South Pier Lighthouse

 

Greetings all!   On August 19, LSMMA held a press conference to announce the acquisition of the Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Outer Light.  We have been working on this acquisition since December 2018.  It is a historic building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.   Sadly, the lighthouse has incurred considerable deterioration since its start in 1901.  LSMMA is determined to renovate it back to its early 1900s condition and open it to the public.  Please consider membership in LSMMA to help fund this effort.  You can further help preserve this historic building by donating to our Lighthouse Fund at lsmma.com.

John G Munson arrived in Duluth 08/18/2025

 

 John G Munson arrived in Duluth this morning with a load of limestone. Note: the horn was added since it is not generally sounded before 6AM

Paul R Tregurtha arrived in Duluth 08/17/2025

 

 Paul R Tregurtha arrived in Duluth this morning under an incredible Lake Superior sunrise. The Tregurtha will be loading coal. note: the horn was added from a previous voyage, due to the fact that it was too early to rattle windows this time of day. I wanted you to hear it anyway.

Algoma Conveyor departed Duluth 08/14/2025

 

The Algoma Conveyor easing her way out of Duluth Harbor. This modern self-unloading bulk carrier has just finished loading a full cargo of petroleum coke at Midwest Energy, and she’s now bound for Soo Ste. Marie, Ontario, with arrival expected later tonight around 11 o’clock. Built in 2019, the Algoma Conveyor stretches 740 feet from bough to stern and spans 78 feet across her beam. She can carry roughly 37,400 tons of cargo, and her powerful self-unloading system includes a 262-foot boom mounted at the stern, allowing her to unload quickly at ports without special equipment. An interesting bit of history—this ship’s life almost ended before it began. Partway through construction, her original shipyard went bankrupt. Algoma Central stepped in, bought the incomplete hull, and had her finished at a different yard. Today, she’s a hardworking member of the Equinox-class fleet, designed for efficiency and reliability on the Great Lakes. She should have nice weather for todays voyage.

Viking Polaris departed Duluth 08/11/2025

 

 Here comes the Viking Polaris, a Norwegian-flag expedition cruise ship built in 2022. She measures about 673 ft long and 78 ft wide, with a draft of ~20 ft, and is rated at 30,114 gross tons. Designed for remote exploration, her service speed is about 19.0 mph. Polaris spends summers exploring the Great Lakes, including this Toronto-to-Duluth route, then heads south for Antarctica when our lakes turn icy. Instead of ore or grain, she carries curious travelers—and a science team—with a working science lab and a sheltered boat Hangar for Zodiacs and special operations boats. That distinctive bow you see is the Ulstein X-BOW, shaped to cut through waves more smoothly and reduce spray—handy on Lake Superior’s moodier days. In late 2022, while crossing the Drake Passage, Polaris was struck by an abnormally large breaking wave; investigations followed and she soon returned to service—an episode now part of modern expedition-ship lore. Polaris’s two bright-yellow submersibles are nicknamed “George” and “Ringo,” a wink to the Beatles—just one example of Viking’s playful streak amid serious science. Farewell Viking Polaris—enjoy the lift bridge salute!