Back at the Cabin

Many thanks to Bill K. for keeping us up-to-date on the boats this week. I'm back in a town for a few days and then I'm back on the road again. My summer seems to be working out like that.

As I toured the Copper County, I realize how important the Soo Locks were to the development of the mining industry up there. Each museum or historical spot that we stopped at, talked about how the mining industry was able to grow because of easier transportation of their goods due to the opening of the Soo Locks in 1855.

My husband and daughter keep watching for boats. Today they saw the American Century down and the Cason J. Calloway and John J. Boland up.

Since I've been home there has been the Canadian Progress and John B. Aird are both out front right going down.

Tomorrow is Engineer's Day at the Locks. It is a great day to get a close up view of the workings of the Locks and also a close-up view of the government buildings. They don't make them like that anymore.

New Traffic on the River

Yesterday was a moderate day of ship traffic but we had a different mode of transportation out in the river in the afternoon.



Our neighbor here on Scenic Drive has a hanger and a plane which he occasionally takes up. We have front row seats to watch. It takes a while to get the plane off of the water and into the air.

Other than that, we saw
Down bound
Mackinaw
Michipicoten
H. Lee White

Up bound
James R. Barker
Canadian Leader
Indiana Harbor-I heard a master salute from down river and I think it was the Indiana Harbor saluting someone on Neebish Island

The only traffic this morning has been the American Mariner up bound around 9 AM.

Recent Ship Pictures

I found these photos of the Roger Blough on VisittheSault's Facebook page. She took them from Freighter's Restaurant at the Ojibway on November 29th at 3:30. It makes me lonesome for my little cabin on the river watching the Blough slide by.

If you have any photos to share, please send them to me at saultboatwatcher@gmail.com

Thanks,
Brenda

Ships Seen on November 11, 2008

I observed the following ships yesterday at our cabin. It was a busy day for shipping.
Upbound: Algolake, Burns Harbor, J W Shelley
Downbound: Stewart J. Cort, Walter J. McCarty and an unidentified 1,000 footer that slipped by before I could check it out.

The Shelley was not on my ship log from the summer which means I hadn't seen it before. Research showed it is newly named. You can read about it at J W Shelley.
J W Shelley entering the Locks. I know it isn't a very good picture but it was so cold and I didn't want to walk through the snow. Sorry!

Later in the day we crossed the Mackinac Bridge and observed 4 freighters in the distance. Busy day on the Lakes.

November on the St. Marys River

John J. Boland upbound in the river on November 5.

3 "Footer" Day & the Ojibway

I've returned to my river home after a brief trip away. The water level is higher than it was 10 days ago and we've lost more our our beach front-which is fine with us. The higher water level has to aid the shipping industry and we love that.

We saw three 1,000 foot ships today-Indiana Harbor, Presque Isle and the American Century. I took my granddaughters to Rotary Island and had the pleasure of seeing the Ojibway going down. A fellow boatwatcher said that there aren't many of those straight deckers left. He then explained that that means no self-unloading equipment. After all the boats I've watched, I did not know that term. What else out there don't I know that I should to be a good boat watcher? Let me know what you think is important to know or what you think I'm missing. Thanks

American Victory

Photo taken at 7:30 AM September 9, 2008

Another beautiful morning on the river with a little fog and a gorgeous sunrise. The American Victory is currently cutting through the haze. She is one of my favorite ships because of her history. She saw action in the Pacific in WW2 and is still serving us as a Great Lakes freighter. American Victory was the Middletown until last year.

Since yesterday's post we saw the Canadian Transfer, Cedarglen and Ojibway-all upbound. Quiet day other than that.

Pathfinder

Our morning started with a beautiful sunrise over Sugar Island. The first picture was taken at 7 AM and the second at 11:30 AM. You can see we now have some dark clouds hanging over the river. Picture-Pathfinder -
The boat traffic has been steady with the Mesabi Miner and the Pathfinder downbound. Upbound, I've seen the Paul R. Tregurtha, American Spirit, and the Canadian Leader.

But the river is jumping with smaller boats. There is a Professional Walleye Tournament in the Soo this week and I think many fisherman are practicing here in the St. Marys.

Since yesterday's blog we also saw these boats on Sunday:
Upbound-Frontenac-1 long and 2 short to another boat out front but it was too dark to identify.
Downbound-Lee A. Tregurtha, Joseph H. Thompson, American Integrity, Wilfred M. Cohen & 2501 (tug & barge), John G. Munson.

United States Border Patrol

I am enjoying a beautiful morning here on the St. Marys River. The sun has come out after several rainy days and is coming up brightly over Sugar Island.

There have been two ships this morning-the Montrealais upbound and the Presque Isle-downbound.

I just observed a U.S. Border Patrol boat streaking down the river. They have had a large presence in the river this summer as well as an expanded facility in the Sault. I found an interesting web site explaining the role of the Border Patrol in the Soo along with a photo of the type of boat I saw this morning. History of Border Patrol link.

I always wonder where the Border Patrol boats are going and if they are investigating something.

Saturday's boats included: Upbound-Pathfinder & Quebecois
Downbound-Keizerborg, Adam E. Cornelius, and Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin

Thursday on the River

After the Walter J. McCathy Jr. got underway yesterday, boat traffic was fairly steady. This is what I saw:
Upbound
American Integrity
Canadian Enterprise
Charles M. Beeghly
Katmai Bay
John G. Munson

Downbound
Phillip R. Clarke
Edwin H. Gott
Ojibway

So far today we have had two
Stewart J. Cort & Edgar G. Speer-both upbound

It was drizzly rain that started after lunch yesterday and continued until this morning. Now the sun is trying to peek out but the temperature is in the high 50's.

Walter J. McCarthy Jr.

Last night we saw the Walter J. McCarthy rounding the bend at Mission Point down bound. When we returned home, the McCarthy was anchored out front. When a boat anchors here, it must be facing up bound. So the McCarthy must have turned around in the river and we missed it.

The McCarthy's deck lights were on until about 3 AM and then she went to the running lights.

McCarthy remains anchored this morning. The American Integrity just passed up bound. The two ships saluted each other after the American Integrity successfully passed.

I suspect low water levels at the Rock Cut may be the cause of McCarthy's trouble. It was below datum last night. You can check the water levels on line at Great Lakes Online. I'll put a link on this site.

Yesterday's other passages include:
Upbound
Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin
Algoisle
American Fortitude
Kaye E. Barker
Cason J. Callaway
Presque Isle

Downbound
American Victory
Nanticoke

Edward L. Ryerson

The Edward L. Ryerson cannot travel through the river without causing some excitement. This afternoon I was resting after a trip to the Chippewa County Fair, which, by the way, was wonderful. I was awakened by several boat whistles. It turns out the Ryerson was up bound and several other ships in the system were saluting her.

So far today, we have seen the Pere Marquette 41, Algosar, American Spirit, American Republic, Frontenac, St. Clair and the Indiana Harbor. It isn't even 5 PM yet so there might be more excitement to come.

With absolutely perfect weather, I wish all boat watchers could join me today relaxing and enjoying the beauty of our spot on the St. Marys River.

Cool Morning on the River

Our last couple of nights have been very cool here in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. This morning we awoke to a very foggy river because the air temperature was much cooler than the water. Right now the water is around 65 degrees and our morning temperature here was around 40. The result was zero visibility out front. I believe the ship in the picture I took is the John B. Aird coming out of the fog.


We were up by the Locks having dinner tonight and saw the Vancouverborg entering the Locks. It is a beautiful ship that sails out of the Netherlands. On-line shipping records show that the Vancouverborg arrived in Duluth last Friday to load at General Mills. Do you think it is loaded with Cheerios?

We also saw the SCL Bern which is operated out of Basel, Switzerland.

Saturday, August 23

My plans today are to spend the entire day working in the yard. As a consequence, I'll be able to watch the boats all day. So I will periodically update this blog with what is passing by out front.

I awoke to see a beautifully lighted ship just before 6 AM but it was too dark to identify it. After a heavy rainstorm this morning, we have cool and sunny for the afternoon.

8:20-Burns Harbor passed down bound
9:15 AM Lee A. Tregurtha-down bound
11:50 AM St. Clair-down bound
2:11 PM CSL Niagara- up bound
3:45 PM Edgar B. Speer-up bound
4:08 PM Ojibway Down Bound
6:05 PM H. Lee White-Up bound

Cliffs Victory

When I was growing up and living on the St. Marys River, there were ships that were favorites of local residents. The Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company ships were some of those favorites.

I had forgotten about the Cleveland Cliffs vessels until the Cliffs Victory was featured on the www.boatnerd.com site this week in the Historical Perspectives Gallery. Go there for an interesting discussion and photo.

I remember watching the Cliffs Victory pass by in the 1950's. This would have been the time when high quality iron deposits were being exhausted. The Cleveland-Cliffs Company has been at the forefront of Great Lakes shipping. The company has been in operation for 160 years and is still has mining operations but they no longer are involved in the shipping industry. You can read about it at their web site.

http://www.cleveland-cliffs.com/About/Pages/History.aspx

Robert S. Pierson

I'm just watching the Robert S. Pierson go down bound. I don't recall seeing this ship before. Research on www. boatnerd.com confirmed that this is a new name for an old ship.

The Pierson was formerly the Wolverine from 1974 - Feb. 14, 2008. The Wolverine was renamed in honor of Mr. Robert Scott Pierson, who died December 23, 2007 at age 71, Pierson was very active in the Canadian shipping industry.

Another interesting sight was the CSL Taddoussac sailing under a rainbow that stretched over Sugar Island. I wonder if she found the pot of gold?

Daniella

The Daniella passed down bound yesterday. It was the first time I had seen that ship but from research, I see that the Daniella has been sailing in the Great Lakes for years.


Daniella is a heavy lift vessel from the Netherlands. I did find one item from the Duluth Shipping News that showed the Daniella bringing in heavy equipment that was to be transported to western Canada.

You can find more information about the Daniella at www.jumboshipping.com

The weather has been absolutely beautiful and we are spending lots of time on the water. My grandchildren are visiting and becoming great little boat watchers.

The Daniella brought 14 crates and one 193.4 metric ton high pressure container vessel (above) to the Port Terminal on December 1, 2004. The cargo was discharged at Lake Superior Warehousing Co., Inc. The large piece was lowered onto a special rail car that will carry it to Fort McMurray, north of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. There it will be used in a massive oil sands extraction project.

Three 'Footers' In A Row

Yesterday morning we had the treat of viewing three 'footers' (1,000 foot vessels) in succession.

It began early with the Edgar B. Speer going down bound in the early morning mist. We have had beautiful sunrises this week. The sun comes over Sugar Island and makes what we call 'diamonds on the water', sunlight reflecting on the slightly rippling water.

Not long after that the Indiana Harbor made her way up the river to be followed by the Walter J. McCarthy Jr down bound.
The rest of the day saw the Birchglen, Tim S. Dool and the Charles M. Beeghley, all down bound and the Michipicoten passing up.

The day finished with another thousand footer, the American Century. We saw her up bound at Mission Point when we were returning from my 40 Year Class reunion in the Soo.

Photo 8-2-08 St. Marys River

Adam E. Cornelius

One of my favorite boat watching spots is at Clyde's Drive-In near Mission Point in Sault Ste. Marie. Not only are the boats very close but Clyde's has some of the best hamburgers in the area that are delivered to your car by a carhop. Once we get our order, we drive across the parking lot to be at the water's edge.

Last night we saw the Adam E. Cornelius pass down bound. Research told me that the Adam E. Cornelius was built in 1973 and named M/V Roger M. Kyes. It was renamed in 1989 to honor American Steamship Company co-founder and former chairman, Adam E. Cornelius.

The John J. Boland was named in honor of the other American Steamship co-founder.