An old new build and a new one

The Isa has been at anchor off the Duluth piers for several days waiting to come  into port to load grain. (At left, she is approaching the Duluth entry in October, 2004). Eleven years ago, on August 27, 1999, she came to Duluth at the end of her maiden voyage. Captain Edward Bobrowski picked her up at the shipyard in Japan and promptly  brought her to Duluth (after a couple other stops). (That’s the Captain talking to Beth and Mary at the Maritime Museum in Duluth during the ship’s first visit.) Duluth is at the end of all trips west by ships on the Great Lakes and we had a good time in the pilot house during a welcoming party. (That’s Barbara Reyelts from Channel 6 at the party.) The Isa was one of the first ships from the Polish Steamship Company to come to the Great Lakes in place of a long line of Polish ships, built in the early 80’s, many of which started out with the word Ziemia, ie the Ziemia Chelminska and the Ziemia Suwalska.

Later this week, we will see another brand new ship from the Polish Steamship Company, the Miedwie, coming to Duluth to load wheat for Portugal. (That’s the Miedwie bottom) and the Isa (right) at the Duluth anchorage during a visit in November, 2007.) The Miedwie entered the the St. Lawrence Seaway around August 31^st. After stops to discharge steel in Cleveland on September 2nd and Burns Harbor yesterday, she is expected here on Saturday.