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GLSW Reports

Interlake Steamship Co. has announced they are bringing the freighter John Sherwin back into service.

The 806-foot long freighter has been in lay-up for the past 27 years in Superior, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. She arrived at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on August 24, 2008, for major mechanical upgrades.

Vessel John Sherwin being towed to Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., August 23, 2008

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The John Sherwin was built in 1958 in Toledo, Ohio, by American Ship Building Co. Named for the president of Mather & Co., the John Sherwin was originally just 710 feet long, but was later lengthened at Fraser Shipyard in 1972-73. She most recently was used to store grain.

Bay Shipbuilding will be converting the Sherwin to a self-unloader, with slopes and a forward boom. The ship’s oil-fired engines will be replaced with diesel power plants. The process of bringing the ship to service readiness will require installation of current navigation technologies, some of the likes of which were not even conceived of when the vessel was pulled off the lakes in 1981.

Interlake Steamship anticipates the John Sherwin will be ready to sail on the Great Lakes in spring of 2010.

Close-up of John Sherwin being towed to Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., August 23, 2008

Benjamin Wideman | Source: Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

“Man overboard! Man overboard!”

…Four days before the training exercise, Boyer and Petty Officer 2nd Class Linden Hannon, 27, found themselves treading water two miles offshore after rescuing two men whose boat sank. One of the Coast Guard’s dewatering pumps went down with it.

Five days after the training exercise, Boyer was back on Lake Michigan with three other crewmen, this time rescuing four Two Rivers residents — two adults and two children — from the water after their fishing boat filled with water an hour earlier.

“We live and work in the community, so the people we see in town or we live near, those are the same people we rescue and help. It’s a rewarding job.”

…On this day, [Chief Petty Officer John Davis] presents one of the youngest crewmembers, Fireman Trina Beiring, 19, of Calumet, Mich., with a boat engineer certificate.

Quarters lasts about 20 minutes.

Biering and a handful of others head home on their day off, while Davis and most of the crew return to the station.

…Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Belval has been monitoring distress frequencies and incoming calls in the communications room since 6:50 a.m.

Personnel in Milwaukee handle the overnight duties remotely, immediately notifying Two Rivers crews if an emergency arises. The SAR crew works 48 hours on, 48 hours off, with sliding weekend shifts. The ATON crew typically works Mondays through Fridays.

“It’s like a dispatch in here,” says Belval 28, of Virginia Beach, Va., noting mariners frequently call seeking weather updates.

The communications room has nautical maps, weather instruments, a phone, radios set to distress frequency channel 16, a secured-access computer for confidential Coast Guard transmissions, and four security cameras scanning the fenced-in property.

“As long as we stay calm in here, they stay calm out there,” Read the rest of this entry »

GLSW Exclusive

U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. (USS), a long-haul marine transport company specializing in refined petroleum products, took delivery of a second Articulated Tug-Barge over the weekend.

The Petrochem Producer was built by Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

ATB Galveston/Petrochem Producer at Bay Shipbuilding, August 22, 2008

The ATB’s tug, Galveston, was built by Eastern Shipbuilding of Florida, and delivered in July. The Galveston/Petrochem Producer underwent sea trials on Saturday before departing for delivery on the Gulf Coast.

Bay Shipbuilding is building two more of the ATB units. The third, under construction in the shipyard’s graving dock, is expected to be completed in November. The fourth is scheduled to deliver in August of 2009.

The Bay Shipbuilding-built ATBs will be run under charter to a major oil company. The Galveston/Petrochem Producer joins a fleet of ten other ATBs, product tankers and chemical parcel tankers.

Currently the Galveston/Petrochem Producer is downbound on the St. Lawrence Seaway, approaching Cornwall and Montreal. You can monitor the vessel’s transit on the St. Lawrence Seaway System website.

Source: Northland’s News Center

Recently concerns have surfaced that the 6 billion dollar project would not continue due to difficulty in finding a partner for financial support.

Jim Kowitz of Murphy Oil confirmed Monday, however, that the project is still on the drawing board.

Full story, photo at Northland’s News Center >>

James Rowen | Source: The Political Environment

Pretty quiet on the Murphy Oil expansion front in Superior; sources say the much-rumored $6 billion expansion to expand refining seven-fold at the Murphy Oil facility is on the back burner because tar sand extraction in Canada, the source of refinery’s crude stock, is still too expensive to bring a decent return to investors.

Sure, oil is still a hefty $120 a barrel, and was over $140 earlier this year, but it costs $1 a barrel to recover oil in Saudi Arabia and $75-$90-per-barrel in northern Alberta province, a CNN analyst points out.

Read the full piece at the Political Environment >>

Source: Herald Times Reporter

LUDINGTON, Mich. — The S.S. Badger … resume[d] its regular twice-daily Lake Michigan crossings [Friday] after completion of repairs at Bay Shipbuilding.

The ship experienced a problem with a stern bearing last Sunday that could not be repaired at the dock, forcing it to sail to the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay.

Because no dry dock space was available, a team of underwater repair specialists was flown in from California.

Badger officials said Thursday the California team worked around the clock to get the ship back in service, and able to transport vehicles and people between Ludington and Manitowoc.

Full story, photo at the Herald Times Reporter >>

by Nathan Phelps | Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

The St. Marys Cement terminal in Green Bay sees about 20 shiploads of cement a year.

It is one of more than a dozen businesses along the Fox River in Green Bay that handled 2.3 million tons of cargo last year — from cement to limestone and lumber.

“Moving the product by water is the most economical and cost-effective way of moving our product,” said Greg Leiteritz, who works out of the Green Bay terminal in sales and technical service.

While it may not be readily apparent, much of what comes through the port is used by the consumer on a daily basis, from road surfaces to coal for energy.

The Green Bay operation is one of three terminals St. Mary’s operates in the state, in addition to a plant in Milwaukee.

The cement passing through Green Bay is produced in Charlevoix, Mich., and is sent to Green Bay primarily via barge and tug combinations.

It’s then loaded onto trucks and sent to between 30 and 50 customers around a region stretching west to Wisconsin 13 and north into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Leiteritz said.

… St. Mary’s cement is used in applications, including ready-mix, block producers and pre-cast producers.

Roads, driveways and sidewalks are where most people will find cement from St. Marys, said Mike Vizer, terminal manager.

Arrow Concrete in Green Bay is one of the users who truck cement from the terminal to its ready-mix facilities and on to commercial, residential and farm work sites.

“Basement floors and walls, garage floors, commercial walls … barnyards, bunker feeders,” said Allan Duchateau, owner of Arrow.

Arrow uses about 16,000 tons of concrete a year on 100 to 150 projects in the Green Bay area, he said.

While cement and other bulk goods coming through the port may be taken for granted, they have an almost daily interface with residents — whether those residents know it or not.

“Almost everything, in one way or another, comes back to the consumer,” said Port Director Dean Haen. “Some things are more direct like cement — for driveways and foundations and roads — and liquid asphalt for tar.

“But even the limestone gets used in agricultural applications and in smokestack scrubbers,” he said.

Much more about the cargoes handled in Green Bay, throughout the lakes at the Green Bay Press Gazette >>

by Mike Miller | Source: The Capital Times

The Great Lakes Compact, years in the making, now appears to be on the fast track for Congressional approval, at least in the Senate.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, late Wednesday announced that Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., would chair a hearing on the Senate Joint Resolution approving the compact next Wednesday in the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

The announcement came at the end of a day which saw Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, appear at a Washington news conference with House and Senate authors of legislation to approve the compact.

“I applaud the members of Congress for the leadership in protecting the Great Lakes,” Doyle said.

Read the full story at The Capital Times >>

Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette

The International Upper Great Lakes Study will hold a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Collins Learning Center at the Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay.

Residents who are interested in and concerned about Great Lakes water levels are urged to attend and to share with scientists personal examples of the impact of changing water levels.

Read the full story at the Green Bay Press Gazette >>

BY TIM JONES | Source: Detroit Free Press

NEW BERLIN, Wis. — Piece by piece, a 5,500-mile wall around the Great Lakes is going up. You can’t see it, but construction is progressing nicely, along with an implied neon sign that flashes, “Hands off — it’s our water.”

The legal pilings for a 1,000-mile segment of the wall were sunk Tuesday when Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle finalized his state’s approval of the so-called Great Lakes Compact, a multistate agreement designed to protect and restrict access to nearly 20% of the world’s supply of fresh water, contained in the five Great Lakes.

And after that will come Ohio, where later this week the legislature is expected to make it the sixth state to endorse the water agreement and advance a strong regional warning to chronically dry regions of the South and West that Great Lakes water is staying put.

Excellent, lengthy story at the Detroit Free Press >>

Source: USCG

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Federal, state, local, non-governmental and private sector organizations conducted a full scale exercise at the Port of Green Bay on May 21, 2008 to practice, assess and improve the Lake Michigan Area Maritime Security Plan as well as the Lake Michigan Area Contingency Plan.

The port security exercise built on multiple interagency training workshops, planning sessions, and tabletop exercises held over the past year. Phase One, conducted 21-25 January, tested threat communications and intelligence information sharing among various agencies. Phase Two, on 30 April, tested the implementation of a Unified Command structure and development of an Incident Action Plan.

May 21st’s full scale exercise utilized a multi-faceted security, hazardous materials, and terrorism scenario. Multi-agency response teams conducted vessel boardings, dive operations, hazardous materials response, and casualty evacuations. Read the rest of this entry »

Source: Superior Daily Telegram

Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to sign legislation Tuesday to strengthen protection for the Great Lakes.

Doyle plans to act on the bill during a ceremony on the Green Bay waterfront, according to a news release issued by his office this morning. A coalition of lawmakers, environmental groups and local officials join him as he signs legislation designed to protect and preserve the Great Lakes.

Full story at the Daily Telegram >>

By TODD RICHMOND | Source: Superior Daily Telegram

MADISON — Wisconsin lawmakers finally ratified an interstate treaty Wednesday that is designed to block arid states from getting access to Great Lakes water.

The Great Lakes Compact now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle, who is expected to sign it, making Wisconsin the fifth Great Lakes state to approve the treaty.

Read the full story, including concessions and concerns, at the Superior Daily Telegram >>

Source: Daily Telegram

On Friday, Xcel Energy was given approval by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on Friday for a 3 percent rate surcharge.

According to PSC spokesman Tim Le Monds, the increase will start this week.

“It comes out to about $1.75 per month for the average homeowner,” he said.

Xcel made the request for the surcharge in April citing that increased fuel costs are resulting in increased costs to generate electricity.

Read the full story at the Daily Telegram >>

Source: The Daily Telegram

Murphy Oil Corp. announced Wednesday that first quarter net income more than tripled compared with the same period a year ago.

In an announcement released after markets closed, the company reported net income of $409.0 million, $2.14 per diluted share, versus $110.6 million, or 58 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2007.

The larger profit was attributed to higher crude oil sales prices and sales volumes, which led to improved earnings in the company’s exploration and production business.

Read the full story at the Daily Telegram >>

Sources: Duluth Shipping News and submitted reports

American Steamship Company’s damaged freighter Walter J. McCarthy was moved from the Hallett #8 Dock in Superior, to the Enbridge Dock near the Burlington Northern docks, on April 8th. (See photos of tugs and McCarthy underway at Duluth Shipping News)

Previous reports indicate the hull was repaired shortly after she was holed by a previously unmarked underwater structure near the Hallett #8 Dock.

Further work continues on the engines and other internal systems. The Walter J. McCarthy’s crew has been credited with preventing considerable damage through their fast, quick-thinking actions under emergency conditions when she struck the object and quickly took on water on January 14th, 2008.

The McCarthy is expected to return to service after repairs are complete in late spring/early summer of this year.

Source: Dredging News Online

Governor Jim Doyle has announced US$4 million in Harbour Assistance Grants for the Port of Superior.

Speaking at a breakfast attended by municipal, business, tourism, and labour representatives from Superior and northern Wisconsin, Doyle said: “The Port of Superior is a critical part of Wisconsin’s economy. It is the Great Lakes’ largest harbour, handling a variety of agricultural products and other bulk materials, supporting job growth in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.”

The two grants, which total US$3,938,160, require a 20 per cent match from the city of Superior, and will be used to make needed repairs to docks.

One of the grants, for US$2,578,160, will be used for improvements to the Cutler-Magner dock wall. Increased production at the facility requires the storage area to be enlarged, stabilized and secured. The company has already invested approximately Us$36 million in facility upgrades on its own.

The second grant, totaling US$1,360,000, will be used by Cenex/Harvest States to install 520 feet of coated steel dock wall and Read the rest of this entry »

Source: USCG

ESCANABA — The U.S. Coast Guard will be expanding ice breaking operations in Little Bay de Noc as well as the Fox River and lower Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal and the entrance channel into Marinette and Menominee.

Everyone is reminded the 2008 shipping season will be commencing and vessel movements are expected in these waters beginning Monday. All anglers are reminded to remove ice shacks. Recreational ice users should plan activities carefully, use caution near the ice and stay away from shipping channels and the charter Lake Carriers Association track lines.

Source: The Daily Telegram

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe taconite facility is a unique combination of rail and sea. The overhead yellow structure is a small but vital part of the operation that moves Minnesota taconite pellets from the Iron Range to places such as Burns Harbor, Indiana, Lorraine, Ohio, Gary, Ind., Hamilton, Ontario, and in 2007, Algeria.

taconite is conveyed on belts through the facility. It may be destined for stockpiling in segregated areas depending on product type, or it may travel to a vessel loading dock on the waterfront.

“There is no ship traffic this time of year, but the mines continue to produce pellets. We stockpile pellets here for the start of the shipping season. Our facility can stockpile about 5 million tons of pellets,” Ujka said. “In 2007, the facility handled approximately 11 million tons of pellets, loading 312 ships.”

At the waterfront end of the operation is the ship loading dock. Pellets are transferred in a covered conveyor system that, at one point, passes over Highway 2 traffic. At the dock, it can be loaded into storage silos or directly into the ship. Unlike the gravity-fed ore docks at the DM&IR facility in Duluth, the BNSF docks use conveyor belts that reach out over the open holds of the ship. Taconite can be precisely loaded into any part of a particular hold at the direction of the ship’s crew.

“The Allouez Taconite facility is remarkably efficient,” Ujka said. “Under the right conditions, we can unload an arriving train and directly load a ship with taconite in about six hours, using just three employees.”

Full story at The Daily Telegram >>

By DAN EGAN | Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Tired of waiting for Congress to enact ballast rules to prevent the next zebra mussel from invading the Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is moving toward writing its own rules to control what overseas ships are allowed to dump into the world’s largest freshwater system.

In their memo to the resources board, [DNR] staff said they would be working closely with colleagues in Minnesota, which is pursuing similar rules, to ensure that the regulations are compatible.

Wisconsin DNR officials also informed the Natural Resources Board at its monthly meeting in Madison Tuesday that the agency is steaming ahead with a $6 million pilot program that would treat ballast water not on ships but in onshore wastewater facilities.

DNR officials said that Gov. Jim Doyle identified $6 million that could be used for the Wisconsin ports in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Superior.

Roger Larson, deputy director of the DNR Bureau of Watershed Management, said Milwaukee would be used as a test of the technology, with treatment starting in the 2009 shipping season.

Read the full story at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel >>