We’re back today with Andrea Guerriero from DRE Designs Great Lakes Marine Products aboard the Herbert C. Jackson. Today’s shots and video are at the LS&I Ore Dock in Marquette Harbor where they loaded iron ore pellets that would be transported to Detroit. Again, the descriptions are courtesy of Andrea.

First photo: My view this afternoon as we wait for the dock here in Marquette to be re-charged so we can complete loading… gotta love it!

Second photo: Helloooooo Marquette! We have arrived! Time to go grab lunch then more pics and video!

Third photo: And now for something a little different! Herbert C Jackson and the LS&I Ore Dock as seen through a Lensball! With the real thing blurred out in behind! I’m trying to be artsy while we wait to start loading again lol!

Fourth photo: Can’t be aboard without taking a pic of the ship’s builder plates! These are mounted outside on the forward face of the Pilothouse… love seeing builder plates! Having fun aboard the Action Jackson!

Fifth photo: So far everything I've shared to this point was done with my iPhone. It was the only way I could get things posted while we were in the middle of the trip. This shot, I actually took with my camera yesterday morning at sunrise. We were still about 3 hours or so from Marquette at this point so our trip wasn't even at the half way point yet.
I love how the ship is pretty much a silhouette and the sky is just gorgeous with some cloud... and that sun!! It was just such a peaceful scene and all you could hear was the hum of the engine and the lapping of water on the hull of the ship... Just incredible!

Video Description from Andrea: Here’s my dockside video of Herbie being loaded here in Marquette! It’s pretty cool to see this happen. *FAIR WARNING IT’S LOUD* I took this video from deck level!

Andrea also said that they were able to go anywhere on the boat, always with a hard hat on of course. Being aboard a freighter en route is something many of us have dreamed of doing. What a treat for us all that Andrea took us along for the ride.

I am SO jealous.

This type of onboard experience is what turned me INTO a boat nerd. In 1979, just 3 years after graduating from MTU, the Canadian Enterprise was built (later the Algoma Enterprise, now it's scrapped). On it's first test, 2 major things had problems. #1) the steering gear and #2) the passenger elevator my company built and installed.

They sent me to the Welland Ship Yard where I lived on board for several days. The accommodations (including food) were fantastic. The work not so much since the elevator control was right next to the engines (see bottom photo). It was the engine vibration that affected the elevator. The Captain allowed me to command a full forward to full reverse to generate maximum vibration (imagine your teeth shaking loose) all while we were doing figure eights in Lake Ontario to test the steering. Then we locked through the Welland Canal (see top photo).

That video was incredible, Andrea! Thanks for taking us along.

Andrea, these have been great. Thank you for
sharing your adventure with us. That video
was amazing!

WOW....just WOW! That is so impressive. Thank you~

Hi
It looks like great fun. Our cabin on Lake Huron,
which is near the Straits of Mackinac, is on the
shipping lanes. I have watched the freighters go by
for years. It'd be great to go on a trip on one.