Boatnerd News
Boatnerd News – November 29, 2024
Tim S. Dool Salvage Operation Continues
Janey Anderson
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 28, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving from Boatnerd!
3 tugs enroute to grounded Tim S. Dool
Two Groupe Ocean tugs from Quebec, and one from Montreal, including the 8,046 HP Ocean Taiga, are headed for the grounded Tim S. Dool, and will try and free her on Friday.
Janey Alexander
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 27, 2024
3 tugs enroute to grounded Tim S. Dool
Two Groupe Ocean tugs from Quebec, and one from Montreal, including the 8,046 HP Ocean Taiga are headed for the grounded Tim S. Dool, and will try and free her on Friday.
Janey Alexander
Viterra Elevator damaged in Superior
SUPERIOR, WI – A powerful explosion shook the Viterra grain elevator in Superior, Wisconsin, on November 19, around 6:20 p.m. The incident, which occurred during normal operations, caused extensive damage to the facility but miraculously resulted in no reported injuries.
According to Battalion Chief Joseph Tribbey of the Superior Fire Department, the explosion originated in a below-grade area of the plant and traveled upward, exiting through the loading tower. The blast significantly damaged hatches, covers over the belt way, and the tower’s structure.
All workers at the facility were safely accounted for following the incident. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation, and the full extent of the damage was yet to be determined.
Feedandgrain.com
Photo in gallery below.
USCG Cutter Mackinaw loaded with 1,200
Christmas trees for special delivery to Chicago
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY, MI – The 25th Annual Christmas Ship tradition continues with help from the U.S. Coast Guard and dozens of community volunteers. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw was loaded up with more than 1,200 Christmas trees Tuesday in Cheboygan.
The trees will be transported to Chicago next week to be given to families in the Chicago area. Also on board are hundreds of Christmas cards shared by the northern Michigan community.
While on the way to deliver the Christmas trees, the Coast Guard crew will stop to honor the legacy of the original Christmas ship, The Rouse Simmons, that sunk on November 23, 1912. A wreath ceremony will be held at the exact longitude and latitude of where the ship and its crew were lost during a storm.
“The Christmas tree ship mission is a privilege, truly unique to the Great Lakes and specifically to the Mackinaw’s legacy,” said Cmdr. Jeanette Greene, Mackinaw’s commanding officer. “Not only do we get to assist the generous organizations who donate the trees by providing a unique means of delivery, but we get to pay homage to the many sailors who’ve made the treacherous voyage down Lake Michigan in the stormy season.”
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Friday, December 6. View a gallery of images here: https://www.upnorthlive.com/news/local/uscg-cutter-mackinaw-loaded-with-1200-christmas-trees-for-special-delivery-to-chicago
WPBN/WGTU
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 26, 2024
Cruise ships to bring $230M in economic impact to Great Lakes region in 2025
The cruise ship industry is expected to have a $230 million economic impact on the Great Lakes region in 2025, according to a forecast.
Cruise the Great Lakes, a marketing program focused on attracting more passengers to the region, predicts continued growth next year as a defunct cruise line returns to the freshwater seas.
“As we look to 2025, we’re excited to see continued growth in the Great Lakes cruise sector,” said Cathleen Domanico, tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes. “We forecast this upcoming season to be even stronger than 2024, both in terms of passenger numbers and economic impact, which underscores the appeal of cruising in the Great Lakes.”
About 22,000 passengers are expected to cruise the Great Lakes in 2025 on ships from Pearl Seas, Viking, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd and Victory.
Victory Cruise Lines is returning to the region with two ships for the first time since 2022. The ships, Victory I and Victory II, sailed in 2023 as Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager under American Queen Voyages; that company has since filed for bankruptcy and the ships were sold at auction for $2 million to the previous owner of Victory who is now reviving the brand.
Between the six cruise lines, a total of 700 port visits are expected next year, which is a 30% increase over 2024. With an estimated 22,000 individual passengers, the total number of cruise passenger visits across the region is estimated to exceed 150,000.
Read more at this MLive link: https://www.mlive.com/life/2024/11/cruise-ships-to-bring-230m-in-economic-impact-to-great-lakes-region-in-2025.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawGx1kZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbTkgr_RzjgIB7WwW57Dm7R6QCt8aZe81Onwj3mF1sHl7zQ_4vAfTZsaoA_aem_iZx4REgu9RTZv5gF5RMigA
Canadian Freighter Tim S. Dool Still Hard Aground in St. Lawrence River
A Canadian-flagged bulk carrier, the Tim S. Dool, remians hard aground on the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River, prompting a complex salvage operation.
The grounding occurred Saturday at approximately 12:30 p.m. near Crysler Shoal, as the vessel was carrying a cargo of Canadian wheat.
The 57-year-old bulk carrier, owned by Algoma Central Corporation, remains stable outside the navigation channel. Officials report no injuries, water intake, or environmental concerns, and navigation on the St. Lawrence Seaway continues to operate normally.
“Work is underway to finalize a salvage plan,” said the Canadian-based St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.
Recovery efforts are expected to focus on lightening the vessel’s load with tugs on standby.
Maritime expert Michael Folsom of the Seaway Ship Watchers Network explains the challenge ahead: “The bow of Tim S Dool is about 3 ft out of the water from where it would be if in the channel. It will take a lot of this load coming off the ship in order to refloat,” he wrote on X.
The cause of the grounding remains under investigation, with authorities confirming no other vessels were involved in the incident.
gCaptain
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 25, 2024
Tim S. Dool remains aground
The Algoma Central Corp. bulker Tim S. Door remains aground on Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, ON, after she ran aground on Saturday. Early efforts to free her by raising the water level in the area by two feet were unsuccessful. She is loaded with grain for Quebec City.
There is no information on what caused the incident or on the extent of damages. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation says there were no injuries and there is no reported pollution or ingress of material into the water. The ship is currently stable and remains outside the navigation channel, the corporation said in a statement.
Possible solutions include lightering some of her grain cargo so tugs can pull her free. A salvage plan is being developed and must be approved by Transport Canada.
The fixed channel marker is on the south side of the channel, and she is south of it. She is up by the bow and listing slightly to port. The wreck of the Eastcliffe Hall, which sank there on July 14, 1970, is very close to her stern.
Tug Robinson Bay Transferred to
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Massena, N.Y. – Last week the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) proudly completed the formal transfer of the Robinson Bay tugboat to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy during a ceremony at Eisenhower Lock. This vessel, built in 1958, will now serve as a training platform for the Academy’s maritime students, fostering the education of future mariners. At the ceremony, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent Jerry Achenbach, and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jon Hickey made remarks.
Tindall-Schlicht highlighted the importance of this donation, stating, “By placing this iconic tugboat in the hands of an institution dedicated to maritime excellence, we are ensuring that the Robinson Bay remains an active part of the Great Lakes maritime community, contributing to both its legacy and its future. We look forward to witnessing how the Academy utilizes this vessel to promote stewardship and education on the Great Lakes.”
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy, based in Traverse City, Michigan, is committed to using the Robinson Bay to provide hands-on training that prepares students for real-world careers in maritime. Superintendent Jerry Achenbach expressed the Academy’s excitement: “This generous contribution from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation provides our students with an invaluable tool for real-world learning. The Robinson Bay will be a cornerstone of our training program, and we are honored to uphold its legacy.”
Rear Admiral Jon P. Hickey, U.S. Coast Guard added, “Today’s transfer of the Robinson Bay tugboat represents a remarkable investment in the future of our maritime workforce and the legacy of the Great Lakes. This vessel has served with distinction for over six decades, and now, in the hands of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, it will continue to shape and inspire the next generation of mariners. The Coast Guard is proud to support initiatives like these that strengthen our maritime heritage, bolster workforce readiness, and foster a deep respect for the unique waterways we are all dedicated to preserving.”
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center on Dec. 7. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 24, 2024
Federal Michigan enters Seaway on maiden voyage
Saturday morning, Fednav’s new Federal Michigan made her inaugural trip in the St. Lawrence Seaway, destination Hamilton. At the Côte Ste-Catherine lock, it met a fleet mate, the Federal Beauport.
Rene Beauchamp
Tim S. Dool remains aground in Seaway near Morrisburg
Just after noon Saturday, Tim S. Dool, loaded with grain for Quebec City, went out of the shipping channel and grounded on Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, ON. The fixed channel marker is on the south side of the channel, and she is south of it. She is up by the bow and listing slightly to port. The wreck of the Eastcliffe Hall, which sank there on July 14, 1970, is very close to her stern.
There were no injuries and traffic is moving normally. There is no information on what caused the incident or on the extent of damages. According to AIS Sunday morning, there are no tugs in the area, although a salvage plan is likely in the works.
Tim S. Dool was built in 1967 as Senneville and later sailed as Algoville. She is the oldest vessel in the Algoma Central fleet.
New Corps of Engineers’ tugs for the Soo
nearing completion at Louisiana shipyard
Conrad Shipyard’s new construction facilities in Louisiana are “going and blowing,” according to Conrad Shipyard vice president of business development Robert Sampey.
At Conrad’s Morgan City, LA, yard, a pair of icebreaking tugs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are well underway, a 6,000-hp towboat was taking shape, several barges were being assembled and the first of four ferries for Puerto Rico and a new hybrid-electric passenger vehicle ferry for the Trust for Governors Island in New York were in the water.
The two Detroit ice-class tugs for the U.S. CoE will operate on the St Marys River and Soo Harbor in the Upper Great Lakes in assisting the mobilization of various floating equipment, as well as breaking ice up to 300 mm thick.
The diesel-powered, twin-screw tugs, which will be named H.J. Lawson and R.J. Pierce, are being built to ABS standards and will have 1,200 kW of propulsion power. Harold J. Lawson (1934 – 2018) served as Soo Locks Area Engineer was assistant project engineer during deepening of the rock-cut channel at Neebish island and construction of the Poe Lock.
Delivery will be at the end of 2024 or early 2025. Their arrival will likely spell the end for some of the older, smaller tugs stationed at the Soo.
At other Conrad yards, a series of large construction barges for an undisclosed customer were in various stages of build, modules for a tank barge were visible and a massive trailing suction hopper dredge dominated the landscape at the Conrad Deepwater South yard. At Conrad Amelia, a government contract for the US Navy’s new generation Yard, Repair, Berthing and Messing (YRBM) vessel program is full steam ahead.
Riviera Maritime Media
Toledo museum celebrates Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 23, 2024
BREAKING NEWS
Tim S. Dool aground in Seaway near Morrisburg
Just after noon Saturday, Tim S. Dool, loaded with grain for Quebec City, went out of the shipping channel and grounded on Crysler Island Shoal, east of Morrisburg, ON. The fixed channel marker is on the south side of the channel, and she is south of it. She is up by the bow and listing slightly to port. Water is being pumped out of the forepeak. The wreck of the Eastcliffe Hall, which sank there on July 14, 1970, is very close to her stern.
Tim S. Dool was built in 1967 as Senneville. She is the oldest vessel in the Algoma Central fleet.
Ron Beaupre
USS Beloit Will Be Commissioned In Milwaukee On Saturday
This coming Saturday, November 23rd at 10 am the U.S. Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) will be commissioned at Veteran’s Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. It is LCS-29 USS BELOIT, a Freedom class mono-hull ship, which was launched in Marinette, Wis., in 2022. Having completed her sea trials last August, she will formally be accepted into the Navy on Saturday.
USS BELOIT displaces 3,410 metric tons on a hull that is 388 feet long, 58 feet wide, and draws 14 feet of water. She has a crew of 50 sailors and can move at over 40 knots.
She is the first ship named Beloit which honors both the city and also the contributions made to the Navy by Beloit based diesel engine manufacturer Fairbanks-Morse, which has been making diesel engines since 1912 and built the diesel engine that powers this ship.
Her sponsor will be Beloit born retired U.S. Army Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African-American woman to reach the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army.
The commissioning ceremony is paid for by private donations. In addition, there is a private fund established to help the crew of USS BELOIT. According to Spectrum News, its lead contributor is 98 year old World War II Valor Vet George Olson. George survived the sinking of his ship the destroyer USS TWIGGS off Okinawa in June 1945. TWIGGS was hit by two kamikaze attacks and a torpedo and sank with the loss of 126 men. After the war George went on to work at Fairbanks-Morse for 40 years.
Further information can be found at: https://www.ussbeloit.org/the-ship
Toledo museum celebrates the Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 22, 2024
Sault area residents reporting low water levels on St. Marys River
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – “Water supply conditions were drier than average in both the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron basins in October,” the International Joint Commission states on its website. The commission deals with issues affecting the many waterways along the Canada – U.S. border.
It says Lake Superior declined by 10 cm (3.9 inches) in October while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for Lake Superior to decline by 4 cm (1.6 inches) in October.
Lakes Michigan and Huron declined by 17 cm (6.7 inches) last month, while the seasonal long-term average pattern is for those lakes to decline by 7 cm (2.8 inches) in October.
At the beginning of November, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Superior was 19 cm (7.5 inches) below the seasonal long-term average and 19 cm (7.5 inches) below the level of a year ago.
At the beginning of this month, the lake-wide average water level of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron was 7 cm (2.8 inches) below the seasonal long-term average and 21 cm (8.3 inches) below the level of a year ago.
If weather and water supply conditions are near average, Lake Superior may decline by approximately 5 cm (2.0 inches) and Lake Michigan-Huron may decline by approximately 6 cm (2.4 inches).
If conditions are much wetter than average, Lake Superior may rise by as much as 2 cm (0.8 inches) and Lake Michigan-Huron may rise by approximately 2 cm (0.8 inches).
If conditions are much drier than average, the water level of Lake Superior may drop by approximately 10 cm (3.9 inches) and Lake Michigan-Huron may decrease by as much as 12 cm (4.7 inches).
“Any low water conditions being observed may be attributed to a localized weather driven effect. Winds in the Great Lakes region can have a significant impact on local water levels, essentially blowing water from one portion of a lake to another,” said Todd Ehret, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oceanographer, in an email to SooToday.
“This can create a ‘low water’ condition in one area while raising water levels in another. When the wind changes direction, the water levels will change in response. If this is a localized weather driven condition, it will likely change when the wind and weather changes.”
This would have no lasting detrimental effect on the environment and Sault and Algoma District residents, the NOAA states.
“If this is a weather driven effect, it will likely have minimal effect on the environment, and what effects it has will be short-lived,” Ehret said.
Soo Today
USS Beloit Will Be Commissioned In Milwaukee On Saturday
This coming Saturday, November 23rd at 10 am the U.S. Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) will be commissioned at Veteran’s Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. It is LCS-29 USS BELOIT, a Freedom class mono-hull ship, which was launched in Marinette, Wis., in 2022. Having completed her sea trials last August, she will formally be accepted into the Navy on Saturday.
USS BELOIT displaces 3,410 metric tons on a hull that is 388 feet long, 58 feet wide, and draws 14 feet of water. She has a crew of 50 sailors and can move at over 40 knots.
She is the first ship named Beloit which honors both the city and also the contributions made to the Navy by Beloit based diesel engine manufacturer Fairbanks-Morse, which has been making diesel engines since 1912 and built the diesel engine that powers this ship.
Her sponsor will be Beloit born retired U.S. Army Major General Marcia Anderson, the first African-American woman to reach the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army.
The commissioning ceremony is paid for by private donations. In addition, there is a private fund established to help the crew of USS BELOIT. According to Spectrum News, its lead contributor is 98 year old World War II Valor Vet George Olson. George survived the sinking of his ship the destroyer USS TWIGGS off Okinawa in June 1945. TWIGGS was hit by two kamikaze attacks and a torpedo and sank with the loss of 126 men. After the war George went on to work at Fairbanks-Morse for 40 years.
Further information can be found at: https://www.ussbeloit.org/the-ship
Toledo museum celebrates the Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 21, 2024
Put-in-Bay gets $10.4 million for ferry infrastructure upgrades
Roger LaPointe
Port Clinton News Herald
PUT-IN-BAY – A $10.4 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation will go to the Put-in-Bay Township Port Authority for a new breakwater project and expand the ferry dock infrastructure on South Bass Island.
This is Phase I of the Breakwater for Main Ferry Terminal project, which provides critical infrastructure upgrades to protect the ferry dock from rough weather and rising lake levels.
The announcement was made by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The DOT award comes through the FY24 Port Infrastructure Development Program.
“This major federal investment in Put-in-Bay’s ferry infrastructure will secure safe, resilient transit between Ohio’s mainland and South Bass Island — a cherished economic and cultural hub. Rising lake levels and severe weather increasingly threaten ferry operations, and this new (breakwater) will safeguard vital routes for passengers, goods, and emergency services,” Kaptur said.
The money will fund the construction of a second dock and a 406-foot stone breakwater to bolster the safety and resiliency of the main ferry terminal, commonly associated with the Miller Ferry Line, at the south end of South Bass Island.
The improvements will directly support the operations of Miller Boat Line, Inc., a primary ferry operator on Lake Erie. As ferry transportation is the primary means of accessing South Bass Island, the upgrades will benefit nearly 850,000 annual visitors and the island’s year-round residents.
Jacob Market, project manager of the Miller Boat Line, said the grant will cover 90% of the estimated costs of the project, with the rest covered by Miller.
“We believe it will pay itself off within 15 years, just for that phase alone. So it’s a good investment for the federal government. It’s not like it’s just going to go away and never be seen again,” Market said. “There’s going to be returns on this for generations to come. The boat line is going to pay (the balance) ourselves. There will be no local tax burden.”
The construction of this breakwater will offer a critical layer of protection, ensuring continued safe transit during storms, heavy winds, or other adverse conditions.
The project will also create a designated maintenance berth, allowing for secure mooring of ferries during repairs and serving as an alternate loading area for passengers, vehicles, and cargo when the main dock is unavailable.
“The Port Authority will own the property that the breakwater is on,” Market said. “The current pier that the ferry docks at is unprotected from several directions, and it’s really the wind. We have to cancel lots of trips every year because of strong east winds and rising lake levels and seiche.”
The Miller Ferry calculated that the island loses about $2.5 million in revenue annually due to those cancelations.
Seiche is a water phenomena, similar to tides, that are “caused when strong winds and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure push water from one end of a body of water to the other…As recently as 2008, strong winds created waves 12 to 16 feet high in Lake Erie, leading to flooding near Buffalo, New York,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted.
“The docks weren’t built for that high of water, and we are in a cycle of high water right in, in all of the Great Lakes, and it just compounds all those problems,” Market said. “It affects the boat business, but also the local economy. We have a lot of commuters and a lot of the little businesses here; if they lose a weekend, that’s huge … I think that was one of the compelling facts, allowing us to get this grant.”
“We’re super excited about this project,” Market said. “The Port Authority and Miller Boat Line are partners in this venture. We’ve been applying for this program for six years through various funds and grants, and this is the one we’ve applied to for the last several times.”
Phase 2 of the project, if funded, would extend the breakwater to approximately 700 feet. According to Market, plans have not been completed for that phase.
rlapointe@gannett.com
Toledo museum celebrates the Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
Boatnerd News – November 20, 2024
Toledo museum celebrates the Christmas Tree Ship’s legacy
On November 23, 1912, the schooner Rouse Simmons sank while carrying Christmas trees. Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, its captain, Herman E. Schuenemann (a.k.a. “Captain Santa”), was known for giving trees to families in need.
The story of the ship’s history and captain is the inspiration behind the National Museum of the Great Lakes annual Community Giveback Event—The Christmas Tree Ship, presented by The University of Toledo Medical Center. Enjoy free museum admission all day long and make memories that last a lifetime! Watch Santa arrive at the museum’s dock aboard a Geo. Gradel Co. tugboat delivering a Christmas Tree into your hands or the hands of someone in need.
Community Giveback Day Itinerary
10 AM – 5 PM: Museum Admission Free All Day
11 AM: Enjoy the East Toledo Holiday Parade
1:15 PM: Watch the Ship’s Journey to the Museum via Livestream
1:30 PM: Santa Arrives to the Museum’s Docks
1:45 – 3:45 PM: Meet and Greet with Santa
Not able to join in person? Tune into our Facebook page around 1:15 p.m. for a livestream of the ship’s journey down the Maumee River. Get a tour of the Christmas Tree Ship, learn more about the story that inspired our event, and meet the individuals onboard, including Santa!
Read more here: https://nmgl.org/event/christmas-tree-ship24/
