Noteworthy Passages

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Lake Erie Ports – October 12

Oct 13, 2026

Monroe, MI: Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader unloaded coal at DTE then left for a return to Toledo.
Toledo, OH:  Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader departed for Monroe. Arrivals were Muntgracht to Midwest Terminals, Samuel deChamplain/Innovation to Amrize and Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader returned for another load of coal at CSX.
Marblehead, OH:  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder loaded limestone at Amrize then left for Cleveland. Northern Venture was next to arrive and load at Amrize.
Sandusky, OH:  CSL Laurentien departed for Nanticoke.
Cleveland, OH:  American Century unloaded ore at the Bulk Terminal then left for Duluth. Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement departed for Bath, ON. American Courage arrived with ore for Cliffs. She’ll be back on the shuttles after unloading. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder was a late night arrival.
Ashtabula, OH:  Finished with repairs to her foremast, American Courage loaded ore for Cleveland.
Buffalo, NY:  New York/Double Skin 509A departed for Detroit. Koznitza is at Sucro Sourcing.
Nanticoke, ON:  Arrivals were John D. Leitch and CSL Laurentien, both to Stelco. Departing were Algonova for Sault Ste. Marie and Algoberta for Sainte Victoir, PQ. Albert/Margaret is at the anchorage.
Bill Kloss

Lake Erie Ports – October 11

Oct 12, 2026

Toledo, OH:  Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader moved to CSX to load coal. Great Republic unloaded ore at Torco then left for Port Inland and Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder unloaded salt at the ARMS dock then left for Marblehead.
Sandusky, OH:  CSL Laurentien arrived for coal at Norfolk Southern.
Cleveland, OH:   Arrivals were Calumet to Ontario Stone and Victory I to Dock 28W at the Port. Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement is unloading at the Jefferson St. terminal. Departures were Calumet with no updated destination and Victory I for Detroit.
Ashtabula, OH:  American Courage is at Conneaut Creek Ship Repair.
Buffalo, NY:  New York/Double Skin 509A arrived to unload liquid asphalt at Suit-Kote. Koznitza is at Sucro Sourcing.
Nanticoke, ON:  Algoberta and Albert/Margaret are loading at Imperial Oil. Algonova is at the anchorage.
Bill Kloss

Lake Erie Ports – October 10

Oct 11, 2026

Monroe, MI:   Victory/Maumee unloaded coal at DTE then left for Calcite
Toledo, OH:   Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader Ironville Great Republic Departing were Victory/Maumee for Monroe, Defiance/Ashtabula for Alpena and American Spirit for Marquette.
Cleveland, OH:  Arrivals were Herbert C. Jackson to Ontario Stone, Petite Forte/St. Marys Cement to SMC Jefferson St., Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. to the Bulk Terminal and Alpena to Amrize Cement. Departures were Walter J. McCarthy, Jr for Two Harbors, Herbert C. Jackson for Presque Isle, Alpena for Alpena, Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder for Toledo and American Courage to Ashtabula.
Fairport Harbor, OH:  Manitowoc departed for Port Dolomite.
Ashtabula, OH:  American Courage arrived at Conneaut Creek Ship Repair to get her damaged foremast repaired.
Buffalo, NY:  Tamarack unloaded cement at Amrize then left for Oswego, NY. Koznitza is still unloading sugar at Sucro Sourcing.
Port Colborne, ON:  Departing were Victory I for Cleveland and Federal Dee for Detroit.
Nanticoke, ON:   Algosolis departed for Montreal. Algoberta and Algonova arrived at the Port Dover anchorage. Albert/Margaret is loading at Imperial Oil.
Bill Kloss

USCG Spar Towed to Fraser Shipyards

Oct 10, 2026

Tug Nels J of Heritage/Dean Marine came down from its normal Two Harbors assignment Thursday to assist fleetmate and Superior-based tug Helen H in towing USCGC Spar from its base on Minnesota Point to Fraser Shipyards, where it will receive additional work after being idled this summer. Note: permission to fly within 3000 feet of SPAR was obtained in writing prior to drone flight.

Spar under tow. [David Schauer]

David Schauer

Lake Erie Ports – October 9

Oct 10, 2026

Toledo, OH:  Arrivals were H. Lee White with ore for Ironville and Victory/Maumee to load coal at CSX. In port are Defiance/Ashtabula at Midwest Terminals and American Spirit at Torco. Departures were Algoma Mariner for Port Weller, Federal Delta for Montreal, Algoma Sault for Hamilton and, once empty, H. Lee White for Calcite.
Marblehead, OH:  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder loaded at Amrize and departed for Fairport Harbor.
Cleveland, OH:   Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. anchored in Lake Erie to wait for American Courage to load a shuttle. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder arrived to load salt at Cargill.
Fairport Harbor, OH:  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder unloaded limestone at Osborne then left for Cleveland. Manitowoc was next to arrive with limestone for SRM.
Buffalo, NY:  Koznitza is at Sucro Sourcing.
Port Colborne, ON:  Federal Dee is at the anchorage.
Nanticoke, ON:  Albert/Margaret and Algosolis are loading at Imperial Oil.
Bill Kloss

Lake Erie Ports – October 8

Oct 9, 2026

Monroe, MI:   Departures were Defiance/Ashtabula to Toledo and New York/Double Skin 509A to Detroit.
Toledo, OH:   Arriving were American Spirit with ore for Torco and Defiance/Ashtabula to load at Midwest Terminals. Departures were Dirk S. VanEnkevort for Calcite and Algoma Sault is back in Lake Erie. In port are Algoma Mariner and Federal Delta.
Marblehead, OH:  Manitoulin departed for Southwestern Sales Co. in Kingsville, ON. Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder arrived to load at Amrize.
Kingsville, ON:  Manitoulin departed for Amherstburg.
Sandusky, OH:  Kaye E. Barker loaded coal at Norfolk Southern then left for Zug Island.
Cleveland, OH:  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder unloaded at the Cliffs stone dock then left for Marblehead. American Courage continues on the shuttles.
Fairport Harbor, OH:   Frontenac departed with salt for Morrisburg, ON. Sam Laud then was able to unload at Osborne and, once empty, departed with no updated destination.
Erie, PA:  Victory/Maumee departed for Toledo.
Buffalo, NY:  Koznitza is at Sucro Sourcing.
Port Colborne, ON:  Viking Octantis arrived at Snider Marine Terminal. Once passengers boarded after touring, the cruise ship left for Toronto. Federal Dee is at the anchorage.
Nanticoke, ON:  Albert/Margaret arrived at the Port Dover anchorage. Algosolis is loading at Imperial Oil.
Bill Kloss

Sign of Winter: Northern Venture Brings Load of Road Salt to the Soo

Oct 8, 2026

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI –The McKeil Marine self-unloader Northern Venture arrived at the Carbide Dock just before midnight Wednesday to unload road salt. She was unloaded and headed back down river at 6 a.m. headed for Bruce Mines, ON.

Northern Venture unloading road salt at the Soo early Thursday. [Stephen Sostaric]

Stephen Sostaric

Lake Superior Ports – October 7

Oct 8, 2026

Duluth-Superior Harbor

  • Outside some early morning departures, Duluth-Superior Harbor was once again quiet as high winds howled out of the northwest Wednesday. Joseph L. Block departed Duluth at 03:55 central empty, having unloaded a mix of limestone and dolomite at CN-Hallett #5. Clyde S. VanEnkevort-Erie Trader, which also brought stone into port, departed at 05:55 empty for Silver Bay.

  • As of Wednesday evening, only ATB Samuel de Champlain-Innovation was in port unloading powdered cement. Depending on weather, Samuel de Champlain-Innovation should depart through the Superior Entry sometime Wednesday evening. Stewart J. Cort is expected to arrive early Thursday morning to load iron ore pellets at BN Dock 5. At the Duluth entry, American Century is due late evening to load iron ore pellets at CN Dock 6. CSL Assiniboine is expected to arrive mid-morning for a fuel stop before waiting outside Superior, and John G. Munson is due late evening carrying limestone intended for Graymont Superior.

Two Harbors

  • Mesabi Miner departed Two Harbors at 02:15 central Wednesday morning heading for Burns Harbor; this is a unique destination for US Steel mined pellets, but not unheard of since Cleveland-Cliffs receives US Steel pellets through Stelco in Nanticoke. Presque Isle, which was waiting on the north side of Dock 2, shifted over to the shiploader around 04:56 to load Minntac flux iron ore pellets for Gary, IN. As of Wednesday evening, they continued to load at the shiploader. After they depart sometime late evening Wednesday or early morning Thursday, the port will stay quiet as James R. Barker isn’t due until Friday evening.

Silver Bay

  • In Silver Bay, ATB Clyde S. VanEnkevort-Erie Trader arrived at 10:05 central Wednesday morning to load iron ore pellets for Toledo, OH (Ironville). They may depart sometime Wednesday evening. Fleetmate Joyce L. VanEnkevort-Great Lakes Trader is due in port early Saturday.

Thunder Bay

  • Algoma Bear arrived in Thunder Bay at 02:02 eastern Wednesday morning to load grain. Algoma Harvester arrived at 07:33 for the same cargo. Finally, Kaministiqua departed at 11:51 with grain destined for Sorel. As of Wednesday evening, Algoma Harvester was loading at Richardson’s Main elevator, Federal Asahi was unloading general cargo at Keefer and Algoma Bear was loading at Cargill’s Superior elevator. Polsteam Pile, Noelle G. and Perelik were waiting at anchor. Radcliffe R. Latimer is due in Thunder Bay early Thursday with Algoma Endeavour expected later in the morning.

Marquette

  • The only vessel traffic in Marquette Wednesday was Lee A. Tregurtha departing around 02:20 eastern with iron ore pellets bound for Indiana Harbor. As of Wednesday evening, Great Republic was at the LS&I ore dock loading iron ore pellets. They should be leaving sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Joseph L. Block is expected to arrive early Thursday coming from Duluth.

Scott Bjorklund

Lake Erie Ports – October 7

Oct 8, 2026

Monroe, MI:   Karen Andrie/Endeavour departed for Indiana Harbor. Defiance/Ashtabula arrived with coal for DTE. New York/Double Skin 509A is unloading at Michigan Paving.
Leamington, ON:  Viking Octantis anchored off of Point Pelee. Passengers took motor boats to tour the area. Later in the afternoon they departed for Port Colborne.
Toledo, OH:  Arrivals were Algoma Mariner to Midwest Terminals, Dirk S. VanEnkevort with ore for Ironville and Algoma Sault to Mondelez. Federal Delta is at ADM.
Marblehead, OH:  Calumet departed for Marine City. Manitoulin arrived to load at Amrize.
Sandusky, OH:  Defiance/Ashtabula departed for Monroe.
Cleveland, OH:   Kaye E. Barker unloaded ore at the Bulk Terminal then left for Sandusky once empty. Mark W. Barker departed with salt for Green Bay.
Fairport Harbor, OH:  Arrivals were Frontenac to load at Morton Salt and Sam Laud anchoring in Lake Erie.
Erie, PA:  Victory/Maumee arrived to unload limestone at Carmeuse.
Buffalo, NY:  Saltie Koznitza arrived with sugar for Sucro Sourcing.
Nanticoke, ON:  Departures were Edwin H. Gott for Two Harbors and Algonova for Sarnia.
Bill Kloss

Hanseatic Inspiration Pays a Visit to the Soo

Oct 5, 2026

The cruise ship Hanseatic Inspiration arrived at the Carbride dock in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Monday late morning. This is her first visit of the season. The 450-foot-long vessel, which carries 230 passangers, is expected to depart for Mackinac Island at 6 p.m. She is a luxury expedition cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hanseatic Inspiration arriving at the Carbide Dock Monday. [Roger LeLievre]

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