Mesabi Miner stuck in ice off Duluth Piers

Just as it was about to enter the Duluth Harbor at 18:00 this evening, the 1000ft Mesabi miner became stuck in the ice.  Help will be arriving soon.

duluthharborcam.com Update!

Hi folks,

Just a bit of an update:
 duluthharborcam.com website- I have moved the thumbnail photos that linked to the snapshot cameras to text links on the right sidebar. I have also made some other minor format changes in order to simplify the site like moving the scanner and AIS to the left column.

Also, in the next few weeks, I will be moving the GLA camera to another location on the aquarium roof in order to provide a better view of the harbor and front area of the DECC.

Penny asked who maintains and pays for all this cameras?  Well, I am able to cover some of the expenses so far by using the Google Ads that you see on the site.  The simple fact is, I am blessed that technology now can enable myself and others to enjoy a very special place called Duluth and I will keep doing this as long as there is a + in my bank account.

Not everyone gets to see the thank-you emails that I often receive from folks that use these cameras as a tie-line to home, a place they would like to call home, or just a fond memory.  That's why I do this.  Also, of course, I just like watching the cameras myself.

I would like to acknowledge the following organizations and companies that graciously allow me to operate the cameras that you see on this website.

Pier B Resort Association - (Lafarge/Pier B camera)
Great Lakes Aquarium - (GLA cam)
Army Corps of Engineers/ LSMMA/Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

If it wasn't for these fine folks, we wouldn't be able to see what we can see today!

The boats are on their way back and Spring has arrived!

Den

News -- about the boat schedules

FYI,
In an effort to provide more complete boat schedules, I have removed the boat schedules listing from my site. Please use the link to duluthboats.com as it is a more thorough listing of the boat traffic.

Thanks,
Dennis

Shipping Update

Provide by the Duluth Port Authority

First Lakers of the 2014 Shipping Season to depart Port of Duluth-Superior this weekend

Duluth, Minn. (3/21/14) – Near record-setting thick and fast ice across the Great Lakes has slowed the start of the 2014 navigation season. However, traffic is set to start moving in the Port of Duluth-Superior as early as middaytomorrow – Sat., March 22 – with the anticipated departure of two Great Lakes Fleet carriers: the Cason J. Callawayand the Presque Isle. Both will head to Two Harbors, where they will load iron ore pellets bound for steel mills on the Lower Lakes. Plans are to have a third fleet mate that wintered in the Twin Ports – the John G. Munson – join them in Two Harbors to load on Sunday or Monday. All three vessels are operated by Key Lakes, Inc., and all have reinforced hulls able to withstand significant ice pressure here at the Head of the Lakes.

Those three lakers will then await the arrival of three U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers – the Mackinaw, Morro Bay andKatmai Bay – who are currently cutting tracks across Lake Superior from the Soo Locks to Duluth. After a respite to restock/refuel, the USCG units will depart, slowing down just long enough near Two Harbors to pick up and escort the GLF vessels in a convoy across the Lake and through the St. Marys River and locks at Sault Ste. Marie. 

Local icebreaking assets – USCG cutter Alder and commercial tugs from Heritage Marine and Great Lakes Towing – will continue working to open up tracks here in the Duluth-Superior Harbor as the Mesabi Miner is scheduled to load coal at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal early next week for delivery to Taconite Harbor, then return to reload for a trip to Marquette. Additional vessels that wintered over in the Twin Ports (including the Kaye E. Barker, Great Republic,American Spirit, St. Clair, Walter J. McCarthy) are fitting-out and plan to get underway within the next couple of weeks.

With ever-changing ice conditions and weather patterns, plans are to have Coast Guard assists for upbound vessel traffic as well, so terminals in the Twin Ports can expect to see the first inbound lakers arrive to load around April 1. Oceangoing (i.e. ‘saltie’) traffic will be later as locks in the far eastern end of the Seaway system aren’t set to open until March 31.

Soo Locks opening on schedule

Ice or not, the Soo Locks will open on schedule, next Monday March 24th at midnight. Ice breakers will be putting in long hours and boat movement will be slow at first, but there's no stopping the season now. The Tregurtha may make some local runs in the mean time to Taconite Harbor on the North Shore. Below is an AIS view of the boats in the harbor that have now come back to life for the season and preparing to ship out.

Shipping Update!

Boats will start departing later this week probably led by ice breakers.

News!

This is shaping up to be an incredible shipping opener.  Due to ice conditions, convoys will probably be organized with multiple lakers being escorted by cutters.  Besides ice breaking operations, expect the big boats to start moving in about two weeks.

March 5th 2014

Why the open water in the Canal

The water current in the the canal is fairly strong, much like a small river, thus keeping the water open. It will freeze up, or get plugged up with ice, but usually doesn't last long.
In the Springtime, you will be able to see chunks of ice drifting back and forth through the canal as the current reverses several times a day due to a phenomenon called a "seiche" (SAYSH, a French word that means "to sway back and forth"). This happens when water piles up on one side of the lake because of wind or high barometric pressure and then shifts back to the other side. Small seiches occur all the time.

Spring is here!  Almost!

Lake Superior Ice Cover

The Lake Superior Ice Cover is nearing 100% - perhaps by the end of the week we will see it completely covered. Very "Cool" to say the least.

Ice cover on the Great Lakes is growing fast!

The gray areas on the map show ice coverage on Lake Superior. The boats still out there are having a bit of a challenge including the CSL Laurentien.  This will be the last week of the shipping season for sure.

Camera Status update

Camera Update: 12/30.2013-14:22
Today I was able to clear 1/4 in of clear ice from the LSMMA Cam and Pier B using mixture of hot water, windshield washer fluid and alcohol. This was the only thing that seemed to work in -10F.
Happy New Year!

Camera Update: 12/30/2013 -- 06:00AM  Due to the extreme cold, high of -10F, the ice from Saturday's freezing mist remains on the Canal Park cam and the Pier B cam.  The GLA cam and Pier B cams are currently in automatic shutdown due to the cold.

Since we won't be going above zero until Friday, it might take awhile to get back to normal operation.

The good news is, the days continue to get longer and springtime is right around the corner.

Camera Update

The freezing rain last evening has left a coat of ice on the cameras near the water, the little heaters inside each camera should clear it off today.

Last Saltie - Ursula - aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway - may not make it out before closure

In a desperate attempt to make it out to the ocean before the hard freeze, the Saltie Ursula is aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway and may not make it.
Read the entire story here in the Duluth News Tribune.

Orsula (Marshall Islands)

Lift Bridge Boat Signals!

There have been a few questions about the boat and bridge signal horns when the boats are entering and leaving the Port of Duluth.

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. 

Duluth Harbor Boat traffic for Sunday 12/08/2013

Sorry, boat traffic was not recorded on Saturday and Sunday due to Internet outages.

Camera Update

The Harbor Cam and GLA cam will be viewing Bayfront Park for the weekend to watch the Balloon Festival. The rest of the cameras will be watching boat traffic as usual.

There was no boat traffic yesterday, however, it should be busy today.

Duluth Hot Air Balloon Festival Fri-Sat-Sun

There is going to be a very unique event going on in Bayfront Park this coming weekend. The first ever Duluth Hot Air Balloon Festival where 12 large hot air balloons will occupy Bayfront Park with their beautiful colors and glowing lights.
I will be turning some of the cameras to view the balloons as they float in the air tethered to the ground.  I will also be there taking pictures and updating this website, so, stay tuned.

Teal Bridge

Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge and Enger Tower were bathed in teal light on Saturday night in recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Emergency Operations exercise in the harbor today!

Ten U-S Coast Guard units and 50 other federal, tribal, state and local agencies are holding a full scale security and oil spill exercise today and tomorrow in the Duluth-Superior.  The two day drill is designed to build response capabilities and improve readiness levels for a variety of agencies.  Citizens will likely notice increased Coast Guard activity on the water and emergency vehicles in the harbor area.  The exercise is not based on any specific threats to the Port of Duluth-Superior and is being held from about 8 a-m to 5 p-m each day.

While the major practice area is under the Blatnik bridge, not visible to the harbor cams, you might be able to listen to some of the radio chatter on the Duluth Harborcam Scanner.

CSL Thunder Bay Arrival this afternoon

FYI,
The CSL Thunder Bay will be arriving Duluth later today. The Thunder Bay is CSL's third of four Trillium Class self-unloading Lakers, and is making it's first trip to Duluth.

The Thunder Bay was preceded by the Whitefish Bay, and by the award-winning Trillium Class Baie St. Paul, which began operating in the Great Lakes in December 2012. One additional Trillium Class self-unloading vessels and two new bulk carriers are set to join the Canada Steamship Lines fleet in 2013-2014.

duluthboats.com reports that the Thunder Bay may anchor off Duluth until laet this evening when the Paul R Tregutha departs.