Great lake boats, a good video

[ArlyA]

Oil spill at the Soo steel mill.
----------------------------------------------------

Oil spill shuts down Soo Locks for 3 hours​

Updated: Jun. 09, 2022, 4:40 p.m. | Published: Jun. 09, 2022, 4:32 p.m.

The G3 Marquis freighter passes through the Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
By Brandon Champion | bchampio@mlive.com

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The Soo Locks were shutdown for about three hours on Thursday as officials worked to contain an oil spill in the St. Marys River.

They have since reopened.

The Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the world-famous facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, said a few ships were delayed while the locks were closed between about noon and 3 p.m.
The St. Marys River has since reopened to commercial traffic so ships shouldn’t have an issue getting though.


Large Great Lakes freighters like the James R. Barker, Edgar B. Speer and CSL Assiniboine were in the area of the locks, according to MarineTraffic.com


The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to the 5,300-gallon spill, which originated from Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Initial Coast Guard estimates show a sheen that covers an area from the steel mill to the north side of Sugar Island.

No injuries have been reported.

 

[ArlyA]

Awesome thread. Does anyone have any video of a ship called the MANITOULIN ?

If you venture to Utob and search it using "MANITOULIN" I'm sure you'd find some.

 

[ArlyA]

We had a cruise ship tied up yesterday. Sorry I forgot to get to the waterfront and snap some better pics for you guys.

Copied from the company's page
----------------------------------------

Two Great Lakes Classics​

The Sun Deck

Recently re-named as Victory Cruise Lines became American Queen Voyages, the Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator cruise ships were previously known as Victory I and Victory II. They continue to offer the same luxury journeys, newly-renovated interiors, amenities, and engaging entertainment and educational activities that made them a Great Lakes cruising classic. Despite their size, the American Queen ships pack a lot into a small package, including spacious rooms outfitted with all the features of home, where you'll be catered to by 80 crew members.

 

[ArlyA]

Ore trade lags on Great Lakes​

A slow start to the shipping campaign continued off pace, with officials highlighting cargo diversity that's been a saving grace.​

The Mesabi Miner turns in Superior Bay to line up with the Aerial Lift Bridge to leave Duluth on Sunday.
Steve Kuchera / Duluth News Tribune



DULUTH — While shipping leaders were thankful of a diverse flow of cargoes buoying May’s shipping totals, there was no denying iron ore shipments remained off pace.
Shipments of iron ore from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled 4.4 million tons in May — a decrease of 20.4% compared to the same month a year ago, and 21.9% below the month’s five-year average, according to the Ohio-based Lake Carriers’ Association last week.
It was better than April’s 40% gap, and officials seized upon the industry closing the gap.
“It was good to see that early season deficit diminish,” said Deb DeLuca, Duluth Seaway Port Authority executive director. “But it continues to be a slower-than-normal start to the shipping season.”

The 635-foot-long Great Republic moves past the docked, 1,004-foot-long Edgar B. Speer on Sunday.
Steve Kuchera / Duluth News Tribune

So far this season, the iron ore trade stands at 9.9 million tons, a decrease of 33.9% compared to the same point in 2021, and 31.4% below the five-year average.

 

[5030]

Going to get a whole lot worse in a pretty short time I suspect.

 

[ArlyA]

Nice video of the Presque Isle, leaving Duluth. It being a 1000ft boat, its 57,500 ton capacity is small compared to the other 1000ers who can haul over 70,000 if water depth allows.
--------------------
Here is the Presque Isle seen departing Duluth, Minnesota early on the afternoon of June 5, 2022. She had arrived in Duluth about five hours earlier to take a short delay at Port Terminal berth #1. She was waiting her turn to load taconite in Two Harbors, Minnesota, timing her arrival to coincide with the departure of the American Integrity from Two Harbors. Normally ships will anchor in the lake while waiting for their turn to load, so visiting Duluth must have had a secondary reason. This could have been a quick repair or a re-stocking of certain supplies. The 1000-foot Presque Isle entered service in 1973. She is the only one of the thirteen 1000-footers on the Great Lakes that is a tug-and-barge combination, making her unique among ships of this size. The barge is the cargo section capable of carrying up to 57,500 tons of cargo. The tug section contains the engines, pilot house, and living quarters for the crew. Both sections are named Presque Isle, as both were built to only operate with each other, despite their ability to separate. Separating allows the tug section to get fueled or serviced on its own, without the need to bring along the cargo section. In practice, however, it appears they rarely separate except under rare circumstances. All remaining 1000-footers built after the Presque Isle are self-contained ships, with the engines, living quarters, bridge, and cargo section contained within one hull. Onlookers will note a number of circular panels on the sides of the tugboat portion of the Presque Isle. These are "viking shields" that represent each crew member aboard the Presque Isle. (Half are on the port side and half are on the starboard side.) Each crew member gets to design their own shield, providing a unique way for crew members to decorate their vessel. Indeed, I am not aware of any other Great Lakes cargo vessel that has something like this. It's just another way that the Presque Isle is unique!

 

[ArlyA]

Soo Locks news out of Detriot.
----------------------------------------------------

More than $1B awarded to Soo Locks modernization project​

The Detroit News



More than a billion dollars has been awarded to the Soo Looks modernization project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced.
The Corps' Detroit District expects construction to start on a new lock this summer with Friday's award of $1.068 billion for the locks in Sault Ste. Marie.

MORE: Soo Locks project could cost more than triple estimates
"The Corps of Engineers looks forward to beginning construction on the new lock chamber later this summer, and we continue to work hard to maintain the pace and continue to make progress toward New Lock at the Soo total project completion in summer 2030,” new lock project manager Mollie Mahoney said in a statement from the Corps on Friday.
The contract allows the contractor to begin work. With continued funding, the remaining work, valued at $803.95 million may be awarded over the next three years. Corps officials expect Phase 3 construction to take seven years, the Corps said.

 

[ArlyA]

The Alpena a classic boat convert to cement down bound at Port Huron. Nice drone video.

 

[ArlyA]

Nice video about the loss of the Carl D. Bradley on November 18th, 1958 killing 33.

 

[RoyJackson]

Nice video about the loss of the Carl D. Bradley on November 18th, 1958 killing 33.

Great video of a real tragedy