The published an article about the sorry state of the Great Lakes shipping industry and it talks about how the bad economy is played out on the Great Lakes.
The article quotes Roger LeLievre, publisher of Know Your Ships and boat watching enthusiast.
The numbers coming from the Lake Carrier Association. The article states:
Freighter traffic on the Great Lakes is down about 40% this summer. There were 47 freighters plying the lakes last month compared with 75 during the same time last year, said Glen Nekvasil, vice president for corporate communications for the Lake Carriers Association.
The boat watchers know that this is true but it is still startling to see the 40 - 50 % reduction in freighter traffic.
Thanks to Bill K. for keeping us up-to-date on the boat traffic. It seems to have been a busy time. I hope to be returning to our cabin Monday or Tuesday.
Last week, the Boatnerds, an unofficial group of boat watchers, met in the Sault for their annual celebrations of the glory of Great Lakes ships. This group share a love for watching the great boats that traverse the waterways. I wasn't able to join them this year but I found a great description of the time at Nerds Gather.
Today is the groundbreaking of the new lock at the Soo at 10 AM. I will post pictures as soon as they become available.
Today's Detroit News (detnews.com) is running a great article called Rebuilding the Soo Locks. It details clearly the need for a new lock and the importance of the shipping industry to our economy and security.
You can click on the article and I'd like to hear your comments on the ideas expressed there.
Are any of you readers attending the ground breaking tomorrow for the work that is beginning on the Locks? I hear that Governor Granholm and our senators will be attending. I'll keep you informed as I learn more.
Since I'm back in town, I'm working very hard to get caught up on my work-both inside and outside the cabin. Actually, I have two vegetable gardens this summer and I didn't plant either of them. My father did the one I have in the Soo and my daughter and husband planted the one here at the cabin. But I promise to take care of them. I haven't had a vegetable garden in years so I'm looking forward to enjoying them all summer.
So yesterday seemed like a busy day on the river because I had to keep stopping and recording what I saw out front.
Here is what I saw: Maxima Lake Guardian Paul R. Tregurtha Algocape Algosoo Edwin H. Gott Edgar B. Speer Michipicoten American Integrity J.W. Shelley
Bill K. has been leaving comments on the Sault Boat Watcher to fill in for me while I have been traveling across the UP. His comments have been so filled with information that I wanted to put them into their own post for everyone to enjoy.
I am leaving for downstate again today and won't be back for a week. Our family has a wedding coming up and I'm helping to throw a bridal shower. Then my husband's birthday is next week too and the country always throws a party for him-it's on the Fourth. Once we return then, it should be for the rest of the summer.
Here is Bill and here are his comments for the last few days:
June 25, 2009 9:45 PM
Welcome home. Spent the day over at the Boat Nerd picnic. Nice bunch of people. Watched the Carson J Callaway down bound. Also saw the David Boyd a work tug for the Corp of Engineerss up bound. Saw the Charles M. Beeghly up bound around 3:30 PM. I would also like to pass along that the Locks Webcam have been reprogrammed and are functioning as they are suppose to. I watched 2 boats lock down bound at 9:15 tonight.
Glad to have you home safely.
June 25, 2009 10:16 PM
wanted to add one other thing to the Boat Nerd picnic. The Beeghly gave a Captains Salute to the Boat Nerds as they lined the river bank. It can send a shiver up your spine. It was really a fun day
June 27 12:46 AM
Bill K. said...
for all you fans of the Boats...I found a great picture of the old William H Donner. The picture was taken shortly after she was converted to a Crane Boat. Really a beautiful boat in her day. She hasn't been on the river since the early 80's. She is tied up and being used for storage. She will probably end up like the old E M Ford (Presque Isle) which has been across the St Mary's River on the Canadian side since November, tied up to the Purvis Docks and being stripped and then sent for salvage.
I saw the Dutch Boat Maxima go though the locks up bound with a load of windmill parts. She is a pretty boat. They have her painted red and yellow upper structure and a grey hull.
Also spotted the AlgoCape down bound at the same time. The Boat Nerd group is still in town and having a good time. Glad to have them here.
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.
I am on a cross Upper Peninsula trip to accompany a friend who is calling on college bookstores. We started in Bay Mills on Monday and I even saw a boat there. But couldn't identify it. After hiking around Pictured Rocks, we arrived in Marquette last night.
This is the old ore dock. They discontinued using it in the 1970's. There is a great park and pier there and we have a lovely dinner nearby on a patio overlooking this area.
This is the 'new' ore dock. I called and there isn't a ship expected until Thursday when the Beeghley arrives around 3 PM. So it should be in the Soo tomorrow.
I'm sure experienced boat watchers know all about Marquette but this was my first visit to the waterfront there.
It was very hot in Marqutte yesterday and today but the city is full of parks and lovely sights.
I am sorry that I won't be able to attend the Boatnerd Picnic on Thursday afternoon at Mission Point but we hope to be back for Engineer's Day at the Locks on Friday.
My husband and I live on the St. Mary's River near Sault Ste. Marie in the summer. Boat watching is a favorite daily activity here on the river. But there are many fun and interesting things to do around this area and I will be sharing those throughout the summer.
