Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Tuesday 3/26/2013

CSL Tadoussac departed at 0135
Spruceglen arrived at 0157
American Spirit departed at 0621
Paul R. Tregurtha arrived at 0658
Great Republic arrived at 1100
Spruceglen departed at 1450
CLS Niagara arrived at 2315
Edwin Gott Arrived at 2330

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Monday 3/25/2013

Monday, March 25, 2013 - Arrivals & Departures
   Mesabi Miner (US) departed Duluth at 03:55
CSL Tadoussac (CA) arrived Duluth at 04:40
American Spirit Fueling

News: Soo Locks opened Today!

The Seaway Shipping Season officially opened today when the 1000-foot Paul R. Tregurtha sailed through the Soo Locks at 12:01 this morning! The Tregurtha is headed for Duluth.
There is a whole string of more ships following her.

Paul R Tregurtha entering port in 2012

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Sunday 3/24/2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013 - Arrivals & Departures
Roger Blough (US ) departed Duluth at 02:13

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Saturday 3/23/2012

Indiana Harbor arrived Duluth at 12:45
American Century departed at 22:00
 Indiana Harbor departed at 22:00
 Mesabi Miner arrived at 22:00

Long Boats and Long Shadows

Slow going today as captains and tugs try to maneuver the 1000 foot American Century and Indiana Harbor through thick ice in the Duluth Harbor. Imagine trying to turn a boat the length of three football fields through an ice pack!
With a warming trend in the works, the harbor ice will be loosening its grip on the boats this week.

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Friday 3/22/2013

Tugs clear ice for the Roger Blough as it backs its way into the Calumet Fuel Dock. The Blough finished refueling and moved to the ore docks for loading.

Mesabi Miner Leads Out!

Today, the Mesabi Miner pushed through tight harbor ice with the help of the tug North Carolina, as it opened the 2013 Shipping Season.
The Miner negotiated a couple tight turns as it followed a narrow path opened by cutters and kept open by the tugs.
Welcome to the 2013 Shipping Season!

Mesabi Miner on the move!

With moderately think ice remaining in the harbor, the Mesabi Miner will have to follow a very narrow path today as it makes  its way out onto Lake Superior for it's first trip of the season.

Mesabi Miner - 2012

For Immediate Release - 2013 shipping season gets underway

For Immediate Release from Duluth Port Authority                                                                                                         

March 18, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Sure sign of spring approaching…

2013 shipping season gets underway in Port of Duluth-Superior

Duluth, Minn., USA (March 18, 2013)—U.S.-flag lakers will begin moving in the Port of Duluth-Superior this week as the 2013 commercial shipping season gets underway on the far western edge of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system. The Mesabi Mineris expected to be the port’s first departure of the season, set for late Tuesday or early Wednesday.    

The Miner is scheduled to begin loading coal Tuesday morning (March 19) at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal after which the 1,000-footer will move to the Port Terminal to load and install a drive motor for its conveyor system prior to making a cross-lake delivery to Marquette.  She’ll return to Duluth over the weekend to load iron ore at the CN dock then head to Indiana Harbor.  The Canadian-flag CSL Tadoussac is also set to head to Duluth this weekend (from winter layup in Thunder Bay) to load iron ore pellets at CN.

Crews reported for fit-out last week to get many wintering vessels set to sail. Two U.S. Coast Guard cutters (Alder andMackinaw) along with Heritage Marine tugs have been busy breaking ice to open shipping channels and slips around the harbor in preparation for not only the Miner getting underway, but also the Roger Blough, Indiana Harbor and American Century by end of this week. Cutter Biscayne Bay will join in icebreaking operations later this week, as well.

 The departing lakers will secure their places in line with other downbound traffic near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to await the reopening of the Soo Locks for the 2013 season at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25.   Likewise, there will be a line-up of upboundlakers on the eastern side of the Locks, led by the Paul R. Tregurtha, which means the Twin Ports will likely see regular marine traffic patterns by end of the month (including the American Spirit, scheduled to depart her winter berth in Superior late next week). 

 The Soo Locks are the gateway that allows 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.

               “We ended the 2012 season having moved just shy of 37 million short tons of cargo through the Port of Duluth-Superior,” noted Adolph Ojard, Duluth Seaway Port Authority executive director, “nearly on par with the previous year.  If the U.S. steel market remains strong and the resurgence of manufacturing in and around the Great Lakes basin continues, iron ore shipments should keep a strong pace. Projections for coal exports are up, plus the extension of wind production tax credits should see project cargoes pick up by fall.  Depending on weather patterns and global economies, we’d also hope for marginal improvements in grain exports.  All in all, the Port of Duluth-Superior should see an increase in activity during 2013.”

  It’s a bit harder to predict the arrival of the Port’s first oceangoing vessel to transit the full GLSLS. The Seaway locks (the Montreal/Lake Ontario section and Welland Canal) will reopen for business on March 22, but it may take awhile for Duluth-Superior to see its first saltie. That “first ship” 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, the Port’s first saltie, the Arubaborg, arrived on April 10.

Of the vessels that arrived in January to winter in the Twin Ports for repair and maintenance,  the John G. Munson and John J. Boland will remain docked until markets pick up pace this season and their services are required. The American Victory and Edward L. Ryerson remain in long-term layup at Fraser Shipyards.

   ##

Close to 1,000 ships visit the Port of Duluth-Superior each year, moving roughly 40 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 information, www.duluthport.com

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

For updated times, please consult the Boatwatchers Hotline: (218)722-6489 or www.duluthboats.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to schedule interviews, please contact :

Adele Yorde  (218) 727-8525, Public Relations Manager, Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Sunday 3/17/2013

The O'Mackinaw left port this St. Patrick's Day morning after taking a swipe at the Duluth-Superior Harbor ice pack.  The O'Mackinaw headed under the Duluth Lift Bridge on its way to the Apostles for more ice breaking operations.
Watch Ken Newham's video ride on the Mackinaw

Video from Detroit Free Press

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Saturday 3/16/2013

Cutter Mackinaw Arrival at 14:00

 

The Big Mack is in Town

After spending the morning breaking ice in front of the Duluth Shipping Canal, the Cutter Mackinaw cruised under the Duluth Lift Bridge this afternoon.  The Mighty Mack is in town to help break up harbor ice prior to the first laker getting underway on Tuesday.

Take a look around the Mackinaw Control Bridge

Cutter Alder Breaking Ice 3/13/2013

The Cutter Alder was once again breaking ice in the Duluth Harbor.

Alder Breaking Ice again today

The CGC Alder will be out breaking ice today under clear blue skies. For the first time this season it will pass under the Duluth Aerial Bridge to take a swipe at the Lake Superior ice shelf.

Alder Breaks the Ice

For the first time this season, the CGC Alder began opening the harbor ice with a routine ice breaking venture.

The cutter will be working in the harbor until the ice is cleared and regular shipping begins in a few weeks.

Ice Breaking to start Monday!

The Coast Guard will begin icebreaking operations in the Twin Ports area on Monday. While normal shipping is a few weeks away, the warming sun is beginning to take it's toll on ice conditions.
View Cutter Gallery HERE.

CGC Alder in 2012

Retired Cutter Sundew (2003)

Spring is here - Coast Guard warns Lake Superior ice starting to thin, shift

Coast Guard warns Lake Superior ice starting to thin, shift
Warming conditions, shifting winds and a sun higher in the sky are starting the annual spring thaw, and causing ice on Lake Superior, the Duluth-Superior harbor and rivers entering the lake to be unsafe, the Coast Guard said Thursday.

A morning for the Birds

As spring approached along with the next snowstorm, local birds are getting active as seen in this picture caught on one of the webcams this morning.

February 23, 1905: First ever crossing of the gondola car

February 23, 1905: First ever crossing of the gondola car
By Tony Dierckins zenithcity.com

 Duluth’s Aerial Transfer Bridge, predecessor to the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. (Image: Duluth Public Library.) On this day in Duluth in 1905, the Aerial Transfer Bridge made its first crossing with, as the Duluth News Tribune put it, a “load of human freight.” City Engineer Thomas McGilvray invited two hundred people to witness the ferry car’s first crossing. He included local dignitaries such as Mayor Cullum, Common Council President Roland D. Haven, Colonel Hubert Eva, Chief of Police Chauncy H. Troyer; Chief DM&IR Engineer Herman L. Dresser as well as members of his own staff and the team from the Modern Steel Structural Company, who built the bridge. At 4:30 in the afternoon of February 23, 1905, these men entered the car at the south tower and prepared to cross. The bridge was not yet fully complete—some of the false wooden work still stood against the south tower. McGilvray himself controlled the car, which began rolling without so much as a hiccup. One of the workmen posted atop the bridge as a safety measure decided to have a little fun with the crowd, striking at the false staging work with a wooden plank and shouting to cut the power. Afraid that “heavy objects were about to crash to the deck,” many sought protection under the car’s awnings. After a good laugh—and reassurance that a joke had been played, nothing more—the ferry car moved ahead. Riders felt “only a slight vibration” while the car moved northward. As it reached the north end of the canal with “a gentle motion, an almost imperceptible contact against the air cushion in the approach, it stopped and locked automatically.” The entire trip lasted one minute and fifteen seconds, but it had been over fifteen years in the making. TBridge_2.24.1905_DNT. Discover the entire history of the Duluth Aerial Bridge here.

Duluth Canal and Lift Bridge History

I took some time during the past few weeks to put together this video on the history of the Lift Bridge and Canal.  We have such a rich nautical history around the "Head of the Lakes" that I thought a video would be worthwhile.  Sorry that it so long (53 minutes), but, there is a lot to tell.

Edward L. Ryerson (Fast Eddy on Ice)

Anyone traveling from Superior to Duluth during the past few years can’t help but notice a particularly striking Laker tied up near the Blatnik Bridge.  The boat is the Edward L Ryerson, once labeled the “Queen of the Lake”.

Since today was a bright beautiful winter day, it was a perfect time to stop by the old girl and see how she was doing. Winter is a great time to walk across the frozen slips and get a better look at many of the boats layed up for the season.

The Edward L. Ryerson, is one of only two remaining straight-deck bulk carriers still part of the American fleet on the Great Lakes.  Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., the new boat was launched January 21, 1960, and christened Edward L. Ryerson for the Inland Steel Co. of Chicago, IL. The new laker was the first of five American-flagged ships to be added to the "730-class" of lake boats in the early 1960's.  The Ryerson became the third of thirteen 730' carriers to eventually share in the "Queen of the Lakes" title for being the longest ships on the Great Lakes.  

The boat's namesake, Mr. Edward Larned Ryerson, was born in Chicago on December 3rd, 1886.  He had been president of the steel service center Joseph T. Ryerson and Son, Inc. until 1935 when it was merged with Inland Steel.  Mr. Ryerson was chairman of the board from 1940 until his retirement in 1953 of both Inland Steel and his original company.  Mr. Ryerson died in Chicago on August 2nd, 1971.

The Edward L. Ryerson is among the most beautiful of all lakers, from her beautifully flared bow and the top of her pilot house to her significant but streamlined stack to her curved and tapered stern as well as her striking paint job, no expense or effort was spared during her building to achieve this goal.  Over $8 million was reported to have been spent on the actual accommodations alone.   The Ryerson was built to transport iron ore, fast at the expense of poor capabilities to haul other cargo. A conversion to a self-unloader was deferred because of excessive cost to retrofit the square holds.

The Ryerson is a fast boat and is able to reach speeds up to 19 mph earning her the nickname "Fast Eddie" as one of the quickest ships on the Great Lakes. She can carry approximately 24,869 tons, one third of today’s 1000ft lakers.

The Ryerson’s  working career was placed on hold in 2009 when she laid up at Superior's Fraser Shipyard and has been on hold ever since. Economic conditions are still keeping this beautiful vessel from a return to service, but, someday, the lady may once again become a subject of delight for photographers and boatwatchers alike.

To learn more about the Ryerson: visit boatnerds.com

Jay Cooke Swinging Bridge

It has been nearly eight months since to devastating floods that swept through the Northland last June.
Today I had a chance to visit Jay Cooke State Park and the famous swinging bridge.  While the bridge walkway is still somewhat crumpled, the beauty of the park has not changes.

The muffled sound of the St. Louis River running under the ice and the chickadees chirping on the snow covered branches is an indication that springtime is not far off.

Harbor History - Minnesota Point Lighthouse

The other day I hiked down to the end of Park Point and upon seeing the ruins of the old Minnesota Point Lighthouse I was inspired to do a quick historical video on this once important lighthouse. I hope you find this 23 minute presentation interesting and informative.

February 8, 1910 Beer wagon goes through Ice on St. Louis River

February 8, 1910 Beer wagon goes through Ice on St. Louis River
By Tony Dierckins Zenith City Online

On this day in Duluth in 1910, former Third Ward alderman Maurice McGinnis was driving a rig for Superior’s Northern Brewery over the frozen St. Louis River when the ice gave way. Horses, wagon, driver, and beer all plunged into the river. McGinniss manager to pull himself out of the frigid waters and “suffered no ill effects from his icy bath.” The horses did not fair as well—all drowned. McGinnis was on his way to deliver beer to Henry Ward’s saloon “near the steel plant,” which was under construction next to what would become Morgan Park. The beer got away as well. Despite the deaths of the “valuable team,” the Duluth News Tribune seemed more concerned with the loss of beer. Two days after the accident the newspaper printed a story under the bold headline “NO EFFORT TO RECOVER BEER KEGS FROM RIVER.” The paper reported that there was little chance of finding the kegs under the ice, and that they were likely already carried away downstream by the river’s current. It then pondered the upcoming thaw: “In the spring, the time the poet says a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love, there are expected to be a large number of lovers of the amber fluid scattered along the St. Louis searching for the missing kegs.

Read More at Zenith City Press

Bridge Lights Outage Update!

There have been some questions as to why the bridge lights have been off the past couple night.
Ryan Beamer, the Bridge Supervisor, indicated that they are switching out the photo cells that automatically turned on/off the lights. The new controls will be activated by astrological clock timers. This should be more accurate and not susceptible to weather.
The lights should be back on tonight!