John G Munson on the Move

So how do you move a boat that is more then 760 feet long that weights over 17,000 tons?

Very carefully - using two big tugs!

The John G Munson was towed from the Port Terminal to Fraser Shipyard today in order to undergo routine inspections and upgrades.

Two Heritage Marine tugs, the Helen H and Nels J,  pulled the Munson for 1.5 miles though the icy waters of St. Louis Bay using mariner skills that made the job look easy.

Superior Sunrise!

This morning sunrise over Lake Superior was spectacular and one of the many reasons Duluth is such a special place.

 

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Monday 4/15/2013

CSL Tadoussac departed at 08:25
American Century departed at 09:05
Birchglen  arrived at 09:50
Great Lakes Trader/Joyce L. Van Enkevort arrived at 14:20
Indiana Harbor arrived at 19:00
Birchglen departed  at 20:00
Great Lakes Trader/Joyce L. Van Enkevort depart 23:55

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Sunday 4/14/2013

American Integrity departed at 07:30
CSL Tadoussac arrived at 09:55
CSL Assiniboine departed at 16:15

Duluth Harbor Boat Traffic for Saturday 4/13/2013

Saturday, April 13, 2013 - Arrivals & Departures

Arthur M. Anderson departed at 10:25
Kaye E. Barker departed at 11:35
Paul R. Tregurtha departed at 11:45
Great Republic arrived at 12:20
American Integrity arrived at 12:40
CSL Laurentien arrived at 13:00
Federal Welland (HK) arrived at 15:50
American Century arrived at 19:30
CSL Laurentien departed at 22:15
Mesabi Miner departed at 22:50
CSL Assiniboine arrived at 23:10

Alder assistes Arthur M Anderson through the pack ice

Breaking Ice--Tug Nels J

The Nels J is a powerful tug that has plenty of experience in icy waters.

The Lineup!

It looked  like a shipping convention more then a nice April morning, but, until the Alder gets out, or, a captain is willing to test the ice.---things are at a standstill for now.

Boats in Waiting!

Boats waiting to get out of harbor and boats waiting to get in. The CGC Alder will be out this morning to break a path through the pack ice. Like a clogged drain, once there is a path, boat traffic will quickly return to normal.

Pack Ice 10 feet thick!

The tug North Carolina reports pack ice blown in from the storm is 10+ feet thick at the end of the Duluth Canal Piers. Even though it is only 1/4 mile to open water this will delay shipping until a path can be cut or the winds drop further, taking pressure off the ice pack.
CGC Alder will break ice in the AM