Alpena News

Researchers from NOAA, the state of Michigan, and Ocean Exploration Trust discovered an intact shipwreck resting hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. Located within NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the shipwreck has been identified as the sailing ship Ironton. Well preserved by the cold freshwater of the Great Lakes for over a century, the 191-ft. Ironton rests upright with its three masts still standing."Using this cutting-edge technology, we have not only located a pristine shipwreck lost for over a century…

A nearly century-old vessel used as cement storage at the LaFargeHolcim terminal on the Fox River for the past 25 years is set to be scrapped.On Friday at sunrise, the S.T. Crapo began its journey under tow from the Port of Green Bay to be scrapped at Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada.Built in River Rouge, Mich., the S.T. Crapo was launched in 1927 as a self-unloading cement carrier operating on the Great Lakes, primarily carrying cement from Alpena, Mich.By the mid-1990s, the vessel was the last coal-fired freighter on the Great Lakes…

U.S. grain shipments via the Great Lakes-Seaway system totaled 312,000 metric tons from March 22 to May 31, up 39% compared to the same period in 2021. Much of the increase is due to exports of corn and soybeans out of the Port of Toledo and some new trade starting at the port of Oswego this shipping season. The rise in shipments, which are predominantly heading to Europe and North Africa, are in part due to shifting global grain trading patterns as the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine — both major grain exporters — continues.“The Great Lakes-St.

More than $241 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded for projects to improve U.S. port facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday.The grants, which will go to 25 projects in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), are intended to help strengthen America's supply chains to meet heightened demand and help address inflationary pressures, the DOT said.“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains,” said U.S.

U.S. Great Lakes ports and the St. Lawrence Seaway are reporting a rush of activity as manufacturers stockpile raw materials and businesses take advantage of the congestion-free waterway to export overseas with just two weeks left of the season, the Chamber of Marine Commerce reports.“U.S. Great Lakes ports have roared back this year – recovering from major 2020 declines in traditional cargoes like iron ore and steel but also developing new business and seizing on opportunities for infrastructure investment. This story of recovery and renewal is mirrored in the latest St.

The Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) announced that the 2016 shipping season on the Great Lakes began on March 2 when the tug/barge unit Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder loaded 4,600 tons of iron ore at Cleveland Bulk Terminal for delivery to ArcelorMittal Cleveland at the end of the navigable portion of the Cuyahoga River. That much iron ore will keep the mill in operation for about one day. The vessel could have delivered another 4,100 tons, but the Cuyahoga River is notorious for silting up over the winter, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not dredge the river again until mid-May. The next vessel to get underway will be the cement carrier G. L. Ostander/Integrity on March 7, LCA said.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Alpena Sheriff's Department and several good Samaritans are assisting two men aboard a 42-foot sailboat that began taking on water early Wednesday morning 18 miles east of Alpena, Michigan in Lake Huron. Shortly after 9 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, received a call from two men aboard a 42-foot sailboat stating their vessel was taking on water approximately 18 nautical miles east of Alpena in Lake Huron. The men stated they were currently using a hand pump to dewater the vessel.

NOAA today released a final rule and environmental impact statement expanding the boundaries of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron from 448 square miles to 4,300 square miles. The new boundaries now include the waters of Lake Huron adjacent to Michigan’s Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties to the Canadian border. The expansion is based on several years of research by NOAA and its many scientific partners, and now protects an additional 100 known and suspected historic shipwreck sites. The expansion of the sanctuary was driven by strong public support. During the process to review the sanctuary’s management plan in 2006, several local government and non-governmental organizations passed resolutions or submitted written letters of support for boundary expansion.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and four colleagues introduced legislation requiring a federal assessment of Great Lakes waters with significant cultural, historic or archaeological value for possible preservation as federal marine sanctuaries. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to submit to Congress a report and recommendations on possible Great Lakes sanctuaries. Today, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Lake Huron near Alpena, Mich., which protects scores of historic shipwrecks, is the nation’s only freshwater federal sanctuary. Cosponsors are Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., a vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force; Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Sen.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a release advising residents of Alpena, Mich., that the commercial tug Manitou is scheduled to break ice in the Alpena Harbor near the LaFarge facility, beginning Wednesday afternoon. The ice-breaking operation does not involve a Coast Guard icebreaker; nonetheless, the Coast Guard is advising residents and visitors that any ice in the area may be particularly unstable and dangerous. Ice fishermen are asked to remove their ice shacks and equipment from these areas. All transit times and locations are subject to change based on weather conditions. According to the Coast Guard, all efforts are being made to limit the impact on winter activities on the ice, however the Coast Guard advises everyone to stay clear of this area. uscgnews.com

The Great Lakes Towing Company says it has been extremely busy providing icebreaking assistance, and Great Lakes Shipyard has started repairs and maintenance on Interlake Steamship vessels, with more vessels contracted to follow. Recently, the 140-foot USCG Bay-class Icebreaking Tug Katmai Bay (WTGB 101) was dead in the icy waters and required towing assistance to its homeport dock, and the towing company's tug Missouri was dispatched to break ice and assist it back to its dock. The Missouri is also homeported in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to assist vessels through the U.S.

The start of the winter layup season at Great Lakes Shipyard is marked by the arrival of Interlake Steamship Company’s articulated tug-barge Dorothy Ann and Pathfinder. The ATB will remain berthed in the yard for planned repairs and routine maintenance, as well as various inspections and miscellaneous renewals.   Other winter layup and repair work scheduled for this winter will include Inland Lakes Management’s S/S Alpena, American Steamship Company’s M/V Sam Laud, and McKeil Marine’s Tug Leonard M and Barge Huron Spirit.   thegreatlakesgroup.com

The American Courage of American Steamship Company departed Cleveland Saturday, March 23 after two months of lay-up at Great Lakes Shipyard. The Shipyard was contracted by American Steamship to perform winter work services on their vessel. Such work included miscellaneous steel work, generator maintenance, main drive unit maintenance, and other various repairs and maintenance. The American Courage is the last of three lakers to complete their winter work at Great Lakes Shipyard this season.

Inland Lakes Management’s laker 'SS Alpena' recently left the Cleveland Ohio shipyard upon completion of winter work projects. The shipyard performed a variety of work on the vessel during its layup period which consisted of basic repairs and other general maintenance items. The S/S Alpena is the second of three lakers to complete winter work at Great Lakes Shipyard this season. Interlake Steamship Company’s ATB Dorthy Ann and Pathfinder were first, departing last weekend, and work on the American Steamship Company’s American Courage is soon coming to completion.

Interlake Steamship Company’s ATB Dorothy Ann and Pathfinder departed Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday upon completion of the vessel’s winter work and layup period. Great Lakes Shipyard performed a variety of work on the vessel, such as miscellaneous steel work, generator maintenance, main drive unit maintenance and other various repairs. Great Lakes Shipyard is a full-service yard specializing in new construction, fabrication, repairs and winter work of all types of vessels and barges.

Great Lakes Shipyard has been contracted by Interlake Steamship Company to perform winter work services on their ATB Dorthy Ann and Pathfinder which arrived in Cleveland and is docked on site at the Shipyard’s facility. The Shipyard will be performing a variety of work, such as:  miscellaneous steel work, generator maintenance, main drive unit maintenance, and other miscellaneous tug and barge repairs and maintenance. Great Lakes Shipyard is a full-service yard specializing in new construction, fabrication, repairs, and winter work of all types of vessels and barges.

Great Lakes Shipyard contracted by Interlake Steamship Company to perform winter work services on two vessels. Two more vessels have arrived: Interlake Steamship vessels, the ATB Dorothy Ann and the Pathfinder, are in Cleveland and  docked at Great Lakes Shipyard's facility. A variety of work is to be done, including: miscellaneous steel work, generator maintenance, main drive unit maintenance, and other miscellaneous tug and barge repairs and maintenance. Great Lakes Shipyard is a full-service yard specializing in new construction…

The Great Lakes Towing Company has completed a contract with American International Line to deliver six FRP tanks to Alpena, Michigan. The tanks were shipped aboard the M/V Copenhagen which sailed from India. The vessel arrived at the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Dock on Tuesday, October 23. It was there that the tanks were then loaded onto a barge. The Great Lakes Towing Company tug OHIO towed the barge from Cleveland, Ohio to Alpena, Michigan where the tanks were delivered to Lafarge Corporation.

Cleveland—The U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet is returning to service to keep industrial America on the mend. The first vessel to get underway was the tug/barge unit DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER on March 5. The vessel will spend the month shuttling iron ore within Cleveland Harbor. Next to sail was the cement carrier SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN/INNOVATION. The tug/barge unit left its winter berth in Cleveland on March 7 and sailed to Alpena, Michigan, where it loaded cement to resupply silos in Chicago. The self-propelled laker JOSEPH L.

Sony and Intel’s Project Shiphunt team of young explorers, scientists and historians has returned to shore with news of its underwater discovery: shipwrecks of the schooner M.F. Merrick and the steel freighter Etruria, in deep water off of Presque Isle in Lake Huron. The project was completed with “much thanks to pings, processing and 3D,” according to one marine archaeologist. Current Media, the Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning independent television and online network founded in 2005, will air their adventure as the hour-long special, “Project Shiphunt,” on August 30th at 10 p.m. ET.

On October 18 - 20, 2010 Statewide leaders from the Michigan Port Collaborative traveled to Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and Alpena, Michigan respectively to meet with regional representatives from area ports to enlist their participation in this newly formed statewide organization. All three meetings saw high attendance from approximately 80 regional port representatives. Don Gilmet, MPC Steering Committee member and host of the third and final meeting in the Alpena district summarized the event in this way, "I attended all three meetings and it was very clear that everyone was excited about the opportunity to solve a vast array of port issues and seize new entrepreneurial opportunities through networking…

Lafarge dedicated a new articulated tug-barge (ATB) on June 5 as the latest addition to its Great Lakes fleet. The Samuel de Champlain tug and Innovation barge were built and are owned by American Transport Leasing Inc., a subsidiary of Lafarge. The new vessel will transport cement and cementitious materials among 17 Lafarge facilities throughout the Great Lakes, including its terminal on the Cleveland waterfront. The articulated design represents a significant advance over conventional tugs and barges. The tug fits into a notch at the stern of the barge, where hydraulic connections allow them to dip and rise independently. The design makes the vessel more maneuverable than conventional tug-barge combinations, especially in adverse weather conditions.

Dr. William Anderson, director of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), today announced the appointment of State Archaeologist John R. Halsey to the Joint Management Committee administering the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Preserve off the coast of Alpena. Halsey, who represents Michigan on the federal-state committee, will serve a two-year term expiring Jan. 1, 2005. The other member of the Joint Management Committee is Daniel J. Basta, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuary Program. "The unique federal-state partnership at Thunder Bay presents a tremendous opportunity to teach people about Great Lakes maritime history…