Fall Boatnerd Mini-Gathering in the Soo Oct. 3-6

If you are in the Soo Oct. 3-6, join us for a Fall Boatnerd Mini-Gathering. On Friday afternoon there will be a special Boatnerd locks/river cruise courtesy of Original Soo Locks Boat Tours (see image). This is a very informal event, just another chance to get together before winter. https://www.facebook.com/events/1037156117917546

Your guide to freighter watching in southeast Michigan: What to know

Detroit, MI – Horsepower, booming horns and big waves off the Detroit River: For freighter watchers, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Freighter watching, where people observe and photograph ships crossing waterways, has a loyal following in Detroit and Windsor, thanks to the Detroit River bordering both cities.

Marty Flore’s love of freighters on open water started when he was a teenager and his dad sailed the Great Lakes. “I’ve even got to go on some freighters with him,” said Flore, 69, of Windsor.

That long ago experience ultimately led Flore to organize in 2019 the Detroit River Freighters, a Facebook group of nearly 3,000 Boatnerds that share photos of ships they find on the Detroit River and meet up when a unique ship comes to town.

The group, which includes members from Canada and Michigan, has become a place where people along the Detroit River can easily come together to share their passion for big ships.

“We were over there in Detroit a few weeks ago. You guys got the riverwalk now and you can see everything from there,” Flore said.

Whether you’re new to freighter watching or just looking for some new tips, here’s what metro Detroit has to offer:

How to track ships

The first step to shipwatching is using a ship traffic website. This ensures you know what ships are close and where to get the best view. To check freighter travel in Michigan, visit the MarineTraffic.com website. This automatic identification system tracks ships globally and tells you where ships are coming from, where they’re going and at what speed.

What to look for

Look for differences between the ships, including the ship’s origin, cargo and speed. Certain vessels are made to transport unique and special cargo. If that’s more than you care to know, skip the details and just watch the ship calmly glide across the water.

There are many areas to spot a freighter on the Detroit River. Here are three popular ones:

    Riverside Park: The 29-acre park on Detroit’s southwest riverfront is equipped with soccer fields, picnic areas and a basketball court. It’s a great location for catching freighters. Riverside Park is located at 3085 W Jefferson Ave.

    William Livingstone Memorial Light/Belle Isle: While visitors of Belle Isle cannot access the inside of William Livingstone Memorial Light, you can see the freighters pass behind the lighthouse off the shore. Belle Isle is located at 2 Inselruhe Avenue in Detroit.

    Belanger Park: The 9.5-acre park located at 1 Belanger Park Drive in River Rouge is a destination for freighter-watchers to watch ships travel across the Detroit River. The park has a waterfront gazebo, two picnic pavilions, a walking path and a play area for children. Visitors can see freighters from the boardwalk.

For shipwatchers who don’t want to leave their home, the Detroit Historical Society allows viewers to watch freighters pass on the Detroit River using the RiverCam. The camera is mounted on the roof of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and streams 24/7 live on Youtube. https://detroithistorical.org/dossin-great-lakes-museum/detroit-river-watch-webcam

Editor’s Note: Another great way to find out about the boats is to pick up a copy of the annual field guide Know Your Ships: Guide to Boats and Boatwatching on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Order at knowyourships.com

Detroit Free Press

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

BBC Chartering christens second
LakerMax, BBC Houston

BBC Chartering has christened the second in the series of fifteen 13,000 dwt LakerMax multipurpose triple-deckers, the BBC Houston. The christening was held at the Port of Houston.

Prior to the naming ceremony, the BBC Houston had concluded her maiden voyage from China to New Orleans, Louisiana, delivering a load of air coolers and accessories. The vessel subsequently called several berths in Houston to pick up cargo before proceeding to the Manchester Terminal for the completion cargo and the ceremony. Following the celebrations, the BBC Houston immediately commenced her next voyage, with Kolkata, India being her next destination. She is expected to trade into the Great Lakes in the future.

“Naming the BBC Houston in her namesake port after completion of her maiden voyage felt like more than the right thing to do,” said Tim Kopfensteiner, President and CEO of Houston-based BBC Chartering USA. “It was a real pleasure to finally see this ground-breaking vessel for ourselves, and being able to show it to our customer friends and partners made us really proud.”

“It was an honour to be a part of this celebration and I hope she will serve and protect her crew for many years to come,” said Daniela Pena Kopfensteiner, the godmother of the BBC Houston, who works as a chartering broker at BBC Chartering USA.

Like her sister vessels, the BBC Houston is a multipurpose triple-decker with a lifting capacity of up to 500 metric tons. Her optimized deck layout and forward location of the bridge and accommodation allow for an unobstructed 2,830 sqm of space on the weather deck, with 26,000 cbm and 5,500 sqm covered floor space. In addition, her fuel consumption is less than that of vessels of comparable dimensions. This combination reduces GHG emissions per freight ton carried by up to 30 per cent.

Damen to deliver two electric ferries to City of Toronto

Damen has signed a contract with the City of Toronto in Canada

Damen has signed a contract with the City of Toronto in Canada for the delivery of two ferries. The fully electric vessels will provide a major boost to sustainability in the region. They will operate between the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto and the Toronto Islands, a major tourist destination, located in a high traffic area close to the shores of Lake Ontario.

Damen is building the Toronto Ferries at its Galati yard in Romania, to a design produced by Quebec-based Concept Naval. The naval architect company has developed the vessel design over the last two years in close cooperation with both the client and with Damen.

The ferries will be 50 metres long with a maximum beam of 13 metres. One of the vessels will transport passengers and vehicles, and the other passengers and bicycles.

“We chose Damen for this new building project due to their outstanding track record,” said a City of Toronto spokesperson. “After a comprehensive RFP process, Damen emerged as the top-ranked supplier, excelling in critical areas such as experience, operational capabilities, engineering expertise and competitive pricing.”

Damen’s Product Director Ferries Henk Grunstra says, “The City of Toronto is taking a big step forward for reduced emissions public transport with these new ferries. Fully electric vessels represent an ideal solution for a short route such as this one, within easy reach of charging infrastructure. We are looking forward to the construction of these ferries and to a successful collaboration with the City of Toronto and Concept Naval.”

Eric Garant, Director General of Concept Naval says, “As a naval architecture firm, Concept Naval is proud to partner with Damen on the innovative 100% electric ferries for the City of Toronto. This project is designed to meet the needs of the City and the many users traveling to the Toronto Islands. Through the combined expertise of Concept Naval and Damen, we aim to provide a sustainable and efficient maritime transport service, at the forefront of technology, contributing to a greener future for the Toronto community.”

The Toronto Ferries will be the 23rd and 24th ferries that Damen has delivered to Canada in the last ten years. Examples include a number of fully electric and hybrid vessels as Damen works towards its goal to become the most sustainable maritime solutions provider.

Fall Boatnerd Mini-Gathering in the Soo Oct. 3-6

If you are in the Soo Oct. 3-6, join us for a Fall Boatnerd Mini-Gathering. On Friday afternoon there will be a special Boatnerd locks/river cruise courtesy of Original Soo Locks Boat Tours (see image). This is a very informal event, just another chance to get together before winter. https://www.facebook.com/events/1037156117917546

Your guide to freighter watching in southeast Michigan: What to know

Detroit, MI – Horsepower, booming horns and big waves off the Detroit River: For freighter watchers, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Freighter watching, where people observe and photograph ships crossing waterways, has a loyal following in Detroit and Windsor, thanks to the Detroit River bordering both cities.

Marty Flore’s love of freighters on open water started when he was a teenager and his dad sailed the Great Lakes. “I’ve even got to go on some freighters with him,” said Flore, 69, of Windsor.

That long ago experience ultimately led Flore to organize in 2019 the Detroit River Freighters, a Facebook group of nearly 3,000 Boatnerds that share photos of ships they find on the Detroit River and meet up when a unique ship comes to town.

The group, which includes members from Canada and Michigan, has become a place where people along the Detroit River can easily come together to share their passion for big ships.

“We were over there in Detroit a few weeks ago. You guys got the riverwalk now and you can see everything from there,” Flore said.

Whether you’re new to freighter watching or just looking for some new tips, here’s what metro Detroit has to offer:

How to track ships

The first step to shipwatching is using a ship traffic website. This ensures you know what ships are close and where to get the best view. To check freighter travel in Michigan, visit the MarineTraffic.com website. This automatic identification system tracks ships globally and tells you where ships are coming from, where they’re going and at what speed.

What to look for

Look for differences between the ships, including the ship’s origin, cargo and speed. Certain vessels are made to transport unique and special cargo. If that’s more than you care to know, skip the details and just watch the ship calmly glide across the water.

There are many areas to spot a freighter on the Detroit River. Here are three popular ones:

    Riverside Park: The 29-acre park on Detroit’s southwest riverfront is equipped with soccer fields, picnic areas and a basketball court. It’s a great location for catching freighters. Riverside Park is located at 3085 W Jefferson Ave.

    William Livingstone Memorial Light/Belle Isle: While visitors of Belle Isle cannot access the inside of William Livingstone Memorial Light, you can see the freighters pass behind the lighthouse off the shore. Belle Isle is located at 2 Inselruhe Avenue in Detroit.

    Belanger Park: The 9.5-acre park located at 1 Belanger Park Drive in River Rouge is a destination for freighter-watchers to watch ships travel across the Detroit River. The park has a waterfront gazebo, two picnic pavilions, a walking path and a play area for children. Visitors can see freighters from the boardwalk.

For shipwatchers who don’t want to leave their home, the Detroit Historical Society allows viewers to watch freighters pass on the Detroit River using the RiverCam. The camera is mounted on the roof of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and streams 24/7 live on Youtube. https://detroithistorical.org/dossin-great-lakes-museum/detroit-river-watch-webcam

Editor’s Note: Another great way to find out about the boats is to pick up a copy of the annual field guide Know Your Ships: Guide to Boats and Boatwatching on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Order at knowyourships.com

Detroit Free Press

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

National ballast water standards only apply to new vessels on the Great Lakes

Existing Great Lakes vessels are exempt from installing treatment systems to control the spread of invasive species

By Danielle Kaeding
September 25, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized ballast water standards on Tuesday that would require new vessels in the Great Lakes to install treatment systems to prevent the spread of invasive species, but the standards will not apply to existing ships.

The regulations are part of a supplemental rule that aimed to bolster standards on dumping ballast water.

In 2018, Congress passed the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act to streamline a patchwork of local, state and federal requirements for the shipping industry. The law requires the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard to develop regulations for mostly larger vessels and fishing boats. In recent years, the agency began crafting standards to exempt lake vessels or “lakers” and examined whether to require treatment for newer boats.

Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, said she’s disappointed the EPA isn’t regulating vessels that operate solely within the Great Lakes.

“We know they can spread invasive species,” Flanagan said. “In order to truly protect the Great Lakes, we need EPA to be regulating every vessel operating in the Great Lakes.”

A 2018 report found lake vessels are moving invasive species from the lower lakes to western Lake Superior. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Superior found several species of tiny zooplankton that hadn’t been previously documented in the lake.

The EPA said it’s not requiring the existing U.S.-flagged fleet to treat ballast water due to the cost of converting vessels and environmental challenges in the lakes, including icing and other factors. The agency said lake conditions can clog filters and reduce the effectiveness of ballast water treatment systems.

State regulators had urged EPA to require standards for existing lakers

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said vessel operators and a treatment system manufacturer haven’t indicated to the state that lake conditions would prevent a reasonable level of treatment most of the time. Wade Strickland, director of the DNR’s Office of Great Waters, told WPR that agency officials believe stronger protections could have been put in place.

“For example, if a vessel is in Lake Ontario, an existing laker, and it picks up an (aquatic invasive species) and then brings it to Lake Michigan, it doesn’t matter if it’s a new or an existing vessel,” Strickland said. “It’s still carrying that and introducing that invasive species to Lake Michigan. That’s our biggest concern.”

Strickland said he feels the EPA’s hands were tied because the 2018 law requires the agency to consider whether treatment is “technologically available and economically achievable.”

The Canadian government had also urged the EPA to regulate lakers built after 2009 to “advance environmental protection and binational consistency” in the Great Lakes, as well as allow older vessels until 2030 to comply with national standards.

As for new lakers, the EPA estimates it would cost those vessels about $2.2 million each year to comply with the new standards.

Great Lakes fleet cites concerns with current treatment systems

The Lake Carriers’ Association represents the U.S.-flagged fleet of 44 lakers operating on the Great Lakes. Jim Weakley, the group’s president, declined an interview Tuesday, saying officials are still reviewing the final rule.

In December, the group submitted comments opposing the agency’s proposal to require installation of treatment systems on new lakers, adding that the EPA underestimated costs. A 2017 report commissioned by the shipping industry estimated it would cost around $639 million to install treatment on existing vessels, as well as $11 million in annual maintenance costs.

“New Laker operators should not be required to expend substantial funds for installing and operating a (ballast water management system) that struggles with operation in the Great Lakes, lacks vendor support, and greatly impacts vessel operations,” the group wrote.

The Lake Carriers’ Association argued that current systems haven’t been proven to reduce invasive species “to any consistent level” in treated ballast water. In its comments, the group said treatment systems are unreliable in the Great Lakes, adding that current technology significantly slows cargo loading and unloading.

The group also disputed that technological advancements in those systems would become available by the time standards would take effect. The EPA said the new standards will not be put in place for up to two years while the Coast Guard develops regulations to enforce them.

No new introduction of invasive species on the Great Lakes since 2006

Since 2006, the U.S. and Canadian governments have required oceangoing vessels to dump water they’ve taken on elsewhere and flush it with saltwater before entering the Great Lakes in a practice known as “swish and spit.” Unlike oceangoing ships, lakers don’t have that option since they operate solely in the Great Lakes.

Lake vessels can span 1,000 feet and discharge more than 16 million gallons of ballast water. In the Great Lakes, at least 188 invasive species had been documented as of last year. It costs an estimated $500 million each year to manage invaders like quagga and zebra mussels that can damage power plants, water systems, boats, and docks. Since 1959, ballast water from ships accounts for up to 70 percent of all introductions.

Even so, researchers note there have been no new introductions of aquatic invasive species through ballast water since 2006.

In 2020, UW-Superior received $5 million to speed up ballast water research and testing of new technologies to prevent the spread of invasive species. The university owns and operates the only land-based testing facility in the Great Lakes region for ballast water treatment systems.

The EPA must review its standards every five years, and the agency said it expects research will support new or updated standards in the future.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

St. Lawrence Seaway tugboat Robinson Bay looking for new home

MASSENA, NY – The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is looking for a new home for the historic tugboat Robinson Bay as the corporation seeks to transition its vessel fleet for future operations.

Seaway officials say the delivery of tugboats “Seaway Trident” and “Seaway Guardian” will allow “Robinson Bay” to transition out of the fleet. The vessel, which remains in good operational condition, has served the Seaway for many decades. Seaway officials say it is their goal to ensure “Robinson Bay” continues to provide public value within the region.

As part of the process to find “Robinson Bay” a new home, Seaway officials are seeking proposals from interested parties who have a vision for the tugboat’s future use, whether in an operational capacity, as a training vessel or as part of a museum or historic exhibit.

GLS officials have established a series of criteria that will guide the evaluation process of the proposals.

The primary considerations will be “the alignment of received proposals with the public interest, the intended use of the vessel, the capacity of recipient organization to maintain it, and the vessel’s potential community and historical impact going forward.”

“The Robinson Bay has been an integral part of Great Lakes Seaway maritime history, and the GLS looks forward to seeing how this vessel will continue to serve the region in new and meaningful ways,” Seaway officials said.

Proposals are due on Oct. 1, 2024, with no exceptions, officials said. Proposals should not be longer than five written pages and should include the following information:

     Overview of Proposed Use – A detailed description of how your organization intends to use the Robinson Bay, including any operational, educational, or preservation plans.

      Public and Community Value – Explain how your proposal aligns with the public interest and enhances the Great Lakes/Seaway community.

      Organizational Capacity – Information about your organization’s experience, resources, and long-term sustainability plan for maintaining the vessel.

       Historical and Educational Impact – Describe how your organization will preserve the historical significance of the vessel and how it will be used for educational purposes.

        Feasibility and Timeline – Provide a clear plan for how your organization will acquire, transport, and put the tugboat to use, including a proposed timeline.

Proposals are to be submitted electronically by 3 p.m. on October 1, 2024 to Paul Braden, Director of Lock Operations and Maritime Services.

For more information, visit www.seaway.dot.gov/publications/gls-seeks-proposals-donation-historic-tugboat-robinson-bay

New Lock at the Soo Phase 2 complete

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.  – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, substantially completed Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) contract on September 17.

“Phase 2 work focused on rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to guide vessels into the New Lock and will allow the vessels to moor on the wall,” New Lock at the Soo Project Engineer Ryan Berkompas said. “The old approach walls in the northern channel were the same age as the Sabin and Davis Locks, over 100 years old.”

The Corps of Engineers awarded the $117 million contract in September 2020 to Kokosing-Alberici, of Westerville, Ohio.

“Minor electrical work is expected to be addressed through the end of October with a goal of financially closing the contract by the end of November,” said Berkompas.

A total of 52 coffer cells were constructed, filled and capped with concrete to make up the eastern portion of the approach walls. A combined 4,800 linear feet of walls were rehabilitated and 62,000 cubic yards of concrete were used.

The New Lock at the Soo project continues to be on track for completion in 2030.

The New Lock at the Soo project is being built in three phases. Phase 1 (Upstream Channel Deepening) was completed in 2022 and Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) is substantially complete as of this summer.

“Phase 3 construction began in late 2022 and given efficient funding and favorable weather is on track to be complete by 2030,” New Lock at the Soo Senior Project Manager Mollie Mahoney said. “The New Lock at the Soo will be constructed in the footprint of the Sabin Lock and will be the same size as the Poe Lock (1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide and 32 feet deep).”

The Phase 3 contractor is demolishing the existing Sabin Lock chamber and beginning bedrock excavation in the footprint of the Sabin Lock. In the Davis Lock they are excavating for the New Pump Well and filling the Davis Lock with excavated material. The contractor is also constructing a new bridge to the New Power Plant and a new utility access structure.

Additional planned activities to occur in 2024 include pump well substructure construction and new concrete monolith (lock chamber wall) construction.

The Soo Locks allow vessels to transit the 21-foot elevation change at the St. Marys Falls Canal. Over 88 percent of commodity tonnage through the Soo Locks is restricted by vessel size to the Poe Lock. The New Lock at the Soo project will construct a second Poe-sized lock.

The Soo Locks are essential to U.S. manufacturing and National Security, the New Lock at the Soo project will provide resiliency for this critical node in the Great Lakes Navigation System. A 2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimates a six-month Poe Lock closure would temporarily reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss of 11 million jobs.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

USACE Awards $222.7M Option 3 Contract for New Soo Lock

USACE awards $222.7M contract for New Soo Lock to KAT. Contract proceeds for construction of lock floor, mechanical/electrical systems, and more. Project on track for completion in 2030, with focus on national security and economic resiliency.

Tue September 24, 2024 – Midwest Edition #20

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., awards $222.7 million contract Option 3 (Chamber Lock Operational) to Kokosing Alberici Traylor LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio. The Option 3 award will allow for construction to proceed as required to have a fully functional lock. Option 3 includes construction of the lock floor; installation of the mechanical and electrical systems; completion of the filling and emptying system; placing soil in between the New Lock and old Davis Lock; and commissioning of the lock chamber.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., awards $222.7 million contract Option 3 (Chamber Lock Operational) to Kokosing Alberici Traylor LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio.

The Option 3 award will allow for construction to proceed as required to have a fully functional lock.

“Option 3 includes construction of the lock floor; installation of the mechanical and electrical systems; completion of the filling and emptying system; placing soil in between the New Lock and old Davis Lock; and commissioning of the lock chamber,” said Darin White, Inland Navigation Design Center, New Lock at the Soo technical lead.

With the on-time award of Option 3, the project continues to be on track for completion in 2030.

The New Lock at the Soo project is being built in three phases. Phase 1 (Upstream Channel Deepening) was completed in 2022, and Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) is nearing completion this summer. The Phase 3 contract was awarded to KAT in July 2022 as a base contract at $1.068 billion. Awarding the base contract allowed the contractor to begin work in 2022 with the remaining work (contract options), to be awarded over the next three years.

“To date, Options 1A [Upstream Wide Wall Monoliths], 1B [Chamber Wall Monoliths], 1C [New Power Plant Bridge Ramp], 2 [New Pump Well Completion] and 7 [Alligator’s Mouth Mooring Area] have been awarded, totaling $503.7 million,” said Kevin McDaniels, district senior civilian. “The leadership team throughout
theCorps of Engineers have made the New Lock at the Soo project a national priority and we have continued to see strong support every step along the way.”

Three contract options, totaling $95.3 million, await to be awarded. These options are Option 4 (Downstream Work), Option 5 (Hands-Free Mooring) and Option 6 (Downstream Ship Arrestors). The Corps of Engineers aims to award these options over the next year.

Phase 3 construction began in late 2022, and is expected to last seven years, given efficient funding and favorable weather. The New Lock at the Soo will be constructed in the footprint of the Sabin Lock and will be the same size as the Poe Lock (1,200 ft. long, 110 ft. wide and 32 ft. deep).

“The contractor has completed over $400 million worth of work through the end of July 2024,” said Mollie Mahoney, New Lock at the Soo senior project manager. “The contractor is demolishing existing concrete monoliths and beginning bedrock excavation in the footprint of the existing Sabin Lock. In the Davis Lock they are beginning excavating for the new pump well and preparing to fill the Davis Lock with excavated material. The contractor also is constructing a new bridge to the new power plant and a new utility access structure.”

Additional activities planned to occur in 2024 include pump well substructure construction and new concrete monolith construction.

The Soo Locks allow vessels to transit the 21-ft. elevation change at the St. Marys Falls Canal. More than 88 percent of commodity tonnage through the Soo Locks is restricted by vessel size to the Poe Lock. The New Lock at the Soo project will construct a second Poe-sized lock.

The Soo Locks are essential to United States’ manufacturing and National Security. The New Lock at the Soo project will provide resiliency for this critical node in the Great Lakes Navigation System. A 2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimates a six-month Poe Lock closure would temporarily reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss of 11 million jobs.

For more information, visit www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Mission/Projects/Article/3833546/new-lock-at-the-soo/ or contact Detroit District Public Affairs Specialist Carrie Fox, 906/259-2841.

Port of Vancouver Grain Workers Strike in Middle of Harvest

Bloomberg

September 24, 2024

By Thomas Seal (Bloomberg) —

Grain workers at Canada’s biggest port went on strike Tuesday over a dispute regarding hours and pay, setting up what an industry association called a “devastating” situation for farmers during the harvest season.

The Grain Workers Union Local 333 served a 72-hour strike notice on Saturday, and the measure took effect at 7 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday after talks with the Vancouver Terminal Elevator Association fell through.

Vancouver handled about 52% of grain produced across Canada last year, according to the Grain Growers of Canada trade group, which is calling on the federal labor minister to step in and ensure the parties reach an agreement. The stoppage could prevent about 100,000 metric tonnes of grain from arriving at the port’s shipping terminals each day, meaning a potential loss of C$35 million ($26 million) daily, the association said, citing Canadian Grain Commission estimates. 

“Without intervention, Canada’s international trading reputation will continue to suffer, leading to the loss of key global markets and customers,” the Grain Growers group said. 

Tuesday’s walkout follows recent industrial disputes across the country involving rail workers, port workers and airline workers.

“There will be limited ability to mitigate the impacts of the strike through other corridors” for grain headed to markets over the Pacific Ocean, Wade Sobkowich, from the Western Grain Elevator Association, said by email. “Once again, Canada is unable to get product to our customers just like in the recent rail strike, St. Lawrence Seaway strike and BC longshore strike.”

The local grain workers union has more than 750 members, according to its website. Affected operations include Viterra Inc.’s Cascadia and Pacific Terminals, the Richardson International Terminal, the Cargill Limited Terminal, the G3 Terminal Vancouver and the Alliance Grain Terminal, according to the Shipping Federation of Canada.

© 2024 Bloomberg L.P.

U.P. shipwreck museum adds webcam with views of lighthouse, sunrises over Lake Superior

Published: Sep. 24, 2024, 11:32 a.m.

By Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com

PARADISE, MI – A new webcam has been added to a shipwreck museum in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

This live video feed boasts views of the Whitefish Point Light Station, sunrises over Lake Superior, freighters, incoming storms, and even the Northern Lights, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society announced on social media.

The camera is at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road in Paradise. It’s part of the WMVision family of cameras that showcase scenic areas all over the country, officials said.

“The quality of this camera is amazing” said Corey Adkins, content and communications director for the historical society. “We are excited that we can now share the beauty of Whitefish Point with the world. We think people will really enjoy this camera from their phone or the comfort of their own home.”

To view the feed, click here, or visit shipwreckmuseum.com and click LIVE WEATHER CAM near the top left of the homepage.

The West Michigan Tourist Association helped make this camera a reality, officials said.

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

Mail boat crew saves man swimming across Detroit River

DETROIT – A man was rescued by a mail boat crew late Monday night after attempting to swim across the Detroit River.

 At around 11 p.m. on Sept. 23, deckhand James Sharp saw the man swimming inside a life ring thrown to him by someone on shore in Windsor, Ontario. The U.S. Mail Boat J.W. Westcott II maneuvered alongside where Sharp and Captain Neil Schultheiss lifted the man onto the deck of the mail boat.

 The swimmer said he was an American citizen from Florida and was trying to return to the United States. Officials said he seemed disoriented or under the influence. He was sent to the Detroit fireboat and transported to shore to an awaiting EMS unit. Officials said that although he was cold, he had no physical injuries.

After the rescue, the Westcott’s crew turned and made a mail delivery to the Algoma Innovator. This year marks the Westcott company’s 150th anniversary on the Detroit River.
Link to Video on this article    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCB5abSa_no

Click on Detroit

 Seaway reports 19.5 million tonnes of cargo moved to date in 2024

Grain, potash, iron, and steel are fueling shipments along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system, with a total of 19.5 million tonnes of cargo moved so far this season.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. and the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. said grain traffic was up 5.6 per cent over last year.

A release from the two agencies that operate the system said potash traffic continues to be a big mover, up 21 percent. Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash, exporting 95 percent of production to more than 75 countries.

Alternative sources of potash, an agricultural fertilizer, include Russia and Belarus, which have had sanctions levelled at the industry due to the war in Ukraine. Iron and steel shipments are up 35 percent over last year, and petroleum products up 27 percent.

Seaway Management Corp. president and chief executive officer Jim Athanasiou said the waterway is a vital link in the supply chain that keeps economies moving with its consistency and reliability.

If the system were a standalone country, it would rank as the third-largest economy in the world, the release said.

It also said it supports more 350,000 jobs across the U.S. and Canada. Despite the growth in specific cargo categories, overall figures reveal a 3.48 percent decline in total cargo compared to the same period last year, along with a 3.53 percent drop in vessel transits.

Welland Tribune

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

Marine Mart planned for Oct. 12

The Great Lakes Maritime Institute will host its 43rd annual Marine Mart Oct, 12 in St. Clair Shores, MI. See the flier in the photo gallery for details.

“Elusive” 130-Year-Old Lake Michigan Shipwreck Found Near Algoma, Wisconsin

 By AlgomaAreaChamber  Posted September 21, 2024  In Lake Michigan Shipwrecks 

Algoma, Wisconsin – September 20, 2024: “Elusive” 130-Year-Old Lake Michigan Shipwreck Found

The wreck site of the lost steam tug John Evenson has been located by Wisconsin maritime historians Brendon Baillod and Bob Jaeck as the result of a deliberate search using historical records and remote sensing technology.

The 54-foot Evenson was built in 1884 at Milwaukee as a harbor and towing tug.  She was lost on June 5th of 1895 while assisting the big steamer I. Watson Stephenson in entering the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal with a string of schooner-barges in tow.  The Evenson’s captain ran across the bow of the much larger Stephenson, which struck the tug, capsizing her and sending her immediately to the bottom.  The tug’s five crew were cast into the water and rescued except for the tug’s fireman, Martin Boswell, who was asleep below decks and was carried down with the vessel and lost.

The Evenson’s loss was widely reported in marine newspapers, but the locations given varied significantly.  Some stated that the vessel sank in 300 feet of water, others 50 feet.  Divers began looking for the Evenson in the 1980s without success.  A local dive club even offered a cash reward for her discovery, but she continued to elude searchers.

Baillod and Jaeck collected all the accounts of her loss as well as an original customs house wreck report prepared by her captain, John Laurie.  They plotted all the locations given and noticed that a few clustered in the same small area as that given in the wreck report, approximately 4 miles northeast of Algoma, Wisconsin.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, at 9 AM, the pair had just deployed their remote sensing equipment and were tuning the sonar signals when a huge boiler crawled across the screen only five minutes into what had been planned as a three-day search.  They deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which immediately descended on the ship’s giant propeller, steam engine, and boiler.  The tug’s hull-bed is present along with all of her machinery, giving a fascinating look at the steam technology of the late 1800s.

Baillod and Jaeck notified Wisconsin State Underwater Archeologist Tamara Thomsen who arrived the next day with diver Zach Whitrock to survey and document the wreck.  A 3D photogrammetry model was created by capturing over 2000 high-resolution images, recording the site in detail.  The interactive 3D model can be visited here.  Plans for the site include nominating it to the National Register of Historic Places and making it available for sport divers to visit.

This is the third significant shipwreck discovered by Baillod and Jaeck in the last two years.  The pair located the intact remains of the schooner Trinidad in June of 2023 and the schooner Margaret A. Muir in June of this year (2024).  Baillod and Jaeck use the wrecks as a vehicle for connecting the people of Wisconsin’s port communities with their maritime past, and they work in partnership with community history organizations to preserve and interpret historic underwater sites.

Baillod and Jaeck are members of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association, a non-profit citizen science group that provides opportunities for the public to participate in the study and documentation of underwater history.

Great Lakes freighter Michipicoten still idle at a U.S. shipyard

SUPERIOR, Wis. — More than three months after escaping disaster on Lake Superior, the Canadian-flagged bulk carrier Michipicoten remains dockside in Superior, Wis.

The Michipicoten sustained a rupture to its hull on June 8 while carrying iron ore pellets from Two Harbors, Minn. to Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie. With water entering through a four-metre-long crack, the ship limped toward Thunder Bay, exposing the crew to what one member described later as a “horrifying journey.”

After a temporary patch was applied at Keefer Terminal, Transport Canada gave permission to the freighter’s owner – Lower Lakes Towing of Port Dover, Ont. – to have it escorted by tugs on June 20 to Fraser Shipyards in Superior for additional repairs.

But a government spokesperson said that, as of Wednesday, federal regulators have not given permission for the Michipicoten to be returned to service.

The spokesperson referred TBnewswatch to the company for more information. Lower Lakes Towing to date has released no public statements on its plans for the ship, and a person who answered the phone at the company’s headquarters this week stated “We have no comment.”

The crew of the 72-year-old vessel reported hearing a loud bang when the crack developed.

A preliminary investigation in June pointed to stress or fatigue as the possible cause of the fracture in the hull.

TB Newswatch

UWS’s New Floating Classroom and Research Vessel is in Final Stages of Completion

September 19, 2024  Paige Hansen

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin Superior’s new state of the art floating classroom and research vessel is in its final stages before opening its doors to students.

It has been over a year in the making for UWS’s Lake Superior Research Institute, who, with the help of donations are making the floating classroom come to life.

The vessel, named “The Sadie Ann“will support learning for educators, researchers and UWS students.

Along with providing programs for K-12 education and adults.

“We think that the classroom can be used by all learners, grade school, up through adults 55 and older. We also believe that it can meet many disciplines. So, arts and humanities will be able to use the floating classroom vessel, The Sadie Ann.”

The vessel was built in Louisiana and is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

After coast guard requirements are finalized, “The Sadie Ann” will sail to its new home of Lake Superior.

All video and pictures are courtesy for UW-Superior.

Scientists find signs of sinkholes on the floor of Lake Michigan

WUWM 89.7 FM | By Lina Tran
Published September 19, 2024 at 3:00 PM CDT

In August, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory discovered signs of sinkholes on the floor of Lake Michigan, in the national marine sanctuary off Wisconsin’s lakeshore, near Sheboygan. They found around 40 large underwater features, most of which are about as long as an Olympic swimming pool. They’re cold, dark, and weirdly circular.

The features are similar to sinkholes previously discovered in Lake Huron. In that case, groundwater eroded the layer of limestone that sits on the bottom of the lake, creating caverns. When the roof of a cavern collapsed, a sinkhole was born.

But Steve Ruberg, a physical scientist with the lab, says the researchers need more information before they can confirm that what’s in Lake Michigan is just like those in Lake Huron.

“I’m not ready to say that this is a sinkhole that’s similar to Lake Huron,” he said. “These are much bigger, and they’re just very strangely circular. They’re very interesting.”

They were, however, discovered in a manner very much like what happened in Lake Huron — accidentally. Acoustic surveys in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, intended to uncover historic shipwrecks, revealed the bottom features almost 20 years ago. A similar, recent hunt for shipwrecks in Wisconsin’s Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary uncovered signs of similar depressions in the limestone layer on the lake’s bottom.

That led Ruberg and other researchers to return to the site this summer to take a closer look.

Life in a Great Lakes sinkhole

The subterranean holes, with their extreme environments, offer scientists a look at the Great Lakes’ distant past. In Lake Huron, they are home to a rich tapestry of microbial life.

“Presumably, life was like this everywhere in the early biosphere,” said Bopi Biddanda, a microbial ecologist at Grand Valley State University in Michigan who has studied the microbes in Lake Huron’s sinkholes.

Some two to three billion years ago, low-oxygen, high-sulfur conditions — much like those in the sinkholes — in shallow, light-filled holes fueled the growth of photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which first oxygenated the planet. Studying similar microbial mats of these bacteria today provides insight to how microbes of the past helped produce the oxygen that life needs to thrive.

In Lake Huron’s deeper holes, where light wasn’t available, bacteria made use of sulfur to produce their food. These microbial colonies grew into white mats, much like those that live around deep sea vents today.

“So, right in our backyard, we have a window to the past, as well as to the deep sea,” Biddanda said.

Studying the microbes that live in such extreme environments can also offer insights to modern problems, from biochemicals that could be of pharmaceutical value to carbon sequestration.

“It’s very interesting to me that these things — hard to find and very little in stature — might have had an impact on our being here today, in evolutionary terms,” Biddanda said. “And that threatened as they might be, they might even survive us in the long run.”

Dive into the discovery

Steve Ruberg joins Lake Effect to share more about the potential for sinkholes in Lake Michigan.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What are we even talking about here? What is a sinkhole?

We’ve been looking at sinkholes on Lake Huron, and the sinkholes in that situation are eroded limestone features. When you look at the geology of the Great Lakes — Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, especially — they sit on a limestone geologic layer that was laid down four to five hundred million years ago. And then on top of that, you have glacial activity.

In Lake Huron, those are karst features. Limestone geology that is eroded, and a cavern forms. That cavern collapses and forms a sinkhole. It appears that’s what’s happening on Lake Michigan. But we haven’t been able to verify that to a high degree of certainty. We feel like they probably are, but there are other options for what they could be as well.

The interesting thing about the Great Lakes in general is that a very small portion of the Great Lakes have been explored. We haven’t mapped a lot of the bottom, and we haven’t gone and looked at the things that we see when we map the bottom. What we want to do, in this case, is not just to go look — we’re trying to understand the amount of groundwater that might be coming into these systems. And along with groundwater, we want to know what the chemical makeup is.

At first, there was this hint that they might be there through the acoustic surveys. What did that look like?

We took a remotely operated vehicle with some sensors on it that would allow us to detect groundwater. We’re measuring something called specific conductivity. We’re measuring temperature.

When we get into the zone where there’s groundwater, in Lake Huron, we’re seeing higher than normal water temperatures — that’s an indication of groundwater. We’re seeing much higher than normal levels of specific conductivity, which indicates that water is going through this limestone system, picking up a lot of salt and sulfur and other minerals. So that’s an indication that we’re seeing groundwater coming into these systems too.

What we wanted to do is quantify the amount of groundwater that’s residing in a sinkhole. Unfortunately, [when] we looked in Wisconsin and on Lake Michigan, we did not detect a groundwater signature.

So, what does that mean? Jury’s still out?

Jury’s still out, that’s exactly what it means. We did see a lot of interesting life down there. We saw deep water sculpin and, of course, unfortunately, a lot of quagga mussels and creatures like that.

I’m not ready to say that this is a sinkhole that’s similar to Lake Huron. These are much bigger, and they’re just very strangely circular. They’re very interesting. It’s possible that if we get out deeper, just [due to] the natural erosion of the limestone, the groundwater will eventually stop coming into them. It’s possible that the deeper ones may still have groundwater.

In the long run, we want to know how much water is coming in from these features. That adds to our model of lake water levels. We know that the groundwater input is very, very small, but still, for completion, we’d like to try to get an idea of how much groundwater is coming in. The other thing is that the groundwater has a lot of salt and sulfur. Knowing how much salt and sulfur chloride is getting into the system is important to get a baseline for what the inputs of those sorts of things into the Great Lakes are.

What kinds of things might we learn from these features? What could it tell us about Lake Michigan, or the geological history of the Great Lakes?

That’s what we’re hoping. If there are these limestone karst features, you’re going back four to five hundred million years ago. The shallow sea that we sit on now is providing this, this signal of the chloride and sulfate. But in more recent times, we’ve had glacial activity that formed the Great Lakes, and that could have laid down some of the clay that we’re seeing too. So it’s just telling us the history of these systems and how they’ve changed over time.