Minntac investigating mine structure collapse, no injuries

Mountain Iron, MN – Minntac is investigating following a structural failure that led to a collapse at their Mountain Iron, Minnesota mine. Photos of the scene show a conveyor system collapsed on a pile of taconite pellets.

According to Minntac officals, the were no injuries as a result of the collapse and they are not anticipating an impact to customers or the supply chain.

“Today at Minntac we had a structural failure on the conveyor system. We are investigating the cause and developing plans for repair. The area was cordoned off at the time of the incident, so there was no one in the area. There was no danger to personnel at any time, and there were no injuries. At this time, we do not anticipate impact to our customers or supply chain,” said Amanda Malkowski, with United States Steel.

Local USW leaders say it’s too early to tell if there will be impacts to production or on jobs, but they will be a part of the investigation.

Coast Guard working to ease ice jam in St. Clair River

St. Clair, MI – Authorities have been working to break up an ice jam in the St. Clair River amid wintry conditions and rising water levels.

U.S. officials are working alongside the Canadian Coast Guard to break up the ice. The Canadian Coast Guard is reportedly sending two vessels through the river Thursday and over the coming days to help break up the ice and address the blockage.

The news comes after a snowstorm passed through Southeast Michigan on Wednesday, leaving anywhere from 3-11 inches of snow — much less than initially forecasted for the region. Towns along the St. Clair River like Algonac and Marine City received 4.2 inches and 5.5 inches of snow, respectfully, as of Thursday morning.

18 rescued on Lake Erie after ice sheet breaks away during snowmobile ride

More than a dozen people were rescued in Lake Erie after a sheet of ice broke away while they were riding snowmobiles, officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard and a good Samaritan saved 18 people off the coast of Catawba Island in Ohio after the ice floe broke away, the agency said. All of the rescued were on ATVs and snowmobiles, according to the Coast Guard.

Rescue efforts started at about 1 p.m. after a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Detroit noticed people stuck on the ice. Seven people were rescued by helicopter, while four were rescued by a Coast Guard airboat. Seven others were rescued by a good Samaritan who arrived at the scene with an airboat.

Officials warned people seeking recreation on the ice “to take precautions, not chances” by dressing appropriately for the water temperature, not the air temperature; wearing a life jacket; carrying a reliable form of communication; and carrying icepicks or screwdrivers that can help them self-rescue if they go through the ice.

“There’s no such thing as safe ice, but people can mitigate their risks,” Lt. Jeremiah Schiessel of the Coast Guard Sector Detroit said in a statement. “Always be sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Great Lakes ice is unpredictable, and conditions can change fast.”

ABC

Journal of the World Ship Society demolitions for February

Vessels with Great Lakes / Seaway connections reported as a casualty or sold for demolition, taken from February 2022 issue of Marine News – Journal of the World Ship Society.

Casualties: None
Sold for Demolition: Gold Tulip (9141405; Comoros) (Golden Tulip-21, Kristin Knutsen-18 – 1st seaway trip 2013) 12,184 / 1998 – Chemical / Products tanker. By Golden Tulip Ltd (Golden Ships Management Co Ltd), Liberia, to Leela Responsible Recycling LL, India and arrived at Alang 24.10.2021 – commenced demolition 26.10.2021

Mississagi (5128467; Canada) (1st seaway trip 2001) (Hill Annex-43, George A Sloan-01) 10,588 / 1943 – Bulk Carrier self-discharging laker. By Lower Lakes Towing Ltd, Canada, to Canadian breakers, and arrived Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 6.10.2021 – commenced demolition

6.10.2021

Report prepared by Barry Andersen and René Beauchamp

Obituary: Constantine “Captain Gus” Markakis

Capt. Gus Markakis passed away peacefully in Boca Raton, Florida on Saturday, February 5, 2022.  Born in Greece on December 20, 1937, he was 84 years old.

Gus went to sea at the age of 16, entering a nautical preparatory high school to learn navigation, seamanship, and rules of the road. He graduated in 1958 and by 1965 had ascended to 2nd mate aboard a Greek supertanker.

In 1967, he met his future wife, Antoinette, an American who was vacationing in Greece.  In 1968, the couple moved to Chicago and Antoinette got a job with United States Steel, which at the time had a fleet of 42 vessels on the Great Lakes.

Gus applied to USS and was assigned to the steamer Henry Phipps, as a deckhand.  He didn’t know what a ‘deckhand’ was but shortly after boarding in Milwaukee, he figured out the position did not warrant his briefcase, sport coat and tie.  His true status became even clearer when he was shown his quarters: a small cabin shared with three other men.

After a few months with U.S. Steel, Gus moved to the Inland Steel fleet, then in 1972 began his 28-year career with Oglebay Norton, earning his AB certificate the same year, then quickly moving up the ranks and earning his masters license in 1978.

In 1987, Gus was named permanent Captain of the Armco, and in 1991, permanent Captain of the Oglebay Norton, where he remained until his retirement in 2000.  As Captain, he took great pride in the appearance of his vessel and was well-known for his attention to detail.

In 2003, his fellow Detroit International Shipmasters’ Association lodge members honored him with the Lewis Ludington Award.

Gus is survived by his wife Antoinette, daughter Gina, son Emmanuel, and three grandchildren: Alyna, Evangelia, and Loukas. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. The family has suggested memorial donations to the St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, FL

Additional photos and an on-line guest book can be found here: https://www.glickfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Constantine-Markakis

Coast Guard icebreaker medevacs woman from icebound Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island, MI – The Coast Guard responded to an urgent request for medical assistance on Mackinac Island today in an unusually improvisational way.

Watchstanders received notification of a woman in need of critical medical attention on Mackinac Island Monday morning. While helicopters are generally used for such missions, difficult weather conditions at the Coast Guard’s air station in Traverse City made that impossible.

Fortunately, Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, a 140-foot icebreaker, was underway clearing a path on the St. Marys River, and the crew immediately altered plans and set a course for Mackinac Island.

Katmai Bay arrived at the island’s main dock about 11 a.m. and embarked the woman with the help of local EMS. The ship then used its icebreaking capabilities to plow a course to nearby St. Ignace in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where EMS was waiting. The woman was successfully transported to a local hospital where she is receiving next level care.

“Today’s efforts by our crews demonstrate the flexibility and ingenuity of our search and rescue planners in finding solutions to complex cases, regardless of the weather,” said Capt. Anthony Jones, Sector Commander of Sector Sault Ste. Marie. The sector encompasses all of Lake Superior and the northern portion of lakes Huron and Michigan. “My hat is also off to the crew of the Katmai Bay, who shifted from icebreaking to search and rescue in a matter of moments to help this woman get the critical care she needed.”

USCG

Most Great Lakes won’t approach record highs in next 6 months, report finds

Detroit, MI – Most of the Great Lakes will remain above their long-term average water levels in the coming months but won’t reach the record highs of recent years, Army Corps of Engineers hydrologists said in their latest forecast.

“We’re well below the record high levels we experienced in 2019 and 2020,” Detroit District Great Lakes Watershed Hydrology Chief Keith Kompoltowicz said. “And our forecast does not show the likelihood of any of the lakes really approaching those record highs again over the next six months.”

Hydrologists reviewed January lake levels and weather patterns and projected a range of possible water levels for each lake over the next six months. All of the Great Lakes declined somewhat in January, hydrologists found. The region experienced less precipitation than usual that month.

Drier than average weather, particularly in 2021, has caused lake levels to decline from their record highs, Kompoltowicz said. The area around Lake Superior has been particularly dry, pushing the northerly lake below its average water levels. It likely will remain below average in the next six months, hydrologists found.

Conversely, Lake Ontario could reach close to record high levels in the coming months, hydrologists found. Its watershed has experienced wetter weather conditions than other parts of the region, Kompoltowicz said.

Lakes Michigan and Huron, technically one lake, and Lake Erie will continue to get closer to their long-term average water level this year, hydrologists found. They will trend away from the high water records set in 2019 and 2020.

Ice started to form on the lakes in January, far behind schedule. It is causing a problem in the St. Clair River, where residents have reported rising water levels caused by ice jams, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit said Thursday.

The river isn’t flooding, but there is an ice plug in the river. The Canadian and U.S. coast guards are working together to break the ice jam.

The Detroit News

Interlake Maritime Services is new parent company of Original Soo Locks Boat Tours 

Middleburg Heights, OH – Interlake Maritime Services’ new subsidiary Soo Maritime Services has acquired the assets of the American & Canadian Lock Tours which include the tour boats Hiawatha, Bide-A-Wee and Holiday that provide river and lock tours.

A third-generation business owned and operated by the Welch family, the Original Soo Locks Boat Tours has been a popular tourist attraction in the Soo since 1934, and will continue as usual under the new ownership.

There are two separate lock tour companies in Sault Ste. Marie: Original Soo Locks Boat Tours (white-painted boats) and Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours (the buff-colored boats Nokomis and Le Voyageur). The two shared some aspects of their operations for many years but that arrangement ended in early 2021.

“The Soo area plays a vital role in Great Lakes shipping and we’re excited to have new employees, new tour boats and a waterfront presence to continue the legacy of educating the public on the importance of the Soo Locks,” wrote Mark W. Barker, president of Interlake Maritime Services, in a press release. “We’re looking forward to working with the Soo team, which has built such a successful business in Michigan’s oldest city that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.”

Interlake Maritime Services also operates the Lake Michigan Carferry SS Badger and the Interlake Steamship Co.

Steve Welch, owner of the Original Soo Locks Boat Tours, passed away at Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 26, 2022.

The Barker’s connection to the Soo goes back more than 50 years. Members of the Barker family called the Soo home for many years, with relatives working as a local butcher and aboard the supply boat that serviced the Great Lakes vessels. Little did the family know then that young James R. Barker, who took his first ride on an ore boat when he was 9 months old, would grow up to be stationed at the Soo in the Coast Guard and eventually buy the fleet that his grandfather and uncle had worked to supply years earlier.

lnterlake’s family of companies have a rich maritime history in the Soo as well. The lnterlake fleet has been carrying the bulk cargoes that have powered the region for more than 100 years and can still be seen regularly coming through the Soo Locks.

In 1934 Capt. Milo Beechgood Welch originated the Soo Locks sightseeing boat tours in Sault Ste. Marie, according the company’s website. As a seasoned tugboat captain, Welch was employed by the Great Lakes Towing Co., and always noticed that the Soo Locks had an attraction with visitors. People were simply intrigued by the ships locking through the world’s largest locking system. At that time, the only passengers that went through the Locks were aboard palatial passenger steamships or shipping company guests riding on the large lake freighters.

Capt. Welch believed that the only way to truly experience the Soo Locks was by boat. He believed that all visitors to Sault Ste. Marie deserved the opportunity to experience the Soo Locks by riding through them. Financing such a dream would be difficult, as the local banks thought the idea was doomed to certain failure. They reasoned that people were satisfied seeing the locks from the lock wall. The banks were wrong, and the company has been in business ever since.

Interlake Maritime Services

S.S. Norisle revitalization project is full steam ahead

Manitowaning, ON – A representative of the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society says the restoration and proposed use for the historic ship are still being explored, that the project is definitely not dead. The project has only been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Norisle has been moored in the Manitowaning harbor since its decommissioning by the Own Sound Transportation Company in 1975.

John Coulter, director of restoration for the society told The Expositor, “the proposal for complete restoration of the ship hasn’t changed, only the ability to negotiate with various agencies and the government has, due to the pandemic. The idea is to restore the ship to a four-star Great Lakes cruising ship. That has always been the case.” The Norisle would be one, if not the only Canadian cruise ship that would venture throughout all the Great Lakes.

Mr. Coulter said that the pandemic has been the real problem in the process. “All meetings of our group with various officials have been put on hold for the past two years. Whatever movement we had made been making prior to the pandemic has been restricted since.”

He noted the ship was painted last summer. “However, the rest of the proposal and negotiations we were involved in has been in a state of flux since COVID hit, especially in our ability to hold meetings and negotiations.”

As for negotiations and who that has involved or will continue to be once the pandemic has subsided, “I can’t go any further on the extent of that at this time. We are trying to be as respectful to the ship and the community as possible.”

Manitoulin Expositor

$3.7M grant to aid Lafarge port upgrades at Alpena; hoping for larger ships

Alpena, MI – An Alpena company will snag a piece of more than $241 million in grants awarded to upgrade U.S. ports.

Lafarge Alpena, which last year asked the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration for help paying for upgrades to one of its boat slips, will receive $3.7 million as one of 25 grantees of DOT’s port infrastructure development grants, awarded at the end of 2021.

The investments in the Alpena port, and others across the nation, will strengthen supply chains and speed up delivery of goods to residents, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a news release.

The City of Alpena partnered with Lafarge in applying for the grant, which required public sponsorship. Lafarge will use the grant to improve an existing but rarely used boat slip, making it deeper and wider to allow access by freighters longer than the ships that currently pick up loads of cement at the Lafarge port, plant manager Jeff Scott said.

Structural work on the adjacent dock, including adding a roof to a storage structure, will allow for offloading on both sides of a freighter dropping off raw materials.

Old-style vessels could reach the slip’s unloading equipment, but the larger ships Lafarge hopes to attract can’t, Scott said. Those older, smaller ships are fewer and farther between on the Great Lakes, and Alpena needs to attract the larger ships more common on the horizon to remain competitive as a port city, he said.

Larger ships also carry more product, meaning one freighter can do the work of two smaller vessels, creating a smaller carbon footprint and lowering the cost of doing business for the company.

The improved slip would be open to public vessels when not in use by Lafarge and could benefit the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Scott said in June.

Lafarge will have to pay a portion of the $5 million project before government money kicks in, with funds channeled through the city as the project’s sponsor. Grant rules require that Lafarge buy American for all project materials and services except in extreme circumstances.

Lafarge will apply for dredging permits in spring. Scott hopes work on the slip can begin in fall, with projects expected to be complete in mid-2023.

Alpena News

NACC Quebec and Algoscotia continue their refit at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands

View images in the gallery.

Lecture series set for Great Lakes museum

Toledo, OH – A program about the people, places, and moments of the Underground Railroad in northwest Ohio will kick off the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ spring lecture series later this month.

“Freedom on the Horizon,” is planned for 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the museum, 1701 Front St., or online via Zoom, the museum announced.

The second lecture, “The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas,” is planned for March 23. The final presentation, highlighting the history of the Army Corps of Engineers on the Great Lakes, is scheduled for April 6.

Event registration is free but required for all lectures. In addition to its role in the Feb. 23 lecture, the Heritage Sylvania historical organization also will produce an Underground Railroad exhibit opening at the museum later this winter. For further details, see the museum’s website at https://nmgl.org.

Cutters work to clear St. Clair River ice jams

On Friday, CCG ships Griffon and Samuel Risley worked for several hours in an effort to keep the channel in the lower end of the St. Clair River open. Officials are hoping a change in wind direction and lower wind velocity will help them clear the ice jams.

An increase in cruise ships bringing $6M to help accommodate traffic at Port of Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI – A big increase in cruise ships docking at Port Milwaukee is bringing around $6 million in improvements to help accommodate that traffic. And a major piece of that funding will be a $3.5 million grant to help expand maritime infrastructure for larger cruise ships, Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday.

That grant will help pay for upgrades, including a new platform, at Port Milwaukee’s south shore dock, located just east of the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry terminal, 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive. That work, to include funding through other grants and port revenue, could be completed by 2023.

That dock will handle some of the largest cruise ships on the Great Lakes, including visits from the Viking line, said Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Port director. Both Viking’s Octantis ship, which can carry up to 500 passengers, and the Pearl Mist line are expected to operate on the Great Lakes this year, starting in May, Tindall-Schlict said.

That’s pending approval from public health officials in the United States and Canada, who barred Great Lakes cruises in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cruises could resume as early as May, Tindall-Schlict said.

Port Milwaukee estimates it will host at least 10,000 cruise ship passengers in 2022. That compares to 3,000 in 2019 and less than 1,000 in 2018. “The increase has been exponential,” Tindall-Schlict said.

Along with the new Viking service, that higher traffic is tied to a December 2020 lease agreement approved by the Milwaukee Board of Harbor Commissioners. It guarantees that Port Milwaukee will be a turnaround location for the Pearl Mist cruise ship through 2030 – with an option for the cruise line to extend that service to 2040.

The lease provides priority docking rights at Pier Wisconsin, the downtown dock immediately east of Discovery World, to Guilford, Connecticut-based Pearl Seas Management (USA) LLC.

The lease guarantees the Pearl Mist will use the pier for turnaround operations at least five times annually — marking the site where westward Great Lakes cruises end and eastward cruises begin for new passenger groups.

That means passengers both coming and going can be attracted to extend their stays in Milwaukee — bringing more business for hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions.

Other cruise lines that visit Milwaukee include American Queen Voyages.

The port’s grant is part of $21.9 million awarded to 27 local governments and organizations through the Tourism Capital Investment Grant Program, according to the governor’s office. That program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/02/03/port-milwaukee-spending-6-million-help-handle-more-cruise-ships/6649892001/

Door County Maritime Museum receives $1.75 million state grant for 10-story tower

Sturgeon Bay, WI – The Door County Maritime Museum received welcomed news from the state just as the museum gets ready to expand its attractions.

Wednesday, the state announced the museum won a grant award of $1.75 million through the Tourism Capital Investment Grant Program implemented by Gov. Tony Evers to support major tourism-related capital improvement projects across the state.

The new, 10-story Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay will open two floors of exhibits on “Shipwrecks” and “Navigation” with a ribbon cutting ceremony Feb. 11.

The funds will be put toward the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, DCMM’s new 118-foot-high, 20,000-square-foot exhibit space that includes an observation deck on top overlooking the downtown Sturgeon Bay waterfront. The 10-story tower, the tallest building in Door County, was christened in May but exhibits still are being put together and installed (with two floors opening in about a week).

“This major grant from the State of Wisconsin goes a long way to help assure the Museum and its new landmark Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower will continue to educate and entertain generations to come and be a key contributor to the region’s tourist economy,” DCMM board president Terry Connelly said in a statement.

Overall, 27 projects in Wisconsin from 210 applicants won a grant under the program, with individual awards ranging from $29,000 to the maximum possible of $3.5 million. The program originally had $10 million to divvy up but with a far greater number of applicants than anticipated, the state raised the amount to $21.9 million.

Sam Perlman, deputy director and development manager for the museum, said a capital campaign for the tower originally set a goal of $5.5 million, but the final goal ended up at $9.2 million, with about $2.1 million earmarked for the new exhibits. He said the grant was written partially to cover the remaining construction costs with the rest going toward the exhibits, and the funds get the museum “pretty close” to fulfilling the campaign goal.

Green Bay Press Gazette

Icebreaker shortage slows deliveries to Alpena, other ports 

Alpena, MI –  A shortage of U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers slowed cargo destined for Great Lakes ports last month.

January ice trapped sailors on freighters trying to get through the Soo Locks – including crew members from Alpena, Rogers City, and the surrounding area – as breakdowns forced the Coast Guard to remove icebreakers from service, according to Eric Peace, secretary of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.

Every ship delayed in the Soo, the Sault Ste. Marie passage between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, means a delay for those waiting for the goods onboard the freighters, from salt for slippery roads to raw materials to build infrastructure, Peace said.

A provision in the federal Build Back Better Act, which passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, would allocate $350 million for the construction of a new Coast Guard icebreaker for the Great Lakes.

Meanwhile, 20 voyages and 750,000 tons of carrying capacity for iron ore, coal, and cement were delayed in January because the Coast Guard lacked the capacity to keep up with Great Lakes ice, Peace said.

Coast Guard cutters lost a total of 68 icebreaking days in the first weeks of January because of equipment fires or engine breakdowns, in addition to scheduled maintenance. At one point in January, five of eight Coast Guard icebreakers were simultaneously unavailable because of mechanical failures.

Icebreakers were unable to dislodge the freighter American Century, the last upbound ship of the season, when it got stuck in ice in the St. Mary’s River on its way to the Soo Locks, delaying three ships trying to leave Lake Superior before the locks closed for winter maintenance on Jan. 15.

That forced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin draining the locks for maintenance a day later than planned, and “a day late to the Army Corps is a big deal,” Peace said.

The Army Corps closes the locks from Jan. 15 until March 25 each year, performing needed maintenance on the locks in a tight timeframe so shipping operations can resume as quickly as possible to keep the country’s flow of commerce moving.

Tugboats like the tug Manitou, which frequents Thunder Bay to break ice for vessels headed for the Lafarge Alpena harbor, ensure freighters and barges reach small piers, docks, and harbors but are not built to withstand the heavier ice in the middle of Great Lakes and in federal navigational channels, Peace said.

In addition to slowing the transportation of cargo and potentially threatening dock workers’ jobs, lack of icebreakers can endanger vessels and the people aboard them. In past years, ice has sliced ships open and caused collisions, Peace reported.

One Canadian vessel was nearly forced aground in the Straits of Mackinac by ice this year, with the closest Coast Guard icebreaker more than 12 hours away.

The freighter Alpena, too, struggled in ice near the end of the season as it tried to get through the Straits of Mackinac on its way to Thunder Bay, according to Peace.

With Great Lakes temperatures at record-breaking warmth this fall, ice breaking did not begin until December 29 this season, two weeks later than usual.

Alpena News

https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2022/02/icebreaker-shortage-slows-deliveries-to-alpena-other-ports/?fbclid=IwAR1QiOLrwgAhInv7-vEcVR7ceI6X56EpP46e94AS3P6K_f8kZTUd8wlQVJc

Port of Cleveland sees 69% increase in tonnage in 2021

Cleveland, OH – Cleveland’s port was well used in 2021 amid ongoing supply-chain issues across the U.S.

The Port of Cleveland on Thursday reported a 69% increase in tonnage across its docks compared to 2020. The port said significant increases in goods both in and out of containers, and iron ore shipments to the Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works steel mill, drove the increase.

The general cargo terminal ­– which includes steel, containers, project cargo, salt and cement ­– saw 649,324 metric tons go across the docks, a 57% increased from 2020. It’s the second-highest total in 10 years, slightly behind 2015 numbers. The bulk terminal, where iron ore and limestone are delivered, saw a 71% increase over 2020 with 6,943,139 tons.

The Port said shipping container volume also doubled. “Our cargo volumes bounced back in a big way in 2021 across the board, which indicates business is up at regional firms that depend on our Port,” said William Friedman, president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland. “We are particularly pleased to see containerized cargo grow significantly because we’ve worked for years to position Cleveland as an alternative to congested coastal ports.”

The Port expanded its iron-ore tunnel and its main gate at the general cargo facility in 2021. It also reactivated its foreign trade zone.

According to the port, cargo owners used Cleveland as a new solution to avoid coastal ports, which have been backed up in the last year. The Cleveland port is the only one on the Great Lakes with container shipping.

Cleveland.com

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2022/02/port-of-cleveland-sees-69-increase-in-tonnage-in-2021.html?fbclid=IwAR04Js8mltu2bMaMgq_vjv6b78_T-TLXYkCuI5bx3TqFWaIuvtisoaU1jOk

Lack of Coast Guard icebreaking disrupts supply chain and delays Soo Lock dewatering

 Cleveland, OH – Despite a relatively mild and delayed onset of winter in the Great Lakes, U.S.-flag lakers were hampered by a lack of Coast Guard icebreaking assets. A total of 750,000 tons of carrying capacity for iron ore, coal and cement were delayed.  20 voyages were delayed for a total of 325 hours.

“The inefficiency introduced into the Great Lakes Navigation System by inadequate Coast Guard icebreaking resources impacts the carriers, their customers and the entire North American Manufacturing supply chain,” said Jim Weakley, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, and the Lake Carriers’ Association.  “The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do the best they can with the resources they are provided.  Unfortunately, they do not have enough icebreakers to keep the system operating efficiently.”

Budget reconciliation legislation now being considered in the U.S. Senate would provide the Coast Guard with funding for an additional Great Lakes icebreaker.

Even though the M/V American Century cleared the regulatory check-in point in time to meet the scheduled closing of the Army Corps Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, MI (Soo Locks), it became beset in the St.Marys River. Coast Guard icebreakers were not able to free the vessel in time for its planned transit through the Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron and beyond. This delayed the downbound lockages of the last vessels leaving Lake Superior, including the Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay. Since the vessel normally stationed in Duluth, Minnesota, the Coast Guard Cutter Alder, is on the East Coast for an overhaul, there are no icebreakers on Lake Superior during the lock closure.  The ice-induced vessel delays forced the Army Corps of Engineers to begin lock dewatering operations a day later than planned.

Typically, the icebreaking season begins on December 15th each year; however, this year Operation Taconite, which marks the official beginning of icebreaking operations in the Northern Great Lakes did not begin until December 29th. From December 15th until January 15th, the scheduled closure date of the Soo Locks, the U.S. Coast Guard had four of its nine Great Lakes icebreakers in scheduled overhaul, scheduled maintenance, or unscheduled maintenance periods.  At one point in January, five of its eight icebreakers operating on the Great Lakes were simultaneously unavailable due to mechanical failures. A total of 68 icebreaking cutter days were lost due to equipment fires or engine breakdowns.

“The lives of the professional women and men sailing aboard lakers, the safety of the vessels and the protection of the environment depend on adequate Coast Guard icebreakers,” said John Clemons, Great Lakes Maritime Task Force’s Vice President and with American Maritime

Officers, AFL-CIO. “In recent years, vessels have been sliced open, forced aground or collided with each other because of inadequate icebreaking resources. In fact, one Canadian laker was almost forced aground in the Straits of Mackinac by ice this year.  The closest Coast Guard icebreaker was over 12 hours away. Fortunately, the vessel was able to free itself after struggling for several tense hours.”

Even though the Soo Locks officially closed on January 15th, as of January 27th, the last U.S.-flag laker was just arriving to its winter layup birth. Vessel delays were experienced in ports and in connecting rivers and waterways.  In addition to a lack of operational vessels, the Coast Guard is hamstrung by metrics it uses to allocate resources and determine mission performance standards.

“The Port of Duluth-Superior is the Great Lakes’ top port by tonnage and one of the nation’s top 20, but the Coast Guard doesn’t consider its waterways as ‘Tier I’ for icebreaking purposes. This is troubling given that Minnesota’s docks along the western edge of Lake Superior provide

the iron ore to produce 80 percent of the nation’s first-pour steel. The Head of the Lakes is a vital link in North America’s domestic steel production supply chain,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director, Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Lakers need to move cargo in the winter to ensure that stockpiles are large enough to sustain the regions steel mills, power plants and industrial facilities to survive the closure of the Soo Locks

from January 15th to March 25th. During the closure period, lakers need to make it to their winter homes for maintenance.  A few vessels will continue to operate in lakes Huron, Michigan, and Erie. They primarily move road salt and petroleum products during the lock closure period.

Eric Peace, Lake Carriers’ Associations’ Vice President and an experienced icebreaking sailor noted “Adequate icebreaking not only supports the Great Lakes Navigation System, but it also prevents flooding.  Last February, we saw extensive flooding because of an ice dam in the St. Clair River. At the time the lone “heavy” icebreaker operated by the Coast Guard was not available because it was undergoing repairs. We need to build an additional Great Lakes icebreaker and pass the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act.

“Both are needed to establish a track line, protect homeowners and keep commerce moving.”  Sudden or extreme cold temperatures can upset the natural flow of the rivers that feed into or are part of the Great Lakes.  In addition to the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, this often happens along the Lake Erie shoreline.  Flood warnings have already been posted once this year for the St. Clair River and are bound to persist with heavy ice and snow already present in the area.

Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

Abandoned bulk carrier Julietta D arrives in port, ending frantic rescue

IJmuiden, Netherlands – The bulk carrier Julietta D was towed into port Tuesday after a wild 24 hours off the Dutch coast.

The ship ran into trouble Monday during heavy weather from Storm Corrie. The Julietta D was anchored off the coast of IJmuiden, Netherlands when it broke its anchor chain, collided with the tanker Pechora Star, and started to drift. Pechora Star has been a Great Lakes/Seaway visitor.

The collision caused damage to the bulk carrier and it began taking on water, leading to a daring heavy weather evacuation by helicopter of the all 18 crew members, part of which can be seen in the video linked below.

It then began drifting towards shore, at one point colliding with an offshore platform foundation. From there it was a race to save the ship from running ashore.

The effort was led by the Dutch Coast Guard with tug and salvage assistance from Boskalis’ SMIT Salvage, The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution and air assistance from Belgian Coast Guard.

The Julietta D has now arrived at the Port of Rotterdam with the assistance of the tugs Sovereign, Multratug 18 and Manta, the Dutch Coast Guard said, ending the response.

Read more and watch a video of the rescue on this gCaptain link: https://gcaptain.com/update-abandoned-bulk-carrier-julietta-d-arrives-in-port-ending-frantic-rescue/?fbclid=IwAR0MxgpqMPiaS_1G5kkfgiKXdO9N-VMVrvFbPl5zJdYhxSvJAPMout7p1c8

CSL’s new self-unloader Nukumi leaves China for Canada

Montreal, QC ­– The new Canada Steamship Lines’ self-unloader Nukumi has departed on her maiden voyage from Jianygin, China to Halifax Nova Scotia. She will be in Halifax in an estimated six weeks. The cutting-edge vessel will be the first diesel-electric laker and the first single-point loader to operate in Canada.

Windsor Salt and Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) partnered to build the new vessel for service in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region.Windsor Salt and CSL began construction of the custom-made vessel in August 2020 after several years of collaborative planning, which included an environmental impact analysis, ship and shore personnel safety reviews, an efficiency evaluation of cargo operations, and navigational optimization.

The distinctive, purpose-designed vessel was created to service Windsor Salt’s need to deliver deicing salt from its Mines Seleine salt mine on the Magdalen Islands to stockpiles in Montreal, Quebec City, and other destinations within the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland. Windsor Salt’s consistent and timely delivery of deicing salt helps keep roadways safe during the winter season across Eastern Canada.

CSL

Duluth 2021 Season Summary: Iron ore leads tonnage upsurge

Duluth, MN – Rebounding from pandemic-induced lows in 2020, total maritime tonnage through the Port of Duluth-Superior climbed to 32.9 million short tons in 2021. This total represented a 27 percent season-over-season increase and a 2.3 percent improvement over the five-season average.

Iron ore, the port’s leading cargo by tonnage, led the upswing. The total taconite float topped 20 million short tons for the second time in four seasons, a feat unmatched since the early 1990s. In all, 20.4 million short tons of iron ore transited Duluth-Superior during the 2021 season, a 32.6 percent season-over-season spike and 11.9 percent gain on the five-season average.

Driven primarily by Duluth-Superior’s first petcoke exports since the 1990s, the coal and petcoke category posted the biggest percentage increase compared to 2020, jumping 47 percent to 7.9 million short tons.

Inbound cement tonnage also surged, more than doubling the 2020 total and exceeding the five-season average by 71.3 percent.

General cargo at the Clure Public Marine Terminal closed out the major gainers, with Duluth Cargo Connect handling nearly 50,000 short tons. This total exceeded the 2020 count by 4.6 percent and more than doubled the five-season average.

Grain, the port’s No. 1 export, suffered a steep drop to 808,498 short tons for the season. This marked an 85-year low for Duluth-Superior grain tonnage and was the second lowest seasonal grain total for the port since 1890.

For the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System as a whole, total overall tonnage increased by 1 percent season over season, finishing at 42 million short tons. The Seaway also notched a similar percentage gain in vessel transits, ticking up 1.61 percent. Vessel arrivals in the Port of Duluth-Superior jumped more than 16 percent compared to 2020.

With the 2021 season now closed, five domestic vessels are wintering in Duluth-Superior: the James R. Barker and Paul R. Tregurtha at the Clure Terminal in Duluth, and in Superior, Wis., the Lee A. Tregurtha at Fraser Shipyards, Burns Harbor at the Hansen-Mueller Dock and American Century at the Enbridge Dock.

“We hoped for a return to normalcy in 2021 and a tonnage rebound from the pandemic-plagued 2020 season,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We’re still waiting on the return to normalcy, but the tonnage bounce back was pronounced, driven especially by strong demand for domestic steel. Our port continues to be a key link in North America’s supply chain, and we look forward to playing an increasingly prominent role in 2022 as we hopefully build on the bulk cargo tonnage and expand our containerized cargo services.”

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Crew members saved after two ships collide off Netherlands coast during storm

All 18 crew members have been safely evacuated following a collision between two ships, one of them a Seaway visitor, in the Netherlands Monday during Storm Corrie, the Dutch coast guard said.

The German-registered freighter Julietta D started taking on water after colliding with the Maltese chemical tanker Pechora Star in the anchor zone at IJmuiden, the coast guard said. Two search and rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, with the Belgian coast guard sending a third helicopter. Lifeboats from IJmuiden and Scheveningen were also under way but are being hampered by the strong winds at sea.
The crash led to heavy damage to the freighter, caused by the anchor breaking loose, the coast guard told the Associated Press. The freighter lost its rudder, preventing it from steering and causing it to take in water. The Pechora Star also suffered damage, but it is not as severe, so the tanker can continue its voyage.

The damage on the freighter “pose[d] direct dangers for the 18 crew members on board,” Royal Dutch Lifeboat Company spokesman, Edward Zwitser, told the Associated Press.

The rescue operation was a joint effort from the Netherlands Coast Guard and the neighboring country of Belgium, which sent a helicopter to help with the evacuation. A total of three helicopters were used, with the operation being made more difficult due to the heavy winds from the storm.

Dutch News

Hamilton’s beach canal lighthouse is making big moves

Hamilton, ON – Hamilton harbor lighthouse back in local hands, will be moved to allow public access The ownership of the light station will be transferred to the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) from the federal government, CEO Ian Hamilton announced Friday.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will transfer the lighthouse and the nearby keeper’s cottage to the local agency and will contribute $275,000 to help move the lighthouse 60 meters west, in order to align with the canal, and to restore it.

The move will mark the beginning of a larger restoration project of the Fisherman’s Pier, where the lighthouse is located, at the entrance to Hamilton Harbor.

Hamilton said that community members in Hamilton and Burlington have greatly supported the project and that the restoration would help make the landmarks accessible to the public.

CBC

Detroit Historical Society unveils 150+ model ships for new Great Lakes exhibit

Detroit, MI – Great Lakes shipping enthusiasts will be happy to know the perfect exhibition is open for viewing at the Detroit Historical Society.

A collection of more than 150 Great Lakes shipping models are now in display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum through May 8.

Maritime Miniatures: The Art of the Ship Model explores the history of the Great Lakes shipping industry, from small schooners to the famous vessels like the Edmund Fitzgerald. The museum said one of its best models “are the oversized City of Detroit III with a cutaway interior and the oldest model in the Society’s collection, the Mayflower,” which was built in 1853, a year after the actual vessel launched.

The Detroit Historical Society has a world-class collection of Great Lakes ship models, representing over 300 years of North American freshwater maritime history. This Spring, see over 150 of our models on display together for the first time in more than 20 years! Some of the models have been enjoyed by visitors for decades, dating back to when the city’s maritime museum first opened aboard the J.T. Wing. Some are rarely seen due to their age, size or condition.

Admission will be $5 for everyone 6 years and older. Children under 6 and Detroit Historical Society Members will have free admission. As a reminder, residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park can sign up for a membership for free.

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is located on Belle Isle in Detroit, MI, where it cares for some 250,000 historical artifacts.

Find out more here: https://detroithistorical.org/dossin-great-lakes-museum/exhibitions/special-exhibitions/maritime-miniatures-art-ship-model

Lay-up reports needed

Now that the end of the shipping season has arrived, please send reports of vessel lay-ups to news@boatnerd.net. This will help us compile our annual lay-up list. Include vessel name, date, port and name of lay-up dock. Click here to view the Lay-Up List: https://www.boatnerd.com/winter-layup-2021-2022/

Seaway tolls to increase by 2 percent in 2022

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced a toll rate increase of 2.0% for the 2022 navigation season (see images below).

The SLSMC announced a toll rate increase of 2.0% for the 2022 navigation season.  In addition, the New Business, Volume, Gateway and Service incentives will continue to remain in effect.

For more detailed information, please refer to the St. Lawrence Seaway Schedule of Tolls or send your request to tariff@seaway.ca.

Richard Gray fundraiser nears $100,000

Click here for an update:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-family-of-richard-gray?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=m_pd%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR0pg4Uu3pst1qVr7J5DrJgewn4P2P-Fp8jCKFt4LWMiWe-WfYesyri7bIQ

Proposed project could bring naval shipyard, thousands of jobs to Lorain

Lordstown, OH – A proposal is being discussed within the U.S. military, the White House and others in Washington that could potentially bring a naval shipyard to Lorain.

Officials have forwarded a 27-page document that outlines what will be called the Lordstown-Lorain Project. The project would involve the city of Lorain and the village of Lordstown, separated by 80 miles of the Ohio Turnpike. The document states the plan would restore critical naval shipyard capacity and capability and that it would solve the submarine maintenance crisis within the Navy’s budget limitations.

The idea for the project came from former Navy officer Captain Ed Bartlett, who runs Bartlett Maritime in Broadview Heights. “As of today, I’d say we’re on the five-yard line and we just have to knock it in,” said Bartlett. Bartlett spent much of his career on submarines and developed the Lordstown-Lorain Project because of a November 2018 report.

“That report publicly disclosed that for the prior decade, our attack submarine, the U.S. Navy attack submarines, were not getting the proper maintenance that they required,” said Bartlett.

Barlett’s plan is to build an American Naval Shipyard in Lorain. It would include two dry docks for submarines in an enclosed production facility and would employ between 2,000 to 3,000 people. According to the document, the shipyard would bring the total number of certified naval shipyard dry docks to 20.

At the same time, the American Naval Depot would be built in Lordstown. It would be a new construction site that would employ from 500 to 1,000 people. The maintenance of the submarine parts and those from aircraft carriers docked elsewhere would be done in Lordstown.

“The reason Lordstown is attractive to us is because of the rail network there with CSX and Norfolk Southern. So there’s national rail access, and because of the interstate connections — the turnpike, 76 and 80,” said Bartlett.

Bartlett called it a multi-billion dollar project that would involve both private and government money. He hopes to have broken ground by this fall. “We expect, based on preliminary work we’ve done with the construction folks, that the Lordstown site will be up and operating in about 24 months after that,” said Bartlett.

Mayor Hill said several sites are being looked at in Lordstown, but nothing has yet to be selected. AFL-CIO signed off on the project in Washington on Thursday.

It’s not a done deal yet and there’s the potential of 2,500 to 4,000 jobs being created in Northeast Ohio

The office of Congressman Tim Ryan released this statement Thursday night, “Congressman Ryan has been working with Bartlett Maritime Corporation for over a year on this project… While the project remains under development, he is supportive and hopeful it will come to fruition.”

Fox8

Obituary: Steven M. Welch

Steven Milo Welch, 61, of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, died on January 26. Steve was the owner and captain at the Original Soo Locks Boat Tours (the white-painted boats Hiawatha, Holiday and Bide-A-Wee).

Steve was born on October 18, 1960, in Sault Ste. Marie, MI the son of Donald and Edith (Tillman) Welch. He graduated from Sault High with the class of 1978 and continued his education at LSSU. On April 2, 1994, he married Cindy Shaw at Calvary Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, working on bulldozers and tractors, and doing maintenance work at his business. He loved sharing the love of Jesus with others.

Steve is survived by his wife: Cindy Welch; his mother: Edith “Dee” Welch of Sault Ste. Marie; his brother: Donald (Ruth) Welch of Hope Sound, FL; and four nieces. HE was preceded in death by his father: Donald Welch; and his sister: Lynn Adams. Funeral services will be private. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery later this spring

Lay-up reports needed

Now that the end of the shipping season has arrived, please send reports of vessel lay-ups to news@boatnerd.net. This will help us compile our annual lay-up list. Include vessel name, date, port and name of lay-up dock. Click here to view the Lay-Up List: https://www.boatnerd.com/winter-layup-2021-2022/

Alpena leaves shipyard, heads for namesake port

Sturgeon Bay, WI –The cement carrier Alpena left Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI, Friday evening. She is headed to Alpena, MI, to load and then Cleveland to layup. She was at BayShip for her five-year inspection and refit.

Canadian Coast Guard takes delivery of light icebreaker Mangystau-2

The Canadian Coast Guard has announced the arrival of its newly-purchased light icebreaker from New Brunswick-based Atlantic Towing Ltd. The vessel, the 217-foot-long Mangystau-2,

travelled almost 6,000 nautical miles from Turkmenistan (Central Asia) to the Coast Guard’s Sorel, Quebec, base.

The additional light icebreaker, built in Romania in 2010, will help ensure service is maintained during planned maintenance periods for the existing fleet. A public tender for the refit of the light icebreaker will be issued by Public Services and Procurement Canada. This vessel will complete conversion work in Canada so it can deliver programs in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence and Atlantic sectors.

Canadian Coast Guard

City set to sell M.S. Norgoma for the price of a second-hand trombone

Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Pride of the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront until the Trans-Canada Highway was completed in 1962, M.S. Norgoma is about to be sold for just $2,500 to a retired ship salvager.

City Council will be asked Monday to approve sale of the 188-foot former package freighter/passenger ferry/museum ship to Jeff Dwor, former owner of the Dwor Metal Co. Ltd. of Port Colborne, Ont.

“He has sold this business but is looking at the M.S. Norgoma as a personal project and renovating for private use,” says Tom Vair, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer for community development and enterprise services.

“Recently, Mr. Jeff Dwor came forward with interest in acquiring the vessel. He flew to Sault Ste. Marie, toured the vessel and is interested in proceeding to acquire the M.S. Norgoma,” Vair says in a report prepared for Monday’s City Council meeting.

$2,500 isn’t much. There was a used trombone selling yesterday for that sum in SooToday Classifieds, but getting rid of the controversial 72-year-old ship will save the city $40 a day in dockage fees it’s been paying since 2019 for a spot at the Algoma Steel docks that’s inaccessible to the public.

The city had planned to sell the relic to The Sweet Shop in Tobermory but that deal sank like a baby fed on starch when the confectioner couldn’t find a berth in the municipal marina there. m”Since that time, staff has been trying to find a new location for the M.S. Norgoma while also obtaining estimates to decommission the vessel,” says Vair.

“Since The Sweet Shop terminated their agreement, staff have had a number of conversations with different organizations and groups interested in the vessel. Three groups came forward but all backed off for various reasons.

“While it may be preferable to have a public use of the vessel, the option of selling the vessel to Mr. Dwor provides a solution for the M.S. Norgoma that can save the city significant costs. A recently updated budget for decommissioning the vessel is $275,000-$325,000.”

“Since the time of entering negotiations with Mr. Dwor, other parties have come forward to express interest in the vessel. Staff let them know that should the agreement with Mr. Dwor not proceed, they will follow up for further discussions.”

“Mr. Dwor has significant experience in the marine industry and understands how to relocate and manage the vessel responsibly,” Vair said. Five years ago, Dwor made headlines when he tried, unsuccessfully, to sell bollards to the City of Port Colborne.

If City Council approves the sale, Dwor says he’ll take possession of the Norgoma sometime in May.

Soo Today

Former Polsteam laker-sized vessels renamed

The Polish Steamship Co. (Polsteam) has renamed several of its former laker-sized vessels with each having made visits to the Great Lakes/Seaway system during their careers. Each of the renamed vessels are 149.96 meters in length and 23.6 meters in width. Among the renamed vessels are:

Narew IMO 9521813 built in 2012 is now the Universe of Antigua and Barbuda registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2015 and last visited as such most recently in 2021.

Olza IMO 9521837 built in 2012 is now the Pichon of Singapore registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2014 and last visited as such in 2020.

Prosna IMO 9521849 built in 2012 is now the Univenture of Antigua and Barbuda registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2014 and last visited as such in 2020.

Raba IMO 9521825 built in 2012 is now the Ale of Singapore registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2013 and last visited as such in 2020.

Regalica IMO 9521758 built in 2011 is now the Adamoon of Liberia registry. This vessel first came inland as such in 2013 and last visited as such in 2018.

Three other Polsteam vessels in the series have yet to be renamed. The three vessels are the Skawa IMO 9521863, San IMO 9521851 and Ina IMO 9521875.

Denny Dushane

Updated list of new saltwater visitors for 2021

There were 35 new saltwater vessels making their first inland voyages and trips into the Great Lakes/Seaway system at the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, NY, during the 2021 shipping season. Threy include: Alangova, Ali Ka, BBC St Petersburg, BBC Texas, Bogdan, Celina, Chantaco, Chem Lyra, Chem Wolverine, Federal Franklin, Federal Fraser, Federal Freedom, Federal Frontier, Henda, Ijzerborg, Iver Ambition, Kom, Lillo Swan, Marietje Andrea, Melissa, Monax, Nike, Octonaut, Onego Elbe, Peyton Lynn C, Potentia, Portola, Ramelia, RF Marina, Ronnie, Sloman Hestia, Symphony Star, Tarsus, Trent Navigator and VS Salome.

Denny Dushane

Dossin Great Lakes Museum opens freighter model display

Detroit, MI – Freighters are making their last journeys of the season, but we’ve got plenty of them – miniature versions at least – coming to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

“Maritime Miniatures: The Art of the Ship Model” opens Friday at the museum. See more than 150 Great Lakes ship models on display, get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/33TDrYs

Admission fees are in effect for all visitors and include access to the museum and mpecial exhibition. Society Members always get free admission.

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

New bill would require greater St. Lawrence River oil spill readiness

Canton, NY – A new bill in Congress would require the U.S. Coast Guard to train and prepare for oil spills on the St. Lawrence River. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by North Country Republican Elise Stefanik and Rochester-area Democrat Joe Morelle.

Right now, existing law mandates the Coast Guard to study the impact of past oil spills on the five Great Lakes, and develop best practices to respond to future oil spills. This new bill would extend that vigilance to the St. Lawrence and some Great Lakes tributaries.

In a press release, Stefanik called the legislation “a critical step forward” to protect the St. Lawrence. A massive oil spill in 1976 devastated the St. Lawrence River and shoreline communities from Alexandria Bay to Morristown.

“Since 1976, our community and local first responders have put endless hours into training and developing effective oil spill response protocol,” Alexandria town supervisor Brent Sweet said in Stefanik’s press release. “Our local Coast Guard are professional and effective at patrolling and safeguarding our St Lawrence River assets. This amendment will facilitate them in continuing their dedication to the St Lawrence River and local communities.”

The Coast Guard already conducts annual spill training exercises in various sections of the river.

NCPR

Virtual Visitor Center program “Fueling a Crew: Inside a Great Lakes Galley” Feb. 3

Stories of the wonderful food on board most Great Lakes vessels are well known, but what does it really take to feed a full crew three meals a day for weeks at a time while constantly on the move? Join us in the Virtual Visitor Center Thursday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m. for a conversation with Sissy Payment, Chief Steward on The Interlake Steamship Company’s M/V Mesabi Miner to learn all about it. Sissy has led the galley on several different boats in the fleet and will share a glimpse of what a typical day looks like and stories from her career on the Great Lakes.

Event by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, Lake Superior Marine Museum Association and Soo Locks Visitors Center Association

Join here: https://www.gotomeet.me/VirtualVisitorCenter/galley

Lay-up reports needed

Now that the end of the shipping season has arrived, please send reports of vessel lay-ups to news@boatnerd.net. This will help us compile our annual lay-up list. Include vessel name, date, port and name of lay-up dock. Click here to view the Lay-Up List: https://www.boatnerd.com/winter-layup-2021-2022/