USCGC Sequoia to Port Huron

9/7/2024

USCGC Sequoia (WLB-215) upbound on the St. Clair River at Marine City, MI. Sequoia just completed a two year maintenance period at U.S. Coast Guard Yard Curtis Bay near Baltimore, MD and is now headed for her new home port in Port Huron, MI. Sequoia replaces USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) which is now at Curtis Bay for her maintenance period. Before her maintenance period, Sequoia’s home port was in Guam. After her upgrades are completed, Hollyhock will shift to her new home port in Hawaii. – Sep 7, 2024

Don Detloff

Irma on dead tow at Thunder Bay

9-7-2024
Bulk Carrier IRMA has had issues in Thunder Bay and currently on a dead tow assisted by 4 tugs – POINT VALOUR, GLENADA, FLORENCE AND TECLUTSA to Keefer Terminal. She was attempting to load at Thunder Bay Terminals when the 500′ of mooring line, got caught up in the prop when docking.
Janey Anderson

Toronto Island ferry forced to perform an emergency stop due to mechanical issue

By Denio Lourenco City News

Posted September 5, 2024 9:30 pm.

The City of Toronto says its William Inglis ferry was forced to perform an emergency stop after experiencing a mechanical issue.

“We’re aware of an incident involving one of the City of Toronto’s ferries, where crews acted quickly to perform an emergency stop at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal,” Russell Baker, a spokesperson for the City of Toronto said in a statement.

“The ferry – which experienced a mechanical issue – has since been removed from service, and a thorough investigation into what occurred will start immediately,” Baker added.

Toronto police say people were onboard the boat when it crashed into the dock around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.

Toronto Paramedic Services assessed passengers, but no injuries were reported.
At 90-years-old, the William Inglis ferry is the oldest boat in the City’s ferry fleet.

City Hall is in the process of upgrading the fleet to include two brand-new boats that will run on electric power, but they aren’t expected to hit the water until December 2026.

September 9, 2024

#shipjunkies

Janey Anderson

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Shipwreck peeks out of sand at Lake Michigan beach

Updated: Sep. 06, 2024, 12:32 p.m.|Published: Sep. 06, 2024, 7:00 a.m.

 By Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com

ARCADIA, MI – The remains of this 131-year-old shipwreck are easy to spot as they peek out of the sand along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The Minnehaha ran aground and was broken apart by waves during October 1893. What’s left rests in two pieces. One part is at Arcadia Beach Natural Area. The other piece is just north of the city beach.

For those planning to drive M-22 for fall color, this is worth a quick detour.

Minnehaha shipwreck at Arcadia Beach

Getting there

Find this shipwreck just off M-22 in northern Manistee County.

Traveling north on M-22, turn left onto Lake Street in Arcadia and continue west until the road becomes the Arcadia Beach parking lot.

Grab your camera, take off your shoes and head down to the water – a short walk down a small dune.

The portion of the wreck that’s at the city beach is almost directly down from the parking lot. Look for dark spots along the shoreline.

To see the other portion to the north, walk through the water to get around a boulder barricade.

The pieces are believed to be part of the starboard side of the hull.

How much of the wreckage is visible and where it lies varies from year to year. Sometimes, large portions are completely out of the water.

Those who find parts of what might be a shipwreck can submit their findings to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office by filling out this form.   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdyFdJo2LpT_NCoxpuCgQ6CnS6FzHE12X-zGaYHo_FUBbYqA/viewform?pli=1

Minnehaha shipwreck at Arcadia Beach

Minnehaha

The Minnehaha met its fate in a fall gale. Only the captain survived.

The 199-foot-long, 40-masted schooner was among the biggest of its time on the Great Lakes, according to the Michigan Shipwrecks Research Association. It was built in 1880 in Gilbraltar.

On its final journey, the Minnehaha was being towed by the steam barge Henry J. Johnson, according to the Arcadia Area Historical Society. The schooner was carrying 58,000 bushels of corn from Chicago to Point Edward, Canada, at the south end of Lake Huron.

On the evening of Oct. 13, 1893, the two ships were off Point Betsie near Frankfort when they were caught in 90 mph gale, according to the historical society. By morning, they were still fighting the winds and waves, working to stay out of shallow water.

The ships were near Frankfort when high waves crashed over the Minnehaha’s deck and smashed two hatch covers, according to the historical society. The hold began to fill with water. Capt. William Parker sent up distress signals, released the tow lines and headed for the beach. It ran aground about a quarter mile offshore near Arcadia.

To escape the waves sweeping over the deck, most of the crew climbed into the ship’s rigging, according to the historical society. One crew member attempted to swim to shore and drowned. As the ship broke apart, the captain instructed the crew to grab onto anything that would float. The captain was the only one to survive.

Those lost include John Rafferty, John Rafferty Jr., Mary Keefe, William Ahlstrom and two unknown sailors, all of Cleveland, according to the historical society.

Corn washed ashore for several days, according to the historical society.

Arcadia Beach Natural Area

The beach is part of Manistee County’s Explore the Shores network designed to provide barrier-free access, education and a connection to recreation and fishing.

Amenities include an accessible platform with benches and charcoal grills and at the top of the beach – a perfect spot to watch a sunset over Lake Michigan. It also has two accessible vault toilets, a small playground with swings and a slide, a Mobi-mat to access the shoreline and an information kiosk.

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Canadian Shipbuilding Association Calls for Tax on Chinese-Built Ships

Mike Schuler

September 3, 2024

The Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association (CMISA) is urging the Canadian government to extend its recent 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles to Chinese-built ships.

The association argues that Chinese-built ships pose a significant strategic and ethical threat to Canadian industries and national security.

CMISA highlights concerns about China’s shipbuilding industry, citing its “Civil-Military Fusion” doctrine, which allegedly subsidizes commercial ship exports to bolster military capabilities. The association claims that Chinese shipyards producing commercial vessels also construct warships for the Chinese Navy, contributing to its expansion and potential challenges to Canadian interests, including in Arctic waters.

The association has expressed disappointment over a recent decision by Marine Atlantic, a Canadian Crown corporation, to lease a ferry built in China for service on Canada’s Atlantic coast. CMISA describes the deal as a “complex lease structure” that “appears designed to evade public scrutiny and ethical concerns.”

“Few Western governments would support the construction of a taxpayer-owned ship in China, yet a Canadian Crown corporation has done so indirectly through this lease. On the positive side, Marine Atlantic now has five years to work with the Canadian shipbuilding sector to ensure that we have a made-in-Canada solution ready to sail when the lease is up,” CMISA said.

CMISA is now calling for “immediate and decisive action from the government, including a 100% tax on Chinese-built ships in Canada.

“We recommend the imposition of a 100% surtax on all Chinese-built ships imported into Canada and demand a clear prohibition on any government entity or Crown corporation from acquiring or leasing Chinese-built vessels,” the association’s spokesperson stated.

CMISA argues that these measures are necessary to protect Canadian industries, uphold national security, and ensure consistency with Canada’s commitment to human rights and ethical business practices.

The call comes as lawmakers and industry stakeholders in the U.S. have raised serious concerns regarding alleged unfair trade practices by China in the shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has even initiated an investigation into the the PRC’s use of unfair, non-market policies and practices in the sectors in response to a petition submitted by U.S. labor unions, including the United Steelworkers (USW). The petition proposes remedies including a fee on vessels constructed in China that dock at U.S. ports.

Lakes Limestone Trade Down in August

CLEVELAND — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in August, a decrease of 7.7 percent from a year ago.  Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 4.4 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 11.1 percent compared to 2023.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 809,032 tons, an increase of 7.3 percent.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 17.1 million tons, with loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries totaling 13.6 million tons and shipments from Ontario quarries totaling 3.4 million tons, all increases of less than one percent compared to a year ago.

[See Chart in Gallery Below]
About Lake Carriers’ Association

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

Information based on data from knowledgeable sources.  However, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.  LCA assumes no legal responsibility for the outcome of decisions or commitments made on the basis of this information.  This report represents the views of LCA and may not necessarily represent the views of its individual members.

Eric Peace
Vice President
Lake Carriers’ Association
25651 Detroit Road, Suite 102
Westlake, Ohio  44145
(440) 333-9996 (office) | (410) 703-8792 (mobile)
www.lcaships.com

SS United States Faces Uncertain Future as Court-Imposed Deadline Approaches

Mike Schuler
September 3, 2024

The historic ocean liner SS United States is facing a critical juncture as a September 12 deadline looms for its removal from its current berth in Philadelphia.

The U.S. District Court has denied the SS United States Conservancy’s request for a three-month extension, mandating that the organization present a formal agreement to remove the ship from Pier 82 by the specified date.

The ruling comes as the SS United States Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that owns the ship, faces eviction due to a legal dispute with Penn Warehousing, the pier operator, over increased rent.

However, Senior Judge Anita Brody has left room for potential flexibility. If the Conservancy secures a contract for the ship’s removal by September 12, the judge expects good faith negotiations to allow for a safe and proper removal at a later date.

As the deadline approaches, the fate of “America’s Flagship” hangs in the balance.

The Conservancy is exploring various options for the ship’s future, including a controversial proposal to convert the vessel into an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. A contingent contract has been entered with Okaloosa County, Florida, to advance this effort.

“Reefing is not the Conservancy’s preferred scenario for the SS United States,” the organization stated. “With our hand being forced by Penn Warehousing, and scrapping being the only other viable option, we believe reefing is the more dignified outcome.”

The Conservancy emphasizes that multiple discussions are ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain. The Conservancy had previously collaborated with RXR Realty and MCR Hotels on a redevelopment plan for the SS United States in 2023, which envisioned transforming the ship into a privately funded, mixed-use destination and museum. However, these plans never materialized.

“We are now working diligently to salvage that dream as best we can, albeit not in the way we had originally envisioned, but in a way that allows the story of our nation’s ship to inspire generations to come,” the Conservancy said.

The SS United States Conservancy acknowledges the difficulty of potentially reefing the historic ship, a prospect that many board members have worked to avoid for over a decade.

“We vow to continue to do everything we can to best preserve her legacy each day leading up to the Court-imposed September 12 deadline, and we remain eternally grateful for your support and partnership in our shared mission,” it said.

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

State awards $15 million grant to fund new Drummond Island ferry

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI — The state recently awarded a $15 million grant to help fund a new ferry for Drummond Island, located in the lower St. Marys River.

This week, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Infrastructure Office announced $15 million had been awarded to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) for the project.

“These capital investment grants will provide critical funding to our public transit agencies to improve services,” said state transportation director Bradley Wieferich. “It will help enhance and expand the state’s multimodal passenger transportation systems.”  

EUPTA will use the $15 million for the construction of a new ferry to serve Drummond Island to accommodate for increased tourism. According to MDOT, tourism in the area has increased in recent years and the ferry will help with that expansion and allow it to grow even more.

The new ferry will not only increase the number of vehicles that can be transported to and from the island but also help transport larger vehicles. An increased demand for transportation of larger vehicles has caused hours-long wait times for tourists and residents alike.

Over 100,000 round-trip vehicle tickets and nearly 200,000 round-trip passenger tickets are purchased each year in DeTour, where passengers line up for the ferry.

The current ferry service travels back and forth hourly and is capable of carrying 36 normal sized cars at a time.

Drummond Island has had nine ferries in its history, and currently has two ferries in service.

The Sault News

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Onaway Contractor to build new DNR Fisheries Vessel

By  Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.com

ONAWAY, MI — A Presque Isle County steel fabricator has won a contract to build a new fisheries research boat for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Moran Iron Works of Onaway will build the R/V Steelhead II at a cost of $5.85 million, the DNR announced Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The 66-foot, steel-hulled vessel will replace the venerable S/V Steelhead, a 56-year-old survey vessel the agency uses to gather Great Lakes fishery management data.

The Legislature approved funding for the new DNR vessel in its fiscal 2023 and 2025 budgets.

The boat will conduct surveys to quantify the abundance of prey fish that sustain Lake Michigan trout and salmon fisheries.

The R/V Steelhead II should be on the water in 2026, the DNR said. Like its predecessor, it will be home-ported at the agency’s Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station.

The new vessel has a 50-year lifespan and will be powered by two EPA Tier 3 emissions-controlled diesel engines coupled with rooftop solar panels.

The boat will feature modern navigational systems, a watertight compartmental hull design and gyro stabilizer to minimize roll in rough seas. A mechanical platform will facilitate diving and equipment maintenance by lowering to water level.

Crew safety features and accommodations are being upgraded.

“Advanced, modern hydroacoustic technology will be adopted on the R/V Steelhead II — technology that will support improved data collection from a more reliable, modernized platform,” said Ben Turschak, DNR research biologist in Charlevoix.

The boat was designed by Boksa Marine Design of Lithia, Fla.

The original Steelhead will likely be sold at auction.

Other Michigan vessels built by Moran Iron Works include the Shepler’s “Miss Margy” and “William Richard” Mackinac Island ferries, the “Kayak Express” Pictured Rocks tour boat and the sixth Lowell Showboat.

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Federal Thunder Bay visits namesake port

The newly-built Fednav saltie Federal Thunder Bay (2023 Marshall Islands) made her first visit to Thunder Bay Terminals in the Port of Thunder Bay, ON,  on August 27, 2024. Tugs Glenada (1943) and Point Valour (1958) provided assistance.

Gene Onchulenko

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Canada rail unions call off strike, appeal to federal courts

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) had served a strike notice for 10am on 26 August for union workers at Canadian National (CN). The move followed a lockout by CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on 22 August that lasted 18 hours before the government intervened with a direction to the CIRB to settle the dispute between employers and unions through binding arbitration.

TCRC members at CPKC went out on strike immediately the lockout started on 22 August and continued to picket after the government intervened.

While CN moved to get operations back up and running ahead of an official order of binding arbitration from the CIRB on 23 August unions issued a strike notice calling action from 10am on 26 August by workers at CN.

With the CIRB issuing an official order of binding arbitration on 24 August it ordered that no further lockout or strike could take place during the arbitration. The TCRC said it would lawfully comply with the order from CIRB but also appeal it at the federal court level.

“This decision by the CIRB sets a dangerous precedent. It signals to Corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short-term economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a union. The rights of Canadian workers have been significantly diminished today,” said Paul Boucher, President of the TCRC.

“CN will comply with the order which also extends the current collective agreement until a new agreement is signed between the parties,” CN said.

It was feared that a prolonged dispute could cost North American shippers millions of dollars bringing to halt rail freight movements from Canadian ports and across the border with the US.

Seatrade Maritime

 AIRPLANE LOST FOR 17 YEARS FOUND IN THE STRAIGHTS OF MACKINAC BY GREAT LAKES SEARCH AND RECOVERY

Now that the families have been notified by the Michigan State Police and they have released the following information, we can share the story and the work we have been doing behind the scenes since last October.

In August 0f 2007, a SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad airplane crashed into Lake Huron while in route to Bad Axe from Mackinac Island. The plane was flown by a 52-year-old woman from Washington DC and had one passenger, a 56-year-old man also from Washington, DC. A large-scale search for the plane wreckage or survivors was conducted, but the plane was never found.

On October 8, 2007, human remains were found in the Straits of Mackinac, east of the Mackinac Bridge. Those remains were recovered and later identified as the missing pilot. The search for the passenger and the plane wreckage continued and eventually was called off without finding the wreckage.

In October 2023, Great Lakes Search & Recovery, a private company, resumed the search efforts at the request of family members. In August of 2024, members of the search team discovered plane wreckage near Bois Blanc Island. This discovery was reported to MSP.

Members of the MSP Marine Services Team were able to collect evidence from the crash site that led investigators to believe that this plane wreck was that of the missing plane from 2007. As state police divers searched the wreckage, a set of skeletal remains was found at the crash site. The remains were provided to the Center for Forensic Anthropology at Northern Michigan University for identification. Through dental records they were positively identified as being the skeletal remains of the 56-year-old passenger.

The Michigan State Police credits the amazing work done by Great Lakes Search and Recovery to help bring closure to the victims’ families.

The support and donations we receive from our followers allows us to purchase the equipment we need and help pay the expenses for a search like this. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to our work, our address is:

Great Lakes Search and Recovery
50525 Pleasant St.
Dowagiac MI. 49047

 Exclusive: Site of Lake Erie’s Deadliest Shipwreck, the Griffith, Discovered

Local diver Mark Lasmanis tells Lake Erie Living how he found the ship’s debris field — and what it tells us about the hundreds of immigrants who perished there.

Mark Lasmanis was on his first dive of the year off the shore of his home in Willowick, Ohio, when he saw what appeared to be an expansive debris field. About 18 feet down, the lake floor was covered with worn and rusted nails, rods and bolts. He grabbed his underwater tablet, quickly scrawled his suspicion, and turned to show his dive buddy.

“Wreck??”

The first thing Lasmanis picked up was a key that, although broken, looked untarnished. Could it be, he wondered, from the shipwreck he grew up hearing about, said to have happened in this same location, the SS G.P. Griffith? His thoughts quickly took off.

What did that lock? Was it a big trunk? Was it someone’s cabin? Whose key was it? Was it an immigrant’s journey? What were they locking up and hoping to bring with them to their new life?

“There was just something about it,” says Lasmanis, who grew up snorkeling Lake Erie and was scuba-certified last year. “It just seemed unique — a key in Lake Erie — among all of this rusted metal and then to find a shiny brass key down there.”

Built in Maumee, Ohio, in 1847, the Griffith was a steamship carrying more than 300, mostly European, immigrants westward on Lake Erie in the predawn hours of June 17, 1850, when it caught on fire and got stuck on a sandbar off the coast. Passengers panicked and threw their trunks, filled with clothing and valuables, overboard and jumped in.

Because most didn’t know how to swim, and many were believed to have been weighed down by coins sewn into their clothing, hundreds of immigrants died and were buried in a mass grave near the shore. Only several dozen passengers survived. It’s the deadliest shipwreck on Lake Erie and the third worst on the Great Lakes.

Still, Lasmanis was far from certain he’d found the shipwreck — until he returned the next day and came across more evidence.

“I started finding some other pieces of interesting cast iron stuff when I glanced over and I saw a coin sticking out,” he says. “I don’t even know how to say it, kind of a thing of joy and I just ‘hurrahed’ underwater with the scuba equipment on with the regulator and blew bubbles out — like, Wow, I can’t believe this! Is this real?”

Knowing how quickly the lake changes, Lasmanis took the coin to prevent it from being covered by shifting sediment. Before picking it up, he documented where he found it by recording video. Once on land, he saw it was an 1815 Brazilian silver coin, which is significant because, until now, most immigrants aboard the ship were believed to have come from Europe.

Since then, Lasmanis has found more items that seem to be from the mid-19th century, including irons, tools and decorative cast iron. The artifacts with the most obvious ties to the Griffith are those that appear damaged from high heat, including several pieces of flatware melded together.

Alan Hitchcox, the vice president of the Willoughby Historical Society in Ohio, believes Lasmanis has found items from the Griffith. “I’d say I’m 90% sure. Most of what we find in retracing history is circumstantial evidence that leads us to conclude a high probability of proof.”

Lasmanis has also shared artifacts and photos with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office. There is enough evidence to warrant adding the discovery to official state records, according to an email from archaeology survey and data manager Brent Eberhard.

Because the state has no plans to conduct an official archaeological survey of the debris field, Lasmanis is the only person working to document the site and preserve its artifacts. (Ohio law requires a permit to remove or disturb items from a shipwreck but does not specifically address items not located near the sunken watercraft.) Lasmanis says he’s already contacted several maritime museums and plans to donate artifacts of interest.

And there may be more to come. Lasmanis is still diving to the site. Each time, he returns with more photos and video documenting the debris field — and more certainty.

“I am a technical and analytical person,” he says. “Considering the location, variety of items, some with dates and or heat damage … it all points with almost certainty to the events of the Griffith in 1850.”

So What Happened to the Ship?

If the debris field of the Griffith has been found, it raises a few more questions. What’s left of the ship? Where is it located? And has anyone tried to find it? According to Cleveland newspaper reports from the time, the ship burned nearly to the water’s edge.

In the morning following the disaster, several ships brought survivors from the wreckage to downtown Cleveland, including the steamer Delaware that also hitched itself to the remains of the Griffith’s hull and tugged it closer to shore.

According to the Cleveland Herald on June 20, 1850, “The fire was of tremendous heat, and apparently burned every thing [sic] combustible down into the hull. The outside planks and timbers and portions of the wheel alone remain. The water is now just over the boilers, and a diver in search of the safe yesterday, brought up the ruins of the clock in the Clerk’s office, a mass of melted glass, wheels, etc. It told the last moment of time for many on that fatal morn.”

It went on to say, “It is understood efforts will soon be made to raise the wreck. The smoke pipes are still standing.”

For several weeks after the fire, the blackened Griffith peeked out of the waters of Lake Erie just offshore of Willoughby (now Willowick, Ohio) as a somber reminder of the hundreds of lives lost. During that time, attempts were repeatedly made to bring back bodies to be buried and retrieve personal belongings.

Then, on July 1, two scows were sent out to raise the Griffith. However, a treacherous squall churned up the water near the shipwreck and capsized the scows. A man, named Wallace Ames, from Fairport, Ohio, died — another tragic victim of the Griffith. “There were nine men and [sic] boy saved by clinging to the rigging of the wreck,” according to a July 3, 1850, article in The Evening Post.

Once weather conditions calmed, the scows were sent out again to move the ship out of the 10-foot-deep waters where its remains were lodged and to attempt to bring it to shore for possible salvage of large mechanical parts.

This is where newspaper reports thin out, along with the exact date the Griffith remains were moved, and the exact location they were moved to. However, based on accounts from local divers searching for the wreck over the years, it appears part of the Griffith made it a few miles eastward. Because of the burned and destroyed condition of the hull, and the several attempts to move it, it’s believed pieces of the ship are scattered across the bottom of Lake Erie along this route, with the largest portion of the ship having been dragged into deeper water near the mouth of the Chagrin River. Some have said timbers and machinery are still visible.

If there is any wood left, it is likely heavily decayed and covered in sediment — and no part of the actual wooden ship has been officially recovered.

The Story Continues

“Lost Lake Erie” author Jennifer Boresz Engelking grew up near the shipwreck in Willowick and has written about the Griffith in several of her books, including “Hidden History of Lake County, Ohio” and “Lost Lake County, Ohio.” When Mark Lasmanis contacted her to ask if she was interested in hearing about his discovery, her immediate response was, “I am absolutely interested!”

After seeing the artifacts and learning where they were found, Engelking says, she was certain from her research that Lasmanis had discovered the site of the Griffith shipwreck — she also knew she had the idea for her next book. “I have to continue telling the story of the immigrants who were aboard that day,” she says.

Aside from the discovery of the Griffith bell in the 1970s (on display at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio) Engelking believes the new finds are the first artifacts anyone has seen since the tragedy happened 174 years ago — and many come directly from the immigrants who perished.

“These remnants give us glimpses of the people who were aboard the ship … in a sense giving them a voice and letting us know where they came from, what they carried, and what was important to them as their journey to start a new life in America was tragically cut short,” she says. “It’s that connection to our past, believed to have been lost, that is perhaps the greatest treasure.”

Read full Story here:  https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Flakeerieliving.com%2Fgriffith%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2VLbtyLT9iD57N_A26Z5snXfXJbytXfDMBm4BjVWUcZrK_8K8IcRyBXTM_aem_P50GmYhg9If_hkOyO2TlLA&h=AT3iTgT0i8iG_d9UJ1IzgRW6aJ6TGT-JCZ2KVe7EsQclY09SkE_E05chHthAB6Wk3gkYWlB7xOJdAzXnABez8Ll327IK_Sw2RRx7vNktkI9cPPN954bm1PVl0_Xl1Shzl0ON&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT3LdMLcQUcxvVF1DRou4BqMhh7VONSpjquHfXld4gM-fIYR4pUTCuhu5cfalY6062J5cbj4r1nL-kJ7BYrIiFQ1ISO0A_J-zzXpcq4UScCWGyRj85z1E5QXQYL_MP0v2pi2pIzrro9tUqPkOz1_oLuk6J6OhasHaqA57XD0AnzXpTzowocn2Zox-93tRK5q5-onij7E35xjZOE-2lsEnh-IznFNoFGAUngLOANT2rfbFdSegF_USNIE6zzIj1GBezBr1YcYq12UKvqMNdFqwOJ4FwmwZiic_D1DEbY89RCH7Rq0Vz3yeg

Jennifer Boresz Engelking is writing a book that will include the story of the Griffith and Lasmanis’ underwater findings. For more information go to jenniferboresz.com. To connect with Lasmanis, go to greatlakesvista.com.

Story: Jennifer Boresz Engelking
2024 Best of Lake Erie

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Sheldon “Shelly” Guren Passes Away

Today we are saddened to announce the passing of Sheldon (“Shelly”) Guren, principal owner of the Towing Company since 1973.

Shelly was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 25, 1924, and passed away peacefully in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 16, 2024.

His life is a quintessential American story – the 100-year journey of a boy from a poor but proud upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio to a successful and diverse legal and business career, with a strong commitment to human rights, intellectual thought, and a love of art and culture.

Shelly had hundreds of close friends and personal relationships that ranged from deckhands on the tugs to presidents of the United States.

The “Towing Company,” as it is well-known, spurred many other marine-related businesses, including Admiral Towing and Barge Company, a government tug contractor; Soo Linehandling Services, which handles dock lines ashore for ships transiting through the locks at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan; Runyan Shipyard, Inc., a Pensacola, FL ship repair facility; Tugz International LLC, a tugboat chartering business; Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co., a harbor towing operation in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and several others.

Shelly graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1942 and Western Reserve University 2-years later. Upon graduation from WRU, he was admitted to Harvard Law School. He became editor of the Harvard Law Review. During his second year at Harvard, Shelly was drafted by the US Army and, after training, was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Shelly returned to Harvard in 1947 and graduated in 1948. He then returned to Cleveland and joined the law practice of his uncle, Henry S. Gottfried, and that fall, at age 23, he became a partner in the firm Gottfried, Ginsberg, and Guren. The firm grew, and by 1983 included 68 lawyers and 70 non-lawyers, with offices in Cleveland, Columbus, and Miami.

Shelly’s other business ownership interests included Thistledown Raceway, NY Yankees, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bulls. In addition, he also had ownership in Cleveland Stadium and a horse breeding farm in Ocala, Florida.

But Shelly was most proud of the Towing Company and, when Towing Company celebrated its 125th year in business earlier this summer, Shelly traveled to Cleveland to participate in the festivities. He enjoyed every minute.

 The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit

Divers Can Now Explore Historic Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan More Easily

Crews installed buoys and mooring lines to mark the locations of 19 wreck sites in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Sarah Kuta
Daily Correspondent

August 23, 2024

A white buoy attached to a yellow circular-shaped object next to water

The buoys and mooring lines help divers easily identify the wrecks while also giving boaters somewhere to tie up. Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Dozens of historic shipwrecks are submerged in Lake Michigan within the bounds of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. For interested divers and snorkelers, exploring some of these wreck sites just got easier.

This month, crews installed buoys and mooring lines near 19 of the most popular shipwrecks at the protected site. The buoys mark the locations of the wrecks, allowing scuba divers to find them faster, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Caitlin Looby.

The buoys also help protect the wrecks from damage caused by anchors, since they give boaters a place to tie up while divers head down to explore, reports the Ozaukee Press’ Kristyn Halbig Ziehm.

“It’s an important thing to do,” Bill Moren, a member of the shipwreck advisory council, tells the Ozaukee Press. “It’s one little step to make the sanctuary more of a treasure and ensure the shipwrecks are preserved.”

The installation process began several weeks ago. On August 14, the sanctuary announced that crews had placed buoys at the last of the 19 sites.

The wrecks now marked with buoys are located between 50 and 300 feet below the surface. Four buoys were installed near shipwrecks situated in shallower waters, which makes them more accessible to kayakers and snorkelers. (Those who aren’t interested in diving can explore several of the wrecks virtually via 3D models.)

Latitude and longitude coordinates, as well as a map of all the buoys, are available on the sanctuary’s website. Most of the wrecks have surface buoys, but a few have subsurface buoys submerged at depths of 40 feet.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located in nearby Lake Huron, has similar buoys positioned near some of its 100 known shipwrecks.

Designated in 2021, the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is one of the newest marine sanctuaries in the country. (In June, the Biden administration created the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary in New York, bringing the total number to 16.)

The Wisconsin sanctuary encompasses 962 square miles of Lake Michigan and touches the counties of Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Ozaukee. The state of Wisconsin co-manages the site with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The sanctuary protects 36 known shipwrecks that sank between 1830 and 1930. But an estimated 60 additional shipwrecks may also be hiding at the bottom of the lake within its boundaries—and researchers are actively searching for them.

Scientists have also mapped the lakebed of the entire sanctuary, and they’re holding educational outreach events with local teachers and students.

Within the Great Lakes more broadly, an estimated 6,000 shipwrecks are resting at the bottom of Lake Michigan, Superior, Erie, Huron and Ontario. Historians and underwater archaeologists continue to search for and identify previously undiscovered wrecks.

Just last month, researchers announced that they had located the Margaret A. Muir, a 130-foot schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in September 1893 with the captain’s dog onboard.

EasyMax 4 ‘Alexia’ launched successfully at shipyard Niestern Sander

Today, the m.v. Alexia was launched successfully at shipyard Royal Niestern Sander. This new building is the successor of the award-winning Egbert Wagenborg and her sisters Máxima and Amalia. The m.v. Alexia type is the fourth vessel in the EasyMax series in our fleet according to our new energy efficiency targets.

The m.v. Alexia was christened during Delfsail by Her Majesty Queen Máxima in presence of 2.000 employees and guests. For this ceremony, Queen Máxima performed the world’s first name giving and christening ceremony by drone. By pushing a button this drone flew to shipyard Niestern Sander a mile ahead, where this EasyMax vessel was nearing completion and christened yard number 853 ‘Alexia’.

Launching a new vessel is always a special moment. And special moments you share with your loved ones. That is why we invited many colleagues, family, friends, customers, suppliers and others to the launch of the EasyMax 4. Via a live stream many visitors from over the world witnessed this spectacular event.

Greenest multipurpose vessel

With a cargo capacity of more than 14.000 tonnes and a hold capacity of 625.000 cbft, Wagenborg was able to build a relatively large vessel without a major increase in overall dimensions. With an installed power of less than 3.000 kW, this ship has extremely low fuel consumption and due to her design, she has an excellent sea keeping performance. Our focus on Energy Efficiency resulted in over 60% savings in CO2- emissions compared to her peer group. We are proud the EasyMax is by far the greenest multipurpose vessel in her class, resulting in an undisputed CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) A-rating. The CII is a measure for a ship’s energy efficiency and is given in grams of CO2 emitted per cargo-carrying capacity and nautical mile.

In the upcoming weeks the EasyMax 4 will be commissioned followed by sea trials by the end of this year. The vessel is expected to be delivered to Wagenborg by the end of Q3 2024.

National Museum of the Great Lakes Second
Wave Capital Campaign Nears Completion

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is entering a new chapter as its Second Wave expansion project progresses. With the foundation set and structural build underway, the museum is reaching out to the community for a final push of support. Now is your chance to contribute to the future legacy of this historic institution.

 The Second Wave expansion will add 5,000 square feet of new space, allowing the museum to showcase traveling Smithsonian exhibits, introduce new permanent exhibits, and create dedicated spaces for community education.

“By supporting this campaign, donors are actively preserving Great Lakes history, fueling ongoing education, revitalizing our neighborhood, and boosting the economic vitality of our region,” said Kate Fineske, Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Donations can be made online at nmgl.org/thesecondwave or by calling the museum at 419-214-5000. Contributions of all sizes are welcome, and donors will receive exclusive Second Wave thank you gifts as a token of appreciation. Donors contributing more than $500 will also be recognized on our donor wall.

“This is the moment to make a lasting impact on our museum and the communities we serve,” said Sara Smith, the Museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. As we conclude our public campaign, join in this effort and ensure the National Museum of the Great Lakes remains a beacon of pride and inspiration for generations to come. For more information or to make a donation,

The National Museum of the Great Lakes

Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise tickets now on sale to public

Ticket sales for the annual Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s Detroit River Cruise, scheduled for Saturday, September 7, from 1-4 p.m. aboard the the Diamond Jack River Tours boat DIAMOND QUEEN, are now open to the public.

Passengers will have the opportunity to photograph vessels and historic sites along the Detroit River and enjoy a narration by local history expert Ken Borg. The number of passengers will be limited to 100 so there will be lots of room to move about the boat. Tickets are now on sale at MHSD.org. Or pay by check to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit for $28.50 and mailed to MHSD Cruise,1020 Iroquois, Detroit, MI, 48214. If there are any tickets left the day of sailing, they will be sold at the dock for $30.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit