FAQ!

Frequently asked Questions!
If you have a question, it has probably been asked before - feel free to use the Contact Form to ask questions.

 Website and camera operation
1. Who operates the cameras and duluthharborcam.com?
Dennis O'Hara

2. Why does the website have ads?
The ads help support the operation of duluthharborcam.com by supplying about half the cost of operation.

3. Can I contribute to help support duluthharborcam.com
Certainly, I usually run several hundred dollars deficit each month and any help is appreciated.

4. I signed up for boat alerts and often see a boats come in without notice.
I send out the boat alerts when I am in the office and happen to see a boats, so, no guarantees.
You can get a good estimate of arrivals and departures at : duluthboats.com
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Boat Traffic
1. When is the shipping season?
The shipping season runs from the last week of March through mid-January, depending on the severity of the winter.
2. How many crew members on a 1000ft boat.
21-23 crew members on a 1000ftr
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Aerial Lift Bridge
1. When is the lift bridge operated?
The lift bridge is manned and operated 24/7 and operates on demand for commercial vessels and every half hour during the summer months for all others.

2. What do the boat signals mean?
In most cases, once radio communication with the bridge has been established, use of the boat and bridge sound signals are not necessary and operation of the sound signals is left up to the captains.  Often, boats will not use the loud horns after dark as a courtesy to city residents.

So, most often when you hear the customary horn-blowing sequence  of "long-short-short" it is a friendly salute to the Port of Duluth from the ship captain and is responded to by the lift bridge operator with the same sequence.

While the famous sound may be a courtesy, it has long been part of the nautical tradition of this great inland sea port.

General Navigation Signals
There are also some "Rules of the Sea" for mariners that are used world-wide:  
The law prescribes signals for vessels in sight of each other to indicate the intended course of a vessel when necessary for safe navigation.
One short blast (1 second) of the horn or whistle will show an intention to direct course of vessel to own starboard (right).
Two short blasts will show intention to direct course of vessel to own port (left).
Three short blasts will indicate the vessel's engines are going astern (in reverse).
Five or more short and rapid blasts is a danger signal used when the other vessel's intentions are not understood or where the other vessel's indicated course is dangerous.
Prolonged blast (4 to 6 seconds) will indicate situations of restricted visibility. 

3. Where can I learn more history about the lift bridge?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_Lift_Bridge

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Lighthouses 
1. Where can I get more information on the area lighthouses?
Try this video!