Lee A Tregurtha departed Duluth 03/23/2017

Lee A Tregurtha departed Duluth today at 1600 bound for Two Harbors

American Century departed Duluth 03/23/2017

American Century departed Duluth at 00:30 this morning for Silver Bay.

Philip R Clarke departed Duluth 03/22/17

Philip R Clarke departed Duluth at 20:45 Wednesday bound Two Harbors to load iron.

Roger Blough departed Duluth 03/22/2017

The 858ft Roger Blough departed under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge this morning at 7:45 to kick off the 2017 Shipping Season.

Shipping Season gets underway WEDNESDAY in Port of Duluth-Superior

From Duluth Seaway Port Authority Duluth, Minn., USA (March 21, 2017)—

The first U.S.-flag lakers are expected to depart the Port of Duluth-Superior tomorrow, Wed., March 22, signaling the start of the 2017 commercial shipping season at this, the farthest inland port on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system. Exact times are difficult to pinpoint during start-up (i.e. ‘fit-out,’ in industry terms), but the first departure may very well take place while most folks are still asleep! The Roger Blough is expected to leave its berth at the Clure Public Marine Terminal at first light Wednesday and depart beneath Duluth’s famed Aerial Bridge en route to the CN Docks in Two Harbors to load iron ore. After fueling late afternoon/early evening, another Great Lakes Fleet vessel, the Philip R. Clarke, will also head to Two Harbors to take on its first cargo of the season. Both vessels, with deliveries to make to steel mills on the Lower Lakes, will proceed across Lake Superior toward Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to await the opening of the Soo Locks at 12:01 a.m. on Sat., March 25. The Blough is expected to be the lead ship downbound as she was in 2016. Interlake’s flagship, the 1013.5-ft Paul R. Tregurtha, wintered at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal and is scheduled to load coal there Wednesday, then move to the Clure Terminal for final preparations before leaving for Silver Bay tomorrow night/early Thursday. After discharge, that vessel will return to Superior to load coal for its first inter-lake delivery to the St. Clair Power Plant in Michigan. Two more Interlake Steamship Co. freighters that wintered in the Twin Ports – the Lee A. Tregurtha and the Herbert C. Jackson – are expected to depart late Wednesday, as well. The Lee A. is in position to leave Fraser Shipyards first, sometime midday. Both vessels will stop to fuel at the Calumet dock in Duluth before heading out to Two Harbors and Silver Bay, respectively, to load iron ore. The Burns Harbor is due to move from its layup berth to the BNSF Railway Dock to load iron ore Wednesday before departing via the Superior Entry. American Century is set to leave Thursday to load in Silver Bay while fleet mate, the American Spirit, is expected to move to the CN Duluth Dock to load iron ore over the weekend before getting underway. NOTE: All vessel departure/arrival times are estimates and are subject to change without notice. With the Soo Locks opening Saturday and virtually ice-free conditions across the Lakes, Port of Duluth-Superior should see its first arrival from the Soo on Sunday, most likely the Stewart J. Cort, the James R. Barker or the Cason J. Callaway, but that’s still too close to call. For updates, check www.duluthboats.com. Watch real-time transits at www.marinetraffic.com or http://ais.boatnerd.com or on mobile devices with Marine Traffic or Ship Finder apps.

Duluth Sunrise 03/19/2017

Seafarer's Prayer

With a new shipping season soon upon us, I thought I would share small piece of my nautical heritage.

My Great Grandfather was an Icelandic itinerant preacher who visited small fishing villages in Iceland during the 1880’s before immigrating to Manitoba Canada in 1893.  He brought new safety programs and rescue equipment to the Icelandic fishing villages along with the message of the Gospel.

He wrote this Seafarer’s prayer which was much used by the fishermen of the day.  

I think it still applies today, maybe even more so!

Seafarer's Prayer - Rev. Oddur Vigfus Gislason

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit:

Almighty and Merciful God. I thank Thee for Thy Great protection and mercy, that You have given me life and health, so that I am in a condition to seek work in the sweat of my brow. Oh, my Lord and my God, when I now fare forth out to the fish grounds and feel my impotence and the weakness of my boat in meeting the forces of the mighty elements, then I do lift up Thee my eyes of trust and hope and beseech You, in Jesus’ name, to lead us with good fortune out on the deep, to bless us in our quest for a good catch, to protect us, that we may again reach the shore safely, and come back to our loved ones, after we have gathered much provisions that You have in Your goodness, seen fit to afford us.

Bless our loved ones and give us that we may be re-united with them in joy and safety, for the sake of the Holy Spirit; we give You all our laud and thanks, and worship. Oh, Lord, give us all good fortune - to the ship and to the men - in Jesus name. Amen.

Bringing in the Herring - "Made in Iceland" Book

Ice Breaking to begin Thursday!

Ice breaking begins this Thursday with boats beginning to move next week on Lake Superior.

Sunrise 03/12/2017

Sunrise 03/11/2017

Duluth Sunrise 03/10/2017

Morning Minute!

Harbor Ice Flow

Strong East winds help push a bit of Lake Superior ice chunks into the harbor.  The ice will begin flowing back out as soon as the winds shift tonight.

Early Spring

With the sunrise moving north again and the open water on Lake Superior and the Duluth Harbor -- it even feels like Springtime.

Boats to start moving in two weeks.

Information indicates that the Paul R Tregurtha will begin operations on March 22nd.

CGC Alder arrived Duluth 02/22/2017

CGC Alder arrived Duluth at 19:00 Wednesday.

CGC Alder departed Duluth 2/22/2017

Stretching it's sea legs for the first time this season, the CGC Alder departed Duluth for a short mission onto Lake Superior. 

Breaking up is hard to do!

With recent war weather the ice in the Duluth Harbor is braking up rapidly as shown in this time lapse of this mornings sunrise as views through the Pier B Cam at duluthharborcam.com

February Full Moon!

Lee A Tregurtha -- Last Boat in!

The last boat of the 2016-2017 Shipping Season,  Lee A Tregurtha made it's way under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge this afternoon.

With warm 30F temps, there was a hint of Spring just around the corner.

Lee A Tregurtha arrived Duluth 01/16/2017

Lee A  Tregurtha arrived Duluth at 13:30 today for winter layup at Fraser Shipyard.

2016 Boats in Review

With the season wrapping up, I thought you might enjoy some of the boats that we have viewed over the last year.

Rt Hon Paul J Martin arrived Duluth 01/16/2017

Rt  Hon  Paul J  Martin arrived Duluth at 06:30 this morning to load iron.

Roger Blough arrived Duluth 01/16/2017

Roger Blough arrived Duluth at 06:00 this morning for winter layup at the Port Terminal.

Arthur M Anderson arrived Duluth 01/15/2017

Arthur M Anderson arrived Duluth at 12:20 today for winter layup at CN

Philip R Clarke arrived Duluth 01/15/2017

Philip R Clarke arrived Duluth at 06:00 today for winter layup at the Port Terminal.

James R Barker departed Duluth 01/12/2017

James R Barker departed Duluth at 16:45 Thursday on its last trip to Duluth for the season.

John B Aird arrived Duluth 01/12/2017

John B  Aird arrived Duluth at 20:30 Thursday to unload road salt.