Boat Alerts now on Twitter

So, I am now going to start sending out boat alerts using a Twitter account that I just created called duluthharborcam. (the old method got too expensive)

If you want to get the Boat Alerts, just follow duluthharborcam on twitter.  The alerts will still only be when I see them coming.

I may recruit a few avid boat watchers to help me out on this by sending Boat Alert Tweets out as well.

Question - for those who watched streaming video of the KOM today?

For those of you who watched the KOM arrive on the Canal cams:

1. Did the video stream smoothly?
2. Was the sound OK, including the Visitor Center announcements?

Please answer in the comments below.  I am still working on the performance of those two cameras and I need your input. 

Den

1st Saltie will arrive today

The 1st Saltie of the year, KOM, will arrive late morning.

Ice Jam in Whitefish Bay

The ice conditions on the eastern end of Lake Superior are proving to be a challenge. With eight boats and four cutters slowing working their way through the ice field, it will take a few more day to clean things up.  

Heads-Up - 7AM Friday Morning

Update:  Looks like the balloons may launch around 16:00 today. There will be three of them.

Update 08:30AM Friday-Postponed for now - possibly this afternoon.

There is a possibility that a couple hot air balloons might be launching from Bayfront Park tomorrow morning at 7AM. Stay tuned

2013 Baloon Fest

News from Seaway Port Authority - Duluth

CHANGE IN DEPARTURE SCHEDULE – latest update:

First vessel of the 2015 shipping season to depart the Port of Duluth-Superior – the  John G. Munson – is now set to leave the CN Duluth Dock between 3:30 and 4 p.m. (CDT) today, make its way through the harbor and head out beneath the Duluth Aerial Bridge. The Mesabi Miner is expected to depart sometime after 7 p.m.

Boats will start moving on Monday

Press Release from Duluth Seaway Port Authority:

Sure Sign of Spring … 2015 Shipping Season to get underway Monday in Port of Duluth-Superior

Duluth, Minn., USA (March 20, 2015)—The first two U.S.-flag lakers are on schedule to depart the Port of Duluth-Superior on Monday, March 23,  signaling the start of the 2015 commercial shipping season at this end of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system.

On Sunday morning, the John G. Munson, with an assist from Heritage Marine tugs, is set to move from its winter berth at Fraser Shipyards in Superior to first fuel at the Port Terminal then shift over to the CN Duluth Dock to load 24,000 short tons of iron ore pellets. On Monday morning, the Munson is slated to depart beneath the Aerial Bridge, destined for Gary, Indiana. 

Late Monday afternoon/early evening, the Mesabi Miner is expected to depart from the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal with some 57,000 tons of coal onboard for the power plant at Taconite Harbor. After making that delivery, the 1,000-footer will return to the Twin Ports for a couple of days of scheduled maintenance work and to load its next coal cargo.

[NOTE:  All vessel arrival/departure times are estimates and may change without notice.]

While Lake Superior looks bright blue in the early spring sunshine here in Duluth-Superior, there is still a significant amount of ice cover on the eastern edge of the Lake – two to three feet thick from Whitefish Point to the St. Marys River. As such, U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alder will be working in tandem with USCGC Mackinaw to lay tracks and provide escorts for vessels as needed through that eastern ice pack to and from the Soo Locks.

At this point in time, the Munson is expected to be the first downbound commercial vessel in position to transit the Soo Locks this season. It also appears there may be four upboundvessels waiting below the Soo Locks when they reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Wed., March 25 – including the Edwin H. Gott, Edgar B. Speer, Roger Blough and the Algoma Olympic.

The Soo Locks provide the gateway for lake carriers – some measuring more than 1,000 feet in length – to move raw materials like iron ore, coal, limestone, cement and salt between Lake Superior and Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. It is also one of 16 sets of locks along the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) that allows oceangoing ships (“salties”) to  move breakbulk and project cargoes in and out of North America’s heartland and deliver Midwestern grains to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

“Against what seemed like insurmountable odds with everything Mother Nature threw at us from beginning to end, the Port  of Duluth-Superior wrapped up the 2014 shipping season a full 2.3 percent ahead of expectations, having moved over 37.5 million short tons of cargo,” said Vanta Coda, Duluth Seaway Port Authority executive director. “There are still some formidable ice challenges along the Great Lakes-Seaway, but nowhere near what the fleets were facing at this same time last year.”

“We anticipate a banner year here at the Port Terminal for project cargo moving through Duluth in 2015,” noted Coda. “This Port sits at the nexus of multiple energy sectors, so we’ll be seeing several shipments of equipment heading in from Europe and elsewhere destined for wind energy installations and oil/gas fields further north and west. All told, the Port of Duluth-Superior should see a two percent increase in activity during 2015. Headwinds do exist in the decline of commodity pricing (e.g. iron ore and oil). And the strengthening U.S. dollar will challenge exports, however import prospects will improve.”

It’s a bit harder to predict the arrival of the Port’s first oceangoing vessel. The Seaway locks (the Montreal/Lake Ontario section and Welland Canal) won’t reopen for business this year until April 2, so it will be at least another week later before the Port of Duluth-Superior will see its first saltie. That first saltie to pass beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge will be greeted by maritime officials with a welcoming ceremony and will also qualify a winner for the annual “First Ship Contest” sponsored by the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Visit Duluth. Last year, due to dramatic ice conditions, the Port’s first saltie, the Diana, didn’t arrive until May 7 (the latest on record).

Of the five vessels that wintered over in the Twin Ports for repair and maintenance, the remaining three – Kaye E. Barker, American Integrity and the Indiana Harbor – aren’t scheduled to depart until late March or early April.

Close to 1,000 ships visit the Port of Duluth-Superior each year, moving roughly 38 million tons of cargo – iron ore, coal, grain, limestone, cement, salt, plus project cargo and more. As the largest tonnage port on the Great Lakes-Seaway, cargo movements through the Port of Duluth-Superior support 11,500 jobs  and contribute over $1.5 billion in business revenues to the local/regional economy. For more info: www.duluthport.com

Camera Upgrade Wednesday

FYI,
This coming Wednesday, I will be replacing the Canal Cam with the new one that we raised funds for last December.  The image will be clearer with better dynamic range.

I will also be moving the camera mic into a better location to hear the announcements.

With any luck, it will be the best cam on the Great Lakes.

That said,  there will be a several hour outage while I make the changes.

Once again, thanks to everyone who donated to these projects.
Den

Barkers Island Ice Sculpture slowly returning to Lake Superior

The huge ice sculpture created on Barkers Island over the winter will be returning to Lake Superior over the next couple days.
See the story HERE

Camera News - Pier B Camera Off for awhile

The new Pier B complex is now under construction which has cut off access to the PierB camera for the time being. Once I can access the camera, we should get it back. It may be awhile however.

Although it isn't the same, I have put the Pier B Costruction Cam in it's place for now.

Welcome to Spring!

UPDATE: 17:00 3/4/2015 -  The Alder schedule has been postponed for awhile.  Soon though!

The CGC Alder will begin breaking up ice in the harbor tomorrow and will be out for a few days.

NEW! Port Map Link

FYI, In the links box I have added a link to the Port Authority's Harbor Map. The Port Map is very informative as far as identifying locations.

Duluth Shipping News is 20 years old

Congratulations to Ken Newhams who's Duluth Shipping News has reached 20 years old.
Ken has provided a tremendous service for all the nautical fans around Duluth-Superior. On top of that, he's a great guy.

Summer Day's

Just a reminder that summer is right around the corner!

Good Morning Duluth!

“It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.” ~Psalm 74:17

Camera Pages Change

FYI, there are some folks having trouble accessing this page due to some programming code.

In an effort to troubleshoot this issue, I have temporarily removed the thumbnail links on the right column.

Note that all of the cameras are still accessible through the camera text links on the right column.

I will continue to work on this issue and hope it is not too much of an inconvenience.

Hopefully I will have the bugs worked out by opening shipping in a few weeks.

Alert! - Full Moon Rise at 17:00 - 5PM tonight

FYI,

The full moon should present a stunning display over the harbor this evening as it rises to the east and tracks across the sky.  I'll be down taking a few pictures here and there.

New Cameras added!

I have added links to the Park Point Marina Inn Cam on the right hand column.

Also, so that you don't get cold feet, I have added a Bentleyville Cam for the season.

Enjoy!

How to estimate your own arrival times!

While I try to send out Harbor Watch Alerts, I am often not able to do so.  Alternatively, you can estimate your own arrival times by "Right Clicking" on the desired boat on the AIS map at the bottom of this page and then clicking on the desired arrival point.  

It might take a bit of practice, but, that gives a really good estimate for you.

AIS Map

FYI, I have placed a AIS -- ship location map, at the bottom of this page. Den