Norisle scrap tow passes Port Huron

The Norisle scrap tow passed downbound at Port Huron/Sarnia just before dusk Thursday. The former Georgia Bay passenger and auto ferry was being towed to the scrapyard at Port Colborne, ON, by the tug Ecosse. Friday morning they were moored at Windsor.

Norisle was built in Collingwood, ON, in 1946 and shuttled people and vehicles between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island from 1947 to 1974 before being replaced by the current ferry Chi-Cheemaun.

Norisle has been used as a floating museum in Manitowaning, ON, since the Township of Assiginack purchased it for $1 in 1975. Various efforts to preserve the vessel were unsuccessful.

Northern Venture Expected at Montreal Oct. 8

McKeil Marine’s newest addition to its fleet (and its first self-unloader) Northern Venture will arrive at Montreal Oct. 8 estimated ETA 0500. The time expected to change as they will lose speed transiting the Seaway. She is traveling with a load of blast furnace slag from Japan bound for Picton, ON.

Gallery photo courtesy Bill Sly, AB onboard Northern Venture

Lakes Limestone Trade Down 2.6 Percent in September

CLEVELAND, OH – Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.4 million tons in September, a decrease of 2.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos were below the month’s 5-year average by 5.5 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 2.4 percent from 2022.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 651,520 tons, a decrease of 3.5 percent.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 19.7 million tons, a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 15.9 million tons, a decrease of 4.6 percent.  Shipments from Ontario quarries total 3.8 million tons, a decrease of 13.8 percent.

Lake Carriers’ Association