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| The Edgar B. Speer arrived through the Duluth ship canal this morning (October 10, 2016) at 11:20. She is currently at the Port Terminal taking a short delay. This is only the 3rd time this season we have seen her in Duluth, and she will likely leave here to load iron ore pellets in Two Harbors. She has been a regular visitor in Two Harbors all season, going there for iron ore pellets about 5 times a month. She takes most, if not all, of the Two Harbors pellets to steel mills in Gary, Indiana. This year she did load iron ore pellets at the BNSF Superior on June 14th and at CN Duluth on August 22nd. |
Speer makes rare visit to Duluth
October 10, 2016 by 1 Comment
2 red and white; a US and Canadian flag
June 25, 2014 by 4 Comments
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| The Edgar B. Speer arrived today for her first trip to the Twin Ports this season, coming under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge at 8:16 this morning (June 25, 2014). She will be loading iron ore pellets at the CN dock in West Duluth after she takes on fuel at the Calumet Fuel Dock at the Port Terminal. She made 9 trips here last year.The Canadian flagged Thunder Bay (below) came under the bridge this morning at 4:39; she is here for the 3rd time this season; she was here 6 times last season. Below, she is waiting at the inner anchorage for the Indiana Harbor to complete loading coal at Midwest Energy Resources (note her anchor chain off her bow). |
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The Block and the Speer go out and in
June 27, 2013 by 5 Comments
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| With an office right next to the Lift Bridge, I have it pretty easy when it comes to being close by when I want to take a picture of a boat. It became even easier when I moved to an apartment overlooking the harbor. But today, I got up from the breakfast table and turned around to see the Edgar B. Speer pulling away from her temporary berth at the Port Terminal and waiting for me to get my camera before she turned toward the bridge, which would have taken the morning sun shining on the Speer’s east facing side away. With that done, I got in my car and drove to work, just in time to see the Joseph L. Block arriving to discharge limestone. |
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Active at the Port Terminal
June 23, 2012 by 2 Comments
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| On Friday, June 22, 2012, the HHL Amazon (left) was discharging wind turbine nacelles and the Edgar B. Speer was in for some repairs. Over by the gantry cranes (unseen at right), the Alamosborg was discharging wind turbine parts. Work at the Port Terminal was halted for one day by the flood; 3 feet of water over much of the warehouse made sure of that. Elsewhere in the port. the water put Midwest Energy Resources in Superior out of commission, perhaps until July. Boats such at the Paul R. Tregurtha and the James R. Barker have been redirected to the CN Dock in West Duluth, just across the St. Louis River from Midwest, to load iron ore pellets instead of coal. |
Speer arrives for layup last winter
July 11, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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| The Edgar B. Speer was expected last night after discharging a cargo of iron ore pellets in Gary. It will load another cargo of pellets today to take to Gary. This is its 9th trip to the Twin Ports this season. It came in for winter layup on January 16th this year (pictured) and departed with iron ore pellets on April 5th, also for Gary. It was built in 1980 in two sections, one built in Toledo and one in Lorain. When assembled, the Speer measured 1,004 feet long. Photo taken on January 16, 2009 |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 07-11-2009 |
Edgar B. Speer gets a very special Father’s Day greeting
June 22, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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| Sunday was Father’s Day, often not so happy for families where Father is on a boat somewhere on the Great Lakes. But Edgar B. Speer captain Daniel Rentschler and third mate Thomas Lanthier were lucky. Rentschler brought the Speer into the Duluth ship canal early Sunday afternoon and was greeted by a lineup of happy kids holding banners wishing both fathers a happy day. From the left is Sarah Rentschler, the wife and mother, followed by their 2 children Gretchen and Ethan. Gretchen is under the sign with her hands over her ears. She knows what is coming; her father is about to blow the boat’s whistle. Going down the line, Tom and Chandra’s 4 children: Curtis, Paige, Kassidy and Dylan (the last two mostly hidden behind their banners). Chandra is not seen in the picture; she was taking a picture. Sarah and Chandra then took all the children over to the boat where they wished father a Happy Fathers Day with hugs instead of banners. Photo taken on June 21,2009 |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 06-22-2009 |
Edgar B. Speer arrives early
April 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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| The first and second full-seaway-transit salt-water ships arrived on Sunday morning. The third and fourth will be here today; the Federal Schelde going to Burlington Northern to load iron ore pellets and the Sabrina coming to load grain at CHS. Last night the Edgar B. Speer, originally expected today, arrived in port (above) and crossed paths in the Duluth harbor with the Paul R. Tregurtha on its way out with coal for Marquette. The Speer will be undergoing some repairs before loading iron ore pellets for Gary. As you can see from the schedule, today will be a busy day, probably the busiest day of the young season so far. |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 04-13-2009 |
Edgar B. Speer starts the new season
April 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment
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| When the Mackinaw departs the port at 8 am this morning, we will have no Coast Guard ice breakers in port. (The Biscayne Bay left on Sunday morning.) One hopes that is a sure sign of spring. The weather forecast suggests we will have warmer temperatures and winds from the west for a few days, both strong indications that we will not need an ice breaker for a while, hopefully a long while. The Edgar B. Speer came in for winter layup on January 16, 2009 at 8:38 in the morning, just 33 minutes before the last boat of the season, the Edwin H. Gott, arrived. After loading iron ore pellets at the CN Dock in West Duluth, the Speer started its new season on Sunday morning (above), departing under the Lift Bridge for Gary. |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 04-06-2009 |
Edgar B. Speer needed help departing
December 23, 2008 by Leave a Comment
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| 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. The tug Edward H. was also breaking ice for both the Speer and the Bough. The Alder left for Thunder Bay last night to break ice in their harbor but should be back sometime today, where it appears it will be needed. Photo taken on December 22, 2008 |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-23-2008 |
Edgar B. Speer departs Duluth canal
December 20, 2008 by Leave a Comment
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| 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 iron ore pellets in Gary. It will load more iron ore pellets here and then return to Gary for discharge. It is seen above departing Duluth for Gary this past August. Photo taken on August 25, 2008 |
| *submitted to the Duluth News Tribune for publication on 12-20-2008 |