DTE speeds coal exit, adds natural gas and renewable energy under 2042 plan

Under a new 20-year plan, DTE Energy Co. would accelerate the retirement of its remaining coal plants and replace them with more natural gas and renewable energy production to balance reliability, affordability and sustainability.

The 2042 plan projects a $9 billion investment in the next 10 years to support 25,000 jobs and savings of $1.4 billion to its 2.3 million customers mostly in Southeast Michigan and the Thumb over the long term compared to its previous plan issued in 2019.

“We’re working,” DTE CEO Jerry Norcia said during a virtual briefing, “to get as clean as we can as fast as we can, while keeping our focus on improving reliable and affordable energy to the customers and communities we serve.”

The plan calls for the accelerated retirement of the Monroe Power Plant, the country’s fourth-largest coal-fired plant that provides 30% of DTE’s energy, according to the company. Two units that had been scheduled for retirement in 2040 will go offline in 2028 instead. The final two of DTE’s coal-fired units will end generation in 2035 instead of 2040.

Additionally, the 24/7 coal-fired Belle River Power Plant would convert to a natural gas-powered peaker plant used for times of the year when there is elevated demand like the summer and when there’s extreme weather. The conversion of the two burners takes 90 days each. One will be converted in 2025 with the next to follow in 2026 without noticeable effect to customers, said Trevor Lauer, president and chief operating officer of DTE Electric. The plant had been set to end coal use in 2028.

“That’s going to be really important at times when we have extreme weather or high demand,” Lauer said, “to make sure that if the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing we can make sure we’re providing the power that our residential, commercial and business customers need.”

The Monroe plant property is in a strategic location for the company, Norcia said. The company will examine opportunities for future 24/7 generation there as well as renewables. DTE sees opportunity to use the former St. Clair Power Plant site for its a large-scale energy storage array and potentially renewable energy generation, as well.

The Detroit News

Adam Tindall-Schlicht named Seaway Administrator

The White House announced President Biden’s appointment of former Milwaukee port director, Adam Tindall-Schlicht, as the next Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS). Mr. Tindall-Schlicht resigned his position at Port Milwaukee on October 19.

An agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the GLS is responsible for operation of U.S. portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway. It works in partnership with it’s Canadian counterpart to maintain a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible deep draft waterway connecting Great Lakes ports with world markets and global trade. The agency also works closely with ports to market the Seaway system, develop trade, and enhance commerce in the region.

The U.S. Seaway has been without an Administrator since 2016 when former Ohio Congresswoman Betty Sutton left the post. In April, 2022, forty members of the House and Senate wrote to President Biden urging that the position be filled. Mr. Tindall-Schlicht will be the first Great Lakes port director to serve as Administrator since Dave Oberlin, former Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Mr. Oberlin was

Seaway Administrator from 1969-1983.

AGLPA

Lakes Limestone Up 10.7 Percent in October

CLEVELAND — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.9 million tons in October, an increase of 10.7 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos were also above the month’s 5-year average by 10.9 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.2 million tons, an increase of 9.7 percent.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 736,157 tons, an increase of 15.3 percent.

Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 25 million tons, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to 2021.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries total 19.9 million tons, an increase of 2.2 percent.  Shipments from Ontario quarries total 5.1 million tons, a decrease of 1.1 percent.

Lake Carriers’ Association 

Great Lakes cruise ship visits on Island new record in 2022, more next year

MANITOULIN ISLAND—The cruise ship industry in the Great Lakes has rebounded significantly after COVID-19, industry leaders tell The Expositor.

“This is a very exciting time for the cruise ship industry,” stated Stephen Burnett, of the Great Lakes Cruise Association (GLCA). “It has been a challenging, but wonderful year on the Great Lakes, and there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors and ships on the Great Lakes, with even more next year.”

“From COVID-19 two years ago and zero business to a very successful year. It was a great year,” echoed Bruce O’Hare of Little Current, president of Lakeshore Excursions. “It probably increased by about 40 percent and we had many new ships coming into Little Current and the Great Lakes, and more expected in the future.”

“It’s been a good year, but a difficult year as well,” said Mr. Burnett. “In the past couple of years during COVID, many cruise ship lines had to reduce staff. Now they have had to ramp up. This is a complex industry, the cruise ships are like moving Marriott Hotels, where people have to plan to be on them 16-22 months ahead of their actual sailing time.”

“Worldwide some cruise lines have done very well and some have struggled,” said Mr. Burnett. “In many ways the cruise ship industry is one of the most resilient businesses there are. The industry had to be shut down during COVID, and companies lost revenues. But looking at it globally, it is astonishing how well the industry has done this year.”

“It is a very dynamic time in the history of the cruise ship industry,” said Mr. Burnett. “We had eight or nine ships cruise the Great Lakes this year, next year there will probably be between 10-12, including a second Viking ship.”

The region ports of call include Little Current, Parry Sound, Sault Ste. Marie and they all reported increases in numbers of visitors. Killarney had its first passenger ship stop there in about 80 years with the Viking Octantis visiting this year.

Mr. O’Hare pointed out passengers are looking for destinations to visit and the local partnership with Wiikwemkoong Tourism and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation really pulls this all together on the Island as visitors receive an Indigenous experience, one they crave.

Visitors also visit Kagawong for kayaking, Bridal Veil Falls, the Manitoulin Chocolate Factory and have the opportunity to hike the Cup and Saucer Trail and support conservancy. “It’s a Manitoulin Island initiative, not just a benefit for Little Current,” said Mr. O’Hare.

“I’ve been talking with five new cruise lines, with three more ships expected next summer,” said Mr. Burnett. He feels the number of boats sailing through the region could grow from nine to 18 in the coming years.

“The future of the cruise ship industry is very good and is only going to grow,” added Mr. O’Hare.

The Manitoulin Expositor

120-year-old shipwreck discovered in Lake Superior

A Lake Superior shipwreck that has eluded searchers for decades has been found.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) announced on Oct 12 the discovery of Barge 129, which sank in a storm on Lake Superior on Oct 13, 1902.

For GLSHS Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel Jr., it was the end

of a long search. “I’ve looked for this ship for so long because it was a Whaleback. I was pretty excited. I couldn’t wait to get the cameras on it”.

Barge 129 was one of only 44 “whaleback” ships ever constructed. The peculiar design had curved sides, similar to a large pontoon, with tapered bows with flat ends like a pig’s snout. The ships were constructed from 1887 to 1898 to ferry grain and ore around the Great Lakes. The design was to increase the ships’ stability on high seas. “Whaleback” refers to the ship’s appearance in the water when fully loaded.

On Oct 13, 1902, Barge 129 was being towed by the steamer Maunaloa. The 292-foot barge was loaded with 2,300 tons of iron ore when the gales of October struck (sound a little familiar?). The force of the waves snapped the tow line between the two vessels. Barge 129 was tossed about with the waves. The Maunaloa turned around and attempted to reconnect the two ships. The two boats slammed together. 

The Maunaloa’s anchor ripped into Barge 129’s starboard side. As the whaleback began to sink, the Maunaloa’s captain and crew raced to launch their lifeboat for the barge’s crew. As Barge 129’s crew was helped aboard the Maunaloa, the whaleback dipped below the surface and dove 650 feet to the bottom, 35 miles from Vermilion Point.

Barge 129 was the last undiscovered whaleback wreck in the Great Lakes. The wreckage was initially found along with eight other wrecks in 2021 by the GLSHS in partnership with Marine Sonic Technology using Side Scan Sonar. Side Scan Sonar – Marine Sonic Technology. Barge 129 was positively identified in August 2022.

When the Shipwreck Society put their ROV down on the wreck site this past summer, they were surprised by the devastation of the ship. “It’s totally destroyed on the bottom. It’s nowhere near intact. It’s at least 4 to 5 big pieces and thousands of little pieces. It’s just disintegrated,” Ertel said.

“The whalebacks were pretty unusual ships,” stated Shipwreck Society Executive Director Bruce Lynn. “When we had the ROV on it, you could clearly see the distinctive bow with a part of the towline still in place…that was an incredible moment!”

The Sun Times

Professional Mariner 2023 Ship of the Year is Mark W. Barker

The Interlake Steamship Co. has been moving freight on the Great Lakes for generations. Its newest ship, Mark W. Barker, will build on that tradition for years to come.

The 639-by-78-foot Mark W. Barker is the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighter built in almost 40 years, and it’s the first ship operating on the Lakes with EPA Tier 4 engines. The self-unloading bulk carrier is the lead ship in Interlake’s River class.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding built the steel-hulled ship using a collaborative design from Bay Engineering Inc. and Interlake’s in-house engineering department. The ship was designed around a flat-bottomed cargo hold that increases capacity and versatility compared to a traditional laker outfitted with sloped holds. Load-bearing hatch covers above deck can carry windmill parts and shipping containers.

“This box-shaped cargo hold allows the ship to carry cargoes that may not traditionally move on the Great Lakes,” Mark W. Barker, president of Interlake Steamship and the ship’s namesake, said during its christening on Sept. 1 in Cleveland. “It is important that we can move new types of cargo to meet the changing supply chains of the future.”

Interlake Steamship is the largest privately held American shipping company on the Great Lakes. The company operates 10 ships, four of which are more than 1,000 feet long. The 1,013-foot Paul R. Tregurtha, as the longest active freighter on the Great Lakes, carries the title “Queen of the Lakes.” Mark W. Barker is Interlake’s first new ship since the late 1970s.

Based just outside Cleveland in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Interlake Steamship can trace its shipping roots to the late 1880s. Chairman James R. Barker took the firm private in 1987 and led it for another 20 years before his son, Mark W. Barker, succeeded him as president. These days, the company transports a wide range of bulk cargo that includes iron ore, stone, coal and salt

Read more and view images here: https://professionalmariner.com/article/2023-ship-of-the-year-mark-w-barker/?fbclid=IwAR1rs2DTpydQ_ow1eV0QKpJgM1f0S-gHqE_MXCbhcEaz5pfNYTpXxFmlZUg

WorkBoat names Mark W. Barker one of 2022’s 10 Significant Boats

WorkBoat has announced its 10 Significant Boats of 2022. From these 10 boats, the Boat of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30, the first day of the 2022 International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans.

Some years WorkBoat’s Boat of the Year is selected by the readers of WorkBoat magazine and workboat.com by voting online. In alternate years, WorkBoat’s editors pick the Boat of the Year. This year the Boat of the Year will once again be chosen by our readers by voting online. (An announcement concerning when the voting page will go live is imminent.)

Last year’s Boat of the Year was the Staten Island Ferry Michael H. Ollis built at Eastern Shipbuilding Group.

Choosing the 10 Significant Boats each year is subjective, with many boats deserving of making the list each year. However, there are certain parameters that the editorial staff does follow in its efforts to give all boats that qualify a chance. For example, we try to select at least one boat from each sector of the industry that WorkBoat covers — inland towboats and barges, tugs, offshore service vessels, passenger vessels, etc. In addition, if possible, we try to select one boat from each region of the U.S. — East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, and the Great Lakes.

Furthermore, while design is the most important ingredient in selecting a Significant Boat, it is not the only one. This is not a list based on naval architecture and marine engineering only. What makes a boat “Significant” can be that it’s a first of its kind, a successful series build, or where it operates and who it serves, or how it helps advance new workboat frontiers like wind energy.

View the complete list here: https://www.workboat.com/shipbuilding/workboat-names-its-10-significant-boats-of-2022?fbclid=IwAR0_H5ih8xXAyTK9BqjzxtJSpNGUEdZqYEVVMjrzkKAv8tCgmvFJhpboOY0

Roger Blough tow arrives in Conneaut

CONNEAUT, OH – The tow of the fire-damaged Roger Blough arrived at Conneaut just after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The trip originated from Sturgeon Bay, WI, and was handled by Ashton Marine’s tugs Meredith Ashton and Candice Elise. Although nothing official has been released, it is expected the Blough will continue in lay up until her final disposition is determined by operator Great Lakes Fleet and owner CN.

Port of Monroe receives $11M in funding from federal government

MONROE, MI – The Port of Monroe has been awarded $11,051,586 through the Port Infrastructure Development Program, a federal grant awarded through the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD).

The award will go toward the port’s Lake Erie Renewable Energy Resilience Project, funding four components: riverfront work, turning basin work, maritime readiness slip construction and shore power infrastructure.

Riverfront work will include replacing the surface of the existing wharf, constructing a second riverfront wharf to be used exclusively for vessel transfer of wind energy cargoes, and reinforcing shoreline stabilization. Turning Basin work will include rehabilitating the concrete dock cap, bollard and fender installation, and replacing roughly 390 feet of failed sheet pile. Small Boat “Maritime Readiness Slip” construction will include demolishing and rehabilitating an existing small boat slip to be used by harbor assist vessels. Shore Power infrastructure will include removing existing overhead lines and providing shore power to the riverfront wharves.

“There are but a few rare moments in the port’s history which can be considered monumental,” said Port of Monroe Director Paul LaMarre III. “This grant award represents the single largest investment in the Port of Monroe’s infrastructure since the organization’s creation in 1932, and will have profound effects on the sustainability and enhancement of our maritime infrastructure, which supports the Port of Monroe’s continued growth as a regional hub for both domestic and international renewable energy cargoes.”

The port’s application for this federal funding was supported by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. MARAD is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“The Port of Monroe is not only a critical resource for manufacturers in Michigan and across the Great Lakes region, but it also plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient trade and transport of products that families and businesses rely on every day,” Peters said. “I was pleased to support the port’s effort to secure this funding, which will expand cargo capacity, increase economic activity for the region and strengthen supply chains. I’ll keep fighting to make sure the port is treated fairly, has the resources necessary to compete on a level playing field and reaches its full potential.”

“Senator Peters is the Port of Monroe’s champion,” LaMarre added. “His unequivocal support for the Great Lakes maritime industry and Michigan’s role as the ‘Great Lakes State’ is second to none. His support of this grant and our continued efforts is humbly appreciated and will have far-reaching effects on our port’s future.”

The Monroe News

National Museum of the Great Lakes final fall lecture offers a retrospective look at the J.W Westcott company

See the media gallery below for the event flyer

Roger Blough tow on the way to Conneaut

On Sunday, the Roger Blough tow passed under the Blue Water Bridges at Port Huron/Sarnia after pausing to allow the Sam Laud to pass upbound. 

See the gallery for images.

Neebish Islander III ferry arrives at her new home

BARBEAU, MI – The new, 92-foot-long ferry Neebish Islander III was delivered from builder Burger Boat Co. in Manitowoc, WI, Sunday afternoon to her owner, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, at Barbeau, MI. She arrived in the late afternoon and tied up to a Corps of Engineers dock at the lower end of the rock cut. After crew training and trials, she is expected to enter service between the island and the mainland after a dedication ceremony Nov. 9. It is not known what will happen with the current ferry Neebish Islander II.

Roger LeLievre 

Happy Halloween!

– Boatnerd

Roger Blough tow in St. Clair River

Mid-morning Sunday the tow passed under the Blue Water Bridges after pausing to allow the Sam Laud to pass upbound. Most of the earlier fog has lifted.  Please send photos to news@boatnerd.net

Roger Blough tow making slow progress

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the Roger Blough tow was making 4.8 knots in tow of the tugs Meredith Ashton and Candice Elise.  Their location was north of East Tawas. This speed gives it a current ETA at the Blue Water Bridges of between 7:15 and 7:30 am Sunday. Destination is Conneaut, Ohio.

Lost Mariners Remembrance Thursday, November 10

 DETROIT, MI – The 23rd annual Lost Mariners Remembrance will be held at 6 pm at Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 Strand Drive, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI. The event begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald anchor, followed by the live Honor Guard escort of a memorial wreath to the Detroit River for receipt by an Honor Flotilla of Great Lakes vessels. A performance by Lee Murdock, Great Lakes balladeer, will follow the wreath ceremony. In this year’s historical presentation, scholar and author Mike Nagle will recount the story of the SS Atlantic, a passenger ship headed to New York City from Liverpool, England, but never made it to its final desti nation.

The event will be broadcast online. See https://detroithistorical.org./ for more information.

2 Great Lakes ports get infrastructure grants

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that will improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.

The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional Congressional appropriations, will benefit coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports.

“So many of the goods we all count on, from appliances to furniture to clothes, move through our nation’s ports on their way to us,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “Using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this year we’re awarding record levels of funding to improve our port infrastructure, strengthen our supply chains, and help cut costs for American families.”

Great Lakes grants include:
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority ($27,223,711)
Cleveland, Ohio 
The project consists of both development phase (planning, permitting, engineering, and design) and construction activities at the Port of Cleveland. It will modernize a 144,000-square-foot warehouse (Warehouse A); expand stormwater collection and treatment infrastructure; construct a modernized maintenance and repowering facility for terminal equipment; and install electric infrastructure to meet the power requirements of ship cold ironing and electrified cargo handling

Port of Green Bay Site Development Project ($10,134,800) 
Green Bay, Wisconsin
The project funds the first phase of redevelopment of a former power plant site into a new port terminal. The project includes the following components: engineering services; clearing and clean-up of the existing brownfield site; construction of new dock walls and bulkheads; dredging; placement of fill behind dock wall and bulkheads; construction of stormwater collection and treatment facilities; installation of bollards and crane pads; asphalt resurfacing; new roads and utilities; truck scales; construction of an office building; and repair and extension of a rail spur with installation of three switches.

Historic load: Mark W. Barker takes on steel bars at Monroe

A historic first load of special bar quality (SBQ) steel in the M/V Mark W. Barker, our 639-foot new build in her maiden season sailing on the Great Lakes. The steel bars were loaded overnight at the Port of Monroe, Michigan’s only port on Lake Erie.

Thanks to her large, innovative MacGregor hatch openings and flat-bottomed cargo hold, the Mark W. Barker is the ideal vessel to carry this SBQ steel manufactured at Gerdau Special Steel’s Monroe Mill.

“This is a wonderful partnership that gives a clear understanding of the benefits of the M/V Mark W. Barker’s design to go beyond the traditional free-flowing cargoes we have historically focused on,” says Brendan P. O’Connor, our Vice President of Marketing and Marine Traffic.

O’Connor pointed to the tremendous efforts of Port of Monroe Director Paul LaMarre III, terminal operator DRM and Fraser Shipyards to facilitate this successful commerce.

“This is a perfect example of how Interlake is able to expand and grow into other markets and commodities with such a versatile new asset in our U.S. flag fleet,” he says.

The cargo will be unloaded at Superior, Wis., and ultimately delivered to Gerdau’s grinding ball mill in the Twin Ports. The bars will be melted down into grinding balls that are used in the mining industry, ensuring consistent production of iron ore (taconite pellets) that our commercial fleet delivers to steel mills throughout the region.

Interlake Steamship Co.

Peters Announces $11 Million in Federal Funding for Port of Monroe

DETROIT – U.S. Senator Gary Peters today announced that the Port of Monroe has been awarded $11,051,586 through the Port Infrastructure Development Program, funding that will be critical for strengthening and expanding the Port’s capabilities. The grant was awarded by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Peters supported the Port’s application for this federal funding.

“The Port of Monroe is not only a critical resource for manufacturers in Michigan and across the Great Lakes region, but it also plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient trade and transport of products that families and businesses rely on every day,” said Senator Peters, Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. “I was pleased to support the Port’s effort to secure this funding, which will expand cargo capacity, increase economic activity for the region and strengthen supply chains. I’ll keep fighting to make sure the Port is treated fairly, has the resources necessary to compete on a level playing field and reaches its full potential.”

“There are but a few rare moments in a Port’s history which can be considered monumental. This grant award represents the single largest investment in the Port of Monroe’s infrastructure since the organization’s creation in 1932 and will have profound effects on the sustainability and enhancement of our maritime infrastructure which supports the Port of Monroe’s continued growth as a regional hub for both domestic and international renewable energy cargoes,” said Paul LaMarre, Port Director of the Port of Monroe. “Senator Peters is the Port of Monroe’s champion. His unequivocal support for the Great Lakes maritime industry and Michigan’s role as the ‘Great Lakes State’ is second to none. His support of this grant and our continued efforts is humbly appreciated and will have far reaching effects on our Port’s future.”

The Port of Monroe Project award will go toward its Lake Erie Renewable Energy Resilience Project, funding four components: riverfront work, turning basin work, maritime readiness slip construction and shore power infrastructure.

Component 1—Riverfront work will include replacing the surface of the existing wharf, constructing a second riverfront wharf to be used exclusively for vessel transfer of wind energy cargos, and reinforcing shoreline stabilization;

Component 2—Turning Basin work will include rehabilitating the concrete dock cap, bollard and fender installation, and replacing roughly 390 feet of failed sheet pile;

Component 3—Small Boat “Maritime Readiness Slip” construction will include demolishing and rehabilitating an existing small boat slip to be used by harbor assist vessels; and

Component 4—Shore Power infrastructure will include removing existing overhead lines and providing shore power to the riverfront wharves.

Peters has been a strong advocate for increased funding for Michigan’s ports. During negotiations for the bipartisan infrastructure law, Peters pushed for and succeeded in securing increased investments for the Port Infrastructure Development Program to fund port infrastructure needed to improve freight mobility, address port congestion, and improve port competitiveness.

As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has supported funding for the Port Security Grant Program and has fought to support Michigan’s ports, especially the Port of Monroe, and ensure they receive fair treatment. Last year, he announced the Port of Monroe received a $770,983 federal grant to help upgrade cargo screening infrastructure and previously helped secure a $1.1 million federal grant for the Port to expand its maritime commerce operations. A bipartisan measure coauthored by Peters was signed into law requiring federal officials to assess all ports of entry, including finding ways to reduce wait times for passengers and cargo at the border. Peters has also repeatedly pressed U.S. Customs and Border Protection on why the Port of Monroe is being held to standards that are not applied to other ports in the region. He toured the Port of Monroe last year with Customs and Border Protection officials and Port of Monroe leaders to assess current operations and discuss resolving ongoing cargo clearance challenges that impact commerce at the port.

Corps of Engineers receiving new crane barge for St. Marys River

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awards a contract to Southwest Shipyard LP of Houston, Texas in the amount of $11.4 million for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River.

“The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys River, such as vessel groundings and anchor drags.”

Neebish Islander III departs shipyard for service in the Upper Peninusla

The new ferry Neebish Islander III departed the Burger Boat Co. shipyard in Manitowoc, WI, Thursday morning. She is expected to arrive at the island on Sunday. The 92-foot-long vessel is an ice breaking passenger and auto ferry that can carry 15 passenger vehicles. The ferry will be used year-round, carrying people on the St Marys River, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, between Barbeau and Neebish Island.

Canada’s shrinking St. Lawrence is the latest threat to shipping routes

A key Canadian shipping corridor is the latest waterway struggling with dwindling water levels.

Parts of the St. Lawrence River near Montreal have hit 10-year lows, said Bryce Carmichael, hydraulic engineer and U.S. section secretary for the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board. Seaway managers in Canada and the U.S. are monitoring the conditions and considering boosting the flow of water from Lake Ontario to make conditions safer for commercial ships, according to Carmichael.

“Right now, we’re expecting two to three weeks of lower levels,” he said.

The shrinking water levels in Canada come as closures on the Mississippi River threaten exports of corn and soybeans just as farmers are in the thick of harvest, threatening to cause a buildup of supplies. The phenomenon has also hit Europe and China, where the Rhine River and Yangtze shrunk this year.

River levels on the St. Lawrence have “decreased considerably” and the latest forecasts by the Canadian Coast Guard call for further drops, according to a customer bulletin from global shipping line Hapag-Lloyd AG. The company has increased rates to move cargo to and through Montreal’s port until Nov. 1.

“It’s been very low for a while,” said Frank Seglenieks, Canadian co-chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board of Control, noting the basin has been dry this spring and summer, impacting water levels. “In general, when we have lower water levels ships do have to lighten their loads.”

Toronto Star

Roger Blough tow leaves Sturgeon Bay for Conneaut

The tugs Meredith Ashton and Candace Elise departed BayShip Thursday morning with the fire-damaged Roger Blough. AIS indicates the destination as Conneaut, Ohio. Speculation earlier had the vessel bound for either Gladstone or Escanaba, MI, for further storage. No information has been released as to what fate awaits the Blough. The Cason J. Callaway remains at BayShip for now.

Sault Ste. Marie looking at infrastructure to host more Great Lakes cruise ships

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is expecting ten more cruise ships to visit by spring, 2023. The increase would bring the total number of cruise stops at Sault Ste. Marie to 50. With the cruise ship traffic, the city is looking to update its infrastructure to support the rise in tourism.

Sault Ste. Marie hosted about a half dozen cruise ships in 2022 making around 50 port calls.

“It’s been a great year. Seeing them come in and seeing the buses, you know they hire bus companies to come in and take them around, and you know, you can see them walking down the street right by here to go downtown and to our downtown district,” said Linda Hoath, Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Hoath explained with tourism being a year-round industry, adding a few thousand more people who aren’t straining the housing industry is a great thing.

City leaders are now trying to find a permanent dock solution. The Carbide Dock was taken out of commission in 2016, and over the past six years, the city has been searching for grants and other funding to get it operational once again. The cost to get the Carbide Dock operational is expected to be more than $20 million.

Up North Live

A day in the life of the Split Rock Lighthouse keeper

In all of Split Rock’s 112-year history, the lighthouse has always had a keeper. Right now, that person is Hayes Scriven, a self-described “history geek.” He and his family live on site.

“It is definitely like a surreal experience. When we first moved here in January, the first night, we went to bed and we’re like, we’re sleeping at Split Rock. This is so cool,” he remembered.

The next morning, they woke up, looked out toward Lake Superior, and an eagle flew right toward the house and up over it. “I’m like, I can’t believe I live here,” Scriven said. Originally, the lighthouse had three keepers, according to Scriven.

Read the full story here: https://www.wdio.com/lift-online/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-split-rock-lighthouse-keeper/

WDIO

Roger Blough set to leave Sturgeon Bay

STURGEON BAY, WI – Tugs Meredith Ashton and Candace Elise moved the Roger Blough from Bayship late Tuesday morning to the dock face. The tow is expected to leave for Conneaut, OH, on Wednesday.

Spruceglen hits bottom in Welland Canal

On Saturday, Spruceglen hit the bottom in the Welland Canal between Locks 7 and 8, taking on water. She sailed to Hamilton for diver inspection and repair. She is curr

ently sitting at Pier 26 in Hamilton.

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down 5.6 Percent in September

 CLEVELAND – Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in September, a decrease of 5.6 percent compared to a year ago.  Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 6.5 percent.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 29.2 million tons, a decrease of nearly 21.8 percent compared to the same point in 2021.

Through September iron ore loadings are 20.1 percent below their 5-year average for the first three quarters.

Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.  More information is available at www.lcaships.com.

Lake Carriers’ Association 

National Museum of the Great Lakes events

See gallery below