Today in Great Lakes History

[yachtsmanwilly]

6/19 - Detroit, Mich. – Detroit police are investigating after an unresponsive male was pulled out of the Detroit River just west of the Ambassador Bridge Sunday afternoon.

The 1,000-footer Walter J. McCarthy Jr., was moving upstream when its crew spotted a person struggling in the water, east of the Ambassador Bridge. The McCarthy’s captain yelled down to the man asking him if he needed help, after the man responded that he did, the captain threw him a life ring.

The McCarthy reported the swimmer to Sarina Traffic. Crews at the J.W. Westcott Company monitored the report and immediately departed their dock below the Ambassador Bridge in the pilot boat Huron Maid.

The Westcott crew located the unresponsive man about 75 yards up river from the McCarthy’s life ring. The man was quickly brought alongside, but the two-person crew couldn't lift him onto the boat. They kept his torso out of the water and a U.S. Coast Guard Patrol from Station Belle Isle was alongside a few minutes later. Two Coast Guard crew and the Westcott crew were able to pull the man on deck and start CPR.

With assistance from the Detroit Fire Boat crew the man was transferred to the Westcott Dock where Detroit EMS arrived on scene taking him to Detroit Receiving Hospital. The man was unresponsive but the quick response time gave him the best chance.

It was unknown, as of Sunday afternoon, how the man, described as a white male approximately 50 years old, found himself in the river. A Windsor police spokesman said foul play was not suspected.

Windsor Star


6/19 - Ann Arbor, Mich. – Experts are meeting in Ann Arbor this week to discuss a tsunami warning system for the Great Lakes. Scientists say tsunamis happen on the lakes, although many are too small to notice. In fact, the lakes average 106 such events a year.

In the oceans, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. Great Lakes tsunamis result from rapid changes in barometric pressure associated with fast-moving weather systems. Scientists call them "meteotsunamis." In some cases, people standing on piers or swimming along shorelines have been swept to their deaths.

Meteotsunamis also can cause sudden drops in water levels that endanger nuclear power plants' cooling systems.

The University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research is hosting a meeting from Monday through Wednesday where experts will consider a system for warning the public.

Associated Press



On 19 June 1889, NORTH STAR (steel propeller freighter, 299 foot, 2,476 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio) collided with CHARLES J. SHEFFIELD (steel propeller freighter, 260 foot, 1,699 gross tons, built in 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio) about sixty miles west of Whitefish Point on Lake Superior in heavy fog. The NORTH STAR kept her bow in the SHEFFIELD's side after the impact, giving the crew time to board. The SHEFFIELD then sank in 8 minutes. Her loss was valued at $160,000. The courts found both vessels to be equally at fault after years of litigation.

In 1954, GEORGE M. HUMPHREY (Hull#871) (named for President Eisenhower's Secretary of Treasury) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Shipbuilding Co, for National Steel Co., M.A. Hanna, mgr.

In 1978, ALGOBAY (Hull#215) was launched by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) ATLANTIC TRADER in 1994, and renamed c.) ALGOBAY in 1996 and d.) RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER in 2012.

On 19 June 1836, DELAWARE (wooden passenger/package freight side wheeler, 105 foot, 178 tons, built in 1833, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying general merchandise and passengers in a storm on Lake Michigan when she was thrown ashore off Niles, Illinois. She broke in two and was wrecked. No lives were lost.

On 19 June 1900, the wooden schooner THOMAS L. HOWLAND was raised and towed to Buffalo, New York for repairs. She had been sunk by the ice off Windmill Point in the Detroit River early in the season.

At 5:30 p.m., on 19 June 1872, the wooden package freight/passenger propeller MONTANA (236 foot, 1,535 gross tons) was finally afloat at Port Huron, Michigan. She was successfully launched at the Port Huron Dry Dock Company on Saturday, 15 June, but she got stuck in the mud. The tugs VULCAN, PRINDEVILLE, BROCKWAY and BURNSIDE were all employed to free her and the MONTANA's engines were also going. It took four days of pulling, hoisting and dredging to free her. The effort to get her free and afloat cost Alexander Muir, her builder, over $3,000 (in 1872 dollars). She lasted until 1914, when she burned near Alpena, Michigan.

1905 – The wooden passenger and freight steamer CITY OF COLLINGWOOD of 1893 vintage was destroyed by a fire at Collingwood and four lives were lost.

1917 – The Canadian bulk carrier NATIRONCO was beached in the Detroit River after a collision with the ASTERN STATES and was deemed a total loss. It was raised and repaired at Toledo and survived until scrapping at Civitavecchia, Italy, as d) SAN CARLO in 1929.

1925 – The wooden freighter MAPLEGLEN (i), is scuttled in Lake Ontario, west of Kingston, near Amherst Island. It had been idle since 1921 and was originally the WYOMING of 1881.

1929 –JOHN HANLAN was torched as a spectacle off the Sunnyside area of Toronto after having failed an inspection to continue service as a Toronto Island ferry. 1933 – MEADCLIFFE HALL sustained rudder damage after being struck by the CALGADOC (i) at Thorold. The grain-laden canaller was towed back to Port Colborne, unloaded, and repaired at Port Dalhousie.

1962 – Hatch cover planks give way at Cleveland aboard FLOWERGATE and a forklift and two men fell into the cargo hold, striking a third man. All were badly injured. The British freighter later returned through the Seaway under Panamanian registry as b) AMENITY and was scrapped at Troon, Scotland, in 1977.


The steamer ILLINOIS was the first vessel to pass through the newly opened Soo Locks in 1855. To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, an open house was held aboard the J. L. MAUTHE. While tied up at the Cleveland Lakefront dock, an estimated 1,700 persons toured the MAUTHE.

During a moonlight charter on 18 June 1936, the TASHMOO (steel side-wheel excursion steamer, 308 foot, 1,344 gross tons, built in 1900, at Wyandotte, Michigan) struck a boulder in the Sugar Island channel in the Detroit River. The vessel docked at Amherstburg, Ontario, where her passengers disembarked as the vessel settled to the bottom in 14 feet of water. Although the damage was not fatal, the salvage crew botched the job. The TASHMOO had one end raised too quickly and her keel broke. This ended this well-loved vessel’s too-short career.

The Soo Locks opened for their first season on 18 June 1855. The first vessel through the locks was the steamer ILLINOIS of 1853.

In 1949, the WILFRED SYKES (Hull#866) was launched at American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio, for Inland Steel Co. At the time she was the largest and most powerful vessel on the lakes. The SYKES was also the first boat to have a poop deck. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1975.

In 1964, the bulk freighter SAGUENAY (Hull#647) was launched at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Ship Building Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd.

In 1968, the ALGOCEN (Hull#191) was launched at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd, for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) VALGOCEN in 2005, she was used as a spoils barge in Keasby, New Jersey. She returned to the lakes in in 2008 as J.W. SHELLEY. Sold and renamed PHOENIX STAR in 2012.

On 18 June 1869, a little less than a week after being launched, the schooner DAVID A. WELLS sailed on her maiden voyage from Port Huron for Menominee, Michigan. On 18 June 1858, the steamship CANADA left the Lakes via the St. Lawrence rapids since she was too large for the existing locks. She had been built by Louis Shickluna at the Niagara Drydock Company in 1853, at a cost of $63,000. She was sold for ocean service after the Depression of 1857. Her hull was rebuilt and she was renamed MISSISSIPPI. She foundered in a gale in the South Atlantic on 12 August 1862.

The venerable side-wheel passenger ferry TRILLIUM (Hull #94) was launched June 18, 1910, at Toronto, Ontario by Polson Iron Works, for the Toronto Ferry Co. 1905 –ETRURIA sank after a collision with the AMASA STONE off Passage Island Light, Lake Superior.

1942 – The steamer THOMAS MAYTHAM of 1892 vintage was rebuilt as the New York State Barge Canal tanker DOLOMITE 2 in 1938 and renamed MOTOREX in 1942. It was sunk by gunfire from U-172 near the Colon entrance to the Panama Canal and all on board were rescued.

1944 – ALBERT C. FIELD, a former Great Lakes bulk canaller, was hit by an aerial torpedo from German aircraft and broke in two and sank in minutes. There were 4 lives lost when the ship was hit in the English Channel while carrying munitions and 130 bags of mail in support of the Normandy invasion.

1959 – SPRINGDALE, a Great Lakes trader in the early 1950s and later operated on charter to Reoch Transports, capsized and sank in the Gulf of Bothnia after the cargo of timber shifted in heavy weather.

1960 – GEERTJE BUISMAN came to the Great Lakes in 1960 and ran aground on Vienne Shoal in northern Lake Michigan while outbound from Chicago with a cargo that included new Nash Rambler automobiles for Europe. The Dutch vessel was stuck for 4 days, and had to be lightered. It returned to the Seaway again in later years and was finally scrapped as f) MOUNT at Varna, Bulgaria, in 2003-2004.

1991 – The saltwater trader AKTI was driven aground 14 miles north of Necochea, Argentina, in a storm and sold “as lies” before being refloated as d) AKTO on July 27. Examination determined that the ship was a total loss but it was rebuilt by Chilean interests as e) RIO CIERVOS. The vessel had been through the Seaway as a) ASIA PROSPERITY beginning in 1974, as b) HAN PACIFIC in 1983, and c) AKTI in 1988. It was scrapped at g) AL GIORGIS after arriving at Chittagong, Bangladesh, on November 17, 2005.

1997 – CANADIAN MARINER ran aground in the St. Lawrence near Crossover Shoal after losing power. The vessel had to be lightered to be released and was repaired by Port Weller Dry Docks. The ship was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 2007.

On June 17, 1895, the J. W. Westcott Co. inaugurated its unique mail delivery service.

On 17 June 1878, the Canadian schooner JAMES SCOTT of Port Burwell capsized and sank in Lake Erie. The captain's wife, their child and two seamen were drowned.

The wooden schooner MONTEREY, which stranded on Sleeping Bear Point on Lake Michigan in early December 1890, was released on 17 June 1891.

The SCOTT MISENER (Hull#11) was christened on June 17, 1951, for Colonial Steamships Ltd. She was the first vessel built at Port Weller Drydocks Ltd. Renamed b.) JOHN E. F. MISENER in 1954, she was scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia, in 1986.

The PATERSON of 1954 collided with the steamer EDMUND W. MUDGE in 1957, in fog on the St. Clair River opposite Marine City, Michigan.

The WILLIAM A. IRVIN was towed to the Duluth Convention Center on June 17, 1986, by the tugs SIOUX and DAKOTA to be on station as a museum ship at the new $3 million convention facility.

June 17, 1998 - The barge PERE MARQUETTE 41 and tug UNDAUNTED arrived Ludington, Michigan from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after the remainder of the conversion there.

The propeller OWEN SOUND was launched at Collingwood, Ontario, on 17 June 1875. She measured 900 tons and could carry 30,000 bushels of grain.

1909 – The iron hulled passenger and freight steamer CAMPANA had been cut in two to leave the Great Lakes in 1895, but the hull broke in 1909 where the sections had been rejoined and sank in the St. Lawrence at Point St. Michael a few miles below Quebec City.

1918 – JAY GOULD was loaded with coal and towing the barge COMMODORE when it began leaking and then sank eight miles southeast of Southeast Shoal, Lake Erie. The hull was later dynamited as a hazard to navigation. The barge was overwhelmed by the seas and rolled in the trough for about two hours before it also sank. All on board both ships were saved.

1941 – The Lake Ontario passenger steamer KINGSTON ran aground on a shoal in the St. Lawrence 15 miles SW of Ogdensburg, NY after losing her way in thick fog. The passengers were transferred to RAPIDS PRINCE and the ship was released with the aid of pontoons and repaired at Kingston.

1998 – MOUNTAIN BLOSSOM was downbound in the Seaway when it struck the approach wall at the Eisenhower Lock, opening a crack in the hull that allowed about 50 gallons of xylene to escape. The immediate area was evacuated but the problem was quickly cleaned up. The ship was a regular Great Lakes trader from 1986 to 2007 and was scrapped at Xinhui, China, after arriving on January 10, 2010.


6/17 - Brockville, Ont. – Senator Bob Runciman’s bill to ease red tape for American boaters who venture into Canadian water has passed the Senate and will become law shortly. The bill – adopted Monday and voted on Tuesday – is expected to become law next week after receiving Royal Assent.

“This is great news for boaters and for the tourism industry of border communities across Canada,” Runciman said. “It will help Americans and Canadians alike and I could not be happier that it will become law in time for the boating season.”

Under the new law, Americans who enter Canadian water won’t have to report to customs as long as they remain on board and they don’t land, anchor to come into contact with another vessel.

The law is expected to ease headaches for fishers and pleasure cruisers, who happen to stray into foreign water. Runciman said the current requirement to report under these circumstances was “impractical…in areas such as the Thousand Islands, where it sometimes isn’t even clear which side of the border you are on.”

Canada Border Services Agency officials can still compel boaters to report in order to protect border security.

Brockville Newswatch


6/17 - Chicago, Ill. – Boosted by above-average rainfall this spring, Lake Michigan is on pace to swell to its highest water level in two decades.

The rising water, which could climb more than 1 1/2 feet above its long-term average this month, has swallowed up mounds of beach along Illinois' shoreline and created an opportunity for taller, stronger waves that could accelerate erosion. With forecasts suggesting Lake Michigan could remain high through the next six months, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, communities will likely be on guard for powerful autumn storms that could pulverize lakefront property.

The surge was brought on, in part, by an unexpected deluge this spring, when Chicago saw 43 percent more precipitation than usual, including an April with nearly double the normal rainfall, according to data from the National Weather Service.

"We always think of the Great Lakes as responding very slowly to these events, but they can actually be moving rather quickly," said Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel.

During 15 years of persistently low levels, Lake Michigan dipped to a record low in January 2013. In a dramatic reversal, two years later it rebounded nearly 4 feet, largely because of increased ice cover from back-to-back polar vortex winters that limited evaporation. Lake levels have continued to be elevated, though they are still 2 feet below the record high set in 1986.

Periods of high and low lake levels have drawbacks, said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

Read more and view a video at this link: www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-lake-michigan-water-levels-met-20170615-story.html


6/17 - The Tug Radium Yellowknife will be departing Toronto on Saturday and arriving in the Picton area on Sunday to prepare the former icebreaker/museum ship Alexander Henry for its upcoming tow to Thunder Bay. The expected arrival in Thunder Bay will be June 29 or 30.

6/17 - 10 a.m. update: Damia Desgagnés was freed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday. At 10 a.m. she was moving westbound at 6 knots, according to AIS. The tugs Ocean Georgie Bain and Ocean Serge Genois were nearby. There is no word on damage. She will need to be inspected, possibly at Johnstown, before being allowed to continue her trip to Nanticoke. Meanwhile, the back up of traffic is slowly getting underway.

Original Report:
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a tanker grounded west of Cornwall, Ont., late Thursday night. The TSB said it was informed early Friday morning of the grounding of the Damia Desgagnés at 11:40 p.m. on the St. Lawrence River between Iroquois, Ont., and Morrisburg, Ont.

The tanker is owned by Group Desgagnés in Quebec City.

The tanker was travelling west from Montreal to the Lake Erie community of Nanticoke in Ontario when the engine failed, according to Serge Le Guellec, the president of Transport Desgagnés, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Group Desgagnés.

After the engine failed, the ship drifted and ended with its nose grounded on sand about three nautical miles east of Iroquois, Ont., Le Guellec said. The ship was carrying what he described as heavy fuel, but he said no spill has occurred.

TSB spokesperson Alexandre Fournier confirmed the ship is stable and there is no report of a spill. Navigation is not expected to resume until early Saturday morning, according to authorities. On Friday night the tug Ocean Georgie Bain and a second, unnamed, tug were heading to assist the stranded vessel.

The tanker is less than a year old, and Le Guelle said it was only recently launched from a European shipyard. It's not known what caused the engine failure.

The vessel is aground near the home of Sandra and Fred Goulet, who said they were startled from their sleep around midnight last night.

“We thought a car crashed here or something. It made one heck of a noise, and then, there was all kinds of clanging … and then you could hear it hit the rocks and everything coming in,” said Fred Goulet. “It did that for quite a while, so I don’t know how far out it was when we heard that.”

Sandra Goulet said they could also hear yelling coming from the ship — along with grinding noises — after an explosion woke them up. “We went to the window to look, and we could see the ship all lit up, just where you see it right now. It was just kind of crazy. We said ‘What’s that? ‘It sounds like a bomb went off.”

In more typical circumstances, other boats would have been allowed to pass by the grounded vessel. But high water flows on the St. Lawrence River (also known as Lake St. Lawrence between Iroquois and Cornwall) have authorities taking extra precautions this time, said St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation Communications Officer Andrew Bogora.

As the International Joint Commission brings down water levels in Lake Ontario from historic highs by cranking open the Cornwall Dam, flows have hit 10,400 cubic meters per second in the last couple of days, the “maximum rate which navigation [on the Seaway] can be sustained,” he said. Begora said the grounding was not in any way related to the high water, noting the flow rate was just about as fast – at 10,200 cubic metres per second – over the previous three weeks. And it’s not far off the previous recent flow record of 9,900 cubic meters per second that went through the dam at times in both 1993 and 1998, he said.

In an unrelated matter, repairs were completed Friday on a ship arrestor at the Iroquois Lock, which was damaged Thursday when the tanker Chem Polaris struck it. The saltwater vessel Alina was allowed to make her way upbound Friday, but the downbound Vikingbank and Baie St. Paul, as well as Chem Polaris, were still on the lock wall as of 9 p.m. Friday due to the closure of the waterway until Damia Desgagnés is refloated.

CBC, Nation Valley News, Local Reports


6/18 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The Coast Guard is reminding boaters to prepare for cold water despite warmer air temperatures, Friday. Although air temperatures are predicted to exceed 80 degrees this week, water temperatures of Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are still only in the high 30s to low 50s.

"Many people might not realize, but water as warm as 76 degrees is still considered cold and carries a significant risk for those unprepared for sudden immersion," said Mike Baron, the recreational boating and water safety specialist for the Ninth Coast Guard District.

The Coast Guard urges boaters preparing to get back out on the water this season to take caution and give proper attention to the risks of drowning and hypothermia from being immersed in cold water.

“Warm and sunny days may lead to an increase of boaters, but water temperatures are still cold,” said Lt. Creighton Chong, the public affairs officer for Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie. “Wearing a life jacket and additional clothing will increase your survivability for rescue crews to save you in the event you unexpectedly fall into the water. The Coast Guard also has a smart phone app that contains information that will increase boater safety. It can be found by simply searching ‘United States Coast Guard’ in the app store.”

The Coast Guard urges boaters to follow these cold water safety tips:

• Always wear a life jacket, and be sure there is one for each passenger on board. Wearing a life jacket can prevent a person from becoming completely submerged during a fall into cold water, and help prevent involuntarily inhaling water from the natural gasp reflex, which can cause drowning. A life jacket can keep you afloat and dramatically increase your chances of survival.

• Dress appropriately for the water temperatures and not the air temperatures when going out onto the water.

• Whether powerboat, sail or paddlecraft, make your on-water activities social. Share where you're going and when you'll be back with family and friends; file a floatplan.

• Use the buddy system and never go out on the water alone. • Wear reflective clothing to make it easier for searchers to spot you if you fall overboard.

• Carry and register a personal locator beacon in addition to a VHF-FM marine radio to immediately alert the Coast Guard and local response agencies of potential distress.

USCG


6/18 - Cleveland, Ohio – The Coast Guard rescued nine people from a capsized rowboat in the Cuyahoga River Saturday morning.

At 9 a.m., the watchstander at Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor received a mayday call over marine radio emergency channel 16 from a man stating he was part of a group of rowers from a rowing school located on the river and that wake from another boat had caused the rowboat to capsize throwing the nine rowers into the water.

The man stated that he was on a small vessel following the rowers down the river and could not take all nine people to safety. A rescue crew aboard a 25-foot response boat launched from the station and rescued all nine of the people. All the rowers were wearing life jackets and there were no medical concerns.

“This is a perfect example of how being prepared can help you in an emergency situation,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Laura Roesch, the officer-of-the-day for Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor. “They were wearing life jackets, had a way to call for help and stayed with the boat after it capsized, which are the three top things to do in this type of situation to stay alive.”

The Coast Guard rescue team took the rowers back to the school and a third boat from the school retrieved the capsized rowboat.

The Coast Guard wants to remind boaters and paddle crafter operators always wear your life jacket, have a way to call from help other than a cell phone and to be mindful of others on the water.

USCG

[yachtsmanwilly]

6/19 - Detroit, Mich. – Detroit police are investigating after an unresponsive male was pulled out of the Detroit River just west of the Ambassador Bridge Sunday afternoon.

The 1,000-footer Walter J. McCarthy Jr., was moving upstream when its crew spotted a person struggling in the water, east of the Ambassador Bridge. The McCarthy’s captain yelled down to the man asking him if he needed help, after the man responded that he did, the captain threw him a life ring.

The McCarthy reported the swimmer to Sarina Traffic. Crews at the J.W. Westcott Company monitored the report and immediately departed their dock below the Ambassador Bridge in the pilot boat Huron Maid.

The Westcott crew located the unresponsive man about 75 yards up river from the McCarthy’s life ring. The man was quickly brought alongside, but the two-person crew couldn't lift him onto the boat. They kept his torso out of the water and a U.S. Coast Guard Patrol from Station Belle Isle was alongside a few minutes later. Two Coast Guard crew and the Westcott crew were able to pull the man on deck and start CPR.

With assistance from the Detroit Fire Boat crew the man was transferred to the Westcott Dock where Detroit EMS arrived on scene taking him to Detroit Receiving Hospital. The man was unresponsive but the quick response time gave him the best chance.

It was unknown, as of Sunday afternoon, how the man, described as a white male approximately 50 years old, found himself in the river. A Windsor police spokesman said foul play was not suspected.

Windsor Star


6/19 - Ann Arbor, Mich. – Experts are meeting in Ann Arbor this week to discuss a tsunami warning system for the Great Lakes. Scientists say tsunamis happen on the lakes, although many are too small to notice. In fact, the lakes average 106 such events a year.

In the oceans, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. Great Lakes tsunamis result from rapid changes in barometric pressure associated with fast-moving weather systems. Scientists call them "meteotsunamis." In some cases, people standing on piers or swimming along shorelines have been swept to their deaths.

Meteotsunamis also can cause sudden drops in water levels that endanger nuclear power plants' cooling systems.

The University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research is hosting a meeting from Monday through Wednesday where experts will consider a system for warning the public.

Associated Press



On 19 June 1889, NORTH STAR (steel propeller freighter, 299 foot, 2,476 gross tons, built in 1889, at Cleveland, Ohio) collided with CHARLES J. SHEFFIELD (steel propeller freighter, 260 foot, 1,699 gross tons, built in 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio) about sixty miles west of Whitefish Point on Lake Superior in heavy fog. The NORTH STAR kept her bow in the SHEFFIELD's side after the impact, giving the crew time to board. The SHEFFIELD then sank in 8 minutes. Her loss was valued at $160,000. The courts found both vessels to be equally at fault after years of litigation.

In 1954, GEORGE M. HUMPHREY (Hull#871) (named for President Eisenhower's Secretary of Treasury) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Shipbuilding Co, for National Steel Co., M.A. Hanna, mgr.

In 1978, ALGOBAY (Hull#215) was launched by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) ATLANTIC TRADER in 1994, and renamed c.) ALGOBAY in 1996 and d.) RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER in 2012.

On 19 June 1836, DELAWARE (wooden passenger/package freight side wheeler, 105 foot, 178 tons, built in 1833, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying general merchandise and passengers in a storm on Lake Michigan when she was thrown ashore off Niles, Illinois. She broke in two and was wrecked. No lives were lost.

On 19 June 1900, the wooden schooner THOMAS L. HOWLAND was raised and towed to Buffalo, New York for repairs. She had been sunk by the ice off Windmill Point in the Detroit River early in the season.

At 5:30 p.m., on 19 June 1872, the wooden package freight/passenger propeller MONTANA (236 foot, 1,535 gross tons) was finally afloat at Port Huron, Michigan. She was successfully launched at the Port Huron Dry Dock Company on Saturday, 15 June, but she got stuck in the mud. The tugs VULCAN, PRINDEVILLE, BROCKWAY and BURNSIDE were all employed to free her and the MONTANA's engines were also going. It took four days of pulling, hoisting and dredging to free her. The effort to get her free and afloat cost Alexander Muir, her builder, over $3,000 (in 1872 dollars). She lasted until 1914, when she burned near Alpena, Michigan.

1905 – The wooden passenger and freight steamer CITY OF COLLINGWOOD of 1893 vintage was destroyed by a fire at Collingwood and four lives were lost.

1917 – The Canadian bulk carrier NATIRONCO was beached in the Detroit River after a collision with the ASTERN STATES and was deemed a total loss. It was raised and repaired at Toledo and survived until scrapping at Civitavecchia, Italy, as d) SAN CARLO in 1929.

1925 – The wooden freighter MAPLEGLEN (i), is scuttled in Lake Ontario, west of Kingston, near Amherst Island. It had been idle since 1921 and was originally the WYOMING of 1881.

1929 –JOHN HANLAN was torched as a spectacle off the Sunnyside area of Toronto after having failed an inspection to continue service as a Toronto Island ferry. 1933 – MEADCLIFFE HALL sustained rudder damage after being struck by the CALGADOC (i) at Thorold. The grain-laden canaller was towed back to Port Colborne, unloaded, and repaired at Port Dalhousie.

1962 – Hatch cover planks give way at Cleveland aboard FLOWERGATE and a forklift and two men fell into the cargo hold, striking a third man. All were badly injured. The British freighter later returned through the Seaway under Panamanian registry as b) AMENITY and was scrapped at Troon, Scotland, in 1977.


The steamer ILLINOIS was the first vessel to pass through the newly opened Soo Locks in 1855. To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, an open house was held aboard the J. L. MAUTHE. While tied up at the Cleveland Lakefront dock, an estimated 1,700 persons toured the MAUTHE.

During a moonlight charter on 18 June 1936, the TASHMOO (steel side-wheel excursion steamer, 308 foot, 1,344 gross tons, built in 1900, at Wyandotte, Michigan) struck a boulder in the Sugar Island channel in the Detroit River. The vessel docked at Amherstburg, Ontario, where her passengers disembarked as the vessel settled to the bottom in 14 feet of water. Although the damage was not fatal, the salvage crew botched the job. The TASHMOO had one end raised too quickly and her keel broke. This ended this well-loved vessel’s too-short career.

The Soo Locks opened for their first season on 18 June 1855. The first vessel through the locks was the steamer ILLINOIS of 1853.

In 1949, the WILFRED SYKES (Hull#866) was launched at American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio, for Inland Steel Co. At the time she was the largest and most powerful vessel on the lakes. The SYKES was also the first boat to have a poop deck. She was converted to a self-unloader in 1975.

In 1964, the bulk freighter SAGUENAY (Hull#647) was launched at Lauzon, Quebec, by Davie Ship Building Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd.

In 1968, the ALGOCEN (Hull#191) was launched at Collingwood, Ontario by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd, for Algoma Central Railway. Renamed b.) VALGOCEN in 2005, she was used as a spoils barge in Keasby, New Jersey. She returned to the lakes in in 2008 as J.W. SHELLEY. Sold and renamed PHOENIX STAR in 2012.

On 18 June 1869, a little less than a week after being launched, the schooner DAVID A. WELLS sailed on her maiden voyage from Port Huron for Menominee, Michigan. On 18 June 1858, the steamship CANADA left the Lakes via the St. Lawrence rapids since she was too large for the existing locks. She had been built by Louis Shickluna at the Niagara Drydock Company in 1853, at a cost of $63,000. She was sold for ocean service after the Depression of 1857. Her hull was rebuilt and she was renamed MISSISSIPPI. She foundered in a gale in the South Atlantic on 12 August 1862.

The venerable side-wheel passenger ferry TRILLIUM (Hull #94) was launched June 18, 1910, at Toronto, Ontario by Polson Iron Works, for the Toronto Ferry Co. 1905 –ETRURIA sank after a collision with the AMASA STONE off Passage Island Light, Lake Superior.

1942 – The steamer THOMAS MAYTHAM of 1892 vintage was rebuilt as the New York State Barge Canal tanker DOLOMITE 2 in 1938 and renamed MOTOREX in 1942. It was sunk by gunfire from U-172 near the Colon entrance to the Panama Canal and all on board were rescued.

1944 – ALBERT C. FIELD, a former Great Lakes bulk canaller, was hit by an aerial torpedo from German aircraft and broke in two and sank in minutes. There were 4 lives lost when the ship was hit in the English Channel while carrying munitions and 130 bags of mail in support of the Normandy invasion.

1959 – SPRINGDALE, a Great Lakes trader in the early 1950s and later operated on charter to Reoch Transports, capsized and sank in the Gulf of Bothnia after the cargo of timber shifted in heavy weather.

1960 – GEERTJE BUISMAN came to the Great Lakes in 1960 and ran aground on Vienne Shoal in northern Lake Michigan while outbound from Chicago with a cargo that included new Nash Rambler automobiles for Europe. The Dutch vessel was stuck for 4 days, and had to be lightered. It returned to the Seaway again in later years and was finally scrapped as f) MOUNT at Varna, Bulgaria, in 2003-2004.

1991 – The saltwater trader AKTI was driven aground 14 miles north of Necochea, Argentina, in a storm and sold “as lies” before being refloated as d) AKTO on July 27. Examination determined that the ship was a total loss but it was rebuilt by Chilean interests as e) RIO CIERVOS. The vessel had been through the Seaway as a) ASIA PROSPERITY beginning in 1974, as b) HAN PACIFIC in 1983, and c) AKTI in 1988. It was scrapped at g) AL GIORGIS after arriving at Chittagong, Bangladesh, on November 17, 2005.

1997 – CANADIAN MARINER ran aground in the St. Lawrence near Crossover Shoal after losing power. The vessel had to be lightered to be released and was repaired by Port Weller Dry Docks. The ship was scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, in 2007.

On June 17, 1895, the J. W. Westcott Co. inaugurated its unique mail delivery service.

On 17 June 1878, the Canadian schooner JAMES SCOTT of Port Burwell capsized and sank in Lake Erie. The captain's wife, their child and two seamen were drowned.

The wooden schooner MONTEREY, which stranded on Sleeping Bear Point on Lake Michigan in early December 1890, was released on 17 June 1891.

The SCOTT MISENER (Hull#11) was christened on June 17, 1951, for Colonial Steamships Ltd. She was the first vessel built at Port Weller Drydocks Ltd. Renamed b.) JOHN E. F. MISENER in 1954, she was scrapped at Cartagena, Columbia, in 1986.

The PATERSON of 1954 collided with the steamer EDMUND W. MUDGE in 1957, in fog on the St. Clair River opposite Marine City, Michigan.

The WILLIAM A. IRVIN was towed to the Duluth Convention Center on June 17, 1986, by the tugs SIOUX and DAKOTA to be on station as a museum ship at the new $3 million convention facility.

June 17, 1998 - The barge PERE MARQUETTE 41 and tug UNDAUNTED arrived Ludington, Michigan from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after the remainder of the conversion there.

The propeller OWEN SOUND was launched at Collingwood, Ontario, on 17 June 1875. She measured 900 tons and could carry 30,000 bushels of grain.

1909 – The iron hulled passenger and freight steamer CAMPANA had been cut in two to leave the Great Lakes in 1895, but the hull broke in 1909 where the sections had been rejoined and sank in the St. Lawrence at Point St. Michael a few miles below Quebec City.

1918 – JAY GOULD was loaded with coal and towing the barge COMMODORE when it began leaking and then sank eight miles southeast of Southeast Shoal, Lake Erie. The hull was later dynamited as a hazard to navigation. The barge was overwhelmed by the seas and rolled in the trough for about two hours before it also sank. All on board both ships were saved.

1941 – The Lake Ontario passenger steamer KINGSTON ran aground on a shoal in the St. Lawrence 15 miles SW of Ogdensburg, NY after losing her way in thick fog. The passengers were transferred to RAPIDS PRINCE and the ship was released with the aid of pontoons and repaired at Kingston.

1998 – MOUNTAIN BLOSSOM was downbound in the Seaway when it struck the approach wall at the Eisenhower Lock, opening a crack in the hull that allowed about 50 gallons of xylene to escape. The immediate area was evacuated but the problem was quickly cleaned up. The ship was a regular Great Lakes trader from 1986 to 2007 and was scrapped at Xinhui, China, after arriving on January 10, 2010.


6/17 - Brockville, Ont. – Senator Bob Runciman’s bill to ease red tape for American boaters who venture into Canadian water has passed the Senate and will become law shortly. The bill – adopted Monday and voted on Tuesday – is expected to become law next week after receiving Royal Assent.

“This is great news for boaters and for the tourism industry of border communities across Canada,” Runciman said. “It will help Americans and Canadians alike and I could not be happier that it will become law in time for the boating season.”

Under the new law, Americans who enter Canadian water won’t have to report to customs as long as they remain on board and they don’t land, anchor to come into contact with another vessel.

The law is expected to ease headaches for fishers and pleasure cruisers, who happen to stray into foreign water. Runciman said the current requirement to report under these circumstances was “impractical…in areas such as the Thousand Islands, where it sometimes isn’t even clear which side of the border you are on.”

Canada Border Services Agency officials can still compel boaters to report in order to protect border security.

Brockville Newswatch


6/17 - Chicago, Ill. – Boosted by above-average rainfall this spring, Lake Michigan is on pace to swell to its highest water level in two decades.

The rising water, which could climb more than 1 1/2 feet above its long-term average this month, has swallowed up mounds of beach along Illinois' shoreline and created an opportunity for taller, stronger waves that could accelerate erosion. With forecasts suggesting Lake Michigan could remain high through the next six months, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, communities will likely be on guard for powerful autumn storms that could pulverize lakefront property.

The surge was brought on, in part, by an unexpected deluge this spring, when Chicago saw 43 percent more precipitation than usual, including an April with nearly double the normal rainfall, according to data from the National Weather Service.

"We always think of the Great Lakes as responding very slowly to these events, but they can actually be moving rather quickly," said Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel.

During 15 years of persistently low levels, Lake Michigan dipped to a record low in January 2013. In a dramatic reversal, two years later it rebounded nearly 4 feet, largely because of increased ice cover from back-to-back polar vortex winters that limited evaporation. Lake levels have continued to be elevated, though they are still 2 feet below the record high set in 1986.

Periods of high and low lake levels have drawbacks, said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

Read more and view a video at this link: www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-lake-michigan-water-levels-met-20170615-story.html


6/17 - The Tug Radium Yellowknife will be departing Toronto on Saturday and arriving in the Picton area on Sunday to prepare the former icebreaker/museum ship Alexander Henry for its upcoming tow to Thunder Bay. The expected arrival in Thunder Bay will be June 29 or 30.

6/17 - 10 a.m. update: Damia Desgagnés was freed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday. At 10 a.m. she was moving westbound at 6 knots, according to AIS. The tugs Ocean Georgie Bain and Ocean Serge Genois were nearby. There is no word on damage. She will need to be inspected, possibly at Johnstown, before being allowed to continue her trip to Nanticoke. Meanwhile, the back up of traffic is slowly getting underway.

Original Report:
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a tanker grounded west of Cornwall, Ont., late Thursday night. The TSB said it was informed early Friday morning of the grounding of the Damia Desgagnés at 11:40 p.m. on the St. Lawrence River between Iroquois, Ont., and Morrisburg, Ont.

The tanker is owned by Group Desgagnés in Quebec City.

The tanker was travelling west from Montreal to the Lake Erie community of Nanticoke in Ontario when the engine failed, according to Serge Le Guellec, the president of Transport Desgagnés, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Group Desgagnés.

After the engine failed, the ship drifted and ended with its nose grounded on sand about three nautical miles east of Iroquois, Ont., Le Guellec said. The ship was carrying what he described as heavy fuel, but he said no spill has occurred.

TSB spokesperson Alexandre Fournier confirmed the ship is stable and there is no report of a spill. Navigation is not expected to resume until early Saturday morning, according to authorities. On Friday night the tug Ocean Georgie Bain and a second, unnamed, tug were heading to assist the stranded vessel.

The tanker is less than a year old, and Le Guelle said it was only recently launched from a European shipyard. It's not known what caused the engine failure.

The vessel is aground near the home of Sandra and Fred Goulet, who said they were startled from their sleep around midnight last night.

“We thought a car crashed here or something. It made one heck of a noise, and then, there was all kinds of clanging … and then you could hear it hit the rocks and everything coming in,” said Fred Goulet. “It did that for quite a while, so I don’t know how far out it was when we heard that.”

Sandra Goulet said they could also hear yelling coming from the ship — along with grinding noises — after an explosion woke them up. “We went to the window to look, and we could see the ship all lit up, just where you see it right now. It was just kind of crazy. We said ‘What’s that? ‘It sounds like a bomb went off.”

In more typical circumstances, other boats would have been allowed to pass by the grounded vessel. But high water flows on the St. Lawrence River (also known as Lake St. Lawrence between Iroquois and Cornwall) have authorities taking extra precautions this time, said St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation Communications Officer Andrew Bogora.

As the International Joint Commission brings down water levels in Lake Ontario from historic highs by cranking open the Cornwall Dam, flows have hit 10,400 cubic meters per second in the last couple of days, the “maximum rate which navigation [on the Seaway] can be sustained,” he said. Begora said the grounding was not in any way related to the high water, noting the flow rate was just about as fast – at 10,200 cubic metres per second – over the previous three weeks. And it’s not far off the previous recent flow record of 9,900 cubic meters per second that went through the dam at times in both 1993 and 1998, he said.

In an unrelated matter, repairs were completed Friday on a ship arrestor at the Iroquois Lock, which was damaged Thursday when the tanker Chem Polaris struck it. The saltwater vessel Alina was allowed to make her way upbound Friday, but the downbound Vikingbank and Baie St. Paul, as well as Chem Polaris, were still on the lock wall as of 9 p.m. Friday due to the closure of the waterway until Damia Desgagnés is refloated.

CBC, Nation Valley News, Local Reports


6/18 - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The Coast Guard is reminding boaters to prepare for cold water despite warmer air temperatures, Friday. Although air temperatures are predicted to exceed 80 degrees this week, water temperatures of Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are still only in the high 30s to low 50s.

"Many people might not realize, but water as warm as 76 degrees is still considered cold and carries a significant risk for those unprepared for sudden immersion," said Mike Baron, the recreational boating and water safety specialist for the Ninth Coast Guard District.

The Coast Guard urges boaters preparing to get back out on the water this season to take caution and give proper attention to the risks of drowning and hypothermia from being immersed in cold water.

“Warm and sunny days may lead to an increase of boaters, but water temperatures are still cold,” said Lt. Creighton Chong, the public affairs officer for Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie. “Wearing a life jacket and additional clothing will increase your survivability for rescue crews to save you in the event you unexpectedly fall into the water. The Coast Guard also has a smart phone app that contains information that will increase boater safety. It can be found by simply searching ‘United States Coast Guard’ in the app store.”

The Coast Guard urges boaters to follow these cold water safety tips:

• Always wear a life jacket, and be sure there is one for each passenger on board. Wearing a life jacket can prevent a person from becoming completely submerged during a fall into cold water, and help prevent involuntarily inhaling water from the natural gasp reflex, which can cause drowning. A life jacket can keep you afloat and dramatically increase your chances of survival.

• Dress appropriately for the water temperatures and not the air temperatures when going out onto the water.

• Whether powerboat, sail or paddlecraft, make your on-water activities social. Share where you're going and when you'll be back with family and friends; file a floatplan.

• Use the buddy system and never go out on the water alone. • Wear reflective clothing to make it easier for searchers to spot you if you fall overboard.

• Carry and register a personal locator beacon in addition to a VHF-FM marine radio to immediately alert the Coast Guard and local response agencies of potential distress.

USCG


6/18 - Cleveland, Ohio – The Coast Guard rescued nine people from a capsized rowboat in the Cuyahoga River Saturday morning.

At 9 a.m., the watchstander at Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor received a mayday call over marine radio emergency channel 16 from a man stating he was part of a group of rowers from a rowing school located on the river and that wake from another boat had caused the rowboat to capsize throwing the nine rowers into the water.

The man stated that he was on a small vessel following the rowers down the river and could not take all nine people to safety. A rescue crew aboard a 25-foot response boat launched from the station and rescued all nine of the people. All the rowers were wearing life jackets and there were no medical concerns.

“This is a perfect example of how being prepared can help you in an emergency situation,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Laura Roesch, the officer-of-the-day for Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor. “They were wearing life jackets, had a way to call for help and stayed with the boat after it capsized, which are the three top things to do in this type of situation to stay alive.”

The Coast Guard rescue team took the rowers back to the school and a third boat from the school retrieved the capsized rowboat.

The Coast Guard wants to remind boaters and paddle crafter operators always wear your life jacket, have a way to call from help other than a cell phone and to be mindful of others on the water.

USCG

[yachtsmanwilly]

6/20 - Welland, Ont. – As an international agency works to lower water levels on Lake Ontario, shipping has been somewhat delayed on the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Kingston, said the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.’s spokesman.

Andrew Bogora said the westbound trip usually takes vessels 24 hours to complete.

“That stretch of the seaway, at present, is taking about 26 hours. It’s a credit to the skilled captains and pilots to be able to sustain navigation with a two-hour delay as the only impact being observed. It’s a credit to the mariners that they’re able to keep this vital supply line moving in this time of above normal river flow,” Bogora said, adding it’s also impressive because of stringent measures already in place.

That two-hour delay, however, may increase as the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board, which controls outflows from Lake Ontario, met Monday and agreed to increase it Wednesday to a record high 10,400 cubic metres per second. The outflow is controlled through 32 turbines at the Moses Saunders Dam between Cornwall, Ont. and Massena, N.Y.

The increased outflow will not have any significant effect on St. Lawrence River levels near Montreal, as declining Ottawa River flows are expected to continue, and this will offset the effects of the increased Lake Ontario outflow, the board said.

Bogora said there’s a high level of confidence that both lakers and ocean-going vessels will manage to safely travel the seaway system even with the record outflow - designed to lower Lake Ontario levels slightly, and provide additional relief to lake riparians. A riparian is a person who owns land on the bank of a natural watercourse or body of water

“We’ve been in extensive consultations with the industry, both ocean-going and lakers, prior to the implementation of 10,400 (cubic metres per second),” said Bogora. “We have daily conference calls with the industry and our Seaway operations team to gather information on the conditions being experienced by captains and pilots.” He said those calls are to ensure that shipping can continue safely and effectively.

Special measures have been taken by the Seaway through notices sent to mariners. Notices over the past few days said the Seaway plans to continue operations at the outflow conditions, even as it creates velocities higher than normal in navigation channels and variations in normal current patterns.

The notices have also said vessels equipped with bow thrusters will have to use them when transiting the Montreal to Lake Ontario section of the waterway. It also said all tall ships and tows (tug-barge combinations) transiting Montreal to Lake Ontario must be capable of making a minimum of eight knots through the water.

“Vessels will have to make a determination as to whether they can comply with the special measures,” Bogora said.

The higher outflows will initially be tested for a 72-hour period to monitor any effects it may have, the board said in a post on its Facebook page. “After the 72 hours at 10,400 has concluded, it may well continue for some extended period of time,” said Bogora.

Welland Tribune


6/20 - A meeting in Ann Arbor this week has brought attention to a Great Lakes risk many don't know about or fully understand. Tsunamis on the Great Lakes are real, but they are different from what you might be thinking. First, there are 2 events where water rises dangerously – a seiche and a meteotsunami.

What is a seiche? A seiche is an oscillation of water in an enclosed area like a lake. Storms, strong winds, or a change in atmospheric pressure causes water to push from one side of the lake to the other. The water then floods back to the original side, like the water swishing back and forth in a bathtub. This oscillation is called a seiche and can cause flooding and damage along the shoreline of the lakes.

What is a meteotsunami? A meteotsunami is a tsunami that occurs due to weather conditions and not from an earthquake. High winds or a quick change in air pressure can cause these so they are very similar to a seiche in this regard. Meteotsunamis are not as large as tsunamis caused by earthquakes. They are very real and according to the Michigan State University Extension and National Weather Service, an average of 106 a year occur on the Great Lakes. Water floods in one direction and does not oscillate back like a seiche does.

What is the difference between a seiche and a meteotsunami? There are a couple of major differences between each event. A seiche oscillates back, sloshing across the lake while a meteotsunami does not and only floods in one direction. The other major difference is the duration of each. According to the MSU Extension, a seiche can take up to 4-7 hours to go from the high to low water level. A meteotsunami occurs in minutes, extremely quickly in much the same way a tsunami generated by an earthquake would. It is highly likely that multiple recordings of a seiche were actually meteotsunamis and have been incorrectly recorded.

Experts are meeting this week to determine a way to warn people along the coast of these events.

NBC25 News


6/20 - Lewisporte, NL – The Transportation Safety Board is investigating after two oil tankers collided in the waters off Lewisporte. It’s alleged to have happened over the weekend. The vessels in question – Havelstern and Travestern – are owned by the Woodward Group of Companies.

The TSB says they’re still working to determine exactly what happened, but say the large tankers collided during the transfer of cargo. The Travestern is now located in Lewisporte. From the road you can see a large hole in the superstructure of the ship, exposing the cabins or rooms. The TSB says they’re still assessing the damage to both vessels. There is no word if there were any injuries. Both vessels have been visitors to the St. Lawrence Seaway system.

vocm.com



On this day in 1943, the IRVING S. OLDS departed Two Harbors with 20,543 tons of ore and the BENJAMIN F. FAIRLESS departed Two Harbors with 20,386 tons of ore. It was the first time that two lakers departed the same harbor on the same day with cargos in excess of 20,000 tons.

The SENATOR (steel propeller freighter, 410 foot, 4,048 gross tons) was launched by the Detroit Dry Dock Company (Hull #122) at Wyandotte, Michigan, on 20 June 1896, for the Wolverine Steamship Company. She lasted until 31 October 1929, when she collided with the steamer MARQUETTE in fog off Port Washington, Wisconsin, and sank with her cargo of 241 automobiles.

On 20 June 1893, GEORGE STONE (wooden propeller freighter, 270 foot, 1,841 gross tons) was launched by F. W. Wheeler & Co. (Hull #98) at West Bay City, Michigan. She lasted until 1909, when she stranded and burned on Lake Erie.

The WILLIAM P. COWAN (Hull#724) cleared Lorain, Ohio on her maiden voyage in 1918. Renamed b.) AMOCO ILLINOIS in 1962. Scrapped at Windsor, Ontario, by M & M Steel Co., in 1987.

In 1903, the twin-screw rail car ferry GRAND HAVEN (Hull#92) was launched at Toledo, Ohio, by the Craig Ship Building Co., for the Grand Trunk Carferry Line, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1953 – The Paterson steamer SCOTIADOC sank in Lake Superior near Trowbridge Island after a collision in wind and fog with the BURLINGTON of Canada Steamship Lines. One man was lost when the starboard lifeboat was swamped after being launched.

1954 – The bulk carrier PATRIA, built in Canada during World War Two as the tanker MOOSE MOUNTAIN PARK, was declared a total loss after coming ashore 1 mile northwest of East Point, Santa Rosa Island, California. The ship was salvaged, repaired and made one trip through the Seaway in 1961 as PATAPSCO RIVER before being scrapped at Hirao, Japan, in 1963.

1973 – The bulk carrier ATLANTIC TRADER first traded through the Seaway in 1961 and returned on a regular basis as INVEREWE beginning in 1962. It was back again as d) THEOKEETOR in 1972 but sank June 20, 1973, after a collision with MARINA L. in dense fog off the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. All on board were saved.

1978 – A fire broke out in the cargo of coal aboard WILLIS B. BOYER and the ship docked at River Rouge where part of the cargo was unloaded to get at the fire. The vessel was enroute from Toledo to Silver Bay.

1995 – SAULT AU COCHON, built by Port Weller Dry Docks as a pulpwood barge in 1969, buckled and sank at Forestville, QC. The hull was refloated and taken to Hamilton for repairs later in the year.

2007 – KAPITAN RADIONOV first came to the Great Lakes in May 1992 with coal tar for Cleveland. It sank in severe weather on this date in 2007 as i) ALEXANDRA C. after flooding began in the engine room the previous day. The vessel went down 95 miles off Socotra Island, Yemen, while enroute to Australia with ammonium nitrate. All 19 crew on board were rescued.

On June 20, 1959, the SEAWAY QUEEN began her maiden voyage. The vessel was appropriately named, as at the time she was the largest Canadian vessel on the Great Lakes, the 2nd largest on the Great Lakes overall (behind the EDMUND FITZGERALD), and she entered service the same week that Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicated the St. Lawrence Seaway. She was one of the more popular and classic looking vessels on the Great Lakes. June 20, 1936 - PERE MARQUETTE 21 was blocked in Manitowoc following an accident that disabled the Manitowoc Tenth Street Bridge, making it impossible to raise the structure.

June 20, 1993 - BADGER struck the Ludington breakwall while arriving Ludington. She was sent to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. Ten operating days and 21 sailings were lost. The 230-foot wooden freighter JAMES DAVIDSON (Hull#4) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan, for James Davidson at his shipyard on 20 June 1874. JAMES DAVIDSON was wrecked in Lake Huron in 1883.

The MINNEHAHA, a wooden "clipper" schooner, was launched at James A. Baker's shipyard in Oswego, New York, on 20 June 1857. Her dimensions were 110 foot keel, 125 foot overall, x 25 foot 6 inches x 10 foot 6 inches. She could carry 13,000 bushels of grain. Mr. James Navagh, her master builder, received a gold watch and chain worth $200 in appreciation of his fine work on this vessel.

On Wednesday night, 20 June 1877, the schooner EVELINE (wooden schooner, 118 foot, 236 gross tons, built in 1861, at Litchfield, Michigan) was struck by lightning about sixty miles out from Alpena, Michigan. The bolt shattered the mainmast, throwing three large pieces over the vessel's sides. The large spar was split perpendicularly in two and the lightning bolt followed the grain of the wood in a circular manner until it reached the main boom jaw, which is enclosed in a band of iron fastened by a large bolt. This bolt was literally cut in two. The mate, George Mayom, had the left side of his body blistered and the skin burned off from the shoulder to the foot. His right leg, hands and arm were also severely burned, and he suffered internal injuries and bled freely. The vessel made it to port and she was repaired. She lasted until September 1895, when she sank off Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

[yachtsmanwilly]

On 21 June 1868, the D&C Line's MORNING STAR (wooden side-wheel steamer, 243 foot, 1,075 tons, built in 1862, at Trenton, Michigan) was late in leaving her dock in Cleveland, Ohio, because she was loading some last-minute freight (iron bars and glass). As she sailed on Lake Erie to Detroit during the dark and rainy night, she collided with the heavy-laden bark COURTLAND and sank quickly, 10 miles off Lorain, Ohio. Twenty feet of the steamer's bow had been torn off while the bark was swept into one of the paddle wheels and destroyed. The side-wheel steamer R N RICE arrived on the scene at 3 a.m. and picked up the survivors - only 44 of them. In September, MORNING STAR was raised, towed to Lorain and re-sunk in 55 feet of water, for possible future rebuilding. Attempts were made to raise her again several times, but in the summer of 1872, she was abandoned because it was determined that the previous attempts had reduced her to rubble.

On 21 June 1878, the small passenger steamer J. HOLT, which ran between Chatham and Wallaceburg, Ontario, burned on Lake St. Clair. The passengers and crew escaped in the lifeboats.

On June 21, 1942, the LEON FRASER entered service as the largest vessel on the Great Lakes. The Pittsburgh Steamship Co. bulk freighter, originally 639 foot 6 inches long, retained at least a tie for that honor until the WILFRED SYKES entered service in 1949. She was shortened, converted to a self-unloading cement carrier and renamed b.) ALPENA in 1991.

June 21, 1942, the U.S. Steel bulk freighter EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON ran hard aground on Boulder Reef in Lake Michigan and broke in two. The vessel was subsequently recovered and, after a long career with U.S. Steel, was finally sold for scrap in 1980.

The m/v RANGER III (Hull#385) was side-launched at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Christy Corporation, on Saturday, June 21, 1958. The vessel was custom designed by R.A. Stearns (Bay Engineering) also of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for the National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park.

On June 21, 1986, during a severe thunderstorm (and unofficial observations of a funnel cloud) in the Duluth area, the JOSHUA A. HATFIELD broke loose from Azcon Scrap Dock in Duluth and was blown across the harbor and ended up hard aground on Park Point (Minnesota Point). She remained stuck for nearly 3 weeks when a storm with east winds pushed the HATFIELD free and she blew most of the way back across the harbor back to the scrap dock. Tugs were dispatched in time to safely guide the HATFIELD back to the scrap dock. (June seems to be a bad month for U.S. Steel in accidents, with the June 7, 1977, accident involving the WILLIAM A. IRVIN, the June 15, 1943, collision between the D. M. CLEMSON and the GEORGE M. HUMPHREY, and the June 21, 1942, grounding of the EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON on Boulder Reef.)

June 21, 1916 - The ANN ARBOR NO 5, after departing the shipyards in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1916, where 3 buckets (blades) were replaced on her starboard propeller, arrived in Manistique, Michigan. While maneuvering around in the harbor she struck the rocky bottom and broke off the same three blades off her starboard propeller.

June 21, 1994 - The Ludington Daily News reported a planned sale of the CITY OF MIDLAND 41, to Contessa Cruise Lines of Minnesota. The deal included an option to sell the SPARTAN and Contessa was prohibited from competing against Lake Michigan Carferry Co., but it fell through.

The 3-mast wooden schooner GEORGE MURRAY was launched in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on 21 June 1873. At the time, she was billed as the largest vessel ever built on Lake Michigan. Her dimensions were 299 foot long x 34 foot beam x 14 foot depth, with the capacity to carry 50,000 bushels of grain. She was built by G. S. Rand for J. R. Slauson of Racine, Wisconsin.

1910 – The tug C.W. ELPHICKE sank at Michigan City, Indiana, after a bizarre accident. The steamer UNITED STATES had struck the Franklin Street Bridge, which then collapsed on the tug. The tug was salvaged on July 12.

1941 – BOMMESTAD, a small Norwegian freighter, came to the Great Lakes in the 1920s and 1930s. It was sold and renamed HILDA in 1934 and registered in Finland when it was torpedoed and sunk by U-52 in the Bay of Biscay while enroute from Dunkirk, France, to the U.K. with a cargo of wheat.

1964 – The Norwegian freighter STELLA NOVA ran aground off Alexandria Bay, N.Y., while enroute from Duluth to Bombay, India. It was refloated June 24 with major bottom damage but was repaired. It had been a Seaway trader as a) VITO in 1959 and was scrapped as f) CORALBA after arriving at Split, Yugoslavia, on September 19, 1978.

On 21 June 1900, the wooden bulk freighter R C BRITTAIN was raised at Toledo, Ohio. She was brought to Sarnia where repairs were made and the engine of the tug F A FOLGER was installed in her. She had previously sunk at Toledo and remained there for several years before being raised. She lasted until 1912, when she burned at Sarnia.

[skycheney]

Jun 19, 2017 6:01:25 GMT -5 yachtsmanwilly said:

6/19 - Ann Arbor, Mich. – Experts are meeting in Ann Arbor this week to discuss a tsunami warning system for the Great Lakes. Scientists say tsunamis happen on the lakes, although many are too small to notice. In fact, the lakes average 106 such events a year.

In the oceans, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. Great Lakes tsunamis result from rapid changes in barometric pressure associated with fast-moving weather systems. Scientists call them "meteotsunamis." In some cases, people standing on piers or swimming along shorelines have been swept to their deaths.

Meteotsunamis also can cause sudden drops in water levels that endanger nuclear power plants' cooling systems.

The University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research is hosting a meeting from Monday through Wednesday where experts will consider a system for warning the public.

Associated Press

I don't really think this is problem.

[yachtsmanwilly]

Just what we need, another alert system... First it was tornado stuff, then total service interruptions with a pickeninney abducton alert; "Jarmillo Brown-Jones was found safe and to beez hangin' with his auntie at the OTB. ALERT CANCELLED". I can just about imagine whats next.. ws

6/22 - Steel mills in the Great Lakes region cranked out 630,000 tons of metal the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Most of the steel made in the Great Lakes region is produced in Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana.

So far this year, U.S. steelmakers have produced 41.6 million tons of steel, about 2.5 percent more than they did during the same period in 2016. Steel mills have been running at a capacity of 74.4 percent so far this year, up from 72.6 percent through the same time last year.

Domestic steelmakers used about 74.6 percent of their steelmaking capacity in the week that ended June 17, up from 73.7 percent the previous week, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Some analysts say 90 percent would be considered healthy for the industry.

Steelmaking capacity utilization was 75.1 percent during the same time period in 2016. Overall, U.S. national steel output rose by 21,000 tons last week to 1.739 million tons, a 1.22 percent increase, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Production in the Southern District, the country's second-largest steel-producing region, which spans mini-mills across the South, rose to 638,000 tons last week, up from 623,000 tons the previous week.

NW Indiana Times


6/22 - The International Joint Commission Board, which controls the water level on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, voted Monday to continue record-high water releases at the Moses-Saunders dam in Massena until further notice.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman from the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Ottawa, Ontario, said that "following several days of continuous feedback, ship captains on the St. Lawrence Seaway reported that they have been able to safely navigate and manage the currents from the increased water flows."

IJVC spokesman Frank Bevacqua said today that the board voted to up water releases at the dam beginning last Wednesday from 10,200 to 10,400 cubic meters per second.

The idea, Bevacqua said, was to try the increased water release level out for only 72 hours "to see how the Seaway would handle it." The situation downstream from the dam around the greater Montreal area, which experienced extensive flooding this spring, he said, is improving as water levels at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers are dropping.

He said the board on Monday voted to continue the 10,400 flow until further notice, evaluating the situation weekly.

Bevacqua said in 1993, when Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River were also at flood levels, the IJC during a three-week period set water releases at 10,900 cubic meters per second on two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and the rest of the week to 9,900. During the high flows, the shipping industry was halted on the St. Lawrence Seaway due to high, dangerous currents.

Currently, ship captains have reported the 10,400 cubic feet per second water release level is manageable, with some restrictions, said Julia Fields, of the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Ottawa. Captains have been reducing speeds to minimize the wakes the ship create and imposing alternating, one-way traffic in certain areas to keep ships moving safely. A tug is also stationed at the Iroquois Lock for assistance if needed.

The lake's water level was measured at 248.62 feet as of Sunday, -- about 3.3 inches lower than at the beginning of this month. Nevertheless, the lake's level is currently about two feet higher than last year's June average.

The water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are expected to remain high through the fall, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

newyorkupstate.com


On 22 June 1959, BAYPORT (steel propeller tug, 72 foot, 65 gross tons, built in 1914, at Cleveland, Ohio, formerly named a.) FAIRPORT) had the steamer MOHAWK DEER in tow when she was hooked by her own tow cable, capsized and sank at Collingwood, Ontario. Three lives were lost. The tug was later raised and converted from steam to diesel. Later renamed c.) TWIN PORT, and d.) ROD MC LEAN in 1974. She was scrapped in 2008 at the Purvis west yard at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

On 22 June 1909, W.P. THEW (wooden propeller freighter, 133 foot, 207 gross tons, built in 1884, at Lorain, Ohio) was in ballast, creeping through the fog off Alpena, Michigan on Lake Huron when she was rammed by the WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE (steel propeller freighter, 532 foot, 6,634 gross tons, built in 1908, at Ecorse, Michigan). After the collision, the LIVINGSTONE drifted away and lost track of the THEW. The THEW sank in 80 feet of water. Fortunately the steamer MARY C. ELPHICKE answered the distress whistle and picked up the THEW's crew from the lifeboat. No lives were lost.

The WILLIAM R. ROESCH (Hull#901) was launched and christened at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., on June 22, 1973, for the Union Commerce Bank, Ohio (Trustee) and managed by the Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Renamed b.) DAVID Z. NORTON in 1995, c.) DAVID Z in 2007 and d.) CALUMET in 2008.

June 22, 1957 - W. L. Mercereau, known as the Father of the Fleet, died. Mercereau developed the Pere Marquette fleet of car ferries into the largest in the world.

On 22 June 1853, CHALLENGE (wooden propeller freighter, 198 foot, 665 tons, built in 1853, at Newport, Michigan) was bound from Chicago for Buffalo with barreled pork and oats on one of her first trips. However, her boiler exploded off Cheboygan, Michigan. She burned and sank. Five died. The schooner NORTH STAR heard the blast ten miles away and came to the rescue of the rest of the passengers and crew.

On 22 June 1875, The Port Huron Times reported that "the Northern Transportation Company's fleet of 20 propellers, which have been idle all the season owing to difficulties between the Central Vermont and the Ogdensburg & Champlain Railroad Companies, have passed from the control of the Central Vermont Railroad Company and will commence regular trips as soon as they can be fitted out."

[Avenger]

Jun 21, 2017 20:48:19 GMT -5 skycheney said:

Jun 19, 2017 6:01:25 GMT -5 yachtsmanwilly said:

6/19 - Ann Arbor, Mich. – Experts are meeting in Ann Arbor this week to discuss a tsunami warning system for the Great Lakes. Scientists say tsunamis happen on the lakes, although many are too small to notice. In fact, the lakes average 106 such events a year.

In the oceans, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. Great Lakes tsunamis result from rapid changes in barometric pressure associated with fast-moving weather systems. Scientists call them "meteotsunamis." In some cases, people standing on piers or swimming along shorelines have been swept to their deaths.

Meteotsunamis also can cause sudden drops in water levels that endanger nuclear power plants' cooling systems.

The University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research is hosting a meeting from Monday through Wednesday where experts will consider a system for warning the public.

Associated Press

I don't really think this is problem.

Granted, I don't live there, but one would think we would have heard of this more. Seems like a solution looking for funding. Or funding looking for an expense before the grant is revoked.

[yachtsmanwilly]

Its the usual case of overthinking mother nature.

6/23 - The general cargo vessel Flevoborg ran aground at around June 21 in front of Sainte-Croix, St. Lawrence River, while proceeding downstream en route from Montreal to Warrenpoint, U.K., with a cargo of maize. The grounding was caused by engine failure. The vessel was refloated in the evening June 21 after ballasting and was towed to Quebec for repairs. The vessel is a member of the Netherlands-based Wagenborg fleet.

6/23 - Cheboygan, Mich. – Cheboygan boasts two lighthouses downtown, plus one light tower, two lighthouses easily seen from the beach on Lake Huron, plus another in ruins visible at Cheboygan State Park.

The most complete and easily accessible light is the front range light on Water Street, behind the Eagles building. It is owned by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, as is the crib light at Gordon Turner Park.

“We’ve restored the lantern to its original appearance, replaced the stairways and completely excavated and repaired the foundation,” said Terry Pepper, of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. GLLKA is raising funds now to replace the siding and install a historically accurate roof. The Cheboygan River Front Range Light was built in 1880. The Rear Range light tower stands about a quarter mile behind it along the Cheboygan River.

Mariners coming to mills in the heyday of the lumbering business would line up the two lights, rear light above the front light, to safely find the center of the Cheboygan River. Today’s boaters continue to use the range lights to locate the center of the river. The range light is open on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the summer with guided tours given by GLLKA volunteers.

Besides the range lights, the Cheboygan Crib Light stands at the inner edge of the pier at Gordon Turner Park along the Cheboygan River. Originally built offshore in 1894 to mark the end of the dredged river channel, the little light was moved to its current location in the 1980s as the crib it was sitting on was deteriorating and in danger of collapse. GLLKA volunteers can give tours there as well.

Two more lighthouses can be seen offshore. Fourteen Foot Shoal, built in 1930, is about two miles from shore, and Poe Reef, built in 1929, is about six miles from the river mouth. Both are inaccessible to visitors, but are featured on Shepler’s eastbound Lighthouse Cruises.

Cheboygan River Front Range Light is at 606 Water St., behind the Eagles building, across from Continental Inn. The lighthouse is open weekends and holidays throughout the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 231 436-5580 or visit www.gllka.com for details.

Cheboygan Daily Tribune



In 1976 the NEPCO 140, carrying six million gallons of No. 6 bunker oil and being pushed toward Oswego by the tug EILEEN C., grounded on the shore of Wellesley Island in the American Narrows section of the St. Lawrence River, just upstream from Alexandria Bay, N.Y. The grounding occurred about 1:35 a.m. in heavy fog and was followed by a second apparent grounding further up river, just before the barge reached the Seaway anchorage site off Mason's Point, some four miles above the initial grounding site. In all, over 300,000 of the thick crude was spilled into the River, creating the largest slick ever to pollute an inland U.S. waterway to that day. Seaway traffic was halted immediately, sending at least 20 ships to anchor. Within hours, over 20,000 feet of boom were deployed, but the spill moved steadily down river, coating granite shoreline, trapping waterfowl, forcing boat owners to pull their boats, and oozing into sensitive marshland, particularly Chippewa Bay in New York waters. Some oil eventually reached as far down the river as Lake St. Lawrence and coated shoreline along the Long Sault Parkway on the Canadian side of the lake. Clean-up lasted into the fall and cost in excess U.S. $8 million.

On 23 June 1903, the tug O.W. CHENEY steamed out of Buffalo harbor in heavy fog to tow the steamer CHEMUNG into the harbor. The tug ran too close to the oncoming steamer, was struck by the bow, and the CHENEY overturned and sank. Three crewmen were killed; two survivors were picked up by the tug FRANK S. BUTLER. On 23 June 1969, RALPH MISENER (steel propeller bulk freighter, 730 foot, 19,160 gross tons, built in 1968, at Montreal, Quebec) transited the Soo Locks upbound for the first time. She had an innovative self-unloading system with twin booms. The movable crane was equipped with a chain of buckets so it could discharge cargo from either side. This unloading system only lasted until 1976, when it was severely damaged in a squall on Lake Michigan. The vessel was then converted from a combination self-unloader/bulk carrier to a bulk carrier. She was renamed b.) GORDON C. LEITCH in 1994.

In 1926, the GLENMHOR (Hull#16), the name was soon corrected to GLENMOHR, was launched at Midland Ontario by Midland Shipbuilding Co., for Great Lakes Transportation Co., (James Playfair). She was 6 feet wider and 4 feet shallower than the largest ship at that time. Purchased by Canada Steamship Lines in 1926, renamed b.) LEMOYNE. Scrapped at Santander, Spain in 1969.

In 1929, the WILLIAM G. CLYDE (Hull#804) was launched at Lorain, Ohio, by American Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. Converted to a self-unloader and renamed b.) CALCITE II in 1961. Renamed c.) MAUMEE in 2001. Launched in 1972, was the ALGOWAY (Hull#200) at Collingwood, Ontario, by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., for Algoma Central Railway.

The first whaleback barge, 101, was launched along the shore of St. Louis Bay near Duluth, Minnesota, on 23 June 1888. Captain Alexander Mc Dougall, the inventor and designer, was there along with his wife, her sister-in-law and several hundred spectators. As the vessel splashed in to the bay, Mrs. Mc Dougall is supposed to have muttered, "There goes our last dollar!"

On 23 June 1900, the 450 foot steel steamer SIMON J. MURPHY (Hull#135) was launched at Wyandotte, Michigan, by the Detroit Ship Building Co., for the Eddy - Shaw Transportation Co. of Bay City, Michigan.

On 23 June 1873, B. F. BRUCE was launched at Crosthwaite's yard in East Saginaw, Michigan. She is not properly a schooner, but what is known as a "three-and-after" in nautical terms. Her capacity was 50,000 bushels of grain (800 tons) and the building cost was $50,000.

1942 – EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON struck Boulder Reef, Lake Michigan and the hull cracked in two places. The vessel as on the rocks for 25 days until it coould be strapped together and refloated. The ship was towed to Chicago for one of the largest repair jobs in Great Lakes history.

1948 – CRETE and J.P. MORGAN JR. were in a head-on collision, in fog, off the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior. Both ships suffered extensive damage. Two were killed, 3 more injured, aboard the latter steamer. ALTADOC and E.A.S. CLARKE also collided in fog near the Apostle Islands but the damage, while requiring repairs, was less serious.

[yachtsmanwilly]

6/26 - Cleveland, Ohio – Coast Guard crews rescued 19 people and escorted 14 back to shore in four separate weather-related cases on Lake Erie involving capsized vessels, Saturday.

Coast Guard Sector Detroit command center received notification of a pontoon boat, with 12 adults aboard, that was hit by rough seas and taking on water about a mile off of Gem Beach on Catawba Island, north of Sandusky, Ohio, at approximately 1:45 p.m. Three people in the water were rescued by a Customs and Boarder Patrol boatcrew and the remaining nine aboard the pontoon boat were escorted back by a Coast Guard boatcrew to Gem Beach Marine in West harbor. There were no reported injuries.

In the second case, Watchstander at Station Erie received a “Mayday” call over Channel 16 from the operator of a 28-foot charter boat with seven people aboard stating they were taking on water about three miles offshore of the Walnut Creek Access at approximately 2:39 p.m. The seven people were recovered from the water by a Coast Guard boatcrew and brought back to shore to awaiting EMS. One person was treated after inhaling water while entering the water.

In a third case, Station Erie received a call from 911 dispatch about a 22-foot boat with 12 people aboard capsized near Dobbins Landing in Presque Isle Bay at approximately 8:20 p.m. The Coast Guard boatcrew rescued ten people while a good samaritan rescued two others. All of the people were brought to shore to awaiting EMS. No injuries were reported.

In a fourth case, a boatcrew from Station Erie rescued two kayakers while on patrol. Weather conditions on Lake Erie throughout the day included a small craft advisory with winds creating seas in excess of 4 feet.

“These cases we were involved in today highlight the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times, and knowing the weather conditions before getting underway,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class James Stephenson, a member of one of the rescue crews from Station Erie. “Today could have been dramatically different and could easily have ended in tragedy for any one of these people.” USCG



On this day in 1942, the LEON FRASER, Captain Neil Rolfson, completed her maiden voyage and delivered a record cargo of 16,414 tons of ore to Conneaut. The downbound trip only required 67.5 hours and broke the record of 15,218 tons set by the Canadian freighter LEMOYNE 15 days earlier. The FRASER was shortened and converted to a bulk cement carrier in 1991, and sails today as the b.) ALPENA.

On this day in 1969, the new Poe Lock was dedicated and opened to traffic. The first boat to transit the new lock was the PHILIP R. CLARKE. Captain Thomas Small, a 95-year old retired Pittsburgh captain, was at the wheel of the CLARKE. Thomas Small was also at the wheel of the COLGATE HOYT the first boat to transit the original Poe Lock on August 4, 1896.

On 26 June 1890, the SKATER (wooden propeller excursion steamer, 85 foot, 65 gross tons, built in 1890, at Detroit, Michigan) burned to the water’s edge about 20 miles north of Manistee, Michigan. The crew did not even have time to save their clothes, but they all escaped unharmed. The SKATER had just been fitted out for the season and had started her summer route on Traverse Bay. She was rebuilt in Cleveland and lasted until 1942, when she was abandoned at Michigan City, Indiana.

On 26 June 1895, the GEORGE FARWELL (wooden propeller steam barge, 182 foot, 977 gross tons) was launched by Alexander Anderson at Marine City, Michigan. After leaving the ways, she looked like she would capsize, but she righted herself. About 500 people watched the launch. She was taken to the Atlantic Coast in 1900. She only lasted until 1906, when she stranded on Cape Henry, Virginia and was a total loss.

On 26 June 1867, WATERS W. BRAMAN (wooden propeller tug, 89 tons, built in 1858, at Boston, Massachusetts, for the U.S.Q.M.C. and named RESCUE) was near Pelee Island in Lake Erie when fire started in her coal bunker and quickly spread. Her crew abandoned her in the yawl and were later picked up by the propeller TRADER. She had been sold by the Quartermaster Corps just the previous year and she had come to the Lakes from the East Coast just five weeks before this accident.

On 26 June 1900, Boynton & Thompson purchased the wreck of the NELLIE TORRENT (wooden propeller bulk freighter, 141 foot, 303 gross tons, built in 1881, at Wyandotte, Michigan) to raise her. She had been destroyed by fire at Lime Island near Detour, Michigan, on 22 June 1899.

On 26 June 1882, The Port Huron Times reported that the ARAXES (wooden propeller, 182 foot, 569 gross tons, built in 1856, at Buffalo, New York) sank in the Straits of Mackinac. She was raised on 6 July 1882, and repaired. She was built in 1856, and lasted until the summer of 1894, when she sank 4 miles off Bay City in Saginaw.

1916: The first STORMOUNT, a steel canaller, was wrecked on Gull Ledge, near Marie Joseph, N.S.

1937: Passengers from the SOUTH AMERICAN, stranded on a shoal, were removed with the aid of ALGOMAH II.

1993: The Norwegian tanker BOW ROGN first came through the Seaway in 1970. It was back as b) JO ROGN in 1981 and was leaking sulphuric acid into the pump room on this date as c) BETULA after discharging at Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. The vessel was towed offshore but later driven aground on a sandy beach north of the port on June 28-29, and then blown over on its side during the passing of Hurricane Calvin on July 7, 1993.

2000: EMIL REITH first came through the Seaway in 1970. It was attacked by Tamil Tiger rebels as h) MERCS UHANA off northern Sri Lanka while carrying foodstuffs from Colombo to Tricomalee. The ship caught fire and five lives were lost. The ship sank the next day about 48 miles off Point Pedro.


The whaleback steamer WASHBURN (steel propeller freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. (Hull #124) at W. Superior, Wisconsin on 25 June 1892. She lasted until 1936, when she was scrapped at Cleveland, Ohio.

On this day in June 25, 1892, the American Steel Barge Company, West Superior Wisconsin, Captain Alexander Mc Dougall manager, held the first triple launching on the Great Lakes, which included the whalebacks PILLSBURY, WASHBURN and the small tug ISLAY. A crowd in excess of 10,000 people witnessed the event. Only the tug ISLAY remains.

On 25 June 1892, the PILLSBURY (steel propeller whaleback bulk freighter, 320 foot, 2,234 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co., at West Superior, Wisconsin. She was rebuilt at Conneaut, Ohio in the winter of 1918-1919 (315.75 feet x 42.25 feet x 24.16 feet; 2,394 gross tons- 1,465 net tons) when she received straight sides and a flattened deck. In 1927, she was converted to crane vessel, with two cranes on deck. In November 1934, she stranded on the north pier at Muskegon, Michigan in a storm and then broke in half. She was scrapped the following year. In 1927, the B. F. AFFLECK (Hull#178) was launched at Toledo, Ohio by Toledo Shipbuilding Co., for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co.

On June 25, 1938, the WILLIAM A. IRVIN began her maiden voyage for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., leaving Lorain, Ohio for Duluth to load iron ore. INDIANA HARBOR set a record cargo on June 25, 1993, loading 71,369 tons of western low sulfur coal at Superior's Midwest Energy Terminal and transporting it 50 miles to Silver Bay, Minnesota.

At 1:00 a.m. on 25 June 1878, the 161 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner PESHTIGO and the 143 foot, 3-mast wooden schooner ST ANDREW collided and sank near Cheboygan, Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac. Newspapers of the time claimed that forest fire smoke hampered visibility. Both vessels sank quickly. Two of the crew of PESHTIGO were lost, but the rest were rescued by the schooner S V R WATSON. The entire crew of ST ANDREW was rescued by the Canadian propeller OCEAN.

On the afternoon of 25 June 1885, the tug NIAGARA had the schooner MOUNT BLANC in tow while coming rounding to pick up the schooner REINDEER near Stag Island on the St. Clair River. The MOUNT BLANC struck the wreck of the tug B.B. JONES. The JONES had exploded in Port Huron on 25 May 1871, and the wreck was towed to the head of Stag Island where it was abandoned. After striking the wreck of the JONES, the ore laden MOUNT BLANC sank. She was later recovered and repaired and lasted until 1901.

1903 – JOHN CRAIG was seriously damaged in a grounding on Simmons Rock in the Straits of Mackinac. Once refloated, the wooden steamer was taken to St. Ignace and declared a total loss. It was subsequently rebuilt as PANAMA only to be lost in a storm on November 1, 1906.

1950 – Five lives were lost and another 12 passengers injured aboard the passenger ship CITY OF CLEVELAND III when it was in a collision with the Norwegian freighter RAVNEFJELL in fog on Lake Huron. The former was a total loss while the latter was repaired and returned to service. It became b) RINGSTEIN in 1955 and visited the Great Lakes through 1958. It was wrecked near Achona Point, Ghana, on September 11, 1966.

1959 – The Liberian registered MONROVIA became the first saltwater vessel of the Seaway era to sink on the Great Lakes. It went down in heavy fog on Lake Huron after going off course and colliding with the downbound ROYALTON off Thunder Bay Island. The vessel landed upright on the bottom and some of the cargo of steel was salvaged in the 1970s.

1980 – MONTREALAIS of Upper Lakes Shipping and ALGOBAY of Algoma Central collided head-on in heavy fog on the St. Clair River and both suffered massive bow damage. These vessels were repaired and today both sail in the Algoma fleet with the former as ALGOMA MONTREALAIS and the latter, later rebuilt with a new forebody in China, as RADCLIFFE R. LATIMER.

1980 – JEAN LYKES collided with and sank an 18-foot fishing boat in the St. Clair River, 2 miles north of St. Clair, MI. The American flag saltwater vessel was later beached at Alang, India, for scrapping as b) VELMA LYKES on July 9, 1994

1994 – While departing Bay City, McKEE SONS was swept crossways in the Saginaw River and went aground. Four tugs pulled the ship free without damage save for some shoreline erosion.

On June 24, 1971, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ROGER BLOUGH at the American Ship Building, Lorain, Ohio, yard, killing four yard workers and extensively damaging her Pielstick diesel engines. Extensive repairs, which included replacement of both engines, delayed her delivery for nearly a year.

The WILLIAM E. COREY (Hull#67), was launched at Chicago, Illinois by Chicago Ship Building Co., the first flagship for the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Sold to Canadian registry and renamed b.) RIDGETOWN in1963. Sold for use as a breakwall at Nanticoke in 1970, and since 1974, she has been used as a breakwater in Port Credit, Ontario.

CANOPUS (2-mast wooden brig, 386 tons, built in 1855, at Huron, Ohio) was carrying 16,500 bushels of wheat when she collided with the bark REPUBLIC between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. on 24 June 1865. The CANOPUS sank in about 20 minutes off Clay Banks on Lake Erie. No lives were lost.

The wooden scow MYRA of Ashtabula, Ohio, was lost in a terrible squall on Lake Erie off Elk Creek on 24 June 1875. Three lives were lost.

1938 – REDFERN received minor hull damage when the steering cable broke near Dain City, on the Welland Canal and the vessel hit the west bank. It was taken to Port Colborne for repairs.

1955 – MANZZUTTI was taking water after the cargo of pulpwood shifted in heavy seas near the Straits of Mackinac. The vessel was initially in danger of sinking but reached safety.

1962 – JOHN A. FRANCE (ii) was aground in the upper St. Marys River and some of the cargo of grain was lightered before the ship could be refloated.

June 24 – The recently repaired PARKER EVANS and the ANNA KATRIN FRITZEN collided in heavy fog in Lake Huron with minor damage. The latter, a West German freighter and Seaway trader since 1961, and a return visitor as b) KATRIN in 1974, was scrapped at Bilbao, Spain, due to engine problems, in 1977.

1980 – CARTIERCLIFFE HALL, upbound with a cargo of iron ore, went aground in the Seaway near Cornwall, Ont. due to a steering problem and was released the next day with the aid of three tugs.

[yachtsmanwilly]

6/27 - Duluth, Minn. – Iron ore was cruising out of the Twin Ports last month as this shipping season continued its best start since 2013.

“The first three months looked strong — that’s obviously reflective of all six (taconite) production facilities being online this year,” said Adele Yorde, spokeswoman for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We hope the strength of the steel market will continue through this shipping season and into 2018.”

The Port of Duluth-Superior saw more than 2.1 million tons of taconite leave the harbor last month. Year-to-date, iron ore shipments are 18.6 percent above the five-year average, according to port data. Two Harbors and Silver Bay shipments were right around average, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.

Across the Great Lakes, ore is up 6.5 percent over last year at 17 million tons; the season thus far is better than any since 2013. With the closure of the Empire Mine in Michigan, the Port of Escanaba shipped its last ore in April, which could depress shipment totals going forward.

International demand, however, has meant more ore moving on Canadian lakers for transshipment overseas, Yorde said.

Overall cargos across the Great Lakes are a “near carbon copy of a year ago,” at least on U.S.-flagged lakers, the Lake Carriers’ Association said, with coal leveling out and limestone and cement decreasing. Coal dipped in the Twin Ports as less is being demanded by plants served by local terminals. Grain, however, continued a strong run that started last season.

“We hope the trend continues the rest of the season,” Yorde said.

Duluth News Tribune



6/27 - Put-In-Bay, Ohio – The Miller Ferry has been a staple on Lake Erie since the 1970s, serving as a transportation source to Put-In-Bay and Middle Bass Island. On Sunday, the ferry made a surprising stop off-course after a boat in the wake of the ferry began to submerge, taking in water.

The ferry was making a routine trip back from Catawba Island when a mayday call was made for a 25-foot boat that was taking on water. Bryan Woischke, the ferry's captain, was monitoring radio calls when he heard the initial mayday call into the Coast Guard.

"I was listening to the call, just about how many people were on board, what kind of safety equipment they had and I knew we were close enough to find the vessel," Woischke said. "I went about a quarter mile off our course and was able to locate the vessel. I was able to issue the Coast Guard a proper set of GPS coordinates and stayed on scene with the vessel until the Coast Guard arrived."

Crewmembers aboard the ferry stopped the boat to monitor the situation until the Coast Guard arrived to assist the boat, which was carrying seven passengers. The entire incident was captured on video and shared in two Facebook posts that have more than 500,000 views combined.

The passengers of the boat were not aware of what caused the boat to begin taking on water. "Not sure what ultimately caused the boat to take on water other than the fact that the waves were insane yesterday," said Laura Cooper, who was on the boat. "I was sitting on the boat in the back and was soaked from the waves as it was."

Read more and see the video at this link: www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-erie/miller-ferry-worked-with-coast-guard-to-help-a-submerged-boat-on-lake-erie



6/27 - Cleveland, Ohio – The Coast Guard and local response crews ended their search for two missing teenagers after divers recovered the bodies from Lake Ontario near Robert Wehle Park, Monday.

At 12:45 p.m., divers from the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team recovered two deceased males from under the water and confirmed they were the missing swimmers. At about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard received a report that two teenagers, ages 14 and 19, had gone into the water and didn’t resurface.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo command center issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched rescue crews from Coast Guard Stations Oswego and Sackets Harbor, aboard 45-foot and 25-foot response boats, as well as a helicopter from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Coast Guard crews searched for approximately 21 hours, including through the night, and covered the equivalent of more than 700 square miles.

Involved in the search were Coast Guard crews from Air Stations Detroit and Traverse City, Michigan and Cape Cod, Massachusetts; boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Sackets Harbor and Oswego, New York, as well as Coast Guard Auxiliary air and boat crews. Also involved in the search were the Canadian Coast Guard, New York State Police, New York State Environmental Conservation and Forest Rangers, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson County Fire & Emergency Management, and the Henderson, Watertown, Belleville and Adams Fire departments.

USCG




On 27 June 1892, in rain and fog, the FRED A. MORSE (wooden schooner, 182 foot, 592 gross tons, built in 1871, at Vermilion, Ohio) was being towed downbound by the HORACE A. TUTTLE (wooden propeller freighter, 250 foot, 1,585 gross tons, built in 1887, at Cleveland, Ohio) about 12 miles southeast of Thunder Bay on Lake Huron, both carrying loads of iron ore. At the same time, JOHN C. PRINGLE (wooden propeller freighter, 173 foot, 474 gross tons, built in 1880, at Detroit, Michigan) was sailing upbound in that vicinity with a load of coal and Italian marble with the schooners HARRISON, SWEETHEART and SUNSHINE in tow. At 1:30 a.m., the PRINGLE collided with the schooner MORSE, which sank in less than 15 minutes. The crew made it to the TUTTLE in the lifeboat, although one woman was badly injured. The PRINGLE's bow was stove in, her deck planks forward were split and spread, her bulwarks torn away, and her anchors and foremast were lost. She cast off her tow and made for Alpena, Michigan, where she arrived later in the day. At 4:04 p.m. on 27 June 1890, the Beatty Line's MONARCH (wooden propeller passenger-package freight steamer, 240 foot, 2,017 tons) was launched at Sarnia, Ontario. The launching was watched by numerous people on the decks of various steamers and on both sides of the St. Clair River. The MONARCH was built of white oak and braced with iron. She had 62 staterooms

Package freighter CHIMO (Hull#662) was launched in 1967, at Lauzon, Quebec by Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., for Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. In 1983, CHIMO's stern was attached to the bow and cargo section of the HILDA MARJANNE to create the CANADIAN RANGER.

WILLIAM EDENBORN (Hull#40) (steel propeller freighter, 478 foot, 5,085 gross tons) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan by West Bay City Ship Building Co. for the American Steamship Co., Duluth (A. B. Wolvin, mgr.) on 27 June 1900. PRETORIA (3-mast schooner-barge, 338 foot, 2,790 gross tons) was launched at J. Davidson's yard (Hull #94) in West Bay City, Michigan on 27 June 1900. Mr. Davidson built her for his own fleet. She was one of the largest wooden vessels ever built and lasted until September 1905, when she sank in Lake Superior.

1916 JAMES J. HILL collided with the wooden steamer PANTHER in fog off Parisienne Island, Lake Superior and held its position so all of the crew could come safely aboard before their ship sank.

1952 WOODFORD, enroute from Quebec City to Europe, received major damage in a collision off Ile Verte, near the mouth of the Saguenay River, with the pulpwood laden canaller JOHN A. FRANCE. The former, a British freighter, was holed and leaking and the crew was taken off to the BIRCHTON. The damaged WOODFORD was towed back to Quebec City and almost sand at the dock but was kept afloat and repaired. It was a Seaway visitor in 1960 and was scrapped at Shanghai, China, in 1978 as d) WOOSUNG.

1954 WILCOX, a former minesweeper that was rebuilt for passenger and freight service down the St. Lawrence from Montreal, was blown ashore at Potato Bay, Anticosti Island, and was a total loss. The remains of the hull are still there. 1982 CLIO, a West German freighter, made 12 trips to the Great Lakes from 1959 to 1965. It arrived at Callao, Colombia, with engine damage as e) SUNLIGHT on this date in 1982 and was abandoned as a total loss. An apparent effort to repair the engine was not completed and the ship was eventually scrapped.