Tugs fail to release grounded refloat Maccoa

Three Ocean tugs – Ocean Serge Genois , Ocean Charlie and Ocean A. Gauthier  – worked all day Friday attempting to refloat Maccoa, with no success. The ship lost power and ran aground on December 24 near Verchères, just outside of Montreal and is aground firmly in the mud. She is out of the shipping channel, so no traffic is being blocked.  Tugs have headed back now; waiting for the next move at this point (lightering is an option but has not been confirmed).

Ship Junkies – Lakes, Locks & Rivers (LL&R)

Lake Michigan waves could be a clean power source
for remote spots like Beaver Island

A single underwater cable supplies Beaver Island, MI,  with its power.

Storms, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe with climate change, have knocked out the lights for days. A maritime accident once cut electricity for months in the 600-person island 30 miles off the coast of western Michigan.

What if water surrounding Beaver Island could be the key to delivering the small island with more reliable — and clean — power?

Backed by a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Michigan are working with island residents to explore converting wave energy into electricity. If they’re successful, naturally occurring waves would make the remote community more resilient to climate change and mitigate climate change-fueling carbon emissions.

Remote islands with compromised grid reliability are early candidates for nascent wave energy converters. Once the technology is established and costs drop, the renewable power source is expected to complement solar and wind power in urban coastal communities as well, said Vishnu Vijayasankar, a doctoral candidate leading the university’s efforts.

Vicky Fingeroot, a Detroit native, began traveling to Beaver Island in 2006.

“I never thought about energy or how we got it when I bought my first piece of property here back then,” she said.

It wasn’t until she moved to Beaver Island full time in 2021 and experienced her first power outage that grid reliability crossed her mind.

A strong storm took down multiple overhead power lines that carry electricity ashore from the underwater line. More weather was on the way, so plane and ferry services were paused. There was no way on or off the island. The local line worker who knew how to turn on the backup generator was attending an out-of-town funeral.

“It was the perfect storm, no pun intended,” said Fingeroot, who was on the board of trustees for one of the island’s two townships. Left without power for several days, her community’s vulnerability was suddenly thrust in front of her.

“What about the elderly who need oxygen? What were they going to do? And are there warming centers?” she recalled worrying.

When the emergency diesel generator was finally turned on, it powered only the two main business roads on the north end of the island. Many residents on the island’s southern end had to rely on personal propane generators until the lines were repaired. Both diesel and propane generators are polluting technologies.

The generator had been installed after an outage in winter 1999 that lasted over three months. The lake froze over, inhibiting service technicians from reaching the underwater power cable, which had been nicked by a tugboat anchor. The island had expressed interest in exploring renewable energy sources then, but the technologies were new and still expensive, said Beth Croswhite, who has lived on the island for over four decades and served in local government.

The 2021 outage, an influx of clean-energy funding under the Biden administration and dramatic decreases in the cost of renewables revived conversations about renewable energy.

Beaver Island was one of 12 communities selected to reenvision its energy grid with support from the Department of Energy. Much of the focus in the program so far has been on solar power.

The community also was approached by researchers at the University of Michigan seeking to explore wave energy as an additional carbon-free power source.

At the most basic level, a wave energy converter uses the rise and fall of the water to move a motor. That kinetic energy gets run through a generator that converts it to the electric energy needed to power homes and businesses.

Wave energy converters are less common than wind turbines and solar panels, largely because of design challenges.

One design makes floating buoys that bob up and down with the crest and trough of the waves. Another depends on the crest of the waves to compress air in a chamber, forcing it up through a turbine that spins. Every model comes with pros and cons regarding myriad issues, including but not limited to storm resiliency, energy generation and marine life safety.

In the design phase of the Beaver Island project, anticipated to last two years, the university researchers are hosting dinners and creating a survey to ensure their blueprint is accepted by residents. A preliminary survey showed that residents were most concerned about marine life safety, signaling to Vijayasankar that he should nix designs with exposed turbines.

Researchers also will have to address resident concerns about the seasonality of waves. They’re typically stronger during the colder months until the lake freezes over.

Wave energy likely will be a complement to the solar power Beaver Island is also exploring, Vijayasankar said. There may be lots of waves on stormy days when the sun isn’t shining, for example. Large-scale batteries — which scientists are racing to perfect — could help store excess wave energy produced by passing storm systems for later use.

“The end goal is to make us sustainable, and I don’t see us doing it with one thing. I see us doing it with many things,” Fingeroot said. “This wave energy project, there’s certainly an openness to it.”

Chicago Tribune

Ship remains aground on St. Lawrence River north of Montreal

A ship that lost power on the St. Lawrence River on Christmas Eve remains stationary north of Montreal. According to marinetraffic.com, The bulk carrier Maccoa stopped moving just after midnight on Tuesday as it was on its way to Waterford, Ireland after departing from Montreal on Dec. 23.

“The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) was informed that the Maccoa had run aground in the Verchères area following a widespread power failure,” said CCG spokesperson Kariane Charron. “The cause of the blackout is unknown and remains under investigation.”

The ship is currently between Ile Marie and Vercheres and not in a shipping lane, so it is not blocking any traffic. There have been no reports of anything leaking from the vessel or any injuries.

The Coast Guard has mobilized a team to monitor and take steps to refloat the vessel, and has sent a helicopter to confirm it is not polluting the waterway.

Charron said generators, heaters and other supplies were delivered to the ship, and it was able to operate its own generators and restore power by Tuesday night.

On Wednesday experts boarded to assess the situation and create a refloating plan.

“The holiday season is having an impact on the availability of personnel from the various contractors and partners to remedy the situation. It is still too early to confirm when a refloating attempt may take place,” Charron added.

The boat has a crew of 20 on board, and the Coast Guard said the situation is stable.

CTV

Tim S. Dool lays up at Goderich, perhaps for last time

Algoma Central’s bulk carrier Tim S. Dool arrived at Goderich, ON, Thursday morning and went into possible long-term layup. The Dool spent from November 24 to December 16 aground Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, Ontario. Finally released after part of her cargo of wheat had been removed, the Dool unloaded the rest of her cargo in Quebec City before heading to Goderich. There has been no word about damage from the grounding, however her certificate expires in June 2025 and there will likely be no effort to bring her back into service due to her age. She was built in 1967.

Merry Christmas to all from the staff at Boatnerd

Saltie Maccoa runs aground near Montreal

On Monday night, the saltwater vessel Maccoa went aground off Verchères, near Montreal. It was enroute from Hamilton to Ireland by way of Montreal. Built in 2009 and frequent Great Lakes and Seaway visitor, she is operated by Canadian Forest Navigation Co. (CANFORNAV).

Rene Beauchamp

Damaged Federal Yoshino drydocked at Ontario Shipyards

Bipartisan SHIPS Act Aims to Revitalize U.S. Maritime Industry

In a landmark move to restore America’s maritime leadership, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced comprehensive legislation aimed at rebuilding the nation’s declining shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.

The Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, introduced by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN), along with Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-8) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-1), comes at a critical time when U.S. shipbuilding capacity has weakened and China dominates international shipping.

The United States, once a dominant maritime power, now faces a stark reality: fewer than 200 oceangoing ships fly the American flag, while China has surged ahead in shipbuilding and commercial shipping.

“We’ve always been a maritime nation, but the truth is we’ve lost ground to China, who now dominates international shipping and can build merchant and military ships much more quickly than we can,” said Senator Kelly, notably the first U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate to serve in Congress.

The legislation sets ambitious goals, including expanding the U.S.-flag international fleet by 250 ships within a decade. It establishes a Maritime Security Advisor position within the White House and creates a Maritime Security Trust Fund to reinvest industry fees into maritime security programs.

Representative Garamendi, a long-time advocate for maritime revitalization, underscored its importance: “This bill represents the most substantial and comprehensive approach to have America compete and lead globally.”

The Act addresses critical national security concerns, particularly regarding military sealift capabilities. Currently, less than 200 oceangoing ships fly the American flag, a situation that the legislation aims to remedy through various incentives, including a 25% investment tax credit for shipyard investments.

Industry leaders have praised the initiative. David Heindel, President of Seafarers International Union, called it “an extraordinary piece of legislation” and the most comprehensive and impactful maritime policy he’s seen in his 51-year industry career.

The Act addresses critical national security concerns, particularly regarding military sealift capabilities. Currently, less than 200 oceangoing ships fly the American flag, a situation that the legislation aims to remedy through various incentives, including a 25% investment tax credit for shipyard investments.

With endorsements from over 80 maritime organizations and industry stakeholders, the SHIPS Act represents what many consider the most substantial effort in years to revitalize America’s maritime sector and counter China’s growing influence in global shipping.

“It will ensure our country has the U.S.-flag shipping capability and American mariners needed to support both national security and economic stability,” said R. Christian Johnsen, Chair of USA Maritime.

Philly Shipyard, one of the nation’s key shipbuilders, praised the act as a “major recapitalization of shipbuilding infrastructure” that would “provide substantial incentives for U.S.-built vessels.”

Key Provisions of the SHIPS for America Act

• National Maritime Strategy: Coordinate U.S. maritime policy by establishing the position of Maritime Security Advisor within the White House, who would lead an interagency Maritime Security Board tasked with making whole-of-government strategic decisions for how to implement a National Maritime Strategy. The bill also establishes a Maritime Security Trust Fund that would reinvest duties and fees paid by the maritime industry into maritime security programs and infrastructure supporting maritime commerce.
• Fleet Expansion: Establish a national goal of expanding the U.S.-flag international fleet by 250 ships in 10 years by creating the Strategic Commercial Fleet Program, which would facilitate the development of a fleet of commercially operated, U.S.-flagged, American crewed, and domestically built merchant vessels that can operate competitively in international commerce.
• Boost Competitiveness: Enhance the competitiveness of U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce by establishing a Rulemaking Committee on Commercial Maritime Regulations and Standards to cut through the U.S. Coast Guard’s bureaucracy and red tape that limits the international competitiveness of U.S.-flagged vessels, requiring that government-funded cargo move aboard U.S.-flag vessels, and requiring a portion of commercial goods imported from China to move aboard U.S.-flag vessels starting in 2029.
• Shipyard Investments: Expand the U.S. shipyard industrial base, for both military and commercial oceangoing vessels, by establishing a 25 percent investment tax credit for shipyard investments, transforming the Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program into a revolving fund, and establishing a Shipbuilding Financial Incentives program to support innovative approaches to domestic ship building and ship repair.
• Next-Generation Innovation: Accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation ship design, manufacturing processes, and ship energy systems by establishing the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation, which would create regional hubs across the country.
• Workforce Development: Make historic investments in maritime workforce by establishing a Maritime and Shipbuilding Recruiting Campaign, allowing mariners to retain their credentials through a newly established Merchant Marine Career Retention Program, investing in long-overdue infrastructure needs for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and supporting State Maritime Academies and Centers for Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. The bill also makes long-overdue changes to streamline and modernize the U.S. Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credentialing system.

As the U.S. faces escalating geopolitical challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, the timing of this legislation is critical.

With bipartisan backing and endorsements from across the maritime spectrum, the SHIPS for America Act is poised to make waves in Congress. If successful, it promises to not only rebuild America’s shipbuilding and shipping capabilities but also reaffirm its status as a maritime leader on the global stage.

gCaptain