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Where it began: Port Colborne historical museum celebrates 45 years of Canal Days

In 1979, the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum held the very first Canal Days, a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Welland Canal. More than 400 visitors across Niagara communities enjoyed the nautical-themed festival which featured exhibits, music, model boats – and an actor portraying William Hamilton Merritt, who was instrumental in the construction of the canal and its original general manager.

Its success turned Canal Days into an annual event, with people invited to step back in time and explore the heritage of the museum.

In subsequent years, the festival grew larger, becoming part of Port Colborne’s four-day civic holiday tradition where more than 300,000 arrived to experience the city and enjoy events around its downtown core.

But for the museum, each summer is a chance to remember how and where it all began. Thinking back to the 1979 festival, assistant curator Tami Nail wondered if they thought it would continue for another 45 years and “turn into a signature event that draws people from all over.”

“It’s this wonderful little town that has community feel and we have this heritage and we’re proud of it,” she said.

Both Saturday and Sunday the museum opened its doors, holding onto traditions that began back in 1979 while continuing to add and grow.

For the first time, Nail said it welcome HMS Psyche, their 19th century sailing reenactors on the Great Lakes, who brought their boat and camping equipment instead of just a booth. They also invited Strong Water Singers, a female Indigenous group who performed on the museum lawn.

Canal Days also saw the return of Blackthorn, its medieval reenactors as well as other “fan favourites” such as model boats, tea room and family activities – with the giant sandbox remaining atop choice – plus a dress-up section, prizes and many games.

“Its really when our historic village comes alive. We have spinners who ware there showing how the loom words, and we have our blacksmiths in the blacksmith shop,” said Nail.

On Saturday, the museum had a crowd before it opened its doors and over two days saw more than 6,000 visitors come through. Last year, there was about 3,500 to 4,000 people in total.

“Everyone seems really happy and we’re getting positive comments,” said Nail. “Just seems busy earlier and a lot more families are out this year too and all the bands brought in a big crows. I feel like people are more excited and happy to be out this year.”

From Port Colborne themselves, the Graves family come out to Canal Days each year. On Saturday, parents Jen and Steven were out-and-about with their four children, enjoying the carnival and the numerous activities across the grounds.

“It’s super fun with the kids and they learn a lot, especially my older ones but then it’s really inclusive for all ages,” said Jen, who added it is the environment that keeps them coming back.

Their two little girls, Brooke and Maddie, particularly enjoyed the dress-up bin, and their oldest son Steven said he noticed “a couple hundred years ago people liked to dress up very formal.”

Open throughout the year from May to December, the long weekend is a time to bring people from across the region, and beyond, to remember and honour the heritage of the Welland Canal and Port Colborne.

“People celebrate it and it’s without them realizing they’re celebrating it. But none of us would be here if it wasn’t for the lake and the canal,” said Nail. “It’s a way for us to celebrate the importance, the significance and the history of the canal.”

Niagara Falls Review

Petertoon made some waves on Lake Superior

The half truck, half pontoon boat called the Petertoon has been making an appearance on Lake Superior.

A creation of the Jeff Foster family, the vessel is always a talker.

Even on Friday, when we went for a short spin in the harbor, everyone was taking pictures. And that’s pretty normal.

“The first thing people do when we’re out on the lake, is turn their boat in our direction. Then they take the cell phones out. And finally, they ask us to honk the horn,” he grinned. And it is loud!

Foster told us he had a 28-foot pontoon that he was going to turn into a dock.

“The guy who runs the body shop at the truck company had seen a picture of something similar. And said we can do it better,” Foster said. “When they do something, they go above and beyond.”

WDIO

Lake Michigan diesel spill dissipates as damaged ship heads for repair

MANISTEE, MI — A sheen of diesel fuel spilled from a damaged Lake Michigan freighter has dissipated north of Manistee after a storm, says the U.S. Coast Guard.

The freighter Manitowoc, which spilled diesel fuel while leaving Manistee on Wednesday, left its two-day anchorage off Fifth Avenue Beach on Friday, Aug. 4 about 2 p.m.

The ship is headed to Muskegon for repairs.

A cause of the spill remains under investigation.

Lt. Heather Stemmerman said a two-mile sheen the Coast Guard was tracking near Onekama on Thursday was not visible from the air Friday. Shoreline teams have not seen any fuel on the beach. There have been no reports of injured wildlife.

The multi-agency unified command which has been coordinating the response remains on duty, but “I anticipate it won’t be much longer,” she said.

Company contractors were attempting to soak up the spilled fuel using sorbent boom but stopped Thursday after a storm rolled through northern Michigan.

“That also probably helped break up the sheen that was remaining,” Stemmerman said.

Marine diesel is denser and more oily than other refined petroleum-based fuels but does dissipate and evaporate when spilled on water. It can spread quickly in the wind.

The Coast Guard has not provided an official estimate on the total amount of dyed-red marine diesel fuel which leaked from the Manitowoc’s starboard tank on Wednesday.

The agency confirmed Thursday that the Manitowoc estimated it lost about 1,000 gallons out of a “maximum spill potential” of 45,174 gallons in tank capacity.

The actual spill volume is much lower, said Stemmerman. Specific estimates will be taken when the vessel docks.

Some news outlets have erroneously reported the ship spilled 45,000 gallons or more.

The spill was reported about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. The Manitowoc was exiting the Manistee River channel after unloading coal in Filer City when the crew noticed the fuel gauges were increasing because the ship was taking on water.

The hull breach was plugged and the leak stopped Wednesday. The American Bureau of Shipping and the Coast Guard will oversee repairs in Muskegon.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the District Health Department No. 10 had yet to rescind a skin contact advisory with Lake Michigan in Manistee County which had prompted closure of Fifth Avenue Beach.

The public should call (231) 723-6241 to report any diesel on the shoreline.

MLive

Cause of SS Badger’s apron issue still unknown

The long work to repair the apron for the SS Badger continues, but exactly what the cause of the counterweight collapse continues to be investigated, according to Chrissy Kadleck, director of communications and employee engagement for Interlake Maritime Services, the parent company to Lake Michigan Carferry and the Badger.

The steamship’s apron was damaged on July 21 when the counterweight structure on the port side of the ship was damaged. Contractors began working on repairs last week, which included underwater divers, marine construction contractors and an engineering firm. The damage, though, was so extensive that the company announced on Tuesday that the 2023 sailing season would come to a premature ending. It was originally scheduled to conclude Oct. 9. The ship also nearing the end of its overnight sailings, with those scheduled to conclude Sunday. Four shoreline cruises were also affected — two from Ludington and two from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the connecting port for the ship.

The apron system is inspected fairly often, Kadleck said.

“The system is inspected from time to time and was visually inspected just a few weeks earlier and found to be in apparent good condition,” she said.

The company does not know the estimated cost of the repairs of the apron system, but it will take several months to complete, Kadleck said.

“We are hopeful that all of the work can be completed in 2023, and we do not anticipate any impact on the 2024 sailing season,” she said.

Residents in Ludington might not see the SS Badger, its sister ship the SS Spartan or the former U.S. Army tug LT-805 move to accommodate the reconstruction of the apron, Kadleck said.

“We expect that repairs on the south side of the ramp can be made without moving the Badger or any of the other vessels,” she said. “We most likely not move the Badger to make repairs because the apron is being supported by the back of the ship. Should the structure on the north side of the ramp require work, the Badger may need to be moved.”

Kadleck would not comment on the number of passengers or commercial traffic that was scheduled to use the SS Badger for the remainder of the sailing season, nor the estimated cost to the company because of the refunds issued.

“As the remainder of the season has been canceled, commercial traffic will be impacted as it will have to find an alternate route to the other side of the lake,” she said. “All reservations will be fully refunded.”

Interlake is working to find positions for the seasonal help with the SS Badger elsewhere within the company, Kadleck said.

Ludington Daily News

Manitowoc’s diesel spill uncontained, sheen seen near Onekama

MANISTEE — What started as a diesel fuel spill in Manistee on Wednesday has spread to the Onekama area, according to area officials.

A hull breach of about 1 inch in the Manitowoc, a large freighter, off the coast of Manistee in Lake Michigan led to a “maximum” spill of about 45,174 gallons of diesel fuel, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

At a news conference at Coast Guard Station Manistee Thursday at 4 p.m., Sector Lake Michigan Commander Seth Parker clarified that the amount spilled is currently unknown.

He said the spill was still uncontained.

Efforts had been underway by a number of agencies working together to use sorbent booms and hard booms at the shoreline to protect sensitive coastal areas.

Parker said that as of Thursday, there had been no reports of diesel sheen on the shoreline.

The ship had a total of 45,174 gallons of red-dye diesel when it left port before arriving in Manistee.

The winds had pushed the sheen from Manistee to the northeast. The point where the sheen came closest to land was near Portage Lake.

Avoid contact

Thursday afternoon weather forecasts showed isolated rain showers and thunderstorms with southwest winds around 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather also halted some response efforts, but Parker said responders would resume containment efforts as soon as the weather permitted.

“We have teams that will be aggressively attacking the sheen and any other reports that we have from the shoreline and or offshore,” Parker said. “We do have the necessary resources on standby ready to respond once weather conditions (allow).”

Parker noted that the Manitowoc had a survey conducted in April and that it has not spilled diesel in the Great Lakes before.

He said response efforts also include the staging of absorbent booms being staged in the Portage Lake area.

Thursday, people were being advised by local agencies to avoid skin contact with surface water near Fifth Avenue Beach due to the diesel fuel spill.

The District Health Department #10 submitted an alert around 1:53 p.m. on Thursday.

“Residents are also advised to avoid body contact with surface any water along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Manistee County if they observe the presence of diesel fuel contamination,” part of the alert reads.

The health department also asked that people report all confirmed diesel fuel contact with the shoreline in Manistee County to 231-723-6241.

“Diesel is a potentially hazardous material that can present significant health impacts with prolonged exposure,” the health department news release states in part. “DHD#10 and local agencies are requesting that residents avoid areas that may have diesel contamination and to not attempt to rescue injured wildlife. Instead, residents are asked to report any confirmed sightings.

Parker said the vessel would not be moved until it has been cleaned and assessed.

Wednesday

According to an emailed news release issued at 12:25 a.m. Thursday from the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard personnel, along with state and local agencies responded to a report of the Manitowoc spilling diesel about 1.5 nautical miles offshore on Wednesday.

“At approximately 2:50 p.m. the 612-foot bulk carrier motor vessel Manitowoc reported a hull breach on its starboard diesel tank,” the release states in part. “At the time of the report, the vessel was at anchor 1.5 nautical miles offshore, northwest of where the Manistee River enters Lake Michigan.”

However, Grand River Navigation-Rand Logistics, Inc. which lists the Manitowoc as part of its fleet, states on its website that the ship is 630 feet long.

Grand River Navigation-Rand Logistics, Inc. is responsible for response plans for the spill.

The ship is no longer actively leaking.

As of 4:30 p.m. on Thursday it remained anchored off shore near Manistee.

A red slick was seen about 1.6 miles by 200 yards wide projecting to the northeast from the vessel within a few hours of the report.

The Manitowoc activated its response plan and a diesel spill removal organization was at the scene working to contain the spill, the release said.

“Internal diesel transfers lowered the level of diesel in the leaking tank below the hole, which has been plugged,”  the release noted. “In response to the diesel spill, a Unified Command has been established to oversee and direct cleanup response efforts.”

Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Grand River Navigation-Rand Logistics, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Manistee County Emergency Management, Benzie County Emergency Management, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee and Benzie County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Manistee will be working together in this effort.

“There is no known or expected impact to drinking water at this time. The cause of the diesel spill is still under investigation,” the release said.

In the early morning news release, the Coast Guard stated that there had been no known impact to beaches at that time.

“However, diesel is a hazardous material and can present significant health hazards, so the public is asked to stay away from areas that have diesel and do not attempt to rescue injured wildlife,” the release reads.

Anyone with a confirmed sighting of diesel reaching the shoreline is asked to call 231-723-6241.

Diesel fuel no longer leaking form Manitowoc

MANISTEE, Mich. — U.S. Coast Guard personnel, along with state and local agencies are responding Wednesday to a report of the motor vessel Manitowoc spilling diesel in Lake Michigan, approximately 1.5 nautical miles offshore of Manistee, Michigan.

At approximately 2:50 p.m. the 612’ bulk carrier motor vessel Manitowoc reported a hull breach on its starboard diesel tank. The maximum spill potential is 45,174 gallons of diesel.

At the time of the report, the vessel was at anchor 1.5 nautical miles offshore, northwest of where the Manistee River enters Lake Michigan. A red slick was observed approximately 1.6 miles by 200 yards wide projecting to the northeast from the vessel within a few hours of the report.

The motor vessel Manitowoc has activated their response plan and their diesel spill removal organization is on scene at this time working to contain the spill. The vessel is no longer leaking diesel. Internal diesel transfers lowered the level of diesel in the leaking tank below the hole, which has been plugged.

In response to the diesel spill, a Unified Command has been established to oversee and direct cleanup response efforts. Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the responsible party, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Manistee County Emergency Management, Benzie County Emergency Management, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee and Benzie County Sheriff’s Offices, and the City of Manistee will be working together in this effort.

There has been no known impact to beaches at this time. However, diesel is a hazardous material and can present significant health hazards, so the public is asked to stay away from areas that have diesel and do not attempt to rescue injured wildlife. The public is asked to call (231) 723-6241 for any confirmed sighting of diesel reaching the shoreline.

There is no known or expected impact to drinking water at this time.

The cause of the diesel spill is still under investigation.

Updates will be provided via the Ninth Coast Guard District’s Twitter page: @USCGGreatLakes

Requests for additional information may be directed to Sector Lake Michigan’s Public Affairs Officer at (414) 405-6436.

U.S. Coast Guard

Ship leaking fuel near Manistee’s shore

MANISTEE — The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report of the ship Manitowoc leaking diesel Wednesday evening fuel just off shore from the Fifth Avenue Beach in Manistee.

According to a post on Twitter from the USCG Great Lakes, crews from Manistee and Grand Haven are responding to the scene as well as a helicopter from Waukegan, Illinois. The Manitowoc is anchored near Manistee.

The Coast Guard stated that an absorbent boom was deployed to contain the fuel in the area. The damaged fuel tank was partially plugged to slow down the leaking fuel. A commercial salvage company was on its way to the site, the Coast Guard stated on Twitter Wednesday evening.

The Coast Guard asked the public from stay off of the Fifth Avenue Beach in Manistee because the wind conditions at that time were expected to take the spilled fuel to shore.

The Manitowoc is a 630-foot ship that is owned by Traverse City-based Grand River Navigation, a subsidiary of Rand Logistics of Williamsville, New York. It carries grain, iron ore, aggregates, salt and other bulk commodities, according to an information sheet on Rand’s website.

The ship carries coal into Manistee several times each shipping season. It weighed anchor from T.E.S. Manistee at about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday after delivering a load of coal, and passed slowly through the downtown area via the Manistee River and channel at about 1:30 p.m., before heading out to Lake Michigan where the leak was discovered.

After dropping anchor again for safety and precautionary reasons less than 2 miles from the Firth Avenue Beach, the ship sat idle facing south toward the Manistee Lighthouse it had passed only a few hours earlier. Less than two dozen people were on the beach at 7 p.m., laying in the sun and swimming, and unaware of the problems the ship was experiencing.

Ludington Daily News

An Aura of Romance: Local boat watchers follow their favourite vessels

There’s something about the river that draws the eye.

The way the sunlight shimmers against the waters. The way that blue expanse crouches against the horizon. The sound of the waves lapping against the shore. The way the smell of the lake reaches your nostrils when the wind is just right.

And yet, as Windsorites, we sometimes take for granted the majesty of living on the water. And we also sometimes neglect to notice all the different freighters and barges that drift down the Detroit River.

But many do take the time to notice these magnificent vessels.

And many, many more have even formed communities around charting their favourite ships.

One such superfan is Roger LeLievre, the Editor and Publisher of Know Your Ships: Guide to Boats & Boatwatching on the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway, a 63-year-old annual publication. The book provides essential stats on hundreds of freighters, including the owner, year, length, capacity and more. It also shares information on the materials these big boats carry, where they load and unload, all the different canals and waterways they travel down and what the different whistles mean.

“There’s maybe 150 assorted vessels supplemented by saltwater ships that sail down the seaway,” Roger LeLievre explains. “Tugboats. Barges. Tankers. Carriers. We get quite the traffic down the river!”

Roger has been a boat enthusiast all his life. He’s been a figurehead of the community for decades, sharing his knowledge with countless other fans.

“Since 1995, during the early days of the internet, a community sprang up on a website called boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/,” Roger states. “After a couple years, people started suggesting meeting up in person. So in 1998, we had our first gathering in Sault Ste. Marie. Over 150 people showed up! But the whole Boat Nerd community is much, much vaster than that.”

Another such member of the community is Mike Chase, the Owner of Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.

“I opened my photography business around three years ago,” Mike recalls. “I quickly branched out into taking photos of ships because I’m adjacent to the river in Amherstburg.”

Many of the photos Mike has taken have been featured in publications across the globe.

It wasn’t long before Mike realized how large and how passionate the boat watching community around Windsor and Essex County truly was. He joined several Facebook groups, including “Fans of the Book Know Your Ships,” “Ship Junkies – Lakes, Locks & Rivers” and “Great Lakes Shipping Channels.” Many of these groups are homes to upwards of 40,000 members.

“I had no idea these ships had such a following!” Mike states. “The water just seems to attract people. It’s so relaxing, sitting back and watching these barges sailing down the river. There’s even apps people use to track their favourite ships. You can get all kinds of information on them, such as where they’re going, how fast they’re travelling and their approximate arrival time.”

One such app, MarineTraffic Ship Tracker, has over millions of users.

“People can’t get enough of these big floating dump trucks!” Roger laughs. “They get so invested in the ships themselves and the people manning them. They find out the names of the crew, the company who owns it, the captain. Sometimes I like to call this NASCAR on the water, just slower.”

Every boat watcher, Roger explains, has their favourite ship. And each boat has its own Facebook page, where users can come together and share statistics and other information.

“Boat Nerds. Boat Geeks. Freighter Fans,” Roger states. “Some of us have been involved in the community for decades. I’ve been watching boats since I was 6 years old, and I’m 68 now!”

As well, the relative decline in the boating industry has led to fewer vessels setting sail in recent years. However, this has only led to boat sightings becoming even more sacred to fans.

“The less ships travel downriver, the more people come out in droves to see them,” Roger notes. “Folks find these freighters fascinating. They want to know where the boats are from, how big they are, who owns it. They want all those questions answered!”

That said, these big ships continue to serve a vital function—shipping materials from Windsor and Essex County to all kinds of distant shores.

“People don’t realize how much ship-traffic impacts the global economy,” Mike explains. “You sometimes see all these different ships from all over the world traveling down the water. They’re transporting things like yachts, wind turbines, fuel, oil, elevators. Even recently, back in February, we transported a 3,000-to-4,000-pound piece of steel that was loaded onto a vessel and sent down to South America.”

And yet, what truly draws the eye towards these freighters is the sheer scale of the vessels.

“There’s always been an aura of romance with ships,” Roger states. “I think people tap into that. But now, for me, the vessels have just become so familiar. It’s like seeing an old friend go by. I can think back and remember all the other times they traveled by.”

That said, an obsession with boats can present unique challenges.

“I’m such a geek that I have a ship-to-shore radio on 24/7,” Roger admits. “And my name is Roger, so it gets a little alarming when I keep hearing ‘Roger that!’ I think, ‘Why are all these people yelling at me?’ It sometimes wakes me up from a dead sleep!”

The boat watching community continues to draw a crowd. Members range from all ages and all backgrounds.

“It’s a great hobby,” Roger explains. “We have people from senior citizens all the way down to young kids. I get a number of messages around Christmas time from people saying, ‘Oh, my nine-year-old grandson or granddaughter can’t get enough of these boats!’”

Windsor Life

Cleveland-Cliffs making just as much steel without East Chicago blast furnace

Cleveland-Cliffs is making just as much steel as it did before indefinitely idling Blast Furnace No. 4 at Indiana Harbor West, ending more than a century of ironmaking at the former LTV steel mill in East Chicago.

Cleveland-Cliffs shipped 4.2 million tons of steel during the second quarter, Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a conference call with investors.

“We matched the record high we set in the second quarter of 2021. At that time back in 2021, we were operating a total of eight blast furnaces,” he said in the conference call. “And now, in 2023, we operate only seven. If you’ll recall, we idled our Indiana Harbor No. 4 blast furnace at 2.1 million ton per year unit in 2022. So with one less major blast furnace in our footprint, we were able to accomplish the same levels of production and shipments.”

Cleveland-Cliffs said the smaller blast furnace footprint greatly reduced its carbon emissions.

“In our case, 32% less in five years, while maintaining the same level of production and the same product mix which is heavy in flat-rolled automotive steels,” he said. “We do not know of any other company, mini-mill or integrated in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia or anywhere else in the world that has achieved similar magnitude of reduction in CO2 emissions in such a short period of time. One of our key competitive advantages is having full control of our main raw material iron ore pellets from our mines in Michigan and Minnesota.”

The Times of Northwest Indiana 

Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Lighthouse up for auction

TORCH LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) – A Keweenaw lighthouse has gone up for auction.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced it is auctioning the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Lighthouse in Torch Lake Township, Michigan. This is one of a record number of lighthouses being offered in 2023 to government agencies, nonprofits, and the public via auction.

Opened in 1919, the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Lighthouse is located at the end of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breakwater in Houghton County, Michigan.

• Marking the southern end of the Portage River, the lighthouse stands 68 feet tall.
• The light contains approximately 1,000 square feet of interior space.
• In 2014, the light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The property will remain an active aid to navigation.
• The deed will contain historic preservation covenants.

Auction Details:

• The auction will open on Aug. 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. CT.
• Those interested in bidding are required to register in advance and submit a $10,000 registration deposit.
• The starting bid will be $10,000 and bid increments will be $1,000.
• Site inspections will only be offered to registered bidders.
• Those interested in bidding are strongly urged to read the Invitation for Bids here.

The marketing and sales effort is being handled by GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division.

TV6

S.S. Badger’s 2023 sailing season ending early due to ramp damage

LUDINGTON, MI – The S.S. Badger is done for the season.

Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns and operates the 70-year-old vessel on Lake Michigan, said Tuesday that damage to its ramp system will force an early end to its 2023 sailing season.

The ramp, which is used to load and unload the ship malfunctioned when one of the lifting structures collapsed into the water on July 21. LMC says a failure of the counterweight structure on the port side of the Badger’s ramp system occurred.

Underwater divers, marine construction contractors and an engineering firm were quickly engaged but over the last week, but the company said “it became clear that the necessary repairs were extensive and would take months to clear the collapsed structure and erect a new one.”

Cross-lake service from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin was suspended with the goal of returning in a few weeks, but that won’t be the case.

“We have made the difficult, and unfortunately unavoidable, decision to suspend our daily crossings for the remainder of the season,” says Mark W. Barker, President of Interlake Maritime Services, parent company of the Lake Michigan Carferry.

“This is not how we hoped our 70th season would end but we are fully committed to making the extensive repairs – and doing it the right way – so that we will be back better and stronger in 2024 to serve our loyal passengers and port communities.”

The 70th season had included the return of overnight sailings known as doubles for the first time in three years. The overnight trips offer passengers a chance to view the night sky, stars, and sunsets as a part of the route to their destination.

Passengers with reservations will receive full refunds. They will be contacted individually in order of their reservation date.

LMC also said it’s working to keep as many of its seasonal staff working as possible in Ludington and through other employment opportunities in the Interlake family of companies.

“While an amazing amount of work has been done in last 11 days and an incredible effort has been made by all of our employees and key partners on the Lakes, this is a very complicated process and one that will not be complete in time to resume service this season,” said Sara Spore, General Manager of Lake Michigan Carferry.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and disruption in plans. We know that our passengers and our port communities of Ludington and Manitowoc rely on the Badger. We thank them for their support, patience and understanding as we tackle this unexpected and disappointing end to our season.”

She also asked that people respect the fencing around the dock area in Ludington as an active work site.

In addition to being a unique experience, the S.S. Badger provides a significant economic boon to Ludington and Manitowoc due to passengers that arrive in both coastal cities.

The vessel, which was the last coal-powered passenger steamer operating in the United States, is a designated National Historic Landmark built in 1953 by Christy Corp. in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., for C&O Railway Co.

It once carried railcars between Ludington and Manitowoc on an extension of US-10 across the lake and can now accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motorcoaches, commercial trucks and oversized vehicles.

MLive

LaMarre elected president of AGLPA, Port receives another Pacesetter Award

Port of Monroe director Captain Paul C. LaMarre III was elected president of the American Great Lakes Ports Association at the organization’s annual conference in Chicago last week. AGLPA represents the interests of commercial ports and port users on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. Its members include 16 public agency port authorities and more than 30 associate members representing allied companies and organizations.

“As a lifelong student of the Great Lakes maritime industry, I am humbled by the opportunity to serve our Great Lakes ports as the President of AGLPA, but most importantly to lead our association as ‘one port’ sustaining our region through relationships and relevance,” said LaMarre.

Also at this event, the Port of Monroe received a Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter award for the 2022 shipping season this week. The award was presented to LaMarre by Great Lakes Seaway Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht. It is the seventh Pacesetter award the Port of Monroe has received since 2013.

The Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award is an award presented to Great Lakes ports by the U. S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) that report increases in international tonnage during a shipping season. It was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities resulted in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison to the previous year.

Port of Monroe

Click here for recent drone footage of the scene in Ludington, MI, courtesy of Daniel Anderson from the Ludington Ship Watch Facebook page.

Report shows Great Lakes-Seaway benefits Indiana the most

According to a report, Indiana is the state with the greatest economic impact from cargo handling by ports and terminals along the Great Lakes-Seaway system.

Ohio and Michigan landed a distant second and third, according to the “Economic Impacts of Maritime Shipping in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region” report.

In Indiana, 75,498 people were directly or indirectly employed because of the system. Business revenue topped $11 million. And more than $2 million in taxes were collected because of activity on the seaway.

The port at Burns Harbor specifically was mentioned as one that has steel mills and other operations that create a larger concentration of direct jobs.

The Burns Harbor port handled 3.45 million tons of cargo on Lake Michigan in 2022, a 2% increase from 2021, according to the Ports of Indiana. For the second consecutive year, the port exceeded its highest annual shipping total since its inception in 1970.

“As governor of Indiana, my mission is to increase Indiana’s global competitiveness and our ports play a critical role by bringing the world to Indiana and connecting Indiana to the world,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb in a press release.

Martin Associates, which has headquarters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, performed the analysis for the study. The study sponsors were the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. (U.S.), the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (Canada), the American Great Lakes Ports Association, the Chamber of Marine Commerce, the Lake Carriers’ Association and the Shipping Federation of Canada.

Read the full report here.

Northwest Indiana Business

Obituary: Robert D. Perlewitz

Robert Donald Perlewitz 85, of Sturgeon Bay, died on July 24, 2023, at Door County Medical Center. He was born on December 31, 1937, in Algoma to Raymond and Martha (Karrer) Perlewitz. In 1958, he married Mary Johnson in Algoma.

For over 40 years, Robert (better known as “Bob” or “Perly” to friends and family) worked on the John Purves, an immaculately restored 1919 tugboat that is now docked at the Door County Maritime Museum. He was awarded several Naval Preservation Awards, a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer efforts, and many other write-ups and acknowledgments for his work and service. Bob had a lifelong passion for all things automotive, which included his cherished Thunderbird and an incredible collection of gas and oil memorabilia that brought in buyers and admirers from all over the country.

When he wasn’t working or collecting treasures, you could find him watching television with his beloved German Shepherds or telling outlandish stories about narrowly escaping from bears and surviving the Ice Bowl. Bob seemed to own his status as a grouch. He pushed people’s buttons and enjoyed riling people up; just ask his wife Mary or his three children, Jeff, Scott, and Chris. That being said, he was also a sentimental man who held onto as many family keepsakes and heirlooms as he could and always had a warm and loving smile for his great-grandson when he visited. He will be dearly missed by those who loved him.

Survivors include his wife; three children, Jeffrey (Heidi) Perlewitz, Sturgeon Bay; Scott (Chip) Perlewitz, Chattanooga, TN; Christine (Jeffrey) Heard, Brussels; one grandson, Timothy (Kari) Perlewitz, Green Bay; one great-grandson, Atlas Perlewitz; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents; three brothers, Harold, Raymond, and Gordon; one sister, Patricia; and a brother-in-law, James.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 31, 2023, at Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with Rev. Paul Graf officiating. Burial will be in Clay Banks Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home on Monday.

Door County Pulse

Farms resident flips freighters into homes

Tony Gatliff, a 42-year Grosse Pointe Farms resident, has taken on the unique project of creating cottages out of the pilot house of a freighter.

The former ship’s officer and pilot aboard the Ford Motor Co. Fleet said a pilot house is the control room of a freighter

“That’s where all the navigation takes place,” Gatliff said. “That’s where the steering takes place. That’s where the charting, plotting takes place. That’s where the radar is. That’s where the engine room controls are, where the steering is. It is the brain center, if you will.”

After hearing about a freighter that was being taken out of use, Gatliff jumped on the opportunity to give the ship a new use, with plans to create two separate cottages on Beaver Island. Gatliff’s parents were born and raised on Beaver Island and he spent summers working there during high school and college building his own cottage. The pilot house will be a component of that home.

He said the project began when he went to see the freighter in December at Marine Recycling in Ontario, Canada. He has since purchased another pilot house off a French-Canadian ferry that ran across the St. Lawrence, which he will use as guest quarters.

“I had seen on a website that the ship was being pulled up to be cut up into scrap,” Gatliff said. “I inquired, ‘How would I get a hold of the recycling company to speak to somebody about possibly getting to own the pilot house?’ I asked if I could come down there.”

The ship was at Port Colborne, which is at the eastern end of Lake Erie. Gatliff wanted to transport the pilot house to Beaver Island, located about 32 miles northwest of Charlevoix, where he would flip it into cottages. The pilot house and the captain’s quarters together are about 1,100 square feet, with the pilot house alone measuring 650 square feet.

“We have a property that I put it on, but it was too shallow out front to get the barge there,” Gatliff said. “We had to cut the pilot house and strategically cut the captain’s quarters off the pilot house so that we could get it down the road.”

The project requires much more than just building a house. It takes bigger equipment and extensive planning and transportation. Once the pieces were loaded onto a barge at Port Colborne, Gatliff began the four-and-a-half-day round-the-clock journey to Beaver Island.

Still working a full-time job as a 34-year partner at Great Lakes Woodworking, Gatliff set a reasonable goal to have the cottages completed within two years.

“I’ve got about five phases completed,” he said. “Purchasing it, getting it cut, getting it onto the barge, getting it across Lake Erie and Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, and then getting it off the barge and getting it to the property. There’s already a lot of work that has gone into it.”

Gatliff is no stranger to the freighter he is flipping, which is one of the many reasons the project is special to him.

“I spent approximately five years on this ship in various capacities,” he said. “We’ll keep it as our family cottage.”

He is working with local architect Keith Owen on the transformation and plans to keep the pilot house cottages for himself and his family to enjoy in the years to come.

Grosse Point News

New G-tugs christened in the Windy City

The Great Lakes Towing Company christened its two newest tugs, Illinois and Indiana, during the American Great Lakes Ports Association annual conference in Chicago, IL. The Illinois was christened by Illinois State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, Illinois House 3rd district. The Indiana was christened by Dr. Orla Hart, Clinical Teaching Associate Professor, Purdue University. The Damen Stan 1907 ICE harbor tugs are part of GLT’s fleet renewal program.

Sam Hankinson

Nukumi crew comes to aid of fishing boat in distress

On July 22, a fishing vessel sent a distress signal to the Coast Guard as it was taking on water in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Coast Guard quickly responded by dispatching the closest vessel, MV Nukumi, to assist. A Coast Guard Hercules aircraft dropped portable pumps and life rafts near the distressed fishing vessel.

Captain Kevin Crouse and the Nukumi crew launched the ship’s rescue boat and towed the pumps to the sinking fishing vessel. They also towed the life raft with all four crew members on board to the Coast Guard vessel.

Once everyone from the distressed fishing vessel was safely on board the Coast Guard vessel, MV Nukumi resumed her transit to the Magdalen Islands.

Thanks to the brave and quick actions of the Nukumi crew, the four fishing boat crew members were safely rescued.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Nukumi crew for their courage, quick thinking, and unwavering dedication to the rescue operation.

Canada Steamship Lines