Duluth News Tribune articles 2008

From March, 2004 through July 2009, I wrote a daily article with picture and that days schedule for the Duluth News Tribune. Click to see those articles and photos from 2008 (more here and other years coming)

Munson shrouded in ice and fog

December 31, 2008 · 0 comments

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It is the time of year when any prediction of a boat’s arrival time needs to include the words,’weather permitting.’ On the other hand, weather isn’t always so bad as the picture above demonstrates. That was back on Christmas Eve, 2004 and the John G. Munson was coming in through the Duluth ship canal, decked out in a bright shiny coat of ice with a healthy batch of fog around it. Good coats of ice are often available to a boat when it is moving into a strong, cold wind that splashes the cold water into the air ahead of the boat and then, as the water turns to ice in the cold air, gently drops it onto the bow of the boat. Such was probably the case for the Munson as it pushed through Lake Superior last night, on the way to load iron ore pellets for Gary at the CN dock in West Duluth. It should have arrived earlier this morning, weather permitting.
*submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-31-2008

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Aerial Lift Bridge frames John B. Aird

December 30, 2008 · 0 comments

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The next two boats to load coal at Midwest Energy are named John B. Aird. And the boat that probably left the coal dock at Midwest Energy last night was also the John B. Aird. It is expected back here today from Thunder Bay to take on another load of coal for Thunder Bay, both loads going to Ontario Power Generation. That done, it will be back here again to load coal at Midwest. This trip will be the last time the Aird will be in the Twin Ports this season. Today’s coal cargo will go to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. Above, the Aird came under the Lift Bridge two weeks ago on December 15th.
*submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-30-2008

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John B. Aird arriving Duluth ship canal

December 29, 2008 · 0 comments

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The John B. Aird was probably loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources as the sun came up this morning and if so, it will likely be leaving not long after that. It will take about 30,000 tons of coal to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. The Canadian flagged Aird was constructed in 1983 of two sections, a stern section constructed at Collingwood Shipyards of Collingwood, Ontario and a bow section built by Port Arthur Shipyards in Thunder Bay. The entire vessel was then assembled at Thunder Bay. Photo taken January 12, 2006
*submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-29-2008

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St. Clair coming to Twin Ports for winter

December 28, 2008 · 0 comments

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The St. Clair arrived in port on Saturday afternoon (above) for winter layup at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. It joins the Edward L. Ryerson and the American Victory there. The Kaye E. Barker will be the last to arrive at the Shipyard for the winter. The American Spirit is at layup at the Enbridge Dock. Later in the afternoon, the Indiana Harbor arrived in port for winter layup. It is at Port Terminal berth #1. We are still waiting on the John G. Munson, Edwin H. Gott, Edgar B. Speer, Walter J. McCarthy, Jr., James R. Barker and Kaye E. Barker. Those in port are earlier than usual and that fact reflects the economy’s difficulties at present. Photo taken on December 27, 2008
*submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-28-2008

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Lee A. Tregurtha passes North Pier Light

December 27, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha came into port on Friday morning and waited at the Port Terminal for the James R. Barker to complete loading coal at Midwest Energy. The Great Lakes Trader also arrived on Friday and spent a good part of the day waiting in the St. Louis River for the Mesabi Miner to [...]

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Munson with nice Duluth sky backdrop

December 26, 2008

Lately, we have had a number of boats, particularly the Kaye E. Barker, loading coal here for quick trips to Lake Superior ports such as Taconite Harbor, Silver Bay and Marquette. Today the John G. Munson will be here to first discharge limestone at Graymont’s Superior Plant, previously called CLM (Cutler-Magner), just east of the [...]

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Anderson gets bird escort

December 24, 2008

The Arthur M. Anderson came into port Tuesday afternoon at 4:15, alarming a lot of birds in the process (above). It stopped at the Port Terminal to wait for the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. to complete loading coal for Detroit Edison. That should have happened last night, leaving the dock at Midwest Energy open for [...]

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Edgar B. Speer needed help departing

December 23, 2008

It took a community effort on Monday afternoon to get the Edgar B. Speer out of the harbor and into Lake Superior with a cargo of iron ore pellets for Gary (above). Earlier, the Coast Guard cutter Alder established tracks in the shipping channels for the Speer, the Kaye E. Barker and the Roger Blough. [...]

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McCarthy Jr. enters harbor under Aerial Lift Bridge

December 22, 2008

The season’s last salt water ship, the Beluga Revolution, departed the port on Friday evening. That means no more wind turbines or grain. Coal and iron ore pellets will make up most of the cargo that will be departing the port for the rest of the season, which will probably continue until January 20th or [...]

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Canadian Transport arrives in snow for coal

December 21, 2008

Saturday afternoon, the Canadian Transport came into port to load coal (above). After waiting a couple hours for the Mesabi Miner to finish loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources, it moved in to replace the Miner at the coal dock. For the Miner, this was its 50th trip to the Twin Ports this season; it [...]

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Edgar B. Speer departs Duluth canal

December 20, 2008

Three boats, the Edward L. Ryerson, the American Spirit and the American Victory are already in port for winter lay up. The Spirit is at the Lakehead Pipeline dock in Superior; the Ryerson and the Victory are at Fraser Shipyards, also in Superior. The Edgar B. Speer is arriving today after discharging a cargo of [...]

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Beluga Revolution at port terminal

December 19, 2008

There was a lot of activity in the port yesterday. Some of it will spill over to today. We are not expecting any arrivals at the Duluth or Superior entry today, but 4 boats should be departing. The Beluga Revolution finally made it over to CHS to load spring wheat for Great Britain. The ship [...]

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Alder comes home

December 18, 2008

The Coast Guard cutter Alder came home for winter on Wednesday, bringing some extra ice with it (above). The cutter and the crew are ready to break ice in the harbor when needed. At CHS in Superior, the Rumanian crew on the Tatjana should complete loading spring wheat some time today. They will depart the [...]

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John D. Leitch departs Twin Ports

December 17, 2008

The Canadian flagged John D. Leitch, seen above departing Duluth last May, is expected to arrive today for the 6th time this season. On each trip, as today, it loaded coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. Before 2001, it was known as the Canadian Century. In that year, its cargo hold was enlarged when [...]

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John B. Aird makes grand entrance

December 16, 2008

After a day waiting at anchor off the Duluth piers, the John B. Aird came under the Lift Bridge Monday afternoon at 3:30 (above). It was the 10th trip the Canadian flagged vessel has made to the Twin Ports this season. As it did on the previous 9 visits, it is loading coal at Midwest [...]

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Federal Manitou gets tug escort on entry

December 15, 2008

The blizzard, and particularly the high winds, has not been kind to the boats that were here for serious work or intending to be here. The line up yesterday for Midwest Energy extended out into Lake Superior. The John B. Aird dropped anchor yesterday close to Two Harbors. The Kaye E. Barker was at the [...]

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Beluga Revolution gives up cargo to gantry cranes

December 14, 2008

The heavy lift Beluga Revolution was originally expected here on November 28th, but didn’t arrive until Friday, December 12th, 14 days later than originally expected but just in time for a blizzard. In the cargo hold of the ship were two, identical 440 ton Terex cranes, specifically the Terex 2400. Actually, there were 94 components [...]

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Kaye E. Barker makes short runs

December 13, 2008

The Kaye E. Barker departed Duluth on Friday afternoon (above) with a cargo of coal for Taconite Harbor. It will be back this afternoon to load coal again, this time to take to Marquette, Michigan, on the south shore of Lake Superior. It will be the 16th trip to the Twin Ports the Barker has [...]

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St. Clair here, gone, and back again

December 12, 2008

The St. Clair came into port on Thursday afternoon (above) to load coal for Silver Bay. It was expected to depart earlier this morning. It will return around noon today to load coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. The Dutch owned and operated Loireborg was expected to come in from the anchorage last night [...]

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Canadian Transport here to load coal

December 11, 2008

The newly built Loireborg arrived off the Duluth piers last night and dropped anchor to wait for the berth at General Mills. Just before the Loireborg appeared, the Canadian Transport arrived (above) in port to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources. The American Spirit was due early this morning and will likely become third boat [...]

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Kwintebank leaving Twin Ports harbor

December 10, 2008

Since 1996, the latest departure date for the last salt water ship of the year is December 20, 1997 when the Lake Ontario had the honors. The 19th was the last salt water departure in both 2003 and 2005. In five of the years, the last ship left on the 18th. This has not been [...]

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Irma departs Duluth with grain

December 9, 2008

The Polish operated Irma, seen above leaving port in May, 2002, came in at 8 am on Monday after spending a day or so at anchor off the Duluth piers. It is the 8th visit to the Twin Ports for the 655 foot long freighter that was built in 2000. It is now loading durum [...]

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Joseph H. Thompson kicks up some ice fog

December 8, 2008

The tug barge Joseph H. Thompson departed Duluth on Sunday morning sending some birds from the thin ice into the air. With a cargo of iron ore pellets in the barge, it was completing its 23rd trip here this season. It was only here 15 times last year and 5 the year before that. When [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha here for coal again

December 7, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha came into port on Saturday afternoon (above) to load 64,000 tons of western coal for Detroit Edison. This is the 46th trip the boat has made to the Twin Ports this season, loading coal each time and taking most of it to Detroit Edison in St. Clair, Michigan. In the years [...]

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James R. Barker departs under Aerial Lift Bridge

December 6, 2008

The James R. Barker departed under the Lift Bridge on Friday afternoon with 58,000 tons of coal for the WE Energies power plant in Marquette, Michigan. It will return on Monday to load another 58,000 tons for Detroit Edison at St. Clair, Michigan. There has been a long tradition of Polish operated ships coming to [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius exits icy Duluth harbor

December 5, 2008

The Adam E. Cornelius arrived on Thursday morning at 7:10 to load wheat for the Frontier grain elevator in Buffalo. That is work that was handled by the Kinsman Independent for many years and then for a time by the Joseph H. Frantz. The Frantz was scrapped and the Kinsman Independent was headed to the [...]

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Indiana Harbor cook Maccine Moore

December 4, 2008

The Indiana Harbor came into port on Wednesday morning at 2:43 to load coal. Maccine Moore was probably still asleep but it wasn’t long before she was up and into the galley of the boat to start the day’s baking. That’s what she does on the boat, and she has been doing it with American [...]

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Faithful fans of Edgar B. Speer

December 3, 2008

Three thousand footers will be in port today to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. Two smaller boats will also try to get a spot in the lineup. It is likely we will see at least one and maybe more boats at anchor off the Duluth piers. The Edgar B. Speer will be [...]

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Kaye E. Barker enters icy Duluth canal

December 2, 2008

Winter weather is not kind to ship arrival and departure times. It is a little early for ice problems but two boats expected yesterday should be here today instead (the Kaye E. Barker, seen above entering the Duluth piers last December, and the Canadian Olympic). The St. Clair was expected back from Silver Bay to [...]

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Algowood departing Twin Ports

December 1, 2008

The Mesabi Miner came into port on Sunday morning to load iron ore pellets. It likely departed very early this morning. Today, four other boats are expected to arrive in port to load coal, but they may all arrive sometime this evening. Most of the coal loaded at Midwest Energy goes into the big thousand [...]

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Callaway leaves for Ohio

November 30, 2008

The Cason J. Callaway picked up a cargo of limestone in Calcite, Michigan and arrived here with it on Friday evening. It was the 18th trip to the Twin Ports this season. After discharging the limestone at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth, it moved over to the CN Dock to load iron ore pellets [...]

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James R. Barker exits with iron ore pellets

November 29, 2008

The James R. Barker left the port on Friday afternoon (above) with a cargo of iron ore pellets for South Chicago. The pellets were loaded at the CN dock in West Duluth. As happens sometimes, it was originally scheduled to load coal directly across the St. Louis River at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior, but [...]

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See you next week, American Integrity

November 28, 2008

American Integrity captain Patrick Nelson was out wishing visitors to the Duluth ship canal a Happy Thanksgiving as he departed the port yesterday with a cargo of coal for Detroit Edison. He will bring the thousand footer back next Tuesday for still another load of coal for Detroit Edison. As of now, there are only [...]

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American Victory in for winter layup

November 27, 2008

There are two boats already in winter layup. By the end of winter we usually have about 12. We don’t usually see any boats arriving here for layup until December, and in a good year, until January. We know this is not a good year. The American Victory came in for layup on November 11th. [...]

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Indiana Harbor enters Duluth harbor

November 26, 2008

The Indiana Harbor will be here today for the 38th trip of its season. On most of those trips, as today, it has loaded coal at Midwest Energy. Today’s cargo will be split between two Detroit Edison power plants, one at St. Clair and one at Monroe, both cities in Michigan. It was built in [...]

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Walter J. taking away some Twin Ports ice

November 25, 2008

The picture above of the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. was taken last December 10th as the big thousand footer was turning toward the Lift Bridge on the way down the lake with another load of coal. You will notice it is taking along some extra weight that we should soon be seeing more off. The [...]

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Morraborg here for first time

November 24, 2008

The Morraborg came into port on Sunday morning; its first trip to the Twin Ports since it was built in 1999. It went over to berth 1 (above) at the Port Terminal. Today, longshoremen will begin to discharge heavy project cargo from the boat. The Kaye E. Barker has made the Twin Ports its new [...]

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Vancouverborg enters Duluth ship canal

November 23, 2008

The Vancouverborg will be making its 21st appearance in the Twin Ports today, bringing a cargo of beet pulp pellets. Above, it is seen entering the Duluth ship canal on December 7th, 2005. It is one of many ships that Wagenborg Shipping has sent to the Twin Ports. Despite being built in 1999, another Wagenborg [...]

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Pineglen is former Paterson

November 22, 2008

The Canadian flagged Pineglen will be here today for the 3rd time this season, about the average number of trips for the boat, although it was not here at all last year. It visited many times when it sailed as the Paterson. When the owner, Paterson & Sons of Thunder Bay, went out of the [...]

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Jumbo cargo coming off Jumbo Vision

November 21, 2008

One of the big pieces was picked from the bottom of the cargo hold of the Jumbo Vision on Thursday afternoon. There are two, hard to see labels on the piece, called a containment vessel. One says Kobelco, the company that made it in Kobe, Japan. One says NorthWestUpgrading, the destination for all the cargo [...]

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Jumbo crane helps Jumbo Vision

November 20, 2008

Marc Baysinger drove his 220-ton crane up to the Jumbo Vision yesterday to help take some of the ‘smaller’ pieces from the cargo hold of the ship. The ship’s two 400-ton cranes, which are capable of lifting 800 tons together, take care of the larger pieces. Lakehead Constructors, Inc. in Superior operates the crane and [...]

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Jumbo mover takes jumbo cargo away from Jumbo Vision

November 19, 2008

The first of 12 large pieces of equipment loaded in Japan were discharged from the Jumbo Vision yesterday. An on-board crane carefully picked up the large cylinder, called a containment vessel, from the ship’s cargo hold and placed it onto an SPMT (self propelled modular transporter) brought in from Edmonton to carry each piece to [...]

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Jumbo Vision has jumbo cargo

November 18, 2008

Yesterday, the Jumbo Vision arrived in port (above) with 12 large containment vessels loaded in Japan. They eventually will be shipped to Alberta for oil sands extraction projects. Coal is the only cargo that will be going under the Lift Bridge today. The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. and the American Century arrived yesterday and the [...]

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American Mariner coming in for coal

November 17, 2008

The American Mariner came into port on Sunday afternoon (above) to load coal. It probably departed for Milwaukee very early this morning. Three salt water ships will be moving in the harbor today. The Dutch flagged Jumbo Vision is expected around noon with 12 large containment vessels that will eventually go to oil sands projects [...]

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Halifax approaching Aerial Lift Bridge

November 16, 2008

The Canadian flagged Halifax, seen above arriving on May 27th, 2002, was expected to arrive very early this morning to load bentonite at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. This is the 9th trip here this season for the Halifax, the second time it has loaded bentonite. It loaded iron ore pellets on the other [...]

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John J. Boland departs Duluth ship canal

November 15, 2008

The John J. Boland was expected to arrive with the sun this morning to load coal at Midwest Energy to take to the Reiss dock in Ashland. It will then return here to load iron ore pellets at the BNSF dock in Superior to take to the Pinney dock in Ashtabula. This is the 13th [...]

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Vlistborg entering Twin Ports

November 14, 2008

The Vlistborg has been here twice in each of the last two years. It is expected to arrive this afternoon for the first time this season. As usual, it will be loading beet pulp pellets brought here by train from North Dakota. It is most often taken to Spain or Morocco where it is used [...]

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Algolake bringing in iron ore?

November 13, 2008

Last night the Algolake came into port (above) with a cargo of iron ore to discharge at the Hallett Dock. The iron ore was loaded at Port Cartier in Quebec and will be taken to the Iron Range to be used in the production of iron ore nuggets at the Mesabi Nugget plant at Hoyt [...]

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Wood does not last forever

November 12, 2008

The St. Lawrence Seaway will be 50 years old next year. To prepare for the different ships and cargos that would be visiting the port from around the world, major additions were made to port facilities. The two big gantry cranes at the Port Terminal were built in 1959 and docks were created that same [...]

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American Century at Port Terminal

November 11, 2008

The BBC Maine will be here later this week for the third time this season, each time bringing wind turbine parts. Even when no ships are bringing wind turbines into port, trucks have been rolling them out from the Port Authority for some time. Above, on Monday morning, a Gamesa nacelle, brought here from Spain, [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson departing Duluth

November 10, 2008

The Kaye E. Barker has been making quick trips to Taconite Harbor. She left yesterday to take a cargo of coal to Marquette. The Arthur M. Anderson will be here today with an even quicker trip to deliver coal. After discharging a cargo of limestone, it will load about 19,000 tons of coal at Midwest [...]

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Olympic Miracle here for bentonite

November 9, 2008

Four boats are due in port today to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources. Two of them, the Canadian Progress and the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr., will take their cargo to Ontario Power Generation. The American Century is loading for Detroit Edison. After two coal deliveries to Taconite Harbor, the Kaye E. Barker will load [...]

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Olympic Miracle comes to Duluth

November 8, 2008

The Greek owned and flagged Olympic Miracle will be here today for the 6th time since 1996. It is seen above arriving in Duluth in 1999. The last visit was in April, 2006. It is one of 5 owned by a trust set up by Aristotle Onassis for the benefit of his children. Management is [...]

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Kom docked in the Twin Ports

November 7, 2008

The Kom, now flying the flag of Malta, was built in 1997, came here in May, 1998 (above) to load grain and until this morning, had not been back since. It will be here to load wheat for the United Kingdom. Both the Kom and the Dutch flagged Virginiaborg may depart the port tonight, assuming [...]

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Virginiaborg docked at General Mills

November 6, 2008

The Dutch flagged Virginiaborg is expected in port today to load beet pulp pellets at General Mills in Duluth. Although more salt water traffic is expected later this month, the Virginiaborg is the first foreign flagged ship this month. We only had 7 in October. The Virginiaborg was constructed in Rumania and then towed through [...]

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Kaye E. Barker always a welcome sight

November 5, 2008

The Kaye E. Barker has been to the Twin Ports 5 times this season. It will be arriving today and again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Add four departures and we will have an opportunity to see the boat 8 times in 4 days coming under the Lift Bridge. It was expected here early this [...]

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Edward L. Ryerson at last winter’s layup

November 4, 2008

The Edward L. Ryerson is usually greeted with great joy when it comes to Duluth Superior since many consider it the prettiest boat in the US fleet. It is expected here sometime today, but most are not very happy about it. It had an extended layup between 1998 and 2006 for lack of work and [...]

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Joseph H. Thompson has lively history

November 3, 2008

The tug-barge Joseph H. Thompson (seen above entering the Duluth harbor in 2005) is due today with a load of salt. This is the 19th trip here this season but only the 5th one with salt. It usually brings in limestone. As today, it has almost always departed with a cargo of iron ore pellets, [...]

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Paul R. enjoying sunshine on late fall day

November 2, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. was expected to depart the port with a cargo of coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke just after midnight. It was to be followed by the Paul R. Tregurtha which came in on Saturday afternoon (above) and waited at the Port Terminal for the dock to open up at [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson leaving the Twin Ports

November 1, 2008

The Arthur M. Anderson was expected to arrive last night with a cargo of limestone loaded at Cedarville, Michigan. After getting fuel at the Murphy Fuel Dock in Duluth, it was expected to go to the Hallett #5 dock in West Duluth to discharge the limestone and then load iron ore pellets for Gary. This [...]

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Mesabi Miner nears the Duluth ship canal

October 31, 2008

The amount of daylight we will have today, 11 hours and 9 minutes, is about the time it takes for a thousand footer to come under the Lift Bridge, load about 64,000 tons of coal and return to the lake for the trip back down the chain of lakes. That’s about how long most trips [...]

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Old-Timers meet new ship USS Freedom

October 30, 2008

It was not hard for USS Freedom executive officer Commander Kris Doyle (second from left), to impress four Duluth old timers with her brand new ship on Wednesday. While winding up the tour on the deck of the ship (above), Wes Harkins, at left, retired, Fraser Shipyard, showed Doyle a picture of the USS Paducah, [...]

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USS Freedom cargo area

October 29, 2008

The photo yesterday of the USS Freedom was taken from the front of the ship looking back. Above, the photo is taken from the back, looking forward into the airborne mission zone, often referred to as the hangar. It is one of several large open spaces that allow the crew to deploy a variety of [...]

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USS Freedom brings out the big guns

October 28, 2008

The USS Freedom arrived on Sunday afternoon and should be here until Thursday. The photo above was taken on Monday afternoon while standing on the pointy end of the ship as our guide, executive officer Kristy D. Doyle, first called it so we would understand. It is more formally the forecastle. Straight ahead is the [...]

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Tug assist for USS Freedom to DECC dock

October 27, 2008

The Navy had two tugs standing by when the USS Freedom arrived in Duluth on Sunday. Both were helpful as the ship approached the berth at the DECC head-on. Above, they asked the tug North Dakota to gently move up to the side of the ship so it could use the tug as a pivot [...]

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USS Freedom launch

October 26, 2008

The US Navy ship that will be commissioned as the USS Freedom in Milwaukee on November 8th is expected in Duluth today. While there are no public tours, the ship will be behind the DECC for several days. Above, the ship was side launched at Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. The 377 foot Navy ship [...]

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Xenia entering Twin Ports harbor

October 25, 2008

The Xenia came into port Friday afternoon to load beet pulp pellets. This is the 5th trip the Xenia has made to the Twin Ports since it was built in 2002. It is 468 feet long, shorter than most of the older salt water ships that come to Duluth, but part of a fleet of [...]

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Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. departs Duluth

October 24, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. departed Duluth on Thursday afternoon (above) with 64,000 tons of coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. American Steamship Company in Buffalo owns the McCarthy, and also the American Mariner which will be here late this morning to load coal for Ashland, Winconsin. It will likely cross the lake to [...]

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Edwin H. Gott arrives Duluth

October 23, 2008

The Edwin H. Gott came into port Wednesday morning. The Canadian Transport, the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. and the Herbert C. Jackson came in or were expected in last night. There are no arrivals set for today but all four of those boats, plus the research vessel Blue Heron, will be departing today. The Gott [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius enters Duluth at sunset

October 21, 2008

The Adam E. Cornelius is here today with limestone loaded at Port Inland, Michigan. After discharging that cargo at the CLM Lime Plant in Superior, it will move over to the CN Dock in West Duluth to load iron ore pellets. Above, it arrived last night on its 13th trip to the Twin Ports. On [...]

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Indiana Harbor departs via Duluth canal

October 20, 2008

We will have two boats arriving by way of the Duluth entry today and two boats departing using the Superior entry. The Indiana Harbor is well on its way to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke with a cargo of coal it loaded yesterday. It departed around 3 in the afternoon on Sunday and should be [...]

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Chilly onlookers see H. Lee White depart

October 19, 2008

The H. Lee White left under the Lift Bridge late Saturday afternoon (above) with coal for Milwaukee. It had arrived just after midnight with limestone loaded at Calcite, Michigan. The White follows a fairly regular cycle of loading taconite at Silver Bay; discharging it in Cleveland and then going to Sandusky or Toledo to load [...]

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Atlantic Erie departing Twin Ports

October 18, 2008

In past years, the Atlantic Erie has come to the Twin Ports around 4 or 5 times a year. It will be here today for only the second time this season, although it will load the same cargo, coal, for the same destination, Nova Scotia Power in Sydney, Nova Scotia, as it did when it [...]

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Edward L. Ryerson arrives Superior

October 17, 2008

The Edward L. Ryerson was expected in port very early this morning. Many consider her the prettiest boat on the Great Lakes. This will be the 24th visit this season for the Ryerson and on each trip, it has loaded iron ore pellets at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe ore dock just inside the Superior [...]

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Canadian Olympic enters Duluth harbor

October 16, 2008

Yesterday, 9 boats came under the Lift Bridge. Since 1996, the biggest traffic day was September 19th, 1996 when 11 boats came under the Bridge. Eleven other days during that time, ten boats came under the Bridge. The Canadian Olympic tried to help yesterday by coming under the Lift Bridge twice, first around 1 pm [...]

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Great Lakes Trader departs with Joyce

October 15, 2008

Since 2003, there have never been more than 10 arrivals at the Duluth entry in one day. Since then we have had that many arrivals in one day 7 times. We have had 9 ships arrive in one day 9 times since 2003. Today should push that number to 10. During that time, the average [...]

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Philip R. Clarke arriving Duluth

October 14, 2008

Three thousand footers will load about 192,000 tons of western coal for lower lakes electrical power stations today. The Philip R. Clarke, seen above arriving in Duluth last November, will arrive today with a cargo of eastern coal loaded at Ashtabula. It will discharge the coal at the CLM Corporation in Superior. They operate seven [...]

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American Century former Columbia Star

October 13, 2008

It has been over two years since Oglebay Norton sold six vessels to American Steamship Company in Buffalo. They were the: Oglebay Norton, Columbia Star, Armco, Middletown, Courtney Burton and Fred R. White Jr. They still make regular visits. In the same order, the American Integrity was here last Wednesday, the American Century is expected [...]

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Mesabi Miner arrives for coal

October 12, 2008

The Mesabi Miner came into port on Saturday morning at 10:07 (above) to load coal for Minnesota Power at Taconite Harbor. It likely left last night but will return late today or on Monday to load iron ore pellets. As mentioned yesterday, today is still mostly a day for loading coal but two boats slipped [...]

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Algowood enters Duluth in icy water

October 11, 2008

Four boats are expected to arrive in Duluth today. All four will load coal. Two of them are expected to depart later today. One of them, the Algowood, may be at anchor waiting to come in to load coal. On Sunday, 3 more boats will be coming under the Lift Bridge, all of them also [...]

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Duluth gull greets Canadian Navigator

October 10, 2008

Buoy #45004 in Eastern Lake Superior was showing winds of 31 mph with gusts to 38 mph on Thursday evening. Wave height was 11.5 feet. The buoy is located near the shipping lanes in Eastern Lake Superior. That weather will have an effect on today’s traffic in the Twin Ports, since many boats were laying [...]

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Callaway brings limestone

October 9, 2008

The Cason J. Callaway loaded limestone in Calcite, Michigan and arrived here on Wednesday (above) to discharge it at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. It is loading iron ore pellets today and is expected to depart later in the day for Gary. Four other boats will be here today, all of them, like the [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius enters Duluth ship canal

October 8, 2008

For many years, the Kinsman Independent came to the Twin Ports to load wheat at General Mills for the Frontier grain elevator in Buffalo. Then as now, it tends to be a spring and fall trip when wheat is more available. In the summer, the Kinsman just took a rest, but the Adam E. Cornelius [...]

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Federal Saguenay gets new paint

October 7, 2008

Four thousand-footers will arrive in the Twin Ports today. Three will load coal and one iron ore pellets. The Federal Saguenay, flying the flag of the British West Indies, arrived in port on Monday morning to load grain. The picture above shows 2 deck hands doing a little painting while the ship was here in [...]

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James R. Barker greeted by lighthouse and visitors

October 6, 2008

The James R. Barker will be here this afternoon to load coal for the We Energies power plant at Presque Isle, Michigan. This is the 30th trip the Barker has made to the Twin Ports this season. It loads iron ore pellets about half the time and coal the other half. About half of the [...]

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Kent Trader has unusual design

October 5, 2008

The Kent Trader came under the Lift Bridge on Friday night with its cargo holds filled with 29 nacelles loaded in Spain. All salt water ships that bring wind turbine parts here have until now had all cargo holds in front of a stern mounted superstructure where the pilot house, crew quarters, office and galley [...]

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Orsula at anchor

October 4, 2008

The Orsula should be at anchor off the Duluth piers as the sun comes up. It is waiting for the Quebecois to finish loading grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. In the picture above, the Croatian flagged ship is at anchor in September, 2006. This is the 15th trip the ship has made to [...]

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J.W. Shelley here for second time

October 3, 2008

In December, 2004, I wrote that the Algocen was making its last trip to Duluth. After leaving here on December 18th, it arrived in Montreal and was sold to a company called Recycling Technologies, not a good sign. It was then towed to New Jersey to be used as a spoils storage barge, also not [...]

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Callaway departs with iron ore pellets

October 2, 2008

The Cason J. Callaway loaded limestone in Calcite, Michigan and arrived here on Tuesday to discharge it at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. It then loaded iron ore pellets and departed the port yesterday afternoon (above) for Gary. The Joseph L. Block also came in with limestone on Tuesday and will depart today with [...]

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Asiaborg discharges nacelles and hubs

October 1, 2008

On Monday and Tuesday, longshoremen at the Port Terminal discharged 37 wind turbine nacelles from the Asiaborg, each with a hub attached. Together, they will sit at the top of the finished wind turbine. The nacelle, with the company name, Acciona on it, holds the machinery for the wind turbine; the hub will hold the [...]

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Tug W.N.Twolan and barge McAllister 132

September 30, 2008

The tug W. N. Twolan came into port on Monday morning pushing the barge McAllister 132 (above). The barge was loaded with wood pulp bales. The tower you see in the middle of the picture is an elevated pilothouse that sits on the barge and not on the tug. The tug itself has the main [...]

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Asiaborg brings more wind turbine parts

September 29, 2008

Two boats are working the Duluth North Shore shuttle. The American Courage arrived here on Sunday afternoon with limestone and was expected to depart the port earlier this morning to go to Silver Bay to load taconite. The James R. Barker left here with coal for Taconite Harbor on Saturday and is expected back today [...]

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Lee A. Tregurtha welcomed by crowd

September 28, 2008

The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center will be 35 years old tomorrow. A birthday party yesterday was planned for outside but was moved inside because of the problematic weather. Outside might not have been good for birthday parties but it was great for boat watching at least around 6 last night. The Walter J. McCarthy, [...]

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Hans Lehmann at Port Terminal

September 26, 2008

We have not had many salt water ships this season, but three of them, each launched last year, keep coming back. The Hans Lehmann will be back today for the second time this season. On the first trip in July (above), it brought wind turbine parts. It will load grain on this trip, coming after [...]

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Federal Ems arriving port of Duluth

September 25, 2008

Earlier this week, the Federal Ems arrived off the Duluth piers and dropped anchor to wait for the Herbert C. Jackson to complete loading grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. The Jackson departed at 1:15 Wednesday afternoon. The Federal Ems was already in port, coming in about an hour earlier (above). Named after the [...]

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Tug Billmaier bringing in the tow

September 24, 2008

A Corp of Engineers tow came back to its home port (above) after a summer of working breakwaters in the Great Lakes. They left in June for Two Harbors and then went down to Burns Harbor. On the way back, they did more breakwater work at Marquette before returning to Two Harbors and then home [...]

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Paul R. takes on fuel, wind turbine parts wait for trucks

September 23, 2008

No ships are in town discharging wind turbine parts but there are a lot of trucks leaving the port with pieces that have been brought here by ship. They are taking them to several wind farms in the Midwest, one piece for one truck at a time. Above, while the Paul R. Tregurtha was in [...]

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Gott making the turn in Duluth harbor

September 22, 2008

No coal will be loaded into boats in the Twin Ports today nor any grain. No wind turbines will be discharged either. No Canadian boats will be in either Duluth, Superior, Two Harbors or Silver Bay. That leaves US flagged boats loading iron ore pellets. And they will be doing that in each of those [...]

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Algolake departing Twin Ports harbor

September 21, 2008

The Algolake was here 18 times in 2005, the same number of visits in 2006 and 18 trips again in 2007. It should have arrived by now, for the 12th trip this year, putting it about on course for another 18 trip year. On all trips, the Algolake loads coal for Ontario Power Generation in [...]

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Buffalo enters Duluth under Lift Bridge

September 20, 2008

The Buffalo should be arriving in the Twin Ports around first light this morning. It will be only the 8th visit here since 1996 but the third visit here since August 1 last month. When it comes up to Lake Superior, it almost always loads iron ore pellets at Silver Bay that it takes to [...]

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BBC Maine

September 19, 2008

The BBC Maine completed the discharge of wind turbine parts at the Port Terminal last night. They have either left for Thunder Bay to load grain or will shortly do so. Above, some of the last pieces were lifted from the lower deck of the ship yesterday. This a hub that was just pulled out [...]

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BBC Maine brings wind turbine parts

September 17, 2008

Wind turbine parts have been coming into the port since the Moezelborg arrived on July 26, 2004. Many of those parts, including the blades, were built by Siemens in Denmark. The BBC Maine is here today with more wind turbine parts from Siemens but no blades. The blades for this project will be manufactured at [...]

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Algoma Spirit here for wheat

September 16, 2008

Last winter the Sandviken was sold by Viken Shipping in Bergen, Norway to Algoma Central Railway, a Canadian shipping company that sends many boats such as the Algolake and the Algonorth to the Twin Ports. The ship arrived in the Twin Ports yesterday as the Algoma Spirit. Because of a previous contract, the ship still [...]

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Canadian Enterprise departs with coal

September 15, 2008

The Canadian Enterprise and the Canadian Transport were both built in 1979 to move low sulfur, western coal from the Twin Ports to Ontario power plants in Nanticoke. Both nearly identical boats are loading coal here today. The Enterprise was expected last night and should have departed by now, leaving the dock at Midwest Energy [...]

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Drummond Islander II

September 14, 2008

The Drummond Islander III took over the car ferry duties of the Drummond Islander II in Lake Huron. MCM Marine, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan bought the ferry and uses it as a tug on dredge projects. It arrived in the Twin Ports on August 28th, bringing a barge and a work tug and a [...]

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Carola has always been Carola

September 13, 2008

The Carola has been at anchor off the Duluth piers. Although built in 2000, it has only been here once before, arriving last July (above). It is expected to come in later today to load grain at the CHS elevator. The J. W. Shelley arrived yesterday and is now loading grain at the Gavilon Elevator [...]

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Kaministiqua arriving Twin Ports

September 12, 2008

The Kaministiqua came into port on Thursday morning, its first visit with that name. It started life as the Saskatchewan Pioneer in 1982 in Glasgow. The first ocean trip (after the initial trip from Scotland) left Duluth on November 14, 1983 for France. She visited Duluth many times after that as the Lady Hamilton. From [...]

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Boland arrives under Aerial Lift Bridge

September 11, 2008

The John J. Boland came under the Lift Bridge on Wednesday afternoon (above) to load iron ore pellets for steel mills in Gary. This is only the 7th trip here for the boat. It makes a lot of stops in a lot of ports between here and Cleveland carrying a variety of cargos. It sometimes [...]

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H. Lee White arriving Duluth ship canal

September 10, 2008

The H. Lee White, seen above approaching the Duluth piers in May, will be here today for the 7th time this season. In about half the visits, it brought limestone to discharge before loading either iron ore pellets or coal. It has loaded taconite at the CN Dock here and in Two Harbors, and also [...]

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Edward H. newest tug for Heritage Marine

September 9, 2008

The Edward H. came under the Lift Bridge on Monday afternoon (above) ready to get to work as a new tug for hire in the Twin Ports. The former US Corp of Engineers tug Forney was purchased by Mike Ojard and his sons, Pat and Vince last year and renamed in honor of Mike’s father. [...]

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Quebecois arrives Duluth with cement

September 8, 2008

The Quebecois came into port on Sunday afternoon (above) with a cargo of cement to discharge at the St. Lawrence Cement plant in Duluth. This is its 59th trip here since 1996, the 11th trip this season. The cement is loaded in Mississauga, Ontario, just outside Toronto. It is quarried and processed there, and shipped [...]

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Indiana Harbor arrives for coal

September 7, 2008

The Indiana Harbor, seen above entering the Duluth harbor in June, should be here shortly after the sun rises and it is expected to depart shortly before the sun goes down. In between, it will load coal for Consumers Energy’s Cobb power plant at Muskegon, Michigan. This is the 26th trip the boat has made [...]

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American Republic arrives Twin Ports

September 6, 2008

The American Republic (seen above entering the Duluth harbor in July) loaded coal in Toledo and is expected here today to discharge that cargo at the Reiss Dock before moving over to Midwest Energy to load coal for Silver Bay. From there it will take iron ore pellets to Cleveland, some of which will be [...]

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Keizersborg discharging in Duluth

September 5, 2008

Built in 1996, the Keizersborg is one of the oldest Wagenborg ships to come to Duluth, but it is here today for only the 2nd time. The Dutch flagged ship is 428 feet long and brought the last cargo of wind turbine parts for a while (above). When it completed that discharge, it went over [...]

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Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin taking coal today

September 4, 2008

A couple days ago, the CSL Laurentien loaded coal here for Belledune, New Brunswick, a port on the Atlantic Ocean just north of Maine. The Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin will be here today to load more coal for Belledune. Above, it is departing Duluth with iron ore pellets in April, 2006. This boat was [...]

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Canadian Ranger seldom visits here.

September 3, 2008

The Canadian Ranger, seen above in May, 2005, came into port on Tuesday morning at 5:14 to load grain. This is only the 6th trip here for the boat since 2000. It was built in 1943 in Portland, Oregon as the Grande Ronde and has had a long life on both the ocean and the [...]

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Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. makes the turn.

September 2, 2008

On Monday, the Canadian flagged CSL Laurentien and the Antiqua flagged Beluga Formation left Duluth before first light. After that and before dark, it was all thousand footers loading coal, 2 coming in and one departing. The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. came in around 1:00 (above). Today, we have limestone and more wind turbine parts [...]

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Pineglen to load grain

September 1, 2008

  A lot of people spent a lot of time at the ship canal on Sunday waiting and watching but it wasn’t until 6 pm that a big boat came under the Lift Bridge in the light of day. The Charles M. Beeghly departed at 4:45 am. It was the Canadian flagged Pineglen (above), a [...]

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Beeghly arrives to friendly crowd

August 31, 2008

The Charles M. Beeghly arrived last night to load iron ore pellets at the CN dock in West Duluth. The boat gave a double salute to acknowledge the large crowd that gathered to welcome it to Duluth (above). It was built in 1959 in Toledo and is 806 feet long, and is nearly identical to [...]

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Flinterland on her way

August 29, 2008

The Flinterland departed Duluth on Thursday afternoon with a ship full of blades. Most every available space in its two cargo holds and up on deck, see above, was filled with wind turbine blades going to Brazil. I am assured that the boat is very seaworthy but it doesn’t look like it when you consider [...]

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Flinterland gets assist from cranes 1 & 2

August 28, 2008

A lot of boats arrived in Duluth yesterday and that means a lot of boats will be departing Duluth today. The Dutch flagged Flinterland is one of those boats. It arrived at sunrise on Wednesday and began to load wind turbine blades for Brazil at 8 am. Above, you see the Port Terminal’s two gantry [...]

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Alpena arrives Duluth with usual cargo

August 27, 2008

Within this year of the wind turbine in the Twin Ports, today is the ‘day of the wind turbine.’ We expect one ship, the BBC Plata, to depart the port after discharging wind turbine parts, one, the Flinterland, will arrive to load wind turbine parts, and another one, the SCL Bern, will be here to [...]

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Vancouverborg not going to Vancouver

August 26, 2008

Wikipedia says that the Garganey is a dabbling duck. The Garganey that will arrive late tonight is a Hong Kong flagged and Chinese owned ship that was built last year and is now operating under a charter to Canadian Forest Navigation, sometimes known as Canfornav. They operate a lot of ships that they name after [...]

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Miner leaves visitors wanting more ships

August 25, 2008

Where is there a nicer boardwalk? In Duluth, you can go for a walk with a lighthouse on one side and a Great Lakes freighter on the other. Such was the case on Sunday as the Mesabi Miner departed the port with coal for Detroit Edison as many late summer visitors enjoyed a beautiful day [...]

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Edgar B. Speer in Duluth harbor

August 24, 2008

The Edgar B. Speer, seen above moving down the Duluth harbor in October, 2004, was only here once last season but is expected today for the 7th time this year. Still it has spent most of the season loading iron ore pellets in Two Harbors. Gary will be the destination for today’s pellets, as it [...]

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Robert S. Pierson enters under the Aerial Lift Bridge

August 23, 2008

The Canadian flagged Robert S. Pierson came under the Lift Bridge on Friday afternoon to load iron ore pellets at the CN dock in West Duluth (above). It is the 7th visit the boat has made to the Twin Ports this season, but the first time it has entered by way of the Duluth entry. [...]

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Federal Seto departing Duluth

August 22, 2008

After a stop to discharge cargo in Hamilton, the Federal Seto arrived in Duluth on Thursday morning to load grain for Spain. Above, it is seen departing Duluth after its first trip here in 2004, the year it was built. It was back once in 2005 and once in 2006. Skipping 2007, it is now [...]

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Dredging continues

August 21, 2008

The Marine Tech crane barge Dean R. Smith has been dredging in and near the shipping lanes in the harbor since the spring. Lately, it has been stationed close by the Lift Bridge. On Monday afternoon, it was working hard dropping the clam shell down to the bottom (about 29 feet below) and lifting material [...]

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Alder getting closer to departing dry dock

August 20, 2008

Yesterday, we had a picture of the Coast Guard cutter Alder taken from the stern as it sat on blocks on the bottom of the dry dock at Fraser Shipyards. On Tuesday morning, they started to fill the dry dock with water, a process that would take 4 or 5 hours. At a certain height, [...]

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Alder to depart dry dock

August 19, 2008

Our Coast Guard cutter Alder spent most of the summer in the dry dock at Fraser Shipyards in Superior (above) for a 4-year inspection. While in dry dock, the vessel is supported on blocks. This morning workers at the shipyard will fill the dry dock with water. That will slowly refloat the Alder to the [...]

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Joseph H. Thompson has much history

August 18, 2008

The tug-barge Joseph H. Thompson (seen above arriving in August, 2002) is due today with a load of limestone. This is the 12th trip here this season. It was one of the first boats of the season when it arrived on March 29th. The barge part is still most of the hull of a boat [...]

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CSL Tadoussac late-day Duluth departure

August 17, 2008

Sunrise would be (or was) a good time to watch some boat activity under the bridge. Two arrivals and a departure were expected. One early arrival, the CSL Tadoussac, seen above departing Duluth in July, 2002, should finish loading iron ore pellets and depart in the afternoon. It was here many times as the Tadoussac [...]

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Presque Isle 1000 foot tug/barge combo

August 16, 2008

Three thousand footers are due in port today to load coal. In an unusual event, they are spread out almost proportionately throughout the day. The Paul R. Tregurtha was expected just after midnight. It has been averaging about 10 hours in port on its 25 trips this season, meaning about 8 hours at the dock [...]

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Dredging the harbor is a no-win battle

August 15, 2008

We haven’t had a lot of ship traffic coming under the bridge for a few days. No salties have been here for over a week, and a long line of boats over the weekend means they are now out dropping off their cargo before coming back here for more. Yesterday, we had two boats arrive [...]

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Quebecois departing Duluth harbor

August 14, 2008

The Quebecois came into port on Monday night with a cargo of cement for St. Lawrence Cement in Duluth. This is the boat’s 5th trip to the Twin Ports this season. On each, it has discharged cement. On the previous trips, it went to the BNSF Dock to load iron ore pellets after discharging cement. [...]

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Canadian Navigator arrives Twin Ports

August 13, 2008

The Canadian Navigator was here 10 times in 1996 and waited until 2000 to come back again. It was not in the Twin Ports last year, but did come 3 times in each of the 2 years before that. It will be here today to load coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. Built in [...]

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Ryerson unusually arriving Duluth

August 12, 2008

The Edward L. Ryerson will be coming into port by way of the Superior entry to pick up a load of iron ore pellets at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) dock, just inside the entry. This will be the Ryerson’s 16th trip to the Twin Ports this season. Ten times it came in Superior [...]

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Edwin H. Gott got the blues

August 11, 2008

The Edwin H. Gott arrived under the Lift Bridge as Mike Zito was on stage leaning into his guitar at the Bayfront Blues Festival on Sunday afternoon. The Gott came in for some blues and some gas before loading up on iron ore pellets at the BNSF dock in Superior. Those will go to steel [...]

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Callaway leaving Bluesfest behind

August 10, 2008

Behind the trees, the cymbals and the Hoopsnakes, the Cason J. Callaway departed under the Lift Bridge on Saturday afternoon. The Blues Festival continues today but we are getting to the end of the long line of boats waiting to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources. The Algolake is probably gone by now and the [...]

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Block departs with the blues

August 9, 2008

The Joseph L. Block went under the Lift Bridge on Friday afternoon, on its way to Two Harbors to load iron ore pellets. At the same time, Shannon Curfman was in the middle of her set at the Bayfront Blues Festival (above). Both the Blues and the boats continue today, most of the boats will [...]

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Joseph L. Block passes the McCarthy

August 8, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. came under the Lift Bridge on Friday evening around 5 pm and went to the Murphy Fuel Dock to fill up before going over to Midwest Energy Resources to load coal. One half hour later, the Joseph L. Block came under the bridge to discharge limestone at the CN Dock [...]

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Daniella cargo now on trucks and train

August 7, 2008

The Daniella departed Duluth on Monday after discharging 93 pieces of cargo destined for oil sands projects in Alberta and a refinery in Billings. All the Alberta cargo will go there by truck. The largest piece, a 405 ton reactor vessel, departed Duluth on Wednesday afternoon by train for Billings (above). Photo taken on August [...]

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BBC Maine brought parts from Denmark

August 6, 2008

On Monday evening, the gantry crane at the Port Terminal was being used to pull one of 11 wind turbine base units from the hold of the BBC Maine (above). They are slowly lowering the piece onto a truck where it will be taken to another part of the Port Terminal. It is the base [...]

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Tall Ship Niagara still popular

August 5, 2008

The tall ship Niagara is the only one left but it will be moving around a lot before leaving later this afternoon. It is expected to leave port, presumably under the Lift Bridge, around 9 am this morning for a day sail and return early this afternoon. It is then expected to depart for a [...]

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Daniella brought very heavy stuff

August 4, 2008

The Jumbo Company’s Daniella, a heavy-lift vessel, was in town this past weekend although the tall ships got more attention. The Daniella was discharging very large pieces of equipment for several construction projects. The above piece, a 405 ton containment vessel loaded in Kobe, Japan, was taken off the ship on Sunday. It it being [...]

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Paul R. departing, with a nod to downtown

August 3, 2008

On Saturday, all the attention was on the 3 tall ships. The Paul R. Tregurtha snuck out early in the morning (above) and then we waited until the afternoon for another thousand footer, the Indiana Harbor, to arrive. Today, the Indiana Harbor probably snuck out already, but the American Century has likely come in to [...]

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Buffalo arrives on a beautiful Duluth day

August 2, 2008

People in buggies and bikes were down at the ship canal on Friday to watch the boats come under the bridge. Commercial shipping had the bridge back while the 3 tall ships were at the DECC. The Buffalo came in late in the afternoon (above) to pick up a load of coal for Silver Bay. [...]

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Tall Ships greeted by huge crowd

August 1, 2008

The big news on Thursday was the arrival of the three tall ships, the Pride of Baltimore II, the Niagara and the Madeline. Next in line in the big news department were the thousands of people who lined every inch of the ship canal and especially the prime location on the porch of the Marine [...]

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Oglebay Norton at Midwest Energy

July 31, 2008

As you can see by the schedule on this page, we are going to have a big day for ship watching. Of course, we have known for a long time that 3 tall ships will be coming under the Lift Bridge today, but they are only a third, even if they are the prettiest third, [...]

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The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. usually loads 64,000 tons of coal while in Duluth

July 30, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr., seen above turning into the Duluth harbor in May, is expected to arrive in port early this afternoon to load 64,000 tons of coal to take to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. It was launched as the Belle River in 1977. Belle River is the name of the Detroit Edison [...]

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St. Clair often here with coal

July 29, 2008

The 3 tall ships will arrive on Thursday and it appears that a lot of the commerical traffic is waiting for the ships also. The Mesabi Miner came into port last night and should be leaving sometime today with iron ore pellets. The American Mariner will be here with limestone. After that, it might load [...]

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Algosoo loads coal

July 28, 2008

Today is a lot like yesterday which was a lot like the day before. Four boats will be going under the Lift Bridge with coal, and one with iron ore pellets. The Paul R. Tregurtha sat at anchor off the Duluth piers on Sunday, waiting for the Canadian flagged Algorail to finish loading coal. The [...]

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Frontenac leaves with iron ore pellets

July 27, 2008

The Frontenac departed Duluth on Saturday evening with a cargo of iron ore pellets (above). The John B. Aird was expected to arrive late Saturday night to load coal. After it departs Duluth early in the morning, the people at Midwest Energy will have a couple hours rest before 3 boats arrive. As always, the [...]

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Nanticoke here to pick up coal for Nova Scotia

July 26, 2008

The Nanticoke arrived late Friday afternoon (above). It followed the American Integrity loading coal at Midwest Energy. Later today, the Nanticoke will depart the Twin Ports for Sydney, Nova Scotia, a port on the Atlantic Ocean. Today, we expect 3 boats to go under the Lift Bridge, all Canadian flagged. The Nanticoke will depart and [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson here with limestone

July 25, 2008

Above, the Arthur M. Anderson arrived in Duluth on Thursday morning to discharge limestone before loading iron ore pellets for Conneaut. It should be departing this morning. This afternoon, the Canadian flagged Nanticoke will be here to load coal for Sydney, Nova Scotia, a port on the Atlantic Ocean. The Nanticoke was strengthened for ocean [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson with limestone from Calcite, Michigan

July 24, 2008

The Arthur M. Anderson is due in port this morning with a cargo of limestone loaded in Calcite, Michigan. Much of the limestone that is brought up from lower lakes ports is used on the Iron Range in the production of taconite pellets. The finished pellets, with the limestone inside, come down by rail to [...]

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Philip R. Clarke to bring limestone

July 23, 2008

We are nearing the end of the line of boats arriving to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources. The James R. Barker was expected in last night. It will follow the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. which was expected to depart late last night. The American Integrity was expected in early this morning and it will [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha waits to load coal

July 22, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha may be the largest boat on the Great Lakes but it had to wait its turn loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources yesterday. It arrived off the Duluth piers on Monday morning and dropped anchor until around 6 pm when it made a turn from the anchorage (above) and came into [...]

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Chief takes ship in for repairs on a Greek island

July 21, 2008

Spruceglen Chief Engineer Christian Pelletier was sharing some pictures on his computer screen Sunday morning that he has taken during the ship’s travels around the world. They were at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth loading taconite and were expected to depart late last night. That’s the chief at his computer on the ship. We [...]

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Spruceglen loading taconite at Hallett

July 20, 2008

The Canadian flagged Spruceglen is in port loading taconite fines at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. Above, it is seen on August 29th last year departing the port with grain. It was built in 1983, in Scotland, as the Selkirk Settler to work double duty; the Great Lakes during the open season of April [...]

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Canadian Transport for coal

July 19, 2008

Coal is still a big cargo for the port, almost all of it loaded from Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. Above, the Canadian Transport came in Friday morning for coal. It probably left Friday night and was replaced by the Algosoo. The Mesabi Miner may have anchored off the Duluth piers last night before coming [...]

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Hans Lehmann starts and finishes in Spain

July 18, 2008

Spain is not usually the first country that comes to mind when we think of salt water traffic and the economy in Duluth but it might be moving up the list. The Hans Lehmann should be departing tonight with spring wheat for Spain. It loaded wind turbine parts in Spain that it brought here last [...]

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The Tregurthas visit Duluth

July 17, 2008

The Lee A. Tregurtha is due in port about 7 am this morning to load iron ore pellets. The Paul R. Tregurtha was here yesterday loading coal. It is named after the Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Interlake Steamship Company, the owner of the boat. His wife Lee gave her name to the Tregurtha [...]

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Canadian Olympic meets the dredge

July 16, 2008

Before moving next door to Midwest Energy Resources in Superior to load coal yesterday, the Canadian Olympic discharged limestone at the Hallet #8 Dock (above). You can see the Olympic’s self-unloader hanging just above the pile of limestone as its conveyor system moved the limestone from the boat’s cargo holds up and onto the pile. [...]

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Hans Lehmann here for first time

July 15, 2008

The German owned and Gibraltar flagged Hans Lehmann arrived in the Twin Ports on Sunday evening at 7:40. Built in 2007, it is the ship’s first trip here. Inside the ship’s holds were 22 wind turbine nacelles loaded in Spain and destined for Iowa. Stevedores at Lake Superior Warehousing Company started Monday morning and should [...]

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The Halifax here to load iron ore pellets

July 14, 2008

The Halifax, seen above entering the Duluth ship canal in May, 2002, will be here today to load iron ore pellets. It was built in 1963 in Lauzon, Quebec as the Frankcliffe Hall and was 730 feet and two inches long. The extra two inches made it, until 1965, the longest boat on the Great [...]

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Roger Blough departs for Gary

July 13, 2008

After a short wait at anchor off the Duluth piers, the Roger Blough came in late Friday night to load iron ore pellets to take to Gary. Above, it is approaching the Lift Bridge as it departed for Gary on Saturday afternoon. We have seen a lot less salt water ships this season, but we [...]

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Mesabi Miner here for iron ore pellets, not coal!

July 12, 2008

The Mesabi Miner is due here today for the 21st time this season. Many of its early visits this year were to Midwest Energy Resources in Superior to load coal, but lately as today, it has loaded iron ore pellets at the CN dock across the St. Louis River in West Duluth. When it is [...]

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River boat comes to Duluth

July 11, 2008

The Sam Laud was expected last night with limestone. It will next go to Silver Bay to load taconite for the Cleveland Bulk Terminal at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and then Mittal Steel which is upriver. The Laud is a river boat. At 635 feet long, it is able to negotiate the turns [...]

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L. L. Smith Jr. cruises

July 10, 2008

After visiting Bayfield, Washburn, Ashland, Grand Marais and Silver Bay starting on June 16th, the research vessel L.L. Smith, Jr. will depart Duluth today around noon and go to Two Harbors to host four 3-hour environmental cruises on July 10th, 11th and 12th. The boat is owned by the University of Wisconsin Superior. They, along [...]

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Algorail here on 4th trip this season

July 9, 2008

The Algorail will be here today for the 4th time this season. Before this year, the Canadian flagged laker had been here only 10 times since 1996. It will be loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources as it has on the 3 other trips this year. It will take the cargo to Ontario Power Generation [...]

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American Republic here to repair stern thruster

July 8, 2008

The American Republic was on its way to Silver Bay to load taconite when they had trouble with their stern thruster, an engine that gives the boat side to side maneuverability, especially helpful when navigating in tight harbor conditions and narrow rivers. The American Republic is a river boat and is often taking taconite pellets [...]

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Algolake departs with coal, again

July 7, 2008

This may be a good morning to be down at the Duluth piers. It would appear (but is probably not so) that the Twin Ports shipping business took the holiday weekend off. Now that the crowds have departed, the ships are coming back. The Mesabi Miner was expected in last night to load coal at [...]

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Canadian Transport departs with crowd watching

July 6, 2008

To the end of June, we have had 402 ship arrivals in the Twin Ports this season. That is 7 less than last year. Through June, we had only 24 salt water ships here. That is 9 less than last year. Canadian trips in June are down by 6 and the US flagged vessel count [...]

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Watching a scull

July 5, 2008

On Friday, the Joe Block departed Duluth early in the morning and the Paul R. Tregurtha came in a little later in the morning. Today we will repeat the cycle, but rotate boats. The Paul R. Tregurtha is expected to depart very early Saturday morning and the Canadian Transport should be arriving about the same [...]

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Marlene Green with wind turbine base units

July 4, 2008

There is not a lot of ship traffic for the Twin Ports today and even less than usual for the Duluth entry since the Lift Bridge will be closed for the Fireworks from 9 pm tonight to 1 am Saturday. The Paul R. Tregurtha should be coming under the bridge this morning but may have [...]

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BBC Rosario with wind turbine pieces

July 2, 2008

The BBC Rosario was expected to complete discharging its cargo of wind turbine pieces last night. It has likely departed the port and the Marlene Green should be beginning to discharge its cargo of wind turbine base units this morning. Above, the port gantry crane has just lowered a wind turbine base unit from the [...]

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Cason J. Callaway with limestone from Calcite, Michigan

July 1, 2008

Two salt water ships are discharging wind turbine parts at the Port Terminal today. The Cason J. Callaway will be bringing in limestone loaded in Calcite, Michigan. After discharging that cargo, it will move to Two Harbors to load iron ore pellets for Gary. This is the Callaway’s 5th visit to the Twin Ports this [...]

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Marlene Green here with tower sections

June 30, 2008

Three salt water ships came into port on Sunday, two of them brought wind turbine parts. The BBC Rosario, making its first visit to the Twin Ports, brought pieces built by Siemens in Denmark. The Marlene Green arrived in the morning (above) with 42 tower sections built by General Electric and headed eventually for wind [...]

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Munson here

June 29, 2008

The John G. Munson departed Duluth on Saturday afternoon (above). It was perhaps the first warm, dry, summer Saturday with a lot of ship traffic and there were lots of people watching. Ten boats came under the Lift Bridge on Saturday, 7 going out and 3 coming in. Just before the Munson departed at 3:20, [...]

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Alpena here on 5th visit of year

June 28, 2008

The Alpena is here for the 5th time this season, bringing cement on each occasion, as it was doing above in September, 2002. It was originally the Leon Fraser when it was built in 1942 for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. It was modified for salt water duty for a time, sat idle during the 80′s [...]

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The barge Lockwood 1000 is discharged with the help of a truck

June 27, 2008

The truck in the picture above was brought up from Newport News, Virginia on another truck. It was used yesterday to back up a ramp to the barge Lockwood 1000 at the Port Terminal. It is on the ramp and its trailer is being moved under the white piece (a steam turbine built in Germany [...]

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Tug Margot & barge Lockwood 1000 here from Newport News, Virginia

June 26, 2008

It’s enough that the tug Margot brought the barge Lockwood 1000 here from Newport News, Virginia by way of the Atlantic Ocean, the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. The cargo, 2 very large steam turbines and a smaller generator, is so difficult to handle that the same people who loaded it [...]

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Tug Margot pushed the barge Lockwood 1000

June 25, 2008

On Monday morning, the tug Margot pushed the barge Lockwood 1000 under the Lift Bridge to complete a trip that started in Newport News, Virginia and went up the Atlantic Ocean and entered the Hudson River at New York and then up the Hudson River and into the Erie Canal. From there the tug pushed [...]

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Canadian Enterprise draws a crowd

June 24, 2008

The Canadian Enterprise came into port late Monday afternoon (above). It was to many the first day of summer. It was warm, Grandmas was over and the Vista boats were running a full summer schedule. As above, there were a lot of people looking at the boats and the bridge. Not so many will see [...]

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Mesabi Miner here many times so far

June 23, 2008

The Mesabi Miner came into port last night for the 20th time this season, the most trips by any vessel this year. There is a good reason for that. On top of making a visit every 4 to 6 days, it made 3 trips to ports within Lake Superior before the Soo Locks opened on [...]

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Runners watch the Barker go by

June 22, 2008

Maybe a brief shower cooled off the runners but more runners than usual sitting, laying and suffering on the Maritime Museum back yard turned around and some even stood up to see the James R. Barker pass by (above). The Barker itself was a little excited, providing everybody with a double dose of whistle. It [...]

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Two salt water ships at the Port Terminal

June 21, 2008

That’s the Asiaborg on the left, tied up at berth 2 at the Port Terminal. It has been waiting for the BBC Elbe (right) to complete discharging wind turbine pieces at berth 1. That happened late Friday afternoon when the BBC Elbe moved out of the slip on its way to get fuel at the [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha in line to load

June 20, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha may be the biggest boat on the Great Lakes but it had to wait at the end of a long line yesterday. The Canadian Olympic came in to load coal on Thursday morning at 6:08. An hour and a half later, the American Century came in to wait until the Olympic [...]

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Asiaborg here 2nd time this season

June 19, 2008

We have only had 18 foreign flagged vessels visit the Twin Ports this season. The Asiaborg is trying to help. It will be here early this afternoon for the second time. It will bring wind turbine parts from Europe as it did on its first trip here in early May. It will have to wait [...]

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Canadian Transfer to bring salt

June 18, 2008

The Canadian Transfer was expected in port early this morning to discharge a cargo of salt at the Hallett #8 dock in Superior. The Transfer was here 15 times in 2000, twice in 2001 and once last year. It has a very unusual history. It was created, or assembled, in 1998 by using the bow [...]

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Joseph L. Block seen discharging limestone at Hallett #8

June 17, 2008

The Joseph L. Block was due this morning with a cargo of limestone that will be discharged at the CN Dock in West Duluth. Above, the boat is seen discharging limestone in November of 2006 at the Hallett Dock just across the St. Louis River from CN. The 250-foot self unloader that we see sitting [...]

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BBC Ontario

June 16, 2008

The BBC Ontario came into port on June 13th to discharge 11 component sets (minus blades) of Siemens wind turbines loaded in Denmark. Each wind turbine has a cone shaped piece, called a spinner. It sits just in front of the hub, the piece that holds the three blades. The BBC Ontario had 11 spinners [...]

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Canadian Enterprise in Duluth for coal

June 15, 2008

The Canadian Enterprise, pictured above coming into port in June, 2006, was expected in port late last night. As it usually does, it will load coal at the Midwest Energy Resources coal dock in Superior and then take that cargo to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. On this trip the boat is bringing a cargo [...]

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American Valor here with limestone, then to Silver Bay for iron ore pellets

June 14, 2008

The American Valor came into port on Friday evening around 6:00 (above). It brought limestone loaded at Calcite, Michigan into port. When the boat is discharged sometime this morning, it will go up to Silver Bay to load iron ore pellets for Ashtabula. The Valor is the former Armco, a boat that was here many [...]

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Indiana Harbor loads coal for Silver Bay

June 13, 2008

The Indiana Harbor came into port around 11 pm on Wednesday night and left the port with a load of coal for Silver Bay at 9:15 on Thursday morning (above). It is due back today, this time loading coal for Detroit Edison power plants at St. Clair, Michigan. Another thousand footer, the American Century will [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson comes in on the wind

June 12, 2008

The wind slowed a number of boats yesterday. After the Spar Jade departed Duluth at 6:42 in the morning, there was no traffic under the Lift Bridge until the Arthur M. Anderson came in around 5:15 in the afternoon (above). After stopping for fuel at the Murphy Fuel Dock in Duluth, it was expected to [...]

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American Fortitude brings limestone from Calcite

June 11, 2008

The American Fortitude, seen above departing Duluth in August, 2006, should have arrived in port with limestone loaded at Calcite, Michigan. After discharging that cargo, it will go to Silver Bay to load iron ore pellets to take to the Cleveland Bulk Terminal at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. This is only the 3rd [...]

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Spar Jade here for bentonite

June 10, 2008

The Spar Jade came into port on Monday afternoon to load bentonite at the Hallett Dock in West Duluth. The ship is owned by a Norwegian company and flies the flag of Norway. It’s home port is Bergen. Despite a rich maritime history, we don’t see many Norwegian flagged ships here. Of 682 foreign flagged [...]

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Munteborg

June 9, 2008

The Dutch flagged Munteborg came under the Lift Bridge on Sunday evening at 6:15. The 441 foot vessel was built in 1998 and made its first trip to the Twin Ports in December of that year. It returned twice the next year and has not been back until yesterday. It was crossing Lake Superior with [...]

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St. Clair in for repairs, then loading coal

June 8, 2008

The St. Clair came into port on Saturday afternoon (above). It was scheduled to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources but had to go to Fraser Shipyards for repairs. One less boat will not make much difference at the coal dock today. The American Century preceded the St. Clair under the Lift Bridge and went [...]

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American Republic here with limestone

June 6, 2008

The American Republic, seen above entering the Duluth ship canal last January, loaded limestone in Calcite, Michigan and is expected here today to discharge that cargo before going up to Silver Bay to load iron ore pellets. It will then go to Cleveland to discharge part of the cargo at the Cleveland Bulk Terminal at [...]

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W. N. Twolan brings baled wood pulp

June 5, 2008

Stevedores at Lake Superior Warehousing Company began to discharge baled wood pulp from the barge McAllister 132 (above) on Wednesday morning. The barge was brought down from Thunder Bay by the tug W. N. Twolan. One lift truck is on the barge, taking one stack at a time and moving it to the opening at [...]

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W. N. Twolan arrives with the wind

June 4, 2008

An east wind with gusts up to 33 mph blew behind the tug W. N. Twolan as it entered the Duluth harbor at 6:30 last night (above). The tug was pushing a barge filled with a cargo of baled wood pulp that will be discharged at the Port Terminal today. The captain was navigating from [...]

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W. N. Twolan, a tug barge from Thunder Bay here with wood pulp

June 3, 2008

The W. N. Twolan is the tug part of a tug-barge combination that is due here from Thunder Bay today with wood pulp bales. The Twolan often uses a barge that has its own elevated pilothouse that allows the captain to have an unobstructed view when the cargo on the barge is very high or [...]

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Liamare here with wind turbine parts

June 2, 2008

For several years, the tug W. N. Twolan was a somewhat regular visitor to the Twin Ports, bringing a variety of wood products down from Thunder Bay and on rare occasions, taking another wood product back to Thunder Bay. The Twolan was not here at all last year, but is expected in port today with [...]

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BBC Plata here for grain

June 1, 2008

The BBC Plata departed Duluth on Saturday afternoon (above). She spent about 36 hours in port loading grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. It was the ship’s second trip to the Twin Ports. It also loaded grain here last July. The Cason J. Callaway probably has arrived in port with a cargo of limestone. [...]

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Beluga Enterprise here with wind turbine parts from Spain

May 31, 2008

Duluth is selling iron ore pellets and coal today. We are buying wind turbine parts. It’s not our iron ore or coal; we are just holding it for taconite mines on the iron range and coal mines in Wyoming and Montana. In return for the coal that Montana is sending us to pass on to [...]

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Atlantic Huron here then Nova Scotia

May 30, 2008

The Atlantic Huron came into port on Friday morning (above) to load coal for Nova Scotia. No US flagged vessels that we see here on any regular basis get out to the Atlantic Ocean and obviously, all the salt water ships we see here do. Some Canadian vessels load cargo here on an irregular basis [...]

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American Integrity helped by tugs

May 29, 2008

That’s the American Integrity moving behind the Great Lakes tug North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. The Integrity was on its way to load coal at Midwest Energy. On most boats, when major projects are not going on, painting the boat is the next best thing. With a dearth of salt water traffic this year, many [...]

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H. Lee White here, then Silver Bay

May 28, 2008

The H. Lee White came into port last night (above) with a cargo of coal. It should complete that discharge today and then leave for Silver Bay to pick up a load of iron ore pellets. Built in 1973, it is only 704 feet long. The smaller size allows it to go into ports where [...]

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American Spirit here for fuel first

May 27, 2008

The American Spirit came in last night to load iron ore pellets at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) terminal in Superior, but arrived by way of the Duluth entry (above) to take on fuel at Murphy Oil first. This is the 6th visit to the Twin Ports for the 1,004-foot boat this season. It [...]

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Barker goes to Fitgers

May 26, 2008

Many tourists and visitors saw nothing out of the ordinary in the picture above. Duluthians were wondering why the James R. Barker was headed over to Fitgers on Sunday morning. Happily, it didn’t make it. The 1,000-footer made a turn, circled back and shortly came into port to load coal. Earlier, as it approached the [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha greeted by visitors

May 25, 2008

Three thousand-footers will be coming to the Twin Ports today and even though we see a lot of them, 3 in one day is a lot of boat. Or more to the point, a lot of coal and iron ore pellets leaving the Twin Ports. The Mesabi Miner has probably already arrived and would be [...]

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McCarthy passes under Aerial Lift Bridge

May 24, 2008

The Indiana Harbor is due in port this morning around 6 am. It will be loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources and should be departing under the Lift Bridge in mid afternoon. The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. preceded it at Midwest. It arrived last night around 6 pm (above). This is the 8th trip to [...]

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Beluga Federation here for grain

May 23, 2008

The Beluga Federation came into port at 2:30 on Thursday afternoon (above). It was built in 2006 and is loading grain. Midwest Energy Resources is still handling a lot of the action today. The Mesabi Miner finally got in and has likely departed earlier this morning. Two Canadian boats are due after the Mesabi Miner [...]

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Roger Blough here 4th time this season

May 22, 2008

The Roger Blough came into port on Wednesday afternoon (above) to load iron ore pellets at the CN Dock in West Duluth. It is the 4th trip to the Twin Ports for the 858 foot laker. It likely departed the port earlier this morning, heading down to deliver the cargo for use in steel mills [...]

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John B. Aird leaves with coal

May 21, 2008

Before departing on Monday evening, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy training ship, the State of Michigan, took a group of Twin Ports maritime officials and a group of local educators for a short cruise in the harbor. While the ship was returning to the dock, the Canadian flagged John B. Aird was coming under the [...]

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Philip R. Clarke goes to Two Harbors

May 20, 2008

The Philip R. Clarke loaded limestone in Cedarville, Michigan and should be here later today to discharge that cargo before going to Two Harbors to load iron ore pellets. Above, it is seen departing Duluth last week on May 14th also going to Two Harbors to load iron ore pellets. Last week’s pellets were discharged [...]

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State of Michigan training ship visits

May 19, 2008

The State of Michigan arrived in the Twin Ports late Sunday afternoon (above). In this case, the State of Michigan is the training ship used by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. It is docked behind the DECC and is expected to be open for public tours this afternoon. Before becoming in [...]

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American Integrity leaves with coal

May 18, 2008

The American Integrity came into port on Saturday afternoon around 2:30 (above). It loaded 62,000 tons of coal at Midwest Energy Resources and has likely departed for the Detroit Edison power plant at St. Clair, Michigan. The place to go to join the Merchant Marine is the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Traverse City, Michigan. [...]

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Mesabi Miner here for more coal

May 17, 2008

The Mesabi Miner came into port on Friday morning to load coal for Detroit Edison at St. Clair, Michigan. In the picture above, it is just passing the Marine Tech dredge operation in the harbor. You see their crane barge pulling mostly sand off the bottom of the harbor, and dumping it into a barge. [...]

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Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. back after 1st trip

May 16, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. returned to the Twin Ports on Thursday afternoon (above) after completing its first round trip of the new season after sustaining significant damage to the hull and engine room in January. It is loading about 62,000 tons of coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior and should be departing sometime [...]

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Roger Blough here for iron ore pellets

May 15, 2008

The Roger Blough is due here around noon to load iron ore pellets at the CN Dock in Duluth after getting fuel at the Murphy Fuel Dock. It will take that cargo to steel mills in Gary. Before this trip, the Blough loaded iron ore pellets in Two Harbors, also for Gary. Above, the Blough [...]

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John D. Leitch here from Thunder Bay

May 14, 2008

The Canadian flagged John D. Leitch is expected here today, coming down from Thunder Bay. It will load coal for Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. Before 2001, it was known as the Canadian Century. In that year, it received a new midsection, giving it a larger cargo hold and soon thereafter the new name. It [...]

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American Integrity goes to Muskegon

May 13, 2008

The American Integrity left Duluth on Monday afternoon (above) to take the first of two cargos of coal to Consumers Energy’s Cobb power plant at Muskegon, Michigan, a port half way to Chicago on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. It will be back on the 17th for the second load. Today, the Canadian flagged [...]

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Federal Danube discharges steel coils

May 12, 2008

The Federal Danube came into port at 6:13 on Sunday morning and went straight to the Port Terminal to discharge steel coils (above). Just to the left of the ship, you may be able to make out the field of white tubes across the slip from the ship. They are the wind turbine parts that [...]

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Special visitors to the port

May 11, 2008

Big cargos like wind turbines usually bring special visitors to the port. The ship comes with its crew, but with expensive cargo, the manufacturer often likes to have their people onsite to make sure everything is ok. It is good business but it also allows each party to monitor any problems like bumps, bruises and [...]

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Federal Danube with steel coils

May 10, 2008

The Federal Danube is due here this evening with a cargo of steel coils to discharge at the Port Terminal before going to the Hallett Dock to load bentonite for Gdansk, Poland. The ship arrived in Montreal on April 28th, going into the Seaway to discharge coils at Burns Harbor before coming to Duluth to [...]

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H. Lee White brings limestone

May 9, 2008

The H. Lee White, seen above entering the Duluth Ship Canal on July 21st, 2005, is expected in port today with a cargo of limestone loaded in Calcite, Michigan. After that, the White will depart for Silver Bay to pick up a cargo of iron ore pellets to take to the Cleveland Bulk Terminal at [...]

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Asiaborg here with wind turbine blades

May 8, 2008

The Asiaborg came into port Wednesday afternoon (above) with another cargo of wind turbine parts built by Siemens in Denmark and destined to go by truck to a wind farm in Iowa. Many previous wind turbine shipments arrived in Duluth with wind turbine blades on the deck. They were quite a sight. This ship has [...]

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Blue Heron home from school

May 7, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. came under the Lift Bridge on Tuesday afternoon around 5 pm, back from sea trials watched over by the Coast Guard. Right behind the 1,000-footer was the 119-foot Blue Heron, above, coming in after a successful day at school on the Lake. Owned and operated by the University of Minnesota [...]

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Canadian Transport leaves with coal

May 6, 2008

The big news today is the rebirth of the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. After almost 4 months of repairs, it will be going out in the lake this morning for sea trials and is expected back early this evening to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. It will follow the Canadian Transport seen [...]

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Looking for the next vessel

May 5, 2008

  Greta Zelenak (above) is looking for the next boat on the horizon as the Cason J. Callaway passed her by going under the Lift Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Her mother Susan (below) brought Greta in from their home in Grand Rapids. There was a lot more activity at the ship canal last night after [...]

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Federal Mattawa loading grain at AGP

May 4, 2008

The Federal Mattawa came into port on Saturday morning at 7:22. It went to AGP in Duluth to load grain (above). Meanwhile, one slip over, the BBC Zarate was finishing a discharge of wind turbine parts from Denmark. It will wait for the Federal Mattawa to complete, probably later today and will then move over [...]

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BBC Zarate arrives with wind turbine parts

May 3, 2008

The BBC Zarate arrived Thursday morning (above) to discharge wind turbine parts loaded in Denmark. Longshoremen at Lake Superior Warehousing Company should complete that job this afternoon. The ship will then be cleaned and readied to load grain at AGP. It will follow the Federal Mattawa there. Progress with both ships may be limited by [...]

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Too windy for wind turbines?

May 2, 2008

Despite a very windy day, work proceeded as planned at Lake Superior Warehousing Company at the Port Terminal yesterday. Longshoremen discharged wind turbine parts from the BBC Zarate onto trucks that then carried each piece to another part of the Port Terminal where a crane picked them off (above) until they would be reloaded onto [...]

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Joseph L. Block here with limestone

May 1, 2008

Today, the Twin Ports will send a lot of coal to electrical power plants in the lower lakes and we will discharge the first of many ships bringing wind turbine parts to be taken by truck from here to wind farms in the mid west. The Twin Ports does not take a side when it [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius leads Tregurtha into Duluth ship canal

April 30, 2008

On April 19th, the Paul R. Tregurtha departed Duluth with a cargo of coal for Detroit Edison in St. Clair, Michigan. Two days later, the Adam E. Cornelius departed Duluth, heading for Buffalo with a cargo of wheat. In the picture above, taken yesterday, the Cornelius just beat the Tregurtha to the Duluth ship canal [...]

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Rebecca here for grain

April 29, 2008

Five boats will be arriving in Duluth today. Three of them are expected to depart today also. The Rebecca is expected here to load grain and will be here several days. Last year, it was the first salt water ship of the season, coming into port on April 10th (above) with the help of the [...]

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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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Vista Star, always a sign of spring

April 27, 2008

The return of the Vista boats to their dock at the DECC is usually a sure sign of spring. The Vista Queen and Vista Star arrived there on Friday, signaling instead a last blast of winter. A new employee training session was planned in the harbor for Saturday but cold weather prevented the Minnesota Slip [...]

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Presque Isle is one of many vessels coming into the port

April 26, 2008

On this day last year, the 5th salt water ship of the season arrived in the Twin Ports. This year, the 2nd saltie is not expected until next week when three should be arriving. One of them, the BBC Zarate, will be bringing the first of many shipments of wind turbine parts this year, this [...]

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Roger Blough comes out of the fog

April 25, 2008

The Roger Blough came in through the fog last night at 6:30 (above) to load iron ore pellets for Conneaut. The Cason J. Callaway is expected this evening. It made 18 trips to the Twin Ports last season, often bringing limestone here and then loading iron ore pellets, usually at Two Harbors. This will be [...]

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Getting your TWIC card

April 24, 2008

The Twin Ports are spread over two cities in two states. The people who operate the port work in a wide variety of occupations from stevedores and tug operators to guards and accountants. There are only two people who know everyone in the port. That would be Meredith Karasti (left) and Brenda Hennessey (right). They [...]

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Lee A. Tregurtha here for coal

April 23, 2008

The Lee A. Tregurtha came into port Tuesday afternoon to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources for Taconite Harbor. It likely departed for there very early this morning and is expected to leave there later today to load iron ore pellets at Two Harbors. It was followed at the coal dock by the Paul R. [...]

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American Century due here to load pellets

April 22, 2008

The American Century is due here this evening to load iron ore pellets at the CN Dock in West Duluth. The Century usually loads coal at Midwest Energy Resources, across the St. Louis River from the CN dock. It will take the cargo of pellets to Conneaut. On the previous trip to the Twin Ports, [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius here for wheat

April 21, 2008

The Adam E. Cornelius came into port on Sunday afternoon (above) to load wheat at the General Mills dock in Superior. This is the first trip here for the Cornelius this season. It was here 21 times last year. As on most of the trips it makes here, it is loading wheat at General Mills [...]

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Algoway back for 2nd trip

April 20, 2008

Most boats that come to the Twin Ports start loading or unloading cargo within minutes of their arrival. They depart minutes after that work is complete. Sailors on those boats usually work 4 hours on and 4 hours off, three shifts a day. They will still stand those shifts whether in port or out in [...]

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A barge named James L. Kuber

April 19, 2008

  I suppose if you only have one boat coming in for the day, it might as well be the biggest boat on the Great Lakes, and that is what we have today. The Paul R. Tregurtha will be here to load coal for the Detroit Edison power plant in St. Clair, Michigan. That happens [...]

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Arthur M. Anderson in with limestone

April 18, 2008

  The Arthur M. Anderson spent the winter layup at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay and made its first trip to Duluth yesterday, coming in with a cargo of limestone around 9 in the morning. It departed Duluth for Two Harbors late Thursday afternoon (above). It will load iron ore pellets there for Gary, Indiana. [...]

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Steamer Reserve now barge James L. Kuber

April 17, 2008

The tug Victory was set to arrive earlier this morning, pushing the barge James L. Kuber in front of it. The barge was last here on July 13th, 2007 when it was the steamer Reserve. It left on the 14th and is now coming back as the barge James L. Kuber. Above it is seen [...]

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Canadian Progress comes in from anchor

April 16, 2008

The Canadian Progress arrived yesterday but dropped anchor off the Superior piers to wait for the berth at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior to clear. That happened when the American Mariner departed Tuesday evening. The Canadian Progress probably came in later last night and likely departed earlier this morning. The American Mariner took its coal [...]

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American Spirit departs with pellets

April 15, 2008

The American Spirit departed Duluth last night at 6:45 (above) with a load of iron ore pellets for Zug Island, Michigan. It will be back in port in about 5 days to load iron ore pellets again, this time for Gary, Indiana. Not long after it departed last night, it should have passed the American [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha comes in

April 14, 2008

The Duluth piers never cease to amaze. For a couple days last week, people were down there trying to stay vertical while a blizzard with high winds from the north east attacked the shore line. In Duluth, people do two things when this happens. They stay home or they go down to the ship canal [...]

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Mesabi Miner comes in from the cold

April 13, 2008

The Mesabi Miner, after waiting for the weather to improve, came in to port on Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock (above). Today, the Twin Ports is refueling 2 Lake Superior ports with 3 boats. The Mesabi Miner will take coal to the Minnesota Power plant at Taconite Harbor. The Kaye E. Barker and the James [...]

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Storm halts vessel traffic

April 12, 2008

About 2 pm on Thursday, the Gadwall arrived in Duluth, the first salt water ship of the season. It was also the last boat to move in the harbor for one day and counting. Soon we will start up again with boats in a variety of positions, either in the harbor or out in the [...]

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Gadwall is first ocean going ship

April 11, 2008

On Thursday afternoon, just hours before an expected blizzard, the Hong Kong flagged and Chinese crewed Gadwall came into port. Last year, the ship was here at the end of its maiden voyage; this year it is the first salt water ship of the season. This year’s celebration planned for the ship was postponed until [...]

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American Century & American Integrity

April 10, 2008

The American Integrity came into port on Wednesday morning to load 62,000 tons of coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. The thousand footer was expected to depart very early this morning. Later today, her fleet mate, the American Century, equally as long, is due in port to load an equal amount of coal. Both [...]

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Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. has a problem

April 9, 2008

On January 14th, the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. arrived in port for winter layup but hit a submerged object while backing into the dock at Hallett 8 in Superior. It stayed there until Tuesday morning when three tugs moved it to the Enbridge Dock in Superior for continued repairs (above). The tug North Carolina is [...]

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Quebecois here with more cement

April 8, 2008

The Quebecois came into port last night (above) with a cargo of cement for St. Lawrence Cement in Duluth. This is the first cargo St. Lawrence will discharge this year, and it is the first visit here this season for the boat. Last year, the Canadian flagged steamer brought a cargo of cement here about [...]

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John J. Boland here instead of Silver Bay

April 7, 2008

Unless the Edward L. Ryerson departed on Sunday night, there was no traffic going in or out of the port yesterday. Today, the John J. Boland, seen above departing Duluth last July 4th, is making its first trip to the Twin Ports this season. It was originally set to load iron ore pellets at Silver [...]

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Edward L. Ryerson comes in Duluth entry!

April 6, 2008

Bad news for the owners of the Edward L. Ryerson can sometimes be good news for boat watchers at the Duluth Ship Canal. The Ryerson made an unexpected stop in the Twin Ports on Saturday afternoon to get some minor repairs at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. It came under the Lift Bridge with one of [...]

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American Integrity

April 5, 2008

In June, 2006, the Oglebay Norton and 5 fleet mates from the Oglebay Norton Company in Cleveland were sold to American Steamship in Buffalo. American Steamship boats are painted black and white with red on the stack. Oglebay Norton boats were iron ore red and a cream color. Just after the sale, new names were [...]

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Edgar B. Speer fights ice to get here

April 4, 2008

Two 1,000-footers are expected in port today to load coal for Detroit Edison power plants in St. Clair, Michigan. The American Integrity was expected early this morning and should be loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. It will likely depart this afternoon, leaving the dock open for the arrival of the American Century [...]

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Capt. Henry Jackman here for coal

April 3, 2008

The Capt. Henry Jackman came into port Wednesday morning at 7:00 to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources. It took the place of the departing Paul R. Tregurtha, finally returning to service after a week of repairs here caused by ice damage. The Tregurtha departed at 7:40 Wednesday morning. The Jackman departed at 2:25 in [...]

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Visiting in the world of Homeland Security

April 2, 2008

The border between Canada and the United States is getting more restricted every day. Canadian boats such as the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin still come into port, as it did this morning, with the same regularity and US boats still call at Canadian ports. The local customs officials board Canadian boats when they arrive. [...]

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Indiana Harbor back for more coal

April 1, 2008

The Indiana Harbor arrived in port yesterday at 6 pm, just a little later than the snow did (above). On March 22nd, it left the port after a winter layup at the Hallett 5 dock, taking coal to Silver Bay. There it loaded iron ore pellets for Ashtabula. It is back from that trip to [...]

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James R. Barker gets back to work

March 31, 2008

Ice is not nice this season, although the James R. Barker was able to get back to work yesterday, leaving Duluth on Sunday afternoon (above) with coal for Detroit Edison. It came into port last week with ice damage. The Paul R. Tregurtha remains at the Port Terminal getting repairs to ice damage to the [...]

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Peter R. Cresswell takes coal to Nanticoke

March 30, 2008

The Peter R. Cresswell arrived in the Twin Ports Saturday morning at 10 am to load 25,000 tons of coal. Above, it departed Duluth at 6:30 Saturday evening to take the cargo to Ontario Power Generation in Nanticoke. This is only its second trip to the Twin Ports since it was here 3 times in [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha gets repairs

March 29, 2008

Two thousand-foot long boats will be in the port today loading cargo. The American Integrity was expected last night, loading coal for Detroit Edison. It should depart this morning to be replaced by the American Century doing the same thing. Unfortunately, we already have 3 thousand footers in port in various stages of repair. The [...]

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Paul R. crew hosts TV film crew

March 28, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha was the first 1,000 footer to arrive in the Twin Ports this season, coming in late Wednesday evening. It also brought a video crew from the Discovery Channel, Canada along. They were working on a program for the Discovery Channel about the world’s biggest boats. The Tregurtha has that title on [...]

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James R. Barker arrives Twin Ports

March 27, 2008

The first thousand footers from beyond the Soo Locks will be in port today. The Paul R. Tregurtha, at 1,013 feet the longest of the 13 working the Great Lakes, was expected last night. After a stop for fuel and then some repairs, it was expected to be loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in [...]

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Ryerson even prettier now with new paint

March 26, 2008

After wintering at Fraser Shipyards (above), the Edward L. Ryerson was expected to depart the shipyard around 4 am this morning to go down the Superior channel to Burlington Northern to load iron ore pellets. After spending the winter layup in the dry dock at Fraser Shipyards, the Canadian flagged Frontenac is also expected to [...]

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Roger Blough departing for Conneaut

March 25, 2008

After 3 trips taking coal to Lake Superior ports, the Mesabi Miner was due here last night to load coal for Detroit Edison power plants at St. Clair, Michigan, beyond the Soo Locks. They will open today. Yesterday, both the John G. Munson and the Roger Blough started their season, the Munson going to Two [...]

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Algowood arrives Duluth from winter layup

March 24, 2008

The Soo Locks do not open until March 25th so Twin Ports boat movement is still pointed at ports within Lake Superior. The Edwin H. Gott left the port on Sunday morning to load taconite at Two Harbors. The Lee A. Tregurtha departed Duluth on Sunday afternoon to load taconite for Indiana Harbor at Silver [...]

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Alder is a hard worker

March 23, 2008

The Coast Guard cutter Alder was out Friday making sure shipping channels were open for the boat traffic expected this weekend. Shipping channels are not the only areas in the harbor where the ice must be broken up. Boats that come to port usually have to make a turn somewhere since they will be going [...]

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Indiana Harbor ready to start her new season

March 22, 2008

In yesterday’s Duluth Shipping News, there was a picture of the Aerial Bridge in the up position for the first time in two months but it was only practice; no vessels came through. Last night, the Mesabi Miner filled up the void when it came in at 7:00, the first boat traffic of the season [...]

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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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Midwest to Mesabi Miner to Marquette

March 20, 2008

The Mesabi Miner show continues. Above, it was loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior on Saturday before leaving the next day for Marquette. Note the ship loader in the bottom of the picture, extended over the boat’s cargo hold. The boat returned yesterday from that trip and spent the day at Midwest loading [...]

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Mesabi Miner at Superior entry

March 19, 2008

With help from the cutter Alder and tug North Carolina, the Mesabi Miner cleared the lighthouse at the Superior entry on Sunday (above). It is expected back here today to load coal for Taconite Harbor. Last January, it was the last boat to arrive in port for winter layup, coming under the Bridge on January [...]

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Biscayne Bay crewmembers get a break

March 18, 2008

Shortly after the Alder and the tug North Carolina got the Mesabi Miner out of the harbor on Sunday and on the way to Marquette to deliver coal, the Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay arrived after clearing out the ice at Marquette and spending Saturday night in the ice off the Apostle Islands. Yesterday, they [...]

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Tug North Carolina icebreaking

March 17, 2008

Captain George LaTour had the Great Lakes tug North Carolina out on Sunday morning (above) to help the Mesabi Miner get away from its berth at Midwest Energy Resources and down the Superior channel to the open water just beyond the Superior entry. The Miner is taking coal to Marquette and then returning to Superior [...]

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Alder and Mesabi Miner conference

March 16, 2008

Alder Commander Kevin Wirth (left) invited Mesabi Miner captain Scott Briggs (right) and his first mate, and relief captain, Tom McMullen (middle), to join him aboard the Alder yesterday (above) while they broke ice in the harbor. Briggs was scheduled to take his 1,000-footer off the dock at Midwest Energy today at 8 am to [...]

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Mesabi Miner trying to depart

March 15, 2008

It’s the time of year when our Coast Guard cutter Alder has no privacy. It has left a track wherever it went while breaking ice this past week. Until today, it was the only vessel in port that was moving. Eleven boats are positioned close to those tracks, getting ready to move out. Later today, [...]

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Miner here (with help) for winter layup

January 22, 2008

The Mesabi Miner came under the Lift Bridge on Monday morning at 6:15. Just after clearing the Bridge, the 1,000-footer ground to a halt in the ice behind the DECC. The tug Kentucky had trouble breaking away from the ice at the tug berth but was soon on the scene opening a crack in the [...]

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Kentucky provides tug assist

January 21, 2008

In the summer, the Great Lakes tugs can often be seen helping vessels make their way around the harbor and up to a berth. Above, the tug Kentucky is pulling the Canadian flagged Algoisle from a berth at CHS in Superior in November, 2004 so it can move down the Duluth harbor and out the [...]

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Mesabi Miner out of the ice

January 20, 2008

To January 1st, we had 1,186 visits by commercial boats this season, an increase of 38 boats over last year’s 1,148 visits. Up to this morning, 56 boats arrived in January. The Mesabi Miner left port on Friday morning with 58,000 tons of coal to take to Marquette, Michigan. It is expected back here late [...]

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Fraser Shipyards, winter layup 1964-65

January 19, 2008

When the Mesabi Miner comes through the Superior entry late Sunday or early Monday morning, it will be the last of 12 boats that will spend the winter lay up here. It, like 4 of the other boats, is over 1,000 feet long. Back in the winter of 1964-65, boats were a lot smaller and [...]

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Mesabi Miner will end season soon

January 18, 2008

With the arrival of the John G. Munson and Edwin H. Gott early Thursday morning, we now have 11 of the 12 boats in port that will spend the winter here. The last boat to arrive for winter is the Mesabi Miner. It came under the Lift Bridge on Thursday around noon (above) but was [...]

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Edwin H. Gott making turn in harbor

January 17, 2008

Duluth sent and will receive the last two boats to go through the Soo Locks in each direction this year before they closed for the winter. The Michipicoten departed here with taconite at 1:40 Monday afternoon. It arrived at the Soo Locks and went through at 11:10 Tuesday night. In the other direction, the Edwin [...]

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St. Clair arrives with ice

January 16, 2008

Two of the last 3 boats expected here for winter lay up should be here early Thursday morning. That would be the John G. Munson and the Edwin H. Gott. The Mesabi Miner is also expected on Thursday to get one more load of coal. It will take it to Marquette. When it returns here [...]

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McCarthy in the icy river

January 15, 2008

The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. came into port Monday morning for winter lay up. It is seen above at 9:30, slowly moving through the ice on the St. Louis River on the way to its winter berth at the Hallett 8 dock in Superior. It experienced some problems when backing into the dock. The John [...]

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Lone Paul R. Tregurtha watcher

January 14, 2008

The Paul R. Tregurtha came into port on Sunday morning with only a small number of people greeting the boat (above). It is the 58th and last trip here for the season. It loaded about 62,000 tons of coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior on Sunday for Detroit Edison, its usual destination. It was [...]

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CSL Niagara departs Duluth as season-end nears

January 13, 2008

By the end of the day, the last Canadian flagged vessel of the year, the Michipicoten, is expected to depart the port. That of course does not count the Frontenac. It is spending the winter at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. The Canadian flagged CSL Niagara departed the port with taconite on Saturday morning (above). The [...]

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Lee A. Tregurtha to load coal for Taconite Harbor

January 12, 2008

The shipping season is slowly closing down. There were 3 boats that arrived on Friday for winter layup; the American Spirit, Indiana Harbor and the Canadian flagged Frontenac. A question often asked at the ship canal is: what’s in that boat? Today the answer for the three above was; a lot of tired sailors going [...]

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St. Clair greeted by North Pier Light

January 11, 2008

After taking a load of taconite down to Zug Harbor, near Detroit, the St. Clair arrived back in Duluth on Thursday afternoon (above) to take on its last load of the season, coal from Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. It will take that cargo to its namesake city, St. Clair, Michigan. The coal will be [...]

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Anna Marie moving some ice

January 10, 2008

Bad weather at the other end of Lake Superior pushed Wednesday’s full schedule to today. Warm weather here has stalled the ice buildup in the harbor, but this late in the season, most boats still need help. Above, the Philip R. Clarke is moving slowly through the harbor on its way to the CN Dock [...]

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CSL Assiniboine enters cold ship canal

January 9, 2008

The CSL Assiniboine likes Duluth in cold weather. It will be here today for only the 11th time this season, but the second time this month. Of 6 trips here last year, two were in January and of the 7 times it was here in 2005, two were in January. Above, it is seen knocking [...]

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Ryerson here for winter layup

January 8, 2008

The Edward L. Ryerson came under the Lift Bridge late Monday afternoon (above) for winter layup. It is the first of an anticipated 12 boats that will spend the winter in the Twin Ports. It almost became the first boat in December, but at the last moment, more work was found for the boat. It [...]

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