Great Lakes Shipping History

[Volkonski]

Investigation underway after ship collides with underwater object, takes on water in Lake Superior, US Coast Guard says

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/09/us/us-co ... index.html

US and Canadian officials are investigating after a 689-foot ship collided with an underwater object and began taking on water in Lake Superior, the US Coast Guard says.

The agency responded after the bulk carrier Michipicoten sent a report at 6:53 a.m. Saturday that it was experiencing flooding as it traveled southwest of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

The merchant ship was carrying taconite, a low-grade iron ore, the Coast Guard said on X.

Half of the ship’s 22-person crew was removed from the vessel after the incident, according to a news release. No injuries were reported on the ship.

The ship is anchored in Thunder Bay, Ontario, as of Sunday and will be brought to a dock once Canadian agencies deem it safe to do so, said Lorne Thomas, external affairs division chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District.

The US Coast Guard and Transport Canada will conduct marine casualty investigations to determine if the hull damage was caused by the ship running aground, hitting a fixed or floating object, hull failure or a combination of these, according to Thomas.

[RTH10260]

[Foggy]

Wow. They didn't hit anything or run aground. The ship just broke. It's 72 years old, and it broke. Somebody has to unload the taconite. Then it's off to the shipbreakers.

This thread keeps growing on me.

[Sam the Centipede]

72 years old is a lot! And it means steels and welds made to 1950s quality, probably without ultrasound and similar inspection methods.

Loading and unloading heavy ores puts lots of bending stresses into the hull, especially if ballasting and loading sequence is not carefully managed. The problem increases with the length of the ship.

Old ships are not necessarily good ships.

[much ado]

Crack has been temporarily patched. Water pumped out. Cargo will be transferred to another vessel, and the Michipicoten will be taken to dry dock.

The company has not revealed their plans. My guess is they will take a look at the condition of the hull and decide whether she still has some life left.

[RTH10260]

Presque Isle - An Unusual View of a Most Unusual Ship

1 Long 2 Short
1 Jun 2024

Here is the 1000-footer Presque Isle seen arriving and docking in Duluth, Minnesota on the evening of May 17, 2024. She had loaded taconite pellets at Two Harbors, Minnesota earlier in the day. But instead of heading to Indiana Harbor, Indiana to offload the pellets as scheduled, she made a 2-hour detour to Duluth. Apparently she needed some quick repairs completed at Port Terminal before she could continue with her journey. (I was told it was possibly a generator that needed repairing.) On her way in through the Duluth shipping canal, the crew were obviously in a good mood despite this unplanned stop. The Presque Isle sounded out four captain's salutes. The first salute received a response from the Aerial Lift Bridge.

Many aspects of this arrival were unusual. Besides being an unusual ship in itself as the only 1000-foot tug-and-barge combination, the Presque Isle isn't a frequent visitor to Duluth, even when the visits are planned. She usually only visits Duluth a few times a year. Second, it's unusual to see a 1000-footer arrive fully loaded through the shipping canal, sitting so low in the water. Almost all of the 1000-footers arrive empty to take on taconite or coal. Third, it's rare to get such a good front-on view of the Presque Isle as she docks. Usually she loads at Two Harbors, where such a view is reserved only for the dock workers. Seeing the Presque Isle from this angle... and seeing the crew using the bosun's chair... is a rare opportunity that I'm glad I could capture.

The repairs to the Presque Isle fortunately didn't take very long, as she was making her way out through the Duluth shipping canal about six hours later. I was there to capture the sight, but that will be another video for another day!

The 1000-foot Presque Isle entered service in 1973. She is the only one of the thirteen 1000-footers on the Great Lakes that is a tug-and-barge combination, making her unique among ships of this size. The barge is the cargo section capable of carrying up to 57,500 tons of cargo. The tug section contains the engines, pilot house, and living quarters for the crew. Both sections are named Presque Isle, as both were built to only operate with each other, despite their ability to separate. Separating allows the tug section to get fueled or serviced on its own, without the need to bring along the cargo section. In practice, however, it appears they rarely separate except under rare circumstances. All remaining 1000-footers built after the Presque Isle are self-contained ships, with the engines, living quarters, bridge, and cargo section contained within one hull.

[Chilidog]

Big Fitz hit a rock off of Michipicoten island.

[northland10]

This has not been the best year for Lower Lakes Towing (the Canadian flagged subsidiary of Rand Logistics). In March, the M/V Cuyahoga caught fire while docked in Ashtabula, Ohio. It had an engine fire the year before but may have been running again though I think it may have been on the winter layup in Ashtabula.

Major Fire on Historic Canadian Lake Bulk Carrier MV Cuyahoga
March 15, 2024

A Canadian-registered lake bulk carrier suffered a major fire at the Port of Ashtabula, located on Lake Erie in Ohio.

The U.S. Coast Guard said USCG personnel responded to the incident on board the M/V Cuyahoga with boats and a helicopter.

The Master and crew of reported as safe and accounted for.

Photos showed the vessel engulfed in flames at a dock.

“#AshtabulaCounty is utilizing maximum county and city fire department resources to put out the fire. #CoastGuard marine inspectors and investigators are en route to begin investigating the cause of the fire. The captain of the port has issued a safety zone around the vessel,” the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes wrote on “X.”

Unconfirmed reports said the fire has been extinguished and damage is being assessed.

The self-unloading vessel, operated by Rand Logistics, is one of the oldest Canadian registered ships still in active service on the Great Lakes. It was originally built in 1943 to support the war effort and later converted into a self-unloader in 1974.

https://gcaptain.com/major-fire-on-hist ... -cuyahoga/

Cuyahoga, one of the oldest Great Lakes ships, is on fire in Lake Erie

Last May, the Cuyahoga reported an engine room fire, also in Lake Erie while the ship was near Pelee Island. Some of the crew's non-essential personnel were evacuated at the time and no injuries were reported.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ ... -1.7145431

I found this when checking on where the other Lower Lake ships were. The Robert Pierson is on Lake Erie and headed to Lorain, Ohio. The Saginaw is in Two Harbors, Minnesota so I assume it is picking up a load of taconite for the steel plant in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. M/V Manitoulin which is the one that is supposed to pick up the load for the MIchipicoten just arrived in Calcite (next to Rogers City, Michigan, sort of at the end of your index finger if you look at your hand with the thumb to the right). Since it is picking up a load there, it will need to drop that off wherever it is supposed to go and then end up the Thunder Bay. It will be a bit before they get there.

I am not sure where they are going to take Michipicoten. If US yards can work on Canadian-flagged ships, the Fraser yards in Superior, Wisconsin would make sense. Their dry docks are large enough. If not, it might have to go to Sturgeon Bay (Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan) or down to Erie, PA. I forget where the Canadian dry docks are now. If they say Port Colborne, I think that means she's finished (Port Colborne is where most go to be scrapped).

[W. Kevin Vicklund]

The Cuyahoga caught fire? How... appropriate.

[noblepa]

I found this when checking on where the other Lower Lake ships were. The Robert Pierson is on Lake Erie and headed to Lorain, Ohio.

I live about 20 minutes east of Lorain, Ohio. Why is the Robert Pierson heading there? The steel mill there is closed, the dry docks have been converted into high priced marinas, and the ore docks are long gone. It doesn't seem to me that there is any reason for a large laker to go there. AFAIK, there isn't even any long term storage space where she might be laid up.

I used to work in Lorain and I crossed the Black River daily. Never once did I see any ships on the river or in the port.

[northland10]

I found this when checking on where the other Lower Lake ships were. The Robert Pierson is on Lake Erie and headed to Lorain, Ohio.

I live about 20 minutes east of Lorain, Ohio. Why is the Robert Pierson heading there? The steel mill there is closed, the dry docks have been converted into high priced marinas, and the ore docks are long gone. It doesn't seem to me that there is any reason for a large laker to go there. AFAIK, there isn't even any long term storage space where she might be laid up.

I used to work in Lorain and I crossed the Black River daily. Never once did I see any ships on the river or in the port.

Lafarge North America may still have an aggregate dock on the Black River by the Lofton Henderson Bridge. The Robert Pierson has since left Lorain and is headed up to Drummond Island near the UP, which has a dolomite quarry, so it may be delivering that to the Lafarge dock.

ETA: Some years ago, when we were in Duluth, my SIL and brother were at a place right on the harbor and she was busy watching the ships come in (when not doing the other stuff for my Grandmother's 100th birthday). I failed to put 2 and 2 together then on why she was big on the boats. She grew up in Lorain. I don't remember where her father worked but it may have been on the docks or the mills, either case, there would have still been many ships in and out of their in her youth (she is older than my brother). They lived in Lorain until about 12 years ago or so.

[northland10]

The Cuyahoga caught fire? How... appropriate.

Twice in a year.

[northland10]

As of a few minutes ago, the Manitoulin was exiting the Poe lock at Sault Ste. Marie and is headed into Lake Superior. I'm not sure if it is headed to Thunder Bay now or has to drop off some calcite somewhere.

[northland10]

After dropping off its load of of calcite at the Algoma steel plant in Sault Ste Marie, the Manitoulin is headed into Lake Superior.

Somebody on MarineTraffic.com was having a little fun.

Manitoulin.jpg (88.59 KiB) Viewed 372 times

[Foggy]

[northland10]

Here's your Monday morning alarm.

[Foggy]

That's the Jimmy Barker.

M/V James R. Barker was the first 1000-foot class vessel constructed entirely on the Great Lakes, where she was built by American Ship Building Company at Lorain, Ohio. Her self-unloading system includes three cargo hold belts and a 250-foot boom, and is capable of discharging a cargo in about eight hours. Source

[northland10]

The Manitoulin is approaching Thunder Bay. It looks like it has gone to Sault Ste Marie at least once and come back. It is larger than the Michipicoten, so I am guessing that it is not really possible to do a full self-unload from one ship to another. So, they have had to do this with multiple trips. At least the destination is only on the other side of Lake Superior.

[northland10]

https://boatnerd.com/boatnerd-news-june-17-2024/

*UPDATE ON MICHIPICOTEN CURRENTLY IN THUNDER BAY


The 72 year old MICHIPICOTEN will depart for Superior to go on the dry dock (ETD TBD). She will have a tug escort out of Thunder Bay and about half way to Superior, they will meet a U.S. tug to escort her the rest of the way.

The starboard hull crack is 1/2 inch wide and 13 feet long. After the crack, the water seeps into a ballast tank normally used to keep the ship on an even keel while loading and unloading cargo. They have now welded straps across the crack to keep it from expanding while she is under way. Steel hulls do ripen with age and when flexed many, many times, becomes brittle leading to cracking.

Lots of inspections and safety concerns will be required to be met before she leaves Thunder Bay.

Her cargo was slowly and carefully removed by Manitoulin to not stress the spot where she is already damaged. Weather for this trip will be crucial.

For those wondering why she needs to travel – unfortunately, the dry dock in Thunder Bay, owned by Heddle, has been shut down and not available.

This is what we know now, things can and will likely, change.

[Foggy]

Steel hulls do ripen with age ...

Inconceivable. Like a rotten peach.

Those 1,000 feet long steel hulls carry unreal amounts of taconite pellets to the steel mills, so they can make more 1,000 feet long steel hulls.

[northland10]

Steel hulls do ripen with age ...

Inconceivable. Like a rotten peach.

Those 1,000 feet long steel hulls carry unreal amounts of taconite pellets to the steel mills, so they can make more 1,000 feet long steel hulls.

The 1,000-footers were built in the 70s and early 80s, so they have not ripened quite yet like Michi built in the 50s. I don't know if the gash was on the original part or on steel that was added in a later refit.

Here is some interesting history of the Michipicoten (formerly the Elton Hoy II).

The Hoyt 2nd was launched at Sparrows Point, Maryland, on March 7, 1952. Soon after, her superstructures were dismantled and placed on her spar deck, and she was towed up the Mississippi River system to South Chicago, Illinois, where her superstructure was completed and she underwent final fit out at American Shipbuilding Company’s yard. She entered service on August 15, 1952, departing South Chicago to load iron ore at Superior, Wisconsin.

It was found that even though the Hoyt was one of the largest vessels on the lakes, she could be a more efficient carrier after a lengthening. She was sent back to American Shipbuilding’s South Chicago, Illinois yard, at the end of the 1956 season, where she would be lengthened by 72′ over the winter. The Hoyt was placed in drydock, where she was cut in half just aft of midship, and her stern section floated out of the drydock. The new 72′ long mid-body was floated in and lined up with the bow, followed by the stern section, and the sections were welded together. She returned to service at the beginning of the 1957 season. The Hoyt was fitted with a bow thruster to make her more maneuverable in 1965.


On December 22, 1983, a crack was discovered in her hull after sailing through a storm on Lake Huron. Repairs were made and she was able to complete her season. On September 21, 1985, she struck the 95th Street Bridge on the Calumet River in South Chicago, placing the bridge out of service for the next five years, as well as requiring the Hoyt to go to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for repairs.

In 1994, she responded to a distress call from a passenger ship.

Also, I read elsewhere (I forgot where) that in her early years, she once ran over her own anchor.

[Foggy]

... she was towed up the Mississippi River system to South Chicago ...

I've been on the Mississippi. That current is powerful. It must take huge engines to tow it up the river.

[northland10]

... she was towed up the Mississippi River system to South Chicago ...

I've been on the Mississippi. That current is powerful. It must take huge engines to tow it up the river.

It probably wasn't the only current it had to deal with. The Chicago River was engineered to flow backward and not into the lake so it is controlled by locks into the lake. However, the big lakers were too long so they would have to open up both the inner and outer gates at the same time causing a rush of water from the lake. This created a huge current the tugs had to fight against.

Here is an article on some of the ships coming through the Chicago river having been built outside of the lakes. The first photo is the Michipicoten/Elton Hoyt II coming through Joliet.

https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/ ... river.html

[RTH10260]

[northland10]

Michipicoten is on the move. She is currently just north of the US/Canada border (based on the land-based border).

https://boatnerd.com/boatnerd-news-june-20-2024/

Michipicoten Heads for Shipyard
THUNDER BAY, ON –– The damaged motor vessel Michipicoten left Thunder Bay, ON, for a repair facility in Superior, WI, on Thursday morning. The vessel is being escorted by the tug Helen H. during its transit, which is expected to take roughly 18 hours. The Michipicoten is expected to undergo permanent repairs following damage to a crack in her hull received June 8, 2024 while downbound on Lake Superior.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been working closely with Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, the vessel owner, naval engineers, National Weather Service and third-party surveyors to ensure the vessel’s safe transit. This team effort included the safe offloading of all cargo, a thorough structural survey of the vessel and completion of temporary repairs, extensive engineering analysis, and the creation of a comprehensive transit plan.

The article says she is being escorted by the Helen H., but as of now, she is being escorted by a Canadian-flagged tug, Grenada. Helen H. is heading up from Taconite Harbor (a US harbor north of Silver Bay, MN) to meet them. I assume it will take over the escort from Grenada.