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Source: WGBA TV

While leaving work today some Marinette Marine Corporation employees say they’re nervous. Most don’t know who is losing their job next.  Ninety employees have already been laid off and company officials say 60 more will lose their job in the next month.

The lay-offs are just temporary, but it is unclear when employees can come back.  Marinette Marine Vice President Richard McCreary says they’re close to a deal to build a combat ship for the Navy, and he is optimistic Congress will approve it.

If it passes soon, workers could be back by December, and workers say this gives them some relief.  But company officials say if it doesn’t pass, workers might not be back to work for 6-8 months.

McCreary said “One of the only things that could stop workers from getting back to work sooner than later is if Congress puts all of their energy towards the economic bailout plan.”

Full story, video at WGBA >>

Source: Sault Star

Engineers are monitoring the Poe Lock after a gate malfunction closed the largest of the Soo Locks on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t mitring properly so we stopped traffic for a while [Wednesday morning],” said Klein.

“We’re still monitoring it,” he said.

Read the full story at the Sault Star >>

CATHY DOBSON | Source: Sarnia Observer

[The] underwater videography is now complete and its suggests the riverbed near the bridge hasn’t changed, says John Nevin, communications advisor for the International Upper Great Lakes Study.

That flies in the face of assertions made by Georgian Bay homeowners, who claimed in 2005 that ongoing erosion in the riverbed is causing low lake levels. According to the bathtub theory the riverbed is eroding as a result of past dredging, making the channel deeper. With a larger drain-hole at Sarnia, lakes Michigan and Huron are falling.

… Instead, the study has found that the St. Clair’s riverbed south of the Black River appears to have “significantly” changed in size.

“It might be a result of maintenance dredging or perhaps it’s prop wash from propellers. It’s really too early to say,” said Nevin.

Read the full story at the Sarnia Observer >>

Source: Thunder Bay’s Source

A weak shipping season for the Port of Thunder Bay could become even worse next month.

Workers with the St. Lawrence Seaway have voted to give the Canadian Auto Workers union that represents them a strike mandate, with a potential walkout coming as early as Oct. 10.

Local port authority CEO Tim Heney said Thunder Bay could be among the hardest hit centres if the strike goes ahead.

“Thunder Bay is the largest export port on the seaway,” he said. “That means most of our cargo goes all the way through the Welland Canal - [a labour disruption] would certainly have a dramatic impact on us if it lasted any length of time.”

Read the full story at Thunder Bay’s Source >>

Source: Coast Guard News

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today that the interim rule for dry cargo residue discharges on the Great Lakes is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.

The interim rule requires Great Lakes bulk dry cargo carriers to keep records of loading, unloading and discharges of dry cargo residues and encourages lake carriers to use control measures to reduce the amount of dry cargo residue entering the waters of the Great Lakes. The rule continues to allow the discharge of non-toxic and non-hazardous bulk dry cargo residues in certain areas of the Great Lakes. Discharges are now prohibited in certain protected and sensitive areas where previously, they were allowed.

Great Lakes ships have operated under a Coast Guard “interim enforcement policy” since 1993, that has allowed “incidental discharges” of non-toxic and non-hazardous dry cargo residues such as limestone, iron ore and coal on the Great Lakes. The interim enforcement policy also specified where dry cargo residue discharges could and could not occur. Congressional legislation has extended the interim enforcement policy since 1998. The current extension, granted by Congress in 2004, expires Sept. 30, 2008.

The Coast Guard also requests public comments on the need for and feasibility of additional conditions that might be imposed on future dry cargo residue discharges, such as mandatory use of control measures or further adjustments to areas where discharges are prohibited or allowed. Comments can be submitted online at …  Read the rest of this entry »

Bart Stupak’s Office | Source: SooToday.com

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a spending bill to fund the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs for the entirety of fiscal year 2009, which begins on October 1.

The bill also funds all other federal government agencies at current levels through March 6, 2009.

Defence spending

The bill includes $1.02 billion for two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and instructs the U.S. Navy to award contracts for construction of the ships as soon as possible.

Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis., built the first LCS ship and is a candidate for building additional ships.

The bill also includes … $6.24 million for Marinette Marine Corporation to continue research on ship hull forms, demonstrating the Bow Lifting Body concept at a creditable and useful size to help transition the technology to military and homeland security applications

Auto industry

The bill includes $7.5 billion to support $25 billion in direct loans for automakers to re-tool their plants to produce the next generation of advanced technology vehicles.

The loans were approved by Congress in the Energy Security and Independence Act, which was passed in December 2007.

This is the first time Congress has provided funding for the program.

“This money is an investment in the auto industry and in hard working Americans who make our cars and trucks,” Stupak said. “As opposed to the bailout the president has requested for Wall Street, these loans will be paid back and will result in a profit for taxpayers. Democrats and Republicans in the Michigan delegation have worked in a bipartisan manner with House and Senate Leadership to put together this critical build out package for the automakers.”

Bettina Chavanne | Source: Aviation Week

I got an excellent opportunity this morning to take a ride on the Potomac aboard the Coast Guard’s new Response Boat-Medium (RB-M).

The RB-M acquisition is the third initiative in the Response Boats 2010 strategic vision and transition plan, aimed at standardizing and revitalizing the USCG’s shore-based response fleet.

There are 30 RB-Ms on order. Marinette Marine is delivering approximately one per month, while building production capacity to deliver 30 per year as early as FY 2010.

Full story, more terrific photos at Aviation Week (blog) >>

Source: Duluth News Tribune

Commercial shipping between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes was on hold for a few hours today after a malfunction of the Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The 1,200-foot-long lock’s gate malfunctioned at 9 a.m., and crews were called in to investigate with an underwater camera. Three ships were delayed while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked to determine the cause of the malfunction.

Repairs were made by early afternoon, allowing normal vessel traffic to resume.

by Elizabeth Dunbar | Source: Forbes

ST. PAUL - The state pollution control agency approved strict standards for ships that discharge ballast water into Lake Superior, hoping they will cut down on the spread of harmful invasive species.

Unlike federal proposals pending in Congress, the new permit process will cover both oceangoing vessels and ships that stay within the Great Lakes.

…. by 2016, ships will be required to treat their ballast water before dumping it into Minnesota waters.

Details of interim and longer-range management, enforcement at Forbes >>

James Rowen | Source: The Political Environment

The Great Lakes Compact won overwhelming approval in the US House of Representatives today, and moves to the White House for the president’s promised signature.

On balance, this is an important advancement for Great Lakes preservation, and hats off to the many activists and public officials who spent years getting this document created and approved.

Several issues remain.

The first is the need for …

Read the full article at the Political Environment >>

Source: The Triton

The US Coast Guard proposes to amend certain regulations relating to the training and service requirements for merchant marine officers, according to a recent issue of Maritime Reporter.

These changes would, if adopted, remove the expiration date of the radar-observer endorsement from the merchant mariner’s license, allow for an apprentice mate of towing vessels to reduce sea-service time form mate (pilot) of towing vessels by completing additional approved training, and provide an alternate path to mate (pilot) of towing vessels for master of steam or motor vessels of any tonnage that is 200 GRT or less.

Comments should be submitted by Oct. 14.

by Tom Meersman | Source: Star Tribune

Weary of waiting for federal action, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is scheduled to vote on a precedent-setting rule today that will prohibit ships from dumping untreated ballast water into Duluth-Superior harbor and other state waters.

State officials say they have to act because Duluth receives far more ballast water than any other Great Lakes port, making it more at risk from invasive species.

The state’s proposal would require all large ships to begin treating their ballast water before dumping it, beginning in 2016. Possible treatment includes filtering through extremely fine screens or sand; using chemicals such as chlorine or ozone; or applying methods such as ultraviolet radiation or heat.

New ships would have to have the treatment technology working by 2012.

Ship owners and trade associations agree that invasive species are a problem, but object to Minnesota’s plan.

Read the full story at the Star Tribune >>

Source: Small Business Times

The Freedom, the nation’s first littoral combat ship, built in Marinette by Lockheed Martin with assistance from Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company Inc., was delivered late last week to the U.S. Navy.

… The ship completed its sea trials in Lake Michigan last month.

The Freedom will be commissioned in Milwaukee on Nov. 8 and will eventually be taken to its home port in San Diego, Calif.

Read the full story at the Small Business Times >>

Source: Duluth News Tribune

After months of quagmire, a compromise may be emerging. Under a new Senate “discussion’’ bill, the criteria for killing organisms (how small and how many are allowed in the ballast water after treatment) would increase to 1,000-times greater than the IMO standard. That would bring the federal legislation in line with California’s law and was expected to spur Boxer to allow the ballast bill to advance.

Some issues remain, however. Boxer and California environmental groups want the Clean Water Act to apply to ballast discharges in addition to the new law. That would allow citizens to sue if they felt the ballast laws weren’t working to protect waterways. Industry officials and many Senators say that amounts to double jeopardy, putting the shipping industry under two separate sets of rules.

Another problem for some Minnesota groups, including the PCA, is that the federal legislation still doesn’t include Great Lakes freighters.

More issues, full story at the Duluth News Tribune >>

by Carol Martin | Source: SooToday.com

At 9 p.m. on Friday, Essar Steel Algoma Inc.’s recording station on Wallace Terrace was indicating a fine particulate matter reading of 60 micrograms per cubic metre over 24 hours.

That’s 20 percent above the provincial limit.

… The previous day, Thursday, Essar Steel Algoma reported three incidents at its coke-making ovens.

Two of the incidents involved emergency ‘pushing’ of coke ovens for safety reasons and to ensure structural integrity.

No visible emissions occurred from any of the pushed ovens, the company said.

The third incident was a stack emission resulting from charging coke ovens 9 to 14.

This was resolved by cutting heat to the oven walls.

…When Essar took over Algoma Steel just over a year ago, it announced that it intends to significantly ramp up production at the century-old steelmaker over the next few years.

Freeman said the company looked at ways it could reduce emissions across its operations, not just in the blast furnaces, when it applied for a certificate to restart No. 6.

“Our goal is to achieve a net reduction in emissions overall,” Freeman said.

Read the full story at SooToday.com >>

R.G. Edmonson | Source: Journal of Commerce Online

WASHINGTON — A stalemate in the Senate over the regulation of ships’ ballast water has led a coalition of carriers to urge lawmakers to make sure any ballast water standards are consistent throughout the United States.

The letter expresses concern that under the Clean Water Act, states are encouraged to regulate pollution sources within their boundaries. Ships that call at ports in many states could face “a patchwork of overlapping, inconsistent federal and state requirements.”

…Carriers are pessimistic that senators can reach an agreement in time to stop a court-ordered EPA general permit system under the Clean Water Act on Oct. 15.

In addition to World Shipping, the letter was sent by the Chamber of Shipping of America, American Waterways Operators, and Intertanko, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners based in Oslo.

Read the full story, parts of the letter at the Journal of Commerce Online >>

Source: Canadian Press

Senator Barack Obama will propose a $5-billion trust fund for Great Lakes cleanup and restoration if elected president, his campaign said Tuesday.

The fund, to be phased in over 10 years, would be the centrepiece of a plan that also includes designating a co-ordinator to oversee Greats Lakes programs and a stepped-up fight against invasive species.

… The trust fund would be paid for by rolling back tax breaks for oil companies, Obama’s campaign said. It would support a variety of projects including sewage system repairs, cleanup of polluted sediments and restoration of wetlands and wildlife habitat.

The Great Lakes co-ordinator, based in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would help develop a priority list for federal, state and local initiatives.

Obama’s program also pledges a “zero toxics” policy for the lakes, which make up nearly one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. It calls for measuring pollution already entering the lakes, determining the sources and reducing future deposits.

Another priority would be strengthening federal standards against mercury, a leading Great Lakes pollutant, the campaign said.

The plan also promises a more aggressive effort to prevent additional exotic species from reaching the lakes, particularly the Asian carp, which has infested the Mississippi River and is moving toward Lake Michigan.

It says Obama would work with the eight Great Lakes states to stop freighters from bringing exotics to the region in their ballast water.

Full story, quotes, and McCain camp reply at Canadian Press >>

Eric McGuinness | Source: Hamilton Spectator

Four Hamilton industries, including the two big steelmakers, will no longer be allowed to exceed bylaw limits for phenolic compounds going into city sewers.

U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, tar producer VFT Canada and waste manager Newalta have overstrength agreements under which they pay the city to treat phenol compounds in their sewage. Similar agreements exist for other chemicals the Woodward Avenue wastewater plant is said to be capable of handling.

But Jim Harnum, senior director of water and wastewater, told council’s public works committee yesterday that the plant’s effluent, which flows into the harbour, doesn’t meet the provincial objective of 0.001 milligrams of phenol per litre.

In addition, some phenol compounds are toxic and the city can’t test for them all.

Phenolic compounds include coal-tar derivatives used in germicides and disinfectants, the brain chemical serotonin and capsaicin in pepper spray.

Read the full story at the Hamilton Spectator >>

Steve Orr | Source: Democrat and Chronicle

After holding public hearings, the commissioners failed to adopt Plan B+ or anything else. Instead, another plan was developed behind closed doors. That regimen, called Plan 2007 and released early this year, was cast as protecting shoreline properties while aiding the environment somewhat.

More public hearings, including one in Greece, were held. Many shoreline residents said they could live with Plan 2007 or with the current rules. Environmentalists continued to lobby for B+ and panned Plan 2007.

But now that plan, too, is being scrapped by the IJC. In its letter, the commissioners said the hearings revealed “serious divisions” and “little support” for Plan 2007.

Instead, they want help in crafting yet another plan, one that would, according to the IJC letter, “move toward more natural flows to benefit the environment, while respecting other interests.”

For the first time, though, the IJC is asking the government agencies to put together specific plans to deal with the impact of the higher and lower water levels that might result from a pro-environment regimen.

Very lengthy article, quotes from many affected and possible consequences at the Democrat and Chronicle >>

Brian Mulherin | Source: Ludington Daily News

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn’t waste any time ordering a survey of Ludington’s harbor after a 630-foot freighter was stuck for 40 minutes or more Saturday.

The ship, which reported a draft of 24.3 feet to Coast Guard Station Ludington, became lodged on bottom as it entered the harbor from the west-northwest.

… Ludington’s harbor is dredged once every three years and normally down to 30 feet, but last year the dredging only went to 28 feet due to federal budget constraints.

… Wednesday’s survey revealed the shoal is a little larger and a little higher off bottom, with depths as shallow as 22.5 feet recorded in an area that spans 150 feet from west to east.

How the survey was done, previous observations and more at the Ludington Daily News >>