TSB releases report on 2020 collision of Florence Spirit and Alanis in Welland Canal

On Tuesday, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) released its investigation report today of the July 11, 2020 collision between the Florence Spirit and Alanis (general cargo ships) near mile 16 in the Welland Canal, Ontario. Both vessels sustained major damage to their hull structures.

The Findings:

Hydrodynamic forces, combined with the proximity of the bank, caused the collision between the two cargo vessels.The investigation revealed that an exchange of short, informal instant messages between the master of the Florence Spirit and the pilot of the Alanis influenced the former’s speed and course-alteration decisions. These decisions increased the complexity of the encounter. The instant messaging communication between the master and pilot contributed to the master’s attention being diverted from coordinating the meeting with his own bridge team and excluded other bridge team members from having safety-critical information. In addition, diffused responsibility between the master and piloting master on the Florence Spirit precluded coordination and communication between the bridge team members of the Florence Spirit, which affected their ability to monitor the vessel’s progress and detect the effect of hydrodynamic forces acting on the vessel.

The Florence Spirit proceeded into the meeting at the maximum permissible speed of 9.9 knots, which increased the hydrodynamic forces acting on the vessel and reduced the ability to maintain steering control. The hydrodynamic forces generated, combined with the proximity of the bank, produced a yawing moment such that the vessel yawed uncontrollably to port into the path of the Alanis and collided with it.

Report courtesy : Janey Anderson

Video Credit: Jeremy Barton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzh4ZYuClYQ

Fednav sells three of its Laker-class series of vessels

Fednav Ltd. of Montreal, Quebec has renamed three of its Laker-class series of vessels, all of which have made trips through the Great Lakes/Seaway during their careers.

Federal Elbe IMO 9230000, built in 2003 was renamed DSM Castor of Barbados. This vessel first came inland as such in 2004 and last visited in 202. This was the second vessel to carry the name Federal Elbe in the Fednav fleet. The ship was renamed sometime in February 2022.

Also renamed was the Federal Danube IMO 9271511, built in 2004. The ship is now known as DSM Capella of Barbados registry. As the Federal Danube, this vessel first came inland as such in 2004 and last visited in 2021, making three inland visits This was the second vessel to carry the name Federal Danube in the Fednav fleet. The ship was renamed sometime in March 2022.

Finally, the Federal Weser IMO 9229972, built in 2002 has been renamed NJ Sun of Palau registry. This vessel first came inland in 2002 and last in 2022. The ship was renamed sometime in June 2022.

 Two other Fednav Laker-class vessels, the Federal Ems IMO 9229984, built in 2002, and the Federal Leda IMO 9229996, built in 2003, have yet to be sold.

With Fednav building 10 new Laker-class vessels in Oshima, Japan it remains to be seen if any of the new buildings may have any of the former Fednav names applied to them.

Denny Dushane

Museum offering Labor Day free admission to union members

The National Museum of the Great Lakes will open its doors FREE on Labor Day (Monday, September 5) to all union members and union retirees.

“The museum recognizes the importance of honoring the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States,” says the museum’s Executive Director Chris Gillcrist.

While touring, all visitors can also participate in Freighter Golf, the museum’s annual hole-in-one challenge featuring two putting greens this year aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship. Freighter Golf is included with museum ship admission.

Tickets can be reserved and purchased ahead of time online at nmgl.org, however reservations are not required. Proof of union membership will be requested upon arrival.

Scroll down to view the flyer regarding prices

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Reserve now for MHSD’s Detroit River cruise on September 10

Join other members of the MHSD aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Queen, (captained by MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for a Detroit River cruise 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 10. We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic and, if conditions are favorable, go up the Rouge River (however, the Rouge is not guaranteed). Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat.

Tickets are $28 ($30 at the dock if space is still available). Buy tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com (put Marine Historical Society in the search box to find our event). 

By mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed – they will be held for you at the dock. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat.

MHSD

Grain gushing out of the Great Lakes this year

The St. Lawrence Seaway transported 514,000 tonnes of grain out of the Great Lakes between March 22 to the end of July this year. This represents a 37% increase from the same period last year.

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership’s August report shows that the surge in US grain shipments will help alleviate global food concerns in the wake of the Ukraine war. A minimum of 27 nations have received US Great Lakes grain during the month of July, up from 26 in June.

Ports on the Great Lakes are also increasing investments in facilities and equipment. This is due to a surge in grain exports, road congestion, increasing energy prices, and a supply chain crisis.

“We’re seeing the results of a surge in maritime business that once was the hallmark of Oswego. Our continuing investments of over $26 million include upgrades to our facilities to make the port once again a leader on the lakes,” said William W. Scriber, executive director of the Port of Oswego. “We’re particularly proud that our revenue not only supports our operations but also supports local jobs and businesses without relying on tax dollars.”

Read more at this link: https://gcaptain.com/grain-is-gushing-out-of-the-great-lakes-this-year/?fbclid=IwAR05MfNqgvDmDFdkQ5CYpboK_mFrdteCSUbkC9Q4uzm9STtfVIEe3QYTkjs

gCaptain

Coast Guard Center of Expertise will research possible Great Lakes oil spills

SAULT STE. MARIE. MI – On Aug. 24, Senator Gary Peters officially opened the U.S. Coast Guard National Center of Expertise for the Great Lakes in Sault Ste. Marie.

Located at Lake Superior State University’s Richard & Theresa Barch Center for Freshwater Research and Education, the Center of Expertise will conduct research examining the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments to help develop effective responses.

Officials said this research is considered critical for the Great Lakes, because it is the largest source of surface freshwater in the world. The Great Lakes are also an important resource to the American and Canadian economies, but because they are freshwater there doesn’t exist any reliable methods to clean up oil spills.

When oil is spilled into saltwater there are various methods of cleaning the oil out of the water. Many of these methods include dispersing the oil and relying on saltwater microbes to eat up the oil particles. These microbes do not exist in freshwater like the Great Lakes, meaning that some of the most effective methods of cleaning oil spill contaminations will not work in the Great Lakes.

The center will have several areas of focus, including:

·       Working with academic and the private sector to develop and standardize maritime oil spill response training

·       Identifying gaps in Great Lakes oil spill research, including providing assessments of major scientific or technological deficiencies in responses to past spills in the Great Lakes and other freshwater bodies

·       Monitoring and assessing the current state of knowledge regarding freshwater oil spill response technologies

·       Conducting research, development, testing and evaluation for freshwater oil spill response equipment, technologies and techniques to mitigate and respond to oil spills in the Great Lakes

·       Helping train first responders on the federal, state and local level on the incident command structure system and response technologies and strategies

The establishment of this center comes just a few months after an oil spill, originating in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, leaked over 5,300 gallons of morgoil oil into the St. Marys River. The Coast Guard and LSSU’s Freshwater Research Center both participated in efforts to clean the river and surrounding Great Lakes areas. This is the same kind of response that will be expected from the Center of Expertise.

The Center of Expertise came to be after Peters was told by the U.S. Coast Guard during a hearing in 2017 that it was not prepared for an oil spill in the Great Lakes. At the time, the Coast Guard cited a lack of science and research in freshwater oil spills compared to saltwater oil spill research. In 2018, Peters signed legislation into law to establish the Center of Expertise and secured $4 million in funding for the initiative. The pandemic delayed the establishment of a permanent location for the center until this year.

The Center for Freshwater Research and Education was chosen because of its unique placement being so close to multiple Great Lakes. Between its location and the fact that it was already conducting research into oil spills in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard made it the perfect location for this new center.

“We’ve got to understand how we can clean up oil spills, and we’ve got to figure out the science,” Peters said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “I want to make sure we can respond really quickly should there be a disaster in the Straits of Mackinac.”

Lake Superior State University President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Response Policy Rear Admiral Jo-Ann Burdian and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Don Gerrie all spoke at the ceremony to open the center.

Sault News

Destroyer celebrates 10 years on the Saginaw river

BAY CITY, MI – A piece of naval history is celebrating a decade of being docked on the Saginaw River.

Visitors of the USS Edison have the chance to learn about the remarkable history of the destroyer while walking through the museum.

“We wanted this to be a community event. We wanted to bring people here and that’s why we were giving away the hot dogs and cake and ice cream,” said Peter Gotzenski, the Vice President of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship museum. “It was built in 1958 and it served until 1988. It was towed here up on the Saint Lawrence river. It took a month to tow it here.”

The navy destroyer took part in both the Vietnam war and the Cold war, earning a reputation as a top gun ship.

“We’re in the planning stages to make it a more educational thing, do more educational things on the ship. We have a lot of overnights on the ship where we have scout troops come and stay overnight,” Gotzenski said.

“We’re having a ton of fun, and it’s actually really cool to be here in person,” said Drew Matzinger, a boy scout.

All proceeds from the museum go to restoring the ship.

WNEM 5

Reserve now for MHSD’s Detroit River cruise on September 10

Join other members of the MHSD aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Queen, (captained by MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for a Detroit River cruise 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 10. We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic and, if conditions are favorable, go up the Rouge River (however, the Rouge is not guaranteed). Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat.

Tickets are $28 ($30 at the dock if space is still available). Buy tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com (put Marine Historical Society in the search box to find our event). 

By mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed – they will be held for you at the dock. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat.

MHSD

Navibulgar’s newest laker-size vessel Verila makes first visit to the Great Lakes/Seaway

 MONTREAL, QC – Arriving in Montreal early on August 24 was the saltwater visitor Verila (IMO 9905734), built in 2022 in China for the Navigation Maritime Bulgare or Navibulgar fleet of Bulgaria.

Verila is on its first trip to the Great Lakes/Seaway, and before arriving in Montreal, the ship delivered cargo to Trois Rivieres, QC, arriving there on August 21 and departing on August 23. It is next headed to Hamilton next to unload steel and was expected to arrive sometime on August 25.

Verila is also one of eight new laker-sized vessels built in China for Navibulgar since 2021. The first two ships of the series, each built in 2021, are the Bogdan IMO 9905710 and Kom IMO 9905708. Perelik IMO 9905722 was built in 2022. Each of the three vessels are 189.98 meters in length and about 23.800 meters in width. The three are replacing older ships in the fleet that once held the names Bogdan, Kom and Perelik, all of which since have been sold. The newer Bogdan, Kom and Perelik have also all made visits and appearances in the Great Lakes/Seaway system.

In addition to Verila, a sistership, Vezhen IMO 9937270 is also expected to make a first inland visit sometime later this year. Vezhen was built in 2022. Three more laker-sized vessels for the Navibulgar fleet are all being built in China, with one of them expected to be delivered in 2022, while two others are due in 2023.

Denny Dushane

Another new cruise ship to make its Great Lakes debut with more due in September

MONTREAL, QC – Another new cruise ship will soon be making its debut cruising the Great Lakes this season. Expected to arrive in Montreal around August 24Le Dumont d’Urville IMO 9814052, built in 2019. She is 131.5 meters in length and has a beam of 18 meters wide. The Le Dumont d’Urville is registered in France and is also a twin is to another French passenger vessel,  Le Champlain IMO 9814038, which first visited the Great Lakes/Seaway in 2019. Le Champlain is also expected to return to the Great Lakes/Seaway for cruising sometime in September.

Additinally, another new Frenchcruise ship, Le Bellot IMO 9852418, will also be making its first visit sometime in September. The Le Bellot is also a twin to the Le Dumont d’Urville and the Le Champlain. Le Bellot was built in 2020.

Thus far, there have been five foreign-flagged cruise ships that have made  appearances cruising the Great Lakes this year. They are the Viking Octantis IMO 9863194 of Norway and the largest of them, along with the Ocean Navigator IMO 9213131 formerly the Victory II and her sistership the Ocean Voyager IMO 9213129 formerly the Victory I.

Ocean Explorer IMO 9883194, built in 2021, made its first visit on the Great Lakes earlier in 2022 and is expected back again sometime later in September. It is registered in the Bahamas as well. Pearl Mist IMO 9412701 and registered in the Marshall Islands returned to the Great Lakes for cruising this year after having last visited in 2019

Finally, the Hamburg IMO 9138329, built in 1997 as the c. Columbus and registered in the Bahamas, is also expected to return sometime in September.

Denny Dushane

OBITUARY: Boatnerd volunteer George Wharton

George Wharton of Strathroy, Ontario, age 70, passed away August 25 after a long battle with COVID-19. He was a former member of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit Board of Directors and was an early supporter of boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/, writing many of the vessel histories for the site. He also enjoyed compiling vessel engine data for the book Know Your Ships. He was a retired over-the-road tractor trailer driver, a former transportation analyst at 3M and studied social sciences at The University of Western Ontario. He is survived by his wife Darlene. Funeral services will be private.

Tim S. Dool returns to service

Algoma Central Corporation’s Tim S. Cool has returned to service, loading in Superior, WI., after departing Thundery Bay, ON., empty. She is bound for Hamilton, ON.

Jack Hurt

Manitowoc football team takes SS Badger ferry to game in Michigan

MANITOWOC, WI – The Manitowoc Ships are living up to their name this week.

The high school football team is taking a unique path to Friday night lights. Instead of riding a bus, it planned to board the S.S. Badger carferry for a trip across Lake Michigan Wednesday afternoon.

The trip is similar to one taken by Ludington, Michigan, High School last year. Ludington’s boys soccer team took the S.S. Badger across the lake to play a game against Manitowoc.

Fox 11 News

Reserve now for MHSD’s Detroit River cruise on September 10

Join other members of the MHSD aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Queen, (captained by MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for a Detroit River cruise 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 10. We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic and, if conditions are favorable, go up the Rouge River (however, the Rouge is not guaranteed). Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat.

Tickets are $28 ($30 at the dock if space is still available). Buy tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com (put Marine Historical Society in the search box to find our event). 

By mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed – they will be held for you at the dock. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat.

MHSD

Happy Rover, frequent visitor on the Great Lakes, catches on fire in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM, NL – Fire erupted in the fore part of general cargo ship HAPPY ROVER early in the morning Aug 21, dry docked at Schiedam, Rotterdam, and undergoing repairs, including fire works. The ship arrived at Rotterdam on Aug 8, from Canada. Fire engines responded, at one time ship’s horn self-switched and woke up local residents, until it was switched off. As of 0600 UTC Aug 21, the fire was still raging, officials said fire fighting might stretch on into the day.

Fleetmon

Verplank opens Muskegon port facility

MUSKEGON, MI – A new port along the lakeshore opened this past weekend.

Verplank Family Holding Co. hosted a ribbon cutting and facility tour of its new Muskegon port facility Saturday, Aug. 20, at 151 N. Causeway St.

The new facility is on the site of the former B.C. Cobb plant, which was owned by Consumers Energy before it was decommissioned in 2018.

The weekend’s ceremony marked the official opening of the port, which the company said is the largest deep-water port facility on the western shore of Michigan and the only one capable of taking a 1,000-foot freighter. In addition, the new facility can handle more than 1 million tons annually, according to Verplank.

The ribbon cutting ceremony featured remarks from Verplank CEO Ron Matthews, COO Nathan Gates, retired CEO and third-generation family leader Midge Verplank and Rep. Terry Sabo from the 92nd House District.

After formal remarks and the ribbon cutting, guests toured the docks on Muskegon Lake via the Aquastar, courtesy of the West Michigan Port Operators.

Verplank officials also opened the doors to their new state-of-the-art asphalt plant, which the company relocated from its longtime location on Sherman Boulevard to a location one mile from the port site.

Verplank Dock Co., one of the subsidiaries of Verplank Family Holding Co., acquired the 115-acre site of the former B.C. Cobb plant in June 2020 from North Carolina-based Forsite Development Inc. Forsite acquired the site from Consumers Energy in October 2017.

GRBJ

Toronto Island ferry service partially resumes

TORONTO, ON – Ferry service to and from the Toronto Islands has been partially restored after a boat struck the dock at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal late Saturday afternoon.

The first ferries of the day to Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point departed at 7 a.m. Sunday.

In a series of tweets, Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) said due to incident ferry service between the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Toronto Island will be operating on a “modified schedule” for the next several weeks. The city is also advising passengers to “expect much longer than usual wait times for the remainder of the summer.”

“Until further notice, there will be only three ferries operating between Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Toronto Island – two passenger-only vessels and one vehicle/passenger vessel. Unnecessary vehicular passage is discouraged,” Toronto PFR said in a tweet.

Read the full article here: https://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-island-ferry-service-resumes-but-only-partially-after-boat-crashes-into-dock-1.6036035?fbclid=IwAR3Sdi6L-m0JMjQAZxELombndbsotPDQF1PmZkbPy9u3d6CzZhOKG_GXrAQ

CP24 News

Reserve now for MHSD’s Detroit River cruise on September 10

Join other members of the MHSD aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Queen, (captained by MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for a Detroit River cruise 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 10. We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic and, if conditions are favorable, go up the Rouge River (however, the Rouge is not guaranteed). Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat.

Tickets are $28 ($30 at the dock if space is still available). Buy tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com (put Marine Historical Society in the search box to find our event). 

By mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed – they will be held for you at the dock. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat.

MHSD

Boat tours returning to Canadian side of St. Marys River

After a decade long hiatus, residents and tourists will soon be able to enjoy boat tours on the Canadian side of the St. Marys River again.

Sault Lock Tours says it is excited to present the ‘Miss Marie,’ a 100-person capacity vessel that recently arrived at the Roberta Bondar dock.

Following Transport Canada regulations, the hour and a half cruise will take passengers out on the waters of Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. The Miss Marie will provide daily tours in the afternoon and private charters in the evening until mid-October. Details of the boat’s exact route are still being finalized, but the tour will include views of the city’s downtown.

Tickets are $44 for adults, $31 for seniors and $12 for children 12 and under.

Soo Today

U.S. petcoke and grain continue to lead the way for Great Lakes-Seaway shipping

Buoyed by strong exports of U.S. petcoke and grain, overall cargo shipments via the St. Lawrence Seaway reached 3.8 million metric tons in July.

Total cargo shipments for the season hit 15.7 million metric tons through July, down 7.65% compared to the same time period in 2021.

Year-to-date shipments of petcoke, which is being used for cement production in Europe, reached more than 1 million metric tons at the end of July, an increase of 46% over last year. Meanwhile, U.S. grain shipments via the Great Lakes-Seaway system totaled 511,000 metric tons from March 22 through July 31, an increase of 37% over the same timeframe in 2021. Much of the increase can be attributed to exports of corn and soybeans.

Bruce Burrows, President & CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce says U.S. grain continues to be sent to Europe and North Africa due, in part, to the disruption of trade patterns caused by the Ukraine-Russia war.

“International and cross-border trade has been a major driver of U.S. Great Lakes-Seaway port volumes during the first half of the shipping season,” Burrows said. “With the new harvests coming through soon, we expect U.S. grain exports through the St. Lawrence Seaway to remain strong as we head into the autumn.”

July was a busy month for the Port of Monroe which began exporting wind tower sections to the Port of Oswego. The project, involving a partnership with terminal operator DRM, Monroe-based wind tower manufacturer Ventower Industries and Michigan tug operator Ashton Marine Corporation, should be completed late this summer. In addition, the Port of Monroe welcomed a new Manitowoc crawler crane which will used to load tower sections. The crane was acquired with funding through the Marine Highway program.

The Port of Toledo reports another positive month with cargo shipments hitting nearly 6 million tons through the end of July. That’s almost 20% above the shipping totals for the same time period a year ago. Grain, iron ore, coal, general cargo and dry bulk are all trending upward.

“It is really amazing the impact that the Cleveland Cliffs DRI plant has had on the Port of Toledo in terms of tonnage, job creation and infrastructure development,” said Joseph Cappel, VP of Business development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “We are also seeing some new grain products and bulk materials in our mix this season. Our strategy of obtaining equipment and constructing facilities that have multiple purposes has worked to our advantage. We are basically positioned to handle any type of cargo that can be loaded onto a vessel at one or more of the marine terminals within the Port of Toledo.”

Led by a sizable iron ore rally, total tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior topped 3.8 million short tons in July, the port’s largest monthly total since August 2021. More than 12.6 million tons of waterborne cargo transited Duluth-Superior from mid-March through July 31, which was 13.4% below the five-season average, but also trending positively, with the gap narrowing nearly 5% month over month.

Some 2,537,800 tons of iron ore departed Duluth-Superior in July. This hefty haul lifted the port’s seasonal iron ore total over 7.7 million tons. A companion in taconite processing, limestone also enjoyed a robust July, with 494,096 tons arriving in the port.

“July showed signs of a rebound from what was a slower first half of the maritime shipping season,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director, Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “Demand is strong for many of our port’s key cargoes, so we’re expecting tonnage totals to draw closer to the five-season average through the fourth quarter. Hopefully it’ll be a second-half surge, driven by these favorable market forces.”

At Port Milwaukee, steel imports remain strong. So far this shipping season, steel cargo imports are up 31% compared to 2021. “The significant amount of steel cargo traveling through Milwaukee represents the Port’s critical role in this year’s strong international shipping season,” said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Director of Port Milwaukee.

Chamber of Marine Commerce

Golf aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker museum ship returns in time for Dana Open

TOLEDO, OH – Beginning Thursday, August 25, the National Museum of the

Great Lakes invites visitors to take a swing (or two!) on our custom built putting greens aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship. Created to celebrate the sport of golf, this year the event boasts not just one, but two putting greens and is scheduled to coincide with the Dana Open Presented by Marathon, an LPGA tour stop taking place nearby in Sylvania, Ohio.

“Spanning nearly 30 ft. across the museum ship’s deck and overlooking the ‘Mighty Maumee’ and Downtown Toledo, the ‘Freighter Golf’ putting greens are both complete with maritime-themed obstacles and aim to challenge and provide fun for any age or skill level,” shares Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s Director of Education and Visitor Experience.

“Freighter Golf” will open for use through Sunday, September 11. Access to the green is included with Museum Ship admission and visitors are being challenged to sink a hole-in-one to take home a special prize and be entered in a drawing for a free museum membership. The putting green and hole-in-one challenge will be open for visitors during the regular museum hours of 10 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday. For additional information visit nmgl.org or call 419-214-5000.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Port Of Oswego continues tonnage increase over 2021: 187,210 tons shipped and $1.3 million in payroll to-date

OSWEGO, NY – Maritime activity and positive economic impacts at the Port of Oswego (POA), continues to grow at a record pace this year and support and create jobs for the area, said William W Scriber, POA executive director and CEO.

“As of July 31, the Port has increased tonnage this year by 95% over 2021 tons delivered and loaded from our dock between January and July,” Scriber said.  “Last year during this period, our total tonnage was 95,983, which is still is a major accomplishment in Great Lakes shipping. This year, at this point, it’s 187,210 tons—and growing.  Since April, the Port has yielded more than $1,322,558 in local payroll and benefits through July 31.

“Our surge in maritime business has elevated the Port of Oswego to ‘major player’ status in Great Lakes shipping this year,” said Francis Enwright, POA board chair. “Our increased intake tonnage in wind turbine components and aluminum have been astounding, while the grain shipments we’ve been making keep more than 100 local farmers bringing their grain to Oswego while these shipments ease the strain on the global supply chain.”

“It’s important to note that the Port is self-sustaining and does not rely on tax dollars,” Scriber said. All operations are funded by the Port’s revenue, so it depends upon itself to operate, grow, and thrive rather than tax dollars. The economic benefit from the Port has a positive impact on the local and regional economy when it purchases diesel, forklifts, gas, hardware, and other equipment. The Port’s revenue supports its operations, but also supports local jobs and local businesses right here in the Oswego community.

“Anyone who lives in Oswego can see the increased economic activity this year. In fact, there are one or two different vessels docked to unload or take on cargo here nearly every week. We’re actively engaged in three different contracts for wind turbine projects around the state, and we’re taking in vital aluminum for production at Novelis in Oswego. All are delivered, stored, and transported from the Port, which adds to the local economy and the expansion of commercial business.

“At one time the Port of Oswego was one of the major ports in the Great Lakes creating a large number of jobs and supporting commercial growth for the City of Oswego and central New York.  As markets changed and other ports made substantial investments in their operations, the Port of Oswego declined in trade and business.

“The good news is the Port of Oswego is back strong with increases in business and investments that are designed to help the Port be more competitive in the new Great Lakes marketplace.  Just this week, the port awarded a $1.2 million dollar contract to a local contractor to upgrade a part of the port’s east dock, including a new section of rail.” Scriber said.  “Plus, our investments in our marina which contributes an estimated $2 million to the tourism traffic in Oswego, makes the port a major economic powerhouse to the local economy.

“The Port of Oswego means business about bringing business to Oswego and central New York.  We have worked hard to turn around the port, which the U.S. Department of Transportation has recognized by designating it—one of only 32 in the United States—as a Marine Highway. This designation makes the Port of Oswego a key logistics partner in the Great Lakes shipping industry.  We are the first deep draft harbor on the Great Lakes and the only New York State port on Lake Ontario that can unload international tonnage without passing through the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada (which connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie) or being delivered at an ocean coastal port.”

The historical port is also home to the Oswego Marina, the H. Lee White Marine Museum, historic maritime district, and fourteen companies that call it home for its domestic and international operations. The Port of Oswego’s strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts them less than 350 miles from 60 million people. As a result of its productivity , the Port of Oswego supports 209 local jobs, $26.7 million in economic activity, and $13.8 million in personal income and local consumption expenditures, Scriber said.

Oswego County Today

Reserve now for MHSD’s Detroit River cruise on September 10

Join other members of the MHSD aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Queen, (captained by MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for a Detroit River cruise 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 10. We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic and, if conditions are favorable, go up the Rouge River (however, the Rouge is not guaranteed). Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat.

Tickets are $28 ($30 at the dock if space is still available). Buy tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com (put Marine Historical Society in the search box to find our event). 

By mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed – they will be held for you at the dock. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat.

MHSD

New 92-foot ferry christened in Manitowoc

MANITOWOC, WI – There’s a new way to break the ice and travel the St. Mary’s River in the UP.

On Saturday, Burger Boat Company hosted a christening ceremony in Manitowoc to celebrate the completion of its newest commercial vessel: NEEBISH ISLANDER III. Organizers explained that this new vessel is a vehicle and passenger ferry built to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route.

The 92-foot U.S.-made steel ferry will operate year-round on the St. Marys River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau and Neebish Island.

“It’s an actual honor. It keeps our guys busy building the high-quality boats that we’ve been doing here since 1863,” shared Burger Boat Company Sales Marketing Vice President, Ron Cleveringa. “They love bringing their friends and family in to see what they have done, it’s actually an honor for all of those guys.”

The NEEBISH ISLANDER III joins another ferry that is already operating on the same route.

WeAreGreenBay

The Wolverine and The Sable: The Lake Michigan ships that helped the allies win World War II

Thousands of Michiganders put their lives on the line to support the allies during World War II. Though the fighting was held off American soil, Lake Michigan also played a key role in the fight.

Lake Michigan served as the home for two aircraft carriers — the USS Wolverine and the USS Sable — to train the pilots desperately needed in the fight.

The Wolverine and the Sable were two of the most unique ships to ever serve in the U.S. Navy. Two side-wheeled steamer cruise ships, quickly bought, renovated and launched to help with the war effort.

Read the full article at this link: https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/the-wolverine-and-the-sable-the-lake-michigan-ships-that-helped-the-allies-win-world-war-ii/

Grand Rapids NBC 8

Shipmaster’s Fund Scholarship recipient hopes to become first female First Nations captain

 PORT HURON, MI – Cadet Jackie Day has a dream of becoming the first female First Nations ship captain. The Aamjiwnaang First Nation resident will soon be finishing out her last year in the Marine Navigation Technology Program at Georgian College in Owen Sound, Ontario, with support from a Blue Water Shipmaster’s Fund Scholarship.

The Port Huron-based fund was established at the Community Foundation in 2004 by Captain James C. Acheson in partnership with the International Ship Masters’ Association (ISMA) Lodge #2 to support local students attending the Deck or Engineering program at either the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Great Lakes International Marine Training Giving Center Grants Scholarships Key Programs Centre, Georgian College, or St. Clair County Community College’s transfer program. Typically, awards of $1,000 are given from the fund each year, but due to no applicants in 2020 and 2021, Day was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.

She has been enrolled in Georgian’s program for three years, but her journey to the sea began more than 25 years ago. When she was a young college student taking law and security classes, a co-op summer placement at the Ontario Provincial Police Marine Detachment sparked her interest. But she had just gotten pregnant with her first child and life took her in other directions

“I worked a lot of different jobs,” Day said. “I was a teacher’s aide, a security guard, a receptionist, a casino dealer, a private investigator … but nothing ever really worked for me. I never loved any of them. I would find myself moving on within three years.”

But she still thought about a career on the water, and once her kids were older she began pursuing it. She began by applying for the Canadian Coast Guard, but without experience she couldn’t get in. In 2011, she attended Georgian and received a Marine Emergency Duties Certificate, but it still took her another three years to get into the Coast Guard, finding a position, not as a deckhand, but as a steward serving meals and cleaning cabins.

I was thrilled, Day said. “I figured at least it got my foot in the door.” Less than a year later she had worked her way up to chief cook, working on the Canadian Coast Guard/Royal Canadian Mounted Police vessels. Although she enjoyed cooking, it was still not where she wanted to be.

‘I wanted to be a captain one day, the first female First Nation Captain … that was my dream, Day explained. “So I made the hardest decision to go back to school and take the Marine Navigation Program at Georgian College.”

Since then, she’s been working hard toward that dream. Her program includes coursework at the college which also requires 360 days at sea. This September she will head out with Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) for 90 days to finish the last of her sea days, where her duties include loading cargo, mooring, navigation, safety officer tasks and more.

“I love it!” Day said about working on the ship. “Every day I wake up it’s something new, being able to travel, seeing new places, working on different ships, meeting new people … it’s the only thing I’ve tried that I haven’t got sick of after three years.”

She has a few remaining classes to complete in the spring and a final oral test next summer and then she will receive her Watchkeeping Mate Certificate and can finally start her career as a 3rd mate … nearly 30 years after she first dreamed of working at sea. Then she will be one step closer to her goal of becoming a captain.

That will be no easy feat in an industry that has very few women. While the number has increased over the last few years, it is estimated that only 1.28% of the global seafarer workforce are women, with 94% of those working on cruise ships or passenger ferries. But that doesn’t deter her.

“I’ll have to work hard and make my way up each level,” she said. “To be a good captain, you really have to understand each role on the ship well, so you have to spend a few years at each. It won’t be easy, but that is my 10-year goal.”

It was Day’s story of persistence and determination that struck a chord with the ISMA scholarship committee. “We were excited to receive Jackie’s application,” said Judy Pitrago, committee chair. “It gave us a good look into a very hard-working, deserving woman, driven by goals and willing to sacrifice material things to reach those goals. We know she has a bright future ahead of her.”

Jackie’s community knows as well. She has become a role model to her children and grandchildren as well as to the residents of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

“People in my community call me a role model,” she said. “They say I am an inspiration to young females on the reserve.” They follow her on Marine Traffic and wait on the docks at the casino or the reserve when she is passing through. “They’ll be lined up waving to me and sometimes even have signs,” she said.

“It makes me so happy that I can be an example for them and encourage them to follow their dreams. If I can do this, they can do it too … whether they are female or First Nation or 48 years old like me. You’re never too old in your pursuit of happiness!”

For more information, visit info@stclairfoundation.org

Community Foundation of St. Clair County

Governors seek federal funds for Duluth-Superior bridge project

Gov. Tony Evers, together with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, announced Thursday their departments of transportation will seek $889.5 million in federal funding, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to rebuild the John A. Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior.

“From students to workers to commerce, the Blatnik Bridge is an absolutely critical piece of our economy and a vital route for workers, business owners, students, and visitors to get from point A to point B every day,” said Gov. Evers. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a once in a generation opportunity to modernize the critical infrastructure that makes our economy work, and this project is a perfect candidate for this funding to strengthen our port cities in Wisconsin and Minnesota.”

“I’m proud to partner with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to ensure the Blatnik bridge gets the funding it needs to be completed safely and efficiently,” said Gov. Tim Walz. “This is an important infrastructure project for Northern Minnesota, our neighbors in Wisconsin, and our interconnected economies. We look forward to moving forward on this project.”

The Blatnik Bridge was built in 1961 and carries Interstate-535 and US 53 connecting Duluth and Superior over a tributary of Lake Superior. The route is an important freight and commercial connection between the Twin Ports and serves more than 33,000 cars per day.

“The Blatnik Bridge is the most vital connection between the two cities of Duluth and Superior,” said Superior Mayor Jim Paine. “Despite the state and natural border between us, the bridge makes us a single, greater community: the Twin Ports. Every day thousands of our citizens rely on this indispensable bridge to connect us to work, home, and commerce. This bridge is not only our link to one another, but to the future of both our cities.”

“Connectivity is something I hear about all the time,” said Duluth Mayor Emily Larson. “Public infrastructure that supports people, businesses, and visitors are the things that bring us together. The Blatnik Bridge is quite literally a prime example of this—a critical piece of infrastructure that connects not just Duluth, MN, and Superior, WI, but entire regional economies across two states that also supports the Great Lakes shipping industry connecting our regions to the rest of the world. I am thankful to the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin for investing in this vital connection point for all of our communities.”

If successful, the application for federal funding will cover a substantial portion of the project’s budget and streamline scheduling. Design work for the project, which would determine specifications and shape the total cost of the project, will begin in the near future.

Jointly owned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the Blatnik Bridge is currently load posted for 40 tons. The replacement project will improve safety and accommodate oversize and overweight loads.

“Wisconsin and Minnesota have a history of working together to make the most of our unique geography,”said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “Rebuilding the Blatnik Bridge is a great example of our regional commitment to transportation infrastructure that offers greater safety, resiliency, and quality of life.”

“We’re grateful to our partners at WisDOT for the shared commitment to the vitality of the Twin Ports,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “With funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’ll be able to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge to modern standards, improve safety and accessibility, and ensure the communities of Duluth and Superior continue to thrive—and I know we’re all eager to get to work.”

Business North

Those behind the effort to bring Navy submarine repair facilities to Ohio hopeful to be under contract soon

LORAIN, OH – Good news from the Bartlett Maritime Corporation, the group behind the project to bring major submarine repair facilities to Lorain and Lordstown. Company officials met last week at the Pentagon with senior Navy leadership to discuss the status of their proposal.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll be under contract before too long to do the preliminary planning for the two new facilities we proposed,” said company founder, chairman and CEO Ed Bartlett. “One in Lorain to support building equipment to be installed in new ships and one in Lordstown to support maintenance of equipment in existing ships.”

Read the full article at this link: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-lorain/those-behind-the-effort-to-bring-navy-submarine-repair-facilities-to-ohio-hopeful-to-be-under-contract-soon?fbclid=IwAR3RnW1XvvsTq8MTAtjZRqZQvKV8a3mpp3Gn2xZCUNS7csvAmO4uNoh68GQ

News 5 Cleveland