.

The cement trade in U.S.-Flag vessels also set a new record – 3.8 million tons.

Two commodities registered decreases in 1996. Coal cargos declined slightly from 1995. Grain loadings fell to their lowest level since 1988. High grain prices prompted millers to switch to the spot market in 1996 and thus increase their usage of rail deliveries.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

More on the Mauthe conversion

02/05

The conversion calls for the entire aft to be cut off, including living quarters and removal of the engines. The tug (unknow at this time) will then fit into a steel notch. Last week crews were removing asbestos from the vessel.

In related news: this years lay-up fleet at Bay Shipbuilding is the largest ever – 18 vessels, the old record was 15 during the 94/95 lay-up

Reported by: Norm Becker

Tug Atomic breaking ice in Kingston

02/05

Feb 3 the tug Atomic departed Hamilton enroute to Kingston to break ice for the Kingston ferries. She had been called in after the ferries started to have trouble working in heavy ice. One ferry had already sustained prop damage. The tug was requested a couple days earlier but had to wait on the Burlington Bridge to leave Hamilton.The Atomic has quite an extensive history of Ice- Breaking from years past but this is her first foray since McKeil’s bought and repowered her.

Reported by:

Tug John Spence Still Working

02/05

The Spence And MacAsphalt 401 are still plying there trade between Sarnia and Lake Erie Ports. She will be going on hire to Pembina in a couple days as there is no other vessels available to serve as a dive/work platform in the heavy ice in Lake Erie

Reported by:

Canadian Olympic continues to run

02/03

The Upper Lakes vessel Canadian Olympic was in Goderich yesterday (Feb. 2) for what appears to be one more shipment of salt for this season. Also in harbor was the C.C.G.S. Samuel Risley, to assist her in the ice. The Canadian Olympic continues to work overtime in the salt trade this late in the season. On her last trip into Goderich for salt (January 23) she was accompanied by the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw (WAGB-83)

Reported by: Mike Gibson

ULS changes name

02/02

Name Change: ULS Corporation Becomes Upper Lakes Group Inc.

Ottawa, January 23, 1997 – ULS Corporation has become Upper Lakes Group Inc., effective January 1, 1997, and all correspondence should be addressed accordingly, the company advises.

Reported by: Canadian Shipowners Association

Barge refit in Milwaukee

02/01

The City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will spend U.S.$55,000 to refit a city barge to clean the Milwaukee River this summer. About U.S.$20,000 will be spent on skimming equipment and outboard engines and the rest will be spent on operating the barge. The city’s share must be approved by the Common Council. Eventually, the barge will be replaced by a new, dedicated vessel.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

January 1997

Jan 1, 1997

CANADIAN OYLMPIC still running

01/30

Spotted downbound in Lake St. Clair today was the CANADIAN OLYMPIC bound for the Atwater dock in Detriot with a load of salt. After she unloads she heads back to Goderich for another load.

Reported by: Andrew Severson and Dave R. Marcoux

01/24

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Neah Bay may have averted disaster Thursday when it intercepted a runaway oil barge heading for the rocky shore of Middle Sister Island in Lake Erie.

Neah Bay stopped the loaded Hannah barge about 800 yards from the island and pushed it to safety during the 5 hour mission in Canadian waters. Shifting ice up to 10 inches thick and 25 mph winds pushed the barge, loaded with about a million gallons of fuel oil toward the island where rocks and ice could have ruptured the hull.

The tug Donald C. Hannah was pushing the barge, loaded in Toledo to LTV Steel Co. in Cleveland. The Neah Bay was escorting the tug and barge until about 11 A.M. when a steering cable snapped disengaging the barge from the tug.

Once the Neah Bay had pushed the barge a safe distance from the island the crew on the Hannah tug was able to pair the cables enough to tow the barge to a port in Canada for repair. The tow may continue once they convince the Coast Guard that this won’t happen again.

Reported by: Edited from a story appearing in the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ice still causing problems in Western Lake Erie

01/24

A report on NPR radio last night had a tug and barge, one of the Hannah fleet I believe, was stuck in ice near the western Lake Erie islands. the barge is loaded with 26,000 barrels of home heating oil and bound from Toledo to Cleveland. There is concern that ice and wind may drive the barge aground. The reported noted that the tow rope may have broken, and that the Coast Guard cutter Bristol Bay was on the way to help.

Reported by: Jim Flury

Season totals U.S. fleet

01/24

Shipments of potash on the Great Lakes totaled 657,256 net tons in 1996, an increase of roughly 50,000 tons compared to 1995. Thunder Bay (north shore of Lake Superior) is the sole port loading potash on the Great Lakes.

The Lakes potash trade used to top 2 million tons a year, but since farmers need the product to use as a fertilizer during the spring planting and the Soo Locks don’t open until March 25, most shipments have switched to rail. Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 34,531,197 net tons in 1996, an increase of 4.8 percent compared to 1995. The only coal port to see its shipments decline was Thunder Bay, Ontario (north shore of Lake Superior); loadings fell by 25 percent to 1.6 million tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

C.S.L. and U.L.S. ordered to pay fines

01/24

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority has fined Canada Steamship Lines Inc. and Upper Lakes Shipping Corp. $5,000 for each violation of a compulsory pilotage zone in December. Three C.S.L. ships, the Nanticoke, the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac, and one U.L.S. vessel, the Canadian Enterprise, violated St. Lawrence River pilotage regulations when they decided they had waited long enough for pilots. On 1 Dec., the Nanticoke sailed from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and the Canadian Enterprise sailed from Contrecoeur, Quebec, to Trois-Rivieres. On 2 Dec., the Jean Parisien and the Tadoussac sailed from Trois-Rivieres to Montreal.

None of the vessels had the required pilots. As a result, C.S.L. will now have to pay $15,000 and U.L.S. $5,000. The Laurentian Pilotage Authority also reportedly wants to C.S.L. and U.L.S. to pay extra charges it says were needed because vessels with pilots had to anchor while the ships without pilots passed.

Reported by: Steve Schultz, From the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Stuck in ice off Buffalo

01/23

Follow up:

The mystery boat from last night turns out to be the John B. Aird. She dumped a load of salt at Lackawanna on the 21st and tried to make it out on the afternoon of the 22nd. The Samuel Risley came to her aid that evening and they were clear of the ice field by the morning of the 22nd. Once on the open waters of the lake the Risley turned around and cleared the track out again all the way back to Buffalo. There is an Algoma Central straight decker stuck in ten feet of ice in the Buffalo South Entrance Channel. There is a Coast Guard Breaker trying to free her (8pm). They are making little progress and may wait until the morning. They have four miles of wind rowed ice to make it to open water off Buffalo.

Reported by: Brian Wroblewski

Paul R. Tregurtha Still loaded

01/22

PAUL R. TREGURTHA was unable to deliver her last cargo of season because of ice in Lorain. She rests in Cleveland with 40,000 tons of ore in her.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Duluth-Superior Lay-Up Activity

01/22

As of Saturday, Jan. 18: the Calcite II had a fresh coat of paint, and it appeared the Philip R. Clarke was getting one too. Also in Fraser, it looks like the St. Clair is having some work done on her unloading boom because part of the belt was unwound and laying on her deck.

Anyone interested in getting up-close views of vessels in winter lay-up should take a drive down to the Port Terminal in Duluth. There is a road you can drive on that is just a few feet from the Indiana Harbor and Edgar B. Speer. This gives you a great opportunity to see just how huge the 1000 footers actually are. There is also a road that goes under the two gantry cranes and right next to the Roger Blough. In the slip with the Blough are the 4 G-tugs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug Lake Superior. On a building next to the Blough, more than a dozen foreign vessel names were spray painted along with many crew members and the date the vessel was in the slip. It was an unusual thing to see. You can also get up-close views of the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker and Hallet Dock 5. Near the bow of the Barker is the old bum boat Marine Trader.

Reported by: Andy Hering

Paul R. Tregurtha changes lay-up port

01/21

The Paul Tregurtha is now at the Port of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Port Authority. She arrived on 1-19, the ship was assisted by two tugs and ice apparently caused some problems.

This leaves only three U.S. ships running, the self-unloaders JOSEPH L. BLOCK, WILFRED SYKES and ADAM E. CORNELIUS. The three will continue to load iron ore at Escanaba, Michigan, until month’s end.

Reported by: Kevin Baker and the Lake Carriers Association

Tregurtha delayed

01/19

The Paul R. Tregurtha was due to lay-up in Ashtabula on the 17th, she is now (mid-night) clearing the Detroit River with an ice breaker escort. The plan is to wait in the East Outer Channel for the tanker Saturn (now down bound on Lake St. Clair) and head for Ohio.

Reported by: Neil Schultheiss

Duluth and Superior’s Lay-up fleet

01/17

Duluth and Superior are playing host to one of their largest winter layup fleets in recent years. Thirteen vessels are spending the winter at various docks in the two ports along with an additional vessel in long-term layup.

In Duluth, the Mesabi Miner and Kaye E. Barker are docked end-to-end at Hallett 5, the first time in many years that dock has seen winter layup vessels. Docking space at the port terminal is filled with Roger Blough, Edgar B. Speer, Indiana Harbor and James R. Barker.

In Superior, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. has assumed its usual winter home at Midwest Energy Terminal while Fraser Shipyards is the location for St. Clair, Lee A. Tregurtha, Elton Hoyt II, Calcite II, Cason J. Callaway and Philip R. Clarke. John Sherwin remains in long-term layup at the nearby Superior municipal dock.

No word on what sort of winter work is being done on these vessels. A crane can be seen alongside the stern of Indiana Harbor and, apparently, Walter J. McCarthy Jr. The drydocks at Fraser are filled with one of the GLF’s AAA boats and, in the small drydock, a Corps of Engineers tug and two excursion boats.

Reported by: Al Miller

More on the LTV train derailment

01/17

According to a recent story in the Duluth News-Tribune, the two-man crew of an out-of-control LTV taconite train at one point warned other workers that the train might run off the end of the loading dock and plunge into the harbor at Taconite Harbor.

The accident earlier this week occurred while Paul R. Tregurtha was loading at the LTV Steel Mining Co. dock at Taconite Harbor. The boat left without a full load after the train derailed and cut off rail access to the shiploader.

The train was coming down a 2 percent grade at an estimated 45 mph instead of the usual 5 mph. LTV officials praised the trainmen for using their radio to warn other workers to block auto traffic on Highway 61 where it passes under the rail line and for alerting them that the train could crash into the shiploader and plunge off the dock.

A safety system functioned as planned when it automatically switched the onrushing train to an uphill loop track, diverting it away from the dock. The entire 93-car train derailed when it hit the switch at high speed.

Reported by: Al Miller

U.S. float up 26 Percent in December

01/17

Aided by more “normal” sailing conditions, U.S.-Flag operators moved 11,141,893 net tons of dry-and liquid-bulk cargos on the Great Lakes in December, an increase of 26 percent compared to the corresponding period in 1995. The final month of 1995 was marred by the onset of a severe winter which slowed shipping to a crawl. In contrast, this past December was more typical and vessel delays were not excessive.

The December U.S.-Flag ore float totaled 6.6 million tons, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to a year earlier. Stone loadings nearly doubled to 1,947,152 net tons. Coal cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 1.8 million tons, an increase of 8 percent.

Through December, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 114.9 million tons, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the same point in the 1995 shipping season. As of today (January 17), the iron ore trade is the only active dry-bulk move on the Lakes. Ore will continue to be shipped from Escanaba, Michigan, to steelmakers along Lake Michigan’s southern shore until month’s end.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Ice Hazard bulletin

01/16

Note: this report is offered for entertainment and should not be relied on for navigation. Please consult Canadian Ice Service for current conditions (subscription necessary)

Ice Hazard bulletin for the Great Lakes issued by Environment Canada from Canadian Ice Service in Ottawa at 1700 Wednesday, 15 Jan.

Lake Huron — Open water in central portion of lake – narrow band of thin to medium lake ice along the eastern shore of the lake – mostly new lake ice within 5-8 miles of the western shore – greater than 9/10 mostly thin lake ice in Saginaw Bay.

Lake Erie — 7-9/10 new lake ice within 8 miles of the northern shore with fast ice in Long Point Bay – west of a line between Point Bruce and Cleveland, 8/10 new with some thin lake ice in the northern 2/3, with 2-4/10 new lake ice in the southern 1/3 of the lake – in the western basin, greater than 9/10 thin with some new lake ice – east of the line between Port Bruce and Cleveland, mostly open water except new lake ice within 3-5 miles of the shore – in Lake St. Clair, 9-10/10 mostly thin lake ice

The following comes from the good folks at the Canadian Ice Service (current forecast is available on-line to subscribers)

Area coverage is expressed in tenths:
1-3/10—very open drift ice
4-6/10—open drift ice
7-8/10—close pack ice
9-9+/10–very close pack
10/10—compact
10/10—frozen together – consolidated

J.A.W. Iglehart makes it to Muskegon

01/06

According to the bridge tender at St. Joseph, J.A.W. IGLEHART was in port Friday at about 1700 hours. The bridge tender said she unloaded half her cargo at East Chicago, and the remainder at St. Joe. S.S. ALPENA didn’t make it into Muskegon on Thursday. I am not sure if she was here over the weekend.

Reported by: Reported by: George Micka

Duluth News

01/04

At this time (0930) the wind at the Duluth Aerial Bridge is blowing steadily from the NE at 30 knots, with gusts to 40. The Indiana Harbor is outside and will decide whether or not to come in with the wind and its accompanying blowing snow. Ice is also moving in the canal, and the strong winds have pushed the Lake ice down into the end of the lake.

If the Indiana Harbor comes in, it will be the first boat to lay up at the Port Terminal.

In other news, the large drydock at Fraser is still empty, but the Clarke (?) is tied across the end of it. I don’t know if any boats are scheduled in there this winter. In the small drydock, the Corp tug Billmaier and the two Vista boats are spending the winter. The Calcite is residing in the spot at the head of Howard’s Pocket, so it will again be the last boat out of the yard. The Sherwin is now at the Superior Municipal dock where the Mauthe had laid for the last couple of years. This leaves the Cummings Ave. slip in the shipyard empty. The Cummings Ave. slip is the site of the Whitney Bros. yard, where the tugs were built during WW I, as well as the tug Wm. A. Whitney.

Reported by: Reported by: Eric Bonow

Owen Sound Harbour

01/03

Passed by Owen sound Harbour today & it seemed like the good old days were back. The Medusa Conquest was coming in to deliver a load of cement. The Mapleglen was tied up for the winter at the Great Lakes elevator. Both the Chi-cheeman and the Nindawayma were also there. Great to see that many boats in one place on Georgian Bay.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Woudstra

Sundew aids in Mauthe tow

01/03

On New Year’s Eve, the SUNDEW was called out to assist the J. L. Mauthe, and Tug JOHN Purves and the Great Lakes tugs NORTH CAROLINA and MINNESOTA through the ice. The PURVIS was having trouble getting the MAUTHE through the ice and the other tugs had been trying to help for several hours.

The Sundew left the port at about 6:30 PM and arrived on the scene about 1.5 miles from the breakwaters. At midnight we had only gotten them about a quarter of a mile. The wind finally shifted to the southwest and relieved the pressure on the ice, releasing the MAUTHE. We led them to open water about 5 miles out, and left the PURVIS and MAUTHE on their way. The SUNDEW, NORTH CAROLINA and the MINNESOTA got back to port about 1:30. At midnight, the SUNDEW carried out the tradition of ringing in the new year by striking eight bells, the first four struck by the oldest crewmember, and the last four struck by the youngest.

Reported by: Ken Newhams

Mauthe tow making progress

01/02

Tug John Purves and J.L. Mauthe should reach Whitefish Point by 2100 hours. Plan is to lock through early a.m., then wait for cutter Mackinaw to escort them through the St. Mary’s River.

Reported by: Al Miller

Sarnia’s Lay-up Fleet Taking Shape

01/02

Sarnia’s lay-up fleet is taking shape with the J.W.MCGIFFIN, LE CHENE NO.1, ALGORAIL,the tug and barge JOHN SPENCE, MCASHPHALT 401, and the AGAWA CANYON on the 1st of January 1997.

Reported by: Reported by: Andrew Severson

HF marine monitoring on 4369 kHz ssb.

01/02

This is WLC Rogers City Mich.

Summary of info.
0950  Edwin H. Gott  45.9N 84.3W  Wx Obs
0959  Armco      47.2N 90.4W  Wx Obs

1510   USS Fleet Call in
Cason J Calloway      st. Clair cut  checked due to visibility
      03/1230 Sault   04/1800  Fraser shipyards
Presque Isle          unloading Gary  56 degrees F etd02/1930
      04/0300 Sault   05/0500 Two Harbours
Roger Blough     
      2.5 miles NE Whitefish Point 1800 Sault
	  04/0400 Gary, then Two Harbours to Gary again
Edgar B. Speer        Loading Two Harbours etd 2100-2300 to Gary
Edwin H. Gott         St Marys River 1600 Sault 03/1800 
                      Two Harbours load for Gary

01/01

By 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the Purves and Mauthe were continuing to battle the ice off Duluth. Purves is pulling the Mauthe and GLT tugs Minnesota and North Carolina are assisting. Coast Guard Cutter Sundew has been assisting for several hours. The strategy is for the Sundew to run down close alongside the Mauthe, which briefly relieves the ice pressure and allowing the tugs to surge ahead anywhere from a few feet to 75 feet. At last report, the tugs had about 1,400 feet to go to get past a troublesome windrow and into looser ice. Meanwhile, James R. Barker was ready to leave the BNSF ore dock in Superior, about six miles away, but could not because no tugs were available. One GLT tug is not used in ice and two others were engaged with the Mauthe. Not sure on the status of the fourth. Ice had frozen in behind the Barker after its arrival and the master did not want to try backing away from the dock and turning without assistance.

12/27

At 8:30 P.M. EST, the J.A.W. Iglehart is reported aground in Saginaw Bay, Saginaw Channel. She is in postion 43 42.03N 083 48.53W on the red side. The tug Malcolm is on scene with another enroute, ice is reported to be 2-6″.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss and Lon Morgan

Duluth-Superior News

12/27

After several days of limited activity, Duluth-Superior harbor sprang to life Dec. 27 as several vessels made unusually late calls for taconite pellets and others came in for winter lay up. Stewart J. Cort was loading at the BNSF ore dock while Lee A. Tregurtha waited at the Duluth port terminal for the next chance at the dock. Courtney Burton entered port for a rare late-season call at the DMIR ore dock, which usually closes by mid-December.

Mariners are advised to use caution in restricted channels due to higher than normal flows in the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section.

The openings of the Galop and the Prescott/Ogdensburg ice boom have been reduced to 243m and 610m respectively. The openings are indicated by flashing green and red buoys.

Mariners are advised that the implementation of the power to length ratio restrictions have been postponed until further notice.

The removal of essential aids will continue on Lake St. Francis, Lake St. Louis and the upper St. Lawrence River. Further information concerning this is available from the appropriate traffic control centres.

Water temperature at St. Lambert on December 24, 1996 is 1.3 degrees celsius. Last year’s temperature was 0.0 degrees celsius. The ten year average is 0.3 degrees celsius.

At midnight December 23, 1996, the number of ocean vessels above St. Lambert was 4 as compared to 13 in 1995. Above Port Weller the number was 1 as compared to 0 in 1995.

At 0700 hours December 24, 1996 the total number of vessels in transit and in ports between CIP 2 (St.Lambert) and CIP16 (Lake Erie) was approximately 26.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

BNSF Ore Dock Busy

12/24

The BNSF ore dock continues to rumble along the morning of Dec. 24 trying to deal with the backlog of vessels waiting to load. As of 11a.m. central time, the Stinson is finishing its load and expects to leave in about two hours. St. Clair has called for a tug to break it out from the port terminal dock and clear a path through the ice in the front channel linking Duluth to Superior. Stewart J. Cort is entering port and plans to take the St. Clair’s spot while it waits for the ore dock. Burns Harbor remains at the port terminal, where its been since Sunday waiting to load.

Reported by: Al Miller

Banner year for taconite

12/24

12/21

Twin Ports residents still have hope they may someday acquire the cargo ship Pembina – one of the last surviving small cargo vessels built in Duluth-Superior during World War II.

For the season, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 103,794,101 net tons, an increase of 1.2 percent. Only two commodities, coal and grain, show decreases compared to the previous navigation season. U.S.-Flag coal loadings are down as the result of lower demand for eastern coal. Reduced demand for grain reflects shifts in both transportation mode and production facilities.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Saginaw River Closed for Season

12/19

Technically the Saginaw River closed to traffic on 12/15. Vessels are now required to give 12 hour notice to the USCG and the bridges(which are unmanned now). If 12/17 was the last of the season, it was a good day…..the Fred R. White Jr. reported while inbound that it would be the last trip for both the White and the Joseph H. Frantz.

Reported by: Lon Morgan

George A. Sloan makes last trip of the Season

12/18

Stmr. George A. Sloan delivered its last load of the season to Green Bay and is scheduled to enter winter lay-up Dec. 19 in Sturgeon Bay.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Algolake makes rare maneuver in Duluth

12/17

Boatwatchers in Duluth saw a rare sight Dec. 16 when the 730-foot Algolake left port by backing under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out the Duluth ship canal. The laker had unloaded salt at the Cutler-Magner dock, which is directly across from the canal that forms the harbor entrance. Rather than buck ice by turning the harbor, the vessel’s master decided to back straight away from the dock and out the canal before turning around in the open water on the lake. A bridge operator said it was only the second time in 15 years he’s seen a vessel back out the canal.

Longtime boatwatchers recall that the best bit of ship canal boat handling occurred about 10 years ago when St. Clair lost power in the canal. Using his bowthrusters to avoid hitting the canal piers, the master let the brisk wind blow the vessel back into the harbor, where it went to anchor until power was restored.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Seaway season ends in the Twin Ports

12/17

The St. Lawrence Seaway shipping season came to end Dec. 16 in Duluth-Superior as a pair of vessels cleared port to make the Seaway’s closing deadlines.

The Greek-flag Panagiotis became Duluth-Superior’s last oceangoing vessel of the season when it departed with 16,517 metric tons of spring wheat from the Peavey Connors Point grain elevator bound for Ravenna, Italy.

A few hours later Canadian Trader motored under the Aerial Lift Bridge to become the ports’ last boat scheduled to travel the full length of the Seaway. The vessel loaded 7,000 metric tons of spring wheat at Harvest States grain elevator in Superior. It will load more cargo in Thunder Bay before continuing on to Port Cartier.

Twin Ports vessel traffic will drop considerably now as most remaining vessels will call only at the Midwest Energy Terminal coal dock and the BN and DMIR ore docks. The DMIR tends to shut down earlier than its counterpart in Two Harbors because of ice. At least one more cement boat – the Alpena – is due in this week.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Louis R. Desmarais Unloading Boom Breaks

12/16

On Saturday December 14, the Louis R. Desmarais was unloading at the St. Marys Cement dock in the Rouge River when the unloading boom snapped about two thirds of the way up. When I saw the boom the only thing that was holding it together was the belt. I heard that they called a crain in to lift the broken piece down to the deck.

Reported by: Dave Marcoux

McKee Sons Enters Lay-up

12/16

The tug/barge unit McKee Sons & Olive L. Moore laid up on December 15 in Escanaba, Michigan.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

J.W. McGiffin Making Christmas Brighter for Needy Families

12/16

At this morning’s service (12/15) at Grace United Church in Port Dover, Ontario, Pastor Brian Elder was thankful to the Master and crew of CSL’s J.W. McGiffin. It seems a couple of weeks ago the Reverend received a cell phone call from Capt. Lars Bouman indicating the crew would like to do a little something for the needy families in the Port Dover area. Last Wednesday evening Reverend Elder visited the ship in nearby Nanticoke and was taken by surprise with a donation of several hundred dollars from the McGiffin’s crew. A deal had also been arranged with the local K-Mart in Simcoe to purchase toys with the money and food vouchers are also being purchased by the Church. Thanks to the thoughts of these mariners, Christmas will no doubt be a little brighter for the less fortunate.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Stinson to be sold

12/14

Reports indicate that the George A. Stinson is going to be sold at the end of the season to American Steamship. She is to be laid up in Toldeo around the December 26 and will receive her new colors over the winter. She will probably receive a new name as well. Interlake has decided not to renew the contract for her.

Reported by: John Lynch and Dan Sweeley

Research ship raised; salvage costs going up, too

12/14

Three large cranes raised the HALCYON Thursday morning and placed her onto a barge. Work crews had been trying to raise HALCYON since Monday. NOAA wasbeginning an investigation Thursday morning into the cause of the ships sinking. HALCYON went down stern first. While she was being lifted onto an Andrie Inc. barge, water was observed leaking from the area where her two outdrives was located. NOAA supervisor Steve Ruberg revised his previous cost estimate, and now says it may cost up to $150,000 by the entire salvage operation is complete. HALCYON will remain aboard a barge while her two diesel engines are worked on. Once the ship is repaired, NOAA plans to use her for their Great Lakes research effort along with the R/V Shenehon.

Reported by: George Micka, Edited from a story appearing in the Dec. 12 Muskegon Chronicle

Mail Boat Ready to Call it a Season

12/13

The U.S. Marine Post Office located in Detroit, is set to lay up the Mail boat J.W. Westcott II on the morning of December 20, 1996. This marks the end of the 101st season of “mail by the pail” for the J.W. Westcott Company.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Kinsman Independent to Enter Lay-up

12/13

The grain carrier KINSMAN INDEPENDENT is discharging her final cargo of the season in Buffalo today (12/13). When unloading is completed tomorrow morning, the ship will lay-up at the Lake & Rail dock.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

News from Duluth

12/12

Two long-standing grain elevators on the Twin Ports waterfront will be coming down over the next few years. Work has been under way for some time on the Globe Elevator, located next to the Harvest States elevator in Superior. Workers have been dismantling equipment outside the elevator since last spring and appear to be working inside as well. The wooden structure was built in the 1880s. Also likely to come down soon is the old Peavey elevator complex next to the Duluth port terminal. The local port authority owns the complex and will soon be seeking bids for demolition.After a busy autumn that saw as many as half a dozen salties at a time waiting to load, the international shipping season in Duluth-Superior is coming to an end. The Wartenes was loading at the Cargill elevator on the evening of Dec. 11 and again Dec. 12, and salties Serenade, Ziemia Opinska (sp?) and Adveeka are scheduled to arrive in the next few days. They likely will be the last salties in port this season. Although a November cold snap caused an early onset of harbor ice, more moderate temperatures in December have eased the ice problem for boats and even allowed some open water to reappear.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Canadian Ships without Pilots

12/12

Four Canadian-registry ships last week sailed through compulsory pilotage zones in the St. Lawrence River without a pilot, risking a potential C$5,000 fine. Three were from Canada Steamship Lines Inc. The firms involved said they were loosing C$1 million in the delays, which were up to two days at the Welland Canal due to heavy traffic and a lack of pilots or pilots arriving late. River temperatures were at 2.5 degrees Celsius and strong ice could form in 48 hours. As a result, each vessel must have two pilots. Shipowners asked that ships that have routinely sailed the area with capable navigation equipment be allowed to sail without pilots. The request was later changed to one instead of two pilots. When both requests were denied, the four ships sailed. It has been decided that fines will not be imposed. Apparently, the unortodox move by the four ships had an effect on the pilot system, as reports suggest the situation has begun to clear.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Upper Lakes Shipping ships get Certificates

12/12

U.L.S. Corp. has become the first Canadian shipping line to receive I.S.M. accreditation, and the first to have both the I.S.M. Code and I.S.O. 9002 certification. I.S.M. safety management certificates were given to the M/V Canadian Progress, the M/V Canadian Ranger and the Str. Montrealais.

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

M/V Utviken Refloated

12/09

The M/V Utviken (Bahamian-registry 17,191-gt, 30,052-dwt, 189 meter/621 foot long bulk carrier built in 1987, oprated by Viken Shipping) has been refloated (see story dated 11/28). The vessel, sailing from Richards Bay, South Africa, to Detroit with titanium slag, ran aground in U.S. waters on a shoal along the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River below Massena, N.Y., on 26 Nov. The ship suffered electrical problems in her steering console, which is believed to have caused the grounding. The cargo was lightered before the refloating attempt. The M/V Utviken has damage to the port side forward and amidships. The forepeak tankand the No. 1 double-bottom tank flooded in the grounding.

	1995	1996
Grain	13,711,524	11,170,551
Iron ore	11,205,623	12,405,683
Coal	3,734,556	4,146,410
Other Bulk	11,481,316	12,177,529
General Cargo	4,564,179	5,658,273
TOTAL	44,697,198	45,558,446

Reported by: Steve Schultz from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

Rumor Mill suggests Conversion of the J.L. Mauthe to a Barge

12/06

The transfer of the idled J.L. Mauthe to Fraser Shipyards has prompted rumors about Interlake’s plans for the vessel. The most persistent report is that Interlake is eyeing the steamer for conversion to a self-unloading barge. No one knows whether Interlake would run the barge, create a subsidiary to run it or sell it. It’s also not clear on whether the work would be done at Fraser. Apparently, the boat was just brought into the yard so a bid could be prepared.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

Raise the Halcyon: New try planned

12/06

A government research ship that sank Monday remained on the bottom of Muskegon harbor this morning as federal officials worked on plans for another rescue attempt. The 60-foot-long R/V Halcyon sank Monday while tied up at a dock off the West Michigan Michigan Dock and Market Corp. Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which owns the vessel, spent Tuesday trying to line up a salvage contractor to hoist the ship out of the water.

Crews tried Monday to raise the Halcyon with a crane, but the effort failed because one of the ship’s stern cleats, which can hold a cable, cracked. Another rescue attempt is expected next Monday, said Steve Ruberg, a NOAA supervisor.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Greg Case said that the boat must be lifted carefully. “It’s full of water,” he said. “If you just pulled it up, you could snap cables, injure people, crack open the hull and spill fuel.”

The ship rests on the bottom of the harbor; the top of the pilot house is the only portion above water. Federal officials have said the ship will be usable once it is pulled out of the water and repaired.

Reported by: George Micka. Edited from a story appearing in the Dec. 4 Muskegon Chronicle

Paul H. Townsend Enters Lay-up

12/06

The Paul H. Townsend arrived in Green Bay for winter lay-up on December 5.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Duluth’s Grain Shipments to the World

12/05

South Africa and the former Soviet Union nations of Georgia and Latvia are new destinations this year for grain shipments from Duluth and Superior. Cargoes of durum and spring wheat began moving to South Africa in August. During this fall, shipments of spring wheat began moving to Georgia while Latvia received corn. Grain shipments from the port in 1996 were destined for 27 countries in Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan African, the Middle East, Central America and South America.

Reported by: Seaway Port Authority of Duluth

U.S.-Flag Lakers in Service on December 1

12/05

Leading U.S.-Flag carriers on the Lakes had 55 of their ships in service on December 1, a decrease of one ship compared to a year ago. However, the fleet will pull even when the cement carrier PAUL H. TOWNSEND returns to service on December 4.

A survey of U.S.-Flag carriers indicates that late-season plans remain largely unchanged. A few of the lower horsepower self-unloaders will finish their season by mid-December or so. A couple other vessels will lay-up before year’s end so they can be drydocked for inspections over the winter. The remainder of the active fleet will sail into January.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Welland Canal 167th Anniversary

12/05

Peter Cresswell, CEO of Algoma Central Corp used the celebration to deliver an attack on the Canadian Federal Government’s policies and ill-conceived taxes which he says are threatening the Seaway. In particular Cresswell criticized the Marine Services Fee, levied this year. This fee of $70,000 per Canadian ship is collected whether the ship sails one day or all season. The fee is supposed to help cover the cost of navigation aids in the canal and on the lakes. Cresswell said the plans to privatise the Seaway was an indication that government is turning its back on what must be considered as a national treasure. Later Walt Lastewka MP for St. Catharines said he was disappointed that Cresswell chose the Merritt Day celebration to grandstand and criticize the government.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Duluth’s Lift Bridge Continues to Lift only for Deep-Draft Vessels

12/04

Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge, which spans the Duluth entry to the Twin Ports, continues to lift only for deep-draft vessels until repairs can be made to its lifting mechanism over the winter. On Dec. 4, only the outbound Oglebay Norton, loaded with coal, was permitted to use the Duluth entry. All other vessels were routed through Superior Entry.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Steel Rods Hole Saltie

12/04

The M/V Kamenitza (Bulgarian-registry 16,188-gt, 24,150-dwt bulk carrier built in 1980, operated by Nav. Mar. Bulgare) was damaged at Chicago on 29 Nov. Two bundles of steel rods were dropped into the No. 3 cargo hold, which holed the ship’s double-bottom.

Reported by: Steve Schultz Report comes from the weekly electronic publication “The World Maritime News”

R/V Halcyon Sinks in Muskegon

12/03

Apparently pumping efforts were unsuccessful Monday, in their effort to keep the R/V HALCYON afloat. Tuesday afternoon HALCYON’s U.S. flag, mast, radar and search light were the only features visible above Muskegon Lake. It appeared that a tug and barge from Andrie marine, and a large Erickson crane were also unable to help keep her above water. The crane was still connected to HALCYON, with the tug and barge standing by. The research vessel W.G. JACKSON was still moored South of HALCYON’s submerged bow. Spill containment booms were still in place around the sunken vessel. The slip is readily visible just behind Muskegon’s L.C. Walker Arena, on the east side of the West Michigan Dock and Market Company. Interested parties can view/photograph the events from Shoreline Drive, which runs South of the slip.

Reported by: George Micka

R/V Halcyon Sinks in Muskegon

12/03

In a matter related to the “Mart Dock,” Muskegon city officials are updating the city’s master plan. This involves the Mart site, which has been proposed for use as an aquarium, cross-lake carferry terminal (previous home of S.S. MILWAUKEE CLIPPER & S.S. AQUARAMA), aquatic research center for Grand Valley State University (GVSU’s R/V W.G JACKSON is presently berthed there), and as a possible new home for the U.S.S. SILVERSIDES & Maritime Museum (now located at the Muskegon Channel) among others. In past years freighters frequently wintered in one of the Mart Docks slips.

Reported by: George Micka

Thanksgiving on the lakes

12/03

Here are the entrees for the Indiana Harbor

Lobster Tail & Alaska King Crab Legs w/drawn butter, Grilled Tenderloin Steak w/mushrooms, and Roast Turkey w/dressing & cranberry sauce. The Boland’s entrees were: Roast Tom Turkey w/sausage dressing, Broiled Beef Tenderloin w/sauteed mushrooms and Broiled lobster w/drawn butter. Of course there was also appetizers, soup, vegetables and desserts.

The Stewards are usually not held to a budget by the companies for these special days. Before the CG changed the rules, most Captains even allowed beer and wine to be served at these meals.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde

J.L. Mauthe Towed into Fraser Shipyards

12/03

Interlake Steamship was busy in the Twin Ports on Dec. 2 with five vessels in motion. Kaye E. Barker and Paul Tregurtha called at the Midwest Energy coal dock and Lee A. Tregurtha loaded taconite pellets at DMIR. J.L. Mauthe, which has been idle the past three years, was towed into Fraser Shipyards. Interlake has not announced what sort of work will be done on the vessel this winter. To make room for the Mauthe, the long-idle John Sherwin was removed from the shipyard and docked in the berth formerly occupied by the Mauthe at the old Meehan Seaway Services dock. The Sherwin has been tied up since 1981 and has been cannibalized for parts.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Oglebay Norton Reaches Agreement on Mine

12/03

Oglebay Norton Co. reportedly has reached an agreement to sell its share of Eveleth Mines, ensuring the taconite producer will remain in operation after O.N. withdraws from the operation at the end of this year.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Research Vessel Sinks at Mart Dock

12/03

The icy waters of Muskegon Lake envelop the research vessel R/V Halcyon as it slowly sinks this morning along the West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. It is the vessel’s first winter in Michigan after coming to Muskegon from Georgia.

Mart dock officials were uncertain as to why the research vessel M/V Halcyon sank at the dock this morning. A check of the vessel at 0400 hours was ok. At 0700 hours the vessel was observed by Mart Dock personnel to be sinking at the stern. The ship continued slowly sinking by the stern until pumping efforts began. Halcyon’s master Bill Burns was notified, and “said that the plan was to raise the ship, dry it out, “find out why it did what it did,” fix that, then finish winterizing it.”

A North Muskegon fire truck was hooked up to the Halcyon’s pumps, and by 1100 had raised the stern of the vessel by 2 feet. A dirty water line was readily visible on the side of the ship. At 1100 the 60 foot vessel was half submerged, and the newspaper picture showed the vessel with bow high and stern submerged.

The 10 year old Halcyon was stationed at sunny Savannah Georgia before arriving at Muskegon this fall. Crews were in the process of winterizing the ship, which features a double aluminum hull. Burns theorized that something may have broken due to the fact that the ship was not fully winterized. He also said that Halcyon will be fully usable, and that this happens once in awhile. Hazmat crews arrived at 0815, placing spill containment booms out for her leaking diesel fuel. The incident should not hamper research efforts, and the vessel should be repairable. Damage estimates were not available at the time of the article, as the ship was still being pumped.

The Grand Valley State University research vessel W.G. JACKSON was moored just South of Halcyon, and was fine.

Incidentally, the MHSD listed the Halcyon in their current issue. “HALCYON is referred to as a SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) type vessel and is similar in design to a catermaran, which will give her a much stabler platform for research work. Once in Muskegon, HALCYON will replace another G.L.E.R.L. (Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory) vessel, the 43 year old R.V. SHENEHON.”

8-25

Algoma’s Algoway was Loading stone at warf 12. They were having trouble with the gears of the unloading boom as the boom must be moved so that complete loading of the vessel takes place.

At the same time Patersons Cartiadoc was unloading grain at warf 19 Maple Leaf Mills—Port Colborne. It could only unload a partial load beacause the warf can only accomodate full loads from smaller vessels. The mill has been serviced exclusively by the smaller Mantadoc in the past few years and before that P and H’s Beechglen.

Reported by: J. Joseph Van Volkenburg

Barge INTEGRITY docks in Milwaukee

8-25

The new LaFarge cement barge INTEGRITY, pushed by the tug JACLYN M. arrived today at the new Milwaukee LaFarge cement terminal. The barge, built this year at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, entered service two weeks ago. Having already passed up through the Soo, the INTEGRITY loaded a cargo for delivery to the new LaFarge Terminal in Milwaukee.

Both the barge and the new terminal are to be officially commissioned in ceremonies planned for August 28. The INTEGRITY is the largest cement barge on the lakes, with a carrying capacity in excess of 14,000 tons. She is painted in the light cream color of the Inland Lakes Management Company cement carriers, however she carries a LaFarge logo in black with a green stripe amidships on her hull.

The tug, JACLYN M., is likewise painted in cream. Both vessels have light green trim, including the visors of both of the tug’s regular pilot house as well as its elevated house.

The combination sailed its maiden voyage August 6 when the unit left Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay for Alpena to load cement for Green Bay.

Reported by: Paul G. Wiening

Date Set for Nicolet Tow

8-25

The Nicolet is scheduled to be towed out of the Hans Hanson dock on Tuesday August 27th bound for Canada and the cutters torch. Last month she was sold to International Marine Salvage of Port Maitland, Ontario. This ship has been in Toledo since the end of 1990 and leaves many a good story to be told.

Reported by: JVincPep

Canadian Navigator to be converted to a self-unloader

8-22

Port Weller Dry docks has been awarded a contract which calls for the Canadian Navigator to be converted to a self-unloader over the winter (96-97).

Reported by: Launy Paul

Duluth Superior News

8-14

After a long absence from the Twin Ports, the Fred R. White Jr. is now seemingly a constant caller. The vessel has made several trips Duluth and Superior this summer. The most recent is set for Aug. 15, when the vessel is due to unload stone at the Reiss Inland dock in Duluth before proceeding to Silver Bay to load taconite pellets.

Indiana Harbor is scheduled for an unusual shuttle this week. The vessel is due to load coal Aug. 14 at Midwest Energy Terminal in Superior. It’s then scheduled to proceed to Silver Bay to unload at the power plant there before returning to Superior to take on taconite pellets at the BN ore dock.

8-11

Paul H. Townsend has been in drydock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior for the past week. The vessel appears to be receiving quite a few new shell plates on both sides of the hull amidships. A large area on both sides has been sandblasted free of paint and some sort of large lean-to type structure has been erected over the portion of the hull undergoing work on the port side.(Paul Townsend’s work in Fraser Shipyards apparently is being doing in conjunction with its 5-year inspection.)

8-10/8-11

The Oglebay Norton tied up at Duluth’s port terminal for about a day to undergo repairs to its bowthruster. It was interesting to watch the work. Crewmen ballasted the stern of the boat so that the bowthruster tunnel was raised completely clear of the water. Then workers entered the tunnel from outside the hull (the tunnel appears to be about 7 or 8 feet in diameter) and made repairs to a faulty hydraulic pump.

It’s interesting to see how much below-the-waterline work is done on 1,000-footers without their entering a drydock. We probably get
1,000-footers here 5 to 10 times a year that need quick repairs to thrusters, rudders or propellers and the work is down by raising the bow or stern through ballasting.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Coal fire Posed Danger to Crew, Coast Guard Says

July 30, 1996

(Whitefish Point) — The Coast Guard says a fire aboard the coal freighter H-M Griffith put the 28-member crew in grave danger. The temperature in the hold yesterday was so hot that the 730-foot ship’s steel bulkheads glowed. Crewmen ended up dumping more than three-thousand tons of burning coal into Lake Superior.

A coal fire in a cargo hold is among the most dangerous of ship fires. Once started, coal is virtually impossible to extinguish and can smolder for weeks.Coast Guard Petty Officer Jack Crumbaugh says the crew was in a lot of danger because if the fire had gotten severe, it could have blown up the ship.

The Canadian vessel was headed south toward Sault Ste. Marie when the fire was discovered shortly before noon. It was loaded with nearly 32-thousand tons of coke, a highly carbonized residue used for making steel. Officials believe some of the cargo was loaded in an advanced stage of oxidation, which caused it to spontaneously combust aboard ship.

The problem is fairly common on lengthy ocean voyages but rare for ships making a Great Lakes passage. That’s according to Captain John Pace, vice-president of fleet management for Canada Steamship Lines in Montreal. That company owns the Griffith.

Captain Steve Pauley ordered the crew to flood the tunnel surrounding the cargo hold to help reduce the temperature. The crew then began cooling the burning cargo with water hoses as it was run along conveyor belts normally used to load and unload the ship.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard dispatched the 140-foot cutter Katmai Bay from Sault Ste. Marie and two helicopters from Traverse City in case anyone needed to be rescued.

Instead, the crew decided to dump the 3-thousand-63 short tons, or 6-point-1 (m) million pounds, of burning coke into the lake. No injuries were reported. The ship was inspected last night at the Soo Locks, but Curumbauigh says there was no structural damage and only minor distortions to some of the metal gates that keep the cargo on the conveyor belts.

The ship left the locks bound for Lake Erie shortly after 4 a.m. today (7/31/96). Normally, cargo dumping on any of the Great Lakes is prohibited. But a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality official says dumping the coke would not pollute Lake Superior.

Reported by: alt.great-lakes newsgroup post

November 1996

Nov 1, 1996

M/V Utviken aground in Seaway

11/28

The M/V Utviken (Bahamian-registry 17,191-gt, 30,052-dwt bulk carrier built in 1987, operated by Viken Shipping) sailing from Richards Bay, South Africa, to Detroit with titanium slag, ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway, near Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada, on 26 Nov. The ship suffered electrial problems in her steering console, which is believed to have caused the grounding. The M/V Utviken is hard aground with damage to her port side forward and amidships. The forepeak tank and the No. 1 double-bottom tank flooded.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Welland Canal Closed

11/28

The canal was closed around 1300 today after a road accident between lock 1 and lock 2 sent a vehicle into the water. Fire and police are there and at the moment no further information is available. I will update this when I can.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Two ships collide in the Welland Canal

11/27

On Monday two ships collided in the Welland canal below lock 1. The Mallard up bound apparently bounce off the wall and into the path of the Canadian Enterprise. It was a sideswipe rather than a head on collision. The Enterprise was repair at Port Weller DD. The repairs to the gangway and ballast vent pipes took six hours. The Mallard proceeded to Port Colborne to be repaired there.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Reserve Delivers Coal to Marquette

11/27

Oglebay Norton’s RESERVE made her first ever delivery of coal to Marquette on November 25. She then loaded taconite for Toledo which she has done many times before. Before this trip, coal had been delivered to Marquette this season by Interlake vessels. Before this season, ASC delivered most of the coal in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Twin Ports Report

11/27

Two reminders of winter’s proximity are now clearly in evidence in the Twin Ports.

Ice has formed across the harbor in depths ranging from 4 to 10 inches, according to the Coast Guard, and from 6 to 8 inches, according to estimates from some vessel masters. No vessels have needed icebreaking assistance, although the Sundew reportedly has been at work in the channels.

With the end of the season looming, grain traffic remains brisk, especially among salties. Maria SJ, Peter Strolfok and Rixta Oldendorf are all arriving, departing or loading today. The clearest sign that the end of the season is nearing, however, was evident Nov. 23 when Kinsman Independent and Maria SJ were busy loading on a Saturday at the General Mills and Cargill grain elevators, respectively.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

More on Duluth’s Lift Bridge Shutdown

11/27

Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge is back in service Nov. 26 on a limited basis, the bridge will open for outbound deep-draft vessels. Inbound light are requested to use Superior entry. Yesterday the bridge operators requested the master of Paul R. Tregurtha give a 60- to 90-minute advance notice of departure so they could clear the bridge of repair workers before lifting for the vessel.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

More on the Viking I

11/26

There was much more of a story behind the move from Port Stanley to Erie then originally reported. According to a story in the Erie Daily Times, Captian Gerry Matherne sailed the vessel in the middle of the night from Port Stanley, Ont. to Erie on his own volition because of threats of violence made to him and at least one other crew member. Viking I was to be used for a ferry service between Port Stanley and Cleveland but the investor group behind the venture, apparently underestimated the cost of renovating the 71-year old vessel and fell behind on payments to previous owner Contessa Cruise Lines, for whom Matherne worked. It was apparently under the pretense of repossessing the vessel that Matherne took command and sailed her from Port Stanley, claiming that a telephone caller has threatened bodily harm to him if he tried to take back the ferry. Matherne had previously called Raymond Schreckengost, executive director of the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, to seek permission to berth the ferry there. Upon arriving in Erie, the U.S. Coast Gurad cited Matherne and Contessa with numerous violations, including lack of radar and a gyrocompass, lack of a pilot licensed for the Great Lakes and failure to notify the Coast Guard of Viking I’s arrival in Erie.

Reported by: Robert D. Kennedy

First cut at Interlake’s lay-up ports

11/25

J R Barker          Duluth/Superior area

Mesabi Miner        Duluth/Superior area

Paul R. Tregurtha   Duluth/Superior area

Stinson             Duluth/Superior area

Beeghly             River Rouge

Jackson             River Rouge

Hoyt                Fraser

Kaye Barker         River Rouge

Lee Tregurtha       Fraser

*First cut is subject to change

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Duluth’s famed Aerial Lift Bridge Shutdown

11/25

Engineers and operators of Duluth’s famed Aerial Lift Bridge decided Nov. 22 to idle the bridge’s lift span for several days until they repair a cracked steel rod in the lift mechanism.

The shutdown has forced vessels to enter and leave port through the Superior Entry, about six miles from the Duluth ship canal. For most vessels, this means a slow journey down the harbor’s “front channel” instead of making the relatively quick turn for the Duluth entry.

The bridge was being inspected in preparation for work scheduled to be done over this winter. The discovery of the cracked rod prompted the shutdown to avoid the possibility, however slight, that the bridge might become disabled in either the “up” or “down” position. The lift bridge is the only means of access to Duluth’s Park Point area for the hundreds of people who live there.

The bridge was expected to be reactivated in several days after temporary repairs are made. The bridge will operate on a limited basis for the rest of the shipping season, when it will be idled and long-term repairs made to the rod and other areas.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Grampa Woo Breaking Up

11/21

The stranded excursion boat Grampa Woo appears to be breaking up off Passage Island. Meanwhile, its owner plans to be back in business next spring.

A salvage crew boarded the 110-foot Grampa Woo on Nov. 20. They removed a small quantity of fuel and other potential pollutants that were left aboard the boat when it blew aground on Passage Island late last month. Electronic gear aboard the boat was too badly damaged to be salvaged. Kollars also reported the vessel’s bow has moved and that parts of the vessel are scattered about the area.

The same day, Kollars purchased another vessel of similar size. He plans to bring the vessel into the lakes next spring and resume his excursion business along Lake Superior’s North Shore.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Saltie aground in Duluth Harbor

11/19

The saltie Seadaniel was blown aground in Duluth harbor Nov. 17 but tugs from Great Lakes Towing Co. were able to free the vessel with little difficulty later that day.

The empty vessel had anchored in the harbor’s anchorage area Nov. 15. A sudden shift in the wind and strong gusts from the south west freed the Seadaniel’s anchor and blew the vessel across the harbor and into a mud bank of Minnesota Point, which protects the harbor from Lake Superior.

Tugs Vermont and Minnesota were summoned to free the saltie. After a couple hours of work, they were able to maneuver the ship to a berth at Duluth’s port terminal. The ship suffered no apparent damage.

Seadaniel’s encounter with the mud bank came exactly 11 years after the saltie Socrates was blown aground on the lake side of Minnesota Point. That ship was aground for about a week while as many as seven tugs and dredging equipment worked to free it.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

U.S.-Flag Float Surges In October

11/19

Aided by good sailing conditions, U.S.-Flag carriers moved 13.2 million net tons of cargo on the Great Lakes in October, an increase of 1 million tons compared to the same period last year. The increase has nothing to do with the number of ships in service; vessel utilization rates were essentially unchanged. The difference was the weather; October 1995 was characterized by high winds and storms which forced the fleet to go to anchor an inordinate number of times.
The U.S.-Flag ore float totaled 6.4 million tons in October, an increase of 7.8 percent. Stone cargos totaled 3.2 million tons, an increase of 14.3 percent. Coal loadings were up by 100,000 tons.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

St. Lawrence Seaway on Course for Another Strong Shipping Season

11/19

Cargo volumes passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway during the 1996 shipping season as of October 31 are currently running at 38,635,000 tonnes. The combined cargo for the period is as follows:

	1995	1996
Grain	11,879,000	9,160,000
Iron ore	9,785,000	10,840,000
Coal	3,253,000	3,585,000
Other Bulk	10,080,000	10,703,000
General Cargo	3,799,000	4,347,000
TOTAL	38,796,000	38,635,000

Some notable increases are in the movements of iron ore, coal, other bulk (stone, salt, sugar, coke,etc.) and general cargo (value-added, steel products, imported steel slabs, etc.). Iron ore and coal traffic have increased substantially thanks to the healthy economy in North America. Bulk cargo is up because of important movements of salt and sugar, and general cargo has risen due to the vigour of the steel industry.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Myron C. Taylor Aground CORRECTION

11/14

The Myron C. Taylor did not run aground as reported on 11/12. She arrived at lay-up safe and sound. The ship did go to anchor in the harbor to wait out the weather.

Correction by: Lake Carriers Association

Myron C. Taylor Calls it a Season

11/13

The Myron C. Taylor went into winter layup on Tuesday November 11,1996. She is laid-up in Sturgeon Bay

Reported by: Industry Source

Grampa Woo Doomed

11/13

Owners, insurance officials and the Coast Guard generally agree the 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo is doomed. Now it’s just a matter of determining where and when to dispose of the boat.

The Grampa Woo remains stranded at Passage Island in Lake Superior. A Coast Guard photo published in the Nov. 13 Duluth News-Tribune shows the vessel’s decks awash.

Owner Dana Kollars and his insurance company agree the $1 million boat is a total loss. Kollars has indicated he wants to pull the vessel offf the rocks and allow it to sink in about 100 feet of water.

The National Park Service, however, is not ready to agree to that plan. NPS officials want to make sure pollutants are removed from the vessel before it is sunk. They also are unsure whether the Grampa Woo should be allowed to sink in the park and say it might be better to tow the vessel to shore for scrapping, if possible.Efforts to remove the boat from Passage Island are unlikely to occur this fall.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

David Z. Norton in tailings trade

11/13

David Z. Norton made three straight trips to Escanaba on November 3, 7, and 10. She loaded taconite tailings for Alpena’s Lafarge Cement Plant. Oglebay Norton has normally used the smaller, venerable Joseph H. Frantz for this trip since only about 10,000 tons are moved a trip.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Closing of the 1996 Navigation Season

11/12

MONTREAL-LAKE ONTARIO SECTION

Mariners are reminded that the clearance date for the 1996 navigation season is 2400 hours,December 20, 1996.

For the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section, vessel demand, weather and ice conditions will dictate the final closing date. It will be announced no later than December 15 whether or not, based upon operating conditions, vessels will be subject to operational surcharges after December 20.

WELLAND CANAL

Vessels will be accepted to transit the Welland Canal upbound at CIP15 and downbound at CIP16 up to 0800 hours December 24, 1996. The Welland Canal may be kept open beyond this date depending on vessel demand and weather conditions. However, vessel transits after 0800 hours December 24, 1996, will be allowed subject to Agents/Owners signing a written agreement with the Authority.

Mariners are reminded that there is always a possibility that severe climatic conditions may occur during the closing period. Should this happen, there is a chance that the above-noted dates, for the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section or the Welland Canal, may not be met.

The Seaway entities will monitor weather conditions and demand, and the final closing dates for both sections will be confirmed when better information is available.

SAULT STE. MARIE LOCKS AND CANAL

Canada — The Canadian Sault Ste. Marie Canal is closed to navigation.

United States — The official closing date for the Sault Ste. Marie Locks (U.S.A.) is 2400 hours January 15, 1997.

PORTS EAST OF MONTREAL

Vessel owners and operators are advised that there are a number of ports east of the Seaway (St.Lambert Lock) on the St. Lawrence River that remain open to navigation during the winter months.

Reported by: The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

Duluth/Superior News

11/11

On Nov. 9-10, J.A.W. Iglehart made its first call in the Twin Ports since the labor dispute began to unload at the LaFarge terminals in Superior and Duluth. Alpena has made several trips here since replacement crews were hired. There have been no incidents at either of the terminals.

Atlantic Hickory and Sarah Spencer have made a couple of unusual calls in Duluth over the past few days. The tug/barge combo has unloaded at Cargill B2 and at General Mills. This could possibly be the first calls ever for the vessels at those elevators.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Personnel Changes At Canada Steamship Lines Continue

11/09

After loosing several key executives over the past few weeks Canada Steamship Lines has announced the appointment of Gerry Carter to the position of Vice President Administration. Carter, having served many years with the company will have responsibility for labour relations, accounting, information systems, and human resources.

Canada Steamship Lines is the world’s largest owner/operator of continuos belt self unloadingvessels. Their head office is in Montreal, Canada.

Reported by: Ocean Wide

Busy day for the Harvest States grain Terminal

11/08

Superior’s Harvest States grain terminal is playing host Nov. 8 to rare “full house.” Both loading berths and the layby berth are occupied today, an event that has occurred only one other time this season. Paterson’s Cartierdoc is loading at HSC 1 while Upper Lakes’ Canadian Provider is loading at the Gallery, which is a long, spindly legged conveyor system extending from the main elevator. Sitting in the layby spot ahead of the ULS boat is saltie Nikolay Novikov. The terminal sits alongside the I-535 bridge between Superior and Duluth, giving motorists a good view of all boats, but particularly the berth occupied today by Cartierdoc.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Grampa Woo Remains Stranded

11/07

The fate of the 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo remains uncertain November 6 as the vessel remains stranded at Passage Island off Isle Royale.

Winds and 6-foot waves prevented Dana Kollars, the boat’s owner, from boarding it Nov. 5 to salvage equipment. He returned to Thunder Bay with the tug Glenada. There’s no word on when another attempt might be made to board the boat.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Captain Promoted at Algoma Central Marine

11/06

Peter Schultz, captain of ALGOVILLE who this year split his time between ALGOLAKE and ALGOCAPE, has been promoted to Marine Superintendent Deck Operations.

Reported by: Jim Zeirke

Great Lakes Fleets Respond Quickly To New Ruffe Threat

11/05

Cleveland–U.S.- and Canadian-flag Great Lakes vessel operators have instituted new measures to slow the spread of the European Ruffe, a nuisance fish introduced to the Great Lakes by ocean-going vessels in the 1980s. Beginning today, all U.S. and Canadian lakers loading and discharging cargo at terminals in Alpena, Michigan, will take extraordinary steps to limit the chances that Ruffe discovered in that harbor will be transported to other locations on the Great Lakes.

Three Ruffe were discovered in Alpena harbor in 1995. However, recent sweepings of the area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service indicate that a reproducing population now inhabits Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay River. The concern is that vessels taking on ballast water in Alpena can transport these Ruffe to subsequent ports of call.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Grampa Woo Update

11/05

Insurance and salvage officials may decide Nov. 5 whether to try salvaging the stranded excursion boat Grampa Woo or to scuttle it.

The 110-foot vessel was swept from its moorings in Grand Portage, Minn., last week by a storm. Two men were rescued from the boat before it smashed against a cliff at Passage Island off the northern tip of Isle Royale.

Capt. Dana Kollars, Grampa Woo’s owner, and insurance officials boarded the boat Nov. 4 to assess the damage. They reported the vessel is stranded on a rocky bottom. The port side of the hull is badly damaged, and holes as big as 6 feet have let in enough water to reduce buoyancy to a minimum. Photographs of the vessel show it’s hard against the base of a cliff that appears to be about 100 feet tall. It’s stranded on the opposite side of the point which is the site of Passage Island Light.

Kollars and others plan to return to the vessel Nov. 5 to remove electronic equipment from the pilothouse and to salvage other gear. They’ll also try to pump out about 300 gallons of fuel that remains on board. At that point, they may decide whether to try saving the vessel or to pull it free and allow it to sink.

Reported by: Duluth Shipping News

Calcite II First to Lay-Up

11/04

Calcite II is scheduled to be the first boat to go into winter layup in the Twin Ports. The vessel is due to unload at the Hallett 5 on Nov. 4 stone dock in Duluth before going into Fraser Shipyards.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Woo may Remain Until Spring

11/04

The last word on the Grampa Woo, the 110-foot excursion vessel aground at Passage Island, is that it may remain stranded there until spring. Seas were too rough Nov. 2 to attempt salvage operations. Seas have calmed considerably since then, but there’s been no word on whether an attempt to retrieve the vessel will be made. People who have flown over the site report the vessel’s hull appears to be badly damaged and water is surging in and out of broken windows.

Reported by: Al Jackman

Delays on the Upper Lakes

11/04

Heavy weather on Lake Superior caused delays in Marquette. FRED R. WHITE JR. and PHILIP R. CLARKE were at the LS & I ore dock all day Friday, November 1. They were both loaded and waited until Saturday morning to depart. If the weather delays weren’t enough, the Union Pacific ore dock in Escanaba was broken down on Sunday, November 3. ST. CLAIR and DAVID Z. NORTON were waiting to load. The NORTON was waiting to load tailings for Alpena — a trip normally handled by JOSEPH H. FRANTZ.

Reported by: Rod Burdick

Walter J. McCarthy Aids in Rescue

11/01

The 110-foot excursion boat Grampa Woo is aground on Passage Island off the northern tip of Isle Royale after breaking free from its moorings in Grand Portage, Minn., on Oct. 30.

Meanwhile, the two men who were aboard the vessel when it went adrift are alive thanks to a combination of good luck and good seamanship and bravery by the crews of the Walter J. McCarthy, the Canadian tug Glenada and the Canadian Coast Guard boat Westfort. The vessels braved winds up to 70 mph and seas to 15 feet to save the two men from their ice-covered boat.

The adventure began about 9 a.m. Oct. 30. The tour boat was tied to a mooring buoy in Grand Portage harbor when 50 mph winds pulled the buoy loose from its 4,000-pound anchor and blew the boat into Lake Superior with Capt. Dana Kollars and his first mate aboard. The Grampa Woo was powerless to save itself because its propellers and rudders had been removed for repairs. Eight-foot waves in the harbor prevented small boats there from getting a line aboard the tour boat.

About 11 a.m., Kollars contacted the 1,000-foot Walter J. McCarthy, which was sailing the North Shore route to avoid 20-foot waves on the open lake. The coal-laden McCarthy was the last vessel to leave Duluth before a major storm blew across Lake Superior and brought vessel traffic to a halt. The McCarthy was likely the only vessel off the North Shore that morning – an amazing bit of good luck for the Grampa Woo’s crew.

The McCarthy’s master, Capt. Lawrence Smyth, declined a request to tow the Grampa Woo into Grand Portage – an impossibility given the McCarthy’s size. Instead, Smyth offered to tow the Grampa Woo to Thunder Bay, about 40 miles away. The McCarthy spent three hours and made two passes before putting a line aboard the tour boat about 2 p.m. Oct. 30.

“You don’t turn tight circles in a 1,000-footer, and you don’t just stop it. I was worried they’d get blown into us and then pulled under and I’d end up killing the people I was trying to rescue,” Smyth told the Duluth News-Tribune. “Our crew was running around on icy decks, in what was 8 foot seas and building…That boat (the Grampa Woo) was rocking like a bucking horse.”

A Coast Guard official in Duluth called the McCarthy’s work “amazing seamanship” under the weather conditions that existed.

The McCarthy towed the tour boat for four hours until reaching the entrance to Thunder Bay. But in the open waters of the bay, the vessels encountered winds to 70 mph and waves of 15 feet and higher. The tow line parted and the Grampa Woo was adrift again.

Meanwhile, the tug Glenada and the 38-foot buoytender Westfort had been hovering in the lee of Pie Island in case assistance was needed. When the tow line parted, the vessels went into action. Because of heavy ice buildup and the imminent threat of capsizing, the Westfort had to turn back. The Glenada continued on through dropping temperatures and snow squalls to approach the tour boat.

Unable to get a line on the tour boat, Capt. Gary Dawson of the Glenada decided to save the two men. He put his tug alongside the Grampa Woo about 7 p.m. and the two men, wearing survival suits, somehow managed to leap aboard the tug despite the high seas. The men were saved minutes before a Coast Guard helicopter was to be dispatched from Traverse City to rescue them.

“With it pitching like that and with the waves and the ice on the decks, I don’t know how anyone could stand up on the deck to jump,” Smyth said. “I thought it was bad for us. I can’t imagine what they were going through.”

The Glenada and Westfort sought shelter in the lee of Thunder Cape and the “Sleeping Giant” formation. The vessels were still in shelter late on Oct. 31.

A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the Grampa Woo about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 31, aground on Passage Island. The vessel was intact but being battered against 30-foot cliffs.

Reported by: Duluth News Tribune

More News from Duluth/Superior

11/01

Few vessels were moving in Duluth-Superior on Oct. 31 as a massive fall storm moved across the upper Great Lakes. Storm warnings remained in effect on Lake Superior, with westerly winds at 35 mph and expected to rise. Waves were predicted at 16 to 20 feet.

The coal-laden Walter J. McCarthy apparently was the last vessel to leave the Twin Ports, departing early on Oct. 30. Edgar B. Speer remained at anchor off Duluth Oct. 31, unwilling to attempt entry into Two Harbors. Algomarine loaded in Superior Oct. 30 but went to anchor off Duluth on Oct. 31 until the wind subsides. Inside the harbor, the Algoriver was loaded with grain but remained in port. John J. Boland was loading coal but also expected to remain in port.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

October 1996

Oct 1, 1996

Oglebay Withdrawing as Mine’s Manager

10/31

Oglebay Norton Co. has filed a notice that Eveleth Mines, a 31-year-old Minnesota taconite producer employing 650 people, will close Dec. 31 unless a management agreement with the mine’s other three owners is reached within 60 days.

Oglebay Norton officials said the notice doesn’t necessarily mean the plant will close. It is simply required because Oglebay is withdrawing as the mine’s manager and co-owner at the end of the year.

The mine’s three remaining owners – Rouge Steel, AK Steel and Stelco – want to keep the mine open and increase production. Negotiations among the steelmakers and Oglebay Norton are continuing, although it’s unclear when a new management agreement will be reached.

Eveleth Mines is located near Eveleth, Minn. It ships taconite pellets through the DM&IR dock in Duluth.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Edward L. Ryerson to see Service Next Season?

10/30

Inland Steel has officially declared they are not buying the HERBERT C. JACKSON, but may run the EDWARD L. RYERSON next year.

Reported by: Industry Source

Inland Still looking to Replace Striking Workers

10/30

Scott Feldmeyer reports that Inland Lakes Management placed another ad in the October 28th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a help-wanted display ad for masters and mates, chiefs, 1st, 2nd and 3rd assistant engineers, for steam and motor vessels.

B. Schroder reports seeing the same ad in the Sunday (10/27) Detroit News

Weather Closes the Welland Canal

10/30

The Welland canal was closed at noon today due to high winds gusting to 100Km/Hr. As of 1700Hrs there were 14 ships either at anchor or on the wall at various locks. I’m told that the canal may remain closed until tomorrow morning.

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Storm Warnings Cause Delays

10/30

A nasty autumn storm Oct. 29-30 sent many boats to anchor on Lake Superior and prompted others to stay in port. Winds in Duluth at 8 a.m. Oct. 30 were gusting to 20-25 knots, down considerably from the 40 knot winds recorded about 4 a.m. Winds at the Soo were reported to be around 55 knots. Waves were low off Duluth because winds were from the west and northwest, but currents were strong in the Duluth ship canal. A vessel master at the BN ore dock reported breakers going past the stern of his boat. Walter J. McCarthy left Duluth on tuesday afternoon and was reportedly encountering slow going and was only off Grand Marais by Wednesday morning. Algomarine and Algoriver apparently were staying in port for several more hours Wednesday morning waiting for the winds to ease. One master said he could avoid most of the winds by taking the northerly course around Lake Superior, but he didn’t want to get caught in the high seas that a west wind tends to build off Coppermine Point.

Forecasts call for Storm Warnings to continue on Lake Superior through Oct. 30, with winds to 50 knots and waves building to 12 to 14 feet. Wind and waves are expected to diminish to gale force tonight. At least one master in Duluth harbor is now saying he won’t leave port until the Storm Warnings are dropped.

A weather buoy in eastern Lake Superior recorded winds gusting to 40 knots and a 21.3′ wave at 20 UTC

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News From Duluth/Superior

10/29

Six of Northeastern Minnesota’s seven taconite plants plan to maintain or increase next year’s production over 1996 levels. If that holds true, Iron Range taconite production could exceed 48 million tons for the first time in 16 years.

National Steel Pellet Co. in Keewatin is the only plant anticipating lower production next year. However, the company plans to improve the quality of its pellets. NSPC ships pellets through the Burlington Northern dock in Superior.

Despite the rosy forecast, industry watchers, union leaders and government officials are concerned that the Iron Range is not taking part in the next generation of iron production — direct-reduced iron. Approximately 14 plants are being built in the United States and the Caribbean to produce direct-reduced iron. Unlike taconite pellets, the highly concentrated direct-reduced iron briquets can be used in mini-mills, which are capturing a growing share of the steelmaking market.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News from the Welland Canal

10/29

N.M. Paterson’s Cartierdoc (Car-she-a-doc) has been idle at above warf 12 in the Welland Canal (Port Colborne) since Sat. Oct 19th. The firm of E.G. Marsh Port Colborne is handling the repairs to the engine. Word has it the timing gear is “all chewed up and caused much damage”) Rumor has it repairs should be finished yesterday—but everytime I have talked w/ the crew in the last week they said it should not be too much longer. This ship was the former Montcliffe Hall (Halco) before they went out of business and acquired by the present group out of Thunder Bay, Ontario—at the lake head of Surperior.

Last night the ship Cuyhoga was loading stone just below the idle ship at warf 12. While Paterson’s Matadoc proceeded to tie up on the west wall a waiting entrance to Lock 8 which was occupied by the Capt Henry Jackman—The salty Luckyman tied up on the west wall above the lock also a waiting the lock downbound.

Reported by: J. Joseph Van Volkenburg

Legal fallout from log spill

10/29

Some 44 businesses and individuals, including Lake Michigan boat owners, have filed claims against Woodlands Harvesting Inc. of Alpena, Mich., after an incident 22 May that left 30,000, eight-foot-long pulp logs floating in Lake Michigan. As of 3 Oct., the claims, named in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Milwaukee, Wis., total U.S.$142,289 with more expected, including U.S.$30,000 for salvage of the logs.

Woodlands Harvesting, the owner of the logs, filed the suit and is asking a federal judge to either find the firm not at fault or limit its liability to U.S.$175,000, the value of the barge and logs.

The barge was being towed from Michigan to Manitowoc, Wis., by SelvickMarine Towing Corp. when it spilled its cargo more than two miles from Point Betsie, Mich. Most logs were apparently recovered, but the U.S. CoastGuard in July said about 1,000 were still drifting in a 200 square mile area between Frankfort, Mich., and Door County, Wis. There were several reports of boats hitting logs near Michigan.

In the lawsuit, Woodlands Harvesting said the accident was caused through negligence and misconduct of Selvick Marine Towing, which itself is filing a lawsuit in a federal court in Michigan over a towing contract with Woodlands Harvesting. Selvick Marine Towing is seeking U.S.$36,162 in damages in the log case, the largest claim.

Anyone seeking damages from Woodlands Harvesting must file a claim with the clerk of the federal court in Milwaukee by 23 Dec.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

First Forecast For Late-Season Sailing Plans

10/29

To assist the U.S. Coast Guard in planning for the ice season, LCA surveyed its members for a first projection of lay-up dates. According to current plans, approximately 50 LCA-registered vessels will be in service on January 1, 1997. The smaller, low-horsepower self-unloaders will, as usual, be home by Christmas.

Of the 50 ships expected to be operating on January 1, most will complete their tonnage commitments by January 15. Iron ore shipments from Escanaba, Michigan, are expected to be completed by January 31.

This is just the first forecast. Much will depend on how many delays the fleet experiences in November. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that all icebreakers will be in service when ice ops begin. The MACKINAW will be out of the shipyard in early November.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

News From the Welland Canal – Algoville Conversion Completed

10/28

Algoville has finished its conversion and is due to be returned to service this Tuesday (Oct 29.) The side tank renewal and widening was performed by Port Weller Dry Docks, it brings Algoville to maximum canal beam and I believe increases cargo capacity by about 3500 tons. In related news, the cost of converting Canadian Navigator to a self-loader this winter is now placed at $15 million Canadian.

The Welland Canal will be drained between Lock 1 and Lock 2 this winter to rebuild the west wall and widen the channel to allow ships to pass in this area to speed up traffic.Taffic note: Bridge 1 will be closed for the first three months of 1997

Reported by: Roger Tottman

Deal Falls Through for the Viking I

10/28

The Viking 1 was not officially purchased by the Port Stanley Ferry Corporation from Contessa Cruise Lines Inc. of Minnesota, and the deal has now fallen through. This is the reason why the Viking 1 was moved from Port Stanley Ontario, to Erie Pa. According to articles published in the London Free Press, the Ferry Corporation “had begun renovating the boat when key steps such as finalizing the sale had not been completed.”

Chairperson of the ferry corporation, Bob Henderson said “the ferry sailed away because of our relationship with Contessa.” It is believed Gerry Matherne of St. Louis Mo. was at the helm of the vessel. Matherne was originally to be the captain of the boat when the ferry service begins, however, Matherne quit just three weeks before the vessel vanished. The Port Stanley Ferry Corporation has said it will look into purchasing a new vessel to replace the Viking 1. The corporation is looking into ferrys that are now in service to Prince Edward Island, but will become unnecessary, after the bridge to the island opens.

Reported by: Grace Goetheyn

Repairs Completed on the John J. Boland

10/25

John J. Boland was scheduled to take on fuel Oct. 25 at Fraser Shipyards, then shift to Superior Midwest Energy Terminal to load coal (left port Oct. 26.). The Boland has been in the yard for more than a week undergoing repairs in the forward hold that appear to have been related to its unloading system.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Yankcanuck Running Again

10/23

Yankcanuck has made several trips into Nanticoke Ontario with gypsum from Alabaster Michigan and synthetic gypsum from Conneaut Ohio. Material is being off-loaded via the vessel’s own crane and loaded onto dump trucks for the trip to the Canadian Gypsum Co. in nearby Hagersville Ontario. Two visits in 3 days for the Yankcanuck. She arrived here Saturday morning October 19th, offloaded, sailed for Conneaut and back in the Bay at anchor last night October 21st and is just finishing up offloading tonite (10/22).

The James R. Barker has become a regular to Nanticoke this year at the Stelco Dock and the tug Stephen Reinhauer with barge Geo. A. Morris has become a regular caller about every other day hauling gasoline and diesel products stateside from Nanticoke. In the last 24 hours we’ve had the Algowood, Yankcanuck,Stephen Reinhauer and barge, Imperial St. Clair, Tarantau, and Canadian Olympic. Some tug assists by the venerable old Miseford.

Reported by: Dave Otterman

Kapitonas Stulpinas Makes Contact with the Viking I

10/22

This is an update to the story dated 10/16

On October 10 it was agreed that ms Viking I was to be removed from its berth at the west side of the harbor since that was the spot for Kapitonas S. However due to pressure of its owners, no insurance for the vessel, no captain or other qualified crew, Transport Canada agreed to put her at the far southern end of the west dock, without notifying the owners/charterers of Stulpina.

On arrival the captain and pilot of Stulpina made in my opinion an error of judgment of coming in, since Viking I was obstructing the slip and safe passage to the elevator. While being towed in by two small tugs, we observed the Viking moving out due to suction between both vessels, a normal occurrence between ships in limited waters. Although the mate on the Viking appeared to be heaving on the lines it proved not to be enough and the bow of the Stulpinas rubbed the Viking on her ps wing. On the radio there were only commands to tug holding the bow until after the occurrence. The master has a nice video of it all. Later the Stulpinas docked.

On Saturday the winds turned to SW 4 gusting to 5, and the Viking was still in port obstructing the passage. The pilot thought he could make it but the captain was now being very careful, and did not want to go out until the morning. In the morning the wind was the same and the captain still did not want to go out, so he lost the pilot.

Due to the holidays there were no pilots until Tuesday. The Viking left with two tugs, and the Stulpinas on her own steam, while digging her way out since the wind now was N at the available water only 22ft+ and draft was 23. After an emergency drop of the anchor she too made it safely out of port.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Port Weller Dry Docks fined

10/22

Port Weller Dry Docks Ltd., a unit of Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., has been fined C$80,000 for a violation of the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Port Weller Dry Dock pleaded guilty in St. Catharines Provincial Court, Ontario, on 15 Oct. to failing to take every reasonable precaution to protect a worker’s safety (Section 25[2][h] of the C.O.H.S.A.). Justice of the Peace Donna Cowan took into consideration that the firm is seasonal, mid-sized, had no previous safety violations and had improved safety precautions after the accident.

Thomas Quinn, 45, a supervisor, was working outside a ship under repair at the dry dock in St. Catharines on 10 June, 1995. As an 8,500 kilogram/19,000 pound steel plate was being cut out of the hull from inside the ship, it fell and killed Quinn as he was retrieving hoses in the area where the plate was to fall.

Quinn was to have kept people away when the plate was about to drop. No other safety precautions were in place.

Reported by: Steve Schultz

Viking moved

10/21

The Viking was towed from her dock in Port Stanley on October 17th at 12:13am. It is now docked in Erie,PA.

Reported by: Roger LeLievre

Rumor Mill

10/21

Please note: these are rumors, I’ve heard them from several different folks, but they are just RUMORS.

1) Herbert C. Jackson has been sold to Inland Steel, transfer to take place at end of season. Adam E. Cornelius to be returned to ASC. George A. Stinson has been sold to ASC again end of season transfer.

2) There are 2 1000 footers up for sale*. The Oglebay Norton and possiblly the James R. Barker or Mesabi Miner. Coal contract at St. Clair is up for grabs again. (**could mean just that the mortgage is up)

3) S. T. Crapo on charter to Medusa. Inland strike getting nasty. Some of the ships will be converted to barges with tugs. Medusa Chanlanger may be a conversion candidate.

4) Canadian Navigator will receive a different type of s/u gear. Jackman conversion was late and did not work out as well as planned.

5) CSL to lay-up the Tarantau, Manitoulin and Halifax at end of season. They are bring back the Lakers that went to Saltwater. A couple of them are now running into Lake Ontario.

6) Socnav is bankrupt and people taking over are the old board people. The ships need serious repairs and will still not qualify under new tanker rules. Their days are numbered. The tankers coming in from the East Coast are really making hay.

Reported by: Al Jackman

Icebreaker Mackinaw to be Modernized

10/21

Congress has decided to modernize the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw. The Coast Guard Authorization Bill of 1996 (S. 1004) directs the Coast Guard to develop plans and a cost estimate for re-engineering and other modifications which will permit the Cutter to continue to operate with a reduced crew while maintaining its ability to break ice round-the-clock when necessary. S. 1004 requires the Coast Guard to submit its plan and cost estimate no later than May 1 of next year.

Reported by: Lake Carriers Association

Proposed Great Lakes Piloting Rates

10/21

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) is proposing to amend the Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations by increasing Great Lakes Pilotage Rates by: 6% in Area 1 (St. Lawrence River) ; 20% in Area 2 (Lake Ontario) ; 7% in Area 4 (Lake Erie) ; 35% in Area 5 (South East Shoal to Port Huron, MI) ; 11% in Area 6 (Lake Huron and Michigan); 44% in Area 7 (St. Mary’s River); 12% in Area 8 (Lake Superior); and 17% for mutual rates.

The proposed pilotage rate adjustments are different in each area because the rates have not been set on an area-by-area basis since 1967. In the interim years pilotage rates were increased by a single percentage across areas and this led to disparities between areas and between districts. The rates proposed above were calculated by applying the same formulas uniformly to each area.

The increase in Great Lakes pilotage rates is necessary because pilot compensation has fallen below established compensation targets. The compensation target for pilots providing service in the designated waters of the Great Lakes is the approximate average annual compensation for masters on U.S. Great Lakes vessels and the compensation target for pilots providing service in the undesignated waters of the Great Lakes is the approximate average annual compensation for first mates on U.S. Great Lakes vessels.

Reported by: St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.

John J. Boland in for Repairs, Gain Rush Continues

10/16

John J. Boland remains in Fraser Shipyards on Oct. 18. Work on aboard appears to be related to the self-unloading system.

John J. Boland paid a rare visit to the Twin Ports, arriving Oct. 15 to enter Fraser Shipyards for unspecified repairs. The boat is reportedly due to be in the yard a short time, then load at Midwest Energy Terminal.

The always-busy Harvest States Cooperative elevator in Superior has been loading ships this year using only its “gallery” berth while the No. 1 berth remained idle. That changed Oct. 16 when Makeevka was tied up in Harvest States 1 to load.

Also starting to see an increase in business is the General Mills elevator in Duluth. The elevator has seen little use this year, but in the past few days has loaded Docegulf and, on Oct. 16, the Kinsman Independent.

Reported by: Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Sketchy News

10/16

I caught part of this one on the scanner, I’m hoping someone can add more details.

One of the Kapitonas fleet ran into the Carferry VIKING in Port Stanley Sunday, radio chatter described the collision as “rubbing paint”.

The VIKING, former Ann Arbor Railroad Co. ferry was moved in June this year and restored with hopes of starting Port Stanley to Cleveland service April 1, 1997.

The real trouble came when the crew aboard the Kapitonas ship refused to move from the dock fearing another collison. Tugs were brought in (the bill going to the government with repayment by the VIKING owners when funds are available) to move the Kapitonas vessel and free up the dock. The refusal of the Kapitonas’ crew to move caused other ships to be delayed.

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

News on the Status of the George A. Stinson

10/16

The rumors reported on 10/14 have been comfirmed…the George A. Stinson is indeed up for sale. The contract held by Interlake Steamship Co. (since March 1992) will expire at the end of this season. A number of other companies are interested in operating the Stinson, the rumor mill puts the deal to American Steamship Co. but this HAS NOT been confirmed.

Reported by: Al Jackman

ZiemiaTarnowska – Repairs Complete

10/16

Apparently the Ziemia Tarnowska has completed temporary repairs and is underway passing by the Ren Cen the morning of 10/15/96. (See story below for details on accident)

Reported by: Tom Lauterbach

Update on the Algonorth, Duluth Superior News

Port Washington Report

10-10

The Str. MIDDLETOWN docked at Port Washington, Wisconsin at 11:15 am CDST on October 6, 1996, marking the first time in over two months that the ship has been in the Port. On an average year the MIDDLETOWN is a regular visitor to the local Wisconsin Energy electric generating dock. This trip, however, marked only the fourth visit of the year for the steamer.

The Port Washington power plant received upwards of one million tons of coal per year on average during the 1950’s and 60’s. However, this tonnage diminished dramatically during the 1980’s and early 90’s as the plant was used only on a part time basis. However, major improvements at the facility have resulted in increased usage of coal, and resulting in considerably larger tonnages of coal receipts in 1996.

Since the MIDDLETOWN’s last visit on July 15, 1996, the following vessels have been in Port Washington’s small harbor to deliver coal:

Aug. 7    HERBERT C. JACKSON

Aug. 20   WILFRED SYKES

Aug. 22   JOSEPH H. FRANTZ

Sept. 7   EARL W. OGLEBAY

Sept. 16  EARL W. OGLEBAY

Sept. 25  JOSEPH L. BLOCK

Sept. 29  JOSEPH L. BLOCK

Oct. 3    ADAM E. CORNELIUS

Reported by: N. Schultheiss

Milwaukee News

10-02

Lewis Harriman (smallest cement carrier owned by ILM) departed Milwaukee 9/25 for Green Bay, WI under tow of the Selvick tugs ‘Mary Page Hanna’ & ‘Bonnie Selvick’. It is either going to LaFarge dock to replace the E M Ford for add’t. storage or St. Marys Cement may have bought it for the same purpose.

‘Mapleglen’ arrived Milwaukee this morning for boiler repairs.

Reported by: Andy LaBorde