J. W. Shelley, former Algocen, is here

October 8, 2008

The J. W. Shelley came into port late Thursday afternoon on October 2nd, 2008. She is the former Algocen and was built in 1968

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A different kind of ship comes to Duluth

October 5, 2008

The Kent Trader arrived Duluth on October 5, 2008 with her cargo holds filled with 29 Gamesa nacelles loaded in Spain. For many years, salt water ships visiting Duluth have had their superstructure (pilot house and crew quarters, office and galley) at the stern of the ship. You will note in the picture above that [...]

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More wind turbine equipment for Duluth

October 3, 2008

The Kent Trader arrived Duluth on Friday night, October 3rd. On Saturday morning, Lake Superior Warehousing began to discharge the cargo of 29 Gamesa nacelles loaded in Spain. The morning started out with a heavy fog but it soon cleared. The nacelle above has just been pulled from the cargo hold of the ship and [...]

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Lee A. Tregurtha turns up the Duluth harbor

September 27, 2008

Late September still brings boat watchers to the Duluth ship canal. Many were there to watch the Lee A. Tregurtha come in around 6 pm on Saturday, September 27th, 2008.

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Three boats in the Duluth harbor

September 24, 2008

After a wait at anchor off the Duluth piers, the Federal Ems came into port today (Wednesday, September 24th, 2008) to load grain. The Vista King was right behind her giving tourists a close up view of the action. The tug North Dakota is at right, moving in to help the Federal Ems make her [...]

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Kaministiqua

September 13, 2008

The Kaministiqua started life as the Saskatchewan Pioneer in 1982 when she was launched in Glasgow. She was built for salt water and Great Lakes work, allowing the ship to work the oceans during the two months of winter when the Great Lakes are closed. The first ocean trip (after the initial trip from Scotland) [...]

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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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Alpena here on 5th visit of year

August 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 Heron waits for the Callaway

August 18, 2008

Monday afternoon, August 18th, 2008; the Cason J. Callaway had just departed Duluth while the research vessel Blue Heron was circling around to come in on the next lift of the Duluth Aerial Bridge.

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2008 Bayfront Blues Festival August 7-10, 2008

August 8, 2008

Friday, August 8, 2008 Centerville All Stars   Shannon Curfman Ruthie Foster Anthony Gomes & the New Soul Cowboys Shemekia Copeland Saturday, August 9, 2008 Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants The Rusty Wright Band The Hoopsnakes Sunday, August 10, 2008 Davina and the Vagabonds Mike Zito

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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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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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Coal from Duluth to Nova Scotia

May 29, 2008

The Atlantic Huron arrived this morning around 9:30 to load coal for Nova Scotia, a trip that will take her into the Atlantic. She started life in 1984 as the Prairie Harvest and became the Atlantic Huron in 1989. She lost that name to become the Melvin H. Baker in 1994. In 1998, she again [...]

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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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Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. arrives Duluth

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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Asiaborg brings wind turbine to Duluth

May 9, 2008

The Asiaborg came under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge on May 7th, 2008 and encountered a traffic jam as she turned up the Duluth harbor. The CSL Assiniboine (in the rear at right) came into port at 4:25 pm, the Asiaborg (at left) arrived at 4:37 and the John J. Boland came between them before [...]

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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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Mesabi Miner about 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 [...]

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Bayfront Blues Festival August 9-12, 2007

August 10, 2007

Friday, August 10, 2007 Lamont Cranston Band Mighty Lester Tommy Castro Ian Parker … as the salt water ship Vanessa C comes under the Lift Bridge Ian Parker Although Roxanne Potvin didn’t have her usual side kick Deborah Coleman with her (she had connecting flight troubles), Roxanne’s part of the Blues Caravan Women was a [...]

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Federal Patroller has had many names

April 30, 2007

On April 19th, the Federal Patroller departed Montreal for Burns Harbor to discharge general cargo. On the 24th, it left Burns Harbor for Duluth, arriving Sunday around 5 pm (above). It was last here in April, 2004 but it was called the Atlantic Patroller. Built in 1999, it has also been named the Atlantic Pride, [...]

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Presque Isle, a tug and a barge

April 29, 2007

After discharging taconite in Conneaut, Ohio, the Presque Isle will be here today to load more taconite. Above, it is departing Duluth on August 2, 2002. This is the 3rd trip here for the Presque Isle this month. It is a unique tug-barge combination that together measures 1,000 feet long. When here, it usually loads [...]

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The Fairlane officers and crew

April 28, 2007

The Dutch flagged Fairlane arrived in Duluth on Tuesday morning with heavy equipment. After discharging that cargo, they were scheduled to depart shortly after midnight this morning. During a break, the Captain and crew posed for a picture. First row: able seaman Quillermo Denampo Jr (Filipino), able seaman Victor P. Amponin (Filipino), cadet Nicolaas A [...]

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The tug Mark Hannah brings salt water

April 27, 2007

The tug Mark Hannah arrived in port on Thursday morning with a barge filled with calcium chloride, otherwise known as saltwater. The cargo was pumped from salt mines near Ludington, Michigan. The source of the calcium chloride is essentially a well near or in a salt mine. It is a high grade liquid (42% salt [...]

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Moving the Schnabel car

April 26, 2007

Spring time is a time to go outside and get some exercise. It turns out rail road cars also need exercise. The world’s largest rail car is the Schnabel, Model CEBX-800. When not in use, it is kept at the Port Terminal. It has been there since it was used to carry a very large [...]

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Algosoo here for coal

April 24, 2007

Just when it was starting to look like we might not get so many visits from salt water ships this season, we are now expecting 7 of them in the next week. The Fairlane and the Irma should be arriving a little after the sun rises at 6:05 this morning. Both may make pretty pictures [...]

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Polish flagged Irma here for 12th trip

April 23, 2007

The Polish owned and operated Irma will be here today for the 12th time since it was built in 2000 in Japan. It only made one trip in 2005 and only one in 2006. The ship has 6 regular cargo holds and it will be filling each hold with a different grain on this trip. [...]

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The James R. Barker took coal to Marquette, Michigan on St. Pat’s Day

April 22, 2007

At the beginning of the season, the Mesabi Miner loaded 3 cargos of coal for Lake Superior ports before any other boats had moved. Last year, the James R. Barker did the same thing. Above, the Barker is departing Duluth last year for Marquette, Michigan on March 17th. Today, the Barker was expected to leave [...]

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Vista King and Vista Star come out for spring

April 21, 2007

The Duluth inner harbor witnessed two important signs of spring on Friday, despite the continued presence of floating ice. Both the Vista King and the Vista Star made their way from their winter home at Fraser Shipyards in Superior to their summer positions; the King tying up at the the dock in front of the [...]

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Atlantic Erie goes through ice with grain

April 20, 2007

There should be 4 boats arriving today to load coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. Three of the boats are US flagged 1,000-footers taking coal to 3 different ports. When they are through, the Canadian Transport will move in although it may drop anchor off the Duluth piers until the big guys get done. [...]

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Philip R. Clarke brings limestone from Calcite, Michigan

April 19, 2007

The Philip R. Clarke loaded limestone in Calcite, Michigan and is expected here today to discharge part of that cargo at the Hallett #8 Dock in Superior before moving across the St. Louis River to discharge the rest of the limestone at the CN Dock in West Duluth. That completed, it will load taconite pellets [...]

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Canadian Progress to load coal

April 18, 2007

The Canadian Progress (now Algoma Progress) arrived in port last night, making its 2nd trip of the year. It was first here on April 9th. Both trips found the boat loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. That is the usual loading dock for the Canadian Progress, and like all the trips it makes [...]

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Going to Two Harbors on a dredge

April 16, 2007

The crane barge Dean R. Smith was pushed out of the Duluth piers by the tug Miss Laura early Monday evening. In the picture above they are just beyond the North Pier Light, making a turn toward Two Harbors. Owned and operated by Marine Tech, a local dredging and construction company, the rig will spend [...]

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Paul R. Tregurtha crew come home to Duluth

April 16, 2007

Brad Johnson and Brian Gallop didn’t just arrive in Duluth on the Paul R. Tregurtha Sunday afternoon to work. They were both coming home as well. Brad (above, left) is second cook on the boat. When not on the boat, he is at home in Cloquet. Brian (above, right) is a conveyor man on the [...]

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Cason J. Callaway brings limestone from Calcite

April 15, 2007

The Cason J. Callaway came into port on Saturday morning at 12:47 with the first cargo of limestone for the year. Loaded in Calcite, Michigan, it first discharged that cargo and then loaded taconite at the CN Dock in West Duluth. It likely departed Duluth this morning, about the same time it arrived the day [...]

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American Integrity here for more coal

April 14, 2007

The American Integrity arrived Duluth on Friday, coming under the Lift Bridge around 3 in the afternoon (above). This is the 3rd trip to the Twin Ports for the 1,000 footer that used to come here as the Oglebay Norton. Since last June, when Oglebay Norton sold the boat to American Steamship, it arrives under [...]

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Frontenac here for 2nd time this season

April 13, 2007

The Frontenac left Duluth on Thursday evening (above) after making its 2nd trip to the Twin Ports this season. Yesterday, it loaded taconite at the CN Dock in West Duluth. On most of its trips to the Twin Ports, the boat can be found loading taconite at the Burlington Northern Dock in Superior. It is [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius departs with wheat

April 12, 2007

The Adam E. Cornelius departed Duluth on Wednesday afternoon (above) with a load of wheat for General Mills in Buffalo. It was its 1st trip here this season. It was here 15 times last year. Today, the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. will follow the American Century loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. The [...]

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Rebecca comes to Duluth

April 11, 2007

Spring can’t be too far away if our tugs are bringing salt water ships into port to load grain. The Rebecca was the first saltie of the year, coming in yesterday afternoon. It is now loading grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. Above, the tug Minnesota had the stern of the Rebecca while the [...]

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Ice not nice

April 10, 2007

The Canadian Transport came into port last night around 6 pm (above). It went over to Midwest Energy Resources to load coal and likely left early this morning. The Algolake followed it in last night to get fuel, and then had planned to go back under the bridge and to the anchorage to wait its [...]

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Charles M. Beeghly still the Beeghly

April 9, 2007

Great Lakes captains and their crews who are coming to Duluth today must be very patient people. Some of them have waited for good weather at the other end of the lake for up to 4 days. The weather cleared and they are all coming here today, give or take an hour or a day [...]

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Algolake delayed by high wind at the Soo

April 8, 2007

High winds are keeping a lot of boats away from the Twin Ports. Yesterday’s traffic has merged into today’s, and arrivals today are still not certain. Many boats have been anchored in Whitefish Bay on the other side of the Lake. The Alpena, scheduled to arrive yesterday, is still expected sometime today, as is the [...]

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Kaye R. Barker gets repairs at Fraser Shipyards

April 6, 2007

There may be only 2 boats under the Lift Bridge today, each one making its first visit to the Twin Ports this season. The Canadian Olympic will be here to load coal for Nanticoke, while the Presque Isle will be loading taconite for Gary. The Presque Isle was delayed for a while by weather at [...]

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Canadian Olympic here for coal

April 5, 2007

The American Integrity arrived Duluth on Wednesday morning to load coal for the Cleveland Cliffs power plant in Silver Bay. It should have departed late last night. It is expected back here today to load coal for the Detroit Edison power plant at St. Clair, Michigan, its usual destination. The James R. Barker also arrived [...]

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Maritime Trader, first ship here from other end of Seaway

April 4, 2007

Captain Jim Perkins brought his Canadian flagged Maritime Trader under the Aerial Bridge Tuesday morning a little after 7 am. He started his journey in Windsor, Ontario where the boat was laid up for the winter. He took a grain cargo to Quebec and then traveled the entire length of the St. Lawrence Seaway, in [...]

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Maritime Trader, first from beyond the Soo

April 3, 2007

Today, we celebrate the last first of the new season. The Twin Ports path to the Atlantic Ocean and the worlds beyond is the St. Lawrence Seaway System. The Canadian flagged Maritime Trader will be here today after traveling the full length of that system. (Above, it is about to enter the Duluth ship canal [...]

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Mesabi Miner helps with the ice breaking

April 1, 2007

On March 16, when the Mesabi Miner was at the same place it was yesterday morning, the Captain called the Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay to thank them for cutting a path through the ice so the Miner could continue on to Marquette with the first cargo of the new season. Sunday morning, the Captain [...]

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Munson in ice

April 1, 2007

On Friday, the John G. Munson was waiting in the ice off the Duluth piers to move over to Two Harbors (above). There it was to load taconite as soon as the berth cleared. Sometime between then and Saturday afternoon, waiting in the ice changed to stopped in the ice. There was some hope that [...]

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Munson waits for weather

March 31, 2007

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

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Ypermachos finally comes into port

November 10, 2006

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

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Ypermachos at anchor

November 9, 2006

The Ypermachos has been at anchor for the last couple days, often hidden behind the fog. It lifted a bit yesterday allowing the picture above to be taken. This ship is the same ship that ran aground off Park Point in November, 1985. It has also been here as the Mecta Sea and the Union. [...]

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Ypermachos, ex-Socrates, back in Duluth

November 8, 2006

The Ypermachos (now the Zuni Princess) should be arriving off the Duluth piers sometime today. It will probably drop anchor and wait for the berth at CHS in Superior to clear. This is the first time this ship has been here under this name. It has visited here with three other names, one of which [...]

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Pontoporos here for durum wheat

April 30, 2006

The Pontoporos came into port a little after midnight on Saturday morning. It is loading durum wheat for Algeria and should be departing for there this evening. The ship was built in 1984 in Osaka, Japan and is owned by Ocean Freighters of Piraeus, Greece. Before coming to Duluth, the ship discharged cargo in Burns [...]

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Canadian Enterprise here to load coal

April 29, 2006

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

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Mesabi Miner

April 28, 2006

There should be a lot of ship traffic today in the Twin Ports with a variety of ships likely to drop anchor off the Duluth piers while they wait for their berth. After discharging cargo in Oshawa and Windsor, both in Ontario, the Yick Hua will be here today for the first time since September, [...]

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Chios Pride here for grain

April 27, 2006

The Chios Pride will arrive in the Twin Ports today to load grain. It may drop anchor around noon and wait for a berth to clear later in the afternoon. It has only been here 11 times since 1996, and not since December 10th, 2004. Above, it is entering the Duluth harbor in July, 2001. [...]

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Canadian Progress for coal

April 26, 2006

The Canadian Progress (now Algoma Progress) will be here today for the 2nd time this year. Like the first trip in late March, they will be loading about 30,000 tons of low sulfur coal brought in by train from Wyoming and Montana. The Progress was here 12 times last year, loading the same cargo. They [...]

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Federal Margaree due here to load bentonite

April 25, 2006

After making stops in Toronto and Hamilton, the Federal Margaree is due here this morning to load bentonite at the Hallett Dock. It will then move over to the AGP elevator to load flax and peas. Built in China in 2005, the ship made two visits here last year. It will depart Duluth later in [...]

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Reserve finally leaves

April 24, 2006

Two vessels that have been waiting to move will finally be sailing today. The Reserve came in for winter layup on Janaury 12th. In early March, it was sold by Oglebay Norton to K&K Warehousing, Inc. of Menominee, Michigan for $4 million. It should depart Duluth sometime today for Silver Bay. The Olympic Mentor has [...]

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Olympic Mentor to come in from anchor

April 23, 2006

The Olympic Mentor is at anchor off the Duluth piers and will likely come into port to load spring wheat on Monday. Above, it is entering the harbor with a tug assist in August, 2003. On that visit, the ship had a crew of 24, 10 from Honduras, one from Russia and the rest from [...]

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Kaye E. Barker here on Sunday

April 22, 2006

The Kaye E. Barker started life as the Edward B. Greene, sailing for Cleveland Cliffs. It was also operated by Ford as the Benson Ford. In 1989, Ford got out of the shipping business and it was sold to the current owner, Interlake Steamship Company. The boat is named after the wife of James R. [...]

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John B. Aird makes first trip of year

April 21, 2006

The John B. Aird made 9 trips here last year. Today, the Canadian flagged laker will be here for the first time this season. With 5 boats here today to load coal at one dock, the Aird, like some of the others, may have to drop anchor off the Duluth piers and wait its turn. [...]

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Adam E. Cornelius loading taconite

April 20, 2006

It will be a busy day in the port today. We have four thousand footers loading coal, four boats loading taconite, and four loading grain. One, the Winona, is in port waiting to load grain after discharging steel coils. The Adam E. Cornelius will be here to load taconite. Built as the Roger M. Kyes, [...]

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Yarmouth loads wheat

April 19, 2006

The Yarmouth (now the San Teodoro) is currently loading wheat in Superior. The ship was built in 1985 and has been here 7 times since 1996. It came here once as the Federal Oslo in 2000, and since then as the Yarmouth. It will likely depart Duluth sometime this afternoon, taking the cargo to Tunisia, [...]

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Catching up on the Algolake

April 18, 2006

At 23 years of age, Algolake 3rd mate Audrey Tremblay is starting her second year on the Great Lakes. She served on both the John B. Aird and the Algocape last year. From her hometown of Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, she went to L’Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ) for her officer training. While the Algolake was in [...]

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Winona here

April 17, 2006

A ship called the Vermontborg was built in Romania in 2003. In early January, 2004, it was being towed to the Netherlands to go into service when the tow line broke. The ship was grounded on rocks off an English island called Guernsey, in the English Channel just off the coast of France. Freed 15 [...]

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Mandarin to Duluth

April 16, 2006

The Mandarin should be here this afternoon to load grain. It is one of many salt water ships that come here under charter to Canfornav (Canadian Forest Navigation). As this one, many of these ships are named after ducks. We have seen the Bluebill, Bluewing, Greenwing and Pintail here before. True to its name, the [...]

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Tug Lake Superior returns

April 15, 2006

There were at least two new signs of spring on Friday. The local tug Statesboro assisted the DECC’s tug Lake Superior, formerly owned by the Corps of Engineers, into its familiar place under the stern of the William A. Irvin. This year, as last year, ice cream will be for sale on the Lake Superior. [...]

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Federal Nakagawa loading durum wheat for Algeria

April 14, 2006

Summer has finally arrived! We should see one and probably two salt water ships at anchor off the Duluth piers during the day. Both ships will be waiting to load grain at the CHS terminal in Superior. The Kwintebank carries a minimal crew of nine. On a previous trip, three were Dutch, one was from [...]

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Interlake officials here for Sherwin

April 13, 2006

Interlake officials (above) were at Fraser Shipyards yesterday evaluating the condition of the John Sherwin, towed there on Tuesday after spending the last 25 years out of service in the Duluth Superior harbor. From left to right, Bob Dorn, Senior Vice President, Ian Sharp, Fleet Supervisor and Mark Barker, Director of Engineering were paying close [...]

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The historic Middletown arrives

April 12, 2006

The historic Middletown arrived in the Twin Ports yesterday to discharge limestone. It was the second trip here this season. The Frontenac is expected to arrive today for its first visit of the season. It will load taconite. Last year, the Canadian flagged Frontenac was here 16 times while the Middletown made 20 trips. The [...]

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John Sherwin finally departs Duluth

April 11, 2006

The John Sherwin is scheduled to be towed this morning to Fraser Shipyards in Superior. Plans call for it to be immediately put in dry dock for an evaluation of its hull. Owned by Interlake Steamship of Cleveland, the Sherwin has remained idle at several Twin Ports docks since 1981. Its sister ship, the Charles [...]

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The St. Clair takes coal to St. Clair

April 10, 2006

We have 3 boats loading coal and two discharging limestone today. The St. Clair (above, departing Duluth in July, 2004) will be here to load coal to take to Detroit Edison’s Belle River Power Plant near St. Clair, Michigan. Although the St. Clair moves a variety of cargos to many different Great Lakes ports, it [...]

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Who wins?

April 9, 2006

The Columbia Star came in yesterday afternoon to load coal as soon as the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. completed loading. Not long after that, the Oglebay Norton entered the Duluth harbor and tied up at the Port Terminal to wait for the Columbia Star. Somewhere out in the lake (Saturday), the Algolake was moving along, [...]

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Columbia Star loading 62,000 tons of coal

April 8, 2006

Four thousand footers will be here today loading coal and taconite. The Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. should be first in, loading 62,000 tons of coal at Midwest Energy Resources in Superior. The coal for this particular load came from 3 different coal mines in Montana. The McCarthy will be taking it to electric power plants [...]

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Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin & Atlantic Huron working together

April 7, 2006

We should have two visitors from Canada Steamship Lines today, which is always interesting. Many of their boats, including the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, are remakes combining sections of old boats with entirely new sections. That also is a chance to repaint the boats, in the case of Canada Steamship Lines, usually bright red. [...]

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American Mariner to start season

April 6, 2006

The American Mariner, which has spent much of the winter in dry dock at the Fraser Shipyards in Superior (above), should finally go out to make a living, in this case, loading taconite at Two Harbors for Zug Island, Michigan. Zug Island is a man made island in River Rouge, Michigan, just south of Detroit, [...]

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Ziemia Cieszynska welcomed to port

April 5, 2006

The Ziemia Cieszynska came in early yesterday morning and should depart with durum wheat for Italy later today. After that, the ship will move to a shipyard, probably in Bulgaria, for routine inspection in dry dock. Above left, ship captain Jan Jarosz from Poland watches over the first ship welcoming ceremonies in the pilot house [...]

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Ziemia Cieszynska, first saltie of season

April 4, 2006

The last big first of this shipping season probably happened early this morning when the first salt water ship of the season, the Ziemia Cieszynska, was due to come under the bridge. Built in Turkey in 1992, the ship is operated by the Polish Steamship Company in Szczecin, Poland. The vessel made stops in Cleveland [...]

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The Courtney Burton, now American Fortitude, in Duluth with limestone

April 3, 2006

The Courtney Burton (above, departing Duluth in August, 2002) should arrive today for the first time this season bringing the first limestone of the season into the port. And it appears that the Earl W. Oglebay will finally get started on the season, leaving the boat’s winter layup at the Fraser Shipyards in Superior for [...]

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Old ice

April 2, 2006

Today is thousand footer day for Duluth, Superior and Two Harbors. Five of them will be loading coal and taconite. We are, I think, still waiting for our first load of limestone of the season. We should be loading the first grain on Tuesday morning when the first salt water ship of the year, the [...]

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Earl W. Oglebay delayed in Duluth

April 1, 2006

The Earl W. Oglebay was set to depart its winter berth at Fraser Shipyard today, leaving only the Reserve and the American Mariner still in port from the winter layup. It was going to go to Silver Bay to load taconite, but two thousand footers got on the Silver Bay schedule, pushing the 630 foot [...]

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Edward H.

January 1, 2006

The tug Edward H. was purchased by Mike Ojard, who, along with his two sons, own Heritage Marine of Knife River.They picked her up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in October, 2007 as the Forney, although she was built in 1944 for the US Corps of Engineers as ST-707. They brought the tug to Duluth in October, [...]

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Algolake: June 8, 2005

June 8, 2005

The Algolake came under the Lift Bridge at 11:30 on Saturday morning. After clearing the bridge, it continued straight ahead until it arrived at the Cutler Salt Dock in Duluth to discharge salt that was loaded in Goderich, Ontario. When completed, it would be going over to the Midwest Energy Resources coal dock to load [...]

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