Navigating a Greener Future: Algoma Central Corporation is Successful in Five Grant Funding Applications from Transport Canada’s Green Shipping Corridor Program (GSCP)

July 16, 2024

As Canada increasingly focuses on sustainable practices, the maritime sector continues to be a pivotal player in reducing carbon emissions. While marine transportation is already the most eco-friendly mode of moving goods, innovative technologies emerge as possibilities for greater improvements. Algoma is actively exploring these advancements to identify their long-term viability and feasibility for a greener future on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway.

The Green Shipping Corridor Program (GSCP) is an integral partner in this movement, offering critical funding to projects that will drive the establishment of a green shipping corridor and the decarbonization of marine activities along the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway, and Canada’s East and West Coasts.

What does the program aim to achieve?

One of the primary objectives of the GSCP is to eliminate the obstacles that hinder the adoption of emission-reducing equipment and infrastructure. The program addresses these barriers by providing financial support for projects that:

Build capacity among Canadian vessel owner/operators with respect to their ability to identify, plan and implement next generation low carbon and zero-emission ship technology and marine fuels into their vessel operations

Remove barriers to the adoption of emission reducing equipment and infrastructure

Incentivize industry-led partnerships and investments to accelerate the adoption of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-reduction technologies and infrastructure

De-risk investments to increase the technology-readiness level of low carbon and zero-emission ship technology and marine fuels for the domestic vessel fleet

Visit: https://tc.canada.ca/en/programs/green-shipping-corridor-program to learn more about the program.

GSCP Grant Funding – De-Risking Investments in Low Carbon Technologies

Investing in low carbon and zero-emission ship technologies can be a high-stakes venture due to the significant capital required, the multi-generational assets, the unique nature of our ships and waterways, and the nascent stage of many new technologies. At Algoma, we believe research must come first. This is not to stall innovation but to ensure we get it right. Short sea shipping on the Great Lakes is unique which means the sector will require tailored solutions. The GSCP is helping Algoma research potential solutions by providing grant funding under the Clean Vessel Demonstration Stream for the following studies:

Biofuel Feasibility Study

Wind Assisted Propulsion System Feasibility Study

Shore Power Feasibility Study

Next Generation Bulk Carrier Design

Container shipping study – Articulated Tug-Barge unit

We would like to thank Transport Canada and the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport of Canada for implementing this program and providing support to the Canadian marine sector. Thank you also to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Vance Badawey for announcing the successful grant recipients on behalf of Transport Canada and the Minister’s office and MP Chris Bittle of St. Catharines for your continued support.

As an industry, we need to find the right solutions, set a course, and see it through, together. The collective adoption of carbon reducing technologies will ensure adequate supply, cost competitiveness, and will strengthen the overall benefits of the sector.  With the support of the GSCP, the marine industry has been provided with an opportunity to drive the right innovation and implement successful and long-term advancements.

To learn more about Algoma’s environmental initiatives, progress, challenges, and the studies listed above, read our latest Sustainability Report here.    https://www.algonet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2023-Sustainability-Report_Algoma_web-1.pdf

Port of Cleveland receives $5M state grant to repair,
upgrade lakefront iron ore conveyor system

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Port of Cleveland announced Monday that it has been awarded $5 million from the state of Ohio to help upgrade a critically important tunnel and conveyor system at its Cleveland Bulk Terminal dock on Whiskey Island.

The terminal, located west of Wendy Park and east of the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, receives mountains of taconite iron ore pellets from big lake carriers and enables the material to be transferred to smaller vessels able to navigate the Cuyahoga River.

Taconite is mined in the Mesabi Iron Range in Minnesota before shipment through the Great Lakes. The tunnel system is part of the transfer process onshore in Cleveland.

Pellets move connected conveyer belts and a tunnel before they’re loaded onto river carriers for transport to the Cleveland Cliffs steel plant upriver in the industrial Flats south of downtown.

The full cost of the repairs to the tunnel and conveyor system aren’t known yet, said Port spokesperson Nancy Lesic. The Port acquired the iron ore terminal in 1997 and has invested millions of dollars in its lakefront bulkhead and material handling equipment.

The Port said Monday that the original section of the terminal’s conveyor system was relocated from Lorain in 2003. It includes a concrete tunnel under massive dunes of taconite stored on the dock.

The tunnel and conveyor system were extended in 2021, expanding the Port’s capacity and allowing for taconite pellets to be blended. The original section of the conveyor system is near the end of its life and needs to be rehabilitated, the Port said.

Repairs and reconstruction will take place during at least two six-week periods from January to mid-February in 2025 and 2026, when the Soo Locks connecting Lakes Superior and Huron are shut down, the Port said.

Cleveland.com

Historic Lake Superior lighthouse sold at auction 5 years ago is available once again

SUPERIOR, WI – A historic Lake Superior lighthouse that a Californian won at auction five years ago with dreams of converting it into a quiet getaway — and possibly even a vacation rental — is now being offered for free to a government agency or nonprofit that agrees to maintain it.

The 56-foot-tall structure stands sentry at the tip of Wisconsin Point in Superior, Wis. It was built in 1913 to help guide ships into the Duluth-Superior harbor.

It’s been off the market since 2019, when Steven Broudy, who at the time was an executive for a tech company in San Francisco, agreed to buy the lighthouse, sight unseen, after winning it at auction for $159,000.

“The thing about a lighthouse that always appealed to me is, on the one hand, there’s something about staring out at a body of water that’s really calming and soothing,” he told MPR News. “And then on the other hand, I don’t know, it feels like it’s a fortress of solitude.”

But earlier this month, the U.S. General Services Administration issued a Notice of Availability for the Superior Harbor South Breakwater Light and asked for letters of interest from groups or agencies interested in maintaining the lighthouse for “educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes.”

After submitting the winning bid for the historic structure, Broudy reached an impasse with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Kris Mendez, a realty specialist for the GSA.

The Army Corps owns the third-of-a-mile long breakwater that extends out to the lighthouse. Mendez said it has long served as an unofficial playground for local teenagers.

Mendez said that Broudy wanted to control access to the lighthouse “to a point that the Corps wasn’t entirely comfortable with. And essentially, they just couldn’t reach a compromise.” Broudy also said he wanted the ability to lease the breakwater to make safety improvements to make it more accessible, but he wasn’t allowed to by the government.

Now that several years have passed, Mendez said the GSA felt it was a good time to offer up the lighthouse again, “to see if other parties might be interested.”

But before it’s offered up to the general public, it first must be made available to government agencies or educational nonprofits, under the terms of a law passed in 2000 called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. That law mandates that government agencies and nonprofit groups get a first shot at acquiring lighthouses — free of charge — that the U.S. Coast Guard no longer needs.

“Lighthouses have a pretty active community of fans and supporters,” Mendez explained. The law allows eligible groups — often with expertise in historic preservation and the ability to marshal volunteers — to take ownership of a lighthouse and preserve it.

Last year, a St. Paul-based historic preservation nonprofit, Rethos, was awarded a nearby lighthouse in Duluth in the city’s Canal Park tourism district.

The 43-foot-tall structure, built three years before the lighthouse at the end of Wisconsin Point, stands at the tip of the north breakwater at the entrance to Duluth’s shipping canal. Rethos plans to offer tours.

The National Park Service will vet applications from would-be caretakes of the Superior, Wis. lighthouse and decide if any group has the financial wherewithal to maintain the lighthouse.

“The idea is you’re going to preserve this light forever,” said Mendez. “Because anyone who’s familiar with the Great Lakes knows that the weather can be pretty harsh. It’s like the old joke about a boat being a hole in the water you throw money into, a lighthouse can be pretty similar due to the rough weather and everything out there.”

Jim Paine, the mayor of Superior, said the lighthouse is known as “something of a hot potato.” “It’s hard to get to, very hard to maintain. So this would be a pretty big expense. I think it would be cool if somebody could open it and operate it in some way, but even getting folks out there would be tricky,” said Paine.

Letters of interest will be accepted through Aug. 5, 2024. If no group comes forward, or none is selected, then the lighthouse could again be offered for sale. But buyers beware: The U.S. Coast Guard will still need access to the lighthouse to maintain the navigational aids still housed there.

That consists of a green light that flashes every five seconds from May 1 to Oct. 20, and a three-second-long fog signal that’s blasted every 30 seconds.

Minnesota Public Radio

Source of St. Marys River pollution unknown

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI –  Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes is responding to a pollution incident in the St. Marys River near downtown Sault Ste. Marie along with the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department and Army Corps of Engineers.

At approx. 5 p.m. on Monday, July 15, Sector Northern Great Lakes received a report of an oily sheen drifting down the St. Marys River. Coast Guard Pollution Responders investigated the scene and discovered an oil sheen near the Coast Guard base as well as around the Museum Ship Valley Camp and the George Kemp Marina. Pollution Responders determined that the pollution consisted of approximately 10 gallons of an unknown oily product.

The Coast Guard is leading the response to the oil spill in close collaboration with the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department and the Army Corps of Engineers. GFL Environmental has been hired to conduct the cleanup. A floating boom was placed in the water to contain the oil in the affected areas and absorbent materials are being used to recover as much product as possible. The source of the pollution is currently unknown and is under investigation by the Coast Guard.

Cleveland-Cliffs announces acquisition of Stelco

CLEVELAND, OH – Cleveland-Cliffs continues to expand its presence in the North American steel industry with Monday’s announcement it would acquire Canadian steelmaker Stelco.

The acquisition increases Cliffs’ steelmaking footprint and doubles its exposure to the flat-rolled spot market, with cost advantages in raw materials, energy, health care, and currency.

Stelco has two operational sites, both in the province of Ontario, including Lake Erie Works, the newest and lowest-cost integrated steelmaking facility in North America. Stelco ships approximately 2.6 million net tons of flat-rolled steel annually.

Upon closing of the transaction, Stelco is expected to continue operations as a wholly owned subsidiary, preserving the name and legacy of the business.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to approval by Stelco shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

WLUC

New tug Minnesota christened by Great Lakes Towing Co.

Thursday was a landmark day for The Great Lakes Towing Co. as we christened our newest tug, Minnesota, and celebrated 125 years of business. We were honored to have Natalie Ronayne, Chief Development Officer for the Cleveland Metroparks, as the sponsor for Minnesota. Our fireboat Chief, previously known as Anthony J. Celebrezze, made a special appearance.

The Great Lakes Towing Company / Great Lakes Shipyard

Dredging clears the way for commercial and recreational vessels

Dredging operations are underway in Manistee Harbor. The project, funded for $581,000 will improve ship navigation through the channel, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Detroit District said in a press release last month.

The project has been contracted to King Company of Holland. King Company previously dredged Manistee Harbor in 2022 under a similar contract.

USACE was previously scheduled to maintenance dredge the harbor later in the summer, but quick coordination between staff and the contractor enabled the project to be prioritized with a June start date, USACOE officials said in the release.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources limits certain activities – including dredging – until after June 15 to protect fish spawning and habitat, as part of a policy popularly known as a “fish window.”

The project will remove shoaling, which is the deposit of sediment in open waterways that reduces the depth of the water. It is a dangerous effect because it limits the navigation channel, causing a problem because of limited water depths. When channels and harbors are properly maintained, navigation in both directions is improved because the water depth is more uniform and allows safe passage, according to

In a report from the USACOE, dredging operations not only help maintain navigable channels, but can also be done to allow for the passage of larger vessels. “Ships access the berthing areas of these harbors through navigation channels. For the prevailing drafts of commercial vessels the required depth of navigation channel varies from about 10 to 15 m (approximately 32 — 50 feet) Dredging is required to provide and maintain these depths.”

A seemingly insignificant loss of four to six feet of channel depth would result in increased transportation costs between $44,000 and $101,000 annually. If a harbor were to close to commercial vessel traffic, commodities would have to be transported by rail and truck, according to the project fact sheet provided by the Army Corps of Engineers, as previously reported in the Daily News.

While Manistee Harbor does not see vessels requiring these depths, the Army Corps of Engineers reported that on April 23, a commercial vessel attempted to enter Manistee Harbor drafting 19 feet (about 5.7 meters) but were halted due to conditions. Surveys found the harbor was unable to be passed at that draft, according to the release provided by the USACE. A notice to vessel traffic was issued that same day and continues to coordinate closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain safe passage in the area.

Once a large-scale dredging project is conducted, the USACOE said routine maintenance is needed to keep sedimentation and other navigational hazards under control.

About 33,000 cubic years of sediment are estimated to be removed from the harbor, according to the contract. Funding for the project is allocated from the Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget (PBUD).

Dredged material will be placed along the shoreline 3,000 feet south of the southern breakwater and extend for about 2,000 feet. Some placement will occur at a 4-foot depth nearshore where the dredged material cannot be placed on the shore without disrupting the natural aesthetics of the beach or prevents public users and boats from safely traversing the area.

The project is scheduled to conclude on or before July 31.

Further South in Muskegon, a similar project was completed this spring. About 133,000 cubic yards of sediment was removed from the navigation channel in Muskegon Harbor. According to the USACOE, the Muskegon project marked the start of the 2024 Detroit District dredging season on the Western Michigan shoreline of Lake Michigan to maintain Great Lakes navigation for commercial shipping to harbors along Western Michigan.

“This early dredging project was an important effort to keep harbors free from winter shoaling and keep commercial business flowing efficiently without delay,” said Liz Newell Wilkinson, Grand Haven Resident Office resident engineer.

Spring shoaling – shifting sand and stone sediment due to wave action – caused two ship groundings in the area during the past two years, the Muskegon project press release noted. King Co. was contracted for this project as well, at a cost of $800,000, the USAEOC noted.T he project was expected to finish in late June.

Last fall, a similar project was conducted in Ludington. The Army Corps of Engineers and contractor Sault Ste Marie-based MCM Marine cleared sediment in Ludington Harbor, along the Lake Michigan shoreline. During that time period, thousands of feet of pipe moved sediment from the upstream limit of the dredging, which was near the Badger’s dock all the way south across Pere Marquette Lake to the placement area near Buttersville Campground, said Public Affairs Specialist Brandon Hubbard of the USACE Detroit District, in a previous article in the Ludington Daily News.

For this project, the contractor used hydraulic dredging pipes which eliminated the cost of transporting sediment with barges. This project addressed two goals — improving navigation and replenishing sand

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, maintains a navigation system of 81 harbors and channels joining Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie.

Shoreline Media

Ship emergency on Lake Superior is latest safety mishap for Great Lakes freighter operator

The Michipicoten, now in Fraser Shipyards after cracking and taking on water, is just the most recent incident for Rand Logistics ships.

By Mike Hughlett Star Tribune JULY 11, 2024 — 7:03AM

Lake Superior was calm, and the Michipicoten was plying deep waters June 8 when the ship’s crew heard a loud bang.

The 698-foot freighter suddenly began taking on water near Isle Royale. The Michipicoten issued a mayday, and the U.S. Coast Guard rushed to the scene, evacuating half the ship’s 22 crew members. The vessel limped to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where inspectors found the culprit: a 13-foot crack in its hull.

“It’s really unusual to basically be out in the middle of the lake and start taking on water,” said Thom Holden, a Great Lakes shipwreck and shipping historian in Superior, Wis.

Indeed, the Michipicoten incident is a rarity on the Great Lakes: a full-blown emergency on a commercial freighter. But it was the latest of several mishaps in recent years on ships that Rand Logistics, one of the largest Great Lakes carriers, operates.

The Michipicoten’s journey

The Michipicoten’s hull cracked and the ship took on water on Lake Superior near Isle Royale. Other ships operated by the same company have had their own issues in recent years.

Jim Foster , Star Tribune  Source: U.S. Coast Guard

One Rand ship caught fire in Lake Erie in May 2023 and then burned again while docked in Ashtabula, Ohio, in March.

Two weeks later, another Rand vessel hit a navigational aid near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., shutting down traffic in a vital shipping artery for 40 hours. Yet another Rand ship grounded near Detroit in November.

The U.S. Coast Guard deemed two other groundings by Rand ships in the past two years as “serious marine incidents.” And last summer, a Rand-owned ship leaked 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel into Lake Michigan after a hull breach in a fuel tank.

“That is a lot of incidents in a short time,” said Roger LeLievre, president of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit and publisher of “Know Your Ships,” an annual Great Lakes shipping guide.

“Rand Logistics has had an exceptionally bad first part of the year, and they have been having issues for a couple of years now,” he said

Still, the Coast Guard hasn’t found any “deeper safety concerns” with Rand’s fleet.

“There is nothing conclusive that shows a broader safety or maintenance issue for Rand or its subsidiaries,” said Lt. Phillip Gurtler, a spokesman for the Coast Guard’s Great Lakes district in Cleveland.

Rand, based in suburban Buffalo, N.Y., defended its safety record in a statement: “The safety of our employees, proper maintenance of our vessels and commitment to the environment are our top priorities at Rand Logistics.”

“We regularly conduct safety training programs for our employees and since 2020 have invested over $230 million in the maintenance and improvement of our vessels, which are highly regulated. … We adhere to all industry safety and operating standards.”

The distress call

The outcome of the Michipicoten incident could have been much worse.

The 72-year-old vessel set out from Two Harbors with a load of iron ore, destined for Algoma Steel’s big mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Canadian-flagged Michipicoten was 38 miles southwest of Isle Royale when around 6:15 a.m., it began taking on water — a lot of it.

The crew reported that 300 tons of water rushed in every 30 minutes, said Lt. Joe Snyder, a spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The loud bang led the crew to initially speculate that the vessel had hit something, Snyder said, even though the Michipicoten was in water that was hundreds of feet deep.

The ship, listing to one side, issued a distress call. The Coast Guard responded with a helicopter and a boat. A National Park Service boat also came to the Michipicoten’s aid, as did the Edwin H. Gott, a big commercial ship in the vicinity.

A seafarer aboard the Michipicoten, Kent Knechtel, described “a day of pure terror” with crew members not knowing if they “would see another day.”

The crew hoped the ship’s pumps — working furiously to redistribute water — would not fail, according to Knechtel, whose wife posted his story to a Facebook page, Ship Junkies — Lakes, Locks & Rivers.

“We were very lucky the weather was on our side for a change,” Knechtel’s message said. When the hull cracked, the wind was blowing at 23 mph, waves were 1 foot high, and visibility was good, according to the Coast Guard.

“The quick response of the officers and the crew, that is a part of this story,” Holden said. “They did a remarkable job in saving themselves.”

In Thunder Bay, divers discovered a 13-foot stress fracture, ¼ to 1 inch wide running lengthwise mostly on the ship’s front bottom, Snyder said.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident, as is Transport Canada, which regulates Canadian ships.

Other Rand ship accidents

Rand’s ships ferry bulk cargo like iron ore, limestone and coal. Many are familiar to boat watchers in Duluth-Superior.

The company operates at least 20 vessels. The ships are parceled out under a Canadian-flag fleet subsidiary Lower Lakes Towing runs, and two subsidiaries that operate U.S.-flag ships, Grand River Navigation and American Steamship.

Incidents in recent years involve ships from Lower Lakes and Grand River.The 81-year-old Cuyahoga caught fire on the Canadian side of Lake Erie in May 2023. The fire struck the engine room, and the ship lost propulsion. The Canadian Coast Guard, responding to a mayday call, evacuated eight of its 20 crew members. There were no injuries.

The Cuyahoga returned to service. It was fitting out for the 2024 shipping season at an Ashtabula dock — with both crew members and contractors aboard — when a huge fire erupted, said Ashtabula Fire Marshal Steve Chase.

The unintentional blaze caused about $30 million in damage, a fire department report said.

“We believe we dodged a much greater impact by sheer luck of timing,” Chase said.

The fire started right after lunch break, just before contract workers were to return to the ship’s ballast tanks.

“If it would have happened 10 to 20 minutes later, in all likelihood, there would have been fatalities,” Chase said. “It would have been extremely difficult to get to them before being overcome by smoke.”

The Tecumseh, another Canadian-flagged Rand ship, had an engine room fire in December 2019. The ship was motoring down the Detroit River near Windsor, Ontario, when a fuel hose assembly failed and sprayed oil on an engine, igniting the blaze, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded.

Before the fire, the Tecumseh’s engines had “leaks” and “failures” in their fuel hoses, the safety board found. The board concluded that the ship had “no guidance” for the testing, inspection or maintenance schedules of its fuel hose assemblies. The board also found several other shortcomings with the vessel and its fire safety systems.

There were no injuries, and the company scrapped the badly damaged Tecumseh a few years after the fire.

Rand’s financial troubles

Established in 2004, Rand Logistics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018. A sinking Canadian currency had left Rand in a bind: Most of its debt was calculated in U.S. dollars, while 60% of its operating profits at the time were in Canadian dollars.

To complicate matters, the company sank $29 million into capital projects in 2019, primarily for substantial steel work on three ships. Deferring maintenance and repair on the vessels precipitated the costly project, according to a bankruptcy court filing.

A private equity group, American Industrial Partners (AIP), bought Rand out of bankruptcy and then sold a minority stake in the ship operator to another private equity outfit, Oaktree Capital Management. AIP exited its stake in Rand in February 2023.

This spring, Oaktree agreed to spin off most of its transportation infrastructure business — which includes Rand — to a new private equity firm led by two former Oaktree executives.

They will inherit a fleet that, according to Coast Guard records, has had several problems in recent years beyond fires and a hull failure.

In March, the American Mariner hit a concrete-and-steel navigational marker in the St. Mary’s River system after the ship’s steering failed. The St. Mary’s, which connects Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, closed for 40 hours, delaying 29 ships.

In November, the American Courage ran aground for about 12 hours in the St. Clair River near Detroit, its second grounding in 18 months. In December 2022, the American Courage’s bow thruster, which provides sideways movement, failed while the ship plied the Cuyahoga River through Cleveland. The vessel hit a boardwalk. The bow thruster had failed before the incident as well.

The John J. Boland ran aground in April 2023, causing $1 million in damages. Nine months earlier, the integrated tug-barge Olive M. Moore/Menominee grounded, causing $300,000 in damages. The Coast Guard appeared to deem both “serious marine incidents” because of the costs.

As for the Michipicoten, it patched up in Thunder Bay and then sailed to Superior, Wis. There, it is undergoing further repairs in drydock at Fraser Shipyards.

Meanwhile, the Lakes shipping community is speculating on what ultimately caused the most serious marine incident on Lake Superior in many years.

“There has to be something that started that crack on the Michipicoten,” ship historian Holden said, “and once it started, it went like the dickens.”

Article, pictures & video Can be found at:  https://www.startribune.com/michipicoten-lake-superior-incident-rand-logistics-issues-coast-guard/600379928/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0XICrW8CWnZVaWUf96M1n5zmN7vde5_4L9s-QaMnhqLMbVusvGoMSi3EI_aem_0Wzb0EegWy-GF0q3uopSQA

Above average rainfall raises water levels

June, rainfall across the Great Lakes basin was above average. The wetter June brought an end to the drought conditions in the Lake Superior basin that had existed for about a year.

Monthly mean water levels for June remained above their long-term average levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair and Erie, while Lakes Superior and Ontario were slightly below their long-term average June levels.

Check out the most recent 6-month forecast of Great Lakes Water Levels on our new website at the following link: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Water-Information/Water-Management/Great-Lakes-and-Harbors/Water-Level-Forecasts/#six-month-water-level-forecasts

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Fednav Ltd. adds Federal Michigan to its Laker-Class fleet of ships

Fednav Ltd. of Montreal has added another new vessel, Federal Michigan, IMO 9975416, to its growing fleet of Laker-class ships built by the Oshima Shipbuilding Co. in Oshima, Japan.

Federal Michigan is the sixth vessel of the Laker-class series of ships. First in the series was the Federal Hamilton (IMO 9975363), built in 2023. She has already made two inland voyages so far in 2024. Another new vessel in the Laker-class series, Federal Thunder Bay, (IMO 9975375), which is due at Sorel, QC, on July 29. In addition, the Federal Indiana (IMO 9975387), made its maiden voyage entering the Great Lakes/Seaway on June 23. Federal Ohio (IMO 9975399) and Federal Wisconsin (IMO 9975404) are also part of the new series.

Each of the new vessels are 199.98 meters in length and 23.76 meters in width (or 656 x 78 feet). They are equipped with four deck cranes for loading and unloading. The new vessels are all registered in the Marshall Islands, with Majuro as their port of registry. Each are easily recognizable thanks to their very large smokestacks, which house air pollution abatement equipment.

Badger resumes sailing after a day off for repairs

LUDINGTON, MI – Lake Michigan Carferry’s history Badger resumed sailing Tuesday morning after electrical repairs were completed. Her Monday sailings were canceled.

The Badger spent two full days at the dock for repairs. The ship has missed eight crossings between Saturday and Monday. “The Badger’s engineers are working around the clock to complete the repair,” said Lake Michigan Carferry spokesman Thom Hawley. “We expect to return to a full sailing schedule by Tuesday morning.”

On Sunday night, the ship’s operators reported that engineers and electricians were working through the night to seek resolution to the electrical issue aboard the ship.

Limestone Trade Up In June

CLEVELAND — Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in June, an increase of 6 percent from a year ago.  This June’s loadings were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.7 percent.

Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.6 million tons, an increase of 2.4 percent compared to last year.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 738,606 tons, an increase of 20.9 percent.

Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at nearly 9.8 million tons, an increase of 21.2 percent compared to 2023.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries increased by 21.5 percent from a year ago.  Shipments from Ontario quarries total 1.9 million tons, an increase of 20.3 percent.

GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: JUNE 2019-2024 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)

YEAR-TO-DATE 2019-2024 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE
(NET TONS)

U.S. ports: Calcite, MI; Cedarville, MI; Drummond Island, MI; Marblehead, OH; Port Inland, MI; and Presque Isle, MI.  Canadian ports: Bruce Mines, Manitoulin Island, Port Colborne (from August 2017 on) and Smelter Bay (all Ontario).

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

Badger docked due to ‘ongoing mechanical repairs’

LUDINGTON, MI – The S.S. Badger has canceled sailings scheduled for Sunday and Monday due to ongoing mechanical repairs.

Saturday, after departing Manitowoc, WI, a mechanical issue arose, the ferry service said in a Facebook post. The issue was identified and addressed allowing the ship to safely continue its cross-lake trip. Due to the late arrival, the evening departure to Manitowoc was canceled.

“Lake Michigan Carferry apologizes for the unexpected delays and inconvenience to its passengers,” the Facebook post reads.

Those affected or have questions are asked to call reservationists at 800-841-4243 to make alternate travel arrangements.

Lake Michigan Carferry

Win A Trip on The Alpena

Lots more questions being messaged and asked. “How do I get a ride on a freighter?” Well, you can get a job on one, or you can win one. The International Shipmasters Lodge 19 in Alpena has tickets for sale for a chance to win a trip on a classic, the Alpena.
You can purchase tickets online or if you want to do it snail mail you can message me and I’ll give you the address.
Tell Pat Hart that Mrs. Captain sent you.

Buy them here:
https://northeastmichiganlodge19.com/

Ports of Indiana approved for container terminal at Burns Harbor

BURNS HARBOR, IN –  The Ports of Indiana is already taking positive steps forward just weeks after launching its Indiana Container Initiative.

The port authority announced Tuesday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has approved a proposal to establish the first international sea cargo container terminal on Lake Michigan at the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

The new terminal would create the only all-water container route for ocean vessels to serve the greater Chicago metropolitan area via the Great Lakes, the Ports of Indiana said in a news release.

Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said having the terminal could create transformational opportunities, but it will take time to develop.

As part of the effort, the port authority will be responsible for constructing a CBP container cargo examination facility at the port, which would include a CBP office, equipment, furnishings, large scale non-inspection equipment, and radiation portal monitors.

Peacock said the port won’t be able to schedule regular container shipments until the Customs facilities are fully operational. Construction is expected to take place in 2025.

Port Director Ryan McCoy said while the venture comes with major challenges, the project is a top priority.

“Great Lakes shipping is limited by a shorter shipping season and the use of smaller vessels, but the potential upside for handling containers is tremendous,” McCoy said. “Allowing ocean carriers to start serving this market could diversify supply chains, avoid bottlenecks and reduce the overall carbon footprint for shipping to and from the Midwest.”

In June, the Ports of Indiana announced the launch of the Indiana Container Initiative, which sought to explore the development of multiple international container terminals throughout the state, including at Indiana’s three ports and at various inland locations.

Currently, all containers moving through the Chicago market travel by rail or truck. The port authority said having a container terminal at Burns Harbor will allow shippers access to the largest metro area on the Great Lakes.

“We’re working with several businesses that have strong interest in using a regular liner service to Burns Harbor, and the initial container projections are promising,” said Ian Hirt, a maritime consultant working with the port to develop container business. “This will likely be a niche service that offers specialized amenities, such as refrigerated containers or a green alternative, but it could also help avoid bottlenecks and improve supply chain reliability.”

The port authority said it has received letters of support from other Great Lakes ports, including Cleveland and Duluth, which also handle container vessels.

The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor is the 25th largest U.S. port and handles 25 million tons of cargo annually, generating nearly $17 billion in annual economic impact.

Inside Indiana Business

Pre-orders start for Know Your Ships Extra magazine

Pre-orders are now being taken for the 2024 edition of “Know Your Ships EXTRA” magazine, scheduled for a mid-August release. Due to the popularity of last year’s edition, this year’s version will be nearly twice the size, checking in at 78 pages.

The magazine offers even more ship, sailor and industry stories, recent shipping news and many more of the stunning photos – current and historic – for which Know Your Ships has become known for the past 65 years

“We tried it, you liked it,” said Editor Roger LeLievre, “So many readers enjoyed the first edition of our new magazine Know Your Ships EXTRA published last summer that we have decided to make it an annual publication.”

The magazine is not meant to replace the regular Know Your Ships, but to complement it. “Think of it as an expansion of the book, which comes out in March,” he added.

The magazine includes stories on the little USCG Cutter Buckthorn and her big job maintaining buoys in the St. Marys River, training to fight shipboard fires, the demise of Cleveland’s historic Huletts and a profile of legendary tug skipper Capt. John Wellington. Find out how much it costs to paint a laker, discover how two Michigan farm boys changed the Great Lakes shipping industry and read about new vessel construction on and off the Great Lakes. There’s even a story about Clyde’s Drive In and its 75-year history serving burgers to boat watchers.

Get your pre-order in now and receive shipping for only $1. (U.S. addresses only, due to the high cost of mailing to Canada). The pre-order period ends July 2.

Order at knowyourships.com.

Mackinac Island Ferry acquired by Hoffmann Marine

Editor’s note: This story replaces an earlier post which was incorrect.

The Mackinac Island Ferry Company that serves the popular Michigan lake resort community has been acquired by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Florida-based family-owned private equity firm.

“Joining the Hoffmann Family of Companies heralds a new era for Mackinac Island Ferry Company,” said Jerry Fetty, CEO of Mackinac Island Ferry Company. “Our diverse fleet, including Hydro-Jet ferries, catamarans, classic ferries and pirate ship, will complement their marine division while maintaining our unique identity. We are optimistic about the future, dedicated to maintaining our high standards of service, contributing to the thriving Mackinac Island community and continuing to invest in our future.”

In 2022, Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company rebranded as the Mackinac Island Ferry Company to consolidate its brand assets, including the Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet® Ferry fleet from the 1970s, the Arnold Line Ferry fleet operational since 1878, and the Mackinac Marine Services (MMS) shipyard established in 2019.  All were included in the current purchase by Hoffmann.

The purchase expands Hoffmann Marine’s fleet portfolio to 46 vessels in seven states, according to a June 29 statement from Hoffmann. It further cements Hoffmann’s close business, community and local news media ties in the Mackinac region.

In May 2024 the company acquired Sip ‘n Sail, a dinner cruise operation.  Other Hoffmann-owned businesses in the Mackinac area include Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, the St. Ignace News, and the Mackinac Island Town Crier.

“With this expansion, HF Companies now owns more than 116 parcels of land, including docks in Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, and St. Ignace, 51 buildings and 6,500 parking spaces. This makes the company the largest owner of real estate parcels in the area and employer to 500 people in the Mackinac area,” according to the Hoffman statement.

“We are thrilled to acquire the Mackinac Island Ferry Company, further expanding our presence in the Mackinac community and marine industry,” said Jenny Gezella, president of Hoffmann Marine. “Our commitment to providing first-class, efficient transportation remains steadfast, and we look forward to continuing to serve both residents and visitors to this special island.”

Gezella will be on the island this season to oversee the transition, Co-CEO Greg Hoffmann said. Between the Mackinac and Shepler’s ferry companies, there are about two dozen boats that are in daily service.

“To ensure a seamless transition, Jenny will be on the island this season, ensuring guests continue to enjoy exceptional trips and to drive new business,” said Hoffmann. “In addition to overseeing a local fleet of 24 boats, Jenny remains committed to maintaining high standards across all operations.”

Workboat

‘Good people’: Boatnerds unite
for Engineers Day at annual picnic

Around 80 people attend 26th annual event held at Sherman Park

The 2024 Boatnerd Picnic at Sherman Park Thursday drew in around 80 people.

Dozens of self-proclaimed boatnerds gathered last Thursday at Sherman Park in Sault Ste. Marie for their annual pre-Engineers Day picnic.

Engineers Day itself was Friday, June 28, at the Soo Locks.

This was their 26th picnic since it started in the late ’90s.

In case you didn’t know, boatnerds are a unique group of people, young and the young at heart, who love freighters. They chase them down and take videos and pictures of them with others on social media.

But it is so much more about the freighters. It’s about connecting with people.

Lee Rowe, 81, helped start the first boatnerd gathering with only a few people attending. Thursday’s picnic welcomed in around 80.

“Once we get the friendships, it just continues. It’s not this one time of the year. It’s a gathering of friends. When we come and post on Facebook, it says we are going to see our friends and ships. And that’s really what boatnerds are about. It’s about the friends. They are just very nice. Boatnerds are good people,” Rowe said.

Angie Williams, who lives near Detroit, helped organized this year’s picnic.

“We like to say that we come up for Engineers Day and the boats, but we stay for the people. I have been doing this for 20 years and we all have made life-long friends. It’s fun for me because back in the day, I was a newbie and now I am not a newbie. I am one of ‘oldsters’. It’s neat. It’s a multi-generational atmosphere who love boats,” Williams said.

It was an extra special day for Rowe, too.

She was presented with a caricature of herself, done by Great Lakes cartoonist Don Lee, in honor of her years of involvement with the annual boatnerd picnic.

Link to full Article and many pictures:  https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/good-people-boatnerds-unite-for-engineers-day-at-annual-picnic-9156680