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.

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.

Three tugs free Barbro G.

UPDATE: The Barbro G was freed just after 2 p.m. Tuesday thanks to the combined efforts of the Great Lakes Towing Co. tugs Ontario, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.  She was moved back to the anchorage where she will be inspected for damage.

Work to move Barbro G. to resume Tuesday morning

DETROIT, MI-A freighter aground off downtown Detroit will be refloated Tuesday morning. Tugs
were on the Detroit River most of Monday trying to free the Barbro G, which ran aground in the
river near downtown Detroit shortly after 7:30 a.m.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes, the 623-foot freighter was in the Belle Isle
Anchorage when the crew noticed a malfunctioning thruster, which resulted in the ship getting
stuck. The ship, which was flying the Portuguese flag, was on a stopover in Detroit while
delivering a shipment of wheat from Thunder Bay to Italy.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, the Coast Guard tweeted that a second tugboat had arrived to
try to free the vessel. The crew had been in contact with U.S. and Canadian authorities to plan a
safe refloating.

The Coast Guard tweeted again Monday evening that a refloating plan had been approved and
crews will try beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

WDIV

Name changes at the U.S. Coast Guard

CLEVELAND, OH – Coast Guard Sectors Buffalo and Sault Ste. Marie are scheduled to change names to Sectors Eastern Great Lakes and Northern Great Lakes, respectively, on Dec. 1, 2023.

Duluth port drew thousands of Great Lakes cruise passengers this year

DULUTH — More than 4,000 cruise passengers visited Duluth in 2023 resulting in $600,000 in economic impact for the city, according to officials at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, which has a customs facility on site.

“The lion’s share of these guests would not be visiting our community otherwise and now they know of this great place we call Duluth,” DECC director Dan Hartman said in a news release.

There were four ships that came through the Duluth Harbor, including the Ocean Navigator, Octantis, Polaris and Hanseatic Inspiration. Florida based American Queen Voyages, which owns Ocean Navigator, announced earlier this year that is ending its Great Lakes tours in favor of river cruises.

More than 25,000 passengers visited ports on the Great Lakes in the past year — a 20% increase from 2022, according to Cruise the Great Lakes, a regional marketing initiative.

Cruises resumed travel through this part of Lake Superior in May 2022. Before that, it had been nearly a decade since the last cruise ship docked in Duluth.

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Barbro G aground at Detroit

6 p.m. UPDATE: Refloating operations have been suspended until 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

At 7:37 a.m. Monday, the Barbro G, a 623 ft Portuguese freighter, reported they were aground just outside the Belle Isle Anchorage in the Detroit River. Coast Guard response boats have been dispatched to assess the situation. There are no reports of pollution, injuries or damage and there is no impact to commercial traffic The tug WISCONSIN currently assisting. The Barbro G is carrying 21,000 tons of wheat from Canada to Italy.

U.S.Coast Guard

Listen to the Detroit River live scanner here: https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/38382

BBC Georgia reported freed

On Sunday night, the grounded BBC Georgia become dislodged during high tide and tugs were
preparing to move the ship to nearby anchorage. AIS Monday morning showed Groupe Ocean tugs still in attendance.

Michael James Folsom

Christmas tree ship continues with USCG Mackinaw

Cheboygan, MI – More than 100 people showed up Sunday afternoon to properly send off the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and its crew, which are delivering Christmas trees to northern Illinois.

The Christmas Tree Ship has been a tradition for many years with the United States Coast Guard, taking the trees from Northern Michigan to Chicago. The ship departed at 2 p.m., loaded with trees, with crew members and Santa Claus waving to the community members, local Coast Guard families and even several fluffy friends.

The Cheboygan and Emmet Counties Chapter of American Rosie the Riveter Association members Linda Rogers and Angie Morthland-Timan were also at the event, handing out hot chocolate and cookies to those wishing the Christmas crew their best.

City of Cheboygan

Tugs, barge arrive at BBC Georgia
grounded on the St. Lawrence River

BBC Georgia remains aground between Trois Rivières and Quebec, and suffering from water intake that has flooded the engine room and at least one of holds. Three Ocean tugs are on the scene, as well as a barge. The ship had pumps placed on board from the barge via CCG helicopter this evening. The barge will be used to hold water from the ship. It’s believed once the ship is considered secure for transit, it will be moved to Montreal. Vessel traffic is not prohibited at this time and the ship is clear outside the channel.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Late night on November 23, the cargo ship BBC Georgia, en route to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, with a stopover in Montreal, ran aground in the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Trois Rivière by Grondines. According to local sources, the condition of BBC Georgia is not good. The tug Ocean Aqua has arrived towing a barge with pumps that will be used to pump out water that has filled the ship’s hull. The engine room is flooded. The tugs Ocean Taiga and Ocean K. Rusby are also nearby. There are no reports of injuries.

Rene Beauchamp, Michael James Folsom , St. Lawrence Seaway Ship Watchers Network

General cargo ship BBC GEORGIA, IMO 9357224, dwt 12797, built 2008, flag Antigua, manager DELFT SCHIFFAHRT GMBH & CO KG

Winter storm takes aim at Lake Superior

Gale warnings on Lake Superior have vessels hugging the south shore of the lake Sunday morning. Wave heightsare forecast to reach 10-13 feet in some areas.  Sault Ste. Marie is expected to get nearly a foot of snow between Sunday and Tuesday. AT 9 p.m. Sunday, four vessels – Joseph L Block, Saginaw, CSL Welland and CSL Laurentien – were on the hook in the lee of the Keweenaw Peninsula. See MAFOR forecast and AIS in photo gallery.

COVID-19 outbreak aboard Canadian warship forces cancellation of Great Lakes tour

An outbreak of COVID-19 aboard a Canadian warship has forced the Royal Canadian Navy to cancel the remainder of a tour of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

HMCS Harry DeWolf, an arctic offshore patrol ship, was in Montreal on Friday when the decision was made to close the vessel to visitors and shelve the tour. The ship’s command team issued a statement on social media saying upcoming visits to Trois-Rivières, Que., Québec City and Saguenay, Que., had to be cancelled.

The ship, which can carry between 60 and 85 crew members, was expected to return to its home port in Halifax. Earlier this month, the 103-metre ship visited Toronto, Hamilton and Kingston, Ont.

The Canadian Press

BBC Georgia damaged in St. Lawrence River grounding

Late night on November 23, the cargo ship BBC Georgia, en route to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, with a stopover in Montreal, ran aground off Grondines, St. Lawrence River. Reports indicate it took on water and the engine room was flooded. The tugboat Ocean Taiga is nearby.

Rene Beauchamp

Wind warnings halt some laker traffic

Several vessels went to anchor on the northern Great Lakes Friday due to weather. They included:
• East side of the Keweenaw Peninsula: Ashtabula-Defiance and Maumee/Victory

• Off Paradise, MI: American Century, CSL Welland, Phiip R; Clarke, Joyce L. VanEnkevort-Great Lakes Trader
• Off Bay Mills: Tim S. Dool
• At Nine Mile Point, St. Marys River: CSL Laurentien
• DeTour: Stewart J. Cort

Thanksgiving best wishes from Boatnerd

We all hope that everyone out on the lakes had a good Thanksgiving. Even though you had to work, most of you got to have a good meal with your shipmates. We hope all the cooks put on a feast to try and fill that void of not being able to be with family. We also know your families at home missed you and understand why you could not be with them. Know that the jobs that you do are needed to keep things moving and are appreciated. As we say to our military, we also say to you. “Thank you for your service.”

Boatnerd

Christmas Trees Loaded IN Cheboygan Bound For Chicago

Thanks to Hellstrom Trucking & Dutchman Tree Farms and The US Coast Guard for providing the USCG Mackinaw for the trip. I’m sure Santa appreciated all the efforts that were put in this year.

{photos in Gallery below]

Sault Ste. Marie says Great Lakes cruises generated nearly $1M in 2023

The Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau says cruise passenger spending generated nearly $1,000,000 in direct economic impact for Sault Ste. Marie in 2023.

In 2023, about 9,000 passengers visited Sault Ste. Marie aboard cruise ships. Regionally, visits to Great Lakes ports were up more than 20% from last year.

“Sault Ste. Marie is thrilled to play an important role in supporting cruising for the region,” said Linda Hoath, Executive Director of the Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau. “As a cornerstone of the region’s customs clearance network, we witness the growth of Great Lakes cruising firsthand and are thrilled to see our local businesses and tourism thrive thanks to the growing popularity of cruising.”

Cruise the Great Lakes is the region’s cruise marketing program focused on attracting more passengers. It brings together States, Provinces, cruise lines, ports, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, associations and others to increase cruise tourism.

Algoma Niagara headed for Toledo drydock

Algoma Niagara left Sarnia Tuesday morning before sunrise under tow of tugs Wyatt M and Meredith Ashton for Ironhead Marine Inc. in Toledo for unspecified mechanical repairs. She had been in Sarnia since November 11 and her next destination was to be Goderich.

Why the Great Lakes
have the Gales of November

Many who have lived in Michigan for a while know that November has a tendency to have stronger storm systems and strong winds, especially over the Great Lakes. Several storms packing gale-force winds have landed in the history books for being destructive and deadly around this time of year, and there is a reason for that.

First, let’s start off with what exactly a gale is, forecasting-wise. Gale warnings are issued over water by the National Weather Service and are similar to wind advisories on land. Gale warnings will take effect when the sustained wind speed or frequent gusts reach the range of 39 to 55 mph.

During these warnings, traveling on the water can be hazardous due to the strong winds and the large waves they churn up, so it’s best to find safe harbor. The next level up from gale warnings are storm warnings, which are issued when sustained winds or frequent gusts reach 55 to 73 mph. In a more general sense of the word, gales are considered strong winds.

Over the years, Michigan has had a lot of famous storms that were related to strong gales, some of them having storm warnings associated with them. The storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald was one such storm, which caused the deaths of the entire crew onboard the ship. An older case was the White Hurricane in 1913, that led to 250 deaths and caused extensive damage to ships on Lake Huron and the coastal city of Port Huron.

Both of these cases were caused by rapidly intensifying low pressure systems that moved across the Great Lakes region that led to strong winds and heavy precipitation as a result of that intensification.

The reason why these strong storms tend to occur around November has to do with the meteorological setup during this time of year. In late fall, storm systems from Canada tend to follow a track that leads them into the Great Lakes region where they rapidly intensify, increasing the likelihood of strong winds. This movement is due to the jet stream’s location this time of year.
As we move through autumn, the jet stream shifts generally to the south as the sun’s angle shifts, causing low-pressure systems to take different paths than they do in the summertime. During the fall, the difference between areas of high and low temperature also increases due to temperatures starting to cool off, which can lead to more intense fronts and stronger winds with storm systems.

M Live

Great Lakes Towing Buys former Cleveland Fireboat

PRESS RELEASE, Cleveland, OH –  The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT) a leader in specialized
marine services, including harbor towing, ice breaking, emergency response, vessel repair and
construction, and machine shop services, has announced the acquisition of the Fireboat
ANTHONY J. CELEBREZZE, formerly owned by the city of Cleveland, OH.

The purchase is intended to provide GLT with a firefighting platform for response to a
shipboard or shoreside fire, particularly in those ports where a high volume of winter ship
repair work is performed. The company can also utilize the fireboat to respond to shipboard
fires while a vessel is underway.

The 61-foot CELEBREEZE is a twin screw, 600 HP tug, equipped with two (2) fire pumps and five
(5) monitors, providing a total of 6,000 gallons per minute of off-ship firefighting capacity. Great
Lakes Shipyard, a division of GLT, has provided drydocking, maintenance, and repair services to
the vessel for decades, and is very familiar with its systems and operation.

In early 2022, GLT signed an exclusive agreement with Resolve Marine to provide OPA 90
Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) services in U.S. Coast Guard District 9. The joint
arrangement ensures continuity of service for all Resolve Marine clients in Buffalo, Detroit, Lake
Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie, and Duluth captains of the ports. Ships with vessel response plans
for the Great Lakes COTP zones, even if they are not Resolve Marine clients, can also be served
under the agreement.

As part of GLT’s agreement with Resolve Marine, the company stores a 20-foot container
loaded with firefighting and dewatering pump systems at its Great Lakes Shipyard facilities in
Cleveland. The container can be loaded aboard any tug to mobilize the equipment, which can
then be put in service onsite to safely and efficiently mitigate damage from a fire or other
incidents.

The CELEBREZZE was constructed in 1961 by Paasch Marine in Erie, Pennsylvania and was
named after Cleveland’s 49th mayor. The fireboat has been a valuable resource for the
Cleveland Fire Department, serving as a base for the dive team and facilitating firefighting
operations along the river and on the Lakefront. It has also played a vital role in supplying
water to companies working on the shoreline.

Great Lakes Towing Co. Press Release

Federal Hamilton, Fednav’s newest, making first Seaway trip

Federal Hamilton, is Fednav’s #39, Their newest ship, is making her first trip up the Seaway headed for (where else) Hamilton. She is the first of 10 ordered by Fednav from the Ohshima Shipyard in Japan. The second one has been christened Federal Thunder Bay and is currently in the Pacific bound for the Panama Canal and perhaps the Seaway before it closes for the season.

The vessel sports an unusually large funnel. The new Fednav-Oshima designed super-eco oceangoing lakers represent the most efficient vessels to date for Fednav. Their carbon emissions are 33 percent less than the vessels they replace, including a Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) footprint at least 87 percent smaller. They are delivered equipped with the latest technology, including Tier III engines and the capability for burning biofuels.

Rene Beauchamp, Pat English