Museum tug John Purves to head to shipyard Monday

The Door County Maritime Museum expects to move the tug John Purves Monday morning, December 11. She will be moved by tugs from Roen Salvage and brought to Fincatiari Bay Ship in Sturgeon Bay for drydocking to do some needed maintenance.  The 1919-built tug will return to the west waterfront and moor in her berth alongside the Door County Maritime Museum in early spring.

The Door County Maritime Museum, which began offering tours of the tug boat in 2008, secured the last piece of funding needed to make a number of repairs to the vessel’s hull among other improvements. Deputy Director and Development Manager Sam Perlman says it is important for the tug to be preserved for future generations to tour, something over 70,000 people have already been able to experience.

Read more about this vintage tug at this link: https://dcmm.org/tug-john-purves-sturgeon-bay/

Door Country Daily News

True stories behind 12 of Wisconsin’s coolest lighthouses

There are 55 lighthouses along Wisconsin’s shores, the majority dating back to the 1800s. For centuries, the beacons of light ensured the safe passage of ships crossing the Great Lakes, bringing all sorts of cargo and passengers across the oft-angry waters.

Although many of them are no longer in service, each lighthouse that still stands serves as a scenic reminder of the state’s maritime past—a past that includes deadly shipwrecks, haunted encounters, tragic love affairs, and scenes reminiscent of the 2019 thriller “The Lighthouse.”

Content warning: The following article mentions suicide.

Michigan Island Lighthouse, Apostle Islands
It wasn’t until the beacon of Michigan Island Lighthouse was finally lit in 1857 that someone realized a monumental mistake had occurred. You see, the lighthouse was supposed to be housed on Long Island, which was just a hop, skip, and jump away from Michigan Island, where it was built. At some point in the planning process, lines had gotten crossed and the construction took place on the wrong island. After one shipping season, the Lighthouse Service moved the lantern room to a different structure. A decade or so later, a new lantern room was installed on Michigan Island.
Another notable story about this lighthouse occurred in 1895 when a keeper spent the winter there. While fishing one day, the ice broke and his wife and three kids watched as he floated away on top of the berg. He ended up stranded for four days but was eventually rescued.

Asylum Lighthouse, Oshkosh
With such a foreboding name, you just know this lighthouse has a backstory. The Northern Asylum for the Insane (later changed to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute) was built in 1871 on the small island of Lake Winnebago. The surrounding bay and subsequent lighthouse were named after the psychiatric hospital.
One of the asylum’s notable patients was John Flammang Schrank, who attempted to assassinate Theodore Roosevelt. Another infamous patient who is still currently housed there is Morgan Geyser, one of two 12-year-old girls who lured their friend into the woods and attempted to murder her to appease the fictional character Slender Man in 2014.
After the suspicious death of a patient in 1934, a legislative inquiry into treatment at Wisconsin’s mental health facilities was launched, resulting in a mass firing of staff. There’s even a cemetery on Asylum Point, though few of the former patients buried there have headstones.

Cana Island Lighthouse, Baileys Harbor
Built in 1869 and considered the most iconic of Door County’s 11 lighthouses, Cana Island Lighthouse has stood watch at Baileys Harbor for more than 150 years.
Two decades after the lighthouse was built, a disastrous storm hit the Great Lakes. Nicknamed the “Big Blow of 1880,” the October storm destroyed a total of seven ships, the most notable being the Alpena, a 200-foot side-wheel steamer that capsized after hitting what was called the “worst gale in Lake Michigan recorded history.” After the wreck, thousands of apples that the Alpena had been carrying were seen bobbing around Saugatuck. Though the only known passenger list was aboard the vessel, it’s believed that all 80+ people aboard lost their lives that night.
These days, you can take a complimentary tractor-and-hay-wagon ride to shuttle you over the causeway to Cana Island, where you can climb the 97 steps up to the top of the lighthouse. 

Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Rock Island
Built in 1836, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin. In fact, it’s even older than the state itself. With so many keepers coming in and out over the years, it comes as no surprise that the lighthouse has a few ghost stories attached to it.
According to Travel Wisconsin, visitors have reported strange noises, doors opening and closing on their own, and thumping sounds coming from the second floor. Many attribute the encounters to the lighthouse’s first keeper, David Corbin, who happens to be buried just outside. You can tour the lighthouse from Memorial Day to Columbus Day if you want to check it out for yourself.

Sherwood Point Lighthouse, Nasewaupee
Sherwood Point Lighthouse is another supposedly haunted destination in Door County. About 50 years after it was built, the then-keeper—named William Cochems—married Minnie Hesh, who later became one of the few women in history to hold the title of assistant keeper. Her position didn’t last long, though, as she suffered a stroke and died within the lighthouse walls.
Ever since, people have reported hearing creepy noises including muffled voices and teacups clinking. Perhaps the spookiest encounter happened when a relative of Hesh’s visited the lighthouse in 1984 and took a photograph that appeared to show her face in a window.

Outer Island Light, Apostle Islands
Aside from its stately structure and inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the Outer Island Light is known for two eerie shipwrecks that occurred there on the same night.
On Sept. 2, 1905, a 337-foot schooner barge named Pretoria lost the line to the steamer it was towing amid a wild storm and began to break apart. The 10 men aboard hopped into a lifeboat and tried to make it to shore, but the lifeboat flipped over. Even though 61-year-old keeper John Irvine was alone and without his two assistants that night, he swam to the boat and heroically rescued half the crew.
Sadly, the steamer Sevona didn’t have the same luck, as it struck a reef that same night and sank to Lake Superior’s floor along with its seven-man crew.

Rawley Point Lighthouse, Two Rivers
Rawley Point houses the tallest lighthouse in Wisconsin. Under the control of the US Coast Guard since its construction in 1853, the lighthouse stands 113 feet high and is one of the brightest lights on the Great Lakes.
Before (and after) the navigational aid was erected, the area saw a number of deadly shipwrecks. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a total of 26 ships were “founded or stranded on the point,” including a barge, two steamers, three brigs, and 20 schooners.
The most infamous of them all was a steamship called Vernon, which at the time was one of the biggest and most elegant ships on the Great Lakes. On one fateful journey in October 1887, the massive ship sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan, killing 48 people—leaving one lone survivor.

Algoma Lighthouse, Algoma
The Algoma Lighthouse, also called Algoma Pierhead, was initially built as a set of range lights in 1893. Even before the actual tower and accommodations were built at the end of the pier, Algoma Lighthouse had several keepers that manned the tower.
In 1901, the third keeper of the light—Gustavus Umberham—made his way to the area, bringing his five children with him. A decade later, he sadly met his demise while boating with friends when a giant wave pushed him overboard. At the time of his death, his salary was $600.

Green Island Lighthouse, Peshtigo
The two-story Green Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1862, and Samuel Drew was hired to be its very first keeper. He, his wife, and their six children moved onto the island to begin their new job.
Three months after having their seventh child, Anna H. Drew, a storm hit the area. Anna fell ill, but the weather prevented the family from heading to the mainland to seek medical care for her. She died and was subsequently buried on the island, where you can still see her grave. Two other Drew kids—Helen Marie and Frank—went on to become keepers themselves.
If you travel to the spooky site now, all you’ll see is an abandoned, hollow shell surrounded by overgrown weeds, as the lighthouse was deactivated back in 1956.

Chambers Island Lighthouse, Gibraltar
To get to Chambers Island Lighthouse, constructed in 1868, you have to take a boat across Green Bay. Many keepers have tended to the light over the years, and a ghost or two have reportedly taken up residence as well.
According to Travel Wisconsin, the first paranormal experience happened in spring 1976, when a caretaker heard footsteps coming down the staircase and crossing the living room and kitchen before the kitchen door closed on its own. When renovations took place a few years later, workers noticed tools disappearing and reappearing in strange places. Overnight visitors also reported their beds shaking in the middle of the night.
Some have attributed the occurrences to the ghost of the lighthouse’s first keeper, Lewis S. Williams.

Pilot Island Lighthouse, Gills Rock
In the mid-19th century, it became increasingly apparent that the narrow strait that links Lake Michigan and Green Bay required a lighthouse. The waters were so treacherous that the area was named Porte des Morts, which translates to “Death’s Door.” In 1848, Congress approved the construction of a lighthouse, which was initially built on Plum Island.
After the lighthouse was rebuilt on the nearby Pilot Island, a number of keepers manned the structure. Victor Rohn served a total of 10 years there, where he and his wife raised their seven children. He once described the island as affording “about as much independence and liberty as Libby Prison,” which was an infamously overcrowded and derelict institution.
A couple years after Rohn ended his stint, Emmanuel Davidson and John Boyce took over. Shortly into Boyce’s new role, he helped a farmer butcher his cow, making sure to ask where the jugular vein was located. Soon after, his body was located with both his jugular veins having been sliced by a razor. According to Lighthouse Friends, “Boyce had been depressed prior to taking his life, and many people believed it was the isolation and loneliness of being a keeper on Pilot Island that drove him to take his own life, but a relative of Boyce insisted his depression was due to a failed romantic relationship.”

Sand Island Lighthouse, Apostle Islands
 Sand Island Lighthouse was built at the west end of Lake Superior’s Apostle Island chain in 1881. Although it was one of the first lighthouses in Wisconsin to become automated in 1921, and only had two keepers before then, they both led interesting lives.
The first keeper, Charles Lederle, single-handedly rescued the crew of the steamer Prussia, which had caught fire several miles from shore. The second keeper, Emmanuel Luick, moved in with his wife Ella in 1892. When Luick became ill in 1901, Ella completed all of his duties herself. As soon as the Lighthouse Board secured a permanent assistant keeper, though, Ella boarded a ship for Bayfield, never to return to the lighthouse (or her husband) again.

[Article from UPNORTHNEWS}

Obituary:  Prentiss Marsh “Moey” Brown Jr.

Prentiss Marsh “Moey” Brown Jr., age 97, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died on December 3, 2023, at Evergreen Living Center. He was born in St. Ignace on December 5, 1925, to Prentiss Sr. and Marion (Walker) Brown.

Moey attend the public schools in St. Ignace and Washington D.C. He was drafted in 1944, while still a senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace. He was honorably discharged in 1946 from the United States Navy. In the Fall of 1946, he attended Albion College. While he was there, he became the MIAA Champion in the half mile. Spring of 1948, he graduated from Albion College and married Margaret Alice Dolese. He then went on to attend the University of Michigan Law School in late 1948. He graduated from the UofM Law School in June of 1951 and went on to join Brown & Brown Law Office with his father, Prentiss M. Brown, and brother, James J. Brown.

Moey was the Democratic candidate for 11th U.S. Congressional Seat 1952, 1956, 1958, and 1960. He was the City of St. Ignace Attorney from April 22, 1957, thru May of 2012. He was a Board Member of the First National Bank of St. Ignace from 1953 to present date and Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank of St. Ignace 1964 to present date. He was also a board member of Union Terminal Piers/Arnold Line from 1953 thru 2010, Trustee of Albion College 1966 thru 1996, and St. Ignace Kiwanis Club charter member from 1951 thru present date.

He was a lifelong devoted member of the United Methodist Church and avid fan of St. Ignace LaSalle High School and University of Michigan sporting events. He was on the original Michigan Title Standards Committee of the State Bar of Michigan for more than ten years. Moey had been on the Board of the Mackinac Straits Hospital & Health Care Center from its inception and has served on its legal counsel for many years. He served as a Board Member for over 30 years for The St. Ignace Golf & Country Club. Prentiss and his brother, James, were also co-owners of Whiteside Abstract & Title Insurance Company for over 50 years. Moey was the City Attorney for the City of Mackinac Island for many years and has been the attorney for many townships in the surrounding area over many years.

Moey is survived by three sons and a daughter; Stephen, Charles, Benjamin, and Mary Margaret “Diggy”; brother, Paul (Meg) Brown; ten grandchildren; and twelve great- grandchildren with another on the way.

Moey was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; parents, Prentiss Sr. and Marion; siblings, Maryanna Rudolph, Ruth Evashevski, Barbara Laing, Patricia Watson, and James brown Jr.

Memorial donations in Moey’s memory may be made out to the St. Ignace Methodist Church, the Mackinac Straits Hospital or another charity of your choice.

His father, Prentiss M. Brown, was often called “The Father of the Mackinac Bridge,” Brown grew up beside the Straits of Mackinac and from boyhood envisioned a bridge that would link Michigan’s two peninsulas. He devoted his skill and resources unselfishly toward that end for some 30 years prior to the opening in 1957 of the great twin-towered suspension structure that ranks among the world’s outstanding engineering achievements. Brown served as chairman of the Mackinac Bridge Authority from its inception in 1950 until his death in 1973.

2 filmmakers with an underwater drone accidentally found a 128-year-old shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Huron

A pair of filmmakers who spent two years shooting footage for a documentary about invasive mussels in the Great Lakes accidentally discovered a 128-year-old shipwreck that vanished in 1895.
The wreck is believed to be the Africa, which was carrying coal — along with 11 doomed sailors — from Ohio to Ontario in October of 1895 before disappearing into Lake Huron amid an early season snowstorm, according to the filmmakers.

Over a century later, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick received a tip from scientists while they were working on their documentary.
“Scientists doing an offshore fish survey had noticed an anomaly on their sonar readout, basically an unusual bump on an otherwise flat lakebed,” Melnick said in a press release. The couple, who specialize in underwater videography, grabbed their ultra-low-light, high-resolution camera system and journeyed out to the site of the anomaly, expecting to find “a pile of rocks.”
Instead, when their remotely operated vehicle descended 85 meters, “a huge structure loomed up from the depths — it was a shipwreck. We couldn’t believe it,” Melnick said.

The wreck was difficult to identify — images from the filmmakers show the ship is covered by the invasive quagga mussels that have been overhauling the ecosystem of the Great Lakes.
quagga mussels on shipwreck
Every inch of the Africa is covered with invasive quagga mussels, which have been plaguing the Great Lakes for years.
But the filmmakers said that with the help of a local maritime historian and a marine archaeologist, the Africa emerged as the likeliest possibility. The vessel’s measurements matched that of the “Africa,” plus Melnick and Drebert saw coal scattered across the lake bottom near the wreck.
“There are so many quaggas filtering the Great Lakes, that the lakes are up to three times as clear as they were before the mussels,” Drebert said in the press release. “The quaggas are the reason we’re able to see the shipwreck in almost 300 feet of water without any additional lights. But they’re also responsible for making wreck identification in the Great Lakes incredibly difficult.”

The couple’s documentary, “All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes,” is set to be released in early 2024.

Minnesota, Wisconsin Governors request over $1B in federal funds to replace Blatnik Bridge in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers say a critical bridge between the bordering states on Lake Superior needs to be replaced.
We need to rebuild the aging Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior.
I’m proud to partner with @GovEvers in supporting this project, bolstering our national supply chains, and strengthening the transportation network that serves hundreds of communities between our states.

On Monday, both governors announced that their respective transportation departments have requested over $1 billion in federal funding to rebuild the John A. Blatnik Bridge, which connects Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin.
“The Blatnik Bridge is a critical connection point for transportation and commerce between Minnesota and Wisconsin — and it needs an upgrade,” Walz said. “I’m proud to partner with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as we urge our federal partners to support this project that will foster regional economic growth, bolster our national supply chains, and strengthen the reliability of our transportation network that serves hundreds of communities between our states.”

The total project cost is estimated to be $1.8 billion, with each state committing $400 million to the project this year. The federal funding portion would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program.
The bridge is more than 60 years old, serving as a vital link between the two cities via Interstate 535 and U.S. Highway 53.
“As the bridge reaches the end of its service life, its condition continues to deteriorate — and it’s time for us to exhaust every opportunity to replace this crucial connector with a safer, more efficient, and more reliable structure for the next generation,” Evers said. “This submittal is a major step forward for our two states, and I look forward to continuing to work with Gov. Walz and our partners in Minnesota and our federal partners to build the 21st-century infrastructure the people of our states deserve.”
Officials say the project will improve safety and accommodate oversized and overweight loads.

Last March, President Joe Biden visited the bridge with both governors to highlight a $1 trillion federal infrastructure law.

Lake Superior, known for icy waters, one of the fastest warming lakes in the world.

MINNEAPOLIS — Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world — a sea known for its pristine cold water. But in a warming world, that’s changing.

Before dawn, a crew boards the Blue Heron, an old fishing boat converted into a floating lab for research.

The Department of Natural Resources checks on the lake’s fish populations to manage and support one of the state’s great resources and pastimes. On a chilly Madison Lake in central Minnesota, they’re electro-shocking those fish to collect samples. Experts then look at their size, age and diets to get a baseline, then compare it to winter.

As students work on the water, professors like oceanographer Jay Austin are back at their home base — the Large Lakes Observatory at University of Minnesota Duluth.
Austin says Superior has warmed one degree per decade since the 80s, making it one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world.
“Temperature is sort of this master control knob on how ecosystems work,” Austin said.
Austin’s colleague, Ted Ozersky, says that’s churning a number of concerns.
“If we look at historical trends over the last 100 years, we’ve lost about 15 days of ice cover,” Ozersky said. “So loss of ice and loss of winter is stimulating these summertime algal blooms.”
In July 2012, the first algae bloom ever recorded was spotted on Lake Superior. About 30 days after a 500-year storm washed zoo animals out of their enclosures, dumping sediment into the lake that could be seen from space.

“It’s by far the cleanest and the clearest of all of the great lakes,” Ozersky said. “And it’s size. It feels like an ocean.”

Anthropologist John Shepard from Hamline University was there this summer as six marathon swimmers set a record going from Two Harbors to Duluth. No wetsuit needed in this balmy 60-degree water — something unimaginable just a short time ago.
“People everywhere are witnessing climate change no matter where you live,” Shepard said. “So in this region, some of the changes we’re seeing in Superior is one of the ways this comes to life for people.”
A warming Superior opens doors for different types of recreation — perhaps a longer commercial shipping season.
But in the face of these changes under the ice, above it and without it, there’s no question — Superior’s frigid legacy is changing.

“Why do people care so much about our large lakes?” WCCO’s Erin Hassanzadeh asked.
“Fresh water is a tremendously important resource,” Austin said. “The five lakes we have right here, are 20% of the world’s fresh surface water.”
“It’s such an important part of our regional heritage,” Shepard said.
“Ice gives us a sense of place, and that is changing over time,” Austin said. “We don’t want things to get worse, right? And so we have to understand how they work,”

In a recent study, ice expert Sapna Sharma with New York University said, “If we continue emitting greenhouse gases at this rate, Lake Superior will not freeze after the 2060s.”

CBS

Tecumseh a step closer to scrapper’s torch

Port Colborne, ON-The fire-damaged Tecumseh was towed from the outside dock into the scrapping berth at Marine Recycling Corp.’s Port Colborne facility on Tuesday.

Obituary: Robert T. Pocotte

Robert “Bob” Pocotte, 91, Sandusky, OH, passed away Monday, December 4, 2023, after suffering a stroke. He was born December 26, 1931, in Toledo, OH, to the late Captain Arthur M. “Pete” and Vivian B. (Felt) Pocotte.

Bob, who served as treasurer for the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for 37 years and was presented with a plaque for his years of distinguished service in 2021. All in all, he was a member of the MHSD for more than 50 years. He was also a member and longtime volunteer with the Great Lakes Historical Society and belonged to many other Great Lakes historical groups

Bob grew up in a Great Lakes family as his father was a captain for Cleveland Cliffs and Great Lakes Towing. He will be remembered as a kind man who remained active and interested in Great Lakes shipping history up until the end.

He graduated from Libbey High School in 1948 and the University of Toledo in 1954 (B.S. in Chemical Engineering). In 1954 he also married his wife Peggy (Turner) Pocotte. He worked in chemical and related industries for over 40 years. He retired to Port Clinton, OH and later to Sandusky, OH. Together with his wife, they did lots of charitable work through various Lutheran ministries. Bob was a board member for several Lutheran churches.

He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Susan (Dr. Joel Rudinger) Pocotte of Huron, OH; son, Scott (Nanette) Pocotte of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter, Sally (Cal) Jestice of Solon, OH; three grandchildren, Christopher (Maggie) Pocotte, Shawn (Brittany) Pocotte and Brian Jestice; three great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Polly Rubel of Sebring, FL; sister-in-law, Jean Turner of Gibsonburg, OH; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Robert is preceded in death by loving wife of 68 years, Peggy (Turner) Pocotte, July 20, 2023; sister, Patricia (the late Dr. William) Wells; parents-in-law, Carl F. and Mary (Evans) Turner; brothers-in-law, Michael Turner, Patrick Turner, and James Rubel.

The family wishes to thank Dr. T. Williamson and his staff, Dr. B. Grubb (UTMC), and Dr. B. Murphy (Cleveland Clinic) for their years of compassionate care. In addition, we thank the staff of Parkvue Community for their warm welcome to his last of 35 homes throughout a life that was well lived.

A private memorial service will take place at the convenience of the family. Read the online obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/toledoblade/name/robert-pocotte-obituary?id=53760000&fbclid=IwAR1mqkACi42LP0vufdh4O1Xr4BOpI1RITiP8CnjQI906-XPHv6DymQfrhYc

Army Corps reminds everyone to avoid piers in windy weather

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is urging caution around Great Lakes piers and breakwaters, especially during high winds and waves.

Josh Hachey is the Chief of Operations of the Support Section of the Army Corps and tells us this is the time of year when it gets more dangerous to wander out on to the piers.

“The Great Lakes are dangerous anytime if you’re not careful, but cold water, in particular, can cause shock and can cause drowning,” Hachey said. “So, the main thing is to stay away from those structures during any period of inclement weather.”

Hachey says a person can get cold shock in less than 60 seconds if they fall into Lake Michigan. He reminds everyone piers aren’t there for recreation.
“Keep in mind that the reason the structures are there is to protect the harbor, to make sure the ships come in and out of the harbor safely. So while it’s not uncommon for people to walk out on the structures and use them for recreation purposes, the primary reason for the structures is to protect the harbor and ensure that shipping and boat traffic can continue safely.
“Hachey also says objects under the water aren’t as visible on windy days, and someone who’s fallen into the lake can injure themselves by hitting them. He notes every year, west Michigan sees drownings because of people falling off piers.
Additionally, everyone’s reminded to stay off Lake Michigan ice once it forms. As the Coast Guard says, no ice is safe ice.
Hachey says for more information on water and pier safety, the Great Lakes Beach and Pier Safety Task Force website is a great resource at RespectThePower.org.

History Lesson: 13-year-old dives into maritime history

TOWN OF CHAMPION, New York (WWNY) – Ivan Schell is 13 years old but knows more about ships than the average adult.

He knows so much, he’s started an educational YouTube channel about maritime history along the Great Lakes, which has been well received by thousands of followers.
“Well, for two years or so I’ve been making videos,” he said. “I recently made the shift talking about Great Lakes maritime history because its local to us and rarely covered on YouTube and stuff.”
He does all the research, scripting, voicing, and editing for his videos. They can take weeks to perfect.
“I get a lot of nice responses in the comments section,” he said. “I love comments that say this is informational and you did a good job.”
He says YouTube has been a positive outlet for his passions.
“That way I can be myself and I don’t have to be like other people, and I can have like a potential career.”
He’s already caught the attention of the St. Lawrence Seaway Shipwatchers group, which is giving him his own segment called Ivan’s Insights on their podcast.
His goals for the future are to continue learning more about maritime history, educate others through his content, and continue improving.
“Hopefully make each video better than the other, which is what I always try to do.”
You can check out Ivan’s work on his YouTube channel, “Top Impressive Line.”

Copyright 2023 WWNY. All rights reserved.

Kathy McKeil heads through the Seaway

SEAWAY – Kathy McKeil was downbound from Snell Lock Sunday morning. The tanker is the
former Algosea, purchased from Algoma by McKeil Marine. She is on her way to China to be
converted to a bulker. See the photo gallery for the comment Michael Folsom got from Vice
Chairman Blair McKeil about the ship being named after his wife Kathy.

Pat English, Michael Folsom

Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw makes
yearly Christmas tree delivery to Navy Pier

CHICAGO, IL — Hundreds of local families will experience some extra holiday joy this year, after
the Chicago Christmas tree ship made its yearly stop at Navy Pier Saturday. Listen to the WGN
story here: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/coast-guard-cutter-mackinaw-makes-
yearly-christmas-tree-delivery-to-navy-pier/?fbclid=IwAR3kBEisqL9Ecand-
efl9ddhSREq5Vg96W0o7MGEb-7ZBAlWCCmRWZfO6Po

Christmas Tree Ship arrives
at National Museum of the Great Lakes

TOLEDO, OH – Santa Claus arrived on the Christmas Tree Ship as trees were unloaded from the
tug George Gradel at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in East Toledo, Dec. 2.
See the photo gallery for pictures from the Toledo Blade.

Interlake’s Mark W. Barker receives Admiral of The Ocean Sea Award

Interlake Steamship Co. President Mark W. Barker received the distinguished Admiral of The Ocean Sea Award Saturday evening in a special event in New York City.

Recognized as the most prestigious award in the maritime industry, the Admiral of The Ocean Sea Award (AOTOS) has been presented annually by United Seamen’s Service for the past 47  years.

The AOTOS Award is given in recognition of individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding support for American seafarers and the maritime industry of the United States.

MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI. – The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close for the Navigation Season at 7 a.m. Dec. 17, 2023, through April 24, 2024, to perform dam safety inspections and routine maintenance.

The Poe Lock will remain open until Jan. 15, 2024, or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The Soo Locks operating season is fixed by federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440).

“The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is 80 years old; the maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said

Lakes limestone trade up 22.8 percent in November

CLEVELAND, OH — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.1 million tons in November, an increase of 22.8 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos were 7.3 percent above the month’s 5-year average.

Loadings from U.S. quarries increased 23.6 percent from 2022 to 2.6 million tons. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 536,912 tons, an increase of 19.2 percent. Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at nearly 26.6 million tons, a decrease of 3.3 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased by 2.2 percent to nearly 21.5 million tons, while shipments from Ontario quarries total 5.2 million tons, a decrease of 7.5 percent from 2022.

See the details in the image gallery.

Lake Carriers’ Association

Beaver Island gets $10M to add
new ‘green’ passenger ferry

BEAVER ISLAND, MI – Michigan’s effort to enhance its ferry service to and from Beaver Island is getting another financial boost. On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Federal Transit Administration announced a $10 million grant to help the Beaver Island Transportation Authority add a new ship and improve its dock at the northern Lake Michigan island.

This is the second such grant the Beaver Island project has received this year from the federal Ferry Service For Rural Communities Program. In January, the project was awarded a grant worth $6.6 million.

Officials said the goal of the grant program, funded through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is to expand ferry service in rural communities by helping to fund electric boats that reduce carbon pollution, as well as provide upgrades to shore infrastructure.

The Beaver Island Transportation Authority is seeking a potential “green propulsion system” to power the new vessel. It received funding from the state earlier this year to study what type of non-diesel system it could utilize.

Getting a new ferry was estimated to cost $17.5 million when the project was announced in August 2022. Once the study is complete, the transportation authority said it would come up with a new estimate for the cost of the vessel, as well as yearly upkeep and the configuration of a new dock.

Beaver Island, which is about 32 miles west of Charlevoix, is the largest island in Lake Michigan. It’s home to about 600 year-round residents, plus it’s a popular summer destination with multiple lighthouses, two nature preserves, and a state forest campground.

The Beaver Island Boat Company is the only operator of passenger ferries to the island. It operates two ferries: The Beaver Islander, built in 1962; and the Emerald Isle, built in 1997. Emerald Isle is owned by the Beaver Island Transportation Authority and is operated through a public-private partnership.

Read more and view imahes here: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2023/12/beaver-island-gets-10m-to-add-new-green-passenger-ferry.html

‘Christmas Tree Ship’ makes stop
to return recovered anchor

GRAND RAPIDS, MI ­­– The “Christmas Tree Ship” has taken a quick detour on its way to Chicago to return an item that was accidentally salvaged during a previous operation.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the Cutter Mackinaw stopped near Racine, Wisconsin, on Wednesday to return the anchor to the Kate Kelly.

“The Mackinaw and crew paused to return an anchor that had been recovered unintentionally when performing ‘Aids to Navigation Operations’ and pay respects for those who lost their lives on that day in 1895 aboard this anchor’s vessel,” the Facebook post read.

The anchor belonged to the Kate Kelly, a two-mast schooner that was built in 1867 in New York. The transport vessel spent nearly 30 years on the Great Lakes, delivering everything from grain and coal to iron ore.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Kate Kelly left Alpena with a load of hemlock railroad ties bound for Chicago. After a stop in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the ship was caught in a nasty storm and capsized off of the shore of Racine.

Investigators don’t know exactly what caused the ship to sink, but the Kate Kelly suffered heavy damage. The cabin, yawl boat and anchor were all torn away from the ship. All six people aboard the Kate Kelly were lost.

It won’t be the Mackinaw’s only stop to pay homage to lost sailors. The Mackinaw will also perform a wreath laying for the crew of the Rouse Simmons, one of the original “Christmas Tree Ships” that used to bring trees from northern Michigan to Chicago. The Mackinaw is scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Friday.

WOOD

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Cason J. Callaway towed to Escanaba

North Shore Marine’s tugs Nickelena, Erika Kobasic and Krystal towed the Cason J. Callaway to Escanaba from Sturgeon Bay Friday for continued lay up. She is tied at the North Shore Marine dock where the L.E. Block sat for many years, See images in the photo gallery.

Cason J. Callaway headed to Escanaba

Waterfront reports indicate tugs from North Shore Marine will be towing the Cason J. Callaway Friday to Escanaba from Sturgeon Bay for continued lay up.

Kathy McKeil on the way to China for conversion

McKeil Marine recent acquisition Algosea, renamed Kathy McKeil, left Sarnia Thursday for the Imperial Oil fuel dock and has now left for Montréal (ETA – Dec. 4 at 1800). Following a stop in Montréal, she will sail on the long voyage to China for her conversion to a bulk carrier, with a short stop in Las Palmas, Spain, en route.