Great Lakes News Thread

[Michael H. Standart]

From BYM:

USA. Coast Guard rescues 2 sailors in Lake Michigan after vessel becomes disabled

quote:

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Traverse City, Mich., rescued two sailors in Lake Michigan this afternoon after their 32-foot sailing vessel became disabled in heavy weather.

More at http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=93352

Comment: Being out on the lakes as the winter approaches isn't exactly a good way to ensure you survive long enough to contribute to the gene pool.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Star Tribune:

Report shows Great Lakes shipping economic impact

quote:

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Cargo shipping in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River navigation system supports 227,000 jobs and pumps billions into the U.S. and Canadian economies, says an industry-funded report released Tuesday.

More at http://www.startribune.com/local/132050018.html​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Maritime Executive:

Great Lakes Maritime Academy Training Vessel to Make First-Ever Stop in Toledo

quote:

Officials with The Maritime Academy of Toledo and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, MI announced this week that the Great Lakes Maritime Academy training vessel, T/S State of Michigan, will make her first-ever visit to Toledo in late May 2012.

More at http://www.maritime-executive.com/pressrelease/great-lakes-maritime-academy-training-vessel-to-make-first-ever-stop-in-toledo​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Chicago Tribune:

Storm rips through Monroe Harbor, up to 7 boats destroyed

quote:

As many as seven boats in Monroe Harbor were reduced to flotsam and about 20 more were damaged by the heavy winds and high waves of a severe storm that tore across Lake Michigan.

More at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-monroe-harbor-boats-1021-20111021,0,3989544.story

Comment: You don't even need to get underway on the Great Lakes to get wrecked!​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From Marine Link:

Great Lakes Coal Down 7 PCT in September

quote:

Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 3.4 million net tons in September, an increase of nearly 15 percent compared to August, but a decrease of 7 percent compared to a year ago. The trade was more than 10 percent off the 5-year average for September.

More at http://www.marinelink.com/news/september-lakes-great341015.aspx​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From BYM:

U.S. Coast Guard crews suspend their search tonight for a missing Sandusky, Ohio man in Lake Erie.

quote:

Watchstanders at the 9th Coast Guard District Command Center were notified at 7:17 p.m., Thursday that the man had left the Sandusky Yacht Club Thursday afternoon but had not returned.

More at http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=93674​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Today's Feature Story from Yahoo:

Canada warns against New York shipping rule change

quote:

Canada warned Thursday that upcoming New York state ballast water rules aimed at preventing foreign species from invading the Great Lakes could hamper domestic trade and exchanges with the United States.

More at http://news.yahoo.com/canada-warns-against-york-shipping-rule-change-192407888.html

Comment: Somebody better work out a way to make this happen. These rules aren't about to go away.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Today's Feature Story from BYM Maritime:

USA. Maine-based Coast Guard Cutter arrives in Great Lakes for 2011/2012 ice breaking season

quote:

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay, a 140-foot ice breaking tug homeported in Rockland, Maine, arrives at its temporary homeport at the Cleveland Moorings, Dec. 12, 2011.

More at http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=96332​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The St. Lawrance Seaway System:

Closing of the 2011 Navigation Season

quote:

Mariners are reminded that there is always a possibility that severe climatic conditions may occur during the closing period. Should this happen, there is a chance that the dates outlined below, for the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section or the Welland Canal, may not be met.

More at http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/pdf/navigation/notice20111116.pdf

Comment: Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Today's Feature Story from BYM:

USA. Coast Guard begins ice breaking operation in western Great Lakes

quote:

Operation Taconite is the largest domestic ice breaking operation

The U.S. Coast Guard began ice breaking operations Wednesday as part of Operation Taconite, in response to colder temperatures and ice growth in the western Great Lakes region.

More at http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=96792​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Detroit Free Press:

Ship postcard book brings Great Lakes history to life

quote:

Long before people shared their travels instantly through e-mail, Facebook and smartphone photos, they sent postcards -- which in the heyday of Great Lakes passenger vessels were available on just about every ship.

Today, those postcards are little pieces of history.

More HERE​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From Great Lakes Seaway.com:

Opening of 2012 Seaway Navigation Season

Body of articles at http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/commercial/opening.html

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Star Tribune:

Sign of spring: Duluth shipping starts

quote:

With a load of coal bound for Michigan, the Mesabi Miner left Duluth-Superior on Friday to kick off the port's 2012 shipping season.

More HERE​

 

[James Garrett]

Ships accumulate near Port Huron due to ice blocking access to Lake Superior

No news on the Lakes for 2 years?

The ice cover on the Great Lakes during the winter of 2013-2014 was much more extensive than usual. It has been called the worst in 30 years. It appears to be putting a crimp in the this year's shipping season. There are 6 US and 2 Canadian ice breakers working in the area of the Saint Mary's river at the southeastern end of Lake Superior.

Boatnerd News Item:

5/3 - Port Huron, Mich. — Jeannette Zells, of Avoca, counted the 14 freighters anchored in lower Lake Huron on Thursday while she ate her lunch at Lakeside Beach. The spectacle, which started last week, likely will continue for another week or two.

Lake Huron remains a wet parking lot: Freighters are waiting for ice to clear
Daily Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping News - BoatNerd.Com

Report from May 1st (video).
Freighters stuck waiting in Lake Huron | News - Home