en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Mackinaw_(WAGB-83) When ships were steel and men were made of iron.. ws
8/21 - Holland, Mich. – A Great Lakes cruise ship that was stranded in Holland for more than 24 hours due to weather finally left dock on Thursday afternoon.
The Pearl Mist cruise ship was on a seven-night trip from Chicago to Toronto. The ship had been docked on Lake Macatawa in Holland since 8 a.m. Wednesday. It was supposed to leave that afternoon, but was forced to stay due to big waves on Lake Michigan.
The group of more than 200 passengers toured the city to pass the time.
“Our office — (the) Visitors Bureau — put together land excursions for them. So we picked them up on motor coaches. We took a number of people to downtown Holland. We took another group to Windmill Island Gardens and we also took them to the Holland Farmer’s Market. We got everyone back at 11:30 a.m. and then the decision was made that the ship wouldn’t sail because of weather, so we then put together more land excursions at the drop of a hat,” Sally Laukitis, the executive director for the Holland Visitors Bureau, said.
Passengers also dined in downtown Holland Wednesday night.
“It’s fabulous for the Holland economy,” Laukitis said. “They were not serving them dinner on the ship last night, so everyone came to downtown Holland to have dinner and then we got them back to the ship last night, and the people were all so good-natured and so nice. They were from all over the country and there are some international people on board, as well.”
Though it wasn’t part of the original itinerary, passengers said they enjoyed their stay in Holland.
“We certainly have loved being here in Holland. It’s very nice. It changed all of our plans for a little bit, but otherwise it gave us a chance to be here,” said Joe Trupia, who is from Sand Lake, New York.
The passengers were confined to the ship Thursday as the crew waited out the weather to leave for Mackinaw Island. The boat left dock just before 5 p.m.
Officials with the Holland Visitors Bureau said the ship’s short visit helped give Holland more national and international attention. “We’re starting to make a name for Holland as being a port and being a friendly port, so hopefully this is a sign of things to come in the future,” Laukitis said.
The Pearl Mist will return Sunday, Aug. 30 at noon and will depart at 6 p.m. It will make another return on Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. and will depart at 1 p.m.
The seven-night cruise from Great Lakes Cruise Company is pricey, with tickets ranging from $4,700 to more than $6,000.
WOOD
Norisle group’s fundraiser begins $18.5 million quest
8/21 - Manitowaning, Ont. – It was 40 years ago that the S.S. Norisle sailed into Manitowaning Bay, making the port her permanent berth in retirement and where she has sat ever since, her condition worsening with each passing year.
Eight years ago, the Friends of the Norisle organization was born—a group founded by Manitowaning’s Jean McLennan and dedicated to preserving the beloved steamship that provided ferry service from Tobermory to South Baymouth from 1947 to 1974 before the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun took over. (The group has since been renamed the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society.) The group has worked tirelessly, dedicating volunteer hours and funds to doing what they can to keep the Norisle afloat (and from looking shabby), but recently decided to step up their game, entering into a partnership with Compenso Communications, a communications and government relations firm whose expertise is securing funds in various forms. They also happen to be based in Collingwood, home of the shipbuilding yard where the Norisle was built.
The Compenso team recently met with members of Assiginack staff and council, outlining the strategies and the execution behind seeing the Norisle seaworthy and sailing once again.
Dave Ham, chair of the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society, began the meeting, introducing Paul Bonwick, president of Compenso Communications. Mr. Bonwick noted that his father worked on the building of the Norisle in 1946 and that he himself had worked in the Collingwood shipyards.
Mr. Bonwick, a former MP and municipal councillor, congratulated Assiginack council and the previous councils on seeing the vision of the Steamship Society and lending support over the years. He introduced the team of Abby Stec, now the executive director of the Steamship Society, and Elaine Kelly, executive administrator and an avid marine history buff who hails from England.
Ms. Stec, he explained, has led numerous multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns and will do the same for the Norisle, which needs to raise $18.5 million in funds with “significant private and public buy-in.” The goal set to raise this money is between 18 months and two years which would bring the year to 2017—the same year the municipality is relinquished of its duty to care for the aged steamship. (The province gifted Assiginack with the Norisle once she became decommissioned for service 40 years ago.)
“We are looking for support as well as permission to enable staff to work with us and help in applying for funding,” Mr. Bonwick addressed council.
Ms. Stec gave the presentation to council, explaining that the campaign’s goal is to: “raise the necessary funds to refit the Norisle and return her to service as a heritage passenger steamship on Great Lakes cruises.”
In a feasibility study conducted by the firm EPCG, it was found that there is evidence of a “significant market” being available for multi-day, berthed passenger cruises in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River from mid-May to October with anecdotal evidence showing that specific ports could support a winter restaurant operation aboard the Norisle.
The breakdown of financial requirements is as follows: ship refit, $13.5 million; contingency allowance, $2.7 million (20 percent of overall); shore equipment, $25,000; pre-opening/start-up costs, $440,000; and operating deficiencies, $666,000 for the first two years.
Ms. Stec explained that the Steamship Society and Compenso will work hard to secure major gifts and sponsors, raising the majority of the funds before making the campaign public. Target markets for fundraising include: Ontario residents, specifically from the Golden Horseshoe; Quebec residents, particularly from Montreal; other Canadians; US border states, particularly New York and Chicago (which are priority markets for the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMP)); US longer-haul markets, particularly those markets which are targeted by the Canadian Tourism Commission and OTMP, such as Boston and Los Angeles; and international markets, particularly Ontario’s priority overseas markets with an interest in historic luxury travel including Germany, the UK and France. Other markets include those with a strong interest in heritage, cruising, Northern Ontario and wilderness adventure; incentive travel markets; those travelling with high-end tour companies; small corporate groups on meetings/getaways; and steamship and steam-related theme groups.
The five potential sources of funding, explained by Ms. Stec, are government, (federal, provincial and municipal), private sector investment, public-private partnerships, potential partners and fundraising and sponsors (in-kind and financial).
Ms. Stec explained that the Norisle has the fact that it is a steamship in its favour as an attraction, along with the heritage of the Great Lakes, smaller passenger numbers, interesting shore excursions and access to smaller ports.
Compenso expects the initial refit to create 102 jobs in Ontario with a price tag of $6.1 million in employment income and $4.5 million in taxes. The Norisle is also expected to create 58 jobs with $2.3 million in employment income and, over 10 years, operations are anticipated to generate over $49 million in spending in the economy, 580 person years of employment and $23 million in employment income.
A four-year projection presented by Ms. Stec shows 1,355 passengers expected with a gross revenue of $4,003,000 and an operating profit of $427,000.
“The business model is strong, it will work, but will take up to two years to get it to stand on its own and be sustainable,” Ms. Stec told the group.
John Coulter, a member of the Steamship Society, spoke of his work on the Seguin in Muskoka, which proved to be sustainable after four years and is “very successful.”
Mr. Bonwick again spoke of the importance of a municipal partnership in terms of staff support and the municipal charitable status. He noted the upcoming 150th anniversary of the country and the funding opportunities that will be made available for heritage projects such as this one.
Reeve Paul Moffat asked about the Norisle refit and where it would take place. It was explained that it depends on the boat’s substructure as to where it will be refitted.
The business case shows that a larger port, such as Collingwood, would be a better home port for the Norisle, “but at the end of the day, it’s the Friends of the Norisle who make that call, but the business case will really say it.”
Should all go to plan, the Norisle would likely see a summer sailing season of Toronto to Montreal with late summer to fall sailings in Georgian Bay and the North Channel.
“And she’ll be flying the Northern flag and the Northern story,” Ms. Stec said. “She is an ambassador for the North. The Norisle is not stationery—she carries the Northern flag wherever she goes.”
Councillor Leslie Fields questioned the 18 months to two years time frame. “So, in that time, the ship just stays here and hopefully continues to float?” she asked.
“Not necessarily,” Mr. Coulter replied. “There has to be a sufficient appreciation of funds, but we could have a phased-in refit.”
“When I first met with the group they talked about the ship as if she were alive and seeing her today, stepping aboard, she certainly is—she just needs a little bit of waking up,” Ms. Stec said.
Mr. Ham told The Expositor that there have been numerous meetings with Compenso before getting to this stage, ensuring they were a good fit for the Steamship Society.
On the question of whether Manitowaning would be the home port for the Norisle again, “that would probably remain to be seen,” Mr. Ham said. “Originally, it was the intention of council to have the Norisle winter here and Assiginack would benefit a bit from that (in its current berth).” Mr. Ham noted that 40 years ago, 60 foot pilings were driven into the bay alongside the ship and could continue to be used during the winter months.
“It’s an interesting proposition and I certainly hope they’re successful,” Reeve Moffat told The Expositor when contacted following the meeting, calling the campaign “pretty ambitious.”
He explained that while he wishes the group every success, the ship is becoming a liability to the municipality and council would “welcome any opportunity to see it sail out of here.”
“I would love to see it come back as a destination on a cruise,” Reeve Moffat added, but said he was doubtful it would ever winter in Manitowaning. “I just don’t see the economy of scale. It certainly wouldn’t be feasible to run it as an attraction in Manitowaning.”
Manitoulin Expositor
Float Down safety wasn’t cheap
8/21 - Port Huron, Mich. – The experience of floating seven and a half miles down the St. Clair River may be priceless, but the actual cost isn’t cheap.
Law enforcement agencies on the water Sunday for the unsanctioned float from Lighthouse Beach in Port Huron to Chrysler Beach in Marysville estimate they spent thousands of dollars on manpower, overtime and fuel.
Nearly 100 first responders from 20 U.S. agencies and six Canadian agencies ensured a safe float Sunday for the estimated 5,000 participants, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Those agencies saved nine lives, assisted 285, provided life jackets to 35 and towed about 1,850 people who floated into Canadian waters. That rescue effort came at a cost.
The U.S. Coast Guard estimates it spent about $91,500 to ensure the safety of floaters on the St. Clair River.
“We would have had those boats available to be manned anyway, but in this situation we had them all dedicated to that one event,” U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Ben Chamberlain said. “We’re going to do all we can whenever possible to keep people safe.”
Chamberlain said the event seemed safer than in years past. “We had no cases that were all that severe or that we could not resolve on sight,” he said. “We actually supplied our boats with 100 life jackets. I was shocked when I learned we only had to hand out 35.”
Marysville Department of Public Safety estimated the city spent about $20,000 working the event.
Deputy Chief Ron Buckmaster said about $9,000 was spent on policing, $3,500 was spent on fire crews on land and water, and $7,500 was spent on Department of Public Works efforts to manage barricades and parking near Chrysler Beach.
“That’s totally separate from the guys who were working the road, or the firefighters working that day,” Buckmaster said. “These people were all brought in only for this event.”
Buckmaster said lumped into that $20,000 are officers from different agencies who assisted Marysville during the Float Down. While the city wasn’t charged for their assistance, Buckmaster said the city will loan its officers to those agencies for special events in return for the help.
Buckmaster said that $20,000 doesn’t include the overtime officers will have to spend in court for arrests resulting from the event.
Police officers arrested about a dozen people after they landed in Marysville Sunday evening, Buckmaster said. He said the arrests largely were for disorderly public intoxication.
He said officers and rescue crews also had to help several people too intoxicated to leave the water.
Port Huron police and fire departments estimate they spent a little more than $5,000 in overtime, fuel and preparation costs. Public Safety Director Michael Reaves said the Float Down is expensive, but is similar to what the department might spend on other special events.
“We do a lot of special events, this is just one of them, and there’s a cost for all of those,” Reaves said.
“I like the event. I think it’s something that’s only ours. It’s unique to our area. I just want to make it safer.”
The St. Clair County Sheriff Marine Division and Dive Team estimated the event cost them about $5,200 to patrol.
The expenses of those four agencies don’t include those incurred by other federal agencies, Canadian agencies and local agencies such as fire departments from Algonac, Burtchville Township, Clay Township, Marine City and St. Clair.
Port Huron Times Herald
August 21, 1996 - The former U. S. Army Corps of Engineers tug MARQUETTE was downbound past Detroit on her delivery trip to her new owners, based in Key West, Florida. Renamed MONA LARUE in 1997, she is no longer in documentation.
At 7:10 p.m. on August 21, 1901, the whaleback steamer ALEXANDER McDOUGALL (steel propeller modified whaleback freighter, 413 foot, 3,686 gross tons, built in 1898, at W. Superior, Wisconsin) ran into and cut in two the tug GEORGE STAUBER (wooden propeller tug, 55 foot, 43 gross tons, built in 1883, at Buffalo, New York) in the rapids at the mouth of the St. Clair River. The STAUBER sank immediately in about 60 feet of water. No lives were lost. The steam barge IDA assisted in retrieving people in the water. The McDOUGALL did not stop.
BUFFALO's sea trials were conducted from August 21 through August 24, 1978.
GEORGE A. STINSON was christened at Detroit, Michigan on August 21, 1978.
CEDARGLEN, a.) WILLIAM C. ATWATER arrived under tow at Port Maitland, Ontario, on August 21, 1994, where she was scrapped.
THE HARVESTER cleared Lorain, Ohio, August 21, 1911, on her maiden voyage loaded with coal for Duluth, Minnesota.
IMPERIAL QUEBEC (Hull#161) was launched August 21, 1957, at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Imperial Oil Ltd.
Cleveland Tankers VENUS was sold to Acme Metals Inc. and was towed to Ashtabula, Ohio on August 21, 1975, where she was broken up in 1976.
On August 21, 1971, CHARLES DICK severed two underwater cables in the Maumee River, cutting off power to east Toledo and the Cherry Street Bridge. Massive traffic jams developed on Toledo's streets.
The graceful schooner HUNTER SAVIDGE was launched on August 21, 1879, by the Grand Haven Ship Building Company.
On August 21, 1856, CHARTER (wooden, propeller vessel, 132 foot, 197 tons, built in 1849, at Huron, Ohio as a sidewheeler), was bound from Cleveland for Buffalo with flour, oats and rye. She swamped and sank in a storm 6 miles above Fairport, Ohio. By the end of August, she had been damaged beyond repair but her machinery was recovered as she lay in relatively shallow water.
On August 21, 1861, BANSHEE (wooden propeller freighter, 119 foot, 166 tons, built in 1852, at Portsmouth, Ontario, named HERO in 1860-61) was carrying wheat, flour and butter to Montreal when her engine failed (broken shaft) and she was helpless in a storm on Lake Ontario. She foundered near Timber Island on Lake Ontario. One passenger died, but the crew of 10 made it to Timber Island. She was owned by Howard & Rowe of Quebec.
1954 - The British freighter PERTH, enroute from Toronto to St. John's, N.F., with general cargo, was damaged in a collision with an unidentified vessel off the south coast of Newfoundland. The pre-Seaway trader to the Great Lakes had been built as LOCHEE in 1937 and had also made a total of 3 inland voyages in 1959 and 1960.
1955 - A collision between the CASON J. CALLAWAY and the B.F. JONES occurred above Lime Island in the St. Marys River. The latter, upbound and light, was declared a total loss and taken to Superior. Part of the bottom of the hull was saved for use as the shipyard lighter SCC 1, the cabins were transplanted to the SPARKMAN D. FOSTER and the hatches, hatch lifter and funnel become part of the LYMAN C. SMITH. The three-year-old CASON J. CALLAWAY was repaired, outlasts all of the other ships and remains in service under the same name.
1973 - The first KINSMAN INDEPENDENT lost steering in the Neebish Rock Cut and went aground with heavy bottom damage. After being refloated, the ship was laid up at Lorain and, in 1974, sold to Marine Salvage for scrap. She arrived at Santander, Spain, for dismantling under tow of the Polish tug JANTAR, and in tandem with the JAMES DAVIDSON, on July 21, 1974.
