Duluth Harbor Cam

Thursday, August 14, 2025

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.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

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!