The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring a 629-foot U.S. cargo ship that ran aground on the St. Marys River on Wednesday. The merchant vessel, Calumet, departed Essar Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and was transiting downbound on the St. Marys River to its next port of call in Brevort, Michiagn, when it ran aground on the north side of Sugar Island at about 11:40 p.m. The … [Read more...]
Great Lakes Cargo Volume Down 4.5 Percent in 2016
U.S.-flag freighters operating on the Great Lakes moved 83.3 million tons of cargo in 2016, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to 2015, the Lake Carriers' Association said Friday. The 2016 float was also 7.7 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average. Iron ore cargos totaled 44.1 million tons, an increase of 7.8 percent. However, all other commodities decreased. Coal was … [Read more...]
U.S. Coast Guard Kicks Off Great Lakes Ice-Breaking Operation
The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday kicked off its annual icebreaking operation in the Western Great Lakes after a cold arctic blast caused developing ice conditions in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior and the St Marys River. The annual operation, called Operation Taconite, is the Coast Guard's largest domestic ice-breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, the … [Read more...]
WATCH: Ice-Covered Ship Arrives in Duluth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WMDw3ncytY I heard on the news it was cold in the Great Lakes, but I had no idea it was this cold. Actually I just looked at Duluth's weather... it's 3 degrees and it's only 5 p.m. … [Read more...]
Mysterious Ghost Ship Spotted on Lake Superior?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eNJm554Reg A video uploaded to Youtube has some people on the internet thinking they've just seen a ghost (ship, that is). The video was uploaded by Jason Asselin, who says he was out scoping out the fall colors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with some friends when he spotted this mysterious object off the coast of Marquette. Asselin said … [Read more...]
Watch A Group Retirees Turned Shipwreck Explorers Find The Oldest Intact Commercial Sailing Vessel
On November 6th, 1803 the merchant sloop Washington was sailing Lake Ontario enroute from Kingston to Niagara, Canada with a full cargo when it foundered during a gale. Last week she was found by a team of, self-proclaimed, retired shipwreck explorers. The Washington was the first sloop built on Lake Erie and the first to sail in both Lakes Erie and Ontario. Sloops only … [Read more...]
Hundreds of Americans Wash Up (illegally) On Canada’s shore
by Ethan Lou (Reuters) About 1,500 Americans floating down a river that separates the United States from Canada had to be rescued from the water when strong rains and winds sent them illegally into Canadian territory, the country's coast guard said on Monday. The Americans were taking part in the annual Port Huron Float Down on Sunday in the St. Clair River, which runs … [Read more...]