Boatnerd News – November 30, 2023

November 30, 2023

Secretary Buttigieg visits Monroe to tout
infrastructure law funded project

MONROE, MI — Ports like Monroe’s represent “a lot of untapped resources and logistical potential” throughout the Great Lakes and Midwest, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said following a tour Wednesday afternoon of the docks along the River Raisin.

“I’m inspired by the commitment and energy right here at the Port of Monroe,” Secretary Buttigieg said during a post-tour news conference on the wharf where the Tug America, at 126 years the oldest commercially working tugboat in the world, was docked.

Mr. Buttigieg’s visit comes about a year after the U.S. Maritime Administration awarded a $11.1 million grant for improvements to the Monroe port that include wharf expansion and repairs to existing docks. The port also is using $5 million in state funds to build a marine container terminal scheduled to open during the second half of 2024.

At about 12 acres, the site won’t be anywhere near the size of coastal container ports. But Paul LaMarre III, the port’s director, said it will diversify Monroe’s capabilities and potentially attract higher-value cargoes.

The logistical potential in the Great Lakes and Midwest could be put to greater use, and that potential “is no less important to this country” than coastal ports and shipping, said Mr. Buttigieg, who, before joining the Biden Administration, was mayor of South Bend, Ind., and now calls Traverse City, Mich., home.

Mr. Buttigieg said he scheduled the local visit to call attention to how the bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed and signed several years ago is now producing results. “This is shining a light on good work,” he said. “Now we’re seeing the literally concrete example of how it’s put to use.”

The federal funding provides for replacing the surface of an existing wharf and building a second along the River Raisin assigned to handling wind energy equipment; improvements to the turning basin area, including dock repairs, fender and bollard installation, and replacing about 390 feet of failed sheet pile dock face; remodeling a small-boat slip for use by harbor-assist vessels; and installing shore power infrastructure at the riverfront wharves.

Monroe “is an example of how you put a port back on the map,” said Mr. LaMarre, who the city hired in 2012 to revive a port that at the time had little more than fuel for Detroit Edison’s massive coal-fired power plant to claim on its ledgers.

The port director played two videos about the port before taking the transportation secretary on a brief tour of its grounds, with stops near the harbor crane, front-end loader, and reacher-stacker and then at the wharf by the tugboat, to which Mr. LaMarre cheekily referred as his “girlfriend.”

Along with the port’s efforts to develop markets for synthetic gypsum and bottom ash from the power plant, he said, neighboring Gerdau Steel has recently shipped some of its bar stock via lake freighters to a grinding-ball mill in Duluth, Minn.

Monroe Mayor Robert Clark said Mr. LaMarre’s success at identifying outbound cargo for ships that bring coal into Monroe has been especially valuable, while the port’s diversification is critical given that Detroit Edison plans to close the plant by 2031.

“We had a port, but it wasn’t operational,” the mayor said of the local harbor’s status when he first took office 14 years ago.

Mr. LaMarre said the Whitmer administration’s recent shepherding of a $5 million maritime program in Michigan was vital to the Monroe port’s ability to obtain federal grant money, to which the state funding serves as the required “local match.”

State funds of $3.2 million, partially matching the $11 million from the federal Port Infrastructure and Development Program, were needed, otherwise, it would have represented three years’ worth of the Monroe port’s entire annual budget, he said.

Mr. Buttigieg, during his time in Monroe, also visited the West Elm Avenue crossing of CSX Transportation railroad tracks, near Telegraph Road, where a $23.9 million federal grant awarded in June will pay for design and construction of an underpass. Construction is scheduled to start in late 2026 or early 2027.

Toledo Blade, David Patch

Christmas Tree Ship crosses Lake Michigan, bringing holiday spirit, tradition to Chicago

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Once again, Chicago’s Christmas Ship is ready to bring some holiday spirit
from northern Michigan to the Windy City. Over the weekend, volunteers loaded up the U.S.
Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw with more than 1,000 Christmas trees to be given to families in
need in Chicago. It’s a tradition more than a century in the making.

It started as an homage to a family who made the trip for decades, buying trees in northern
Michigan to be sold in Chicago. For decades, they returned to port with thousands of trees and
were quickly known as the “Christmas Tree Ships.”

Two brothers, August and Herman Schuenemann, lost their lives for their business. August died
when his ship was caught in a storm in 1898, and Herman’s boat, the Rouse Simmons, went
down in 1912.

The Coast Guard took up the mantle established by the Schuenemanns in 1999. Every year,
1,200 trees are bundled gathered in northern Michigan and loaded onto the Mackinaw for an
annual trip to Chicago. The crew also stops during the middle of their trip to hold a wreath ceremony to remember the Schuenemanns and the crew members who were lost on those two ships.

The Mackinaw is set to arrive in Chicago on Friday. Tree offloading will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

WOOD

U.S. Steel gains on report five parties
are expected to make bids

U.S. Steel (NYSE:X) rose 1.8% amid a report that five parties are expected to make offers for the
steelmaker. Final bids are due Friday, CNBC's David Faber said, citing people familiar. Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) and ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) are expected to make bids for the entire
company.

CNBC’s Faber reiterated his previous reporting that Techint, an Argentinian company with a U.S.
subsidiary called Ternium, may also make a bid, though likely with a partner.The U..S Steel (X) sale process is expected to continue through next week, according to Faber. It may take a couple more weeks to get a deal signed and that the parties likely want to get it
done prior to the holidays, Faber speculated.

Obituary: Stanley C. Hildebrandt

Stanley “Steamer” Clifford Hildebrandt, age 72, of Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, passed away after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia on Thursday, November 23, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born May 30, 1951, in Superior to Clifford and Eunice (Thomas) Hildebrandt. He was raised in Lake Nebagamon and graduated from Northwestern High School, class of 1970.

Stanley was united in marriage to Diane Gustafson on October 10, 1980, and they recently celebrated forty-three years of marriage before his passing.

In 1989 Stan and Diane relocated to South Range and began their adventure in the motel business. They made South Range their home for many years before moving back to Lake Nebagamon earlier this year.

Stan was known for his strong work ethic. He sailed the Great Lakes for US Steel from 1970 until his retirement in 2001 while also supporting his family and maintaining a thriving business, Sleepy Hollow Motel (1989-2019).

Stan is remembered for his generous heart. He was always willing to lend a hand in home improvement and woodworking projects. He enjoyed watching old westerns, listening to old country music, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers. He loved to be outdoors hunting and four wheeling, traveling, and enjoyed a good dish of ice cream. Above all, Stan loved spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Diane; two daughters, Katie Hildebrandt (fiancée Matt Lano), and Karla Hildebrandt; granddaughter, Kaylah (daughter of Karla); sisters, Joyce Meyers and Sandy Hildebrandt, and brother Tracy Hildebrandt.

In addition to his parents, Stan was preceded in death by his grandson, Evan Hildebrandt; brothers, Leslie Hildebrandt, and Karl Hildebrandt; sister, Ardith Peterson, and his in-laws, Russell & Elsie Gustafson.

A Graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday, December 2nd at the Lake Nebagamon Cemetery. Immediately following we will gather at Patti’s Dockside, 11580 Waterfront Drive, Lake Nebagamon, WI.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be given in Stan’s name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or Essentia Health-St Mary’s Hospice, c/o Miller-Dwan Foundation, 502 East 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Twin Ports Health Services for all their support.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5th Street, Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.