The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

The bridge attracts a lot of attention. Built in 1905, it is the gateway to the Duluth inner harbor

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The Dutch flagged Ebroborg came into town on Friday (May 11, 2012) to get bentonite clay at  Hallett Dock #5. She left with her cargo on Saturday morning (above).

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She battled a thick fog but the American Sprit had no trouble getting through the Duluth Harbor, under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge and out to Lake Superior on her way to load iron ore pellets in Two Harbors

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alder20120302_0466Three views of the Duluth harbor this morning, Friday, March 2, 2012. Top, a crane barge, owned by Duluth Timber, sank in her Railroad Street slip yesterday. The Coast Guard is investigating any potential spills or other hazards that might be involved. Just off the slip, the Coast Guard cutter Alder was sitting still in the still water (note: I said water, not ice). Below, the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was also pretty still (more water).
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The Cedarglen, built in West Germany in 1959 as an ocean going ore carrier, arrived in Duluth on August 18, 2011 to load iron ore pellets. Being a sunny day in August, there were a lot of people at the Duluth ship canal to greet her.

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The Algowood, just a part of the scene

July 7, 2011

The Algowood spent a large part of the day on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at anchor waiting to come in and load iron ore pellets at the CN dock in West Duluth. The Arthur M. Anderson left that dock and went under the Lift Bridge this morning (Thursday, July 7, 2011) at 7:05. The Algowood [...]

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Flying cameras, Yikes!

June 29, 2011

I went down behind the Aquarium last night (June 29, 2011) to take a picture of the salt water vessel Orsula coming into port. With tugs helping out and the sun just sliding over the hill behind me, it seemed like a good thing to do. Then I noticed a cute couple watching the ship [...]

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After 3 weeks at anchor off the Duluth piers…

May 9, 2011

The Nogat finally came into port to load grain on Sunday afternoon, May 8, 2011. Above and below, she is assisted by the tug North Dakota as she made her way to the Duluth Storage (formerly Cargill)

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The Canadian Olympic knows how to make an entrance!

April 8, 2011

7:10 am on Friday, April 8, 2011

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Foggy April morning in Duluth

April 7, 2011

The snow is gone, most of the ice has vanished; Duluth is the usual April shade of brown. Happily, this morning (Thursday, April 7, 2011), the fog moved in and prettied the place up a bit. Above, the Vista Star and the William A. Irvin survived the winter in good shape; unfortunately the Blue Bridge [...]

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Post blizzard beauty

March 26, 2011
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Alder is ready, the bridge almost

March 6, 2011

It is Sunday, March 6, 2011. The Alder has been at her moorings since mid-January but is due to go back to work in the harbor on Monday morning. The tent is off the south tower of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge and the scaffolding is coming down.  Beneath the steel, there is a brand [...]

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Ice, wind, cold but not much snow

February 21, 2011

It was a cold and windy day on Monday, February 21, 2011, as it was the day before. On Sunday, the tent that was built over the south tower of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was torn to shreds by gusts of wind up to 69 mph. The tent was there to protect the bridge [...]

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A big wind opens a door into the Aerial Lift Bridge front (back) door.

February 20, 2011

Click here to see live video of the bridge from our web cam at the Duluth Shipping News web site. Click here to see a short video taken this afternoon (Sunday, February 20, 2011).

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February 17, 2011; bridge still not moving

February 17, 2011

I took this off my web cam that for 10 months of the year is watching the ship traffic come under the bridge. The other two months (as in now), it sits watching the bridge not moving (and we still have folks tuning in). This year, we have the added attraction of the south tower [...]

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The tent is almost up; let the painting begin

January 26, 2011

The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is almost dressed up and ready to go … I mean to be painted. The north tower was painted last year. It is hard now to see the south tower but it is the same color as the top span, dark, old metal like. The lower span has been painted [...]

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News notes for January, 2011 …

January 13, 2011

… as of Wednesday, January 17, 2011 Click here for animated map of layup positions in the port Winter layup in Duluth The Adam E. Cornelius, American Victory and Edward L. Ryerson have been in port for an extended layup. The H. Lee White arrived in port for winter layup on January 4th, 2011. The [...]

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The James R. Barker arrives in Bentleyville.

December 7, 2010
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Bentleyville pictures; comment question

November 27, 2010

Bentleyville, 2010, is a great place to catch the Christmas spirit, to say nothing of taking some interesting pictures with your camera, phone or whatever you have in your pocket. Above, you see a picture I took of the Bentleyville version of Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge with an ore carrier about to go under.  I [...]

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Two ships at anchor

November 23, 2010

With 7 days left in November, we have 5 salt water ships in Duluth today, two of those at anchor. Above the Orla, framed by the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, is waiting to come in while the Three Rivers is just south of her (below). Four more salt water ships are expected by the end [...]

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Mesabi Miner passes by the Island Skipper

November 6, 2010

On Friday afternoon, November 5, 2010, the Mesabi Miner came under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge for the 37th time this season, on her way to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. She was coming from Taconite Harbor and at 01:42 this morning (November 6), she departed Duluth for a return trip to [...]

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Duluth Shipping News webcam ….

October 24, 2010

  … caught the Indiana Harbor departing Duluth late in the afternoon of October 23, 2010. Click here to watch the live action on DSNTV, unless of course there is no boat traffic under the Lift Bridge; then you can watch the cars go over the Bridge

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Federal Power through the fog

August 20, 2010

The Federal Power came into port today through the fog to load distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of the ethanol production process. DDGS is a cargo rarely loaded in the Twin Ports, although this will be the 2nd shipment going out this year. In the US, we produce about 3.2 million tons [...]

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The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge has been stopped in place …

July 27, 2010

since she went up for the Joseph H Block. Actually, i presume until shortly after the Block went under the bridge since it did start to go down  more coming. Go here to see the live video of the bridge; not a lot of action but. The bridge is now operable at 7:33 pm  Power [...]

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Two Canadians; one lift of the Bridge

June 30, 2010

As I pulled into my parking lot this morning, the bridge was up so I scampered across the street to see who was coming. I was not the only one scampering to see the Algosoo. I ran into my office to make sure DSNTV was working (Microsoft sometimes thinks it is a good idea to [...]

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The beginning of the end …. ?

March 29, 2010

The sign above made Park Pointers happy today; it is the beginning of the end of the Aerial Bridge north tower paint job. Still one lane though. It is possible the work may complete later today; the bridge may go up for the first time in 2 months and it is even possible that a [...]

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Thumbnail image for The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is slowly getting undressed for the new season

The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is slowly getting undressed for the new season

March 20, 2010

The 2010 shipping season got off to a dark start when the James R. Barker departed the Twin Ports between the Superior piers at 3:12 earlier this morning. Meanwhile, between the Duluth piers, seen here several hours later, the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was shedding her winter skin so she could show the world her [...]

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Ice out, painting almost done

March 14, 2010

The first ship, probably the James R. Barker, should depart here in 6 days. As you can see, the ice is breaking up in the harbor;  most of Lake Superior is ice free. We just need to get the Aerial Lift Bridge painting job completed (note the north tower, still enveloped by scaffolding and tent [...]

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The bridge is in the bag!

February 24, 2010

The North Tower of the the Aerial Bridge is getting a paint job.

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One bridge, no boats

February 6, 2010

The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge painting project continues. The scaffolding is almost to the top (below)  and the tents to protect us from flying chips of lead based paint are starting to appear (Saturday, February 6, 2010). Some folks think the concern about lead in paint is overdone, but it is funny, the closer you [...]

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Ships, boats the Aerial Lift Bridge a …

January 29, 2010

Last night (January 28, 2010), the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was all lights as workers from Rainbow, Inc in Minneapolis erected scaffolding they will use to paint the north tower of the bridge. Next will come a large tent that will cover the scaffolding and the tower while they sandblast the old paint off, down [...]

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Painting the bridge; nice winter work?

January 29, 2010

Last night (January 28, 2010), the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was all lights as workers from Rainbow, Inc in Minneapolis erected scaffolding they will use to paint the north tower of the bridge. Next will come a large tent that will cover the scaffolding and the tower while they sandblast the old paint off, down [...]

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One boat out, two waiting

December 17, 2009

The American Century slide under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge around 9:15 on Thursday morning with 64,000 tons of coal for Ontario Power Generation. As she left the ship canal, the Edgar B. Speer was at anchor waiting for a dock at Two Harbors and in front of her, the Manitowoc was waiting to come [...]

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The Tuscarora, once the Rixta Oldendorff, arrived off the the Duluth piers last night (November 14, 2009).

November 15, 2009

Overnight, the Tuscarora took the place of the Federal Sakura at anchor off the Duluth piers. She came in last night at 8:27. Both are (will be) loading grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. This is the 2nd trip here for the Tuscarora this season; she has been here many times in the past [...]

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One more for the Federal Hudson, and friend

September 7, 2009

The Federal Hudson, in red, had some company over the Labor Day weekend. On Sunday evening, above, she was joined by, I think, the Algowood. The Algowood came in early Monday morning to load iron ore pellets; the Federal Hudson is expected to come in to load grain on Tuesday morning (September 8th).

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New bridge, old bridge

July 15, 2009

What you see below is not just another tall ship going under another lift bridge. Well, it is just another tall ship, but the bridge is special. If you read about the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, you will quickly find out that the original version of it was modeled after a bridge built in Rouen, [...]

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New Aerial Lift Bridge operator brought on board

June 12, 2009

Make-A-Wish came to Duluth on Friday, June 12th, 2009. Eliot Kramer, below left, got his wish; he was at the controls as the Paul R. Tregurtha came to town. Ryan Beamer, chief Lift Bridge operator for the City of Duluth presented his new operator with a genuine bridge operator certificate, signed by Mayor Don Ness. [...]

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Canadians coming in and staying out

June 5, 2009

The Algoisle comes into port to load iron ore pellets on Friday morning, June 5th while the Algosoo waits at anchor to come in and load coal.

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James R. Barker again for coal

April 28, 2008

The James R. Barker came into port on Sunday evening (above) to load coal for a Detroit Edison power plant in St. Clair, Michigan. The boat called the St. Clair was named after the city since it was intended to deliver coal to that power plant. It still does but it goes to many other [...]

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Aerial Lift Bridge showing off new paint job

March 21, 2008

Yesterday was the first day of Spring. The Aerial Lift Bridge celebrated by making a lift at noon (above), shortly after two-direction-at-the-same-time auto traffic was opened. With the paint job completed for this year, the bridge crew still has to do some maintenance on the bridge but it should be open to ship traffic by [...]

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Victoria framed by Aerial Lift Bridge

August 7, 2007

The salt water ship Victoria has been at anchor off the Duluth piers for several days. It finally came in last night to load grain at the busy CHS grain terminal in Superior. Above, it appears to sit inside the Aerial Lift Bridge in a picture taken Monday morning. Midwest Energy Resources in Superior is [...]

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Federal Rideau coming for wheat

June 7, 2007

The Federal Rideau came under the Lift Bridge on Tuesday afternoon (above) to load wheat for Spain. The Hong Kong flagged salt water ship should complete today and depart the port. It was a coal day yesterday and again today. The American Mariner arrived yesterday to load coal and it departed yesterday with coal for [...]

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Mesabi Miner in dense fog

May 25, 2007

Today is another big day for coal. The Canadian flagged John B. Aird should have arrived last night and may have already departed by the time the sun is up. About that time, the Indiana Harbor is due to arrive to take its place at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. The Mesabi Miner is expected [...]

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American Integrity from high above

May 24, 2007

The American Integrity should be here for its 11th trip of the season. As today, it has loaded coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior on each trip, taking it most of the time to Detroit Edison, as it will do again today. The round trip to Detroit usually takes about a week. Above, it [...]

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Great Lakes Trader arrives Duluth

May 10, 2007

The self-unloading barge Great Lakes Trader arrived yesterday afternoon (above) with a load of limestone. The barge is pushed by the tug Joyce L. Van Enkevort. The barge was built in 2000 in Mississippi and the tug was built in 1998 in Sturgeon Bay. They have been together since 2000. You can see the tug’s [...]

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Diezeborg enters Duluth harbor

May 5, 2007

After a stop in Menominee, Michigan to discharge cargo, the Dutch flagged Diezeborg arrived late Friday afternoon (above) to load beet pulp pellets. Built in 2000, this is the 4th trip to the Twin Ports for the ship. It will be delayed in loading cargo because some repairs are needed for damage caused when they [...]

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Munson framed by Aerial Lift Bridge

March 31, 2007

The John G. Munson has a new paint job but it has been hard to see the boat up close. On Thursday evening, it moved over to the CN Dock to load taconite. Friday morning, the boat departed the Duluth CN Dock and went under the Lift Bridge, presumably to go to the Two Harbors [...]

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Wide track, narrow track, everywhere a track track

March 19, 2007

In the picture above, taken Sunday morning, you can see in the broken ice going out from the bridge, a wide track and a narrow one inside it. On Friday, the cutter Biscayne Bay led the Mesabi Miner out of Duluth. Being second, the Mesabi Miner’s track covered over the cutter’s narrower track. The Mesabi [...]

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Aerial Lift Bridge from CGC Biscayne Bay

March 18, 2007

There are many signs of spring. You know it is getting close to spring when your local icebreaker (this year, the Biscayne Bay) is docked at the DECC for a couple days of R&R over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend. The picture above was taken from the Coast Guard cutter as it returned to [...]

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Bridge and her reflection

March 17, 2007

The US Coast Guard icebreaker Biscayne Bay was out Friday morning breaking ice in preparation for the departure of the Mesabi Miner, the first cargo boat to go under the bridge this season. After several tracks in the inner harbor, the cutter went under the Lift Bridge at 8:57 this morning(above) and out to cut [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha under Duluth Lift Bridge

December 30, 2006

The Paul R. Tregurtha came under the Lift Bridge early Friday afternoon (above) and went to the Port Terminal to wait for the American Integrity to finish loading coal and depart Duluth. That probably happened late last night. The James R. Barker was expected late last night and likely took the place of the Tregurtha [...]

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CSL Niagara under Aerial Lift Bridge

December 27, 2006

The CSL Niagara and the CSL Laurentien will both be here today to load taconite at the CN dock. They don’t come here very often but for some reason, they seem to show up when it is cold. Last season, both were here a total of 10 times. Five of those trips were in December [...]

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St. Clair, Bayfield and Lift Bridge

December 24, 2006

The St. Clair arrived Duluth last night around 6 o’clock to load coal for Detroit Edison’s St. Clair power plant near St. Clair, Michigan. The boat was built in 1976 to deliver coal to the plant, even though the first delivery made was iron ore to Indiana Harbor. The boat was also named after the [...]

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McCarthy arrives Duluth for coal, again

December 3, 2006

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. is a frequent visitor to the Twin Ports. Above, it came in on October 28th this year to load the usual cargo of coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior for Detroit Edison in St. Clair, Michigan. This will be the 1,000-footer’s 40th trip here this season. None of this [...]

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Indiana Harbor routine

December 1, 2006

The crew on the Indiana Harbor will live like normal people today. They should pull into port about the time many of us are going to work, although their commute from Nanticoke is a bit longer than the average Twin Ports commute. After a hard day of loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior, [...]

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Ypermachos passes under Aerial Lift Bridge

November 10, 2006

The Ypermachos finally came into port last night from the anchorage just off the Duluth piers (above). The ship went over to the Peavey elevator to load spring wheat for Italy. It was better known here in the mid 80′s when it was the Socrates and went aground off Park Point. That name certainly gave [...]

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Captain says hi from American Integrity

November 1, 2006

American Integrity Captain Patrick Nelson waves to the crowd as his boat goes under the Lift Bridge last August. At the top of his 1,000 footer, and just under the Lift Bridge, it is just as hard to see him in the picture above as it is when you are at the ship canal waving. [...]

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McCarthy greeted at Canal Park

October 29, 2006

The Canadian Transport brought salt into port on Saturday, and then waited for the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. to complete loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources before moving over there to load coal as its departing cargo also. The McCarthy came into port about 1 pm on Saturday (above). It has averaged about 12 hours [...]

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Indiana Harbor arrives to large crowd

October 15, 2006

The Indiana Harbor come into port early Saturday evening (above). It will be loading about 62,000 tons of coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. The boat will return here next Saturday to load another 62,000 tons for Nanticoke. The American Century and the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. should also be in port today to [...]

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Alder training new officers

October 5, 2006

The Coast Guard cutter Alder departed Duluth (above) on Wednesday morning October 4, for a training mission just beyond the Duluth piers. With four new officers joining the ship this summer, it was a chance for them to operate the ship. The strong current provided a chance to navigate under some stress. Some emergency procedures [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha departs Twin Ports

October 3, 2006

The cruise ship Columbus starts the day, probably coming in about 5 am. It will get fuel and then move over to the DECC for the day, departing late afternoon. The Paul R. Tregurtha should be arriving shortly after the Columbus. The Tregurtha will be loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior, as it [...]

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Kroonborg under the Aerial Lift Bridge

September 19, 2006

The Dutch flagged Kroonborg was expected here very early this morning. It will be loading beet pulp pellets and may complete and depart the port by this evening. The Kroonborg is 428 feet long and was built in 1995. This is only the 4th trip here for the ship, the first since 2001. Yesterday, the [...]

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Canadian Transport under the Lift Bridge

September 13, 2006

The Canadian Transport is making its 16th trip here this season, each time loading low sulfur western coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. Above, it is going under the Lift Bridge on its 14th trip here on August 20th. It was built in 1979, with its sister ship, the Canadian Enterprise, to move low [...]

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Indiana Harbor here again, for coal

September 7, 2006

The Indiana Harbor will be here today for the 24th time this season. That works out to about 4 or 5 trips a month. She was here 39 times last year. Three of the 24 visits this year found it loading taconite. It loaded coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior during the 21 other [...]

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Mesabi Miner arrives to music

August 13, 2006

The Mesabi Miner was center stage while Jason Ricci was entertaining the crowd at the Bayfront Blues Festival Saturday afternoon. The thousand footer carried limestone from Cedarville/Port Dolomite, Michigan in the cargo hold. After dischaging that cargo at the CN dock in West Duluth, it was next set to move across the St. Louis River [...]

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American Integrity departs to music

August 12, 2006

The Tarbox Ramblers played on at the Bayfront Blues Festival on Friday afternoon as the American Integrity departed Duluth. The 1,000-foot-long laker had 62,000 tons of coal to deliver to Detroit Edison at St. Clair, Michigan. Today, most of the boat traffic should be over before the Festival gets going. The music will of course [...]

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Paul R. spends time in Twin Ports

July 30, 2006

The Paul R. Tregurtha will be here today for the 26th time this year. On each visit, as today, it loaded coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. It averages 14.2 hours in port each trip, counting from the time it entered under the bridge to the time it departed under the bridge. About 2 [...]

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Indiana Harbor departs in ice

July 6, 2006

The Indiana Harbor is making its 16th trip here this year. Most of those visits, as today, find it loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior and taking that cargo to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. The Indiana Harbor is one of 13 US flagged 1,000 foot long freighters working on the Great Lakes. [...]

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Federal Elbe enters harbor to crowds

June 28, 2006

The Federal Elbe came into port on July 2nd last year (above), just in time to celebrate Fourth Fest at Bayfront Park. It came into port last night, about a week too early to do the same. It will be loading bentonite at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. The Federal Elbe is a relatively [...]

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Kapitonas Serafinas Lithuanian

June 19, 2006

The Kapitonas Serafinas dropped anchor off the Duluth piers on Sunday afternoon, waiting for a berth to clear. It is a Lithuanian ship based in Klaipeda, Lithuania and is named for a prominent Lithuanian sailor. Before Lithuania achieved freedom from Russia, the ship was Russian owned and named Kapitonas Stulov. Stulov was a prominent Russian [...]

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St Clair arriving Twin Ports

June 5, 2006

The St. Clair should be departing Duluth this morning after taking one load of coal from Midwest Energy Resources in Superior to the CLM Corporation lime plant also in Superior and getting a second load for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. should be waiting to follow the St. Clair at [...]

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Canadian Enterprise comes in for coal

May 29, 2006

The Canadian Enterprise is due here today to load low sulfur western coal at the Midwest Energy Resources coal dock in Superior. The Enterprise was built in 1979, along with a sister ship, the Canadian Transport, to do just that. They still work that trade, taking coal loaded at Midwest Energy to Ontario Power in [...]

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Canadian Transport framed by Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

May 3, 2006

The Canadian Transport is making its 4th trip here this season, each time loading low sulfur western coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. It was built in 1979, the same year 10 additional inches were added to the allowable width for vessels transiting the Welland Canal. Accordingly, the Canadian Transport was built with a [...]

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Cort makes rare pass under bridge

March 28, 2006

The Stewart J. Cort made 446 trips to the Twin Ports since 1996. In 432 of those trips, it entered the port using the Superior entry, in most cases to load taconite at the Burlington Northern Dock, just around the corner from the Superior entry. Yesterday afternoon, it appeared on the horizon headed for Duluth [...]

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Barker, tug, bridge

January 17, 2006

The James R. Barker was expected in this morning around 4:30. The Barker is the last boat to arrive in the Twin Ports this season, ending the season with two quick trips within Lake Superior. It was also the 1st and 2nd boat out this season with two quick trips taking coal to Lake Superior [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha last entry for season

January 12, 2006

Two workers from the city’s Engineering office were doing some routine winter maintenance on the Aerial Lift Bridge yesterday when the Paul R. Tregurtha came into port for the 57th and last time this season. They were taking measurements to make sure the counter weights on the bridge were still in good alignment. The Tregurtha [...]

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CSL Niagara enters for coal

January 10, 2006

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. is expected here today to lay-up for the winter. It is the second boat in for the winter. A total of 11 boats should be here for the winter when the James R. Barker comes in from Taconite Harbor around the 15th of January. Above, the CSL Niagara came under [...]

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John D. Leitch beneath Aerial Lift Bridge

January 7, 2006

Two loads of coal and three loads of taconite will be leaving the Twin Ports today. The John D. Leitch came in last night with a cargo of salt and should have completed discharging that cargo early this morning. It will leave sometime today with one of the cargos of coal. In 2001, when the [...]

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Buffalo under the Aerial Lift Bridge

January 6, 2006

Yesterday, I listed 38 ports the Buffalo has visited this season. I talked to the first mate on the boat to ask why they went to so many different places. He said there was no particular reason. If they are in the neighborhood, and a cargo needs to be picked up, they take it. The [...]

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Canadian Enterprise welcomed

January 3, 2006

The Canadian Enterprise is due here today to load low sulfur western coal at the Midwest Energy coal dock in Superior. It was built in 1979, with a sister ship, the Canadian Transport, to do just that. They still work that trade, taking coal to Ontario Power Generation. This is the 19th trip here this [...]

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Oglebay Norton takes Santa for a ride

December 16, 2005

The Oglebay Norton arrived in port early this morning to load coal. Santa Claus is often on this boat and can usually be seen waving from the pilot house when the boat goes under the Lift Bridge. That should happen this afternoon. Patrick Nelson captains the boat and the last time I saw him, he [...]

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Commanders tour

October 22, 2005

Commander of the Port (of Duluth) Gary T. Croot (left) got a tour of the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw Friday morning from the Captain of the Mackinaw, Commander Joseph McGuiness. Many Duluthians got an opportunity to visit the Mackinaw on Friday afternoon. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 10-22-2005

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Vistas all in a row

October 14, 2005

Three Vista boats head for home on August 22nd this past summer. From the left, the new Vista Queen, the Vista King and the Vista Star. Two more weeks and they retire for the winter, the last breath of summer. Next April, after a brief winter, they will be the first breath of spring. *submitted [...]

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Ziemia Cieszynska

October 3, 2005

The Ziemia Cieszynska was here in July and like many salt water ships, used the services of a couple tug boats to make the dock. Above, the tugs are turning the ship so that it can be moved into the berth at Cargill. Built in 1992, the ship is operated by the Polish Steamship Company [...]

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Oglebay Norton under the bridge

September 23, 2005

The Oglebay Norton will be here today for the 30th time this season. As usual, it will load about 62,000 tons of coal for delivery to Detroit Edison power plants in St. Clair, Michigan. The namesake of the Oglebay Norton Company of Cleveland, Ohio, it is one of the oldest mining companies in the country. [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha

September 1, 2005

The Paul R. Tregurtha is the flagship of the Interlake Steamship Company in Cleveland. Considered by many to be the ‘classiest’ laker sailing today, you will often see ‘important looking’ people on board during the summer months. A trip on the Paul R is an important benefit the company provides to higher-level employees and important [...]

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McCarthy likes the Blues

August 13, 2005

The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. came under the Lift Bridge during a break in the music at the Bayfront Blues Festival. It is here to load coal for Consumers Energy’s Cobb power plant at Muskegon, Michigan. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 08-13-2005

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Barker and Aerial Lift Bridge

July 31, 2005

The James R. Barker is making its 13th trip to the Twin Ports today. Most of those trips were to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. Four trips were to today’s destination, across the St. Louis River at the DM&IR Dock in West Duluth. As in the other trips to the DM&IR Dock, [...]

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Bridge backdrop for Vancouverborg

July 14, 2005

The Vancouverborg entered the Duluth harbor yesterday (above), on her way over to the General Mills dock in Superior to load beet pulp pellets. Built in 2001, her hull was built in Rumania and then towed from there through the Black Sea, across the Mediterranean Sea and up the east coast of Europe to Delfzijl, [...]

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Paul R. leaves the Aerial Lift Bridge behind

July 2, 2005

After a quick trip to the Minnesota Power plant in Taconite Harbor to discharge a load of coal, the Paul R. Tregurtha will be back in port today to take on another load of coal for Detroit Edison. Both times, it loaded about 61,000 tons. At 1,013 feet 6 inches long, the Tregurtha is the [...]

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Indiana Harbor

June 25, 2005

The Indiana Harbor was built in 1979. On its first trip, it went to Two Harbors to load taconite for Indiana Harbor, Indiana, the home of Inland Steel. It is one of 13 thousand foot boats working the Great Lakes, all flying US flags. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 06-25-2005

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Indiana Harbor salutes the bridge

May 31, 2005

Through the day, we expect 4 of the 13 thousand footers on the Great Lakes to arrive in the port. One of them, the Indiana Harbor (above), will load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior for delivery to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 05-31-2005

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Indiana Harbor exits under the Aerial Lift Bridge

May 10, 2005

The Indiana Harbor was built in 1979. On its first trip, it went to Two Harbors to load taconite for Indiana Harbor, Indiana, the home of Inland Steel. It is one of 13 thousand foot boats working the Great Lakes, all flying US flags. It will load coal for Consumers Energy’s Cobb power plant at [...]

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Boats gone, Aerial Lift Bridge stays

January 23, 2005

The last of 1,089 cargo carrying boats in the 2004-5 shipping season, the James R. Barker, left the port on Monday morning with a load of coal for Presque Isle, Michigan. It returned Friday night for winter layup. Yesterday, the John G. Munson came in for winter layup. No more traffic is expected this season. [...]

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Frontenac departs with the Blues

January 2, 2005

The Frontenac departed Duluth during the Blues Festival last August (above). Most of the people in the picture didn’t know the boat was just behind them. They were listening to Mavis Staples. Today, the Frontenac will be under the Lift Bridge again, here to load taconite. Very few of us will be watching, but for [...]

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Canadian Transport arrives under Aerial Lift Bridge

December 27, 2004

The Canadian Transport was built in 1979, the same year additional width was allowed for vessels transiting the Welland Canal. Ten inches was added to the previous maximum width of 75 feet, providing 31,800 more cubic feet of cargo space. This is the 20th trip the Canadian Transport has made to the Twin Ports this [...]

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Columbia Star visits are many

December 12, 2004

Last August 15th, the Columbia Star departed Duluth (above) as the Lift Bridge came down behind her. That was the 16th visit the boat made to the Twin Ports. Today, it is here for the 42nd time. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-12-2004

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Canadian Enterprise

November 7, 2004

The Canadian Enterprise will be here today for the 14th time this season. Like most of those trips, it will load low sulfur coal brought to Superior by train from Wyoming and Montana. Above, the boat is greeted at the Duluth ship canal by visitors on June 2nd of this year. *submitted to the Duluth [...]

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Algowood backwards exit

November 4, 2004

We do not often see a boat about to go under the Lift Bridge while the bridge is still on the way up. Happily, the picture above of the Algowood, taken on January 2, 2002, is not an example of that. The Algowood is departing Duluth going backward. It has just cleared the bridge as [...]

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Callaway in the harbor

July 25, 2004

The Cason J. Callaway’s 262-foot boom sits on the deck when the boat is not discharging cargo. The boom is part of the self unloading system on the boat that allows the discharge of cargo without using equipment on shore. Photo taken July 10, 2001. *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 07-25-2004

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Canadian Transport arrives

June 30, 2004

The Canadian Transport was built in 1979, the same year that some additional breadth was allowed for vessels transiting the Welland Canal. Instead of being 75 feet wide, the previous maximum width, she is that plus 10 inches. The additional 10 inches allows for 31,800 more cubic feet of cargo space. *submitted to the Duluth [...]

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Paul R. will take coal to Marquette

June 24, 2004

The Paul R. Tregurtha will be loading about 61,000 tons of coal today for the Presque Isle power plant in Marquette, Michigan. It will then return to Midwest Energy to load coal for Taconite Harbor. It will be back again in a couple days to load coal for its usual destination at St. Clair, Michigan [...]

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Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge rehab–winter, 1999-2000 (note: I am still working on this page)

December 1, 1999

September 22, 1999: Dick Larson, Director of Public Works for Duluth, speaks to a gathering of Park Point residents in September about the upcoming rehabilitation of the Lift Bridge. October 20, 1999: On Wednesday, while quietly sitting at my desk, I was jolted awake by what I felt was the end of my time here [...]

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