Great Lakes News

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 13.1 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 9.6 percent.The Lake Carriers' Association, the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet trade group, today announced thatl loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 8.4 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 587,069 tons, a decrease of 29.7 percent. Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 24.2 million tons, a slight decrease compared to 2023.

After a seven-year hiatus, Port Milwaukee has announced the return of Victory Cruise Lines in 2025. The cruise line will call on Milwaukee once again with the vessel Victory I which has a passenger capacity of approximately 200 people. Over 13,500 global cruise passengers visited the City of Milwaukee this year, marking another successful season for the city’s growing cruising industry.The season saw 27 vessel calls from seven vessels that host itineraries in Milwaukee.Port Milwaukee kicked off its cruise season on May 1, 2024, with the arrival of the Viking Octantis.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in September, an increase of 9.4% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures from trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Limestone cargos were also above the month’s 5-year average by 4.5%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 10.6% from 2023. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 678,580 tons, an increase of 4.2%, LCA said..LCA data shows that year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 20.8 million tons, an increase of 1.8% compared to a year ago.

Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.5 million tons in September, a decrease of 1.9% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures from industry trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments were above the month’s 5-year average by 6.6%.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 36.5 million tons, a decrease of less than 1% compared to the same point in 2023, LCA said.Through September iron ore loadings are 7.3% above their 5-year average for the first three quarters of the year.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, substantially completed Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) contract on September 17.“Phase 2 work focused on rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to guide vessels into the New Lock and will allow the vessels to moor on the wall,” said Ryan Berkompas, New Lock at the Soo Project Engineer. “The old approach walls in the northern channel were the same age as the Sabin and Davis Locks…

A marine services company was cited for 15 serious violations and fined $164,000 for exposing workers to fire and asphyxiation hazards while making repairs to a Canadian-registered bulk carrier moored at the Port of Ashtabula, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said.The 81-year-old vessel Cuyahoga was in winter lay-up when a fire broke out on March 15, 2024 while maintenance and repair work was being performed. All crew members working on board managed to escape without injury.Acting on a referral from the U.S.

Rand Logistics, Inc., a provider of bulk freight shipping in the Great Lakes region, announced that Dave Foster has informed the Board of his decision to retire from his role as Chief Executive Officer, following a nearly 40 year career in the maritime industry, including the past four as CEO of Rand.Greg Binion, a seasoned transportation and logistics executive and most recently a Board Member of Rand, as well as the Executive Chairman of Andrie Marine, has been appointed interim…

Annapolis, Md. based boatbuilder Ocean Craft Marine (OCM) reports it has delivered a new firefighting/search and rescue (SAR) boat for first responders in Michigan.Built for water-related incident management and rescue operations on Lake Erie, the 9.5-meter newbuild is aimed at reestablishing the emergency response capabilities of the Monroe Township Fire Department and the neighboring agencies.“This new Fire/SAR boat restores our capabilities to conduct water rescues and firefighting missions on the lake.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in July, a decrease of 14.3% compared to a year ago, according to latst figures from industry trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). The trade was also below the month’s five-year average by 9.3%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 14% compared to 2023, while shipments from Canadian quarries decreased by 15.5% to 651,155 tons, LCA said.Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 13.3 million tons, an increase of 2.7% compared to a year ago.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has revealed the winners of the 2024 Michigan Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program, which will allocate $5 million to maritime projects throughout the state.The five chosen projects aim to enhance Michigan's maritime infrastructure, bolstering the state's economic edge, lowering freight transportation costs, increasing reliability and lessening the environmental effects of freight movement, MDOT said.MDOT's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget included a one-time appropriation of $5 million for the program…

Inadequate operating company guidance on underkeel clearance led to the April 2023 grounding of a bulk carrier in Lake Huron, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday.The 667-foot-long, self-unloading bulk carrier John J Boland—owned by American Steamship Company and operated by Grand River Navigation under charter—grounded twice as it was completing final loading in Port Dolomite, Michigan on April 21, 2023. The crew discovered flooding and damage to the hull after it was underway.

Rand Logistics, a dry bulk shipping group operating on the Great Lakes, announced on Wednesday that it has reached a deal to acquire Andrie from Auxo Investment Partners, marking the company's expansion into liquid bulk shipping. Financial terms were not disclosed.Andrie, based in Muskegon, Mich., transports specialty liquid products such as asphalt, cement, refined oil products and calcium chloride, connecting North American production assets with distribution networks throughout the Great Lakes region.

The Great Lakes Towing Company held a christening ceremony in Cleveland for its newest tug.The vessel, named Minnesota, was delivered in 2023 as part of a series of 10 new Damen 1907 ICE tugs built by Great Lakes Shipyard, a sister company to the Towing Company—both part of The Great Lakes Group.The 64’x24’x11’ tug is powered by two 1,000-horsepower MTU 8V4000 Tier III diesel engines, and generates over 30-tons of bollard pull. The vessel's propulsion system includes the Canal-Marine-designed Logan FlexaDrive Hybrid power system…

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased in June while Lakes shipments of iron ore slid, according to recent data from industry trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).LimestoneShipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in June, an increase of 6% from a year ago. This June’s loadings were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.7%.Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.6 million tons, an increase of 2.4% compared to last year. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 738…

U.S.-based family-owned private equity firm the Hoffmann Family of Companies (HF Companies) announced it has acquired Mackinac Island Ferry Company in Michigan.Jenny Gezella, President of Hoffmann Marine, said, “We are thrilled to acquire the Mackinac Island Ferry Company, further expanding our presence in the Mackinac community and marine industry. Our commitment to providing first-class, efficient transportation remains steadfast, and we look forward to continuing to serve both residents and visitors to this special island.”“To ensure a seamless transition…

The U.S House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that would move funds from the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security to the U.S. Coast Guard for the procurement of an already authorized Great Lakes icebreaker (GLIB).The GLIB is needed to maintain winter deliveries of raw materials to the U.S. steel manufacturing industry (supporting nationwide automobile and appliance manufacturing) and respond to winter flooding of Great Lakes coastal communities.The amendment was submitted by Representative John James (MI-10)…

A 72-year-old Great Lakes freighter has anchored safely in Thunder Bay, Ontario following a flooding incident in Lake Superior.At around 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, the Canadian-registered Michipicoten reportedly struck an underwater object and began taking on water in U.S. waters about 35 miles south of Isle Royale, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The ship, which is owned and operated by Canadian-based Lower Lakes Towing, was hauling taconite from the U.S. to Canada at the time of the incident.The flooding caused the 689-foot self-discharging bulk carrier to list to 15 degrees…

Great Lakes shipments of limestone rose and iron ore fell in the month of May, according to latest figures published by industry trade group the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA).Shipments of limestone on the Lakes totaled 3.9 million tons in May, an increase of 33.9% compared to a year ago. May’s loadings were also above the month’s 5-year average by 6%.Limestone loadings from U.S. quarries increased 42.2% compared to 2023 to 3.2 million tons, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 734…

Eureka Shipping announced it has ordered a new cement carrier from Holland Shipyard Group in the Netherlands for scheduled for delivery in 2025.Eureka Shipping, jointly owned by SMT Shipping and The CSL Group, said the 12,500 dwt mechanical/pneumatic cement ship will replace two older vessels in the Great Lakes region while maintaining the same cargo capacity for operations.The newbuild will be fitted with a diesel-electric a propulsion system consisting of four generator sets…

The White House has nominated Matt Kaplan to serve as the first federal co-chair of the Great Lakes Authority (GLA).The GLA was authorized by Congress in 2022 and will be governed by a nine-member board, with one member appointed by the President, and one appointed by each of the Governors of the eight Great Lakes states. The new federal agency will promote regional economic development. Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $5 million to begin the process of standing up the organization.

The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority on Monday revealed details of a program to slash carbon emissions to net zero by 2040 in an effort to improve air quality and the health of residents.Working with technical experts from sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental, and thanks to funding from the State of Michigan, it established that operations across the port region were responsible for 27,869 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and that urgent action was needed.“The maritime industry is responsible for 3% of global emissions, and it’s growing.

U.S. regulators are investigating potential unfair trade practices within pending Canadian regulations governing ballast water management systems of ships in the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes trade.The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Tuesday said it launched the probe to determine if the pending regulations have a disparate effect on U.S. flagged vessels and constitute a Foreign Shipping Practices violation under 46 U.S.C. Chapter 423.U.S.-based companies operating ships in the…

The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) honored Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow in recognition of the significant contributions made throughout her Congressional career protecting the Great Navigation System and supporting American jobs with investment in U.S.-flagged Great Lakes shipping.Senator Stabenow, who co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, has been the driving force behind the protection of the U.S.' largest freshwater resource and the maritime highway that supports U.S.