Great lake boats, a good video

[ArlyA]

U.S. Steel's Leon Fraser unloading ore at Lorain OH. Date of photo unknown. John Vournakis photo/MHSD. Wow this is a nice photo.

 

[MossRoad]

Huletts!

 

[ArlyA]

Welp!!! there goes my boating plans for Wednesday night

. Waves on Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron are forecast to reach 13 to 14 feet. Lake Michigan may reach 17 or 18 feet, but Lake Superior is forecast to have 20 footers Wednesday night near Grand Island and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (just north of Munising, MI). The storm that took down the Edmund Fitzgerald for example had a significant wave height reaching 23 to 24 feet roughly for comparison sakes. Gale Watches and Warnings are already out on all 5 of the Great Lakes.

 

[ArlyA]

Our forecast and its cooling off, which we dearly need. Under a gale force wind warning and boats are off the lake except a few on the south shore.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, they're calling for 17' waves on SW Lake Michigan. Always fun to go out to the piers and get sand blasted taking pictures.

 

[ArlyA]

The two on the south shore are heading west, one to Marquette while the other is a salt heading to Duluth. I'd guess he'll anchor under the kewee.

 

[ArlyA]

The most recent Lake Superior shipwreck occurred on December 4, 1989. The Coast Guard buoy tender Mesquite was working off the tip of the Keweenaw, removing a buoy marking a 3-foot shoal when a number of minor errors cascaded into disaster. First of all, they were pulling a buoy at night with rising seas and strong winds. Next, Gull Rock light off of Manitou Island was not working that night, so getting a good visual fix on the Mesquite’s position was difficult. Finally, an Ensign was at the wheel – although under the direct supervision of the Captain. After the buoy was wrestled aboard at around 3:00 in the morning, the Captain ordered the Ensign to back off about 1,000 yards. This was done at a speed of 3 knots (slowly). When the Captain decided that they had backed far enough, he left the bridge. Moments later, there was a loud crash as the ship hit the reef. Wind and currents had carried them closer to shore than expected. Damage Control found three compartments flooded including the engine and motor rooms. The crew worked for three hours to save their ship – but at 6:17 in the morning, the order to abandon was given. All 53 crew members donned survival suits and went over the side into three life rafts and the ship’s motor surfboat. The passing freighter Mangal Desai responded to the distress call. Picking up about 15 on each pass, the Desai slowly collected the Mesquite’s crew. Three with slight injuries were air lifted by helicopter to Hancock, MI with the Captain and two other officers accompanying them. The rest rode to Duluth on the Desai. Although there were initial plans to salvage the tender, she was too badly broken by the grounding and a series of winter storms for that to be practical. The Mesquite was decommissioned on January 31, 1990. Eventually, she was moved off of the ledge into about 120 feet of water to serve as a dive attraction.

 

[ArlyA]

My favorite barge the Presque Isle making her way to Duluth during a foggy, rainy day on the St. Marys River MI.

 

[ArlyA]

Boats at anchor do to gale force winds.

 

[ArlyA]

This is the time of year when broken ice creates interesting patterns, especially when viewed from above with a hint of snow cover. Tug Missouri assisting the Johanna G this afternoon. Duluth, MN - December 5, 2024